Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
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Kremlin has sent 400 mercenaries Ukraine claims more to Kiev to assassinate Zelensky than 5,000 Russian PRADEEP MADHURI: Bringing alive slice-of-life stories through short films- Page 5
Biden imposes sanctions as Russia begins ‘invasion of Ukraine’ - Page 4
Indian Cooking with Lata Modi -Page 7
New Delhi, Feb 28: More than 400 Russian mercenaries have been flown in from Africa to assassinate Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Daily Mail reported. A private militia known as the Wagner Group allegedly has orders from Vladimir Putin to take out Zelensky - and 23 other government figures - to allow Moscow to take over its eastern European neighbour, the report said. According to the Times, UK, the army-for-hire, run by oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin - a close ally of the Russian president who is often dubbed 'Putin's chef' - was flown in five weeks ago and is being offered a huge sum for the mission.
The highly-trained operatives are said to be waiting for the green light from the Kremlin to pounce, with their hit list also including Ukraine's prime minister, the entire cabinet, mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko and his brother Wladimir - both boxing champions who have become iconic figures on the front lines of the capital. However, the plans were rumbled after they reached the upper echelons of the Ukrainian government on Saturday morning, the report said. It prompted Kyiv to declare a 36-hour 'hard' curfew, ordering everyone indoors so that soldiers could sweep the streets for Russian
saboteurs. Citizens were warned that they risked being 'liquidated' if they were spotted outside during the curfew hours, as they may be assumed to be the enemy. A source with knowledge of the Wagner Group's activities told the Times that between 2,000 and 4,000 mercenaries had actually arrived in Ukraine in January, but with different missions. Some were sent to the rebel-held regions of Donetsk and Luhansk in the east of the country - while the 400 tasked with taking out Zelensky headed to Kyiv from Belarus. The group are said to be tracking Zelesnky and his colleagues via their mobile phones - claiming to know where they are at all times, Daily Mail reported. Another source claimed the killersfor-hire have been told to put on the brakes while Putin holds 'peace talks' with Zelensky this week. But they have allegedly been informed that the Russian leader has no desire to reach a deal, branding the meeting on the Belarus border as 'smoke and mirrors', the report said. News of their assassination plans has not seemed to faze Zelensky, who admitted he was 'target number one' during an address to the nation, telling them Russian special forces were hunting him.
soldiers killed
The Gaurdian
New Delhi, Feb 28: Kiev's defence ministry claims that more than 5,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in the first four days of fighting in Ukraine, BBC reported. In a statement posted to Facebook, Ukrainian officials said approximately 5,300 Russian troops have been killed, and claimed that 191 tanks, 29 fighter jets, 29 helicopters and 816 armoured personnel carriers have been destroyed by Ukraine's forces. The BBC has not been able to independently verify these claims, though the UK's Ministry of Defence believes Russia has taken "heavy"
casualties in the opening stages of the conflict. The claims follow acknowledgements by the Russian defence ministry on Sunday that its forces have suffered losses, though officials did not provide an exact figure, BBC reported. Meanwhile, UN observers said they had confirmed at least 94 civilian deaths during the first four days of fighting. It said the invasion had triggered "severe humanitarian consequences" and that casualties could be considerably higher.
Queensland floods claim 7 lives Indian dental firm Defence Industry Seminar held in Canberra -Page 8
Discover New Zealand’s secret landscapes -Page 22
A
fter several days of downpours pummeled Queensland, with flooding worsening in Brisbane, the death toll stands at 7. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk described the wild weather as “waves of water just coming down.” The wild weather forced residents to evacuate and schools to close, while thousands of homes have been left inundated. Seven people have died from the flash flooding that has battered northeastern Australia in the past few days, the authorities said, with six in Queensland and one in the state of New South Wales. The latest was a 34-year-old Brisbane man who died trying to escape his submerged car on Sunday morning. Continued on page 10
wins at Ethnic Business Awards 2021
H
ealthy Smiles Dental Group won the Small Business category award at the 32nd edition of Ethnic Business Awards held on February 14. The awards recognise outstanding accomplishments of migrant and indigenous entrepreneurs. Dr Ved Berani, in a generous gesture, donated the whole award money of $10,000 to the charity organisation Sikh Volunteers Australia, which provides free meals to the needy. In a video message, Dr Berani also talked about his journey from being a student to a multiaward winning entrepreneur.
Continued on page 6
H.E. Manpreet Vohra receives stolen statue Maitri initiatives to provide assistance to Indian students at Australian universities
U
Example of True DispassionPage 23
Trends Updates -Page 27
nited States' Chargé d’Affaires Michael Goldman returned a 500-year old stolen Indian statue to Indian High Commissioner Manpreet Vohra in February. U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Indian law enforcement agents worked together to recover the statue, which had been looted from a temple in Southern India, sold to Christie’s Auction House in New York, and acquired by a buyer in Australia. Christie’s Auction House and the buyer in Australia were originally unaware of the statue’s stolen origins, but after being alerted by law enforcement agents, cooperated fully with the U.S.-India law enforcement investigation to recover the stolen artifact. Continued on page 6
The Australian government declared a series of Maitri initiatives to strengthen its education and cultural ties with India, which is good news for Indian students planning to pursue their higher studies at Australian universities. The initiatives are known as the "Maitr," which means "friendship initiatives," according to Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne. Payne stated at a joint AustraliaIndia press conference on February 12, 2022 that the Maitri Scholars Program will provide more than $11 million for four years to support
Indian students studying at Australian universities. She commented that the Maitri Fellowships Programme will disperse $ 3.5 million over four years to forge links between potential leaders and further said that the programme would provide support to Indian-origin professionals and Australians, who are in the middle of their career, to join forces on strategic research projects. It will also provide more than $6 million over four years under a focus-driven initiative — the Maitri cultural Continued on page 10
Sharvari: Hope I get to dance next to Madhuri Dixit some day -Page 31
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Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
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Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
UKRAINE WAR Biden imposes sanctions as Russia begins 'invasion of Ukraine' IANS
Washington, Feb 23: In response to Russia declaring the two rebel regions of Ukraine as independent states, US President Joe Biden has imposed tough new sanctions on Moscow in the wake of what he called "the beginning of a Russian invasion" of Kiev. Addressing reporters in the White House on Tuesday, Biden said the first tranche of sanctions to impose costs on Russia are "far beyond the steps we and our allies and partners implemented in 2014". "And if Russia goes further with this invasion, we stand prepared to go further as - with sanction... These (sanctions) have been closely coordinated with our allies and partners, and we'll continue to escalate sanctions if Russia escalates," he added. The sanctions have been imposed on two large Russian financial institutions: V.E.B. and their military bank, as well as on Russian sovereign debt, which according to Biden is to "cut off Russia's government from Western financing". Russia "can no longer raise money
from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either", the President said. Biden said that his administration "will also impose sanctions on Russia's elites and their family members. They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well". "And because of Russia's actions, we've worked with Germany to ensure Nord Stream 2 will not - as I promised - will not move forward," he noted. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline is expected to transport 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea. The 1,234-km pipeline, however, has been lying idle, pending a go-ahead from Germany and the European Union. The President called his Russian counterpart Vladmir Putin's declaration a "flagrant violation of international law", which "demands a firm response from the international community" and warned that Moscow "will pay an even steeper
price if it continues its aggression, including additional sanctions". In response to Russia's stance on not withdrawing its forces from Belarus, Biden also authorised additional movements of American forces and equipment already stationed in Europe to "strengthen our Baltic Allies — Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania". "There are there are still well over 150,000 Russian troops surrounding Ukraine... Russian forces remain positioned in Belarus to attack Ukraine from the north, including war planes and offensive missile systems," the President claimed. "Russia has moved troops closer to Ukraine's border... Russia's naval vessels are maneuvering in the Black Sea to Ukraine's south, including amphibious assault ships, missile cruisers, and submarines. "Russia has moved supplies of blood and medical equipment into position on their border. You don't need blood unless you plan on starting a war," he further said. Biden however, reiterated that the sanctions were "totally defensive moves on our part. We have no intention of fighting Russia". "We want to send an unmistakable message, though, that the US, together with our allies, will defend every inch of NATO territory and abide by the commitments we made to NATO. "We're united in our support of Ukraine. We're united in our opposition to Russian aggression. And we're united in our resolve to defend our NATO Alliance. And we're united in our understanding of the urgency and seriousness of the threat Russia is making to global peace and stability," he added.
Biden-Putin summit not in the plans anymore: WH
New Delhi, Feb 23: White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has announced that a proposed meeting between US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin "certainly is not in the plans" anymore after the latter's decision to declare the rebel regions in Ukraine as independent states and push more troops towards Kiev. Addressing reporters late Tuesday, Psaki did not explicitly rule out a meeting in the future but said Biden would not meet Putin unless Russia de-escalates the situation in Ukraine by pulling back troops. The Press Secretary's remarks come after Biden Biden announced earlier
on Tuesday the first round of tougher sanctions against Russian banks, oligarchs and others, with plans to escalate sanctions if Moscow advances its invasion. The sanctions have been imposed on two large Russian financial institutions: V.E.B. and their military bank, as well as on Russian sovereign debt, which according to Biden is to "cut off Russia's government from Western financing". Russia "can no longer raise money from the West and cannot trade in its new debt on our markets or European markets either", the President said while announcing the sanctions.
New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS): US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said an invasion of Ukraine had been Russian President Vladimir Putins "plan all along", calling the situation a "manufactured crisis", The Guardian reported. In a joint press conference with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba in Washington, Blinken said: "His (Putin) plan all along has been to invade Ukraine; to control Ukraine and its people; to destroy
Ukraine's democracy, which offers a stark contrast to the autocracy that he leads; to reclaim Ukraine as a part of Russia. "That's why this is the greatest threat to security in Europe since World War II." During the press conference, Blinken also added that he will no longer meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Paris on Friday as planned.
Biden said that his administration "will also impose sanctions on Russia's elites and their family members. They share in the corrupt gains of the Kremlin policies and should share in the pain as well". Also on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has also called off a Thursday meeting with his Russian counterpart, saying it no longer makes sense since Washington believes that a Russian invasion of Ukraine has begun. Meanwhile, the 27 European Union (EU) member states agreed a range of anti-Russia measures, targeting all 351 members of Russia's upper house that voted to recognise the two breakaway regions of Ukraine as independent states. The EU's response also targets 27 individuals and entities involved in the decision. Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned on Wednesday that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was "likely to occur within the next 24 hours", the BBC reported. More countries, including Canada and Japan, have now imposed financial and economic sanctions against Russia, following the lead taken by the EU and the US.
Putin greatest threat to security in Europe since WW-II: Blinken
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"Now that we see the invasion is beginning and Russia has made clear its wholesale rejection of diplomacy it does not make sense to go forward that meeting at this time." Blinken's remarks come after President Joe Biden on Tuesday announced the first round of tougher sanctions against Russian banks, oligarchs and others, with plans to escalate sanctions if Moscow advances its invasion.
Russia takes control of another Ukrainian nuclear plant New Delhi, Feb 28: Russian forces have taken over the area around the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant, the Ministry of Defense announced on Monday. Last week, Moscow took control of the Chernobyl facility, RT reported. "Russian Forces have taken control over the cities of Berdyansk, Energodar. Russian troops have complete control and are protecting the territory around the Zaporozhskaya Nuclear Power Plant," spokesperson Major General Igor Konashenkov said. "The station staff keeps working to maintain the facility and control the nuclear environment in normal mode. The radiation levels are normal", RT reported. A two-minute video has been released by the ministry, showing the area around the Chernobyl power plant with people armed with assault rifles, as well as two men in military uniform, one with a Ukrainian flag on his arm, watching the security cameras and motion detectors in the area.
It is reported that the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, the site of the worst nuclear catastrophe in history, is stable, with radiation levels being monitored at least six times a day, the report said. Earlier, President Vladimir Putin of Russia has placed the country's nuclear deterrent forces on "special" alert on Sunday, RT reported. The move was announced during Putin's meeting with Russia's Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu and Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov.
"Western countries are not only taking unfriendly actions against our country in the economic area. I'm speaking about the illegitimate sanctions that everyone is well aware of. However, the top officials of the leading NATO countries also make aggressive statements against our country as well," Putin stated. The move comes in response to 'hostile' rhetoric by top NATO officials, Russia's president has explained, RT reported.
242 Indian students evacuated safely to Delhi amid Ukraine-Russia tensions New Delhi, Feb 23: Amid the escalating Russia-Ukraine tensions, 242 Indian students returned safely to India at New Delhi's Indira Gandhi International airport late Tuesday evening and reunited with their parents after India started evacuation operations of Indian citizens living in Ukraine and its adjoining areas. India has deployed Dreamliner B-787 aircraft for carrying out this special operation under which flights were made operational from Kharkiv in Ukraine to New Delhi. Nirav Patil, a first-year MBBS student studying in Ukraine, said, "The situation is normal around the area where I live. While the university has started studies online so there is not much to worry as before." Another student Krishna said, "I live 900 km away from the UkraineRussia border. We are around five to six students, who are residents of Gujarat. Our parents were getting quite worried. This is why we had to return to India." Several government officials were also sent by the Rajasthan government to the Delhi airport as well as students of Rajasthan who have returned from Ukraine, the state government is busy preparing to send them safely to their home bearing their travel expenses. At present, eight students along with their parents have been asked to stay at the Rajasthan Bhawan. However, there are several Indian students who have not returned to India by an Air India flight. Monika, a resident of Chhattisgarh and a fifth-year MBBS student, first took a flight from Kyiv to Doha and then returned to Delhi. According to her, air tickets were quite expensive due to which she came to India taking other flights. She did not express her opinion on the tense situation in Ukraine as many of her Indian friends are still stuck in Ukraine. She said, "In some places, studies have been made online but in
several other places offline studies are still being followed as the norm. My parents were getting quite worried due to which I had to return to India, but the situation in Ukraine is still normal. Now only if our parents ask us to return to Ukraine only then will we return." Air India on February 19 had announced that it would operate flights between India and Ukraine on February 22, 24 and 26. Booking of air tickets is open through Air India booking offices, website, call centres and authorised travel agents. According to the Indian embassy in Ukraine, additional flights from Kyiv to Delhi will operate on February 25, 27 (two flights) and March 6. At the same time, many students who have returned to India are worried about their studies while some said they had also recently seen a tank used in a war in the city where they lived. Swati, who is a second-year MBBS student, on returning to Delhi, said, "The situation is normal in Ukraine and I was living a completely normal life there. The people residing there are not worried at all about the Russia-Ukraine tensions." "The reason for many students like
me returning to India is because of my parents. They were quite mentally disturbed and were worried about my well-being. Now since I have returned back home, our studies will suffer too. But the university where I was studying will start holding online classes. I have exams scheduled for next year." Another student Tanvi, who is an MBBS student, arrived in Delhi and spoke about the tense situation in Ukraine, saying, "The situation is pretty worse in Ukraine, I am quite distressed. Children studying here are living in fear, every day different kind of news is coming to fore as one is not able to come to judge which ones to believe. At the same time, air tickets have also become quite expensive." The parents of the students also arrived at the airport to pick up their children, but are angry due to the expensive air tickets. A parent Ratan Singh says, "The situation in Ukraine is absolutely normal, offline studies were being conducted on Tuesday. My son is not worried at all about the overall situation there but most people in India are fast spreading rumours and fear."
Skyrocketing flight prices forcing Indian students to stay put in Ukraine New Delhi, Feb 16 (IANS): After the Ministry of External Affairs put out an advisory for the Indians in Ukraine to leave country, many students are unwilling to return due to skyrocketing flight ticket prices. The flight ticket prices have risen from Rs 50,000 to over Rs 70,000 and the students say it is this financial hurdle that is forcing them to stay put despite the advisory by the Indian government. On normal days, the flight tickets would cost Rs 21,000-Rs 26,000. But now, due to the Russia-Ukraine tensions, the rates have jacked up. "Travel agents are exploiting the situation to mint money. We don't have so much money. The news
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of this Russian-Ukraine conflict actually gave them an opportunity to push flight ticket booking charges citing the troubled situation over here, what can we do? We cannot afford this," said a medical student at Ukrainian capital Kyiv to the media. "The Indian embassy issued an advisory, telling us to leave the country (Ukraine) temporarily, but how? That's the question and we have been not answered by them," said another medical student. A small but vibrant Indian community lives in Ukraine, comprising mostly business professionals and students. There are about 18,000 Indian students studying in Ukraine, mainly in the field of medicine.
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Indian business professionals work predominantly in the fields of pharmaceuticals, IT, engineering, medicine, education, etc. "India Club' founded by Indian expats in 2001, actively engages the Indian diaspora in Ukraine and organises/supports several events -- such as Diwali festival, cricket tournaments, Holi festival, Indian dance festival, screening of Bollywood movies, etc," informed the Ministry of External Affairs. A delegation of parents of the students from Gujarat approached Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and asked for help to make a safe passage for their children staying in Ukraine to return home.
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Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
BATTLE FOR UP R.P.N Singh mocks Congress's 'Ladki hun' campaign IANS
Kushinagar (UP), Feb 24: Former union minister R.P.N. Singh, who recently crossed over to the BJP, has said that the 'Ladki hoon, lad sakti hoon' campaign initiated by the Congress will have no impact on the Assembly polls. He said that a 'poster girl' from that campaign had herself switched to the BJP. In the name of women, tickets have been given to wives of Congress leaders, he alleged. Singh said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has breached caste barriers with development schemes guided by the inclusive mantra of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vishwas". The Congress now does not exist, as a party or as an ideology, he told the reporters. Singh was elected as an MLA from Padrauna for three consecutive terms beginning in 1996. He is the
son of former union minister C.P.N Singh. Replying to a question, Singh said: "I have clearly seen that Dalits, backwards, most backward and upper caste people have broken caste barriers after being motivated by the schemes, working style and efforts towards nation building of Prime Minister Narendra Modi." He dismissed the suggestion that the BJP inducted him to compensate for the loss of support it suffered among the backward castes after Swami Prasad Maurya joined the SP. R.P.N. Singh is out of the electoral race but is campaigning for BJP candidates in his home district Kushinagar. Polling in Kushinagar will be held in the sixth phase of the UP Assembly elections on March 3.
BJP MLA does sit-ups on stage, asks people to forgive him Varanasi, Feb 24: Video clips of a BJP MLA doing sit-ups on stage and begging forgiveness is an unusual sight. BJP MLA from Robertsganj, Bhupesh Chaubey, however, took everyone by surprise at an election rally when he stood on the chair, held his ears and did sit-up begging forgiveness for any mistakes that he might have made during the last five-years. Former health minister of Jharkhand and MLA Bhanu Pratap Shahi was also present at the dais when the incident took place. Shahi was in Robertsganj to
campaign for the BJP MLA. A first time MLA, Chaubey had defeated Avinash Kushwaha of Samajwadi Party in the 2017 Assembly election by a margin of over 40,000 votes. The BJP fielded him again in this Brahmin dominated constituency. There was resentment among the party workers as well as people for his lack of performance in the past five years. People in his constituency complained that the MLA is not accessible on phone and neither does he meet them. The matter was also raised during
the inauguration of his election office. Perhaps, sensing the people's annoyance, he took this stand and started doing sit-ups, holding ears, on the stage while the other leaders were addressing the rally. Begging for an apology in public, he sought the blessing of people for his victory again. Shahi also came to his defence and described him as better than other contestants. The SP has again fielded former MLA Avinash Kushwaha, while the BSP has fielded a Brahmin candidate Avinash Shukla at this seat.
In Ayodhya, it is 'Ram' over 'kaam'
Deccan Herald
Ayodhya, Feb 24: With Ayodhya set to face its first election after the construction of Ram temple began, a high voltage campaign is being witnessed in the holy city which is revolving around 'ram' rather than 'kaam (work)'. The BJP has gone into an overdrive to assert the fact that it is responsible for the Ram temple construction while the opposition is driving home the point that the temple is being built on Supreme Court orders. Top BJP leaders who have campaigned in Ayodhya are underlining the fact that the temple construction was possible only because of the Modi government. They claim to have ushered in
an era of 'Ram Rajya' and cite the 'Deepotsav' programme as an example. BJP MLA Ved Prakash Gupta, is a local businessman. He is seeking re-election in the name of 'Ram'. "For five years, he was never there for us and now he wants us to vote for him because of Ram," says Ramnesh Tripathi, another local businessman. Gupta hopes to ride high on the wave of Ram and is claiming credit for temple construction. He is confident of his victory and says that the holy city is witnessing world class development which will put it on the global map. Some of his over-enthusiastic
supporters even started distributing packets of 'Ram Raj' - soil from the temple construction site-but were later stopped. Since 1991, the BJP has lost Ayodhya Sadar seat only once in 2012 when Tej Narain Pandey of Samajwadi Party had defeated its candidate, Lallu Singh. Pandey is again the SP candidate from here and his narrative revolves around 'kaam' rather than 'Ram'. "Ram belongs to everyone and is not the copyright of the BJP. The way for the construction of the temple was cleared by the Supreme Court and not the BJP government. I am banking on the work done by the Akhilesh government and no one can deny it," says Pandey. Pandey, a former student leader, is trying to cash in on the local resentment prevailing due to the proposed demolition of hundreds of shops and houses for road widening. He is also banking on the support of 62,000 Brahmin voters and 37,000 Yadav voters to give him a head start. The BSP has fielded Ravi Maurya and the Congress candidate is Rita Maurya. Both are first timers in the election and hope to get the advantage of their party votes. Ayodhya goes to polls on March 3.
1,137 cases of poll violence in 4 phases Lucknow, Feb 25 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh Police have registered as many as 1,137 cases of violation of model code of conduct in the first four phases of elections. Senior police officers at the DGP headquarters said that not a single incident of violence or clash has been reported during the elections so far. This has been possible due to advance preparedness of police and heavy deployment of central paramilitary forces. Meerut tops the list among the districts with 51 cases of poll code violation followed by 45 in Jhansi. Among commissionerates, Lucknow
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topped with 26 cases followed by 20 in Kanpur. Additional Director General (ADG), law and order, Prashant Kumar said that all 1,137 cases will be probed properly as per the evidence. He also attributed the peaceful conduct in the fourth phase to a month-long advance planning of mapping all communally sensitive and expenditure sensitive constituencies, for maintaining vigilance beforehand. "Several rounds of briefings were given to all district police chiefs before the start of elections," he said. "We had also ensured that all the troublemakers, those named in
cases of crime, having previous history of electoral offences sign a personal bond or are issued notice and are put behind the bars if the threat persists," the ADG said. Special arrangements were made for each phase and central armed paramilitary forces were deployed accordingly. "We also used drones as per the guidelines of the Election Commission," he said. The Uttar Pradesh Police had also started a 'digital monitoring cell' since campaigning had gone digital. The cell remains functional round-the-clock.
5th phase poll crucial for BJP, Cong Lucknow, Feb 25 (IANS): The fifth phase of elections in Uttar Pradesh will see the stakes getting higher for all major political parties. As the electoral battle moves towards Purvanchal (eastern UP), barbs are flying fast and thick and political leaders are sharpening their attacks against each other. The fifth phase will cover 61 Assembly constituencies from 12 districts. The districts going to polls in this phase include Amethi, Rae Bareli, Sultanpur, Chitrakoot, Pratapgarh, Kaushambhi, Prayagraj, Barabanki, Ayodhya, Bahraich, Shravasti and Gonda. This phase is crucial for the BJP and Congress. In 2017, the BJP had won 47 seats while its ally Apna Dal won 3 in this region. Samajwadi Party got 5, Bahujan Samaj Party got 3, Congress 2 and one independent candidate also won. It includes Ayodhya on which the BJP has built its political innings ever since its inception. The BJP is again trying to cash in on the Ram temple construction which began last year. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in one of his rallies in Ayodhya, said, "Those who fired at kar sevaks could have never allowed temple construction. It is the BJP which made it possible." For the Congress, this phase includes Amethi and Rae Bareli where the party needs to revive itself if it wishes to survive in the state. The party had two legislators in Rae Bareli and both have crossed over to the BJP. The Congress is keen to retain a toehold in Amethi and Rae Bareli that
were once known as its bastions. The political climate has changed for all parties in this phase. The BJP is facing anti-incumbency while the BSP hopes to perform well and emerge as a king maker with this phase. The Samajwadi Party is determined to improve its 2017 performance and is pushing itself towards its goal. The Avadh and Purvanchal belt have been a strong turf of the BJP since 2017. The 2019 Lok Sabha results just reinforced the belief in the party when it won comprehensively in Uttar Pradesh despite the two strong caste parties, SP and BSP, coming together. However, if the farm laws angered farmers in west UP, it is the stray cattle issue that is troubling the BJP in the fifth phase. The destruction of crops by stray cattle has become a major issue in the elections and the opposition parties are creating a hype over it.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his rally in Bahraich, said that the party will come out with a new scheme to deal with the issue. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has also promised Rs 900 to those who keep the cows. SP president Akhilesh Yadav has said that the party, if it comes to power, will give compensation of Rs 5 lakh to those who lost their lives while protecting their fields. Akhilesh Yadav has stitched together an alliance with smaller caste-based parties in this region and hopes that the consolidation of OBCs will help him gain in this phase. Mayawati might not have been active in the early stages of campaigning, the party still holds the capability to play spoiler in many seats. The BSP in many seats has turned the contest into a triangular fight by fielding Muslim candidates. It has fielded a total of 88 Muslim candidates this time.
