Author: AdminTNC

Opinion | Ukraine Needs a Roadmap to NATO Membership ASAP

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This means taking steps to ensure that Ukraine 1) wins this war and reestablishes full control over its internationally recognized 1991 borders; and 2) is fully anchored in the security and economic arrangements that from 1945 until 2014 made Europe a continent of peace, prosperity and cooperation. The transatlantic community can only be stable and secure if Ukraine is secure. Ukraine’s entry into NATO, fulfilling the promise made at the 2008 NATO summit in Bucharest, would achieve that.
In Vilnius, NATO heads of state and government should offer an unequivocal statement of alliance support for Ukraine and for Kyiv’s aim of regaining sovereignty and territorial integrity within its 1991 borders. They should further underscore their readiness to supply Ukraine weapons — including longer-range missiles such as ATACMS, Western fighter planes and tanks — in sufficient quantities to prevail on the battlefield. This will demonstrate the allies’ unequivocal commitment to Ukrainian victory and send a clear message to Moscow that its military situation in Ukraine will only grow worse the longer the conflict continues.
In Vilnius, the alliance should launch a roadmap that will lead clearly to Ukraine’s membership in NATO at the earliest achievable date. As with Finland and Sweden, the process can bypass the Membership Action Plan in light of the close and ongoing interactions between NATO and Ukraine. NATO heads of state and government should task the Council in permanent session to develop recommendations on the timing and modalities of an accession process for Ukraine for decision at the next NATO summit in Washington in 2024.
To enhance Ukraine’s security until it joins NATO, NATO and Ukraine at Vilnius should establish a deterrence and defense partnership under which:
· the allies will provide all necessary arms, training, equipment, and intelligence and other support to deter or defeat ongoing and new aggression by Russia; and
· Ukraine will continue to carry out essential steps to expedite its integration into the alliance and its command structures.
At the Vilnius summit, the allies and Ukraine should upgrade the NATO-Ukraine Commission to a NATO-Ukraine Council. The Council will oversee the deterrence and defense partnership and serve as a crisis consultation mechanism — in the spirit of Article 4 of the Washington Treaty — in the event of a threat to the territorial integrity, sovereignty, or security of Ukraine or any of the NATO member states.
In Vilnius, the allies should reaffirm their commitment to enhance coordinated measures to meet Ukraine’s urgent needs for military and defense equipment, focusing directly on air defense systems, long-range missiles and necessary ammunition, tanks and advanced combat aircraft.

