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beardedmrbean · 1 year ago

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inaugurated a grand temple to Hindu god Ram in the flashpoint city of Ayodhya.

He said it heralded "a new era" for India - the temple replaces a 16th-Century mosque torn down by Hindu mobs in 1992, sparking riots in which nearly 2,000 people died.

Top film stars and cricketers were among guests at the event in Ayodhya.

But some Hindu seers and most of the opposition boycotted it, saying Mr Modi was using it for political gain.

General elections are due in India in the next few months and Mr Modi's political rivals say the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be seeking votes in the temple's name in a country where 80% of the population is Hindu.

Critics have also accused the government of exploiting a religious celebration in a country which - according to its constitution - is secular. For Muslims, India's biggest minority, the event evoked fear and painful memories, members of the community in Ayodhya told the BBC in the run-up to Monday's ceremony.

Televised live, it showed Mr Modi performing religious rituals inside the temple's sanctum along with priests and Mohan Bhagwat, head of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) - the ideological fountainhead of Hindu nationalist parties.

The complex history of India's Ayodhya holy site

Transforming a flashpoint holy city into the ‘Hindu Vatican’

"Today's date will go down in history," Mr Modi said after the event. "After years of struggle and countless sacrifices, Lord Ram has arrived [home]. I want to congratulate every citizen of the country on this historic occasion."

The temple has been constructed at a cost of $217m (£170m), funded from private donations. Only the ground floor was opened - the rest is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The construction work is part of a revamp for the city, estimated to cost more than $3bn.

The building of the Ram temple in Ayodhya fulfils a decades-long Hindu nationalist pledge. Many Hindus believe the Babri mosque was built by Muslim invaders on the ruins of a temple where the Hindu god was born.

The movement to build the temple helped propel the BJP into political prominence in the 1990s.

There was a festive atmosphere as tens of thousands of chanting Hindu devotees waved flags and beat drums - military helicopters showered flower petals on the temple. Saffron flags with pictures of Lord Ram line streets in the city festooned with marigolds, as do banners with the faces of Mr Modi and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Some of India's biggest celebrities, including Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, attended.

Temple rises from ruins of one of India’s darkest days

Listen: The temple at the heart of Modi's India re-election bid

Transforming a flashpoint holy city into the ‘Hindu Vatican’

In many other northern cities Hindus lit lamps, and saffron flags carrying images of Ram are fluttering on rooftops, including in several parts of Delhi. Cinemas screened the event, and big screens relayed pictures from Ayodhya to town squares and residential neighbourhoods.

The ceremony, called Pran Pratishtha, which loosely translates from Sanskrit into "establishment of life force", lasted about an hour. Hindus believe that chanting mantras and performing rituals around a fire will infuse sacred life in an idol or a photograph of a deity.

Several domestic TV stations built huge sets by the side of the river Saryu, a tributary of the Ganges, just behind the temple, and provided wall-to-wall coverage of the event, some proclaiming the moment of consecration as the start of "Ram Rajya" (Lord Ram's rule) in India.

Hindus celebrated the inauguration in other countries too. Massive billboards of Lord Ram graced Times Square in New York, where a group of devotees braved the freezing weather to gather in the middle of the night.

Temples all across the United Kingdom - where Indians are one of the largest diaspora groups - marked the event. Colourful posters had been shared inviting devotees to honour the occasion and celebrations involved flowers, sweets and music. There were also some celebrations in Muslim-majority Dubai - where Indians are a significant population - but from Indian news reports these appeared more muted than elsewhere.

In 2019, the Supreme Court gave the disputed land to Hindus after a protracted legal battle followed the mosque's demolition. Muslims were given a plot outside the city for a mosque but have yet to build one.

One member of the community the BBC spoke to in Ayodhya ahead of Monday's inauguration agreed that Hindus have the right to build the temple after the Supreme Court gave them the site.

"We did not accept that decision happily, but what can we do," he said. Another man said he was happy Hindus are building the temple - "but we are also sad because it was built after destroying a mosque".

The new three-storey temple - made with pink sandstone and anchored by black granite - stretches across 7.2 acres in a 70-acre complex. A 51-inch (4.25-ft) statue of the deity, specially commissioned for the temple, was unveiled last week. The idol has been placed on a marble pedestal in the sanctum sanctorum.

Thousands of police were deployed for Monday's event, despite Mr Modi having appealed to pilgrims not to turn up and to watch the ceremony on television. In many states a full or half day holiday was called, with schools and colleges closed and stock markets shut.

The build-up to a demolition that shook India

The man who helped Lord Ram win the Ayodhya case

But a sour note was struck with some top religious seers saying that as the temple was not yet complete, it was against Hinduism to perform the rituals there, and many opposition leaders deciding to stay away.

Some opposition-ruled states also announced their own plans for the day - West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she would pray at the iconic temple to goddess Kali in Kolkata and then lead an all-faith rally. The eastern state of Odisha (Orissa) unveiled huge plans to bring pilgrims to the Jagannath temple in Puri, one of the holiest sites for Hindus.

Authorities say they expect more than 150,000 visitors per day once the temple in Ayodhya is fully ready.

To accommodate this expected rush, new hotels are being built and existing ones spruced up as part of a major makeover and in recent weeks, a new airport and railway station have opened.

Officials say they are building a "world-class city where people come as pilgrims and tourists", but many local people have told the BBC that their homes, shops and "structures of religious nature" have been either completely or partially demolished to expand roads and set up other facilities.

#nunyas news #shocked they got this far with it #gotta be some super ticked off people

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mariacallous · 11 months ago

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India vote count shows Modi alliance heading to majority but no landslide

NEW DELHI, June 4 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's alliance was winning a majority of seats about halfway through the count in the general election on Tuesday, but the numbers were well short of the landslide predicted in exit polls, TV channels said.

Modi's own Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was falling short of a majority of its own in the 543-member parliament, the trends showed. Having to depend on allies to form the government could introduce some uncertainty in policy-making as Modi has ruled with an authoritative hold in the last decade.

The Hindu nationalist BJP won a majority of its own when it swept to power in 2014, ending India's era of unstable coalition governments, and repeated the feat in 2019.

The prospect of Modi having to rely on allies spooked markets with stocks falling steeply. The blue-chip NIFTY 50 (.NSEI), opens new tab was down 4.8% and the S&P BSE Sensex (.BSESN), opens new tab was down 4.7% at 0833 GMT.

The rupee also fell sharply against the dollar and benchmark bond yields were up.

"A narrower-than-expected victory for Modi's alliance may raise doubts about the new government's ability to push through politically difficult reforms seen as crucial to sustain India's economic growth, which is already the world's fastest," said Vasu Menon, managing director of investment strategy at OCBC in Singapore.

"Despite this, the fact remains that the BJP-led alliance is still set to win a third term, which means continuity in the government's infrastructure and manufacturing-led drive to boost economic growth."

Markets had soared on Monday after exit polls on June 1 projected Modi and BJP would register a big victory, and the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was seen getting a two-thirds majority and more.

At 0900 GMT, TV channels showed the NDA was ahead in nearly 300 of the 543 elective seats in parliament, where 272 is a simple majority, with about half the votes counted.

Full results are likely in several hours.

They showed BJP accounted for under 250 of the seats in which the NDA was leading, compared to the 303 it won in 2019.

The opposition INDIA alliance led by Rahul Gandhi's centrist Congress party was leading in over 220 seats, higher than expected. Congress alone was leading in nearly 100 seats, almost double the 52 it won in 2019 - a surprise jump that is expected to boost Gandhi's standing.

However, politicians and analysts said it was too early to get a firm idea of the voting trends since counting still had some way to go.

