New Delhi (TIP)- United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday, October 20, said the world could count on India to help usher in a new era of sustainability. He, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, launched the “Mission LiFE” movement in Gujarat’s Ekta Nagar town.
“Let us count on India as it is going to assume the G20 presidency to help usher in a new era of sustainability in line with its history and culture,” said Guterres.
Guterres also wanted developed countries to follow through on their commitments to provide meaningful financial and technological support to countries such as India throughout this transition. Speaking on the occasion, PM Modi said “reduce, reuse and recycle” should be the mantra for sustainable development.
The PM is on a two-day visit to poll-bound Gujarat, primarily to launch the “Mission LiFE” with Guterres in Kevadia and lay the foundation stone of multiple development initiatives worth more than Rs 1,970 crore in Vyara, Tapi district.
He also laid the foundation stone for the improvement of the road from Saputara to the Statue of Unity in Kevadia.
The action plan — a list of ideas on lifestyle changes that can be taken up as a climate-friendly behaviour — along with the logo and the tagline for Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) were also launched by Modi and Guterres at Kevadia. Pointing out that the launch was taking place before the Statue of Unity, a statue of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the PM said, “The world’s largest statue will be a source of inspiration in achieving the targets.”
Modi said the prevailing notion was that climate change was an issue left to the government or international organisations. “People are experiencing the effects of climate change in their surroundings. In the past few decades, unexpected calamities have been witnessed. This makes it clear that climate change goes beyond just policy-making,” he noted. Earlier, the Prime Minister held a bilateral meeting with Guterres at Kevadia.
Guterres also visited the Sun Temple at Modhera village in Mehsana district. PM Modi and Guterres paid floral tributes at the Statue of Unity at Kevadia. Addressing the gathering, the PM said India was like a second home for the UN Secretary General and he had visited India several times before. He also referred to Guterres’ ancestral connections with Goa.
The UN Secretary-General, in his, address quoted Mahatma Gandhi and said, “World has enough to meet everyone’s needs but not greed… unfortunately in recent times greed is prevailing over need and we need to reverse it.” At the global launch of ‘Mission Life’ in Gujarat, he emphasised that “individuals and communities can and must be a part of the solution of protecting our planet and our collective future.”
“G20 countries account for 80% of global greenhouse gas emissions but it also represents 80% of global GDP. G20 combined as resources, they have the power to end the war against nature and set us on course towards sustainable living,” the United Nations Chief mentioned.
He stressed, “developed countries must follow through on their commitments to provide meaningful financial and technological support to countries like India throughout this transition. We need to unleash a renewables revolution and look forward to working with India on this.” Excessive consumption cause of three-fold planetary emergency of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, the UN chief said.
Month: October 2022
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World looking to India for new era of sustainability, says UN chief
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‘The Legend Of Maula Jatt’ sets global opening weekend record
Bilal Lashari’s epic, The Legend of Maula Jatt, has set a global opening weekend record for a Pakistani-made and Punjabi-language film. The action-fantasy movie, which is a reboot of the 1979 cult Punjabi classic, Maula Jat, was released on October 13. As confirmed in a recent article by Deadline, The Legend of Maula Jatt has broken box office records with its weekend opening. The film took in just over half a million dollars in Pakistan. Across seventy-nine locations in the United Kingdom, it picked up $355,000, earning its place as No. 9 on the chart. In the United States and Canada, the film grossed $290,000 and $235,000 respectively, and in Australia, grossed $160,000. In both Canada and Australia, the film entered at No. 6 on the chart, and reached No. 1 in The United Arab Emirates raking in over $515,000. The film opened in twenty-five markets worldwide, including Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and South East Asia. Overall, the film brought in $2.3 million globally (equal to approximately PKR 51cr). In comparison, IMDb records the 2018 Pakistani Urdu-language Nadeem Beyg-directed comedy, Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2 (Youth Won’t Come Again 2), previously held the record when it took in $331,048 globally at the box office. The filmmakers revealed that demand has led exhibitors to add further screenings throughout the week.
Producers of the film have expressed their delight at its success so far. “I’m beyond overwhelmed by the love the film has received from audiences and critics alike the world over,” Lashari said. The film’s director, co-writer, editor, cameraman, and producer admitted he is thrilled that his work has further opened up Pakistan-based films to the world. “We are so proud that The Legend of Maula Jatt has been instrumental in putting Pakistan-made cinema on the global map as it continues to win over hearts in theaters across the world,” he said. Fellow producer Ammara Hikmat is also glad to see his film appreciated by critics and viewers worldwide, particularly in light of pandemic-based difficulties. “The Legend of Maula Jatt has been our labor of love for a number of years. The pandemic came and returned but we knew we had to hold out for a theatrical release, as the film is undoubtedly a big screen experience,” Hikmat said. “We’re so delighted that our film has broken previous records and set a new benchmark for Pakistan-made cinema, loved and lauded not only domestically but by audiences and critics globally.” Source:Collider.com -
After endorsement for third term, China hints at Xi’s participation in G20
Beijing (TIP): China on October 20 dropped a subtle hint that President Xi Jinping, who is widely expected to get endorsed by the ongoing Congress of the ruling Communist Party for a record third term, will attend next month’s G20 summit in Indonesia.
Also, the Chinese Foreign Ministry flaunted the “diplomatic success” achieved under the 10-year rule of Xi, saying during his reign China has “robustly” upheld its sovereignty and security.
The once-in-a-five-year Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) being held here from October 16 is widely expected to endorse an unprecedented third five-year term or perhaps a lifelong tenure in power to Xi later this week besides enhancing his powers through constitutional amendments.
Barring 69-year-old Xi, the Congress would endorse a whole set of new top-level leaders and officials, including the Premier, heralding a new administration under the Chinese President who is all set to breach the mandatory retirement for CPC leaders after 10-year tenure. Xi, who is completing 10-year tenure this year, will be the first Chinese leader after party founder Mao Zedong to continue in power, formally ending three decades of rule followed by his predecessors to retire. In a special media briefing here on Thursday, officials of the CPC and claimed that Chinese diplomacy has achieved “unprecedented and historic” breakthroughs during Xi’s tenure. “We give active support to the G20 Presidency of Indonesia and support Bali summit’s theme of ‘recover stronger, recover together’,” Ma Zhaoxu, a member of the CPC Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vice Minister, said when asked whether Xi will attend next month’s G-20 summit in Bali.
“China hopes the summit will play a constructive role in enhancing international cooperation against Covid-19, promoting world economic recovery and safeguarding global food energy security,” he said.
“As far Chinese leader’s participation in the summit, we will release the relevant information in due course,” he said.