OBC leadership on test in next phases of UP polls Lucknow, Feb 25: As the elections in Uttar Pradesh move towards the last three phases, it is now the prestige of OBC leaders in all parties that is at stake. Almost all parties have put OBC leaders at the helm of their campaigns and the last three phases will test their popularity. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has been playing an important role in the BJP campaign. He has been vigorously campaigning for his party candidates, flitting from one constituency to another. Maurya is contesting from his Sirathu seat in Kaushambi district and is pitted against Pallavi Patel of Samajwadi Party. Pallavi is a first-time contestant but is confident that the caste arithmetic of the constituency will take her to the victory stand. Though Keshav Maurya has got Anupriya Patel - who is Pallavi Patel's estranged sister - to campaign against her but Maurya is facing voters' resentment in his constituency. "Since he became deputy chief minister and a member of the Vidhan Parishad, he has not looked after the constituency. Now that he is contesting, he is back seeking votes," said Arvind Patel, a local resident. Another prominent leader whose fate depends on the coming phases is Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) president and MLA Om Prakash Rajbhar. Rajbhar is contesting from Zahoorabad constituency in Ghazipur. The BJP has pitted another Rajbhar - Kalicharan Rajbhar - who will cut into the SBSP president's base vote of the community. However, Rajbhar is facing the biggest challenge from BSP that has fielded a rebel SP candidate Shadab Fatima. A former MLA, Shadab Fatima, is popular in the constituency and is confident of wresting the seat this time. Om Prakash Rajbhar prides himself as the architect of the SP-led alliance since he was among the first to break ties with the BJP in UP. His claims of defeating the BJP in UP may come a cropper if he does not do well on his seat. Union minister Anupriya Patel also faces a test in the next phases
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of election for her party Apna Dal which has, so far, seen a high success rate in election. The Apna Dal is a Kurmi-centric party that was funded by Dr Sonelal Patel, Anupriya's father. Though Anupriya is not contesting the election, her party candidates are reportedly feeling the heat of anti-incumbency in their constituencies. Anupriya is campaigning vigorously for her party and hopes to overcome the hurdles to maintain her success rate which will also decide her future. For Sanjay Nishad, president of the Nishad Party, these elections are a make-or-break affair. He is testing waters in the election for his party in alliance with the BJP and his performance will decided the future of his relationship with the party. The Nishad community has been demanding reservation in the scheduled caste category and Sanjay Nishad, despite promises, has failed to convince the BJP to announce the same. If his party fares poorly in the elections, it could mean rough weather for his relationship with the BJP in the long term. For the former BJP minister Swami Prasad Maurya, his election this time, is crucial for his political
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future. Maurya, who quit the BJP to join SP last month, has shifted to a new constituency Fazilnagar in Kushinagar district. He is contesting on a SP ticket while the BJP has fielded Surendra Kushwaha. Maurya is facing a tough challenge from the BJP that is keen to defeat Maurya and avenge his 'betrayal'. Another OBC leader in the fray is Krishna Patel, who heads the breakaway faction of the Apna Dal. She is contesting from Pratapgarh as an alliance candidate of Samajwadi Party and her faction of Apna Dal(K). Anupriya Patel has decided not to let her party contest against her estranged mother which makes it easier for Krishna Patel since the BJP had given the seat to Anupriya Patel. However, whether Krishna Patel can make an impact on adjoining seats, remains to be seen. The OBC leadership in the Congress will also be put to test in the coming phases with UPCC president Ajay Kumar Lallu contesting the Tamkuhiraj Assembly seat in Kushinagar. Lallu is facing challenge from SP and BJP and a faction within his own party. The result of his election will also decide his future as UPCC president in the Congress.
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DESI ACHIEVERS
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
PRADEEP MADHURI Bringing alive slice-of-life stories through short films
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ailing from Warangal in the Indian state of Telengana and armed with a master’s degree in media arts and production from the University of Technology in Sydney, Pradeep Maduri, who also pens Telugu poetry (with pen name Gulabi), is doing a stupendous job as a short filmmaker. When he had come to Australia way back in 2007, he had a completely different aim but as is rightly said, “real talent always makes its presence felt”. Among his noteworthy works are,“The Book” which revolves around a writer-professor who becomes so obsessed about writing a book on social outcasts that he ends up dying as a beggar in a bid to gain first-hand experience of vices; and “The Journey” which recounts the tale of an estranged father and son reconnecting over a road trip. His latest project “Sakhi” released on 14th February, 2022 is his first Telugu language short film. In an exclusive interview with Indian Abroad, Pradeep Maduri talks about his passion for telling stories through the medium of films. First of all, how did you get interested in making short films? Well, as a child, I always wanted to do something related to films but of course, at that time I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. By the time I started pursuing my graduation, I wanted to do something related to media but my mind kept oscillating between various options; you know how it is when we are moving through various phases of life. Sometimes, I wanted to be the lead actor in films, sometimes a writer and even a journalist. But eventually, after completing my graduation, I decided that I wanted to write and direct films. Are you planning to make fulllength movies in the near future? Initially, I wanted to make
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full-length feature films and in fact, I didn’t even think of making short films. To be honest, I believed that one needs to make an immense impact because first impressions have to be something worthwhile so I certainly didn’t want to start with short films. But then practically speaking, when I saw that I wasn’t making headway, I decided to write stories and make short films. Then I gradually gained confidence and started liking what I was doing. Eventually, I will make feature length movies and once I start doing that I may not make short films anymore but I will produce short films for other directors. What are the underlying messages for your two short films, “The Book” and “The Journey”? Did you draw inspiration from true instances or were these purely products of your imagination? Well, first of all, I would like to say that even though I write stories from my own imagination, I also do take inspiration from people and circumstances around me, you know, the things which I have myself experienced. I don’t write stories of any specific genre; I am open to writing anything. So, if I talk about “The Book” it is basically about John Kensington who wishes to write about people who have taken really bad decisions in life and become social outcasts. He believes that there must have been some plausible reason why they did so; maybe it was drugs or alcohol or some other uncontrollable situation. Here, I would like to mention that in one scene when he encounters Veronica, a prostitute, the dialogues which are delivered by her were written by me. When I was writing those dialogues I tried to delve into Veronica’s mind and imagined what she would say. What I wanted to convey was that when people
do something like this, it’s just not about it being a hobby or a profession but that there is something else behind it. Moving on to “The Journey”, there were some budget constraints but I am happy to say that the final outcome was more than satisfactory. On the face of it, it is a story about how a son becomes estranged to his father when he wants to have his own privacy with his girlfriend and, sends his father to en elderly care home. But then some things don’t go as planned and the father-son duo go on a road trip and are also joined by Sandra who is almost like an angel in their lives, acting as a catalyst to bring them together. However, at the core of this short film is a profound message that nature always binds us together and acts as a balancing agent and that’s why the road trip was instrumental in bringing the alienated father-son together once again. One major difference between these two short films is that while “The Book” symbolizes what happens intrinsically, a sort of internal struggle within us, “The Journey” is happening in the open space. Please tell me about “Sakhi” and what the viewers can expect from it? Is there any special reason why you are releasing it on St. Valentine’s Day? Definitely, “Sakhi” is something special to me, the first reason is that it is my first Telugu production and the second one is that I actually got a producer for this film and we literally spent AUD 15000 on it. One of my old friends from my graduation days, Mr Sandeep Khande, who lives in Florida, USA, offered to lend a helping hand to me and produce this film. Apart from this, Sandeep, Naren, Srinivas and I started a YouTube channel under the banner “Sainma Poragaallu” and this is our first production under this banner.
What’s more, I have given this film a cinematic look so that prospective producers can see and ascertain that I am more than capable of making a professional feature-length film. In the past, Telugu producers always commented that they were unable to decide whether I could make Telugu movies since my films were only in English. Of course, I myself feel that Telugu being my mother tongue, I can write much better in it. When I decided to make a film in Telugu, I opted for something simple and time-tested. Love stories never fail among Indian audience so “Sakhi” is a simple love story about a boy and girl who get separated as their parents want them to focus on their career first. Ultimately, they do meet after three years. Basically, I have tried to convey that if a boy and a girl respect their parents’ wishes and the parents also do so in turn, then love definitely wins at the end of the day. Do you think short films have started garnering widespread interest especially since many renowned actors have started appearing in them? Yes, definitely; particularly because of the widespread accessibility and inevitable popularity of social media and it is a fact that it is not possible for everyone to make feature length films. I also think that sometimes if feature length movies are based on certain concepts then unfortunately, stretching the story dilutes the concept whereas in a short story that cannot happen. Moreover, I think people nowadays have a short attention span and they get easily bored if the story lingers on. Indeed, with some big names from the film industry featuring in short films, this itself has garnered a lot of mass attention.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Indian dental firm wins at Ethnic Business Awards 2021 "Dr Ved Berani and Priyanka Sethi Berani have always strived to deliver the best for their customers and winning this award means a lot to all of us at Healthy Smiles," said a statement by the dental firm. "Healthy Smiles has been actively present to provide dental services during the pandemic and will continue to support the Melbourne community with its outstanding customer service in the near future too."
4th India-Australia Energy Dialogue held
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he 4th India-Australia Energy Dialogue was held on February 15, 2022. The dialogue was co-chaired by Hon’ble Minister for Power and New & Renewable Energy, Mr R.K. Singh from the Indian side and Hon’ble Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction, Mr Angus Taylor from the Australian side. A Letter of Intent between India and Australia on New and Renewable
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Energy Technology was signed during the Dialogue. This LoI will pave the way for working towards reducing the cost of new and renewable energy technologies and scaling up deployment in order to accelerate global emissions reduction. The focus of this LoI will be scaling up the manufacture and deployment of ultra-low-cost solar and clean hydrogen.
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Dental firm donates award money to Sikh Volunteers Australia
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ealthy Smiles Dental Group, which won the Ethnic Business Awards (EBA) 2021, donated the whole award money to Sikh Volunteers Australia last month. Dr Ved Berani from the dental firm met up with Sikh Volunteers Australia officials to present the
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cheque of $10,000 to the organisation for providing free food to the needy members of the community. "We hope we can continue to do so and be able to give back as much as we can to the Victorian community that had given us so much," said Dr Berani.
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FOOD & CUISINE
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Indian Cooking with Lata Modi MASALA BESAN BHINDI (OKRA CURRY) & BESAN BURFI Archana’s Kitchen
MASALA BESAN BHINDI
Archana’s Kitchen
MRS. LATA MODI
BESAN BURFI
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amaste friends, today we are cooking my very favourite dish: besan burfi. Someone asked me if we could make an Indian dessert to cater for people with lactose intolerance. Yes, of course, we can . This dish is very delicious but takes a bit longer to cook. So patience is the key. When you are roasting the besan in ghee, you can not rush. When you are making the syrup for this dish, you can not rush, as the more slowly and patiently you cook it, the tastier it will come out. As I had mentioned in my previous column here, my mum had a charcoal cooking angeethi (cooking owen), and because it was in the ground, one has to sit in a little stool to do the cooking. So when mum used to ask us girls to sit near that fire stove, on a tiny stool and stir the humungous wok to roast the two kilos of besan, we used to run away from there so we didn’t have to do it, but most of the times we had no choice. We took turns in stirring and it used to take so long. But the end product was so delicious that it is totally worth it.
INGREDIENTS (for 4-6 people) • 1/2 kilo fresh okra washed, wiped, the top and bottom bit taken off and bhindi cut into two with a slit in the middle of each okra. • I tea spoon turmeric powder • Two table spoon besan (gram flour) • Two table spoon lemon Juice. • Two onion finely chopped • Two tomatoes either grated or ground. • Two fresh green chillies, chopped • Three table spoon oil • Two tea spoon coriander powder • One tea spoon cumin powder • One tea spoon chilli powder • Salt to taste METHOD STEP ONE - MARINADE • In a big mixing bowl put bhindi and marinate in salt, turmeric powder, lemon juice and besan
•
Give it a good mix with your hands • Cover and keep it aside for 15 minutes STEP TWO • Now in a frying pan heat oil • Put all the okra together and shallow fry them so they are a bit crunchy and coated with Besan • Take the bhindi out • There would still be oil in the pan. Fry onions until golden brown • Add chopped tomatoes and chopped green chillies • Keep stirring until the tomatoes are completely soft • Add salt and rest of the spices • Mix well • Add 1/4 cup warm water • Now add bhindi • Cover and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat • Serve hot with rotis or parathas
BESAN BURFI INGREDIENTS (about 20 pieces) • 200 gms besan (gram flour) • 150 gms sugar • 100 gms ghee to fry besan • Two table spoons oil or ghee to fry nuts separately • Nuts of your choice and quantity METHOD • In a heavy-based wok or frying pan, heat ghee and start roasting besan on a medium heat. Besan needs to be stirred continuously, so that it will not stick to the bottom. • Once besan is roasted to a shade darker, add about one and a half table spoon of milk and keep stirring. This makes the texture very smooth. • Now transfer the besan in a separate bowl. Add two table spoons of oil or ghee in the same pan and fry nuts for a minute to make them crunchy. • Grind the nuts roughly. Take the
nuts out and keep them aside. MAKE THE SYRUP • In a medium sauce pan put sugar and add 1/4 cup water. Bring to boil until the mixture is a bit sticky and sugar is totally dissolved. Add cardamom powder. Turn the heat off. • Now go back to the wok, put besan in it. Besan should still be warm enough. Slowly on a medium heat keep adding the sugar syrup in besan and keep stirring. Quickly add the ground nuts. Mix it well. • Now in a cake tin either grease the tin or use the baking paper and spread the whole thing. Use a spatula to flatten it equally. If you wish, you can finish it off by garnishing with more ground nuts. • Leave it on kitchen bench for couple of hours. It should set nicely by now. Cut it into squares and serve on room temperature.
5 Ways to style a table Y
ou’ve sent out the invitations, planned the menu, bought all the ingredients and readied a playlist. You’re almost set for your lavish dinner party at home except for one important detail - the table decor! It’s probably just as important as the food and is likely to make a lasting impression on your guests. At any dinner party, the highlight is always the food and drinks. You’ll find your guests milling around the dinner table throughout the night, so it’s probably a good idea to add a statement piece or two to lift the aesthetic around the table. Sanjeev Agrawal, CEO & Founder, Orvi Surfaces suggests a few tableware and decor accessories you can use to liven up your party. Raku Vase Raku firing is an ancient Japanese technique of alternating hand firing and rapid cooling on ceramic to reveal intense colours and patterns. Place a Raku-fired vase topped with a bunch of fresh flowers in the centre of your dining table and watch your table transform into the centre of attention at the party. Tarkashi Serving Platter Nothing uplifts the ambience of a party more than an exquisite serving platter laden with mouth-watering nibbles. Handcrafted from Acacia wood with intricate floral brass detailing, Tarkashi serving platters may be guilty of drawing
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attention away from your food! They’re ideal for presenting finger food and appetisers in a sophisticated way. Plus, you contribute towards sustaining the centuries old art of Tarkashi, an intricate art dying a slow death due to lack of awareness. Pietra Dura Serving Tray with Handles Inlaid with the semi-precious Mother of Pearl, the Pietra Dura serving tray is the perfect vehicle to ferry food to and from the table, or even to use as a makeshift charcuterie board. It’s sturdy, light and extremely convenient to use, not to mention a superbly striking accessory for any dinner table. Intarsio Cake Stand The combination of natural stone and brass inlay makes the Intarsio cake stand a dinner party musthave. This is a multi-functional handmade decor-piece - when you’re welcoming your guests, top it with delicate flower arrangements or use it as a cheese board, and towards the end of the night, use it to serve cakes, cookies and muffins. This piece is available in a contemporary geometric pattern and also in a delicate flower pattern. Gravure Coasters If you’re planning an intimate sit-down dinner, a set of Gravure coasters is the perfect addition to your table setting. These hand engraved pieces have an eye-catching
print, inspired by the Jaipur block prints and Paisley design that has been carved into the stone to give them a signature quality. A felt back
and sealant coating mean you don’t have to worry about drink spills and stains.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Defence Industry Seminar held in Canberra M
Perth event pays tribute to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
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igh Commission of India, Canberra, in association with Australia India Business Council (AIBC), organised a Defence Industry Seminar to promote defence industry cooperation
aharashtra Mandal Perth, in association with Indian Society of WA (ISWA) and Consulate General of India, Perth, celebrated Shiv-Jayanti, an event
between India and Australia on February 21. The event was a curtain raiser for DEFEXPO 22 to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India next month. Photo courtesy - Events Canberra
to pay tribute to great warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Acting Consul General in Perth Shri Naresh Sharma inaugurated and participated in the event.
H.E. Manpreet Vohra Saraswati puja receives stolen statue organised in Melbourne Continued from page 1
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n remarks during the handover ceremony, Chargé d’Affaires Goldman said, “The recovery of this statue represents the breadth and depth of the U.S.-India law enforcement partnership,” adding that “the successful investigation shows the importance the United States places on preserving and protecting cultural heritage.” The Chargé d’Affaires expressed his appreciation to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Indian law enforcement agents for their recovery of the looted statue and cooperation to fight illegal trade in cultural artifacts. The statue represents Hanuman, Indians' beloved deity renowned for his courage, power, and faithful, selfless service. After being returned to the Indian High Commission, the statue of Hanuman will be repatriated to India.
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hree Shakti Association Victoria organised Saraswati puja in the last week of February at the Melton Community Hall in Melbourne and got an overwhelming response. A few moments captured at the event are given below.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Pongal celebrated at NSW Parliament
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amil Arts and Culture Association Inc (TACA) celebrated its 7th yearly Pongal at NSW Parliament on February 15, which turned out to be a highly successful event, going by the multitude of not only community members but also high-profile dignitaries attending. Among the dignitaries, community leaders and representatives of various organisations who joined in the celebration were Dr Geoff Lee MP, Member for Parramatta, Minister for Corrections; Hon. Mark Coure MP, Member for Oatley, Minister for Multiculturalism; Hon. Jonathan O’Dea MP, Member for Davidson, Speaker of the NSW
Legislative Assembly; Hon. Chris Minns MP, NSW Opposition Leader; Mr Steve Kamper MP, Member for Rockdale, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism; Ms Julia Finn MP, Member for Granville; Dr Hugh McDermott MP, Member for Prospect; Mr Guy Zangari MP Member for Fairfield; Mr Edmond Atalla MP, Member for Mt Druitt; Ms Jenny Aitchison MP, Member for Maitland; Mr Kevin Conolly MP, Member for Riverstone; Ms Anna Watson MP, Member for Shell Harbour; Mr Jason Yat-sen Li, Member elect for Strathfield; Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC, Member of the Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group); Mr Anthony D'Adam MLC; Mr David Shoebridge MLC,
Member of the Legislative Council Member of The Greens; Clr Lisa Lake, Mayor of Cumberland Council; Clr Sameer Pandey, Deputy Mayor - Parramatta Council; Clr Suman Saha, Councillor - Cumberland Council; Clr Karen Pensabene, Deputy Mayor – Strathfiled Council; Clr Sharangan Maheswaran, Councillor - Strathfield Council; Clr Livingston Chettipally, Councillor - Blacktown Council; Clr Usha Domairaju, Councillor - Camden Council; Clr Sreeni Pillmari, Councillor - Hornsby Council; Mr Manish Gupta, Consul General of India, Sydney; Mr Peter Doukas OAM, Chair, Ethnic Communities Council of NSW.
Ek Rangeen Shaam Labasa Ke Naam
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he musical event Ek Rangeen Sham Labasa Ke Naam was organised by Prakash and Lalita Deo with their family and friends in Canberra last month. Proud Labasans travelled from interstate and Fiji to take part in the event. Chief guest was Jitend Reddy who travelled from Fiji and Pt Rohit MP from Fiji was the MC. During the event, $1000 were donated towards bush fire relief and $1000 towards Labasa Golden Age Home.
High Commission of India organises bicycle rally
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s part of 75th year celebration of Indian Independencea and under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav events, High Commission of India in Canberra organised bicycle rally last month. Nice weather and great company with fellow Canberrans made the rally a success for the participants.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Queensland floods claim 7 lives
Continued from page 1
Others include a volunteer emergency worker who died when her vehicle was swept away while she was on her way to help a family trapped by the floodwaters. Queensland has been hardest hit, with torrential rain pummeling towns and cities and slowly moving south to engulf the state’s capital, Brisbane. By the time of
going to press, the Brisbane River was extremely swollen and many streets already severely flooded, with extensive damage to roads, buildings and vehicles caught in the downpour. About 1,400 homes in Brisbane are considered by the authorities to be at risk. Across Queensland, more than 1,000 people have been
evacuated and around 34,000 homes were without power over the weekend. Hundreds of schools were closed on Monday and officials asked residents to work from home. Australia has been buffeted by particularly extreme weather over the past few years, including catastrophic fires, drought and widespread flooding. Annastacia Palaszczuk, the state premier of Queensland, on Sunday described the latest calamity as a “rain bomb.” “It’s just coming down in buckets,” she said at a news conference. “It’s not a waterfall, it’s like waves of water just coming down.” Ms. Palaszczuk compared the weather to an “unpredictable cyclone” and said that the authorities had not expected the storm system to sit over the state for so long. Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia described the situation as “very concerning” and urged residents to stay in their homes. “It’s going to be a very anxious night in Brisbane as we see the rain continue to fall,” he said on Sunday.
Australia’s Indian-origin spin-bowling coach not part of Pakistan tour Australian cricket team’s spin-bowling coach and former Indian cricketer Sridharan Sriram was unable to travel with the team to Pakistan and will now travel with the team in June for their Sri Lanka tour
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he upcoming series between Australia and Pakistan has already sparked interest, with Sridharan Sriram, Australia's
specialist spin-bowling coach, informing Cricket Australia (CA) that he will not be available for the series, which begins on March 4,
Maitri initiatives to provide assistance to Indian students at Australian universities Continued from page 1
partnerships — to support cultural exchanges and the role of the creative industries India and Australia. Moreover, Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan stated that Canberra's Maitri initiatives for India are similar to Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, as well as cultural exchange programmes between the two countries. Tehan also stated that there is an investment in fellowships, with 11
fellowships for high-level doctoral students receiving stipends comparable to Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships. He also stated that a cultural exchange programme is being developed to improve cultural exchange between Australia and India. So these are fantastic initiatives to ensure that there are further improvements and strengthened ties between the two strategic partners.
He said that students would then have to concern themselves with focusing on their studies only. The initiative is primarily launched to facilitate high achievers from India to come to Australia and enhance their skills and knowledge so that when they go back to India, they will be able to shine and fulfill their objectives which in turn will fortify the common bonds between the two countries.
because he was unable to secure a visa due to his Indian nationality. Nathan Lyon, Mitch Swepson, and Ashton Agar are Australia's three spinners. On February 27th, the Australian team arrived in Pakistan for the first time since 1998, and it was thought that Sriram, who has served as Australia's spin consultant since 2016, would play a key part in the country's changing tracks. Sriram, who represented India in one-day internationals (ODIs) in the early 2000s and also played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi Daredevils in 2010-11, assisted the Australian team in preparing for the World T20 in 2016 and then joined them for the Sri Lanka tour that same year under Darren Lehmann. Sriram has not only accompanied the squad to Asia, but he also played a key role in the Ashes tour in 2019. He has been a regular coach for the team for the past three years. Since he still has a running contract with Cricket Australia, he will rejoin the team later this year in June for the Sri Lankan tour. They will play two Test matches in Lahore and Karachi, as well as three one-day internationals and a T20 match, before wrapping off the month-long visit on April 5. The ODIs will be played without star players David Warner, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc, and Glenn Maxwell. Maxwell has opted out to marry his Indian-born fiancée, while the rest of the team travels to India to compete in the IPL 2022, which will begin on March 27.
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10
INDIA
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
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11
INDIA
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
The Anands had great time at NSE with pay, perks and power
IANS
Chennai, Feb 23: Not only did the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd's (NSE) former Group Operating Officer and Advisor to MD Anand Subramaniam get exorbitant salary and hikes, even his wife Sunitha Anand was favoured similarly. The Anands certainly had an 'anandha' time at NSE between 2013 and 2016. As per the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) order, Sunitha was appointed as consultant at NSE's Chennai Regional Office for April 1, 2013 - March 31, 2014 at an annual remuneration of Rs 60 lakh.
On the same day Anand was also appointed as a Chief Strategic Advisor at Rs 1.68 crore per annum (pa) remuneration. At the time of hiring he was a Vice President, Leasing & Repair Services, Transafe Services Ltd, a subsidiary of Balmer & Lawrie drawing an annual salary of about Rs 15 lakh. Over the period the couple's pay made a huge jump. During the period April 1, 2014 to March 31, 2015, Sunitha's pay went up to Rs 72 lakh and then to over Rs 1 crore. The next year Sunitha's contract was renewed for over Rs 1.15 crore. Subsequently her contract for the year starting April 1, 2016 was renewed for over Rs 1.33 crore. However, Sunitha foreclosed the contract on December 31, 2016. In the case of Anand, the pay packet as well as his designation went upwards from being a Strategic Advisor being paid Rs 1.68 crore to Rs 2.01 crore between March 3, 2014 - May 5, 2014 to Rs 2.32 crore for May 6, 2014 - March 29, 2015 to Rs 3.33 crore for March 30, 2015 - April 15, 2015 to Rs 3.67 crore for April 16, 2015 - March 31, 2016 and to Rs 4.21
crore from April 1, 2016. Anand resigned in October 2016. What is interesting is that Anand seems to be a conduit to an unknown person to whom a substantial portion of the pay hikes were paid. This came to light from the email correspondence between NSE Managing Director and CEO Chitra Ramakrishnan and an unknown person said to be a Yogi in Himalayas with an email id rigyajursama@outlook.com. The SEBI in its report said: "The extract of the e-mail correspondence between the unknown person and Noticee no. 1 (Chitra Ramakrishna) is as under: Email Date & time: February 19, 2015 08:32 PM From: rigyajursama@outlook. com To: Chitra Ramkrishna; anand Subramanian Subject: RE: Proposed Organization Structure with notes. '1. contract to revise to 5 day week only for paper and emoluments. 3 day will continue on routine with HO and rest at will. 2. One day brought additional on contract per week Kanchan to withdraw and surrender to me per month as gratitude on gross amt."
