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Chennai, Jan 12 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu BJP has demanded an unconditional apology from Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for allegedly reneging on his promise to abolish the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

BJP state secretary S.G. Suryah accused Udhayanidhi Stalin of “shamelessly lying” to the people of Tamil Nadu during the 2021 Assembly election campaign. He stated that Udhayanidhi had assured voters that abolishing NEET would be the DMK government’s priority.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Suryah said, “Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin made a promise to the people of Tamil Nadu that his first signature as a minister would abolish NEET. However, he has failed to deliver on that promise.”

The BJP leader called for an unconditional apology from Udhayanidhi for what he termed a blatant “U-turn” on the issue. He also clarified that the central government has no role in implementing NEET, as it is a directive of the Supreme Court.

Suryah welcomed a recent statement by Vijay, actor-turned-politician and president of the Tamilaga Vettai Kazhagam (TVK), who criticised the DMK government for failing to abolish NEET.

In a social media post on Saturday, Vijay accused the DMK of deceiving the people with false promises. He pointed out that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has now admitted that only the Union government has the authority to scrap NEET. Vijay said, “This is a significant social and political issue for Tamil Nadu. During the 2021 Assembly elections, the DMK promised to abolish NEET if returned to power. However, they knew fully well that this decision could only be taken by the central government.”

Vijay further alleged that the DMK made these assurances purely to garner votes and criticized the ruling party for not fulfilling its promises after coming to power. He said, “How long will they deceive us in our own country?”

The TVK leader also highlighted that NEET was a major campaign issue in 2021. “The DMK promised to cancel the exam, claiming they had a plan to do so. Now they admit only the central government can abolish NEET. Isn’t this a betrayal of the people who voted for them?” Vijay remarked.

In a statement on Friday, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin told the Tamil Nadu Assembly that NEET would have been abolished if the INDIA alliance had captured power at the Centre. However, he acknowledged that only the Central government has the authority to scrap the exam.

CM Stalin also reminded Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami that during the regimes of Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa, NEET was not there. He argued that the exam was introduced only during the tenure of Palaniswami’s government.

S.G. Suryah further stated, “If anyone wants to get away from NEET, they should approach the Supreme Court, not the Central government.”

--IANS

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Bhubaneswar, Jan 12 (IANS) Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on Sunday launched premium bus services from four cities -- Puri, Sambalpur, Bhawanipatna and Berhampur -- for Ayodhya via Varanasi and Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh for the Maha Kumbh Mela.

The special pilgrim buses to the holy places have been started by the Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC), the state-owned public transport operator, under the Transport & Commerce Department of Odisha.

More than 200 devotees from different parts of Odisha on Sunday left for the Maha Kumbh Mela on these special buses equipped with all advanced amenities.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Majhi said that Ardha Kumbha is held every six years while the Purna Kumbha is observed every 12 years at Prayagraj. However, the Maha Kumbh Mela is going to be celebrated at the Prayagraj this year after a gap of 144 years.

The Maha Kumbh Mela is going to be held at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh from January 13 to February 26. Lakhs of devotees and saints will throng Prayagraj to attend the grand fair this year.

"Thousands of devotees from Odisha also go on pilgrimage to Prayagraj and take a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam (the holy confluence of rivers -- Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati) whenever Kumbh Mela takes place. As this holy Maha Kumbh Mela fair is going to be held for a long period between January 13 and February 26, I request all to go to Prayagraj on the holy pilgrimage,” stated the CM.

CM Majhi said that the Odisha government has made several arrangements to ensure a safe journey for the pilgrims using the premium bus services offered by OSRTC. Two buses will run up and down on each route. All the necessary arrangements for short-term accommodations at designated places on the routes have also been made by the OSRTC.

CM Majhi also informed that the bus fare has been halved for women pilgrims. He said that a live vehicle tracking system, panic buttons, and an advanced driver assistance system have been set up in the pilgrim buses. Managers are deployed on each bus to ensure the travellers do not face any problems during the journey.

This apart, tents have been erected at the Prayagraj for the pilgrims and tour guides have been engaged to guide the pilgrims there.

