Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit: Simmtech Gears Up for Further Colocation Investment with Micron, Announces Global CEO Jeffery Chun
GANDHINAGAR, INDIA (PTI) – South Korean semiconductor critical parts maker Simmtech is preparing for another colocation investment with Micron, company Global CEO Jeffery Chun said on Wednesday.
In his address at the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit here, he said the company is ready to make “a significant investment in India and create thousands of job opportunities for high skilled talents in the state of Gujarat together with Micron”.
“The Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 showcases the global movement of creating a new supply chain network in a fast growing nation like India, and Simmtech as a company from Korea is very proud to be part of this movement to achieve a new milestone, making a prosperous Gujarat or self reliant India supply chain,” he said.
Chun further said,” We are now preparing for another round of colocation investment in India.” Following Micron’s investment plan in Gujarat, Chun said,”… with the support from the central and state government, we are ready to make a significant investment in India and create thousands of job opportunities for high skilled talents in the state of Gujarat together with Micron.” It will help in “elevating India’s PCB and IC packaging substrate industry to another level to make India’s presence in the semiconductor supply chain network much, much stronger”, he added.
Last year, Micron had announced plans to set up a semiconductor assembly and test plant in Gujarat entailing total investment of USD 2.75 billion (around Rs 22,540 crore).Chun further said, “We really look forward to further supporting our customers supply chain, both in India and globally. And we will further enable India’s domestic players to be part of the global supply chain ecosystem”.As a supply chain partner for the semiconductor assembly and test industry, he said Simmtech provides “the best in class, semiconductor packaging IC substrates and high density interconnect printed circuit boards to our industry leading customers”.
Simmtech had in the past made colocation investments to support its key customers supply chain network, he said citing examples of investment in China with Micron more than 10 years ago and recently in Malaysia.”Through these projects, we have proven to the market that colocation investment really boosted the growth of a semiconductor ecosystem in the region,” Chun said.
World looks at India as global growth engine, PM Modi Speaks on Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit
GANDHINAGAR, INDIA (PTI) – Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the world looks at India as an important pillar of stability, a trusted friend, an engine of growth in the global economy, a technology hub for finding solutions and a powerhouse of talented youth.
He also said that in the rapidly changing world order, India is moving forward as ‘vishwa mitra’ (friend of the world).
Speaking at the inauguration of the 10th edition of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, which saw participation of state heads and top CEOs of private companies, Modi said all major rating agencies are of the opinion that India will be among the three largest economies of the world in the next few years.
“In the rapidly changing world order, India is going ahead as ‘vishwa mitra’. India has given hope to the world that we can decide on common goals and achieve them,” he said.
“Today, the world looks at India as an important pillar of stability, a friend who can be trusted, a partner who believes in people-centric development, a voice that believes in global good, a voice of global south, an engine of growth in the global economy, a technology hub for finding solutions and a powerhouse of talented youth,” the PM added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi giving pose with World Leaders at Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in Gandhinagar, India on Jan.10, 2024. Photo : @narendramodi
“Recently, we celebrated 75 years of India’s independence and in the next 25 years we will celebrate 100 years. These 25 years is ‘amrit kaal’ for India. We have set a goal of making India a developed country in the next 25 years,” he said.
On the occasion, Modi credited UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who was present at the event as the chief guest, for the “high growth of India-UAE relations”.
The future of 21st century India will become bright with our collective effort. Even during the G20 presidency, India provided a roadmap for a global future, and is taking forward the vision in this edition of VGGS, he added.
India is continuously strengthening its partnership with I2U2 Group (comprising India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the United States) and other multilateral organisations, Mr. Modi said.
He said his government has made India’s banking system strong through recapitalisation and use of information technology, ended more than 40,000 compliances through the ease of doing business, GST and global supply chain diversion.
“We signed three FTAs so as to make India a more attractive destination for global business. One of the FTA is with the UAE. We have opened many sectors for FDI through automatic routes. Today, India is making record investment in infrastructure,” he said.
In 10 years, India’s capex has grown five times, and the country is also moving fast in green energy and renewable energy sectors, with three times increase in green energy and twenty times in solar energy capacity.
“In 10 years, cheaper phones and data have brought about a new revolution of digital inclusion. Expansion of optical fibre to every village, and expansion of 5G is changing lives of common India. We are the world’s third biggest start-up ecosystem,” Mr. Modi said.
He said the changes happening in India are increasing the ease of living of citizens and empowering them.
“In the five years of our government, more than 13.5 crore people have come out of poverty and the average income of people has increased along with the participation of female workforce, which is a very good signal for India’s future,” he said, and called upon the world to join India’s growth journey.
