Junior Digest

Dharamshala :  Lobsang Sangay was today sworn in for his consecutive second term as prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, in the presence of spiritual leader the Dalai Lama here.

Sangay was re-elected last month, after he defeated his lone rival Penpa Tsering, the Speaker of the Tibetan Parliament, winning more than 57 per cent of the votes.

Addressing the a packed audience at the main Tibetan temple, Sangay said the “middle way” policy envisioned by the Dalai Lama to peacefully resolve the issue of Tibet’s autonomy, would continue to remain the official policy of the Central Tibetan Administration.

“We are committed to make efforts towards the holding of talks between the envoys of the Dalai Lama and the representatives of the Chinese government and resolve the issue of Tibet peacefully during His Holiness’ lifetime,” he said.

He also apologised for “moral shortcomings” witnessed during the election campaign, when several candidates had allegedly criticised the spiritual leader’s handling of the Tibet issue.

The Dalai Lama in his address, spoke of the rich cultural and religious traditions of Tibet and the need for a holistic education of Tibetan children.

“Tibet is called the roof of the world. Similarly, the rich Buddhist culture and tradition of Tibet is also one of the best traditions in the world,” he said.

“Over the years I have met numerous people, including scholars, scientists, politicians and spiritual leaders.

“In my interaction with these people, I have come to realise that the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, derived from the Nalanda tradition of India, is among the best, primarily because it is based in scientific analysis and logical study,” he said.

As the ceremony began, Sangay prostrated before the spiritual leader and presented a him with a ceremonial Tibetan scarf.

Several monks then recited a prayer of blessing to inaugurate the event, followed by serving of traditional Tibetan tea and sweetened rice to the gathering.

The ceremony was attended by thousands of Tibetans and supporters of their cause, besides R K Khrimey, MLA and advisor to the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister.

@Agency report.

London, May 25 : Pregnant women exposed to air pollution may be at a greater risk of stillbirth, a new study has claimed.

An estimated 2.6 million children worldwide were stillborn at 28 weeks or more in 2015, with the wide geographical variation in prevalence suggesting that most of these deaths were preventable, researchers from University of Oulu in Finland said.

In 13 studies, researchers found an association between exposure to air pollution – particularly during the third term of pregnancy – and a heightened risk of stillbirth.

A four microgrammes per cubic metre increase in exposure to small particulate matter of less than 2.5 micrometres in diametre (particulate matter 2.5) was associated with a 2 per cent increased risk of stillbirth, researchers said.

Exposure to nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, particulate matter 10 and ozone were also linked to a heightened risk, they said.

“If the evidence of an association between ambient air population and stillbirth is confirmed in future studies, it would be of major public health importance,” Marie Pedersen, from the University of Copenhagen said.

“The existing evidence is suggestive of causality for air pollution and stillbirth without precise identification of the timing of exposure,” researchers added.

The findings were published in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

@Agency report.

Beijing, May 25 : Chinese capital Beijing will implement the world’s new strictest vehicle emission standards by next year to reduce hazardous hydrocarbon emissions by five per cent, authorities said today.

Beijing took the lead in China in using unleaded gasoline 2007 and worked out Beijing II gasoline standard in 2014.

Later in 2005, 2008 and 2012, Beijing issued and implemented Beijing III, Beijing IV and Beijing V gasoline standards, the city’s Environmental Protection Bureau said.

Gasoline standards in Beijing are always one or two stages ahead of other Chinese cities.

The newest standard Beijing VI will reduce vehicle hydrocarbon emissions by five per cent, state-run People’s Daily reported.

Beijing is expected to implement the new standard in December next year. The new, strictest standard will lower emissions by 40 to 50 per cent.

It is predicted that by 2022, overall vehicle emissions pollution in Beijing will be reduced by 20 to 30 per cent.

@Agency report.

Thiruvananthapuram, May 25: CPI(M) strongman Pinarayi Vijayan was today sworn in as Chief Minister of Kerala heading a 19-member ministry of the party-led Left Democratic Front(LDF) that had 13 new faces including two women.

72-year-old Vijayan,  was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Justice (Retd) P Sathasivam at the Central Stadium here.

Hailing from a poor toddy tapper’s family, Vijayan, a first time Chief Minister, took the oath in Malayalam. A CPI-M Politburo member, he is the 12th chief minister of Kerala.

Out of the 19-member cabinet, 12 including the Chief Minister are from CPI(M), 4 from CPI, one each from NCP, Janata Dal(S) and Congress(S). The outgoing Congress-led UDF had 21 ministers.

There are 13 new faces, including two women, in the Cabinet. Five ministers had held positions in previous LDF ministries.

The CPI(M)-LDF had unseated the Congress-led UDF by securing 91 seats in the 140-member House in the May 16 assembly polls.

A huge pandal to accommodate at least 30,000 persons was put up at the stadium, adjacent to the state Secretariat.

CCTVs erected at various places enabled the large crowd, who had gathered to view the ceremony streamed live.

The slight drizzle failed to dampen the spirits of the party workers who had arrived in buses and other vehicles from various parts of the state, especially the northern districts of Kasaragod, Kannur and Kozhikode, to witness the swearing-in ceremony, which began at 4 pm.

In 2006 also, the swearing in of then Chief Minister V S Achutanandan and his cabinet colleague was held outside the Raj Bhavan.

Former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, former Chief Ministers Oommen Chandy, V S Achutanandan, CPI(M) General Secretary Seetharam Yechury, Prakash Karat, 97-year-old K R Gowri Amma, who was Revenue minister in the EMS Namboodiripad cabinet of 1957, former union minister and lone member of BJP in the assembly O Rajagopal, religious and cultural leaders and film actors attended the function.

@Agency report.