Month: March 2024

Categories
INDIA 2024 India News Politics

Rajnath Singh to lead BJP’s manifesto committee

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister Piyush Goyal will be convenor and co-convenors, respectively….reports Asian Lite News

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday announced the Election Manifesto Committee for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. BJP president JP Nadda announced the 27-member committee which will be headed by defence minister and former BJP chief Rajnath Singh.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Union Minister Piyush Goyal will be convenor and co-convenors, respectively.

Arjun Munda, Bhupender Yadav, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Kiren Rijiju, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Dharmendra Pradhan, and Bhupender Patel are included as members in the committee.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai and Madhya Pradesh CM Mohan Yadav are also included in the list.

Along with them, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Vasundhara Raje, Smriti Irani, Jual Oram, Ravishankar Prasad, Sushil Modi, Keshav Prasad Maurya, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Vinod Tawde, Radha Mohan Das Agarwal, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, OP Dhankar, Anil Antony and Tariq Mansoor are also there.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday announced the candidates for the by-election to be held in the Gandey Assembly seat of Jharkhand and Bagidora Assembly seat in Rajasthan.

The party has fielded Dilip Kumar Verma from the Gandey Assembly, while Subhash Tamboliya has been given a ticket from the Bagidora Assembly in Rajasthan. The bypoll will be held at Bagidora Assemby in Rajasthan on April 26, while the Gandey Assembly will undergo a bypoll on May 20.

Bypolls on 26 Assembly seats will also be held along with the Lok Sabha polls. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha polls will be held in seven phases beginning April 19. Nearly 96.8 crore people are eligible to cast their votes in the upcoming polls at over 12 lakh polling stations.

The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats will be held in seven phases starting April 19. The counting of votes will take place on June 4. In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won 282 seats, while the Indian National Congress (INC) managed to get only 44 seats.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) won 303 seats, while the Indian National Congress (INC) managed to get only 52 seats. (ANI)

BJP releases 8th list of 11 candidates

The BJP Saturday named 11 more Lok Sabha candidates, four of whom had jumped ship from other parties — including former BJD leader Bhartruhari Mahtab and former Congress leader Preneet Kaur.

The party’s eighth list of nominees comprised two candidates from West Bengal, three from Odisha and six from Punjab, taking its total number of announced candidates to 411 so far. All four defecting leaders have been fielded from the seats they represent in the outgoing Lok Sabha.

A notable inclusion in the list was that of former IPS officer Debashish Dhar from West Bengal’s Birbhum seat, where he will contest against three-time TMC MP Satabdi Roy. Dhar was suspended as Cooch Behar SP after the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections during which four people were killed in Sitalkuchi area in alleged firing by central forces. On March 20, the IPS officer resigned from service citing “personal reasons”. The other candidate from Bengal is Pranat Tudu, a doctor who will be pitted against TMC’s Kalipada Soren in Jhargram.

The BJP has so far named candidates to 40 out of the 42 seats in West Bengal. The Diamond Harbour seat, which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Abhishek Banerjee represents, is one of the two seats it is yet to name candidates for.

In Odisha, Mahtab will contest from the prestigious Cuttack constituency, which he has been representing since 1998 as part of the BJD. The son of Odisha’s first chief minister Harekrushna Mahtab, he recently resigned from the regional party expressing displeasure over its functioning. Mahtab will take on BJD’s Santrupt Misra, former HR head of Aditya Birla Group.

In the communally-sensitive Kandhamal, the BJP fielded Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, who has a strong RSS background. The BJD has been winning the seat since 2009, when it broke off ties with the BJP. Panigrahi will face BJD’s Achyuta Samanta, who won the seat in 2019. The BJP has named Rabindra Narayan Behera, a technocrat, from Jajpur, a seat reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates. He will contest against the current MP, BJD’s Sarmishta Sethi. With these three names, BJP has announced candidates for all 21 seats in Odisha.

In Punjab, the BJP’s inaugural list of six candidates includes three turncoats. Among them is Preneet, who is former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh’s wife. Punjab has 13 Lok Sabha seats. While Ravneet Singh Bittu, who defected from Congress to BJP on March 26, will contest from Ludhiana where he is the current MP, Sushil Kumar Rinku, a former AAP leader who joined BJP on March 27, has been fielded from Jalandhar. Rinku won the Lok Sabha bypolls from the same seat last year.

