Olivia Lloyd | (TNS) The Charlotte Observer CHARLOTTE, N.C.— A pet food company based in North Carolina is recalling puppy mix sold in seven states after a batch tested positive for salmonella, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said. The contamination came to light when a litter of puppies got sick after consuming Blue Ridge Beef’s Puppy Mix, and the customer reported it to the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, according to the FDA. The FDA said it notified the company that the food tested positive for salmonella on Nov. 27, and Blue Ridge Beef issued a voluntary recall on its 2-pound plastic-wrapped logs sold in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York. The recall affects puppy mix sold from Aug. 6 to Aug. 23 with logs labeled with lot numbers 08/06/N25 and 08/16/N25, with UPC 854298001696. It’s not the company’s only recall in the past year. In January, Blue Ridge Beef expanded a December 2023 recall of its puppy mix, as well as some of its kitten food, due to possible salmonella and listeria contamination, FDA records show. “Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting,” according to the FDA. “Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.” Related Articles National News | Abandoned mines in the US pose dangers to people and property when land gives way National News | White House says at least 8 US telecom firms, dozens of nations impacted by China hacking campaign National News | Powell: Fed’s independence from politics is vital to its interest rate decisions National News | United Healthcare CEO kept a low public profile. Then he was shot to death in New York National News | US senators grill officials from 5 airlines over fees for seats and checked bags Pet owners who notice these symptoms should notify their veterinarian. Humans are also at risk of contracting the food-borne illness if they don’t wash their hands or sanitize surfaces the product has touched. The FDA said customers who believe they purchased the recalled mix should return the product to the place they bought it or destroy the food in a way that ensures no humans or animals will be contaminated. The company declined to comment on the recall to McClatchy News on Dec. 3. Blue Ridge Beef is located in Statesville in Iredell County, about a 40-mile drive north from Charlotte. ©2024 The Charlotte Observer. Visit charlotteobserver.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
SAN DIEGO , Dec. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sempra (NYSE: SRE) (BMV: SRE) today announced it has been recognized by Newsweek as one of "America's Most Responsible Companies" for 2025, earning this distinction for the sixth consecutive year. The annual list ranks companies based on their commitment to corporate responsibility in the areas of corporate governance and responsible social and environmental practices. Sempra has been included since the list's inception. "At Sempra, we believe our responsible business practices improve the value of our franchise. By strengthening governance and risk management and improving the safety and resiliency of our business operations, it allows us to better meet the needs and expectations of our customers, while also adding scale to our business," said Lisa Larroque Alexander , senior vice president of corporate affairs and chief sustainability officer for Sempra. "We will continue to approach global energy challenges with an entrepreneurial mindset, steadfast optimism and confidence in our vision of delivering energy with purpose." Newsweek's recognition of Sempra as one of "America's Most Responsible Companies" is based on publicly available key performance indicators derived from the company's Corporate Sustainability Report and an independent survey that asked U.S. citizens about their perception of Sempra's commitment to corporate social responsibility. Details of Sempra's approach to responsible stakeholder engagement and corporate governance can be found in the company's most recent Corporate Sustainability Report, which is available here . In addition to being recognized on Newsweek's America's Most Responsible Companies list, Sempra is included in the FTSE4Good Index and JUST 100 list, has been named one of TIME Magazine's World's Best Companies and one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies , and earned a perfect score on the CPA-Zicklin Index of Corporate Political Disclosure and Accountability , among other accolades. About Sempra Sempra (NYSE: SRE ) is a leading North American energy infrastructure company focused on delivering energy to nearly 40 million consumers. As owner of