To expand practical assistance to Ukraine, the allies should invite Ukraine to assign additional liaison officers at NATO headquarters and commands to support the launch of a joint process of developing a Ukrainian long-term national security strategy, national defense strategy, and national defense posture compatible with NATO standards and planning.
The allies should also approve the updated Comprehensive Assistance Package to facilitate Ukraine attaining full interoperability with NATO forces and making a comprehensive transition to NATO standards. The focus should be on the transition to Western weapons systems; creation of a modern, NATO-compatible air and missile defense system; creation of a medical rehabilitation system for wounded soldiers, as well as a system for soldier reintegration into civilian life and a comprehensive demining effort.
Vilnius can be a historic NATO summit. The above steps would bring closer NATO membership for Ukraine and, with it, the elimination of gray zones and ambiguous security situations that have proven to be an invitation to aggression. The result would be a more stable, secure, and prosperous transatlantic community.
Signed:
Stephen E. Biegun
Former U.S. deputy secretary of state
Hans Binnendijk
Former director for defense policy and arms control at the National Security Council; distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council
Stephen Blank
Senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Gen. Philip Breedlove (ret.)
U.S. Air Force, 17th Supreme Allied Commander Europe; distinguished professor at the Sam Nunn School, Georgia Institute of Technology
Ian Brzezinski
Former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO Policy; senior fellow at the Atlantic Council
Dora Chomiak
Chief executive officer at Razom for Ukraine
Gen. Wesley Clark (ret.)
U.S. Army, 12th Supreme Allied Commander, Europe; senior fellow at the UCLA Burkle Center
Luke Coffey
Senior fellow at the Hudson Institute
Andrew D’Anieri
Assistant director at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center
Larry Diamond
Senior fellow at the Hoover Institution; senior fellow at Stanford University
Amb. Paula Dobriansky
Former under secretary of state for global affairs
Amb. Eric S. Edelman
Former under secretary of defense for policy 2005-2009
Evelyn Farkas
Executive director of the McCain Institute; former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia
Daniel Fata
Former deputy assistant secretary of defense for Europe and NATO; senior advisor, Center for Strategic and International Studies
Amb. Daniel Fried
Former assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia; former U.S. ambassador to Poland
Francis Fukuyama
Senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University
Melinda Haring
Nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center
Amb. John Herbst
Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine; senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center
Maj. General William C. Hix (ret.)
U.S. Army
Lieut. Gen. Ben Hodges (ret.)
Former commanding general, U.S. Army Europe
Donald N. Jensen
Adjunct professor at the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, Johns Hopkins University
Andrea Kendall-Taylor
Former Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Russia and Eurasia
Amb. John Kornblum
Former U.S. ambassador to Germany
David Kramer
Former U.S. assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights, and labor; executive director at the George W. Bush Institute
Franklin Kramer
Distinguished fellow and board director at the Atlantic Council; former assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs
Matthew Kroenig
Vice president and senior director at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
Jan M. Lodal
Distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council
Lieut. Gen. Doug Lute (ret.)
Former U.S. Army; former U.S. ambassador to NATO 2013-17
Jane Holl Lute
Former deputy secretary of homeland security
Shelby Magid
Deputy director at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center
Tom Malinowski
Former U.S. member of Congress; senior fellow at the McCain Institute
Nadia McConnell
President of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation
Robert McConnell
Co-founder of the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation; director of external relations at the Friends of Ukraine Network
Amb. Michael McFaul
Former U.S. Ambassador to Russia; director at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies, Stanford University
Amb. P. Michael McKinley
Former U.S. ambassador to Peru, Colombia, Afghanistan, and Brazil
Amb. Carlos Pascual
Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine
Amb. Steven Pifer
Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine
Amb. Stephen Sestanovich
Former U.S. ambassador-at-large for the former Soviet Union 1997-2001; senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; professor at Columbia University
Amb. Andras Simonyi
Former Hungarian ambassador to NATO; nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council
Angela Stent
Nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution
Amb. William B. Taylor
Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine
Amb. Alexander Vershbow
Distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council; former NATO deputy secretary general; former U.S. ambassador to Russia and South Korea
Amb. Melanne Verveer
Former U.S. ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues; executive director at the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security
Alexander Vindman
Lieutenant Colonel (ret.), U.S. Army
Amb. Kurt Volker
Former U.S. ambassador to NATO; former U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations
Amb. Marie Yovanovitch
Former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine
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#Opinion #Ukraine #Roadmap #NATO #Membership #ASAP
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

July 5, 2023
Which Are the Most Popular Mobile Devices for Gaming?

