Month: August 2024

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-Top News Asia News China

Philippines protests Chinese ramming of Coast Guard vessel

State-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5205 on Saturday repeatedly rammed into BRP-Teresa Magbanua…reports Asian Lite News

The Philippines has expressed “serious concerns” over a Chinese Coast Guard vessel “deliberately” ramming and colliding with the BRP Teresa Magbanua – the Philippine Coast Guard’s largest and most modern vessel – deployed to Escoda Shoal in the South China Sea on Saturday. 

“Well, the position of the government, especially the National Maritime Council, we take this with serious concern,” Alexander Lopez, spokesperson for the Philippines’ National Maritime Council (NMC), said during a media briefing.

State-owned Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that a China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel 5205 on Saturday repeatedly rammed into BRP-Teresa Magbanua, the biggest ship of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) deployed in April to Escoda Shoal, which is about 75 nautical miles from Palawan.

It mentioned that due to the collision, BRP Teresa Magbanua sustained damage in its bridge wing and freeboard though no injuries to the crew were reported and the ship remained anchored inside the Sabina Shoal.

PNA quoted Commodore Jay Tarriela, the Philippine Coast Guard’s spokesperson for the West Philippine Sea, as saying that the Chinese Coast Guard vessel carried out “dangerous manoeuver resulting to its direct ramming” into the port bow of BRP Teresa Magbanua.

“The Chinese ship turned around, then rammed the PCG vessel anew, hitting the starboard quarter. After this, it went around and then did another ramming to the PCG vessel. On the port beam of MRRV-9701, the CCG vessel 5205 once again directly and intentionally rammed the PCG vessel,” said Tarriela.

The PCG spokesperson also presented a drone shot before the media, showing that BRP Teresa Magbanua was originally surrounded by People’s Liberation Army Navy tugboats, vessels and “Chinese maritime militias”.

The latest incident has drawn sharp criticism from various countries.

“The US condemns the multiple dangerous violations of international law by the PRC, including today’s intentional ramming of the BRP Teresa Magbanua while it was conducting lawful operations within the Philippine EEZ. We stand with the Philippines in upholding international law,” US Ambassador MaryKay Loss Carlson posted on X.

Meanwhile, Beijing also accused the Philippine coast guard vessel “illegally anchoring in Xianbin Jiao” of “intentionally” ramming the “Chinese law-enforcement ship”.

Liu Dejun, a spokesperson of the China Coast Guard, said the “unprofessional and dangerous manoeuvre resulted in scrapes, with all responsibility lying with the Philippine side”, Xinhua news agency reported.

China said that it had warned the Philippine side to “face up to reality and abandon illusions”, stating that immediate withdrawal from the area is “the only correct course of action”.

ALSO READ: Shehbaz seeks alliance with JUI-F again

Categories
-Top News Asia News Politics

Karachi sees mass rally against enforced disappearances

The origins of this observance trace back to December 21, 2010, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution expressing grave concern over the global rise in enforced disappearances….reports Asian Lite News

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in Karachi on August 30, 2024, to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. The march, spanning nearly three kilometres from Teen Talwar to the Karachi Press Club (KPC), saw a diverse group of participants united in their demand for justice, Dawn News reported.

Carrying banners and chanting slogans, the protesters sought to draw attention to the ongoing issue of enforced disappearances in Pakistan, a practice that has left countless families without answers for years.

The origins of this observance trace back to December 21, 2010, when the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution expressing grave concern over the global rise in enforced disappearances.

The resolution also led to the establishment of August 30 as the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, starting from 2011. The International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance, welcomed in the same resolution, serves as a key legal framework to combat this issue.

In Pakistan, enforced disappearances have been a persistent problem, particularly affecting regions like Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh. The march in Karachi was a powerful reminder of the widespread nature of this issue, with participants from various ethnic backgrounds coming together to demand accountability.

Nida Kirmani, an academic and activist, highlighted the significance of this unity, noting that it was rare to see such a diverse group of communities standing together in Pakistan.