one of the largest energy networks on the continent, Sempra is electrifying and improving the energy resilience of some of the world's most significant economic markets, including California , Texas , Mexico and global energy markets. The company is recognized as a leader in sustainable business practices and for its high-performance culture focused on safety and operational excellence, as demonstrated by Sempra's inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America and in The Wall Street Journal's Best Managed Companies. More information about Sempra is available at sempra.com and on social media @Sempra . View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sempra-named-among-newsweeks-most-responsible-companies-302324298.html SOURCE SempraI’m A Celeb fans accuse show of being ‘fixed’ after spotting ‘unfair’ issue with trialThe AP Top 25 college football poll is back every week throughout the season! Get the poll delivered straight to your inbox with AP Top 25 Poll Alerts. Sign up here . Oregon started signing day behind Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten recruiting rankings and was poised to finish Wednesday on top. The Ducks flipped five-star cornerback Na’eem Offord from the Buckeyes and four-star quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele from California — additions that pushed them to No. 4 nationally and No. 1 in the Big Ten in the 247Sports Composite rankings. A Big Ten-high four five-stars signed with the Ducks. Ohio State’s class, ranked fifth in the country, is highlighted by a pair of national top-five prospects in quarterback Tavien St. Clair and cornerback Devin Sanchez. Michigan’s class was rated third best in the Big Ten and seventh best in the nation. Quarterback Bryce Underwood, the No. 1 national recruit, was scheduled to sign his letter of intent with the Wolverines on Wednesday evening. Two other Big Ten teams were ranked in the top 20, No. 13 Southern California and No. 17 Penn State. Leader of the pack Oregon closed with a flourish with Offord and Sagapolutele flipping on signing day and four-star linebacker Gavin Nix switching from Miami on Tuesday. The Ducks signed some of the nation’s top prospects at wide receiver and cornerback. Dakorien Moore is the No. 1 receiver and Dallas Wilson is No. 4. Offord is the No. 2 corner, Brandon Finney is No. 5 and Dorian Brew is No. 8. They also signed a second quarterback, the four-star Akili Smith Jr., whose father was the Ducks’ quarterback in 1997-98 and an NFL first-round draft pick. Best of the rest Five-star quarterback Husan Longstreet was USC’s top signee, and the Trojans beat out Ohio State and Oregon for five-star defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart. Penn State landed the No. 4 offensive lineman in the country in Malachi Goodman. Among eight four-star defensive players to sign was linebacker LaVar Arrington Jr., whose father was a 1998 All-American for the Nittany Lions and No. 2 overall draft pick in 2000. Nebraska signed four-star linebackers in Dawson Merritt and Christian Jones and got a pleasant signing-day surprise when four-star wide receiver Cortez Mills flipped from Oklahoma. Under the radar Iose Epenesa, the No. 14 national prospect and No. 3 defensive lineman, continues his family’s tradition at Iowa. The edge rusher from Edwardsville, Illinois, is the brother of former Iowa star AJ Epenesa. Another brother, Eric, is a walk-on linebacker for the Hawkeyes. Their father, Eppy, played at Iowa in the 1990s. ... Indiana’s breakthrough season produced a minimal bump in the recruiting rankings. The Hoosiers, who signed 21 players, went from No. 16 last year to No. 13 in the Big Ten. . ... Maryland signed four four stars, including the nation’s No. 5 quarterback prospect in 6-foot-4, 215-pound Malik Washington. ... Michigan State didn’t sign a four-star recruit for the first time since at least 2009. ... Purdue, three days after the firing of Ryan Walters and coming off one of the worst seasons in program history, signed just six players. Star of the class Michigan’s NIL collective reportedly offered Underwood an eight-figure financial package and Tom Brady provided a strong nudge to get him to flip from LSU two weeks ago. Underwood is from Belleville, Michigan, less than a half-hour drive from Ann Arbor, and he has said playing close to home also was a factor. Underwood is the first No. 1 national prospect to land at Michigan since defensive end Rashan Gary in 2016. Biggest surprise An Ohio State stocking cap sat alongside Auburn and Oregon ballcaps on a table at Offord’s signing ceremony at Parker High in Birmingham, Alabama. He picked up the Auburn cap and put it on for a split-second, then flipped it into the crowd and put on the Oregon cap. With three of the top eight cornerback prospects and four-star safety Trey McNutt expected to sign, the Ducks would have the highest-rated group of defensive backs. ___ 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-football
