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New Delhi , Sep 6 (IANS) China is tightening controls over the movement of people, capital and strategic technologies, with new exit-and-entry rules set to take effect on September 15 that will allow authorities to restrict citizens from leaving the country in cases involving risks to industrial and technological security, a report has said.

The move marks a further expansion of Beijing's efforts to prevent sensitive technology, data and talent from moving overseas, according to the Nepal Aaja report.

The latest measures come amid growing concern in Beijing over the loss of advanced technology and skilled personnel to foreign markets. The government's intervention in the proposed $2 billion acquisition of Chinese AI startup Manus by Meta has emerged as a prominent example of the increasingly sensitive approach towards the overseas movement of Chinese AI capabilities. China blocked the transaction in April and ordered it to be unwound on national security grounds.

Under the new rules, Chinese citizens may be prevented from leaving the country if they violate technology import or export controls in ways that could endanger industrial or technological security.

People who commit offences abroad that harm China's national security or interests could also face exit restrictions lasting between six months and three years after returning to the country, the report said.

The restrictions are part of a broader effort by Beijing to prevent capital and strategic assets from leaving China. Chinese authorities have long maintained controls on outbound capital, including an annual $50,000 foreign-exchange purchase limit for individuals. More recently, regulators have intensified scrutiny of overseas investment as demand from Chinese investors for foreign assets has increased.

The scale of China's external financial flows has added to those concerns. Bloomberg reported that Chinese companies, individuals and state lenders accumulated substantial foreign assets from the country's record trade surplus in 2025, with much of the money moving into overseas securities and business investments.

China's trade surplus reached about $1.2 trillion last year, the report noted.

Beijing has simultaneously tightened oversight of overseas investment. Regulations released by China's State Council in June prohibit investors from exporting restricted technology, know-how, data and other controlled goods or services through outbound investments. The rules also provide for penalties including fines, visa restrictions and industry blacklisting.

--IANS

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Quetta, Sep 6 (IANS) A leading human rights organisation has condemned the arrest of retired police surgeon Dr Ayesha Faiz, terming the action a "continuation of the escalation of undeclared martial law" in Pakistan's Balochistan.

In a statement shared on X, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) alleged that the cycle of collective punishment and Baloch genocide in Balochistan continues unabated with increasing intensity. It said that authorities target people who raise their voices against these atrocities and human rights violations.

"The cutting down of orchards in Mastung is part of collective punishment, and the arrest of Dr Ayesha Faiz for raising her voice against these crimes is a continuation of the escalation of undeclared martial law in Balochistan. The cycle of collective punishment and Baloch genocide in Balochistan continues unabated with increasing intensity," the BYC said.

"The state's public threats to orchard owners in Mastung through the media, and the threats to destroy the orchards they have painstakingly cultivated, are a clear declaration that the policy of state repression and collective punishment in Balochistan is being accelerated to its most brutal extremes," it added.

The BYC said that Ayesha Faiz's arrest shows that speaking out on political and social issues of Balochistan is strictly banned in Pakistan. It expressed rejection of Pakistani authorities' policy of collective punishment, the destruction of orchards, the intimidation of people and the silencing of peaceful voices through force.

"Whenever a citizen raises their voice against these atrocities and human rights violations, they too are targeted with state power and silenced merely as punishment for speaking out and telling the truth. In this same vein, the arrest of senior citizen and retired police surgeon Dr Ayesha Faiz at the hands of the notorious CTD is yet another example that speaking out on political and social issues in Balochistan has been strictly prohibited," the BYC wrote on X.

Stressing that people of Balochistan will continue the resistance, the BYC stated, "We make it clear that there will be resistance in every possible way against state barbarism and oppression in Balochistan."

The BYC's statement comes after Dr Ayesha Faiz was arrested by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) after a case was registered against her under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), local media reported, citing police sources.

Police said the case was lodged after a press conference was held in Quetta, where Faiz had criticised Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and the provincial Home Minister, The Balochistan Post reported.

A few days back, Faiz, while addressing a press conference, highlighted the political situation of Balochistan, its historical background and recent developments. She also spoke about the role of women in the Baloch independence movement and slammed Bugti over his recent remarks about the bulldozing of apple orchards in Mastung and the possible displacement of residents in case of future violent incidents, The Balochistan Post reported.

Police sources said the case against Faiz was lodged under several provisions of the Anti-Terrorism Act. However, the police sources have not yet revealed the specific sections used for registering the case, the detailed grounds for her arrest and further information about the legal proceedings.