Though the Congress endorsement of Xi’s continuation in power is officially projected as a done deal with officials projecting him as the “Core Leader” of the party, an official resolution on leadership is expected to be passed on October 22, the last day of the meeting. (PTI) -
Tribal clashes kill 170 in Sudan
Cairo (TIP): Two Sudanese officials say that tribal clashes in the country’s southern province of Blue Nile have killed 170 persons over the past two days.The officials say the fighting erupted on October 19. The clashes are the latest in inter-communal violence across Sudan. Fighting in Blue Nile that erupted in July had killed 149 persons by early October and last week, renewed clashes there killed 13. — AP
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Russian aircraft fired missile near spy plane over Black Sea, claims UK
London (TIP): A Russian fighter jet fired a missile near an unarmed British spy plane patrolling in international airspace over the Black Sea on September 29, UK defence minister Ben Wallace said.
Britain has condemned Russia for invading Ukraine and hit Moscow with punitive sanctions while giving military and civil support to Kyiv, and relations between the two countries are at a historic low.
Wallace told Parliament he had expressed the government’s concerns over the incident to Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and, in reply, Russia had on October 10 said they had investigated and blamed it on a technical malfunction.
“We don’t consider this a deliberate escalation by the Russians. Our analysis will concur it was a malfunction,” Wallace told Parliament. “However, it is a reminder of quite how dangerous things can be when you choose to use your fighters in the manner that the Russians have done over many periods of time,” he said. — Reuters -
Hacker holds Australian health insurer’s data for ransom
Canberra (TIP): A cybercriminal was holding for ransom an Australian health insurer’s customer data including diagnoses and treatments, in the nation’s second major privacy breach in a month, officials said on October 20. Trade in Medibank shares has been halted on the Australian Securities Exchange since Wednesday when police were alerted that the company had been contacted by what it described as a “criminal” who wanted to negotiate over the stolen personal data of customers.
Medibank, which has 3.7 million customers, said on Thursday the criminal had provided a sample of 100 customer policies from a purported haul of 200 gigabytes of stolen data.
Details included customer names, addresses, birth dates, national health care identification numbers and phone numbers. Cybersecurity Minister Clare O’Neil said most concerning was that records of medical diagnoses and procedures had also been stolen.
“Financial crime is a terrible thing. But ultimately, a credit card can be replaced,” O’Neil told reporters.
“The threat that is being made here to make the private, personal health information of Australians made available to the public is a dog act,” she added. The thief had threatened to sell Medibank data to third parties and singled out records of 1,000 politicians, media personalities, actors, LGBTQ activists and drug addicts for exposure, Nine Network News reported.
“We found people with very interesting diagnoses,” the thief reportedly wrote to Medibank. Medibank declined to comment on the reported threats and would not release details beyond its statement to the Australian Securities Exchange.
The Medibank breach, which O’Neil described as a “ransomware attack”, came a month after a cyberattack stole from telecommunications company Optus the personal data of 9.8 million customers.The Optus breach, which compromised the personal data of more than one-third of Australia’s population, prompted the government to propose urgent reforms to privacy laws that would increase penalties for companies that fail to protect customers’ data and limit the quantity of data that can be retained. O’Neil said cybercrime was a growing problem around the world and that Australia needed to be better prepared.
“We are going to be under relentless cyberattack essentially from here on in, and what it means is that we need to do a lot better as a country to make sure that we are doing everything we can within organisations to protect customer data and also for citizens to be doing everything that they can,” O’Neil told Australian Broadcasting Corp.
“Combined with Optus, this is a huge wake-up call for the country and certainly gives the government a really clear mandate to do some things that frankly probably should have been done five years ago, but I think are still very crucially important,” she added, referring to privacy law reforms that the government hopes to pass through Parliament this year. (AP) -
Blasts kill at least 8 at Myanmar’s Insein Prison
Bangkok (TIP): A bombing on October 19 near the front gate of Myanmar’s main prison for political detainees killed at least eight people, including visitors and prison personnel, local media and the government said. Five people who were delivering parcels to prisoners and three prison staff were killed when two bombs exploded around 9:40 a.m., News Of Myanmar, an online news service sympathetic to the country’s military government, reported on the Telegram social media platform. The blasts occurred inside and outside of the parcel reception office near the main iron gate of Insein Prison in Yangon, the country’s biggest city.
The military’s information office confirmed in a statement that five visitors, including a 10-year-old girl, and three prison staff were killed, and that an unexploded bomb had also been found in a parcel. It said 13 visitors, including a 9-year-old boy, and five prison personnel were being treated for injuries at Insein township hospital. The prison has been notorious for decades for housing political prisoners under various military governments. Families of prisoners are allowed to bring parcels with items such as food, clothing and medicine. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the attack. The Yangon Revolution Force, Yangon Urban Guerrillas and General Strike Committee, all resistance groups engaged in struggle against the military government, released statements on their Facebook pages condemning the attacks for hurting civilians.
Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power from the elected civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi last year, triggering nationwide peaceful protests that security forces suppressed with deadly force. The repression led to widespread armed resistance, which has since turned into what some U.N. experts have characterized as civil war.
About 2,367 civilians have died in a crackdown on resistance, according to detailed lists compiled by the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights watchdog group. (AP) -
Terror attacks up 51% in Pak after Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan
Islamabad (TIP): Pakistan witnessed a record 51 per cent increase in terrorist attacks in one year after the Afghan-Taliban got power in Afghanistan in August last year, according to a local think-tank report. The rag-tag Islamist rebels swarmed the capital Kabul as the US prepared to leave and took over the city without any resistance in a symbolic victory after the world superpower failed to subdue them even after two decades of bloodshed.
“For Pakistan, the perils of a militant regime in Kabul have become unmistakably clear as the country has witnessed a 51 per cent increase in the number of terrorist attacks in a single year since the Taliban takeover,” Pak Institute of Peace Studies (PIPS) noted in its report ‘Fallout of Afghan situation and Pakistan’s policy responses ‘.
As per the PIPS report, 433 people we re killed and 719 were wounded in 250 terrorist attacks in the country between August 15, 2021- August 14, 2022. Likewise, there is a wave of fear and panic among residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) over the reported return of TTP militants from Afghanistan in recent months. What’s more concerning is that militants’ movements in the heart of KP such as Peshawar, Swat, Dir, and Tank have also been reported which points to a gradual expansion of militants in the settled districts.The report says that recently, the police in Lower Dir issued advice to local notables, asking them to take measures for their safety and security in view of the emerging situation in the area. They were advised to reduce unnecessary movements and keep licensed weapons. Similarly, on August 10, the Swat police issued a statement saying they were undertaking search operations for militants in the mountains of Balasoor and Kabal as well as in Khwazkhela tehsil.
The purpose of these analytical papers is to expand the knowledge base of key stakeholders on Pakistan’s Afghan perspective, and its role and interest in Afghan peace and reconciliation. (PTI)
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Would work on Medicare for all in Congress: Shri Thanedar
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): All set to be elected to the US House of Representatives in the November 8 Congressional elections, Indian American Shri Thanedar has said that he would work on universal health care, human rights and immigration issues in the US Congress next year.
