The Beast, FCC Newsletter, January 2024
The Governing Committee of FCC South Asia for 2023-25 is looking forward to meet and greet you, and also implement wonderful plans to make the Club a vibrant and happening place. We are now again organising events at the FCC's well-equipped auditorium and the lawns. This is the January 2024 issue of our newsletter The Beast with a story on an interaction with a group of Ukrainian experts, Christmas as a lovely dinner, Monthly Quiz and New Year Celebrations.
You may kindly share interesting stories/experiences during your reporting assignments, and news about journalists who arrive in India or depart after completing their assignment, with The Beast's Editor Simran Sodhi. Contact her at simraj68@yahoo.com
WELCOME TO NEW MEMBERS
 
JOURNALIST ASSOCIATES
Sharik Rahman Khan
NDTV
 
GENERAL ASSOCIATES
Vinod Kumar Gupta
Tishya Yog Trust

Akshat Gupta
Individual Practice

Rathindra Basu
IMG Media

Pragya Bhushan
Vikalp Law Firm

SHRI PRAKASH MISHRA
Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India
 
ABOUT FCC SOUTH ASIA
 
The Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia is a group of more than 700 journalists and photographers covering India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Afghanistan and Tibet.

New members are always welcome. The club was started by “Foreign” correspondents, or those who work for news outlets outside of the region. However, we welcome journalists from Indian newspapers, magazines, television channels and news portals. In addition to journalists, we also admit diplomats, lawyers, and people dealing with the media from non-governmental organizations and companies as Associate Members.

As India’s economy has boomed in recent years, and tensions continued to grip Afghanistan and other neighboring areas, the FCC has become an important meeting point for far-flung travelling journalists to reconnect and recharge. The club has also substantially expanded what it offers to members, to include more press conferences, sports match screenings, book launches and other cultural events.
 
DECEMBER 2023 EVENTS
 
NEW YEAR EVE CELEBRATIONS

7.30 pm, December 31, 2023
CHRISTMAS

6 pm, December 15, 2023
FCC QUIZ

5:30 pm, December 23, 2023
HOW UKRAINE IS COPING WITH THE RUSSIAN INVASION

6 pm, December 15, 2023
 

FCC hosts an interaction with a group of Ukrainian experts, a lovely Christmas dinner, the Monthly Quiz and New Year Celebrations


On Dec 15, the FCC hosted an interaction with a group of Ukrainian experts to talk about the current situation in Ukraine. The team was led by Dr. Hanna Shelest, Director of Security Studies and Global Outreach Programmes at the Kyiv-based Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism” (its other members were Olha Vorozhbyt, Mykhailo Samus and Nataliya Butyrska).

It was a packed audience, which had a great number of questions for the panel. In response to a wide range of questions, the panellists pointed out that Ukraine understands India’s strong traditional ties with Moscow which go back to the days of the erstwhile Soviet Union, and does not expect military support from Delhi. However, the panellists pointed out that since Ukraine now accepts India as one of the leaders of the Global South, it is then expected of India to provide at least moral and diplomatic support to Ukraine.

Dr. Hanna Shelest admitted that, so far, Ukraine’s foreign policy had been Euro-centric, but now the country’s policymakers were realizing the importance of an Asia strategy. As a result, their “global outreach” plan is to aim for closer ties with eight countries – Australia, South Korea, Singapore, India, Qatar, Israel, Brazil, and Canada. The delegation was in India as part of this global outreach only.

On Dec 23, the FCC hosted the fourth round of the monthly Quiz. It was a great fun-filled evening where a total


of eight teams participated. They had questions from the world of arts to sports to science.

The audience members were also active participants and got prizes for the correct answers.

The quiz master was senior journalist Srinjoy Choudhary, a veteran of about a thousand quiz competitions either as quiz master or participant, and author of a few quiz books, too.

The Ambassador of Estonia to India Marje Luup, Ukraine’s Ambassador to India Oleksandr Polishchuk and his wife Kateryna, Alexandros Boudouris, the Greek Deputy Chief of Mission in New Delhi and Ismini Panagopoilou, diplomat with the Greek Embassy here, gave away prizes to the winners. All in all, it was a great event which is generally held on the last Saturday of every month.

The Quiz was sponsored by Mr. Jerry’s cocktails and Highbury Classic who provided the winners with lovely prizes.

The next quiz will be held on January 20, 2024.