--IANS

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Dhaka, Sep 6 (IANS) India and Bangladesh on Sunday discussed cooperation and exchanges in the fields of classical music, folk art, heritage conservation, institutional linkages, joint cultural programmes and conferences, particularly as part of Nazrul Borsho celebrations.

The discussions took place during a meeting between India's High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Dinesh Trivedi and Bangladesh's Minister of Cultural Affairs, Nitai Roy Chowdhury. Bangladesh's Minister of State for Cultural Affairs Ali Nawaz Mahmud Khayyam was present during the meeting.

"The discussion highlighted the deep-rooted cultural connection between the peoples of the two countries and the importance of strengthening cultural engagement. They discussed potential cooperation and exchanges in the fields of classical music, folk art, heritage conservation, institutional linkages and joint cultural programs and conferences, especially as part of Nazrul Borsho celebrations, which are all aimed at promoting people-to-people ties," the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh posted on X.

On September 2, the Indian envoy held separate meetings with Bangladesh's Speaker of the National Parliament, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, and Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal at the Parliament in Dhaka.

The discussions centred on ways to strengthen parliamentary cooperation and exchanges between India and Bangladesh.

During the meeting, Trivedi underscored the importance of legislative engagement in fostering closer people-to-people connections between the people of the two countries.

"High Commissioner underlined that engagement between the two Parliaments is vital to strengthen people-to-people ties between the two sovereign, democratic countries of India and Bangladesh", the Indian mission posted on X.

"The discussion included opportunities for formation of Parliamentary Friendship Groups, mutual visits of Parliamentary delegations under the guidance of both the Speakers, cooperation between Parliamentary committees and digitisation of Parliamentary records," it added.

Trivedi also reiterated the invitation extended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to the dignitaries to visit India at their earliest convenience.

On September 1, Trivedi held a meeting with Bangladesh's Minister of Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Abdul Moyeen Khan and discussed deepening the ties between the two nations. Minister of State Mir Shahe Alam was present during the meeting.

In a post on X, the Indian High Commission in Bangladesh wrote, "On the occasion of the 48th founding anniversary of BNP, the High Commissioner extended his greetings. The discussion emphasised deepening the relations between the people of India and Bangladesh. They also discussed various ways to further strengthen the local government framework, which is a common priority for both democracies."

--IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) India on Sunday backed the United Nations General Assembly's (UNGA) resolution on an equal-area world map, while maintaining that the country's sovereign territory, including the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must be depicted in accordance with India’s official map, and stressed that inaccurate depiction is "unacceptable."

In response to media queries regarding a UN General Assembly resolution on an equal-area world map, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “Correct the Map: Rebalancing Global Cartographic Representation and Promoting Equitable Representation of the World’s Regions, Particularly Africa” on 4 September 2026."

"Its purpose is to encourage the use of equal-area map projections that preserve the relative sizes of continental landmasses. The resolution neither adopts nor authenticates any particular world map, nor does it address political cartography, including international boundaries, disputed territories or place names," he added.

Jaiswal said India explained its vote in favour of the resolution and highlighted that it does not endorse any specific map, projection, or depiction of national boundaries.

"India voted in favour of the resolution and also made an explanation of vote stressing on the underlying principle of promoting equal - area cartographic representation. We also highlighted that the resolution does not constitute endorsement of any specific map, projection or depiction of national boundaries. India’s sovereign territory, including the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, must be depicted in accordance with India’s official map. Any inaccurate or misleading depiction is unacceptable. Our position on India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is clear, consistent and non-negotiable," he said.

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday endorsed a resolution promoting map projections that more accurately reflect the true size of continents -- the culmination of an African-led campaign against the 16th-century Mercator projection, still the most widely used map in the world.

The resolution was adopted with 164 votes in favour; six countries -- Estonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Moldova, Serbia and Ukraine -- abstained, while the US was the only nation which voted against the resolution.

The resolution does not ban the Mercator projection or impose a replacement. However, it encourages governments, schools, international organisations and technology companies to use the Equal Earth projection and other so-called equal-area maps when relative size matters, and to teach the limitations of any flat map in representing a spherical planet.

--IANS

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Kathmandu, Sep 6 (IANS) An India-born tech entrepreneur in the US has launched a stablecoin-based campaign to support people affected by floods in Nepal and contribute to the Government of Nepal's Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund.

The campaign allows people around the world to donate in stablecoins through NepalRelief.org, with the funds converted into local currency and directed to the government's relief fund.

Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon Labs, one of the world's most widely adopted blockchain platforms and an infrastructure layer for the next generation of payments and financial activity, who was born in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand, India, launched the donation campaign using stablecoins.

A stablecoin is a type of cryptocurrency designed to maintain a stable value by being pegged to a real-world asset, such as the US dollar.

As of 9:30 a.m Sunday (Nepal time), $173,202 (NPR 26.23 million) had been collected, according to NepalRelief.org.

"Stablecoins work best when money has to move fast to people who need it," Nailwal wrote on LinkedIn, adding that the initiative was designed to use blockchain technology to enable donations to reach the Nepal government's relief fund as local currency.

The campaign is powered by Polygon Labs' Open Money Stack, Coinme and Cross River, a New Jersey-based bank involved in digital lending.

Cross River Bank has also confirmed the donation campaign and called on people to donate in stablecoins through NepalRelief.org.

"Our care and concern go out to everyone affected in Nepal, to the families still waiting for word, and to the rescue workers, volunteers, and neighbours reaching communities that are cut off," it said on LinkedIn.

Nailwal also highlighted the close historical, cultural and family ties between Nepal and India as a personal motivation for supporting the initiative.

"No one's pain matters more because of geography. But some tragedies just hit differently when they touch a place that's part of your own story, and Nepal has always felt close to home for me," Nailwal wrote.

Recalling his roots in India's Uttarakhand region near Nepal, he said communities on both sides of the border have remained connected for generations through family, culture, faith, food, trade and everyday life.

"India and Nepal have what we often call 'Roti-Beti ka rishta' -- ties of family and shared life that run far deeper than a line on a map," he said, referring to the close people-to-people relationship between the two countries.

He also recalled Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent reference to the people of Nepal as "brothers and sisters".

"I want to do my small part to stand with them, and I hope you'll join me," he said, urging people around the world to contribute to relief and rebuilding efforts.

Although cryptocurrency transactions are illegal in Nepal, the campaign organisers said they worked with the Nepali government to obtain approval for the initiative.

Bal Krishna Joshi, a Nepali tech entrepreneur who founded Xuno, a US-based fintech company that facilitates digital remittance transfers, helped the campaign organisers connect with the Nepali government to facilitate the campaign.

"A heartfelt thanks to the Government of Nepal for approving Cross River and Polygon Labs' crypto campaign to support the people of Nepal and contribute to the Government of Nepal's Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund," Joshi wrote on LinkedIn.

He said the campaign leverages blockchain technology to enable global crypto donations that ultimately settle in local currency and go directly to the Government of Nepal's Prime Minister's Disaster Relief Fund.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Sep 6 (IANS) India is emerging as a crucial supplier of diesel to Europe as Russian exports remain severely constrained and US shipments begin to weaken, with Indian refiners accounting for around 60 per cent of diesel volumes transiting the Bab-el-Mandeb to Europe in August, according to energy intelligence firm Vortexa.

Around 2,00,000 barrels per day (bpd) of diesel, or gasoil, transited the Bab-el-Mandeb in August on vessels bound for Europe. The volume was close to year-ago levels after flows through the strategically important shipping route had nearly stalled in March and April. India supplied roughly 60 per cent of the August volumes, highlighting the growing importance of Indian refineries to Europe's eastern diesel supply.

India's position is underpinned by its large refining capacity. The country is the world's fourth-largest refiner, with installed capacity of 258.1 million tonnes per annum, significantly higher than domestic fuel demand. This surplus has enabled Indian refiners to remain major exporters of petroleum products.

India exported 61.5 million tonnes of petroleum products during 2025-26, making it one of the world's largest exporters of refined fuels. Increasingly, these products are finding markets across Europe and, in some cases, Russia, as sanctions, refinery disruptions and changes in global trade routes reshape refined-product flows.

However, the sustainability of India's growing role in Europe's diesel market is coming under scrutiny as crude supplies into the country tighten. Crude and condensate shipments into India fell for a second consecutive month in August to around 3.8 million bpd, compared with 4.8 million bpd a year earlier, Vortexa data showed.

The pressure on European diesel supplies is particularly pronounced because Russian exports, once a major source of the region's supply, have remained largely absent. Russia's seaborne diesel and gasoil exports averaged only around 1,50,000 bpd during the first 25 days of August, down by about 6,10,000 bpd from a year earlier and 81 per cent below the five-year seasonal average, according to Vortexa.