A businessman-turned-politician, Thanedar (67), has lived a rags-to-riches story. After losing his father, Thanedar worked as a janitor to support his studies and family, before working as a scientist at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai, India. A proud Maharashtrian, Thanedar grew up in Belgaum in Karnataka. Thanedar came to the US in hopes of becoming a successful businessman and now wants to serve the community he lives with. He is the Democratic party’s nominee from the 13th Congressional District of Michigan. Having won the primaries, he is all set to be elected as it is a Democratic stronghold.
“Thirty percent of my district is at or below poverty line. Working class people and their families have struggled and Covid was especially hard on this community. We had a lot of loss of lives because not every American has healthcare,” he said.
“Twenty-six million people are out of healthcare coverage. And one of my priorities is to have every American covered under healthcare, what we call Medicare for all. Every person, regardless of his or her income level, should get healthcare. I believe it is a fundamental human right and every person has a right to get adequate medical, physical healthcare, as well as mental health services,” Thanedar told PTI in an interview.
Congresswoman Rashida Talib is currently representing the 13th Congressional District, but because of redistricting, she has moved to the neighboring constituency. The 13th Congressional District now has 45 per cent African Americans, another 45 percent White Americans and the rest are Hispanic Americans and some Asian Americans. “My goal is that regardless of a person’s ability to afford, a Medicare for all is what should be our goal. This means that we eliminate the insurance companies. The government pays for the healthcare system, and we separate healthcare from employment,” he said.
Thanedar currently represents the 3rd district in the Michigan House and had an unsuccessful bid for the state’s governor in 2018. Having arrived in the US with just USD 20, Thanedar said he has achieved the American dream. “I’ve achieved the American dream. But what I noticed is that the American dream is not accessible to many people, especially in urban areas, in the black and brown communities. So, my motivation was to enter public service. I feel that I’ve been blessed, I have done well for my family, and it’s time for me to give back. “This country that I immigrated to has given me so much, and I felt that I cannot continue accumulating wealth. It is time for me to give up my business and enter public service so I can give back,” he said. With that thought in mind, Thanedar said he sold his business.
“I took about USD 1.5 million of that proceeds and distributed evenly to all of my employees. Then I decided to run for governor because I felt that that the position will allow me to make maximum impact in improving the quality of life of all Michigan residents,” he said about his 2018 bid which he lost.
Thanedar said he received overwhelming support from Indian Americans from across the country. “It is just a matter of what the community feels because I happen to be the first Indian American to be elected as a member of Congress from the state of Michigan,” he said. Thanedar said the country is still experiencing a lot of racial divide and racism. “Generations of racism have deprived people of opportunities to access the American dream,” he said.
Responding to a question on India-US relationship, Thanedar said America needs to have a strong relationship with other democratic countries. “We need to protect our democracy across the world, whether it is India, or whether it is Israel,” he said. Israel is also an ally of the US and that democracy is surrounded by a lot of adverse countries.
“We need to protect democratic Israel, we need to protect democratic India, and we need to ensure that human rights are respected all across the world. And that will be my focus in terms of foreign relations,” Thanedar said.
Thanedar said he often travels to India but has not been there since the Covid outbreak. He also wrote a book in Marathi, which has been a bestseller having more than 50 editions. “It is more of an autobiography. I wrote my life story of struggles… not only growing up in poverty, but also having lost my first wife when our children were four and eight years old. We lost her to mental health illness. Since then, I have focused on the need for people to have (access) to physical health as well as mental health services,” he said.
(Source: PTI)
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Aware of reports of journalist Mattoo being prevented from travelling to US: State Department
WASHINGTO, D.C. (TIP): The United States is aware of reports of Pulitzer-winning Kashmiri journalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo allegedly being prevented from travelling to the country, a State Department official has said. Mattoo had on Tuesday said she was stopped at the IGI Airport in Delhi from flying to the US to receive the prestigious award. “We are aware of the reports of Ms Mattoo being prevented from travelling to the US and are tracking these developments closely,” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters at his daily news conference.
“We are committed to supporting press freedom. And as the secretary has noted, a shared commitment to democratic values, including the respect for the independence of the press, is a bedrock of the US-India relationship,” he said.
“But I don’t have any other specifics to offer… we are tracking this closely,” Patel said in response to a question. Mattoo, a freelance photojournalist, was part of a Reuters team that won the Pulitzer Prize for feature photography for their coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic in India.
In a statement, the Committee to Protect Journalists urged Indian officials to let Mattoo travel to the US to attend the Pulitzer awards ceremony. “There is no reason why Kashmiri journalist Sanna Irshad Mattoo, who had all the right travel documents and has won a Pulitzer–one of the most prestigious journalism awards–should have been prevented from traveling abroad,” said Beh Lih Yi, CPJ’s Asia programme coordinator, in Frankfurt, Germany.
“This decision is arbitrary and excessive. Indian authorities must immediately cease all forms of harassment and intimidation against journalists covering the situation in Kashmir,” Beh said.
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Ahead of elections, Biden announces steps to reduce gas prices
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Biden, in a major policy speech, reiterated that Russian President Vladimir Putin was responsible for the hike in energy prices in the US. “When the price of gas goes up, other expenses get cut. That’s why I have been doing everything in my power to reduce gas prices since Putin’s invasion of Ukraine caused these prices to spike and rattled international oil markets,” he said in a speech. Biden said the Department of Energy will release another 15 million barrels from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, extending the previously announced release, through the month of December. He said independent analysts have confirmed that drawdowns from the reserves so far have played a big role in bringing down oil prices. So, we’re going to continue to responsibly use that national asset, he said.
Right now, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is more than half full with about 400 million barrels of oil. That’s more than enough for any emergency drawdown, he said.
“With my announcement today, we’re going to continue to stabilize markets and decrease the prices at a time when the actions of other countries have caused such volatility,” he said.
The US, he said, needs to responsibly increase oil production without delaying or deferring the transition to clean energy. He asserted that his administration has not stopped or slowed oil production. “We’re producing 12 million barrels of oil per day. And by the end of this year, we will be producing 1 million barrels a day, more than the day in which I took office. In fact, we’re on track for record oil production in 2023,” he said.
Biden announced a plan to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve in the years ahead at a profit for taxpayers. The US government is going to purchase oil to refill the reserve when the prices fall to USD 70 a barrel. And that means oil companies can invest to ramp up production now with the confidence that they’ll be able to sell their oil to the US at that price in the future, he said.
The president also called on oil companies to pass on the savings to the consumers.
“Consider this: In the second quarter of this year, profits at six of the largest — publicly traded oil companies were more than USD 70 billion. So far, American oil companies are using that windfall of profits to buy back their own stock, passing that money on to their shareholders, not to consumers,” he said.
Biden asserted that because of the measures that his administration has taken, the price of oil has fallen.Thanks in large part to the steps we’ve taken this year; the price of oil has fallen by nearly 30 per cent a barrel since mid-June, he said.
Responding to a question, Biden said his decision was not politically motivated at all.