The government is working to improve logistics and ease of transportation, with the number of airports grown from 74 to 149, national highway network twice, and metro train network thrice in the last ten years, he said.
“It is a matter of happiness for us to have my brother His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to participate in the event. His presence as a chief guest at the VGGS indicates an increasingly intimate relationship between us. His faith in India and his support were very warm,” he said.
The two countries have signed MoUs for development of food parks, cooperation in renewable energy, and investment in the health sector.
Companies have also agreed to invest multi million dollars in India’s port infrastructure, he said. UAE’s sovereign welfare will begin operation in GIFT City, and transworld companies are also going to start aircraft and ship leasing activities, he said.
Biden will visit church where Black people were killed to lay out election stakes and perils of hate
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President Joe Biden wants Americans to grasp the extraordinary stakes of this year’s presidential election, as he sees them. As part of that effort, he’s revisiting some of the nation’s worst traumas to highlight what can happen when hate is allowed to fester.
On Monday, Biden heads to Charleston, South Carolina, to Mother Emanuel AME Church, the site of a 2015 racist massacre in which nine Black churchgoers were shot to death during Bible study. The event comes after a blunt speech by the Democratic president on the eve of the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, in which he excoriated former President Donald Trump for “glorifying” rather than condemning political violence.
It’s a grim way to kick off a presidential campaign, particularly for a man known for his unfailing optimism and belief that American achievements are limitless. But his campaign advisers and aides say it’s necessary to lay out the stakes in unequivocal terms, particularly after a few years without the cultural saturation of Trump’s words and actions. And it’s an effort to set up the contrast they hope will be paramount to voters in 2024.
“It shows the campaign meeting the moment,” former Biden communications director Kate Bedingfield said. “We’re facing a fundamental threat to our democracy in the form of Donald Trump, and rather than a cookie cutter launch — you know, here are my five policy platforms — he’s speaking to people in a way that connects that and that lays out the stark challenges that are coming down the barrel.”
It was June 17, 2015, when a 21-year-old white man walked into the church and, intending to ignite a race war, shot and killed nine Black parishioners and wounded one more. Biden was vice president when he attended the memorial service in Charleston, where President Barack Obama famously sang “Amazing Grace.”
Biden’s aides and allies say that episode was among the critical moments when the nation’s political divide started to sharpen and crack. Though Trump, the current Republican presidential front-runner, was not in office at the time and has called the shooting “horrible,” Biden is seeking to tie Trump’s current rhetoric to such violence.
Two years later, at the “Unite The Right” gathering of white nationalists in Charlottesville, Virginia, some carrying flaming torches, erupted in violent clashes with counterprotesters. Trump refused to condemn the white nationalists, saying “there is blame on both sides.”
Biden and his aides argue it’s all part of the same problem: Trump refused to condemn the actions of the white nationalists at that gathering. He’s repeatedly used rhetoric once used by Adolf Hitler to argue that immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country,” yet he insisted he had no idea that one of the world’s most reviled and infamous figures once used similar words.
And Trump has continually repeated his false claims that he won the 2020 election, as well as his assertion that the Capitol rioters were patriotic. He’s called the long prison sentences handed down for some offenders — whom he calls “hostages” and were convicted of crimes like assaulting police officers on Jan. 6 or seditious conspiracy — “one of the saddest things.”
Jim Clyburn, a South Carolina Democrat, said this year’s election “will determine the fate of American democracy, our freedoms, and whether this country will stand up against hate and vitriol embodied by Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans,” a reference to Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan.
“Few places embody these stakes like Mother Emanuel AME – a church that has witnessed the horrors of hate-fueled political violence and a church that has spoken to the conscience of this nation and shown us the path forward after moments of division and despair,” Clyburn said in a statement.
In his Jan. 6 anniversary speech, Biden told people in his audience that Trump doesn’t care about their future. “Trump is now promising a full-scale campaign of ‘revenge’ and ‘retribution’ — his words — for some years to come,” Biden said. “They were his words, not mine. He went on to say he would be a dictator on Day One.”
Biden has repeatedly suggested that democracy itself is on the ballot this year, asking whether it is still “America’s sacred cause.”
Trump, who faces 91 criminal charges stemming from his efforts to overturn his loss to Biden and three other felony cases, argues that Biden and other top Democrats are themselves seeking to undermine democracy by using the legal system to thwart the campaign of Biden’s chief rival.
South Carolina is the first official Democratic nominating contest where Biden is looking to flex his political muscle this year, and it’s where his turnaround in 2020 began on his way to the White House.
Biden is expected to meet with the families of the victims of the church shooting, and it’s in these moments when his aides believe he’s most effective.
