In the video clip, Biden is heard saying, “We’re going to seize their yachts, their luxury homes, and other ill-begotten gains of Putin’s kleptoc- yeah – kleptocracy and klep- the guys who are the kleptocracies.”…reports Asian Lite News
President Joe Biden is in the midst of another controversy following his latest embarrassing blunder. A video shows Biden repeatedly stumbling over the word “kleptocracy” during an address to the US Congress on Thursday, when he was seeking an additional $33 billion in Ukraine aid.
Senator for Arkansas shared the video on Twitter along with the caption: “Alarming”.
In the video clip, Biden is heard saying, “We’re going to seize their yachts, their luxury homes, and other ill-begotten gains of Putin’s kleptoc- yeah – kleptocracy and klep- the guys who are the kleptocracies.”
“But these are the bad guys,” he added.
Just before that, Biden also mistakenly said the US will “accommodate” the Russian oligarchs “and make sure we take their – take their ill-begotten gains.”
The video has received 37,000 likes and over three million views on twitter.
Jim Hanson, Exec Director of America Matters & former Army Special Forces Weapons and Author of Winning the Second Civil War has retweeted with a caption that: “America deserves better.”
Users have also criticised Arkansas Senator for mocking Biden.
“A senator mocking someone’s stutter? Yeah, that is pretty alarming. Thanks for showing everyone quite clearly who you are,” a user commented.
“You know he has a speech impediment, right? It’s pretty publicly known. Are you mocking that?” a third user wrote.
Footage released early Sunday by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office showed Pelosi in Kyiv with a Congressional delegation including representatives Jason Crow, Jim McGovern and Adam Schiff….reports Asian Lite News
US Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi has met with Ukraine’s president during a visit to the country’s embattled capital, Kyiv.
Pelosi, second in line to the presidency after the vice president, is the highest-ranking American leader to visit Ukraine since the start of the war, and her visit marks a major show of continuing support for the country’s struggle against Russia.
Footage released early Sunday by President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office showed Pelosi in Kyiv with a Congressional delegation including representatives Jason Crow, Jim McGovern and Adam Schiff.
“You all are welcome,” Zelensky told the delegation.
Pelosi told Zelensky: “We believe that we are visiting you to say thank you for your fight for freedom.”
“We are on a frontier of freedom and your fight is a fight for everyone. Our commitment is to be there for you until the fight is done,” Pelosi added.
The visit was not previously announced.
Our Congressional Delegation was honored to meet with @ZelenskyyUa in Kyiv to salute his leadership and courage, to commend the Ukrainian people for their outstanding defense of Democracy and to say that we are with you until victory is won. pic.twitter.com/zkc588Qcrv
Blinken, Ukraine FM Kuleba discuss return of US diplomats
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday discussed the return of American diplomats to Ukraine as well as an aid of USD 33 billion to the war-torn country with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba.
“Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to follow up on their April 24 meeting in Kyiv,” US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price said in a state department readout.
“The Secretary emphasized the United States’ robust support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s brutal aggression,” the readout said.
“The Secretary provided an update on plans for U.S. diplomats to return to Ukraine, including initial visits to Lviv this week and plans to return to Kyiv as soon as possible. The Secretary and Foreign Minister discussed the Administration’s April 28 request to Congress for USD 33 billion in security, economic, and humanitarian aid to empower Ukraine to defeat the Kremlin’s unconscionable war,” the statement added.
On Thursday, US President Joe Biden asked the US Congress for $33 billion in emergency supplemental funding to support Ukraine, including $20 billion for military assistance. The request comes on top of about $4 billion in military aid the Biden administration has already committed to Ukraine, $3.4 billion of which came after Russia launched its military operation in late February, Sputnik reported.
Secretary of State Blinken and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Kyiv last week and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During their visit, Blinken and Austin said that US diplomats were going to return to Ukraine in the coming week.
US diplomats, who relocated to Poland in advance of Russia’s operation, conducted a day trip to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, where many of Ukraine’s decision-makers had relocated from Kyiv, media reports said.
Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, after recognizing the Ukrainian breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as “independent republics”. Russia claims that the aim of its special operation is to “demilitarize” and “denazify” Ukraine.
In response to Russia’s operation, Western countries have rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow and have been supplying weapons to Ukraine.
The war in Ukraine which has entered its third month now has created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis with more than 5 million Ukrainian fleeing to neighbouring Western countries, according to the UNHCR data.
The war has also resulted in almost 3000 civilian casualties as of April 28. The casualty figures include as many as 70 children, according to the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNOHCR).