Jindal Global Business School signs MoUs with 11 Universities in 5 countries
New Delhi, Feb 24: Jindal Global Business School (JGBS), of O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU), has expanded its international partnership portfolio by signing 11 new Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with prestigious business schools and universities in five countries spanning four continents. The new international collaborations include top business schools such as the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, US, the Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University, US and the University of Queensland Business School, Australia. As part of its global ambition and a commitment to provide global education, exposure, and experience to its students, JGBS has expanded its reach to institutions in Vietnam, in addition to its numerous collaborations in Australia, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The list of new partner institutions are as follows: 1. Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, United States 2. Kelley School of Business, Indiana University-Bloomington, United States 2. Florida State University, United States of America 3. Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University, United States 4. University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom 5. The University of Nottingham, United Kingdom 6. Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom 7. The University of Queensland, Australia 8. Faculty of Business and Economics, Macquarie University, Australia 9. Bond University, Australia 10. Frankfurt School of Finance and Economics, Germany 11. FPT University, Vietnam The new MoUs create a range of opportunities for JGBS students. JGBS has partnered with one of the globe's most recognised business schools, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, to add strong value as an elite study abroad component to its 1-year Global MBA in Business Analytics. The Thunderbird School of Global Management's Master of Global Management (MGM) dual degree programme brings JGBS students one step closer to living and working for up to 3 years in the United States through the USA's
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Optional Practical Training program. Study abroad and student exchange programmes with Florida State University and the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University in the United States offer learning experiences in a global setting. Through the difficult months of the pandemic, JGBS persevered and remained committed to providing international exposure to its students. A list of curated partners was created who were able to offer long-term and short-term mobility options, keeping in mind the health and safety concerns with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 200 students have explored exchange and study abroad options through partnership arrangements since 2020, many of whom have pursued advanced degree programmes in top institutions in Australia, the UK, and the US. It is worth noting that since its inception in 2010, JGBS has established international collaborations with over 72 business schools and universities in 24 different countries. Professor (Dr.) C Raj Kumar, Founding Vice-Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University, explained that "These partnerships are developed to enable the students of JGBS to enrol in international business and management education programmes with our partner institutions. The vision of JGU since our inception has been to constantly provide quality global education experiences for our students so that we produce globally oriented business professionals. The institutional opportunities created by JGBS have provided students with strong levels of global exposure through exchange programmes, immersion programmes, dual degree programmes, and short-term study abroad programmes. Additionally, JGBS has exploited the potential of blended learning and hybrid education to help our students continue to reap the benefits of international collaboration through various technological platforms." Professor (Dr.) Mayank Dhaundiyal, Dean, JGBS, observed that "as the country's top global business school, JGBS is committed to providing world-class international mobility options to the students of JGBS. The students of JGBS have access to more than 70 partner business schools and universities located in five continents, providing them with an unparalleled network for international mobility. Today's supply chains frequently span multiple continents and countries, necessitating the presence of business professionals who are well travelled and capable of fostering synergies between diverse business teams operating in disparate geographies. Our international student mobility programmes assist our management students in preparing for these critical and rewarding positions. " JGBS explored and developed unique pedagogical options
with select partners such as Monash University and Singapore Management University to bring global classrooms to student homes by organising "first of its kind" collaboratively taught online shortterm immersions in niche areas of business-like social enterprise and sustainable business and management. More than 100 students from JGBS and partner institutions combined have benefited from the various online programmes and have had the opportunity to build a community through virtual platforms. All these collaborations have resulted in deeper relationships between the institutions in the form of joint research and advanced degree programmes. Ambassador Prof. (Dr.) Mohan Kumar, Dean, Office of International Affairs and Global Initiatives (IAGI), observed, "These international collaborations enhance student experiences and learning--professionally and personally--especially during this post-COVID-19 moment we seem to be entering. JGU carefully selects the leading international partners who can provide the global knowledge, social and cultural intelligence, and capacity-building opportunities to drive our students' careers further. " Prof. (Dr.) Laknath Jayasinghe, Vice Dean (Internationalization and Mobility), JGBS, added, "The need of the hour is to develop global business leaders who are imbued with a sense of social purpose in a sustainable and post-COVID-19 world. Going forward, business school students' skills, capabilities, and knowledge will be built upon a mix of traditional and digital learning frameworks that permit global engagement, experience, and exposure. These new collaborations enhance the opportunity to develop such capabilities and prepare our students to leverage transnational employment and business opportunities." JGBS is committed to providing a diverse range of international perspectives and cultivating cultural awareness through international mobility in order to provide students with a truly global education. This includes opportunities for research and internships in cutting-edge fields such as business analytics, deep learning algorithms, cyber security, and digital marketing. Negotiations to expand student and faculty mobility continue with new partners in Columbia, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. JGBS is also exploring other novel collaborations, such as short-term study tours and collaborative student immersions, for its students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate dual degree programmes. As travel restrictions ease globally, JGBS is optimistic about further increasing its overall student mobility numbers.
Dera chief QUICK BITES Gurmeet Ram ‘Drunk’ JD-U leader held Rahim gets for roaming around naked Z-plus security Patna, Feb 23 (IANS): Bihar Chief associated with JD-U for a long time. IANS
New Delhi, Feb 22 (IANS): Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been provided Z-plus security cover during his 21-day release on furlough from a Haryana jail, officials said on Tuesday. He has been given the high security cover due to threat to his life from 'pro-Khalistan' extremists, officials added. Rahim is on 21-day furlough from Sunaria jail and is camping in Gurugram. He will be getting 10 NSG security personnel for mobile security and eight security personnel for his residence security. The Haryana government's recommendation to grant the top layer security cover to the convicted sect leader comes following his request. The Dera chief was released on furlough on February 7 after the Haryana government's conclusion that he does not fall in the category of hardcore prisoners. Incidently, the 21-day furlough had come just days ahead of the Assembly polls in Punjab that was held on February 20 and he has a large number of followers, particularly in Bathinda, Sangrur, Patiala and Muktsar. The sect chief has been currently serving life imprisonment for the murder of former journalist Ramchandra Chhatrapati and the rape of two Dera disciples. He was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in 2017. Soon after his release from the Sunaria jail in Rohtak, he was brought to his ashram in Gurugram. The Haryana police has deployed a heavy security in and near his ashram.
Sukhbir protests Centre's decision to tweak BBMB appointments Chandigarh, Feb 26 (IANS): Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday described the Centre's decision to tweak the appointment norms for members of the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) as "a frighteningly grave development fraught with serious consequences for Punjab". In a statement here, Badal said: "The fact of the matter is that as per the law, precedents and the prevailing practices, the control of Satluj Beas headwork belongs exclusively to Punjab as a Riparian state. But first, they unconstitutionally took that control away from us and now they are shutting Punjab completely out of the BBMB." "This is the height of injustice against us. This is also another instance of the federal principle being outraged repeatedly by the governments at the Centre. We will fight it with all the might at our disposal." The Akali Dal president appealed to every Punjabi, including the political parties, to close ranks to fight for justice for the state. He said the decision was yet another link in the long and painful chain of political, economic and religious discrimination against Punjabis in general and the Sikhs in particular. "Like every Punjabi, I have been shocked by the development. What was needed was to address the river waters question on the nationally and internationally accepted Riparian principle. But what the Centre is doing is to continue their systematic exploitation against the Riparian state -- Punjab, to favour the non-Riparian Haryana and Rajasthan."
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Minister Nitish Kumar is conducting the 'Samaj Sudhar Abhiyan (Social Reform Campaign)' to create awareness among people about the consequences of liquor consumption but an allegedly drunk leader of his JD-U created a ruckus in Nalanda district by roaming around naked and was subsequently arrested. According to police, the incident occurred in Jagdishpur village under Islampur police station in Nalanda. The accused was identified as Jay Prakash Prasad alias Kalu, incharge of the Janata Dal-United's youth wing in Islampur Assembly constituency. JD-U's Islamapur block President, Tanvir Alam, said Prasad has been
"We informed local police after a video went viral on social media," he said. As per the video, Prasad removed all clothes and walked on the road. When his brother asked him to stay indoors, he refused and abused him. Some onlookers made videos and also informed Islampur police station. "We received information about a person who is creating ruckus in Jagdishpur village. We reached there and found he was completely naked and was in a drunken state. During breathanalysis, he was tested positive. An FIR under the liquor prohibition act was registered and he was arrested," Islampur SHO Chandrashekher Singh said.
1981 Behmai case hearing begins again IANS
Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh), Feb 24: The hearing into the Behmai massacre, in which 20 people were allegedly shot dead by bandit queen turned politician, Phoolan Devi, on February 14, 1981, has re-started in a special court in Kanpur Dehat. It may be recalled that just before the verdict in the case was to be pronounced in January 2020, the hearing was postponed as the original case diary was found to be missing. Many accused, including Phoolan have died along with all the witnesses, including the plaintiff Rajaram Singh and eye-witness Jantar Singh. The trial has been going on for 41 years. Even after issuing warrants against Vishwanath, Mansingh and Ram Ratan, who have been absconding for nearly 30 years, the police could not arrest them. As the arguments in the case began on Wednesday in the court of special judge (Dacoity) Sudhakar Rai, the district government counsel Raju Porwal told the court that the police
had recovered 27 cartridges from the spot and several threatening letters left by the dacoits on the terrace of Marjad Singh's house. Porwal also said that the dacoits assaulted 27 people and fired bullets while making them stand in a queue, in which 20 died on the spot. Seven of the injured had saved their lives by hiding among the corpses. During the hearing, an accused Vishwanath was present in the court, while Posa, another accused, could not come from jail. The application for apology to the accused Shyam Babu was given in the court. The next date for hearing has been fixed for February 28.
Delhi to lift all Covid curbs from Monday, only physical classes from April 1 New Delhi, Feb 25 (IANS): The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) on Friday decided to lift all Covid-related restrictions in the national capital, including the night curfew and 50 per cent capacity rule at restaurants and bars from Monday. As per the new DDMA guidelines, all online classes will be discontinued from April 1 in the city in view of the declining Covid trends. Schools have to do away with the hybrid mode from April 1. All restrictions are likely to be lifted from April 1. The decision was taken in a DDMA meet chaired by Lt Governor Anil Baijal, and attended by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
"DDMA withdraws all restrictions as situation improves n people facing hardships due to loss of jobs. Schools to function fully offline from 1 Apr. Fines for not wearing masks reduced to Rs 500. All shud continue following Covid Appropriate Behaviour. Govt will keep strict watch", said Kejriwal in a tweet. The fine for not wearing the face mask has also been reduced to Rs 500 in the city. However, all these restrictions are subject to Covid positivity rate remaining below 1 per cent. The government will continue to keep watch on the Covid appropriate behaviour and surveillance on testing and vaccination.
19 lakh kids in India have lost parent or caregiver due to Covid: Lancet
New Delhi, Feb 25: The Covid-19 pandemic has rendered nearly 19 lakh children in India without a parent or caregiver -- the highest in the South-East Asia region, according to new figures published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health journal on Friday. But, media reports claim that the Indian government figures refute these figures and as per the Ministry of Women and Child development's Baal Swaraj - Covid care portal, the number is 1.5 lakh. Globally, the number has surged to more than 5.2 million, revealed the study. Calculations of estimated orphanhood cases per capita showed the highest rates were in Peru and South Africa, with 8 and 7 out of every 1,000 children affected, respectively. "We estimate that for every person reported to have died as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, one child is left orphaned or loses a caregiver. That is the equivalent of one child every six seconds facing a heightened risk of lifelong adversity unless given appropriate support in time," said lead author Dr Susan Hillis, from the US Centers for Disease
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Control and Prevention (CDC). Before the Covid pandemic, there were an estimated 140 million orphaned children worldwide. And in July 2021, the first estimate of Covid's impact on orphanhood was 1.5 million children between March 2020 and April 2021. The new study increased this estimate to more than 2.7 million children for the same time period, by re-calculating the figures from updated Covid-19 death figures along with excess mortality data to account for indirect deaths associated with the pandemic (July 2021 estimates: 1,562,000 children vs latest estimates: 2,737,300 children), the findings revealed. Yet, these may not be the real numbers. According to Dr Juliette Unwin, lead author from Imperial College London (UK), the real estimates are likely to be 10 times higher than what is currently being reported. "Sadly, as high as our estimates of orphanhood and caregiver deaths are, they are likely to be underestimated, and we expect these numbers to grow as more global data on Covid-19 deaths becomes available," Unwin said.
12
INDIA
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
PM Modi urges people to visit border villages for rural development IANS
New Delhi, Feb 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday appealed to the people to visit border villages as part of the "Vibrant Village programme" announced in the budget 20-23. The programme is vital for the development of border villages, he added. "How wonderful it would be if people from tehsils go to the border villages and experience for themselves, the ambience there, how people live there. It will not only be an educational activity but will also help support our Vibrant Villages scheme," Modi said while addressing a webinar on Budget 2022-23 on the theme "#LeavingNoCitizenBehind" focussing on water and rural development. The series of webinars is a part of the new initiative of discussion and dialogue with various stakeholders associated under the programme. Striking an emotional chord with the villages, the PM suggested holding birthday celebrations of the
villages. "Women are the backbone of rural economy and over time, financial inclusion has ensured that they participate in the economic decisions of a family," Modi said and added, the scope needs to be broadened through Self Help Groups (SHGs). As part of the Jal Jeevan Mission, the PM said, his government aims at providing 4 crore connections and suggested that more needs to be done. "I insist that each and every state ensures good water quality through the pipeline that is being laid, the water that is being made available through taps." "Now is the time that 100 per cent saturation is achieved in providing basic facilities like water, electricity and all. We will need to push with all our energy. The budget has a clear roadmap for implementing these schemes," the Prime Minister said and enumerated the schemes -- PM Awas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, connectivity with the NE India, broadband connectivity for
rural India-- saying provisions for which has been made in the budget. PM Modi also mentioned the PM Development Initiative for NE region (PMDevINE) and the SVAMITVA scheme under which 40 lakh property cards have been distributed. "Optimum utilisation of each and every penny is needed," he asserted. As part of achieving Atma Nirbhar Bharat by providing 55 litres per capita per day (lpcd) clean tap water through tap in every rural household, the webinar was organised on implementation of Budget 2022 focusing on water and sanitation. As many as 100 districts, 1,144 blocks, 66,647 gram panchayats and 1,37,642 villages have become aHar Ghar Jal'. Three States - Goa, Telangana, and Haryana and three UTs - A&N Islands, D&N Haveli & Daman & Diu and Puducherry have provided 100 per cent tap water coverage to its people. The SVAMITVA scheme was launched on April 20, 2020 on the National Panchayati Raj day. It aims to demarcate inhabited (Abadi) land and provide Record of Rights/ Property Cards in rural areas. The pilot phase of the scheme was launched in 2020 with nine states. Currently, the scheme is ongoing in 29 states and UTs and aims to cover all the villages by 2025.
Encourage natural farming to tap organic market: PM India Tv News
New Delhi, Feb 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said natural farming can be increased to tap the organic market and also suggested that it is necessary to spread awareness and popularise Indian millets. "We are encouraging organic farming, because of which the market for organic products has reached Rs 11,000 crore. Organic exports have risen to more than Rs 7,000 crore from Rs 2,000 crore rupees six years ago," Modi said while addressing a webinar on the positive impact of Union Budget 2022 in the Agriculture sector. "More and more people are adopting environment-friendly lifestyles
because of which demand for organic products has increased and India should tap into the ever-increasing market by encouraging natural farming," he said. Amongst the seven pointers from the budget that he highlighted, the first was natural farming along the Ganga up to five km on both banks. Modi also emphasised how Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) will need to power on to take natural farming to every single person and suggested KVKs can adopt one village each while the agriculture universities can aim for facilitating 500-1000 farmers towards natural farming. Reminding that the year 2023 is the 'International Year of Millets', the
Prime Minister urged the Corporate world to come forward to take the Indian brand of millets to the world. "These coarse grains need to be pushed forward, we need to spread awareness about them and popularise," Modi said, and suggested that bigger Indian Missions in other countries can organise seminars wherein the importers there can be told about the quality and variety of India's millets. He also pointed out how several foreign food products are making way to dining tables across India. "They are not even palatable to Indian taste. Our farmers are growing all of these and much more. It is our failure that we are not able to market them properly. Here too 'vocal for local' is necessary. Our farmers produce everything, and they are to our taste. We need to spread awareness about their products and popularise them," the Prime Minister said and asserted that the Corona pandemic times have established the importance of India's spices. Just like grains, Modi also said natural fruit juices have multiple options in India and that instead of aping the foreign countries, India needs to promote Indian natural fruit juices.
Centre asks States, UTs to relax Covid restrictions after risk assessment
The Financial Express
New Delhi, Feb 25: The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Friday asked the States and Union Territories (UTs) to allow further relaxations in the Covid-19 restrictions after a risk assessment based approach on the opening of economic activities. such as social, sports, entertainment, academic and religious events as well as night curfew hours in view of the substantial decline in coronavirus cases. In a letter written to all Chief Secretaries of states and UTs, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla said on Friday that further ease may www.indianabroad.news
be given for social, sports, entertainment, academic and religious events as well as night curfew hours in view of the substantial decline in coronavirus cases. "In view of the overall improved situation, there is a need to follow a risk assessment based approach on the opening of economic activities. Accordingly, after a careful analysis of the local situation, relaxation in various activities may be considered, such as social /sports/ entertainment/academic/cultural/ religious/festival related gatherings; night curfew; operations of public transport; shopping complexes,
cinema halls, gyms, spas, restaurants and bars; opening of schools, colleges, offices, and other commercial activities.", Bhalla said. He also emphasised that while allowing all such activities, the wearing of masks, maintaining social distancing, hand hygiene and ventilation in closed spaces, as mandated in the National Directives for COVID Management, should continue to be enforced. "States/UTs should continue with the testing and surveillance, clinical management, vaccination and implementation of COVID Appropriate Behaviour, for managing COVID-19.", the MHA communication said. "I would, therefore, urge you to take necessary action in line with the aforesaid MoHFW advisory, dated 18th February, 2022 and for the enforcement of COVID Appropriate Behaviour," Bhalla said. The Health Ministry on Friday reported a decline in fresh cases of Covid-19 at 13,166 against 14,148 cases reported on the previous day while the daily positivity rate has gone down to 1.28 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was recorded as 1.48 per cent.
Bommai speaks to students in Ukraine, assures them of help Bengaluru, Feb 26 (IANS): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that he has spoken to students from the state who are stuck in war-torn Ukraine, and assured them of providing all the necessary assistance. "I have spoken to those students. I have assured them of all help and asked them to be courageous," he said. Many Indians are stuck in various cities of Ukraine. "Everyone is fine, but I have requested the authorities to provide food and shelter. I have already spoken in length with Union Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jaishakar and we have also sent a list to him," he said. More students are in the western
side of Ukraine and they have been told to be careful. All the students will be evacuated by road and air. "We will get information on whether anyone from Karnataka is returning to the country today," he said. Those who are in western part of Ukraine are safe, the efforts are on to bring them back. They will be evacuated through the road. Many of them are on their way, he stated. The students stuck in Western part of Ukraine will be brought to India through Romania. In a few days, all Indian students would be evacuated. Those students who are in eastern, south-eastern part of Ukraine should not take risks and stay wherever they are until they are directed to, Bommai said.
More than 200 people have made calls to the helpline set up by the state government. "Many parents of students who are stuck in Ukraine have met me," he said.
I&B Ministry orders blocking of apps, website, social media accounts linked to Sikhs For Justice New Delhi, Feb 22: The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Tuesday ordered the blocking of apps, website and social media accounts linked to the banned organisation, Sikhs For Justice (SFJ). In a statement, the Ministry said it has ordered the blocking of apps, website, and social media accounts of foreign-based 'Punjab Politics TV' having close links with the SFJ, deemed unlawful under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. "Relying on intelligence inputs that the channel was attempting to use online media to disturb public order during the ongoing State Assembly Elections, the Ministry used emergency powers under the IT Rules on February 18 to block the digital
media resources of Punjab Politics TV," it said. The Ministry claimed that the contents of the blocked apps, website, and social media accounts had the potential to incite communal disharmony and separatism; and were found to be detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India, security of the state, and public order. "It was also observed that the launch of new apps and social media accounts was timed to gain traction during the ongoing elections. The government of India remains vigilant and committed to secure the overall information environment in India and thwart any actions having the potential to undermine India's sovereignty and integrity," it added.
IANS
In January, the Ministry had ordered the blocking of 35 YouTube-based news channels and two websites which were involved in spreading fake news against India in a coordinated manner over digital media. In December last year, the Centre blocked 20 YouTube channels and two websites when the emergency powers under the IT Rules, 2021 were first utilised.
Australian delegation at IITGuwahati for discussions Guwahati, Feb 23: An Australian delegation led by the country's High Commissioner in India Barry O' Farrell on Wednesday discussed several projects of mutual cooperation in various domains with the Director and top officials of Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, officials said. IIT sources said that the Australian delegation discussed several projects of mutual cooperation in various domains including academics, scholarships, strategic research, trade and commerce, governance, disaster management, cultural exchange, water conservation and clean energy. IIT, Guwahati Director Prof T.G. Sitharam made a presentation on the Australia India Water Centre, Global Centre for Transdisciplinary Research in Water (Tri-Water), and various initiatives which are taken under their auspices such
as the development of Master of Sustainable Water Futures programme, Water Matters for India - Delivering an Innovative Young Water Professional Training. He added that such collaborations are crucial for meeting sustainable development goals, and also addressing the emerging challenges due to climate change. He also highlighted the major strides taken by IIT, Guwahati in global rankings and stressed the importance of the liberal arts programme. Australian Consul-General in Kolkata Rowan Ainsworth said that there is an immense opportunity for collaboration in the areas of disaster management, trade and economics, the Indian Ocean, and development of the northeast region of India. Working together on the world's most important resource, water -- The Australia-India Water Centre -- is a great example of research
collaboration between the two countries, she pointed out. The High Commissioner highlighted the importance of cooperation in multidisciplinary areas, especially through the 'MAITRI' scholarships and fellowships, strategic areas collaboration, liberal arts, cultural exchange, research grants, skilled academics cooperation and governance with many more possibilities with other Australian Universities.
3-fold rise in unemployment in Bihar, NCSP data reveals The Economics Times
Patna, Feb 24: The number of unemployed youth in Bihar has increased three fold in the past year, the National Career Service Portal (NCSP) data has shown. Till March 2021, the total number of unemployed youths registered on the portal was 78,00,259 in the state. And in the last 10 months, the number has increased by 2,67,635. NCSP is a government website where unemployed youths register their names, and state governments and Centre provide them jobs as per their profiles and through recruitment processes. As per the data, the registrations on the portal were three times higher in 2021 compared to 2020 in Bihar. A maximum of 63,524 persons registered their names on the portal in October 2021. Besides, 7,967 persons registered in June 2021; 18,017 in July; 20,968 in August; 53,906 in September; 62,983 in November; 20,766 in December; and 13,000 in January this year. The data further said that 222 transgenders also registered their names as unemployed persons on
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the portal in the last 10 months. A maximum of 28 transgenders registered their names from Vaishali district, two from Araria, four from Aurangabad, one from Banka, Begusarai 11, Bhojpur 4, Bhagalpur 1, Jahanabad 1, Kaimur 5, Katihar 8, Khagaria 2, Kishanganj 1, Lakhisarai 6, Madhepura 3, Madhubani 1, Munger 5, Muzaffarpur 13, Nalanda
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9, Nawada 3, West Champaran 4, Patna 11, East Champaran 13, Purnea 3, Rohtas 4, Samastipur 8 and Saran 9. Unemployment is one of the issues where leaders from the ruling parties at the Centre and Bihar government have no convincing answers.
13
AUSTRALIA
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Aus reopens int'l borders after 23 months IANS
Canberra, Feb 21: Australia on Mondaywelcomed its first international tourists in almost two years after reopening its border which was shut in early 2020 in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Australia's international border reopened to travellers who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, marking an end to restrictions that were introduced to prevent the spread of the virus in March 2020, reports Xinhua news agency. Fifty-six flights were due to land in Australia in the 24 hours after reopening. Dan Tehan, the federal minister for trade, tourism and investment, was at the Sydney international airport
NSW to scrap mask mandate in schools
Reuters
Sydney, Feb 23: The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) on Wednesday announced its decision to scrap mask mandate in schools despite a continued increase in new Covid-19 cases. From February 28, masks will no longer be required in high schools for students or staff in NSW, reports Xinhua news agency. Schools will be able to welcome more visitors onto campuses, including parents, and will resume activities such as assemblies and school camps. The mandatory mask-wearing requirement will also be lifted for teachers and staff at primary schools and childcare centres from
March 7. NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said schools would return to "pretty much normal" next week, as transmission in schools is "extremely low". However, some experts are still concerned it would be too early to ease the restrictions. Lidia Morawska, director of the International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health at the Queensland University of Technology, told Xinhua that even if there are very good ventilation, there's still a lot of infections within the community, and if people sit in close proximity like public transport or hospitality venues, the probability
of infection in such situation with a very highly infectious virus like Omicron is very high. "Removing completely restrictions without thinking about the consequences of this will make life easier for yourself, but others will be dying because of this," she said. NSW recorded 8,931 new cases on Wednesday, with 1,246 people in hospitals. The daily increase of community cases made a big jump from Monday's 4,916 to Tuesday's 8,752. Though 94.3 per cent of NSW residents aged 16 and over have received two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, less than half of the children aged 5 to 11 got their first jab. And 79 per cent of juniors aged 12 to 15 have had two doses. "The Omicron outbreak is not over. The removal of restrictions, such as indoor masks, will lead to a spike in infection and increase the pressure on healthcare burden," said Gaetan Burgio, an expert in infectious diseases from the Australian National University College of Health and Medicine. "Given the (national) number of cases still oscillates around 10,000 or 20,000 per day, the observed outbreaks are in majority in schools, where the vaccine coverage is relatively low," Burgio told Xinhua.
Canberra, Feb 24: Spraying face masks with sanitiser reduces their effectiveness, Australian scientists have found. In a world-first study published on Thursday, a team from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) revealed that exposing N95 and P2 face masks to alcohol-based sanitisers risks "serious degradation" of their ability to protect from airborne hazards.
Jurg Schutz, lead author of the study, said the findings would help inform people on how to care for disposable masks, Xinhua news agency reported. "Single-use face masks will continue to be part of many of our lives as they provide us with a defense against Covid, its variants and any future pathogens, but we had been hearing stories about people trying to prolong the life of these masks by cleaning them," he said in a media release. "We started thinking about the kinds of products people have been using more during the pandemic, like alcohol-based hand sanitiser and cleaning solutions, and realised these could impact the electrostatic properties of the face masks.
