GCC Secretary-General Jasem highlighted the significant potential benefits of the I-GCC FTA for both Indonesia and the Gulf countries…reports Asian Lite News
Indonesia and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) initiated negotiations for the Indonesia-GCC Free Trade Agreement (I-GCC FTA) at the Trade Ministry here on Wednesday.
The event was highlighted by the signing of a joint statement by Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan and GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi.
“Through the I-GCC FTA, Indonesia aims to strengthen trade relations while opening up mutually beneficial investment opportunities,” the Indonesian trade minister said in his speech, Xinhua news agency reported.
He added that the FTA is expected to boost exports of Indonesian commodities, such as motor vehicles, palm oil, jewelry, coffee, textiles, and electronics.
Jasem highlighted the significant potential benefits of the I-GCC FTA for both Indonesia and the Gulf countries, covering not only trade in goods but also services, customs, trade barriers, and small and medium enterprises.
“We want this trade agreement not only to increase trade figures but also to enhance economic cooperation in other areas. We also aim to open up opportunities for collaboration in new sectors, particularly Islamic economics,” he said.
The GCC is a cooperative group of six countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, and Qatar.
Last year, trade transactions between Indonesia and the GCC amounted to 15.7 billion U.S. dollars, with 6.2 billion dollars recorded from January to May this year.
Kamala Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American vice president, has a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, both immigrants to the US….reports Asian Lite News
Former US President Donald Trump has triggered a controversy by raising questions on the racial identity of his Democratic rival Kamala Harris during a convention of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) in Chicago.
“She (Harris) was always of Indian heritage and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black,” media reports quoted Trump as saying.
“So, I don’t know, is she Indian or Black?… I respect either one but she obviously doesn’t,” the Republican former President added while addressing NABJ’s annual convention on Wednesday.
Harris, the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as vice president, is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, both immigrants to the US.
As a senator, Harris was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Michael Tyler, the communications director for Harris’ campaign, in a statement on Wednesday, said that “the hostility Donald Trump showed on stage today is the same hostility he has shown throughout his life, throughout his term in office, and throughout his campaign for president as he seeks to regain power”.
“Trump lobbed personal attacks and insults at Black journalists the same way he did throughout his presidency — while he failed Black families and left the entire country digging out of the ditch he left us in,” Tyler said.
Reacting to the former President’s remarks, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said, “It’s insulting and no one has any right to tell someone who they are how they identify.”
Acorns Children’s Hospice has launched a campaign – Children’s Care Matters – calling on the Government to confirm the grant and safeguard it for at least five years, so Acorns can continue providing the range of services hundreds of local families need…reports Asian Lite News
Acorns Children’s Hospice has launched an urgent campaign to save vital £2 million government funding as it faces the prospect of turning away a child in need for the first time in the charity’s 36-year history.
The future of the funding – known as the Children’s Hospice Grant – is uncertain, meaning Acorns may be forced to cut vital services for life limited children and their families, unless the grant is confirmed before November.
The charity has launched a campaign – Children’s Care Matters – calling on the Government to confirm the grant and safeguard it for at least five years, so Acorns can continue providing the range of services hundreds of local families need.
To launch the campaign, staff and volunteers from Acorns are taking giant orange “HELP!” letters on tour around well-known West Midlands landmarks and asking the public to add their name to a Change.org petition.
Acorns executive nurse, Katie Burbridge said: “Every week that passes, the situation for Acorns and children’s hospices across the UK becomes ever more serious, affecting countless children and families.
“We’re here to say that children’s care really does matter and the Government needs to take action to safeguard the Children’s Hospice Grant, so vital services like ours can continue providing the care that families need.”
Uncertainty around the grant has come at a challenging time for Acorns, amid a background of rising costs and increasing demand for services.
In the past year, there has been a 47 per cent increase in demand for the charity’s end-of-life care service, and demand for post-death bereavement services have doubled.
Katie added: “Uncertainty around the grant, rising costs and increased demand is extremely challenging mix for us to deal with. It means we’re ever more reliant on the generosity of local people for funds – a situation that’s simply not sustainable.
