#Seven Summiteer of India

[ranveer-jamwal]

Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal: India's Best Mountaineer, Motivator, and Seven Summiteer

Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal is an Indian Army officer and best mountaineer in India. He is the first Indian to climb the Seven Summits, the highest mountains on each continent, along with Mount Everest three times. He is also a veteran of more than 45 mountaineering expeditions and the recipient of several awards, including the Sena Medal and the Vishisht Seva Medal.

Colonel Jamwal's accomplishments

Colonel Jamwal's accomplishments as a mountaineer are truly remarkable. He is the first Indian to climb the Seven Summits, and he has also summited Mount Everest three times. He is also a veteran of more than 45 mountaineering expeditions, and he has led several successful expeditions to remote and challenging peaks.

In addition to his mountaineering accomplishments, Colonel Jamwal is also a motivational speaker and author. He has written several books about mountaineering and motivation, and he regularly gives talks to inspire others to achieve their goals.

Colonel Jamwal's Har Shikhar Tiranga Campaign :

Colonel Jamwal is currently leading the Har Shikhar Tiranga Campaign, which aims to unfurl the Indian tricolour on all the major peaks in India. The campaign is a way to celebrate India's 75th anniversary of independence and to inspire Indians to achieve their goals.

Colonel Jamwal's impact:

Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal is an inspiration to millions of people around the world. He has demonstrated that with determination, anything can be achieved. He is a true patriot and a role model for all of us.

Conclusion:

Colonel Ranveer Singh Jamwal is India's best mountaineer, motivator, and Seven Summiteer. He serves as a source of inspiration for millions worldwide, illustrating that setting one's mind to it can make anything possible. He is a true patriot and a role model for all of us.

[panimoonchild]

Unpunished evil returns and grows stronger in its impunity

"13 houses in the residential area were damaged during the rocket attack, the houses have five floors. There is a very large number of broken windows, over 700. Seven humanitarian buildings were damaged," said Kateryna Yamshchikova, Secretary of the Poltava City Council, about the consequences of the missile attack in Poltava on June 17.

Utilities and rescuers are working at the site. They are trimming damaged trees and removing balcony structures. Social workers and psychologists are also assisting.

Also, Vadym Labas briefly explains why certain countries that arrived at the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland did not sign a joint declaration.

▪️ Saudi Arabia is a major hub for the transfer of components and units for Russian weapons, as well as a place of accumulation of billions of Russian money. ▪️ India - supplies units and components to Russia. It has joint military-industrial complex plants with Russia, from assault rifles to missiles. It is a hub for transshipment of Russian oil. ▪️ South Africa - everything is clear here: "Wagner", money and influence. ▪️ Thailand - supplies sanctioned products to Russia and also helps the Russian military-industrial complex with its production. For example, Russia could not produce cable products without Thailand. ▪️ Indonesia - supplies sanctioned products to Russia. ▪️ Mexico is a huge hub for the supply of drugs to Europe and Russian agents to the United States, which generates huge shadow earnings. ▪️ United Arab Emirates - helps to supply sanctioned products to Russia and has a lot of Russian money. ▪️ Armenia - has a huge Russian lobby and is one of the key players in the supply of smuggled military-industrial products to Russia.

All this brings super-profits either to these countries themselves or to influential clans in these countries. Therefore, they are quite satisfied with the current situation.

P.S.: these countries came to the Summit to "keep their finger on the pulse," but they are not interested in peace in Ukraine because they make super profits by helping Russia circumvent sanctions and supplying components. But if they were given a clear signal about the secondary sanctions that could be imposed for helping Russia, their "pulse rate" would increase significantly.

DPRK prepares for the arrival of the world's evil.

Now the most important news: The ratio of forces in the Pokrovsk sector is 1 to 7 in favor of the Russians, said a soldier of the 47th Brigade, pseudonym "Azimuth".

Photo: Approximate front line in the Pokrovsk sector/DeepStateMap.

The Russians are pressing near the villages of Novoselivka Persha, Sokil, and Novopokrovske, trying to reach the Pokrovsk-Konstantynivka highway.

Don't be indifferent. Make Russia pay. Please hear our cry out to the world, keep spreading our voices, and donate to our army and combat medics (savelife.in.ua, prytulafoundation.org, Serhii Sternenko, hospitallers.life, ptahy.vidchui.org, and u24.gov.ua).

[dertaglichedan]

Putin Hosts BRICS Leaders, Showing He Is Far From Isolated

(Bloomberg) -- President Vladimir Putin is playing host to Russia’s biggest gathering of world leaders since the invasion of Ukraine and using the BRICS summit to show the US and its allies that he’s no pariah.

With Russian troops advancing in eastern Ukraine and evidence of growing war fatigue among some of Kyiv’s allies, the Kremlin is seizing its opportunity to cast Putin as standing up to the West in attempting to reshape the global order. The US and its Group of Seven partners dismiss the argument, though it’s a message that resonates with some countries of the emerging world.  

Leaders of 32 countries, as well as top officials of regional organizations and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, will attend the three-day summit starting Tuesday in Kazan, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov told reporters. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are joining Putin alongside leaders of the new BRICS members, Iran, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia. Putin plans bilateral meetings with many of them, as well as with guests such as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday canceled his plans to attend the summit after suffering a head injury in an accident at his home. Officials said he’ll participate by video link.

While BRICS favors greater use of national currencies in bilateral trade, members including India reject attempts to promote China’s yuan as an alternative reserve currency.

***WAKE UP!! This is NOT good for the US Dollar..

[mariacallous]

While India’s Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi appear poised to return to power for a third consecutive term—a feat accomplished by a premier only once before in the country’s history—they are much diminished, having failed to secure a parliamentary majority on their own. In his 10 years in power, Modi has never had to rely on coalition partners. The election marks not only the end of single-party control in the Indian Parliament but also the BJP’s having peaked. Coalition governments—the natural order for India’s democracy since the late 1980s, except for the past decade—are back to stay.

The BJP’s supremacy over the past decade was the result of several factors. In Modi, the party had a once-in-a-generation leader whose charisma and communication abilities placed him head and shoulders above the competition in terms of popularity among voters. Religious appeals, welfare programs (especially those aimed at women and the poor), and organizational capabilities that gave the party a superior ground game all helped. So did a ruthlessness in deploying the dark arts of politics, a disunited and weak opposition, and access to oodles of campaign finance.

The BJP’s manifest hegemony appeared to presage its continued dominance of the Indian political landscape well into the future. But from the summit, the only way is down. Of course, the party may stay near its peak for a while and climb down slowly—but that is not a matter of if, but when.

Although robust political competition is a hallmark of democracies, a surprisingly large number have been dominated by a single political party for long periods of time. Examples include Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, the Christian Democrats in Italy, the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in Mexico, and the Democratic Party in Botswana. India itself was dominated by the Indian National Congress party for many decades, and the communist Left Front ran the state of West Bengal unchallenged for three-and-half decades.