“This is a personal strength of his, and his ability to do this in an emotional way that connects with people is not to be underappreciated,” Bedingfield said. “Because these are hard things to talk about. And it’s hard to talk about them in a way that doesn’t make people feel defeated. And he can do that.”
Inside the 2024 Golden Globes: What you didn’t see on camera
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — The Golden Globe Award s likes to think of itself as the party of the year, but instead of a debauched, champagne-fueled romp, it can sometimes feel more like a strange high school reunion for the extremely famous.
Some are catching up with old friends and co-stars, some are kissing their dates in plain sight and some fawn over the cool kids they haven’t yet met. Sometimes it happens on camera, as with “Poor Things” director Yorgos Lanthimos swooning over his proximity to a personal idol, Bruce Springsteen, but most of the time those interactions are saved for when the cameras are off – though Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner clearly didn’t get the memo that there were still live cameras even during the commercial breaks.
You’d never know that the Golden Globes were coming back from several scandal-plagued years inside the same ballroom where they’ve been held for years. The chatter was about how fun it felt to be back, whether or not Travis Kelce would show with Taylor Swift (he didn’t) and who was going to get the Oscar boost out of it. Some grumbled about the last minute seating assignments for high-profile attendees who weren’t told who their tablemates would be until late Saturday afternoon.
THE RUSH BEFORE SHOWTIME
It’s always a flurry of excitement in the moments before the show begins, as the biggest stars rush in from the red carpet to make the opening monologue. Jennifer Lawrence, noted appreciator of “lukewarm chardonnay,” walked in with minutes to go, martini in hand and purpose in her eyes. Right behind her was Oprah Winfrey, seemingly the only A-lister in the room with a full security detail clearing the way for her and Gayle King.
Many of the most famous faces were seated on the stage level where Harrison Ford took his seat early, at a table with Selena Gomez who was excited about the Nobu sushi being served. Attendees were largely thrilled with the upgraded food choice after years of chicken and fish and root vegetables that were usually long gone by the time everyone took their seats.
Soon Martin Short joined Gomez, in a place clearly marked “Meryl Streep.” Short quickly got up to speak with Ford who gestured to him to stay seated. Short ignored, and both were soon in stitches laughing. Later Ford made his way over to his “Indiana Jones” director Steven Spielberg and old co-star Kate Capshaw to catch up.
As they talked Ben Affleck made a beeline to studio exec Tom Rothman, who chatted and laughed before Affleck left to take his seat next to his pal Matt Damon. Kristin Wiig also made sure to stop Paul Giamatti to congratulate him for his performance in “The Holdovers.”
In a different part of the room, Gary Oldman gave his “Oppenheimer” director Christopher Nolan a kiss on the cheek as they passed one another and the voice over the loudspeaker urged everyone to get to their seats as soon as possible.
Elsewhere “ Priscilla” star Cailee Spaeny looked starry eyed along her way to her seat, while a waiter gushed to Quinta Brunson how gorgeous she looked.
CHOICE SEATS, SNAPS AND CONVERSATIONS
Unlike in years past the TV tables were just as big as an attraction as the movie ones, with “The Bear” cast seated in a high traffic area that only got more crowded with their subsequent wins. Ayo Edebiri and Jeremy Allen White stayed close most of the night, while Edebiri snapped photos of her co-star Matty Nathanson with a digital camera she brought.
“Beau is Afraid” star Joaquin Phoenix stayed close to his director Ari Aster as well, while behind them Emily Blunt and John Krasinski greeted Martin Scorsese with a hug and Katharine McPhee took a shot of the room with her phone.
Jo Koy’s awkward monologue sent many in search of another drink early in the show. The Globes smartly tucked the bar, the dessert table and some sushi extras in a separate room in the back of the ballroom which over the course of the night filled up with the likes of Florence Pugh, Helen Mirren, Shameik Moore, Barry Keoghan and Christina Ricci.
This image released by CBS shows host Jo Koy during the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, Calif., on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. (Sonja Flemming/CBS via AP)
Back in the room, Ali Wong had a meaningful chat with “All of Us Strangers” star Andrew Scott about his heartbreaking film.
“I didn’t know what it was about” before seeing it, Wong said. “It broke me.”
Scott also had an animated chat with Pedro Pascal, while Allison Williams took a picture with her old “Girls” boyfriend and current cast member of “The Bear” Ebon Moss-Bachrach.
“The Bear” cast was seated right next to “The Crown” table, Elizabeth Debicki was one of many who’d make her way over to talk and laugh with White and Edebiri. Robert Downey Jr. opted for the shouting across the room method. “What’s up BEAR,” he shouted, blowing kisses at them.