He noted that these masks rely on having an electrostatic charge that attracts particles and traps them like a sticky spiderweb. "But we also know this charge can be destroyed by highly-concentrated alcoholic vapours," he said. The research was published as several jurisdictions prepare to ease mask rules. From Friday night, people in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Victoria will only be required to wear masks in high-risk settings including public transport, airports and healthcare facilities. Australia on Thursday reported more than 20,000 new coronavirus infections and 36 deaths -- 16 in Victoria, 12 in New South Wales and eight in Queensland.
on Monday morning to welcome the first arrivals and said it was a milestone for Australia. "The first passengers had a huge smile on their face even though they have been on a plane for what, 20-odd hours," he told Nine Network television. "The warmth of the welcome that the Australian people give our overseas visitors hasn't gone away." The return of double vaccinated international visitors will reinvigorate Australia's tourism sector, which supports 660,000 jobs and contributed A$60.4 billion ($43 billion) to the economy in 2018-19, according to Tehan. David Marshall, chair of the
Canberra Region Tourism Leaders Forum, said it would take up to 18 months for the tourism industry to recover from the pandemic. "We're really playing catch-up," he told The Canberra Times. The country on Monday reported more than 15,000 new coronavirus infections and 17 deaths -- seven in New South Wales, six in Queensland, three in Victoria and one in the Australian Capital Territory. Monday marked one year since Australia administered its first coronavirus vaccines. Health Minister Greg Hunt said that more than 53.2 million vaccines have now been administered in Australia.
Aus urged to fork out billions over extreme weather Canberra, Feb 22: Australian homes, businesses and communities need billions of dollars more in government funding to cope with worsening extreme weather conditions, according to the nation's insurance industry. A report released on Tuesday by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) said the federal government's natural disaster funding should be doubled to A$200 million per year and that the figure should be matched by the nation's six state and two territory governments for the next five years, reports Xinhua news agency. "Insurers are at the frontline when it comes to climate change and extreme weather. That's why as an industry we're so focused on improving community resilience," said Andrew Hall, who heads the Sydney-based ICA. Hall said that investing now in stronger homes and community infrastructures would ultimately lead to estimated government and household savings of at least A$19 billion by 2050. The Building a More Resilient Australia report outlined a range of measures to make vulnerable communities and homes better able to withstand the nation's most common natural disasters of floods,
cyclones and bushfires. The ICA's proposed program includes improving the national flood early warning system, flood levees for regional towns, raising vital community service facilities above expected flood lines, cyclone-proofing more than 44,000 homes in northern Australia and creating a national coastal hazard information database. The call for greater investment in making homes and communities more resilient to the impacts of extreme weather is one of 12 policy areas the ICA has identified as requiring reform, modernisation or investment. The insurance body is also calling
for a review of land use planning arrangements to ensure no more homes were built in areas with a high risk of extreme weather impacts, and for national building codes to be strengthened. Additionally, the ICA believed states and territories must finally abolish duties, levies and taxes on insurance products, which increase the cost of premiums and discourage people from being fully insured. To coincide with the report's release, the ICA has begun a nationwide advertising campaign calling on Australia's governments to lessen the impact of extreme weather by committing to the urgent increase in investment.
Australian scientists warn against spraying face masks with sanitiser Australia commits to paving
Western Australia braces for Covid surge ahead of border reopening
Sydney, Feb 24: As active cases in the state of Western Australia (WA) tip past 2,000, the nation's last Covid-19 stronghold has begun to ponder living with the virus as it plans to open its borders from March 3. WA recorded 617 new cases in the 24 hours till 8.00 p.m. Wednesday night (1200 GMT). It came after the daily caseload ballooned to 645 cases on Tuesday, almost tripling
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the 263 cases reported on Monday, Xinhua news agency reported. Throughout the pandemic, the state has remained relatively unscathed as it has maintained hard borders to the rest of the country. Currently there are 2,272 active cases in the state, near half of the 5,164 total cases recorded since the start of the pandemic. Speaking to media on Thursday, WA Premier Mark McGowan said case numbers were expected to continue to rise. "The mathematics are clear. We're not far away from recording over 1,000 new cases per day," he said. Previously, the state's border reopening date had been pushed back "indefinitely" from February 5 as the premier cited high transmission of the Omicron variant in Australia's eastern states. But as local transmissions have surged, McGowan has scrapped the state's Covid-zero approach.
"Eventually there comes a point where the border is ineffective, when you get to high numbers within the state," said McGowan when announcing the reopening last Friday. The state's hard border restrictions are set to be lifted to the rest of the country from March 3, when fully vaccinated arrivals will not be required to quarantine. McGowan also announced on Thursday a A$67 million (about $48 million) support package to help business through what would be "the next phase of the pandemic" for the state. "It's going to be a bumpy and uncertain time, especially for small businesses," said McGowan. As of February 22, 95.8 per cent of WA's population aged 12 and above had been vaccinated with both shots. Its booster rate has just tipped 60 per cent and is on track to reach 70 per cent by March 3.
crucial outback highway network
Canberra, Feb 21 (IANS): Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday that his government will invest A$678 million ($486 million) to upgrade the crucial outback road network if re-elected in this year's general elections. The Outback Way is a 2,700-km network of desert roads that connects Laverton in south central Western Australia (WA) to Winton in central Queensland via the Northern Territory (NT), passing by iconic landmarks such as Uluru Kata Tjuta National Park, reports Xinhua news agency. Despite being the main route connecting WA to central Australia and Queensland, large parts of the Outback Way are unsealed gravel and dirt roads, making trucking freight logistically difficult. "Our investment locks in a pipeline of works that will drive investment in regional Australia and boost economies from Winton in Queensland
to Laverton in Western Australia, helping regional and remote communities and those who call them home to grow and prosper," Morrison said in a statement. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who is also the Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, said the project would employ hundreds of people for its duration and deliver major economic benefits for the Outback. "These upgrades will spark new opportunities for industries along the route, including the critical earth precincts north of Alice Springs, the gold precincts around Laverton and the massive beef industry, while ensuring communities and people on the corridor have better access to supplies," Joyce said. The announcement was made a day after Anthony Albanese, the leader of the Opposition Labor Party, promised to spend A$200 million
upgrading remote territory roads if elected Prime Minister. "You are 11 times more likely to have a fatality on a remote community road as you do in a capital city. That's why this announcement of a A$200 million Northern Territory strategic roads package is so important," Albanese said.
Humpback whales removed from Australian threatened species list Canberra, Feb 26: Humpback whales have been removed from Australia's list of threatened species after a major recovery. Sussan Ley, the Minister for the Environment, on Saturday announced that the Threatened Species Scientific Committee has determined that Australia's humpback whale population has grown to the point where the iconic species could be removed from the list. The species faced extinction before the 1980s as a result of whaling but the number of humpback whales in Australian waters has since increased from approximately 1,500
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to 40,000, Xinhua news agency reported. "This is not about removing safeguards for humpbacks, which are still a protected migratory species, but it is a recognition of the success of the outstanding conservation efforts that are in place," Ley said in a statement. "Our removal of the Humpback from the threatened species list is based on science and sends a clear signal about what can be achieved through coordinated action. It is a message of hope for the welfare of a number of species." Two humpback whale species breed
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in Australia and migrate along the east and west coasts of the country between May and November. As a protected migratory species, it will remain an offence to kill, injure, trade, keep or move humpback whales in Australia. Despite the significant change in the mammal's status, conservationists have warned that climate change still poses a major threat to Australia's humpback whales. Nicola Beynon, a campaign manager for the Humane Society, said delisting the whales could prove a short-sighted decision.
14
WORLD
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
British PM announces end of Covid Afghanistan launches polio vax drive targeting 9.1mn kids restrictions despite criticism
Kabul, Feb 22: The Taliban-led government in Afghanistan has launched a polio vaccination drive targeting 9.1 million children across the country. "This is the second general polio vaccination campaign in 2022 aimed at vaccinating 9.1 million
children under the age of five," Xinhua news agency said the regime as saying in a statement on Monday. Provinces including Bamyan, Daykundi, and Ghor as well as some districts of Ghazni and Badakhshan are not included in the ongoing campaign due to cold weather, the
government said. The three-day campaign was launched in collaboration with the Unicef and the World Health Organization (WHO), the statement said. So far in 2022, one positive case of polio has been reported in the Asian country, while there were four in the entirety of 2021, according to the statement. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two remaining polio endemic countries in the world. In Afghanistan, despite continuous concerted efforts to achieve a polio free status, the battle to finish the last mile has become a pivoting challenge, resulting in an increase in the number of cases during the last three years, according to the Unicef. The emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic, disrupted polio campaigns and other essential health services have created additional immunity gaps, which have resulted in the spike.
Silent int'l recognition of Afghan govt underway, claims Taliban Kabul, Feb 23 (IANS): A senior Taliban member has claimed that silent international recognition of the Islamic Emirate government of Afghanistan is currently underway, adding there have been positive improvements in the country's political sector. "This is the result of the political efforts that Kabul is full of embassies today, and in many countries we have opened our own embassies, which is a silent process of recognition," TOLO News quoted Anas Haqqani as saying in an address to
tribal leaders in Khost province on Tuesday. He said differences should not harm the country's national values and that security forces should abide by the amnesty decree of the Islamic Emirate leader. Despite Haqqani's claim, no country has recognised the Taliban regime in Afghanistan yet after their take over of the country in August last year. The Taliban have insisted that it has met all the conditions for being officially recognised.
Three white men killing African American Ahmaud Arbery found guilty of hate crimes The three men cornered Arbery and Travis McMichael fatally shot him with a shotgun, Xinhua news agency reported. Arbery was running with his hands empty and in plain view while never did he speak a word to his killers, nor make any threatening sound or gesture, according to court documents. All three men were previously convicted of murder in a Georgia state court and sentenced to life in prison for the fatal shooting. "We as a family will never get victory because Ahmaud is gone forever," Ahmaud Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper-Jones, said outside the federal courthouse in Brunswick. "No one should fear that if they go out for a run, they will be targeted and killed because of the colour of their skin," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. The state of Georgia declared February 23 as Ahmaud Arbery Day to mark the gravity of his death and the subsequent criminal and federal cases.
Washington, Feb 23: The three white men convicted of murdering African American Ahmaud Arbery were found guilty of hate crimes by a federal jury in the southeastern US state of Georgia on Tuesday. The jury found father and son Greg and Travis McMichael and their neighbour William "Roddie" Bryan guilty of all the federal charges they
individually faced, including hate crimes, attempted kidnapping and the use of a firearm to commit a crime. The McMichaels and Bryan chased Arbery, a 25-year-old African American man who was jogging on the public streets of a Brunswick neighbourhood in Georgia, in trucks on February 23, 2020.
59 dead in Burkina Faso gold mine blast
Over 850 Afghan families receive relief assistance
Ouagadougou, Feb 22: At least 59 people were killed in a gold mine blast in Gbomblora in Burkina Faso's Poni province, national broadcaster RTB reported. Fifty-five people died at the scene of the explosion, while four others succumbed to their injuries in hospitals, Xinhua news agency quoted the RTB report as saying. At least 55 other people were injured, according to the provisional toll, said the report. The cause of the explosion remained unknown, but several witnesses have said that the blast was triggered by a fire which consumed a stock of explosives used by the gold miners during their operations. An investigation was underway, said the RTB.
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Kabul, Feb 24 (IANS): Over 850 Afghan families have received relief assistance in the capital of Kabul as the Afghan caretaker government and aid agencies redoubled efforts to help destitute families in winter, authorities said on Thursday. The Afghan Ministry for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs said in a statement that 600 needy and internally displaced families received the relief assistance distributed by the ministry in Kabul on Monday and Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the ministry, the
assistance included 50 kg wheat, 50 kg rice and a package of food. In addition, on Wednesday, the Afghan Red Crescent Society distributed a 50-kg bag of flour to 250 orphans, needy and internally displaced families in districts of Kabul province, where the Kabul city is located, the organisation said. Economic woes hit the impoverished country following the freezing of over $9 billion of Afghan central bank's assets by the US as well as a halt of funds by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
London, Feb 22: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the end of all domestic Covid-19 restrictions in England in a process starting later this week. The Prime Minister on Monday announced the lifting of all long-term coronavirus rules in Parliament as he unveiled the government's strategy for "living with Covid", Xinhua news agency reported. The legal requirement for people who test positive for coronavirus to self-isolate will be removed from Thursday of this week, Johnson has announced. "From April 1, when Winter is over and the virus will spread less easily, we will end free symptomatic and asymptomatic testing for the general public," he said. Johnson said it will mark a moment of pride after one of the most difficult periods in history as Britain begins to learn to live with Covid-19. "The pandemic is not over but thanks to the incredible vaccine rollout we are now one step closer towards a return to normality and finally giving people back their freedoms while continuing to protect ourselves and others," he said. More than 91 per cent of people aged 12 and over in Britain have had their first dose of vaccine and more than 85 per cent have received both doses, according to the latest figures. More than 66 per cent have received booster jabs, or the third dose of a coronavirus vaccine. "Britain will move from government restrictions to personal responsibility," said Johnson, adding contingencies will be maintained to tackle any future virus variations. Saying people in Britain need to get their confidence back, Johnson added: "We chose to compel people to be considerate to others. We can rely on that sense of responsibility towards one another by providing practical advice in the knowledge that people will follow it to avoid infecting loved ones." He said Britain's aim would be to manage future risks. However, leading academics, medics and scientists expressed concern about the move, with many saying it is too early to ease restrictions while so many daily cases and deaths continue to be registered.
More than 1,300 scientists and medics have sent an urgent message to Britain's top two government medical advisers, England's Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty and Chief Scientific Officer Professor Patrick Vallance, expressing concern about the government plans to end testing, surveillance surveys and legal isolation of Covid-19 cases. They called on the two to clarify the scientific advice underpinning the policy decisions. They said in an open letter: "We do not believe there is a solid scientific basis for the policy. It is almost certain to increase the circulation of the virus and remove the visibility of emerging variants of concern. We believe humanity is in a race against the virus." "The government cannot wave a magic wand and pretend the threat has disappeared entirely," said Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the National Health Service (NHS) Confederation. In what some have speculated could be the last ever Downing Street Covid-19 briefing on Monday, Vallance started on a downbeat tone, with a warning the pandemic is not over and "the virus has got a lot of room to evolve". It will continue to do so at a fast pace "probably for the next couple of years" and there is "no guarantee that the next variant is of as reduced severity as Omicron". "And we must maintain the ability to get everything going again within a
"couple of weeks," he said. The British Medical Association (BMA) which represents doctors across the country said ending the restrictions was premature and not based on current evidence. The BMA, often described as the doctor's "trade union" warned dropping testing for the virus and self-isolation could lead to a surge in cases. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the BMA council, said the decision hasn't been guided by data or done in consultation with the healthcare profession. Nagpaul said Covid-19 infections need to fall further before the rules were relaxed. "It does appear as if the government is trying to pretend that Covid doesn't exist in the day-to-day lives of so many people," he said. Scientists working together, in a body known as Independent SAGE, to provide independent scientific advice on the Covid-19 crisis, has condemned plans to stop free tests and payments to support self-isolation in England. "Our concerns about removing access to free tests include increased risk of spread of Omicron and any subsequent variants, leading to more illness, death and burden on the NHS and more risk of new variants emerging," said Independent Sage. As of Monday, Britain had recorded 18,654,572 Covid-19 cases and 160,610 related deaths, according to official figures.
Putin's chilling warning to the West: You'll face consequences greater than any in history New Delhi, Feb 24 (IANS): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared war on Ukraine and gave a chilling warning to its allies in the West, Daily Mail reported. Explosions were heard in Kiev, the Ukrainian capital, as Putin announced that Russia was launching a military attack on Ukraine. "To anyone who would consider interfering from the outside - if you do, you will face consequences greater than any you have faced in history," he said on a television broadcast. The UN Security Council had just convened an emergency meeting Wednesday night when Putin took to Russian airwaves to announce the invasion. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
had urged Putin to stop his tanks. "If indeed an operation is being prepared, I have only one thing to say from the bottom of my heart," said Guterres. "President Putin, stop your troops from attacking Ukraine. Give peace a chance. Too many people have already died." Putin ignored the plea, going on TV to describe the invasion as a "special military occupation' and said he wants to "demilitarize" and "de-Nazify", not occupy, the country, the report said. He told Ukrainian service members to "lay down their arms and go home", saying Russia could not exist with a "constant threat emanating from the territory of Ukraine" and clashes between Russian and Ukrainian solders was "inevitable".'
Canadian liquor stores pull out Russian Vodka from shelves Ottawa, Feb 26 (IANS): Crown liquor stores in several Canadian provinces have pulled Russian products, including Vodka, from their shelves, local media reported. In Ontario, Peter Bethlenfalvy, finance minister of the biggest province in Canada, said he was directing the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to withdraw products produced in Russia, Xinhua news agency reported. "We strongly support the federal government's efforts to sanction the Russian government," Bethlenfalvy was quoted as saying in a statement. "We will continue to be there for the Ukrainian people during this extremely difficult time." The reports said the LCBO carries around 25 Russian-produced
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products and that the stores could remove them within 24 hours. Crown liquor stores in other four provinces, namely the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation, New Brunswick
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liquor stores, Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation, and Manitoba Liquor Mart made similar moves on Friday, according to the reports.
15
POLITICS
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Insult to freedom fighters, says Cong as DMK sweeps TN urban body polls, Kejriwal compares himself to Bhagat Singh wins AIADMK bastions like Edappadi
IANS
New Delhi, Feb 18 (IANS) Congress on Friday slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for comparing himself to legendary freedom fighter Bhagat Singh and called it an insult to the freedom fighters. Congress spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill said: "While Shaheed Bhagat Singh sacrificed his life for the nation, Arvind Kejriwal is not willing to give up even one of his posts. He is both CM and National Convenor of AAP due to his lust for power. Kejriwal comparing himself to Bhagat Singh is an insult to our freedom fighters & reflects his
desperation for votes." Earlier in the day, dismissing as "comedy", allegations levelled by former party leader Kumar Vishwas that he had made "separatist" comments, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday described himself as "world's sweetest terrorist who builds roads, hospitals and send elderly people to pilgrimage. "Hundred years back, Bhagat Singh was called a terrorist by the British and I'm his staunch follower. Today, history is repeating itself. All these corrupt people have teamed up to
brand the disciple of Bhagat Singh a terrorist, but people know the truth," Delhi CM said. Former AAP leader Kumar Vishwas had alleged that Kejriwal had spoken about becoming PM of a separate state. In a video, Kumar is seen saying, "One day, he (Kejriwal) told me he would either become CM (of Punjab) or first PM of an independent nation.. he wants power at any cost." Hitting back, Kerjriwal said: "They have all teamed up against me and are calling me a terrorist. It is comedy? If that is the case, then why doesn't (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji get me arrested?" asked Kejriwal in a press conference. Addressing the media, Kejriwal asked what were the Centre's security agencies doing until now. "What were agencies during the Congress and BJP's tenure doing till now? Why did they not arrest me? This is such a humorous matter," he added. PM Modi and Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were among those who attacked Kejriwal over Kumar Vishwas' video wherein he accused Kejriwal of making separatist comments.
Chennai, Feb 22: The DMK-led alliance on Tuesday swept the urban local body elections in Tamil Nadu with 75 per cent of the results declared. The urban polls were held in the state after a gap of 11 years and the win of the DMK is considered as a stamp of approval for the ninemonth-old M.K. Stalin government in the state. The dismal performance of the AIADMK was reflected with the party losing its bastions and the DMK winning several seats in western Tamil Nadu including Coimbatore, Erode and Salem. In Edappadi, the home constituency of former Chief Minister K. Palaniswami too, the AIADMK candidate lost the polls to the DMK. Palaniswami's own ward no 23 in Salem Municipal Corporation was also wrested by the DMK leading to a major loss of face for the former Chief Minister who is also the Leader of Opposition in Tamil Nadu. According to the State Election Commission till the late afternoon, the DMK alliance won 494 seats in corporations, 2,021 in municipalities, and 4,619 seats in town panchayats.
The AIADMK, on the other hand won only 81 wards in corporations, 511 in municipalities, and 1,188 seats in town panchayats. The BJP, which contested alone, won 255 wards - 7 in corporations, 113 seats in municipalities, and 135 seats in town panchayats. Five candidates supported by Vijay Makkal Iyyakam, the fans association of superstar Vijay, won in corporation wards, including 3 in Chennai.
Transgender candidate, R. Ganga of the DMK, won from the Vellore Municipal corporation by a margin of 15 votes. This is the first time a transgender candidate has won from the DMK in urban local body polls. Three candidates, including an AIADMK candidate, got only zero votes in Karambukudi panchayat in Pudukottai district even though all three had votes in the same constituency.
Oppn may consider Nitish for Prez BJP, RSS want one ideology, if he snaps ties with NDA: NCP
IANS
Mumbai, Feb 22: The Nationalist Congress Party on Tuesday said that opposition parties may think about Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for the post of President, provided his Janata Dal-U severs ties with the ruling NDA. Referring to some media reports that Nitish Kumar could be the Opposition's candidate for the Presidential elections due mid-2022, NCP national spokesperson and Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik made it clear that there can be no
discussion on this until he breaks all ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party. There have been certain speculative reports claiming Nitish Kumar may part ways with the BJP after the results of the ongoing elections to five states are declared next month and he could be in the race for the post of President. "We can consider it (his candidature) only if the JD-U first breaks out of the NDA. Then the leaders of all Opposition parties will sit and
collectively give a thought to it," Malik told media persons. On the polls in the five states, he predicted that the BJP will be subjected to "a severe defeat" in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Manipur, and Goa. "History will be repeated after 30 years in UP. It will win less than 150 seats. The people of the state had rejected BJP after it fomented communal violence there in 1993. People are now sick of its policies," asserted Malik. He added that the process to launch a united 'anti-BJP' front has been initiated in the country and it will take a proper shape well before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "However, no such front can be formed without the Congress. The question of leadership will be taken up later at an appropriate time," Malik said, reiterating the clear stance of NCP and its ally, Shiv Sena, though some Opposition parties have expressed reservations. In this context, he referred to the visit of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in December followed by Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao this week to Mumbai to meet the Maha Vikas Aghadi leadership and forge a united national Opposition front to counter the BJP.
Raj BJP MLAs to return Apple iPhones gifted by Cong govt aipur, Feb 24 (IANS): The BJP MLAs in Rajasthan have decided to return the expensive iPhone 13 which were given to all 200 MLAs of the state by the Ashok Gehlot government after the Budget presentation. BJP state president Satish Poonia, in his tweet, said, "Keeping in view the financial burden on the state government, we will return the iPhones given by the Congress government. The decision has been
taken after discussion on this issue with other MLAs including Leader of Opposition Gulabchand Kataria and Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathod." After presenting the budget on Wednesday, the Ashok Gehlot government of Rajasthan gave iPhone 13 to all 200 MLAs along with a copy of the budget. The price of these iPhones ranges between Rs 75,000 and Rs 1 lakh. It is being
said that the state government had recently purchased 250 iPhones. Of these, 200 have been given to MLAs. This is the third consecutive year when MLAs have been given expensive gifts after the budget. Earlier, after the last budget, Apple I-PADs were given to the legislators. Laptops were given during the budget before last year. At the same time, new luxury residences of MLAs are also being built in Jaipur.
Majithia surrenders before trial court in Mohali Chandigarh, Feb 24: Facing charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Thursday surrendered before a trial court in Mohali near here following directions of the Supreme Court. Majithia applied for regular bail and the trial court started arguments over his bail plea, it is learnt. The court, however, allowed the Special Investigation Team to interrogate Majithia for about an hour in the court complex. www.indianabroad.news
A bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hima Kohli had directed Majithia to surrender before the trial court after the Punjab Assembly polls on February 20. His interim bail had ended on Wednesday night. Majithia, the brother-n-law of SAD chief Sukhbir Badal, was in fray for the February 20 assembly polls from Amritsar (East). In a 49-page FIR filed by the state police Crime Branch at the Mohali police station, the SAD leader has been booked under sections 25, 27A and 29 of the NDPS Act.
culture to prevail in India, Cong to promote diversity: Rahul Imphal, Feb 21 (IANS): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that the vision and ideology of the BJP and the RSS is to promote one idea, one culture and one language maintaining these are superior to all other ideas, all other languages and all other cultures. Gandhi referring to his recent Lok Sabha speech on "Union of states" said the Congress always wanted to protect and develop the diverse culture of people of all the states and Union Territories of India. He said that the BJP and the RSS did not like the reference of "Union of states" because they have a different vision of the country. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP and RSS leaders are coming to Manipur not with respect to the people of the state, not with understanding, they come with a sense of superiority. PM comes to Manipur with the idea that he has a superior vision, superior language and he has the right to define about India. "I come Manipur with humility; because I understand that you (people) have a lot to give. I come here to learn a lot from you because there is a diverse culture, languages and traditions here. PM will come to Manipur on Tuesday with an air of superiority to tell you what he thinks and not to learn from you," the Congress leader said. While addressing his first election rally in poll bound Manipur at Hapta Kangjeibung in Imphal, Rahul Gandhi said the Congress believed in an India where every state had equal rights and the right to have its own language, culture and history. Modi earlier promised to give two crore jobs in a year, deposit Rs 15 lakhs in the bank account of every
Indian and he would change the destiny of the farmers, Gandhi said. "But now he is not talking about those commitments ...he is not talking about three black farm laws. He is not talking now about the severely bad effect of 'Notebandi' (demonetisation). He is not talking about the flawed GST. "The faulty GST was created to help two to three millionaires and to destroy the small and medium industries and enterprises. India is now witnessing the highest number of unemployed in 40 years." Gandhi referring to the Rs 11,000 crore National Palm oil cultivation mission of the government, said that this cultivation would not help the farmers of Manipur, it would destroy the economy of Manipur. "Companies like Patanjali and large business organisations would be benefited and make profit from this cultivation. We are not interested to help Baba Ramdev and punish Manipuri people. We are always keen to protect the interest of Manipur and to make the state self-sufficient in rice production," he observed. Criticising the BJP government for not helping women, the Congress leader said that his party led government in Manipur helped a lot in the 'Ima Keithal' and more such 'Ima Keithal' would be set up in the future to empower the women in the state. The century old and world's largest all-women run market 'Ima Keithal' or the 'Mother's Market', located in Manipur capital Imphal and other smaller all-women markets functioning in different parts of the northeastern state boost the Manipur economy to a large extent and are a great source of livelihood
of thousands of women. The all women market, which has a history of over 500 years, has around 3,615 licensed female vendors registered with the Imphal Municipal Corporation. Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "failure to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic", Gandhi said that Modi is the first Prime Minister in the world who campaigned for "Thali Bajao to vanish coronavirus.... when his Thali Bajao scheme failed he asked the people to switch on the mobile phone light to eradicate the virus". Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also addressed an election rally in Manipur virtually from Delhi on February 15 while party leaders Jairam Ramesh and Bhakta Charan Das are spearheading the party's election campaign in the northeastern state. The elections to the 60-seat Manipur assembly would be held in two phases on February 28 and March 5. The counting of votes would take place on March 10.