LUQUE, Paraguay (AP) — Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It's brewed in centuries-old mountaintop warehouses, savored in the country’s pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts. The smooth rice wine that plays a crucial role in Japan's culinary traditions was enshrined on Wednesday by UNESCO on its list of the “intangible cultural heritage of humanity." At a meeting in Luque, Paraguay, members of UNESCO’s committee for safeguarding humanity's cultural heritage voted to recognize 45 cultural practices and products around the world, including Brazilian white cheese, Caribbean cassava bread and Palestinian olive oil soap. Unlike UNESCO’s World Heritage List, which includes sites considered important to humanity like the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Intangible Cultural Heritage designation names products and practices of different cultures that are deserving of recognition. A Japanese delegation welcomed the announcement in Luque. “Sake is considered a divine gift and is essential for social and cultural events in Japan,” Kano Takehiro, the Japanese ambassador to UNESCO, told The Associated Press. The basic ingredients of sake are few: rice, water, yeast and koji, a rice mold, which breaks down the starches into fermentable sugars like malting does in beer production. The whole two-monthlong process of steaming, stirring, fermenting and pressing can be grueling. The rice — which wields tremendous marketing power as part of Japan's broader cultural identity — is key to the alcoholic brew. For a product to be categorized Japanese sake, the rice must be Japanese. The UNESCO recognition, the delegation said, captured more than the craft knowledge of making high-quality sake. It also honored a tradition dating back some 1,000 years — sake makes a cameo in Japan’s famous 11th century novel, “The Tale of Genji,” as the drink of choice in the refined Heian court. Now, officials hope to restore sake's image as Japan's premier alcoholic drink even as the younger drinkers in the country switch to imported wine or domestic beer and whiskey. “It means a lot to Japan and to the Japanese,” Takehiro said of the UNESCO designation. "This will help to renew interest in traditional sake elaboration.” Also, Japanese breweries have expressed hope that the listing could give a little lift to the country's export economy as the popularity of sake booms around the world and in the United States amid heightened interest in Japanese cuisine. Sake exports, mostly to the U.S. and China, now rake in over $265 million a year, according to the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, a trade group. Japan's delegation appeared ready to celebrate on Wednesday — in classic Japanese style. After the announcement, Takehiro raised a cypress box full of sake to toast the alcoholic brew and cultural rite.None
Taoiseach Simon Harris said he also wanted to tell Nikita Hand, a hair colourist from Drimnagh, that her case had prompted an increase in women coming forward to ask for support. Ms Hand, who accused the sportsman of raping her in a Dublin hotel in December 2018, won her claim against him for damages in a civil case at the High Court in the Irish capital on Friday. The total amount of damages awarded to Ms Hand by the jury was 248,603.60 euro (£206,714.31). Mr McGregor said in a post on social media on Friday that he intends to appeal against the decision. That post has since been deleted. Speaking to the media on Saturday, Mr Harris said he told Ms Hand of the support she has from people across Ireland. “I spoke with Nikita today and I wanted to thank her for her incredible bravery and her courage,” he said. “I wanted to make sure that she knew how much solidarity and support there was across this country for her bravery. “I also wanted to make sure she knew of what the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre had said yesterday – that so many other women have now come forward in relation to their own experiences of sexual abuse as a result of Nikita’s bravery.” The Dublin Rape Crisis Centre said the case has had a “profound effect” on the people the charity supports, and that over the first 10 days of the High Court case, calls to its national helpline increased by almost 20%. It said that first-time callers