"It's a fair assessment to say 400 at the moment certainly looks distant," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli told the India Today TV channel, referring to some projections that gave over 400 seats to the NDA.

"But we need to wait...to have a final picture of the seats because the exit polls speak of a massive sweep, (and) the counting trends currently don't seem to match that," he said.

"The BJP-NDA will form the government, that trend is very clear from the start," he added.

POLICY SLOWDOWN

TV exit polls broadcast after voting ended on June 1 projected a big win for Modi, but exit polls have often got election outcomes wrong in India. Nearly one billion people were registered to vote, of which 642 million turned out.

However, if Modi's victory is confirmed even by a slim margin, his BJP and its allies will have triumphed in a vitriolic campaign in which parties accused each other of religious bias and of posing a threat to sections of the population.

Investors had cheered the prospects of another Modi term, expecting it to deliver further years of strong economic growth and pro-business reforms, while the anticipated two-thirds majority in parliament would allow major changes to the constitution.

"The biggest disappointment for the market is the fact that BJP does not have a majority (yet)...that opens up a Pandora's box because all the other players...are all quite volatile," said Dipan Mehta, founder director at Elixir Equities in Mumbai.

Bank of Baroda economist Sonal Badhan said the lack of a majority for BJP on its own could mean "some slowdown in policy decisions can be expected".

The seven-phase, seven-week poll that began on April 19 was held in searing summer heat with temperatures touching nearly 50° Celsius (122° Fahrenheit) in some parts.

More than 66% of registered voters turned out, just one percentage point lower than the previous election in 2019, squashing pre-poll concerns that voters might shun a contest thought to be a foregone conclusion in Modi's favour.

Modi, 73, who first swept to power in 2014 by promising growth and change, is seeking to be only the second prime minister after India's independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru to win three straight terms.

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saraswati-group-colleges · 29 days ago

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Top B.Tech Colleges for Artificial Intelligence in India: A Complete Guide

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing industries worldwide, and India is at the forefront of AI education. With increasing demand for AI professionals, many top engineering colleges now offer specialized B.Tech programs in AI. If you’re looking for the best colleges to pursue a B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence, this guide will help you make an informed decision.

Why Choose a B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence?

High Demand – AI professionals are in high demand across various industries.

Lucrative Career Opportunities – AI engineers earn competitive salaries.

Innovative Field – New technology in machine learning, robotics, and data science.

Global Scope – AI skills are valued worldwide.

Top B.Tech Colleges for Artificial Intelligence in India

1. Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)

IIT Hyderabad – Offers a dedicated B.Tech in AI.

IIT Delhi – Provides AI and Data Science courses.

IIT Madras – Known for AI research and projects.

2. Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIITs)

IIIT Hyderabad – Leading AI and ML research.

IIIT Bangalore – Focuses on AI-driven applications.

IIIT Allahabad – Strong AI curriculum.

3. National Institutes of Technology (NITs)

NIT Warangal – Offers AI as a specialization.

NIT Trichy – Focus on AI and ML integration.

NIT Surathkal – Provides AI electives.

4. Private Engineering Colleges

SG College of Engineering – Offers an advanced AI curriculum.

Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) – Specialized AI courses.

SRM Institute of Science and Technology – AI and Data Science programs.

Amity University – AI-focused B.Tech degree.

Entrance Exams for AI Engineering Colleges

Most AI-focused B.Tech programs require students to clear national or state-level entrance exams, such as:

JEE Advanced – Required for IIT admissions.

JEE Main – For NITs, IIITs, and top private colleges.

BITSAT – Entrance test for BITS Pilani.

SRMJEEE – Required for SRM University.

VITEEE – For VIT admissions.

Career Opportunities After B.Tech in AI

After completing a B.Tech in AI, graduates can explore various career paths:

AI Engineer – Develops AI models and applications.

Machine Learning Engineer – Focuses on data-driven predictions.

Data Scientist – Works on big data analysis and insights.

Robotics Engineer – Develops AI-driven automation.

AI Researcher – Innovates new AI technologies.

Conclusion

Selecting an appropriate B.Tech college for Artificial Intelligence will be an important first step in establishing a successful career path in an innovative field. Whether you aim for an IIT, IIIT, NIT, or a reputed private institution like SG College of Engineering, ensure the program offers strong industry exposure, research opportunities, and the latest AI advancements. Start your preparations today and take a fascinating first step into AI!

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news365timesindia · 2 months ago

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[ad_1] Paromita Das GG News Bureau New Delhi, 8th Feb. The Changing Political Landscape in Delhi As the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025 reach their final stage, all eyes are on the vote count, which is expected to determine whether the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will finally reclaim power in the national capital after 27 years. Exit polls have predicted a landslide victory for the BJP, signaling a potential end to the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) decade-long dominance under Arvind Kejriwal’s leadership. If these projections hold, Delhi’s political landscape is on the brink of a historic transformation, with BJP making a resounding comeback. However, past elections have shown that exit polls do not always translate into final results, and AAP remains hopeful of defying predictions. The party, which has enjoyed significant voter trust in previous elections, dismisses the exit polls as misleading, pointing to its strong grassroots presence and welfare schemes. Meanwhile, BJP leaders are confident that Delhi voters have chosen change, bolstered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s popularity and the party’s focus on governance and infrastructure development. With the official results set to be declared today, Delhi’s voters, political analysts, and party workers await a decisive verdict that could reshape the capital’s future. Will BJP’s resurgence mark a new era for Delhi, or will AAP stage an unexpected comeback? The final outcome will determine the course of governance in the capital for the next five years. Exit Poll Analysis: Predicting BJP’s Big Win Several reputed agencies have released their exit poll projections, with most predicting a clear majority for BJP. Here’s a breakdown: Exit Poll BJP (Seats) AAP (Seats) Congress (Seats) P-Marq 39 21-31 0-1 Peoples Pulse 51-60 10-19 0 People’s Insight 40-44 25-29 0-2 Matrize 35-40 32-37 0-1 Chanakya 39-44 25-28 2-3 JVC 39-45 22-32 0-2 With 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly, the majority mark stands at 36. Almost all exit polls indicate that BJP will comfortably cross this threshold, with some even suggesting a landslide victory of over 50 seats. Why BJP Is Expected to Win: Key Factors Behind the Shift If BJP does manage to sweep the Delhi elections, it will mark a historic political comeback after nearly three decades. Several factors have contributed to this possible shift in voter sentiment: The Modi Factor and National Sentiment PM Narendra Modi’s popularity has been a game-changer in multiple state elections. The BJP’s success in the 2024 General Elections, coupled with Modi’s focus on Delhi’s infrastructural development, has resonated with voters. His personal brand of leadership, welfare schemes, and vision for Delhi have likely influenced the electorate. AAP’s Governance Fatigue and Controversies AAP’s 10-year rule in Delhi began with massive public support, but recent controversies have dented its image. Allegations of corruption, internal party conflicts, and Kejriwal’s confrontations with the Lieutenant Governor (LG) and central agencies have created political instability. Issues like the liquor policy scam and allegations of mismanagement in Delhi’s education and healthcare models have also weakened AAP’s standing. Anti-Incumbency and Voter Dissatisfaction After two consecutive terms, anti-incumbency sentiment appears to be rising against AAP. Issues like air pollution, water scarcity, traffic congestion, and irregularities in governance have contributed to growing dissatisfaction among Delhi’s residents. BJP’s Strong Election Machinery BJP’s extensive booth-level presence, targeted campaigning, and strategic use of social media have given it an edge. The party’s focus on Hindu voters, outreach to Delhi’s traders and business communities, and strong organizational structure have played a significant role in turning the tide. Congress’s Decline Benefitting BJP Congress has failed to remain relevant in Delhi politics since losing power to AAP in 2013.