The protest was marked by the presence of both seasoned activists and new faces, all driven by a common cause. Usman Baloch, an 86-year-old veteran labour leader, led the march with the same fervor he has shown for the last 60 years.

His optimism was palpable as he watched young people, including girls as young as 12, take up the mantle of leadership in the fight against enforced disappearances. These young activists, inspired by figures like Sammi Deen Baloch and Dr. Mahrang Baloch, have become symbols of the movement, leading rallies across the nation, reported Dawn News.

One of the key messages of the march was the call for legal due process. Activists urged the authorities to bring those accused of crimes before the courts rather than resorting to enforced disappearances.

Elahi Bux Bikik, a long-time activist from Sindh, voiced this demand with a poignant plea: “If our loved ones have done anything wrong, there is the law. You can give them the death penalty if that’s what is meted out, but at least give us back their bodies.”

This sentiment was echoed by Qazi Khizer, vice-president of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP)’s Sindh Chapter, who emphasized the importance of legal accountability.

The march saw participation from various civic organizations, including the Baloch Yakjehti Committee, Baloch Missing Persons, Sindh Sujag Forum, Voice of Sindhi Missing Persons, and Voice of Shia Missing Persons. These groups, representing the affected communities, have been at the forefront of the struggle to end enforced disappearances in Pakistan.

The impact of enforced disappearances on families was brought to life through the testimonies of several activists. Sixteen-year-old Sadaf Ameer, whose father has been missing for a decade, delivered an emotional speech that resonated with the crowd.

Her words highlighted the desperation and pain that families endure, not knowing the fate of their loved ones. “Today is a day of serious problems for jabri gumshuda in Balochistan,” she said, referring to the widespread nature of enforced disappearances in the region. She urged the public to stand in solidarity with the victims and their families, emphasizing the need for collective action to bring an end to this practice.

The march in Karachi, which saw participation more than triple in size compared to the previous year, is a testament to the growing momentum of the movement against enforced disappearances in Pakistan, Dawn reported.

As the marchers reached the Karachi Press Club, they were greeted with applause and chants, signalling the increasing public support for their cause. The movement, which has long been a regional struggle, is now gaining national attention, with activists like Sammi Deen Baloch leading the charge.

In the face of continued challenges, the participants of the Karachi march remain determined. Their message is clear: enforced disappearances must end, and justice must be served. The march serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of those affected by this practice and their unwavering commitment to seeking the truth.

As the movement grows, so does the hope that one day, the disappeared will be returned to their families, and the perpetrators of these heinous acts will be held accountable. (ANI)

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Categories
-Top News Asia News Politics

Shehbaz seeks alliance with JUI-F again

The JUI-F sources claimed that the party sent the prime minister a very clear message…reports Asian Lite News

Expressing his wish to work with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief, Fazlur Rehman again, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that he wants the JUI-F chief’s guidance ‘once again’, reported ARY News citing sources.

The Pakistan Prime Minister visited the residence of Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad and expressed his desire to work together with the JUI-F, the sources close to the development said.

“We want to work together again, just like we did in the past,” PM Shehbaz Sharif was quoted as saying.

“We request you to guide us once more,” he added.

However, the JUI-F chief responded by saying that his party’s stance remains unchanged. “We are where we were in the past, you have changed your path,” the JUI-F chief said.

The JUI-F sources claimed that the party sent the prime minister a very clear message.

Citing sources, ARY News reported that PM Shehbaz Sharif asked about Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s health and well-being during the amicable encounter. It is significant to remember that on August 24, President Asif Ali Zardari also had a meeting with the leader of the JUI-F.

These two high-level gatherings took place following the visit of a delegation from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to Maulana Fazalur Rehman.

It was on August 23, that a delegation of PTI met with Maulana Fazlur Rehman, seeking cooperation once again. Both parties are mulling to end differences and explore possibilities of collaboration amid a disturbed political landscape in the nation.

