According to the CVoter Exit Poll for Times Now/ABP News, it’s a straight forward electoral battle between the incumbent LDF and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF)….reports Asian Lite News
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by Kerala Chief Minister Pinaryi Vijayan is poised to make a comeback to power in the state for the second time in a row, but not with a thumping majority though,
According to the CVoter Exit Poll for Times Now/ABP News, it’s a straight forward electoral battle between the incumbent LDF and the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF).
The exit poll predicts that the ruling LDF is expected to retain power in the southern state, defying the trend of the incumbent tasting defeat in every second electoral cycle.
The 140-member Kerala Assembly went to the polls in a single phase on April 6.
LDF CPI-M workers celebrate party’s performance
As per the CVoter Exit Poll for Times Now/ABP News, the Left alliance is expected to win 71 to 77 seats, with 71 being the majority mark. The main opposition – the UDF – is likely to secure 62 to 68 seats.
The NDA will continue to remain a marginal player in the state with 0 to 2 seats.
In 2016 Assembly elections, the LDF had won 91 seats, the UDF secured 47 seats, the NDA got one, while one seat went to an Independent.
According to exit poll data, the ruling LDF is projected to secure 42.8 per cent votes. The UDF is expected to get 41.4 per cent vote share whie the NDA is likely to get 13.7 per cent votes.
In the 2016 Assembly polls, the LDF had got 43.5 per cent vote share, hence the ruling alliance is likely to witness a marginal dip of 0.7 per cent this time.
UDF
The UDF had secured 38.8 per cent votes in 2016, marking a swing of 2.6 per cent this time, while the NDA had secured 14.9 per cent votes last time, showing a dip of 1.7 per cent vote share in the latest polls.
According to the exit poll, the LDF and UDF are expected to secure maximum seats in North Kerala, where the LDF is likely to win 34 to 36 seats, followed by the UDF with 24 to 26 seats.
In South Kerala, the LDF is likely to win 21 to 23 seats and the UDF is expected to garner 15 to 17 seats.
In Central Kerala, the LDF is projected to win 16 to 18 seats, while the UDF is expected to manage 23 to 25 seats.
Within this context, the UAE has sent 2000 tonnes of medical aid to 130 countries, as part of its endeavor to spread the values of goodness, cooperation and solidarity among people…reports Asian Lite News.
The United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund ( UNICEF) has commended the support provided by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, for combatting COVID-19 and safely resuming immunisation activities against polio and other deadly childhood diseases.
“The leadership and unwavering support from His Highness Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and UAE is helping countries fight COVID-19 and safely resume immunisation activities against polio and other deadly childhood diseases,” the Fund tweeted today.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan made the concept of ‘reaching the last mile’ a top priority of the UAE’s Agenda for Sustainable Development.
“The UAE was also able to translate this trend in the spirit of collective responsibility into a rapid response as it started to ship and deliver medical aid and equipment for various uses, and most importantly, the urgent distribution of vaccines through the Coalition of Hope,” a press release stated.
Within this context, the UAE has sent 2000 tonnes of medical aid to 130 countries, as part of its endeavor to spread the values of goodness, cooperation and solidarity among people.
UNICEF
Last year, the UAE-Pakistan Assistance Programme (UAE PAP) announced that 508,092,472 doses of polio vaccine were administered to more than 86 million children in Pakistan over seven years, under the UAE Polio Vaccination Campaign carried out in Pakistan from 2014 to the end of 2020.
On April 14, she got a call stating that her packet is ready for delivery and since it is in Covid times, she was asked to keep the cash ready at the gate of her residence…reports Asian Lite News.
R. Sreelekha, the first woman to become Director General of Police in Kerala in June last year and subsequently retiring in December, on Wednesday aired her displeasure and sadness on how a complaint of hers went unnoticed and unheard for two weeks this month.
Sreelekha gave a detailed account of the incident on her Facebook page.
