January 2023 - New Year Online edition

•

• real estate

• wwww

• India

• Fiji

•

JoUrnALIST/ CorreSPondenTS

• Thakur Ranjit Singh (NZ)

• Thilliar Varnakulasingham (NZ)

• Shalendra Prasad (Fiji)

• Rama Gaind (Canberra)

• Ml. Nawaaz Ashrafi

• Imam Muhammad Aslam

• Pastor Joseph Dass

• Haji Abdul Rahman Deen

• Jitendra Deo • Nimisha Modi

• Ranjita Pillai (Immigration Matters)

• Peter Lane Rai • Awadhesh Sharma

• Shailendra Singh • Gagan deep Tandon

• Ravi Vastrad • Brian Sullivan (Photography)

• Amod Datar • Rajesh Chand

• Ashok

Brisbane Indian Times is a monthly newspaper published in English. No material, including advertisements designed by Brisbane Indian Times, may be reproduced in part or who without the written consent of the manager. Opinions carried in Brisbane Indian Times are those of the writers and not necessarily endorsed by Brisbane Indian Times. Brisbane Indian Times will not be held liable for any advertising / editorial content - Advertisers supply / approve content therefore should any content be deemed inappropriate it is the advertisers / correspondents responsibility. While every effort has been made to capture the true likeness to colour printing is an art and therefore we cannot guarantee an exact matching of product to image. Refund / Credit is not given as a result of the previous mentioned.

All corresondence should be addressed to: Brisbane Indian Times, Po Box 197, Taigum Qld 4018. Ph: (07) 3192 5188 Fax: 3865 5864 / prod@indiantimes.com.au

From the Editor:

If you would like us to publish your letters, feedback, comments on any of our stories or suggest ideas columns or features, please send your submissions to:

Brisbane Indian Times Suite 5, 2281 Sandgate Road Boondall Qld 4034 or E-mail: prod@indiantimes.com.au

Welcome to the first issue of 2023, this year we will complete our twenty years of Brisbane Indian Times, let me reflect on the year that was international and national; 2022 was typical of the Gregorian calendar, the 2022nd year of the Common Era (CE) and Anno Domini (AD) designations, the 22nd year of the 3rd millennium and the 21st century, and the 3rd year of the 2020s decade.

2022 saw the removal of nearly all COVID-19 restrictions and the reopening of international borders in most countries, and the global rollout of COVID-19 vaccines continued. The global economic recovery from the pandemic continued, though many countries experienced an ongoing inflation surge; in response, many central banks raised their interest rates to landmark levels. The world population reached eight billion people in 2022.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, the most significant armed conflict in Europe since World War II, caused the displacement of 15.7 million Ukrainians (8 million internally displaced persons and 7.7 million refugees) and led to international condemnations and sanctions and nuclear threats, the withdrawal of hundreds of companies from Russia, and the exclusion of Russia from major sporting events.

Many prominent figures died in 2022, including world leaders Shinzo Abe, Mikhail Gorbachev, Queen Elizabeth II, Jiang Zemin, and Pope Benedict XVI; entertainers Sidney Poitier, Olivia Newton-

John, Jean-Luc Godard, and Angela Lansbury; and footballer Pelé.

The year 2022 is likely to be seen as one in which Australians started to act as though the climate and environmental crises are not just abstract ideas that mostly happen elsewhere or in the distant future.

The country finally had its long-promised climate election, and it was emphatic. Social research indicates climate concern helped drive swings from the Coalition to Labor in some areas, and from the major parties to “teal” independents and the Greens in others. It followed long-term campaigns by the conservation movement and some political candidates to frame tackling the climate crisis as an opportunity, not just a cost.

According to work by Rebecca Huntley, a social researcher, it was the first time extreme weather events – specifically, the black summer bushfires and catastrophic floods in northern New South Wales and Brisbane – clearly changed votes.

Anthony Albanese (right) and Adam Bandt, the Greens leader, successfully campaigned on environmental issues – but now have to deliver on their promises. Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

The new Labor government immediately lifted the country’s minimum 2030 emissions reduction target from 26% to 43% (compared with 2005) and pushed through modest but symbolically significant climate change legislation. In addition, the climate

change minister, Chris Bowen, began work on policies to industries, drive the uptake of electric vehicles, create an offshore wind energy industry and reach an 82% share of renewable electricity by the decade’s end.

Some details, including a, revamp of the Tony Abbott-era safeguard mechanism and a review of a controversial carbon credit scheme, are due early in the new year. However, experts say the new policies will need to be ambitious. While a significant improvement, Labor’s climate goals do not yet live up to what scientists say is necessary or the government’s rallying rhetoric on the global stage.

The floods that wrecked Lismore and surrounding areas in northern New South Wales and engulfed central Brisbane in February caused multiple deaths and billions of dollars in damage to homes and infrastructure. They were also just the start. Australia’s eastern seaboard was thumped throughout the year as a third-consecutive La Nina over the Pacific Ocean helped drive unprecedented rain in many areas, including the country’s biggest city, Sydney.

Scientists said that while rising atmospheric emissions did not cause the wet conditions, they loaded the dice, making it more likely that heavy rain would significantly impact them. For every 1C of global heating, the atmosphere can hold 7% more moisture, and Australia is nearly 1.5C hotter than in pre-industrial times.

Adaptation remains an under-discussed part of the climate equation in Australia. Still, the floods prompted fresh warnings that parts of the country may become uninsurable and raised questions about whether it is wise to rebuild on floodplains and in cyclone-prone areas in the north.

The banking regulator cautiously weighed in, suggesting big banks could become unwilling to lend to households and businesses in the most atrisk areas as climate losses escalate.

A five-year government report on the state of the environment finished in 2021 but not released until after Labor was elected, set out the evidence that the country’s natural heritage is in poor and deteriorating health due to the climate crisis, habitat loss, invasive species, pollution, mining – and generally being taken for granted by its custodians.

Hundreds of species, including the koala and many fewer charismatic plants and animals, have been newly listed as threatened over the past decade. Hundreds of thousands of hectares of forest and other ecological sites continue to be cleared. Nineteen ecosystems were said to be showing signs of collapse or near collapse.

The shocking report card followed years of deep cuts at the federal environment department, hundreds of recovery plans for threatened species needing to be completed and governments prioritising development over conservation. Environmental offsets used to justify project approvals have often needed to be more adequately designed and sometimes just not delivered.

The environment minister, Tanya Plibersek, has acknowledged the scale of the challenge and promised to act. She set a zero-extinction target and plans a significant overhaul of environment laws, including introducing a national environment protection agency, next year.

Looking forward to your continued support in 2023 and hope that this year, the year of the Rabbit is a good one for all, the, as we adopt to new norms in life. Until next Month Happy Reading!

—Umesh chandra oAm Publisher

Partner visa’s

background of the applicant, including cultural and legal marriage ceremonies.

Partner visas are generally processed in two stages in Australia. Sponsored applicants must hold a provisional visa, a Partner (Temporary) visa, in order to be granted a permanent visa, a Partner (Residence) visa. The grant of the provisional visa enables them to travel to and remain in Australia on a temporary basis. Following the grant of a temporary visa, a permanent visa may be granted where the decisionmaker is satisfied the relationship has been ongoing for at least 2 years and is genuine and continuing. In some circumstances, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection may grant a waiver for the 2 year waiting period, or grant permanency even where the relationship has broken down before the end of the 2 year period.

Generally a provisional partner visa takes up to 12 months to be processed. Depending on the circumstances, visa applicants may be able to lodge their partner visa in Australia (subclass 820/801), and be granted a bridging visa, which will allow them to stay in Australia whilst the visa is being processed. Alternatively, a partner visa may be lodged and granted offshore (subclass 309/100).

Applicants will be required to show that together with their partner, they have a genuine commitment to a shared life together. This may be evidenced through financial interdependence, social context, nature of the household, nature of commitment to each other, and history of relationship. The department may take into account the cultural

Migration Guru has assisted a vast number of clients, in various and complex circumstances, including arranged marriages and de facto applicants. Migration Guru has more than 80 years of collective experience in the industry and a team of Migration Agents / Solicitors. With our vast experience and skills, we are able to provide accurate migration or legal advice based on our clients’ personal circumstances. If you would like more information regarding your visa eligibility, applicable visa subclass, or next steps, Migration Guru can assist you in navigating this process.

our team may be contacted by via email on info at migrationguru. om.au or by calling 07 3036 3800. readers are encouraged to follow us on Facebook for all the updates to Migration Law - https://www. facebook.com/migrationguru/

Migration Guru Pty Ltd, Level 18, 127 Creek Street, Brisbane, QLd Phone: 07 3036 3800

Migration Guru Pty Ltd, 31002, 27 Garden Street, Southport QLd Phone: 07 5606 6160

Migration Guru Pty Ltd, Level 1, 162 Macquarie Street, Hobart TAS. Phone: 03 6281 8008

Migration Guru Pty Ltd, Level 5, 490 northbourne Avenue, dickson, ACT. Phone: 02 6109 9110

Migration Guru Pty Ltd, Suite 323, Level 3, 1 Queens road, Melbourne, VIC. Phone 03 6240 1930

Disclaimer: - The above article constitutes only generic information on migration issues, and does not constitute specific migration advice to any entity or individual.

Marine conservation comes to ‘life’ at saii Phi Phi island village

in Thailand that allows inhouse guests to witness its environmental projects first-hand. This is done with a series of underwater excursions that integrate with the activities of the Marine Discovery Centre, including coral propagation and clownfish breeding programs.

sustainability first and strives to preserve its precious environment.

Holidaymakers seek activities that bring them closer to nature and have a positive impact on the planet.

By Rama Gaind

IT was Albert Einstein who said: "look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." Seeking activities that bring us closer to nature and have a positive impact on the planet are very much a part of being in the present.

Mother nature’s beauty is indescribable, yet it can be taken for granted. There’s so much to admire and explore. Preserving our seas and oceans is of the utmost importance. Bringing marine conservation to life through dedicated diving experiences, there’s a freespirited five-star resort

There’s a lot more than meets the eye at SAii Phi Phi Island Village, a dream-like tropical resort on a private 800-metre stretch of pristine

With this in mind, two of the resort’s facilities — the Gold Palm Dive Centre and Marine Discovery Centre — have come together to create immersive, eco-sensitive diving experiences that allow travellers to explore the vibrant underwater world in

deAr reAder, happy New Year to you, and welcome to 2023. Like so many of us, you may have been through many setbacks, challenges and faced difficulties that you want to leave behind you. In the past year, Covid 19 was in the news; then we had floods, wars, rise in inflation,

white sandy beach lapped by the turquoise waters of the Andaman Sea. The resort is set in 728ha of coconut palm plantations, in the privacy of Loh Ba Gao Bay on beautiful Phi Phi Island.

This Village puts

a highly responsible way.

A series of professionallyled diving excursions from the resort allow you to witness first-hand the work of the resort’s resident marine biologist who works to replenish the area’s rich and

diverse ecosystems. Learn about the various projects including coral propagation, breeding and release programs for clownfish and bamboo sharks.

It’s a spectacular seascape and divers can take a trip out

into the sparkling waters of Hat Nappharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park and see the effect these initiatives are having. Keen enthusiasts may be fortunate and see other keystone species in the area such as blacktip reef

interest rate rises, and more.

In Isaiah 43: God says, "forget the former things, do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up. Do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the dry ground."

This new year presents new opportunities, reasons to thank God, and opportunities to serve Him.

The above scripture talks about negative things like dry ground and wilderness. For some of us, this means the company you had worked for had to let us go; people let us down, or the pandemic caused changes that we did not see coming. Some of these pains can cause you to live upset, blaming others and carrying past offenses

upon your shoulders. One of the best things you can learn to do is let it go.

In the scriptures, we read (Genesis chapters 3941) about Joseph, who was betrayed by his brothers, falsely accused, and put in jail, and then, became the prime minister of Egypt after thirteen years of mistreatment. Joseph knew that he could not carry the baggage of past hurts and offenses and successfully lead the nation of Egypt. So, when his brothers came to him and began to ask for forgiveness, Josephs’ answer was simply that God was still working through the bad situations to bring about good for all of them.

CAn LeArn FroM JoSePH

1- you must realise that some things and some people are only a part of your history and not your destiny. My question is, is there something you need to leave behind? A hurt, a bad attitude, an area that you're compromising in. Don't bring that into the new year. Don't let them continue to hurt you by constantly thinking about them. If you're dwelling on the past, you'll miss "the new things" God wants to do. Say goodbye to failure; this is a new day. Say goodbye to guilt; you're forgiven. Say goodbye to what didn't work out; God has something better. Make the resolution that says, "I am not getting stuck on what held me back in 2022. Just like Joseph, I know God has a

new chapter for me in 2023, filled with blessings, favour, and victory, 2023 is going to be good to me.”

2- if you are breathing, it's never too late to start a new beginning. Joseph's brothers planned to kill him. But they spared him and sold him to the Ishmaelites. The Ishmaelites escorted him to Egypt, where he became the Prime Minister! It would help if you looked forward to new beginnings. God plans to increase you, open new doors before you, and take you places that you've never imagined. He has something big in store for this year. He's already planned big breaks, significant opportunities, and big ideas for you. He is doing a new thing!

If “colors are the smiles of nature” — according to Leigh Hunt — then you have to visit this idyllic island retreat!

3- Be willing to let go of relationships limiting you to growing higher. 2023 is your year to rise higher in your relationships, health, finances, and, most of all, your walk with God. As you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you. Receive it by faith and declare, "Yes, God, this is for me today. I know You’re a big God, and You have something new coming my way in 2023!"

When the king of Egypt had a dream that no one could interpret, they called Joseph.

Joseph said, "It's not in me to interpret your dream, but God can." God did it for Joseph, and He can do it for you!

bless you.

Ps Joseph Dass

sharks, leopard sharks, green turtles, hawksbill turtles and even whale sharks further offshore.

God

Pastor Suresh Dass Joseph josephdass@optusnet.com.au

The dedicated Marine Discovery Centre at SAii Phi Phi Island Village is involved in coral propagation projects.

The house reef now blooms with new and revived corals near the resort.

King Cruiser Wreck is one of the region’s most vibrant dive spots.

Bhakti yoga and the nature of Devotion sadhguru, isha Foundation

THere was a time when the most dominant factor in a human being was his emotion. Today, emotion is not the most dominant part in you but it is still the most intense part in you. Most people are not able to get their physical body to a high level of intensity. Similarly, very few people are capable of sustaining an intense mind. They can only keep the mind intense off and on. In energy, people are generally not at all intense. But emotion can get very intense. If not love, at least in anger you are intense. If I abuse you, you will become intense to a point where you will not sleep the whole night.

Emotion can take very sweet and wonderful forms, and it can take absolutely nasty and horrendous forms. You need to train it to take a sweet form. Devotion is a way of transforming your emotion from negativity to pleasantness. Just see, people who have fallen in love do not care about what is happening in the world. It is just that they have made their emotions pleasant, so their life is beautiful.

Devotion is a multiplied and enhanced version of

a love affair. If you fall in love with a man or a woman, they do not go the way you expect them to, and it eventually gets into some trouble. That is why people choose God. It is simply a love affair, and you are not expecting any response. Your life

becomes utterly beautiful because your emotion has become so sweet. Through that sweetness, one grows.

Devotion does not mean you have to be a templegoing, coconut-breaking person. A devotee has understood what his place in the existence is. The

cosmos is very large. You do not know where it begins or ends. There are hundreds of billions of galaxies. In this vast cosmos, this solar system is a tiny speck. If the solar system disappears tomorrow, it won’t even be noticed. In this tiny speck, Earth is a micro-speck. In

this micro-speck, the city you live in is a super-micro speck. In that, you are a big man! This is a serious problem of perspective. It is only because of this that there is no devotion in you.

If you just learn to look at everything around you with attention and care,

you will realize that you cannot even figure the nature of an atom in its entirety. Everything is above your intelligence. If everything is higher than yourself, you will naturally become devout.

Ranked amongst the fifty most influential people in India, Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, visionary and bestselling author. Sadhguru has been conferred the "Padma Vibhushan", India’s highest annual civilian award, by the Government of India in 2017, for exceptional and distinguished service.

d evotion is A m U lti P lied A nd enh A nced version of A love A ffA ir. i f yo U fA ll in love W ith A m A n or A Wom A n, they do not go the WAy yo U ex P ect them to, A nd it event UA lly gets into some tro U ble. t h At is W hy P eo P le choose g od. i t is sim P ly A love A ffA ir, A nd yo U A re not ex P ecting A ny res P onse.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) 2023 helDin inDore

ConTd. FroM PG 1

It featured addresses by the Chief Guest, H.E. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and the Special Guest of Honour, H.E. Mr Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Hon’ble President of the Republic of Suriname. A Commemorative Postal Stamp, ‘Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen,’ was released to underline the importance of safe, legal, orderly and skilled migration. The hon’ble Prime Minister also inaugurated the firstever digital PBD Exhibition on the theme "Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav - Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle” to highlight the contribution of our diaspora freedom fighters in India’s Independence. Given India’s ongoing Presidency of the G20, a special Town Hall was also organised on January 09.

On 10 January 2023, Hon’ble Rashtrapati ji, Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2023 and presided over the Valedictory Session. Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards are conferred to select Indian diaspora members to recognise their achievements and honour

their contributions to various fields in India and abroad.

The PBD Convention had five thematic Plenary sessions- First Plenary was on ‘Role of Diaspora Youth in Innovations and new Technologies’, chaired by Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports, Shri Anurag Singh Thakur.

Second Plenary on ‘Role of Indian Diaspora in promoting Indian Healthcare Eco-

t he P bd convention h A d five them Atic Plen A ry sessionsf irst Plen A ry WA s on ‘r ole of d i A s P or A yo U th in i nnovAtions A nd ne W t echnologies’, ch A ired by m inister of yo U th AffA irs & sP orts, s hri An U r Ag s ingh t h A k U r.

system in Amrit Kaal: Vision @2047’, chaired by Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya and co-chaired by Minister of State for External Affairs, Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh.

Third Plenary on ‘Leveraging the soft power of India - Goodwill through craft, cuisine & creativity’, chaired by Minister of State for External Affairs, Smt. Meenakshi Lekhi.

Fourth Plenary on ‘Enabling global mobility of Indian workforce – Role of Indian Diaspora’, chaired by Minister of Education, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan.

Fifth Plenary on ‘Harnessing the potential of diaspora entrepreneurs towards an inclusive approach to nation building’, chaired by Minister of

Finance, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman.

All the Plenary Sessions featured panel discussions by eminent diaspora experts. The 17th PBD Convention held significance as it is being organised as a physical event after a gap of four years and the first after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. The last PBD Convention in 2021 was held virtually during the Pandemic.

KALKI

Murthi Sthapna

by Dharma

Guru Acharya

Pt Ram Harsh Tripathi Ji on 01/01/2023 at Shree Vishnu Maya Mandir.

Kalki (Sanskrit: कल्क), also called Kalkin or Kalki, is the prophesied tenth and final incarnation of the god Vishnu.

He is described as appearing to end the Kali Yuga, one of the four periods in the endless cycle of existence (Krita) in Vaishnava cosmology. The end of the Kali Yuga states this will usher in the new epoch of Satya Yuga in the cycle of existence until the Mahapralaya (dissolution of the universe).

Kalki is described in the Puranas as the avatar who rejuvenates existence by ending the darkest and

most

period to remove adharma (unrighteousness) and

destructive

ushering in the Satya Yuga while riding a white horse with a fiery sword.

The description and details of Kalki are different among various Puranas.

Tibetan Buddhism. The prophecy of the Kalki avatar is also told in Sikh texts.

Today

By o A

THe CoreLogic Daily Home Value Index (HVI) hit a record decline of -8.40% on 7 January 2023 after peaking on 7 May 2022.

The result takes the national housing downturn into new territory, breaking the previous record in peakto-trough declines, when home values fell -8.38% between October 2017 and June 2019. While the housing downturn between 2017 and 2019 lasted 20 months, the new record-breaking price falls have played out in less than nine months, with further falls expected in the months ahead.

reASonS For THe reCord FALL In HoMe VALUeS

The main force behind record home value falls is the recent cycle of rate hikes that have risen at the fastest pace on record. A 300-basis point increase in the underlying cash rate over just eight months has resulted in a rapid reduction in borrowing capacity, lowering the amount buyers can offer for homes. In addition to constrained borrowing capacity, higher interest costs may be dissuading potential

largest 4 2 2 McIntyre Property

record 5 3 3 Ray White Rouse Hill

historic periods of rate rises, with the latest Reserve Bank of Australia’s estimate of housing debt-to-income ratio sitting at 188.5%. A decade ago this figure was 162.0% and in 2002 the ratio was 130.2%. Higher household indebtedness may have increased the sensitivity of housing values to interest rate rises.

Higher inflationary pressures, combined with a post-lockdown surge in spending, has also eroded household savings, which could be utilised for a home loan deposit. This trend is also being reflected in low consumer sentiment figures, which has plunged to nearrecessionary levels and traditionally coincides with fewer home sales.

Softer housing demand may also reflect Australia’s ‘hangover’ from the elevated sales and listings activity through the 2021 boom, when an estimated 619,531 transactions occurred over the calendar year. It was the highest volume of housing sales in more than 18 years.

Fuelled by record-low interest rates and stimulus such as HomeBuilder and low-deposit home loan schemes, may have brought

forward many buying and selling decisions through the pandemic, resulting in less transaction activity in subsequent years.

doWnTUrn FronTrUnnerS

The bulk of the downturn is being led by Australia’s three largest capital cities, which also have the largest weighting in the national home value index. Sydney home values have seen a peak-to-trough decline of -13.0%, Brisbane values have fallen - 10% and Melbourne dwelling values are -8.6% from the peak. At the other end of the spectrum, Perth dwelling values have fallen less than 1% from a peak in August last year.