Former Odisha CM Hemananda Biswal passes away, PM, Rahul express condolences Bhubaneswar, Feb 25 (IANS): Senior Congress leader and former Odisha Chief Minister, Hemananda Biswal passed away here at a private hospital on Friday, his daughter Sunita said. He was 82. Biswal served as Chief Minister of Odisha twice - from December 7, 1989 to March 3, 1990, and from December 6, 1999 to March 5, 2000. The first tribal Chief Minister of the state, he was also Deputy CM from March 15, 1995 to May 9, 1998. Biswal joined Congress in 1972 and was elected to the Assembly for the first time in 1974 and again re-elected in 1980 to till 2004 from Laikera Assembly segment in Jharsuguda district. He was elected as an MP from Sundergarh in 2009-14. A six-time MLA, he served as minister of several departments including Home, Industries, Panchayati Raj,
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General Administration, and Health. He is survived by five daughters Sabita, Sanjukya, Manjulata, Sunita, and Anita. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi condoled his demise. "Anguished by the passing away of former Odisha CM Shri Hemananda Biswal Ji. He was active in public life for many years and worked extensively among people. In this sad hour, my thoughts are with his family and supporters. Om Shanti," Modi tweeted. Expressing his heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Biswal, Gandhi, in a tweet, said, "He was a stalwart of the Congress Party and would be remembered as a great tribal leader." Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal and senior leaders from the
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state, including Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and state Congress President Niranjan Patnaik have expressed grief at the demise of the leader.
16
SCI-TECH
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Trump's Truth Social censoring IIT researchers use orange-peel content, kicking off users for making biofuel precursors
San Francisco, Feb 23 (IANS): Former US Preasident Donald Trump's social media platform Truth Social, which launched only a few days ago, is struggling with technical glitches and onboarding new users in the early stages of its rollout. The site, which billed itself as a sort of free speech alternative to Twitter
with more lax content moderation policies, has already booted a few users off of its platform, reports Engadget. Other users are struggling to even access the platform, which now has nearly half a million people on its waitlist, the report said. According to Mashable, a user named Matt Ortega was rejected
from Truth Social on the basis of his username, @DevineNunesCow. A parody Twitter account of the same name poked fun at former Rep. Devin Nunes, who is currently the CEO of Truth Social's parent company. A few users have pointed out that Truth Social's moderation policy is significantly more strict than that of Twitter, despite its claim to be a refuge from Big Tech's censorship. Unlike Twitter, Truth Social users can get suspended or booted from the platform altogether for posting content that moderators consider to be false, defamatory or misleading. While Twitter has had broad bans in the past on Covid-19 and election misinformation, it regularly allows other types of misinformation to fly by. Truth Social users also can get banned for posting content that moderators deem to be "libelous, slanderous, or otherwise objectionable". Twitter tends to be selective in how it handles disputes between users unless it involves targeted harassment campaigns, the report said.
iPhone 14 battery life may increase with new 5G chip
San Francisco, Feb 23 (IANS): Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 14 in or around September and now a new report suggests the upcoming iPhone will feature better battery life than iPhone 13 series, thanks to a new 5G chipset. According to a new report from the Economic Daily News, TSMC
has obtained all orders for Apple's 5G radio frequency or RF chips for this year's flagship iPhone models. The new chips will be purportedly manufactured using TSMC's 6nm process. The 6nm process for 5G RF chips can provide a physically smaller chip with lower power consumption.
The smaller chip would free up valuable space inside the iPhone 14 for other components such as a larger battery. The modem of the iPhone 14 is also said to be bringing support for Wi-Fi 6E, iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 series smartphones with Wi-Fi 6. Apple last year launched iPhone 13 Pro models with storage options of up to a whopping 1 TB and now the next flagship series, the iPhone 14 line-up mayAcome with up to 2 TB of storage. Apple will adopt QLC flash storage for next year's iPhone and that thanks to the newer storage technology, it will increase capacity to 2 TB. According to famed analyst MingChi Kuo, top-tier "iPhone 14" models will adopt a 1/1.3-inch 48MP CMOS image sensor for wide-angle camera module duties. "We believe that the new 2H2022 iPhone may support direct 48MP output and 12MP (four cells merge output mode) output simultaneously," Kuo said in a note to investors.
Facebook Reels goes global with new money-making tools for creators
New Delhi, Feb 23: Meta has launched its TikTok-rival short-video making app Facebook Reels for iOS and Android to more than 150 countries across the globe. To help creators earn money from Facebook Reels, the company said it is expanding tests of overlay ads, starting with banner and sticker ads. "New Facebook Reels features include Remix, sharing to Facebook Stories and more," Meta said in a
statement late on Tuesday. "Watching video is half of time spent on Facebook and Instagram, and Reels is our fastest growing content format by far," it added. In an alternative to popular video-making app TikTok, Facebook in 2020 started testing its short video-making app Instagram Reels first in India. Mets said that the ‘Reels Play' bonus programme, part of its $1 billion
creator investment, pays eligible creators up to $35,000 a month based on the views of their qualifying reels. "In the coming months, we'll expand the bonus programme to more countries, so more creators can get rewarded for creating reels that their communities love," said Meta. The company is also building direct monetisation options for Facebook Reels through ad revenue share and fan support. "We're expanding tests of Facebook Reels Overlay Ads to all creators in the US, Canada and Mexico, and to more countries in the coming weeks". Any creator in the US, Canada and Mexico who is part of our in-stream ads program is automatically eligible to monetise their publicly-shared reels with ads. By mid-March, these tests will expand to creators in nearly all countries where in-stream ads are available. The users can find Facebook Reels in Feed, Groups and Watch.
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New Delhi/Mandi, Feb 23: Researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi have used hydrochar derived from orange peels as a catalyst to convert biomass derived chemicals into biofuel precursors. The research will help to develop biomass-based fuel to overcome the socio-political instabilities associated with dwindling petroleum reserves. This method will help in producing clean green power from biomass and hasten India's journey towards sustainable fuel development, free from the shackles of fossil fuel dependence. The findings of the research team have been recently published in the journal 'Green Chemistry'. The research was led by Dr Venkata Krishnan, Associate Professor of School of Basic Sciences at IIT Mandi, and co-authored by his students Tripti Chhabra and Prachi Dwivedi, a release from IIT Mandi said on Wednesday. Biomass derived products from naturally occurring materials, is currently the fourth most significant energy source that can meet the energy demand after coal, oil, and natural gas, in the country. Lignocellulosic biomass obtained from forestry and agricultural waste, for example, can potentially be converted to a variety of useful chemicals by various methods. Of these methods, the use of catalysts for the conversion is particularly useful because such processes can be carried out with minimal energy input and the type of product obtained from the biomass can be controlled through the right choice of catalysts and reaction conditions.
Talking about the research, Dr Venkata Krishnan said: "One of the driving interests among the renewable energy community is the development of relatively clean and energy efficient processes to convert biomass into useful chemicals, including fuel." The simplest and most low-cost catalyst that has been studied by the researchers for biomass conversion reactions is hydrochar. It is typically obtained by heating the biomass waste (orange peels in this case) in the presence of water through the hydrothermal carbonisation process. The use of hydrochar as a catalyst for biomass conversion is attractive because it is renewable and its chemical and physical structure can be altered for better catalytic efficiencies, the release said. The researchers have used hydrochar derived from orange peels to catalyse the conversion of biomass-derived chemicals into biofuel precursors. They heat dried orange peel powder with citric acid under pressure in a hydrothermal reactor (a lab-level 'pressure cooker') for many hours. The hydrochar that was produced was then treated with other chemicals to introduce acidic
sulfonic, phosphate and nitrate functional groups to it. "We used these three types of catalyst to bring about hydroxyalkylation alkylation (HAA) reactions between 2-methylfuran and furfural, compounds that are derived from lignocellulose, to produce fuel precursors," explained Chhabra. The scientists found that the sulfonic functionalised hydrochar catalyst was able to catalyse this reaction effectively, to produce biofuel precursors in good yield. Further, Krishnan added: "We were able to synthesise the biofuel precursors under solventless and low temperature conditions, which decreases the overall cost of the process and also makes it environment-friendly, attractive from an industry point of view." This is the first comparative study in which the three types of acid functionalisation have been assessed. They also performed green metric calculations and temperature programmed desorption (TPD) studies to gain deeper insights into the catalytic activity of sulfonic, nitrate and phosphate functionalised hydrochar derived from orange peels, the release added.
Microsoft Edge may overtake Safari as second most popular desktop browser New Delhi, Feb 23: Microsoft's Edge browser is on the verge of surpassing Apple's Safari as the world's second most popular desktop browser According to data from web analytics service StatCounter, Microsoft Edge is now used on 9.54 per cent of desktops worldwide, a mere 0.3 per cent behind Apple's Safari, which stands at 9.84 per cent. Google Chrome still holds the top spot at 65.38 per cent, with fellow challenger Mozilla Firefox now trailing with 9.18 per cent. While Edge appears to be set to overtake Safari on a global scale, in North America, Safari is in a stronger position, being used on 16.87 per cent of desktops compared to Edge's 11.93 per cent market share. Meanwhile in Europe, Edge has already surpassed Safari, taking 10.9 per cent of the market compared to Safari's 9.95 per cent. In Asia Safari's 5.41 percent market share trails behind Edge's 7.46 per cent. Microsoft recently released version
98.0.1108.43 of its Edge browser that brings a host of new features, including a new browsing mode that prioritises security. The company said that this is a browsing mode in Microsoft Edge where browser security takes priority, giving users an extra layer of protection when browsing the web. Administrators can apply group
policies to end-user desktops (Windows, macOS, and Linux) to help protect against in-the-wild exploits (also referred to 0-days), Microsoft said in a blogpost. With the new update, users can personalise their multi-profile experience with the ability to create a customised list of sites for automatic profile switching in Microsoft Edge.
building the world's most powerful AI supercomputer to drive the future of AI research breakthroughs," Meta said in a statement. A new tool fueling creativity in the metaverse — ‘BuilderBot enables people to generate or import things into a virtual world just by using voice commands, the company added. Meta is also working on Universal
Speech Translator, an AI system that provides instantaneous speech-to-speech translation across all languages, even those that are mostly spoken. "Project CAIRaoke is a new approach to AI that powers chatbots and assistants. With this technology, people could one day have more fluid conversations with their virtual assistants," Meta added.
Zuckerberg shows bot that builds virtual worlds with voice commands San Francisco, Feb 24: Amid the metaverse buzz, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has demonstrated a new artificial intelligence (AI) system that can help people build virtual worlds with just voice commands. Called "BuilderBot," the tool is as an "exploratory concept" that shows AI's potential for creating new worlds in the metaverse, Zuckerberg said in a video late on Wednesday. He tells the bot, "let's go to a park." The bot then creates a 3D landscape of a park with green grass and trees. Zuckerberg then says, "actually, let's go to the beach," and the tool replaces the virtual park with a new one with sand and water. He then points to a specific area of the water and says "let's add an island over there," and then the bot creates one. The ‘BuilderBot' uses voice commands to create 3D environments and placing them onto the landscape. "As we build for the metaverse, we'll continue to break ground in areas like self-supervised learning and
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17
SPORTS
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
ICA condemns threatening messages to Wriddhiman Saha IANS
New Delhi, Feb 22: The Indian Cricketers' Association (ICA) on Tuesday 'strongly condemned' the threatening message sent to veteran wicketkeeper-batter Wriddhiman Saha by a journalist and welcomed the BCCI's decision to probe the issue. The 37-year-old tweeted a screenshot of messages from a journalist on Saturday, a little after he was excluded from India's Test squad for the forthcoming two-match Test series against Sri Lanka. "After all of my contributions to Indian cricket...this is what I face from a so-called 'Respected' journalist! This is where journalism has gone," Saha wrote on Twitter along with the screenshot. The issue escalated after former players like Ravi Shastri, Parthiv Patel and Virender Sehwag, among others, joined in the criticism of the said journalist. The BCCI subsequently decided to get to the bottom of the issue with treasurer Arun Dhumal saying that secretary Jay Shah will speak to the veteran wicketkeeper. The ICA has now requested Saha to reveal the journalist's name and also urged the BCCI to take the strictest action. "We acknowledge the fact that the media plays a very important role
both in the growth of our game and the players but there's always a line that must never be crossed. What has happened in Saha's case is totally unacceptable and we call for the respective press organisations to take up the matter and ensure such things are not repeated," said ICA President Ashok Malhotra in a statement. "At the ICA our foremost concern is the welfare of cricketers, past and present, and we cannot accept such behaviour from anyone let alone a journalist. We are with Saha and request him to reveal the journalist's name. Should the BCCI feel the need to cancel the erring journalist's accreditation and access to any BCCI event, we will fully support the move," he added. ICA Secretary Hitesh Majumdar also offered full support to Saha, saying that no player should be subjected to such 'threats' from anyone in the media or elsewhere. "We would offer our full support to Saha at this juncture. No player should be subjected to such 'threats' from anyone in the media or elsewhere. We urge the media also to come out in support of Saha and ensure that these sorts of issues don't crop up again," said Hitesh Majumdar, the ICA Secretary. "Any interaction between a player and the
media has always to be voluntary," he said. Meanwhile, Saha has said that he will not reveal the name of the journalist to the BCCI, as and when the cricket board communicates with him over his tweet that has become arguably Indian cricket's biggest talking point at the moment. It was reported on Monday that the BCCI would ask the wicketkeeper-batsman to reveal the identity of the journalist who purportedly sent a string of WhatsApp messages to the cricketer, demanding an interview. "I haven't received any communication from the BCCI yet. If they ask me to reveal the name (of the journalist), I would tell them it was never my intention to harm somebody's career, to pull a person down. That's why I didn't reveal the name in my tweet. That's not the teaching of my parents. The main purpose of my tweet was to expose the fact that there's someone in the media who does such things, disrespecting a player's wish," Saha told The Indian Express. "It wasn't fair, which I wanted to tell through my tweets. He who has done it knows it very well. I posted those tweets because I didn't want the players to face such things. I wanted to convey the message that what has been done was wrong and no one else should do it again," he added. The veteran keeper also mentioned that he is not retiring from cricket in near future. "I play cricket because of my love for the game. As long as that is there, I will not hang up my boots. It doesn't matter whether I'm being considered for the Indian team or my state team or my IPL side. As long as I'm enjoying the game, I will play. I won't mind calling time on my career through club and office cricket," Saha said.
Kush Maini signs up with MP Motorsport for FIA F3 debut
Rotterdam, Feb 22: Young Indian racer Kush Maini has signed with MP Motorsport for his debut season in the FIA Formula 3 Championship. Joining the Dutch outfit for FIA F3 will allow the 21-year-old from Bengaluru to showcase his talent during Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends. Maini, supported by JK Racing, lines up with MP after competing in the F3 Asian Championship Certified by FIA last year as well as finishing second in the British F3 Championship in 2020, and will now be able to prove his worth in the FIA F3 level. At MP Motorsport, the Indian
driver will team up with Alexander Smolyar from Russia and Caio Collet from Brazil. Kush Maini is the younger brother of former FIA F2 and F3 driver Arjun Maini, who has since competed in the ELMS and the German DTM series. "I'm excited to join MP Motorsport for my first year in FIA F3," said Maini. "In 2021, MP proved to be race winners and in the final standings, they were the only FIA F3 team to have two rookies finish in the top-ten. This shows their ability to coach rookie drivers on their way to immediately performing well in the series. I can't wait to get going for pre-season testing and the first
round at Bahrain!" "I'm pleased to welcome Kush to our FIA F3 team," said MP Motorsport team principal Sander Dorsman. "In the past few years, Kush has proved himself extremely well at regional F3 levels, now it's time for him to step up to FIA F3. I'm sure he will mix well with Alex and Caio, and we will do our best to help him shine during each of the ninerace weekends coming up in the championship." After a karting career that kicked off in 2011 with the Indian national title at Rotax Micromax level, followed by accomplishments such as second in the 2013 WSK Euro Series at 60 Mini level, fourth in the 2014 CIK-FIA World KF Junior Championship and fourth in the 2015 KF Junior WSK Champions Cup, Maini debuted in single-seaters in 2016, taking his first podium in the Italian F4 Championship. Subsequently dovetailing Italian F4 with selected ADAC F4 rounds took him to eighth in the 2017 Italian series. In 2018 and 2020, Maini raced to third and then second in British F3, while taking sixth in the 2019 Formula Renault Eurocup. In 2021, the Indian youngster combined the Asian F3 championship with an LMP2 drive in the FIA World Endurance Championship.
Tendulkar to take legal action against use of his 'morphed' images in casino ads Khas Khabar
Mumbai, Feb 24: Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has expressed shock over his allegedly morphed images being used to endorse a casino and said he will soon be taking legal action against the
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misuse of his image. Tendulkar took to the social media on Thursday to clarify that he had nothing to do with the advertisements of a casino doing the rounds on the social media, which has his picture. "It has come to my notice that there are multiple ads being shown on social media platforms, with a morphed photo showing me endorsing a casino," Tendulkar said a statement on his Twitter handle. "I have never endorsed gambling, tobacco, or alcohol--directly or indirectly-- in an individual
capacity. It pains to see that my images are being used to mislead people," Tendulkar, who has always maintained a spotless image, said in the statement. The former India cricket captain, the most successful batter in international cricket, requested everyone to "remain vigilant about misleading images on social media". "While my legal team will be taking the required action, I felt it was important for me to share this information with everyone," the legendary cricketer said in the statement.
Exciting times for women's cricket with CWG and T20 World Cup round the corner: Sophie Devine Auckland, Feb 23: New Zealand women's cricket team skipper Sophie Devine has said that these are exciting times for women's cricket with the Birmingham Commonwealth Games this year and the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2023, adding that her team will hope to emulate the 2000 title-winning feat when the ICC Women's 50-over World Cup begins in her country on March 4. The Women's World Cup will be played across six venues in New Zealand with the hosts set to take on the West Indies on the opening day. "The coming year is huge for women's cricket as it makes its debut at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July-August and with the ICC Women's T20 World Cup scheduled for early next year in South Africa. It is super exciting to kick-off a huge period for women's cricket and we want to put performances out there that both ourselves and the country can be proud of," said Devine in her column for the ICC on Wednesday. "I've been fortunate to have played across a number of World Cups... and playing in New Zealand is massive for us as a team. Looking back, it was an incredible achievement from the 2000 White Ferns to win the World Cup at home. It certainly inspired several players in our current team, and we hope we can also inspire a new generation of cricketers both at home and around the world," added Devine. The 32-year-old Devine, a veteran of 120 WODIs, added that all the competing teams had made huge sacrifices in the COVID world to come and be a part of the showpiece event in New Zealand. "We are very grateful to all the teams for making sacrifices to join us for
what will hopefully be an exciting and hard-fought tournament. It has been a tough time for everyone over the past couple of years and this World Cup is a chance for us to put a smile on people's faces. "This tournament will break new ground for women's cricket; firstly as Bangladesh become the 12th team to compete in an ICC Women's Cricket World Cup," added Devine, whose team is in the middle of an entertaining five-match ODI series against India. The White Ferns are leading the series against the Mithali Raj-led side 4-0. "I am looking forward to coming up
against (Bangladesh's) Nigar Sultana and her team. We were really impressed when we played them for the first time at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in 2020 and I am sure they will put up just as much of a fight in the 50-over format. "Bangladesh and Thailand show how the women's game is continuing to grow and the importance of the ICC Women's Championship which I am happy to see expand to 10 teams. I see us playing an important role in ensuring that we grow the game. Having stronger teams and more competitive cricket can only be a positive thing for the women's game," she added.
You inspire every young kid in this country, Yuvraj writes an emotional letter to Kohli New Delhi, Feb 22: Former India batter Yuvraj Singh on Tuesday wrote an emotional letter to former captain Virat Kohli, saying he has seen his journey from a youngster to one of the greats of the game and as a person. Yuvraj Singh, a veteran of 304 OneDay Internationals, shared a special bond with Kohli on and off the field. Both the batters have played together for the Indian team and the Indian Premier League franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2014. Kohli recently ended his tenure as the fourth-most successful captain in Test history, winning 40 of the 68 matches he led India in. Yuvraj, who played 40 Tests, pointed out how Kohli inspired many players in the nation with his hard work. "To the little boy from Delhi @ imvkohli. I want to dedicate this special shoe to you, celebrating your career n time as captain which has brought smiles to millions of fans all over the world. I hope you stay the way YOU are, play the way YOU do and keep making the country proud," Yuvraj Singh tweeted.
"Virat, I've seen you grow as a cricketer and as a person. From that young boy in the nets who would walk shoulder-to-shoulder with the legends of Indian cricket, you're now a legend yourself leading the way for a new generation. Your discipline and passion on the field and dedication to the sport inspire every young kid in this country to pick up the bat and dream of putting on the blue jersey one day," Yuvraj wrote in the letter. Yuvraj Singh praised the 33-year-old Kolhi, saying that as one of the most successful Test captains in the game, he has been an inspiration for youngsters due to his hard work and determination. "You have elevated your level of cricket every single year and achieved so much already in this wonderful game that it makes me even more excited to watch you embark on this new chapter in your career. You have been a legendary captain and a fantastic leader. I'm expecting many more of your famous run chases," he added. Former Punjab Kings captain Yuvraj also gifted Kohli a special edition of
golden boots, saying the star batter might be 'King Kohli' for the world, but for him, he'll always remain Cheeku. "Mere liye tu hamesha Cheeku rahega aur duniya ke liye King Kohli. Always keep the fire inside you burning. You're a superstar. Here's a special golden boot for you. Keep making the country proud!" Yuvraj concluded.
Auckland, Feb 24 (IANS): Teams at the women's ODI World Cup starting next week will be allowed to take the field even with nine fit players in case of a Covid-19 outbreak. According to reports from New Zealand, which will be hosting the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup from March 4-April 3, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has confirmed that female members of a team's support staff will be permitted to field in a match in the case of a significant Covid outbreak, with games to proceed so long as a team has a minimum of nine players available. Normally, a team has to have eleven players with substitutes from the squad of 15 allowed to take the field in case more than one player is unavailable. But with the organisers looking to keep the tournament on track despite rising Covid-19 case numbers in New Zealand, the ICC has made these changes to the rules of play. "If it becomes necessary, we would allow a team to field nine players as
an exception for this environment," Chris Tetley, the ICC's Head of Events, said on Thursday "And if they had female substitutes from within their management team, we would enable two substitutes to play, non-batting, non-bowling … to enable a game to take place." Teams have been permitted to bring extra reserves with them to New Zealand, beyond the 15-player squad, so players can be brought in and out of the squad in the case of Covid infections. We'v'e allowed squads to bring additional travelling reserves so that they can replace on a temporary basis if needs be, because of Covid, players in and out of the squad during the event which is four or five-week-long event, so there's opportunity for players, maybe to contract Covid," Tetley said. Daily case numbers in New Zealand rose beyond 6000 on Thursday to a new high of 6137. The World Cup schedule features 31 matches at six venues in less than
a month and Tetley said that games could be rescheduled should there be a significant Covid-19 outbreak in a team. "We would, were it necessary, reschedule fixtures if it's possible," he said. "There are a number of logistical restraints upon us, but we'll be asking teams to show maximum flexibility and we'll be as flexible as possible if the need arises to fulfil our objective, which is to get the games on." Cricket World Cup chief executive Andrea Nelson said players will be following some "pretty strict protocols to keep them safe". She said crowd numbers would be below capacity due to current restrictions but would vary from venue to venue and possibly change as the tournament progresses. Originally scheduled for 2021, the World Cup is being held in New Zealand as it is one of the few countries in the world to maintain a hard international border, which meant all teams had to quarantine upon their arrival.
Women's ODI World Cup: Teams can play matches even with nine fit players
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18
BUSINESS & INVESTMENT
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Indian women freelancers' earning Home sales up 13% in 2021; Ahmedabad, Hyd chart leaders, says brokerage grew by 42% amid pandemic New Delhi, Feb 21 (IANS): For women freelance workers in India, the pandemic has resulted in higher levels of satisfaction, owing to an increased work-life balance and flexibility in work schedules that the gig culture offers in specialised areas, a new report showed on Monday. Indian women freelancers' average hourly earning rate grew by 42 per cent since 2020 -- $22 per hour (nearly Rs 1,600) in 2022 against $14 per hour (about Rs 1,050) in 2020. "Furthermore, their average hourly earnings rate was at par with their global counterparts, according to 'Freelancer Income Report 2022' by commerce and technology company Payoneer. "Indian freelancing is making a value driven shift in the global gig economy. In the last few years, we have witnessed a constant increase in freelancer income and their movement to more specialised fields like marketing, coding and finance,"
said Rohit Kulkarni, Senior Vice President at Payoneer India. More flexibility, better-skilled opportunities, and increased earnings are some of the factors leading to more professionals entering this economy. The average hourly rates of the Indian freelancing community saw a jump from $21 in 2020 to $26 in 2022. In 2022, Indian women are earning 81 per cent of what their male counterparts do with their average hourly rates at $22 per hour compared to men's hourly rate at $27 per hour (nearly Rs 2,000). "The gender pay gap stood at 77 per cent before Covid-19. Interestingly, Indian women freelancers recorded a much better gender pay ratio against their counterparts in developed markets like North America which stood at 71 per cent," the findings showed. Indian freelancers outshined their global counterparts and were able to
demand a better average hourly rate for some of the popular professions like finance, demanding an hourly rate of $71 against global average of $41 and marketing at $47 vs global average rate of $34. "The findings cements our belief that Indian freelancing will continue making rapid strides in the global gig market in days to come," said Kulkarni. The freelancing economy is still dominated by young Indian freelancers between the age group of 18-34 years. More than half of the Indian respondents (57 per cent) stated that they find most of their work through online marketplaces such as Upwork and Fiverr, etc, while only 7 per cent rely on traditional sources like word of mouth and referrals. Top challenges faced by Indian freelancers were related to business growth, i.e. expanding to new markets, and managing time and fee negotiations, said the report.