Preneet, a former Congress MP from Patiala who switched to the BJP in March, has been fielded from Patiala again.

Hans Raj Hans, a Sufi singer-turned-politician, and retired diplomat Taranjeet Singh Sandhu will contest from Faridkot and Amritsar, respectively. Hans Raj Hans is pitted against Karamjit Anmol, a singer and actor close to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. The party also decided to field Dinesh Singh ‘Babbu’, a seasoned MLA, from Gurdaspur in place of actor Sunny Deol.



ALSO READ: Indian economy in distress, BJP unaware: Chidambaram

Categories
INDIA 2024 India News Politics

BJP’s drama will not work in TN, says Stalin

The DMK leader claimed that the Prime Minister is in ‘fear of losing the elections’, adding that all Indians are angry….reports Asian Lite News

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader MK Stalin said that PM Modi and the BJP will not find traction in Tamil Nadu even if they contest in elections 100 times in the state.

“Not only this election; even if 100 elections come, your (PM Modi and BJP) drama will not work in Tamil Nadu,” CM Stalin said while addressing a public meeting in Krishnagiri.

“It’s the BJP, the only party, that thinks to divide the people living peacefully in Tamil Nadu in the name of religion and caste,” he added.

The DMK leader claimed that the Prime Minister is in ‘fear of losing the elections’, adding that all Indians are angry.

“In the election, EC, CBI, and IT are used by PM, which shows he is in fear of losing the election. Among the Indians all over, there is anger against the PM. That’s why senior leaders like the finance minister are in fear and not facing elections. BJP’s is at least they do not go below NoTA. That’s why they are praising Jayalalithaa and MGR. He has criticised Jayalalithaa since she was alive and he said the Jayalalithaa government was corrupt. Has he forgotten what he said,” Stalin said.

Stalin further criticised the Prime Minister while listing protests by women wrestlers, harassment faced by women in Manipur, pointing out that this contradicts the central government’s ‘Nari Shakti’ tagline.

“He spoke about Nari Shakthi. Under BJP government rule, the Nirbaya fund was not allotted properly. Women wrestlers were sexually harassed. In PM Modi’s governance, the Bilkis Bano case accused were released. Our MPs crew went to Manipur and took stock of what happened there against women, It’s PM Modi’s government that silently watched the violence. A woman who was sexually assaulted went to court and was lit on fire by the BJP government. Is there any reply to all this news from PM Modi? At least he has expressed his grief for name sake. In such a situation, what moral rights do he (PM Modi) and the BJP have to talk about?” Stalin said.

He further criticised PM Modi for not supporting the state when it suffered huge losses due to floods.

“He has said to make TN as ‘puniya bhoomi’. When TN suffered floods, why has he not come to this ‘puniya bhoomi’? Why is not even a single paise given as a natural calamity fund? Why has AIIMS hospital not been constructed for the last 10 years in Tamil Nadu?” he said.

“PM Modi, already Tamil Nadu is puniya bhoomi. We are all living here peacefully, equally in brotherhood,” the Chief Minister said.

A total of 26 candidates have filed their papers for the Krishnagiri parliamentary constituency.

DMK and Congress are contesting together in the seat. Congress has announced three-time Hosur MLA K Gopinath as the alliance candidate.

The daughter of slained forest brigand Veerappan is also contesting the seat as a candidate for Naam Tamilar Katchi.

The AIADMK candidate, the NDA candidate from BJP and 23 independents are in the poll fray in Krishnagiri.

All 39 seats in Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 19 and the counting of votes will be held on June 4.

In the 2019 elections, the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance secured an overwhelming victory, winning 38 out of 39 seats.

The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country will be held in seven phases starting April 19. (ANI)

New Delhi, Feb 05 (ANI): MDMK MP Vaiko speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the Interim Budget Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Monday. (ANI Photo/Sansad TV)

MDMK allocated ‘matchbox’ symbol

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Durai Vaiko on Saturday announced that the party had been allocated the ‘matchbox’ symbol ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

“I am happy to inform that MDMK has been allocated the ‘matchbox’ symbol,” he said.