Stressing that until four months back she was part of the Kerala Police and retired as DGP, she said: “Despite that, even after two weeks of informing over telephone about on how I was cheated by an online company and also sending a complaint to the Museum Police Station, no action came and feeling deeply sad, I am writing it in my Facebook.
Sreelekha said that on April 6, she had placed an online order for a Bluetooth earphone.
On April 14, she got a call stating that her packet is ready for delivery and since it is in Covid times, she was asked to keep the cash ready at the gate of her residence.
The packet was subsequently handed over to her aide, as she was recovering from a surgery.
“As soon as I got the packet, I knew it was a fraud and when I opened it, I saw an old broken earphone. I immediately called back on the number I got for the delivery call. The person said, ‘you can go and give a complaint to the police, but you are not going to get the money back’. I immediately called up the Museum Police station and the officer said he was busy with some big case. Later he called me and heard my complaint and soon I sent my complaint through the e-mail. There was no response from the police for two weeks,” wrote Sreelekha.
(ANI)
She added that lot of her friends and relatives called her up to seek her help to get the police to act.
“Will anyone believe or understand when I say that my own complaint is not being heard. In the past I have had similar experiences from this very same police station when I raised three complaints.
“Today after I put up this Facebook post, I got a call from the Museum Police official and he said they have not got my e-mail complaint and he gave me a new id and I sent it,” she posted.
Sreelekha concluded with a warning to be wary of the website of ‘grimsonz’ and Ekart – the delivery firm and asks all to do online purchases using the cash on delivery option as they can check before paying.
Tackling this challenge requires technical expertise and capacity that are often not available in Commonwealth countries…reports Asian Lite News.
A new policy handbook will help Commonwealth governments put in place strategies to tackle ocean acidification — a key aspect of climate change.
Ocean acidification happens when the sea absorbs excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, primarily caused by human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation.
This leads to an increase in the acidity of the ocean, affecting the lifecycles and biology of certain marine species, and in turn, threatening the entire food web as well as the lives and livelihoods of communities that depend on these ocean resources.
Tackling this challenge requires technical expertise and capacity that are often not available in Commonwealth countries. The new handbook addresses this gap by identifying existing resources, streamlining technical concepts, outlining pragmatic solutions and providing useful templates for policy makers.
The handbook was commissioned by the New Zealand government, which champions the Commonwealth Blue Charter Action Group on Ocean Acidification.
The Foreign Affairs Minister of New Zealand, Nanaia Mahuta, said: “We know that ocean acidification has serious consequences for sea life, and this Policymakers’ Handbook for Addressing the Impacts of Ocean Acidification is an important resource.
“It is designed for people who make decisions about how we use and protect our oceans. It introduces them to the steps needed to address ocean acidification. It enables them to act as ‘kaitiaki’ or guardians.”
Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland, stated: “The study of ocean acidification and its effects has grown dramatically in the past 15 years, and while the problem is global, it is important for national and regional responses to be developed to address local impacts.
“The handbook has the potential to deliver far-reaching and lasting value, by supporting the identification and implementation by policymakers of response strategies to ocean acidification.”A particular focus in the handbook is on collaboration, which is a distinctive feature of the Commonwealth Blue Charter, an agreement adopted in 2018 by the 54 Commonwealth member countries to work together to solve ocean challenges.
The Commonwealth Blue Charter is implemented through 10 action groups led by 15 “champion countries”, which focus on guiding the development of knowledge, tools and training on ocean priorities such as marine plastic pollution, ocean climate change, and the sustainable blue economy.
Head of Oceans and Natural Resources at the Commonwealth Secretariat, Nicholas Hardman-Mountford, said: “This new handbook is an example of the concrete and practical outcomes that are generated by the Commonwealth Blue Charter Action Groups and their discussions.
“While we all understand the grave threats that confront the ocean — and consequently, the entire planet — we must also realise that we, as the global community, can do something about it, by working together to share expertise, pool resources and align national and regional strategies to existing global commitments.”