During the meeting, discussions were held on the formation of committees to facilitate joint efforts.

Imran Khan’s party reportedly requested in-house cooperation within the Parliament, expressing their stance that they could give the government a tough time if the two parties worked together.

Before the 2024 general elections, Fazl was one of the closest allies of the PML-N and the PPP who headed the multi-party opposition alliance — Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) — who successfully ousted the former premier Imran Khan from office via a no-confidence motion in 2022.

Imran: No space for defectors

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan said that there was no space for those who left Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) during difficult times, Pakistan-based The News International reported.

While speaking to reporters in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail on Friday, the PTI founder said, “I want to clearly state that there is no space for those who abandoned the party during difficult times.”

Without mentioning the name of anyone, Imran Khan said that he is aware of those who left the PTI during bad times, The News International reported.

Khan added, “Those who were active during good times but left during hardships have no place in the party.”

PTI founder said those who faced violence, which according to him included torture on their families and blackmailing in difficult times, but did not leave the party have nothing to worry about.

Khan (71), who served as Pakistan’s Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022, has been incarcerated in Adiala Jail since August 2023 on multiple charges, including the Toshakhana case, the cypher case, and the unlawful marriage case.

His wife has also been behind bars for months. The court, however, suspended Imran Khan’s sentence in the Toshakhana case, while other courts overturned his convictions in the cypher and iddat cases, respectively, Geo News reported.

The chances of Imran Khan’s release from prison further dimmed after the Lahore Police declared his arrest in various cases related to the May 9, 2023, riots, that started after his arrest from Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises last year. (ANI)

ALSO READ: Iran closely monitors Israeli threats

Categories
-Top News Arab News Asia News

Iran closely monitors Israeli threats

(240514) -- GAZA, May 14, 2024 (Xinhua) -- Smoke rises following Israeli strikes in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 14, 2024. Israeli tanks on Tuesday marched towards the center of Rafah, the southernmost city in the Gaza Strip, as tens of thousands of residents fled to evade an Israeli ground offensive, a local source reported. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

Sabahifard emphasised that his force is at the highest level of self-sufficiency, combat readiness, and power….reports Asian Lite News

Iran is closely monitoring threats and activities by Israel, a top Iranian military commander said, according to the state media.

Iranian Air Defense Force Commander Alireza Sabahifard made the remarks in an address at the Friday prayers in the Iranian capital, Tehran, while commenting on the preparedness of his force, reports Xinhua news agency, quoting official state media IRNA.

He stated that the Air Force has enhanced its capabilities in response to the enemies’ “aerospace threats,” adding that “we are fully aware of other threats and are closely monitoring Israel.”

Sabahifard emphasised that his force is at the highest level of self-sufficiency, combat readiness, and power.

He added that Iran is fully self-reliant in designing and producing control systems, radars, sensors, drones, electronic warfare systems, cybersecurity systems, and advanced hybrid warfare systems.

He noted that his force could detect any kind of stealth aircraft from thousands of miles away.

Tension between Iran and Israel heightened following the assassination of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran on July 31. Iran has blamed Israel for the attack and vowed a strong response.

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its involvement in the attack but has vowed to respond to any military attack.

ALSO READ: ‘Special ties at risk if UK bans arms sales to Israel’

Categories
-Top News China India News

China Is A Unique Problem: Jaishankar

India’s top diplomat said everyone chose to consciously overlook the nature of Chinese production decades ago, and are now complaining.

Calling China a ‘unique problem’, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that India is not the only country in the world that is having a debate about that country.

Addressing the ET World Leaders Forum on Saturday, Jaishankar said everyone chose to consciously overlook the nature of Chinese production decades ago, and are now complaining.

“China is a unique problem because it has a unique polity and economy. It’s not just an Indian problem. If today people are complaining about trade deficits with China, it is because decades ago, we all consciously chose to overlook the nature of Chinese production and the advantages that they enjoyed in a system where they got a level playing field with all the advantages that they brought to bear,” Jaishankar said.