For perspective, the -8.4% drop has come off a high base. The sharp decline in dwelling values follows an upswing of 28.9% between September 2020 and May 2022, which was the fastest rise in home values nationally on record.

The fall in national home values may be the largest peak-to-trough decline on record, but at the end of 2022 home values were still 16.0% higher than they were five years ago, and 59.8% higher than they were 10 years ago.

Today’s downturn compared to previous declines

Rising interest rates may largely account for most previous housing market downturns. Both the early 80s and early 90s were associated with periods of high inflation, subsequently high interest rates, and double-digit unemployment rates, which weakened housing demand.

temporary restrictions to mortgage lending that coincided with falls in market values. This was in response

Property Market Indicator Summary

In the mid-90s, Australia saw the second-highest rate lifting cycle on record, with 275 basis points added to the cash rate in the space of five months. However, the associated peak-to-trough decline in the home value index was relatively low, reiterating the possibility that higher values and debt levels in 2022 have made housing markets more sensitive to changing interest rates.

The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) introduced several

Temporary tightening policies from APRA included a 7% floor for mortgage serviceability assessment, a 10% growth benchmark for investment housing lending, and the limitation of interestonly lending to 30% of new housing credit.

driven more by changes in housing investment activity. While the latest housing cycle has also seen new record levels in investment lending, this has been dwarfed by owner-occupier activity.

More WeAKneSS To CoMe

4 2 2 McIntyre Property

The policies were introduced at various stages between 2014 to 2017 and repealed by 2019. Even in the absence of cash rate rises, the credit environment was still very influential on housing market performance. Notably, these housing market cycles in the mid-to-late 2010s were

Over the coming months, housing market conditions are expected to remain soft. The underlying cash rate is likely to see further increases in 2023, with market expectations pricing a peak of around 4%, while the median forecast from Australian economists is lower at 3.6%.

3 2 2 MARQ Property

3 2 2 MARQ Property

$1,027,500 4 3 2 Ray White Epping

$750,000

$2,105,000 4 3 2 4 3 2

$750,000

Ongoing increases in interest rates will further erode the borrowing capacity, and likely prolong the country’s housing downturn until interest rates stabilise.

$2,220,000

5 3 3 Ray White Rouse Hill

4 3 2 Ray White Epping

4 3 2 Elders Real Estate

Top two sales over the past week, states and territories Australian Capital Territory New South Wales Northern Territory Queensland South Australia

the largest decline on record $2,220,000

$1,150,000

5 6 3 Ivy Realty.

$5,400,000

5 2 8 Smallacombe Real Estate Burnside

$1,692,000

$1,027,500 5 5 3 Phillis Real Estate Queensland

Property Market Indicator Summary To access detailed analysis of some of these key indicators on a suburb level, please log into your CoreLogic Professional system or contact us on info@corelogic.com.au Alternatively, ring 1300 734 318 to subscribe to Market Trends

4 3 2 Elders Real Estate

$625,000

$2,600,000

$1,110,000

$2,105,000 3 1 2 Fenwicks Real Estate

57a Kenmore Road, Kenmore QLD 4069 www.brisbanedurgatemple.com

Upcoming Events for Thai | Makara month

Date Event Programme

15-01-2023 Sunday

Thai Pongal Makara Sankranthi

(AM) 8.00 – Durga Abishekam 9.30 - Maha Arathi, Makara Sankranthi Puja 10.30 – Annadhanam

21-01-2023 Saturday

Thai Amavasai Abirami Pattar Thinam

(AM) 8.00 – Durga Abishekam 9.30 – Maha Arathi 10.00 – Prasadam (PM) 7.30 – Maha Arathi, Abirami Anthathi (Hymns on Devi written by sage Abirami Pattar) recital

05-02-2023 Sunday

Thai Pusam

Subramanya Swami Utsavam

Pournami Lalitha Sahasranamam

(PM) 5.00 – Subramanya Swami Abishekam 6.00 – Nithya Puja, Lalitha Sahasranamm Chanting by Devotees 7.30 – Maha Arathi, Utsavam 8.00 – Prasadam

For all enquiries please contact Gurrukal at 0431981998

shree venkatesa Durga temple Celebrates an auspicious start to the

SHree Venkatesa Durga Temple, located at 57A Kenmore Road Kenmore 4069, started the New Year with divine prayers and festivals. The divine ceremonies began with the Puja of Havan and 108 Sangabishekam (Abishekam by 108 righthanded conches) to the magnificent 18-handed Maa Durga, the main deity of the Temple. Following the Abishekam and Havan, the curtains were closed for her Alankara Seva (decoration of the deity) while devotees gathered for her blessing. Once the deity was dressed, the curtains were drawn to reveal the magnificent Maha Arathi glimmering across the divinely dressed Maa Durga adorned with her jewellery and crown. After the Arathi and chanting of Vedas, the special puja for the Utsava Murthy (Durga Maa in smaller form for procession) was performed. The auspicious celebration concluded with the Yathra of the Utsava Murthy inside the Temple, which is performed in tradition of carrying the deity throughout the streets to provide Maa Durga’s blessing to the devotees.

Following the New

Year’s Day celebrations, ‘Arudra Darshanam’, the conclusion of the ten-day festival of Thiruvempavai, was performed on the 6th of January. Thiruvempavai celebrates in line with the ten-day Mahotsavam held for Sri Nataraja Swami in Chidambaram. During this period, the poem of the same name on Lord Shiva, composed of ten stanzas by Shiva Bhakta Manikavasakar is recited in the early hours of the morning. In addition to Thiruvempavai, Thiruvasakam, a poem on Lord Shiva consisting of 51 compositions and also composed by Manikavasakar, was recited throughout the ten days.

On Arudra Darshanam, the celebrations began with the special Maha Abishekam to Lord Nataraja at 4.30am, the time in which the Abishekam is also performed at Chidambaram. Following the Maha Abishekam and Arathi, the conclusion of Thiruvasakam and Thiruvempavai was recited which was then followed by the Yathra of Sri Natarajar and Sri Sivakami.

arya PratiniDhi saBha oF QueenslanD

AryA Pratinidhi Sabha of Queensland Inc members held a rewarding/gratifying Havan Yajna and a very fruitful constructive and successful Annual General Meeting on Saturday 10/12/2022 at Queensland Vedic Cultural Centre.

Members attended the AGM with great enthusiasm, confidence and positivity willing to work for the betterment of the organisation/Samaj and to do good to the world with righteousness, integrity, uprightness and fairness. Numerous matters of concerning the Samaj were deliberated during the meeting and the election of office bearers was conducted.

Patron of APSQ Retd

THe new year is celebrated all over the world with fun and excitement. The day is celebrated in different places throughout the world, like a festival. New Year is celebrated with great pomp and cheerfulness all over the world.This is a special day for the people and they celebrate in their own way. The new year for different society is different and its significance also differs among different cultures and all celebrate this day very happily. The

celebration of the new year reflects towards a new beginning and it teaches to move forward. Whatever we did last year, learned successful or unsuccessful, learning from last year to proceed with a new hope of coming year is the significance of this celebration.

It is day of reflection for many, as they look back on the year's failures and successes, pinpointing certain aspects of their lives they wish to change for the

Patron- Ret’d Justice Pandit Devendra Pathik Arya Ratn OF , President- Dr.Sukhvir

Vice President- Mrs Sushila Pathik, Mr Arunesh Prasad, Mrs Nirmala Ray.

General Secretary- Mr Hari Chand.

Assistant Secretary- Mr Rajesh Chand.

Treasurer- Mrs Roslene Suman Chand.

Assistant Treasurer-Mr Dinesh Kumar.

Executive Committee Members- Mrs Kaushilya Kumar, Mr Ajit Deshwal,Mrs Lakshmi Singh, Mrs Aruna Deo, Mrs Sushila Sen and Mr Satish Chand, Mr Danny Singh, Mr Ravindra Singh.

Trustees- Current trustees of APSQ are Mr.Sukarm Pal Singh Mr.Mul Chand and Mr Dick Sen.

Auditor-Mr Jitendra Kumar.

better, things they could do differently in the new year without regrets. On this day, everyone remembers the important events of the past year and appraises the circumstances under which the whole year was spent. Milestones like New Year's Day merrymaking in our lives provides a great opportunity for us to stop to take a breather, so as to be able to reassess our bearings in life; to see where we are as part of the bigger picture in our

visions, missions, and the journey in our lives towards our destinations.

This way new years celebration awakens new hope inside us and overall it is a festival that shows joy,pleasure in people and spreads happiness everywhere. Let's start fresh and make meaningful positive changes in 2023. May the New Year bring you all grand adventures, good health, great opportunities, happiness, peace, and prosperity.

Justice Pandit Devendra Pathik Ji and President Dr.Sukhvir Singh Ji both thanked all the members for their excellent contribution,teamwork, support and cooperation throughout the year and looked forward to members support, collaboration and

participation in all future Samaj activities . Office bearers/Executive Committee members for 2022-2023.

Singh.

Was FiJi’s eleCtion results 2022 riGGeD? Was the CoMPuter “GlitCh” to Grant tiMe to haCKers?

deSPITe a very disturbing and controversial formation of the government, I still feel something is amiss.

Such a slim majority for a popular coalition is shocking and surprising.

Strangely, Fiji First Party and its supporters are more surprised than others at the election results.

This is because the provisional results were extremely questionable and dubious. Fiji First may have done it before, but this time, I think People’s Alliance Party (PAP) is saying enough is enough.

The PAP leader, Sitiveni Rabuka had questioned the credibility and authenticity of the computer count, and requested for a MANUAL COUNT. I am to understand he escalated to the Army Commander and the President and requesting a physical analysis because of so many anomalies and surprises coming, and doubts on a very doubtful election

software which appears manipulated and adulterated, perhaps remotely.

There was no problem with conduct of election and the count. THE PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN THESE FIGURES WERE INPUT INTO A QUESTIONABLE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THE INPUT DOCUMENTS NEED TO BE ANALYSED RE CALCULATED.

Rabuka was forced to approach the Military and the President because the Supervisor of elections, the police and all electoral machineries appeared to be mistresses of Fiji First, and PAP/ NFP and the rest of Fiji were standing alone.

When the system was supposedly working, PAP was leading. Suddenly, it was “reportedly declared” that some people were given wrong counts.

Counting was stopped

for over 2 hours because of a reportedly faulty system. What happened in this time is any body’s guess.

Lo and behold, once the system was reported to have been rebooted, it suddenly became reliable, when Bainimarama and Fiji First started leading.

Therefore, the provisional COMPUTER – GENERATED results were extremely doubtful, questionable and beyond belief, as it went against the grain of original counting results which had Rabuka leading. Suddenly a faulty rectified system became believable.

I can vouch for its questionable counting because somebody I know expected to get some 4,000 votes through his popularity as a community worker well-known throughout Fiji. But he got less than 5% of that. Something is really

rotten. This result is not only shocking but insulting and shamefully incorrect. Was the glitch used as a sham to transfer and manipulate votes?

I categorically state that the results were rigged, UNLESS I AM PROVED WRONG THROUGH A MANUAL ANALYSIS OF INPUT SUMMARIES.

I suggest the new government needs to do a forensic examination of the final input into the computer, and the satisfactory results of the system to show this was also not done in 2014 and 2018. And we need to know about the so-called GLITCH.

The best way of doing this is to have a manual calculation of computer input figures to substantiate how come a faulty computer three hours earlier when Rabuka was leading suddenly became trusted and

reliable after over two hours of “blackout.”

Those claiming there was no rigging because nothing untoward happened in presence of observers and scrutineers need to get a reality check. How many of them are computer engineers? What happened did not take place PHYSICALLY but through MANIPULATION and ADULTERATION IN THE COMPUTER SYSTEM.

The count all of a sudden is relying on a faulty system.

The only way to clear this doubt and suspicion is to heed Rabuka’s call for MANUAL ANALYSIS in a transparent manner which can reveal any software manipulation.

Why any opposition from Fiji First, the Supervisor of Elections or others if they have nothing to hide.

Let’s have a close examination of the computer

system and exonerate the ghost of Pakistani software NADRA over Fiji’s election results.

Unless a manual count of summary as explained is carried out, we will never be sure what Fiji First got away with in 2014 and 2018 election counts and those final figures. They also ALMOST succeeded in 2022 had there been not so much of scrutiny.

Go ahead, make my day, and prove that Fiji’s Election Computer System was not manipulated from offshore, and what Supervisor of Election, Saneem claims is a GLITCH.

May God bless the rescued democracy of Fiji.

[Thakur Ranjit Singh is a journalist and a media commentator and a regular contributor to BIT publication, based in Auckland. He runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT}

year 2023. But you a choice and role to play in making 2023 a good year. This is your year of learning to walk in peace and prosperity. The resolution is simple and clear; be reconciled to your Creator.

Therefore, we invite you to pray this with a sincere heart; and experience the sweet aroma of Christ in your life. Do not harden your heart but humble yourself to your Creator and make Him your Saviour and Lord. Please Pray;

deAr reAder, WELCOME TO A GOOD YEAR 2023!

We are excited to bring you the Good News of Great Joy. Our theme simple and clear. It is to make God real and personal. And to present God as a Liv-ing and Loving Person; so you may understand His nature and relate to Him personally.

God is not an object or an image or imagination of human mind. God is a living and loving person. We find this amazing revelation in

the pages of Holy Bible. Keep reading with an open heart and humble spirit.

It our hope that you will encounter your Creator today. You don’t need a thousand years for your Salvation (Mukti). You can receive your greatest miracle ‘Mukti’ today. This is the confidence you can have in Christ alone.

We all wish each other a happy new year to a new digit number after 365 days. But often we are cynical of the year that has passed by.

We carry dis-appointments, bitterness and many other emotions of the past years. How can we expects a happy new year when we have not learnt let go or delete our past negative experience and hurts?

Only when we understand that we all are fallen short of God’s perfect standards and we no longer able to walk in perfect love for each other; We also need to know that God has provided a perfect solution for the condi-tion of human soul. When we know that we are completely forgiven by a loving God, who alone knows all about

life; then we no longer walk in shame or guilt. We walk in love for God each other. The essence of message of Good News of Christ is; we have been given an invitation to reconcile to God.

Sin is living in independence of God and His plan for us. Sin separates us from a loving relationship with our Creator. But the perfect sacrifice of Je-sus Christ alone can reconcile all mankind to a life style of peace and pros-perity. God gave is only son as an atonement to pay the price of our sins. Our role is to repent and return to God to

be reconciled and restored to a hope filled life.

Prophet Jeremiah, told the people of Israel to seek the peace and prosperity of the city where they were carried into exile. We may have not come to this city in exile but by our choice. But we have God given responsibility to seek the welfare of this City and Nation of Australia. We must promote peace, justice and love. When we learn to do that by God’s grace, we will under-stand the plan God has for us. His plan for you and your family is to give peace and prosperity. His plan is to give you hope and a good

“Dear Father God, Today I thank you for your word that has touched my heart. I choose to re-pent of my wrongs and I confess with my mouth ‘Jesus is Lord’ and I be-lieve in my heart that Jesus died for my sins, God raised Jesus from the dead for my Mukti (Salvation). Now help me to know Jesus and His sweet fragrance more and more so that I can grow in the knowledge of your grace and mercy. Teach me your ways so that I can be person who will learn to honour you and learn to love each other. In Jesus name I ask and pray, so be it (Amen).

Thakur Ranjit Singh, FIJI PUNDIT

Can the struggle to form new Fiji Government be likened to a battle between the good and the bad dinosaur as depicted in Jurassic World? Your guess is as good as mine.

The new Prime Minister of Fiji, Hon Sitiveni Rabuka

PM Sitiveni Rabuka with his initial Coalition partner, Deputy PM and Minister of Finance, Hon Biman Prasad.

yogeshwar shree Krishna

SHree Krishna is the eighth popular incarnation of lord Vishnu. He appeared during the Dvaparyug, the third epoch of Hindu mythical calendar. Historically, he is believed to have lived around five thousand years ago. During his incarnation, he personally destroyed many leading miscreants including Kans, Shishupal and other villains who terrorised the earthlings. Through stratagems, he annihilated diabolic forces and made Pandavs victorious in the war in Kurukshetra.

Ancient Sources - The Mahabharat and a number of Purans are the ancient sources of information about Krishna. It is popularly believed that sage VedVyas was restless after composing the Mahabharat. He subsequently authored the Purans, which are predominantly composed of legends of a celestial nature.

A number of Purans including the Harivansh Puran, Vishnu Puran, Bhagavat Puran and Brahma Vaivarta Puran contain stories centred on Krishna. These narratives typically display his mystical qualities.

Anecdotes relating to his childhood and adolescence contained in these texts form the basis of his worship. Acharyas, devotees and devotional poets have disseminated accounts of his divine attributes.

The Mahabharat is categorised as “Itihas”, history. Its chronicles contain events interspersed with supernatural depictions. Krishna is a major personality in the Mahabharat. It represents him as a highly evolved, intelligent and powerful human being, who at times displays characteristics of God incarnate.

Krishna was born in gaol in Mathura where Kans, a cruel king, had imprisoned his parents, father Vasudev and mother Devaki. The newborn baby was transferred from the prison to a relative who brought him up.

When Krishna grew up, he killed Kans and freed his parents from jail. Later Krishna along with his clan moved to Dvarka due to recurrent harassment by Jarasandh, a relative of Kans.

He married princess Rukmini and also had a number of other wives. He was closely related to Pandavs. His father Vasudev and their mother Kunti were brother and sister.

Krishna first appeared in the events of the Mahabharat at Draupadi’s Svayamvar, in which Arjun, a Pandav, had won the contest. Pandavs were mistakenly presumed dead by fire in the house of lac. He recognised Pandavs at the event and informed his brother Balram. Krishna visited their residence and congratulated the Pandavs on their good fortune. After wishing them well for the future, he returned home.

Arjun visited Krishna during his exile for breaking a covenant among brothers. There, at a festival, he saw Krishna’s sister Subhadra and fell in love with her. Krishna facilitated their elopement and wedding. Subhadra gave birth to a son named Abhimanyu, who stayed at Dvarka and studied under the guidance of Krishna during Pandavs’ exile.

Krishna had a great friendship with Arjun. Once, both visited Khandav forest, which was bestowed to Pandavs as a share of their ancestral inheritance. They cleared the forest by fire to make

it suitable for human habitation. Agni, the fire deity became very pleased and decided to reward them. On Agni’s advice, Varun, the water deity, offered Krishna the Chakra, discus, a powerful weapon.

Chief guest - Krishna counselled king Yudhishthir on the performance of a Rajsuya Yagya, the royal consecration. It was agreed that Jarasandh, the king of Magadh, was an obstacle to his sacrifice and should be destroyed. Krishna travelled with Bhim and Arjun to Jarasandh’s capital, and with his plot, Bhim destroyed Jarasandh.

During the Rajsuya Yagya, on advice of Bhishma and consent of other elders, Yudhishthir announced Krishna as the chief guest of honour at the consecration. His glories were eulogised and the finest gifts were presented to him. Shishupal, the king of Chedi, denounced Yudhishthir and Bhishma, and scorned Krishna. He was unwilling to recognise Krishna’s status despite warnings from the elders and later from Krishna himself.

Eventually, Krishna severed Shishupal’s head with his discus for his misconduct. Following the successful completion of the royal consecration, Krishna returned home.

In the next major incident, Krishna’s action is considered to be a divine intervention. During the gambling event between Pandavs and Kauravs, Yudhishthir staked Draupadi the common wife of five brothers, and lost her in the bet.

On instruction from Duryodhan, his brother Duhshasan forcibly brought her to the gambling hall, and started disrobing her, in the royal assembly. No one came to fight for Draupadi. Being helpless, she surrendered herself and prayed to Krishna, who extended her sari to an endless length.

During the gambling match, Krishna was away from Dvarka, fighting Salva, the king of Saubha region. He destroyed Salva, who had attacked Dvarka to avenge the killing of Shishupal.

Krishna visited Pandavs in the forest during their exile. After being welcomed by Pandavs and extolled by Arjun, he declared that Arjun and he were Nar and Narayan, and were one and the same, a reference to his divinity. He consoled Draupadi that her enemies would be destroyed.

Krishna attended Abhimanyu’s wedding with Uttara, the daughter of king Virat of Matsya region. After Abhimanyu’s wedding, the Pandavs and their allies assembled to discuss options to regain their kingdom. Krishna participated and approved sending an envoy to the Kauravs to demand the return of their kingdom and also to prepare for a war if the envoy’s mission failed.

Kauravs refused to return the kingdom. Preparation for war started. Both sides tried to collect as many allies as possible.

Duryodhan and Arjun visited Krishna to seek his support. He was asleep on his bed when they came. Duryodhan arrived first and sat on a stool near his head. Arjun came later and stood near his feet with joined palms in the mode of supplication. When Krishna woke up, he saw Arjun first and queried the reason for his visit. Arjun explained his purpose. Duryodhan interrupted Arjun to offer Krishna his own motivation.

To keep both parties content,

Krishna asked them to choose him alone as an individual or his vast Narayani army. He further declared that he would not fight in the war. Arjun chose Krishna, who agreed to become his charioteer and guide him during the execution of the war. Duryodhan was also pleased with the Narayani army.

Peace mission - Exchanges of envoys between the two parties did not result in the voluntary return of Pandav’s kingdom. Finally, Krishna decided to visit the Kauravs as Pandavs’ envoy. He consulted the Pandavs and leading members of their allies before departing on the mission. He travelled to Hastinapur to avoid war. During this visit he stayed at Vidur’s residence, rejecting the royal offer of luxury from Kauravs.

In the royal assembly hall, Krishna argued his best. He delivered a passionate lecture to convince his audience to negotiate and escape bloodshed. He demanded only five villages for the Pandavs, and provided an assurance that he would convince them to accept. However, Duryodhan did not agree to impart land even of the size of a needle’s tip. He decided to arrest Krishna. At that moment, Krishna displayed his glittering divine form and left the assembly.