South Asian Real Money Player Device & Brand Preferences Revealed
What devices and brands are most preferred by real money players in South Asia is no longer a trade secret, as one of the prominent online casino operators in the region – Casino Days (located at casinodays.com/in/casino) has shared some of their internal aggregate data.
Gaming companies use such anonymous internal statistics to determine how to optimise their platforms for the actual technology used by their customers, as well as to gain a better overall understanding of their players and the choices they tend to make.
Desktops and Tablets Have Lost the Battle
One of the major findings that can be derived from the shared Casino Days data is that real money gaming in South Asia is a mobile-first activity, while desktop and tablet devices are somewhere in the periphery.
Smartphones are responsible for a whopping 96.6% of gaming sessions in the region, data shows. Computers carry a modest weight of 2.9%, and bigger handheld devices like tablets have a negligible share as small as 0.5%.
Online casinos began their journey through history exclusively on computers in the mid 1990’s, but continuous advances in digital technology, the appearance of reliable smartphones, and the developments in network infrastructure and speed have moved remote casino gaming to mobile for good.
In more recent years, the rising productivity of smartphone hardware achieved at ever decreasing costs, especially through local manufacturing initiatives in India and Vietnam, coupled with cheap mobile data plans, have led to even greater proliferation of mobile gaming and gambling in the South Asian region.
Xiaomi Leads, Followed by Vivo and Samsung
Casino Days internal data on particular brands reveals that the global leaders in smartphone sales do not necessarily command leading shares of the market among South Asian real money players.
While Apple and Samsung hold the lead in global mobile vendor market shares (31.44% and 25.27% respectively as of May 2023), and Xiaomi is only third at a solid distance (with a share of 11.13%), Apple is used by barely 2.29% of Casino Days players, and Samsung has dropped down to third position with 18.1%.
Xiaomi has assumed the top place with a share of 21.9%, closely followed by Vivo with 20.79%. Devices by Realme (11.43%), Oppo (11.23%), and OnePlus (4.07%) all outrank products by the Cupertino-based US tech giant.

The Casino Days internal datasets reveal a massive dominance of Android, far greater than the dominance exerted by the open-source operating system (OS) on the global scale currently measured at 67.72%.
Among the main factors for the success of Android devices in the region, according to the market analysts at Casino Days, is the far greater local integration of Google Pay compared to the equivalent services by Apple Pay, and the fact that the open-source OS provides a much more convenient and easier platform for developers to create apps and get them registered.
“And, with influencers and tech reviews putting emphasis on Android devices, the choice of mobile phone brand and OS becomes easy; Android has a much wider range of products and caters to the Asian online casino market in ways that Apple can’t due to technical limitations,” the researchers add.

June 28, 2023
Justice Markandey Katju’s Twitter Account Suspended for Violating Platform Rules

May 20, 2023
Sustainable Development : Lt Governor Sinha Urges Youth to Transform Ideas into Action for a Sustainable Government at Y20 Consultation
Lt Governor highlights the role of youth in offering pragmatic solutions to climate and global challenges for a sustainable development.
Table of Contents
Lt Governor highlights the role of youth in offering pragmatic solutions to climate and global challenges for a sustainable development.
Lt Governor’s Call to Action
Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Vision
Youth Leadership and Sustainable Development
Ancient Indian Scriptures and Sustainable Living
Call to Join Sustainable Development Efforts
Conclusion
Lt Governor’s Call to Action
Srinagar, May 11, 2023 – Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha delivered an inspiring address at the Y20 Consultation Conference on ‘Climate Change & Disaster Risk Reduction: Making Sustainability a Way of Life’ held at the University of Kashmir.
The Lt. Governor urged the youth to put their ideas into practise so that nature and people can coexist peacefully and a better world can be created. The event witnessed a massive participation of national and international delegates, highlighting the global partnership in addressing environmental concerns and promoting equitable development for a better quality of life.
Hon’ble Prime Minister’s Vision
Lt. Governor Sinha stated in his remarks that combating climate change needs a group effort that goes beyond conference rooms. He reaffirmed the remarks made by the Hon. Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, who stressed the importance of a widespread movement and an ecologically friendly way of living in order to address climate concerns. Lt. Governor Sinha was adamant that Prime Minister Modi’s leadership will enable India to lead the world in creating a sustainable society that functions as a major economic engine while reestablishing the delicate balance of the natural world.
Youth Leadership and Sustainable Development
The Lt Governor emphasised India’s dedication to sustainable development by mentioning that one of the nation’s top priorities was “Green Growth.” India’s ambition to reach zero carbon emissions by 2070 displays its will to combat climate change effectively. The young were urged by Lt. Governor Sinha to take the lead in developing workable answers to the climatic and global concerns of the twenty-first century. He expressed faith in the young generation’s capacity to coordinate creative thoughts and deeds, protect natural resources, and actively contribute to the formulation of policies for sustainable development.
Ancient Indian Scriptures and Sustainable Living
The Lt Governor also discussed India’s vision for the G20, which emphasises the shared duty of preserving the environment and advancing sustainable development. He stressed the necessity of sustaining the planet for the sake of mankind, highlighting the need for inclusive development to alter the lives of the ordinary people. Lt. Governor Sinha drew attention to the ancient Indian texts that uphold the ideals and guidelines of environmentally friendly living. He emphasised how, even before the idea was widely accepted, these texts had argued for living in harmony with environment and for the wise use of natural resources.
Call to Join Sustainable Development Efforts
In order to tackle the difficulties brought on by fast expansion and ecological sustainability, the Lt. Governor emphasised the importance of taking a balanced and comprehensive approach to development and environment. He exhorted people to understand that future generations’ needs must come first and that their rights to natural resources are merely temporary.
The Lt. Governor pledged support for efforts aimed at combating climate change while reiterating the UT Government’s commitment to sustainable development and climate action.
During the event, Sh Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt Governor, encouraged the youth and other stakeholders to join efforts in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Prominent speakers, including Prof Nilofer Khan (Vice Chancellor, University of Kashmir), Sh Pankaj Kumar Singh (Director, Department of Youth Affairs, GoI), Prof Manzoor Shah (Y20 Chair, Kashmir University), Sh Guru Prakash Paswan (Senior Faculty, Patna University), and Sh Akash Jha (Secretary Programs & Logistics, Y20 India), also emphasized the importance of raising awareness and exchanging ideas on pressing global issues.
Conclusion
Lt Governor Sinha gave the event his support by opening the Y20 Exhibition and releasing the Y-20 Chronicle of the University. Additionally, the respective engagement groups for Jan Bhagidari jointly launched the integration of Y20 and U20.