“Whatever people can do to support our campaign, we would be incredibly grateful, so we can raise awareness of this issue and get our voice heard, before it’s too late.”
The Children’s Hospice Grant is a national £25 million NHS grant, distributed to children’s hospices across England. It makes up around 13% of Acorns income, a total of £2 million.
For Acorns to continue, the vast majority of the remaining income the charity needs comes from fundraising and profits from charity shops.
In the past year, the charity has cared for more than 750 children across the West Midlands, and supported almost 1,000 families, including those who are bereaved.
This care and support is provided from Acorns three hospices, based in Birmingham, Walsall and Worcester, and in the community.
People walk on a street in London, Britain, May 3, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Ying/IANS)
New data shows Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion strategy is working better than expected, bringing cleaner air to five million more Londoners…reports Asian Lite News
London is getting better. New data from City Hall has revealed the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) across the whole capital last August is working – driving down emissions and bringing cleaner air to millions more Londoners.
Data shows ULEZ expansion is working better than predicted, with London’s air quality continuing to improve at a faster rate than the rest of England and pollutant emissions in 2023 reducing dramatically, compared to a scenario without the London-wide expansion.
PM2.5 exhaust emissions from cars in outer London are estimated to be 22 per cent lower than without the expansion.
“The decision to expand the ULEZ London-wide was a difficult one, but necessary to save lives, protect children’s lungs and help reduce the risk of Londoners developing asthma, dementia and a host of other health issues,” said Mayor Sadiq Khan. “Today’s report shows that the ULEZ is working even better than expected. The expansion to outer London is already having a significant effect – driving down levels of pollution, taking old polluting cars off our roads and bringing cleaner air to millions more Londoners.”
Within the outer London ULEZ area, NOx emissions from cars and vans are estimated to be 13 and seven per cent lower than a scenario without the expansion. This is equivalent to removing 200,000 cars from the road for one year.
Overall, NO2 concentrations in outer London are estimated to be 21 per cent lower than without the ULEZ and its expansions.
96 per cent of vehicles seen driving in London as a whole are now compliant, with a 53 per cent reduction in non-compliant vehicles in only six months.
In London, around 4,000 premature deaths are attributed to toxic air each year as well as increased risks of asthma and cancer and emerging evidence of links between air pollution and dementia.
The ULEZ is the centrepiece of a range of measures the Mayor is implementing to tackle London’s toxic air, including putting a record number of zero-emission buses on the roads. These additional measures are making a difference, but all the evidence shows that clean air zones like the ULEZ are the most effective tool available to quickly and meaningfully cut air pollution in big cities.
Today’s report, which covers the first six months of the expansion across all London boroughs, shows that pollutant emissions in 2023 with the London-wide ULEZ expansion in place are dramatically lower, compared to a scenario without it:
Within the outer London ULEZ area, NOx emissions from cars and vans are estimated to be 13 per cent and seven per cent lower than a scenario without the expansion. This is equivalent to removing 200,000 cars from the road for one year.
PM2.5 exhaust emissions from cars in outer London are estimated to be 22 per cent lower than without the expansion (six per cent more than expected).
Across all measures, these impacts are aligned with, and in many cases greater than, what TfL estimated in the consultation for the outer London expansion.
NOX emissions savings in outer London now represent over 90 per cent of the total emission reductions seen in London as a result of the London-wide expansion.
The report also shows that, compared to what roadside NO2 concentrations are estimated to have been in different parts of London without the ULEZ and its expansions:
The report shows that London’s air quality at the roadside is continuing to improve at a faster rate than the average for the rest of England. In 2014, the gap in nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels between London and the rest of England was 20 µg/m3, whereas now it is less than 5 µg/m3. The expansion brought five million more Londoners into the ULEZ, and today’s report shows that outer London – which has historically had worse air quality than the rest of England average – now has levels of pollution much closer to levels in the rest of the country.
Even in the short six-month timeframe covered by the report, roadside NO2 concentrations in outer London have dropped by up to 4.4 per cent compared to what would have been expected without the London-wide expansion of the scheme. Given the size of outer London, every percent makes a huge difference.
