Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic….reports Asian Lite News
Amid the continuing economic crisis in the country, Sri Lanka is in talks with India for another credit line of USD 500 million for fuel imports.
This issue was discussed when Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda met with Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week, Daily Mirror newspaper reported.
The credit line is in addition to USD 500 million extended previously, the report said.
Sri Lanka is facing its worst economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948. The recession is attributed to foreign exchange shortages caused by a clampdown on tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It left the country unable to buy enough fuel, with people facing an acute scarcity of food and basic necessities, fuel, and gas.
According to the Sri Lankan daily, India offered another USD 1 billion line of credit for essential imports. However, USD 200 million of it has been utilized for fuel imports, the report added.
The island nation has exhausted nearly US 700 million of Indian credit so far for diesel and petrol, Daily Mirror reported.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe on Friday praised India for extending support amid the continuing economic crisis and expressed a desire to further strengthen ties between the two nations.
“I expressed our country’s appreciation for the support India has extended during this difficult period. I look forward to further strengthening ties between our nations,” the Sri Lankan PM tweeted.
Wickremesinghe’s appreciation of India came on the same day when its neighbour donated 25 tons of drugs and other medical supplies valued at close to SLR 260 million.
The medical consignment was donated in response to requests by various organizations and hospitals spread across different parts of the country.
The Indian High Commission said these humanitarian supplies are in continuation of the Indian government’s ongoing support to the people of Sri Lanka in multiple forms such as financial assistance, forex support, material supply etc.
“These efforts testify to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy which places people-to-people engagement at its core,” the high commission said in a statement. (ANI)
Sugar increases your risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions; avoiding sweetened beverages and sugary snacks will help you stay healthy. Honey is a healthy alternative you can use instead…writes Dr. Sonia Lal Gupta
The desire to travel, to explore new landscapes is distinctly ‘human’. Travelling not only gives us a break from our fast-paced lives but also helps us learn new things. While traveling may be a rejuvenating experience for your mind and soul, it takes a toll on your body. Long flights, jet lag, disruption in diet and daily routine will have a direct or indirect impact on your health.
It’s time to get back to healthy living! Here are a few tips on what to do after traveling that will help you stay healthy and relish the sweet memories of your trip.
Drink plenty of water:
It is said that there is no better medicine than pure drinking water. Dehydration is a common ailment faced by vacationers. Proper hydration will help keep your body healthy and active. Water will also help you in losing excess holiday weight and reduce fatigue. Water-rich fruits and vegetables will also help you maintain H2O balance in your body.
Get your sleep cycle back on track
Getting sufficient sleep is important for a healthy lifestyle. Travel can mess up with your normal sleep schedule, which will make you lethargic, less productive and irritable. When you sleep, your brain literally recharges. It will make you feel better and boost your mood.
Eat Healthy
Overindulging with food and drinks is quite normal when you are traveling but you may pay the price in terms of calories and pounds. Healthy eating will help you in healing your digestive system. Here are some healthy tips you can inculcate in your diet plan:
Eat more fiber: Dietary fiber helps in relieving constipation and maintaining a healthy weight. Oats, peas, beans, apples, citrus fruits, carrots, green beans, and potatoes are some fiber-rich foods you can add in your meal plan.
Cut back on sugar: Sugar increases your risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions; avoiding sweetened beverages and sugary snacks will help you stay healthy. Honey is a healthy alternative you can use instead.
Eat lots of vegetables: Vegetables are excellent sources of many nutrients, including potassium, fiber, folate (folic acid) and vitamins A, E, andEating veggies will boost your immunity and flush out toxins from your body.
Eat home-made food: Stop eating out at restaurants as soon as you return home. Eating home-cooked meals will not only save your money but also assure that the food you are eating is hygienic and of good quality.
Eat on time: Irregular eating habits can have an adverse effect on our metabolism, blood sugar control and appetite. Hence it is important to eat on time and avoid skipping meals.
Re-energize yourself through yoga:
Crossing time zones, carrying luggage to and from destination can be harsh on your body and leave your muscles tensed and sore. A little bit of stretching and exercise will help you feel refreshed. Yoga is the best form of exercise that not only releases tension in your physical body but also releases the mental stress and emotional strain that long days of travel can inflict. There are many Yoga postures you can try to relieve your body of tension and aches.
