China calls US Capitol Hill attack as 'Karma', world leaders stress need to uphold democratic values

Agencies
January 8, 2021

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Washington, Jan 8: As the unfolding of the ghastly attack inside Capitol Hill in Washington by outgoing US President Donald Trumps supporters shocked the US and the rest of the world, a large section of the people in China celebrated the incident and called it ‘Karma.

"Many Chinese netizens ‘confessed' in their comments that they saw the ‘chaos in the US' as revenge. After inciting so much chaos around the world under the pretext of ‘freedom and democracy,' the US finally tasted the ‘karma' of its double standards," Chinese news platform Global Times noted.

"America is in ruinous decline because its government and economic system was forged into something rotten and was neglecting society in many ways," China Daily quoted Mario Cavolo, an American writer living in China.

However, world leaders underlined the need to uphold the pillars of democracy. Trump's own aide Vice President Mike Pence came out strongly against the rioters.

"The violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must respect Law Enforcement officers and immediately leave the building," Pence said in a tweet.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his tweet said: "Orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue. The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests."

Calling the incident "disgraceful" UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted saying that "it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power".

Capital Hill incident shocking but does not defeat democracy.

While China has reasons to believe that the Capitol Hill incident strengthens its own case of undermining democracy and promoting a single party system, experts said that though the unprecedented incident was shocking, it did not strangle democracy altogether.

Former ambassador Pinak Chakravarty said that though the incident was unexpected, democracies can be chaotic but need to be nurtured and upheld.

"These were incredible scenes and quite unexpected too but also underlined the desperate nature that Trump finds himself in. However, he hasn't succeeded and it has now cleared the way for a change over. Though this is not a good advertisement for American democracy, all democracies are a bit chaotic at times, which countries like China would not understand," Chakravarty, also a visiting fellow at ORF, said.

An analyst on the condition of anonymity said that China does not allow dissent but the fact that Trump has agreed to a smooth transition showed that the voices of the people finally mattered.

"China should not comment on democracy, something that the country has never experienced," the analyst said.

"It is shocking and the lesson we learn is the democracy will always remain work in progress, it needs to be protected at all times," Narendra Taneja, economist and an expert on energy security told IndiaNarrative.com.

However, Taneja said that the incident will only boost President-Elect Joe Biden's support not just within his own country but the world across.

"Typically Biden would have had to deal with the baggage of outgoing President Donald Trump but this incident will free him of that, he can start on a clean slate," Taneja said, adding that China's understanding of democracy is negligible.

Experts also said that Biden will have to deal with a polarised society which could pose a "big challenge".

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News Network
November 21,2025

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Local authorities say the Israeli military has expanded the so-called “yellow line” truce demarcation in Gaza City and repositioned its forces deeper into the territory in violation of a ceasefire agreement that came into force on October 10, besieging dozens of Palestinian families.

Gaza’s Government Media Office announced in a statement on Thursday that Israeli forces widened the boundary by shifting the markers, and advanced roughly 300 meters (984 feet) into the neighborhoods of Ash-Shaaf, An-Nazzaz and Baghdad Street.

The move pushed further into civilian areas, trapping families who were unable to flee as tanks rolled forward, it added.

“The fate of many of these families remains unknown amidst the shelling that targeted the area,” the office said, adding that the expansion of the yellow line shows a “blatant disregard” for the ceasefire deal.

On Friday, sources said the Israeli military carried out continued air and artillery strikes inside the so-called “yellow line” east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

According to the reports, Israeli warplanes and tanks targeted areas within the zone. One Palestinian was reported killed and several others wounded in the strikes, the sources said.

The fresh aggression came only a day after 25 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis on Wednesday.

The media office reported that Israel has consistently violated the truce deal since its implementation last month, with near-daily attacks by air, artillery and direct shootings.

The office said over 400 violations have been documented. These breaches have resulted in the deaths of more than 300 Palestinians and left hundreds injured.

The Government Media Office in Gaza urged the guarantors of the ceasefire — the US, Egypt, Qatar and Turkey — to take swift action to halt the ongoing violations and facilitate the delivery of food, shelter materials, medical aid, and infrastructure equipment.

The so-called “yellow line,” set out in the agreement between Israel and Hamas resistance movement, refers to a non-physical partition where the Israeli military repositioned itself when the truce deal took effect.

It has allowed Israel, which routinely fires at Palestinians who approach the line, to retain control over more than half of the Gaza Strip.

International bodies, including the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry, the International Association of Genocide Scholars, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, B’Tselem, and other rights groups, have concluded that the Israeli war on Gaza amounts to genocide.

In the attacks in Gaza since October 2023, Israel has killed at least 69,546 people and injured 170,833 others, leveling large swaths of the territory and displacing almost all of the population. 

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News Network
November 21,2025

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Udupi: The Malpe Police have arrested two men from Uttar Pradesh for allegedly sharing classified information related to Indian Navy vessels with individuals in Pakistan, posing a serious threat to national security.

According to a complaint filed by the CEO of Udupi Cochin Shipyard, Malpe—an institution under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways—the prime accused, Rohit (29), was working as an insulator through subcontractor M/S Shushma Marine Pvt Ltd. He had earlier served at Cochin Shipyard Limited in Kochi, Kerala, where naval ships are under construction.

Udupi SP Hariram Shankar said the accused had unlawfully shared, via WhatsApp, confidential identification numbers of Navy-related ships and other classified details while working in Kerala, allegedly for illegal gains.

After joining the Malpe shipyard unit, Rohit reportedly continued collecting sensitive information through a friend in Kochi and circulated it to unauthorised individuals, violating national security protocols and potentially endangering India’s sovereignty, unity, and integrity.

Based on the complaint, Malpe Police registered a case under Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

A police team led by Karkala Subdivision Assistant Superintendent of Police Harsha Priyamvada—along with PSI Anil Kumar D, ASI Harish, and PC Ravi Jadhav—conducted the investigation and arrested the two accused, identified as Rohit (29) and Santri (37), both residents of Sultanpur district, Uttar Pradesh.

The duo was produced before the court, which remanded them in judicial custody till December 3. Further investigation is in progress.

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News Network
November 27,2025

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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday announced that he will convene a high-level meeting in New Delhi with senior leaders — including Rahul Gandhi, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar — to resolve the escalating leadership turmoil in Karnataka and “put an end to the confusion.”

Kharge said the discussions would focus on the way forward for the ruling party, as rumours of a possible leadership change continue to swirl. The speculation has intensified after the Congress government crossed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, reviving talk of an alleged 2023 “power-sharing agreement” between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar.

“After reaching Delhi, I will call three or four important leaders and hold discussions. Once we talk, we will decide how to move ahead and end this confusion,” Kharge told reporters in Bengaluru, according to PTI.

When asked specifically about calling Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar to Delhi, he responded: “Certainly, we should call them. We will discuss with them and settle the issue.”

He confirmed that Rahul Gandhi, the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and other senior members would be part of the deliberations. “After discussing with everyone, a decision will be made,” he said.

Meanwhile, Siddaramaiah held a separate strategy meeting at his Bengaluru residence with ministers and leaders seen as his close confidants, including G. Parameshwara, Satish Jarkiholi, H.C. Mahadevappa, K. Venkatesh and K.N. Rajanna.
Signalling calm, the Chief Minister told reporters, “Will go to Delhi if the high command calls.”

Shivakumar echoed a similar stance, saying he too would head to the national capital if summoned by the party leadership.

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