When in power, these dominant parties seemed unassailable—until they were not. In some cases, this happened when economic development and technological change altered the structure of the economy and the relative power of different social groups. The green revolution in India, for example, empowered farmers from middle castes who had long been excluded from the Congress party’s social coalition. Their economic ascendency translated into political power that pushed out the Congress in populous North Indian states. The shift from manufacturing to services and the concomitant decline of unions also undermined a major social base of the dominant left-of-center parties.

In many postcolonial states, the party that led the country to independence enjoyed a special legitimacy. But with each successive generation, societal memories of epochal historical events faded. It took seven decades with the PRI in Mexico and three decades with the African National Congress in South Africa (as last week’s election results demonstrate). India’s Congress party played a pivotal role in the nation’s freedom struggle, but while the halo effect persisted for decades, it inevitably dimmed.

Dominant parties can also fade because of national crises driven by international events—such as an economic shock or a defeat in wars. But for many of them, the longer that they are in power, the more that institutional sclerosis sets in. Call it the law of political entropy. As the French political scientist Maurice Duverger put it in the 1960s, the dominant party “wears itself out in office, it loses its vigor, its arteries harden. … Every domination bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.”

The longer that the BJP was in power, the more that those seeds sprouted within the party. The BJP’s singular strength has been its leader, Narendra Modi. The Congress party also had such a leader in Indira Gandhi, who—like Modi—towered above her contemporaries. The popularity of both leaders far outweighed that of their parties.

But that very strength became their Achilles’ heel as a personality-driven style of party and politics emerged. For the BJP, increasing centralization, declining intraparty democracy, and the cutting-to-size of regional leaders who were not subserviently loyal to national the leader all took their toll. Efforts to engineer defections from opposition parties (through both blandishments and coercion) meant that gradually, the party became a magnet for opportunists rather than those with deep ideological commitments.

Under Modi’s rule, such coercion often took the form of dropping corruption cases against opposition party members who defected to the BJP. But this did not mean that the defectors became less corrupt; a leopard doesn’t change its spots. There’s little wonder, then, that even though the BJP had ridden an anti-corruption wave to power in 2014, preelection polls published in April this year found that more than half of respondents (55 percent) believed that corruption had increased in the past five years. Committed party workers have begun to lose interest as party hoppers brought in for short-term gains crowd them out in coveted positions. A favorite goal of the BJP’s leadership was to create a Congress mukt Bharat (“An India free of the Congress”). Ironically, in attempting to do so, the BJP became the embodiment of that very Congress culture.

If the art of victory is learned in defeat, for the BJP, the opposite is proving true. Each new victory brought a validation of the party’s strategies, whether muzzling critics, coercing opponents, or marginalizing religious minorities. The premium on loyalty increased, and voices of dissent become more quiescent. The initial self-confidence that allowed for risk-taking became an overconfidence spilling over to reckless behavior—exemplified by allegations of India’s intelligence agencies seeking to silence overseas critics in Canada and the United States.

The arrogance meant that the party overlooked three countervailing forces.

First, the manifest reality that no party in India wins with a majority of the votes. For a party to win in India’s first-past-the-post system, it needs a plurality of votes—which requires a fragmented opposition. The more hegemonic that the BJP became, the more authoritarian that it became, putting pressure on opposition parties and their leaders. But instead of weakening them, it brought them together. Nothing concentrates the mind like a fight for survival, and, while imperfect and incomplete, the opposition’s decision to join forces in the so-called INDIA coalition limited vote fragmentation.

Second, while successful political parties embody a set of ideas and ideologies that are yoked to policies and programs, all ideas have their life cycles. Postwar Keynesianism had its day for a quarter-century, and neoliberalism subsequently had its own for about three decades. Both are passé today. Political Islam rode high for around three decades after the Iranian revolution, but its energies have since flagged. In India, the secular socialist idea had a run for nearly a half-century, but its increasing opportunism tripped it up, and it was gradually pushed out as the BJP tapped into the plentiful waters of the anxieties and resentments of the Hindu majority.

But the Hindutva ideology has its limits, too. Even though the BJP did deliver on its promise on constructing a Ram temple on the site of a historic mosque, the expected political payoffs did not materialize. In this election, the BJP failed to win even the constituency where the temple was built. Populism can—and does—secure votes for a while. But India’s complex social mosaic cannot be easily pigeonholed into binary categories.

Third, ideologies do not address the quotidian challenges facing voters. The wellsprings of voter discontent run deep, and addressing them is—and will be—difficult.

The foremost challenge is the economy, which has simply been unable to supply decent jobs in adequate numbers. More and more Indians have formal education credentials but meager skills, a sad testimony to the poor quality of the country’s education system. Rising aspirations are hitting the brick wall of precarious jobs as India continues to struggle to strengthen its manufacturing sector. At some point, the millions of disgruntled youths will find ways to voice their frustrations.

These challenges will be greater given the extraordinary technological changes that are upending labor markets—not just in manufacturing, but also the tech services that have been India’s one categorical success. Even robust growth is unlikely to produce the sort of labor demand that one might have expected in the past. And a febrile politics will be rocked even more in the future, as technological change in the form of artificial intelligence is poised to further political turmoil. Managing this will be hard in the best of circumstances. In a polity where polarization is actively encouraged, it’s hard to be sanguine about where this may lead.

India’s election was held under a searing heat wave, a vivid reminder of the inexorable impacts of climate change, whose afflictions are mounting. Indian agriculture is particularly vulnerable as temperatures climb and rainfall patterns change. A bedraggled urban India will face further pressures as the recent water shortages in India’s booming information technology capital, Bengaluru, illustrate. And this is just the beginning.

These are all exceedingly difficult challenges no matter which political party is in power in India. But for now, the one silver lining is that while commentators and experts have been deeply apprehensive about India’s democracy, its voters clearly seem to be less so. Just ask the BJP.

[allthebrazilianpolitics]

Milei-Lula Differences Are More Visible Than Ever at G-7 Summit

They couldn’t be farther apart in the family photo of Group of Seven leaders, nor in real life.

Brazil’s Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Argentina’s Javier Milei crossed paths for the first time on Friday at the G-7 summit in Italy, part of a diverse cast of characters brought together by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. They have maintained a frosty relationship since Milei’s election last year, when Lula publicly supported his opponent and was called a “communist” by the libertarian.

But unlike India’s Narendra Modi, who seized the opportunity to at least try to improve relations with the presidents of the US and Canada, the leaders of South America’s two largest economies flew thousands of miles from their neighboring nations to attend the same summit, and they still avoid each other.

Mingling among global leaders including Pope Francis, their differences were on full display.

