FRIDAY JULY 19, 2024 INDIA THIS WEEK 1 A W e e k l y N e w s p a p e r Fe a t u r i n g N e w s & Tr e n d s f r o m t h e I n d i a n S u b - C o n t i n e n t P u b l i s h e d f r o m t h e U S C a p i t a l Website: www.indiathisweek.online Assassination attempt on Donald Trump: “Bullet pierced upper part of my ear”: Trump after attack on him at Pennsylvania rally Vol 33 No: 29 WASHINGTON DC • Phone: 301-445-0200 /301-445-3543/301-917-4800 • email: indiathisweekads@gmail.com • Friday July 19, 2024 Washington, DC [US], July 14 (ANI): Former US President Donald Trump, in his first account of being shot at during a rally in Pennsylvania, has said that the bullet fired at him “pierced” the upper part of his right ear. Trump said that he immediately knew something was wrong. He also thanked the US Secret Service and law enforcement for their rapid response to the shooting that just took place in Pennsylvania‘s Butler. He also offered condolences to the family of a person who was killed at the rally and the person who was injured. In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “I want to thank The United States Secret Service, and all of Law Enforcement, for their rapid response on the shooting that just took place in Butler, Pennsylvania. Most importantly, I want to extend my condolences to the family of the person at the Rally who was killed, and also to the family of another person that was badly injured.” “It is incredible that such an act can take place in our Country. Nothing is known at this time about the shooter, who is now dead. I was shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear. I knew immediately that something was wrong in that I heard a whizzing sound, shots, and immediately felt the bullet ripping through the skin. Much bleeding took place, so I realized then what was happening. GOD BLESS AMERICA,” he added. The gunfire incident, which comes months before the 2024 US presidential elections, disrupted Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, CBS News. Trump was immediately escorted off stage by US Secret Service agents and taken away in a motorcade. In the videos that went viral on social media, Trump could be seen bleeding from his ear. Trump was taken away in a motorcade. He held up a fist as he sat in the SUV. His motorcade departed Butler Memorial Hospital a little before 9:30 pm (local time), CBS News reported, citing two sources. It was unclear where Trump was headed. Initially, he was scheduled to travel to his estate in Bedminster, New DONALD TRUMP SEE PAGE 2 ENDS SEPTEMBER 3 SOMETIMES DRIVER’S SIDE BEATS POOLSIDE LEXUS.COM Soak up Summer from behind the wheel at the Golden Opportunity Sales Event. Don’t let the season slip away without finding your dream Lexus. But hurry—the offers on select models won’t last. ©2024 Lexus, a Division of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
July 19, 2024 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK It’s never been easier to Get the Facts About Senior Living at Ashby Ponds, Greenspring, and Riderwood Get your FREE brochure to discover all the amazing benefits of our premier senior living communities. It’s packed with information, such as: Call 1-888-718-7402 or visit DMVSeniorLiving.com. • Services to enhance your health and well-being • Resort-style amenities, including delicious dining ASHBY PONDS, Ashburn VA GREENSPRING, Springfield VA RIDERWOOD, Silver Spring MD • Stylish, modern apartment homes to fit your lifestyle 885548 • Financial peace of mind and unbeatable value SHETH VILLA OCCASION OASIS The perfect venue for meetings, birthdays, weddings, baby showers, parties, special celebrations, and more! A perfect get away that still feels like home. At Sheth Villa, you can host wide variety of events, have a relaxing staycation, and much more! AIRBNB LINK: airbnb.com/h/shethvilla Email: pritinina65@gmail.com ETH VIL LA SH Contact: (301)434-3029 Follow us on: Sheth Villa Holiday Home Assassination attempt on Donald Trump: “Bullet pierced upper part of my ear”: Trump after attack on him at Pennsylvania rally DONALD TRUMP FROM PAGE 1 Jersey, before travelling to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, which is scheduled to begin on Monday. In a statement, the US Secret Service said that a suspected shooter fired multiple shots towards the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue during Trump’s campaign rally in Butler on July 13 at 6:15 pm (local time). The US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now dead. According to the statement, one spectator was killed and another was critically injured and the incident is being investigated. While sharing the US Secret Service’s statement on X, Chief of Communications for the United