increased by 50% compared to the same period last year, and were largely from people who had experienced sexual violence who were distressed and anxious from the details of case and the views people had to it. Mr Harris said: “I wanted to speak with her and I wanted to wish her and her daughter, Freya, all the very best night, and I was very grateful to talk with Nikita today. “Her bravery, her courage, her voice has made a real difference in a country in which we must continue to work to get to zero tolerance when it comes to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. “I don’t want to say too much more, because conscious there could be further legal processes, but I absolutely want to commend Nikita for her bravery, for her courage, for using her voice.” Justice Minister Helen McEntee praised Ms Hand’s bravery and said she had shown “there is light at the end of the tunnel”. She said: “I just want to commend Nikita for her bravery, for her determination and the leadership that she has shown in what has been – I’ve no doubt – a very, very difficult time for her and indeed, for her family. She added: “Because of wonderful people like Nikita, I hope that it shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that there are supports available to people, and that there is justice at the end of the day.” Ms Hand said in a statement outside court on Friday that she hoped her case would remind victims of assault to keep “pushing forward for justice”. Describing the past six years as “a nightmare”, she said: “I want to show (my daughter) Freya and every other girl and boy that you can stand up for yourself if something happens to you, no matter who the person is, and justice will be served.” During the case, Ms Hand said she was “disappointed and upset” when the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) decided not to prosecute the case after she made a complaint to the Irish police. In a letter to her in August 2020, the DPP said there was “insufficient evidence” and there was not a reasonable prospect of conviction. Ms Hand asked the DPP to review the decision, saying she felt she was being treated differently because one of the suspects was famous. Asked about the DPP’s decision not to prosecute, Mr Harris and Ms McEntee stressed the importance of the DPP’s independence on whether to prosecute. “There are obviously structures in place where the DPP can meet a victim and can outline to them their reasons for not taking the case,” Mr Harris said. “But there’s also always an opportunity for the DPP in any situation – and I speak broadly in relation to this – to review a decision, to consider any new information that may come to light, and I don’t want to say anything that may ever cut across the ongoing work of the DPP.” Ms McEntee stressed that there should “never be any political interference” in the independence of the DPP’s decisions. “I have, since becoming minister, given priority to and enabled a new office within the DPP to open specifically focused on sexual offences, so that this issue can be given the focus and the priority that it needs,” she said.FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Woody Newton had 26 points in George Mason's 100-55 win against Ferrum on Saturday. Newton also added six rebounds for the Patriots (4-3). Brayden O'Connor added 14 points while shooting 6 for 7, including 2 for 3 from beyond the arc while they also had five assists. K.D. Johnson shot 4 for 8 (1 for 3 from 3-point range) and 4 of 7 from the free-throw line to finish with 13 points, while adding seven rebounds. Alfredo Abel-Rivera led the way for the Panthers with 15 points and seven rebounds. Bryant Wall added 13 points for Ferrum. Sterling Charles also had six points and two steals. The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar .It’s a myth that you can’t monetise India promise: Figma’s Dylan Field
WASHINGTON — USA Basketball is on the brink of qualifying for next year's AmeriCup tournament. Javonte Smart scored 21 points, Jahmi'us Ramsey scored 19 and the U.S. never trailed in a 97-74 win over the Bahamas in an AmeriCup qualifying game Monday night. The U.S. improved to 3-1 in qualifying, and one more win in either of their two remaining qualifying games — not until February — will clinch a spot in AmeriCup, which is the championship of the FIBA Americas region. The tournament will be played in Nicaragua in August 2025. Frank Kaminsky III had 14 points and seven rebounds, and David Stockton finished with 14 points and six assists for the Americans. The U.S. outscored Bahamas 45-21 from 3-point range. Tavario Miller led Bahamas with 20 points.