His “Oppenheimer” co-star Florence Pugh, who stayed close to pal Zoe Lister-Jones all night, also made her way to congratulate Ebediri but was quickly pulled away by Gillian Anderson who promptly took a selfie with her friend.
Barry Keoghan arrives at the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Pugh and Lister-Jones were on their way to the bar for some sushi and a drink. “I’m hungry!” Pugh exclaimed. Everywhere you looked there were fun conversations happening, like Riley Keogh laughing with Colman Domingo or Charles Melton talking to Barry Keoghan (hopefully about prosthetics).
NEAR THE END
The night started getting long about two hours in, where many took a break in the restroom. It was there that Natasha Lyonne spotted Elizabeth Olsen and gushed about her dress, and where a few other Marvel stars laughed to find themselves both at the sink at the same time.
“I want to change,” Pom Klementieff said to her “Guardians of the Galaxy” co-star Karen Gillan.
Gillan agreed and Klementieff sighed, “Let’s go back, back to hell.”
Greta Gerwig, left, and Noah Baumbach arrive at the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
After the show in the lobby, a shoeless Brie Larson hopped over to Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach in the lobby outside shouting “Gret-A, Gret-A!” before jumping up to hug the “Barbie” director.
They were just some of the many A-listers walking through the lobby on to various studio and agency parties happening around Los Angeles, where many will be analyzing what the night’s results mean for the Oscars. Is “Oppenheimer” now the solid frontrunner? Can “Maestro” and “May December” make a comeback? Why did “Barbie” win ONLY two awards?
Or perhaps it’ll stay light and fun. Because at those parties, the cameras really are off.
Flu and COVID infections got worse over the holidays, with more misery expected, CDC says
NEW YORK (AP) — The flu season in the U.S. is getting worse but it’s too soon to tell how much holiday gatherings contributed to a likely spike in illnesses.
New government data posted Friday for last week — the holiday week between Christmas and New Year’s — show 38 states with high or very high levels for respiratory illnesses with fever, cough and other symptoms. That’s up from 31 states the week before.
The measure likely includes people with COVID-19, RSV and other winter viruses, and not just flu. But flu seems to be increasing most dramatically, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We expect it to be elevated for several more weeks,” said the CDC’s Alicia Budd. So far, though, this is a moderate flu season, she said.
Interpreting flu reports during and after the holidays can be tricky, she noted. Schools are closed. More people are traveling. Some people may be less likely to go see a doctor, deciding to just suffer at home. Others may be more likely to go.
The flu season generally peaks between December and February; CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said she expects it to peak by the end of this month. Officials say this season’s flu shots are well-matched to the strain that is spreading the most.
According to CDC estimates, since the beginning of October, there have been at least 10 million illnesses, 110,000 hospitalizations, and 6,500 deaths from flu so far this season. The agency said 27 children have died of flu.
COVID-19 illnesses may not be as escalating as quickly as flu this winter. CDC data indicates coronavirus-caused hospitalizations haven’t hit the same levels they did at the same point during the last three winters. Still, COVID-19 is putting more people in the hospital than flu, CDC data shows.
Lauren Ancel Meyers of the University of Texas, said the nation is seeing a second rise in COVID-19 after a smaller peak in September.
“There is a lot of uncertainty about when and how high this current surge will peak,” said Meyers, who runs a team that forecasts COVID-19, flu and RSV trends
A new version of the coronavirus, called JN.1, is accounting for nearly two-thirds of U.S. cases, according to a CDC estimate. But health officials say there’s no evidence that that it causes more severe disease than other recent variants,
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
“They’re scouts going to the moon ahead of us,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.
Pittsburgh’s Astrobotic Technology is up first with a planned liftoff of a lander Monday aboard a brand new rocket, United Launch Alliance’s Vulcan. Houston’s Intuitive Machines aims to launch a lander in mid-February, hopping a flight with SpaceX.
Then there’s Japan, which will attempt to land in two weeks. The Japanese Space Agency’s lander with two toy-size rovers had a big head start, sharing a September launch with an X-ray telescope that stayed behind in orbit around Earth.
If successful, Japan will become the fifth country to pull off a lunar landing. Russia and the U.S. did it repeatedly in the 1960s and 70s. China has landed three times in the past decade — including on the moon’s far side — and is returning to the far side later this year to bring back lunar samples. And just last summer, India did it. Only the U.S. has put astronauts on the moon.
Landing without wrecking is no easy feat. There’s hardly any atmosphere to slow spacecraft, and parachutes obviously won’t work. That means a lander must descend using thrusters, while navigating past treacherous cliffs and craters.