Exuding confidence in the party faring well in the upcoming elections, the MDMK chief added, “The people of Trichy have already decided to vote for the INDIA bloc. With the blessings and leadership of our CM, MK Stalin, we are very confident of winning the elections. “

The MDMK supremo also came down heavily on the BJP-led Centre for using probe agencies at its disposal to crush the opposition in the country.

“The ruling BJP has been using central agencies like the I-T, ED and CBI against Opposition leaders and parties. Now, they have added the Election Commission to the list of agencies that are trying to crush the opposition in the country,” he said.

Durai Vaiko is the MDMK’s candidate for the Tiruchirappalli constituency in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The elections to 543 Lok Sabha seats in the country will be held in seven phases starting April 19. Nearly 97 crore voters are eligible to cast votes in the general elections. All 39 parliamentary constituencies in Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 19 and the counting of votes in all phases has been scheduled for June 4. Tamil Nadu sends 39 members to the Lok Sabha, with 7 reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates.

ALSO READ: Indian economy in distress, BJP unaware: Chidambaram

Categories
-Top News Asia News China

US-Japan security alliance upgrade worries China

The defence plans that are expected to be announced at a summit in April are being considered the biggest upgrade to the security alliance between Washington and Tokyo in decades….reports Asian Lite News

China has been raising objections to the US-Japan plans to upgrade their security alliance, saying it does not want to be a ‘target’ of the defence plans, Voice of America (VOA) reported.

The defence plans that are expected to be announced at a summit in April are being considered the biggest upgrade to the security alliance between Washington and Tokyo in decades.

“China always believes that military cooperation between states should be conducive to regional peace and stability, instead of targeting any third party or harming the interests of a third party,” Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, said.

A US State Department spokesperson pushed back against Beijing’s concerns, emphasising the importance of the US-Japan alliance in the Indo-Pacific region.

“The US-Japan alliance has served as the cornerstone of peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and across the world for over seven decades and has never been stronger,” the spokesperson said.

On Tuesday, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met his Japanese counterpart, Akiba Takeo, at the White House to discuss “next steps to finalise key deliverables” that President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will announce during their April 10 meeting in Washington.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi said on Monday that Tokyo was in discussion with Washington about strengthening the command and control of their militaries to enhance readiness.

Meanwhile, this discussion comes as Indo-Pacific Command chief Admiral John Aquilino told the US House Armed Services Committee that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is preparing to invade Taiwan by 2027, VOA reported.

“The time is long overdue to upgrade the command structure in Japan so that the US and Japanese militaries can operate together more seamlessly” in the region, Ralph Cossa, president emeritus and WSD-Handa chair in peace studies at the Pacific Forum, said.

James Schoff, senior director of the US-Japan NEXT Alliance Initiative at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, said, “This is probably the single most important step that the allies can take to enhance deterrence against regional threats and respond to any sort of major crisis.”

“This is especially true at this moment as Japan prepares to stand up its first joint operational command and introduces longer-range counterstrike capabilities,” he added.

Notably, Japan plans to set up a joint operations command by March 2025 to improve coordination among its air, ground and maritime Self-Defense Forces (JSDF). The updated command structure within US Forces Japan (USFJ) is expected to complement Japan’s establishment of its joint operations command, VOA reported.

Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, senior non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Indo-Pacific Security Initiative in the Scowcroft Centre for Strategy and Security, said, “Although the details are yet to be determined, the plan is to enhance the USFJ’s authority within INDOPACOM [US Indo-Pacific Command].”

He added that the revised US military command “will also have greater institutional ability to communicate and coordinate with the JSDF.”

Currently, US Forces Japan has limited authority to conduct joint operations with Japan. The commander of USFJ needs to coordinate its operation with US Indo-Pacific Command, located in Hawaii, as reported by VOA.

Earlier on Tuesday, President Biden nominated Air Force Major General Stephen Jost as the new commander of USFJ and promoted him to Lieutenant General.

Schoff said that “the existing parallel chain of command would remain” in the US and Japanese militaries rather than “a single allied chain of command for both US and Japanese forces.”

However, the US Forces Japan will be unlike the South Korean-US Combined Forces Command led by a US general during wartime, according to VOA.