Many traditional Congress voters have either shifted to AAP or BJP, further strengthening the latter’s position. AAP’s Counterattack: Can Kejriwal Defy the Predictions? Despite unfavorable exit poll projections, AAP isn’t giving up without a fight. The party has questioned the accuracy of these predictions, pointing to previous miscalculations in Delhi’s 2020 Assembly elections, where exit polls had underestimated AAP’s performance. AAP’s strategy moving forward will likely focus on: Highlighting its governance track record in education, health, and water-electricity subsidies. Presenting itself as a victim of BJP’s political attacks, particularly in cases like the liquor scam investigation. Mobilizing its core voter base, especially among lower-income groups and slum dwellers. While these efforts might help mitigate losses, exit polls indicate that AAP’s grip on Delhi is slipping. Congress: A Party in Decline Once the dominant force in Delhi politics, Congress has been reduced to irrelevance in the state. The party’s failure to rebuild its voter base and its lack of strong leadership have left it struggling to stay in the fight. With most exit polls predicting zero or a maximum of three seats, Congress seems unlikely to make a comeback in Delhi anytime soon. Implications of BJP’s Victory: What It Means for Delhi If BJP forms the government in Delhi, it will mark a new political chapter for the capital. Key changes could include: Stronger alignment with the central government, leading to better coordination on development projects. Reevaluation of AAP’s flagship policies, including subsidies on electricity and water. A new governance model, with BJP focusing on infrastructure, law and order, and economic growth. However, challenges will remain, particularly in addressing the expectations of Delhi’s residents and proving that BJP can deliver on its promises after 27 years out of power. Will Exit Polls Translate to Reality? While the exit poll results heavily favor BJP, it’s essential to remember that predictions don’t always match actual results. Several past elections have shown exit polls overestimating or underestimating parties’ performances. In 2015, exit polls predicted AAP would win around 40 seats, but the party secured a massive 67 out of 70 seats. In 2020, exit polls gave AAP around 50 seats, but it won 62 seats, proving even favorable predictions can be inaccurate. If AAP manages to retain power, it will be a major upset for BJP. However, if BJP’s projected victory materializes, it will be a historic political shift. Conclusion: A Pivotal Moment for Delhi As Delhi eagerly awaits the official results on February 8, the exit polls have set the stage for what could be a major political transformation. If BJP wins, it marks the end of AAP’s decade-long rule and a new political direction for Delhi. If AAP defies predictions, it will be a remarkable political comeback, reinforcing its stronghold in the capital. For Congress, the election remains a test of survival. Regardless of the outcome, these elections will shape Delhi’s governance, policies, and future political dynamics for years to come. The final results will ultimately reveal whether Delhi is ready for change or if AAP still commands the trust of its people. The post Delhi on the Brink of Change: Exit Polls Predict BJP’s Return After 27 Years, AAP Faces Tough Challenge appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates. [ad_2] Source link

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news365times · 2 months ago

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futurepost-in · 3 months ago

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After Tejashwi Yadav's Remark, Rahul Gandhi's Big INDIA Bloc Endorsement

New Delhi: The Congress will contest the Bihar assembly election as part of the Opposition bloc INDIA, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi said at the party’s office in Patna today. Tejashwi Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), a member of the Opposition bloc, had said the INDIA grouping was meant to focus only on Lok Sabha elections. “BJP and RSS have to be defeated in Bihar. We will defeat them by…

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petnews2day · 11 months ago

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10% Polling In First 2 Hours As 96 Seats Across 9 States, J&K Vote Today

New Post has been published on https://petn.ws/PkhQ7

10% Polling In First 2 Hours As 96 Seats Across 9 States, J&K Vote Today

New Delhi: Voters in 96 constituencies across nine states and one Union Territory are voting in the fourth phase of Lok Sabha election today. Andhra Pradesh and Odisha will also pick their next governments in simultaneous election Here are the Top 10 points in this big story: Nine states and one Union Territory — Andhra […]

See full article at https://petn.ws/PkhQ7 #OtherNews

#Other News

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shahananasrin-blog · 2 years ago

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[ad_1] INDIA Alliance Mumbai Meeting: The first meeting of the grouping was held in PatnaNew Delhi/Mumbai: The third formal meeting of the opposition bloc INDIA is being held today in Mumbai where about 63 representatives from 28 opposition parties will take key decisions and finalise the action plan to take on the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. Here are the top 10 updates on this big storyThe alliance leaders had earlier met in Patna and Bengaluru. At Mumbai meeting, they are expected to chalk out a campaign strategy and finalise the formal structure of the bloc.The INDIA block will also announce a coordination committee today for which, sources say, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has asked leaders to give one name each from their party.The alliance is also likely to hold discussions on whether to have a convenor or not. The other agenda at the crucial meeting include appointment of spokespersons, sources say, adding that the grouping's logo will be unveiled later.Besides the coordination committee, there will be four sub-groups to plan the campaign and rallies, handle social media and manage the data, sources said.While West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is learnt to have told the leaders that the bloc should release its manifesto by October 2, Mr Kharge asked them to prepare a common agenda to counter the BJP on national level.Last night, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray hosted a formal dinner for the Opposition leaders. At the meeting, several leaders expressed apprehension about early polls. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the opposition should be ready to take on the NDA's "surprise element strategy and gimmicks."The government has called for a "special session of Parliament" to be held from September 18 to 22, drawing strong criticism from the Opposition. Government sources have, so far, been tight-lipped on possible agendas.The leaders said they have come together to save the Constitution and democracy and that the alliance is working to unite the country. "It is not just a coalition of parties but that of ideas, " said RJD leader Manoj Jha.The first meeting of the grouping was held in Patna on June 23 and the second meeting was convened in Bengaluru in July. The need of the hour is to strengthen the unity and sovereignty of the country, said Former Bihar chief minister Lalu Prasad.The BJP claimed that the members have come together to save their own political interests. "INDIA alliance is agenda-less. Their only agenda is to remove PM Modi from his post. Once PM Modi finds a place in people's minds, not 36 but even if 100 parties come together, they cannot remove him," said Devendra Fadnavis, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister. Post a comment [ad_2]

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funnysideolife · 2 years ago

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Rs 280 cr vanished as another Indian startup founder enjoyed lavish lifestyle

Do you think a Yadav will succeed big in business or Jat will succeed in business or thakur will succeed in business,just forget it for a SC / ST.

These communities do not appreciate education and skills,majority of them want reservation in government jobs.There is no leadership which can weld them as one community ,politician come together from these communities just around election and then ...

Business requires an ecosystem of help and guidance and connection which build trust afcourse talent .

In India this is mostly in the hands of vaishya community.They r today dominant force in business.

Which is unfortunate.

Nehru built the modern temples of India as public sectors which did weld india,which gave high quality affordable education to every one irrespective of their community,but they had to be competitive and think about every body as one indians. Public sector we're never evolved ,still that was the only way to create a good middle class and social stability with indian tinge in it.

I have seen that in public sector there was no indian ,but Chaudhary sahib ,or Tyagi ji or yadav ji Thakur sahib and bla bla.

Did Universe creat money?

What is the purpose of money?

Is it means to connect individual of society in a creative way?

Have we failed as humans to manage means creatively and honestly.

Has money helped in enhancing human values and hence human evolution.

Why today money has become an end to be obtained by any means?

Have we failed to understand that it was just the means to connect individuals so as to evolve them as better humans ?

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a-pramod-sharma · 2 months ago

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दिल्ली में उड़ गई आप, कांग्रेस को हो गया पत्ता साफ ?

youtube

दिल्ली में उड़ गई आप, कांग्रेस को हो गया पत्ता साफ ?