Continue reading.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

* * * * *

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

October 20, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

OCT 21, 2023

Last night, President Joe Biden spoke to the nation from the Oval Office to shore up U.S. support for Ukraine and Israel. “[H]istory has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror, when dictators don’t pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction.  They keep going, and the cost and the threats to America and to the world keep rising,” he said. 

“[I]f we walk away and let Putin erase Ukraine’s independence, would-be aggressors around the world would be emboldened to try the same,” he said. “The risk of conflict and chaos could spread in other parts of the world—in the Indo-Pacific… [and] especially in the Middle East.” 

Biden noted that Russian president Vladimir Putin has suggested he might like to take part of Poland, while one of his top advisors has called three other NATO allies, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, Russia’s “Baltic provinces.” Russian aggression there would draw the U.S. into war. 

Iran is supporting Russia in Ukraine, he noted, and “it’s supporting Hamas and other terrorist groups” in the Middle East. 

“The United States and our partners across the region are working to build a better future for the Middle East, one where the Middle East is more stable, better connected to its neighbors, and—through innovative projects like the India–Middle East–Europe rail corridor that I announced this year at the summit of the world’s biggest economies—more predictable markets, more employment, less rage, less grievances, less war when connected. It…would benefit the people of the Middle East, and it would benefit us.”

Biden explained that he was sending to Congress “an urgent budget request to fund America’s national security needs, to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. It’s a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations, help us keep American troops out of harm’s way, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren,” he said. 

That money, he said, would harden the Iron Dome that protects Israel’s skies after the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas that took more than 1,300 lives. But he also said that the U.S. “remains committed to the Palestinian people’s right to dignity and to self-determination. The actions of Hamas terrorists don’t take that right away” 

He explained that he had discussed with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu “the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war. That means protecting civilians in combat as best as they can. The people of Gaza urgently need food, water, and medicine.” Biden secured an agreement for such relief when he visited Israel on Wednesday, but so far the route from Egypt has not opened, at least in part because Israel and Egypt can’t agree on a way to inspect the trucks to make sure they are not carrying weapons. 

Ethan Bronner and Henry Meyer of Bloomberg reported yesterday that President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin have pressured Israel more deeply than any recent administration, demanding they adjust their planned ground assault on Gaza to minimize civilian casualties and think about what happens when the assault is over. U.S. officials are worried that Israel’s response to the October 7 attack could prompt Hezbollah to join the war, scuttling the administration’s attempt to stabilize the region and drawing the U.S. further into the conflict. 

But Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition partners who have backed further settlements in the West Bank are eager to exact revenge on the Palestinians there, killing at least seven in the last week. U.S. officials told Thomas Friedman of the New York Times that “the representatives of those settlers in the cabinet are withholding tax money owed the Palestinian Authority [that exercises authority over the West Bank], making it harder for it to keep the West Bank as under control as it has been since the start of the Hamas war.” Netanyahu, who has been charged with corruption and fraud, needs those partners in order to remain prime minister and thus stay out of jail.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worsening as Israel has launched extensive airstrikes, killing what U.N. observers estimate to be more than 2,800 Palestinians, including several relatives of former representative Justin Amash (Libertarian-Michigan) who had been sheltering in a church. It has also driven about a million people of the 2.3 million in Gaza from their homes. Hospitals are closed, and food and water are scarce. 

Foreign policy journalist Laura Rozen of Diplomatic gave Biden credit for his attempt to calm the region, support Israel, and protect Palestinian civilians but was, she said, “very worried” that the conflict would drag out and “inflame & destabilize [the] region & spark blowback & it will be very very ugly.” The U.S. had not been able to get “a single truck of aid into Gaza, much less set up a quasi-safe zone…five days after it thought it had a deal to do so.” It is not helping that X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, is amplifying disinformation about the crisis. 

The U.S. and governments in Europe have pressured Israel not to go into Gaza while diplomats in Qatar try to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. Today, Hamas released two dual U.S. citizens who had been held hostage in Gaza. 

In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) took a different tack, noting that Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (believed to be the group responsible for the hospital explosion in Gaza) received more than $130 million in cryptocurrency in the past two years, and researchers believe this is just a fraction of the total. Cryptocurrency funds crime and terror, they wrote: more than $20 billion in illicit transactions last year “that we know of.”

Those exchanges are currently unregulated, and Warren and Marshall have introduced the bipartisan Digital Asset Anti–Money Laundering Act to bring digital assets under the same rules that regulate traditional payment systems.

Today the administration asked Congress for a little over $105 billion in funding for national security. The package would devote $61.4 billion to support Ukraine (some of it to replenish U.S. stockpiles after sending weapons to Ukraine); $14.3 billion to Israel for air and missile defense systems; $9.15 billion for humanitarian aid to Ukraine, Gaza, and other places; $7.4 billion for initiatives in the Indo-Pacific; and $14 billion for more agents at the southwestern border, new machines to detect fentanyl, and more courts to process asylum cases. 

But Congress is currently unable to act. Seventeen days after the extremists in the House Republican conference ousted then-speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), the Republican civil war continues to paralyze the House. After key Trump ally Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) lost a second round of balloting on Wednesday, his allies apparently spent Thursday threatening the colleagues who didn’t vote for him. 

Representative Ken Buck (R-CO) explained: “So far I've had four death threats. I've been evicted from my office in Colorado…because the landlord is mad with my voting record on the Speaker issue. And everybody in the conference is getting this…. Family members have been approached and threatened, all kinds of things are going on….”

The threats simply hardened Jordan’s opposition. He lost a third ballot today, with 25 Republicans voting against him, and in a secret ballot the Republicans took privately over whether to keep him as their nominee for speaker, only 86 voted for Jordan, with 112 against. The House recessed for the weekend, despite the mounting crises that need to be addressed.

Having a key lieutenant in the House speaker’s chair, where he could, among other things, smear Biden by pushing to impeach him in the months before the election, would have been a huge boost for Trump. That Republicans refused to get behind Jordan even when he forced them into a public vote and then threatened them, much as Trump threatened them to line up behind him in the past, suggests they are starting to fear Trump less than they have for years.

Three plea deals in the past two days have intensified Trump’s legal troubles. Two of his own lawyers, Sidney Powell and Kenneth Chesebro, have pleaded guilty to some of the charges brought by Fulton County, Georgia, district attorney Fani Willis in the racketeering case against Trump and 17 others.

Yesterday, Powell pleaded guilty to trying to tamper with voting machines. In exchange for a lenient sentence, she will have to testify against others. As she was the person Trump considered tapping as a special counsel to investigate alleged voter fraud, she was at a key meeting with Trump allies Rudy Giuliani, former national security advisor Michael Flynn, and former Overstock chief executive officer Patrick Byrne.