(Source: PTI)
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Raj K Chopra honored
Raj K Chopra, founder and CEO of Tishcon. NEW YORK (TIP): Raj K. Chopra brings over 50 years of experience to the American health foods and vitamin industry as one of the world’s experts in chewable multivitamin formulations, timed-release formulations, and bio-enhanced supplements. His expertise in formulation, product development, nutrition research, and food technology has been fundamental to the founding and success of Tishcon. Tishcon Corp. is recognized for its focus on consumer needs and the drive to meet those needs with innovations in the production and manufacture of its United States Pharmacopeia compliant supplements. Chopra continues to support the company’s mission as Chairman Emeritus.
Chopra received the Gold Medal for Outstanding Academic Merit and University First Rank recognition from L. M. College of Pharmacy in India where he completed his undergraduate pharmacy studies in 1965, after which he went on to receive a full scholarship to attend Columbia University’s School of Pharmacy in the City of New York, where he completed his graduate studies and taught industrial pharmacy as well. Chopra later served as Technical Director of Private Formulations, Inc. for 9 and a half years. Raj K. Chopra has co-authored many papers and patents that have led to breakthroughs in the nutrition industry, including extensive research on CoQ10 and different means of delivery for the supplement. He is a member of several professional associations, including the American Pharmaceutical Association, the American Academy of Pharmaceutical Scientists, and the Institute of Food Technologists. Through Tishcon, Chopra has been instrumental in providing support for the American College of Nutrition as a National Nutrition Alliance member for years. In 2006, the American College of Nutrition honored Chopra as the 2006 Industry Recipient of the prestigious Bieber Award in recognition of “his outstanding academic accomplishments and distinguished contributions in the nutrition industry.”
Chopra has a deep concern for the underserved, and through Tishcon, has been an active supporter of Vitamin Angels, an organization that distributes essential nutrients and life-saving vitamins to so-called “third world countries,” and other similar charities. Over the last 20 years, Tishcon has donated over 20 million high potency vitamin A softgels to help prevent vitamin A deficiency blindness in infants and children, particularly in countries throughout Africa and South and Southeast Asia. They have also donated prenatal vitamins to supplement the diets of pregnant women and multivitamins for young children to fill in the nutrient gaps in their diets.
Chopra lives in Westbury, New York, with his dear beloved wife and partner of 54 years, Asha. He is blessed to be surrounded by his loving son, two daughters, one precious granddaughter, and his granddaughter’s cat.
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Varli Singh launches Varli: Indian Street Kitchen
From Varli Food Festival to an Indian Cuisine Restaurant
Watch the ever-restless Varli managing an Indian cuisine restaurant -the Varli: Indian Street Kitchen, located at 78 Hillside Avenue, Williston Park, NY 11596. For over 12 years, Varli says, she has been showcasing the cultures, flavors, culinary styles, and talents that are unique to Indian cuisine. “India is one of the most populated countries in the world, with a very long and important history, including its culinary history. Yet, when I moved to America I did not feel there was enough recognition of it – not in the same way we would see many European cuisines elevated and appreciated as fine dining. This is what drove me to create Varli Magazine, Varli food festivals, Varli culinary awards, cook offs, charity events, and much more. Now, after everything I have learned while creating a platform for and learning a great deal from the world’s top Indian chefs and restaurateurs, I am excited to share my own vision as a restaurateur.
Varli: Indian Street Kitchen, is a celebration of modern Indian street food. It is a space where diners can come and experience Indian culture and cuisine through vibrant colors, an array of photos depicting Indian culture, as well as beautiful artisanal furniture to make each and every guest feel both welcome and inspired. I am especially excited to share the artwork that Chicago muralist Jenny Vyas created just for our restaurant. In Jenny’s words, the “mural captures the essence of a confident, Indian woman who is unapologetic and comfortable in her cultural skin. My inspiration for this mural was Varli Singh’s personal story of her triumphs over destigmatizing Indian cultural standards around beauty and patriarchal societal views.”
The dishes at Varli Indian Street Kitchen are freshly baked or roasted in ovens, rather than cooked in pots and pans with heavy oils or creams. We use fresh halal meat and the highest quality of ingredients in keeping with our commitment to making food that is authentic, healthy, and heart-warming. Indian food remains my favorite food to this day; it is with that lifelong love for this cuisine and culture that I have crafted the restaurant’s menu and the entire experience, from the moment each guest enters the front door. I can’t wait for you to visit, enjoy your meal, and keep stopping by for years to come!”
Happy Diwali with Varli: Indian Street Kitchen!
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Spirit of Diwali
Behind the externals of Diwali in the form of lights, firecrackers, sweets, is the message that Good finally prevails over the Evil. Whether it is the return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya after vanquishing Ravana , or it is the return of the sixth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Hargobind returning to Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar, after freeing 52 Hill Princes from the captivity of the Mughal ruler in Gwalior Fort, the message is loud and clear. The Good must prevail over Evil. Also, the process could take time, but ultimately, the result is inevitable.
Return of Lord Rama to Ayodhya. Behind the celebrations is also a suggestion to share happiness. The tradition of giving gifts on the auspicious occasion of Diwali points to a spirit of sharing and caring. Diwali arrives at a time of the year when the fall is giving way to winter. It is a time when many families distribute clothes among the less privileged. Obviously, it Is time to share and care.
I also look at Diwali as an occasion to come out of our narrow self-confinement and go around in a spirit of celebration. It is a time when one cannot remain untouched by the happiness experienced by friends and neighbors. Whatever the state of mind, whatever the financial status of a person, Diwali is a festival which draws one in, uplifting the dull spirit.
Guru Hargobind Ji frees the 52 Hill Princes. Diwali brings us a message of sharing happiness and caring for fellow human beings. It is a time to get rid of hate. It is time to look around, and admire all around us, fall in love with all we come across, and make this world a better and happier place to live in.
A Happy Diwali and a Happy Bandi Chhod Diwas!
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Defence Expo 2022: India targeting $5 billion exports by 2025, says Rajnath
Ahmedabad (TIP)- India has set a target to achieve defence exports worth $5 billion and an overall turnover of $22 billion in production by 2025, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday, October 20. The Union minister’s statement came as over 300 Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) were signed and several transfer of technology (ToT) agreements and product launches took place with an eye on total investments worth Rs1.5 lakh crore, during the ongoing Defence Expo 2022 in Gujarat’s Gandhinagar on Thursday, according to a statement by the defence ministry. “The $5 billion export target set for 2025 reflects the intent of the government for export-oriented manufacturing…,” Singh said while speaking at a seminar jointly organised by the US-India Business Council and Society of Indian Defence Manufacturers at Mahatma Mandir here.
“The government is making efforts to take domestic defence production from the current $12 billion to $22 billion by 2025. We may even surpass this target of $22 billion. There is no dearth of opportunities in the defence sector,” he added.
The current era is a “golden period” of the Indian defence sector, Singh said. “Our defence industry is going through an important phase. Our industry has showcased its capabilities by manufacturing fighter aircraft, aircraft carriers, main battle tanks and attack helicopters,” he added. Source: HT
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SC seeks Centre’s response to plea against hate speeches
The Supreme Court on Thursday sought response from the Centre and the states to a plea seeking directions for taking appropriate steps to stop hate speeches against the Muslim community.