Even the lifting or partial relaxation of Russia's diesel export restrictions from September 1 may not result in an immediate recovery in supplies. Continued Ukrainian drone attacks have disrupted Russian refineries and export infrastructure, with 32 attacks on refineries recorded during July and August.

--IANS

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Nanchang, Sep 6 (IANS) Two people have been confirmed dead and 10 others remain missing after a mudslide and landslide struck the city of Ji'an in east China's Jiangxi Province on Saturday.

Firefighters found the body of one of the previously missing people in a collapsed house in Mingkeng Village in the town of Gaoping on Sunday morning, according to reporters at the site.

The disaster happened after days of torrential rain caused by Typhoon Saudel, Xinhua news agency reported.

Two other people have been rescued, and they are in stable conditions. All-out search and rescue operations are underway, while efforts continued to relocate affected residents and prevent secondary disasters.

As of 10 p.m., more than 640 rescuers have arrived at the site for rescue and search, according to the county flood control and drought relief headquarters. The first batch of firefighters with life detectors, drones and sniffer dogs arrived at the site at 11 a.m. by detouring over the mountains, as the road leading to the village was damaged.

So far, 39 villagers have been evacuated to safety. In neighboring areas, more than 5,300 people have been relocated to guard against potential disasters.

Workers are still repairing the road leading to the village and power lines. Telecommunications services have been restored.

Following the disaster, the Jiangxi provincial committee for disaster prevention, mitigation and relief issued a Level-III provincial emergency response for disaster relief at noon on Saturday, as Typhoon Saudel had left around 161,500 residents affected in the province.

China's Ministry of Natural Resources raised its geological disaster response for Jiangxi from Level IV to III at 11 a.m. Saturday and dispatched a work team to the site to guide rescue efforts.

The China National Commission for Disaster Reduction and the Ministry of Emergency Management activated a Level-IV national emergency response for natural disaster relief, and sent a work team and an emergency survey team with equipment including slope radar to assist with rescue operations.

The National Development and Reform Commission on Saturday allocated 20 million yuan (2.95 million U.S. dollars) from the central natural disaster relief funds to support emergency rescue and disaster relief work in Jiangxi.

The fund will be used for the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure, including roads and water conservancy facilities, as well as public service facilities such as schools and hospitals, in a bid to restore normal production and daily life in the affected areas as soon as possible.

China has a four-tier emergency response system, with Level I being the most severe.

--IANS

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Jakarta, Sep 6 (IANS) Indonesia's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport near Jakarta was temporarily closed early Sunday after volcanic ash from an eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau was detected in the airport area, disrupting dozens of flights, the Ministry of Transportation said.

Lukman F. Laisa, the ministry's director general of civil aviation, said the disruption affected both international and domestic flights at Indonesia's main airport.

A total of 16 international flights were canceled, seven delayed and five rescheduled, with affected routes including Singapore, Hong Kong, Sydney, Seoul, Doha, Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur, Xinhua news agency reported.

For domestic services, four flights were canceled and one was diverted, affecting routes including Lampung, Denpasar and Surabaya.

Lukman said aviation authorities were continuing to monitor Mount Anak Krakatau's activity and coordinate with airlines, the airport operator, air navigation service provider and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency to adjust flight operations based on volcanic ash conditions.

Earlier on Monday, Mount Sinabung in Indonesia's North Sumatra province erupted, sending volcanic ash over the nearby city of Berastagi, a local monitoring official said.

Armen Putra, head of the Sinabung Volcano Observation Post, said a thick, dark ash column rose about 3,500 meters above the summit and drifted east and southeast.

The eruption was recorded on a seismogram with a maximum amplitude of 120 millimetres and lasted about one hour. Volcanic ash blanketed roads and vehicles in Berastagi, reducing visibility in the area.

Authorities urged residents to wear masks and remain vigilant, while schools in affected areas advised students and teachers to wear masks when outdoors.

Mount Sinabung remains at Level II, or Alert status. Activities are prohibited within a three-kilometre radius of the summit and within 4.5 kilometres in the southeast sector. Residents near rivers originating from the volcano have also been warned of potential lahar flows.

In May, three people were killed after Mount Dukono erupted in Indonesia's North Maluku province.

Mount Dukono erupted at around 7:40 am local time on May 8, sending a column of volcanic ash up to about 10 km into the sky.

--IANS

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Seoul, Sep 6 (IANS) Tourist complaints in South Korea have hit a record high this year, data showed on Sunday, with problems ranging from reckless taxi driving to overcharging at shopping malls.