Powell’s unexpected jump to the prosecution side—she was lying about the election just this week—put pressure on others, and today Chesebro also flipped. He was allegedly the one who designed the false electors scheme, although he has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to file false documents. In exchange for a lenient sentence, he has to turn over any evidence he has and testify truthfully against others in the case, including Trump. 

In Michigan, a Republican man charged with participating in the false-elector plot also entered into a cooperation agreement yesterday, meaning he will talk to investigators and, if necessary, testify. 

Finally, today, Judge Arthur Engoron, who is overseeing the fraud case against Trump and the Trump Organization, fined Trump $5,000 for violating the gag order he had imposed on October 3. Trump told Engoron that day he had taken down a social media post disparaging one of Engoron’s law clerks, but it remained up on his campaign website.

Engoron warned Trump that “future violations, whether intentional or unintentional, will subject the violator to far more severe sanctions, which may include, but are not limited to, steeper financial penalties, holding Donald Trump in contempt of court, and possibly imprisoning him pursuant to New York Judiciary Law.”

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

[mahayanapilgrim]

When Shakyamuni's mother dies, she is reborn as a deva in the Trayastrimsha heaven which is presided over by the Brahmanical god, Indra.

After the Buddha attains enlightenment, he goes to Trayastrimsha to teach the Abhidharma to his mother and other celestial beings. After three months of teaching in Trayastrimsha, the Buddha decides to return to his disciples and lay followers. His descent from the heaven takes place at Sankashya in modern Uttar Pradesh, India.

The Dharmapada-Atthakatha records that when the Buddha is ready to return, Indra makes three ladders for the Buddha's descent. The ladders connect the summit of Mount Meru, where the Trayastrimsha heaven is located, and the earthly human sphere, near Sankashya city. The ladder, made of jewels, in the middle is used by the Buddha; the right ladder of gold is used by Indra; and the left ladder of silver is used by Brahma. Indra and Brahma are depicted as the Buddha's attendants.

The most important message that the Descent from the Trayastrimsha has come to represent occurs with the Buddha's arrival at Sankashya. Crowds of people gather there eagerly awaiting the Buddha's return. Everyone wants to greet the great teacher. According to Chinese narratives there is a nun called Utpali, who vows that she would be the first person to greet the Buddha when he descends from the heaven. However, a simple nun cannot compete against the powerful kings and princes with their elaborate entourages occupying the best spots near the ladders. Yet, as a result of Utpali's devotion, she is transformed into a universal monarch, accompanied by seven treasures and the most elaborate troops, and thus she is able to secure the best position to fulfill her vow. She is the first to greet the Buddha, upon which she reverts back to her original appearance.

Recognizing Utpali's devotion, the Buddha predicts her future enlightenment. As such, the event represents the archetypal prediction of one's enlightenment by the Buddha.

[bopinion]

2023 / 20

Aperçu of the Week:

"Music is a language in which you can't lie."

(Hubert von Goisern, Austrian singer-songwriter and founder of alpine rock)

Bad News of the Week:

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is upon us again. This weather phenomenon of the equatorial Pacific happens at irregular intervals of two to eight years and refers to the occurrence of unusual, non-cyclical, altered ocean currents in the oceanographic-meteorological system. Without going into detail about Walker cells, trade winds and surface waters, let's just say that the weather between South America and Southeast Asia is tipping. With worldwide effects.

Plankton dies en masse and leads to the collapse of entire food chains, e.g. there are no more fish off Peru, seabirds die in the entire Pacific. Unnaturally heavy rainfall on the western side of the Andes causes landslides and flooding. In Southeast Asia and Australia, the lack of rain causes huge bush and forest fires, and the Amazon region and southern Africa dry out. Huge hurricanes develop in Mexico, the monsoon intensifies in India, and coral bleaching increases significantly worldwide. Everywhere it becomes noticeably warmer.

El Niño has already been documented by the pre-Columbian Incas and is even believed to have led to the extinction of the Moche civilization. It is therefore a natural phenomenon for which, for once, humans are not to blame. However, since man-made climate disasters such as floods, hurricanes and forest fires have increased dramatically in recent years, more than a few experts expect a reciprocal amplification that could be devastating due to its cascading effect. In the best case, humanity gets a temporary taste of circumstances to come, hopefully leading to more immediate action to mitigate climate change impacts. At worst, this heated combination pushes climatic tipping points past their very tipping point. Which, as we know, is irreversible.

Good News of the Week:

The annual G7 summit is over. This time under Japanese leadership in Hiroshima. This cooperation format of the seven economically strongest Western nations (Japan, USA, Canada, France, Great Britain, Italy and Germany) with the participation of the European Union originally saw itself as a forum for discussing issues of the global economy. And in recent years, it has evolved into a hub that also has security and sociopolitical relevance. Therefore, an unsurprising item on the program this year was the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selenski to promote fighter jets.

Just as predictable as the condemnation of Russia's war of aggression was the theme of economic cooperation with China while distancing oneself from its geopolitical and human rights positions. The same applies to concerns about climate change, declining biodiversity and the too-slow expansion of renewable energies - albeit without any significant breakthroughs. Also, security of supply in globalized trade and cooperation with emerging economic powers. So no surprises at all?

Yes, in my opinion there are. After the delivery chain issues at the time of the Corona pandemic, the grain exports from Ukraine and fertilizers from Russia, which have been stopped in the meantime, have thrown another spotlight on the global food situation. Which is shitty to say the least. Among other things, because it is precisely the poorest countries that are most affected by the effects of climate change that are already being felt today.

Last year, under German auspices, the G7 and the World Bank founded the Global Alliance for Food Security (GAFS). According to its statutes, the alliance is committed to an agile, targeted and rapid response to food crises, which at the same time takes the right path toward sustainable agricultural systems. And pools the corresponding resources of its members: Germany, for example, has already been giving 2 billion euros annually for years to fight hunger in needy countries.

Now, according to a communiqué, the G7 have decided to provide a further 21 billion U.S. dollars in emergency aid. German Development Minister Svenja Schulze, initiator of the GAFS, commented: "The fact that the G7 are now united in their commitment to a further and holistic commitment one year later is a strong sign of solidarity with the Global South."

Of course, this is not enough. Oxfam, for example, points out that the UN has put the financial requirement in this regard at 55 billion. The G7 would have therefore failed in terms of development policy. But if you take a look at the bare figures, you will see that the G7 are contributing their fair share according to their economic performance. I am not aware of any corresponding initiative by China, India, Russia, Brazil or the Arab world. So we are on track so far. At least we are. And at least on a topic that too rarely makes it into the headlines.

Personal happy moment of the week:

My two children are getting older - and on their own feet. First, my daughter, who just turned 20, was in Budapest with the political science department of her university. Although only in her first year of study already as a group leader. And then my son, who just turned 15, was at the partner school in Paris. As the only one from the 8th grade and the youngest participant of the student exchange. Both not only completed their trip with aplomb, but also took the opportunity to present themselves as cosmopolitan, curious, self-confident young people. And made their dad proud.