#दिल्ली_के_दिल_में_मोदी #DelhiElectionResults #delhielection2025 #BJPGovernment #news today #newswatchindia #nwbupdate #nwiupdate #delhi election result date 2025 live #delhi election result date 2025 #delhi election result date 2025 counting #delhi election result date 2025 counting live #delhi election date 2025 congress candidate #delhi election latest news #delhi election big news today #Youtube

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india-times · 2 years ago

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Rahul Gandhi At Congress Meet As Karnataka Chief Minister Dilemma Deepens

Siddaramaiah vs DK Shivakumar: Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal are currently holding talks on the Karnataka chief minister issue.

New Delhi: Congress leader DK Shivakumar made it clear today that he would not back down in a tense rivalry with Siddaramaiah over the Karnataka chief minister’s post after the party’s big win in the state on Saturday. But he said he would not resort to “backstabbing or blackmail”, regardless of the party’s decision.

Siddaramaiah spent much of yesterday in Delhi, where he met with the Congress leadership amid reports that he was closer to the finish line than his younger colleague. “Let’s wait and see. I don’t know,” he told reporters cautiously, asked when there would be an announcement.

Party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal held talks on the Karnataka chief minister issue. Mr Kharge will later today meet both Mr Shivakumar and Mr Siddaramaiah.

The party’s leadership was yesterday briefed by a team of observers on the views of the newly elected Karnataka MLAs. The Congress held a secret vote on Sunday, the results of which have reportedly been presented to the party president, who will take the final decision.

The party could announce the name of the next Karnataka Chief Minister in the coming 24 hours, sources said. The biggest challenge is to bring Mr Shivakumar on board.

Mr Shivakumar arrived in Delhi this afternoon after canceling his visit last night at the last minute citing a stomach infection. “The party is my god…We have built this party, I am a part of it and I am not alone in this,” he said before flying out of Bengaluru.

“We have built this party (Congress), we have built this house. I am a part of it…A mother will give everything to her child,” he added, indicating that he expected the party to reward him for his role in Congress’s Karnataka victory.

But he repeated that he would not rebel. “If the party wants, they can give me the responsibility… Ours is a united house, our number is 135. I don’t want to divide anyone here. Whether they like me or not, I am a responsible man. I will not backstab and I will not blackmail,” Mr Shivakumar asserted.

In polls held last week, the Congress won a clear majority in Karnataka, finishing with 135 seats in the 224-member assembly. Its celebrations were, however, tempered with anxiety over the Siddaramaiah versus Shivakumar contest for the top job, which drags on for the third day without a solution.

Mr Siddaramaiah, 75, is a former Chief Minister and Mr Shivakumar, 61, is the party’s Karnataka chief. Both claim to have a majority of MLAs backing their claim to the chief minister’s post.

The Congress has a tough decision to make, with an eye on the long-term impact, especially on next year’s national elections.

In an exclusive interview with NDTV last evening, Mr Shivakumar said he expected his leadership to acknowledge who was behind the emphatic win in Karnataka.

“Sonia Gandhi told me, ‘I have confidence in you that you will deliver Karnataka’. I am sitting here, doing my regular responsibility. You should have the basic courtesy, a bit of gratitude. They should have the courtesy to acknowledge who is behind the win,” the 61-year-old said.

“I won’t blackmail, that’s not me. Don’t perceive anything. I have my own presence of mind. I am not a child. I won’t fall in a trap,” Mr Shivakumar added.

Responding to Mr Siddaramaiah’s claim that he has the support of the MLAs, he said, “I wish him all the best.”

In the run-up to the election, the Congress was able to project a united front, even though the supporters of Mr Shivakumar and Mr Siddaramaiah often publicly clashed.

While Mr Siddaramaiah is seen to be a leader with mass appeal and completed a full term in 2013–18, Mr Shivakumar is known for his strong organisational capabilities, and is considered resourceful and Congress’ troubleshooter during tough times.

Sources close to Mr Shivakumar, however, insist that Mr Siddaramaiah has “never been a party man and has never won any elections for the party”.

#Rahul Gandhi #Congress Meet

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blahblahblaw18 · 2 years ago

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Finding Serenity in the City

On the 3rd of December, 2016, our beloved Supreme Leader was quoted saying “Hum toh fakeer aadmi hai ji, jhola leke chal padenge’ at an election rally in Moradabad. Now I really don’t know what the context of this quote was but six years later, in 2022, I decided that I was done toiling in my little small town and packed off all the dearest of my belongings into a metaphorical ‘jhola’ and left for Delhi... Well, not exactly Delhi... Sonipat. But I prefer saying Delhi because, let’s be honest, saying that I am studying in Delhi sounds a looooootttttt more cooler than saying that I’m studying in a University across Narela road in Jagdishpur Village of Sonipat District. And alsooo, Sonipat is in NCR (or atleast I’d like to believe that it is) so yeh sab chalta hai.

Anyway, for people like me from small towns, going to Delhi is almost like a dream come true. You grow up hearing about the place, reading about it in newspapers and magazines and sitting in the dingy room of your house in your small town, you feel like going to Delhi is the panacea that will resolve all your problems. And I, like millions of others in this country, bought into this story and packed my bags and left for Delhi with a glint in my eyes and hopes in my heart. It was only when I got off that Rajdhani Express and stepped onto the platform at Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station that I realized that this Delhi is much like any other average city... I mean, don’t get me wrong, Dilli hai badi khoobsurat but it was miles miles afar from the Delhi of my imaginations. This Delhi was beautiful, romantic and fashionable, modern and everything which my small town was not but it was also a city that eschewed silence, serenity, calmness, and compassion and pretty much everything else that my small town was.

So when in the middle of the semester, I found myself stuck in the middle of this big city which I neither belonged to nor related to, I felt like I had been stuck in the middle of a big whirlpool. I felt deracinated and dispossessed. I had left my culture, my people, my home, my parents and everything behind and only carried my heart to this one new place and now the very same heart bled profusely at the thought of having to live there for the next few years. My early days in Delhi drained me of all my life and energy as I knew not, the people here and understood not, the language or culture of these big burly North Indians, who very aptly fit every stereotype of North India that I had ever been fed.

And on one such thoroughly tiresome and deeply distressing days, I decided that I had had enough of this place and was almost on the verge of a break down, when I received a message on my WhatsApp. It was from a friend from my college who had gone back to her home that week for the mid-semester Dasara break. “Heyy, I’ve seen you’ve been missing home a lot! I don’t mean to overstep or anything but would you like any sweets or anything else that could make it a ‘lil better? I am at home and I could probably get it. I’ll be coming back to campus tomorrow” it read. And even before I could finish reading the message, a big wide smile, wider than Delhi’s roads, had unfurled on my face and my eyes, were dripping with tears like river Yamuna which quietly makes its way through the heart of the city. Rithvika, for that was the name of this dear friend, that day, to me, almost seemed like an incarnation of that holy river- quietly bringing in all the world’s joy into the life of a parched soul. Today, it’s her birthday and through this post, I want to let her and the hundreds of other thoughtful and caring people like her who knowingly or unknowingly augur joy and happiness into other people’s lives know, how valuable their presence is in for us. So my dearest friend Rithvika, thank you for that sweet message and for the sweeter snacks, hope you have a wonderful and successful year ahead. That day, in the midst of this noisy, bustling city, you became a source of serenity, silence, calmness, compassion and everything else that I missed about home. You, became home.

Have a happy birthdayyyy <3 ilysmm

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southeastasianists · 4 years ago

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The tragedy of what appears could be a long-running civil war remains a distinct possibility in Myanmar today. Nevertheless, the term “civil war” itself is inappropriate. Rather Myanmar today resembles Europe during the Nazi occupation. While the sense of occupation by a foreign force had always existed in the ethnic minority areas with their well-armed insurgent organizations, there is a sense today that this is also the case in the Bamar heartland. The occupying army is Myanmar’s own national army (the Tatmadaw) which, from its foundation, has largely functioned as an autonomous state within a state. Those civilians who support the military, such as the members of the USDP, are treaters as collaborators.