A 24x7 help desk has been opened at the OSRTC office here for the pilgrims visiting Maha Kumbh Mela. The pilgrims can also seek assistance by calling 1800 345 1122 or reaching out via WhatsApp at 78490 52205.

Additionally, OSRTC staff have been deployed in Prayagraj to provide all support to the devotees there. Pilgrims can book tickets in advance through the OSRTC website (osrtc.org), mobile app, or at OSRTC ticket counters. The Chief Minister also said that the OSRTC is starting the long-distance journey of over 2,500 km for the first time.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) The future of regional cooperation in South Asia is currently at a pivotal juncture, shaped by its historical context. While initiatives such as the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) have largely failed to achieve the anticipated pan-regional free trade, another important forum, the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), risks facing a similar fate unless significant intervention occurs from its largest member states, namely India and Bangladesh.

These concerns have been exacerbated by the recent political upheaval in Bangladesh in August 2024, which followed a prolonged student-led mass movement that resulted in the removal of long-serving Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

This development has been widely interpreted as indicative of a major shift in Bangladesh's domestic and foreign policy, particularly regarding its bilateral relations with India.

As Bangladesh navigates this new political landscape within the broader regional geopolitical context, it becomes essential for the country's new leadership -- regardless of its interim status -- to leverage Dhaka's strategic importance and continue contributing to regional cooperation grounded in mutual respect.

Despite the destabilising effects of the political upheaval in August 2024 and the external pressures on Dhaka to adjust its regional strategic relationships, potentially leading to a distancing from New Delhi, the Indo-Bangla relationship seems to be weathering these challenges with a notable degree of resilience.

As highlighted by Bangladesh’s Chief of Army Staff General Waker-Uz-Zaman, this relationship is characterised by a "give-and-take" dynamic, where Dhaka's dependence on India aligns with New Delhi’s vested interests in maintaining stability in Bangladesh, alongside a growing convergence of their regional and global strategic objectives.

Furthermore, the ongoing alignment of mutual interests, particularly in promoting regional economic integration through frameworks such as BIMSTEC and SAARC, continues to strengthen this bilateral engagement.

These platforms not only have the potential to spark an economic revival across the region but also promise transformative socio-economic benefits, improving the livelihoods of millions in both nations.

Thus, this bilateralism emerges as a fundamental pillar for regional stability and prosperity, emphasising its vital role in shaping the geopolitical and economic landscape of South Asia.

BIMSTEC, or the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation, is an interregional cooperative framework involving seven countries from South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Originally conceived as BIST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand Economic Cooperation) in 1997, the initiative aimed to enhance intra-regional trade, investment, and economic integration within the Bay of Bengal area.

Following the later inclusion of Myanmar, Bhutan, and Nepal, the organisation was officially renamed BIMSTEC during its inaugural summit in 2004. The primary goal of this grouping is to foster economic collaboration among its member states while addressing various sectors of mutual interest.

As of 2023, the BIMSTEC member nations collectively have a population exceeding 1.73 billion and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of around $5.2 trillion.

Within this framework, India and Bangladesh, ranked as the first and third largest economies based on nominal GDP, play crucial roles.

Their economic dominance provides them with a level of strategic autonomy that facilitates the advancement of regional cooperation, allowing these countries to engage in multilateral initiatives with relative independence from external influences.

This dynamic highlights BIMSTEC's potential as a platform for establishing a restructured, regionally focused economic framework in the Bay of Bengal.

Major ports of BIMSTEC countries in the Bay of Bengal

The establishment of a permanent secretariat in Dhaka in 2014 marked a significant institutionalisation of BIMSTEC's operational framework, aimed at enhancing technical and economic collaboration among its member states.

Initially, the organisation delineated 14 priority sectors for cooperation, each overseen by a designated lead country to ensure focused management and effective execution. India assumed leadership in strategic domains such as Transport, Tourism, and Counter-Terrorism, while Bangladesh took the initiative in Trade and Investment.

However, recognizing the necessity for a more streamlined and outcome-oriented approach, the 2022 Colombo Summit—conducted virtually in response to the COVID-19 pandemic—embarked on a comprehensive restructuring of these cooperation sectors.

The summit aimed to “reduce, reconstitute, and construct” the cooperation framework by consolidating the original 14 sectors into seven core areas, with each member state entrusted with leadership over one sector.

