Congress sees mystery in ship accidents off Kerala coast
Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 10 (UMI) Raising mystery on back-to-back ship accidents off Kerala coast, the Congress party in Kerala alleges the Government's apathy towards the incidents causes a threat to the environment and the fishermen community.
Saying that the continuous accidents raise questions on maritime security, KPCC President Sunny Joseph MLA announced that Congress will stage demonstrations in all coastal districts on June 11, protesting against serious inaction towards ship accidents by the Kerala Government.
"The Government decision not to file a criminal case against the owners of the sunken vessel MSC Elsa-3 is criminal negligence on the part of it and a betrayal of the coastal people and fishermen."
Several containers with hazardous chemicals that sank near the coast could create serious environmental consequences.
It has become clear that the Government's policy is to save the company and recover the compensation from the insurance company. The Government has no guarantee that the insurance company will provide an amount sufficient to solve the environmental impacts.
UNI DS BD
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Elon Musk supports world's richest investor Warren Buffett's 5-minute plan to erase America's deficit, shares emoji
Warren Buffett The U.S. government has been grappling with persistent budget deficits, spending far more than it collects in revenue year after year. Despite efforts from both political parties, the national debt has ballooned to $33.8 trillion as of June 2025, with no clear end in sight. Amid this fiscal crisis, a radical idea from legendary investor Warren Buffett is gaining renewed attention and high-profile support. In a 2011 CNBC interview, Buffett proposed a strikingly simple solution to curb runaway deficits: 'I could end the deficit in five minutes. You just pass a law that says that any time there's a deficit of more than 3% of GDP, all sitting members of Congress are ineligible for re-election.' The resurfaced clip has gone viral, sparking a heated debate about accountability in Washington. Tesla CEO Elon Musk responds with emoji Utah Senator Mike Lee amplified the idea by reposting the video on X, asking, 'Would you support this amendment?' The post ignited a firestorm of responses, including a resounding endorsement from Tesla CEO and X owner Elon Musk, who wrote, '100%. This is the way.' Other prominent voices, including economist Peter Schiff, chimed in, tweeting, 'Buffett's plan is brutal but brilliant. Congress would finally feel the heat of their own fiscal mess.' Lee isn't just stirring the pot online—he's taking action. 'I'm drafting a constitutional amendment to oust every member of Congress whenever inflation exceeds 3%. It's better to disqualify politicians than for an entire nation to suffer under the yoke of inflation,' he wrote on X. Lee's proposal tweaks Buffett's original idea, tying congressional eligibility to inflation rather than deficits, though both metrics are closely linked to government spending. US economy in tough place The U.S. fiscal situation paints a grim picture. In fiscal 2024, the U.S. economy generated $28.83 trillion in GDP, while federal spending reached $6.75 trillion against $4.92 trillion in revenue, resulting in a $1.83 trillion deficit—6.3% of GDP, double Buffett's proposed threshold. The Congressional Budget Office projects deficits will climb to $2.6 trillion by 2034, driven by rising interest payments on the national debt, now costing over $1 trillion annually. Economists have long warned about the link between deficits and inflation. Nobel laureate Milton Friedman famously argued, 'What produces [inflation] is too much government spending and too much government creation of money and nothing else.' Recent data supports this: inflation hit 3.2% in 2024, above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, fueled partly by expansive fiscal policies. The M2 money supply, a key driver of inflation, grew by 6% in 2024, according to Federal Reserve reports, reflecting continued monetary expansion. Warren Buffet and Mike Lee proposal aims to fix responsibility Buffett's and Lee's proposals aim to force accountability by tying lawmakers' jobs to economic outcomes. However, passing a constitutional amendment is a daunting task, requiring two-thirds approval in both the House and Senate and ratification by 38 states. Critics argue the plan could backfire. 'Kicking out every member of Congress during a deficit spike could paralyze governance and lead to inexperienced replacements,' said political analyst Sarah Klein in a recent Washington Post op-ed. Others note that deficits often surge during crises—like pandemics or recessions—when spending is necessary, potentially punishing lawmakers for unavoidable decisions. Supporters counter that the threat of mass ousting would incentivize fiscal discipline. 'Congress has no skin in the game,' tweeted economist Nouriel Roubini. 'Buffett's idea flips that script.' Public sentiment on X leans heavily in favor, with polls showing 68% of 12,000 respondents supporting Lee's amendment. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
United News of India
an hour ago
- United News of India
Sri Lankan Army commander in India to boost defence ties
New Delhi, June 11 (UNI) Commander of the Sri Lanka Army Lieutenant General BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo arrived here on Wednesday on a four-day official visit aimed at enhancing bilateral military cooperation. This visit is set to enhance bilateral military cooperation and explore new avenues for collaboration, particularly in the areas of training and capability enhancement, a Defence Ministry statement said. It underscores the continued efforts of both nations to further strengthen and deepen their longstanding defence partnership. Lt Gen Rodrigo held a series of high-level meetings beginning with an in-depth interaction with Lieutenant General NS Raja Subramani, Vice Chief of the Army Staff of the Indian Army. Both the military leaders discussed wide ranging issues including aspects of bilateral defence cooperation and regional security concerns. Later, he was briefed on Operation Sindoor and India's security perspective. He was also briefed by other senior officers of the Indian Army on matters of mutual interest. Lt Gen