Seen even from the conventional paradigm of military coups replacing a democratically elected government the reaction of the international community, and above all the “West”, is disappointing. Yet, once we change perspective to conceive of Myanmar as an occupied country then the reaction of the international community is simply irresponsible. To use a metaphor, Myanmar today is an international orphan. This is not to say, to pursue the analogy, it does not have a family. This ‘family’, in our view, can be divided into three: the kindly, but unengaged aunts, the self-serving and self-indulgent uncles and the feckless cousins.

The kindly, unengaged aunts

The first group, of kindly but unengaged aunts, is a caricature of the United States, the EU and the United Kingdom. Other countries, particularly the other three members of the Quad—Australia, India and Japan—can be considered part of this grouping. Certainly, they rapidly condemned the coup and, in some cases, introduced targeted sanctions against the generals and their immediate families. These were later reinforced to include military-linked conglomerates.

In recent years their political leaderships have heralded a pivot towards the Indo-Pacific with the aim, declared in various official strategy papers, of promoting democracy and confronting autocracy. By not making Myanmar a priority concern in their democratic Indo-Pacific posturing they have revealed the emptiness of these pompous declarations. Is there any post-coup situation in the world today of any greater moral clarity?

The failure of the Australian government to even introduce a basic system of targeted sanctions is puzzling. Cynically, in the context of Sino-Australian tensions doing so would send a clear message to Beijing on the unacceptability of its support for authoritarian regimes, while not being seen to directly criticize the PRC itself. The Morrison governments hesitancy to even provide permanent resident status to the 3,000 or so Burmese students in Australia represents a repudiation of Canberra’s bipartisan principled middle power tradition dating back to Dr Evatt.

This attitude is understandable from Narendra Modi in India in the light of his own autocratic ethno-nationalist agenda. However, it represents the betrayal of the Nehru tradition in foreign policy and, in realpolitik terms, is counterproductive given the continuing aggravation in Sino-Indian relations. Is it really in Delhi’s interest to see Mizoram and Manipur destabilized through a further influx of Myanmar refugees? In the context of Sino-Indian hostility is it in Delhi’s interest to see the PRC providing recognition, and carving out new economic benefits, with the Myanmar junta? It is puzzling why India’s vaunted Look East Policy does not begin with its closest eastern neighbour but, so far, the Indian government has even prevented the Quad from making a clear statement on the release of political prisoners. India abstained in the 18th June vote in the UN General Assembly demanding an arms embargo and he release of political prisoners, unlike the other three Quad members who voted yes. Yet for Quad members, with their principle objective of constraining China, Myanmar is of secondary importance. This, once again is amazingly short-sighted: constraining, but also cooperating with China for mutual benefit, begins in Myanmar.

The United States bears, at least indirectly, responsibility for the coup. It was the leader of the world’s greatest democracy, President Donald Trump, himself who in propagating the Big Lie of a stolen US presidential election in November 2020 provided a rhetorical fig-leaf for would be dictators everywhere to justify their actions. Certainly, in the Myanmar case it gave occasion for Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to play by the Thai playbook and undertake a coup in order to defend democracy against democratic irregularities, corruption, etc. with a vague promise of “free and fair” elections in the future.

The junta is implementing the next steps in the Thai playbook in using a subservient and compliant judicial system to imprison the leaders of the democratic opposition, making Aung San Suu Kyi ineligible to run again. As with the Future Forward Party in Thailand, the banning and dismantling of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy, is just a matter of time.

The Biden Administration’s overwhelming priority is the strengthening and reinvigorating of alliances in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific, to both constrain China and check Russia. Objectively drawing a redline in Myanmar would be a concrete way of achieving these multiple objectives but, alas, with the withdrawal from Afghanistan and other overriding issues, Myanmar remains largely invisible in the “Washington beltway”

In Europe as a result of Brexit, Myanmar no longer has a champion in the “Brussels bubble” and even in the United Kingdom, the PRC’s turpitude in Hong Kong is the key Asian issue, alongside mercantilist policies to promote a Global Britain. Elsewhere in the European Parliament political representatives would rather spend their time making rhetorical points on the Uighur and Hong Kong, than come to the aid of the Myanmar people who overwhelmingly ask for their support.

How can this be explained? We would suggest that the close link in Western eyes between the person of Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar’s democratic trajectory has been a double-edged sword. When she was under house arrest and in opposition, she was perceived as incarnating the democratic aspirations of the Myanmar people and maintained these in the arena of public debated. However, when the democratic icon of the 1990s and 2000s fell from her pedestal due to both her autocratic demeanour and, above all, her defence of the Tatmadaw against charges of genocide in the International Criminal Court, concern with Myanmar evaporated. The orphan baby of Burmese democracy was thrown out, so to speak, with the bathwater of personality-centred politics.

Rather than acting decisively on Myanmar, the “kindly but unengaged aunts” have has chosen to delegate the resolution of the Myanmar crisis to the “feckless cousins” of ASEAN discussed below. In Europe this appeals to the somewhat narcissistic encouragement of regional integration elsewhere as well as the hubris surrounding interregionalism. As the world’s most institutionalized regional entity the EU has a rather optimistic view of its oldest regional partner, ASEAN. Yet, to date none of the mechanisms provided in this partnership—such as EU-ASEAN parliamentary dialogue or the ASEAN Strategic Partnership Agreement—have been activated.

The self-interested and self-indulgent uncles

The second part of the family is the self-interested and self-indulgent uncles, namely China and Russia. While it is debatable whether Beijing encouraged the coup, it is clear that since it has been most accommodating in providing recognition to the junta. The PRC has legitimate security, especially energy security, interests in Myanmar and real concerns about instability on its southern borders. The paradox is that these would best be protected under a civilian administration supported by the people of Myanmar than by a Sinophobic and incompetent junta. Yet, as with Modi’s India, Beijing’s ideological blinkers on the benefits of authoritarianism has meant that the PRC is not the loveable country Xi Jinping seeks to project.

Russian behaviour in Myanmar, namely ensuring sales of its weaponry and promoting Putin’s autocratic agenda worldwide, is more perfidious and self-indulgent. Like in the Donbass and Belorussia, Myanmar provides an occasion for Putin’s macho promotion of Russia as a great power. Having largely lost both Vietnam and now India to the West, Moscow is left with Naypyidaw and Vientiane as its last Asian playgrounds.

The feckless cousins

Finally, the third group is the feckless cousins, Myanmar’s Southeast Asian neighbours of ASEAN, to whom the international community has bestowed responsibility to resolve the crisis. In our view, this misconceived sub-contracting is premised on the vague notion of ASEAN’s regional centrality. Yet, it is one thing to pay lip service to “ASEAN centrality” out of diplomatic politeness. It is another thing to actually believe that it can bring results. “Centrality” is a question of positioning and, indeed, by default ASEAN has been the core around which other regional bodies such as the East Asia Summit, the ASEAN Regional Forum, APEC, the RCEP, etc, have been grafted. But “centrality” per se indicates to us nothing about capability or capacity, let alone political willingness.

It took almost three months after the coup for ASEAN on 24th April to organise a summit on Myanmar to which the junta leader, and he alone, was invited. Five months after the coup ASEAN’s promised special envoy has not been appointed both due to internal failure to agree on a candidate and a lack of approval from the junta itself . All ASEAN has achieved so far is to provide de facto legitimacy to the junta and buy it time. At both its emergency summit of 24 April and in the visit of two of its emissaries on 5 to 7 June, ASEAN has given legitimacy to the junta, without even any contact with the democratically elected leaders in Myanmar. It is hard to see how an even-handed dialogue can be organised between the jailers and the jailed, as calls from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore for the release of political prisoners have gone unheeded.