Using a dirty or used cloth for periods regularly can cause reproductive system infections such as bacterial vaginosis or urinary tract infections (UTI), which can progress to pelvic infections…writes Dr Shilpa Ghosh Undoubtedly, period awareness has increased in urban areas, with more women opting for sanitary pads rather than cloth, and not only women; people, in general, have developed a better understanding of menstruation in metro areas. Innovations in products are happening, like menstrual cups, menstrual discs, and much more. Filmmakers like R. Balki (who made ‘Padman’) have also shifted the set paradigm to a great extent. However, there is still a considerable segment of the female population who is subjected to menstrual prejudice.
Unfortunately, society identifies women as the other half, but only for specific, indoor-bound duties, highlighting the biological difference as a mark of inferiority. Menstruation and its debilitating nature, though a reality, are often hushed. To commemorate Menstrual Hygiene Day, one must acknowledge that menstruation is a natural part of life and that the taboos around it must be eliminated.
The Prejudices
Thousands of women and girls are stigmatized, alienated, and discriminated against simply because they menstruate. According to a survey, taboos such as not being allowed to touch pickles, not working, exercising, not allowed to enter the kitchen or touch common food items or utensils, not washing hair, not having sex during menstruation, not being allowed to touch plants, and others are still prevalent.
Even now, in the year 2022, women are still instructed to isolate themselves during their periods rather than treat them as a normal thing. Moreover, when most girls get their first periods, they are left hanging out to dry, although they have no idea what their bodies are going through. This is especially true in rural and remote areas. In many parts of India, girls are barred from receiving an education, making a living, and fully and equally participating in everyday life just because they have begun menstruation. Raising awareness for proper period hygiene is the need
It is critical to raise awareness about menstruation and associated subjects so that it is seen as ‘normal’ rather than something to be ashamed of or hidden. When a girl begins menstruation, she is still quite young. Menstruation is difficult to deal with anywhere, but it is especially difficult in India. The majority of young girls in the country are not taught why they bleed for nearly a week every month or how to handle periods safely and hygienically when they are young.
To overcome these problems, girls should be provided with proper education and awareness to help them become emotionally and physically ready. The current scenario necessitates a more rapid approach to information dissemination and societal evolution.
Using a dirty or used cloth for periods regularly can cause reproductive system infections such as bacterial vaginosis or urinary tract infections (UTI), which can progress to pelvic infections.
Because these infections can spread to the pelvis, they might make it difficult to conceive or cause pregnancy issues such as preterm labour (leading to an early birth).
Poor local hygiene is one of the risk factors for cervical cancer, poor hygiene can increase cervical cancer risks in the long run.
It is critical that the usage of sanitary pads over cloth begins in elementary school. Girls in rural places should be given sanitary pads to encourage them to use them instead of cloth.
Girls should be educated in maintaining the highest level of hygiene during periods. It is because the pad absorbs more blood, sweat, and sebum as the menstrual flow is stronger during the day while you’re active.
This creates an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive, which is why wearing one pad for more than four hours every day is not suggested.
Because blood offers a perfect environment for bacteria to thrive during your monthly cycle, washing the vaginal area at least twice a day is recommended.
The vaginal organ is self-cleaning. It’s crucial to protect the environment’s natural flora, and using conventional soap or even specific cosmetic items for intimate hygiene can harm it. Ideally, the vaginal area should be washed with warm water and no soap.
Lack of access to high-quality hygiene products is a major impediment to reaching 100 per cent menstrual hygiene coverage in India.
In India, a major impediment to achieving 100 percent menstrual hygiene coverage is a lack of access to high-quality hygiene products. According to research, the majority of girls lack consistent access to high-quality menstrual hygiene products, with 88 percent of women and girls in India relying on improvised alternatives such as old clothes, rags, hay, sand, or ash.Furthermore, women and girls do not have access to adequate sanitation facilities.