“There is a general China problem. We are not the only country in the world which is having a debate about China,” he strongly asserted.

Citing an example of Europe and the US, the EAM said, “Go to Europe and ask them, what is today among your major economic or national security debates? It’s about China. Look at the United States, it’s obsessed with China, and rightly so in many ways.”

Notably, in 2020, the Indian and Chinese troops clashed at Galwan, the same year the pandemic started.

Since May 2020, when the Chinese troops tried to aggressively change the status quo on LAC in eastern Ladakh, both sides have been deployed in forward positions near Patrolling Point 15, which emerged as a friction point in the wake of the Galwan clash.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar further asked, “What happens when you have multiple neighbours?”

And then, making a thinly-veiled reference to neighbouring nations of Bangladesh and Pakistan, Jaishankar termed neighbouring countries as ‘democratic polities’, saying that the change in government will always give rise to political debates in the country.

“You know, by definition, relationships with neighbours are very complicated. They are all democratic polities. Governments will change, and there will be political debates in their country. Often, we will be the centre of those debates. It’s natural as we are a big country. We have to expect, plan and build into our policy, making an expectation that there will be changes, some more organic and some more disruptive in our neighbourhood,” the minister went on to say.

Jaishankar on Friday said that India has to find a ground of mutual interest with Bangladesh and India would deal with ‘the government of the day’.

Speaking at the release of Ambassador Rajiv Sikri’s new book, “Strategic Conundrums: Reshaping India’s Foreign Policy”, the External Affairs minister said that the political changes in Bangladesh can be ‘disruptive’.

“Since Bangladesh’s independence, our relationship has gone up and down, and it is natural that we will deal with the government of the day. But we also have to recognise that there are political changes, and they can be disruptive. And clearly here we have to look for mutuality of interest,” he said.

The minister also did some plain speaking about India’s relationship with its neighbour Pakistan.

“I think the era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over. Actions have consequences. And insofar as Jammu and Kashmir is concerned, I think Article 370 is done. So the, the issue today is what kind of relationship can we possibly contemplate with Pakistan?…Whether events take a positive or a negative direction, either way, we will react to it,” Jaishankar said. (ANI)

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Categories
Events India News London News

Yorkshire Gears Up To Host Garba Fest

An evening of culture, dance, and togetherness on 28th September 2024 at South Leeds Stadium, Leeds

This September, the vibrant spirit of Navratri comes alive as Yorkshire hosts its biggest Pre-Navratri Garba Event, organised by Chiragi Bibas. The event promises a night filled with music, dance, cultural festivities, and culinary delights, all set to take place on 28th September 2024 at South Leeds Stadium, Leeds.

Doors will open at 7:00 PM, marking the start of an unforgettable evening that celebrates the rich traditions of Navratri and brings communities together. “Our Pre-Navratri Garba Event is more than just a celebration—it’s a vibrant gathering that brings the community together,” says Chiragi Solanki, the event organiser. “We are thrilled to see people from all walks of life come together to enjoy the dance, music, and food. It’s a wonderful way to experience the richness of our cultural heritage and celebrate unity in diversity.”

This event is a unique opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience the vibrant traditions of Navratri. No previous Garba experience is required—everyone is welcome to join in the fun, whether you want to dance, watch, or simply enjoy the atmosphere. With a variety of food stalls offering delicious Indian delicacies such as Pani Puri, Bhel, Chaat, Vada Pav, and more—courtesy of catering partner Punjabi Heaven—there’s something for everyone. Plus, with free parking available, it’s easy to join in the festivities!

The Lord Mayor of Leeds and representatives from West Yorkshire Police will attend as special guests, highlighting the importance of this cultural event in promoting community spirit and unity. Their presence will reinforce the sense of inclusivity and togetherness that this event aims to foster, bringing people from all walks of life together to celebrate Navratri.