New Delhi, Feb 20: Home sales in India's eight prime housing markets increased 13 per cent year-on-year in 2021 as compared to the overall sales in 2020, said PropTiger.com, a leading online real estate brokerage firm. Real estate activity in India's leading markets intensified towards the second half of 2021, after a grim 18 months as the economy was consistently battered by multiple waves of the pandemic, the brokerage said. A much sharper growth was seen in terms of new supply in 2021 as against 2020. Accordingly, a total of 2.14 lakh units were launched in 2021 compared to 1.22 lakh units in the preceding year, with an increase of around 75 per cent. "This improvement in key growth metrics for the sector, the second-largest employment generator in India after agriculture, could largely be attributed to support measures launched by the government
in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, improved consumer sentiment, stable prices and historically high housing affordability," the brokerage said in a statement. According to the brokerage, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad were the top growing cities, with sales rising 39 per cent and 36 per cent,
respectively, in 2021, followed by Chennai at 25 per cent. Mumbai and Pune markets grew at 8-9 per cent during the calendar year, it added. Sales in the national capital Delhi rose just one per cent, according to the brokerage.
'Indian textile exports likely to India's organic exports breach $100 bn mark in next 5 yrs' grew 51% over 2019-20: Govt
New Delhi, Feb 21: Despite the pandemic, India's organic exports grew 51 per cent over 2019-20 levels, government officials said on Monday, adding it envisages targeting 10 per cent export share in the global fruits and vegetable market by 2030. About the export potential of organic and horticulture produce in India, Joint Secretary, Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Priya Ranjan said: "India's organic exports stood at 8,88,180 metric tonnes in 2020-21." "To ensure the quality of our organic produce, we need to have a robust system of certification and the Government of India has anchored
two systems of certification for organic products," he said, emphasising that appropriate phyto-sanitary protocols need to be ensured for better acceptability of Indian organic and horticultural products. "We envisage targeting 10 per cent export share in global fruits and vegetable market by 2030," he said at the India Pavilion at EXPO2020 Dubai that hosted seminar 'Indian Organic and Horticulture Sector Moving Up the Value Chain' as part of the ongoing 'Food, Agriculture and Livelihood' fortnight to project the strength of India's organic agriculture and horticulture products in the global market. The seminar, to deliberate on the opportunities and huge export potential that the Indian agriculture sector offers, saw participation from the representatives of the government and private sector. Earlier, in his opening remarks, Additional Secretary, Agriculture
and Farmers Welfare, P.K. Swain urged the global investors to invest in the agriculture supply chain and take advantage of FDI policies introduced by the government in the sector. Highlighting the impressive trajectory of India's agriculture ecosystem, , Partner, Food & Agribusiness, KPMG, K. Srinivas said: "India is ranked amongst the top 10 exporting countries in agriculture and the overall exports have been growing at an extremely significant rate." "Despite the pandemic challenges, we were able to achieve this feat and it strengthens India's positioning as an exporter globally," he added. Emphasising on the export-focused strategy for the promotion of organic and horticulture produce, Srinivas said: "This platform is helping us initiate conversation around awareness and capacity building with investors to make prominence of India in horticulture space."
New Delhi, Feb 22: India's textile exports can breach the $100 bn mark in next 5 years, Union Textiles Secretary, Upendra Prasad Singh said on Tuesday. "The country's textile exports can increase from the current $40 billion to $100 billion in the next five years," he said in his address at the 44th Foundation Day of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). Singh said that the Indian apparel industry must focus on vertical integration to increase its scale and size and to benefit from the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme. "Apparel and garmenting is not very investment-centric but it is very important from an employment point of view. Perhaps, there is a need for backward integration and more of you can get into integrated value-chain like spinning and weaving," he said. The Textiles Secretary said that along with the PLI scheme, the
government is committed to make the Prime Minister Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) scheme a success. "Idea is not to just have a world class infrastructure but also a thriving
industry there. There are a lot of big opportunities. The demand continues to be robust and the China plus one sourcing strategy by the west is certainly a great opportunity for us," he added.
BITCOIN UPDATES
India's crypto ad guidelines World's largest NFT marketplace OpenSea hacked, users lost NFTs out, celebrities warned
New Delhi, Feb 23: In a bid to clamp down on risky crypto ads in India, the Advertising Standards Council Of India (ASCI) on Wednesday issued guidelines for all virtual digital assets (VDA)-related advertisements, which will be applicable on or after April 1. All crypto/NFT ads must carry the following disclaimer, "Crypto products and NFTs are unregulated and can be highly risky. There may be no regulatory recourse for any loss from such transactions." No advertisement for crypto/digital asset products or exchanges may show a minor, or someone who appears to be a minor, directly dealing with the product, or talking about the product, said the advertising watchdog. Since this is a risky category, "celebrities or prominent personalities who appear in crypto/NFT advertisements must take special care to ensure that they have done their due diligence about the statements and claims made in the advertisement, so as not to mislead consumers," the ASCI warned.
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Even as the Indian government continues to work on the framework for virtual digital assets (VDA), commonly referred to as crypto or NFT products, advertising for these products has been very aggressive over the past few months across TV, bring and digital media. The ASCI noted that several of these advertisements do not adequately disclose the risks associated with such products. "Advertising of virtual digital assets and services needs specific guidance, considering that this is a new and as yet an emerging way of investing. Hence, there is a need to make consumers aware of the risks and ask them to proceed with caution," said Subhash Kamath, Chairman of ASCI. The ASCI extensively consulted with different stakeholders, including government and the virtual digital asset industry -- to frame guidelines for virtual digital asset advertising. "Every advertisement for VDA products must clearly give out the name of the advertiser and provide an easy way to contact them (phone number or email). This information should be presented in a manner that is easily understood by the average consumer," according to new guidelines. "No advertisement may show that VDA products or VDA trading could be a solution to money problems, personality problems or other such drawbacks." The council said that no crypto/NFT advertisement shall contain statements that promise or guarantee
future increase in profits. "No advertisement may show that understanding VDA products is so easy that consumers do not have to think twice about investing. Nothing in the ad should downplay the risks associated with the category," said the council. The VDA products may not be compared to any other asset class which is regulated, it added. Advertisers and media owners must also ensure that all earlier advertisements must not appear in the public domain unless they comply with the guidelines, post April 15, 2022. "We have seen a spate of advertising for virtual digital assets which could compromise consumer interest in the absence of some guardrails. Use of celebrities and high decibel advertising would attract consumers to these offerings, without full disclosure of the risks," said Manisha Kapoor, Secretary General, ASCI. "Given that this is, as of now, an unregulated space, it is even more important for advertising to be upfront regarding the risks associated with these products," Kapoor emphasised. Although no Crypto Bill yet, the government in the Union Budget has proposed a 30 per cent tax on digital assets. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also proposed 1 per cent TDS (tax deducted at source) on transactions in such asset classes above a certain threshold. Gifts in crypto and digital assets will also be taxed.
New Delhi, Feb 20: World's largest NFT (non-fungible token) marketplace, OpenSea on Sunday confirmed that it has been hit by a phishing attack and at least 32 users had lost their valuable NFTs worth $1.7 million. OpenSea Co-Founder and CEO, Devin Finzer acknowledged the phishing attack, confirming that 32 users have lost NFTs so far. He said rumours that this was a $200 million hack are false and the attacker "has $1.7 million of ETH (Ethereum) in his wallet from selling some of the stolen NFTs. While the NFT marketplace was yet to figure out the magnanimity of the cyber attack, Blockchain investigator Peckshield said he suspects a possible leak of user information (including email ids) that fuelled the
phishing attack. "We are actively investigating rumours of an exploit associated with OpenSea related smart contracts. This appears to be a phishing attack originating outside of OpenSea's website," the NFT marketplace posted in a tweet. The hack happened as OpenSea announced a new smart contract upgrade with a one-week deadline to delist inactive NFTs on the platform. The smart contract upgrade required users to migrate their listed NFTs from ETH blockchain to a new smart contract. Within hours after OpenSea's upgrade announcement, reports across multiple sources emerged about an ongoing attack that targets the soon-to-be-delisted NFTs. "We don't believe it's connected to
the OpenSea website. It appears 32 users so far have signed a malicious payload from an attacker, and some of their NFTs were stolen," Finzer posted. The OpenSea CEO urged affected users to directly message him on Twitter. The phishing attack on NFT marketplace occurred as the UK tax authority last week seized three NFTs as part of a probe into a 1.4 million pounds (nearly $1.9 million) fraud case, the BBC reported on Monday. The authority said it was the first UK law enforcement to seize an NFT. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs also seized 5,000 pounds worth of crypto assets ($6,762) alongside three NFT artworks, which have yet to be valued.
Criminals had $11 bn worth illicit cryptocurrencies in 2021 New Delhi, Feb 17: Cryptocurrencies have made criminals richer and in 2021, criminals held $11 billion worth of funds with known illicit sources, compared to just $3 billion at the end of 2020, a new report has revealed. As of the end of 2021, stolen funds account for 93 per cent of all criminal balances, at $9.8 billion. Dark Net market funds are next at $448 million, followed by scams at $192 million, fraud shops at $66 million, and ransomware at $30 million, reports Blockchain data company Chainalysis. Criminal balances also fluctuated throughout the year, from a low of $6.6 billion in July to a high of $14.8 billion in October.
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"The fluctuations are a reminder of the importance of speed in cryptocurrency investigations, as criminal funds that have been successfully traced on the Blockchain can be liquidated quickly," the report mentioned. This year, their has been a large drop in criminal balances in February due to the US Department of Justice's $3.6 billion seizure of Bitcoin stolen in the 2016 Bitfinex hack. "Following that seizure, criminal balances currently stand at roughly $5 billion as of February 9, 2022," the report noted. Overall, Chainalysis has identified 4,068 criminal whales holding over $25 billion worth of cryptocurrency.
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"Criminal whales represent 3.7 per cent of all cryptocurrency whales a" that is, private wallets holding over $1 million worth of cryptocurrency," said the report. In total, 1,333 criminal whales received between 25 per cent and 90 per cent of all funds from illicit addresses. "Illicit funds received by criminal whales also come from more varied sources than the funds making up overall criminal balances," the report added. When it comes to the location of criminal whales, Russia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Iran top the list.
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HEALTH
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Covid pandemic may Start your career in the aged care industry end in 2022: WHO TOI
Moscow, Feb 21: If there are no more major Covid outbreaks after Omicron, the pandemic may see an end in 2022, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative in Russia has said. However, it does not mean that the virus will vanish completely, Melita Vujnovic was quoted as saying in an interview with TASS news agency. "It's hard to make predictions at the moment but we hope that if nothing else happens, the pandemic may end in 2022.
"What does an end to the pandemic mean? It means that there will be no major outbreaks, but it doesn't mean that the virus will vanish. "A great number of cases means that the virus is capable of mutating so we don't know how the situation will unfold. However, there is cautious optimism that major outbreaks will end once Omicron spreads across the globe," she said. According to Vujnovic, the WHO is trying to predict when it will happen, but it's difficult because
countries "are now changing their testing strategies". She said that the Omicron strain was very contagious and was spreading quickly, while some countries did not have the money to test everyone given the large number of patients without symptoms, the report said "The picture that we are seeing does not fully reflect the exact number of cases as opposed to what things were like when the pandemic just broke out and the Delta strain started spreading," the WHO envoy said. Several countries have seen a decline in Omicron variant-led Covid surge. The decrease in cases has also led to lifting restrictions. Sweden, Denmark, and Norway have all lifted Covid restrictions as they look to reclassify the virus as a disease that does not pose a threat to society. The UK and the US are soon likely to follow. However many experts, including the WHO, have urged caution. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus had recently stated "it's premature for any country either to surrender or to declare victory".
Israel to open to unvaccinated tourists from March
IANS
Jerusalem, Feb 21: Israel has announced that starting from March 1 it will open borders to all tourists, including the unvaccinated. All tourists would be required to undergo two PCR tests, one prior
to departure and the other after landing, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz said in a joint statement on Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported.
New Delhi, Feb 22: Doctors here have given a new lease of life to a two-year-old boy who suffered cardiac arrest and multiple organ failure post a Covid infection. Rahul (name changed) had recovered from Covid in December last year, but later began suffering persistent cough and breathing problems. He was brought to doctors at Aakash Healthcare, with high fever and breathing problems in mid January. The infant went into cardiac arrest minutes after arriving at the hospital and was saved after 30 minutes of CPR. The child was also diagnosed with a severe case of bronchiolitis (viral pneumonia), which has led to pneumopericardium - a rare
condition where the sac around the heart is affected due to the damaged lungs. In such a case, the lungs burst, as a result of infection, leading to a drop in blood pressure due to air around the heart and causing the heart to function poorly. "Within minutes of arriving at the hospital, the child had a heart arrest. Further examinations revealed that he had developed Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a rare disorder in which his own body was killing multiple organs," Dr Sayed Mustafa Hasan, Senior Consultant and Head, Paediatrics and Neonatology, at Aakash. As a result, the lungs, heart, brain and kidneys had suffered considerable damage. The baby was even unable to pass urine, putting him in a severe condition. He was also experiencing speech difficulty and loss of eye contact with others as a result of the post-Covid effects. The doctors immediately began Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT) after recovering him with CPR, removing all waste
For Israeli nationals, the requirement to take an antigen test before boarding the plane was cancelled. Instead, only a PCR test upon arrival will be mandatory. The unvaccinated Israelis will need no quarantine if with a negative result of a PCR test at the airport. "We are seeing a steady decline in the morbidity data," Bennett said in the statement. "At the moment, the situation in Israel is good," he noted, adding that this was "the result of correct and dynamic management." Currently, only vaccinated tourists are allowed to enter the country. Israel restricted the entry of foreign visitors in March 2020 and later eased the restrictions. As cases of the highly infectious Omicron variant were detected in late 2021, the country virtually closed its skies to foreign tourists.
Delhi doctors save 2-yr-old with cardiac arrest post-Covid material from his body. "The therapy continued non-stop for 60 hours. To eliminate infections, we employed the cytosorb dialysis filter. We also worked to normalise his blood pressure," Hasan said. Rahul spent 15-16 days in the ICU ward on a ventilator. During this time, a team of specialists attempted to restore his kidneys, heart and lungs to normal function. Along with CRRT, he was also given haemodialysis and perinoteal dialysis to remove the infection. His condition improved over a month, and he was eventually discharged, the doctors said. "Rahul's heart, lungs and kidneys were not functioning when he was brought to us. It's a very rare case and less than 1 per cent of the kids suffer from such severe infection leading to multiple organ dysfunction," said Dr. Neha Bhandari, Consultant, Paediatrics Nephrology, Aakash Healthcare, Dwarka. Sudden cardiac arrest is rare in children, but it can happen. Hence, all children need regular check-up visits with their doctor, the doctors advised.
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By Vahini Panda ant to do meaningful work with the elderly? Study the Certificate III in Individual Support and you can become a qualified Support/Aged Care Worker! Read below to find out what career titles you can be qualifed to work as, what the pay is, what the role of an Aged Care Worker is and all about the course! What Does an Aged Care Worker Do? Aged Care Workers provide support to elderly people by assisting with daily activities and personal tasks. This often includes providing support with eating, showering, dressing, tidying and cleaning. Aged Care Workers can work from their client’s home or residential care facility. Tasks: Feeding, showering, dressing and assisting with medications. Preparing meals and drinks. Tidying and cleaning, including sanitising activities. Engaging with family members to offer observations, instructions and updates. Assisting with mobility, providing transport to and from medical appointment and light physiotherapy exercises. Providing social support, such as escorting the client on outings to cafes, shops and going on excursions. Following health and safety guidelines. Where Can I Work? Upon completing this qualification students will be qualified to work as the below career titles in Aged Care Homes, Residential Facilities or for private or agnecy organised
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in-home care roles. • Accommodation support worker • Assistant in nursing • Care assistant • Care worker • Home care assistant • In-home respite worker • Support worker • Aged Care worker • Care service employees • Community care worker • Community support worker • Field officer • Personal care assistant What is the Pay? The pay for an Aged Care Worker is on average AU$55 000 per year, however this is subject to change based on employer, state and various other variables. To provide a better indication, the average hourly pay is AU$24.00 Our Course: The Certificate III in Individual
Support (Ageing) is a 1 year course, consisting of 13 units. The course is completely self-paced with full tutor support. All theory work is to be completed online and this is followed by a 120 hour or three week placement in an Aged Care Facility. The placement not only is for applying the skills learnt in the theory work, but provides students with an understanding of how Aged Care Facilities are run, and provides an opportunity to build rapport with a facility for employment upon completion! About the Author: Vahini is the CEO and Founder of Health Academy Australia and Health Courses Australia. She is multi faceted in her skills and expertise which is backed by 20 years experience in the areas of education, health, ecommerce and Information Technology. She is a CEO, Passionate business owner, Author, Blogger, Nutritionist, Digital marketing expert and a Mum.
New York, Feb 21: Regular physical activity is essential to not only reduce muscle loss and maintain strength as you age, but also to keep your memory intact. Forgetfulness is part of ageing and may worsen into Alzheimer's disease that may affect the quality of life. A new study has shown that practising aerobic exercises like cycling, walking or jogging thrice a week in the 50s and 60s can help stave off memory loss. "Everyone always asks, 'How much should I be exercising? What's the bare minimum to see improvement?'" said lead author Sarah Aghjayan, doctoral student in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh. "From our study, it seems like exercising about three times a week for at least four months is how much you need to reap the benefits in episodic memory," she added. Episodic memory is the kind that deals with events that happened to you in the past. It's also one of the first to decline with age. Exercise that gets the heart pumping has shown promise in increasing brain health, and experiments in mice show that it improves memory, but studies looking at the same link
in humans have come out mixed. To understand, the team pored over 36 studies with over 3,000 participants. "We found that there were greater improvements in memory among those who are age 55 to 68 years compared to those who are 69 to 85 years old, so intervening earlier is better," Aghjayan said. The team also found the greatest effects of exercise in those who hadn't yet experienced any cognitive decline, and in studies where participants exercised consistently several times a week.
The findings are published in the journal Communications Medicine. While the team's analysis couldn't answer how the intensity of exercise affects the memory benefits, and there's plenty to learn about the mechanism behind the link. But the implications for public health are clear: Exercise is an accessible way older adults can stave off memory declines, benefiting themselves, their caretakers and the healthcare system, Aghjayan said. "You just need a good pair of walking shoes, and you can get out there and move your body."
New Delhi, Feb 23 (IANS): India has the potential to generate a staggering $774 billion revenue in the healthcare sector by 2030, suggests a new report on Wednesday. The report by Aspire Circle, a social impact leadership champion and advocate, showed that with an investment of $217 billion, the country can create 12 million jobs in healthcare and allied sectors, which can impact 1.5 billion lives by 2030. "Indian healthcare will become the second most attractive investment sector this decade, behind food, agri and agriTech but ahead of BFSI, financial inclusion & fintech," said Amit Bhatia, Founder of Aspire
Circle & Creator - Impact Future Project, in a statement. "Covid-19 has thrown open India's health infrastructure fault-lines and both entrepreneurs and investors are on an epic mission to convert the crisis into an investment opportunity," he added. The report also spells out India's top ten outstanding investment ideas, being shaped by new-age technologies, innovative business models, delivery platforms and regulatory environment: preventive and primary healthcare; pharma, drug, and vaccine manufacturing; screening, diagnostics, and testing; affordable healthcare and
operational efficiency; medical tourism; e-healthcare and telecare; health insurance and innovative impact financing; e-pharmacies; medical workforce education and skilling; and gene therapy. According to Bhatia, the top 10 ideas in the research can lead annual investment growth from $52 to $179bn between 2020 and 2030 and grow related revenues from $183 to $610bn. "These top 10 ideas will serve and impact 1.5 bn Indians, create 12 million cumulative jobs and grow the overall sector to a colossal USD 774 billion by 2030 - an incredible promise worth nurturing," he said.
Exercise thrice a week in 50s & 60s to keep memory loss at bay
$774 bn revenue opportunity for India from healthcare by 2030: Report
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21
TRAVEL
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Discover New Zealand’s secret landscapes
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ew Zealand’s landscapes are breathtaking and are a true delight to the eyes. One is certain to be astonished by beautiful landscapes at every bend. While the entire country is gorgeous, there are a few areas that stand out for being the most unique and untouched places in New Zealand. Home to mountains like skyscrapers, waterfalls cascading like velvet and the quiet, stillness of a land before time, it’s a place to experience the true, raw beauty of nature. New Zealand is full of these marvels which is sure to awaken your inner explorer. We present to you 4 beautiful & untapped New Zealand landscapes that are sure to leave you in awe of the beauty of nature: Mt Cook/Mackenzie The Mackenzie region is tucked nicely halfway between Christchurch and Queenstown, but if feels like a world all of its own. It’s one of few International Dark Sky Reserves in the world, known for transforming into a crystal-clear blanket of stars by night. Gaze at the milky way from a hot pool at Tekapo Springs or if you want a closer look at the planets, the Dark Sky Reserve offers tours at Mt John Observatory, New Zealand’s premier astronomical research centre. By day, the
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region offers sights just as spectacular with remarkable glaciers set amongst towering mountains. Southern Coastline (Catlins, Waitaki, Dunedin) Throwback to a time when nature felt raw, untouched and unchartered; the Southern end of the country wraps around a moody coastline and lends itself to panoramic views, endlessly stretched horizons and other worldly landscapes. Nugget Point offers striking ocean views dotted by rocky islets named by Captain Cook for looking like pieces of gold, and a pathway leading to the towering lighthouse perched on the edge of the cliff. With nature comes wildlife and this region is bursting with cute and furry animals. Whether it’s Oamaru’s Little Blue Penguins adorably running in from shore to find shelter or Dunedin’s Fur Seals and Yellow Eyed Penguins parading on the beach, there’s plenty to discover. Auckland The largest city in the country is more commonly known for its urban centre, but just a short drive beyond the high-end stores and bustling city streets is a tale of nature from two diverse coasts. The east coast lends itself to calm,
turquoise waters and white sand beaches like Pakiri, perfect for horse riding. While the west attracts scenes of raw, moody nature with black sand beaches at Piha and Karekare, towering sand dunes at Bethell’s beach and dense forests filled with immersive walking tracks in the Hunua Ranges. Both attract wildlife, off the east coast islands in the Hauraki Gulf like Motuihe, Rotoroa and Rangitoto are sanctuaries for native birds, meaning you can spot Kiwi, Takahe and Pāteke in their protected environments. Hamilton Waikato Famous for its rolling, green hills and for its beautiful and entrancing entrance to the world of Hobbits, the mighty Waikato is also an opening to an undiscovered world of natural marvels. The blinking stars of glow worms light up the caves as one wander through the natural magic of Waitomo. Above ground, Lake Arapuni is a lush, vividly green forest to immerse yourself in whether by foot or bike on the Waikato River Cycle Trail or head into the Hamilton Gardens. From an Indian Garden to Japanese to Modernist to a replica of Katherine Mansfield’s garden, the entire grounds are an immersion into another landscape.
Southern Coastline (Catlins, Waitaki, Dunedin)
Mackenzie Region, New Zealand
Mt Cook/Mackenzie
‘The Most Welcoming Cities’ in India for 2022 F
rom off-the-radar beach breaks and nature escapades to scenic backwaters and wellness getaways, this year’s Most Welcoming Cities in India for 2022 by Booking.com have all been selected for consistently providing outstanding hospitality. Palolem, Goa A popular beach with white sand and calm waters in the bay of South Goa, Palolem has been recognised as the #1 Most Welcoming City in India in 2022, as per traveller reviews on Booking.com. You can experience the whole of Palolem beach by walking as it is a stretch of white sand that extends up to a mile. While in Palolem, travellers can find a plethora of activities to indulge in, be it on the beach or in the water! From watching the sunset as you kayak in the water and making photographic memories to taking a long walk with your loved ones and stopping by the shacks to try traditional Goan food, Palolem is a place worth visiting and going back to. Agonda, Goa Agonda, ranking second on the list of the most welcoming cities, is a great place to escape from the hustle-bustle of the usual Goan life, especially if you are a fan of quiet beaches. This destination is a quaint village with a number of palm and coconut trees along tranquil waters. It is also among the main 3 nesting grounds for Olive Ridley turtles, so you have the chance to watch them from a close distance as they swim ashore and go back to the sea. Once in Agonda, you are in for some quiet mornings and lazy afternoons as you take a dip in the sea followed by relishing delicious fresh seafood. The beach has aesthetically pleasing cafes and restaurants which make for a perfect wine and dine with your friends and family. So if you have got two days free in your schedule, Agonda awaits you!
Mararikulam, Kerala Popularly known for Marari beach, Mararikulam is Kerala's most beautiful destination, with crystal clear blue water and fine white sand. The life of Mararikulam is known to be associated with the culture of Coastal Malabar and the warmth of the beautiful sea, which makes it really exciting for travellers. Once you have arrived in Mararikulam, you are in for a peaceful break as you watch stunning sunsets every day and enjoy locally cooked food. Not so far away from Alleppey, you can also find lesser-known beaches in Mararikulam. Thumpoly beach is one such beach inhabited by the serene and natural environment scattered by many birds. A laid back, slow vacation is looking forward to you in this small and sleepy fisherman’s village. Thekkady, Kerala Home to India’s most enchanting natural wildlife sanctuaries, Thekkady is a hill station situated in the Idukki districts of Kerala at an altitude of 700-900 meters above sea level. Surrounded by scenic western ghats, rich plantations and
Mararikulam, Kerala
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dense forests, this hilltown is perfect for travellers who are wildlife enthusiasts. You can watch wildlife at a close range while boating on an artificial lake at one of the world's most natural wildlife reserves - the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary. Along with experiencing the wildlife, you can visit Kumily to shop for locally grown traditional spices or take a quick trip to Murikkady to explore cardamom, coffee and pepper plantations. Varkala, Kerala Known to be the only town in Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea, Varkala is a travellers paradise. Palm-covered red cliffs and golden beaches have made it a popular setting for selfcare and self-love. The city boasts of yoga studios, ashrams and teacher training schools as well impromptu classes that are often hosted on the beach. Along with the serene cleansing beach, the town of Varkala also houses forts, pilgrimage sites, springs, natural fisheries and more. So if Varkala is soon to be on your bucket list, get ready for complete rejuvenation.