The global coronavirus caseload has topped 513.4 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 6.23 million and vaccinations to over 11.35 billion, according to the Johns Hopkins University…reports Asian Lite News
In its latest update on Sunday morning, the University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and the death toll stood at 513,457,336 and 6,235,231, respectively, while the total number of vaccine doses administered increased to 11,357,301,157.
The US continues to be the worst-hit country with the world’s highest number of cases and deaths at 81,349,060 and 993,712, respectively, according to the CSSE.
India accounts for the second highest caseload at 43,075,864.
The other countries with over 10 million cases are Brazil (30,448,236), France (28,835,895), Germany (24,809,785), the UK (22,213,972), Russia (17,917,191), South Korea (17,275,649), Italy (16,463,200), Turkey (15,032,093), Spain (11,833,457) and Vietnam (10,649,801).
The nations with a death toll of over 100,000 are Brazil (663,736), India (523,803), Russia (368,319), Mexico (324,294), Peru (212,810), the UK (175,552), Italy (163,507), Indonesia (156,257), France (146,967), Iran (141,083), Colombia (139,797), Germany (135,461), Argentina (128,542), Poland (116,042), Spain (104,227) and South Africa (100,363).
The power demand met this month up to April 28 increased by 12.1 per cent to 204.653 GW from 182.559 GW during same period previous year…reports Asian Lite News
Amid severe heatwave sweeping across India, the peak power demand in the country touched an all-time high of 207,111 MW on Friday, the Ministry of Power said.
“The maximum All India demand met touched 207111 MW at 14:50hrs today, an all time high so far!,” the ministry tweeted.
Power demand has been on the rise ever since the onset of the summer season this year. The power demand met this month up to April 28 increased by 12.1 per cent to 204.653 GW from 182.559 GW during same period previous year, the ministry said.
The maximum all-India demand met on Thursday was 204,653 MW.
Meanwhile, Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain said on Friday that there is severe coal crisis across the country and many power plants have just one day’s coal stoks left.
Raising the alarm over the ongoing coal crisis, Jain said, “No (power) backup (is there)… (the) coal backup should be for over 21 days, but at many power plants, less than a day’s (stock) is left.”
He added, “If electricity is being produced, and we keep getting it, there’s no issue. But if the power plant shuts down, it will be problematic (in Delhi)… There’s a coal shortage in the country.”
However, the NTPC later issued a statement that read: “All six units of Dadri and five units of Unchahar are running at full capacity and receiving regular coal supplies. Present stock is 140,000 MT and 95,000 MT, respectively, and import coal supplies are also in pipeline.”
It added: “Currently, Unchahar and Dadri stations are declaring more than 100 per cent rated capacity to the grid. All their units are running at full load except Unchahar Unit#1, which is under annual planned overhaul.”
The average all-India temperature (maximum & mean) recorded in April (till April 28) was the fourth highest at 35.05-degree Celsius in the last 122 years….reports Asian Lite News
After April roasted large swathes of India, creating a record of 122 years, May will bring in a mixed bag — continued heat for northwest, west and central India and normal to above normal rainfall over most parts of India.
The third heatwave since March, leading to the longest dry period of about 65 days since February 25, has meant that average maximum temperature for April (till April 28) for northwest and central India was the highest in the last 122 years, India Meteorological Department (IMD) data showed.
The average all-India temperature (maximum & mean) recorded in April (till April 28) was the fourth highest at 35.05-degree Celsius in the last 122 years.
Earlier, March 2022 was the hottest in 122 years for all India and northwest India. The average maximum temperature was 35.90-degree Celsius and 37.78-degree Celsius, respectively, for northwest and central India. In simple terms, the temperatures (maximum, minimum & mean) were above normal over most parts of northwest and central India while temperatures were below normal over the southern peninsula and northeast India.
heatwave
There were six western disturbances in April that have had an impact on northwest India, but most of them were feeble and dry and hence did not bring any significant rain to the plains.
However, even when northwest and central India were reeling under scorching sun, the entire northeast, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and some parts of Karnataka were receiving heavy to very heavy rainfall.
“In May, above normal maximum temperatures are likely over most parts of west-central and northwest India, and northern parts of northeast India. Normal to below normal maximum temperatures are likely over the remaining parts of the country,” IMD Director General (Meteorology), Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, told a media conference.
While presenting the summary for April and outlook for May, Mohapatra said, “During May, above normal minimum temperatures are likely over most parts of northwest, central, east and northeast India. Normal to below normal minimum temperatures are likely over the south peninsular India and few pockets of extreme northwest India.”
