News India Times

www.newsindiatimes.com – that’s all you need to know US-India News India Times (January 4, 2025 - January 10, 2025) January 10, 2025 5 US Affairs The Quad Indo-Pacific Alliance Marks 20 Years T he Quad Foreign Ministers of the United States, India, Australia, and Japan marked the 20th anniversary of their cooperation, recalling their first joint effort in 2004 to respond to the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsu- nami. This collaboration laid the founda- tion for the Quad, a diplomatic partner- ship committed to fostering a free, open, stable, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. A joint statement of the Quad Foreign Minsters issued by the US Department of State on December 30, 2024, noted “The tsunami was one of the worst disasters in history, claiming the lives of nearly a quarter million people and displacing 1.7 million across 14 countries,” adding “Together our four countries contrib- uted over 40,000 emergency responders, working with other partners across the Indo-Pacific region to support millions of people affected by the catastrophe. We honor the memories of those no longer with us and recognize the survivors and the families of those who were lost.” In their statement, the ministers emphasized their enduring commitment to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, highlighting their collective support in 2024 for disaster preparedness and life-saving efforts across the region. They pledged to continue exploring innovative ways to respond swiftly to crises. The ministers underscored what began as a disaster response has evolved into a robust partnership addressing global challenges. The Quad now collaborates on issues like climate change, health, quality infrastructure, STEM education, maritime security, counter-terrorism, and emerging technologies. Since 2021, Quad leaders have met annually to strengthen their impact across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. “As four partners, we share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is peaceful, stable, and prosperous, under- pinned by effective regional institutions. We reaffirm our unwavering support for ASEAN’s centrality and unity as well as mainstreaming and implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific,” the statement added. “We respect Pacific- led regional architecture, foremost the Pa- cific Islands Forum. We are also steadfast in our support for the Indian Ocean Rim Association, the region’s premier organi- zation.” -(Used under special arrangement with SAH) By South Asian Herald PHOTO:X @DrSJaishankar Foreign Ministers S. Jaishankar, Kamikawa Yoko, Penny Wang, and Antonly Blinken during Quad meeting in Tokyo July 2024. Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani Ends Term On Record Of Accomplishments; Will Announce Future Plans Soon O hio’s only Indian American State Senator Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) ends his term as a State Senator in the Ohio Senate Dec. 31, 2024. Sen. Antani ran unsuccessfully for the US Congress in the 2024 elections, and thus did not seek re-election to the state senate, resulting in his term ending on the last day of 2024. In a press release, the young State Senator noted he has completed more than a decade of service in the Ohio General Assembly, and will be announcing his next steps soon. First elected as State Representative in the Ohio House of Representatives at age 23 in 2014, he served 6 years there before being elected State Senator in 2020. He served as the youngest Member of the Ohio House and Ohio Senate for his duration of service. Antani draws attention to being the first Indian and Hindu American State Senator in Ohio history and the youngest Hindu and Indian American state or federal elected official in the United States. “It has been the privilege of my life to serve the community in which I was born and raised in the Ohio General Assembly for the past decade. I want to give my deepest thanks to my 360,000 constituents and voters for entrusting me to be your vote and voice at the State- house, and to all of my supporters for giving me the abil- ity to win 4 competitive races. I have worked hard every day over the last decade to give every Ohioan the ability to achieve their American Dream. I have fought for you, standing steel-spined, never compromising our shared values, despite relentless pressure from the political establishment. I am so incredibly grateful for this ability to serve. Thank you,” Sen. Antani is quoted saying in the press release. Antani highlights some of his accomplishments as follows: — successfully killed significant pieces of legislation that would’ve affected our major healthcare employers, Premier Health, Kettering Health, and Caresource, saving thousands of jobs. —He led the charge for increased funding significantly for Ohio’s community colleges, including Sinclair Com- munity College, helping advance a skilled workforce for our region. — saving the Miamisburg Mound business park from going out of business by enacting a special tax exemp- tion. — single-handedly secured funding for Dayton His- tory’s Carillon Park expansion, and was able to increase Montgomery County’s share of the state capital bud- get by millions, resulting in millions more dollars for regional institutions like Dayton Art Institute, Boonshoft Museum, and many more. —Sen. Antani and his staff have responded to con- stituent concerns and requests for help of over 15,000 constituents over the past decade. Antani is the author of the law that gave name, image, and likeness rights for college athletes. As a direct result of Sen. Antani’s law passing, the NCAA allows NIL rights for all college athletes across the country, he noted. “Millions of dollars have been earned by college ath- letes in Ohio since enactment, changing their and their families lives forever,” the press release noted. As well, Sen. Antani says his enacting the law that set public record law for police-worn body cameras, means that now the public and news media has access, “which has resulted in a new culture of accountability and trans- parency for both police and the public.” Sen. Antani enacted various other laws through bills, amendments, and the state budget. In the State Senate, Antani served as the Vice-Chair of the Senate Committee on Health and on the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee. In the House, he served as the Vice-Chair of the Committee on Rules, Vice-Chair of the Committee on Insurance, and as member of the Committee on Health, Committee on Public Utilities, and the Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee. Originally elected in 2014 after beating 4 opponents in the Republican primary within the Montgomery County Republican Party, Antani was re-elected without opposi- tion in 2016. In 2018, he won a 3-way GOP primary with 63%, beating two opponents, one of which was the Vice- Mayor of Miamisburg whose family had lived in Miamis- burg for 6 generations. Sen. Antani’s family immigrated to the United States just 45 years ago. The 33-year old Antani lives in Miamis- burg, Ohio. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University and Miamisburg High School. PHOTO:X @NirajAntani Ohio State Senator Niraj Antani at the Republican National Convention, July 15, 2024. By a StaffWriter