The Astrobotic Peregrine is named after the world’s fastest bird.(AP: United Launch Alliance)
A Japanese millionaire’s company, ispace, saw its lander smash into the moon last April, followed by Russia’s crash landing in August. India triumphed a few days later near the south polar region; it was the country’s second try after crashing in 2019. An Israeli nonprofit also slammed into the moon in 2019.
The United States has not attempted a moon landing since Apollo 17’s Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt, the last of 12 moonwalkers, explored the gray, dusty surface in December 1972. Mars beckoned and the moon receded in NASA’s rearview mirror, as the space race between the U.S. and the Soviet Union came to a close. The U.S. followed with a handful or two of lunar satellites, but no controlled landers — until now.
Not only are Astrobotic and Intuitive Machines looking to end America’s moon-landing drought, they’re vying for bragging rights as the first private entity to land — gently — on the moon.
Despite its later start, Intuitive Machines has a faster, more direct shot and should land within a week of liftoff. It will take Astrobotic two weeks just to get to the moon and another month in lunar orbit, before a landing is attempted on Feb. 23.
If there are rocket delays, which already have stalled both missions, either company could wind up there first.
Scientists believe the south pole’s permanently shadowed craters hold billions of pounds (kilograms) of frozen water that could be used for drinking and making rocket fuel. That’s why the first moonwalkers in NASA’s Artemis program — named after Apollo’s twin sister in Greek mythology — will land there. NASA still has 2025 on the books for that launch, but the General Accountability Office suspects it will be closer to 2027.
Astrobotic will head to the south pole on its second flight, carrying NASA’s water-seeking Viper rover. And Intuitive Machines will return there on its second mission, delivering an ice drill for NASA.
Landing near the moon’s south pole is particularly dicey.
“It’s so rocky and craggy and full of craters at the south pole and mountainous, that it’s very difficult to find a lighted region to touch down safely,” Altemus said. “So you’ve got to be able to finesse that and just set it down right in the right spot.”
While Houston has long been associated with space, Pittsburgh is a newcomer. To commemorate the Steel City, Astrobotic’s lander will carry a Kennywood amusement park token, the winner of a public vote that beat out the Steelers’ Terrible Towel waved at football games, dirt from Moon Township’s Moon Park, and a Heinz pickle pin.
The lander is also carrying the ashes or DNA from 70 people, including “Star Trek” creator Gene Roddenberry and science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke. Another 265 people will be represented on the rocket’s upper stage, which will circle the sun once separated from the lander. They include three original “Star Trek” cast members, as well as strands of hair from three U.S. presidents: George Washington, Dwight D. Eisenhower and John F. Kennedy.
The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Envoys from Five Nations Present Credentials to the President of India
NEW DELHI (DT) – In a significant diplomatic event, representatives from five nations have officially presented their credentials to the the President of India. The ceremonial occasion, held today at the Presidential Palace, marked the formal initiation of diplomatic duties for the envoys, signifying the strengthening of international ties.
President Droupadi Murmu on Friday received credentials from envoys of five nations, including Sri Lanka and Greece, during a ceremony at the Rashtrapat Bhavan.
President Droupadi Murmu receiving credentials from, Mr Percy P. Chanda, High Commissioner of the Republic of Zambia. Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Photo : @rashtrapatibhvn
Those who presented their credentials were Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka High Commissioner Kshenuka Dhireni Senewiratne, Ambassador of Greece Aliki Koutsomitopoulou and Republic of Zambia High Commissioner Percy P Chanda, a statement issued by the president’s office said.
Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan Elchin Nariman Oglu Huseynli and High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Lesotho Lebohang Valentine Mochaba also presented their credentials to Murmu, it added.
President Droupadi Murmu receiving credentials from, Mrs Lebohang Valentine Mochaba, High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Lesotho. Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Photo : @rashtrapatibhvn
The dignitaries, hailing from diverse regions, engaged in a protocol-rich ceremony, expressing their commitment to fostering diplomatic relations and collaboration between their respective nations and India. The presentation of credentials is a customary diplomatic procedure that underscores the mutual respect and cooperation shared between nations.
The President, in welcoming the diplomats, emphasized the importance of diplomacy in addressing global challenges and promoting peace and understanding. The occasion provided an opportunity for fruitful discussions on shared interests, cooperation, and the potential for collaborative initiatives in various sectors.
President Droupadi Murmu receiving credentials from, Mrs Aliki Koutsomitopoulou, Ambassador of Greece . Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Photo : @rashtrapatibhvn
Roles and Responsibilities of Diplomats
Diplomats, often referred to as the backbone of international relations, play a pivotal role in facilitating communication, negotiation, and cooperation between nations. Their primary duties encompass representing their home country on the international stage, fostering positive relationships, and advocating for their nation’s interests.
