The Elders' delegation to visit a Delhi mohalla clinic
New Delhi, June 15: A team from The Elders -- an international NGO former by South African statesman Nelson Mandela comprising noted public figures -- has sought to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and also proposed to visit a mohalla clinic here.
In a letter dated June 13, the Chair of The Elders Kofi Annan, who was also a former UN Secretary-General and a Nobel Peace Laureate, informed Kejriwal that "an Elders delegation will visit India from September 5-8".
"They would be honoured to meet with you during their visit and would also propose to visit a mohalla clinic," he said.
Annan also wrote to Kejriwal last year regarding Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a health Sustainable Development Goal, and the health reforms Kejriwal's administration has implemented, commending the provision of free primary healthcare services through the mohalla clinic.
The delegation will be led by Gro Harlem Brundtland, Deputy Chair of The Elders and three-time Prime Minister of Norway, and have former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The Elders, which comprises elder statesmen, peace activists, and human rights advocates, were brought together by Mandela in 2007.
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Hormuz Strait disruptions have caused huge economic impact, energy instability in region: Navy chief
Mumbai (PTI): The Strait of Hormuz disruptions have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region, Indian Navy chief Admiral D K Tripathi said on Thursday amid the war in West Asia.
Speaking at an event where INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel, set sail from Mumbai as Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, the admiral said competition at sea has no longer remained confined to oil and energy.
It is now expanding towards resources that will shape future growth - such as rare earth elements, critical minerals, new fishing grounds and even data, he said.
The West Asia crisis began on February 28 after a joint attack by the US and Israel on Iran.
Iran's strikes on its neighbours along with its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted the world's energy supplies with effects far beyond West Asia.
"With the conflict in West Asia well into its fifth week, the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have caused severe economic impact and energy instability in the region," Tripathi said.
There is significant increase in the marine survey, deep-sea research activity, and Illegal Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU), often encroaching upon the sovereign rights of littoral nations and exploiting gaps in monitoring and enforcement, he said.
Alongside these, threats such as piracy, armed robbery and narco-trafficking backed by unimpeded access of advanced technology to non-state actors, have also become more complex and challenging to counter, the Navy chief pointed out.
Last year alone, the Indian Ocean Region witnessed a staggering 3,700 maritime incidents of varying nature, the admiral said.
Additionally, narcotics seizures in the region exceeded USD 1 billion USD in 2025, highlighting the persistence and spread of such challenges in the region, he said.