During his return trip, he took Karna on his chariot and tried to seek his support for avoiding war. He informed Karna the story of his birth and explained to him that he was a son of Kunti, and the eldest brother of Pandavs. He would be the rightful king of the Pandavs kingdom and they would accept him as such. Karna declined to change his allegiance.

Just before the war began, Krishna approached Karna again. During Bhishma’s leadership, Karna was not allowed to participate in the war. Krishna asked him to fight from the Pandav side until Bhishma led the Kaurav army. Again, he declined to do anything against Duryodhan.

Bhagavad Gita – Krishna’s

greatest contribution to Hinduism is his sermon in the battlefield of Kurukshetra. At the start of the war, in his role as a charioteer, Krishna drove Arjun’s chariot in the battlefield. The enormity of fighters arrayed in battle formations against each other overwhelmed Arjun. Many of them were his relatives, elders, teachers and friends from the past. They would be killed in the war.

He questioned whether the destruction of so many people, including relatives, for the sake of a kingdom was worthwhile. He asked Krishna to clarify. The conversation between Krishna and Arjun is described in the Bhagavad Gita, a crucial part of the Mahabharat.

It is a philosophical treatise and an important religious text in Hinduism. During the sermon, Krishna declared that he was the supreme God and he had appeared on Earth to destroy the demonic forces. He revealed his divine universal form, which Arjun witnessed through his divine eyes, bestowed on him by Krishna himself.

Sanjay, the narrator of the Bhagavad Gita, proclaimed Krishna Yogeshwar, the Master of Yoga and source of opulence and victory.

Mahabharat War - During the first ten days of the war, Bhishma led the Kauravs’ army. Arjun was unwilling to kill him. On one occasion, Bhishma caused so much destruction that Krishna himself leaped from the chariot and rushed at him. Arjun restrained him and reminded him of his pledge of not to fight in the war.

Arjun evaded killing Bhishma, but Krishna reminded him of his vow to do so. On his instigation, Arjun with Shikhandi before him attacked Bhishma and finally fell him down.

Krishna helped Arjun to kill Jayadrath, who was the main culprit of Abhimanyu’s death. He was always conscious of the danger from Karna, who was in

possession of Indra’s powerful weapon, capable of killing Arjun. When that weapon was discharged on Ghatotkach, Bhim’s son, Krishna became exuberant, to the surprise of Pandavs who were mourning Ghatotkach’s death.

Krishna was instrumental in devising the second army chief Dron’s death. He prompted Bhim to declare the death of Dron’s son Ashwathama. Dron lost his interest in fighting after hearing about the death of his son. Subsequently, Dhristadhyumna killed him.

Similarly, when Karna was unarmed, struggling to release the wheel of his chariot from mud, on Krishna insistence, Arjun struck and killed him.

Bhim struck Duryodhan below his thigh on indication from Krishna, an injury that eventually killed him. Krishna pushed an iron column to Dhritrastra who crushed it into fragments assuming it to be Bhim.

Krishna saved the stillborn baby of Uttara and cursed Ashwathama for discharging the Brahmastra on her womb. Later during Krishna meeting with Gandhari, she blamed him for the destruction of her sons and cursed him. Krishna eventually led the Pandavs to victory and destroyed the Kauravs.

Uttar Gita - After the war, Yudhishthir was afflicted with grief for the destruction of so many people. Krishna consoled him and reminded him of his duties. He brought Yudhisthir to Bhishma, who was lying in pain on a bed of arrows. Krishna relieved Bhishma’s pain and requested him to alleviate Yudhishthir’s grief. On his request, Bhishma expounded various social issues to Yudhisthir. He also recited a thousand names of Vishnu, which is popularly known as Vishnu Sahastranam and is recited by many Vaishnav devotees regularly. He declared that Krishna was Vishnu.

Krishna attended the horse sacrifice that Yudhishthir performed after becoming King. He spent some time with Arjun, who confessed that he had forgotten everything that Krishna had taught him during the start of battle. At this stage Krishna recited a discourse, which is known as Uttar Gita. He also recited a number of other stories to him and later returned to Dvarka.

Thirty-six years after the end of the war at Kurukshetra, the Krishna’s clan members slaughtered one another in a drunken state. After hearing the news of the carnage, Krishna left Dvarka and wandered around in a deserted forest. Reflecting on the demise of his clan, he lay down on the earth, and through Yoga, restrained his senses. At that moment, a hunter named Jara pierced the sole of his foot with a poisoned arrow, mistakenly assuming it to be the limb of a deer. Krishna left his mortal body. On hearing the news of his death, Arjun came to Dvarka, and performed funeral rites for Krishna.

Krishna, as a human incarnation, presented the characteristics of a highly developed being with the opulence of a king, the wisdom and knowledge of a sage, the courage of a warrior, the powers of a mystic and an upholder of Dharma.

—Awadhesh Sharma www.hinduguru.com.au

Who, What, Where, When...

The Blockbuster show troupe and supporters at Brisbane Convention Centre, the show was held on 9th Dec.

The final Multicultural roundtable meeting for 2022

Members of Lord Mayors Multicultural round table

Free Toys donated by Care Kits for Kids to Multicultural Social Network, distributed by Show the Way to children on the Gold Coast during Christmas. Submitted by Hussain Baba

A celebration of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in the Archdiocese of Brisbane, honoring Margret Naylon, who was presented “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice”

Leading Artists Neelanjana Ray and Tanmay Chaturvedi rocked the stage, backed by talented musicians.

Who, What, Where, When...

Shweta S Khan thanks her fantastic clients and friends, and family who have always been there to support my business Starfire Diamonds

Guests enjoying the hospitality of the hosts at The Starfire Xmas party

President Kenny and his team at the Hong Kong Australia Business Association - Queensland Chapter do fantastic work to support two-way relations between Australia and Hong Kong. The community has many outstanding entrepreneurs doing great work to hire young people in their communities.

Invited Representatives from the multicultural community attended the special lunch function of HKABA at W Hotel Brisbane

The Starfire Xmas party was a fun-filled, red hot exciting night with 9-year-old Aria stealing the spotlight with her “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend” Starfire version.

tulsi PuJan DiWas on 25th DeCeMBer eMerGeD as a BiG Festival GloBally

THe content of this article is taken from the satsang (spiritual discourse) of H.H. Sant Shri Asharam ji Bapu. Swami Vivekananda addressed the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Chicago in September 1893.

Hundred years after him, Pujya Bapu Ji addressed the same Parliament in September 1993 and the whole parliament reverberated with the chanting of Hari Om. Both of these world-renowned spiritual leaders addressed the audience for much longer period than the given time and the audience were absorbed in listening to them.

Diwas is now celebrated globally with full fervour. The celebration of this festival has become more prominent as part of a wider effort to promote the awareness about Hindu culture and about the numerous benefits of Tulsi plant.

Shri Yoga Vedanta Seva Samiti organizes the celebration of this event every year and distributes free Tulsi plants. In India, people started celebrating this event from the month January itself. To connect and educated the young generation with the Sanatan culture, the event was celebrated in hundreds

To save the youth who are being ruined due to the lustful festivals like valentine’s day, in 2007 Pujya Bapu ji-initiated celebrations of MatriPitri Pujan Diwas (Parents worship day) on 14th February. Pujya Bapu ji felt that, due to the blind imitation of Western culture there has been a steep rise in the incidences of alcoholism, suicide, and other immoral activities, especially among the youth during the last week of December. To rescue the youth from this debauchery and denigration, Pujya Bapu ji came up with the idea of worshipping a sacred Tulsi plant (holy basil). So, with a view to awaken the cultural pride of the India and to save the countrymen from mental slavery, in 2014, he initiated celebration of Tulsi poojan on 25th December.

Dear readers, after a long break due to Covid-19, Tulsi Pujan Diwas on December 25 emerged as a big celebration this year. Celebrated first time in India on 25th December 2014 under the guidance of Pujya Bapu Ji, Tulsi Pujan

of schools. A large number of people thronged the celebration venues in schools, temples and parks to celebrate Tulsi Pujan with full devotion. Kirtan Yatra was organized at many places and the atmosphere was filled with the slogans of “Bapu Asharamji ki jai”.

Thousands of poor were given free food, clothes, blankets, shoes and other essential items.

Outside of India, this festival was celebrated in America, Australia, England and Singapore. In Australia, Shri Yoga Vedanta Seva Samiti Australia & New Zealand Inc celebrated Tulsi Poojan Diwas in all capital cities. Hundreds of people participated in Brisbane Melbourne and Sydney. In Brisbane the event was

organized in Northgate Hall where the kids performed religious activities on the stage. In Sydney, the event was organized in Paramatta State School where kids were educated about the benefits of Tulsi Plant. Free Tulsi saplings were distributed in Shri Shiva Mandir Minto & Sai Mandir Regents Park, Sai Mandir Camberwell and at all the festival sites. Hindu Council

of Australia WA chapter also organised this event in two temples in Perth and distributed free Tulsi plants.

To listen 24X7 live divine Satsang of Pujya Bapu Ji, please search “Mangalmay live” on google, visit http:// www.ashram.org/live or search “THE SBM STUDIO” on you Tube. By the Divine Inspiration of Bapu ji, the weekly sessions of Bal Sanskar and yoga are held

in Brisbane and Sydney. To know more about His Divine Holiness Bapu Ji, please watch this video. https://bit.ly/2uZvJuN

Shri Yoga Vedanta Seva Samiti Australia & New Zealand Inc. will be organizing Matri Pitri Pujan Diwas on 14th February and will be distributing free school bags to kids on Matri Pitri Poojan Diwas in all cities of Australia

& New Zealand. To get a free copy of monthly spiritual magazine RishiPrasad in your mailbox in Australia or to get free online subscription of Rishi -Prasad, please contact by email at bskamd@gmail. com or by WhatsApp/ phone at +61 426 834 434 & +61 405 277 802. Please read more about our Vedic culture in the next issue of The Brisbane Indian Times.

For the believers' (al-mumin) orientation proofs from the Quran, the hadith and other scriptural sources concerning the wonderful and decisive issue of the Saints or awliyā' of Allah will be presented. The words walī, plural awliyā' and walāya are all of quranic origin with the root wly meaning: to be close, to be a friend, to govern. They appear in the Quran in different forms over 200 times.

For those in the community (ummah) who unwittingly deny the science of tasawwuf (spiritual excellence) or neglect the believer's inner jihād (spiritual struggle) restrict the understanding of the 'friends of Allah' as being 'pious worshippers', which is what every believer should be anyway. Thus they risk to degrade their rank - at least in the eyes of the uninformed and to diminish their importance for the believers and the whole of the Ummah.

But what are the qualities and favours of the "friends of Allah" (walī) and what is their function in the ummah?

It would be useful to start at the beginning:*

At first, Allah is the Lord and Protector (walī) of man; man is the one being tested as he is searching for meaning in life, for fulfillment and purpose. When the believer understands and accepts that truth, light and meaning derive

from Allah and His Messenger ﷺ , he will turn away from the distractions of the lower world (dunyā), the favours of other than God and will turn to Allah in everything he intends and does, because:

“He (Allah, may His Majesty be exalted) is their Friend (walī) and they are His friends (awliyā').”

KAM211

In the Holy Quran, Allah says: ALLAH is the Friend (walī) of those who believe; HE brings them out of all kinds of darkness into light...

2-257

Surely those who believed and fled (their homes , emigrated) and struggled hard in Allah's way with their property and their souls, and those who gave shelter (asylum) and helped - these are guardians , allies (awliyā'u) of each other ...

8-72

Here is protection (walāyah) only Allah's, the True One; He is best in (the giving of) reward and best in requiting.

18-44

Now surely the friends (awliyā'u-LLāhi) of Allah - they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve... 10-62

There is a comment on this last mentioned quranic verse in the famous hadith (qudsi) where Allah through the mouth of His Messenger ﷺ states why they shall have no fear nor sorrow:

By Ml. M.Nawaaz Asfrafi

"Allah said, 'I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper (walī) of Mine. And the most beloved things with which My slave comes nearer to Me, is what I have enjoined (frD) upon him;

and My slave keeps on coming closer to Me through performing nawāfil (praying or doing extra deeds besides what is obligatory) till I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection (Refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him My Refuge) and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him."

Narrated by Abu Huraira in Bukhari, vol8, hadith 509

So it is clear that the awliyā' are under the loving care and protection of Allah Almighty. They are those who are 'no longer subject to natural appetites, nor to desires of the soul.' SIA40 Freed from the entaglements of the world and their own souls they can devote themselves to their original function.

Certainly our Leader and Doctor of hearts, the Messenger of Allah, Sayyidunā Muhammad ﷺ is not on our level or station

in relation to Allah or in relation to creation. So what then is the station of the awliyā' when we remember that every prophet is a walī, but not every walī a prophet?

Some quotes from our upright predecessors may give an explanation:

“It has been given to the awliyā' by Allah in advance to enjoy His dhikr and to have access to His proximity. The life of their body is that of earthly beings and the life of their spirit is that of heavenly beings.”

Abu Saʿid al-Kharrāz in Sulami's Tabaqāt

Abu Nuʿaym quotes this saying:

“The servants whom God loves best are the pious and the hidden. When they are away no-one misses them, and when they are present they are ignored. They are the imāms of good guidance and the torches of knowledge.”

Suyuti, al-Fahr al-kabir, refers it to Abu Nuʿaym's Hilyat-ul awliyā'. Al-Qushayri defined the walī as:

“One whose obedience attains permanence without interference of sin; whom Allah Most High preserves and guards, in permanent fashion, from the failures of sin through the power of acts of obedience.”

In Ibn ʿAbidin, Rasa'il (2:277) Walāya does not involve spectacular manifestations and no walī would strive for those either. Far from it - the awliyā

are concealed as described in the words of Abū Yazīd al-BisTāmī in a way that the “saint of Allah has no feature by which he is distinguised, nor any name by which he can be named.” SIA36

As 'Imāms of good guidance and the torches of knowledge' their function is very important. In this respect, Ibn ʿArabi's says that walāya is 'the shadow of the prophetic function,' just as the prophetic function is 'the shadow of the divine function.'

This also means that walāya is about the appropriation of the divine character (takhalluq). This is possible because man still possesses a shadow of some of Allah's qualities, such as 'life', 'mercy', or 'knowlege'. Walī is also a shared concept as expressedly stated in Sura Al-Ma'idah, the Table Spread (5), verse 55:

Certainly, your protecting Friend ( ) is only Allah and His Messenger and those who believe, those who keep up prayers and pay the poor-rate while they bow.

5-55

This then is the channel of the believer to his spiritual goal and therefore the direction in which he has to turn when embarking on the greatest of travels, which is the Way towards Allah (tarīq ila -Allah).

Analysing the many stations on the Way, R. Baqlī writes about walāya:

• The start of the Way is the will

[or spiritual desire, irādah] and it is accompanied by spiritual battles.

• The middle of the Way is love [for Allah alone, mahabbah) and it is accompanied by miraculous graces (karamāt).

• The end of the Way is gnosis [direct intellectual intuitive knowledge, maʿrifah) and it is accompanied by contemplation (of the divine - mushāhadāt). The above mentioned evokes the closeness or proximity between the walī and his rabb (Lord). (“But insofar as walāya applies to Allah, it is also nus.ra, the divine Assistance from which” he benefits and which has been promised. SIA42) Also it is clear that the 'way of knowledge' is not opposed from the 'way of love', they really are merely different aspects in Islamic tasawwuf, as every "walī is both a ʿarif (knower) and a muhibb (lover)."

Ibn al-Jawzi said:

“The Friends of Allah and the Righteous are the very purpose of all that exists (al-awliya wa alsalihun hum al-maqsud min alkawn), they are those who learned and practiced with the reality of knowledge... Those who practice what they know, do with little in the world, seek the next world, remain ready to leave from one to the other with wakeful eyes and good provision, as opposed to those renowned purely for their knowledge.”

Ibn al-Jawzi's, Sifat al-safwa (Beirut ed. 1989/1409) p. 13, 17.

the awliya-allah about the Friends or saints of allah urs MuBaraK oF haDhrat

KhWa Ja MoinuDDin Chishti sanJri a JMeri (rahmatullah alaihi)

6th Rajab is the Urs Mubarak of the great Saint to whom the people of Indian Sub-continent are greatful for introducing Islam to them. During his lifetime over 9,000,000 Muslims accepted Islam at his hands. His life history and achievements are mentioned in this brief article.

Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) popularly known as Khwaja Gharib Nawaz (The Patron of the Poor) was the founder of the Chishtiyyah Order of Sufis in India. He is one of the most outstanding figures in the history of Islamic Mysticism.

The Chistiyya Silsila one of the most popular and influential mystic orders in Islam. It derives its name from Chisht, a village near Herat, where the real founder of the Order, Khwaja Abu Ishaq (rahmatullah alaihi) of Syria, settled. Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) brought the Silsila to India at the close of the 11th century A.D. and established its centre in Ajmer, whence the order spread far and wide in India and became a force in the spiritual life of the Muslims.

Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) was born in 536 A.H./1141 A.D. in Sajistan (Persia) and was the direct descendent of a noble family coming down from a direct lineage of the holy Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.s. He was a Hassani and a Hussaini Syed ['Syed' means one's ancestry can be traced back to the Prophet Muhammad, (sallallahu alaihi wasallam). himself and in this case through both Hadrat Hassan and Hadrat Hussain (radiallahu anhum), who were the sons of Hadrat Ali, (radi Allahu anhu). He was brought up in Khorasan and received his early education at home from his father, Hadhrat Syed Ghayasuddin, (rahmatullah alaihi) At the age of 9, he committed the Holy Qur'an to memory. After the demise of his father,

he inherited a grinding stone and a garden, which formed a source of his livelihood. From an early age he loved the company of saints, mystics and dervishes.

Distributing all his worldly belongings to the poor, he went to Bukhara and Samarqand to join the famous Nizamia Universities there for his theological education. He brilliantly completed his academic courses in 5 years.

In order to quench his spiritual thirst, he left Iraq for Arabia and on his return from there he undertook a journey to a place called Harwan (a.k.a. Haroon). He became the Murid of Hadhrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (rahmatullah alaihi)., a great Sufi mystic of his time.

Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) remained in the company of his Pir-o-Murshid and travelled with him carrying is Murshid's belongings on his head. They travelled to Mecca, Medina, Iraq, Syria, Samarqand, Afghanistan, etc. meeting many great saints.

While they were in Mecca, Hadhrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (rahmatullah alaihi) took Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) to the Holy Ka'bah and made Du'a [supplications] for him and a voice was heard declaring: "We have accepted Mu'inuddin as one of our beloved devotees." In Medina Sharif, [Sharif = noble] while in the Darbar of Sayyidina Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam)

Hadhrat Khwaja Usman Harooni (rahmatullah alaihi) instructed Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) to offer his homage and salutations respectfully. In doing so, a voice was heard saying, "Wa alaikumus salaam ya qutbul mashaa'ikh-ebahr-o-bar (Peace be upon you also, O Head of the Pious of the earth and the sea)." On hearing this his Pir-o-Murshid said to him, "Now indeed you have reached

perfection."

After full 20 years hard training in Islamic mysticism under this great Pir-o-Murshid, Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin (rahmatullah alaihi) was bestowed with Khilafat in the Chishtiyyah Silsila. His Murshid, [Shaikh] after advising him, handed over his Asa Mubarak (Sacred Staff), wooden sandals and Musallah to Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin (rahmatullah alaihi) saying that those Tabbarukaats have come down from Sayyidina Rasulullah (SwallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). in succession.

In 583 A.H. [1187 C.E.] when he was absorbed in prayer at the Holy Ka'bah, he heard a voice saying, "O Mu'inuddin! We are greatly pleased with you. You have been given salvation. Ask for anything that you may like." He submitted respectfully, "O Allah, give salvation to the followers and disciples of Mu'inuddin." A reply was heard, "O Mu'inuddin, you are accepted by Us. I will give salvation to your followers and disciples and also to those who may enter your fold till the Day of Qiyamat."

After performing the Hajj, he was once again divinely inspired from Medina Sharif to go to Ajmer (India) to preach Islam: "O Mu'inuddin, you are the helper of my religion. I entrust to you the country of Hindustan (India). Proceed to Ajmer and spread the gospel of truth." Not knowing where Ajmer was situated, the Holy Prophet (SwallAllahu alaihi wasallam) came in Hadhrat Khwaja Sahab's (rahmatullah alaihi) dream and showed him where the city of Ajmer was situated.

On his way to Ajmer and passing through Afghanistan, Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti's (rahmatullah alaihi) spiritual impact converted the notorious and cruel Yadgar Muhammad into one of Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin's

(rahmatullah alaihi) devoted Murids. Yadgar Muhammad did not previously recognize and respect the first three Caliphs of Islam; neither had he any respect for Sufis nor for any holy saints. Now, after meeting Hadhrat Khwaja Sahab (rahmatullah alaihi)., Yadgar Muhammad repented and distributed his wealth to the poor and needy, divorced his many wives, freed all his slaves and renounced the world. He stayed and travelled with his Murshid.

Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) proceeded to Delhi via Fort Shadman, Multan, Lahore and Samana. At Lahore, he stayed for 40 days that the Mazaar Sharif of Hadhrat Data Ganj Baksh (Hadhrat Ali Hujwiri (rahmatullah alaihi)) In Delhi, Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin (rahmatullah alaihi) started delivering his sermons and discourses in a soft language dipped in honey attracting thousands of Hindus and Muslims. But he had set his sight on Ajmer, which had been away from the light of learning and guidance. He wanted the city of Ajmer to be the centre of learning, teaching and spiritual activities.

Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) reached Ajmer with about 40 followers in the year 587 A.H. Here he received fierce opposition from the ruler of Ajmer, Raja Pritvi Raj. He did nothing to antagonize the Hindu ruler. His mission was simply that of love and learning, purity and guidance. In a short time, the entire area was filled with the truth of unity of Allah. Men and women in thousands took the oath of allegiance on his hands.