Key Responsibilities Include:
Representation: Diplomats serve as official representatives of their countries, engaging with foreign governments, international organizations, and various stakeholders. Their conduct and communication reflect the values and policies of their home nation.
Negotiation and Mediation: Diplomats are at the forefront of negotiations, working to resolve conflicts, broker agreements, and find common ground between countries. Their diplomatic skills are crucial in navigating complex geopolitical issues.
Information Gathering and Reporting: Diplomats act as informed observers, collecting data on political, economic, and social developments in the host country. They provide detailed reports to their home government, aiding in informed decision-making.
Cultural Diplomacy: Promoting cultural exchange and understanding is a vital aspect of diplomacy. Diplomats engage in activities that showcase their country’s culture, fostering positive perceptions and building bridges between nations.
Consular Services: Diplomats provide consular assistance to their citizens abroad, addressing issues such as emergencies, legal matters, and support during crises. They act as a link between their nationals and the host country’s authorities.
Policy Advocacy: Diplomats advocate for their country’s policies and interests on various global issues, including human rights, environmental concerns, and economic cooperation. They participate in international forums to convey their nation’s stance.
As we navigate an interconnected world, the responsibilities of diplomats continue to evolve, adapting to the challenges and opportunities of the contemporary geopolitical landscape. Stay tuned for a more in-depth exploration into the dynamic world of diplomacy.
President Droupadi Murmu receiving credentials from, Ms Kshenuka Dhireni Senewiratne, High Commissioner of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka. Friday, Jan. 5, 2024. Photo : @rashtrapatibhvn
Blinken opens latest urgent Mideast tour in Turkey as fears grow that Gaza war may engulf region
ISTANBUL (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off his latest urgent Middle East diplomatic mission in Turkey on Saturday, as fears mount that Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza may explode into a broader conflict.
Blinken’s fourth visit in three months comes amid worrying developments outside of Gaza, including in Lebanon, northern Israel, the Red Sea and Iraq, that have put intense strains on what had been a modestly successful U.S. push to prevent a regional conflagration in the weeks after the war began, and growing international criticism of Israel’s military operation.
Blinken met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss what Turkey and others can do to exert influence, particularly on Iran and its proxies, to ease soaring tensions, speed up humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza and begin in earnest to plan for reconstruction and governance of postwar Gaza, much of which has been reduced to rubble by three months of intense Israeli bombardments.
The immediate difficulty of Blinken’s task was underscored just hours before his talks with Erdogan as Lebanon’s Iran-backed Hezbollah militia fired dozens of rockets at northern Israel, warning that the barrage was just an initial response to the targeted killing, presumably by Israel, of a top leader from the allied Hamas group in Lebanon’s capital earlier this week.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrives in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, Jan.5,2024, on his first stop of his tour of the Middle East. Photo : Evelyn Hockstien/Via AP
Meanwhile, stepped-up attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels have disrupted international trade and led to increased efforts on the part of the U.S. and its allies to patrol the area and respond to threats, including possibly taking direct action against the group at its bases in Yemen. The Houthis have carried out at least two dozen attacks in response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza just since Dec. 19, which have further heightened tensions and raised risks for the global economy.
In Istanbul, U.S. officials said Blinken would be seeking Turkish buy-in, or at least consideration, of potential monetary or in-kind contributions to reconstruction efforts and some form of participation in a proposed multi-national force that could operate in or adjacent to the territory. Turkey, and Erdogan in particular, have been harshly critical of Israel and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the prosecution of the war and the impact it has had on Palestinian civilians.
In addition, officials said, Blinken will stress the importance the U.S. places on Turkey ratifying Sweden’s membership in NATO, a long-delayed process that the Turks have said they will complete soon. Sweden’s accession to the alliance is seen as one critical response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
From Turkey, Blinken will travel to Turkish rival and fellow NATO ally Greece to meet Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at his residence on the Mediterranean island of Crete. Mitsotakis and his government have been supportive of U.S. efforts to prevent the Gaza war from spreading and have signaled their willingness to assist should the situation deteriorate further. Greece has also shown patience in waiting for the delivery of advanced U.S. fighter jets as the issue of Sweden’s accession to NATO is worked out with Turkey.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, shakes hands with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan at Vahdettin, a private residence of the Presidency,in Istanbul,Turkey, Saturday, Jan.6,2024, on his first stop of his tour of the Middle East. Photo : Evelyn Hockstien/Via AP
Blinken will end his Saturday in Jordan, which apart from Israel has been the secretary’s most frequent stop on his recent Middle East tours. Jordan will be the first Arab nation on Blinken’s current tour, and will be followed by Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia on Sunday and Monday. Blinken will then visit Israel and the West Bank on Tuesday and Wednesday before wrapping up the trip in Egypt.