In late October, India and China finalized a deal to pull back troops from two key Himalayan flashpoints in eastern Ladakh. This was a welcome reprieve after over 20 rounds of often lackluster, grim-appearing negotiations and no letup in Chinese transgressions (for example, in Tawang and Barahoti ). Soon after the agreement was reached, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the BRICS summit in Kazan, Russia, and signaled their evolving political intent for “peace and stability” after maintaining a cold shoulder for almost half a decade. A formal dialogue had eluded them since the much-hyped but ultimately deceptive meeting in Mamallapuram in October 2019. These signs of an apparent thaw have sent political commentators into a tizzy. The new announcement appeared jarring to some, mainly because a month earlier, in September, Modi was hobnobbing with the outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden in his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware for the all-important Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the U.S.) leaders’ summit – a mainstay for the four members and other stakeholders’ Indo-Pacific visions and strategies. For China, the Quad is a true embodiment of the U.S.-led Indo-Pacific construct. Beijing’s perception of the grouping has evolved from dismissing it as easily dissipated “ sea foam ” to seeing the Quad as an “ anti-China ” bloc fostering regional divisiveness. India’s precarious China-U.S. balancing act will get a fresh twist in the coming months with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who, in his first term as president, famously got along with strongman Modi, reportedly having picked well-known “China hawks” for top diplomatic roles in his incoming administration. India’s diplomatic prescience, or at least deftness, becomes all the more vital when viewed through the prism of global leaders (from Europe to East Asia ) who have proclaimed the accelerating trends toward multipolarity – a multipolar Asia and world ranks high among India’s foreign policy priorities, too. So does the China-India thaw, along with India’s redoubled participation in China-dominant non-Western forums like the newly expanded BRICS summit, indicate India’s intention to reduce its tilt to the West, particularly the United States? And more importantly, what does this mean for India and its Indo-Pacific priorities? India’s priorities for the Indo-Pacific order align with its outlook that a multipolar Asia is the best paradigm for peace and stability. In that vision, an economically developed and strong India is critical. It is precisely this dual track of a multipolar Indo-Pacific and a strong India that the country pursues across virtually all wind directions and strategic sectors. In the Tussle for Multi/Bipolarity, the Indo-Pacific Remains the Focus In the growing bipolar dynamics between the United States and China amid the high stakes high-tech rivalry, India’s attempts toward a “multi-aligned” strategic rebalancing are gaining ground. Even though China is still India’s top trading partner , the former is a continuing perceived threat along the Himalayan border and in the maritime domain, particularly in the Indian Ocean region (IOR), the recent thaw notwithstanding. As a result, as part of its objective to strengthen itself, India has solidified its technological, defense, and security ties with China’s primary rival, the United States. Be it launching the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology ( iCET ) and the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem ( INDUS-X ), expanding bilateral and multilateral maritime exercises, building a joint semiconductor fabrication plant, conducting collaborative research in the outer space sector, creating critical minerals supply chains , or cooperating on emerging digital technologies in Asia and Africa, the U.S. has in the Biden years perhaps become India’s most valuable partnership. Indeed, as a coercive actor in the region and a (perceived) threat to India, China has been a central aspect of this partnership. At the same time, India has diversified its engagements by strengthening economic and trade, diplomatic, digital (including critical technologies such as semiconductors), and maritime security cooperation with various countries. Mainly, India has actively pursued ties with “like-minded” Indo-Pacific stakeholders. India has tightened cooperation with partners like Australia, the European Union, European major powers like France, Germany, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the U.K.; Japan, the Philippines, South Korea (though ties have not fulfilled their potential despite much ado), and Vietnam. India has also reached out to technological superpower Taiwan, although that marks a redline with China, and so the budding strategic outreach would be tricky. This pursuit of varied partners – all efforts to promote multipolarity – is as much to counter the bipolar compulsions due to the China-U.S. rivalry as to counter China’s growing footprint in India’s backyard of South Asia and the IOR. Europe Is a Flourishing and Fast-Growing Pivot In that vein, India’s still-evolving outreach to various parts of Europe, including the EU and its members, and recent concerted wooing of Southeast Asian states like Singapore and the relevant regional multilateral organizations are particularly noteworthy among India’s outreach