The evening’s main attractions are the traditional folk dances, Garba and Dandiya Raas, which are integral parts of Navratri celebrations. These dances, performed in circular formations with rhythmic movements to the lively beats of traditional music, create a mesmerizing atmosphere. Recognised by UNESCO as a cultural heritage that brings communities together, these dances symbolize the unity, joy, and vibrant spirit of the festival. Attendees are encouraged to wear traditional attire to add to the colorful and authentic experience of the event.

Special guest Mayur Dave will deliver a performance, with RockOn Music and a live DJ from Soul Asia Roadshow also set to entertain the audience. The organisers pay tribute to Active Leeds for providing the fantastic venue, which serves as the perfect setting for this vibrant celebration.

Garba and Dandiya Raas are more than just dances; they are expressions of cultural heritage and communal harmony. Traditionally performed in circles around a central light or statue of Goddess Durga, these dances represent the cyclical nature of life and the continuous journey of seeking the divine. Their energetic movements and rhythmic beats create a sense of unity among participants, fostering a deep sense of community and celebration.

This event is proudly sponsored by SUFISCORE, with live entertainment provided by RockOn Music and Soulasia Roadshow, along with support from media partner Fever FM, ensuring a top-tier experience filled with vibrant entertainment and cultural enrichment.

Event Details

  • Date: 28th September 2024
  • Time: Saturday, 7:00 PM
  • Venue: South Leeds Stadium, LS11 5DJ

For more information and updates, follow us on Instagram at @chiragis_bibas and Facebook at Chiragi Solanki.

ALSO READ: London Tube Map Goes Circle Way

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-Top News News Social Media

Musk’s X Banned in Brazil

Earlier, the Brazil Supreme Court gave X, owned by Elon Musk, a 24-hour deadline to designate a legal representative in the country, reports Asian Lite News

Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has ordered the social media platform X to be blocked nationwide after the company refused to appoint a legal representative in the country.

Earlier on Wednesday, de Moraes gave X, owned by Elon Musk, a 24-hour deadline to designate a representative. X shut down its Brazil office on August 17, claiming that there were threats to detain its former legal representative.

X had been in conflict with de Moraes for months over the platform’s refusal to comply with court orders to remove profiles that promote coup-related content or undermine democracy, Xinhua news agency reported.

On Friday, the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) also ordered X to pay fines amounting to 18 million reais (about $3.2 million) for non-compliance.

The judge justified the block decision, citing the company’s repeated, willful defiance of court orders and refusal to pay daily fines, accusing X of attempting to bypass Brazil’s legal system and create a “lawless zone” on social media, especially in the lead-up to the 2024 municipal elections.

De Moraes added that X has facilitated “the actions of extremist groups and digital militias, enabling the spread of Nazi, racist, fascist, hateful, and anti-democratic speech”, particularly ahead of the upcoming elections.

The Brazilian judge also instructed the country’s National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) to block access to X within 24 hours. Apple and Google have been given five days to remove the X app from their online stores.

Additionally, a daily fine of 50,000 reais (about $10,000) was imposed on any individual or company that uses methods such as VPNs to access X after the ban.

Categories
-Top News Arab News Health

Gaza Launches Polio Vaccination Drive Amid Humanitarian Pause

To facilitate the campaign, 1.26 million doses of the nOPV2 vaccine have been delivered to Gaza, with an additional 400,000 doses expected to arrive shortly

A large-scale vaccination campaign to fight a polio outbreak in the Gaza Strip is set to begin on September 1, announced the World Health Organisation (WHO) representative for the occupied Palestinian territories on Friday.

Richard Peeperkorn told a press briefing from Gaza that the two-round polio vaccination campaign will see the administration of two drops of novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) to more than 640,000 children under the age of 10 across the enclave. The campaign is to kick off this coming weekend.

To facilitate the campaign, 1.26 million doses of the nOPV2 vaccine have been delivered to Gaza, with an additional 400,000 doses expected to arrive shortly, Xinhua news agency reported.

