English Media

First Lady Melania Announces at the White House: Building a Bridge of Peace for Children of War

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Category: English Media

Published: Saturday, 11 October 2025 08:50

Written by Eager

Celebrity Media Commentator: In the autumn morning light of Washington, U.S. First Lady Melania Trump made a surprising statement that once again brought “White House diplomacy” into the global spotlight. Appearing not in her traditional political role but as a “mother” and “humanitarian advocate,” she announced a moving achievement — eight Ukrainian children separated by the Russia-Ukraine war were reunited with their families within the past 24 hours.

In a brief White House statement, First Lady Melania Trump announced that eight Ukrainian children separated from their families during the Russia-Ukraine war had been reunited within the past 24 hours. She revealed that this outcome stemmed from her personal letter to President Putin last year, which established a direct communication channel.

Melania stated that representatives from both sides held several secret meetings, during which Russia provided complete information on the children’s placement, health, and identity, all verified by the U.S. side. The cooperation focused purely on humanitarian grounds and was not politically driven. “Trafficked children know no borders, no flags,” she said — a line that became the most touching moment of the day.

This operation not only reunited eight families but also symbolized a breakthrough in “soft diplomacy” — when politicians are caught in confrontation, a mother’s sincerity can advance peace. Melania emphasized that her mission is “to make sure every child can return home safely” and that peace should begin with children.

This was not a political show, but a human effort. She proved through action that true strength sometimes comes from a mother’s heart.

First Lady Melania Trump: Good morning.

Trafficked children know no borders, no flags. We must create a future for our children — one that is full of potential, safe, and full of dreams, not a world threatened by war.
Since President Putin received my letter last August and replied in writing, expressing his willingness to communicate directly with me, we have established an open channel to discuss the living and welfare conditions of Ukrainian children in Russia.

Over the past few months, both sides have held multiple confidential meetings based on goodwill and cooperation. We have agreed to collaborate so that all those affected by the war — especially children and their families — receive help.

My representatives have been working with President Putin’s team to ensure the safety and reunification of children and their families between Russia and Ukraine. In fact, within the past 24 hours, eight children have been reunited with their families.

Because of the war in Ukraine, every child is living amid turmoil. Among these eight children, three were separated from their parents and forced to move to the Russian Federation, while the other five were displaced due to conflict and border changes. One of them, a young girl, has now returned to her family from Ukraine.

In recent months, I have gained deeper insight into this matter. The Russian side has shown willingness to reveal the truth, reflect on the situation, and provide personal data, photos, and social, medical, and psychological service information of the reunited children.

I have also received a detailed report confirming the identity and circumstances of these eight children. The U.S. government has verified the authenticity of these documents. Notably, this report was co-authored by Fiona Radha, Commissioner for Children’s Affairs of Ukraine, and the Commissioner for Human Rights and Children’s Rights of the Russian Presidential Office.

As First Lady, this represents an important step for me. It is built upon shared goals and long-term impact. My mission is twofold — to promote transparency and free flow of information, ensuring the health and rights of children affected by war; and to facilitate reunification of children with their families, until every child can return home.

Additionally, I am concerned about those young people who were displaced during the war and have now reached adulthood and are living in Russia. Considering that their safe return requires international coordination, Russia has agreed to assist in the repatriation of those aged 18 and above.

This work is ongoing. Programs to help more children return to school are also underway. I hope peace will come soon — starting with our children. Thank you.

Celebrity Media Special Report: Dialogue Between Three European Presidents and the International Host at the Concordia Summit

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Category: English Media

Published: Wednesday, 08 October 2025 06:59

Written by Eager

Editor's Note from Celebrity Media: As the world's attention focuses on the United Nations General Assembly in New York, another gathering of ideas and actions—the Concordia Annual Summit—is quietly stirring new waves in this global capital.
At this year’s summit, the Presidents of the three Baltic nations—Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia—engaged in a profound dialogue with the moderator on regional security and international cooperation. The discussion covered key topics such as Russian activities, NATO defense, the situation in Ukraine, and transatlantic relations. The three leaders, with rational and restrained tones, presented Europe’s reflections and responses amid complex geopolitical circumstances.

At the Concordia Summit held in New York, the moderator and the presidents of the three Baltic states—Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia—discussed recent regional security developments, focusing on relations between Russia and NATO, the situation in Ukraine, and transatlantic security cooperation. The entire conversation was calm and clearly articulated, reflecting the shared concerns of the three countries regarding security and international collaboration. 1. Border Security and the NATO Mechanism The moderator began by asking about recent Russian incursions into Polish and Estonian airspace. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda noted that such incidents have also occurred in Lithuania and Latvia. She stated that these acts have become “routine provocations,” but the international community—especially NATO—should respond swiftly and decisively.