I couldn't care less...

...about the voting behavior of Turks in Germany. Because they are allowed to vote in their home country, even if they are resident abroad. And they do. In large numbers. Unfortunately, two-thirds for Recep Erdogan. That was the case in the regular presidential election a week ago and that will be the case in the runoff election a week from now. I do not understand that. People who live in a well developed prosperous democracy should actually appreciate its canon of values - and not keep an autocrat in power.

As I write this...

...I am sitting on the train to Cologne. As I or my employer had booked it. Which is no longer a matter of course in view of the frequent strikes lately. The next round of negotiations between the union and Deutsche Bahn is scheduled for the day after tomorrow, so my return trip should also work out that day. On schedule. Which is tantamount to being late. Right now, we've been theoretically on the move for 12 minutes - but we're still standing on the platform in Munich. So everything is completely normal.

Post Scriptum

The Arab League has welcomed Syria's ruler Bashar al-Assad back into its midst - with a brotherly kiss. Those who were still waiting for proof that human rights do not always feel at home in the Arab cultural area (to put it mildly) now have it. The greeting "Salam alaikum" means "(May) peace be upon you". Yeah - but some terms and conditions apply.

[sagarmatha13]

30 Days Writing Challenge

Day 4, Places You Want To Visit

Sebagai seorang pendaki musiman ( mungkin sekarang hampir vakum hahaha) pasti mempunyai impian atau tempat yang ingin sekali di kunjungi sebagai salah satu list dalam pendakiannya.

HIMALAYA, ya ini adalah sebuah barisan pegunungan di Asia, yang memisahkan anak Benua India dari Dataran tinggi Tibet. Himalaya sendiri adalah tempat gunung-gunung tertinggi di dunia, salah satunya adalah gunung Everest, gunung yang menjadi impian para pendaki ini adalah gunung tertinggi di dunia, gunung ini biasanya menjadi tujuan bagi mereka yang akan melakukan rangkaian seven summits dunia.

Bagi saya, tidak mendaki everest pun tak apa karena tidak mungkin bagi saya untuk bisa mendaki gunung itu, selain butuh skill yang sangat mumpuni dan harus dilakukan oleh orang yang sangat profesional dalam mendaki, tentu membutuhkan latihan yang sangat keras, terlebih biayanya pun sangat mahal.

Tapi itu semua adalah impian, area himalaya selalu jadi impian saya untuk bisa kesana meskipun hanya ke area-area yang bisa saya jangkau.

28 Agustus 2018 lahirnya si kecil cantik yang diberi nama Neima Minara Sagarmatha. Sagarmatha sendiri diambil dari nama lain gunung everest.  Di Nepal, gunung ini disebut Sagarmatha yang dalam bahasa Sanskerta artinya "Kepala Langit" dan dalam bahasa Tibet Chomolangma atau Qomolangma yang artinya Bunda Semesta.

Semoga nama itu menjadi pengingat akan sebuah impian atau keinginan besar Ayahnya untuk bisa kesana, atau mungkin nanti anak saya yang akan meneruskan cita-cita Ayahnya. Semoga menjadi doa.

[md-asif-94]

The Victory in Real Life Inspirational About Success Story, A True Tale about Victory

A success story is a narrative that chronicles a person or organization’s journey from a challenging situation to a positive outcome. These stories often inspire, motivate, and provide valuable lessons for others. They can be about personal achievements, professional triumphs, or overcoming adversity.

Below are the 5 real-life inspirational success stories that can help you take risks in life and make great decisions to be successful in life:

1. Success Story of Pakistani female Education activist: Malala Yousafzai; Success Story

Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani activist and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate. She was born on July 12, 1997, in the Swat District of Pakistan. Malala became an international symbol of peaceful protest after she was shot in the head in 2012 by a Taliban gunman while traveling home from school. Despite the attack, Malala survived and continued to fight for her cause. In 2014, she was the youngest person to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. She also founded the Malala Fund, which works to educate girls around the world. Malala’s efforts have empowered millions of young girls and women to pursue their dreams. She continues to be an inspiration to many and is living proof that one can fight for a cause and make a difference. She continues to have one of the most well-known success stories.

2. Hard Success Story interesting of Ratan Tata; Success Story

Ratan Tata is an Indian industrialist and philanthropist associated with the Tata Group. He is widely respected for his business acumen, and vision and is one of the most followed stories about success. Tata took over the reins of the Tata Group in the late 1990s. Under his leadership, the Tata Group became one of the largest conglomerates in India. His most notable achievements include the acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover from Ford Motors in 2008 and the launch of the world’s cheapest car, the Tata Nano, in 2008.  He is one of the most respected and admired business leaders in India. Ratan Tata’s story inspires people, and his legacy will continue to shape the future of the Indian economy and corporate culture for generations to come.

Read More: The victory day of Bangladesh 1971, 16th December.

3. Success Story in the Life of Bear Grylls; Success Story

Bear Grylls is a well-known British adventurer, author, and television presenter. He is best known for his television series Man vs. Wild and Born Survivor. Bear Grylls is the youngest Briton to climb Mount Everest. He has also led a team of climbers to reach the summit of Mount Ama Dablam, a 22,000-foot peak in the Himalayas. He has also completed many other adventures, including a record-breaking expedition across the North Atlantic Ocean in a rigid inflatable boat. Grylls’ television career began in 2006 with the series Man vs. Wild, which aired on the Discovery Channel. Bear Grylls became a household name as the show quickly became popular. He has since gone on to produce several other television shows, including Born.

4. Interesting Success Story of Walt Disney; Success Story

Walt Disney, born in 1901, was a pioneer in the field of animation and entertainment. His career began with making short animated cartoons in the 1920s. He had a passion for animation and wanted to create something that could bring joy to people around the world. Taking a risk, he created his first full-length animated feature – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, in 1937, which was highly successful. This success story established him as one of the pioneers of animation and entertainment. His characters, Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, became iconic figures around the world. His legacy continues to live on through his animation and theme parks, which people of all ages enjoy.

5. Most Popular Indian Success Story of Dhirubhai Ambani; Success Story

Dhirubhai Ambani was an Indian business magnate and entrepreneur who founded Reliance Industries. He is widely credited with making the Indian stock market more accessible to the average investor and is often featured in many success stories. Dhirubhai quickly expanded his business with the help of his family members. He set up Reliance Industries in 1966 and took the company public in 1977. His business acumen and visionary leadership made Reliance one of the largest and most profitable companies in India. Dhirubhai’s conquest story inspires entrepreneurs worldwide. He is recognized for transforming the business environment in India and motivating a lot of entrepreneurs to follow their ambitions. His legacy continues to live on in Reliance Industries, which is now one of India’s largest companies.