The launch of this publication follows on the first-ever workshop by the Commonwealth Ocean Acidification Action Group, hosted in 2019 by New Zealand in its role as Champion Country for the group.
A medical worker takes a swab sample from a man for COVID-19 tests in Damascus, capital of Syria,
Since testing across the country is limited, there is a high degree of uncertainty over the exact scale of the disease in Syria…reports Asian Lite News
UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock warned on Wednesday that the coronavirus is spreading fast in Syria.
Since testing across the country is limited, there is a high degree of uncertainty over the exact scale of the disease in Syria. But from the available information, it is pretty clear that the virus spread is rapid but also accelerating, he told the Security Council in a briefing, Xinhua reported.
The number of new cases recorded in March by the Syrian Health Ministry was twice the number recorded in February. Hospitals in the capital city of Damascus, including intensive care units, are now full, said Lowcock.
Today I briefed the @UN Security Council on the humanitarian situation in Syria, specifically on these points:
1️⃣COVID 2️⃣economic crisis 3️⃣protection of civilians 4️⃣humanitarian access 5️⃣humanitarian aid across Syria
In northern Syria, new cases have been confirmed in displacement camps, including at al Hol and al Roj. Both camps lack the resources to treat COVID-19 patients, he said.
The United Nations is doing what it can to provide support, including by enhancing surveillance capacity, by providing personal protective equipment and by providing training for medical workers, as well as supporting the roll-out of vaccination campaigns.
Last week, the first deliveries of vaccines from the COVAX facility arrived in Syria, and additional deliveries are expected throughout the year, said Lowcock.
The supplies from COVAX, a global tool to procure and deliver vaccines for low- and middle-income countries, should cover around 20 percent of the Syrian population. But that is obviously not nearly enough. It is a vital first step to protect medical workers and those most vulnerable. But more vaccines will be needed as soon as possible, he said.
The vaccine doses that reached northwest Syria were delivered, like all UN humanitarian assistance there, through the Bab al-Hawa border crossing from Turkey. It is not clear how future such deliveries could reach northwest Syria unless the Security Council confirms the re-authorization of UN cross-border access, he said.
Medical professionals returning back on duty abroad wear protective gear and Personel Protective Equipment (PPE) suits as they arrive to board a flight at the Indira Gandhi International Airport
The US government told its citizens to leave India as soon as possible as India is in the Covid’s grip…reports Asian Lite News
As India’s healthcare system is finding it harder to cope with the rising Covid-19 cases due to the second wave of the pandemic, the American government has advised its nationals to return to the US.
The Department of State issued the highest level travel advisory asking US citizens “not to travel to India or to leave as soon as it is safe to do so”.
In its advisory, the government in Washington said, “Access to all types of medical care is becoming severely limited in India due to the surge in Covid-19 cases. US citizens who wish to depart India should take advantage of available commercial transportation options now. Direct flights between India and the United States are offered daily, with additional flight options available to U.S. citizens via transfers in Paris and Frankfurt.
Covid-19 patient gets oxygen on the spot provided by Sikh Organisation “Hum Chakar Gobind Ke” at Jangpura Bhogal in new Delhi(Photo: Wasim Sarvar/IANS)
There are 14 direct daily flights between India and the U.S. and other services that connect through Europe, the department said.
The US urged its citizens to enroll with the embassy in order to receive critical information related to health and safety in India.
New cases and deaths from COVID-19 have risen sharply throughout India to record levels, the advisory said adding that COVID-19 testing infrastructure is reportedly constrained in many locations. Hospitals are reporting shortages of supplies, oxygen, and beds for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 related patients.
The advisory said that the US citizens are reporting being denied admittance to hospitals in some cities due to a lack of space. Some statesa-have enacted curfewsa-and other restrictions — that limit movementa — and the operation of non-essential businesses.
#India: Access to medical care is severely limited due to COVID-19 cases. U.S. citizens wishing to depart should use available commercial options now. Daily direct flights to the US and flights via Paris and Frankfurt are available. https://t.co/p5a3v5ws9ypic.twitter.com/LqHhCiZVEg
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a level 4 travel health notice too.