Dr. Peeperkorn emphasized that achieving at least 90 percent vaccination coverage during each round of the campaign is crucial to halting the polio outbreak in Gaza and preventing its spread beyond the region. The campaign will be carried out in stages, spanning three days for each of the three areas of Gaza.

Over 2,180 workers are involved in the campaign, with 392 fixed vaccination points and nearly 300 mobile teams, Peeperkorn said.

Categories
-Top News Politics USA

‘She Is A Marxist’: Trump Targets Kamala After Slipping In Polls

During her failed run for the presidential nomination in 2019, Kamala Harris had vowed to ban fracking – a way of drilling for natural gas in shale formations underground – and Trump kept hammering at it because that is an important issue for Pennsylvania, reports Arul Louis

Needling her as “Comrade Kamaala” and describing his Democratic Party rival as an inveterate second-generation Marxist, Donald Trump on Friday campaigned in Pennsylvania, a key milestone on the road to the White House, where his lead in polls appears to be evaporating.

While Kamala Harris has moved to the centre and, at least publicly, renounced her radical past, Trump played back on giant TV screens at his rally in Johnstown clips of Harris’ old statements aimed at her party’s left.

During her failed run for the presidential nomination in 2019, Harris had vowed to ban fracking – a way of drilling for natural gas in shale formations underground – and Trump kept hammering at it because that is an important issue for Pennsylvania.

In an interview on Thursday, Harris acknowledged she had changed her position and would not ban fracking, while also declaring repeatedly, “My values have not changed”.

With a phalanx of labourers dressed in their work clothes topped by hardhats standing behind him, he declared that from Day One, his policy would be “Drill baby, drill” for fossil fuels including gas.

At his rally in an indoor arena in Johnstown, her long ago pronouncements – that she has since walked back – on ending private health insurance, decriminalising illegal border crossing, cutting funding for police, and compulsorily buying back guns from owners rolled on screens, and Trump turned them into a handy scare tactic.

“She is a Marxist, her father is a Marxist”, Trump said, referring to her father Donald Harris, the Jamaica-born Stanford University emeritus professor of economics, from whom she is estranged.

RealClear Politics aggregation of Pennsylvania polls shows that Trump’s 3 per cent lead over Harris in July when Biden withdrew has disappeared with the Democrat now having a narrow 0.8 per cent lead.

In the US system where the state-wise composition of the electoral college can override the national popular votes, Pennsylvania is one of the battleground states that go either way and help determine the winner.

Nationally Reuters/Ipsos and Morning Consult polls taken since last week give her a 4 per cent lead and the overall RealClear Politics aggregation puts her ahead by 1.8 per cent.

One of the clips projected was of her agreeing with an interviewer that she would agree to change government dietary guidelines to reduce the consumption of red meat, a category that includes beef.

He criticised her for this at the rally, as he has at previous campaign stops.

It could be interpreted as a subtle dig at her Indian heritage as he raised it days after having claimed that Harris has all along been an Indian and only recently proclaimed her African American background.

(In reality, her public acknowledgment of her Indian heritage came long after projecting her political persona as Black.)

At the rally he gave a shout-out to Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu elected to Congress, for leaving the Democratic Party to support him.

“I feel very happy to get” her endorsement, he said

While Trump chastised Harris’ flip-flops, he too showed at the rally what would be a dissent from the core of conservative orthodoxy by reaffirming his backing for insurance or government-funded in vitro fertilisation.

A Bench of conservative judges in Alabama ruled that eggs fertilised through medical procedures are considered “unborn children” creating a legal quagmire that the Republican leaders are trying to get out of.

“We need more babies to be born in America”, said the father of five from three marriages.

Trump’s rallies are staged as political theater where he keeps his faithful amused and aroused jumping back and forth disjointedly between topics, leavening them with humor, mostly at the expense of his adversaries.

He called this speaking style, “weaving”, while he acknowledged some others dub it “rambling”.

