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The ISWAN Seminar 2024 in India, hosted at the Maritime Training Institute (SCI) in Mumbai, brought together key maritime stakeholders to address pressing challenges affecting seafarers and their families. Over 150 participants, including maritime leaders, policymakers, shipping executives, welfare organizations, seafarers, their families and academics, convened to explore topics ranging from discussions on family support, fraudulent crewing agents, and the impact of decarbonization on seafarers’ well-being, alongside key launches and collaborative announcements. The seminar started with a welcome address by Mr. Deepak Shetty, IRS (Retd.), Former Secretary to the Government of India, Director General of Shipping, and ISWAN Trustee, who emphasized the significance of industry collaboration in enhancing welfare initiatives. This was followed by addresses from distinguished guests: Prof. (Dr.) Tanuja Kaushik, Dean of Academic Affairs, Gujarat Maritime University (GMU), emphasized the importance of addressing legal complexities in the maritime sector, particularly those concerning fraudulent crewing practices. She highlighted GMU’s pivotal role in advancing maritime welfare research through initiatives like the GMU-ISWAN survey on fraudulent crewing agents. Prof. Kaushik also underscored the university’s commitment to fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and welfare organizations to create robust legal frameworks and promote ethical practices in the maritime domain. Capt. J. C. Anand, Chairman Emeritus, the Indian Register of Shipping, and the senior-most member of the Indian maritime industry at 103 years of age, captivated the audience with his address. He stressed the importance of training seafarers and upholding ethical practices in maritime operations and reflected on the industry’s evolving landscape over the decades. Mr. Rene Anderson, CEO, Sea Health and Welfare, spoke about the significance of holistic welfare approaches for seafarers. He highlighted the parallels between ISWAN’s work and Sea Health’s initiatives, emphasizing collaboration for the well-being of maritime professionals. Mr. Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping, India, delivered the Chief Guest’s address, focusing on regulatory measures designed to support seafarers. He spoke about the Directorate’s commitment to digitizing grievance redressal mechanisms and simplifying processes to ensure timely assistance for seafarers in need. He also mentioned the MOU with ISWAN as a testament to this effort. Capt. Daniel Joseph, Nautical Surveyor-cum-DDG (Tech), Directorate General of Shipping, reinforced the Director General’s vision, commending ISWAN for its welfare programs. He emphasized India’s proactive approach to ensuring maritime safety and support for its seafarers. Commander Abeer Sharma, representing the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (Indian Navy), provided an operational perspective on maritime security. He addressed geopolitical challenges in West Asia, maritime threats, and the importance of collaborative knowledge sharing between the Navy and the maritime industry. The session concluded with an engaging Q&A, offering deeper insights into India’s maritime preparedness. Panel Discussions- Family Support in Seafaring This panel explored the importance of families in bolstering seafarers’ mental well-being and resilience. Moderated by Mr. Simon Grainge, Chief Executive at ISWAN, the discussion covered strategies to strengthen family systems and the industry’s role in addressing challenges faced by seafarers’ loved ones. Panellists: Dr. Harish Shetty, Senior Psychiatrist Ms. Saleha Shaikh, Founder & Head, MUI Women’s Wing Capt. Karan Kochhar, Managing Director, Maersk Capt. Sharad Kishore, Master Mariner The Impact of Recruitment Fraud on Indian Seafarers Based on the GMU-ISWAN survey findings, this panel focused on the prevalence and consequences of fraudulent recruitment practices, featuring the testimony of Sumeet Vishwakarma, who shared his experience as a victim of such practices. Moderated by Mr. Alexander Held, Head of Commercial Turtle, the session highlighted legal, regulatory, and educational interventions to protect seafarers from exploitation. Panellists: Capt. Manish Kumar, Nautical Surveyor, Directorate General of Shipping Dr. Mohit Gupta, Assistant Professor, Gujarat Maritime University Mr. Marville Espago, Regional Manager, ISWAN Philippines Mr. Sumeet Vishwakarma, Seafarer The Impact of Decarbonisation on the Welfare of Seafarers This discussion addressed the complex challenges posed by the industry’s shift towards decarbonization. Moderated by Mr. Rajeev Nayyer, President of the Institute of Marine Engineers (India), panellists reflected on the balance between achieving environmental goals and ensuring the well-being and preparedness of seafarers. Panellists: Ms. Louise Hall, Director of Loss Prevention, Corporate Responsibility, and Marketing, The Shipowners’ Club Mr. Kaushik Seal, Director, Slabs Consultancy Pvt Ltd Mr. Karan