Rodrigo met with Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, Chief of Air Staff and Rajesh Kumar Singh, Defence Secretary. These meetings provided an opportunity for the exchange of views on broader defence and security issues, focusing on matters of mutual interests. He also planted a tree at the Manekshaw Centre, symbolising time-tested relation of Indian and Sri Lanka Army. On June 12, Lt Gen Rodrigo will visit Jaipur and meet Lt Gen Manjinder Singh, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command. The General Officer will grace the Passing Out Parade at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun, as the Reviewing Officer on June 14. This visit will mark a poignant return to his alma mater, where he was commissioned in December 1990, with the 87th Course of the IMA-an experience that laid the foundation of his illustrious military career. His presence at the Academy will rekindle memories of his formative years, now brought full circle as he would review a new generation of officers. Adding a personal and emotional dimension to the ceremony, Brigadier RMSP Rathnayake of Sri Lanka Army, will also be in attendance to witness his son, Foreign Officer Cadet RMNL Rathnayake, being commissioned with the current course. This confluence of legacy and leadership underscores the enduring spirit of camaraderie and leadership connect between the two Armies. Lt Gen BKGM Lasantha Rodrigo's visit to India is marked by a series of productive engagements, aimed at furthering the defence relationship between Sri Lanka and India. The visit not only highlights the commitment of both nations to strengthening their military ties but also underscores their shared focus on regional security and peace. UNI RBE SSP
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
S. Ramadoss and Anbumani Ramadoss: Father, son, and a war of words
In 2011, during the run-up to the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader S. Ramadoss visited DMK leader M. Karunanidhi at his Gopalapuram residence to invite him for a family wedding. Karunanidhi did not miss the opportunity to rope the PMK into the DMK-led alliance, even though the PMK had contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections as part of the AIADMK alliance. The PMK had failed to win a single seat in that election, despite being considered a powerful ally capable of tilting the scales of victory for any alliance. Yet, this perception of the party being a strong ally led Karunanidhi to generously allot 30 seats to the PMK and seal the alliance. However, the PMK managed to secure only three seats, proving that its decline had actually begun as early as 2009. Dr. Ramadoss, a medical doctor by qualification, has always played his political cards carefully, switching alliances from one election to another, but failing to gauge the shifting sands of Tamil Nadu politics. In 2009, the PMK suffered defeat by aligning with the AIADMK. It was routed again in the 2011 polls. The emergence of the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam, led by actor Vijayakant, in 2005, also eclipsed the PMK's influence in many areas. The party has never been able to reclaim its past glory, despite having been part of the Union government from 1998 to 2009. During that time, Anbumani Ramadoss, Dr. Ramadoss's son, held the health portfolio (2004-09). Today, despite its organisational strength and the support of the Vanniyars, its core base, the party finds itself at a crossroads due to the growing rift between Dr. Ramadoss and Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss. In the 1980s, Dr. Ramadoss mobilised the Vanniyars by championing their claim for Most Backward Class status. After the DMK government led by Karunanidhi granted 20% reservation by grouping together several communities, including the Vanniyars, Ramadoss founded the PMK. In a symbolic gesture reminiscent of Piloo Mody, Dr. Ramadoss sent Panruti S. Ramachandran, the PMK's lone MLA in 1991, to the Assembly riding an elephant — the symbol on which he won. The party performed well in the 1996, 2001, and 2006 Assembly elections. The PMK entered the national stage when Dr. Ramadoss joined the AIADMK-BJP alliance in 1998 and secured a Union Cabinet berth for Dalit Ezhilmalai, the party's general secretary. He remained with the BJP even after Jayalalithaa toppled the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government. This paid off as the BJP-DMK combine made good gains in 1999. The PMK was allotted two ministerial berths in the BJP-led government. In 2004, along with the DMK, it joined the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, and Anbumani Ramadoss became a Union Minister in the Manmohan Singh government. Dr. Ramadoss, who once acted as a bridge between the Vanniyars and Dalits, also sought to shed the image of being a solely Vanniyar party by espousing Tamil identity and working closely with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan and Tamil nationalist leader Pazha Nedumaran. However, successive electoral defeats forced him to take refuge in caste-based politics. He even ran a campaign targeting the Scheduled Castes (SCs), accusing their youth of wearing jeans and sunglasses and luring girls from other communities for their wealth. In 2012, the tragic death of Dharmapuri Ilavarasan, an SC man, who married Divya, a Vanniyar woman, caused deep damage to the PMK's image. Since then, it has not been able to shed the 'Vanniyar party' image. The current war of words between father and son has crossed all limits and shocked observers who have followed the PMK for decades. Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss had always said that his father is his role model and has acknowledged his organisational skills. The absence of political power and influence seems to have made Dr. Ramadoss desperate and angry. He is probably making a last-ditch effort to secure a stable future for the party as the Tamil Nadu political space is too crowded. His ego does not permit even his son to interfere with his schemes. He knows well that Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, who rose swiftly within the party ranks, could overshadow him, and he is not prepared for that. Neither his family members nor outsiders, including Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh ideologue S. Gurumurthy, can convince the unreconstructed Dr. Ramadoss.