Read More: Why SEO is Essential for Business Today of Contents

Motivational Success Story of Famous Personalities

Below are the motivational stories about the success story of famous people that will inspire you to work hard and never give up in life:

6. Hard Work Body Builder Arnold Schwarzenegger: Success Story

Arnold’s rise to success began in bodybuilding, where he won several titles, such as Mr. Universe in 1969 and Mr. Olympia seven times. He then transitioned to Hollywood, where he starred in many iconic films, such as The Terminator and Predator. After that, Arnold entered politics and was chosen to serve as California’s 38th governor in 2003. He served two terms before retiring in 2011. Arnold Schwarzenegger is among the inspiring examples of stories about success and struggle. He worked hard to become a bodybuilding champion, a Hollywood star, and a Governor of California. He proves that anyone, no matter their background, can achieve success if they are willing to put in the hard work.

7. The Success Story of American Businessman, investor, and philanthropist: Warren Buffett; Success Story

Warren Buffett was born in 1930 in Omaha, Nebraska, and displayed an aptitude for business and investing at an early age. He attended the University of Nebraska and later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he received a degree in economics. After graduation, he worked as a stockbroker and eventually established Buffett Partnership Ltd. in 1956. Buffett Partnership Ltd. was very successful, showcasing many stories about success in the investment world. By 1965, Buffett had accumulated enough wealth to purchase a textile manufacturing firm called Berkshire Hathaway. Under his leadership, the company went on to become one of the most successful and respected corporations in the world. He preaches the importance of having a long-term view and avoiding short-term speculation. He is a believer in the power of compound interest and says it is the most powerful force in the universe.

8. The Success Story of World Popular E-Commerce Site Amazon’s CEO Jeff Bezos; Success Story

Jeff Bezos is the founder and CEO of Amazon, the world’s largest online shopping website. In 1994, Bezos founded Amazon to create an online marketplace. Since then, Amazon has expanded to become the world’s largest online retailer, employing over 800,000 people worldwide. Bezos has also been involved in other ventures, such as Blue Origin, a private aerospace manufacturer and space transportation service. Bezos has received numerous awards and accolades for his entrepreneurial success. In 1999, he was named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year and was inducted into the National Business Hall of Fame in 2018. He has also been named to Forbes’ list of the world’s wealthiest people for the last two decades. Jeff Bezos is an inspirational entrepreneur who has achieved incredible success through his innovative ideas and relentless dedication. He is a true testament to the power of hard work and ambition.

9. Facebook creator’s CEO of Mark Zuckerberg: Success Story; Success Story

Mark Zuckerberg is the founder and CEO of Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg became the world’s youngest self-made billionaire in 2008. He received recognition as Time Magazine’s Person for the Year in 2012. He continues to lead the company as it grows and evolves. Mark Zuckerberg’s success story is truly inspiring. He followed his passion for technology, worked tirelessly, and consistently pursued his goals. His journey serves as proof that, with dedication and determination, anyone can achieve their dreams and make a significant impact on the world.

10. World Famous Success Story in Football: Cristiano Ronaldo; Success Story

Cristiano Ronaldo is a prime example of how dedication and hard work can help one achieve success. Ronaldo showed early dedication to attaining his objectives. He devoted countless hours to training and honing his skills and never took his eye off the ball. As a result, he is now one of the most successful football players in history. Ronaldo’s commitment and hard work have paid off in spades. He has won numerous awards, including the Ballon d’Or and World Player of the Year. He has also set numerous records, including becoming the first player to score 100 goals in the Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s success story is inspiring. It shows that, with enough dedication and hard work, anyone can achieve success. His determination and commitment to excellence serve as an example to us all. He is regularly striving to improve and has consistently demonstrated a tireless work ethic.

[darkmaga-returns]

By Malcolm Scott

Emerging market nations in the expanded BRICS group would see their economic integration boosted by tangible progress on proposals such as developing a payments system and grain exchange for members.

That’s according to Mihaela Papa, director of research and principal research scientist at the Center for International Studies at the Massachusetts Institute of

Technology and co-author of the 2022 book: “Can BRICS De-dollarize the Global Financial System?”

“With BRICS doubling its membership in 2024, new members are expected to support existing BRICS agendas,” she said in a written interview with Bloomberg News. “A key question is whether they can innovate together.”

The BRICS — comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa — expanded on Jan. 1 to include Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia and Egypt. Russia is due to host the BRICS Summit Oct. 22 to 24, just a couple of weeks ahead of a US presidential election that will be crucial for the group’s prospects.

Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ policies align with the BRICS’ vision of multi-polarity and issue-based cooperation, Papa said. Vice President Kamala Harris would likely continue Biden administration policies such as engaging in economic and security relations with allies and NATO, strengthening the Group of Seven and leading on climate issues, she said.

The following Q&A accompanies Bloomberg Markets Magazine’s story on how global power is realigning.

Question: How has Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent difficulties in enforcing its diplomatic and economic isolation by the US-led G-7 shaped the Global South’s view of BRICS since early 2022?

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] South Africa players are ecstatic after defeating Australia (PC: ICC) Bharath Ramaraj in Dubai It was the semifinal of the 2017 50-over World Cup between England and South Africa in Bristol. South Africa needed a good start in conditions where the ball was doing just enough off the seam. Lizelle Lee, one of the openers, didn’t survive long. Just when it seemed like the South African batters would be tied down, Laura Wolvaardt, all of 18, unfurled a cracking cut shot. The sound of the willow meeting the leather was a crisp one and it gave an indicator that it came right off the middle. The kind of stroke that is generally a hallmark of a batter with pedigree. Seven years later, she hasn’t just fulfilled her potential as a batter but is also on the verge of leading her country to World Cup glory. In the World Cup semi-final, under her leadership, South Africa defeated Australia, six-time T20 champions. The same side, who crushed South Africa’s dreams of winning the T20 World Cup trophy on home soil last year.  The essence of that victory was South Africa’s authoritative performance. Just a glance at the ring fielders was enough to tell something about South Africa’s intent in the field. It was also an indicator that the captain and coaching staff played their parts in motivating the side. Chloe Tryon, the South African skipper, believes Wolvaardt took a bit of time to adjust to her new role. “I think when she [Wolvaardt] first came in, she probably was a little bit nervous,” she said in the press conference on the eve of the final. “She’s a lot calmer now and I think she’s more clear on how she wants to do things. And she’s got backing from senior players, which is really good.” Wolvaardt is also topping the batting charts in the tournament, having notched up 190 runs at a strike-rate of just over 111. As one of the form players, she could have taken a day off, but on the eve of the summit clash, she was having a long net, facing throwdowns. Wolvaardt has the required qualities to lead from the front with the bat and as the leader. An entire country would also believe so. For South Africa to taste success, they have to get past New Zealand, who have an equally capable leader in Sophie Devine. With the willow in hand, she is the alpha female. After all, she has the fastest and joint-third-fastest fifties in T20Is. In the ongoing World Cup, too, she has provided enough evidence of her stroke-play. In the crucial encounter against India, Devine didn’t just showcase some of her power-hitting, but she also put on an exhibition of quick-silver footwork to negate the threat of the spinners. New Zealand after defeating West Indies (PC: ICC) What about her leadership skills? In contrast to her aggressive batting, she is placid and calm while handling press conferences. Suzie Bates, a senior member of the New Zealand team, had this to say about the all-rounder: “I think she’s been absolutely brilliant in her captaincy. Just so calm. I think the decisions she’s made in these conditions have been brilliant. So, it’s unfortunate that she’s stepping aside, but thankfully it’s just as captain.” Just to illustrate that point further, Devine didn’t show her emotions when New Zealand dropped sitters in the semi-final against West Indies. The experience of having gone through so many ups and downs after playing close to two decades would have helped her to gain a better perspective of the vagaries of the game. “We’re the grandmas of the team,” Bates said, referring to herself, Devine and pace bowler Lea Tahuhu. “We’re still standing, I think. Leah with her bionic knee, Sophie just having dealt with a lot of stuff as captain over the last few years and me just keeping on going and going.” Remember, both Devine and Bates were part of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2009. New Zealand lost in the final in that tournament. The very next year, Australia gave them some heartache, winning the summit clash by a mere three runs. After 14 long years, at