According to research, approximately 40 per cent of girls miss school during their periods. The type of absorbent used, lack of privacy at school, restrictions imposed on girls during menstruation, the mother’s education, and the source of menstrual information were all found to be important factors in school absenteeism. Nearly 65 percent said it had an impact on their daily activities at school and that they had to skip class tests and lessons as a consequence of discomfort, anxiety, shame, and concerns about leakage and uniform discoloration. While access to menstrual products is critical, equal attention should be paid to the mental trauma that girls experience during their periods. Girls should receive comprehensive counselling on menstruation and other associated issues. Efforts should be made to eradicate period-related myths and shame.
Hit by an acute economic crisis driven by falling foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan could look at increasing imports of oil and food items from Russia….writes Mahua Venkatesh
Pakistan’s food import bill has been rising. Amid deepening economic crisis and lurking fear over a global food crisis, the country’s food imports in the current financial year increased by more than 15 per cent compared to the previous year. The intense heat wave that gripped Pakistan along with India has multiplied Islamabad’s problems as several crops have been damaged.
The immediate challenge for the Shehbaz Sharif government will be to contain the food import bill.
According to reports, during the first three quarters of the current financial year – between July and March 2021-22, various food commodities worth about $7.067 billion were imported compared to $6.121 billion in the same period in the previous year. Soybean, palm oil, tea, spices and pulses were among the top items that were imported.
Hit by an acute economic crisis driven by falling foreign exchange reserves, Pakistan could look at increasing imports of oil and food items from Russia.
“Our policy is clear, you know in terms of expanding economic and trade relations, we have an open policy, driven by national interest – wherever we see there is a national benefit we pursue those options and avenues,” Asim Iftikhar, foreign office spokesperson, said at a press briefing.
What is adding to the problem is Islamabad’s suspension of trade with India.
Importing food items from other countries is pushing up costs for Islamabad.
Several business leaders in Pakistan have now underlined the need to resume trade with India to improve the country’s economic situation. “Pakistan should improve trade relations with India and take a regional approach to economic development. Europe fought two great wars, but ultimately settled for peace and regional development. There is no permanent enmity,” business tycoon Mian Muhammad Mansha said in a statement earlier.
Abdul Jalil, Professor of Economics at the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, too echoed the same sentiment. “The country is in dire need of structural reforms. The sooner we make this switch the better it will be. Otherwise, we will continue our downward trend in the socio-economic sector,” he had said.
(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
Islamist groups within Pakistan are feeling more emboldened and fearless to target minorities, and also patronage given to the right-wing forces during the former ‘hybrid regime’ of Imran Khan. There is a spike in targeted killings, abductions, forced conversions, and false cases of ‘Blasphemy’ against members of Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Shia, and Ahmadiyya communities in Pakistan … writes Dr Sakariya Kareem
In a brazen incident on May 15, two Sikh traders – Kuljeet and Ranjit Singh – were assassinated in the outskirts of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) took the responsibility for the attack. According to the local community, this was the ‘twelfth’ such incident since 2014, when Sikhs were targeted by extremists in KP province alone. In September last year, Satnam Singh, a Sikh Unani medicine practitioner was shot down inside his clinic in Peshawar.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan also strongly condemned the murders and said in a statement, “This is not the first time that the Sikh community in KP has been targeted and we demand that the KP police identify and arrest the perpetrators promptly.” The recent killings in Peshawar’s outskirts illustrate the vulnerability of the Sikh community in Pakistan, which is facing an existential threat from Islamist outfits.
Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan’s Rizwan after destroying the statue of Ranjit Singh at Lahore Fort
Growing terror activities in the region have further complicated the situation for religious minorities in Pakistan. Islamist groups within Pakistan are feeling more emboldened and fearless to target minorities, and also patronage given to the right-wing forces during the former ‘hybrid regime’ of Imran Khan. There is a spike in targeted killings, abductions, forced conversions, and false cases of ‘Blasphemy’ against members of Hindu, Sikh, Christian, Shia, and Ahmadiyya communities in Pakistan. It seems that the larger objective of the Islamist outfits, and their ‘state’ sponsors, here is to either forcefully convert ‘non-Muslims’ to Islam or create an unlivable environment for religious minorities, pressuring them to leave Pakistan.