ASEAN has been successful over 50 years in maintaining peace between its members. However, it has neither the “carrots” nor “the sticks” to bring about change within one of them. For example, under the 2008 ASEAN Charter there are no provisions for any member to be expelled. Above all, the sacrosanct, and self-serving, principle of non-interference will always negate the application of the seventh of the Charter’s purposes and principles: the strengthening of democracy and the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Moreover, not only is there a serious systemic issue, but there is also clearly a lack of political will to promote a return to democracy in Myanmar: the majority of ASEAN members have authoritarian or semi-authoritarian regimes. What is the interest of the Thai master of coups, ex-General, now PM Prayut, in seeing the Burmese civil disobedience movement succeed? Would it not further encourage the Thai members of the Milk Tea Alliance who periodically occupy the streets of Bangkok to continue denouncing a kindred patriarchal regime? Does the Politburo of the Vietnamese Communist Party want to see netizens succeed in virtually challenging an authoritarian regime? As for Cambodian PM Hun Sen, and Philippines President Rodrigo ‘Digong’ Duterte, aka The Punisher, democratic values are the least of their concerns. Finally, ASEAN is chaired at the moment by the Sultan of Brunei, the last remaining absolute monarch in Asia.

The divisions within ASEAN came into focus during the non-binding vote in the UN General Assembly on 18 June, calling for an arms embargo and the release of political prisoners (item 34-A/75/L.85.Rev. 1). Six ASEAN countries voted yes: Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar itself, the Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam. The other four—Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand—abstained. Divisions of this kind within a regional entity based on the principle of consensus have only one result: procrastination and a degree of immobilism, otherwise known as the ASEAN Way.

Conclusions

When an orphan’s extended family fails lamentably, fortunately there is an alternative: turning to your friends. In the countries of the “kindly and unengaged aunts” their parliaments—for example the French Senate, the US Congress and the Australian Parliament—pushing for more assertive action from their country’s respective executives. Civil society groups in Southeast Asia increasingly see the combat for Myanmar’s democracy as their own. In the West a vocal Burmese diaspora, advocacy groups, academics and other supporters are pushing to ensure that this orphan is not forgotten. It remains a moot point whether this will lead to concrete and tangible actions, such as the recognition of the National Unity Government, and international intervention of the basis of the Right to Protect will ensue.

#Southeast Asia #Burma #Myanmar #ASEAN #Foreign Affairs #Military Junta

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newstfionline · 4 years ago

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Wednesday, May 12, 2021

WHO Announces Virus “Plateau” (Foreign Policy) Countries across Europe are beginning to reopen after months of restrictions. U.S. President Joe Biden has endorsed a proposal to waive patents on COVID-19 vaccines, paving the way for accelerated production. But rather than achieving herd immunity, the world appears to be entering a new phase of the coronavirus pandemic, with more contagious variants spreading rapidly in places without stringent regulations or sufficient vaccines. In a Monday briefing, the World Health Organization (WHO) said the world had reached a plateau in new cases and deaths from the coronavirus, with numbers declining overall in most regions. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus acknowledged that the plateau was “unacceptably high.” Nearly 90,000 COVID-19 deaths were recorded worldwide last week. Thousands of those deaths occurred in India, where new cases and deaths have remained near record daily highs for days—and are still likely undercounted. Meanwhile, Malaysia announced a new lockdown on Monday amid a third wave driven in part by more infectious variants. Cases are rising elsewhere in South and Southeast Asia, as well as in Latin America—with potential consequences for political leaders.

Election reform controversy (Reuters) Democrats in the U.S. Senate hope today to advance sweeping election reform legislation making it easier for Americans to cast ballots, despite intense opposition from Republicans, many of whom support new restrictive voting rules at the state level. The 886-page bill would expand mail-in voting that was used widely in last year’s presidential election because of the coronavirus pandemic and would lengthen the hours of in-person balloting.

California expands drought emergency to large swath of state (AP) California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday expanded a drought emergency to a large swath of the nation’s most populous state while seeking more than $6 billion in multiyear water spending as one of the warmest, driest springs on record threatens another severe wildfire season across the American West. His emergency declaration now includes 41 of 58 counties, covering 30% of California’s nearly 40 million people, and he said a further expansion is likely as conditions worsen. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of the state and the American West is in extensive drought just a few years after California emerged from the last punishing multiyear dry spell. “We’re staring down at what could be disastrous summer and fall, with the potential of communities running out water, and fires,” said Democratic U.S. Rep. Jim Costa.

DarkSide Admits Hack (1440) Officials from the FBI confirmed yesterday a cyberattack that shut down one of the nation’s biggest gas pipelines was carried out by a cybercriminal outfit known as DarkSide. The group, based in Eastern Europe, is believed to develop, use, and sell ransomware—malicious software capable of locking IT systems until payment is made. Colonial Pipeline, which supplies an estimated 45% of the East Coast’s gasoline, shut down its network as a proactive measure after being hit with the attack late last week. In a twist, DarkSide representatives said they didn’t mean to create problems, but rather to simply “make some money.” The group, which claims to have an ethical code, represents an emerging phenomenon of hackers operating as enterprises—DarkSide even reportedly has a call-in number and help desk for its victims. It’s unclear whether the company paid the ransom; service is expected to be restored by next week. (AP) Meanwhile, more than 1,000 gas stations in the Southeast reported running out of fuel, primarily because of what analysts say is unwarranted panic-buying among drivers, as the shutdown of a major pipeline by a gang of hackers entered its fifth day Tuesday.

Central American leaders resisting Biden’s anti-corruption efforts (Washington Post) In a rebuff to the Biden administration, political leaders in El Salvador and Guatemala have forced out several senior judges known for their independence and anti-corruption zeal, underscoring the difficulties facing Washington’s new Central America policy. President Biden has put the fight against corruption at the heart of that policy. U.S. officials argue that graft is stunting Central American economies and driving citizens to attempt to migrate to the United States. The sidelining of the judges has raised concerns at the highest levels of the U.S. government. The administration is readying measures to increase pressure on El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, known as the Northern Triangle countries—including a name-and-shame list of corrupt politicians who would be denied U.S. visas. The efforts come as human rights groups warn of democratic backsliding in Central America, where the judiciary had emerged as a key check on presidential power.

Paris Teenager’s New Gig: Would-Be Queen of Italy. A Nation Shrugs. (NYT) Vittorio Emanuele di Savoia, the son of the last king of Italy, gave his granddaughter a big 16th birthday present. In a formal 2019 decree, the “Duke of Savoy, Prince of Naples and by the grace of God direct heir to Head of the Royal House of Savoy,” amended a medieval law that for centuries had restricted succession in his royal line to male heirs. He bumped “our beloved granddaughter” Vittoria Cristina Chiara Adelaide Maria up the royal food chain, making her the first woman in 1,000 years to be invested with the authority to eventually lead the family and stake a claim to the defunct monarchy. “It was the best gift he could give me,” Vittoria, now 17 and a burgeoning Instagram influencer, said from her Paris home. But the gift didn’t include a crown. Italy is a republic, having abolished the monarchy 75 years ago for its disastrous support of Mussolini, and Italians have approximately zero interest in a royal restoration. “Never say never,” said Vittoria’s father, Emanuele Filiberto, an Italian television personality who claims the title Prince of Venice, which is also the name of his Los Angeles restaurant and former food truck. (“We do a lot of film premieres. We did Jumanji,” he said.) Obviously, he said, the monarchy wasn’t returning “tomorrow,” but he had no sons and the family needed a head of the royal household to run its historic orders.