James Przystup, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and its Japan chair specialising in alliance management in the Indo-Pacific, said the upgrades in US military command in Japan “would serve to enhance US-Japan defence cooperation and deterrence in Northeast Asia, both with respect to North Korea and China.”

“As for what this might look like in practice, the US-ROK Combined Forces Command could be one model, but not necessarily the one [into which it] eventually evolves,” he added. (ANI)

ALSO READ: $62 BILLION INVESTMENT AT STAKE: Challenges for China in Pakistan

Categories
-Top News Afghanistan Asia News

450 Days: Afghan girls still barred from universities

Afghan students are seen in a university in Herat city, Herat province, Afghanistan, Feb. 26, 2022. (Photo by Mashal/Xinhua/IANS)

Concerns are also voiced by university professors, who fear that the continued closure of universities to girls will hinder the country’s progress…reports Asian Lite News

Despite over 450 days passing, universities in Afghanistan remain closed to girls, with no signs of reopening on the horizon, TOLO News reported.

Expressing their frustration, female students highlight the significant delay in their academic progress, urging the Talibani caretaker government to prioritise the reopening of universities this year.

Khadijah, speaking on behalf of many, emphasises, “The education of girls holds immense importance; it reflects the literacy and development of entire families. Neglecting it jeopardises the education and advancement of society as a whole,” as reported by TOLO News.

Echoing these sentiments, Narow pleads, “We implore authorities to unlock the doors of schools and universities for girls, as their education is crucial for building a strong and progressive society.”

Concerns are also voiced by university professors, who fear that the continued closure of universities to girls will hinder the country’s progress.

Zakiullah Mohammadi, a respected academic, asserted, “Ensuring equal access to education is fundamental for effective governance and societal advancement.”

Former President Hamid Karzai, during discussions with the Norwegian charge d’affaires, underscored the urgency of reopening educational institutions for girls.

Despite the lack of new announcements from the Taliban regarding the reopening, previous assurances from the caretaker government regarding girls’ right to education are remembered.

Since the Taliban’s return to power, schools have barred girls beyond the sixth grade, and now, over a year later, female students find themselves denied access to university education as well, TOLO News reported.

‘Stop excuses, open schools for girls’

Earlier, Amnesty International, an NGO for human rights, had demanded the Taliban authorities to immediately reopen all girls’ schools across Afghanistan.

It has also urged the Taliban to refrain from using “empty excuses” to continue the ban on girls’ education.

The organisation stated that the Taliban’s reasons for banning girls’ education are “empty excuses for further discrimination in Afghanistan.”

The organisation said on social media platform X on Wednesday that it had surveyed the opinions of Afghan girls on the ban on education beyond the sixth grade. One girl said, “Her dreams are shattered.” Another student told the organisation that “she has lost all hope.”

The Taliban has stated that the conditions they envision for reopening schools and universities are “not suitable for all girls.” Taliban officials, close to three years into their return to power, have remained silent or made ambiguous statements about the reopening of the schools and universities for girls, as reported by Khaama Press.

But, the critics argue that depriving girls of education is part of the Taliban’s policies to isolate women and severely restrict their rights. They say that the Taliban has imposed “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan.

As the Taliban solidifies its control over Afghanistan, the humanitarian crisis in the country has worsened. With infrastructure crumbling and essential services disrupted, millions are at risk of starvation and disease. Humanitarian organizations struggle to provide aid amidst security concerns and logistical challenges.

The ban on girls’ schools since the Taliban takeover has led to a generation of girls deprived of education, perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.

The denial of education not only stifles individual opportunities but also hampers the nation’s socio-economic development, exacerbating its already dire circumstances. International pressure mounts for the Taliban to reverse its discriminatory policies and ensure equal access to education for all Afghan children, Khaama Press reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Pakistan Confirms Airstrikes Inside Afghanistan

Categories
-Top News Asia News China

Beijing joins probe into suicide attack on its nationals in Pakistan

The incident that occurred on March 26 was the third major attack in little over a week on China-invested infrastructural projects….reports Asian Lite News

In the wake of the suicide bomb attack that claimed the lives of five Chinese nationals, Chinese investigators arrived in Pakistan to probe the incident, The News International reported, citing Pakistan’s interior ministry.