A Bench of Justices Ajay Rastogi and CT Ravi Kumar issued notices to the Centre and all states while tagging the matter with other pending petitions on the issue pending before another Bench. Petitioner Shaheen Abdullah has moved the top court also seeking direction to the Centre and states to initiate independent, credible and impartial probe into the incidents of hate crimes and hate speeches across the country.
At the outset, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioner, said something needs to be done to tackle the problem and action must be taken against those making hate speeches or indulging in hate crimes. The Bench said the prayer in the plea is very vague and no specific instances have been mentioned. It said cognisance could be taken where an FIR had been lodged in a case.
Sibal, however, submitted the prayer in the petition is not vague and mentions recent incidents of hate speeches. He added several petitions have been filed in the last six months to stop hate crimes but such incidents are still continuing. In his petition, Abdullah has also sought invoking the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and other stringent provisions to curb hate crimes and hate speeches.
He has said the Muslim community is being “targeted and terrorised” by the participation of the members of the ruling political party in delivering the hate speeches.
“The spread of hate towards Muslims and other minorities gets accelerated and becomes all the more far reaching in its impact as a result of the support, directly or indirectly, extended to radical miscreants, who engage in acts of hate crimes and physical violence, as well as communally charged speeches by the ruling political party,” it said.
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Gippy Grewal’s next is a romantic comedy titled ‘Honeymoon’, also starring Jasmin Bhasin
By Murtaza Ali
Over the last decade or so, Gippy Grewal has starred in some of Punjabi cinema’s biggest blockbusters such as Carry On Jatta, Jatt James Bond, Jihne Mera Dil Luteya, Manje Bistre, and Carry on Jatta 2, among others. He stars opposite Jasmin Bhasin in his new outing ‘Honeymoon.’ The romantic comedy film is directed by Amarpreet G S Chhabra and jointly produced by Bhushan Kumar, Harman Baweja, Krishan Kumar and Vicky Bahri.
Written by Naresh Kathooria, the film revolves around the story of a married couple who want to go on their honeymoon. But, the groom’s naive and extended family, blissfully unaware that a honeymoon is meant only for the newlyweds, tag along with them, as they have never been out of their village. Grewal got hooked to the idea fairly early in the scripting stage as the writer Naresh Kathooria is his long-term collaborator. “Naresh Ji narrated it me that it follows a couple who want to go on their honeymoon but their entire family also want to join them. These people are all from a rural background and don’t really understand what honeymoon is all about. For them, it’s a sort of a family outing and so they all want to be a part of it,” explains Grewal.
The film is shot in Punjab as well as UK. “Gone are those days when travel used to be a deal breaker for actors. So, the idea of travel is always very exciting. The facilities and support system today is so good while shooting overseas that most actors actually look forward to films which involve travel. In case of ‘Honeymoon,’ we are talking about an ensemble cast of around 16 people travelling together to the UK on the honeymoon which is only meant for the couple. So, yes, the scale is big in that sense but it’s also a lot of fun to be working with such a big cast,” rejoices Grewal.
Grewal describes the pandemic as a testing phase for all. But he also feels that the pandemic has also been a great time for individuals to rediscover themselves. “There was such great uncertainty as the shooting was completely suspended and amidst all that I had to ensure the wellbeing of my staff at all times. But we are all in it together and I am really glad that we were able to come out of it stronger. I think I am a better human being today than I was before the onset of the pandemic. It has been very tough but it has also been a great learning lesson,” recollects Grewal whose other upcoming projects include ‘Uchiyan Ne Gallan Tere Yaar Diyan’ and ‘Carry On Jatta 3.’ For Jasmin Bhasin, who hails from a Punjabi-Sikh family, ‘Honeymoon’ is nothing less than a homecoming. Having worked in the various regional industries in South India over the last decade, Bhasin is finally making her Punjabi film debut with the film. “Language was a major barrier for me when I started working in the South. Also, I was very young at that point in time. So over the years it’s always been very important for me to constantly learn and grow as an actor. I think I have a lot of maturity now which I didn’t have back then,” recounts Bhasin.
(Murtaza Ali Khan is an Indian Film & TV Critic / Journalist who has been covering the world of entertainment for over 10 years. He tweets at @MurtazaCritic)
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How the Diwali Stamp Was Won
Diwali Stamp .(Photo / Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia) 
Ranju Batra, Chair Diwali Foundation USA . Ranju made a relentless bid to have the Diwali Stamp issued, and it took her years, as she said. By I.S. Saluja
Diwali 2016 was a special one, with the USPS issuing a commemorative Diwali stamp. The month of October is very special for every Indian as it has the honor of having the birthday of one of the greatest sons of India- Mahatma Gandhi. But 2016 October added a new day of celebration in the form of a Diwali Stamp inaugurated by the USPS. For Millions of Indians living in the USA, it was a moment of great pride to watch and witness the Stamp inauguration ceremony at the Indian Consulate in New York City on October 5, 2016.
But behind the issuance of the Diwali Stamp is a story of a long and grim struggle. At this time of the year when the world is celebrating Diwali, it is worth while to recall how the USPS Diwali Stamp was won. Let us celebrate with Ranju Batra , Chair, Diwali Foundation USA the story.. Let us know from her how she was able to win the Diwali Stamp when others before her had failed and given up.
TIP:When did it occur to you that a USPS Diwali Stamp should be issued?
RB:Diwali is an important holiday that celebrates “light” over “darkness,” “Knowledge” over “Ignorance,” “Good“ over “Evil.” It’s a holiday that celebrates humanity’s collective Ideals: Knowledge, Truth, Good.
Years ago, when my kids were young and going to school there would be several religious holidays that celebrated every major religion. But when it came to Diwali, there was no holiday.
Along the way, with our dear family friend then-New York City councilmember David Weprin, chairman of finance, and dear friend then-New York City councilmember John Liu, chairman of transportation, we got Diwali recognized in New York City in the most precious way: a parking holiday. This achievement was over mayor Mike Bloomberg‘s veto.
With that important success under our collective belt, and aware that many community leaders had tried over 20 years to get to the United States Postal Service to issue a Diwali stamp and given up, I reached out to some of them, and one community leader in Jackson Heights, dear Shiv Dass, warmly and openly said to me that he would support me fully, but warned me that it was a near impossible job. With my mind made up that I was going to go get the USPS to issue a Diwali stamp, and not stop until it was done, I informed my husband, Ravi, of that decision. He, too like Shiv Dass, felt I was chasing windmill.
Lighting the Lamp. Consul General of India Riva Ganguly Das lights the lamp to inaugurate the event.
Seen in the picture, from Lto R: Assemblyman David Weprin, Indian Merchants’ Association President Shiv Dass, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Consul General Riva Ganguly Das, Emcee of the event Ravi Batra (partially seen), Chair, Diwali Stamp Project Ranju Batra, Congresswoman Grace Meng, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer, Ambassador Hardeep S Puri, Vandana Sharma, Regional Manager Americas, Air India. .(Photo / Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia)TIP: Why did you want a Diwali Stamp issued?