the fag end of their respective careers, the duo have got another chance to script their own story of redemption.  Both sides are desperate to win the coveted trophy. Unfortunately, there can be only one fairytale. Which will it be? The post Women’s T20 World Cup final – Laura Wolvaardt and Sophie Devine seek fairytale ending appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[news365times]

[ad_1] South Africa players are ecstatic after defeating Australia (PC: ICC) Bharath Ramaraj in Dubai It was the semifinal of the 2017 50-over World Cup between England and South Africa in Bristol. South Africa needed a good start in conditions where the ball was doing just enough off the seam. Lizelle Lee, one of the openers, didn’t survive long. Just when it seemed like the South African batters would be tied down, Laura Wolvaardt, all of 18, unfurled a cracking cut shot. The sound of the willow meeting the leather was a crisp one and it gave an indicator that it came right off the middle. The kind of stroke that is generally a hallmark of a batter with pedigree. Seven years later, she hasn’t just fulfilled her potential as a batter but is also on the verge of leading her country to World Cup glory. In the World Cup semi-final, under her leadership, South Africa defeated Australia, six-time T20 champions. The same side, who crushed South Africa’s dreams of winning the T20 World Cup trophy on home soil last year.  The essence of that victory was South Africa’s authoritative performance. Just a glance at the ring fielders was enough to tell something about South Africa’s intent in the field. It was also an indicator that the captain and coaching staff played their parts in motivating the side. Chloe Tryon, the South African skipper, believes Wolvaardt took a bit of time to adjust to her new role. “I think when she [Wolvaardt] first came in, she probably was a little bit nervous,” she said in the press conference on the eve of the final. “She’s a lot calmer now and I think she’s more clear on how she wants to do things. And she’s got backing from senior players, which is really good.” Wolvaardt is also topping the batting charts in the tournament, having notched up 190 runs at a strike-rate of just over 111. As one of the form players, she could have taken a day off, but on the eve of the summit clash, she was having a long net, facing throwdowns. Wolvaardt has the required qualities to lead from the front with the bat and as the leader. An entire country would also believe so. For South Africa to taste success, they have to get past New Zealand, who have an equally capable leader in Sophie Devine. With the willow in hand, she is the alpha female. After all, she has the fastest and joint-third-fastest fifties in T20Is. In the ongoing World Cup, too, she has provided enough evidence of her stroke-play. In the crucial encounter against India, Devine didn’t just showcase some of her power-hitting, but she also put on an exhibition of quick-silver footwork to negate the threat of the spinners. New Zealand after defeating West Indies (PC: ICC) What about her leadership skills? In contrast to her aggressive batting, she is placid and calm while handling press conferences. Suzie Bates, a senior member of the New Zealand team, had this to say about the all-rounder: “I think she’s been absolutely brilliant in her captaincy. Just so calm. I think the decisions she’s made in these conditions have been brilliant. So, it’s unfortunate that she’s stepping aside, but thankfully it’s just as captain.” Just to illustrate that point further, Devine didn’t show her emotions when New Zealand dropped sitters in the semi-final against West Indies. The experience of having gone through so many ups and downs after playing close to two decades would have helped her to gain a better perspective of the vagaries of the game. “We’re the grandmas of the team,” Bates said, referring to herself, Devine and pace bowler Lea Tahuhu. “We’re still standing, I think. Leah with her bionic knee, Sophie just having dealt with a lot of stuff as captain over the last few years and me just keeping on going and going.” Remember, both Devine and Bates were part of the inaugural T20 World Cup in 2009. New Zealand lost in the final in that tournament. The very next year, Australia gave them some heartache, winning the summit clash by a mere three runs. After 14 long years, at

the fag end of their respective careers, the duo have got another chance to script their own story of redemption.  Both sides are desperate to win the coveted trophy. Unfortunately, there can be only one fairytale. Which will it be? The post Women’s T20 World Cup final – Laura Wolvaardt and Sophie Devine seek fairytale ending appeared first on Sports News Portal | Latest Sports Articles | Revsports. [ad_2] Source link

[24x7newsroom]

Jaishankar and Sharif Meet: A Step Towards Easing Tensions

After arriving in Islamabad on Tuesday (October 15, 2024), External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended a dinner hosted by Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where they shook hands and exchanged greetings.

On Wednesday, Mr. Jaishankar is set to speak at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting in Islamabad. He is expected to reiterate the concerns raised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at previous SCO summits regarding terrorism and extremism in the region, as well as issues related to connectivity and transit.

Neither side has shown interest in holding a bilateral meeting, although Mr. Jaishankar will be present at the same venue as his counterpart Ishaq Dar and the CHG chaired by Mr. Sharif.

When asked by Indian media about the possibility of a meeting, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch confirmed that no bilateral discussions had been scheduled between India and Pakistan.

Following the dinner and a cultural performance featuring a recital by a Pakistani Bharatnatyam dancer, a senior minister expressed a positive outlook, stating that regional cooperation in South Asia should be revitalized like in the past and encouraged dialogue between India and Pakistan.

“We need to revisit the spirit of the Lahore Declaration,” Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal told journalists, referencing the visit by former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee in 1999. “That was a peak moment for the leadership of both countries, achieved by Nawaz Sharif and Atal Behari Vajpayee. If we can revive the spirit of Lahore, I believe there is no issue we can’t solve together.”