The rainfall in May averaged over the country is most likely to be above normal (more than 109 per cent of the Long Period Average).
“Normal to above normal rainfall is likely over most parts of India, except some parts of northwest India and some parts of northeast India as well as extreme southeast peninsula where it is likely to be below normal,” Mohapatra said.
Conditions that have an influence on the Indian climate — La Nina and Indian Ocean Dipole — are being monitored by the IMD on a regular basis, he said, adding, “Currently, La Nina conditions are prevailing over the equatorial Pacific region and these are likely to continue throughout the forecast period. Also, at present, neutral IOD conditions are present over the Indian Ocean and the negative IOD conditions are likely to develop towards the beginning of June.”
Beijing’s new rules come days after the city launched mass testing for its millions of residents following a spike in cases….reports Asian Lite News
Beijing residents must prove they are Covid negative to enter public spaces in a major tightening of restrictions in the Chinese capital, BBC reported.
It is not clear how long the new measures will last, but the announcement comes as the city begins a five-day public holiday.
Proof of a negative Covid test will also be required to board public transports from May 5.
China is battling a resurgence in Covid cases.
In contrast to many other countries, China is pursuing a zero-Covid strategy with the aim of eradicating the virus from the country completely.
Xinhua_Tao-Ming_IANS
But the measures, such as strict lockdowns, have led to rare shows of public anger against the authorities.
Beijing’s new rules come days after the city launched mass testing for its millions of residents following a spike in cases.
All dining in restaurants will also be halted between 1 and 4 May, with people being asked to cook at home, BBC reported.
The city has reported 295 new cases since 22 April.
Of these, 123 cases were found in the Chaoyang, Beijing’s most populous district, which is now set for three rounds of mass testing.
Earlier this month residents rushed to stock up essential supplies and long queues were seen outside supermarkets and shops, despite government assurances there is sufficient food.
Sharif and his official entourage have left Saudi Arabia but Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail is still staying there to finalise the modalities of the increased financial package….reports Asian Lite News
Saudi Arabia has agreed to provide Pakistan a “sizeable package” of around $8 billion to help revive the country’s ailing economy amid the maiden trip of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to the kingdom.
The package includes doubling of the oil financing facility, additional money either through deposits or Sukuks and rolling over of the existing $4.2 billion facilities, according to a report published in The News.
“However, technical details are being worked out and will take a couple of weeks to get all documents ready and signed,” top official sources privy to the development informed.
Sharif and his official entourage have left Saudi Arabia but Minister for Finance Miftah Ismail is still staying there to finalise the modalities of the increased financial package.
Sharing the salient features of the financial package, the official said that Pakistan had proposed doubling of the oil facility from $1.2 billion to $2.4 billion and audi Arabia agreed to it.
It was also agreed that the existing deposits of $3 billion would be rolled over for an extended period up to June 2023.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia discussed an additional package of over $2 billion either through deposits or Sukuk and it is likely that even more money will be provided to Islamabad,” the official sources said, adding that the size of the total package would be determined when additional money was finalised.
BNP, the Opposition party in Bangladesh allegedly hosted non-Muslim community members with beef at an iftar event. The incident has sparked a sharp criticism on social media….reports Sumi Khan
Outraged with “serving beef” to Hindu attendees of an Iftar event hosted by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), the pro liberation BNP leaders seeking anonymity have said that they love to stay with the party and its ally, but not with pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami or any such party.
Jamaat-e-Islami have tried to restore the “Pakistan military-fundamentalist model of radical Islam” but failed, they asserted.
BNP, the Opposition party in Bangladesh allegedly hosted non-Muslim community members with beef at an iftar event. The incident has sparked a sharp criticism on social media.
The Sylhet unit of BNP arranged the iftar party, attended by at least 20 leaders and activists from the Hindu community on Thursday. All the plates were served with traditional items alongside beef while no exception was made even for the Hindu attendees.
Outraged at the insensitivity, local unit Hindu participants from the party took to Facebook to condemn the organisers.
“In absence any separate arrangement, I, like 20 other Hindu colleagues, had to watch all the Muslim leaders and activists breaking their fasts,” wrote Muntu Nath, a local leader of an affiliated body of BNP, summing up his anger for being invited at the event.
Terming such an arrangement “a farce” with the colleagues from other community leaders, Kanak Kanti Das, a local leader of BNP’s student body, wrote “you enjoyed your iftar and we (Hindu invitees) were simply looking at it”.
Without offering any apology, BNP Sylhet district leaders later acknowledged the “mishap” as some activists on social media questioned the motive behind it .