According to the report, the incident that occurred on March 26 was the third major attack in little over a week on China-invested infrastructural projects, where Beijing has invested more than USD 65 billion as part of its wider Belt and Road initiative.

Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met the Chinese team of investigators at Beijing’s embassy and briefed them on the investigation so far, the statement said.

At present, no one has claimed responsibility for the recent attack, in which a suicide bomber rammed a vehicle into a convoy of Chinese engineers working on a hydropower project at Dasu in Pakistan’s northwest, killing six people.

During his interaction with the Beijing’s probe team at Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, the security czar informed them about the progress made so far in the investigations into the tragic incident, The News International reported.

Measures pertaining to protection of Chinese nationals and overall security were also discussed in the meeting

The federal minister also met the Chinese ambassador and updated him on the probe into Besham incident.

In the meantime, civil work at the sites of the Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha Dams has been temporarily suspended by the Chinese companies overseeing operations due to security concerns.

The News International reported that approximately 991 Chinese engineers were working on both projects, while the local staff has been told to stay at home till further instructions, an official working on the project confirmed to the publication.

Similarly, GM Diamer-Bhasha Dam (DBD) Nazakat Hussain also confirmed that the Chinese company had suspended work on the dam. He said around 500 Chinese nationals were engaged in DBD but the FWO staff continues to work. Around 6,000 locals are busy in dam construction.

He hoped that the situation would normalise in a few days, leading to the return of Chinese employees. The Diamer-Bhasha Dam would produce 4,800 MW of electricity through hydropower generation, The News International reported.

However, the GM of Mohmand Dam Asim Rauf said that 250 Chinese continue to work on the Mohmand Dam and they have not stopped work. “Chinese have shown satisfaction over the security situation in the project area and they are working on the site,” the official said.

Chinese military offers help

After five Chinese nationals were killed in a suicide blast in Besham in Pakistan’s Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, Beijing has offered help to Islamabad to contain terrorism.

After the deadly attack, the Chinese government has called on the Pakistan government to ensure more security for its nationals.

“The Chinese military is willing to work with the Pakistani side to enhance the capability of the two countries to tackle various security risks and challenges, including terrorist attacks and jointly safeguard regional peace and stability,” said Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson of the China Ministry of National Defense.

Moreover, the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson also urged Pakistan to enhance security measures to safeguard Chinese nationals, projects and institutions.

A Chinese investigation team is also in Islamabad to work with the Pakistani side to probe further into the terrorist attack.

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi visited the Chinese Consulate in Islamabad on Friday and had a brief meeting with the Chinese investigating team.

As per official sources, Naqvi briefed the Chinese team about the ongoing investigation and assured complete and full cooperation by Pakistan in getting those involved in the heinous attack, to accountability and justice.

“Besham attack has opened up new domains for military level cooperation between Pakistan and China that will be discussed and explored in the coming days. The strategic partnership between the two countries has a strong history,” said political analyst Adnan Shauqat.

Millitaries of both the countries have maintained frequent, close and high-level exchanges, resulting in successful outcomes including joint-military exercises and training professional exchanges, personnel training and equipment and technological cooperation. (with inputs from agencies)

ALSO READ: $62 BILLION INVESTMENT AT STAKE: Challenges for China in Pakistan

Categories
-Top News Politics USA

Trump sparks outrage with new video 

Trump claimed the footage was captured on Long Island during his attendance at the wake of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, tragically killed during a traffic stop that week…reports Asian Lite News

Former President Donald Trump sparked controversy on Friday by sharing a video featuring an unsettling image showing President Joe Biden tied up in the back of a pickup truck, CNN reported.

Trump claimed the footage was captured on Long Island during his attendance at the wake of NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller, tragically killed during a traffic stop that week. The video showcased two trucks adorned with flags and decals expressing support for Trump, with Biden’s image prominently displayed on the back of the second truck.

In response to the uproar, Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, defended the imagery, stating, “That picture was on the back of a pick-up truck that was travelling down the highway. Democrats and crazed lunatics have not only called for despicable violence against President Trump and his family, they are actually weaponising the justice system against him.”

