Vol 2, Issue 6 May 1-15, 2022
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Federal election 2022: Macron’s re-election Climate change may still augurs well for world influence voters’ decision politics Pushpinder Oberoi: Torchbearer of Indian culture in the Antipodes - Page 13
Yatra Music enthrals audience during Vishu celebrations - Page 8
By Indian Abroad Newsdesk
Demolition of India’s constitutional values: Rahul- Page 14
Hyatt Centric brand debuts in the Indian capital - Page 21
The Federal election in Australia has, over the last few elections, seen the dominance of climate policy of various parties as a topic for heated debates and discussions and if statistics are anything to go by, in 2019 polls, climate change determined the pattern of voting for almost 13 % of Australian voters. But this time around, political debates seem to be more over such issues as leadership integrity, crisis management, economic considerations, particularly the cost of living and how it impacts the nation. More significantly, public concerns over matters related to climate change are increasing. A media report quotes the Lowy Institute findings showing that 60% of Australians now feel global warming is a significant and pressing problem. The same poll found that 55% of Australians favour that the government’s energy
policy should prioritise “reducing carbon emissions”. However, in this election voters seem to be more likely to vote according to considerations of the government’s COVID-19 response and its economic performance. Then the Morrison government’s tough stance against China may win his party some votes in some electorates, whereas in others with high Chinese voter numbers, his party may find it a tight rope walk to win votes. But the climate change issue might still influence voters, especially due to recent events such as the wild fires of two years ago and catastrophic floods since February this year. Analysts have said, as quoted in some media reports that about 25 electorates will in all probability determine the next government. Significantly, seven of these seats were hard hit by the Black Summer
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A few key issues facing election this year
By Indian Abroad Newsdesk French Presidential elections have always been of utmost significance in world history for various reasons; more so was this year’s election which in the end Emanuel Macron won quite comfortably. Macron’s last tenure as the President has been a mixed bag with his country embroiled in yellow vest movement and then came the pandemic which further added to the discontentment of French people regarding the handling of Covid-19 by his government. But when it came to choosing between a centrist Macron and a rightwing politician in Marine Le Pen, the voters have once again reposed their faith in the incumbent, rather than go for a rightist ideology. With Russia-Ukraine war showing no signs of waning anytime soon, the role of the European Union in reining in Russia by assisting Ukraine militarily, through arms and
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SL President agrees to interim govt without brother as PM
Shakespeare’s hometown on his 458th birth anniversary - Page 23
Creating diamonds out of thin air - Page 25
Why Cica is the answer to your skincare woes? - Page 26
By Indian Abroad Newsdesk There are other issues which the political parties vying for power will have to address during their campaigning for the Federal election of 2022. Some of the key issues that the voters want the politicians to address or are needed to be adequately addressed have to do with healthcare costs, cost of living in general, wage growth and maintaining low unemployment rates. Healthcare costs One issue which the major political parties have not yet addressed adequately is the issue of rising healthcare costs in the country. A major consumer survey conducted recently found 30% of people afflicted with chronic conditions were not confident they could
afford necessary health care if they became seriously ill; 14% were of the view that they could not pay for health care or medicine because of a shortage of money. This implied that out-of-pocket healthcare costs which were not covered by Medicare or private health insurance were increasing. Media reports quoting the survey showed that only 35.1% of specialist consultations were bulk billed in 2020-21 compared with 88.8% of GP services. The voters will surely want this issue to be addressed by candidates of political parties in the fray. Cost of living matters Another survey by the ABC Vote
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financially would go a long way in bringing back sanity and stability to the economic prospects in Europe. Macron being a key voice in the European Union, he has a more vital role to play in the politics of the continent. Therefore, as the newswire Associated Press reports, Russia's war in Ukraine provided Macron with the chance to exhibit his influence on the international stage and highlight his pro-NATO credentials in election debates. Macron was the only front-runner who was in favour of the NATO alliance growing in stature internationally, while other French candidates in the fray held on to divergent views on what ought to be France's role within it, including some leaders favouring abandoning it completely. It will be an understatement to put forth the view that Macron’s victory will pave the way for a stronger NATO which has an important role to protect the
Colombo, April 29 (IANS) To end the current political deadlock, Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has agreed to form an interim, all-party government with a fresh cabinet, dropping his elder brother Mahinda Rajapaksa as Prime Minister, former President Maithripala Sirisena announced on Friday. Sirisena, who met President
Rajapaksa, along with representatives of 11 political parties who supported Rajapaksa to come to power but decided to stand independent following the recent political crisis, informed the media of the development. The 11 parties which had insisted on removing PM Mahinda Rajapaksa and the cabinet as a solution to the ongoing political impasse, had also demanded that Friday's meeting could only be with President Gotabaya Rajapaksa but not with anyone else. According to Sirsena, appointment of a new PM and the Cabinet of the interim government is to be done by the national Assembly consisting of the leaders of all political parties. "President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is ready to form an interim government, if all the political parties represented in Parliament agree to do so," he said. At Friday's discussion, the President has also agreed to establish a National Council, of a Prime Minister, Cabinet of Ministers, Inspector General of Police, Attorney General, and the Ministry Secretaries.
Pakistan should not comment on Modi’s J&K visit: MEA New Delhi, April 28 (IANS) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday that Pakistan has no locus standi to comment on the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Jammu and Kashmir. The MEA's response came after Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had termed Modi's recent visit to Jammu as "staged". "I do not understand the word 'staged' that Shehbaz Sharif used. Everyone knows about the changes in J&K. It means they are trying to present a view that the visit did not take place. Pakistan has no locus standi on Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan commenting on this matter is wrong," MEA spokesperson Arndam Bagchi said. He also said that Prime Minister Modi received a warm welcome in J&K on April 24 and therefore Pakistan's statement on the PM's visit was absolutely inappropriate. On whether the Russia-Ukraine war will be discussed during Modi's visit to Germany, Denmark and France from May 2-4, Bagchi said. "We would have to wait and see how it goes; it is early for us to say anything as of now.
China permits Indian students to return New Delhi, April 29 (IANS) China has allowed the return of Indian students to its various universities on a "need-assessed basis", according to the Indian Embassy in China. According to the Embassy, following the meeting of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on March 25, the Chinese side has expressed its willingness to consider facilitating the return of Indian students. In order to facilitate this, the Indian Embassy intends to prepare a list of such students which will be shared with the Chinese side for their consideration. The embassy has come up with a form and requested Indian students to fill out citing their necessity. Once the collated information is shared with the Chinese side, it would consult relevant Chinese departments and varsities to verify the list and indicate whether the identified students can travel to China to complete the course. The Chinese side has also conveyed that eligible students should unconditionally abide by Covid-19 prevention measures, and agree to bear all expenses related to Covid-19 prevention measures by themselves. Over 23,000 Indian students, primarily studying medicines, are stuck back home due to Covid-19 visas and flight bans by China in attempt to control Covid-19.
Ranbir Kapoor returns to work after marrying Alia Bhatt - Page 30
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