Ahuja, Chief Engineer Mr. Chirag Bahri, International Operations Manager, ISWAN Launches and Partnerships- Family Outreach Programme (FOP): ISWAN marked a milestone with the launch of the FOP in India, building on its success in the Philippines. After a trial phase in September 2024, the program is now officially live and forms an integral part of ISWAN’s Seafarers’ Education and Awareness Session (SEAS) project. The FOP aims to provide comprehensive support to seafarers’ families, recognizing their critical role in the seafaring community. GMU-ISWAN Research Report: In collaboration with Gujarat Maritime University, ISWAN launched a research report addressing the pressing issue of fraudulent crewing agents in India. The report provides actionable insights and recommendations to protect seafarers from exploitation, spotlighting the importance of ethical recruitment practices in the maritime industry. MoU Signing with Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS): ISWAN and TISS formalized a significant partnership aimed at enhancing the mental well-being of seafarers and their families. The collaboration leverages TISS’s expertise, including its iCall helpline—a free mental health support service available to all. This MoU underscores a commitment to creating meaningful mental health interventions for the maritime community. Concluding Remarks by Mr. Simon Grainge Mr. Simon Grainge, Chief Executive at ISWAN, delivered the closing remarks, summarizing the seminar’s impactful discussions. He highlighted key takeaways from the day, including the focus on mental health, maritime security, decarbonization’s impact on welfare, and the urgent need to address fraudulent recruitment practices. He appreciated the contributions of esteemed speakers for providing actionable insights. Mr. Grainge reiterated ISWAN’s commitment to working collaboratively with industry leaders, government bodies, and academic institutions to drive meaningful changes for seafarers and their families. Vote of Thanks by Mr. Chirag Bahri In his vote of thanks, Mr. Chirag Bahri, International Operations Manager at ISWAN, expressed gratitude to all participants, including esteemed guests for their invaluable contributions. He acknowledged the efforts of moderators and panellists from the day’s sessions for fostering constructive dialogue. Mr. Bahri also extended heartfelt thanks to the sponsors and supporting organisations for their support and emphasized the importance of collective efforts in advancing seafarer welfare initiatives. The seminar also featured an interactive app-based contest, with the winner receiving a Marshall Kilburn II Bluetooth speaker sponsored by Sailor Today Radio. Acknowledgements ISWAN extends its heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors, whose generous support made the ISWAN Seminar 2024 a resounding success: Platinum Sponsor: Gujarat Maritime University Gold Sponsors: Fleet Management, Kandla Seafarers Welfare Association, Maersk Silver Sponsors: Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, Bahri Ship Management, Campbell Shipping, Emarat Maritime LLC, Mayfair We Care, OSM Thome Bronze Sponsors: Teekay, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), Marlow Navigation Crew & Ship Management, MMS Maritime (India), Sea Bird Medicare, Equitas Small Finance Bank Radio Sponsor: Sailor Today Radio Media Sponsor: Marex Media Additionally, ISWAN acknowledges the contributions of the Supporting Organizations, which included: The Company of Master Mariners of India, NAUGHTICA-Offing Group, FOSMA, Institute of Marine Engineers (India), INSA, MASSA, Maritime Training Institute (SCI), TURTLE, and The Shipowners’ Club. This collective effort demonstrates the maritime community’s shared commitment to enhancing the welfare of seafarers and their families. Looking Ahead The ISWAN Seminar 2024 offered valuable insights into enhancing welfare programs amidst the ongoing challenges faced by the industry. Source: International Seafarers’ Welfare and Assistance Network (ISWAN)Elway: Remorse over passing on Allen mitigated by play of NixNew Delhi: Replacing the century-old criminal laws with a new set of legislations for introducing a modern and technology-driven criminal justice system, rolling out the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act and fire-fighting to check unabated violence in Manipur kept the Union home ministry busy in 2024. Assisting the Election Commission in holding the assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir without major incidents and bringing down the violence in Naxal-affected states and northeastern region are the other key highlights of the country’s crucial ministry. While the population enumeration exercise Census continues to be on hold for past four years as no decision has been taken by the ministry as to when it will be carried out, the ministry created five year districts in Ladakh and renamed Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands as Sri Vijaya Puram during the year. The three new criminal laws — Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita and the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam — replaced the colonial-era Indian Penal Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Indian Evidence Act of 1872 respectively. The new laws came into effect from July 1. Home Minister Amit Shah, who piloted the legislations, said the new laws would give priority to providing justice, unlike the colonial-era laws that gave primacy to penal action. “These laws are made by Indians, for Indians and by an Indian Parliament and marks the end of colonial criminal justice laws,” he said. Shah said the laws were not just about changing the nomenclature but bringing about a complete overhaul. “Soul, body and spirit of the new laws are Indian,” he said. The new laws brought in a modern justice system, incorporating provisions such as Zero FIR, online registration of police complaints, summonses through electronic modes such as SMS and mandatory videography of crime scenes for all heinous crimes. According to home ministry officials, the new laws have tried to address some of the current social realities and crimes and are going to provide a mechanism to effectively deal with these, keeping in view the ideals enshrined in the Constitution. The CAA, which was enacted in December 2019 for granting Indian nationality to persecuted Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi and Christian migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who came to India on or before December 31, 2014, was rolled out in March and the first set of 14 people were granted Indian citizenship under the law in May. Shah termed the occasion of granting Indian citizenship under the CAA as a “historic day”, saying the decades-long wait of those who faced religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan is over. After the enactment in 2019, the CAA got the president’s assent a few days later but the rules under which the Indian citizenship were supposed to be granted were issued only on March 11 after over a delay of four years. The passing of the CAA in 2019 sparked protests in different parts of the country with agitators terming it “discriminatory”. Over a hundred people had lost their lives during the anti-CAA protests or police action in various parts of the country. To allay fears of a section of Muslims and students regarding the CAA, the home ministry, a day after the CAA rules were issued, asserted that the Indian Muslims need not worry as the new legislation would not impact their citizenship and has nothing to do with the community which enjoys equal rights as their Hindu brethren. The ministry made it clear that “no Indian citizen would be asked to produce any document to prove his citizenship after this Act”. Intermittent violence continues to rock Manipur, where the first bout of ethnic clash between majority Meiteis and tribal Kukis was witnessed in May 2023. Even after the death of about 260 people, injury to hundreds and displacement of thousands of people, peace continues to be elusive in the northeastern state. Though there have been efforts from the central government to bring the warring communities into negotiating table, sporadic violence continues there. Members of the ruling BJP were also not spared. Mobs set fire to the residences of several BJP legislators, one of whom is a senior minister, and a Congress MLA in various districts of Imphal Valley in November besides making a foiled attempt to storm the ancestral house of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. Seeing the fragile situation, the Centre in November reimposed the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in Manipur’s six police station areas, including the violence-hit Jiribam. On December 24, the Centre appointed former union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla as new Manipur governor, in an apparent bid to help itself find a lasting peace. However, it is to be seen how Bhalla will walk through the difficult terrain of the sensitive state. Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a relatively peaceful assembly elections, which was held after a gap of 10 years. According to a presentation given by the home ministry to a parliamentary panel, there has been over 70 per cent decline in terror-related incidents in Jammu and Kashmir since 2019, when Article 370 was scrapped and the erstwhile state was bifurcated into two Union Territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Continuing its thrust on comprehensive development of villages located in remote areas along the border with China, the government allocated Rs 1,050 crore for 2024-25 under the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) that will benefit select villages in 19 districts in Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh. The central government has approved the VVP as a centrally sponsored scheme on February 15, 2023, with financial outlay of Rs 4,800 crore for the financial year 2022-23 to 2025-26 for comprehensive development of the select villages in 46 blocks in 19 districts abutting the northern border.