But this large-scale conversion to Islam displeased the Hindu ruler and he started putting the Muslims to hardships. Pritvi Raj sent Ajai Pal and Sadhu Ram, who were magicians, to destroy Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti

(rahmatullah alaihi) with black magic, but they failed at every turn. Both Ajai Pal and Sadhu Ram were so much impressed by Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) that they accepted Islam and became his devoted Murids.

A great Muslim army general, Shahabuddin Ghouri, who was in Khorasan, saw Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) in a dream who instructed the general, "It has been ordained by Allah that you shall be the ruler of India. Direct your attention soon and arrest Pritvi Raj and punish him." Acting upon this instruction, Shahabuddin Ghouri came to India to face the army of Pritvi Raj. The Muslim general and the small band of Muslim army, encountering fierce opposition, eventually defeated the Hindu army and went to Ajmer to pay homage to Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) and become his Murid.

Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) was the embodiment of plain living and high thinking. His noble disposition, his marvellous selfcontrol, his renunciation, self abnegation, selfless service, his patience, his love, fortitude and courage earned him the respect from his admirers and devotees. He passed his days in Almighty Allah's remembrance. He was free from avarice and greed. He had no lust for power, no wish for name and fame, and no desire for wealth. He sought only the pleasure of Allah and His Messenger (SwallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sallam). He was deeply loved by his Pir-o-Murshid, who used to say, "Our Mu'inuddin is a beloved of Allah and I feel proud of the fact that he is my disciple. He followed the Holy Prophet (SwallAllahu Alaihi Wa Sllam). very faithfully in his daily life. The fear of Allah forever dominated his mind."Hadhrat Khwaja Qutbuddin

Bakhtiyar Kaki (rahmatullah alaihi). says that he never saw a beggar or any needy leaving his door without taking something . Hence one of his popular titles was "Gharib Nawaz" (Patron of the Poor).

Although Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) did not know the language of Hindustan because he spoke Persian, he converted about nine and a half million into the folds of Islam. Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) did not conquer India with his sword but with love. The Sama mehfils [assemblies of religious poems] of his proved as a cementing force for the spread of Islam and brought the people together.

Shaikh Mu'inuddin Ibn Arabi, Hadhrat Fariduddin Attar, Hadhrat Shams-e-Tabriz and Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi rahmatula alaihim were all contemporaries of Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi)

On the 14th of Jamad-us Thani 627 A.H., Khwaja Sahib (rahmatullah alaihi) bestowed the Khilafat upon Hadhrat Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki (rahmatullah alaihi).

On Monday, 6th Rajab in 627 A.H. [April 29, 1230 C.E..], after the night prayers, Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) went into his room and did not allow anyone to enter. When the door remained closed at the time of Morning Prayer, his devotees opened the door and found that Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti (rahmatullah alaihi) passed away. On his blessed forehead was written: "He was the beloved of Allah, and he died in the Love of Allah."

Hadhrat Khwaja Mu'inuddin Chishti's (rahmatullah alaihi) Mazaar Sharif [noble tomb] is in Ajmer Sharif and thousands of people assemble there every day to pay respects to the greatest saint of the Chishtiyya Silsila.

"No

in the name of allah, Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy

ALL praise is due to Allah, Lord of all creation, and may the peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his Companions.

Dear brothers and sisters, know that, seeking forgiveness from Allah with repentance is a virtue. Human beings are not perfect. Forgiveness is a critical aspect of Islam as everybody makes mistakes in life and unintentionally commits sins.

Muslims believe that Allah is Merciful and Forgiving.

There are two kinds of forgiveness in Islam: Allah’s forgiveness and human forgiveness. We as human beings are in need of both since we make mistakes in our relations to Allah as well as our relations to each other.

In Islam, all that is needed is to recognise the mistake or sin, improve it and seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty and also from other human beings.

In Qur’an, the word “Allah is Most Merciful” is repeated many times. In Islamic religion, anyone who has committed sin can ask forgiveness directly from Allah, there is no one between Allah and the one who is asking forgiveness from Him.

In Qur’an, Allah Almighty says:

“Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and He loves those who keep themselves pure.”

From this Qur’anic verse, we can conclude that if someone asked forgiveness with repentance then Allah will love him/her and surely He will forgive him/her but there is one condition and that is he/she should not commit that sin or mistake again.

If someone did wrongs to another human being, the act must first be redressed with the wronged person or human being who should be asked for forgiveness before asking forgiveness from Allah. Islam teaches human beings to be forgiving and if someone sincerely asks for forgiveness, the wronged person should forgive him. Our beloved Prophet (Peace be upon him) said:

“Whoever suffers an injury and forgives (the person responsible), Allah will raise his status to a higher degree and remove one of his sins.”

If we expect forgiveness from Almighty Allah then we also have the ability to forgive others.

In the noble Qur’an, “forgiveness” and “mercy “are mentioned around 100 and

200 times respectively. An entire chapter of the Qur’an is devoted to the quality of mercy that is (Surah Rahman). We all know that Allah is the Most Merciful and He forgives those who ask forgiveness with repentance.

Forgiveness from the Sunnah of Prophet (SAW) Our beloved Prophet (SAW) was so kind and forgiving with all no matter he is a believer or non-believer. We have so many examples from the life of Prophet (SAW) about forgiving others and show kindness to even those who were so rude to Him. Some of the examples from the life

of Holy Prophet (SAW) are mentioned below:

Abdullah ibn Amr reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

“Be merciful to others and you will receive mercy. Forgive others and Allah will forgive you” (Musnad Ahmad).

If we forgive others then Allah will forgive us so try to be kind and forgiving so that we can get kindness, love, and forgiveness from Allah Almighty.

Abu Abdullah Al-Khadali reported: I asked Aisha about the character of the Messenger of Allah Prophet (SAW). Aisha said: “The Prophet was not

indecent, he was not obscene, he would not shout in the markets, and he would not respond to an evil deed with an evil deed, but rather he would pardon and overlook.”

(Sunan At-Tirmidhi)

One example of Muhammad’s practice of forgiveness can be found in the Hadith, as follows: “The Prophet (SAW) was the most forgiving person. He was ever ready to forgive his enemies. When he went to Ta’if to preach the message of Allah, its people mistreated him, abused him and hit him with stones. He left the city humiliated and wounded.

When he took shelter under a tree, the angel of Allah visited him and told him that Allah sent him to destroy the people of Ta’if because of their sin of maltreating their Prophet.

Muhammad (SAW) prayed to Allah to save the people of Ta’if because what they did was out of their ignorance.”

Abu Hurairah said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, “I swear by Allah that I seek Allah’s Pardon and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.”(AlBukhari)

The Prophet (SAW) said: “O people! Ask for the forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him as I ask for the forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him one hundred times a day.”

These are some of the examples from the life of Prophet (SAW) and sayings of Him.

From these examples and sayings we came to know that: Whoever does not show mercy will not receive mercy.

Whoever does not forgive others will not be forgiven.

Whoever does not pardon others will not be pardoned.

Whoever does not protect others will not be protected.

So try to forgive others to receive mercy and forgiveness from Allah Almighty and others.

Kavita ji

the shirdi sai sansthan’s - Brisbane the new year celebration

THe Shirdi Sai SansthanBrisbane welcomed 2023 - the New Year with Baba’s divine blessings.

On 1st Jan 2023, the Sansthan organised the most divine Baba’s Abhishek, Kakad Arti, and Bhajans, followed by Sai Palkhi. The function ran throughout the day, starting from 8 am onwards.

The function was carried out at the Coopers Plains state school. Prasad was provided throughout the day.

In the evening, just before

the Aarti, the devotees danced with a Sai Palkhi. All the above celebrations were conducted, keeping the COVID-safe guidelines into consideration at the Coopers Plains State School.

The Sansthan is also celebrating Maha Sankranti on 14th January at Coopers Plains State School from 6.00 pm onwards, followed by Prasad.

The Sansthan conducts Sai Bhajans and Arti’s every second and 4th Saturday at Coopers Plains State School from 6 pm onwards.

These events are regularly published on the WhatsApp group and the Facebook page run by Sansthan. Every devotee is free to offer support or volunteer in any form.

Shirdi Sai Sansthan Brisbane is a not-for-profit, charitable organisation set up by the ardent devotees of Shri Sai Baba since July 2015. The organisation has been conducting numerous events and functions in a year to raise funds for buying land to construct a Temple in Brisbane.

BaPs Blood donation drive

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha in Brisbane organised a blood donation drive with the help of the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood on Saturday, 3 December 2022, at the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Kingston, Brisbane. The blood donation drive was organised as a part of the ongoing celebrations to commemorate the birth centenary of Brahmaswarup

Pramukh Swami Maharaj, who lived by his motto, “In the joy of others lies our own.”

The Red Cross provided a donor mobile that was capable of collecting blood.

The response to the drive was tremendous. By the time the donor mobile left the Mandir at 2.30 p.m., at least 17 people had been able to donate blood.

This donation will be

going to help save 51 lives.

Wes Thomas of the Australian Red Cross Lifeblood commended BAPS on the well-organized blood donation drive. He reiterated the importance of giving blood and the many lives saved by such contributions.

Donors can book an appointment to donate by calling 13 14 95 or visiting https://www.lifeblood.com. au/blood.

Primary Cause of the universe and the only object of ideation

by Shrii Shrii An A ndA murtijii

Wh At is the primary cause of this creation, and what should humans worship? About the picture says that no relative factor can be the primary cause of creation:

Kálah svabhávo niyatiryadrcchá bhútáni yonih puruśa iti cintyá;

Saḿyoga eśáḿ na tvátmabhávád átmápyaniishah sukhaduhkhahetoh.

[It is debatable whether time, nature, fate, accident; the five fundamental factors of matter; or unit consciousness – any of these separately – is the ultimate cause of creation. Even collectively, they are not the cause of creation, although the átman, unit consciousness, is the catalytic agent. The unit consciousness is not the cause of creation because it can be affected by virtue or vice.]Kála.

Does this universe, comprising all these animate and inanimate objects, owe its existence to kála [time]? Is this universe inherent in the womb of time? No, time is no independent factor.

Time is the psychic measurement of the motivity of action. For there to be time, there has to be a “place”, for no activity can b,e performed without a place. Over and above time and place, a “person” is also necessary, for that person will measure the motivity of action. And thus, where there is kála [time], there must also be a place, and the person is a relative factor, not an eternal or absolute factor.

Space, or place, is that in which all the solar systems of the universe exist. For example, round around us one solar system, the earth revolves. When the world completes one such circumambulation, we say that a year has gone by [i.e., we have defined time in terms of place].

But the mere existence of the sun does not give us the idea of a year, nor does the presence of the earth and the sun together give us the measure of time. For this, a person endowed with the power of judgement becomes indispensable.

So we see that in the absence of a person also, time does not exist, so time is entirely a relative factor. Some say that “Mahákála”, or “Eternity”, knows whatever took place in the past, whatever is taking place in the present, and whatever will take place in the future. But there is no such absolute or supreme entity as “Mahákála”, for time is measured based on relativity, that is, of place and person. Hence time cannot be the noumenal cause of this phenomenal universe, Svabháva.

Then is svabháva the primary cause of this creation? The English equivalent of svabháva is “nature”. Nature is a blind force. Everything mundane is dependent on nature. But if we leave everything to nature, all sorts of confusion will arise. An infant has neither intelligence nor judgement; when it puts its hand into a fire, it gets burnt. Wise people would not punish the little child this way, but nature admits no judgement. So this discriminating world can never be evolved by undiscriminating nature. Thus svabháva, or nature,

is not the rudimental cause of the creation of the universe either.

Niyati. The word niyati is derived ni [-] yam + ktin, [and its synonym is adrśta.] [Adrśta means] “what is not seen with the eyes”.(2) That which seems to be invisibly controlling us is called niyati. Niyati in English is “fate”. But is the advent of humans in this world only a play of fate?

Humans experience various kinds of pleasure and pain in their lives. But are they due to fate?

To every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. Initial steps are of two kinds – psychic and psycho-physical. First, a person steals mentally; then, they repeat the performance physically but at the behest of their mind. So [in either case], the responsibility for the act lies with the mind. Therefore it is in the body of the mind that reaction will get awakened. If we think uncharitably of others, we must endure the reaction or requital thereof in our mind. The response must follow mental action, whatever it may be. The reaction takes place by the nature of the original act. So we must always be alert about our activities, not their fruits. About this, the Giitá says:

Karmańyevádhikáraste má phaleśu kadácana; Má karmaphalaheturbhúmá te sauṋgo’stvakarmańi.

[You have the right to action but not the right to the fruits of the action. Therefore, you must not do activities that will bind you, but you must not be averse to action.]

When an action has taken place, but the karmaphalabhoga [reaction] has not, the response to the motion remains in seed [form], called saḿskára, or reaction in its potentiality. When the reaction immediately follows the performance of some action, a person says that they are undergoing or experiencing the fruits of such-and-such action.

But when the body changes due to physical weakness or infirmity (that is, when death takes place), then in the next birth, the person has to serve the accrued requitals, that is, the unserved reactions of the previous birth –and at that time persons will not be able to understand which of their actions have brought upon them the response that they are now serving. It is just because

[the cause] cannot be seen or understood that it is called adrśta, unseen, requitals, or fate. Niyati, or fate, is merely the accrued reactions of the original actions. Niyati is no guiding factor. Wise persons do not waste time musing on responses. Humans can mould their fate through their efforts. They must not become slaves to their fate.

Yadrcchá. The English equivalent of yadrcchá is “accident”. At the very outset, accidents can never be the primary cause of evolution or the Cycle of Creation. Kárańábhávát káryábhávah; that is, “Without a cause, there can be no effect.” When we come across an effect and along with it, we get acquainted with its causal factor, we then call that effect an “incident”. But when, due to ignorance, we cannot know the cause of the effect, or when the causal factor transforms suddenly into the effect factor, we call that effect an “accident”.

But in the universe, there is no such thing as an accident. It is only to cover up one’s ignorance of the real cause that one talks about an “accident”. Bhúta. Bhúta is translated as “matter” in English. Many materialists, such as Charvaka, say this universe is begotten of matter alone. According to Charvaka, what is non-perceptible is non-existent. We cannot see the mind or air, but do they not exist? We know that matter is an inert object without intelligence through our judgement. Intellect, and conscious beings, cannot be begotten of a non-intelligent inert object, that is, matter(Prakrti)

Now the question is whether Prakrti [Cosmic Operative Principle] is the primary cause of this manifest universe. No, it certainly is not. Pra karoti iti Prakrti [“The entity that gives form to different objects is called Prakrti”. A light bulb is lit by electrical energy. A fan, too, moves electrically. But this electrical energy is controlled and harnessed by humans; there is a switch for it, also. If people do not want any electric light, they switch it off, and there is no light. The manifestation or unmanifestation of electrical energy depends on the human will. The shakti [energy, power] of Prakrti is that of Puruśa – Shaktih Sá Shivasya Shakti. So without the permission of the Supreme Puruśa, the universe could not have

evolved. Prakrti is the secondary [efficient cause], and Puruśa is the chief [efficient cause].

Jiivátmá [synonymous with puruśa in the shloka]. Is the jiivátmá [unit átman, unit consciousness] then the causal factor of this Srśticakra [Cycle of Creation]? Sáḿkhya philosophy says that in the universe, there are many jiivátmás and one Prakrti. But we know that a jiivátmá has no independent entity of its own. It is upahata [affected] by, and vulnerable to, pleasure and pain, though it does not take part in the action. A mirror has no colour but becomes red if a red flower is placed before it. That is why the átmá of a pápii [sinner] is called pápopahatátmá [átman affected by sin] and that of a puńyaván [virtuous person], puńyopahatátmá [átman affected by virtue]. Both pápátmá [sinful átman] and puńyátmá [virtuous átman] are wrong terms. When a football match is being played in some field, keen competition exists between the two groups. The spectators, too, betray their mental agitation regarding the defeat or victory of a particular side. Similarly, with the jiivátmá. The átman, which is involved with the mind(3) [is] an entity vulnerable to vice and virtue and can never be the causal factor of the universe.

[Saḿyoga, “combination”.] Two imperfect entities cannot create an infinite entity. So [no combination of] time, nature, fate, accident[, and jiivátmá] collectively can make a Supreme Entity. None of these entities is the subtlest entity.

The citta [ectoplasm, mindstuff] is responsive to material waves. When the movement of the [citta is pro-noumenal, the Citta merges in the spiritual sphere. When the action is prophenomenal], the sense of the material waves wakes up in the citta. We then call it bodha [perception]. But when the psychic pro-[noumenal] wave is reflected on the átmá, it is jiṋána.

The reflecting plate is more important than the reflected one. So among all these factors, the subtlest and final plate [within the unit] is the átmá [unit cognition]. But though it is very quiet, it is shelterless, so it always needs a vast shelter. The unit cognitive force is searching for that extended shelter, which is the Supreme Cognition. This Supreme Cognition

is

to be understood that the person is being allowed today to do sádhaná due to the sound and virtuous deeds they performed in different past lives. The opportunity is the effect of the factors that lie behind it. So the present should be appropriately utilised for the future.

And finally, our bodies have come from this material world, so we must not neglect matter. Since matter is a manifestation of God, we should behave appropriately with it; otherwise, living will be impossible, and so will sádhaná.

So we see that these things benefit humans, but this does not mean that they are the only aim of human beings. The summum bonum of human life is to attain Parashiva. To achieve that Supreme Entity, you will have to adjust these ingredients.

[All created beings emerge from, are maintained in, and finally, dissolve in the Supreme Entity. Therefore, it would be best if you desired to know that supreme stance as Brahma.]

So this Supreme Cognition, and no second entity, is your dhyeya [object of meditation].

A question arises: “Have all the above – time, nature, etc. – no value?” But the answer is, yes, they certainly have.

The Supreme Cognition is called Parashiva in the scriptures. The movement towards Parashiva is called parágati, or introversive movement. All the aforementioned relative factors – time, nature, fate, accident, and matter – are certainly needed for this movement.

Time, as has already been said, is purely a relative factor. But time should be addressed, as neglect of the time factor produces many undesirable consequences. For instance, a child of five thinks they will start sádhaná at the age of twenty-four. When they become twenty-four, they feel they will begin to sádhaná at the age of forty-five. And at the age of fortyfive, the person decides to start it ten years later. This time is wasted, and at the end of the person’s life, they realise their mistake.

When you come to serve the world, the study of nature is no less critical.

When you attend to a patient, if you know the svabháva, or spirit, of the disease, treatment becomes easy. If you see the heart of your friend and foe, you will know better how to deal with them individually.

And fate serves as an eyeopener. When a person does an act, the person forgets that one day they will have to serve the reaction to that action. So when people suffer, they should understand that they are being punished for their past misdeeds. This will help the person to be serene [about the punishment] and alert about the consequences of any [future] evil act.

“Accident” is a misnomer. No effect can take place without a cause. So when a person receives an opportunity to do sádhaná, it is

Shakti helps in such adjustments. You cannot [ignore] Prakrti. A sádhaka of Shivatva or Cosmic Consciousness does not disregard Shakti. One who is a Shaeva in the world of thought is indeed a Shákta on the path of sádhaná. (And, since Viśńu means “All-Pervading Entity”, one who sees the All-Pervading Entity in every object of this practical world is indeed a Vaeśńava.)(4) There is no question of quarrelling among Shaivite, Shákta and Vaishnavite.

Shakti is not the dhyeya. Shakti is earned through Shiva, but Shiva is not attainable through the thought of Shakti. Shaktih Sá Shivasya Shaktih – “Shakti abides in Shiva.” Shakti is constantly being converted into Shiva. About the ways of Shiva and Shakti, the Vedas say, Sa nityanivrttá [“She is ever-waning”]. After a limitless time [according to the Vedas], all the shaktis will be transformed into Shiva, and the universe will end.

There is [only a philosophical] difference between Shiva and Shakti. So let no one say that they could not worship Shiva for want of Shakti.

People may think, “Will Shiva be kind to us? Will He not be angry since our past is full of ills and depravities?” To Him, there is no difference between sinners and the virtuous. On the contrary, a virtuous person may harbour vanity. T

the person may think, “I have never done anything wrong.” But a sinner is a helpless person. They have nothing to his credit. They are shelterless. So Shiva extends His arms first to the sinners. Giving help and shelter to the helpless and shelterless is the mark of real greatness, of the great. If Shiva failed to shelter the sinners, we might infer that hatred abided even in Paramátman and that He distinguished between a sinner and a virtuous person.

What does a mother do? If one of her two sons is strong and the other weak, she takes more care of the vulnerable child. Similarly, Shiva showers His blessings more upon the helpless.

There is no need for flowers in the sádhaná of Shiva. To progress towards Paramashiva, love is necessary. Verbal enthusiasm alone will be of no use.

Go forward. Forget all about your past. Advancement and progress must come your way. Victory shall be yours.

the noumenal cause or the Causal Matrix. The Vedas say, Yato vá imáni bhútáni jáyante yena játáni jiivanti; Yat prayantyabhisaḿvishanti tad vijijiṋásasva tad Brahma.

'air india stewardess said she can't do that': Co-flyer recalls 'peeing' shocker

A Delhi court on Saturday sent Mishra, who allegedly urinated on the woman copassenger on an Air India flight, to judicial remand for 14 days while rejecting a plea by police for his custody.

Sugata Bhattacharjee, a US-based doctor of audiology who was seated next to accused Shankar Mishra in business class on the New York-New Delhi Air India flight, has alleged that the flight crew cleaned the elderly women passenger's seat and kept blankets it smelling of urine, after the women requested for a new seat, news agency ANI reported.

A Delhi court on Saturday sent Mishra, who allegedly urinated on the woman copassenger on an Air India flight, to judicial remand for 14 days while rejecting a plea by police for his custody.