Varkala, Kerala
Palolem, Goa
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22
SPIRITUALITY & DEVOTION
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Example of True Dispassion
By Paddy Krishnana Bhishma, while instructing Yudhishtra on spiritual matters, narrates the story of an ascetic and a shopkeeper which is given below. An ascetic, called Jajali (pronounced as Jaajali), lived in a forest as a recluse. He led a very austere life. He observed many vows and restrictions, including what food he ate, what clothes (or rags) he wore, how he sat and how often he practised meditation, as specified in Patanjali's Yogasutras. He studied the Vedas regularly and also practised severe penances. The penances included sleeping in the open when it was cold or when it rained, exposing himself to the harsh sun, sleeping on uncomfortable surfaces, fasting frequently and holding his breath for long durations. One of his penances was to stand still for a very long time. When he was standing still, a bird built a nest on his head. It then laid a few eggs in its nest. Jajali, who had taken a vow of Ahimsa (non-violence) did not move, lest the eggs break. He waited till the fledglings were able to fly away from the nest. During one of his penances, Jajali thought that no living being, be it a plant or an animal had accumulated as much merit as he had. Hence
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no living being was his equal. He thought he had great spiritual energy. Therefore he concluded he had the ability to move freely between the various heavens. Some of the Pisachas (cannibalistic demons) realised what Jajali was thinking and told him that he was not very wise. They also told him that a trader named Tuladhara (pronounced as Tulaadhaara) was wiser than Jajali. They also stated that unlike Jajali, the trader did not practice any austerities and was engaged with the world and was buying and selling things. The Pisachas concluded there was no doubt that Tuladhara had more wisdom than Jajali. Jajali was surprised by this and decided to seek out Tuladhara. When Jajali saw Tuladhara, he noticed that Tuladhara was selling various products from trees and shrubs like barks, leaves, herbs, fruits, roots, and juices. Jajali approached Tuladhara and asked him to explain how he obtained his spiritual wisdom. Tuladhara indicated that he was not very learned and just went about his daily life like a normal person. Tuladhara explained that he purchases things from different sellers and on-sells them to his customers without cheating anyone. He also does not quarrel with anyone nor does he cherish or have aversion for anyone or anything. He also explained that he views himself to be a friend to all creatures and has the welfare of all creatures in mind. He did not obtain his spiritual knowledge from any particular scripture. Tuladhara compared himself with his scales which were perfectly even. The scales does not discriminate on what is being weighed. He, therefore, does not praise anyone nor does he blame anyone. He is just an observer who casts an equal eye on all creatures and things. For instance, a clod of earth, a piece of stone and lump of gold are the same for Tuladhara. They are all to be bought and sold -- not to be enjoyed by him. Tuladhara also explains that his attitude means that he does not
have to fear anyone or anything. Tuladhara explained the practice of universal Ahimsa. Ahimsa will not lead to attaining wealth, fame or even personal spiritual merit. Thus all the Vedic sacrifices, which are for attainment of personal wealth or merit do not truly follow the principle of Ahimsa. For true Ahimsa, one has to give all creatures the assurance of harmlessness. Jajali questions how one can live without harming anything. Tuladhara agrees that it is not possible to live without killing a living entity. The aim is to minimise harm and to use resources so that they can regenerate. Tuladhara says that his house has been built with wood, grass, roots etc. but all in a sustainable way. Tuladhara also points out that agriculture is not sinless. The iron plough wounds the soil and the creatures that live in the soil and the bullocks are yoked to the plough and hence suffer. So one has to recognise the harm one is causing and try to abstain from injuring other creatures. Tuladhara explains that is the reason he is not involved in trading agricultural goods. He only trades things which are sourced directly from nature in a sustainable way. Tuladhara emphasises that Vedic ritual must avoid the slaughter of animals. Even actions such as pouring butter, milk, curds into the sacrificial fire can be viewed to be a form of violence. Sacrifices need to be internal and should be performed avoiding violence. Tuladhara explains to Jajali that one's Atman (true self or soul) is sacred. There is no need to wander the earth to visit so called sacred places. Everything including all rivers, mountains are sacred. This will ensure that one minimises harm and injury to everything. He concludes that one should practice what one considers to be one's duty after due reflection. One should not blindly follow the practices including rituals. He indicates that people have become greedy because of which a number of needless rituals, which are harmful, are being performed.
He also condemns greedy priests who help perform these rituals for the misguided people and focus on their own material gain. In summary, Jajali thought he was a true renunciate and had conquered all his desires. This led him to conclude that he was truly dispassionate. However, just because he had given up things, did not mean he was actually unbiased. On the other hand, Tuladhara although engaged with this world, was a better symbol of unbiased behaviour. The shopkeeper's true dispassion was symbolised via his weighing balance. Once one has no desires, no aversion and no fear, one can be said to be on the path to attain Brahman. Bhishma points out to Yudhishtra that one must perform one's duties based on one's reasoning. One can learn about correct reasoning by observing others who are good and wise. Bhishma says that Yudhishtra should learn from Tuladhara that searching for wealth and social standing will not result in permanent happiness. Bhishma emphasises that it is not necessary to renounce kingship and become a hermit like Jajali in order to be on the path towards Moksha. One should live in the world with Tuladhara's attitude. Tuladhara's attitude is compared to a twig floating in the river. The twig just goes with the flow of the river and is not perturbed by its changing surroundings. A person who follows Ahimsa will not step on other's toes. Bhishma also points out that one's caste is irrelevant. A trader like Tuladhara can instruct a Brahmin like Jajali on spiritual matters. It is also important not to judge people. For instance, not all merchants are greedy and focused on acquiring wealth. Similarly not all the Brahmins who go to the forest are spiritual. People can be dispassionate without going to the forest. Jajali was too focused on himself to get merit and did not have the equanimity of Tuladhara. This resulted in Jajali thinking that he
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was superior to others. Bhishma teaches Yudhishtra that a good king ought to dispense justice with detachment for the good of his people, unlike the usual ego-filled conquerors who want to stamp their mark on history through violence and conquest. This message is similar to the idea of detached action that Krishna gave to Arjuna on the battlefield – if one acts for the sake of the action and not for the personal reward, then one is liberated from the bonds of karma.
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References: K. M. Ganguli: The Mahabharata of Vyasa (English Prose Translation), 1896 C. K. Chapple: Yoga and the Mahabharata: Engaged Renouncers, 2006 Paddy Krishnan is a computer scientist, who got his BTech degree from IIT-Kanpur and PhD from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Being very interested in Hindu philosophy, he maintains a blog at www. goldcoasthindu.wordpress com
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ART & CULTURE
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Disney to build 1,900 homes for fans ICCR to organise craft fair exclusively to 'be part of Disney all of the time' for diplomatic community in Delhi India Today
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f you can't think of leaving the pristine world of Disneyland theme park resorts, the company is now planning to build villas, condos and housing complexes clustered around a 24-acre "grand oasis" in the US. The company has announced a new business division called "Storyliving", with building a community of 1,900 housing units named Cotino in the Palm Springs city of Rancho Mirage, California, a location where Walt Disney himself once lived, reports The Verge. Disney will offer "clear turquoise waters" powered by the Crystal Lagoons technology deployed at its resorts. Amenities will include "shopping, dining, and entertainment," as well
as a beachfront hotel and clubhouse hosting "Disney programming, entertainment and activities throughout the year," the report said on Wednesday. "There is incredible demand for all things Disney. Our fans continue to look for new ways to engage with us, to keep Disney as part of their lives," said Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney parks, experiences and products. "You can be part of Disney all of the time," he was quoted as saying in USA Today. The communities will capitalise on the company's sense of storytelling and placemaking. Instead of telling Mickey Mouse tales, they will focus on the culture, history, experience, food and other
attributes of the places where they will be built. "Every single element of these communities will be steeped in a story," D'Amaro said. Prices, financing, and other details are yet to be announced. The development will include a variety of properties such as condominiums, single-family homes, and estates. "Families with young children and people of all ages will be able to purchase properties. Some of Cotino's neighbourhoods, however, will be designated for residents 55 and older, a market in which Disney seems especially interested," the report said. The amenities will include live entertainment, wellness programming and seminars. There will be a hotel and an entertainment, dining and shopping district too and the guests will be able to purchase a day pass to visit the beach. "Disney will not own the communities or be the developer of record; nor will it be building or selling the homes. It will be partnering with third parties (developers) to handle those functions," the report added. Cotino's clubhouse will be themed as a "modern-day creative studio" with each of its spaces celebrating different art forms.
Bangladesh Film Festival to showcase 1971 Liberation War triumph
Agartala, Feb 23 (IANS): The second Bangladesh Film Festival was inaugurated here on Wednesday with leaders of India and Bangladesh reiterating to jointly organise
more cultural and literary events to further strengthen the bonding between the two neighbouring countries. An official from the Bangladesh
Assistant High Commissioner's office said the second edition of the Bangladesh Film Festival has been planned to commemorate the golden jubilee celebrations of the 1971 Liberation War. One film was screened at the inaugural session on Wednesday, while several other films on 'Mukti Juddha' (liberation war) are line-up for screening. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Bangladesh Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud, Tripura Information and Cultural Affairs Minister Sushanta Chowdhury, along with many actors and film personalities from Bangladesh were present in the inaugural function. Bangladesh Assistant High Commissioner Arif Mohammad said that best-produced films on the liberation war would be screened in the festival to showcase the great victory and glorious history of Bangladesh before the young generations of the two countries. The role of the Indian government, especially the people of Tripura, during the liberation war would also be highlighted in the film festival, the envoy said, adding that the cultural festival aims to further strengthen the socio-economic ties between the two friendly neighbours. The festival was scheduled to be held in Agartala in October last year, but was deferred due to the communal incidents that occurred in Bangladesh during the Durga Puja festival and the subsequent incidents in Tripura.
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s part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) celebrations marking the 75th year of India's Independence, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) is organising a three-day craft fair of renowned craftsmen exclusively for the diplomatic community in the national capital. ICCR President Vinay Sahasrabuddhe said, "A three-day long craft mela (craft fair) will be organised from February 23 to 25 at Chandni Bagh in Bikaner House. The event will be inaugurated by Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi. The inauguration will mark the presence of about 70-75 head of foreign missions in India and few Indian dignitaries." According to Sahasrabuddhe, 22 craftsmen from 11 states will exhibit five forms of Indian traditional art forms -- Crafts (Bamboo Art), Textiles, Traditional and Folk Art, Beauty Aromatics and Recycled Products. "During all three days, the participating artisans in turn will give 45-60
minute talks with demonstrations of their skills or show videos to explain their creative processes to the visitors. The lec-dem will be on 'Gond Art' of Madhya Pradesh, 'Miniature Art' from Rajasthan, 'Bamboo Craft' from Delhi, 'Kalamkari Art' from Telangana, 'Moonj Grass Baskets' from Uttar Pradesh, 'Warli Art' from Maharashtra, and 'Natural Dye-Cotton' from Gujarat,"
Sahasrabuddhe said. "The fair will highlight how India's craft practices can help balance the ecology of the planet while sustaining India's cultural heritage, local livelihoods and meeting the Millennium Development Goals. The works depend on clean air, good soil, greenery, forest and plants, clean water etc.," Sahasrabuddhe said.
With eyes set on UNESCO tag, Panaji to host novel beach carnival
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lready popular for its annual carnival parade, Panaji is looking to get into the prestigious UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) by organising its first-ever beach carnaval, scheduled for later this month. Panaji Corporation Commissioner, Agnelo Fernandes said: "'The Beach Carnaval' will focus on a bouquet of culinary experiences and help put local 'foodpreneurs' on the map. "The Corporation of the City of Panaji has partnered with FIERCE Kitchens, India's First Culinary Incubator based in Goa, to create 'The Beach Carnaval' - a dedicated zone for local culinary entrepreneurs or 'foodpreneurs' at the newly renovated walkway along the Miramar beach. The carnival will feature a host of local entrepreneurs who can put up their culinary creations at the venue." One of the focus areas of 'The Beach Carnaval' will also put the spotlight on individuals who turned into food-entrepreneurs opening up small scale food and beverage businesses during the economic dip witnessed during the pandemic. "The pandemic has been tough on many. During the pandemic many people have turned into foodpreneurs, opening small-scale, aat-home' businesses offering a variety of food. These ventures are largely driven by passion. We have decided to put the spotlight on foodpreneurs this year in an effort by the city to encourage them and offer the foodpreneurs a platform to showcase their creations," Fernandes added. Goa's colourful carnival processions, which are normally held in February before the holy season of Lent, which sees the devout fast or abstain from some food, are symbolic of the state's colonial Portuguese legacy.
For the week prior to the beginning of Lent, Goa celebrates 'one last shot at having fun' before meat and liquor is shunned as part of a 40-day period of religious penitence. Lent concludes with the celebration of Easter. The event will offer foodpreneurs and aspiring chef entrepreneurs a platform to exhibit and promote their ideas, products, and talent to a diverse audience that visits the Panaji carnival festivities each year, Fernandes said. "The event will also portray the culture, heritage, and welcoming spirit of Goa. The event will feature foodpreneurs ranging from home cooks, women micro entrepreneurs, pastry and bakery enthusiasts and other hobbyists in the culinary ecosystem. We aim to provide a platform to showcase the local and regional cooking talent to the audiences of the carnival," he added. Carnival parades are normally hosted in the major cities in Goa, but this is the first time in recent history that the state capital is readying for a beach carnival event, apart from
the traditional float parade which is cheered by thousands of onlookers every year. The beach carnival this year is also being organised in association with the Atal Incubation Centre at Goa Institute of Management. "On behalf of the city of Panaji and with the support and expertise of FIERCE Kitchens and us at AICGIM, we are keen to nominate the city of Panaji as one of the creative cities in the gastronomy sector of 'UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)'. The Beach Carnaval is the first step in that direction," said Rajesh Joshi, CEO of AICGIM. "The city of Panaji is a leading tourist destination and a melting pot for global cuisine. From fine dining restaurants to culinary trails which offer unique experiences in the intimate setting of residents' homes, Panaji has much to offer. The Beach Carnaval event with the foodpreneur community at its core will add to the culinary experiences which Panaji has to offer," said Parixit Pai Fondekar, founder of FIERCE Kitchens.
SC suggests changing name India Post's Special Cover on artist of film 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' S. H. Raza's birth centenary New Delhi, Feb 23: Ahead of release of Alia Bhatt starrer "Gangubai Kathiawadi", the Supreme Court on Wednesday suggested changing the name of the movie against the backdrop of the several cases against it pending before courts. The Sanjay Leela Bhansali movie is scheduled for release on Friday. During the hearing, a bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and J.K. Maheshwari suggested the filmmakers change the name of the movie, in the backdrop of pending court cases. "Is changing the title possible?" the bench asked. However, the petitioner's counsel insisted on an interim stay on the release of the movie, while the respondent's counsel argued that a name change, days before the release, would not be possible.
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An appeal challenging the Bombay High Court order was filed by Gangubai's adopted son, through lawyers Arun Kumar Sinha and Rakesh Singh, claiming that the novel and the movie tarnished the image of the petitioner, his deceased mother and other family members and such statements in the plaint satisfy the ingredients, which defines defamation. The plea said: "Because the high court while keeping the first appeal pending, in the facts and circumstances of the present case, ought to have granted temporary injunction restraining the respondents from printing, promoting, selling, assigning etc., the novel namely 'The Mafia Queens of Mumbai' or the film namely 'Gangubai Kathiawadi', which are admittedly defamatory in nature." It added the respondents though
claim that the novel or the movie are based on true facts, a defence available for the respondents to be taken up during the trial of suit, but they have not made a specific claim that no part of the novel or movie are defamatory in nature. The plea sought an injunction against Bhansali Productions from producing, directing or airing the promo of any film based on the novel, and also the Alia Bhatt movie. The top court was hearing an appeal against the high court order, which continued the stay on the summons issued by a Mumbai court in a criminal defamation complaint against actress Alia Bhatt, the producers of "Gangubai Kathiawadi", and authors S. Hussain Zaidi and Jane Borges, who wrote the book. It is likely to continue to hear the matter on Thursday.
Mumbai, Feb 22 (IANS): India Post has released a Special Cover to mark the 100th birth anniversary of renowned painter Sayed Haider Raza, whose five day-long exhibition starts at the Piramal Museum of Art in Byculla on Wednesday. The first physical expo in Mumbai after two years of the coronavirus pandemic, it showcases Raza's artworks from his time in Bombay from 1943-1950, showing the city through his lens in a then newly Independent India full of hopes and aspirations. Chief Postmaster General (Maharashtra & Goa) Veena Srinivas, Post Master General (Mumbai Region) Swati Pandey, Piramal Museum of Art Director Ashvin Rajagopalan, Piramal Group Chairman Ajay Piramal, Raza Foundation Managing Trustee Ashok Vajpeyi and others unveiled the Special Cover on Raza.
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The exhibition will display some unseen Raza works and select masterpieces from the Piramal art collection, reflecting his love for Mumbai and a glimpse of the upcoming city as a melting pot of various cultures. Born in Kakkaiya in modern day Madhya Pradesh, Raza lived and worked mostly in France but returned to India around 2010. He studied at the Nagpur School of
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Art, followed by Sir J. J. School of Art in Mumbai, and went to Paris in 1950 to the Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts. Over the long decades of his trailblazing artistic career, with exhibitions around the world, he was honoured and decorated with many awards including Padma Vibhushan (2013). Raza passed away in New Delhi on July 23, 2016, aged 94.
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LITERATURE
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Relating mythology to modern-day Journeys in the 'Fourth Dimension': Time Travel in fiction and its variations lives, the Devdutt Pattanaik way IANS
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yths are how people imagine the world but mythology is not history and not a parable either and while science tells us how the world came into being, only myths can tell us why the world came into being, thus helping us navigate our way, renowned mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik writes in a new book in which he transposes the legends of the past to the 21st century. "Myths are usually embedded in sacred stories, and so we look to these sacred stories to stitch together a narrative of how many of our ancestors thought - from the mantras in the Vedic tradition, to the bardic suta parampara, as seen in the Ramayana, Mahabharata and Puranas; and the Jataka and Jain tales," Pattanaik writes in
"The Stories We Tell" - Mythology To Make Sense Of Modern Lives (Aleph) - 72 stories from India's rich treasure of myths and legends that has its origins in his "Teatime Tales" webcast in 2020, from March 21 to May 31 during the early days of the lockdown to combat Covid-19. In the book, he goes further afield to Arabian, Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Norse myths - and even explores how myths from the Islamic and Christian worlds changed on Indian soil, "just as myths from Buddhism changed in China and elsewhere". "What you will realise is that some feelings are felt everywhere," Pattanaik writes - reinforcing the belief that no matter where you are from, the world is, indeed, one. His purpose is two-fold. "First, use the Puranic framework of desha-kala-guna (geography-history-attributes) to discuss various topics in mythology. This is to remind you that all stories exist in a context. The ideas may be timeless but the stories are not. Stories change over time, over space, and with people who transmit them," the author explains. "Secondly, use a 'post-structuralist' framework to think about myths. This simply means I don't care much for watertight categories and strict labels...labels and structures, while helpful, are also limiting," Pattanaik writes. Noting that the purpose of mythology is different from history,
he writes: "History is a record of the past. Mythology explains how cultures imagine the world, and their past. As for parables, these are "prescriptive, while mythology is structural, about origins and organisation of nature and culture, in which parables may be located", the author states. The stories in the book are arranged into a variety of themes, including 'Apsara', a reflection on the portrayal of women in ancient texts; 'Karma', 'Justice', and 'Appropriation or Exchange', which show how our modern ideals of justice have been shaped by ancient scriptures; 'Unconditional Love', which is an exploration of the parity that must exist between loving partners; and 'Devas and Asuras', which illustrates how the binary of right and wrong is anything but black and white. Pattanaik writes, illustrates, and lectures on the relevance of mythology in modern times. He has, since 1996, written over fifty books and 1,000 columns on how stories, symbols, and rituals construct the subjective truth (myths) of ancient and modern cultures around the world. His books include "Pilgrim Nation", "Business Sutra: A Very Indian Approach to Management", "The Success Sutra: An Indian Approach to Wealth", "The Talent Sutra: An Indian Approach to Learning", "The Leadership Sutra: An Indian Approach to Power", and "Eden: An Indian Exploration of Jewish, Christian And Islamic Lore".
Declare Marathi 'Classical Language' by Feb 27, Maha urges Centre
A day after dispatching 4,000 postcards to President Ram Nath Kovind, Maharashtra on Monday made a strong pitch to the Centre to accord the status of "Classical Language" for Marathi by February 27 - celebrated as Marathi Language Day. Marathi Language Minister Subhash Desai went to New Delhi and called on Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy and discussed the long-pending issue with him. "We have submitted a letter and a booklet to him detailing how the state government has completed all the formalities and why Marathi deserves to be given the status of a classical language at the earliest," he said. Desai said that Reddy was extremely open to the suggestion and even conveyed that there is no doubt that Marathi deserves the honour. "We have invited Minister Reddy to come to Maharashtra on Feburary 27 and make the momentous declaration granting the classical language status which would be welcomed by the 13 crore people of the state," he added. Earlier, Desai and his team comprising officials like Bhushan Gagrai, film personality Shrirang Godbole and others gave a detailed presentation showing that Marathi language satisfies all the parameters for been made a classical language. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have displayed a positive approach to the state's demand and Reddy assured that the Centre would take a decision soon in the matter. On Sunday, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray dispatched a box containing around 4,000 postcards to the President to demanding classical language status to Marathi. The postcards - sent in a www.indianabroad.news
gift-wrapped box with the slogan "Abhijat Marathi Jan Abhiyaan (Mass Campaign for Classical Marathi)" printed on it - are part of an ongoing state-wide campaign which the state government hopes will fructify by February 27. This was the second lot of postcards - earlier another lot of 6,000 was sent - to the President with the same plea. In the past couple of months, people all over the state - ranging from celebs to commoners - have dropped over 125,000 postcards to Rashtrapati Bhavan. Last December, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar fired the first postcard to the President, neatly typed in Marathi and signed by him, kickstarting the trend. Presently, only six Indian languages - Sanskrit, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, and Odia - have been bestowed the status of classical language, based on various parameters. Maharashtra's ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi pointed out that although the Centre took the decision in 2004 to confer the classical language status to various languages, Marathi was ignored despite repeated requests. Even a high-level committee of language experts appointed by the Centre had unanimously approved a proposal to this effect seven years ago, but there has been no further progress in the matter. Pawar had said in his postcard to the President that it was necessary to grant the status of a classical language to Marathi as recommended even by the Sahitya Akademi, at the earliest. "Marathi is not only an ancient language but also the state language, used by litterateurs, intellectuals, by people of religion besides the common masses, and ranks among the major languages in the world,"
he said. The Maharashtra Legislature passed a unanimous resolution recommending to the Centre to accord classical language status to Marathi in 2020. In anticipation of the exalted status, Thackeray in October 2021 cleared the proposal to construct a 'Marathi Bhasha Bhavan' on a 2,500 square metre plot in south Mumbai - a project which had been on the backburner for nearly eight years. Coming up within the Jawahar Bal Bhavan complex at Marine Drive, the work on the project is starting shortly with a completion target of 18 months, comprising a library, an expo centre, conference halls, etc, to promote the Marathi language. During the tenure of Congress Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, a committee chaired by litterateur Rangnath Pathare had prepared a voluminous report running into 500 pages on the same issue. The report was forwarded to the government in July 2013, but the matter remained unresolved after the change of guard both at the Centre and the state. The Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, which started in 1878, has demanded the classical language status for Marathi several times in the past. The status paves the way for two prestigious international-level awards for scholars of eminence in the Indian classical language, setting up centres of excellence for studies, the University Grants Commission creating or starting certain number of Professional Chairs in these languages besides dedicating various institutions for the same to promote the study and research in such classical languages.