RB:Every single major religion has a postage stamp, and in the land of religious freedom and equal rights, there was no Diwali stamp. Very odd.
TIP:Did you know of any earlier attempts to have a Diwali stamp issued?
RB:Sure. I heard about it on and off through the decades and knew there was no success.
TIP:Did you ever get in touch with any of them to know why their efforts had failed?
RB:There were mixed feelings about it. Some said maybe not enough effort was made and then some others informed me that they tried and since they never heard back from USPS, so they gave up. That made me more determined not to give up.
TIP:Didn’t you fear that you may fail just as they had in their attempts to have a Diwali Stamp issued?
RB:The difference between failure and success is the level of dedication and the amount of time one is prepared to spend on achieving one’s goal. In fact, I had decided not to stop till I got the USPS to issue our stamp. Of course, there was no guarantee of my success either. But I continued with my efforts and in 2016 Diwali came early.
TIP:What initial steps did you take?
RB:First I started with online signatures but soon found out that was of no use. So, I created paper petition that was dignified and respectful and looked like normal electoral petition: name, address, signature etc. Then I told all my friends that I had started the Diwali Stamp Project to have USPS issue a Diwali Stamp and asked all to help in my effort and support the idea so it became a campaign. No money was taken from anyone.
I would give the petition to whoever I met. I would explain how I was trying to get USPS issue a Diwali Postage Stamp and if they supported my effort I would ask them to write their name, address, email and then sign, to make sure there was not a single fake petition. And that included everyone I knew and many more I didn’t know. That included my friends, people I met in lunches or dinners, every customer of the restaurant where I would be dining, outside shopping malls and supermarkets, many ambassadors in the UN including their families. I would mail those petitions every week without any acknowledgement from Citizens Advisory Committee ever receiving them, but I continued. And on August 30, 2013 I received a letter from USPS thanking me for all the signature petitions and informing me that Diwali Stamp is under consideration by the Committee for possible future stamp issuance.
TIP:What was your larger strategy for achieving the desired goal?
RB:We reached out to many of our congressional friends like Carolyn Maloney, Eliot Engel, Greg Meeks, Grace Meng, Yvette Clark, Ed Towns to name a few. Carolyn who had already stood up for Sikh issues was the one I partnered with and for her to provide national political leadership. Which she did with all her heart. We also reached out to then-India’s ambassador to the United Nations, dear H. E. Hardeep Singh Puri and his wife, UN ASG Lakshmi Puri, Executive Director of UN Women.
USPS organized a special function to unveil the Diwali Stamp at the Consulate General of India in New York, October 5, 2016..
Seen in the picture at the ceremony (from L to R): Ambassador Hardeep S Puri (now a cabinet minister), Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Consul General Riva Ganguly Das, U.S. Postal Service Vice-President of Mail Entry and Payment Technology Pritha Mehra, Chair, Diwali Stamp Project Ranju Batra, Congresswoman Grace Meng, Emcee of the event Ravi Batra. .(Photo / Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia)To create a public record of the need of USPS to issue the Diwali Stamp, we needed the media. And I must thank each and every one who helped – and there were so many. We held many press conferences in New York, and in DC. Of the NY ones, many were in the Consulate General of India. In fact, Ambassador Mulay, India’s CG in NY, a poet wrote the official poem for the Diwali Stamp Project. Ambassador Mulay had the consulate always available to support this effort – as he too understood that this little stamp would bring United States and India closer together. So, Ambassador Puri, CG Mulay and Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who even got two congressional resolutions passed. I also asked and got PM Narendra Modi to support my project when he met with then President Barack Obama. I visited Congress many times with my kids and even had the legendary civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis to sign my stamp petition.
TIP:While Maloney took charge of the legislative initiative, what did you do? Did you mobilize community? How did you do it? Who were your supporters?
RB:Originally I started the campaign with email signatures but during one of the meetings with the leadership of the USPS in Washington DC with Carolyn and I, attended by Grace Meng, Tulsi Gabbard, Ami Bera, I realized USPS was not interested in emails at all and being a Postal Service, their interest would be only in petitions by mail. For me, that was a change, and that’s when I made paper petitions which I would give to friends to sign and mail but along the way I realized that not everybody I was giving the petition to, was actually mailing them out. So, I started to take the petitions back after I would get them signed, or when I gave blank petitions to my friends I told them to get them signed and give them back to me. This way, even though I was putting the postage on each petition, I knew the Postal Service was now getting thousands and thousands and thousands of paper petitions from me. Now every signed petition ended up with the Postal Service, without a single one getting forgotten or wasted.
TIP:What obstacles did you face in your struggle for a Diwali Stamp?
RB:Whoever I approached was more than happy to fill out the petition, many were very excited to hear that we may have Diwali Stamp coming. So, no obstacles at all except for uncertainty and lack of commitment by USPS. This process lacked an x-ray, where you get to see how things stand. This process lacked a report card, which would tell me what more I needed to do, or how right or wrong I was. It was a very dry spell, and I began to feel like I was walking in the desert looking for water. I received one letter after sending thousands of petitions.
TIP:How long did it take after Maloney moved a resolution to the issuance of Diwali Stamp, on October 5?
RB:Years.
Ravi Batra, the man behind his woman, addresses the gathering at the Indian Consulate on the day of the inauguration of the Diwali Stamp.(Photo / Mohammed Jaffer-SnapsIndia) TIP:What has been the community’s response in purchasing the stamp?
RB: I was asked by USPS to sell the Diwali stamp for the first day, and for that they created a special form for me. I take great pleasure in the fact that I personally sold 170,000 stamps in 10 days to make the Diwali stamp the number one stamp in the history of the United States Postal Service for day one. I know this was the most purchased stamp ever. Diwali stamp is purchased not only to put on envelopes as postage but is shared around the world as a Diwali gift.
TIP:Who all you would give credit to for the Diwali Stamp?
RB:Every person who signed the petition and those who helped in getting petitions signed or just wished me success. The greatness of America and humanity lies in the fact that there wasn’t a single person that I asked for help or to sign a petition, being an everyday person or a powerful person, each one signed. Diwali is an idea, and an ideal, and it belongs to every single human being.
I am happy that there is a stamp that celebrates Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists as Americans forever. Diwali stamp will be a matter of pride for generations to come.
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Indian Americans dancing like ‘desi rockstars’ on Punjabi song block New York Road for wedding procession
NEW YORK (TIP): A video showing several Indian Americans dancing to Indian songs as part of a wedding procession in New York has gone viral. Suraj Patel, the Indian American former candidate for US Congress, in a video shared on Instagram earlier this month said: “My heart is so full, for my family to have all been here for such an incredible occasion for my brother’s wedding, so much love and energy on the streets of NYC.” Several men wearing pink turbans and women in traditional attire can be seen dancing in the video in which the 38-year-old says, “we shut down Broadway for my brother’s wedding… and we danced like desi rockstars”. Reacting to the video, a social media user wrote, “Isn’t this a grave inconvenience to residents?”, another wrote: “money power”.
