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The Western Balkans in the context of security challengesI have always been deeply interested in Sri Lanka’s socio-political landscape and its complex history for three main reasons. First, as an ethnic Tamil minority who endured the brutalities of war during childhood, this subject holds personal significance. Second, my father, the late Sundaram Divakalala—a renowned Tamil civil servant—dedicated his life to public service, inspiring my interest in governance and justice. Finally, my professional experience at CMG Capital Maharaja Group, Sri Lanka’s largest private conglomerate and media powerhouse, under the leadership of its late Chairman, Late Kili Rajamahendran, further deepened my understanding of the nation’s challenges and potential. For centuries, Sri Lanka and its people thrived, particularly in agriculture, irrigation, fisheries, and hospitality. However, following 443 years of colonisation, the country’s post-independence journey since 1948 has been marred by traumatic riots, a prolonged and devastating war, ineffective governments, a dysfunctional political system, corrupt politicians, and self-serving business interests. By 2022, Sri Lanka found itself burdened with massive debt, a crumbling system of governance, inept leadership, and a population grappling with widespread struggles. Today, of the 23 million Sri Lankans, nearly 19 million belong to the working class, earning modest incomes. These citizens labour tirelessly to support their families and provide for their children, enduring immense daily hardships with resilience and determination. The Parliamentary elections held on 14 November 2024, have ushered in a transformative chapter in Sri Lanka’s political history. With the National People’s Power (NPP) securing an unparalleled supermajority, the outcome represents a profound departure from the entrenched political order that has shaped the nation for decades. The NPP’s triumph is the culmination of widespread public dissatisfaction stemming from years of economic mismanagement, rampant corruption, and the political upheaval that followed the ousting of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, recently elected to the presidency, has adeptly harnessed this wave of frustration to solidify his party’s dominance. Remarkably, the NPP shattered traditional strongholds, including the Jaffna District, a bastion historically controlled by Tamil political parties. Economic reform dominated the electoral discourse, reflecting the populace’s enduring struggle with the aftermath of Sri Lanka’s most severe financial crisis in recent memory. President Dissanayake has pledged sweeping anti-corruption initiatives and comprehensive political restructuring. However, critics caution that the concentration of power within a single political entity could inadvertently undermine the very principles of transparency and accountability that voters have demanded. The electoral campaigns were not without controversy. Misinformation played a significant role, with fabricated narratives about NPP policies—such as exaggerated claims of punitive taxation and widespread asset seizures—circulating widely. This disinformation fuelled anxiety among certain demographics, particularly older voters, underscoring the pervasive influence of misinformation in shaping Sri Lanka’s electoral landscape. While the NPP’s sweeping victory marks a decisive mandate for change, it also presents formidable challenges. The country’s fragile economic recovery hinges on successful debt restructuring and the restoration of international investor confidence. Sceptics question whether the NPP’s populist agenda can navigate the intricate dynamics of global economic relations without alienating critical international partners. Furthermore, the absence of a robust Opposition raises concerns about the erosion of democratic checks and balances, an essential safeguard in a nation emerging from political instability. I believe, the 2024 Parliamentary elections symbolise a pivotal moment of transition for Sri Lanka. While the results reflect the electorate’s demand for systemic change, they also herald an era of uncertainty. The newly elected Government faces the Herculean task of addressing deep-seated economic and social grievances while safeguarding democratic ideals in an increasingly polarised environment. Whether the NPP can transform its ambitious promises into substantive progress remains to be seen as Sri Lanka navigates this critical juncture in its post-crisis trajectory. It is crucial for all stakeholders in the nation to extend their support to the new President, Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and his Government to ensure a stable and prosperous future for Sri Lanka. A lack of collective backing could lead to serious consequences for the country.
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NASA has launched a groundbreaking mission to explore the asteroid 16 Psyche, an object valued at an estimated USD 10 quintillion due to its high metallic content. This mission could unlock invaluable insights into the solar system's early formation and, theoretically, holds enough wealth to make every person on Earth a billionaire. The spacecraft aims to study Psyche's unique composition, which is believed to consist primarily of nickel and iron, potentially offering clues about the building blocks of planetary cores. Last month, NASA launched a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket to 16 Psyche, a unique M-type asteroid located 2.2 billion miles away in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Unlike typical rocky or icy asteroids, 16 Psyche is primarily composed of valuable metals like iron, nickel, platinum, and palladium, which are essential for manufacturing technologies on Earth. Spanning 64,000 square miles, 30-60 per cent of the asteroid's composition is estimated to be metallic. ALSO READ: Jordan: Security Forces Kill Gunman Accused Of Firing Near Israeli Embassy; 3 Cops Wounded Metallic World 391 Million Kilometers Away The Psyche spacecraft, set to arrive at asteroid 16 Psyche in August 2029, will orbit rather than land on the metallic body located 391 million kilometres from Earth. While mining its resources could destabilise the global economy by flooding markets with immense wealth, NASA's primary aim is scientific. The mission seeks to understand the asteroid's properties, the universe's evolution, and planetary cores. Scientists speculate that 16 Psyche might be the exposed core of a planetesimal, an early planetary building block stripped of its outer layers through cosmic collisions. It's #TechTuesday 🚀Let's explore the Psyche Asteroid! Next stop: What could the Psyche asteroid be? Likely made largely of metal, it could be part of a planetesimal core, one of the solar system's building blocks.🪐✨ Stay tuned next Tuesday for more on the Psyche asteroid! pic.twitter.com/owUbIguWNy ALSO READ: Pakistan News: Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Suspends Top Hospital Officials Over HIV Outbreak Asteroid Psyche Could Reveal Hidden Planetary Secrets Asteroid 16 Psyche, a 140-mile-wide object, is estimated to contain a core of iron, nickel, and gold valued at USD 10,000 quadrillion. NASA suggests it might be the partial core of a shattered planetesimal, an early building block of planets, offering a unique opportunity to study the interiors of terrestrial planets like Earth, typically concealed beneath their mantle and crust. Earth-based observations using visible and infrared wavelengths, along with radar, indicate that Psyche is irregularly shaped, resembling a potato.