Sikhs are easy targets because of their unique religious identifications and their population accumulation in unsafe areas of KP. It is ironical that Pakistan’s powerful military establishment, and intelligence agencies, are giving patronage to extremist Khalistani elements to foment security disturbances in India’s Punjab, while it is failing to safeguard its own Sikh population from terror attacks. There are reports which suggest that the Sikh population in Pakistan has seen a decline in the last two decades amid rising cases of forced conversion and targeted attacks against the community members.
According to Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee, there are just 15,000-20,000 Sikhs estimated to be left in Pakistan of which some 500 Sikh households are in Peshawar. Whereas the Government of Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority figures suggest that there were 6,146 Sikhs registered in Pakistan in 2012. Interestingly, Pakistan has not yet released the population data pertaining to minority communities – Hindus, Sikhs, Christians etc, since the last census conducted in 2017. It is clear that Pakistan wants to hide the real numbers of the religious minorities in order to avoid international criticism over their declining population, which is a direct consequence of years-long persecution of these communities.
Historically, Sikhs and majority Muslim community in Pakistan have maintained a decent relationship after the bloody events of 1947-48. However, due to increasing security threats, Sikhs are now moving to safer places in Pakistan. For instance, several Sikh families have moved from border agencies of the erstwhile Federally Administrative Tribal Region (FATA) to Peshawar. Most Sikhs in KP come from a financially weak background and run small grocery shops or work as Hakeems. For them, migrating to a safer place is fast becoming a compulsion. Additionally, Sikhs from KP do not have financial wherewithal to start afresh in a new place. More importantly, there is no ‘long-term’ guarantee of their security in any region of Pakistan.
In January 2020, a violent mob attacked one of the holiest Sikh shrines, Nankana Sahib Gurudwara, in Punjab province. The incident terrorised Sikhs across Pakistan because it made them realise that even Punjab was not safe anymore. International Sikh organisations have expressed their concerns regarding recent incidents of targeted killings of the Sikh community members in Pakistan. For instance, the World Sikh Organization of Canada (WSO) condemned the Peshawar killings and expressed deep concerns for the safety of Pakistan’s Sikh community. In their statement, the WSO stated that Sikhs in Pakistan are “feeling vulnerable and unsafe.” Moreover, “they do not know if they will return home safely, if they go out.” So far, these condemnations and appeals to safeguard the Sikh minorities in Pakistan have fallen on deaf ears.
Religious minorities in Pakistan are known to be treated as ’second-class’ citizens. Neither the civilian government nor the security establishment prioritise them. On the contrary, they have been largely used to fulfil domestic political objectives or certain foreign policy goals. The Sikh community in Pakistan has also been used as a ‘propaganda’ tool to create disturbances in India’s Punjab. However, increasing targeted killings of the Sikh community members will only create tensions within Pakistan. Consequently, there is a growing disenchantment among minority communities in Pakistan, especially among Sikhs, who thought that they could co-exist peacefully along with majority Muslims. But with religion-centric ideas like turning Pakistan into a ‘Riyasat-e-Medina’ (Islamic Welfare State like Medina) or growing demands of imposing ‘Sharia Law’ in the country will further shrink space for religious minorities to survive in Pakistan.
The Chinese saved five set points, and rallied from 5-2 deficits in both the set and the ensuing tiebreak…reports Asian Lite News
World No.1 women’s tennis player Iga Swaitek was stretched all the way by Chinese teenager Zheng Qinwen in the fourth round of the French Open, before the Pole rallied for a three-set win to set up a quarterfinal clash with American Jessica Pegula.
The former winner at Roland Garros dropped her first set in more than a month against Zheng, but rallied for a 6-7(5), 6-0, 6-2 win inside Court Philippe-Chatrier to extend her unbeaten run to 32 consecutive matches.
Swiatek last lost a set on April 23, when she was taken the distance by Liudmila Samsonovaof Russia in the semifinals of the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix. She was pushed hard by the 19-year-old Zheng in an opening set that lasted a gruelling 82 minutes.
The Chinese saved five set points, and rallied from 5-2 deficits in both the set and the ensuing tiebreak.