ABILENE, Texas (AP) — Sam Hicks scored on a 53-yard run in the fourth quarter and finished with 171 yards on the ground to lead Abilene Christian to a 24-0 victory over Northern Arizona on Saturday in the first round of the FCS playoffs. The Wildcats (9-4), ranked No. 15 in the FCS coaches poll and seeded 15th, qualified for the playoffs for the first time and will travel to play No. 2 seed and nine-time champion North Dakota State (10-2) on Saturday at the Fargo Dome. The Bison had a first-round bye. Abilene Christian grabbed a 7-0 lead on its second possession when Carson Haggard connected with Trey Cleveland for a 37-yard touchdown that capped a 10-play 97-yard drive. Northern Arizona (8-5), ranked 17th but unseeded for the playoffs after winning five straight to get in, picked off Haggard on the Wildcats' next two possessions but could not turn them into points. NAU went for it on fourth-and-goal at the 1-yard line with 9:30 left before halftime, but Jordan Mukes tackled Ty Pennington for a 4-yard loss. That led to a 46-yard field goal by Ritse Vaes and a 10-0 lead at halftime. The score remained the same until Hicks' big run with 10:16 left to play. Haggard passed 6 yards to Blayne Taylor for the final score with 2:16 to go. Haggard completed 23 of 29 passes for 244 yards with three interceptions. Abilene Christian's defense allowed at least 20 points in every game during the regular season and yielded at least 30 six times. The Wildcats lost their season opener to FBS member Texas Tech 52-51 in overtime. Abilene Christian's last shutout came in a 56-0 victory over Lamar on Sept. 25, 2021. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-footballAI-Powered Forecasting for Enterprises: Predicting Financial Outcomes

Uruguay's voters choose their next president in a close runoff with low stakes but much suspenseFianna Fail and Fine Gael eye independent TDs as option to secure Dail majority

The British singer-songwriter, 36, launched Weekends With Adele at Caesars Palace in November 2022 and performed her 100th show on Saturday. Her run of sell-out shows at the venue, which seats around 4,000 people, has been a success but has also taken its toll. In July, she announced she would be taking a “big break” from music after her current run of shows. A post shared by Adele (@adele) Videos posted online from her concert on Saturday show the singer getting tearful as she bid farewell to Vegas. “It’s been wonderful and I will miss it terribly and I will miss you terribly”, she said. “I don’t know when I next want to perform again.” She also said she got “closure” when Canadian singer Celine Dion came to watch her perform, admitting that she cried for a “whole week” afterwards. “It was just such a full circle moment for me because that’s the only reason I ever even wanted to be in here”, she added. Adele shared an emotional embrace with Dion after she spotted the singer in the audience during her Las Vegas show last month. A post shared by Adele (@adele) In footage shared online, the British star can be seen breaking down in tears as they hug in The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which was built for Dion’s residency. The Rolling In The Deep singer has been vocal about her love for Dion over the years, hailing her as “Queen Celine” after attending one of her performances in an Instagram post in 2018. Dion reciprocated the love at the time, sharing a photo to social media of her posing alongside Adele, who was wearing the singer’s merchandise. She wrote: “Wasn’t able to do all my shows, but was thrilled that @Adele came to one of them.... I love her so much!! – Celine xx”. After their encounter at the venue, Adele said in an Instagram post: “Words will never sum up what you mean to me, or what you coming to my show means, let alone how it felt seeing you back in your palace with your beautiful family.”Powell will 'cut to appear to not be political' against Trump

‘General Hospital’ Alum Ingo Rademacher Reignites Legal Battle With ABC After Steve Burton’s Return