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Georgia rallies, then holds off South Carolina StateFormer Green Party leader Caroline Lucas has also resigned as vice-president of the animal welfare organisation, with both of them expressing their “sadness” over leaving the roles. It comes after an Animal Rising investigation made claims of cruelty at “RSPCA Assured” slaughterhouses in England and Scotland, with the campaign group sharing footage of alleged mistreatment. RSPCA Assured is a scheme whereby approved farms must comply with the organisation’s “stringent higher welfare standards”, according to its website. Mr Packham shared the news of his resignation on social media, saying: “It is with enormous sadness that I have resigned from my role as president of the RSPCA. “I would like to register my respect and admiration for all the staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to protect animals from cruelty.” Ms Lucas said she and Mr Packham failed to get the charity’s leadership to act. She posted on X, formerly Twitter: “With huge sadness I’m resigning as VP of the RSPCA, a role I’ve held with pride for over 15 years. “But their Assured Schemes risk misleading the public & legitimising cruelty. “I tried with @ChrisGPackham to persuade the leadership to act but sadly failed.” In June, the RSPCA commissioned an independent review of 200 farms on its assurance scheme which concluded the scheme was “operating effectively” to assure animal welfare on member farms. Following Animal Rising’s release of footage last week, the charity said it was “appalled” by what was shown, adding that it launched an immediate investigation and suspended three slaughterhouses from the scheme. In the wake of Mr Packham and Ms Lucas’ resignations, an RSPCA spokesperson said it is “simply not true” that the organisation has failed to take urgent action. They said: “We agree with Chris and Caroline on so many issues and have achieved so much together for animals, but we differ on how best to address the incredibly complex and difficult issue of farmed animal welfare. “We have discussed our work to drive up farmed animal welfare standards openly at length with them on many occasions and it is simply not true that we have not taken urgent action. “We took allegations of poor welfare incredibly seriously, launching an independent review of 200 farms which concluded that it was ‘operating effectively’ to improve animal welfare. “We are taking strong steps to improve oversight of welfare, implementing the recommendations in full including significantly increasing unannounced visits, and exploring technology such as body-worn cameras and CCTV, supported by £2 million of investment.” The charity insisted that while 94% of people continue to choose to eat meat, fish, eggs and dairy, it is the “right thing to do” to work with farmers to improve the lives of animals. “RSPCA Assured visit all farms on the scheme every year, but last year just 3% of farms were assessed for animal welfare by state bodies,” the spokesperson continued. “No-one else is doing this work. We are the only organisation setting and regularly monitoring animal welfare standards on farms. “We have pioneered change through RSPCA Assured, which has led to improvements throughout the industry including CCTV in slaughterhouses, banning barren battery cages for hens and sow stalls for pigs, giving salmon more space to swim and developing slower growing chicken breeds who have better quality of life.”
2024 Election: Mt. SAC declares victory in $750 million bond measure, to complete major projectsLanguage Training Market In India size is set to grow by USD 7.55 billion from 2024-2028, growing emphasis on continuous professional development to boost the revenue- TechnavioKollam: Veeyapuram Chundan clinched the Presidents' Trophy, and Karichal Chundan claimed victory in the Champions Boat League (CBL) Trophy. In a fierce competition at Ashtamudi Lake, filled with speed and determination, Veeyapuram's Chundan left behind the Niranam Chundan to secure the Presidents' Trophy title. Karichal Chundan won the Champions Boat League for a 16th consecutive year. The race, which spanned 1,100 meters, began near the Thevalli Palace and ended at the boat jetty near the KSRTC bus depot. Kollam MLA M Mukesh, presided over the event. The races were held in a sequence, starting with the Chundan boat heats, followed by small boat competitions and concluding with the Chundan boat finals. A water sports show was also held as part of the celebrations. The competition featured three tracks over a distance of 1,100 meters, starting near Thevalli Palace and concluding at the KSRTC bus stand jetty. A total of nine snake boats and ten smaller boats vied for victory across multiple categories, including two boats in the Veppu A category, two in Iruttukutti A, three in Iruttukutti B, and three women’s Thekkethodi (thara vallam) boats. To ensure precise results, the latest technology had been deployed. For safety, the waters between the DTPC boat jetty and Thevalli bridge are restricted to competing boats and those on official duties.
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Opendoor Technologies: Minimal Recovery Catalysts - More Uncertainties In The Near-TermThe Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Friday condemned the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s proposal to allow private builders to buy back land reserved for housing economically weaker sections (EWS). In a statement here, SAD vice-president Daljit Singh Cheema demanded a high-level probe into the proposal, stating that it smacked of corruption. He appealed to the state cabinet to not approve the proposal, saying that it would be a death blow to the aspirations of the weaker sections to own houses under the EWS scheme. “This proposal to auction land reserved for building EWS houses is a clear message to the ‘Aam Aadmi’ that they should stop dreaming of owning a small shelter near high-end flats,” he added. Asserting that the proposal would not pass legal scrutiny, the SAD leader said that private builders were given additional benefits to offset the losses caused to them for building houses under the EWS scheme. “The government also derived political capital by publicising the scheme. Now, when the residential areas have been developed and sold at huge profits, a plan is afoot to sell this land back to private developers and throw the weaker sections out of the scheme and force them to accept alternative accommodation in far off undeveloped areas,” he said.
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