On Dec 23, the FCC lit up with the warmth and lights of Christmas as a lovely dinner was set up to celebrate the spirit of the season.

The lawns were beautifully decorated with a Christmas tree and other items to depict the holiday spirit. Music played in the background as about 100 people came for the


dinner which was a great mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes and desserts like gajjar ka halwa. It was a packed evening where friends, colleagues and family members of many FCC members came to partake in the joyous occasion. An evening thoroughly enjoyed by all present.



On 31 Dec, the FCC hosted a beautiful evening ‘to bid goodbye to 2023 and to welcome 2024.’

A group of professional musicians entertained the members with their enthralling music played live, by Bollywood's DJs; Hitesh and Yuvraj Siddhartha Singh.

S Venkat Narayan, President, and Prakash Nanda, Secretary, FCC, graciously welcomed members and their guests. Our in-house chefs, Anil Kumar (Thapa) and Tara Chand prepared the delicious snacks and meals. Members enjoyed the New Year's Eve function thoroughly, by singing and dancing on tunes of DJs' music. A special mention to the hard work and efforts of Vinod Sharma, Manager FCC, and his entire team.



Editor: Simran Sodhi
Design: Anil Yadav




Gallery
NEW YEAR-EVE CELEBRATIONS
CHRISTMAS
FCC QUIZ
HOW UKRAINE IS COPING WITH THE RUSSIAN INVASION


FCC Members Can Now Enjoy Access to 45 Clubs in 30 Countries!
FCC South Asia is a Member of The International Association of Press Clubs (IAPC), and our Active Members can enjoy access to Clubs that are Members of the IAPC (https://pressclubs.org). Our members can now have access to 45 clubs in 30 countries across the globe. By presenting your valid FCC Membership Card, you can gain entry to the Clubs that are listed below:
1. NATIONAL PRESS CLUB OF AUSTRALIA
Canberra ACT
Phone: +61 2 6121 2152
Email: npc@npc.org.au

2. PRESS CLUB CONCORDIA
A-1010 Wien, Austria
Phone: +43 1 533 85 73
Email: office@concordia.at

3. BRUSSELS PRESS CLUB EUROPE
Brussels, Belgium
Phone: +32 2 201 37 05
Email: secretary@pressclub.be

4. PRESS CLUB BELARUS
220029 Minsk
Phone: +375 33 361 57 48
Email: press-club@press-club.by

5. MAISON DE LA PRESSE DE LIEGE ET DE LUXEMBOURG
4000 Liege
Phone: +32 4 222 23 39
Email: maisondelapresseliege@teledisnet.be

6. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB OF CHINA
Beijing
Phone: +86 10 8532 3807
Email: fcccadmin@gmail.com

7. SHANGHAI FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB
Huangpu, Shanghai, China
Phone: +86 21 2311 1111
Email: fcc.sfcc@gmail.com

8. INTERNATIONAL PRESS CLUB OF PRAGUE
110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic
Phone: +420 000 000 000
Email: sekretariat@ipcprague.org

9. PRESS CLUB DE FRANCE
92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux
Phone: +33 1 4133 7309
Email: info@pressclub.fr

10. CLUB DE LA PRESSE DE BORDEAUX
Bordeaux Cedex, France
Phone: +33 05 5644 0365
Email: contact@club-presse-bordeaux.

11. CLUB DE LA PRESSE DE LYON
Lyon, France
Phone: +33 04 7837 7545
Email: presselyon@clubpresse.com

12. CLUB DE LA PRESSE DE MONTPELLIER
Montpellier, France
Phone: +33 04 6765 3909
Email: secretary@clubpresse.org

13. CLUB DE LA PRESSE DE STRASBOURG
Strasbourg, France
Phone: +33 03 8835 6661
Email: info@club-presse-strasbourg.com

14. CLUB DE LA PRESSE NORD-PAS DE CALAIS
Lille Cedex, France
Phone: +33 03 2838 9840
Email: clubdelapressenpdc@nordnet.fr

15. BERLIN PRESS CLUB
Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 30 40815504
Email: sekretariat@berliner-presse-club.de
16. FRANKFURTER PRESSECLUB
Frankfurt, Germany
Phone: +49 6928 8800
Email: info@frankfurterpresseclub.de

