'Local hero': Indian-origin Sikh volunteer wins 2023 NSW Australian of the Year Award
Melbourne (PTI): A 41-year-old Indian-origin Sikh volunteer, who experienced ethnic slurs because of his beard and turban, was honoured along with three others with the prestigious 2023 New South Wales Australian of the Year Award for supporting the community during floods, bushfires, drought and the pandemic.
The New South Wales government made the announcement in the "local hero" category on November 3.
The national award honoured the achievements of community members, while emphasising the importance of service to the nation of Australia.
Amar Singh, a Sikh, founded the "Turbans 4 Australia" seven years ago, a charity organisation that works towards supporting the displaced and the vulnerable impacted by natural calamities.
Singh, a key advocate of multiculturalism and social cohesion, has experienced ethnic slurs because of his beard and turban, a press release issued by the New South Wales government said.
"The 41-year-old believes helping others should not be limited by religion, language or cultural background," it said.
"Every week, Turbans 4 Australia package and distribute up to 450 food and grocery hampers to people experiencing food insecurity in Western Sydney. Turbans 4 Australia has delivered hay to farmers experiencing drought; supplies to flood victims in Lismore and bushfire-impacted people on the South Coast; and food hampers to the isolated and vulnerable during COVID-19 lockdowns," it added.
"I want to thank all the volunteers of my team working day and night effortlessly the credit goes to them," Singh was quoted as saying by news portal sbs.com.au.
"With a charity van running in Queensland's Brisbane and a new warehouse coming up in Victoria's northern suburb of Thomastown, I can proudly say that ours is a national charity and as a humbled Sikh I hope that our team will continue to promote charity, compassion and multiculturalism for many years to come," he explained.
Singh moved to Australia as a teenager, and said he was passionate about community service from a young age, the report said.
"I also volunteered during the Sydney 2000 Olympic games, Invictus games, Gold Coast commonwealth games and many other community events," it quoted him as saying.
Singh and three other recipients of this award will join those from other states and territories as finalists for the national awards ceremony to be held in Canberra in January next year, the NSW government press release added.
New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet congratulated the recipients and said that the awardees' leadership and activism for change positively impact the public and make a tangible difference in people's lives.
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West Asia: India supplied 22,000 MT of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March, says MEA
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, India has supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March and has received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements, the MEA said on Friday.
At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his response to a query related to requests received from India's neighbouring countries for fuel amid the West Asia situation, also said that India is "finalising a government-to-government agreement" for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security of Mauritius.
The conflict in West Asia has now stretched to nearly 50 days, with global ramifications.
"So, we have received requests from our neighbouring countries for supply of fuel, and these are being looked into, keeping in mind our own requirements, availability and refining capacity," Jaiswal told reporters.
He further said India has "supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March 2026, and further supplies have continued this month as well".
"You would recall that last month we had supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka as well," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Mauritius last week, the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius".
As far as Nepal is concerned, there is an existing arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per its requirements. The supplies are continuing without any interruption, he said.
Energy supplies to Bhutan also continue according to the existing arrangement.
"As I had mentioned earlier, we have received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements. We continue to be in touch with them in this regard, and are considering the request keeping in mind our own domestic requirements and availability of fuel.
"I would also like to add that our neighbouring country governments have expressed appreciation for the uninterrupted supply, fuel supply to them during the West Asian conflict," Jaiswal said.
Global oil and gas prices surged after Iran restricted the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade.
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