Participants, panellists, and representatives from several nations attended the Y20 Consultation.
What was the focus of Lt Governor Sinha’s address at the Y20 Consultation?
The focus of Lt Governor Sinha’s address was on urging youth to take action for a sustainable world and offering pragmatic solutions to climate and global challenges.
What is India’s commitment to sustainable development and climate action?
India is committed to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2070 through ‘Green Growth’ and aims to lead the world in building a sustainable society under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
How does Lt Governor Sinha view the role of youth in sustainable development?
Lt Governor Sinha believes that youth will lead the world in preserving natural resources, offering innovative ideas, and becoming stakeholders in policymaking for sustainable development.
What was highlighted regarding India’s G20 Presidency and global responsibility?
India’s G20 Presidency focuses on protecting the climate and promoting sustainable development, emphasizing the collective responsibility of the global community to nurture nature for the benefit of humanity.
May 11, 2023
Youth Stabbed By Friend, Injured

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SRINAGAR: A youth was injured after being stabbed by his friend in Krangsoo area of Mattan in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday.
Quoting an official, KNO reported that Adnan Altaf of Krangsoo was stabbed by his friend outside his home after an argument.
He said Adnan received injuries in his arm and shoulder in the attack. “He was shifted to a hospital, where his condition is said to be stable,” he said.
Meanwhile, police have taken cognizance of the incident.

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#Youth #Stabbed #Friend #Injured
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

May 10, 2023
12th Grade Student Found Dead In Kashmir

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SRINAGAR: A 12th grade student from the Daksum area of Kokernag was found dead under mysterious circumstances in his native village.
According to officials, the body of Mohsin Mushtaq Deka (18), a 12th grade student and son of Mushtaq Ahmad Deka from Dessu Daksum in Anantnag’s Kokernag hamlet, was discovered in suspicious circumstances.
The body has been taken for legal and medical formalities, and further investigation is underway. (KS)

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#12th #Grade #Student #Dead #Kashmir
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