Bhattacharjee, who had earlier claimed that the

captain of the flight made the traumatised victim wait for close to two hours before allocating her a fresh seat, alleged that the crew could have given Mishra's seat to her but they didn't do anything to pacify distressed passenger.

“The lady (victim) was quite decent. Two junior air hostesses cleaned her up. I went to the senior stewardess and asked them to give her another seat, she said that she can't do that as they had to take permission from the captain,” ANI quoted Bhattacharjee as saying.

“The only option for her was to move to 1st class as business class was full, what they (flight crew) did was clean her seat and kept blankets on the seat smelling of urine. They could have given Shankar Mishra's seat but they didn't do anything to pacify the distressed passenger,” the co-passenger

eaM Jaishankar inaugurates youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in indore

said.

Further recalling the incident, Bhattacharjee, said Mishra had four drinks and then was asking him the "same questions multiple times". “I finished lunch and told the flight attendant to keep an eye on him,” he added.

In a handwritten complaint to the airline, the doctor of audiology had earlier said the woman passenger was made to go back to her soiled seat despite

four seats in the first class being vacant, reported news agency PTI.

Bhattacharjee's revelation comes after the 70-yearold victim made a similar allegation against the Air India crew. In her complaint to the airline, she wrote: “I asked the staff for a change of seat but was told that no other seats were available. However, another business class passenger who had witnessed my plight and was advocating for me pointed

out that there were seats available in first class.”

After standing for 20 minutes, the victim was offered a small seat used by airline staff where she sat for about two hours. She was then asked to return to her own seat. When she refused, the victim was offered the steward's seat for the rest of the journey, the Delhi Police FIR stated.

Bhattacharjee said he was seated on 8A (window) in the first row of business class, next to the accused Mishra who was in seat 8C.

Shortly after lunch was served and the lights were switched off onboard AI 102 of November 26 (JFK New York to IGIA, New Delhi), the inebriated male passenger seated in a business class seat walked to the elderly woman's seat (9A), unzipped his pants and urinated on her.

The lavatory was four

rows behind his seat.

According to Bhattacharjee, he was woken up midflight when Mishra fell on him. "I initially thought he lost his balance due to a rough flight. However, as I was going to the restroom, I saw my two fellow passengers of 9A and 9C in distress," he said, adding the woman of 9A came to the gallery area, she was all wet.

We were shocked to realise that my co-passenger (8C) was so intoxicated that he went to the next row and urinated on her," he wrote.

Meanwhile, the metropolitan magistrate said the bail application will be considered on January 11.

Bengaluru police had assisted Delhi police in arresting Mishra from Sanjay Nagar area in the city. The Delhi Police registered an FIR against him on January 4 on a complaint given by the woman to Air India.

himachal CM sukhu inducts 7 Cabinet ministers

HIMACHAL Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu also appointed six MLAs as chief parliamentary secretaries

Nearly a month after the formation of the Himachal Pradesh government, chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Sunday expanded his Cabinet with seven MLAs sworn in as ministers. Apart from it, six MLAs have been made the chief parliamentary secretaries.

S Jaishkankar said that younger generations are at the forefront of connecting India to the world by studying, working and travelling abroad.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar inaugurated the Youth Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, on Sunday and said that the energies of young India are increasingly visible.

“Our Indian diaspora may have noticed the notable changes in the past eight years, including the extraordinary scale of digital delivery that has made possible access to social benefits. Equally evident are the improved health infrastructure and enormous infrastructure activity. But most of all, you would sense the optimism in our society. The energies of young India are increasingly visible,” he said in his address.

Jaishankaar noted that younger generations are at the forefront of connecting

India to the world by studying, working and travelling abroad. For this purpose, he noted that the Centre strives to create a better workplace, a more secure travelling experience and non-discriminatory treatment. Towards achieving these goals, the External Affairs Minister underlined the migration and mobility partnerships with Germany and the working holiday partnership with Austria.

Talking further about

The MLAs inducted as ministers are Col (Retd.) Dhani Ram Shandil (Solan), Chander Kumar (Kangra), Harshwardhan Chauhan (Shillai), Jagat Singh Negi (Kinnaur), Rohit Thakur (Jubbal-Kotkhai),

Anirudh

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arelkar administered the oath to the ministers in a ceremony held at Rajbhavan.

Shimla district got a

lion’s share in the Cabinet with three ministerial berths while the electorally significant Kangra, where the Congress won 10 out of 15 seats got only one seat.

One minister each is from Solan, Kangra, Sirmaur and Kinnaur districts.

Before the swearing in ceremony of the ministers, the chief minister administered oath to the six MLAs who have been made chief parliamentary secretaries (CPSs). The move to appoint CPSs is seen as an attempt to avoid any dissent as the cabinet lacks regional and caste balance.

The MLAs who took oath as CPSs are Sunder Singh Thakur (Kullu), Mohan Lal Brakta (Rohru), Ram Kumar Chaudhary (Doon), Ashish Butail (Palampur), Kishori Lal (Baijanth) and Sanjay Awasthi (Arki).

The oath ceremony of the CPSs was held at the state secretariat.

countries.”

passport.

Addressing the Indian diaspora about the efforts taken by the Centre during the pandemic, he said, “The relationship between the Indian government and our diaspora was very evident during the Covid-19 pandemic. The government undertook the VandeBharat

PIO and NRI community during the most difficult moments of our own Covid experience.”

Addressing the same event, Union minister of youth affairs, Anurag Thakur, discussed the vision of the Centre towards enhancing cooperation between India’s youth and their diaspora counterparts.

vision is to see a two-way flow of capital of ideas,” he said.

the government’s efforts, Jaishankar also highlighted the redressal of grievances through online mechanisms such as Madad and the swift replacement of a lost

mission, and the Vaccine Maitri initiative focused on our diaspora-centred partners. We recognise the tremendous response that we obtained from the

“In recent years, the government has launched a range of initiatives such as the Know India program, scholarship program Global Initiative of Academic Networks (GIAN), and Vajra faculty scheme to bring a strong international connection to the R&D ecosystems in India. Our efforts to link up and facilitate ties between startups and young diaspora innovators and investors are generating a crosspollination of ideas. Our

Thakur also noted the qualities that he believes distinguish the Indian diaspora, such as their inclination towards higher education and climbing the professional ladders in their countries of domicile. Despite these qualities, Thakur said that ‘Indianness’ beats in their hearts.

Hailing the contributions of the Indian youth, Thakur said, “Over 80,000 startups have been created in India. As the world struggled with Covid-19, India’s youth took 50 of their startups to the unicorn level. India has emerged as the third largest attractive investment destination. Over Rs.12 lakh crore was accumulated through UPI-BHIM transactions which was not even achieved by developed

Invoking a quote from Prime Minister Modi, Thakur said, “PM Modi once remarked that when it comes to our diaspora, be it non-resident Indians or Persons of Indian Origin, we don’t look at the colour of the passport but only the blood relation. Even if you go to any corner of the country, this blood relation unites us.”

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Australia’s member of Parliament (MP) Zaneta Mascarenhas also addressed the event.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Pravasi Bhartiya Divas in Indore on Monday. President Droupadi Murmu will confer the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards 2023 and preside over the valedictory session on Tuesday.

exTernAL affairs minister

Singh (Kasumpti) and Vikramaditya Singh (Shimla-Rural).

FOCUS ON FIJI

at least 29 killed in Mexico capture of Chapo’s son; u.s. extradition not guaranteed

MexICo CITY (Reuters)

-Nineteen suspected gang members and 10 military personnel were killed in a wave of violence surrounding the arrest of Mexican drug cartel boss Ovidio Guzman in the northern state of Sinaloa, Defense Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval said on Friday.

Mexican security forces captured Guzman, the 32-year-old son of jailed kingpin Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, in the early hours of Thursday morning, prompting hours of unrest and shootouts with gang members, the minister said.

Guzman was extracted by helicopter from the house where he was caught and flown to Mexico City, before being taken to a maximum security federal prison, Sandoval added.

The arrest spurred the powerful Sinaloa Cartel –once headed by El Chapo himself – to go on a rampage, setting vehicles on fire, blocking roads, and fighting security forces in and around Culiacan, the capital of Sinaloa.

Twenty-one other people were arrested during Thursday’s operations, Sandoval told a news conference, adding there were no reports of any civilian deaths.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said there were no immediate plans to

extradite Ovidio to the United States, where his father is in a maximum security prison after being extradited in 2017 and found guilty in a New York court.

“The elements (of the case) have to be presented and the judges in Mexico decide,” the president said. “It is a process…It is not just the request.” No U.S forces had assisted in Ovidio’s capture, Lopez Obrador said.

An enhanced security presence will now remain in place in Sinaloa, on Mexico’s Pacific coast, to protect the public, with an additional 1,000 military personnel traveling to the region today, Sandoval said.

Passengers on an Aeromexico passenger flight at Culiacan airport crouched low below their seats as shots rung out around the runway on Thursday.

“As we were accelerating for take-off, we heard

gunshots very close to the plane, and that’s when we all threw ourselves to the floor,” passenger David Tellez said. Aeromexico said one of its plane was hit by gunfire at Culiacan but that no-one was hurt.

The airport was due to reopen later on Friday after being closed due to the violence.

In 2019, a failed operation to arrest Ovidio ended in humiliation for Lopez Obrador’s government. At the time, security forces briefly detained Ovidio, triggering a violent backlash from cartel loyalists and leading authorities to quickly release him to stave off the threat of further retribution from his henchmen.

His latest capture comes before a North American leaders’ summit in Mexico City next week, which U.S. President Joe Biden will attend. Cooperation over

security is due to be on the agenda.

THe exTrAdITIon QUeSTIon

The United States has sought Guzman’s extradition for years.

In 2021, the State Department announced a $5 million reward for information leading to his arrest and conviction.

Guzman, known by the nickname “The Mouse,” has been charged in the United States with conspiracy to traffic cocaine, methamphetamine and marijuana into the United States. The State Department said he oversaw methamphetamine labs in Sinaloa responsible for producing “3,000 to 5,000 pounds” of the drug per month.

The State Department also said information indicated he had ordered multiple murders, including that of a popular Mexican singer who had refused to perform at his wedding.

Surging flows of the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States, where it has fueled record overdose deaths, have heightened pressure to capture Guzman.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration considers the Sinaloa Cartel, along with one other gang, to be responsible for most of the fentanyl inside the United Sates.

suva taxi body keen to work with Government one dead, 57 injured in accident on Mexico City metro

tavuyara sets goal for 2023

ABIGAIL Tavuyara is a champion athlete and to maintain her status, she has set goals – to retain the intermediate girl’s triple jump gold medal during this year’s Fiji Secondary Schools Athletics Championship and qualify for the Pacific Games.

The 17-year-old wasted no time with her preparations and was part of the Athletics Fiji Summer Series at the HFC Bank Stadium in Laucala Bay, Suva yesterday.

Tavuyara, who hails from Raiwaqa in Nadroga, won gold for her Waimanu Rd school during last year’s Coca-Cola Games.

She trains under the guidance of former Fiji athletics rep Joseph Rodan Jr.

“Now that we’re back in

training, we’re both focusing on my running skills and my speed limit which is required in the long jump,” she said.

“For triple jump, one thing that my coach has been advising me is that it’s one thing to win it but another thing to keep it.

“So we’re working on perfecting some of the weak areas, my fitness and techniques to follow in order to have a perfect jump.”

She thanked her coach for helping push her to the limit.

“We began with my training right after New Year’s Day and it has been intense for the past few days.”

With the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands this year, Tavuyara aims to make it to the national squad.

THe Suva Taxi Association president Ratnash Narayan say they look forward to working with The People’s Alliance, National Federation Party and SODELPA coalition Government.

He said they presently faced a lot of issues which they would like to discuss with the Government.

“We look forward to working with the new Government for the betterment of Fiji’s taxi industry,” Mr Narayan said in the statement.

“We also welcome and congratulate the new Minister for Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau.

“The Suva Taxi Association looks forward with keenness to meet the new minister to allow us the opportunity to discuss issues of importance to the industry, namely the open taxi rank system and illegal operators (private cars operating as taxis) in the Suva City boundary.

“We taxi operators are facing a lot of operational challenges and it is of great concern to us.

“We also anticipate and look forward to consultations with the new Government before any new changes regarding the taxi industry are made,” he said.

MexICo CITY (Reuters) -At least one person was killed and 57 were injured in a train collision on Mexico City’s metro early on Saturday, local authorities said.

The person killed in the morning accident was a young woman, city security head Omar Garcia told local media Grupo Milenio.

Garcia shared an updated list of the injured later on Saturday, and the city’s mayor, Claudia Sheinbaum, said on Twitter that she was at the site.

Four others who were trapped on one wagon on Line 3 were rescued and are in good health, Garcia said earlier.

A variety of accidents have taken place on the metro in recent years. The most serious was the May 2021 collapse of a rail overpass on Line 12 that killed 26 people and injured more than 60.

Maintenance shortcomings were identified as one of that accident’s causes.

THe Lautoka Residents and Ratepayers Association has welcomed the announcement by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka of a probe into the financials and operations of the Lautoka and Ba hospitals.

Association president Narayan Reddy said it was about time government officials looked into the operations of the Lautoka Hospital after numerous issues were raised by members.

“Among the complaints we have received — the Lautoka Hospital does not have enough beds, people are kept waiting for hours and even as we speak, the waiting time has gotten even worse,” he said.

“The previous government told us that the waiting time would be a thing of the past

once the operations were improved at the hospital but nothing has changed.

“Last week I was told there were not enough oxygen tanks for people suffering with asthma.

“So these are just a few of the issues that have been raised with us.

“If there is going to be an audit they will be able to see what needs to be improved and which areas money is being wasted in.

“The association welcomes Mr Rabuka’s announcement and we are looking forward to seeing what they do to improve the services in Lautoka.”

In his recent address, the Prime Minister said they would conduct a “study of the new financial arrangement for the operations of the Lautoka and Ba hospitals”.

Western association welcomes PM rabuka’s decision to probe hospitals

Need Of The Hour

Every year, approximately 200 children in Fiji and over 2,500 children in the South Pacific are born with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD)

Up until now, there were no pediatric cardiac services available in Fiji or any other South Pacific Island Nation. The unavailability, inaccessibility and unaffordability of pediatric cardiac services resulted in high number of children unable to survive.

The Solution

Due to these staggering statistics, Sai Prema Foundation Fiji developed South Pacific's first Super-Speciality Pediatric Hospital.

On the 27th of April 2022, tthe Prime Minister of Fiji Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama and Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai officially inaugurated the Hospital. The state-of-the-art hospital is providing surgeries and treatments for the children of Fiji and the South completely free of cost. The Hospital does not have a billing counter!

This is the largest project ever undertaken by a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) in Fiji's history.

The Hospital’s Three-pronged approach:

The Hospital’s Five-Point Plan

The vision of the Sri sathya sai

South Pacific’s first super speciality state-of-the-art children’s hospital offering all surgeries and treatment completely free of cost.

Health in kind australia champions free children’s heart hospital in fiji

abhishek

dIreCTor Abhishek Kapoor is responsible for launching some of the biggest actors in B-Town. Having an eye to see beyond what meets the vision, he knows how to pull & shape up the best talents in the industry. Actors Sushant Singh Rajput, Farhan Akhtar, Sara Ali Khan, Amit Sadh among were launched under his surveillance. He has locked his next directorial's script which will be headlined by Ajay Devgn. Interestingly, in the same action-adventure, he will launch Devgn's nephew Aaman Devgan.

The source revealed," Abhishek is going to launch Aaman Devgan in his next action adventure, with Ajay Devgn in a never seen before avatar. More details will be revealed soon."

According to a report in Pinkvilla, a source revealed, “It’s a big scale action adventure and the team is planning to create a certain world for the film. The characters will be presented

in a certain way in this unique world of adventures created by Abhishek. The yet untitled film is slated to go on floors in the next few months,” the source added. We hear that Abhishek plans to present Ajay Devgn like never before in his action adventure.

“The story warrants the presence of a young actor and a senior star. He found this ideal combination in Aaman Devgan and Ajay Devgn. He has sketched a character that will see Ajay Devgn in a never seen before avatar. There’s a special look designed for AJ in the film and it will take everyone will surprise.”

Meanwhile, Ajay Devgn will next star in Bholaa which is the Hindi remake of the 2019 Lokesh Kanagaraj film Kaithi. The film also stars Tabu, Amala Paul, Sanjay Mishra, and Deepak Dobriyal in significant roles. He also has Maidaan, Neeraj Pandey's romantic thriller and Rohit Shetty's Singham Again.

Kuttey musical evening: vishal Bhardwaj, Gulzar and rekha Bhardwaj to give live performances

THe trailer and songs of Aasmaan Bhardwaj’s multistarrer Kuttey have succeeded in making heads turn. Now, in order to increase the buzz of the film, the makers have organized a musical evening called Mahefil-e-Khas in Mumbai on January 10. The event will be attended by the film’s team including Arjun Kapoor, Tabu, Konkona Sen Sharma, Radhika Madan, Aasmaan Bhardwaj, Vishal Bhardwaj, Gulzar, Rekha Bhardwaj, Shardul Bhardwaj, Kumud Mishra, Naseeruddin Shah along with some other prominent members from the film industry.

It will also see live performances from Vishal Bhardwaj, his wife and singer Rekha Bhardwaj and the legendary lyricist Gulzar. Sharing more details

about the event, a source added, “Along with being one of the producers of the film, Vishal Bhardwaj has also composed the songs. He has yet again collaborated with the legendary lyricist Gulzar. After Maachis, Vishal has

considered Gulzar saab his mentor. Gulzar saab is also fond of the Bhardwajs, so it is only fitting that he unveils the music of Aasmaan’s first film. Other musicians, like Vishal Dadlani, who has sung in the movie, will also

perform at the do.”

The makers of Kuttey have already released two songs from the film in the form of ‘Phir Dan Te Nan’ and ‘Awaara Dogs’. The musical evening will see the unveiling of the rest of the songs from the movie.

Meanwhile, Kuttey has been passed by the Central Board of Film Certification with an ‘A’ certificate. The film’s runtime is 112 minutes and 3 seconds.

The film is produced by Luv Ranjan, Vishal Bhardwaj, Ankur Garg and Rekha Bhardwaj under the banner of Luv Films and Vishal Bhardwaj Films, and presented by Gulshan Kumar and Bhushan Kumar’s T-Series.

Kuttey is all set to release in cinemas on January 13.

i n July last year, Taapsee Pannu hinted at the possibility of the sequel to her 2021 Netflix movie Haseen Dillruba. Now, Vikrant Massey, her co-star from the film, has confirmed that the second part of the movie is indeed happening and it will go on floors soon.

While answering a question about the sequel of the film at an event in IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) Bombay, Vikrant said, “I am confirming that it’s coming.”

HeArInG on the bail plea of Sheezan Khan in the death case of TV actress Tunisha Sharma was held in Vasai Court on Saturday. On January 7, the Mumbai court heard arguments from both sides on Sheezan Khan's bail plea. However, this debate could not be completed. Due to this, the court has fixed the next date on January 9.

Speaking of the hearing, the public prosecutor reportedly opposed Sheezan's bail appeal. He alleged that Sheezan is not cooperating in the investigation and added that he is changing his statement. During the hearing, it was argued that Sheezan had deleted many of his WhatsApp chats, which were recently recovered from his rumoured secret girlfriend's phone.

Tunisha's co-star and rumoured ex-boyfriend Sheezan has been accused of abetting the actress' suicide. Sheezan's lawyer said in court

that his client is innocent.

Advocate Shailendra Mishra said, “All we want to say is that truth and justice will prevail. We have full faith in the judiciary and I reiterate that Sheejan Mohd Khan is innocent and she and her family are suffering because of police incompetence. He has misused the power of arrest.”

For the unversed, Tunisha was found hanging on the set of her serial Ali Baba: DastaanE-Kabul near Vasai in the adjoining Palghar district on December 24. Sheezan was taken under custody after Tunisha’s mother accused him of abetting suicide.

BoLLyWood actor Aditya Seal, who was last seen in Rocket Gang, is expecting his first child with his wife Anushka Ranjan. The couple tied the knot in November 2021 in a grand ceremony in Mumbai.

A source close to the couple told Bollywood Hungama, “The couple is currently enjoying their New Year time in Dubai. While the couple is enjoying their blissful time with their

friends, they are also gearing up to enter a new phase in their lives. Both Aditya

Sharing what one can expect from the second instalment of Haseen Dillruba, Vikrant said, “A lot of it is going to be really different. Except for me and Taapsee, there are so many new things. It’s another crazy experience. We had not kept expectations earlier too that it will be so loved, the story, the world around the story. The

amount of love we got for the film we thought.”

The actor also revealed that the sequel will go on floors soon. “We had left an interesting open ending buffer for a second part and how we can do that and luckily for us the audience responded and in 15 days now I am going to start the shoot for it. Please do go and watch the film,” he added.

Vikrant has an interesting line-up of projects coming up in the form of Vidhu Vinod Chopra’s 12th Fail, Gaslight, where he is paired opposite Sara Ali Khan, and Sector 36.

and Anushka are elated to become parents.”

Aditya Seal and Anushka Ranjan reportedly met each other during a fashion show organized by her mother Anu Ranjan's NGO. The couple dated for a while before the actor proposed to Anushka in Paris in October 2019.

Meanwhile, on the work front, Aditya Seal was last seen in Rocket Gang. The film consisted

an ensemble cast featuring Nikita Dutta, Jason Tham, Mokshda Jaikhani, Sahaj Singh Chahal, Tejas Varma, Aadvik Mongia, Jayshree Gogoi, Dipali Borkar and Siddhant Sharma. Produced by ZEE Studios, it is a story of friendship, camaraderie, love and dance as the five friends come across a team of ghost dancers who are on a mission to achieve their dream of winning the biggest dance competition.