“I’ll talk about nine things and they all come back brilliantly together”, he said.

Trump railed against the news media calling it biased and a man jumped into the media enclosure.

The intruder was hit by police with a jolt of electricity from a Taser device to subdue him and as he was led away to the crowd’s cheers, the Republican candidate asked, “Is there anywhere that’s more fun to be than a Trump rally”?

He joked that Harris would ask to join his Make America Great Again Movement and wear its signature red cap because she was backpedaling her past pronouncements.

He nicknamed Harris’ running mate Tim Walz as “Tampon Tim” for the state he governs, Minnesota, putting female hygiene products in boys’ school bathrooms in the name of equality for transgender students.

Plunging into divisive cultural issues, he said that he would ban men from participating as women in sports, stop sex change therapy for children, and reinforce parents’ rights.

He added he would criminalise burning the national flag and enforce laws against damaging national monuments.

On foreign policy, he talked of his interactions with Presidents Xi Jinping of China and Vladimir Putin of Russia, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, and Taliban leader Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and his tough bargaining.

Harris would not be able to stand up to the likes of Xi and Putin, he asserted.

He blamed her for the Afghanistan withdrawal debacle in which 13 US military personnel were killed and defended his visit to their graves at the military cemetery in Washington where his entourage had a run-in with a Defence employee who said she was enforcing rules against politicising the place.

He said that he only agreed to the request from family members for pictures at the gravesite.

Categories
-Top News London News UK News

London Tube Map Goes Circle Way

The Circle to Search design adopts a minimalist and subdued approach, with a softer, more muted colour palette. This new design prioritises a sleek, modern aesthetic, but at the expense of some of the functional clarity that defines the old map, writes Ricci Dean.

The comparison between the new Circle to Search design and the classic London Underground map is debatable. Both maps aim to simplify complex information, but they approach this challenge in distinctly different ways, particularly in terms of colour usage and overall clarity.

The traditional London Underground map is a triumph of practical design, especially in its use of colour. Each line is identified by bold, distinct colours that aren’t just visually appealing but essential for quick, effortless navigation. The high-contrast palette ensures that, even in crowded or stressful situations, users can immediately locate the line they need. This approach has stood the test of time because it’s both functional and intuitive, making one of the world’s most complex transport systems remarkably easy to navigate.

In contrast, the Circle to Search design adopts a minimalist and subdued approach, featuring a softer, more muted colour palette. This new design prioritises a sleek, modern aesthetic but at the expense of some of the functional clarity that defines the old map. The colours are less distinct, with an emphasis on creating a cohesive look rather than making each line instantly recognisable. While this might appeal to a contemporary audience accustomed to digital interfaces, it risks reducing the map’s effectiveness, particularly for those who rely on strong visual cues to navigate the Underground’s intricate network.

Change in design can bring fresh perspectives and modern solutions, but practicality should never be sacrificed in the process. The shift from bold, contrasting colours to a more uniform palette raises concerns from a usability standpoint. While the new design might seem elegant, it sacrifices the immediate legibility that made the original map so successful. The strong colour differentiation in the traditional map is not just a stylistic choice; it’s a critical element of its functionality. The new design, with its softer tones, may blur these distinctions, making it harder for users to quickly identify different lines and understand the network.

Moreover, the way these maps present information is telling. The old map offers a complete view of the system, allowing users to see the entire network. This holistic perspective is crucial for understanding not just individual routes but how they connect across the city. The Circle to Search design, with its focus on specific areas, can obscure this broader context. Combined with its muted colours, this approach may leave users with a less clear understanding of their position within the larger network.

While the Circle to Search design offers a fresh and modern take, it falls short of the clarity and functionality that the classic London Underground map provides. With over 25 years of experience in graphic design, I recognise the importance of change but also the necessity of practicality. The old map’s bold use of colour and clear, user-friendly design remain unmatched, serving as an enduring model of effective information design.

(Ricci Dean is a London-based media professional with extensive experience in graphics and animation.)

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