Under this reconfiguration, Bangladesh now leads initiatives in Trade, Investment, and Development, whereas India has been assigned responsibility for Security and Energy Cooperation sectors.

The strategic positioning of the BIMSTEC member countries endows the bloc with considerable potential to facilitate economic integration through enhanced terrestrial and maritime connectivity.

For both India and Bangladesh, active engagement within this regional framework represents a significant opportunity to realise substantial economic gains.

For India, which boasts an annual trade volume exceeding $1,100 billion, BIMSTEC serves as a conduit to access the emerging markets of Southeast Asia, thereby aligning with its broader ‘Act East Policy’ and its aspirations to expand its economy to a $5 trillion threshold in the forthcoming years.

Furthermore, this platform provides a vital avenue for promoting the development of India’s eastern and northeastern regions, which have historically been perceived as economically underutilised.

BIMSTEC's connectivity initiatives provide Bangladesh, which has an annual trade volume exceeding $120 billion as of 2023, with a new cost-effective mechanism to diversify its export portfolio by accessing the Southeast Asian and broader ASEAN markets.

This is particularly crucial for the country's rapidly growing ready-made garment sector, which consistently seeks to expand its market reach beyond traditional western partners.

Consequently, BIMSTEC's integrative potential can significantly enhance Bangladesh’s economic presence within regional and global value chains, thereby reinforcing its role as a key player in the economic landscape of South Asia.

Despite the significant economic potential inherent in the BIMSTEC framework, the failure to operationalise the 2004 Framework Agreement on Free Trade has considerably impeded intra-bloc economic integration over the years.

The Agreement, which is ambitious in scope, sought to establish “effective trade and investment facilitating measures, including the simplification of customs procedures and the development of mutual recognition arrangements, among others".

However, notwithstanding this comprehensive mandate, member states have been unable to achieve a consensus on the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA), thereby constraining the bloc's economic synergy.

This stagnation is reflected in the asymmetry of trade flows within the bloc.

For example, while annual trade between India and Bangladesh, as well as between India and Thailand, was recorded at over $15.83 billion and $17.29 billion respectively in 2023, trade among other member states has remained suboptimal.

This underscores the imperative for BIMSTEC member countries to re-engage in substantive negotiations, resolve outstanding issues, and operationalise the FTA to unlock its economic potential and promote deeper economic interdependence and shared prosperity throughout the Bay of Bengal region.

In the context of stagnation within regional cooperation frameworks, the recent advocacy by Bangladesh's Chief Advisor, Professor Muhammad Yunus, for the revitalisation of regional blocs such as SAARC presents a timely impetus for recalibration.

However, it would be judicious for Dhaka and New Delhi to prioritise the revitalisation of BIMSTEC, given its relatively lower friction points among member states, as a precursor to re-engaging with more contentious organisations like SAARC.

Despite the prevailing strains in India-Bangladesh relations, enhanced bilateral engagement between these two nations could exemplify to other BIMSTEC member states the feasibility of regional cooperation aimed at collective benefit and socioeconomic development.

Such a strategy could motivate other member states to strengthen bilateral trade relationships, thereby fostering an enabling environment for the eventual operationalisation of the long-stalled Free Trade Agreement within the BIMSTEC framework.

Nevertheless, the onus rests with India and Bangladesh to navigate the current tensions, which are exacerbated by external factors and actors, and to determine whether to permit these disruptions to impede progress or to reaffirm their commitment to advancing cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally.

BIMSTEC, with its established institutional framework and shared regional aspirations, offers a viable platform for initiating this renewed trajectory of collaboration.

--IANS

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Jakarta, Jan 11 (IANS) Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto met with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Saturday, with the two leaders agreeing to enhance cooperation in various sectors.

Subianto told a press conference that Indonesia opened up to the possibility of Japanese companies participating in Indonesia's future economic development, including in the downstream programs of natural resources.

The Indonesian president invited the Japanese government to contribute to Indonesia's economic development, particularly in achieving food and energy self-sufficiency, industrializing natural resources and eliminating hunger for under-nourished communities.

Ishiba expressed Japan's commitment to foster cooperation in resource development and infrastructure to maintain energy security and advance decarbonization efforts.