India has reported 18 million cases of infections since the pandemic began, out of which 14.8 million recovered. So far, over 200,000 people have died due to Covid-19. In the last one month, due to a virulent mutation, the pandemic has taken a heavy toll. On Wednesday, over 360,000 people tested positive for the infection and over 3,000 people died across the country due to the pandemic.
Australia has already banned all flights from India. The UK has banned the entry of any visitor who was in India in the last 10 days.
Despite our shared past, India’s approach to Sri Lanka has been transactional. Some may argue, it is more from the head than the heart. There are not enough people to people exchange. India has always been a pilgrimage destination for Sri Lankan Buddhists, writes Sandip Ghose
A few years ago I went for the launch of a premium brand of Sri Lankan Arrack in Delhi. It was a revelation. Till then I had thought Arrack is another name for Toddy. A poor man’s drink. But, there I learnt, Vintage Arrack can be as precious as Single Malt Whisky. Matured for upto 15 years in Oak Casks it can give many a tropical alcoholic beverage a run for its money. That set me thinking how little we know about our island neighbour off the southern coast.
In the 1960s, for many North Indians, Sri Lanka meant Ameen Sayani’s Binaca Geetmala on Radio Ceylon. Very few Indian tourists travelled to Ceylon (as it was then called) those days. Visitors from Ceylon were also limited to the Buddhist Circuit. Beyond Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka existed only in tales of the Ramayana. Indians, in general, had little idea of the geography and ethnic composition of Sri Lanka. Colombo was the only city most Indians had heard of. Jaffna was an alien name. They did not know the difference between Sinhalese and Sri Lankan Tamils. Sri Lanka first entered the larger Indian consciousness with its rise in Cricket. Then came its ‘Civil War’ and IPKF that captured the imagination of Indians.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Mahinda Rajapaksa
This backdrop underscores the psychological disconnect we have with our South Asian neighbours. We, of course, had a common heritage with Pakistan and Bangladesh. But, both countries have evolved in different directions due to their internal dynamics. The same is true for Nepal. Despite an open border, we tend to miss the changes inside the Himalayan Republic. In the case of Sri Lanka the gap is wider than the Gulf of Mannar, which the Ram Sethu has not been able to bridge yet.
Sri Lanka and her past
The history of Sri Lanka dates back to about 40,000 years as per anthropological evidence. Though couched under the Indian Subcontinent, Sri Lanka was not insulated. Apart from Buddhist connections, it had trade links with Southeast Asia and China. From the 16th Century, parts of Sri Lanka were under Dutch, Portuguese and British rule. Even after independence in 1948, it remained a dominion of the British Empire till 1972. So, the Europeans also contributed in shaping the sensibilities of the Lankan people.
Thus in the midst of similarities, India and Sri Lanka have a distinct cultural identity. Indians at large are not aware of this parallel heritage. This may not have been the case in the pre-partition era. The Indian sub-continent then operated as an integrated geo-political unit. Sri Lanka too was a part of the British empire. After 1947, we became preoccupied with the internal challenges of a fledgling republic. Pangs of separation with Pakistan – or withdrawal symptoms as it were – consumed our bandwidth. Ceylon too gained independence around the same time (in 1948). As a result, a slight drifting of minds may have happened without anyone noticing.
It would not be far off the mark if one said that, post the 1970s India has seen Sri Lanka more through a strategic lens. This was for good reason. Because of its vantage location Sri Lanka has always been of interest to western powers. More recently, China went into an overdrive to stitch Sri Lanka into its “string of pearls”. It has further cemented the bonds by making Sri Lanka a part of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) earlier known as One Belt One Road.
Sri Lanka’s relationship with China is not new. It goes back to many centuries. The two countries have historical links in maritime trade and religion (Buddhism). Other than Indian architecture, Chinese and East Asian influence in Sri Lankan architecture. Chinese migrants came to Sri Lanka during the 18th and 19th centuries. They formed settlements. Being small in number they did not create any feeling of insecurity or animosity. But, India was the proverbial “big brother”.