Russian governor: School shooting in Kazan kills 7 students (AP) A school shooting erupted Tuesday morning in the Russian city of Kazan, killing seven students and leaving 16 other people hospitalized with wounds, a Russian governor reported. Rustam Minnikhanov, governor of the Tatarstan republic which has Kazan as its capital, said Tuesday that four male and three female eighth-grade students have died in the shooting. Twelve more children and four adults were hospitalized in the attack, Minnikhanov said. The shooter was 19. Kazan is roughly 700 kilometers (430 miles) east of Moscow.

Deadly ‘black fungus’ cases add to India’s covid crisis (Washington Post) As coronavirus cases and deaths soared in India recently, doctors began to notice another disturbing trend. Some covid-19 patients who had been released from hospitals were coming back with different symptoms, including sinus pain, blurred vision, black and bloody nasal discharge and a dark discoloration around the nose. The culprit was a deadly fungal infection called mucormycosis that physicians say is increasingly preying on people with immune systems weakened by covid-19 and the steroids used to treat it. Though cases of the black fungus remain rare, its lethality and increasing prevalence have prompted government warnings, put doctors on high alert and added to the country’s health crisis. “The death rate from mucormycosis is 50 percent,” said Amarinder Singh Malhi from All India Institute Of Medical Science, a public hospital in New Delhi. “The death rate from covid is 2.5 percent. So we have to use these steroids very cautiously.”

100 days in power, Myanmar junta holds pretense of control (AP) After Myanmar’s military seized power by ousting the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, they couldn’t even make the trains run on time: State railway workers were among the earliest organized opponents of the February takeover, and they went on strike. Health workers who founded the civil disobedience movement against military rule stopped staffing government medical facilities. Many civil servants were no-shows at work, along with employees of government and private banks. Universities became hotbeds of resistance, and in recent weeks, education at the primary and secondary levels has begun to collapse as teachers, students and parents boycott state schools. One hundred days after their takeover, Myanmar’s ruling generals maintain just the pretense of control. The illusion is sustained mainly by its partially successful efforts to shut down independent media and to keep the streets clear of large demonstrations by employing lethal force. More than 750 protesters and bystanders have been killed by security forces, according to detailed independent tallies. Meanwhile, the junta also faces a growing military challenge in the always restive border regions where ethnic minority groups exercise political power and maintain guerrilla armies. Two of the more battle-hardened groups, the Kachin in the north and the Karen in the east, have declared their support for the protest movement and stepped up their fighting, despite the government military, known as the Tatmadaw, hitting back with greater firepower, including airstrikes.

China Targets Muslim Women in Push to Suppress Births in Xinjiang (NYT) When China’s government ordered women in her mostly Muslim community in the region of Xinjiang to be fitted with contraceptive devices, Qelbinur Sedik pleaded for an exemption. She was nearly 50 years old, she told officials. She had obeyed the government’s birth limits and had only one child. It was no use. The workers threatened to take her to the police if she continued resisting, she said. She gave in and went to a government clinic where a doctor, using metal forceps, inserted an intrauterine device to prevent pregnancy. She wept through the procedure. Across much of China, the authorities are encouraging women to have more children, as they try to stave off a demographic crisis from a declining birthrate. But in the Xinjiang region, China is forcing them to have fewer, tightening its grip on Muslim ethnic minorities and trying to orchestrate a demographic shift that will diminish their population growth. It is part of a vast and repressive social re-engineering campaign by a Communist Party determined to eliminate any perceived challenge to its rule, in this case, ethnic separatism.

35 killed in Gaza, 3 in Israel, as violence escalates (Reuters) Hostilities between Israel and Hamas escalated overnight, with 35 Palestinians killed in Gaza and three in Israel in the most intensive aerial exchanges for years. Israel carried out hundreds of air strikes in Gaza into the early hours of Wednesday, as the Islamist group and other Palestinian militant groups fired multiple rocket barrages at Tel Aviv and Beersheba. One multi-story residential building in Gaza collapsed and another was heavily damaged after they were repeatedly hit by Israeli air strikes. It was the heaviest offensive between Israel and Hamas since a 2014 war in Gaza, and prompted international concern that the situation could spiral out of control. U.N. Middle East peace envoy Tor Wennesland tweeted: “Stop the fire immediately. We’re escalating towards a full scale war. Leaders on all sides have to take the responsibility of de-escalation. The cost of war in Gaza is devastating & is being paid by ordinary people. UN is working w/ all sides to restore calm. Stop the violence now,” he wrote.

Israelis, Palestinians and Their Neighbors Worry (NYT) Let’s see, what happens when TikTok meets Palestinian grievances about right-wing Israeli land grabs in Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem? And then you add the holiest Muslim night of prayer in Jerusalem into the mix? Then toss in the most emotional Israeli holiday in Jerusalem? And a power play by Hamas to assume leadership of the Palestinian cause? And, finally, a political vacuum in which the Palestinian Authority is incapable of holding new elections and Israel is so divided it can’t stop having elections? What happens is the explosion of violence around Jerusalem on Monday that quickly spread to the Gaza front, and has people asking: Is this the big one? Is this the start of the next Palestinian uprising? The Israeli government, the surrounding Arab nations and the Palestinian Authority all desperately want the answer to be “no”—Israel because it would find little support from a left-leaning White House, let alone the rest of the world, for a big crackdown on Palestinians; the Arab governments because most of them want to do business with Israeli tech-makers, not get mired defending Palestinian rock-throwers; and the Palestinian leadership because it would expose just how little it controls the Palestinian street anymore. But unlike the Intifadas that began in 1987 and 2000, when Israel had someone to call to try to turn it off, there is no Palestinian on the other end of the phone this time—or, if there is, he’s a 15-year-old on his smartphone, swiping orders and inspiration from TikTok, the video app often used by young Palestinians to challenge and encourage one another to confront Israelis.

At least 1m people facing starvation as Madagascar’s drought worsens (Guardian) Madagascar’s worst drought in 40 years has left more than a million people facing a year of desperate food shortages. The south saw 50% of its usual rains during the October planting season, in a fourth year of drought. According to the Famine Early Warning System Network, most poor families have to rely on foraging for wild foods and leaves that are difficult to eat and can be dangerous for children and pregnant women. Aid agencies have reported people eating termites and mixing clay with tamarind.

#headlines #news

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dailynewsprime · 4 years ago

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Why does India have so many COVID instances? | Coronavirus pandemic News