He also reiterated Japan's support for Indonesia's industrialization initiatives, particularly in downstream natural resources, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the Japanese Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Ishiba visited the Kalibata Heroes Cemetery and offered flowers.

Afterwards, he attended a welcome ceremony and held a summit meeting with Subianto, followed by a joint press occasion.

In the afternoon, Ishiba attended a luncheon hosted by Prabowo before speaking with the press regarding his visit to Malaysia and Indonesia.

--IANS

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Damascus, Jan 11 (IANS) Syria's de facto leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa, pledged neutrality in Lebanon's affairs during a joint press conference with visiting Lebanese caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati on Saturday.

"We will remain equidistant from all Lebanese," al-Sharaa said at the press conference. He noted the two sides had also discussed issues such as smuggling between the two countries, border challenges, and Syrian deposits in Lebanese banks.

"We're envisioning strategic, long-term relations built on solid foundations," he added.

Mikati echoed this sentiment, highlighting the intertwined destinies of the two nations.

"As long as Syria is well, Lebanon is well," he said, expressing hope that efforts by Damascus to tackle the Syrian refugee crisis could alleviate the strain on Lebanon. Mikati also commended the interim Syrian authorities' willingness to engage, noting his discussions with al-Sharaa covered regional challenges and ways to bolster bilateral ties.

The two sides did not announce any formal agreements, Xinhua news agency reported.

Relations between the two neighbouring countries have grown tense in recent weeks. Syria recently imposed restrictions on cross-border movement following security incidents along the shared border. Previously, Lebanese citizens could enter Syria visa-free using only identification documents.

The border region has also seen a series of clashes between Syrian armed groups and Lebanese forces, resulting in casualties among Lebanese military personnel.

Mikati's visit to Damascus is the first by a sitting Lebanese premier to Syria in over a decade.

He is accompanied by a senior delegation including Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib and top security officials. The visit follows a formal invitation from al-Sharaa, extended during a phone call last week.

The meeting took place as Syria navigates a political transition following the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad last December.

Al-Sharaa, who led the coalition that toppled al-Assad, is now overseeing efforts to stabilise Syria and rebuild its regional relationships.

--IANS

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New York, Jan 10 (IANS) A local judge handed President-elect Donald Trump unconditional discharge in connection with his conviction in the hush money case, on Friday, 10 days before he is to enter the White House, but did not give him a prison term or other penalty.

Judge Juan Merchan gave Trump, who was appearing in the local court through a video link, an “unconditional discharge” which confirms his conviction without consequences after the Supreme Court refused to intervene.

Trump will be the first President who enters office with a criminal record.

It was a pyrrhic victory for the local prosecutor, Alvin Bragg, who was elected as a Democratic Party candidate, and Vice President Kamala Harris, who used the conviction as a propaganda point, because 1.77 million American voters repudiated them and elected Trump as President.

Trump, who spoke at the sentencing from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida through a video link, said, “This is a great embarrassment to the state of New York”.

The voters saw firsthand what transpired and elected him, he said.

Merchan said that he was deferring to Trump becoming the President but would have penalised him if he were a private citizen.

Trump maintained his innocence.

The case arose out of allegations made by a porn star that she had a sexual encounter with Trump.

Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen paid porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 before his 2016 election to buy her silence.

Trump reimbursed the lawyer, and the payments were shown as legal expenses, which the prosecutor said was a criminal fraud and the jury accepted it.

Bragg made each of the checks he wrote and ledger entries into separate criminal offences to pump up the convictions to 34.

Trump denied her claim of a tryst and said he made the payment to avoid embarrassment to his family.

A jury convicted him of the 34 offences before the November election and the sentencing was postponed because of the election and his appeals.

--IANS

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Bonn, Jan 10 (IANS) The EU climate watchdog confirmed Friday that 2024 was the warmest year globally since records began in 1850, underscoring the intensifying impacts of climate change and the urgent need for decisive global action.

According to the EU-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), the year shattered multiple climate records, driven largely by human-induced greenhouse gas emissions and amplified by a strong El Nino event.