Biden’s campaign spokesman, Michael Tyler, condemned Trump’s actions, stating to CNN, “This image from Donald Trump is the type of crap you post when you’re calling for a ‘bloodbath’ or when you tell the proud boys to ‘stand back and stand by.’ Trump is regularly inciting political violence and it’s time people take him seriously — just ask the Capitol Police officers who were attacked protecting our democracy on January 6,” as reported by CNN.

When asked for comment, the US Secret Service refrained from confirming or commenting on matters of protective intelligence.

This latest video adds to a pattern of Trump employing dark and violent imagery in his campaign messaging, reflecting his propensity for inflammatory rhetoric, which appears to fuel his White House aspirations.

Earlier this month, Trump issued a stark warning, suggesting that if he were to lose the 2024 election, it would result in a “bloodbath” for the US auto industry and the nation at large. He proposed a “100 per cent tariff” on cars manufactured outside the US, arguing that only his presidency could safeguard domestic auto manufacturing.

Trump’s penchant for divisive language is evident in his past remarks. In December, he stirred controversy by suggesting that migrants were “poisoning the blood” of the US, echoing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s attacks on Biden as a “threat to democracy.”

Furthermore, Trump has expressed admiration for foreign leaders who employ anti-democratic tactics to maintain power. At a campaign event in New Hampshire in November, he referred to his political rivals as “vermin,” drawing condemnation for his language, including from Biden, who likened it to “language you heard in Nazi Germany.”

Trump told the crowd: “We will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists and radical left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country,” and warned that “the real threat is not from the radical right. The real threat is from the radical left, and it’s growing every day,” CNN reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: US approves bombs, warplanes sales to Israel

Categories
-Top News Politics USA

US approves bombs, warplanes sales to Israel

The recent authorizations include a substantial arsenal of munitions, comprising over 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs…reports Asian Lite News

Amid escalating tensions and concerns over potential military actions in southern Gaza, the Biden administration has quietly sanctioned the transfer of billions of dollars of bombs and fighter jets to Israel, The Washington Post reported.

Despite apprehensions about the impact on Palestinian civilians, Washington has proceeded with the arms packages, signalling its unwavering support for Israel’s defence strategies, the report added.

The recent authorizations include a substantial arsenal of munitions, comprising over 1,800 MK84 2,000-pound bombs and 500 MK82 500-pound bombs, as confirmed by Pentagon and State Department officials familiar with the matter. The decision to greenlight such significant weaponry raises eyebrows, particularly given the lethal history of the 2,000-pound bombs in previous Israeli military campaigns in Gaza, which have resulted in mass casualties, as reported by The Washington Post.

While the Biden administration has expressed concerns about the potential ramifications of an Israeli offensive in southern Gaza, it has refrained from conditioning aid or imposing restrictions on arms transfers. A White House official reiterated the administration’s stance, affirming its continued support for Israel’s right to self-defence and emphasising that conditioning aid has not been part of its policy.

However, some Democratic voices, including allies of President Biden, argue for a more nuanced approach, insisting on Israeli commitments to minimise civilian casualties and facilitate humanitarian aid into Gaza. Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland urged the administration to leverage its influence effectively, demanding assurances from Israel before approving further arms transfers to Gaza.

The impasse highlights the delicate balance in US-Israel relations, with disagreements emerging over the conduct of the conflict. While the Biden administration seeks to engage with Israeli authorities to mitigate the bloodshed, tensions have flared over the refusal to veto a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a temporary ceasefire, which Israel perceived as undermining its position.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant’s recent visit to Washington underscored Israel’s urgent requests for expedited weaponry, with Gen Charles Q Brown Jr, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, acknowledging Israel’s persistent demands for critical military supplies. However, the US has exercised discretion in fulfilling these requests, citing capacity limits and strategic considerations.

The decision to proceed with arms transfers has drawn criticism from some quarters, with concerns raised about the moral implications and potential complicity in Israel’s military actions. Critics argue that the indiscriminate use of powerful munitions, such as the MK84 bombs, poses significant risks to civilian populations and may constitute violations of international law, according to The Washington Post.

The Biden administration’s approach has also sparked internal debate, with advocates defending the need to maintain robust support for Israel’s security while acknowledging the humanitarian imperative of minimising civilian harm. Efforts to engage with Israeli officials behind the scenes have yielded mixed results, with delays in planned military operations in Gaza attributed partly to ongoing discussions.