As Litecoin (LTC) struggles to maintain its momentum, investors are turning their attention to innovative new projects with high growth potential, such as Avalanche (AVAX) and Lightchain AI. Lightchain AI, now in its presale phase , is making waves with its revolutionary combination of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, delivering decentralized solutions with unparalleled scalability and security. AVAX is a strong rival in the blockchain market nowadays because of its tremendous scalability and lightning-fast transaction speeds. Seeing great possibilities for exponential growth in both AVAX and Lightchain AI , investors are swarming to those two projects as 2025 approaches. The Current State of Litecoin- Challenges and Opportunities Litecoin (LTC) is often called the web silver. It has been a key part of the digital money scene since it started in 2011. Made to be a swifter and cheaper choice to Bitcoin, Litecoin has long shown faster deals times and lower costs making it nice for daily buys. But, the crypto market grow fast brings both problems and chances for Litecoin. The rise of newer coins with better traits and ways to grow has made competition stronger. Also, market ups and downs and rules doubts make big obstacles. Even with these troubles, Litecoin keeps making progress, especially with the adding of MimbleWimble Extension Blocks MWEB upgrade which boosts privacy and growth. ͏These changes try to help Litecoin's place in the changing digital economy. AVAX- A Rising Star in Blockchain Ecosystems Among the most well-known players in the blockchain ecosystem, Avalanche (AVAX) offers a robust platform for custom blockchains and dApps. Launched in 2020 by Ava Labs, Avalanche distinguishes itself from the competitors with its creative tri-chain architecture—the X-Chain, C-Chain, and P-Chain—which enhances scalability and interoperability. The X-Chain facilitates the creation and exchange of digital assets, the C-Chain supports the deployment of smart contracts, and the P-Chain coordinates validators and manages subnets. This design enables developers to build tailored solutions while benefiting from the network's robust security and speed. Avalanche's consensus mechanism, known as the Avalanche Consensus, combines classical and Nakamoto consensus methods to achieve high throughput and low latency without compromising decentralization. This innovation positions Avalanche as a competitive alternative to established platforms like Ethereum, particularly for applications requiring rapid transaction finality and low fees. The native token of the platform, AVAX, is utilized for staking, transaction fees, and governance and is thus an integral part of the ecosystem. Staking AVAX allows holders to participate in network consensus, therefore benefiting the security of the network and rewards. Thanks to its commitment to scalability, security, and interoperability—which has attracted developers and investors— Avalanche is a potential new promising participant in the blockchain scene. Why Lightchain AI is Gaining Traction for 2024 and Beyond Lightchain AI (LCAI) is becoming more and more popular as it addresses significant challenges in artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technologies. Proof of Intelligence (PoI), its consensus method, rewards nodes for valuable artificial intelligence computations thereby improving network security and efficiency. By using a dedicated computational layer for AI operations, the Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM) ensures seamless integration of AI into the blockchain. Running a presale now, Lightchain AI has raised $5.5 million with tokens valued at $0.004. Analysts predict fast expansion; some speculate that by 2025 the surge would go to $10. Strong alliances and a clear road map help Lightchain AI to transform the game for decentralized AI apps. This interests investors and developers. Buying LCAI tokens today will help you invest in the AI and blockchain revolution. https://lightchain.ai https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf https://x.com/LightchainAI https://t.me/LightchainProtocol Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp _____________ Disclaimer: Analytics Insight does not provide financial advice or guidance. Also note that the cryptocurrencies mentioned/listed on the website could potentially be scams, i.e. designed to induce you to invest financial resources that may be lost forever and not be recoverable once investments are made. You are responsible for conducting your own research (DYOR) before making any investments. Read more here.Natural gas projects accelerate as Virginia’s energy needs soar

After-hours movers: Marvell Technology, Salesforce, Okta and moreUBS starts coverage on gov service providers stock amid spending uncertainty