“We don’t expect every conversation on this trip to be easy,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said shortly before Blinken departed Washington late Thursday. “There are obviously tough issues facing the region and difficult choices ahead. But the secretary believes it is the responsibility of the United States of America to lead diplomatic efforts to tackle those challenges head-on, and he’s prepared to do that in the days to come.”
As well as pressing Israel for dramatic increases in humanitarian aid to Gaza, a shift toward less intense military operations and a concerted effort to rein in violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank by Jewish settlers, Blinken will be urging reluctant Gulf Arab nations to work with the U.S. on the future of Gaza.
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Associated Press writer Andrew Wilks in Istanbul contributed to this report.
Alaska Airlines halts operations for 65 Boeing 737-9 jets following a midair fuselage blowout on a flight originating from Portland.
PORTLAND, Oregon (ADN) – An Alaska Airlines flight was forced to return to Portland International Airport after a section of the fuselage suddenly blew out of the plane Friday evening with a big boom and a rush of air through a gaping hole, passengers said.
The seat next to the destroyed section of the plane was unoccupied but the force ripped the shirt off a teenager in the middle seat, leaving his skin reddened and legs bruised from the sudden decompression, passengers said.
There were no immediate reports of serious injuries.
Flight data showed the plane climbed to 16,000 feet before returning to Portland. The airline said the plane landed safely with 174 passengers and six crew members.
An Alaska Airlines flight was forced to return to Portland International Airport on Friday evening after an incident in which a window section appeared to have been destroyed in flight, according to news reports.https://t.co/EGqbp3HbDo
The 5 p.m. flight, was originally headed to Ontario, California.
Alaska released a statement from CEO Ben Minicucci that said Flight 1282 “experienced an incident this evening soon after departure,” but didn’t give any more information about what happened.
Alaska late Friday grounded all its 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft and will return them to service after safety inspections.
“Following tonight’s event on Flight 1282, we have decided to take the precautionary step of temporarily grounding our fleet of 65 Boeing 737-9 aircraft,” Minicucci said in a statement. “My heart goes out to those who were on this flight – I am so sorry for what you experienced.”
Each of the aircraft will be returned to service after full maintenance and safety inspections, which Minicucci said the airline anticipated completing within days.
“We are working with Boeing and regulators to understand what occurred tonight, and will share updates as more information is available,” he said.
The plane was diverted about six minutes after taking off at 5:07 p.m., according to flight tracking data from the FlightAware website. It landed at 5:26 p.m. The pilot told Portland air traffic controllers the plane had an emergency, was depressurized and needed to return to the airport, according to a recording made by the website LiveATC.net.
People on the flight shared photos on social media that showed a large hole in the side of the plane and what looked like insulation exposed. Other photos showed air tubes hanging down from the ceiling in the plane’s cabin. Exterior photos suggested the missing section was an aft door that had been covered with a wall panel and window from the inside.
An Alaska Airlines 737-9 MAX mid-cabin exit door assembly separated from the aircraft minutes after take off this evening near Portland. ADS-B data and other details as they become available: https://t.co/7ozRQ5EvX1pic.twitter.com/KSXYMtkWou
A 20-year-old passenger said she heard “a really loud boom” about 20 minutes into the flight.
“It sounded like your ears were popping like normally on a plane, but 10 times louder,” she said. “I couldn’t believe it was real.”
Emergency breathing masks descended from the ceiling and a hole had opened behind the plane’s left wing where a section of wall with a window in it had been, she said. She gave her name only as Elizabeth and asked that her last name not be used for privacy reasons.
Instead of descending into chaos, an eerie stillness took over, she said.
“I was just praying that everything would be OK,” she said in a phone interview. “We were all calm, but I did feel like I was about to cry, because who knows this could be my last few moments.”
She said the teenager and his mother who was with him were moved to other seats by flight attendants.
“His mom had to drag him back into the plane,” she said. “I don’t know where they are now, but everyone was OK.”
Flight attendants made several announcements, but passengers were unable to hear over the sound of rushing wind. The crew eventually circulated through the plane to check for injuries and ensure everyone was belted into their seats.
“It was deathly silent. Nobody made a noise,” another passenger, 29-year-old Kyle Rinker, said in a text message to The Oregonian/OregonLive. “You could feel the plane shake a little because of the air pressure difference.”
The FAA registry shows the Boeing 737-9 was almost brand new, manufactured in 2023 and certified in November.
This is at least the second emergency landing at Portland International Airport in 75 days. An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot, Joseph Emerson, faces criminal charges for allegedly attempting to cut the engines of a packed flight that made an emergency landing at PDX on Oct. 22.