C3S reported that the global average temperature for 2024 reached 15.1 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous record set in 2023 by 0.12 degrees Celsius and exceeding pre-industrial levels by 1.6 degrees Celsius. For the first time, global temperatures crossed the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold - a key marker in the Paris Agreement aimed at limiting global warming.

Throughout 2024, 11 out of 12 months recorded average temperatures exceeding 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. On July 22, the global average temperature peaked at 17.16 degrees Celsius.

Sea surface temperatures also hit record highs, with extra-polar ocean water averaging 20.87 degrees Celsius, while atmospheric water vapor increased by about 5 percent over the 1991-2020 average.

The melting of sea ice in both the Arctic and Antarctic added to the alarming trends, with Antarctic sea ice extent remaining near record lows for much of the year, and Arctic sea ice levels significantly reduced, particularly after July.

Friederike Otto, senior lecturer at the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, said: "The climate is heating to levels we've spent years trying to avoid because countries are still burning huge amounts of oil, gas and coal."

In his New Year's address, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described 2024 as "deadly heat," warning of a "climate breakdown" in real-time and urging immediate action to dramatically reduce emissions and support the transition to renewable energy.

The extreme temperatures in 2024 fueled widespread heatwaves, wildfires, and floods, particularly in Southern Europe.

Countries like Italy, France, and Spain endured prolonged heatwaves, while Greece battled nearly 9,500 wildfires. These extreme conditions significantly strained public health systems and prompted large-scale evacuations.

Flooding in Spain and Germany caused extensive economic damage and displaced thousands, while severe drought emptied one of Bosnia's largest lakes, Lake Jablanicko in December.

According to the World Weather Attribution's (WWA's) annual report, the record global temperatures of 2024 directly intensified rainfall events, with 15 out of 16 floods studied linked to climate change.

The WWA report revealed that climate-related disasters in 2024 claimed at least 3,700 lives, displaced millions, and caused catastrophic damage to ecosystems. Coral reefs experienced unprecedented bleaching, threatening marine biodiversity and the industries reliant on these ecosystems.

"The Valencia floods, U.S. hurricanes, Philippines typhoons and Amazon drought are just four disasters last year that were worsened by climate change. There are many, many more," Otto told Xinhua news agency.

Looking ahead, climate experts warn that the extreme weather patterns witnessed in 2024 are likely to persist. Julien Nicolas, climate scientist at C3S, explained that while global temperatures may slightly decline in 2025 due to a transition from El Nino to La Nina conditions, the long-term warming trend remains intact.

"There are ups and downs in global temperatures due to natural processes, like El Nino," said Joeri Rogelj, research director at the Grantham Institute of Imperial College London. "But a small dip doesn't change the clear upward trajectory we're on."

Recognising the urgency, Carlo Buontempo, C3S director at the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, stressed the importance of taking action now: "The future is in our hands -- swift and decisive action can still alter the trajectory of our future climate."

The World Meteorological Organization's forecast in December 2024 indicated a greater than 50 percent chance of La Nina conditions developing in the next three months.

"We are loading the dice ... toward these extreme climate events," Nicolas said, warning that heat waves and extreme rainfall events are likely to hit almost all continental regions.

--IANS

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Damascus, Jan 10 (IANS) Three women died and five children suffered severe fractures and bruises on Friday in a stampede at the Umayyad Mosque in the Syrian capital Damascus while attempting to get free meals in a charitable activity, according to the Syrian Civil Defence.

The incident occurred during a banquet promoted by a well-known chef, Abu Omari al-Dimashqi, who had invited the public to a free meal in the yard of the historic mosque in the Old City of Damascus.

Local sources and eyewitnesses said large crowds flocked into the mosque's courtyard and nearby areas amid an apparent shortage of crowd control measures, leading to chaotic scenes.

Security personnel arrived at the scene, closing off roads to manage the influx of attendees, Xinhua news agency reported.

The Umayyad Mosque, one of the most iconic landmarks of Damascus, typically hosts religious and cultural events. Large-scale public gatherings are rarely held there and usually require prior coordination with local officials.