“I tried to loosen up my hand a little bit. She (Zheng) played really good tennis with heavy topspins. The key in the second set was kind of not letting her do that again. I’m pretty happy that I could play a little bit faster and put pressure on her. I felt like I was a little bit in trouble, and I was able to come back and really refocus and find other solutions, so that’s great,” conceded Swiatek, the 2020 champion at Roland Garros.
Zheng seemed to be tiring in the second set after the gruelling first set. After losing the first three games, she took a medical timeout and emerged with her right upper leg heavily wrapped. Zheng revealed after the match that she was dealing with stomach trouble.
“I got really pained stomach and I try my best, but it’s just, in the second and third set, I couldn’t, I didn’t have power to scream one, “Come on,” even and it was really tough,” Zheng was quoted as saying by wtatennis.com.
“I want to fight, I really, really want to fight, but I just don’t have power and it was really tough. I couldn’t show my tennis today in the second and third set, even in the first set, I’m really not happy with my performance.
“The leg was, it was also tough. That compared to the stomach was easy … If I don’t talk about today, I’m happy with my performance all this run. To play against the No. 1 in the world, I feel really I enjoy on the court. If I don’t have my stomach, I think I could enjoy more, like to run better and to hit more harder, to give more effort on court.
“It’s pity that I couldn’t give that what I want to give today. I just want, the next time I play against her, I have perfect shape and go for the next fight,” added Zheng.
Following the 2 hour, 45-minute slugfest, Swiatek will face 11th-seeded American Jessica Pegula. Pegula rallied for a three-set win over Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, to reach the last eight in Paris for the first time.
Pegula had previously never won a set against Begu. The Romanian won their first two meetings, including at the WTA 250 in Melbourne to start this season. She’s one of three American players to reach the quarterfinals, as Sloane Stephens and Coco Gauff will play in the last eight in the bottom half.
Pakistan has China as a model to emulate and replicate its development reforms, Sharif said during a meeting with the representatives of Chinese companies investing in Pakistan….reports Asian Lite News
Pakistan doesn’t want handouts, but investments from its Chinese friends, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Monday, media reports said.
He said that the friendship between Pakistan and China’s unwavering friendship has weathered storms and strengthened over time, Geo News reported.
He praised China for progressing in various sectors and lifting numerous above the poverty level during the last three decades.
Pakistan has China as a model to emulate and replicate its development reforms, Sharif said during a meeting with the representatives of Chinese companies investing in Pakistan.
The Premier said that Pakistan looks forward to seek support from China in every walk of life and it will benefit from China’s experience in the fields of industries and agriculture.
“Pakistan has resolved that we will meet all the challenges however difficult they are and take Pakistan towards progress,” he said.
“For this, Pakistan needs real support from our Chinese friends, not in terms of money, aid or handouts, but in terms of investment, trade and expertise.”
Sharif said that China is the most reliable friend of Pakistan.
He thanked the Chinese leadership, and Chinese President, Xi Jinping, for their unstinting support towards Pakistan in the shape of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.
He said that the CPEC has helped Pakistan move forward a huge way. Recalling the start of the last decade, when electricity load-shedding was at its peak, Sharif said that the Chinese President and then prime minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif made various deals to set up power plants to overcome the issue by 2017, Geo News reported.
India is free but we are slaves: Imran
Severely criticising Pakistan’s incumbent federal coalition government, former Prime Minister Imran Khan said the “American slaves” had increased the prices of petroleum products, while India bought cheap oil from Russia and reduced prices.
“It showed India is free but we (Pakistanis) are slaves,” The News quoted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman as saying while addressing a workers convention at Sheikabad, Charsadda, on Sunday.
He lauded India for following an independent foreign policy, saying it imported crude oil from Russia despite American sanctions.
“Our government signed an agreement with Russia to buy oil at 30 per cent discounted rates. Our government was dislodged under a conspiracy,” he said.
Khan said an independent foreign policy was imperative for speedy progress of Pakistan.
He warned that the nation would not forgive Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz for torturing peaceful protesters of his party and conducting raids at their houses.
The PTI chief reiterated that they all would be brought to book and sent behind bars soon.
Asking the youth to get ready for another long march, Khan said that his party would soon start marching towards Islamabad to bring down the “imported government”.
He warned that his party workers would “snatch” their rights if they were denied it through peaceful means.