President Nausėda emphasized that Lithuania is strengthening its air defense capabilities and plans to increase its defense spending to 5–6% of GDP by 2030 to bolster national security and NATO’s eastern flank. Estonian President Alar Karis responded that since joining NATO in 2004, Estonia has experienced multiple airspace violations. She mentioned that NATO’s coordination mechanisms are working effectively and argued that the existing “air policing mission” should evolve into a more defensive “air defense mission” to improve responsiveness.
She also confirmed that Estonia has formally invoked NATO’s Article 4 procedure, requesting member states to hold security consultations to ensure both political and military support for regional stability. Latvian President Edgars Rinkēvičs described the current situation as “a test of NATO’s political and military capacity.” He pointed out that Russian actions go beyond military maneuvers, encompassing propaganda and psychological warfare designed to sow mistrust among allies. However, he praised the unity shown by nations in the UN Security Council and under the NATO framework. 2. Cybersecurity and Hybrid Threats The moderator then addressed Russia’s influence in the fields of cyber, migration, and energy. The Lithuanian President noted that the Baltic region faces not only military threats but also “hybrid attacks” from neighboring Belarus, including the orchestration of illegal migrant flows to create social unrest and media confusion.

The three presidents agreed that cyber defense is an indispensable component of modern security systems. Lithuania and Estonia both recalled suffering large-scale cyberattacks as early as 2007, which spurred the development of their national defense frameworks. The moderator concluded that such “cross-domain threats” have become a long-term challenge to European security. 3. Ukraine and Security Guarantees When discussing Ukraine, the Estonian President expressed that Ukraine’s ultimate security guarantee should come from NATO membership, while acknowledging that this goal remains difficult in the short term. She said the Estonian government is prepared to provide military assistance if necessary.
The Lithuanian President argued that even without NATO membership, Ukraine can secure itself by strengthening its defense forces. She suggested that “building a modern Ukrainian army” is the most practical approach and highlighted the importance of ongoing international support and training cooperation.
The Latvian President added that Russia’s actions aim to weaken Europe’s support for Ukraine, but he insisted that Ukraine stands as Europe’s front line—“to support Ukraine is to safeguard Europe’s own security.” He also emphasized that Ukraine’s EU accession process is an integral part of regional stability. 4. Security and Energy Cooperation with the United States When addressing transatlantic relations, the Latvian President stated that the United States has always been a key partner in the Baltic defense system, with continuous strengthening of military training and equipment cooperation.

The Lithuanian President noted that since 2018, U.S. troops have been stationed in Lithuania to support regional defense. She also mentioned that U.S. liquefied natural gas supplies helped Lithuania completely cut its dependence on Russian energy in 2022, achieving energy diversification.
The three presidents agreed that cooperation between Europe and the United States in military, energy, and economic fields holds strategic importance. NATO members must continue to fulfill their defense investment commitments to maintain balance and trust within the alliance. 5. Conclusion and Significance At the end of the discussion, the moderator humorously recalled the 2019 “NATO 2% Club Lunch,” with the three presidents joking that they have now become the “5% Club,” symbolizing the Baltic states’ determination in defense investment.
The 25-minute dialogue spanned topics from airspace security to energy independence, from cyber defense to the Ukraine crisis—covering nearly all key aspects of European security today. The presidents consistently emphasized the importance of international cooperation, reflecting their shared goal of maintaining regional stability amid a complex geopolitical landscape.

UN chief calls for Israel and Hamas to ‘abide fully’ by terms of US peace plan

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Category: English Media

Published: Wednesday, 08 October 2025 22:10

Written by Eager

© UNICEF/Mohammed Nateel A displaced family sit outside their tent in Gaza.

India’s Durga Puja, where worship meets social change

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Category: English Media

Published: Saturday, 04 October 2025 12:02

Written by Eager

By Anshu Sharma and Rohit Upadhyay

India’s eastern state of Bengal transformed this week into the world’s largest public art festival - an immersive blend of worship, artistic expression, and social messaging, thanks to an annual Hindu festival known as Durga Puja.

Inscribed by the UN cultural agency, UNESCO, in 2021 as an element of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Durga Puja isn’t just a festival, it’s a city-wide act of reimagination, one that resonates with the Bengali diaspora and others around the world.

For a few autumn nights, the city of Kolkata (and other parts of West Bengal) became an open-air gallery where local communities build dazzling temporary temples or pandals, artisans from Kumartoli sculpt the goddess from river clay, drummers (dhaakis) roll thunder through the streets, and millions wander from one illuminated dreamscape to the next.