Kapoor to direct ajay Devgn; to launch the actor’s nephew aaman Devgan in an action adventure

Directed by Vinil Mathew and written by Kanika Dhillon, Haseen Dillruba is a crime cum romantic drama that also stars

Harshvardhan Rane in a pivotal role along with Aditya Srivastava and Dayashankar Pandey.

two indian australian doctors take out the Miss india australia and Mrs india australia titles of 2022!

MUSKAn Jangra, 24 years, Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS 2022), from Adelaide, South Australian, has been announced as the Miss India Australia 2022 winner.

Schooled in the country town near Adelaide called Bordertown. Muskan was born in Chandigarh, India.

Arrived in Australia as a 11 years old with her skilled professional Indian parents.

Muskan finds medicine a rewarding career and at the same time is passionate about dance which helps her to bring ourt her creativity.

In addition to Australian English, Muskan is fluent in Hindi..and can speak a bit of Punjabi as well.

Muskan recently graduated as a doctor, from University of Adelaide, and aspire to specialise in acute care, surgery or women’s health.

“I participated in raj Suri’s Miss India Australia 2022 because I believe it’s the perfect platform for young women like myself to showcase the cultural amalgamation of two beautiful countries that we call home – India and Australia. The platform allows strong, independent, young women to empower others and the future generations to come whilst expressing themselves through various forms of art. Unlike the traditional way of thinking, I want to emphasise that women can be both beautiful and intelligent and not one way or the other, and further encourage them to be brave and courageous to step outside the boundaries to follow their dreams. The audition experience with invaluable experience as it allowed me to express my passion, desires, and love for dancing to a mentor, who aims to present Indian Australian women in the most authentic way.

Muskan’s other interests include visual arts, Photography and travelling. Volunteer with Penny Appeal Australia and local community services.

Muskan is being trained by Australian Indian personal branding mentor Raj Suri, to pursue her career further as a young diverse Indian Australian woman leader to carry her professional interests in medicine and women’health as well as performing arts.

The Mrs India Australia 2022 title was taken out by Rekha Bohra, 47 years old, doctor from Brisbane, Australia.

Rekha lives with her two sons & husband. Rekha was born in Jabalpur, India. Formerly lived and worked in UK before becoming a

resident of Australia. Rekha has an MBBS, MRCGP & FRACGP (Member & Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, UK). A GP, Gynaecologist , now pursuing a career as a Cosmetic Physician.

Rekha enjoys dancing and travelling and learning about new places, their history and culture.

This journey of Mrs India Australia 2022 has been an incredible experience… Miss India Australia is not just a beauty pageant, it’s a journey for the personal development to bring out the best version of you . Happy ending of 2022!! I couldn’t have asked for anymore this year. So grateful to Mr raj Suri for his training and mentorship which helped me recognise my potential and reach to this stage. He made me realise my strengths and helped boost my confidence thousand folds. It’s a dream come true!

—dr rekha Bohra

The 13 finalists were selected via in person workshops, auditions in Sydney and Melbourne and Australia wide online auditions. The interview process was on the basis of overall personality and talent performances with real casting experience and training and mentor session by

Both Miss and Mrs India Australia 2022 will officially represent Australia in the 31th Miss India Australia Worldwide 2023in Mumbai, India (subject to covid restrictions at the time). An opportunity to showcase Indian Australian Women in front of the Indian entertainment industry professionals and celebrities.

The Miss & Mrs India Australia 2021 Finalists and the winners from around Australia are:

MISS IndIA AUSTrALIA 2022 WInnerS Muskan Jangra (Adelaide) –Miss India Australia 2022

Puja nagaria (Melbourne) –“Miss Social Impact” 2022

Helly Parikh (Melbourne) – Miss Beautiful Face & Miss Fashionista” 2022

Aarya Hattangdi (Sydney) –“Miss Professional” 2022

Hely Patel (Melbourne) –“Best Student” 2022

nikita raina (Melbourne) –“Miss Talented” 2022

Harshada Bhandarkar (Adelaide) – “Overseas

rekha Bohra (Brisbane) –Mrs India Australia 2022

nimmy Susan Philip (Canberra) – “Mrs Professional” 2022

Anishaa Chullickel (Cairns) –“Mrs Social Impact and Best Talent” 2022

Santoshlaxmi Sama (Sydney) –“Mrs Cheerful” 2022

Cheryl Machado (Sydney) –“Mrs Beautiful Face” 2022

Miss India Australia 2022 finalists showcased talent ranging from Monologues, Classical & Contemporary Dance and public speaking.

MeeT THe 2022 FInALISTS

All the 2022 finalists will get a group mentoring session. The Miss India Australia 2022 Winner is being trained and mentored by Sydney based image and personal development coach Raj Suri and will be exclusively represented via Raj Suri associate talent office globally with the media firm, Karigar Australia.

ABoUT MISS IndIA AUSTrALIA

r ekh A lives in Brisbane with her two sons & husband. Rekha was born in Jabalpur, India. She moved to Bhopal when she was ten years old. She did her MBBS from Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal and post-graduation from Jaipur. She formerly lived and worked in the UK before becoming a resident of Australia. Rekha has done MBBS, DRCOG, MRCGP & FRACGP (Member & Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, UK). A GP, the Gynaecologist, now pursuing a career as a Cosmetic Physician.

Rekha enjoys dancing and travelling and learning about new places, their history and culture. She strongly believes that nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself and put your heart and hard work into it. She wishes to work for Indian women's empowerment and help them build confidence, self-love and self-esteem.

“ this journey of mrs india Australia 2022 has been an incredible experience. i decided to participate in the beauty Pageant as i wanted to challenge herself as i firmly believes that if you want to grow you need to come out of your comfort zone. i started my journey a few months ago when i started with a professional photo shoot for camera-facing confidence and took training to speak in public. i am also also a writer and for my talent round, i composed and recited a poem on women's empowerment. this pageant was in two stages. the first stage included an introduction, photoshoot, ramp walk and talent round. the second stage was the social impact project.

For my social impact project, I want to help women who suffer from a lack of self-esteem ,self-confidence and self-love. I want to build a happy and healthy community where a woman can support other women.

My message for other women is “ Nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself and put your heart and hard work into it and every woman is a queen and every girl is a princess , it's just a matter of

“

I am a spiritual person. For me, it's the biggest new year's gift and blessing from God, family, friends and my mentor Mr Raj Suri “ which will help me pursue with my goal. It’s feels like a dream come true!”

celebrates Australian diversity and cultivates Indian Australian role models. Australian Indian mentor Raj Suri conducts women empowerment workshops helping with self confidence and image, career coaching and cross culture integration for young women in

Founded by photographer / media/film producer Raj Suri, the Original Miss India Australia is the first ever-national talent search in Australia for women of Indian origin, affiliated to the Miss India Worldwide which will be celebrating its 31th year in 2022 represented by over 20

“Miss India Australia embraces the best of Australian and Indian culture presenting a unique opportunity for Australian women to engage with and celebrate rich heritage with contemporary Australian identity. Miss India Australia does not follow a minimum height or weight criteria in women. It truly celebrates the talented Indian Australian women - contributing to the modern Australian diversity -

the young culturally aware Australian women especially to make inroads into the Indian Films (Bollywood), Fashion industries and most importantly to cultivate role models to inspire diverse young women of Indian original in Australia and across the globe.

Over the years below are some of the known Miss India Australia WINNERS and Finalists in the Indian Australian Film and TV Modelling and as Indian Australian influencers:

Vimala raman

– Miss India Australia 2004

Sharon Johal

– Miss India Australia

Photogenic 2004

Pallavi Sharda

– Miss India Australia 2010

zenia Starr

– Miss India Australia 2013

nibedita Pal

– Miss India Australia 2015

zenia Kumar

– Miss India Australia

Photogenic 2013

Mallika raj

– Miss India Australia runner up 2017

Sakshi Singh

– Miss India Australia 2018

The Miss India Australia by Raj Suri is now evolved into the platform of choice for

Shrutika Mane

– Miss India Australia 2020

rekha Bohra, 47 years old, a doctor from Brisbane, australia, won the title of “Mrs india australia 2022.”

happy new year 2023

THe team at the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) joins you in celebrating the Lunar New Year.

This year being the Year of the Rabbit symbolises prosperity, longevity and peace.

Prosperity comes in many forms including good health, healthy relationships, time and money.

Longevity is achieved through good life balance including taking time to rest and maintaining good health.

Peace can be external – through world affairs or internal through good mental and physical health and satisfaction in your life.

Our personal health is our most valuable asset. We need to ensure we take care of ourselves physically, mentally and emotionally, taking time to seek out the care that we need.

This includes regular

visits with your GP to check your physical health. If you haven’t had a check-up with your doctor in the last 12 months, consider making an appointment. Many people

put off seeking health care to focus on their work – we all need to take time to out of our busy lives to focus on our health.

The New Year often brings

plans to make changes to improve our health and our wealth. If you haven’t had a health check recently, or you know you have a health condition such as hepatitis

B you should make an appointment with your GP for a check-up.

Remember if you need an interpreter to help you in your language ask for one to be booked for your next appointment with your GP (this is free if you have a Medicare Card and all GP practices can arrange interpreters.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy 2023 from the team at ECCQ’s – BBV and STIs Program. For more information

about healthy choices and information about hepatitis B and hepatitis C you can contact the ethnic Communities Council of Queensland on: W: www.eccq.com.au/bbv Phone: 07-3844 9166

If you live in Cairns, you can also contact: rhondda Lewis

Viral Hepatitis Health Coordinator Phone: 07-4226 4769 email: rhondda.Lewis@ health.qld.gov.au

Hepatitis, HIV/AIdS and Sexual Health Program ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (eCCQ)

Naturally Soothing Sunburn Tips

feel that the juice of the potato works the best, while others feel just slices are sufficient. Try both and see which one is the best remedy for your sunburn.

Sunburn is the bane of summertime, thwarting tans and forcing people to cover up. It can happen at any time of the year though, because it is the exposer to the ultra-violet rays of the sun that cause it. When you’re getting bombarded with UV light, your exposed skin ups its production of melanin. Melanin is the dark pigment in the top layer of your skin that gives it its color and determines how tan you can get. Upping the production of melanin is the bodies’ way of protecting the deeper layers of the skin, and the tan acts as a shield against UV light. However, the amount of melanin produced to protect you is determined by genetics (so people with fair skin produce less melanin and are more likely to burn) and all in all you end up with a natural shield equal to around SPF 4. The best thing to do is prevent sunburn, but even when you do try to protect yourself, you may end up burned anyways. To avoid peeling and get rid of the redness and stinging, here are tips and home remedies for sunburn that are simple, fast, and effective.

SooTHInG reMedIeS To HeLP eASe THe PAIn.

1. PoTATo PASTe

If you’ve found yourself with searing hot red skin, root up a few potatoes. Potatoes have been known as a pain reliever throughout the years, working particularly well on minor skin irritations and soothing scratches, bites, and burns, as well as possibly reducing inflammation. Some people

2 potatoes, A grater, blender, or knife, Cotton balls, cotton pads, facial tissue, or gauze

Directions: -Wash and scrub your potatoes thoroughly, and then either grate them over a bowl or cut them up and put them in a blender. There is no need to remove the peels. If you’re using a blender, give them a whirl until they’ve become quite liquid. If they seem too dry, you can add a small amount of water. Pour out the mixture, soak cotton balls thoroughly in it, and apply to sunburn. An easier perhaps more effective method would be to soak gauze and lay it over the burn. If you’re using a grater, grate the potatoes over a bowl and apply the pulp, trying to get as much juice as possible. You can also try simply slicing the potatoes and lying the slices directly on your burn.

2. Cool milk compress: -A cool milk compress is one of the quickest, simplest and low-cost ways to treat sunburn. It doesn’t get much easier than just heading to the refrigerator for reliefand easy is good when treating anything. The initial coolness of the milk will ease the heat, while it also creates a layer of protein to protect your skin, help it heal, and further soothe discomfort.

A clean and soft, washcloth, Chilled milk

Directions: -Pour a bowl of milk high enough so that you can thoroughly soak your compress in it. When the gauze or washcloth is saturated, let the excess liquid drain off. Drape

across your burn, pressing gently so that it stays in place, and leave it on for as long as needed. If the milk in the bowl becomes room temperature chill it before re-dunking your compress.

3. Corn starch /baking soda for fighting burns: -Corn starch, with its cool, silky texture, is a good way to naturally soothe your sunburn. Like milk, it is one of those things that you probably have lying around your house regardless of whether or not you planned on sizzling out in the sun. If you don’t have corn starch, try some baking soda for quick relief. Both can diminish the pain and lessen the blazing red appearance of the burn.

Corn starch or baking soda, Cool water Directions: -How much corn starch or baking soda you need will vary depending on how big of an area you want to cover. Whichever one you are using add cool water-not cold- little by little until it has reached a paste-

like consistency. Smear the paste gently over your burn and leave on until the heat or pain has let up some. Rinse off completely.

4. Drink up: -Sunburn is a burn. It sounds like stating the obvious, but we often don’t think about the fact that we really, truly, seared our skin. As with any other thing that burns your skin is dried out, and your body is probably dehydrated too. Keep a tall glass or bottle of ice-cold water on hand at all times to make sure you’re keeping yourself full of H20, which is necessary to heal your damaged skin.

5. Cool off with mint & tea: -Mint naturally cools and soothes whatever it touches, and sunburns are no exception. The tannic acid and theobromine found in green tea also helps relieve pain and heal damaged skin when applied topically.

1 quart of boiling water, 5 green tea bags, 3 cups of fresh mint leaves, Cotton pads or a clean soft cloth

Directions: -Bring 1 quart

of water to a boil. Remove the strings and tags from the 5 tea bags and add them, as well as 3 cups of fresh mint leaves, to a pan. Pour the boiling water over the mint leaves and tea bags and cover with a lid, letting is sit for approximately an hour so you can get all the good stuff out of it. Strain and then chill. When the mixture has chilled thoroughly, use cotton pads or a clean soft cloth soaked in the liquid and apply directly to the burn. You can also pour it over the burn if you wish. If you find yourself without green tea you can substitute black tea, which also contains tannins.

6. Indulge in some aloe: -Aloe vera gel is many peoples go-to when they have sunburn. It’s cool, soothing, and seems to suck the sting and redness right out of your sunburn. Because aloe is useful for a number of other ailments (such as acne or heartburn) it’s handy to have a plant growing in your house. They’re easy to maintain, free from any

additives, and you won’t have to keep running out to buy more from the store all the time once it’s big enough. If you would really rather prefer not having the plant, getting some good quality aloe vera gel from the store is the next best thing-it’s also more practical for treating larger areas.

An aloe plant with thick, juicy, leaves, enough storebought gel to cover your burn

If using the plant, slit several big leaves down the middle, not cutting all the way through. Spread them flat and lay on your burn. You can also squeeze the gel out. If you’re using gel that’s already been extracted, apply however much you need to your sunburn. The plant is usually more practical when treating smaller areas, while the purchased aloe gel is easier to spread over a big burn. A combination of both works as well.

7. Season with vinegar: -Vinegar has been part of family lore for literally hundreds of years. While there is no official research done on how it helps sunburns in particular, there are a vast amount of people out there who swear up and down that vinegar helps heal sunburn, or mildly burned tissue in general. Pure unfiltered apple cider vinegar seems to work the best, and often times proponents of this method say is most effective after a cool or tepid shower.

1 cup roughly apple cider vinegar, Cotton balls

Directions: -Try this after taking a water only shower if possible. Fill a spray bottle with pure unfiltered apple cider vinegar, and spritz it onto your burn, or soak cotton balls and apply. Let it dry.

Nimisha Modi

WCise’22 international aWarD For liFetiMe aChieveMent to Dr. BishnuJee sinGh

4TH World Conference on Innovations in Management, Science and Engineering 2022, Pattaya, Thailand has officially announced the Conferment of WCISE’22 International Award for Lifetime Achievement in Aerospace Engineering to Cayley Aerospace Inc CEO Dr. Bishnujee Singh, Fellow of Engineers Australia, CPEng (Australia), RPEng (Victoria), RPEQ (Queensland).

Dr. Bishnujee Singh who holds Post Doctor DSc in Engineering Management from Universidad Azteca has been recognized for his Academic Research program on US Air Force Helicopter Aeroelastic Analysis with Tandem Rotor Blades - Implication on Safety and Operation. Dr. Singh has carried out an Experiment on Turbocharger Compressor Assemblies which plays a great impact on the Environment regulation of sound in the atmosphere as part of the Federal US Government research program. Dr. Singh is credited with the Structural Engineering

Development of the First series of Boeing 777-300ER and 777-200LR commercial Jet in Washington, USA. Also, his key area of research has been Space Formulation for Transonic Aeroelasticity, Scaled Aircraft in Aeroelastic SimilarityFlutter Optimization, and Application of Multi-Fidelity Aeroelastic Optimization to a BWB between Cayley Aerospace Inc and NASA JPL research programs. Dr. Singh has been the recipient of SUMMA CUM LAUDE (highest possible Distinction) by Azteca University for his research work on Helicopter Aeroelasticity in the DSc program. SSRN under the Elsevier Publishers has All Time World Ranking of 1 for this Research work on US Air Force program for the past 25 years (1997-2022)

As part of his Doctor research program with IIC University of Technology has been on Experiments on Turbocharger compressor Acoustics which focuses on noise control of Aerospace and Automobile vehicles in compliance with environmental regulations.

Miracle twins born four months early home in time for Christmas

THe family of Queensland twins born four months early have enjoyed a special Christmas at home for the first time with their little miracles.

After receiving aroundthe-clock care for more than 100 days at Mater Mothers’ Hospital Brisbane, Aashay and Aaliya enjoyed the festive season with big sister Siara, 3.5 years old.

Brisbane general practitioner Neha Goel, 36, and husband Ben Aggarwal, 36, said it “meant the world” to be home and finally together as a family.

“It will be the best Christmas ever,” Dr Goel said.

Dr Goel, from Bridgeman Downs, said her pint-sized miracles were born on September 11, with Aaliya arriving first weighing 785g, followed by Aashay weighing a tiny 680g.

Cuddling her babies together, Dr Goel said there were times she thought Aaliya and Aashay would not survive.

“Every time they got sick it was touch and go. It happened so many times it was scary,” Dr Goel said.

“The twins were due on December 29 but were born 16 weeks early. They had sepsis, and Aashay also had meningitis. He became very sick.”

“At times I wished I didn’t

have a medical background; it would have made things a lot easier for me to process. I was overwhelmed with having my babies in hospital.”

Dr Goel said she had a new-found respect for parents of babies in the Mater Mothers’ Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

“It’s really opened my eyes about what goes on here. You just don’t know until you go through it yourself. We were in good hands from the moment we came to Mater, my husband was the level-headed one and kept reminding me of that,” Dr Goel said.

Mater Acting Director of Neonatology Dr Luke Jardine said eight sets of twins would join the other tiny treasures this Christmas in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“For many families, this will be their first Christmas in hospital with their baby due to being premature or unwell,” Dr Jardine said.

“It can be an emotional and challenging time, along with a sense of hope their baby is being cared for in hospital.”

With one in five Queensland babies born at a Mater Mothers’ Hospital, Dr Goel had a planned caesarean section scheduled on 8 December, however Aaliya and Aashay had other

plans.

“I ended up in hospital early with Aaliya’s amniotic sac passing through the cervix.

“I gave birth to the twins naturally and had a quick cuddle before they were taken away to the NICU,” she said.

Dr Goel said her twins, now three months, were tipping the scales at more

than 3kg each, growing from strength to strength while in hospital.

“They are getting so strong, it’s so beautiful to see them together and thriving,” she said.

“We almost lost Aashay but he’s doing much better now and will require oxygen at home. Aaliya doesn’t require oxygen support. It’s been a long road but it’s just

so nice to have them here and together again.

“Siara kept asking ‘Mummy, when are my babies coming home’, and I’ve always had to tell her

they might be home after Christmas, so I didn’t get her hopes up.

“She’ll be so happy to see her Christmas wish come true”.

In 2023, the movements of Saturn and Jupiter may bring some major changes which would be a mixed bag, some of them can be helpful and some of them might need your attention and caution. Saturn might influence your connection with foreign countries, your expenditures and financial gains, your social connection and also the inclination towards spirituality. At the beginning of the year, there are chances of recovering back which you might have landed to family or friends. Though, it is advised that from the beginning of the second quarter, you should keep a check on your expenses and enhance savings so that you can manage Saturn’s energy which might strongly impact your finances. If you plan properly on your finances in advance, you might be saved from a financial crunch. In 2023 you would be under a strong influence of both, Saturn and Rahu, affecting your intelligence and your subconscious mind, hence it is suggested that you should keep your thoughts under control. Be very attentive to your thinking and decision-making because the influence of Rahu may drag you on the wrong side. To get rid of this effect, note down your plans or get advice from some elder or experts so that the positive energy of Jupiter could help you to gain success, both on the personal and professional front. Health should be one of your primary focuses from the second quarter. Doing some light exercise and meditation on regular basis could help you to overcome the strong influence of Saturn upon your health. Do not compromise on your healthy eating habits and try to avoid junk food. You also need to balance your emotions and avoid unnecessary stress because the combination of Rahu with Jupiter in your horoscope could bring in some negative influence resulting in wastage of your energies and distraction from your aim. As far as money and finance is concerned, you may start getting help from the Jupiter which might enable you to buy a property for yourself during this year. You just need to be attentive towards the influence of Saturn, so that your savings are not affected. With proper planning of funds and patience you may be able to manage the flow of money in the right direction.

