Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to prioritise efforts to de-escalate tension at their contested border.
The nuclear-powered nations share a nearly 4,000km border known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC) that crosses the Himalayas from the Ladakh region in the north to the eastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. The frontier is not demarcated.
India’s Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said Mr Modi held brief conversations with the leaders Brazil, China, Russia and South Africa on the sidelines of the two-day Brics summit in Johannesburg on Thursday.
In his conversation with Mr Xi, Mr Modi “highlighted India’s concerns on the unresolved issues” along the contested border.
Diplomatic ties between India and China have been frosty since their troops were involved in deadly clashes in 2020, along the part of the border that lies in the Ladakh region.
“Prime Minister Modi underlined the maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas and observing and respecting the LAC are essential for normalising the India-China relationship,” Mr Kwatra told reporters.
“The two leaders agreed to direct their relevant officials to intensify efforts at expeditious disengagement and de-escalation.”
There have been several rounds of high-level talks between senior military commanders and Foreign Ministry officials from both sides but without significant progress.
The two nations held the 19th round of the India-China Corps Commander Level Meeting at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting point on the Indian side on August 13 and August 14.
They fought a deadly war over the disputed border in 1962, with Beijing briefly capturing parts of Arunachal Pradesh before unilaterally withdrawing its troops.
In June 2020, Indian and China soldiers armies attacked each other with iron rods and clubs in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley.
At least 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers died fighting on pathways near steep cliff edges.
The clash triggered the mobilisation of tens of thousands of soldiers from both sides to the treacherous high-altitude border.
While the troops withdrew from a key area in the disputed Eastern Ladakh region in September, many other potential flashpoints remain.
Chinese forces continue to block access to traditional areas of patrol for the Indian military in the Depsang Plains and Charding Nala regions on the LAC.
The Depsang Plains are a plateau at an altitude of 4,800 metres. Chinese troops allegedly occupy an 18km area that India considers its own territory.
Beijing has consistently refused to accept those areas as Indian territory.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
Why are asylum seekers being housed in hotels?
The number of asylum applications in the UK has reached a new record high, driven by those illegally entering the country in small boats crossing the English Channel.
A total of 111,084 people applied for asylum in the UK in the year to June 2025, the highest number for any 12-month period since current records began in 2001.
Asylum seekers and their families can be housed in temporary accommodation while their claim is assessed.
The Home Office provides the accommodation, meaning asylum seekers cannot choose where they live.
When there is not enough housing, the Home Office can move people to hotels or large sites like former military bases.
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
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- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