States Secret Service, Anthony Guglielmi, stated, “Here is the latest information from our investigation. We are grateful to the Secret Service team and our law enforcement partners for their swift action. Our thoughts go out to the families affected by this tragedy.” In a statement, US Secret Service stated, “During former President Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on the evening of July 13th at approximately 6:15 p.m., at the suspected shooter fired multiple shots toward the stage from an elevated position outside of the rally venue. US Secret Service personnel neutralized the shooter, who is now deceased.” “US Secret Service quickly responded with protective measures and the former president is safe and being evaluated. One spectator was killed, two spectators were critically injured. The incident is currently under investigation and the Secret Service has formally notified the Federal Bureau of investigation,” it added. Speaking to CBS News, law enforcement sources said that the suspect was shooting with an ARstyle rifle from 200-300 feet away. According to law enforcement sources, the gunman was on top of a shed outside the security perimeter set up by the Secret Service. (ANI)
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2024 3
July 19, 2024 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK INDIA bloc wins 10 seats, BJP gets two in assembly bypolls; Congress says results resounding victory of democracy New Delhi [India], July 13 (ANI): The results of assembly bypolls came as a setback for BJP which won only two of 13 seats with INDIA bloc winning 10 seats and an independent candidate winning a seat in Bihar defeating the ruling NDA. The results brought a lot of comfort to Congress, which won two of three seats in Himachal Pradesh and two seats in Uttarakhand. Congress winning two seats in Himachal Pradesh has increased the comfort factor for the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government which now has 40 MLAs against 28 of BJP. The Congress had failed to win any seat in the two states in the Lok Sabha polls.Some of those who lost the assembly polls were leaders who had joined BJP after quitting their parties. Polling took place on July 10 for the assembly seats in seven States: Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. Congress leader KC Venugopal targeted the BJP and said that the results of the bye-elections in the country reflects a resounding victory for democracy and a strong rebuke to the BJP‘s divisive politics. In a statement issued by the party’s General Secretary (Organisation), Venugopal said, “Today’s by-poll results stand as a resounding victory for democracy and a strong rebuke to the BJP‘s divisive politics. Out of the 13 seats contested across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, and Tamil Nadu, the INDIA alliance has secured an impressive 10 seats demonstrating the rejection of the BJP‘s anti-people, anti-youth policies, and divisive politics.” Stepping up his attacks on the BJP, he said, “Even amidst their attempts to undermine our democracy, the truth and the will of the people have prevailed. Today’s results are a tight slap on the BJP‘s face, showcasing the public’s strong disapproval of their pro-rich, dictatorial politics.” He added, “The defeat of those who abandoned our cause for the BJP in Himachal and Uttarakhand underscores the rejection of opportunism over principled governance. Not only that, they used all their dirty tricks departments, be it ED or CBI, to intimidate our leaders. The people, however, rejected this dangerous politics resoundingly.” Elaborating on the number of seats won by the Congress in Himachal Pradesh, Venugopal said, “In Himachal Pradesh, the Congress party has won two out of the three seats in Dehra and Nalagarh, reclaiming our position with a total of 40 seats. This triumph is a testament to the unwavering faith of the people of Himachal who have rejected the BJP‘s politics of horse trading and defections.” The Congress leader in his statement also talked about the results in Uttarakhand and said that the party in the state emerged victorious in both Badrinath and Mangalur. “This significant win sends a clear message that the misuse of religion for political gains, as seen in Ayodhya and now in Badrinath, will not be endorsed by the electorate,” Venugopal said. Asserting that the results of bye-elections are not just a political victory; but a triumph for democracy and constitutional values, he added, “They reaffirm the people’s commitment to governance that prioritizes welfare and inclusivity over divisive tactics and power grabs. As we move forward, the Congress Party reaffirms its commitment to a pro-people agenda and upholding