activities. As China’s growing coercion against states, including in Europe and Asia, has intensified, European partners, particularly the EU, have looked to strengthen their Indo-Pacific strategies. India has seized the moment to become Europe’s top priority. India has boosted its links to all parts of Europe through high-level engagements, including Modi’s visits to Italy, Poland, Greece, Ukraine, Austria, and Denmark (for the Nordic summit ), to name a few in the last couple of years. Notably, India’s diplomacy is not limited just to the traditional partnerships, say with France or Germany – although the latter have not lost space in India’s diplomacy, as is evident from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ’s recent India visit, for example. The results have been mixed. The launch of the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) has been historic, and enhanced coordination, including new collaborations (for example, on recycling e-vehicle batteries ), has come up. New high-tech-oriented economic ties, including on semiconductors , with the EU will also enable India to give impetus to its economic superpower potential . Moreover, India has been able to push for connectivity initiatives via the EU’s Global Gateway, including the collaboration with the European Investment Bank (EIB). Yet, as the ongoing negotiations for the India-EU free trade agreement (FTA) suggest, more must be done to mitigate fundamental differences and boost political will. Notably, India needs to work with the EU, a reliable bloc with high-tech capabilities, on climate action and innovation and regional economic integration in India’s immediate neighborhood and Southeast Asia, where China has tremendous clout. This will benefit the partners economically and strengthen the Indo-Pacific order without resorting to obvious moralizing. But the Core Lies in Modi’s Southeast Asia Pitch Since his first term of “Acting East,” Modi has been vocally ambitious about Southeast Asia, even if linkages may not have lived up to his vision yet. Modi sought to primarily draw on the historical and cultural linkages between South Asia (south India) and Southeast Asia. The two regions, however, famously lack integration despite booming potential – as per a 2022 World Bank report , trade linkages between the two subregions grew about nine-fold over the past two decades, from $38 billion in 2000 to $349 billion in 2018. As a dialogue partner and comprehensive strategic partner of the the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as an East Asia Summit ( EAS ) member, India has been constantly championing ASEAN centrality in its Indo-Pacific outlook on order. Yet the potential has not been fully tapped . Nonetheless, Modi’s recent visits to Singapore and Brunei highlighted good tidings regarding future-oriented diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties between India and ASEAN states in the Indo-Pacific. In Brunei , India upgraded ties, deepening cooperation in defense, trade, investment, technology, renewables, climate change, and regional security avenues. In Singapore , the so-called gateway to Southeast Asia, India showcased that its ambition to build itself as a manufacturing hub in the new digital era would necessitate strategically incorporating Southeast Asian states into the mix, as evidenced by the India-Singapore Semiconductor Ecosystem Partnership. Moreover, Vietnam and the Philippines’ upswing in defense cooperation with India, including arms sales, indicates that bonding over the perceived threat from China as a common factor will impact their ties going forward. India’s tacit support of the Philippines and evolution in its South China Sea stance highlight the regional “ convergence of interests ,” particularly India’s growing stress on the maritime domain of the Indo-Pacific. Building Tricky Bridges? Notably, Modi, in recent times, has also shown a penchant for embracing contrasting worldviews. He has courted Russian President Vladimir Putin and extended a historic outreach to Ukraine by visiting the two warring states back to back. The former move expectedly drew criticism in Kyiv and the West, but the overall strategy has, to an extent, worked for India. It is important to note that amid the geopolitical contest between Russia and the West, India has not isolated Russia as a vital partner. At the same time, India’s relationship with Russia is not a strategic priority , “with the primary focus instead being strategic maintenance rather than elevating relations.” In West Asia, too, although commentators have called out India for tacitly backing Israel under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Modi has equally reached out to the Palestinian leadership . Undoubtedly, India’s engagement with Israel has, in the last decade, become well-rounded (from defense to innovation), without New Delhi shying away from showcasing its interests beyond the ideological . Yet, the political tightrope has not been discarded: there is continued emphasis on a “two-state solution,” ceasefire, and a return to diplomacy and dialogue. Moreover, India’s ties with the other states of West Asia are historically high, from the cross-sectoral comprehensive strategic partnership with the UAE to India and Iran signing a 10-year deal on Chabahar despite India’s potential risk of embroiling in U.S. sanctions. With China having expanded its strategic footprint