A total of 1,753 complaints were filed nationwide between January and July this year, already surpassing the 1,744 cases reported last year, according to the data compiled by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO).

The growing number of complaints has raised calls for South Korea to come up with measures to improve tourism services, particularly as foreign visitors have complained of excessive accommodation cancellation fees and other issues during major events, such as K-pop supergroup BTS' concerts, reports Yonhap news agency.

According to the data, the total number of complaints from foreign visitors fell during the COVID-19 pandemic but has risen steadily since 2023 and reached 1,744 last year, with the figure for this year already surpassing the annual total of 2025 in just seven months.

By region, Seoul recorded the most complaints at 665, followed by the southeastern city of Busan with 594, Incheon with 176 and the southern resort island of Jeju with 155.

Busan, which attracted some 110,000 visitors for BTS' world tour concerts in June, saw complaints more than double from 239 cases reported for all of last year.

Tourists complained most frequently about accommodations, with 500 cases involving one-sided reservation cancellations and excessive cancellation fees.

Unfriendly service and overcharging at stores came next with 376 cases, followed by poor airport and airline services with 186 cases and another 182 cases complaining of taxi drivers refusing to use meters or driving recklessly.

Foreign visitors accounted for 84.3 percent of all complaints, with Chinese nationals filing the largest number of complaints at 680, followed by Japanese at 263 and Taiwanese at 182.

Experts have called for efforts from both the government and the private sector to improve tourist satisfaction to keep the tourism boom going, as this year marked the first time the country's foreign visitor count surpassed 10 million before the end of the first half.

"As the number of tourists has grown and the tourism industry has expanded, complaints and other negative indicators have also increased," Yoon Ji-hwan, a tourism professor at Kyung Hee University, said.

Yoon also warned that negative experiences shared on social media could quickly spread and hurt the tourism industry.

—IANS

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United Nations, Sep 6 (IANS) In a cartographic push to reflect the Global South more accurately, the General Assembly has backed a world map that shows the true size of continents and nations.

In a resolution adopted with India's backing, the Assembly called on Friday for the adoption of the Equal Earth Projection map in place of popular maps like those using the Mercator Projection, which exaggerate the size of countries in the north.

The US was the sole objector to the resolution that was carried with 164 votes, with six abstentions.

The Mercator Projection, named for the 16th century Flemish mapmaker Gerardus Mercator, is still the most common basis for maps used around the world.

Mercator created the map for marine navigation as Europeans began their colonial conquests and it reflected the skewed worldview of that era in literal terms.

Togo's Foreign Minister Robert Dussey, whose country led the campaign for the change, said, “Correcting the map means recognising that every region of the world deserves to be represented accurately and with dignity".

The representation of India in the Equal Earth Projection does not change much.

The only discernable difference is that the peninsular part of India is slightly less angular than in the Mercator Projections, widening out a tiny bit in the Equal Earth Projection.

However, the US shown smaller in the Equal Earth map, truly reflecting its physical area relative to other countries.

The visual shrinkage on maps hit a nerve for the US under President Donald Trump, who seeks to enlarge its physical territory by threatening to capture Canada and Greenland.

Yaryna Ferencevych, a deputy US representative, denounced the Assembly resolution as part of "the much larger and more radical ideological project".

She said the UN was losing its credibility because of efforts like this.

Dussey said, “Our approach is not directed against any nation, any civilisation or any cartographic tradition".

"A fair map does not change the geography of the world; it changes how we see the world", he added. “And when our perspective becomes more just, it paves the way for greater understanding, respect and peace among nations".

Russia that looms large on Mercator maps is considerably reduced, but it supported the resolution describing it as anti-colonial.

The Assembly resolution is only advisory and does not require any nation or institution to ditch the Mercator-type maps for the Equal Earth maps.

The European Union, which supported the resolution, emphasised that it "is strictly limited to cartographic representation for educational, awareness-raising and geographical literacy purposes".

Earlier on Friday, the French Foreign Minister said his country was ditching the Mercator maps.

He said at Sorbonne University in Paris his ministry "will abandon the Mercator projection in favour of map representations tailored to specific uses, more faithful to actual surface areas".

The distortions in the Mercator maps are seen starkly in the depictions of Greenland, which is shown as having the same area as Africa, which has 14 times more physical area, and in Europe, which is shown as larger than South America, which is about 75 per cent bigger by area.

--IANS

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