democratic values.” He added, “We are grateful for the trust placed in us by the electorate and pledge to continue serving with renewed vigour for the remainder of our term and in all future elections.” The Congress leader also expressed his gratitude towards other party leaders and said, “This would not have been possible without the guidance of Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, LOP Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi ji, as well as the hard work of the respective Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) leaders and candidates who dedicatedly worked for this victory.” The by-elections were held in one seat of Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, and Madhya Pradesh, two seats of Uttarakhand, three seats of Himachal Pradesh, and four seats of Uttarakhand. The constituencies included Raiganj, Ranaghat Dakshin, Bagda, and Maniktala in West Bengal; Dehra, Hamirpur, and Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh; Badrinath and Manglaur in Uttarakhand; Jalandhar West in Punjab; Rupauli in Bihar; Vikravandi in Tamil Nadu; and Amarwara in Madhya Pradesh. In Himachal Pradesh, Congress secured a win on two out of three seats, where Kamlesh Thakur from Dehra and Hardeep Singh Bawa from Nalagarh secured victory. Ashish Sharma from BJP secured victory in Hamirpur. Thakur defeated BJP‘s Hoshiyar Singh by a margin of 9,399 votes. Meanwhile, Bawa defeated BJP‘s KL Thakur by a margin of 8,990 votes. On the other hand, Sharma defeated Dr Pushpinder Verma of Congress by a margin of 1,571 votes. In Punjab, the INDIA alliance’s partner Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured victory in Jalandhar West. AAP’s Mohinder Bhagat defeated BJP‘s Sheetal Angural by a margin of 37,325 votes. In Tamil Nadu also, INDIA alliance partner DMK secured a win from Vikravandi seat. Anniyar Siva defeated Anbumani C. of Pattali Makkal Katchi party by a margin of 67757 votes. Uttarakhand, which is ruled by BJP, witnessed the party losing both the two seats and saw the victory of Congress. In Badrinath, Lakhapat Singh Butola defeated Rajendra Singh Bhandari by a margin of 5224 votes, whereas in Manglaur, which saw a very close competition, Qazi Mohammad Nizamuddin secured victory against BJP‘s Kartar Singh Bhadana by a margin of 422 votes. In all the four seats of West Bengal, All India Trinamool Congress, which is the partner in the INDIA alliance, secured victory and defeated the BJP. In Raiganj, Krishna Kalyani defeated BJP‘s Manas Kumar Ghosh by a margin of 50,077 votes. R a n a g h a t Dakshin, TMC’s Mukut Mani Adhikari secured a win against Manoj Kumar Biswas of BJP by a margin of 39,048 votes. In Bagda, Madhuparna Thakur defeated Binay Kumar Biswas of BJP by a margin of 33,455 votes. In Maniktala, Supti Pandey secured a win against BJP‘s Kalyan Chaubey by a margin of 62,312 votes. In Bihar, neither the JDU of the BJP-led NDA nor the RJD of the INDIA alliance managed to secure a victory. The Rupauli seat in Bihar saw the win of independent candidate Shankar Singh, who defeated JDU’s Kaladhar Prasad Mandal by a margin of 8,246 and RJD’s Bima Bharti. Notably, the bye-election in Rupaul was necessitated by the resignation of sitting MLA Bima Bharti, who had won the seat for JD(U) several times in the past but quit the party recently to contest Lok Sabha elections on an RJD ticket. In Madhya Pradesh, the BJP managed to retain Amarwara. Here, BJP‘s Kamlesh Pratap Shah secured victory against Congress‘ Dheeran Sah Sukharam Das Invati by a margin of 3,027 votes. The Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Rahul Gandhi targeted the BJP and said that the results of the byeelections reflect that the people of the nation want to demolish dictatorship and are standing with the INDIA bloc to establish rule of justice. Taking to his official X handle, Rahul Gandhi said, “ T h e results of the bye-elections in seven states have made it clear that the web of fear and confusion woven by the BJP has been broken.” He added, “Every class, including farmers, youth, labourers, businessmen and employed people want to completely destroy dictatorship and establish the rule of justice.” C o n g r e s s president Mallikarjun Kharge asserted that the bypoll results were also “strong evidence of the falling political credibility” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The leader also asserted that the people are now in support of the INDIA bloc and said, “The public is now completely standing with INDIA for the betterment of their lives and protection of the Constitution.” Following the victory of Congress candidates in two out of three assembly constituencies in Himachal Pradesh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed happiness and congratulated all the winning candidates of the Congress party and INDIA bloc in the by-polls held on 13 seats across seven states in the country. “The people of the country have extended their support to the INDI alliance in the by-elections held on 13 seats in seven states. The people of Himachal Pradesh have expressed their faith in Congress. Many congratulations to all the winning candidates of Congress and INDI alliance,” said Priyanka Gandhi. (ANI)