This year, your health, finance, relationship with your in-laws, and the happiness you get from your job are going to undergo some changes and also require priority. A Saturn transit can ask you to meditate and warn you about overthinking because it is going to affect your health and ability to make decisions. Stress and negative influence in the surrounding can adversely affect the quality and result of your work, so you need to pay attention to your work management, as well as to your subconscious thoughts, which can become distorted if you face hurdles and delays to achieve your goals. During the first quarter of this year, Jupiter will be in transit with Rahu, which can cause confusion, workload, and delays, requiring proper analysis, verification, and revision before executing. In terms of relationships, avoid any third-party suggestions. You may succeed if you put in the effort and keep a positive attitude. Sleeping comfort can be affected by Mars in the beginning. Mars, however, can provide you with direct access to good clients and international connections, which will help you. Those of you in the spiritual and religious fields can get a good scope in a foreign country and also on the digital platform. There might be an inclination for some of you to learn yoga, martial arts, and meditation. Rahu and Ketu may bring changes in your career and also in your place of residence. Some of you might get the expected result when you buy your flat and home. From the second quarter onward, Saturn will make things according to your plan, but patience is required. The first quarter is not going to be favorable for love and relationship due to workload and negative thoughts. We advise you not to blame your partner for his/her mistakes and to spend quality time together without arguing. During Mars' movement in the first quarter, over-expectation and demanding behavior can lead to relationship problems. It can be a challenge and a delay to get results when you are dealing with divorce-related issues. In marriage and love, Rahu and Ketu can cause aggression and detachment. You should give your spouse some space during this quarter so that he/she can think about his/her career and personal growth.

The beginning of the year might fulfill your wishes and happiness from friends as per Taurus 2023 Horoscope and also bless you with the expected financial gains. This year 2023 Taurus Horoscope helps you to get the blessings of Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury so the keyword to attain success this year is your optimism. This year you might see small changes in your daily routine according to Taurus 2023 predictions. Mars suggests you to avoid an aggressive attitude so that things go as per your plan. Taurus Horoscope 2023 predicts that Sun in the first phase of the year might give some delay to get favours from the boss and seniors but things might start to improve from the last phase of March. In terms of learning new skills and education, 2023 for Taurus might help to get the fulfilment of the desire to get admission in a foreign country for students. Those of you who want to play at the international level might also get the expected result as indicated by 2023 Taurus Horoscope. In terms of relationship, Taurus Horoscope 2023 predictions say that Mercury and Jupiter movement might give success in terms of marriage and love life. Taurus in 2023 predicts that some of you might have a second marriage. Jupiter might also give a good support of luck in terms of money as per Horoscope Taurus 2023 and the right intelligence to make the proper investment in the second quarter. Astrology Taurus 2023 predicts that Saturn might give financial gain with your proper plan and decision making ability. The months of March and April might give unplanned expenditures according to 2023 Taurus predictions. Religious activity for Taurus zodiac sign 2023, might give expenditure this year with the transit of Jupiter and Rahu. The Horoscope for 2023 Taurus says that this year you need to avoid any aggressive or quick decisions. In terms of love relationships as per Taurus prediction for 2023, the first phase of this year might give some good relationship proposals. The period between July to August might also give success in a love relationship for Taurus Horoscope year 2023. The Taurus Horoscope for the year 2023 predicts that those of you who were waiting to get married then this year the movement of Jupiter might help you to get married between April to August.

This year Saturn advises you to avoid digging into your past mistakes and start working on your projects and work. Your health can suffer from unnecessary negative thoughts. As indicated by the movement of Mars and Rahu, you should avoid aggression. By practicing regular meditation, you will be able to protect yourself from the damaging effects of Mars, Rahu, and Saturn which can make getting a good night's sleep difficult as well as affect your health. This year, Saturn's movement could cause some delays in getting the favour at work. There might be a delay in getting support from senior authorities and also at home the support of elders might be delayed. Likewise, due to the impact of Saturn, there may also be some hindrances to receiving support from luck or there can be unplanned travel related to work and business. It is advised that you avoid becoming aggressive or demanding in your job and business due to Saturn and Rahu movement. Mars, in its starting phase, may help you to get back the money you owe from your friends, but this is not the best platform for investing heavily in the share market. Saturn can delay the receipt of expected financial gain from a business. Business gains might be delayed for some of you and things can also get delayed in the second quarter as indicated by the Saturn movement. Thus, you are advised to seek professional financial advice. The first quarter of this year will be characterized by patience and a positive approach. You are advised to do some analysis before making major decisions because Jupiter is ready to provide you with the support that comes from your ability to make the right decisions as well as your initiative. Rahu and Jupiter indicate that some of you may get delayed in getting a promotion, but after the first quarter, things will go your way. There is the possibility of foreign settlement and employment. Basis the transition of Mars, it is advisable to be attentive to your promise and commitment on the professional and personal fronts. Jupiter's blessings will help you succeed in your new job. You might get support from your boss after the first quarter and the expected rank at work. Saturn and Rahu can cause sudden disagreements in a relationship as some of you may feel bounded.

Saturn will require patience, attention to detail, and a disciplined approach both personally and professionally this year. Jupiter will provide you the chance to increase your network of friends as well as your professional and international connections. You're going to put commitment, career, and health first this year. With Jupiter and Mercury's blessings, many dreams are expected to be realised in the second half. The health of this year is expected to be mediocre. This year, your health will be significantly impacted by the way the planets are moving and how they influence your ideas. In order to maintain your fitness and health, it is essential that you surround yourself with positive people and attempt to nurture good attitudes. A pregnant woman is also receiving guidance from Rahu and Ketu to pay attention to her health and avoid needless stress in order to give birth to a healthy child. You are advised to stay away from heavy and greasy foods to regulate your anger and to improve your health because Mars movement might cause unneeded aggression. The student may experience slow growth and increased effort this year in order to get the desired outcome, as suggested by Saturn. This year, you should abandon all long-term plans because Saturn's energies will slow down progress and demand perfection from you. To attain predicted accomplishment and achievement in your study plan, it would be best to build patience and tenacity. Mars's first-quarter motion can inspire great ambition, but you need also learn to control your rage if you want things to run smoothly and in your favour. With determination and hard study, you can succeed in a competitive exam and receive recognition. Rahu can encourage people to take writing and digital marketing-related courses. You should expect success this year if you're a journalism or science student. The Mars movement may cause some of you to lose confidence. Overall, this year is expected to provide a fresh career platform where you can provide your best effort in terms of work and new professional endeavours. Those of you who are now employed will receive additional responsibilities, which may increase workload and pressure, but will also serve as a steppingstone for your success this year.

You will need patience and attention on a personal and professional front, as well as your health, in the first and last quarter of this year. In the second quarter, you can spend time with family and friends. Saturn and Rahu both require more effort and a positive approach on both a personal and professional level. Jupiter will bring happiness in the second quarter through promotion, marriage, and childbirth. In the last quarter, Venus and Ketu advise you to pay attention to your relationships and financial matters. You shouldn't be hasty in taking a financial decision from new or unknown people during this year as Saturn and Rahu indicate, expert advice can give you the right direction. As indicated by the movements of Mars and Mercury, you will be able to earn money from traveling this year. You should avoid arguments and relationship proposals during the month of May. If you are in love with someone, it is advised that you wait before making a proposal because the planetary alignment is not favourable for you to receive what you are expecting. July and August may bring positive results in terms of love marriages as well as a positive response to a relationship proposal. Rahu and Sun can have a secret relationship this year. Those of you in a secret love relationship need to be cautious because the interaction between parents and siblings can cause challenges. It will be a good year for those who wish to convert their love relationship into marriage this year. Occasionally, a relationship needs revitalization, so you need to communicate your feelings. Jupiter indicates that written communication will give you the opportunity to revitalize your marital relationship this year. In terms of a love relationship, the planetary alignment may delay the expected results this year. Relationship distance can be caused by ego clashes, communication gaps, and miscommunications, so avoid unnecessary arguments and negative thinking when in a relationship. In the workplace, commitment and deadlines are vitally important. Prioritize your tasks so you don't become a workaholic or stressed out as a result of overload. During the third quarter, Ketu and Mars can cause some stress in the family business, so try to remain patient and have a positive attitude when answering questions.

The year 2023 for the easy-going Libra seems to be lucky and positive most of the time. 2023 Predictions for Libra foresees a positive and happy love life and relationship at the beginning of this year. Venus’s transition might help you in your social circle, suggests Libra stars for 2023. Libra this year 2023 may experience strong passion with heightened emotions which will probably have a deep impact on their relationship with their partner due to the fluctuations in the position of Mars. Horoscope for Libra in 2023 requires them to be patient with the situation. As the year progresses Libra Reading predicts that Jupiter’s transition might help you sort the problems in the relationship. May might be a testing month for you as Libra 2023 Horoscope Predictions foresees that you are likely to lose patience and could get aggressive. The latter half of the Libra year 2023 may contain blessings from the goddess of love Venus herself which may bring happiness to your relationship. Libra Zodiac Sign 2023 indicates planets seem to shower you with their blessings in aspects of your romantic relationships. March will probably be the month where your relationship will start to take a boost. In the Astrology of Libra 2023 things might start to look clear in terms of relationships with the help of Jupiter. Your relationship will probably be a lot stronger and close with each other as foreseen by 2023 Astrology Predictions Libra. Libra 2023 Astrology observes a favorable year for your finances and money-related matters. To have gains Saturn might require you to have your plans prepared in advance. Libra Future 2023 may begin with a bumpy ride in the start but with time probability of getting better opportunities is observed. Libra Zodiac Sign 2023 might bring out the indecisive side of yours which might hinder your important work related to finance as observed by Mercury. With the ball in your court in the latter half of the year, the transiting planets will help in strengthening your financial situation foresees 2023 Predictions for Libra. Income flow will be smooth till September. Earning opportunities may increase with the increase in the horizon in work in November and year-end with help from transitional Jupiter Zodiac Sign 2023 Libra.

This might be a progressive year for Capricorn 2023. Money won’t be much of an issue this year as you are likely to have a very profitable, says Capricorn 2023 Horoscope. The transition of Saturn indicates, others might try to swindle you out of your money as per 2023 Capricorn Horoscope. Capricorn 2023 predictions advises you to watch out and be alert for this. The stars from around March might have a positive impact on your financial status as indicated by Horoscope 2023 Capricorn. Capricorn yearly Horoscope 2023 lets you push yourself to fulfil the requirements of your family. Saturn might demand strict discipline, Thus Horoscope of Capricorn 2023 demands your efficient planning and balanced decisions during the ending phase of this year. Due to the blessings of Jupiter, Astrology Capricorn 2023 helps you to see good returns from your assets. The combined impact of Venus and Mars might provide stability and passion in your relationship as the year begins as per horoscope for 2023 Capricorn. Jupiter might provide stability in current romantic relationships of Capricorn zodiac sign 2023. If you are in a serious committed relationship, but not yet married, then it might be a good phase to tie the knot, says astrology 2023 Capricorn. The impact of Nodes might be misleading in 2023 for Capricorn. You are likely to face some ups and downs in your relationship, says astrology for Capricorn 2023. Capricorn future 2023 tells that you might get some refreshing experiences in your love life. It seems that the zodiac sign 2023 Capricorn might have ample planetary support to make progress in the profession. As the year advances, the impact of the North node might make your task challenging for Capricorn this year 2023. There might be some sort of uncertainty at the career and business front for Capricorn zodiac 2023. Saturn might demand strict discipline and a focused approach for zodiac sign Capricorn 2023. Jupiter foretells that your position at your workplace might be strong and secure as the year advances as per Capricorn in 2023 Horoscope. However, it might not be so easy and Capricorn sign 2023 might need to work for extended hours to meet scheduled deadlines.

The Scorpio natives are blessed with the in-born potential to fight back with challenges. Scorpio forecast 2023 says that the start of the year might be prosperous. Scorpio fortune 2023 may expect some good rewards from your old investments because of the blessing from Jupiter. However, Scorpio Vedic Horoscope 2023 foresees that because of unsupportive Rahu and Ketu you may have to deal with complications. Scorpio Reading 2023 predicts that things will probably start to look good by the mid of February. Zodiac Sign 2023 Scorpio advises you to make purchases or sell out property around February. But Saturn requires you to avoid making unnecessary expenses in the middle of the year. 2023 Astrology Scorpio foresees that if too much expense is made then you might have to face the consequences. Scorpio Reading 2023 observes good earning opportunities and an increase in your wealth around May caused by the blessings from Jupiter. By the end of the year, you might have made major improvements in your wealth due to the easy inflow of money. Scorpio Fortune 2023 suggests it would be favorable for property deals. 2023 Predictions for Scorpio love life may have a sweet beginning this year observing Jupiter and Venus. The astrology of Scorpio suggests that married couples who are in a cordial relationship may have a chance of getting close to each other. Love might be coming your way for the singles around the mid of February predicts Scorpio Vedic Horoscope 2023. Movement on Mars may lead to interactions of natives around March foreseen by Scorpio Sign 2023. However, singles need to pay attention to the Mars movements in July as it might cause some misfortune in their life. Committed people may proceed to take their relationship to the next level as advised by Scorpio forecast 2023. Scorpio Sign 2023 foretells that your love life this year will go smoothly despite little hurdles. Jupiter may help by blessing you with joy and love in the latter parts of the year. Planetary support is observed to be good in aspects of career Scorpio Sign 2023 at the start of the year. Zodiac Sign 2023 Scorpio foretells that as the year will advance Saturn might cause problems in the workplace.

2023 Horoscope Sagittarius predicts that at the start of the year things might run smoothly with your optimistic approach. Sagittarius 2023 Astrology foretells that this might be a good time to get mingled with someone if you are single suggests Venus. With the advancement in the year, your social circle will be more pronounced too. Horoscope for 2023 Astrology predicts that you might be able to handle stressful situations at home with ease. But Sagittarius Zodiac Sign foresees that you might get into arguments with your native or closed ones due to the effect of Ketu. However, things will go back to calm after some time. Horoscope for Sagittarius 2023 with Jupiter’s blessing you will be able to get through the difficulties in the family and your love life will slowly have rejoiced too. Sagittarius Horoscope for 2023 Jupiter and Venus will possibly bring positivity to your finances. Predicted that 2023 Sagittarius you might be presented with numerous opportunities. However, Astrology Sagittarius 2023 foretells that matters related to assets from the past may resurface and will require your attention. In such financially tough times, family members will provide you with help and assistance in finance says 2023 Year for Sagittarius. Old dues may also help you to maintain stable wealth. Though the transitional Jupiter will be readily showering you with financial prosperity as time passes Sagittarius’s horoscope for 2023 advises you to cut down on unnecessary expenses. Avoid expenditure of money on luxurious things. The Sagittarius 2023 Vedic Astrology foresees that due to the effects of Rahu and Ketu you need to take precautions while spending or investing your money. By the year’s advancement, you would have made visible growth in wealth Sagittarius Astrology 2023. Sagittarius New Year 2023 will possibly be an excellent start for your career. Jupiter will likely shower you with opportunities. Sagittarius Season 2023 for freshers or beginners will also have great opportunities in their careers. Support from the planets in the latter parts of the year for Horoscope of Sagittarius 2023 foretells that you might be able to achieve your goals if you put your mind to it.

Many important projects are waiting to be Handled and this year is likely to solve property related matters for Zodiac sign aquarius 2023. The year might bring a positive impact on your life according to the Aquarius 2023 Horoscope. In the beginning of this year, Jupiter might bring some good earning opportunities. Around the mid of February, the impact of Nodes might bring several difficulties on the financial front for Aquarius Horoscope 2023. Venus might also favour you for your wealth, fixed assets and property related matters in the year of Aquarius 2023. The impact of Nodes might be misleading for Aquarius 2023. Viewing this you need to handle finance much carefully as per 2023 Horoscope for Aquarius. Your fortune might favour you during the ending part of this 2023 Aquarius year. The year of the Aquarius 2023 would prove positive for Aquarius zodiac 2023 to buy vehicles. Get your Aquarius Horoscope 2023 by just one click. Venus might bring opportunities to enjoy a romantic time as per Aquarius Astrology 2023 as the year advances, giving your emotions a boost. The period around the month of February might be an ideal time to begin a new relationship for Aquarius zodiac sign 2023, if they are single. Saturn indicates that a recent mistake might be weighing on you as per 2023 Aquarius predictions. Spending time with family is essential to address an ongoing concern tells the Horoscope of Aquarius 2023. Your love life might feel tumultuous around the month of May according to Aquarius forecast 2023. You might be brilliantly confident and decisive around the month of July in all matters related to your relationship and personal life as per 2023 predictions for Aquarius. The positivity of Jupiter might help you to grow stronger, predicts astrology for Aquarius 2023. The beginning of this year might be good to make some important decisions about your professional life, says Aquarius career horoscope 2023. However, the impact of Saturn might demand more from zodiac sign 2023 Aquarius. Jupiter might shower its blessings around the month of April so prepare for gains on all fronts of your work as per 2023 forecast for Aquarius.

Self Indulgence might cause some disruptions but Great opportunities are still waiting as per Yearly Horoscope Pisces 2023. This year is likely to bring some good opportunities to strike some good financial deals as per Pisces 2023 Horoscope. Your financial status might improve gradually from the month of February. However, Pisces 2023 might need to accept new challenges as Saturn does not seem to allow the natives to get the desired success so easily. Due to the blessings of Jupiter, your income might improve and it might also help you to resolve some pending issues regarding your property or other assets as indicated by 2023 Pisces Horoscope. Saturn seems to demand careful steps in regard to financial matters for 2023 Pisces. Jupiter might make you able to put in a long-term strategy for the period ahead around the month of May. During the latter half of year, some new opportunity seems to be on offer for Pisces 2023. This year is likely to bring some refreshing experiences in your love life. However, Pisces 2023 predictions state that the impact of Saturn might make you see the difference between dreams and reality. In the beginning of this year Venus might activate all social contacts in 2023 for Pisces. The period around the month of February is likely to be very rewarding and you are likely to receive gratification from all spheres of life as per Pisces Horoscope for 2023. Careless approach and self-indulgence are more likely to cause some disruptions for 2023 Pisces, indicates Mars. As the year advances, Jupiter might help you lay a foundation for a more stable relationship. As the year begins, Jupiter might bring some new opportunities for progress in your career as per Pisces Horoscope 2023. If you are in business, it might not be a supportive time for finalizing a deal. Pisces yearly Horoscope 2023 indicates that as the year advances, Mars might make you feel confident and you might be trying to make up for the mistake you committed earlier. Around the year end Jupiter might help you gain a good position. Business people might explore new territories to expand the business indicates Pisces for 2023. Pisces year 2023 might be

australian open boss Craig tiley reveals reason behind Bernard tomic snub

AUSTrALIAn Open boss

Craig Tiley has revealed why Bernard Tomic missed out on a qualifying wildcard for the grand slam.

Despite a rankings rebound of sorts, in which Tomic rose from world No. 825 to No. 462 in the past 12 months, the 30-yearold Queenslander was overlooked for a wildcard in favour of a series of youngsters ranked below him.

Speaking to reporters on Monday, Tiley explained the range of factors that contributed to the decision.

“Our team that looks at the decision has a team of people that looks at the decision of wildcards,” Tiley said.

“(They look at) the player coming in, the strength of their play, what events they’ve been playing, how much they’ve been playing, are they the younger part of our future generation. There’s many factors that go into it.”

Tiley said the major reason for the Tomic snub was the

rising number of promising Aussie youngsters all vying to take part in qualifying.

“One thing that’s great is we’ve got a new problem – we’ve got a lot more Australian players to choose from, and that’s a great problem to have,” he said.

19-year-old’s James McCabe (No. 406) and Philip Sekulic (No. 543), 18-yearold’s Derek Pham (No. 1017), Jeremy Jin (No. 990), Edward Winter (No. 672) and

American Bruno Kuzuhara (No. 636), who won the Australia Open boys title last year, all earned qualifying wildcards ahead of Tomic.

They’ll be joined by 21-year-olds Dane Sweeny (No. 249) and Tristan Schoolkate (No. 367) and 23-year-old Adam Walton (No. 432) in qualifying, which runs from the January 9-12 at Melbourne Park.

Tomic, who reportedly didn’t apply for a wildcard but

could still have been awarded one, told First Serve he would use the snub as motivation.

“I’m not expecting any favours. I’m going to prove my point and earn my way,” Tomic said on his way to Doha.

“I understand Tennis Australia has made their decision. It’s good to see the young tennis players getting an opportunity.

“I’m at a place in my life where I don’t complain anymore. I’m focused and I’ve been training hard.

“I’ll let my tennis do the talking. Last quarter of 2022, I won three tournaments and made four finals.

“This year is my year, if no one is going to help support me, I’ll get back to top 100 on my own.

“My headspace is very different. I’m in a positive environment, good people around me, I’m in a healthy, happy relationship.

“Now all there is to do, is get back to where I belong.”

It’s hardly surprising Tennis Australia have

What we know about the visa controversy facing australian open competitor Camila Giorgi

AS Melbourne gears up for the Australian Open, the tennis world faces the prospect of a competitioneve visa controversy for the second year in a row.

This time, the controversy centres on Italian player Camila Giorgi, who is reportedly under investigation for allegedly using false COVID-19 vaccination certification.

The claim raises questions about her entry into Australia for last year's Open — when players were required to show proof of vaccination.

Here'S WHAT We KnoW ABoUT THe SITUATIon.

WHAT Are THe ALLeGATIonS?

The claims, which Giorgi is yet to publicly address, were raised by media in the Italian player's home country.

Doctor Daniela Grillone is under investigation there for allegedly delivering fake COVID-19 vaccinations to patients with their knowledge.

According to Italian media, Dr Grillone recently identified Giorgi as a patient, stating she was not vaccinated against COVID-19.

Last year, when proof of COVID-19 vaccination was required to enter Australia, Giorgi competed in the Australian Open.

he allegation now raises questions over whether

Giorgi

The Women's Tennis Association [WTA] has not taken any action against Giorgi at this stage.

"We are aware of the allegations and are currently monitoring the situation and any investigations that that may be brought forward," the WTA said in a statement.

Giorgi is in Australia, where she is listed to compete at the Australian Open this month.