Compliance levels have also increased further than expected, with 96.2 per cent of all vehicles subject to the ULEZ recorded driving in London now compliant, up from 90.9 per cent in June 2023. This has been aided by the Mayor’s £210m scrappage scheme, launched in January 2023 to support Londoners to switch to cleaner vehicles, with 53,351 applications approved so far and over 300 donated to humanitarian and medical efforts in Ukraine.***
There are now fewer older, more polluting vehicles driving in London, with 90,000 fewer non-compliant vehicles detected on an average day in February 2024 compared to June 2023, representing a 53 per cent reduction in non-compliant vehicles in the first six months of operation.
Today’s preliminary data reveals significant progress, with a further report expected in early 2025 which will examine the first full year of the London-wide ULEZ expansion. The one-year report will be supported by an independent advisory group of experts and provide an even more comprehensive analysis of the air quality and traffic impacts of the scheme.
“London’s air quality is improving at a faster rate than the rest of England, and 96 per cent of vehicles are now compliant, with tens of thousands of Londoners benefitting from our scrappage scheme,” added Mayor Khan. “It’s thanks to our bold policies, including ULEZ, that we are now set to get London’s air to within legal limits by 2025, 184 years earlier than previously projected. But there’s still more to do and I promise to continue taking bold action – including more to clean up out air and rivers – as we build a fairer, greener London for everyone.”
The compliance, emissions, and concentrations impacts of the London-wide ULEZ expansion are aligned with, and in some cases greater than, TfL estimates in the consultation for the outer London expansion.
Christina Calderato, Director of Strategy at TfL, said: “London is leading the way in improving air quality, with today’s report showing that harmful NOx pollutants from cars are estimated to be 13 per cent lower than a scenario without the ULEZ. This, along with reductions from vans, amounts to a total reduction of 424 tonnes in NOx emissions. We know that toxic air is associated with increased risks of asthma, cancer and dementia, and that it disproportionately affects poorer Londoners, and those from Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities. With the greatest number of deaths attributable to air pollution occurring in outer London, it’s great to see these results since the ULEZ was introduced London-wide.”
According to the release, the discussion at the meeting was “in-depth, constructive and forward-looking.” Both sides agreed to maintain the momentum through the established diplomatic and military channels…reports Asian Lite News
India and China held the 30th meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) in the national capital on Wednesday, and the two sides agreed to uphold peace and tranquility at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and work for early resolution of outstanding issues.
The Indian delegation was led by Gourangalal Das, Joint Secretary (East Asia), from the Ministry of External Affairs. The Chinese delegation was led by Hong Liang, Director General of the Boundary and Oceanic Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Further to discussions between the two Foreign Ministers in their recent meetings at Astana and Vientiane, the two sides reviewed the current situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with a view to finding an early resolution of the outstanding issues,” the MEA statement read.
“Restoration of peace and tranquility, and respect for the LAC are an essential basis for restoration of normalcy in bilateral relations,” it added.
The two sides agreed on the need to “jointly uphold peace and tranquillity” on the ground in the border areas in accordance with relevant bilateral agreements, protocols and understandings reached between the two governments.
According to the release, the discussion at the meeting was “in-depth, constructive and forward-looking.” Both sides agreed to maintain the momentum through the established diplomatic and military channels.
The leader of the Chinese delegation also called on Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
The previous round of diplomatic talks between New Delhi and Beijing was held in March this year.
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.
Over 50,000 Indian soldiers have been stationed since 2020 at forward posts along the LAC, with advanced weapons to prevent any attempts to change the status quo unilaterally on the LAC. (ANI)
While floods in Assam and heavy rainfall-induced landslides in Kerala have drawn global attention, 25 per cent of the 36 meteorological subdivisions in India are still reeling from a rainfall deficit halfway through the monsoon season.
According to India Meteorological Department (IMD) data, the country experienced nine per cent more rainfall than normal in July (306.6 mm compared to the normal of 280.5 mm) with a cumulative precipitation of 453.8 mm against the normal of 445.8 mm since June 1, a surplus of two per cent. However, the rainfall in July was unevenly distributed, both spatially and temporally.
East Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gangetic West Bengal, and parts of the northeast have recorded significant rainfall deficits. The rainfall deficit in Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir ranged from 35 per cent to 45 per cent.
The rainfall deficit in East and Northeast India increased from 13.3 per cent on June 30 to 19 per cent on July 31, with the region recording 610.2 mm of rainfall against the normal of 752.5 mm so far this monsoon season.
Northwest India recorded 182.4 mm of rainfall in July, compared to the normal of 209.7 mm, a deficit of 13 per cent. The region has received 235 mm of rainfall so far this monsoon season, against the normal of 287.8 mm, a shortfall of 18 per cent.
Central India received 33 per cent more rainfall than normal in July, with 427.2 mm of precipitation compared to the normal of 321.3 mm. Overall, the region has recorded 574.2 mm of rainfall so far this monsoon season, against the normal of 491.6 mm.
The southern peninsula received 36 per cent more rainfall in July, with 279.2 mm compared to the normal of 204.5 mm. Overall, it has recorded 463.1 mm of rainfall so far this monsoon season, against the normal of 365.5 mm, an excess of 27 per cent.
According to IMD data, the rainfall deficit in Gangetic West Bengal stands at 40 per cent, with all 15 districts recording below-normal precipitation. Jharkhand has received 41 per cent less rainfall than normal, with all 24 districts in the deficient category.
Odisha has a rainfall deficit of 11 per cent, with 12 of its 30 districts in the deficient category. All but five districts in Bihar have recorded a significant rainfall deficiency, resulting in an overall 36 per cent deficit for the state so far this monsoon season.
The rainfall shortage in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand stands at 15 per cent and four percent, respectively. Nineteen out of the 22 districts in Haryana have recorded below-normal rainfall, with the overall deficit standing at 43 per cent. The rainfall deficit in Punjab is 45 per cent, with only three of the 22 districts recording normal rainfall.
Jammu and Kashmir, which has been reeling from a rare and severe heat wave, has recorded 37 per cent below-normal rainfall. The IMD had earlier predicted normal to above-normal rainfall over most parts of the country, except many parts of northeast India and some parts of northwest, east, and southeast peninsular India.
The weather department expected above-normal rainfall activity in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, and the foothills of the western Himalayas.
Kerala, where heavy rainfall-induced landslides have claimed over 150 lives, has received four per cent less rainfall than usual. Delhi, where 15 people have died in rain-related incidents, has received eight per cent below-normal rainfall. In central and west India, Goa has received 50 per cent surplus precipitation, Maharashtra 39 per cent, Gujarat 23 per cent, and Madhya Pradesh seven per cent.
In southern India, Tamil Nadu received 56 per cent surplus rainfall, Andhra Pradesh 43 per cent, Karnataka 33 per cent, and Puducherry 20 per cent.
The Indian monsoon is characterised by inherent fluctuations and changes that occur over time due to various natural factors. This is called natural variability. However, research shows climate change is making the monsoon more variable. Increased variability means more extreme weather and dry spells.
According to the IMD, below-normal rainfall is expected in northeast India during the entire season, normal in the northwest, and above-normal in central and south peninsular regions of the country. India’s core monsoon zone, covering most of the rain-fed agricultural areas in the country, is predicted to receive above-normal rainfall this season, the Met office said.
The monsoon is critical for India’s agricultural landscape, with 52 per cent of the net cultivated area relying on it. The primary rain-bearing system is also crucial for replenishing reservoirs critical for drinking water and power generation across the country.
June and July are considered the most important monsoon months for agriculture, as most of the sowing for the Kharif crop takes place during this period.
Weather agencies expect La Nia conditions to set in by August. La Nia, a buildup of cooler-than-normal waters in the central Pacific Ocean, is associated with plentiful rainfall in the Indian subcontinent during the monsoon season.
Tuesday’s disaster is the worst incident in Kerala since the 2018 floods, which killed nearly 500 people and was termed the state’s ‘flood of the century’…reports Asian Lite News
The death toll from a series of landslides that struck Wayanad on Tuesday has risen to over 173, however, the unofficial toll stands at 250 with at least 191 people reported missing. Hundreds have been injured, and thousands have been displaced.