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2024 5
July 19, 2024 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Uttarakhand leads among states India successfully concludes in SDG India Index 2023-24 4th periodic review by Human Rights Committee under ICCPR: MEA D e h r a d u n (Uttarakhand) [India], July 12 (ANI): NITI Aayog released the report of Sustainng Developmental Goals (SDG) 2023-24 on Friday. In the report, Uttarakhand has met the criteria of Sustainable Development Goals and secured the first position in the entire country, jointly with Kerala. Congratulating all the people of the state, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said that this achievement has been achieved with the blessings and cooperation of the people of the state. “Under the able leadership of respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, due to the development-oriented efforts of our double engine government, today our state has moved forward towards becoming a leading state. Uttarakhand getting the top position in the report of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG INDEX) 20232024 released by NITI Aayog is a direct proof of this,” Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said on X. Our government is continuously moving towards ‘developed Uttarakhand‘ with the coordination of ecology and economy. Our top priority is to establish a transparent system in the state and bring about comprehensive and all-round development,” the X post read. The SDG India Index 2023-24 scores for States range from 57 to 79, while for UTs they range between 65 and 77. This marks an improvement over the 2020-21 scores, where States ranged from 52 to 75, and UTs ranged from 62 to 79. Uttarakhand and Kerala lead as top States with scores of 79 each; Chandigarh maintains top spot among UTs with a score of 77. Tamil Nadu took the third spot followed by Goa and Himachal Pradesh. SDG India Index 2023-24, the fourth edition of the country’s principal From The Poet’s Pen INDIA THIS WEEK- July 5, 2024 The Guy in the Glass by Dale Wimbrow When you get what you want in your struggle for pelf, And the world makes you King for a day, Then go to the mirror and look at yourself, And see what that guy has to say. For it isn’t your Father, or Mother, or Wife, Who judgement upon you must pass. The feller whose verdict counts most in your life Is the guy staring back from the glass. He’s the feller to please, never mind all the rest, For he’s with you clear up to the end, And you’ve passed your most dangerous, difficult test If the guy in the glass is your friend. You may be like Jack Horner and “chisel” a plum, And think you’re a wonderful guy, But the man in the glass says you’re only a bum If you can’t look him straight in the eye. You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years, And get pats on the back as you pass, But your final reward will be heartaches and tears If you’ve cheated the guy in the glass. Peter Dale Wimbrow (1895–1954) was an American composer, radio artist, and writer. tool for measuring national and subnational progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) was released today by NITI Aayog. The Index was launched by Suman Bery, Vice Chairperson, NITI Aayog in the presence of BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO, NITI Aayog; Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India; Dr. Yogesh Suri, Senior Advisr, NITI Aayog and Isabelle Tschan Harada, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP. SDG India Index 2023-24 measures and tracks national progress of all States and UTs on 113 indicators aligned to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation’s (MoSPI) National Indicator Framework (NIF). The SDG India Index computes goal-wise scores on the 16 SDGs for each State and UT. (ANI) New Delhi [India], July 17 (ANI): India successfully concluded its 4th periodic review by the Human Rights Committee under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) in Geneva on Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The Indian delegation was spearheaded by Ld. Attorney General for India, R. Venkataramani and Ld. Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta. It also included Secretary (West) Pavan Kapoor and comprised senior officials from the Ministries of Women and Child Development, Social Justice and Empowerment, Electronics and Information Technology, Minority Affairs, External Affairs, Tribal Affairs, Home Affairs, and the Offices of Ld. Attorney General and INDIA THIS WEEK Phone: 301-445-0200; 301-917-4800 www.indiathisweek.online India This Week is published every Friday by ADV Solutions Inc, Views expressed in this paper are those of the individual writers and not necessarily of India This Week. India This Week accepts no liability for the errors in advertisements or in any of its reports. For remedial actions any errors should be brought to the attention of the editor by the information provided below. Publisher: Chief Editor: Contributing Editors: Dr. Babu Stephen Rajan George Saju Mathew Isaac George Asst. Editors: Manu Jacob Sherena Panjikkaran Special Business Correspondent Elisha B. Pulivarti Business Coordinators Rajan C. George Jithu Johny Panjikkaran Dr. Renuka Misra, Special Correspondent: Geeta Goindi Community Coordinator: Prof. Vinod Goel India Office Manesh Krishna Columnists: Anadi Naik World Religions Dr. Sam Prasad Jillella Photo Journalist: Mathew Karmel, System Admn. & Maintenance: Rajan C. George Layout & Graphics: Prinston Samuel, Business Affairs: Mrs. Molly George CALL US • 301-445-0200 • 301-917-4800 e-Mails: Advertisements: indiathisweekads@gmail.com Press Releases: indiathisweekpress@yahoo.com Web: www.indiathisweek.online Ld. Solicitor General. “The Human Rights Committee, comprising 18 independent experts serving in their individual capacities, monitors the implementation of ICCPR and reviews reports of all States Parties (countries) by conducting periodic reviews and then making observations and recommendations,” the MEA said in an official press release. The rights and freedoms provided in ICCPR are guaranteed under the Constitution of India as well as our legislative and judicial framework. India became a State Party to ICCPR in 1979. India has undergone three ICCPR reviews in the past, the last being in 1997. The 4th periodic review of India, which took place on July 1516, 2024, saw the Indian delegation engaging in constructive dialogue with the members of the Human Rights Committee on a wide range of issues related to civil and political rights and showcase India‘s commitment, actions and achievements in these areas. According to MEA, “Questions were posed on diverse topics such as anti-corruption measures, non-discrimination, the status of women and of minorities, counterterrorism and national security measures, judicial framework, privacy and data protection laws, new criminal laws, etc. India also highlighted its success in the protection of the rights of vulnerable groups. India‘s contributions to the evolution of the global human rights framework were also recalled.” “During the discussions, the members of the Human Rights Committee spoke appreciatively of the traditions and ethos of India, rooted in principles such as pluralism, nonviolence and diversity, which are in line with the essence of human rights,” the MEA release added. It was also noted that India is a vibrant parliamentary democracy, which successfully concluded the largest democratic exercise recently. The review demonstrated India‘s commitment to engaging with the international human rights framework and its willingness to address concerns while continuing its efforts towards the protection and promotion of the human rights of its citizens. (ANI) Remember: “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. ” JESUS CHRIST
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2024 7
July 19, 2024 Friday INDIA THIS WEEK Assam: Flood situation remains grim; families forced to seek refuge in temporary tents Goalpara (Assam) [India], July 17 (ANI): In Assam’s Goalpara district, 65-year-old Sahadut Ali Sheikh and his family are now living in a small makeshift tent near their original house after he lost his house and land due to erosion of the Brahmaputra river. Sahadut Ali Sheikh, a resident of Muamari village in Assam’s Goalpara district, has lost his house and land due to erosion of the Brahmaputra river. He now lives in a small tent near the Brahmaputra River. “The Brahmaputra River swallowed all – my own house, land and croplands. Now my family is living under this makeshift tent. The government does not allow us to construct houses on embankments. Where will we go? Now we are living near the river. My sons are daily wage labourers. We have no land. Our original house is now in the middle of the river. 