The festivities drew to a close on Thursday.

© UN News/Rohit Upadhyay Festival goers visit a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata.

 

What looks like a spectacle is actually a community in motion: local clubs raising funds, families volunteering, craftspeople collaborating, and entire local economies springing to life around food, lights, music, and art.

Families map their “pandal-hopping” routes, musicians set the rhythm, food stalls weave the city together, and the city itself becomes a stage. All kinds of divisions – class, caste, ethnicity – in this city of teeming millions, melt away.

UNESCO recognition

UNESCO recognised the Durga Puja, named after the Hindu goddess Durga, in 2021 describing it as “the best instance of the public performance of religion and art, and a thriving ground for collaborative artists and designers.”

As Tim Curtis, UNESCO Representative in India, explained, “It embodies the Sarbojonin spirit - ‘for all people’ - that has defined community worship since 1926. From clay sculptors to drummers, designers to local organizers, the entire city contributes to one of the most vibrant cultural expressions in the world.”

This is heritage not locked away in monuments but alive in practice, passed hand-to-hand through craftsmanship, reimagined every year with new themes, and binding communities across class, faith, and language.

Durga Puja is also a creative economy powerhouse. A 2019 study estimated the festival’s industries generate $4.53 billion, 2.58 per cent of West Bengal’s GDP. Art with a message

For Shombi Sharp, United Nations Resident Coordinator in India, this year marked his first visit to the century-old pandal now spotlighting sustainable agriculture, highlighting the broader importance of the Sustainable Development Goals.

© UN News/Rohit upadyay UN Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp visits a Durga Puja pandal in Kolkata, India.

 

He told UN News, “Normally you see Goddess Durga defeating evil – here the ‘evil’ is pesticides and unsustainable farming practices. Behind me stands a display with 280 rice varieties from eastern and northeastern India. That’s 12-13 million visitors being exposed to powerful messages about organic agriculture, biodiversity, and sustainability.”

Another headline-grabber is an AI-themed pandal that fuses devotion with digital imagination. Goddess Durga appears in her traditional form - ten arms and a lion – while the backdrop bursts with circuit-board patterns, glowing data streams, and neon light.

The point is clear: faith and technology can co-exist; even in a futuristic frame.

Visitor reactions mirror this blend of wonder and caution. One 30-year-old lab technician from Kolkata, Nupur Hajara said “the more positively people receive AI, the better. If they take it negatively, that won’t help – right?”

© UN News/Rohit Upadhyay Figurines made with electronic waste material are displayed in a pandal or temple.

 

IT professional, Sumitam Shom explained: “Durga Puja is our biggest, most special festival - and now AI is part of the conversation. It can do a lot of good, but there are risks too, especially fraud. Deepfakes and viral images are real concerns. Without safeguards, someone could misuse photos and deceive people. So, it’s crucial that we use these technologies responsibly.”

Adding a different register of urgency, another pandal with the theme of “Shabdo” (“Sound”) draws attention for its poignant focus on the vanishing sounds of nature – chirping birds, rustling leaves, croaking frogs – captured through immersive, sensory design.

A meditation on nostalgia

It was a meditation on environmental loss and nostalgia, asking what it means for the sounds of nature within a city to grow quieter as habitats shrink.

Raja, a pandal visitor, put it simply: “You barely see birds anymore. My grandfather used to tell me how common they were; now they’re rare - partly, we believe, due to mobile network impacts. This pandal is our way to wake up the community, to learn how to bring the birds back and to start working on it together.”

Many other pandals also echo urgent social themes. One honours acid attack survivors, not only raising awareness but celebrating their dignity and contributions. Another highlights water conservation.

© UN News/Rohit Upadhyay A Puja pandal explores the theme of the vanishing sounds of birds in urban areas.

 

For young visitors too, the messages resonate. Tisa, an 18-year-old student at a pandal dedicated to water conservation, reflected that “groundwater is depleting day by day. This is the best way to spread awareness to the public.”

Making Puja accessible to all

Durga Puja is also taking a step toward inclusivity.

In June 2025, UNESCO and the UN in India, working with organizations of persons with disabilities, launched comprehensive accessibility guidelines for festival organisers.

The results are visible on the ground. Ramps and barrier-free layouts ease mobility, Braille signage and sign-language interpreters expand communication, and quiet seating areas provide allow people to rest.

As the UN’s Shombi Sharp recalled, “We heard from a father who, for the first time in 17 years, was able to bring his daughter, a wheelchair user, to celebrate Durga Puja. That was an incredibly emotional moment.”