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Indian American Sikh Kiran Kaur Gill named to US Homeland Security Dept’s Faith-Based Advisory Council
WASHINGTON, D.C (TIP): After Indian American community leader Chandru Acharya, Kiran Kaur Gill, an Indian-origin Sikh, has been named to the US Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Faith-Based Security Advisory Council. Gill, Executive Director, Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund (SALDEF) is the lone Hindu voice in the committee of 25 distinguished faith leaders from the US. At SALDEF, a Sikh-American advocacy organization based in Washington, Gill oversees programs related to policy, research, education, civic engagement and youth leadership.
She was previously a volunteer for SALDEF conducting Sikh Awareness training around the country for schools, law enforcement and state/local government. She was actively involved in teaching Sikh history and kirtan (religious music).
Before SALDEF, Gill was the president and CEO of an environmental consulting firm in New Jersey. In 2014, she was selected as “Small Businessperson of the Year” by the US Small Business Administration (SBA). In 2018, she was named among the top 50 most influential people of color in New Jersey by ROI-NJ. She was also the president and a founding member of Inspiring South Asian American Women, an organization dedicated to promoting civic and community engagement among South Asian American women. The Faith-Based Security Advisory Council provides advice to the Secretary and other senior leadership on matters related to protecting houses of worship, preparedness and enhanced coordination with the faith community. “This Council is an important way for the Department to engage formally with critical partners on issues impacting faith communities,” said Brenda Abdelall, Assistant Secretary for Partnership and Engagement. “Members of the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council will provide valuable insight that will benefit our stakeholders nationwide on important issues within the scope of the Department’s mission.”
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Indian American Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella receives Padma Bhushan
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Indian American Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has said it is an honor for him to receive the Padma Bhushan, India’s third-highest civilian award and he looks forward to continuing to work with people across India to help them use technology to achieve more. Nadella, who plans to visit India next January, formally received the award for distinguished service, from India’s Consul General in San Francisco, Dr T.V. Nagendra Prasad, last week. The 55-year-old CEO of Microsoft was named one of 17 awardees earlier this year. On receiving the award, Nadella said: “It’s an honor to receive a Padma Bhushan Award and to be recognized with so many extraordinary people. I’m thankful to the President, Prime Minister, and people of India, and look forward to continuing to work with people across India to help them use technology to achieve more.” During the meeting, Nadella discussed with Prasad the critical role digital technology plays in empowering inclusive growth in India. The discussion focused on India’s growth trajectory and the country’s potential to be a global political and technology leader, according to Microsoft.
“We are living in a period of historic economic, societal and technological change,” said Nadella following his meeting with Dr Prasad.
“The next decade will be defined by digital technology. Indian industries and organizations of every size are turning to technology to help them do more with less, which will ultimately lead to greater innovation, agility and resilience,” Nadella said.
Hyderabad-born Nadella was named CEO of Microsoft in February 2014. In June 2021 he was also named the company’s Chairman, an additional role in which he will lead the work to set the agenda for the board. The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honors of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year. Nadella plans to visit India in January 2023, his first visit to the country in nearly three years, Microsoft said.
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Hundreds attend funeral services for four members of Indian-origin Sikh family in California
The family, originally from Harsi Pind in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, was kidnapped and killed by a man earlier this month
SAN FRANCISCO (TIP): Hundreds of people attended the funeral services for four members of an Indian-origin Sikh family, including a baby girl, who were kidnapped and killed by a man earlier this month in the US State of California.
The Sikh family of four, 8-month-old Aroohi Dheri, her 27-year-old mother Jasleen Kaur, her 36-year-old father Jasdeep Singh, and her 39-year-old uncle Amandeep Singh were kidnapped at gunpoint on October 3 and killed allegedly by Jesus Salgado, a disgruntled former employee of their trucking company on October 5. The funeral services for the Sikh family members were held in Turlock, a city in California on Saturday, October 15. “We are just here to show the family there now, they’re not in this alone,” said Mani Grewal, Stanislaus County Supervisor. “Our community is way better than the acts of these two individuals that have done heinous crimes,” KTLA-TV quoted Grewal as saying.Friends of the victims said it will take a long time for the family and community to heal.
“I don’t know how the family is going to come out of this tragedy. It’s going to be very difficult. We are here to support the family,” said Sanjeev Tewari, a friend of the family.Saturday’s memorial at Allen Mortuary was for family only, but community members were welcome to show their support outside the service, the report said. The funeral was done according to the Sikh tradition.
Salgado entered a not guilty plea in court on Thursday, Merced County Chief Deputy District Attorney Matthew Serratto said.He will be back in court next month. His brother, Alberto, is charged as an accessory.Salgado, who was arrested on October 6, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances for the death of the Indian-origin family. He is also charged with arson and possessing a firearm by a prohibited person. Salgado, 48, is being held on USD 450,000 bail, according to county inmate records. His attorney could not be reached for comment. A status hearing in the case is set for December 15. The Sikh family, originally from Harsi Pind in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, was kidnapped at a business in Merced County, California.
(Source: PTI)
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Indian American Mia Bhuta makes history playing for US at FIFA World Cup
PITTSBURGH, PA (TIP): Indian AmericanPennsylvania teen Mia Bhuta, who has just made history as the first Indian American to play for the US team at a FIFA World Cup game, never loses sight of her goal to inspire young Indian girls.
The daughter of an Indian father and an American mother grabbed headlines and scored arguably the best goal of the 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Bhubaneswar on Oct 12, according to ESPN.
The 16-year-old Pittsburgh native, who scored the eighth and final goal in the 62nd minute to help US beat her father’s native country 8-0, also wants “to champion better things for women’s football, be an ambassador for the game.”
“India has so much potential. There’s so much talent here. The world needs to invest in them more,” Mia was quoted as saying. “They need to believe in young girls and give them the opportunities to succeed. And I think they can go really far.”
Among the congratulatory messages pouring in there was one American soccer star Megan Rapinoe on social media. “Yeah, that was crazy. She’s someone that I’ve always looked up to. She’s an incredible player, so I look up to her for her abilities on the field,” Mia told ESPN. Like Rapinoe, the world is waking up to Mia’s incredible story, which began with Vyom Bhuta, her father, leaving Rajkot for the US at the age of 16, pursuing a tennis dream and better educational opportunities as an exchange student, initially in New York, according to ESPN. Vyom later went to Mercyhurst, Pennsylvania, for college, where he met Mia’s mom, who was from Pittsburgh. Decades later, Mia’s parents were in the stands screaming as their daughter scored in India, against India. “They’re one of the main reasons why I’ve been able to make it here. They’ve sacrificed so much for me to be here, and honestly, if it wasn’t for them, I know I would not be here. My parents have done so much just to help with my development,” Mia was quoted as saying.