Congress has fielded Mukul Wasnik (Maharashtra), Randeep Singh Surjewala (Haryana) and Pramod Tiwari (Uttar Pradesh) as Rajya Sabha nominees from Rajasthan….reports Asian Lite News
With the Congress fielding three candidates from outside the state for the Rajya Sabha polls scheduled on June 10, dissent is brewing within the party in Rajasthan.
Both the Independent MLAs supporting the party as well as some Congress legislators are questioning the party high command’s decision to nominate candidates from outside the state to contest from Rajasthan.
Congress has fielded Mukul Wasnik (Maharashtra), Randeep Singh Surjewala (Haryana) and Pramod Tiwari (Uttar Pradesh) as Rajya Sabha nominees from Rajasthan.
Congress MLA Bharat Singh on Monday wrote to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot saying: “All three Congress candidates are from outside the state. It is a matter of satisfaction for the Congress that the BJP has fielded Ghanshyam Tiwari as its candidate. Tiwari was a member of the Congress for some time. It is also true that the big leaders no longer show the courage to contest Lok Sabha or Assembly elections. They only want to survive through the Rajya Sabha.”
Singh added: “As a Congress MLA, it is painful to see these leaders become ‘Lat Sahab’ after winning elections. They have neither the time nor the inclination to meet the party MLAs or the workers.”
Independent MLA Sanyam Lodha, who’s an advisor to the Chief Minister, also questioned the move to field three candidates from outside the state. Other Independent MLAs are also reportedly not happy with the move.
The three Congress nominees have reached Jaipur and will file their nominations at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
BJP list misses prominent names
Prominent names, including Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi are missing from the BJP’s list of candidates for the Rajya Sabha polls to be held next month.
The BJP has so far released the names of 22 candidates in three lists for the June 10 election.
The list misses the names of Union Minority Affairs Minister Naqvi, former Union Minister Prakash Javadekar, party national general secretary Dushyant Gautam, former national vice president Dr Vinay Sahastrabuddhe, former Union Minister Shiv Pratap Shukla and national spokesperson Syed Zafar Islam.
Sahastrabuddhe is serving as president of Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Sources said that Naqvi may be fielded from the Rampur Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh for which bypolls are scheduled for June 23. Naqvi is elected to the Upper House from Jharkhand and the BJP has nominated Aditya Sahu from the state this time.
Late Monday evening, the BJP announced the names of four more candidates for the upcoming biennial election for the Rajya Sabha from Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.
On Sunday, the BJP announced the names of 18 candidates for the Rajya Sabha biennial elections in two lists.
In a list of candidates released on Sunday, the BJP has fielded Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman from Karnataka and Piyush Goyal from Maharashtra.
The BJP has fielded Sitharaman, actor-turned-politician Jaggesh and Lahar Singh Siroya from Karnataka, while Kavita Patidar and Sumitra Valmiki will contest from Madhya Pradesh.
From Maharashtra, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, Anil Sukhdevrao Bonde and Dhananjay Mahadik have been fielded.
From Uttar Pradesh, Laxmikant Bajpai, Radhamohan Aggarwal, Surendra Singh Nagar, Baburam Nishad, Darshana Singh, Sangeeta Yadav, Mithlesh Kumar and Dr K. Laxman are the candidates.
In Bihar, the saffron party has given tickets to Satish Chandra Dubey and Shambhu Sharan Patel.
The BJP has fielded Kalpana Saini from Uttarakhand, Krishan Lal Panwar from Haryana and Ghanshyam Tiwari from Rajasthan.
Biennial elections for 57 Rajya Sabha seats will be held across 15 states on June 10.
The talks were co-chaire by Secretary (East), MEA Saurabh Kumar and Vietnamese Vice Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu….reports Asian Lite News
With India reaffirming Vietnam’s role as a key partner in the Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision, the two sides have agreed to explore new opportunities for partnership to support each other’s economic development and national security.
During the 12th round of Political Consultations and the 9th round of Strategic Dialogue between the Foreign Ministries of India and Vietnam in Hanoi on Monday, the two sides also discussed the future cooperation agenda.