By Zane Sparling, oregonlive.com, Additional information from the Associated Press.
PepsiCo products are being pulled from some Carrefour grocery stores in Europe over price hikes
PARIS (AP) — Global supermarket chain Carrefour will stop selling PepsiCo products in its stores in France, Belgium, Spain and Italy over price increases for popular items like Lay’s potato chips, Quaker Oats, Lipton Iced Tea and its namesake soda.
The French grocery chain said it pulled PepsiCo products from shelves in France on Thursday and added small signs in stores that say, “We no longer sell this brand due to unacceptable price increases.”
It comes as a new French law meant to fight the rising cost of living has supermarkets facing millions in fines if they don’t reach a deal with suppliers on prices by the end of the month.
The ban also will extend to Belgium, Spain and Italy, but Carrefour, which has 12,225 stores in more than 30 countries, didn’t say when it would take effect in those countries.
PepsiCo products were still on shelves Friday in Rome and Barcelona. Carrefour Italia’s press office said information will be posted for customers in their stores in Italy in the next days.
PepsiCo said in a statement that it has “been in discussion with Carrefour for many months and we will continue to engage in good faith in order to try to ensure that our products are available.”
FILE – Shoppers enter the new Carrefour store Wednesday Aug. 25, 2010 in Ecully, near Lyon, central France. Carrefour has unveiled its hypermarket reinvention project at two stores in Lyon. The Ecully and Venissieux host the Carrefour Planet concept. The stores split into nine zones, including a ‘discovery’ store for events and seasonally themed products.Thomas Campagne/AP
The company behind Cheetos, Mountain Dew and Rice-A-Roni has raised prices by double-digit percentages for seven straight quarters, most recently hiking by 11% in the July-to-September period.
Its profits are up, though higher prices have dragged down sales as people trade down to cheaper brands. PepsiCo also has said it’s been shrinking package sizes to meet consumer demand for convenience and portion control.
“I do think that we see the consumer right now being more selective,” PepsiCo Chief Financial Officer Hugh Johnston told investors in October.
The Purchase, New York-based company said price increases should ease and largely align with inflation, which has fallen considerably worldwide since crunched supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic and then Russia’s war in Ukraine sent prices surging.
However, the 20 European Union countries that use the euro currency saw consumer prices rise to 2.9% in December from a year earlier, rebounding after seven straight monthly declines, according to numbers released Friday.
Prices for food and non-alcoholic drinks have eased from a painful 17.5% in the 20-country euro area in March but were still up by 6.9% in November from a year earlier.
The government of French President Emmanuel Macron has fought back on the rising cost of living for households, passing a November law to implement “emergency measures” to fight high prices.
The law moved up annual negotiations between supermarkets and their suppliers on setting prices and more to Jan. 31 from March 1. Fines have been increased to 5 million euros ($5.5 million) for grocery companies that fail to meet the new deadline for setting prices.
Burt Flickinger III, managing director of grocery consultancy Strategic Resource Group, said he thinks PepsiCo was targeted because the company has been one of the most aggressive in raising prices. He thinks other big brand names could be next and that other European retailers could follow Carrefour’s lead.
Pulling products off shelves over prices is rare, but it happens. Flickinger noted that Kraft Heinz stopped supplying British retailer Tesco with some of its items in 2022 for a week over a pricing spat.
Rob Dongoski, agribusiness and food lead in the consumer practice of management consultancy Kearney, said the showdown between the two big brands represents the ultimate test of customer loyalty.
“Are you loyal to your store or loyal to your brand?” he said.
In the U.S., several grocery sellers including Walmart have expressed displeasure at consumer product companies’ moves to keep pushing up prices even as overall inflation has come down. Particular problem areas had been packaged foods and household goods.
Walmart’s CEO Doug McMillon said in May that, “We all need those prices to come down.”
Stew Leonard Jr., president and CEO of Stew Leonard’s, a supermarket chain with stores in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, said in July that he warned the big consumer product companies that he wouldn’t accept any more price increases because he believed customers had reached a tipping point. But he noted on Friday that price increases have eased for many items, except for meat.
“It’s hard to justify price increase when overall costs are coming down,” Leonard said.
For its part, PepsiCo has pointed to higher costs for grain and cooking oil for its rising prices. Costs for those food commodities surged following Russia’s invasion in Ukraine but fell considerably on global markets last year from record highs in 2022.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization said Friday that its food price index was 13.7% lower in 2023 than the year before, but its measures of sugar and rice prices grew in that time. That overall relief still is not being felt by families at supermarkets.
Durbin reported from Detroit. Associated Press reporter Frances D’Emilio in Rome and AP Retail Writer Anne D’Innocenzio in New York contributed to this report.