Despite the diplomatic tensions, the Biden administration remains committed to facilitating humanitarian assistance to alleviate the dire conditions in Gaza. However, logistical challenges and Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries have hindered efforts to address the humanitarian crisis effectively.

In navigating the complexities of the conflict, the Biden administration faces mounting pressure to reconcile its support for Israel’s security with its humanitarian obligations and concerns about civilian welfare. The delicate balancing act underscores the broader challenges of US foreign policy in the Middle East, where geopolitical interests intersect with moral imperatives.

As the situation in Gaza remains volatile, the Biden administration confronts a daunting task in reconciling competing priorities and upholding its commitments to both Israel’s security and the well-being of Palestinian civilians, The Washington Post reported. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Labour losing members over Gaza stance

Categories
-Top News EU News Europe

Bulgaria, Romania take first steps into Europe’s visa-free zone

EU flags are seen outside the European Commission in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 6, 2023.(Xinhua/Zheng Huansong/IANS)

Despite the partial membership, the lifting of controls at the two countries’ air and sea borders is of significant symbolic value….reports Asian Lite News

Bulgaria and Romania joined Europe’s vast Schengen area of free movement on Sunday, opening up travel by air and sea without border checks after a 13-year wait.

A veto by Austria, however, means the new status will not apply to land routes, after Vienna expressed concerns over a potential influx of asylum seekers.

Despite the partial membership, the lifting of controls at the two countries’ air and sea borders is of significant symbolic value.

Admission to Schengen is an “important milestone” for Bulgaria and Romania, symbolizing a “question of dignity, of belonging to the European Union,” according to foreign policy analyst Stefan Popescu.

Ivan Petrov, a 35-year-old Bulgarian marketing executive who lives in France, said he was enthusiastic about less stressful traveling and the time he would be able to save.

“This is a great success for both countries, and a historic moment for the Schengen area — the largest area of free movement in the world,” EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement Saturday.

“Together, we are building a stronger, more united Europe for all our citizens.”

With Bulgaria and Romania arriving joining Sunday, the Schengen zone will comprise 29 members — 25 of the 27 European Union member states as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.

Romania’s government said Schengen rules would apply to four sea ports and 17 airports, with the country’s Otopeni airport near the capital Bucharest serving as the biggest hub for Schengen flights.

More staff including border police and immigration officers will be deployed to airports to “support passengers and detect those who want to take advantage to leave Romania illegally,” it added.

Random checks will also be carried out to catch people with false documents and to combat human trafficking.

Bulgaria and Romania both hope to fully integrate into Schengen by the end of the year, but Austria has so far relented only on air and sea routes.

Croatia, which joined the EU after Romania and Bulgaria, beat them to becoming Schengen’s 27th member in January 2023.

Created in 1985, the Schengen area allows more than 400 million people to travel freely without internal border controls.

ALSO READ: Labour losing members over Gaza stance

Categories
-Top News Arab News UAE News

119 horses from 15 countries to compete in Dubai World Cup 

This is the second edition of the cup, which is held to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, after last year’s edition in 2023…reports Asian Lite News

The Dubai World Cup 2024 – the world’s richest horse race for thoroughbreds – will be held tomorrow, Saturday (30th March), at Meydan Racecourse, where a strong field 119 of the world’s elite horses from 15 countries will compete across nine races with total prize money of $30.5 million, including $12 million for the ninth main card, the “Dubai World Cup”.

An elite group of the world’s horses will participate in the international evening, including 33 winners of Group 1 races in major world championships, in addition to 5 horses which won titles in the Dubai World Cup last season.

This is the second edition of the cup, which is held to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, after last year’s edition in 2023, which achieved great success thanks to the efforts made by the Dubai Horse Racing Club, which set a model for a seamless organisation in the holy month, reflecting Islamic culture and hospitality.

The Dubai World Cup was launched in 1996 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The maiden race in 1996 was won by Cigar, while Ushba Tesoro bagged the last race in 2023.