Something has gone horribly flawed in India. Today, the nation has reported 346,786 new instances of COVID-19 for the earlier 24 hours, with 2,624 deaths – the world’s highest daily toll for the reason that pandemic started final yr. Overall, almost 190,000 individuals have died from COVID within the nation, whereas greater than 16.6 million have been contaminated. The new outbreak in India is so extreme that hospitals are working out of oxygen and beds, and many individuals who have been taken unwell are being turned away. New Zealand, Hong Kong, the UK and the US have both banned direct flights to and from India, or have suggested residents towards travelling altogether; and the record could properly get longer. The UK’s prime minister, Boris Johnson, who's eager to safe a post-Brexit commerce cope with the nation, has been pressured to cancel a planned trip to India this coming week and, as an alternative, plans to fulfill with President Narendra Modi just about. For a rustic the place COVID numbers gave the impression to be dropping dramatically just some weeks in the past, what has gone so flawed in India? The Indian variant, generally known as B.1.617, seems to be wreaking havoc within the nation. Since April 15, India has been reporting greater than 200,000 instances of coronavirus on daily basis and its capital, Delhi, just lately introduced a week-long lockdown after an increase in instances there overwhelmed the healthcare system. “If we don’t impose a lockdown now, we might face a bigger calamity,” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal mentioned as he addressed the town on Indian tv on April 19. Worryingly, mattress areas and oxygen supplies in hospitals seem like stretched, with experiences of sick sufferers being turned away from hospitals and social media feeds crammed with distraught relations whose family members can not entry the healthcare they want. On Wednesday this week, because the COVID toll was rising, Delhi’s highest court docket took the bizarre step of publicly criticising the central authorities and its method to managing the nation’s oxygen disaster. The court docket was listening to a petition filed by Max Hospitals looking for pressing assist to tide over the oxygen scarcity it was dealing with in six of its hospitals within the capital. “Human lives are not that important for the State it means. We are shocked and dismayed that government doesn’t seem to be mindful to the extremely urgent need of medical oxygen,” the Bench said. “We direct Centre to provide safe passage…so that such supplies are not obstructed for any reason whatsoever,” it mentioned. “Hell will break loose .” Damning phrases for the federal government in a time of disaster. It shouldn't be completely clear why this surge has occurred in India, however it's prone to be due to crowded occasions organised within the run-up to elections – President Modi himself hit the marketing campaign path addressing election rallies in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on March 30 because the upturn of instances started. Large teams and social gatherings throughout spiritual festivals have additionally performed a component, in addition to the re-opening of public areas and easing of lockdown measures which passed off steadily all through 2020 with the ultimate “unlocking” of restrictions taking place in December 2020. There can also be a lot concern in regards to the emergence of recent variants of the coronavirus in India. It is believed the dominant pressure within the nation now's the variant which was first recognized within the UK, and which has proven to be as much as 60 p.c extra transmissible between people. On March 25, it was additional introduced {that a} new “double mutant” variant had been detected in India, now generally known as the “Indian variant”. This growth is what has different international locations spooked. The Indian authorities don't assume this new variant has but change into the dominant COVID pressure within the nation, however it's prone to be contributing to the growing numbers. Genome sequencing of the brand new variant has proven that it has two vital mutations: 1. The E484Q mutation: This is just like the E484K mutation recognized within the Brazil and South African variants, which have additionally been reported in latest months. The concern is that this mutation can change elements of the coronavirus spike protein. The spike protein types a part of the coronavirus outer layer and is what the virus makes use of to make contact with human cells. Once contact has been made, the coronavirus then makes use of the spike protein to bind to the human cells, enter them and infect them. The immune response that the vaccines stimulate creates antibodies that concentrate on the spike protein of the virus particularly. Therefore, the fear is that if a mutation adjustments the form of the spike protein considerably, then the antibodies could not be capable of recognise and neutralise the virus successfully, even in those that have been vaccinated. Scientists are inspecting whether or not this may increasingly even be the case for the E484Q mutation. 2. The L452R mutation: This has additionally been present in a variant regarded as chargeable for outbreaks in California. This variant is believed to extend the spike protein’s capacity to bind to human host cells, thereby growing its infectivity. A examine of the mutation additionally suggests it could assist the virus to evade the neutralising antibodies that each the vaccine and former an infection can produce, although that is nonetheless being examined. This new wave in India has been devastating for the nation. A coordinated response is required between Indian states and central authorities to handle the provision of oxygen and important medicine if the variety of COVID-related deaths is to be introduced beneath management. There can also be a priority that we do not know the true number of deaths from COVID, as some individuals have died at house earlier than they might get to hospital and many others in India, notably in rural areas, have had issue accessing testing services. Pressure urgently must be lifted off the healthcare system and the one approach to do this is to ramp up the vaccination programme, strengthen social distancing procedures and re-introduce lockdown measures.

In the physician’s surgical procedure: Teaching medical college students throughout a pandemic

One of my passions as a physician is with the ability to move on my information to the docs of tomorrow. I have accomplished it for years and am a senior lecturer at two UK universities. A big a part of the instructing I do includes getting my college students to talk to and study sufferers. This has been a problem within the final 12 months as bringing sufferers into the surgical procedure for them to see college students has been too dangerous, and the sufferers that tended to have the sicknesses the scholars wanted to see have been usually shielding to cut back the probabilities of them catching COVID-19. Medical college students have been lending a serving to hand to COVID-ravaged hospitals everywhere in the world, and their help has been welcomed by many. But we additionally want to arrange them for a world past COVID and, within the restricted time we have with them, to make sure they're ready for a variety of medical circumstances from the bodily to the psychological. But how can we do this in the event that they have been unable to see sufferers as regular? Technology has been the reply. Our surgical procedure, the place I work as a household physician in Bradford, northern England, is fortunate sufficient to have a scientific abilities lab that college students can study in. This is a room that has “model” physique elements that the scholars can use for examination functions. Students can come into the surgical procedure and, initially, maintain phone consultations with sufferers, chatting with actual sufferers who ring in about their illnesses. The college students file a medical historical past by chatting with the sufferers and try to give you a administration plan which they then run previous me or one other physician for approval. Because the scholars can not study the sufferers bodily, we then make a listing of the examinations the scholars would have accomplished and, as soon as their clinic record is full, transfer over to the scientific abilities lab. I then ask them to observe the examination they might have accomplished on the fashions. This may embody a chest examination, a rectal or vaginal examination. The fashions will be adjusted so that every time the scholar makes use of them they may make a distinct examination discovering, equivalent to a brand new lump or irregular respiration sounds. It actually is kind of intelligent. Although it is going to by no means actually exchange the true factor, this methodology has allowed us to maintain medical schooling going all through the pandemic – one thing that has challenged medical colleges the world over.

And now, some excellent news: Exercising can cut back the dangers of COVID

A brand new study by Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland has proven that common train can cut back the chance of getting infections like COVID-19 by as much as 37 p.c. The researchers carried out a full-scale systematic overview of 16,698 worldwide epidemiological research revealed between January 1980 and April 2020, with world-renowned immunologists and epidemiologists from University College London (UCL) within the UK and Ghent University (UGent) in Belgium, in addition to train and sports activities scientists from Cádiz University in Spain and a public well being marketing consultant from NHS Lanarkshire (NHSL) within the UK. They discovered that doing half-hour of train which will get you out of breath and a bit sweaty 5 instances every week strengthens your immune response to infectious ailments. It is believed that common train will increase the variety of immune cells within the physique appearing on the primary line of defence – the mucosal layer of antibodies. These cells are chargeable for figuring out international brokers or “germs” within the physique with out miserable the remainder of the immune system, so it’s completely protected and protects you towards infectious illness. We have recognized for a while about the advantages train can have for an individual’s general bodily and psychological well being. Now, within the time of COVID, it has been proven to assist enhance your immune system too. So the message is obvious; get open air and train in the event you can or to the health club whether it is in line with your native COVID tips. If neither is feasible, your kitchen or front room is a wonderfully good place to do half-hour of dancing, leaping or no matter floats your boat!

Reader’s query: Is it protected to go to my hospital appointment throughout a pandemic?

Over the previous 12 months, individuals have repeatedly been informed that the most secure place for them is house and that hospitals are busy coping with COVID-19 sufferers. While that's true, it is usually vital to do not forget that different sicknesses have not gone away. I have discovered that many of my sufferers are usually not attending their appointments for different circumstances as a result of they're frightened about catching COVID or assume their sickness shouldn't be as vital as coronavirus. Hospitals and GP surgical procedures everywhere in the world have gone out of their option to make massive elements of their buildings COVID-free. This implies that they can be utilized for non-COVID-related companies and workers working there is not going to be crossing over to cowl COVID wards or clinics. So, in the event you obtain an appointment to attend a clinic or hospital service, it's actually vital that you simply do go. Read the full article

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