Maldives To Get Free Military Assistance From China Amid Row With India

China on Monday signed a defence cooperation agreement with the Maldives to provide free military assistance to foster "stronger" bilateral ties, weeks after President Mohamed Muizzu set a deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his island nation.

The Defence Minister of the Maldives Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon met with Major General Zhang Baoqun, Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of China, to discuss enhancing defence cooperation between the two countries.

Maumoon and Major General Baoqun "signed an agreement on China's provision of military assistance gratis to the Republic of Maldives, fostering stronger bilateral ties," the Maldivian defence ministry posted on its X handle.

The details of the defence cooperation agreement were not provided.

Meanwhile, China has also gifted 12 eco-friendly ambulances to Maldives, Edition.mv news portal reported on Monday.

In a ceremony held at the Ministry of Health on Sunday, Chinese Ambassador to Maldives Wang Lixin presented the letter gifting the ambulances to the Maldives, it said.

The visit of the Chinese military delegation took place days after Male allowed Xiang Yang Hong 03, a hi-tech Chinese research ship to make a port call for the "rotation of its personnel and replenishment."

On January 5, Sri Lanka, while denying entry to the same ship, said it has declared a moratorium on foreign research ships entering its waters for a year amid concerns from India over Chinese research vessels docking in its neighbourhood and collecting data from the oceans, including in the Indian Ocean Region, for military purposes, especially for submarine operations.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson has previously defended the port call by the Chinese research ship to the Maldives saying, "China's scientific research activities in relevant waters are for peaceful purposes and aimed at contributing to humanity's scientific understanding of the ocean." The visit of the Chinese military delegation to the Maldives is taking place days after India confirmed that its first civilian team of technical experts has reached the island nation to replace the military personnel operating an advanced light helicopter in the country.

President Muizzu, widely seen as a pro-China leader, has set March 10 as the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his country.

"The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached the Maldives. It will replace the existing personnel who were operating this platform," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in New Delhi at his weekly media briefing on February 29.

Following meetings of the high-level core group that was set up to address the issue of withdrawal of the Indian military personnel, the Maldivian foreign ministry had said India will replace all its military personnel in two phases by May 10.

According to the Maldivian government, 88 Indian military personnel are in the country, primarily to operate two helicopters and an aircraft that have carried out hundreds of medical evacuations and humanitarian missions.

The ties between the two countries came under some strain since Muizzu came to power in November last year.

Muizzu maintained after assuming charge as the president that he would keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country.

Muizzu defeated India-friendly incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in the presidential runoff held in September last year.

The Maldives is one of India's key maritime neighbours in the Indian Ocean Region and the overall bilateral ties, including in the areas of defence and security, witnessed an upward trajectory under the previous government in Male. The current government has said that it was reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements signed with India by the previous governments.

The Maldives' proximity to India, barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep and 300 nautical miles from the mainland's western coast, and its location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) gives it significant strategic importance.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Car Hangs On Edge Of Giant Pothole As Lucknow Road Caves In After Rain

A massive sinkhole appeared on a road in Uttar Pradesh's capital Lucknow today after heavy rain. In visuals, a car was seen dangerously hanging on the edge of the giant pothole as a portion of the road caved in.

Several passersby were seen around the pothole in the city's Vikas Nagar area, recording the scene on their mobile phone.

Lucknow divisional commissioner Roshan Jacob has sought a report from the Public Works Department within 24 hours regarding the matter. Orders have also been given to repair the road immediately.

Heavy rain and hailstorms hit parts of Uttar Pradesh today, resulting in four deaths from separate lightning strike incidents. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed the concerned district magistrates to promptly provide permissible financial assistance to affected individuals, including cases of livestock loss and damage to houses due to disasters like lightning, hailstorm, heavy rain, and storms.

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On Dhoni Comparisons, Ganguly's "Different League" Reminder To India Star

Young India wicketkeeper-batter Dhruv Jurel has played just two Tests, but he has been already compared to the legendary MS Dhoni by several former cricketers. Former India batter Sunil Gavaskar labelled Jurel as the next Dhoni, while ex-spinner Anil Kumble feels the yougster has all the tools to become as good as the former India captain. Jurel scored a match-winning 90 in the first innings of the 4th Test against England and also hit an unbeaten 39 in the second innings to help India get the win.

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly too pointed similarities between Jurel and Dhoni, but refrained himself from comparing the youngster with Dhoni, who according to him is in "different league".