17. BIRMINGHAM PRESS CLUB
Birmingham, Great Britain
Phone: +44 00 0000 0000
Email: info@birmingham-press-club.co.uk

18. LONDON PRESS CLUB
London, Great Britain
Phone: +44 020 7520 9082
Email: info@londonpressclub.co.uk

19. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB OF HONG KONG
Hong Kong
Phone: +852 2521 1511
Email: fcc@fcchk.org

20. THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB OF SOUTH ASIA
New Delhi, India
Phone: +91 11 2338 8535
Email: manager@fccsouthasia.com

21. PRESS CLUB OF INDIA
New Delhi, India
Phone: +91 11 2371 9844, +91 11 2373 0248, +91 11 2335

Email: contact@pressclubofindia.org

22. THE DELHI FLYING CLUB LTD.
Delhi, India
Phone: (+91) 91589 31656, (+91) 93508 56838
Email: secretary@delhiflyingclub.in

23. DEHRA DUN CLUB
Uttarakhand, India
Phone: 75057 75750, 0135 - 265 6660
Email: contact@doonclub.com

24. GULMOHAR CLUB
New Delhi, India
Phone: +91 9999562171, 011-26868139, 011-46098938
Email: info@gulmoharcentre.com

25. JAKARTA FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS CLUB
Jakarta, Indonesia
Phone: +62 21 390 36 28
Email: office@jfcc.info

26. JERUSALEM PRESS CLUB
Jerusalem, Israel
Email: info@jerusalempressclub.com

27. CIRCOLO DELLA STAMPA MILANO
Milano, Italy
Phone: +39 02 7602 2671
Email: eventi@circolostampamilano.it

28. JAPAN NATIONAL PRESS CLUB (JNPC)
Tokyo, Japan
Phone: +81 03 3503 2721
Email: secretary@jnpc.or.jp

29. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB OF JAPAN
Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
Phone: +81 3 3211 3161
Email: front@fccj.or.jp

30. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB OF MALAYSIA
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: +60 3 2028 5000
Email: info@fccm.my
31. NATIONAL PRESS CLUB OF MONGOLIA
Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Phone: +976 9911 1851
Email: baika@hotmail.com

32. INTERNATIONAAL PERSCENTRUM NIEUWSPOORT
Den Haag, Netherlands
Phone: +31 70 346 94 40
Email: receptie@nieuwspoort.nl

33. NATIONAL PRESS CLUB OF NEW ZEALAND
Wellington, New Zealand
Phone: +64 4 474 13 08
Email: secretary@nationalpressclub.org.nz

34. PRESS CLUB POLSKA
Warszawa, Poland
Phone: +48 22 299 71 27
Email: sekretariat@pressclub.pl

35. POLISH CLUB OF INTERNATIONAL COLUMNISTS
Warszawa, Poland
Phone: +48 501 201 306
Email: bankowicz@acn.waw.pl

36. CLUBE DE JORNALISTAS
Lisbon, Portugal
Phone: +351 21 396 57 74
Email: cj@clubedejornalistas.pt

37. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION OF SINGAPORE
Shaw Centre, Singapore
Phone: +65 9432-5695
Email: secretariat@fcasingapore.com

38. SINGAPORE PRESS CLUB
Singapur
Phone: +65 1234 5678
Email: secretariat@pressclub.org.sg

39. SEOUL FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS’ CLUB
Seoul, South Korea
Phone: +82 734 3272~5
Email: master@sfcc.or.kr

40. BARCELONA PRESS CLUB - ASSOCIATION OF CATALAN JOURNALISTS / COL·LEGI DE PERIODISTES DE CATALUNYA
Barcelona, Spain
Phone: +34 933171920
Email: mvinas@periodistes.org

41. GENEVA PRESS CLUB / CLUB SUISSE DE LA PRESSE
Pregny-Chambésy, Switzerland
Phone: +41 22 559 77 95
Email: info@pressclub.ch

42. TAIWAN FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS’ CLUB
Taipei
Email: info@taiwanfcc.org

43. FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB OF THAILAND
Bangkok, Thailand
Phone: +66 02 652 0580 1
Email: info@fccthai.com

44. UKRAINIAN PRESS CLUBS ASSOCIATION
Kyiv city, Khreshchatyk
Email: info@pressclub.org.ua

45. OVERSEAS PRESS CLUB OF AMERICA
New York, United States of America
Phone: +1 212 626 92 20
Email: info@opcofamerica.org