But amidst all the congratulatory messages that blew up Mia’s phone following her strike, she holds dear the messages from young Indian girls, who’ve let her know she’s inspired them, according to ESPN.
And she’s been inspired too. Inspired to ask the world to do better for women’s football, saying, “We’ve seen in a lot of countries that girls don’t have the same opportunities to play sports.”
“So first off, it’s a call to everyone else around the world that, hey, we need your support,” Mia told ESPN. “In the past, we’ve seen women have a large impact on their families, but I think now we’re starting to have a significant impact on society, and we have a larger scope of influence.” “So, when I play, I hope to encourage young girls to continue to believe in themselves and know that with hard work they can achieve anything.” After this World Cup, Mia plans on heading off to Stanford (enrolling a semester early) but doesn’t want to turn pro yet. “I really do value my education, so that’s kind of what’s up next for me,” she says.
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United Nations Day, October 24, 2022
The United Nations was established in 1945 with 51 member-states. Today the number of UN member-states has risen to 193 countries.
As is often said “Peace and Development” are two sides of the coin. “Without Peace there is no Development”; Also “Without Development there is no Peace”. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres’ recently stated that the United Nations’ work in these turbulent times, is more necessary than ever to reduce suffering, prevent crises, manage risks and build a sustainable future for all”.
By Abraham Joseph Ph.D. The United Nations celebrates on October 24th the 77th year of its establishment. It marks the anniversary of the day in 1945 when the UN Charter came into force. UN Day celebrated all over the world every year should offer the opportunity to amplify the UN’s “Our Common Agenda” and reaffirm the purposes and principles of the UN Charter that has guided us for the past 76 years.
The United Nations was established in 1945 with 51 member-states. Delegates at the San Francisco Conference 1945. The United Nations was established in 1945 with 51 member-states. Today the number of UN member-states has risen to 193 countries. With the increase in the UN membership over years, the challenges too mounted – conflicts, rapid population increase, poverty, unemployment, access to health, access to water and sanitation, climate change, gender inequality and other development issues. Today the world is faced with four strong challenging headwinds – Conflicts, Climate Change, COVID, Cost of Living (Inflation). These headwinds have caused severe humanitarian crisis. “The World is in Danger, stated United Nations Secretary-General to world leaders who gathered this past September at the UN Headquarters in New York.
The peace and security architecture is under enormous strain, as exemplified most recently by the war in Ukraine. Converging threats, geostrategic competition and systematic inequalities are having devasting consequences, not only for people caught up in violence. All these challenges transcend borders and can be solved only with forceful collective action.
The United Nations deployed a range of tools to prevent, mitigate, manage and resolve conflicts, protect civilians, confront the particular threat facing women and children and build pathways out of conflict and crisis to sustainable development and peace. The peace and security environment is shaped by converging threats: the evolving nature of conflict, the climate emergency, unregulated cyberspace and increased geostrategic competition. The effects of the pandemics continue to be felt, exacerbating existing vulnerabilities and conflict drivers and hindering the effectiveness of the global collective security architecture. This challenges the ability of the United Nations to respond to threats, prevent, manage and mitigate conflicts and succeed as a peacemaker. While these trends have been present sometime, the war in Ukraine has made them more pronounced. A renewed commitment to multilateralism and the Charter, as called for in the UN Secretary-General’s Report on “Our Common Agenda, and the call for action for human rights, remains vital to addressing these challenges.
In “Our Common Agenda”, the UN report suggested the following to promote peace and prevent conflicts: (i) Reduce strategic risks (nuclear weapons, cyberwarfare, autonomous weapons) (ii) Strengthen international foresight (iii) reshape responses to all forms of violence (iv) invest in prevention and peacebuilding, including Peacebuilding Fund and Peacebuilding Commission (iv) support regional prevention (v) put women and girls at the center of security policy (vi) peaceful, secure and sustainable use of outer space, including through a multistakeholder dialogue.
Looking to the future, the UN needs urgent reforms. The Security Council membership need to be expanded. From 51 countries at the time of the establishment of the United Nations, the membership rose to 193 countries. There is still no permanent seat in the Council for the African region and South American and Caribbean regions. Also, the Asia-Pacific countries representations are needed to be expanded with increase in UN membership in the region.
Also, the UN General Assembly and the UN system organizations, too, need urgent reforms with new mandates to make these institutions more effective to deliver for global peace and development in the 21st century. The newly recruited staff in the UN Headquarters and in the UN system organizations should be first posted in the field, then after ten years in the regional commissions and then after ten years can be posted at the headquarters. The UN Agenda 2030 on Sustainable Development Goals implementation is left with only eight years to go for achieving the Goals and Targets.
The UN Secretary-General on October 17, 2022 warned marking the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty “that the Goal of eradicating poverty is undermined and the world is moving backwards”. He further stated that the COVID-19 pandemic set back more than four years of progress and also widening inequality, the “gathering shadow” of a global recession, and the climate crisis as reasons for the faltering efforts. Despite the recession threat, 10 million can still be lift out of poverty.
Poverty has risen by 70 million in just the first three months of the year. Thirty percent of the middle-income countries and 60 percent of low-income countries are near debt distress. Inflation is at multi-decades high.
A once-in-a- generation global cost-of-living crisis has been unfolding since 2020 and, with the war in Ukraine, it is now at critical levels. In the last three years, the number of people who are food insecure has almost tripled to 350 million people.
Climate change is hitting harder each year, pilling up costs at a time when countries lack resources to deal with the disaster, let alone invest in their long-term development and achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development goals.
These challenges are all interconnected. To resolve the current cascade of crisis, systemic and transformation action is needed focused on increasing liquidity, bringing prices down, and preventing an even wider crisis in 2023.
Looking to the future, the efforts of the United Nations currently is engaged in getting the economy back on track and addressing the most pressing challenges.The immediate issues are: (i) to deal with the emerging finance and debt crisis in developing countries. How can countries obtain sufficient fiscal resources at a time when capital flight is high? What is the role of the Special Drawing rights and Multilateral Banks in finding a solution? (ii) in light of the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP) in November 2022 in Cairo, how thecan climate funding for developing countries be fostered? How can the international community go from billions at hand to the trillions needed in the quest to fund the climate transition and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.(iii) What kinds of systemic action are needed to bring commodity prices down? How is trade policy, including recent United Nations-backed efforts such as the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the agreement for unimpeded access to Russian food and fertilizers, able to help in the current context? How can further food trade export restrictions be avoided?
As is often said “Peace and Development” are two sides of the coin. “Without Peace there is no Development”; Also “Without Development there is no Peace”. The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres’ recently stated that the United Nations’ work in these turbulent times, is more necessary than ever to reduce suffering, prevent crises, manage risks and build a sustainable future for all”.
(The author is Chairman, International Institute for Scientific and Academic Collaboration, Inc. USA; Former Chief/Senior Socio-Economic Affairs Advisor at the United Nations; Former Special Advisor to the Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste)