People arriving in Australia are no longer required to demonstrate proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

CoULd GIorGI Be ForCed To LeAVe AUSTrALIA?

A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs

declined to confirm whether officials were investigating Giorgi's situation, citing privacy obligations.

"All allegations of fraudulent or falsified information relating to a visa application are assessed to determine the veracity of the claims," the spokesperson said.

"If a document submitted in support of a visa application is found to be fraudulent, the visa may be refused or cancelled."

Immigration lawyer John Findley said in cases such as this, immigration officials would investigate the allegations before any action was taken to ensure they were not the result of "malicious gossip".

"The department, being delegates of the minister, would write to the person who provided the allegedly false information and ask them to explain, or justify, or demonstrate the document was a genuine document and not a bogus document," he said.

"And they would also at the same time give the visa applicant the opportunity to withdraw the application."

He said if the Home Affairs minister assessed a document as bogus, the department could ask any visa applicant in the country to leave and apply a threeyear ban on re-entry.

Mr Findley said this kind of provision could be used against a person based on historical information about past visa applications.

That administrative course of action to cancel a visa could be challenged by the visa applicant, as was the case with Novak Djokovic last year when the unvaccinated tennis star's visa was cancelled on health and good order grounds.

"A judicial review could be sought for that decision or an administrative review through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal … most likely it's going to go to the court," Mr Findley said.

While providing false information on a visa application could also attract criminal penalties, Mr Findley said it was rare for the government to pursue charges.

WHAT HAS TennIS

AUSTrALIA HAd To SAy?

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley was wary of engaging in detailed commentary about the allegations when asked on Sunday morning.

"I think there's still a lot to be uncovered on that and I think that's going to be ultimately up to their family and the relevant authorities including the tour," he said.

"I don't really know any further detail."

been looking to distance themselves from the former World No. 17 after he blasted Australian legend, Davis Cup captain and one of the key wildcard judges Lleyton Hewitt.

“No one likes him any more,” Tomic said after a first-round Open exit in 2019.

“We have a lot of issues that not a lot of players are happy about. We all know who those players are. Myself, (Thanasi) Kokkinakis, (Nick) Kyrgios.”

Last season he said he’d “win Wimbledon” before the end of his career despite having lost in straight sets in qualifying to then-World No. 146 Roman Safiullin 6-1 6-4.

TILey SLAMS AUSSIe oPen MoVe CALLS

Meanwhile, Tiley has shot down suggestions the Australian Open should be moved from its January date in order to avoid the brutal heat of the Aussie summer.

In the wake of a number of high-profile withdrawals from this year’s tournament,

calls emerged for the tournament to be moved in the interest of player welfare.

“I did read that (report), I thought it was absolutely ridiculous, a bizarre claim,” Tiley said.

“You talk to every player, this is the season. It starts in January. It starts here in Australia.

“It finishes with Davis Cup late on the men’s side and not as late on the women’s side but I do think it’s a long season. We’ve been talking about that for a long time.

“But Australia is the summer, Australia is January and this event is — from the players’ perspective — one of their favourite places to play.

“They’re coming here earlier, we’re now seeing players here for six weeks, for seven weeks and the preparation for the Australian summer is very normalised. They know what they need to do.”

The Australian Open kicks off on January 16 and runs until January 29 in Melbourne.

australia

PArrAMATTA fell agonisingly short

There's been plenty of chat around some of the departures at the Eels next season, particularly the losses of Reed Mahoney

and Isaiah Papali'i, but Brad Arthur has also been busy on the recruitment front with a bunch of lowkey signings.

The Eels have a tough draw early so will want to hit the ground running. In their advantage they'll field the most experienced spine in the competition and a relatively familiar core side.

used a false COVID-19 vaccination certificate to enter Australia ahead of the tournament.

of breaking the longest premiership drought in the NRL but will turn up again in 2023 with a squad capable of going one better.

Georgia Wareham has been included in Australia’s squad for the upcoming Pakistan T20 series and T20I World Cup squad in South Africa after a 15-month injury lay-off, while Alyssa Healy will return from a calf strain.

LIFe just got a little easier for the local volunteers who keep our footy clubs, kindies and community organisations running.

All across Queensland thousands of volunteers sit around tables late into the night making decisions, reviewing finances and planning ahead to make sure the local organisations that are the lifeblood of our community keep doing what they do.

“I’ve always felt you get back more than you put in,” says Rockhampton West Footy Club President Dave Smith, “But when you are serving on a local committee there’s a lot you need to know and it’s not always easy to find help.”

To help people like Dave, Volunteering Queensland has launched its new online tool: My Governance Journey.

It’s a plain English guide to what you need to know when you join a Committee or Board and points people to the best available resources depending on where they are on their journey as a Governance member.

It is not everything there is to know, but it is an easyto-understand guide to get started from the view of the individual, rather than from the view of the organisation,

following a circular lifecycle diagram.

“We built the tool with local volunteers who serve on committees, so it’s designed specifically for the needs of local people who have put their hand up but who may not have much experience sitting around a Board table,” said Volunteering Queensland CEO Mara Basanovic.

“One of the things people told us is that there is already a lot of information out there – too much in fact – so what they were looking for was

one place to make sense of it all,” said Mara.

For Dave Smith it all comes down to having confidence that he’s doing the best job he can for his local club. “You can bury your head in the sand or panic with all the rules and regulations you have to think about when you end up on a Management Committee,” Dave says, “But if you break it down into a few key areas to learn about as you go from people who are a bit more experienced, then you quickly feel more comfortable with the

responsibilities.”

“The new tool from Volunteering Queensland is really helpful in that regard. It breaks things up into manageable stages from starting out to handing over, and it’s got a concise collection of relevant information that is easy to find and understand.”

You can find the My Governance Journey tool at the Volunteering Queensland website to coincide with the organisation’s 40th birthday, from February 6, 2023.

Pravasi Bharatiya samman award Citations

been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his contribution in Information Technology.

ProF. JAGdISH CLIennUPATI

Prof. Jagadish Chennupati has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Sam.man Award for his contribution in Science & Technology and Education.

Prof. Chennupati is a distinguished Professor and Head of Semiconductor Optoelectronics and Nanotechnology Group in the Research School of Physics and Engineering, Australian National University (ANU). He is the first person oflndian origin to be elected as President of the Australian Academy of Science. He has also served as the President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc(IEEE).

He received Australia's highest civilian honour 'Companion of the Order of Australia' in 2016. He, along with his wife, has started 'The Chennupati and Vidya Jagadish Endowment' for supporting Indian students in doing research in ANU.

Prof. Loundo is an acclaimed Indologist in Brazil. He has relentlessly promoted Indian religions and philosophical traditions in Brazil, including Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Shaktism, Upanishadic and Buddhist traditions and Sanskrit language & literature.

He founded the firstever Center for the Study of Religions and Philosophies oflndia at the Juiz de Fora Federal University in 2010 for conducting academic research in lndological studies in Brazil.

in the area of sustainable development for over 40 years. In 2021, he was appointed as an 'Officer to the Order of Canada', one of the highest civilian honours of Canada, for his contribution to philanthropy and expertise in hydro-metallurgy and business.

He has co-founded the Sringeri Vidya Bharati Foundation in Canada for promoting India's spiritual and cultural traditions. He is also leading several healthcare initiatives including Toronto Rehab m Canada and mobile hospitals in Tamil N adu.

Prof. Prasad is a prominent Indo-Danish scientist and a professor at Aarhus University, Denmark. He has made important contributions through his research in the field of Information Technology. He is the Founder President of the CTIF Global Capsule and the Founder Chairman of the Global ICT Standardisation Forum of India. He has held a number of seminars and workshops in India to promote cutting edge technology.

He was awarded the 'Knight of the Order of Dannebrog' by the Queen of Denmark in 2010 for his contribution to the internationalization of Danish telecommunication research and education.

and Germany in the areas of science and technology, cultural exchange, and humanitarian activities in the villages of the Sundarbans.

He has set up solarpowered health-centers and a bakery unit in remote villages of the Sundarbans to provide skill development & employment opportunities to women. These health centers also help in providing medicines, especially against snake-bites, Rabies, Rhincompatibility in pregnant women among others.

Sam.man Award for her contribution in Business and Community Welfare.

Ms. Pushkama is a celebrity Indian chef of Jewish-Indian heritage and is popularly known as the "Curry Queen" in Israel.

Her continuous efforts have helped in spreading greater awareness about Indian culture in Israel through Israeli television and social media platforms. She has also helped in strengthening the voice of the Indian Jewish community in Israel and furthering the IndiaIsrael relations through her culinary diplomacy.

Prof. Sanjeev Mehta has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his contribution in Education.

Prof. Mehta is currently serving as the Professor of Economics and Head of Social Sciences at Royal Thimphu College and is a renowned Bhutanese economist. He has served Bhutan in various capacities- as a teacher, researcher, curriculum developer, newspaper columnist, consultant to the government and to international organizations.

He is considered as a role model by the Bhutanese community and has received "His Majesty's National Order of Merit, Silver Medal" in 2014. In his recent book on Bhutanese economy, he has also documented India's contribution to Bhutan's development.

ProF dILIP LoUndo

Prof. Dilip Loundo has been awarded the Pravasi

dr. ALexAnder MALIAKeL

Dr. Alexander Maliakel John has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Sam.man Award for his contribution in Medicine.

Dr. John was instrumental in establishing the Department of Gastroenterology and Endoscopic Services in government hospitals of Brunei. He has helped in accreditation of the Indian Medical degrees in Brunei. He is the only Indian citizen awarded the title of Dato Seri Laila Jasa for his excellence in service.

He is the Vice-President of Brunei India Friendship Association (BIFA). He has supported major relief operations in India like the PM's COVID Relief Fund and CM's Flood Relief fund. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was actively involved in organizing food and monetary support for the Indian community in Brunei.

dr. VAIKUnTAM Iyer LAKSHMAnAn

Dr. Vaikuntam Iyer Lakshmanan has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanAward for his contribution in Community Welfare.

Dr. Lakshmanan is a prominent Indo-Canadian and has worked extensively

Mr. JoGInder SInGH nIJJAr

Mr. Joginder Singh Nijjar has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Sam.man Award for his contribution to Art & Culture and Education.

He played an important role in founding the CroatianIndian Society in 1994 which works for promoting ties between people of India and Croatia. Mr. Nijjar has been working for building closer links between India and Croatia by organising multiple people-to-people outreach activities with the support of Embassy of India in Zagreb and Government of Croatia.

He is a prominent member of the IndoCroatian community and has contributed in bringing the knowledge and wisdom oflndia to Croatia in multiple fields through education.

dr. KAnnAn AMBALAM

Dr. Kannan Ambalam has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanAward for his contribution in Community Welfare.

Dr. Ambalam is an Associate Professor at W ollega University in Ethiopia. He has been relentlessly working towards solving rural infrastructure problems by actively engaging students and local communities in constructing low-cost bridges. His efforts have a major impact on improving the livelihoods of rural communities in Ethiopia as these low-cost bridges have improved ruralurban connectivity, thereby providing easy access to markets and medical facilities and enabling children to attend school during the monsoon season.

Since 2013, he has constructed 78 low-cost bridges and revived 53 water springs. Dr. Ambalam has been widely recognised for his social service by the people and the Government ofEthiopia.

dr. AMAL KUMAr MUKHoPAdHyAy

Dr. Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his contribution in Community Welfare and Medicine.

H.e dr. MoHAMed IrFAAn ALI

H.E. Dr. Mohamed lrfaan Ali has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his contribution in Politics and Community Welfare.

Dr. Irfaan Ali is the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Through his efforts, he has been able to put aside racial differences in Guyana and has been working to diversify Guyana's economy from oil and gas dependence to a more public welfare-oriented approach. He also championed environmental causes like in Caribbean climate change through a low carbon development strategy.

He has great respect and affinity towards India and has been very vocal in extolling India for its achievements in various sectors.

She is the Founder and Director oflshikawa Indian Association (1990) which works for the promotion of Indo-Japan bilateral relations.

She has made great efforts in enhancing India's prestige through education, business and cultural activities between India and Japan.

She established the Ishikawa International Lounge in 1988 and has been working for foreign students in Ishikawa Prefecture. She is also assisting female students in Kashmir through Kashmir Japan Scholarship (KJS). She has a number of publications on India and its culture, history and social systems which has helped in promoting Indian culture in Japan.

ProF rAMJee PrASAd Prof. Ramjee Prasad has

Dr. Mukhopadhyay is the founder of the Hanseatic India Forum in Hamburg and has made seminal contribution in promoting ties between India

Dr. Rajagopal has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanAward for his contribution in Education.

Dr. Rajagopal is a distinguished Professor at Tecnol6gico de Monterrey, Mexico and a visiting Professor at Boston University. He is a Life Fellow of the Royal Society for Encouragement

ProF. SAnJeeV MeLITA

Bharatiya Samman Award for his contribution inArt & Culture and Education.

MS reenA VInod PUSHKAMA

Ms. Reena Vinod Pushkama has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya

dr. MAQSoodA SArFI SHIoTAnI

Dr. Maqsooda Sarfi Shiotani has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Sam.man Award for her contribution in Education.

dr. rAJAGoPAL

of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce, London. He has made a seminal contribution to rural development, farming communities and women entrepreneurship in India through transformation of conventional practices. Through social laboratories, he has infused business orientation among farm and non-farm entrepreneurs from 1984 to 2001. He is also credited for creating synergy between the higher education systems oflndia and Mexico.

Bharatiya Samman Award for his contribution in Business.

Mr. Gupta is the CEO of DBS Bank, and is the face of Indian professionals in Singapore. He was instrumental in DBS Bank's acquisition of Lakshmi Vilas Bank in India and in setting up DBS Bank's technology centre in Hyderabad, employing 4,000 IT professionals. He was on the list of 2019 edition of "The CEO I 00" of the Harvard Business Review and was named "Global Indian of the Year 2020" by the Economic Times in 2021.

He has been a vocal advocate of Singapore continuing to welcome Indian professionals, especially in the IT and finance sectors.

have generated immense goodwill and fostered better understanding oflndia and Indians in South Sudan. He established and is managing the only Hindu temple in South Sudan at his own cost, thereby promoting Indian culture in the country.

physicist at CERN, and the only Indian to be involved in the ground-breaking Higgs Boson discovery. Her perseverance and efforts led to a breakthrough in the discipline of radiation detectors, and led to world's first CMS Experiment with the installation of the largest GEM detector system.

Bharatiya Sam.man Award for his contribution in Business and Community Welfare.

Mr. Balachandran is a renowned Indian businessman who is greatly involved in philanthropic and charitable activities in India and U AE through his company Buimerc Corporation Ltd (BCL). BCL has generated significant investments and employment in India in the field of infrastructure and skill development. He is inculcating scientific knowledge through the Science India Forum, UAE.

Agriculture (CEA).

His philanthropic and humanitarian endeavors have positively impacted communities affected by natural crises such as typhoons, floods, disease and lack of sanitary conditions. He has sponsored numerous programs in Sikh studies and provided thousands of scholarships for Indian students to study in the USA.

Mr. Lath is an entrepreneur and philanthropist in Poland, serving as the Managing Partner of Sharda Group of Companies. He has promoted business ties between India and Poland. He has been helping the Indian community in Poland and played an indispensable role during Operation Ganga by arranging accommodation and transport for Indian citizens to evacuate out of Ukraine via Poland. Despite his busy schedule, he was the full-time coordinator for several days at the hotel shelter for Indian students in Rzeszow.

Mr. Mohanlal Hira has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his contribution in Community Welfare.

Mr. Hira is one of the oldest Gandhians in South Africa and has played a pivotal role in keeping the Gandhian legacy alive and reviving the iconic Gandhian site Tolstoy Farm, located near Johannesburg. Due to his seminal efforts, the Tolstoy Farm now has a proper legal title in favour of Mahatma Gandhi Remembrance Organization, a trust closely associated with him.

Mr. Sivakumar Nadesan has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanAward for his contribution in Community Welfare.

Mr. Nadesan is the Managing Director of Express Newspapers, which publishes the leading Tamil language newspaper - 'Virakesari'. He has been promoting Indian interests and culture and relentlessly working for the welfare oflndian origin people in Sri Lanka. He also initiated a fundraiser to assist stranded Indian citizens during the CO VID-19 pandemic.

He has been instrumental in inviting Indian artists to perform in Sri Lanka and has also supported the Swami Vivekananda Culture Center in implementing traditional programs highlighting Camatic music.

She also supports education, research and exchanges among scientists and students through her NGO Life Lab Foundation.

She is engaging in India by institutionalizing programs called SAHEPI (South Asian High Energy Physics Instrumentation) and SASEP (South Asia Science Education Program).

She has spearheaded an initiative, QUARKNET INDIA linking India with advanced pedagogues in the USA.

The Alpha Palliative Centre, developed under his patronage provides palliative care to the underprivileged people. He also played an important role in the repatriation of Indian workers to India and providing them with relief during the CO VID19 pandemic.

Mr. rAJeSH SUBrAMAnIAM

Mr. Rajesh Subramaniam has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanAward for his contribution in Business.

Mr. Daswani is one of the first Indians to establish a business in the Republic of Congo. His company Regal Group Congo has created employment opportunities for over 140 Indian expatriates and 1000 locals. He had worked relentlessly for the opening of the Indian Embassy in Congo since 1982 and has always helped fellow Indians who became victims of conflicts and civil wars in the region.

Due to his exemplary work, the Indian Government had conferred upon him the honor ofHonorary Consul General oflndia in 2002.

Mr. PIyUSH GUPTA

Mr. Piyush Gupta has been awarded the Pravasi

Mr. SAnJAyKUMAr SHIVABHAI PATeL

Mr. Sanjaykumar Shivabhai Patel has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanAward for Business and Community Welfare.

Mr. Patel is the Chairman of the Indian Association in South Sudan. During the 2013-2018 ethnic strife in South Sudan, he showed extraordinary fortitude, resilience and humanity by running his supermarket, which earned him honour among the general population and the leadership.

His charitable activities

Dr. Dewanchandrebhose Sharman has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanAward for Community Welfare.

Dr. Sharman is the Vice Chairperson of De Nationale Assemblee (DNA) of Suriname. Being a Doctor, he has been engaged in suicide intervention and prevention since 1994. He is the Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights in the DNA and has frequently spoken at platforms meant for helping suicide patients.

He is also working towards promotion of Hindi & Samami language and Indian culture in Suriname. He is a Board member of different Arya Samaj organizations and a supporter of Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh Suriname.

dr. ArCHAnA SHArMA

Dr. Archana Sharma has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for her contribution in Science & Technology.

Dr. Sharma is a particle

JUSTICe FrAnK ArTHUr SeePerSAd

Justice Frank Arthur Seepersad has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanAward for Community Welfare and Education.

Justice Seepersad is a well-known Jurist and was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of Trinidad and Tobago in April 2012. He is a respected national figure, who propagates the adoption of the Gandhian principle of Satyagraha and recommends 'Panchayat' as an effective dispute resolution mechanism.

He is well regarded for his decisions on citizens' fundamental rights and emulates the "citizen focused activism" oflndian judges. He calls for a constitution which mirrors Indian Constitution's relevance and relatability. He is also an Associate Tutor at the Hugh Wooding Law School.

Mr. CHAndrAKAnT BABUBHAI PATeL

Mr. Chandrakant Babubhai Patel has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanAward for his contribution in Media.

Mr. Patel is a :financial consultant, working with several organisations in various capacities as their Patron, Chairman, President or Committee member and is well respected in the Indian community for his work. He is the Publisher and Editor-InChief of 'Gujarat Samachar' and 'Asian Voice'. Through his publications, he has promoted Indian Diaspora in UK and has campaigned on issues of racial discrimination, nationality and immigration.

He has also helped raise funds for worthy causes in the United Kingdom, East Africa and India.

Mr. Subramaniam is the President and CEO of FedEx Corporation. He played an important role in organizing relief for India during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under his leadership, FedEx donated three Boeing 777F charter flights of oxygen concentrators, PPE kits, and other critical supplies to India in May and June 2021. FedEx charters moved more than 50,000 oxygen concentrators to India in collaboration with non-profit partners and customers.

As a member of the U.S.India Strategic Partnership Forum, he has significantly invested in India, advancing partnership between India and US.

Mr. Ashok Kumar

Mr. SIddHArTH BALACHAndrAn

Mr. Siddharth Balachandran has been awarded the Pravasi

dr. dArSHAn SInGH dHALIWAL

Dr. Darshan Singh Dhaliwal has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Sam.man Award for his contribution in Business and Community Welfare.

Dr. Dhaliwal is the Founder and Chairman of Bulk Petroleum Corporation - one of the world's largest independent petroleum and convenience store operators in USA. He has greatly contributed in the development of technology business incubators in Northern India and Controlled Environment

Mr. Tiwary is a founding member and Chairman of the India Club Tashkent, Uzbekistan's largest organization of the Indian Diaspora. He has enhanced the visibility and the image of India in Uzbekistan and has launched the first ever Indian Diaspora magazine in Uzbekistan, "Varshik Darpan".

He leads a pharmaceutical company called M/s. Shayana Farm in Uzbekistan, which has been sourcing 70 percent of their products from India, thereby promoting Indian exports and 'Make in India' initiative. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he and his company were instrumental in providing relief supplies, oxygen concentrators and cylinders to India.

Mr. AMIT KAILASH

CHAndrA LATH

Mr. Amit Kailash Chandra Lath has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award for his contribution in Business and Community Welfare.

Mr. PArMAnAnd SUKHUMAL dASWAnI

Mr. Parmanand Sukhumal Daswani has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanAward for his contribution in Community Welfare.

Mr. MoHAnLAL HIrA

Mr. SIVAKUMAr nAdeSAn

dr. deWAnCHAndreBHoSe SHArMAn

Mr. ASHoK KUMAr TIWAry

Tiwary has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya SammanAward for his contribution in Business.