The city's security and public service structures are still adjusting after the recent political upheaval, following the abrupt end of the previous Syrian government in December of last year.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Jan 9 (IANS) Chandra Arya, an Indian-origin Member of Parliament in Canada and former PM Justin Trudeau's loyalist, on Thursday announced his candidacy for the position of Prime Minister, just days after Trudeau resigned.

"I am running to be the next Prime Minister of Canada to lead a small, more efficient government to rebuild our nation and secure prosperity for future generations," Arya wrote in a post on X.

Trudeau's time in office faced challenges ranging from strained international relations to domestic controversies, including his handling of the Khalistan issue and visa restrictions on Indian students.

Arya further wrote, "We are facing significant structural problems that haven't been seen for generations, and solving them will require tough choices."

He further added: "I have always worked hard for what is best for Canadians, and for the sake of our children and grandchildren, we must make "bold decisions that are absolutely necessary". If elected as the next Leader of the Liberal Party I offer my knowledge and expertise to do so," adding "We have a perfect storm: Many Canadians, especially younger generations, face significant affordability issues. Working middle class is struggling today, and many working families are retiring directly into poverty."

Arya also said: "Canada deserves a leadership that isn't afraid to make the big decisions. Decisions that rebuild our economy, restore hope, create equal opportunities for all Canadians, and secure prosperity for our children and grandchildren. Bold political decisions are not optional—they are necessary. With prudence and pragmatism as my guiding principles, I'm stepping forward to take on this responsibility and lead Canada as its next Prime Minister."

Chandra Arya, originally from Dwarlu village in Tumkur district of Karnataka, completed his MBA at the Kousali Institute of Management Studies, Karnataka University, Dharwad.

In 2006, Arya immigrated to Canada, where he initially served as the chairman of the Indo-Canada Ottawa Business Chamber before entering politics.

Arya was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Nepean riding in the 2015 Canadian federal election. He was re-elected in both the 2019 and 2021 elections.

The Indian-origin MP serves as a member of the Standing Committee on International Trade.

In 2022, Arya became the first MP to address the House of Commons of Canada in Kannada, his mother tongue.

He has been vocal about issues such as the vandalism of Hindu temples in Toronto, which he blamed on "Khalistani extremists".

Arya also proposes limiting immigration to "meet our economic growth needs and specifically to skilled trades," criminalising "the glorification and display of support to terrorists, extremism and terrorist organisations," guaranteeing orders for more than 100,000 prefab homes, "revolutionising housing construction with advanced technologies," and defence investments will "prioritise securing Canada's specific needs."

"It's time for Canada to take full control of its destiny. My government will make Canada a sovereign republic."

Former Liberal MP Frank Baylis is the only other declared candidate for the Liberal leadership.

Gatineau MP and Minister of Employment Steve MacKinnon, Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly and Energy Minister Jonathan Wilkinson have all said they are considering running for the Liberal leadership. Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney says he is considering whether to run for leader of the Liberal Party.

Ottawa Liberal MP Chandra Arya is running to be leader of the Liberal party, promising to end the consumer carbon tax and to make Canada a republic.

Justin Trudeau announced on Monday he intends to resign as Liberal leader and Prime Minister as soon as the party names his replacement. The Liberal Party of Canada has not yet announced rules for the upcoming leadership contest, including those governing candidates and voting eligibility.

Arya is the first member of the Liberal Caucus to announce his candidacy for party leader.

"We are facing significant structural problems that haven't been seen for generations and solving them will require tough choices," Arya said in a video posted on X.

"Our economic growth and fiscal strength are not benefiting many Canadians."

In a letter announcing his candidacy, Arya says he will make the "big and bold decisions needed to rebuild our economy and foster prosperity for all generations," along with reviewing government spending.

"Every government program and entity will face a simple question: Is it still relevant? If not, it's gone or will be restructured to deliver economic development," Arya said.

"No excuses, no waste. We will have a razor-sharp focus on economic implications in all decisions we make."

Arya unveiled several policy proposals, including pledging an "ambitious goal" of Canada's real GDP reaching $5 trillion within 25 years, raising the retirement age two years and having scientists, engineers, and industry professionals, "lead the way in crafting fact-based policies" to grow the economy and tackle climate change.

"Activist-driven policies, like the consumer carbon pricing mechanism, will be let go," Arya said.

--IANS

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