This includes high-level exchanges and activities to mark the 50th anniversary of India-Vietnam Diplomatic Relations this year, according to information released by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The talks were co-chaire by Secretary (East), MEA Saurabh Kumar and Vietnamese Vice Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu.
According to the MEA, both sides reviewed recent developments in their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership guided by the “Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People” adopted by the Prime Ministers of India and Vietnam during their Virtual Summit in December 2020 and the Plan of Action for 2021-2023 signed by their Foreign Ministers.
“They expressed satisfaction over the sustained momentum in their multifaceted relations, despite the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, with frequent high-level engagements, including the recent telephone conversation between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the General Secretary of Communist Party of Vietnam, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Phu Trong, as well as the visit of Speaker of Lok Sabha to Vietnam in April 2022,” the ministry said.
Both sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, especially in the context of the global impact of COVID-19 pandemic and the on-going crisis in Ukraine, as they explored new opportunities for partnership to support each other’s economic development and national security.
“Secretary (East) reaffirmed India’s position of regarding Vietnam as a key partner in our Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision,” the MEA said.
During the talks, India conveyed its readiness to continue extending development and capacity building assistance to Vietnam through initiatives such as Quick Impact Projects, ITEC and e-ITEC initiatives, PhD fellowships, digital connectivity and heritage conservation. “Both sides agreed to enhance physical connectivity and promote tourism and people-to-people exchanges, including by leveraging their shared Buddhist linkages and popularity of Yoga in Vietnam,” the MEA added.
India and Vietnam also expressed satisfaction over their close coordination at regional and multilateral forums.
They agreed to enhance their bilateral cooperation in line with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the ASEAN’s Outlook on Indo-Pacific to achieve shared security, prosperity and growth for all in the region, the MEA said.
During his visit, Secretary (East) also called on the Foreign Minister of Vietnam Bui Thanh Son. He conveyed EAM Jaishankar’s greetings and invitation to visit India in June 2022 for the Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and Delhi Dialogue. (India News Network)
In his remarks, the Defence Minister praised the ICG’s “professionalism and dedication,” stating that “its unparalleled performance” had made it one of the world’s best and largest coast guards….reports Asian Lite News
India’s maritime security demands have shifted as a result of the changing global circumstances, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday.
Addressing the Indian Coast Guard’s (ICG) 39th Commanders’ Conference in New Delhi, he emphasized the need to maintain maritime preparedness in the ever-changing global landscape.
He recalled the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, saying that the tragedy demonstrated that the country’s focus had been on land border security for a long time, with little attention devoted to coastline protection.
He praised the ICG for consistently improving its capabilities in recent years, in accordance with the government’s strategy, and for playing a critical role in boosting coastal security. He, however, also added that since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the country has not seen any terror activity from the water route as a result of these measures.
In his remarks, the Defence Minister praised the ICG’s “professionalism and dedication,” stating that “its unparalleled performance” had made it one of the world’s best and largest coast guards.
He went on to say that the ICG’s role is not limited to coastal areas, describing them as “protectors of India’s national interests and sovereign rights” in the maritime boundary and Exclusive Economic Zone.
He expressed his understanding of the significance of “a free and open Indo-Pacific,” describing the region as critical to India’s maritime security.
He said, “The growing regional and global trade has brought forth new challenges. Geopolitical tensions and clash of strategic interests have led to traditional security challenges. Terrorism, drug trafficking and piracy are some non-traditional challenges in front of us today. The entire region is being affected by these challenges. Being a responsible maritime power, we have a clear interest to create a rule-based, peaceful and stable environment. Such a rule based environment is essential for both regional and global prosperity. In such a situation, the ICG has a big role to play.”
He added that keeping in view all aspects such as security, trade, environment and humanitarian assistance, Ministry of Defence has sanctioned a large number of projects, including acquisition of Pollution Control Vessels and mid-term Life Upgradation of Dornier Fleet, to modernise the ICG. He appreciated the ICG’s efforts towards achieving ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.
“Today, the manufacturing and servicing/repairing of ships and aircraft of ICG is being done indigenously. The ICG is spending almost 90 per cent of its capital budget on the development of indigenous assets,” he added.
The event was attended by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar, DG ICG VS Pathania, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Defence and the ICG.