"Dhruv Jurel... what a Test match he had under pressure on a difficult wicket. There is huge talent and if you miss you and you go back down in the ladder, it will be very hard to come back. MS Dhoni is in a different league. Jurel has talent; there's no doubt about it. But it took MS Dhoni 20 years to be MS Dhoni. Rather 15 years for Dhoni to be Dhoni. So let him [Jurel] play. Jurel's ability to play spin, pace and most importantly to perform under pressure. That's what you look for in a youngster," Ganguly told RevSportz.

Jurel marked his debut in Rajkot's third Test with a first-innings 46 to give a glimpse of his promise.

Jurel then displayed nerves of steel to rescue India from trouble twice in the fourth Test in Ranchi.

The 23-year-old faced a hat-trick ball when he joined Shubman Gill at 120-5 chasing 192 but calmly blunted England's spinners to guide his side to a five-wicket triumph that showed "composure and maturity", said captain Rohit Sharma.

India will hope that Jurel can continue his prowess when they take on England in the fifth and final Test, with the series already in the bag.

India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will return for the final Test against England after missing the team's series-clinching win in the fourth match, the country's cricket board said Thursday.

Bumrah was rested in the previous Test, which India won by five wickets in Ranchi to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

KL Rahul, on the other hand, will miss out again after he was forced out of the previous three due to a quad injury he picked up in the opener.

(With AFP Inputs)

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Scientists Discover Brain Messaging, Hinting At Greater Processing Power

Scientists have uncovered a new way brain cells talk to each other, hinting at a far more complex and powerful human brain than we previously understood. This discovery, detailed in a 2020 study, reveals a unique type of signal using calcium ions, adding another layer to the brain's communication toolbox, according to a report by Sciencealert.

Researchers observed this novel messaging system in the outer layer of the brain's cortex. By analysing brain tissue samples from epilepsy surgery patients, they found individual cells firing signals using not only the usual sodium ions but also calcium ions. This unexpected combination creates entirely new electrical waves called calcium-mediated dendritic action potentials (dCaAPs), the news outlet mentioned.

The human brain is often likened to a computer, both relying on electrical signals for processing information. In computers, this involves a simple flow of electrons, while neurons use a cascade of opening and closing channels to exchange charged particles. This exchange, known as an action potential, is how neurons traditionally communicate. The newly discovered dCaAPs offer an additional communication channel, potentially enabling more complex information processing within the brain.

"The dendrites are central to understanding the brain because they are at the core of what determines the computational power of single neurons," Humboldt University neuroscientist Matthew Larkum told Walter Beckwith at the American Association for the Advancement of Science in January 2020.

Dendrites are the traffic lights of our nervous system. If an action potential is significant enough, it can be passed on to other nerves, which can block or pass on the message.

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Driver Was Watching Cricket: Minister On Andhra Train Crash That Killed 14

The driver and the assistant driver of one of the two passenger trains that collided leading to death of 14 passengers on October 29, 2023 were watching a cricket match on phone, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Saturday while highlighting the cause of the accident.

The Rayagada Passenger train hit the Visakhapatnam Palasa train from behind at 7 pm that day on the Howrah-Chennai line in Kantakapalli in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh. Over 50 passengers were injured.

Mr Vaishnaw referred to the Andhra train accident while talking about new safety measures that Indian Railways has been working on.

"The recent case in Andhra Pradesh happened because both the loco pilot and co-pilot were distracted by the cricket match which was going on. Now we are installing systems which can detect any such distraction and make sure that the pilots and the assistant pilots are fully focussed on running the train," Mr Vaishnaw told PTI Videos.

He added, "We will continue to put our focus on safety. We try to find out the root cause of every incident and we come up with a solution so that it is not repeated." While the probe report conducted by the Commissioners of Railway Safety (CRS) is yet to be made public, a preliminary railway probe, a day after the accident, had held the driver and the assistant driver of Rayagada Passenger train responsible for the collision as it passed two defective auto signals violating norms. Both crew members were killed in the accident.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Chief Justice Spotlights "Tareekh Pe Tareekh" Syndrome In Judicial System

The perception that adjournment has become a part of the judicial system is disheartening, underlined Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Saturday, adding that it prolongs the agony of litigants and perpetuates the cycle of backlog.

"One of the major issues is that of "adjournment culture." This practice, characterized by repeated requests for delays in proceedings, has far-reaching implications for the efficiency and integrity of our legal system," said the Chief Justice addressing the All India District Judges Conference at Dhordo in Gujarat's Kutch.

"The issue of adjournment and tareekh pe tareekh prolongs the agony of litigants. Common citizen feels that adjournment is part of judicial process and my experience is that it is easy to decide a complex case with a judgment than to persuade a lawyer to argue a case," he said.