Thus, there has been a historical trust deficit with India. This IPKF misadventure aggravated it. The relationship is yet to recover from it. The scars will remain for a long time to come. Due to this rift Pakistan got an entry to fish in troubled waters and continues to play a spoiler. Like some other South Asian countries, Sri Lanka too plays the Pakistan card to keep India in check.
India’s approach to Sri Lanka
Despite our shared past, India’s approach to Sri Lanka has been transactional. Some may argue, it is more from the head than the heart. There are not enough people to people exchange. India has always been a pilgrimage destination for Sri Lankan Buddhists. More Indians started travelling to Sri Lanka after the end of the civil war. But tourist traffic between the two countries remained low key. Covid19 last year disrupted it again. Affluent Sri Lankans prefer going to Europe and the Americas for vacations. Indians chose other exotic locations in South East Asia.
There have been talks of starting a Ramayana trail in Sri Lanka with Indians in mind. But, it has much more to offer than religious tourism. Its beaches, hills and historical sites can make it a high end tourist attraction. In India, improved connectivity can entice Sri Lankans to look beyond Buddhist centres. There is great scope for enlarging socio-cultural exchange. Music, drama, dance, cinema and sports can be a common ground for interaction. Premier institutions of higher education emerging in India can attract Sri Lankan students. They can also provide the platform of academic interface. Bonhomie at the grassroots creates the foundation for a positive bilateral relationship.
The second all important �T’ of bilateral relations – Trade has remained underexploited. Before the Free Trade Agreement, the Indian market was out of bounds for Sri Lanka. This compelled it to look at alternative markets. In a few areas, such as Tea, Sri Lanka and India were competitors. Over time Sri Lanka expanded its range of export. Value added products like Apparel surpassed traditional commodities like Tea, Rubber and spices. The US and Europe contribute to over 40 per cent of Sri Lankan Export Trade.
Indian travellers abroad bought garments manufactured in Sri Lanka under international brand names. However, it came to them as a surprise when Sri Lankan Tea Brands like Dilmah came to boutique tea outlets in India. Now, Sri Lankan processed meats and seafood brands find space in Indian supermarkets. These are only the taste of things to come. The untapped potential remains huge.
With increasing ease of doing business in India, non-trade barriers are falling apart. This gives Sri Lankan companies greater market access. Economic Integration with the Southern States is now a real possibility.
This could further open the doors for services, direct investments and technical cooperation. Economic reforms in India have created a level playing field for regional players. The spirit has to shift towards partnership and collaboration from sibling competition.
Though Covid has been a setback, it has also brought the countries closer at a humanitarian level. There is a meeting of minds of the top political leadership. Past misunderstandings are out of the way.
With a confident and “Atmanirbhar India”, it’s time to start a parallel channel of soft diplomacy. There are vast reserves of cultural assets to mine in mutual interest.
A new chapter in South Asian history is waiting to be written.
(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
Gotabaya Rajapaksa meets Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe(Twitter)
Sri Lanka President Rajapaksa said that visit will further bolster bilateral ties…reports Asian Lite News
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa on Wednesday met Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe who is in the island nation for a two-day visit.
President Rajapaksa said he had a “fruitful discussion” with Chinese Defence Minister and emphasised that the high-level visit will further strengthen bilateral ties, media reported.
Wei arrived here on Wednesday for bilateral talks with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.
“Had a fruitful discussion with #china defense minister General Wei Fenghe this morning. This visit will further strengthen the ties between two countries,” the president tweeted along with photographs of their meeting.
This is the second-highest visit by a Chinese official to the island nation following the visit of Yang Jiechi, Vice Chairman, Chinese Communist Party, in October last year.
There have been concerns about Beijing seeking to increase its footprint in the country through contentious infrastructure projects.
Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court is currently hearing several petitions against a Bill that will give special powers to govern the China-backed port city in Colombo.
Meanwhile, amid the controversy surrounding the China-backed Port City in Colombo, Sri Lanka Minister of Justice Ali Sabry has said the government owns 100 per cent of the land and the project has been initiated to bring investment in the special financial zone.
Addressing a media briefing, Minister Sabry said the total area of the investment zone is 269 hectares and 91 hectares for public facilities and cannot be given to the project company, The Colombo Page reported. Out of the remaining land of the financial zone, 116 hectares or 43 per cent will be given to the project company which initiated the project in 2013 and spent USD 1.4 billion to develop the Port City.
“But all 100 per cent of the land is owned by the government. It is completely false to say that land was given to someone else,” Sabry said.
This comes as the opposition has alleged that a bill to set up a Commission to govern a Colombo Port City has given it too much discretion, denied equal opportunity to Sri Lankans who did not have black money stashed abroad.
Centre has provided 60 lakh vaccine doses to Kerala and the state is now left with just around three lakh doses…reports Asian Lite News.
Activists and supporters of the CPI-M led Left Democratic Front on Wednesday staged sit-in protests in front of their homes and party offices across Kerala, demanding the Centre ensure free vaccines are provided to all.
The Left, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, has been demanding free vaccine supply from the Centre, noting that has been the practice in the country.
AstraZeneca vaccine
So far, the Centre has provided 60 lakh vaccine doses to Kerala and the state is now left with just around three lakh doses.
“This (decision for states to buy vaccines) is nothing but to help the corporates and hence the Centre is making the cash-crunched states to buy their needs. This is in no way acceptable and hence we decided to organise this unique protest,” said S. Sudevan, the Kollam district Secretary of the CPI-M who along with his office bearers agitated in front of their party office.
On Wednesday, the Vijayan government gave an order for one crore doses of vaccine which includes 70 lakh doses of Covishield and 30 lakh of Covaxin.
“This is the first time that the Centre is levying a charge for a vaccine. All along vaccines that has been supplied in our country till now has been given free. We made numerous appeals to the Centre, but nothing seems to be happening and hence we decided to buy the vaccines and will give it free,” Vijayan told the media here, asking the Centre to reconsider its decision.
A huge crowd attended the festival at the Sri Kamakshi Amman Kovil temple in Tamil-dominated Jaffna without maintaining social distance or wearing face masks…reports Asian Lite News
Sri Lankan officials have arrested the top officials of a Hindu temple for allegedly holding a festival despite a ban on large gatherings amid a spike in Covid-19 infections, according to the Colombo Gazette newspaper.
A huge crowd attended the festival at the Sri Kamakshi Amman Kovil temple in Tamil-dominated Jaffna without maintaining social distance or wearing face masks, the newspaper reported.
The Chairman and Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the temple have been arrested for holding the event despite a ban. Such large events have been banned by the Government until May 31, it was reported.
Last week, the government announced that tuition classes, parties and public gatherings have been banned until May 31st after Sri Lanka was placed on Alert Level 3 following the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
According to new health guidelines, casinos, night clubs and beach parties have also been temporarily banned. Government and private offices have been told to operate with minimum staff while others work from home.
Last week, Sri Lanka marked the second anniversary of the Easter Sunday bombings with religious ceremonies, as Catholics called for investigations into the attacks to be expedited.
The bombings carried out by extremist groups targeted three churches during Easter Sunday services in 2019. Three luxury hotels were also hit in simultaneous attacks on April 21, DPA reported.
Catholic churches conducted prayer services after two minutes of silence in remembrance of the 271 people killed in the multiple explosions. Other religious groups held similar events.
A multi-religious remembrance service attended by Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim clergy and diplomats was held at the St Anthony’s Catholic shrine in the capital Colombo – one of the targets of the suicide bombings.
Heavy security was placed outside churches in Colombo and surrounding areas where the main services were conducted.
Silent protests were held outside churches in some locations demanding speedy investigations into the attacks.