10-12 days ago, the river swallowed our home,” Sahadut Ali Sheikh told ANI. He further said, “We have no future now. If the government will help us, then we will live, otherwise, we will face more hardship in the near future. We can’t buy new land to construct a new house, because we aren’t in that position. I have three sons and all are daily wage labourers. During recent flood, we also faced massive problems. We were forced to live here in 5-6 feet of deep water during the flood.” Khursida Khatun, the daughter-in-law of Sahadut Ali Sheikh, told ANI that their house was damged by the river 10-12 days ago, and now they have no permanent place to live. “During the flood, the government had given us some relief, but it is not sufficient for us. We live here by eating only once. I have only a girl child and we can’t think about her future in this situation. My husband is a daily wage labourer and he also can’t go outside to search for work during this flood situation. We have no other income source. If we will not get any land to live, how can we care for our child and her future?” Khursida Khatun said. Sahruf Hussain, a resident of the village, said that many people have lost their homes and many of them left this area for other places. “Earlier, the Brahmaputra River swallowed many villages, Mosques, temples, school buildings as well. Nearly 500 families in this area have been affected by river erosion and flood,” Sahruf Hussain said. Bikram Ravi Das, a resident of Muamari village, also said that many villagers had already left this village due to river erosion and flood. “The local MLA didn’t visit this area or help us. Many people are still breaking their houses and ready to go to other, safer places. Recently, nearly 200 houses have gone due to erosion. People are suffering lots of problems here,” Bikram Ravi Das said. The soil erosion is still continuing in parts of Goalpara, Barpeta, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Kamrup and Morigaon districts. According to the Assam government, the state has lost more than 4.27 lakh hectares of land due to the soil erosion of the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries. The flood situation in Assam remains grim, with the death toll rising to more than 90 as per the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). More than 5 lakh people across 18 districts are reeling under the deluge, with Assam’s Cachar being the worst-hit district. (ANI) New York [US], July 17 (ANI): India has always played a key role in both peacekeeping and peacebuilding, with its engagement in peacebuilding through extensive development partnerships with countries in the Global South, military advisor Colonel Ashish Bhalla said on Wednesday (local time) at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Delivering India’s statement at the Joint Debate on the ‘Report of the Peacebuilding Commission’, Col. Bhalla said, “The commission’s emphasis on education as a prevention and resiliencebuilding mechanism underscores progressive outlook towards peacebuilding education is a key component for building and sustaining peace. India has always played an important role in both peacekeeping and peacebuilding.” “We have engaged in peacebuilding through extensive development partnerships with countries in the Global South,” he added. He noted that the cumulative value of India’s developmental projects now exceeds USD 40 billion. It encompasses soft loans, grants and capacitybuilding training programs. Col. Bhalla described the PBC report of 2023 as a testimony to the positive initiatives taken by the commission. He stated that the “forward-looking agenda is well-designed” to address peace-building challenges and sustain peace in contemporary conflict settings. “The emphasis on regional maritime security, transnational organized crime, and terrorism brings the right perspective to peacebuilding. We believe these gains need to be consolidated with more discussion,” he said adding that the main purpose of the Peace Building Commission is to bring together all relevant actors to promote post-conflict peacebuilding and recovery. He said, “To this end, we appreciate the work of the Peace Building Commission in its support of regional peace initiatives, including the International Conference on the Great Lakes region-led Luanda process and the East Africa community-led Nairobi process.” “We also appreciate the PBC’s sustained focus on key issues such as the full, equal and meaningful participation of women in decision-making and political processes, advancing inclusive security sector reforms, as well as advancing the institutionalization of the peace and security agenda,” the Indian Military Advisor added while delivering the statement. He also congratulated Croatia for its leadership of the Peacebuilding Commission last year and Brazil for how the country has led the commission so far this