in West Asia (exemplified by the brokering of the Iran-Saudi Arabia deal), India has displayed more foresight in multipolarizing this region. India’s Strategy Makes Sense Keeping Trump’s last term and his “ transactional diplomacy ” in mind, it is apparent that the push for multilateralism seen in Biden’s term (“ restoring American engagement internationally ”) will give way to enhanced focus on bilateralism and minilateralism – championing the values of the so-called “ multilateralism à la carte .” Even as India has been a fervent proponent of effective multilateralism via reforms in multilateral institutions, a minilateral approach suits India just fine. For example, India has effectively utilized the Quad – rejuvenated under Trump 1.0 – to expand its global profile and provide momentum for developing a credible security mechanism in the Indo-Pacific. Flexible arrangements like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity ( IPEF ), which is not an FTA, have also allowed India to push for interests-based goals such as strengthening supply chains , while opting out of the IPEF’s trade pillar. At the same time, India’s proactive participation in U.S.-led initiatives like Quad and non-Western forums like BRICS – the latter are expanding amid a void of functioning multilateralism – ultimately highlights its broadened appeal. Against that overall scenario, a question also arises: whether India will be willing to leverage its new apparent softening toward China – another strong Global South leader with a broader appeal – as part of India’s deft balancing act between the West/North and the East/South. It is clear that the China-India hostilities are unlikely to cease, nor is India’s aversion to Xi’s controversial mega-project of the Belt and Road Initiative going to change. Nonetheless, that the two regional rivals have already cooperated as founding members of the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), among other fora, highlights the unpredictability and flexibility of global transactional politics. Trump’s reemergence will only strengthen such maneuvers. By and large, India’s approaches to fostering the Indo-Pacific order align with its outlook that a multipolar Indo-Pacific that includes a strong India is the bedrock for peace and stability. In that vein, India’s modus operandi blends realpolitik and flexible diplomacy – and who could fault that? This work is part of a Stiftung Mercator-funded project titled “ Order in the Indo-Pacific : Gauging the Region’s Perspectives on EU Strategies and Constructive Involvement.” The views and opinions expressed are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of Stiftung Mercator or the authors’ respective institutes.None
Murray – who retired after the summer Olympics at the age of 37 after finally admitting defeat in his battle against his body – will join the Serbian’s team in the off-season and coach him through the opening grand slam of 2025. It will see the Scot surprisingly join forces with the man who was his biggest nemesis during his long career, especially in Australia where he lost to Djokovic in four finals. Murray, who beat Djokovic to win the US Open in 2012 and Wimbledon in 2013, says he wants to help the 24-time grand slam champion achieve his goals. He never liked retirement anyway. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/Ga4UlV2kQW — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) November 23, 2024 “I’m going to be joining Novak’s team in the off-season, helping him to prepare for the Australian Open, he said. “I’m really excited for it and looking forward to spending time on the same side of the net as Novak for a change, helping him to achieve his goals.” Djokovic, a week younger than his new coach, added: “I am excited to have one of my greatest rivals on the same side of the net, as my coach. “Looking forward to start of the season and competing in Australia alongside Andy with whom I have shared many exceptional moments on the Australian soil.” In posting a teaser about the appointment on social media, Djokovic said: “He never liked retirement anyway.” He then added: “We played each other since we were boys, 25 years of pushing each other to our limits. We had some of the most epic battles in in our sport. They called us gamechangers, risk takers, history makers. “I thought our story may be over. Turns out it has one final chapter. It’s time for one of my toughest opponents to step into my corner. Welcome aboard coach, Andy Murray.” Djokovic beat Murray in the 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2016 Australian Open finals while also losing in the French Open final in 2016. It was his pursuit of toppling Djokovic at the top of the rankings in 2016 which was a precursor to his 2017 hip injury which derailed Murray’s career. Djokovic, who split with coach Goran Ivanisevic earlier this year, hopes that adding Murray to his team will help him get back to the top of the game as he went through a calendar year without winning a grand slam for the first time since 2017. Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz have developed a stranglehold at the top of the men’s game and Djokovic, who has seen Murray, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal all retire in recent years, is still hoping to move clear of the record 24 grand slams he shares with Margaret Court.
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