On Wednesday morning, leaders, including seven Prime Ministers from Russia, China, Belarus, and Central Asian countries, as well as Iran’s Vice President and Mr. Jaishankar, will pose for group photographs. This will be followed by the plenary session of the 23rd SCO CHG, the signing of several documents, and an official lunch at the Jinnah Convention Centre. Mr. Jaishankar is expected to leave Islamabad for Delhi later that afternoon.Read More-https://24x7newsroom.com/

[mariacallous]

The Group of Seven (G-7) leaders are expected to ratchet up economic and political pressure on Russia when they convene at a summit in Italy later this week, with plans to roll out new loans to Ukraine from frozen Russian assets. They also plan to condemn Moscow’s growing ties to North Korea as well as China’s indirect support of the Russian war machine.

The plans for the upcoming summit, described by current and former officials familiar with draft G-7 communiques circulating among diplomats, are being pushed by embattled Western leaders eager to lock in foreign-policy wins in the face of major election hurdles at home. A G-7 leaders’ summit in 2025 could be drastically different and a lot more fractured depending on how elections go in the United States, United Kingdom, and now France—particularly if former U.S. President Donald Trump beats incumbent President Joe Biden in the U.S. elections in November.

“This is the last time this group will meet in this configuration with these leaders. I think that’s pretty clear,” said Josh Lipsky, a former advisor at the International Monetary Fund and now senior director at the Atlantic Council’s GeoEconomics Center. “It all conveys a sense of urgency and the stakes around this G-7.”

The G-7 summit also comes against the backdrop of Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza as well as strategic competition between the West and its rivals in Russia and China to curry favor and influence in the so-called global south. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has invited the leaders of at least a dozen non-G-7 countries to the upcoming summit, including Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, India, Kenya, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.

The Biden administration’s top priority for the upcoming summit, which Biden himself is set to attend, is finalizing an agreement to provide around $50 billion in new loans to Ukraine using profits from Russian assets that have been frozen in the Western-dominated international financial system. The proposal has received widespread support in theory among countries opposed to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, but it still faces a thicket of complex legal and financial hurdles.

Western countries froze around $280 billion in Russian financial assets following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the bulk of which is parked in Belgium, France, and Germany. EU officials have resisted efforts to seize the assets directly, fearing the precedent such a move would set for international markets, but they opened the door to allocating interest generated by these assets to Ukraine. The Biden administration’s plan calls for G-7 countries to issue Ukraine a $50 billion loan, seen as a critical lifeline for the country’s battered wartime economy, which would be paid back over the years by the interest from the frozen Russian assets. Those assets could generate around $2.7 billion to $3.7 billion a year in interest. Biden administration officials are still working to hash out the final details of the plan ahead of the summit.

Alongside this, the G-7 countries—the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom—are also expected to issue new statements condemning Russia’s deepening military ties with North Korea and send new warnings to Chinese banks to stop helping Moscow evade Western sanctions lest they face new sanctions themselves, the current and former officials said. The United States has so far avoided sanctioning major Chinese financial institutions, possibly fearing the impact on global financial markets, but Washington could choose to target smaller Chinese banks helping Russia skirt Western sanctions as a calculated response and opening warning shot.

“Our concern is that China is increasingly the factory of the Russian war machine,” Daleep Singh, the White House deputy national security advisor for international economics, said during an event at the Center for a New American Security. “You can call it the ‘arsenal of autocracy’ when you consider [that] Russia’s military ambitions threaten obviously the existence of Ukraine, but [also] increasingly European security, NATO, and trans-Atlantic security.”

The Biden administration’s push for major deliverables at the upcoming G-7 summit fits into a wider strategy the administration has taken to advance its foreign-policy agenda in more informal and ad hoc groupings of partners and allies as traditional multilateral institutions—such as the United Nations—are stuck in diplomatic gridlock. The administration has advanced its Indo-Pacific strategy through the Quad—a new partnership among Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—and security partnerships through the AUKUS arrangement with Australia and the United Kingdom.

While the Biden administration hopes to focus the G-7 summit on rallying more international support for Ukraine, it is also grappling with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East centered on Israel’s war against Hamas. Ongoing U.S. support for Israel in the war as the civilian death toll in Gaza mounts has opened Washington up to widespread criticism and accusations of hypocrisy, particularly from countries in the global south.

Countries including Colombia, Mexico, and Nicaragua have filed to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice over vehement opposition from Israel and the United States. Colombia, Bolivia, and Belize have severed diplomatic ties with Israel, and Brazil has withdrawn its ambassador. Russian state propaganda outlets have seized on the narrative of Western double standards about civilian casualties in Ukraine versus Gaza, and many analysts assess that the conflict in Gaza is aiding the Kremlin’s messaging to the global south on Western hypocrisy.

“The Ukraine war awakened us in the West to the fact that there’s work to do in the global south, but at least then we were on the side of the global majority,” said Nathalie Tocci, director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali Italian think tank and former special advisor to the EU’s foreign-policy chief.

“Now with Israel-Gaza, we just basically are in a shrinking minority,” she added. “We’re in a far, far more complicated spot than we were a year ago vis-à-vis the global south … and there’s now this total lack of credibility that the West has to deal with.”

[travelittourandtravel]

7 Best Trekking Routes in Uttarakhand

Its stunning landscapes, towering peaks, and serene lakes make it one of the best trekking destinations in India. Here, we explore seven of the best trekking routes in Uttarakhand that promise breathtaking views and unforgettable experiences. For those looking to explore these trails, The Travelit Best Tour and Travels Agency in Dehradun offers exceptional Uttarakhand tour packages tailored to suit every adventurer’s needs.

1. Kedarkantha Trek

Kedarkantha, standing at an elevation of 12,500 feet, is a popular winter trek that offers spectacular views of the Himalayan ranges. The trek is ideal for beginners and seasoned trekkers alike, with a well-defined path winding through lush forests and charming villages. The highlight of the trek is the stunning sunrise view from the summit.

2. Har Ki Dun Trek

Known for its breathtaking vistas and rich flora and fauna, the Har Ki Dun trek is often referred to as the “Valley of Gods.” Nestled in the Garhwal Himalayas, this trek offers a glimpse of ancient temples and scenic meadows. The trail passes through picturesque villages and lush green forests, making it a treat for nature lovers.

3. Roopkund Trek

Famous for its mysterious skeletal remains, the Roopkund trek takes you to the stunning Roopkund Lake, also known as the “Mystery Lake.” The trek leads through beautiful alpine meadows and offers mesmerizing views of the Nanda Devi range. It’s a challenging trek that rewards you with incredible scenery and a touch of intrigue.

Read Full blog: https://medium.com/@travelit12/7-best-trekking-routes-in-uttarakhand-1d9b6106ef37

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