Ushba Tesoro under Yuga Kawada bagged the Dubai World Cup, only the second horse to achieve that feat for Japan after Victoire Pisa, ridden by Mirco Demuro, won the coveted prize in 2011.

Ushba Tesoro is back to defend his crown and will be bidding to become the second horse to win the Dubai World Cup twice in a row after Godolphin trainer Saeed bin Suroor’s Thunder Snow became the first to achieve that feat in 2018 and 2019.

There are nine races in total at the Dubai World Cup: Group 1 Dubai Kahayla Classic for the Purebred Arabians (USD 1 million), Group 2 Godolphin Mile (USD 1 million), Group 2 Dubai Gold Cup (USD 1 million), Group 1 Al Quoz Sprint (USD 1.5 million), Group 2 UAE Derby (USD 1 million), Group 1 Dubai Golden Shaheen (USD 2 million), Group 1 Dubai Turf (USD 5 million), Dubai Sheema Classic (USD 6 million), Dubai World Cup (USD 12 million)

Winners – 1996: Cigar, 1997: Singspiel, 1998: Silver Charm, 1999: Almutawakel, 2000: Dubai Millennium, 2001: Captain Steve, 2002: Street Cry, 2003: Moon Ballad, 2004: Pleasantly Perfect, 2005: Roses In May, 2006: Electrocutionist, 2007: Invasor, 2008: Curlin, 2009: Well Armed, 2010: Gloria de Campeao, 2011: Victoire Pisa, 2012: Monterosso, 2013: Animal Kingdom, 2014: African Story, 2015: Prince Bishop, 2016: California Chrome, 2017: Arrogate, 2018: Thunder Snow, 2019: Thunder Snow, 2020: Cancelled – Covid, 2021: Mystic Guide, 2022: Country Grammer, 2023: Ushba Tesoro. (ANI/WAM)

ALSO READ: Labour losing members over Gaza stance

Categories
-Top News World World News

DP World contributes AED10 million to Mothers’ Endowment

This contribution by DP World Foundation is part of a community wide response to the campaign by individuals, businesses and institutions…reports Asian Lite News

DP World’s charity and humanitarian arm, the DP World Foundation, has joined a growing list of contributors to the Mothers’ Endowment campaign, launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to honour mothers by establishing a AED 1 billion endowment fund that supports the education of millions around the world. DP World Foundation announced a contribution of AED 10 million to the campaign.

This contribution by DP World Foundation is part of a community wide response to the campaign by individuals, businesses and institutions, racing to support its aims of honouring mothers by enabling contributions to be made in their name, and highlighting their role in nurturing families and supporting the education of their children.

The campaign, launched under the umbrella of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, aims to support underprivileged individuals through education, which offers them a chance to improve their lives in a sustainable way and prepares them for the job market. The campaign also promotes the values of honouring parents, kindness, compassion and solidarity.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman and CEO of DP World, expressed the profound significance of the Mothers’ Endowment campaign launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. “The campaign aligns with the vision of our wise leadership, fostering community engagement from individuals to institutions in charitable endeavours, thus ensuring their enduring impact on disadvantaged communities. These initiatives pave the way for a future marked by stability and sustainable development”, he said.

“We are deeply honoured to participate in a campaign celebrating the invaluable role of mothers and champions global education. Our contribution underscores our steadfast dedication to social responsibility and bolstering the UAE’s pivotal humanitarian efforts around the world,” bin Sulayem.

Aiming to revive the culture of endowment as a development tool, the Mothers’ Endowment campaign focuses on empowering underprivileged individuals and communities through education, thus contributing to the global effort towards realizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Mothers’ Endowment campaign continues to welcome donations and contributions to the endowment fund from institutions and individuals across six main channels including the campaign’s website (Mothersfund.ae), as well as a dedicated call center via the toll-free number (800 9999). Donations are also possible via bank transfers in the UAE dirham to the campaign bank account number with Emirates Islamic Bank (AE790340003708472909201). Donations via SMS are possible by sending the word “Mother” to the following numbers (1034, 1035, 1036, 1038) for Etisalat by e& users. Other possible platforms for donating to the campaign are the DubaiNow app by clicking the “Donations” tab, and Dubai’s community contributions platform Jood. (ANI/WAM)

ALSO READ: Labour losing members over Gaza stance