The Chief Justice also expressed concern that the longstanding principle of "bail is the rule, jail is the exception" is losing ground with district courts hesitating to deal with matters involving personal liberty.

"Imagine a victim of sexual assault whose case remains unresolved in the courts for several years. Isn't this a clear violation of their fundamental right to access justice? The concept of access to justice should extend beyond mere access to the courts; it should also guarantee that citizens receive timely judgments from courts of law," said the Chief Justice.

While even one adjournment might look like a routine affair, it can have severe ramifications for the litigants, said the Chief Justice.

"Often, the outcome of the legal battle never comes to light during the farmer's lifetime. Instead, the burden falls upon their legal heirs, who find themselves embroiled in protracted legal proceedings long after their loved one's passing. We should not wait for our citizens to die for their case to be decided by a court of law," the Chief Justice said.

Courts nationwide, the Chief Justice noted, are grappling with a significant backlog and an "alarming level of pending cases". This backlog and pendency of cases present a formidable challenge to the efficient administration of justice and the timely resolution of legal disputes, he said.

"Addressing the backlog and pendency of cases requires a multi-faceted approach encompassing systemic reforms, procedural enhancements, and the deployment of technological solutions. Efforts to streamline court procedures, expedite case disposal, and promote alternative dispute resolution mechanisms can help alleviate the burden on the judicial system," said the Chief Justice.

Technology can be a great tool for improving efficiency, the Chief Justice noted.

"Just as sunshine is said to be the best disinfectant, I believe that technology is the best tool at our disposal to eliminate the inefficiency and opacity surrounding judicial processes," he said.

Emphasising the importance of inclusivity and diversity in the judiciary, Chief Justice Chandrachud said much improvement has been made towards achieving greater gender representation with women now constituting 36.3 per cent of the working strength of the district judiciary.

"However, while progress has been made in terms of gender representation, there remains a pressing need to ensure that our judicial institutions are truly inclusive and accommodating for all," he added.

Judges should not be unduly affected by criticism and commentary on social media, he said.

"In recent times, there has been a noticeable increase in judges facing criticisms and commentary on social media platforms. And let me tell you, I have had my fair share of scrutiny too! Even if I say just a single word on the bench, it seems to get reported faster than a speeding bullet. But, should we, judges, be unduly affected by this? The role of a judge is to dispense justice impartially, without being swayed by external pressures or public opinions," said the Chief Justice.

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Amid Spike In "Digital House Arrest" Cases In Delhi, A Warning By Police

Cyber crooks are now adopting a new modus operandi called 'digital house arrest', causing serious concern for Delhi Police with over 200 such cases recorded every month in the national capital, officials said.

According to a police officer, 'digital house arrest' refers to a fraud where impostors impersonating law enforcement officers deceive the victims into believing that their bank account, SIM card, Aadhaar card, or other cards linked to their bank account has been used unlawfully.

The fraudsters then virtually restrain the victims from moving out of the house and coerce them into paying them money, the officer said.

"Digital house arrest has become a major concern nowadays. However, our special unit only investigates those cases where the cheated amount is above Rs 50 lakh," a senior police officer of the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of Delhi Police said.

The officer said such 'cyber thugs' are technically sound and know how to convince their targets and drain their hard-earned money.

According to the report by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), cases of cybercrime in the national capital nearly doubled in 2022.

The number of such cases rose from 345 in 2021 to 685 cases in 2022, NCRB's comprehensive crime data for 2022 showed.

In 2020, the count was much lower with only 166 cybercrime cases, it added.

Giving an example of a recent case, the officer said, "A man was getting ready for his office on December 30, last year when he got a call at around 8.43 am. The caller took his name and said he was speaking from the Crime Branch of Mumbai. He told the victim that his Aadhar card was used to transport drugs in some courier packages which were seized by the crime branch." The accused also started interrogating him, which created fear in the mind of the victim. They also asked the victim to not move out of his house for around 8 hours during the "questioning", the officer said.

"The victim had told police that he heard some voices coming from behind which were voices similar to wireless radio transmission of police. Later the accused asked him to download a Skype application and remote access to the desktop. A man appeared before him wearing a cop dress, interrogated him for hours, and asked the victim to show his bank account details to see if he had received any 'foreign funds'. Meanwhile, they hacked his system and drained his account completely," said the officer.

The complainant later lodged an FIR and police are further investigating the matter.

Another police officer said several such cases are being registered in the national capital region of late with over 200 registered every month.

These fraudsters use translation tools for better English to send threatening letters and forge letterheads of police departments. They usually procure Aadhar cards from other sources, the officer said.

"They usually target old people. In such situations, the victims must immediately call the police helpline numbers to report the matter and to get help," said the officer.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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