May 10, 2023
Teenager found mysteriously dead in Anantnag

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Kokernag, May 10: An 18-year-old boy was found dead mysteriously in Daksum area of Kokernag in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Wednesday.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that the boy identified as Mohsin Ahmad Deka (18) son of Mushtaq Ahmad Daka of Dessu Daksim was found dead mysteriously.
He said that he had left home to play cricket, but was found dead in mysterious circumstances.
“He has been shifted to SDH Kokarnag for postmortem to ascertained the cause of death.”
Meanwhile, police have started further investigation in this regard—(KNO)
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#Teenager #mysteriously #dead #Anantnag
( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

May 10, 2023
Tracking Kevin McCarthy’s promises to GOP critics as debt ceiling fight looms

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It was one of House conservatives’ biggest demands: more representation on key committees and in senior roles. They got both, and they’re still bragging about it.
At a House Freedom Caucus fundraiser in Tennessee last month, the conservative group’s chair Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) boasted to donors about what it extracted from McCarthy. That included gaining the Homeland Security Committee gavel for a group member after securing Rep. Jim Jordan’s (R-Ohio) eventual chairmanship of the House Judiciary Committee (he first served as the top Republican on the House Oversight panel).
Jordan’s position, Perry claimed at the event, was based on “leverage, too.” In reality, though, that position had long been expected given Jordan and McCarthy’s increasingly close relationship.
Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), a member of the Freedom Caucus who was present at the event, now chairs the homeland security panel after the protracted speakership battle.
“Now we knew we were going to have a dog in the fight … we also knew the competition,” Perry said of the homeland chairmanship race – apparently referring to Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) — according to an audio recording obtained by POLITICO.
“And one of the conversations was: If that other person becomes the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, then you will not be speaker.”
While the GOP Steering Committee mostly decides panel chairs, the process is heavily influenced by the speaker. (Green’s position, as well as other competitive chair positions, were decided by the Steering panel after McCarthy’s election on the floor.) Green’s allies have argued that his win was more than just a tradeoff, saying it was a win-win given his resume and vision for the panel. A Crenshaw aide, responding to Perry’s words, called the apparent deal the “worst kept secret in Washington.”

Additionally, two of the GOP’s most conservative members — Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) — were placed on the lower-profile but powerful Rules Committee. It was perhaps the most decentralizing move McCarthy made; the Rules panel decides exactly the way legislation comes to the House floor, empowering Roy and Massie to block certain bills or push for changes.
Conservatives gained more representation on other key committees, too. Two of the 20 holdout members landed on the Financial Services panel and two others got seats on Appropriations. And even Freedom Caucus members who were supportive of McCarthy landed on other top panels, like Rep. Randy Weber (R-Texas), who received a spot on Energy and Commerce.
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#Tracking #Kevin #McCarthys #promises #GOP #critics #debt #ceiling #fight #looms
( With inputs from : www.politico.com )

May 10, 2023
NIA Attaches Property Under UAPA In Shopian

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SRINAGAR: The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday attached an immovable property in Hermain village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district under UAPA.
Quoting an official, KNO reported that two rooms that belong to one Ishaq Pala of Aloora village in a joint residential house were attached by NIA today.
He said Pala was involved in NIA case no. RC- 07/2018/NIA/DLI registered under UAPA.
The official said that the property was attached after the order of special NIA court Jammu.

Previous articleNIA Attaches Property Under UAPA In Kashmir

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#NIA #Attaches #Property #UAPA #Shopian
( With inputs from : kashmirlife.net )

May 10, 2023
NIA attaches property under UAPA in Shopian

[ad_1]
Srinagar, May 10: The National Investigation Agency on Wednesday attached an immovable property in Hermain village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district under UAPA.
An official told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that two rooms that belong to one Ishaq Pala of Aloora village in a joint residential house were attached by NIA today.
He said Pala was involved in NIA case no. RC- 07/2018/NIA/DLI registered under UAPA.
The official said that the property was attached after the order of special NIA court Jammu—(KNO)
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#NIA #attaches #property #UAPA #Shopian
( With inputs from : roshankashmir.net )

May 10, 2023