Drawing on BNP’s long standing role as central to the country’s Islamic ecosystem, some analysts raised BNP Jamaat’s proven track record of systematically attacking the minorities.
Media personalities also that said the military rulers who had taken over and ruled Bangladesh for 15 years legitimised the pro-Pakistan Jamaat-e-Islami, introduced constitutional amendments that undermined the country’s secular democratic polity, and finally declared Islam as the state religion of Bangladesh.
Even during last rule of the BNP, back from 2001 to 2006, the emergence of Tarique Rahman as the de facto leader of the party emboldened the Islamists in a systematic land grabbing from Hindus let alone attack on temples and businesses and rape of Hindu girls.
Even while in Opposition, BNP has been accused of aiding Jamaat in perpetrating biggest attacks on Hindus centering war crimes trials. Afterwards, in other major incidents of attacks on Hindus including the recent attacks on Durga puja, involvement of the BNP Jamaat backed people had been blamed by the Awami League leaders.
Food inflation jumped by 46.6 per cent in April, while non-food inflation grew by 22 per cent in April…reports Asian Lite News
Sri Lanka’s inflation, measured by a year-on-year change in the Colombo Consumer Price Index, increased by 29.8 per cent in April, the country’s central bank said.
This increase was driven by the monthly increases in both food and non-food categories, according to the central bank on Friday.
Food inflation jumped by 46.6 per cent in April, while non-food inflation grew by 22 per cent in April, Xinhua news agency reported.
Prices of items in the non-food category recorded increases mainly due to price increases observed in sectors such as transport, water, electricity and gas, while prices of items in the food category increased due to hike in prices of milk powder, rice, bread, dal, sugar and dried fish during the month.
Sri Lanka recently hiked its interest rates in a bid to control its skyrocketing inflation.
The Central Bank is also planning to give relaxation to tourists who were made to pay the hotels in dollars….reports Asian Lite News
Sri Lanka’s Central Bank has announced that they will remove the regulations that made the exporters convert their foreign currency earnings into rupees in the coming future.
In recent months the central bank has imposed various regulations that forced the exporters to convert their US dollars within a period of time to support the island nation’s foreign reserves, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Addressing a press conference, Central Bank Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe on Friday said, “For services exports like IT and tourism, we will remove the mandatory conversion requirement.”
“We have no way to track these services. Apparently, some exporters are not bringing in foreign currency they make because of the mandatory conversion rule,” he added.
He added that the central bank is also planning to give relaxation to tourists who were made to pay the hotels in dollars, reported Xinhua.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka’s central bank governor said domestic debt in the form of government securities and development bonds will not be restructured as restructuring external debt is a top priority for the island nation.
Central bank governor Nandalal Weerasinghe also provided an update on the progress made during the recent discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank.
Addressing a meeting of the Committee of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, he said progress has been made towards establishing a macro-fiscal policy framework and initiating structural reforms.
The central bank governor also expressed confidence that a staff-level agreement with the IMF is likely to be reached within the next two months.
Weerasinghe announced that additional measures will be implemented to address urgent economic concerns, reported Xinhua.
The measures include introducing regulations to encourage the U.S. dollar flows currently transacting in the informal market to be channelled through the formal banking system.
As a result of policy measures already introduced by the central bank and the government, he is of the view that expenditure on imports will be declining further to more sustainable levels.
Sri Lanka is going through an economic crisis brought about by foreign currency shortages and it halted external debt repayment on April 12.
pharma industry
Drug price hikes
Adding more burden to the staggering economy of the island nation, the Health Minister of the country Channa Jayasumana issued a special gazette order on Thursday stating a dramatic price hike in the pharmaceutical drugs, yet again shooting up the prices of 60 drugs up by 40 to 60 per cent, reported local media.
This decision will impact the most commonly used medicines as their rates are expected to spike.
Further, the Health Minister has instructed all the medical professionals to adhere to the gazette notification, maintaining the price, as reported by Colombo Page.
“Every trader, distributor, pharmacist, medical practitioner, dentist, veterinary surgeon, medical institution including a private medical institution, pharmacy or person who or which is in possession of the Scheduled Medicines for the purpose of sale shall maintain the price of the Scheduled Medicines at the maximum retail price or revised retail price whichever is less,” states the gazette notification issued by Jayasumana.
Presently, Sri Lanka is facing one of the worst economic woes since gaining independence in 1948. It is grappling with food and electricity shortages, affecting many people, forcing the country to seek help from its neighbours. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has left the country unable to buy enough fuel, with people facing an acute scarcity of food and basic necessities, heating fuel, and gas. (ANI)