year. “I would like to highlight the India UN Development Partnership Fund, established in 2017, as a testament to India’s unwavering commitment to multilateralism and global development,” Col Bhalla underlined. “In just five years, the fund has supported 75 south-owned, southled development projects in partnership with 56 developing countries chair. Our experience in peacebuilding, both bilateral as well as through the PBC, guides us to put forth the following observations. First, PBC has no direct conflict prevention mandate or role. What it has perhaps is an implied role in not permitting a relapse of conflict,” he went on to say. Col. Bhalla highlighted the need for correction of substantive settings, including climate change. “We need to avoid duplication of the role of other UN organs, and public entities third, PBCs’ role in marshalling resources for post-conflict recovery remains critical,” he said. “I assure you of India’s sustained commitment to the purposes of peacebuilding, and we look forward to engaging constructively in the forthcoming peacebuilding architecture review,” Col Bhalla said, concluding his remarks at the General Assembly. (ANI) India engaged in peace-building via extensive development partnerships with Global South countries
FRIDAY JULY 19, 2024 9 SALE ENDS JULY 30-2024 Karnataka: Heavy rains wreak Heavy rains prompt closure of educational institutions havoc, NH 75 faces traffic in 8 districts of Kerala disruption after mudslides H a s s a n (Karnataka) [India], July 16 (ANI): Following the disruption of traffic on NH 75 in Karnataka due to parts of the road being washed away by mudslides following heavy rains, Deputy Divisional Officer Sakleshpura Shruti, informed that nodal officers have been appointed to oversee the areas prone to landslides. Speaking with the reporters, Shruti said, “For flood and landslide preparations, we had conducted many meetings. At the taluka level, we had appointed nodal officers for every taluk to look after the sites where the landslides may happen.” She added further, “We had been asking people to shift their valuable items to some other safe places. We had identified four to five flood relief centres where we could shift the people to the flood relief centres.” Citing the NH road construction, she further said, “There is national highway road construction going on from Bengaluru to Mangaluru. At NH 75, where there are mudslides, we are coordinating with the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) authorities. The engineers are also visiting the places and taking safe measures.” She also asserted that the traffic is being diverted as required so that people don’t face any problems. (ANI) Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], July 16 (ANI): Due to the continued heavy rains in the state, district administrations of eight districts ordered the closure of educational institutions in their respective districts on Wednesday. The districts where the holiday has been declared are Kannur, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Palakkad, Thrissur, Idukki, Alappuzha, and Kottayam. The holiday applies to all educational institutions, including tuition centres,Anganwadis, and professional colleges. Alappuzha district declared the holiday due to persistent heavy rains and waterlogging. District collectors have clarified that there will be no changes to the previously scheduled exams.The weather department has issued a warning that heavy rains will continue in the state for the next four days. Currently, a red alert has been declared for Kozhikode and Kannur. However, no district is under a red alert for tomorrow. An orange alert has been issued for Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts. A yellow alert has been issued for the Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur, and Palakkad districts for Wednesday. Earlier on Monday, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted heavy rain in several districts of Kerala. The IMD had issued a red alert for Malappuram, Kannur, and Kasaragod districts in Kerala and an orange alert for Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Kozhikode, and Wayanad districts. The Regional Meteorological Department had also issued a yellow alert for the Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Idukki districts on Monday due to the possibility of very heavy rain. The weather department has warned fishermen against going fishing on the KeralaKarnataka-Lakshadweep coasts. A holiday has also been declared for educational institutions in Malappuram, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kannur, Wayanad and Kasargod on Monday. However, colleges in Kasargod will remain open. (ANI)
Fleepit Digital © 2021