With hundreds trapped under the debris and fears of more deaths, rescue agencies resumed operations early on Wednesday to locate the remaining survivors. Construction of a bridge on the Meepadi-Choormala Road is under progress, including the induction of certain earthmoving equipment to the other side of the stream utilising air effort.
Military personnel intensified search and rescue operations, with the Army saying that it has rescued nearly 1,000 people. Multiple agencies are working together to provide critical assistance to those affected.
Harrowing scenes of dead bodies in sitting and lying positions inside destroyed houses could be seen as rescue operations resumed in the landslide-devastated Mundakkai hamlet. The rescuers could reach many inland areas, which were totally cut off, on Wednesday morning only.
A Defence spokesperson said that soldiers of the 122 Infantry Battalion of the Territorial Army, camped at a local school in Meppadi, moved out to the calamity-hit areas.
Meanwhile, several companies of the army moved from Thiruvananthapuram and Bengaluru to Calicut by road and air, a Defence statement said.
The army companies included those experienced in disaster relief, medical teams, ambulances, and other equipment, it said. Fears of mounting fatalities have been sparked by apprehensions that several people may still be trapped under the debris.
Notably, massive landslides caused by heavy rains hit the villages of Mundakkai, Chooralmala, Attamala, and Noolpuzha early Tuesday, destroying several houses, swelling water bodies, uprooting trees, and wiping entire villages off the map.
Heart-wrenching scenes and phone conversations of people crying and pleading to be rescued, trapped in their houses, or stranded were seen after the landslides left a trail of death and destruction in the hill district. Most of the victims were asleep when the landslides struck between 1:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. Huge boulders and uprooted trees rushed down from Mundakkai to Chooralmala, causing severe damage. The heavy water surge from the hilltop altered the small Iruvazhinji river, flooding everything along its banks. Several houses were destroyed, a temple and a mosque were submerged, and a school building was severely damaged.
A special team at the District Emergency Operation Centre is compiling data on the number of people residing in the area, those found after the landslide, and the number of persons missing, a district administration official told reporters early Wednesday. The official said data on individuals is being collected by reviewing ration card details and other government documents.
As many as 45 relief camps have been established in Wayanad, accommodating 3,069 people. Meanwhile, an orange alert has been issued for the districts of Wayanad, Idukki, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod due to extremely heavy rainfall.
Aerial view of Chooralmala in Kerala’s Wayanad district where a landslide wreaked havoc.
Wayanad, a hill district in northern Kerala, is known for its lush green forests, rolling hills, and sparkling waterfalls. With a population of about 8,17,000 people (as of the 2011 census), it is home to various cultures, including the indigenous tribal communities.
Tuesday’s disaster is the worst incident in Kerala since the 2018 floods, which killed nearly 500 people and was termed the state’s ‘flood of the century.’
A high-level meeting at the Wayanad Collectorate decided to set up a medical point and oxygen ambulance at the control room at the landslide-hit Chooralmala. A senior officer will be in charge of the control room. Doctors and other health workers will be pooled in from four cooperative hospitals in Kozhikode and Thalassery.
A health team will be deployed at the newly constructed temporary bridge. Drinking water facility will be arranged for the rescued people. Lighting will be ensured at Chooralmala.
The meeting was attended by Revenue Minister K Rajan, ministers Mohammed Riyas, AK Saseendran, V Abdurahiman, K Krishnankutty, GR Anil, Ramachandran Kadannappally, OR Kelu and special officer to coordinate disaster management activities Seeram Sambasiva Rao.
Powerlines were restored upto the Chooralmala telephone exchange and Chooralmala town, the KSEB has informed. The board suffered losses to the tune of Rs 3 crore at Chooralmala and Mundakkai, according to preliminary estimates. 3.5 km high tension lines and 8 km low tension lines under the Meppadi electrical section were fully damaged.
Connection disrupted at about 1000 households. Two teams led by sub-engineers have been deployed for restoration activities. Uninterrupted power supply has been ensured to the Meppadi Government Hospital and WIMS Hospital.