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he most plaintive words, across languages, could be "If I could turn back time/the clock". While what the future will bring hangs heavy on most people, and many may not forgo a way to plumb its secrets; while human science has yet to devise a way to enable time travel, human culture, especially its literature, has no such limitations. Time travel across various media -- from "Dr Who" to "Star Trek: The Original Series" (TV, films, spin-off novels), from Rod Serling's "The Twilight Zone" to "Back to the Future" series, and from Harry Potter (remember the third installment?), to an array of science fiction masterpieces -- shows that the trope has flourished for more than a century now, and become a staple of science fiction. However, the earliest occurrences crop up in some unexpected places. The Vishnu Purana tells us of the solar dynasty monarch Raivata Kakudmi, who travels to the abode of the celestial creator Brahma to consult him on a pressing matter. He only spends a day there but is surprised to find, on his return to the mortal realm, that several aeons have passed. There are similar stories in other traditions too, especially of the "Seven Sleepers", who hid in a cave to avoid persecution of the Christians in the then Roman empire, went to sleep, and woke up centuries later. A version is also found in The Quran ("Sura Al-Kahf"/"The Cave"). These instances, and in early literary manifestations -- "Rip Van Winkle" (1819) by Washington Irving and of several others, who sleep through the ages to awaken in the future -- are more cases of time dilation than time travel. But that would soon change as science fiction emerged and flourished. The idea of a device, or some unknown natural or supernatural occurrence, propelling the user into the future, or the past, is generally held to begin with H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine" (1895), though Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol" (1843), in which the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is confronted with his past and future, and given a choice to change the latter, is an earlier example in some respects. Among the earliest known works of time travel, by means of a device rather than supernatural power, is American journalist-author Edward Page Mitchell's short story "The Clock That Went Backward" (1881), in which two boys go back in time and space, courtesy of the device, and make a mark in history. As the story was targeted at younger readers, it did not create much of a splash. Though Mark Twain's "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" (1889), about the eponymous
hero travelling back to the era of the Knights of the Round Table and bringing in elements of the future, came first, it was Wells who laid the basis for the sub-genre of science fiction. But to be considered a time travel story, a work must contain a few defining elements, such as a mechanism by which to travel through time, usually a time machine. There is one more key element, which we'll return to soon. Time travel stories also come in various flavours. One is about the inevitability of fate where the protagonists go to the future, only to find a dystopian world which is a consequence of happenings in their own time, and return to their time and try to prevent what they saw from happening. They may or may not be successful, and if it is the latter, well, you can't fight fate. The "Time Scout" books by Robert Asprin and Linda Evans are a good example. Then there are the ones where a trip into the past shows that history is different from what they thought it was, and then they change it so that it conforms to what they "know" as history -- they think they "changed the past", but this has already been done. "There Will Be Time" by Poul Anderson, Eoin Colfer's "Artemis Fowl", Robert Heinlein's "The Door into Summer" and some of his stories serve as examples. Another variant sees the heroes go to the past because things went wrong there and they want to change it to make a better "present". This throws up some sub-variants, especially when villains go to the past to change it so that the present is better for them (Austin Grossman's uproarious superhero novel "Soon I Will Be Invincible"), and thus, bad for the heroes, who might follow them to foil the attempts (Terry Pratchett's "Night Watch"). And then, even sometimes well-intentioned time travellers heading to the past to try and make it "better", may end up making it worse, either by altering the future for the bad, creating a situation where the cause-effect paradigm or even the fabric of reality is threatened, or drawing the adverse attention of entities who would like time to go as it was. Then, there is what is known as "Hitler's Time Travel Exemption Act", where it is impossible to go back and stop a real-life bad thing from happening -- say, killing Adolf Hitler before he comes to power, or savingJohn F. Kennedy from an assassin's bullet. Either it makes things worse -- the villain is replaced with an even more evil, but efficient, one or saving a hero has unwelcome consequences, or time itself will prevent this. Stephen Fry's "Making History" is
"Our speakers and patrons are excited about our return, and we can't wait to celebrate the 75th anniversary of 'A Streetcar Named Desire' with everyone. Several of our special events focus on this beloved Pulitzer Prize-winning play, including our opening night, tribute reading and breakfast book club. We are working with city officials to create the safest environment possible so everyone can enjoy the festival once again", the statement further read. As per 'Variety', the five-day event will host several speakers and performers, including Constance Adler, Jami Attenberg, Megan
Mayhew Bergman, Rick Bragg, Tyler Bridges, Elizabeth Miki Brina, Jericho Brown, Craig Colten, Augustin J Correro, Brenda Currin, Peter Ho Davies, Mary Gauthier, Jewelle Gomez, Peter Hagan, Miles Harvey, Ladee Hubbard, Rickie Lee Jones and Errol Laborde. In addition, Zachary Lazar, Robert Mann, Eric Nguyen, Glen Pitre, Betsy Prioleau, Kathy Randels, Nathaniel Rich, Gary Richards, Farrah Rochon, Tom Sancton, Kalamu Ya Salaam, Timothy Schaffert, Katy Simpson Smith, Oliver Thomas, Poppy Tooker, Esm� Weijun Wang, David Williams and others will grace the event as speakers and performers.
what happens when you go back to eliminate Hitler, Stephen King's "11/22/63" (about saving JFK), and Ben Elton's "Time and Time Again" (about averting the assassination that led to World War I). Getting trapped leaves our heroes stuck in the past, and they now have to find how to get to their present in the future, or wait for someone to rescue them. If they can't, they have to choose between living a quiet life and trying not to interfere with the past, or using their future knowledge to make the past better. Or they might discover that they're in a situation and can't change anything even if they wanted to. An example can be found in Books 2 and 3 ("The Restaurant At The End Of The Universe" -- for the trapped part -- and "Life, the Universe and Everything", for the chancy rescue part) of Douglas Adam's "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy". Isaac Asimov's "The End of Eternity" is about being unable to change anything. Taking from the multiple worlds theory view of quantum mechanics, some stories presage a visit to the past and changes made there, creating an alternate timeline where the future will have changed, for better or worse, due to their intervention and they might not even be able to return there. (Asimov's Norby series deals with this as well as Eric Flint's "1632", and its sequels by other writers too.) Then there are the ones about organisations that patrol time and prevent changes which could affect the past/present/future, or threaten causality, space-time, or existence. Poul Anderson's "Time Patrol" series is among the best. The temporal paradox element focuses on time travel so affecting causality that it may lead to the time travellers not being able to make the trip at all, and this could lead to the end of time/the world, or their own existence, at the least. If all this leaves you confused, don't doubt yourself. It's now time for one most essential feature of time travel stories left to be revealed -- the mind games it entails. Our minds are so attuned to the unidirectional, unispeed movement of time, that the paradoxes and mess of causality that permeate and define it, leaves many struggling to grasp the leaps in logic demanded. If you still are interested, begin with the anthologies by Mike Ashley for the Mammoth Book and British Library Science Classics series, or for Kindle readers, the Wildside Press Megapacks of time travel stories (four at the last count) for the shorter version, and a whole galaxy of the longer form. Indian examples are virtually absent, with just Shovon Chowdhury's "The Competent Authority" or Trisha Das' "Kama's Last Sutra" qualifying.
Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival to celebrate 75 yrs of 'A Streetcar Named Desire'
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fter two years, the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival is set to return with an in-person event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the play 'A Streetcar Named Desire' sketched by the legendary playwright. The literary fest will have a 5-day run starting from March 23 through March 27. The event's executive director, Paul J. Willis said in a statement accessed by 'Variety', "After a canceled festival in 2020 and a virtual festival last year, we are so happy to be returning to our home at the Hotel Monteleone once again for our five-day festival."
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Michael Cerveris will serve as the co-host on the festival's opening night festivities with New Orleans singer-songwriter Arsene DeLay. The evening will feature musical performances and scenes from 'A Streetcar Named Desire'.
25
BEAUTY
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Shilpa Shetty Kundra discusses traditional Ayurvedic skincare recipes IANS
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ndia’s rich cultural heritage especially around wellness and spirituality is not hidden from the world. Two of our Vedas have given life to sciences which are now seeing more than ever relevance & are being adopted globally. Rigveda gave birth to Yoga and Atharva Veda to Ayurveda, both of these being represented as a way of life than just processes or products. Our culture has always believed that a balanced life is a key to satisfaction and happiness. Millennials lately have been experiencing a hectic imbalanced lifestyle that eventually takes a toll on their physical and mental health. Hence, it is imperative to prioritize and focus on what is important in their lives and restore balance as otherwise, it starts reflecting on one’s external features, too, like skin discolouration, hair fall, early ageing, and more.
Honasa Consumer Pvt. Ltd. (HCPL), the parent company of Mamaearth, and The Derma Co., and the fastest-growing House of Brands for personal care, launches a new skincare brand – AYUGA, a brand crafted with the perfect balance of traditional, authentic & honest ayurvedic recipes and face yoga rituals for modern millennial skincare. Commenting on the brand launch, Shilpa Shetty Kundra said, “I strongly believe in the ancient sciences and have incorporated a lot of the recipes and rituals in my life and have benefited from it. When I heard about Ayuga and the ideology behind the brand, it immediately resonated with me. The thought of using traditional Ayurveda recipes and creating modern formats of skincare like serums and gels, without compromising on the authenticity
of the ingredients is unique. I am sure the consumers would love the brand and its products; hence I urge them to restore balance in their lives through Ayuga recipes and rituals.” Honasa Consumer Pvt. Ltd., said, “We are an organization built on strong consumer centricity and direct-to-consumer format. We are constantly speaking to consumers to get real-time feedback and information on their requirements and the kind of solutions they want. Hence, we constantly research millennials’ concerns to create brands and products that serve them." Ghazal Alagh, Co-founder and Chief Innovation Officer "Ayuga stands for the marriage of rituals of yoga and recipes of Ayurveda to deliver true secrets of skin, hair, and health to the world. We partnered with Ayurveda and Face Yoga experts to consult on the product line and face yoga rituals and reimagined them in modern formats for millennials for maximum efficacy. Our products are all inspired by Ayurveda formulations which have been existing for thousands of years and have been perfected by our Vaidyas. Our application rituals are perfected by Yogi’s strong understanding of the science of yoga and its ability to open and tighten skin pores where and when required. A combination of these leads to correct absorption and impact of the product leading to a multiplier effect on your body. Partnering with Shilpa Shetty Kundra for Ayuga extended the brand’s thought of restoring balance in life. We are confident that the partnership with Shilpa will help propagate our brand proposition across millennials.” said
Does pollution age your skin prematurely?
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t is often said that the three S's stress, smoking and the sun can cause skin damage. Pollution contains a lot of microscopic particles which penetrates your skin, breaks down the collagen and oxidize the lipid layer. Pollution can result in dehydration, dullness, uneven skin tone and even cause atopic dermatitis and eczema. Research has proven that now even pollution can cause premature ageing and acne.
Light Up Beauty, an Indian skincare brand, has been trying to solve the issues faced by the Indian skin due to pollution. They believe in creating an honest, transparent, clean and diverse range of products in the skincare category Meenakshi Ganesh, Founder, and CEO, Light Up Beauty said, “Our mission at Light Up Beauty was to create an Indian version of the International brands which create effective but extremely expensive skincare. Our aim was to cater to every one by bringing
affordable and smart skincare to the market that actually works. We also use international standard ingredients but blend them in a synergistic manner that delivers sustainable results. We want our clients to flaunt their natural complexion and bid farewell to filters and heavy layers of makeup with our glow-enhancing skincare range. We want to combat problems like pollution and UV damage which Indians commonly face. Most international brands don't provide effective solutions for such problems. At Light Up, we care deeply about these concerns and wish to deliver real products with real results.” Since pollution exists in various forms such as ultra-violet radiation, particulate matter and hydrocarbons, developing effective anti-pollution skincare has been the focus of major pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies. Though a clean diet and healthy lifestyle can help address some of the damage caused by pollution, intense hydration and topical Anti-Oxidants make a huge difference in combating pollution.
It's all in the eyes W
hen it comes to cosmetics, a dramatic eye is a game changer. We've seen a lot of shifts in trends over the last few years, from plain natural look to heavy glam. We'll look at a few different ways to draw attention to your eyes and take your makeup to the next level. Eyes have a lot of power, and when emphasised correctly, they may draw attention to the rest of your face. Tips shared by Nupur Gupta, Founder, CEO and master trainer at the Nupur Gupta Academy. Graphic liners In their daily makeup routines, most people opt for a classic winged eyeliner. You can, however, go for a graphic liner if you want to liven things up. Even though graphic liners have just lately become fashionable, they are sure to make you stand out. You can go with the conventional black or go all out with colourful combos, as many celebrities do these days. There are a lot of various methods to get this look, which makes it even more
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enjoyable! Smokey The ideal Smokey eye makeup screams big and dramatic more than anything else. It entails mixing dark eyeshadow and giving it a diffused appearance. A smokey eye can be achieved in a variety of methods, including blending the eyeshadow only at the end or all over the eyelid. This look essentially draws attention to and accentuates your eyes, making them the most crucial feature of the complete makeup look. Multicolor If you want to look forceful, a multicoloured eyeshadow or liner might also help. Bold eyes are commonly associated with dark colours, although this is not the case. Using brightly coloured eyeliners, such as blue, purple, or white, can give your makeup a distinct look. Colors like pink, orange, and yellow can be used in bright eyeshadow combinations. If you want to accentuate your eyes while keeping them light, this is a terrific option. Glitter
Who doesn't enjoy a little glitz and glam? Glitters are the easiest way to amp up any makeup look without putting in a lot of effort or thinking. You may use either loose glitter or sparkly eyeshadow for this look. The first option will give you the most sparkly look, while the second option is perfect if you're in a hurry and don't want to make a mess. In any case, you'll look tough and glamorous in no time with this style. Stickers Stickers, like graphic liners, are a relatively new trend. Many makeup firms, such as Simi haze beauty, have recently released makeup stickers. These generally consist of eyeliners in various forms and colours that look dramatic and make you stick out a lot. These are a terrific way to think outside the box and try new things. These eyeliner stickers come in a variety of colours, from vivid pinks and greens to holographic, and are a great option if you don't want to spend hours perfecting your eye makeup. Simply put it on and you're ready to go!
High-performance biotech haircare
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ounded by tech industry veteran Suveen Sahib and beauty veteran Britta Cox, K18 offers a uniquely scientific approach to haircare. The K18Peptide™— clinically proven to reverse hair damage in 4 minutes—developed by applying computational models with sequence analogy used in biotech to the molecular structure of human hair. The peptide, a unique amino acid sequence, works on a molecular level to restore hair back to like-new strength and elasticity. By reaching the innermost layers of hair and reconnecting broken keratin chains—a result of bleaching, chemical services, and heat damage—the peptide provides lasting renewal instead of temporarily patching damage like more traditional cosmetic chemistry products on the market. K18 – is a high-performance biotech haircare brand announces its expansion into India, in partnership with Mk Exim India limited. The brand is excited to reach a new audience through this partnership with Mk Exim India Limited, educating hairstylists and consumers about why the science behind hair not only has a place in their self-care routine but is ushering in the next era of hair health. Biomimetics, the practice of learning from and mimicking nature, is a key component to K18’s unparalleled Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask formula. Imitating the natural structure of keratin building blocks (amino acid
sequences), the K18 bioactive peptide is a perfect size and molecular structure to seamlessly fit in and reconnect broken keratin chains. Recognized as natural by the hair, it’s not washed away by water or shampoo like traditional bonding agents. “Nature is the best designer, and we’ve found by understanding the biology of hair you can achieve what you’ve always wanted, true hair health and full expression with
less. Less product, less frustration, less damage,” says Founder Suveen Sahib. “We are elated to bring K18 to India with such amazing partners on our crusade to liberate haircare. No one should have to choose between healthy hair and hair that looks the way they want it to – and now the diverse, curious community of beauty lovers never have to make that compromise. We are ready to share this innovation with even more people and are so excited Mk Exim sees the value of molecular repair that actually works across all hair types.” “We have tested K18 extensively in all the top salons across India and the response has been phenomenal. K18 is a disruptive, results-driven brand that is focused on solving hair damage for clients of all hair types and textures, and we are so excited to introduce them to our hair community in India. It is time for a major shift in the hair environment and we are ready to witness that with K18.” added Manish Dialani, Managing Director at Mk Exim India limited.
The difference between Essences, Fragrances, and Spritzes
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rafting a scent is truly an art form. This can also be rather confusing especially when there are different buzzwords like essence, fragrance and spritzes flying around. Let us try to break down the words and understand these different types of terms often used in perfumery. A little bit on Fragrances: A fragrance is an emission of pleasant or sweet smell that can be sensed while inhaling air from natural aromatic raw materials like plants, flowers, herbs or even synthetically derived chemical mixtures. These in turn and also according to FDA, it can be both man-made as well as naturally obtained through distillation and extraction process that gives a product a distinct scent and are comparatively cheaper and less volatile than essences. Fragrances are most commonly found in our day to day cosmetic products like soap, shower gels, lotions and skincare. Also, the fun fact is that fragrance never smells the same on two different people depending on their skin pH, climate & storage. Some facts about Essence: An “essence” is an extract or concentrate obtained from a plant or other matter that retains the natural smell & flavour of their source and are obtained through mechanical pressing or distillation. Essences contain characteristic properties of the matter in concentrated form & are mainly used in a perfume along with water and alcohol which further defines the longevity of the perfume. Perfumes vary in price depending on the concentration or strength of the essence present in it. For example, mentioned below are the
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concentration level of perfumesThe concentration of EDT: (Eau de Toilette) is 7- 12%, and the aroma lasts about 6 hours & the concentration of EDP: (Eau de Parfum) concentration of 10 -15%, aroma lasting about 8 hours. One can choose the variants depending upon the personal choice, occasion or intensity. The highest concentration is that of perfume oil: (Parfum is a blend of essences into the oil) 15 25%, and the aroma lasts more than 8-10 hours. To improve the longevity of perfume apply on skin that is moisturized & used on pulse points like behind your ear, at the bottom of your throat, on your wrist, inside your elbow, and behind your knee, as these are warm spots on your body that emits extra body heat which helps to naturally emit a scent. What about body spritzers? Body spritzers are commonly
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known as body mist that is great for everyday wear. Mist is less concentrated thereby making it affordable that is less expensive compared to the other variants of perfumes. It has a subtle, delicate and refreshing fragrance that also helps to instantly cool and hydrate the skin. It needs to be applied two-three times a day as the longevity of mist is only about 2-4 hours. Body mists are the perfect way to enjoy your favourite scents without getting the pinch of expensive perfumes that are generally a bit overpowering & intense which makes them millennials favourite go-to perfumes. The Body shop, has all the above variants available catering to all segments - considering the intensity, budget, mood creating a signature scent by mixing and blending or layering multiple products to smell attractive & refreshing all day long.
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FASHION
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Custom fit is the future of fashion
Josen Rosenfield
TRENDS UPDATES Farah Khan Ali unveils
new pret jewellery label IANS
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here has been a significant shift in the customers’ fashion choices and they now prefer apparel that offers the right blend of traditional and contemporary styles. This has prompted retailers and designers to adapt their business models to accommodate this demand. Both demographic and psychographic transformation is causing a noticeable shift in fit preference and product uniqueness in the Indian apparel industry. This was previously deeply rooted in the vastness and richness of Indian culture. Since the availability and accessibility of ready-made brands were limited, most people wore personalised apparel in the past. Because of its high cost and limited use, ready-made clothing was considered posh. People welcomed premade clothing enthusiastically, as time passed, owing to its inexpensive and readily available nature. The demand shifted towards prefabricated apparel as the industry gained traction and began to take advantage of economies of scale. However, while ready-made apparel was famous for its convenience, custom fitting emerged at the forefront with its promise of choice, flexibility and better fit. The Shift from Ready-made to Customized Clothing This dramatic transition in consumer preference and demand for ready-to-wear clothing was not a chance event. The move was gradual and was largely driven by prefabricated industry players’ sweeping changes in business plans, which then directly appealed to buyers. This included expanding the range of products available, lowering prices, and speeding up
the garment production process. The raw materials were gathered from local regions, and the clothing was stitched in a mass-producing factory unit to bring about this change. The personalised apparel sector, on the other hand, has made a noteworthy recovery in recent years. Prices of ready-to-wear apparel, particularly designer ones, have risen considerably over the last decade. Yet consumer demand and necessities for multiple choices have stayed consistent. As a result, in today's world of fashionistas, an increasing number of people are looking for affordable ways to obtain their desired designs and fits. This explains why people are now gravitating towards personalized clothing. The Climate Conscious Sustainable Option We are seeing the rise of custom fashion style models employing extremely effective and sustainable ways of production as purchasers become more aware of the effects of fast fashion. The popularity and availability of customization, especially in sustainable fashion, amongst purchasers grew as a result of the scarcity of affordable readymade brands. It surpassed the value of the customization clothing sector, making it a luxury commodity only available to ultra-professionals. However, it is now becoming a preferred choice for people of different stratas. Because each piece of clothing is made to order, there is a huge reduction in material/fabric waste and energy consumption. Custom clothing offers buyers the satisfaction of knowing that they own apparel that is completely unique
to their style and personality, as opposed to ready-made brands. A Zero Waste Model Wrong sizing is one of the most common reasons for online garment returns. Producing clothing based on consumers' body measurements is beneficial to both customers and the environment. We all have different body shapes and sizes, and finding items that fit properly and fulfil our style requirements can be tough at times. Custom clothing steps in as a viable solution to this problem as customers will be able to create (3D/AR/MR) and order garments that they will love and wear for a long time. This business strategy allows for the creation of only what is required, consuming no further resources. In this way, custom-fit addresses two major problems in the garment industry: overproduction and waste. Over the previous few decades, the clothing and fashion environment has been constantly shifting. The industry has evolved from a focus on customised apparel to readymade fittings taking their place, with bespoke clothing gradually reclaiming the throne and striving to maintain it. The fashion trends and client preferences that have dominated the businesses have changed throughout time and are primarily responsible for the industry's many dynamic shifts. Based on current trends, the industry is rapidly moving toward bespoke clothes, and this tendency is projected to continue for the foreseeable future. Hence it would be appropriate to say that custom-fit clothing is, without a doubt, the future of fashion. (Bibhuti Dash, Founder & CEO, LOUOJ)
Get inked together I
n the last several years, relationship tattoos have become extremely fashionable. Getting a beautiful work of art tattooed on your body and dedicating it to your spouse/partner is a considerate and treasured gesture. Like love, ink requires an eternal commitment because they never fade, no matter how much time passes. Matching tattoos are the latest, current approach to indicate how much this bond means to you if you want to show your lover that you're really serious about the relationship and it's a 'forever' sort of love! Lokesh Verma, Founder, Devil’z Tattooz has listed down some tattoos that are popular amongst couples
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Name / Date Tattoos On this day, many couples get overly romantic and get their names tattooed on each other to show how much they love each other. Saif Ali Khan’s tattoo for his lady love, Kareena Kapoor, is the most famous example of this. Special dates, such as your wedding anniversary or the first time you met, can also be tattooed. These are priceless memories and times to be treasured. Matching / Identical Tattoos Many individuals choose to locate that one shared passion, the thing that links them like a tattoo, music notes, artefacts, hobbies, or even anything else symbolic of their love, in order to form an everlasting bond. The connection’s reason for being. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas
even got matching tattoos to commemorate their first anniversary of their engagement. Connecting Tattoos Only when the pair is united does the connecting or half-and-half tattoo become complete. As a result, they appear to be incomplete without one another. The heartbeat tattoo that flows from one side to the other is an example. Long-distance couples get connecting tattoos to symbolise how you and your bae are still connected despite being thousands of miles apart. Dainty / Minimalistic Tattoos Go tiny to make a big effect! Many people want to keep things personal, understated, unobtrusive, apparent, showy, or bold. Minimalistic tattoos, little tattoos to define the great quantity of affection you feel, are the best options for such private and simple people. Do you want to send a powerful message in a non-obtrusive way? Then simple, clean-lined tattoos are the way to go! Fingerprint Tattoos Having your partner’s fingerprint printed on yourself is something new and incredibly unique; it’s like having a signature of love etched on you, the ultimate hallmark of love.
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fter a successful launch in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with the prestigious Damas Jewellery Group last year, Farah Khan Ali is ready to unveil her new pret label "Farah Khan Atelier" The pieces are for the the woman who wants her everyday jewels to reflect her personality. They compliment her innate sense of style, balance and harmony. Embark on a whimsical new adventure with Farah Khan Atelier's four new collections, where each finely crafted piece of jewellery has a story to tell – embellished with a narrative that resonates with you and is an ultimate representation of your style and taste! The brand campaigns feature’s sister Sussanne Khan and Amyra Dastur, women who have carved a special space for themselves in their respective fields. “Sussanne and Amyra are the perfect muses for Farah Khan Atelier as they embody the values of substance blended with compassion and style with individuality. An empowering combination that serves to inspire others as well”, said the designer. Creating each collection to celebrate living the moment of life as a gift to oneself, Farah added, “I have always believed that jewels should be worn
more often because they remind you of happy moments in your life. A piece of jewellery is more than just jewellery. It is memories attached to the ones we love. Wanting to reach out to more people who believe in celebrating life as much as I do, I decided to launch Farah Khan Atelier, a brand of premium jewellery that celebrates the finest gems of the human spirit – love, faith and
resilience”. “To live is a miracle and we need to celebrate that fact of life. With Farah Khan Atelier, I bring you 28 years of my experience in creating joyous moments and I give you jewels that will make you feel alive and offer you an unparalleled experience of the finest in design, quality, style and finish,” said the celebrated designer.
FDCI X LFW in a physical format for the first time in Delhi
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fter two years of restrictive measures due to the pandemic, Lakmé Fashion Week (LFW) jointly organised by Lakmé & RISE Worldwide; and Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) are set to return to a fully physical, season-fluid edition from 23-27 March 2022. This is the very first time tha the The FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week will be hosted in New Delhi keeping in mind safety measures and regulations. FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week will release the schedule shortly comprising the best of curation and designers from across India. The event will culminate with the Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale on 27th March. Sunil Sethi, Chairman FDCI commented, “The return of physical fashion weeks is a sign of the world returning to normalcy, and we couldn’t be happier. And what better way to kickstart the celebrations than in New Delhi. While technology has helped us negate the distance and bring the world closer, we’re excited to be back in action, in person. We are happy to announce that business is once again on a major upswing as we bring back the physical Showroom and additionally will also have a virtual one to cater to global buyers and help expand our reach. The schedule like previous FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week season-fluid editions will continue to comprise a mix of designers from both cities, and beyond.” The platform will be back with two showcase areas for designers to present their collections up close and personal and will continue to champion sustainability through
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path breaking initiatives while further spreading messages of inclusivity and diversity. The Showroom will be back in an onground format for buyers in addition to enhanced features in the virtual initiative. Shows will continue to be live streamed across key OTT platforms to reach a far and wide audience. Sumati Mattu, Head of Innovations at Lakmé said, “We are thrilled to be back to a physical format in its entirety with the FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week this season, bringing alive the world of beauty and fashion in the capital city – New Delhi. Lakmé’s trend statement this year acknowledges the hybrid lives we are all returning to - opening up our worlds yet treading with caution, the bonhomie of engaging with our loved ones yet mindful of our health and wellbeing. With the Lakmé Absolute Explore Eye Collection, our trend focus this season is all about the eyes, the window to our souls and importantly, visible above our masks. A range of trendy liquid-duo eyeshadows and vibrant gel pencils in never before, dramatic, unmissable colours and textures. Get ready for eyes that speak volumes.
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Through the Lakmé Fashion Week, it has always been our endeavor to create an environment for the community that fosters new talent, innovation, and growth. With the return of physical showcases, we are excited to see how the talent showing this year drives renewed energy and excitement in the industry.” Jaspreet Chandok, Head RISE Fashion and Lifestyle said, “We are excited to announce the return of FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week in the form of an on-ground event. While the last two years have challenged all of us to innovate and break past geographical barriers, we understand that the magic of experiencing fashion in person. Digital will continue to play an important role in helping us engage with and reach wider audiences and enhance the physical aspects. We look forward to alternate the fashion weeks between Delhi and Mumbai. This collaborative effort will give the platform and its stakeholders the opportunity to interact with varied audiences, while catering to the fashion communities across both hubs.”
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WHAT’S ON
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
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WHAT’S ON
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
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29
ENTERTAINMENT
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Parineeti: Working with Sooraj Barjatya in 'Uunchai' is like going back to school Instagram
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arineeti Chopra is thrilled to be directed by a stalwart filmmaker like Sooraj Barjatya
for her next 'Uunchai'. On the 58th birthday of the director, the actress thanks him for enriching her as a
performer on screen. Parineeti says, "Sooraj sir is the gentlest and the most amazing human being that I have ever met. He is so simple, so wise and so intelligent as a creative force, that someone like me, who is a complete director's actor, can gain tremendously and sharpen one's skill-set. "Working with Sooraj ji on the sets of 'Uunchai' is like me going back to school because there is so much learning and unlearning at the same time that you feel creatively satiated after a shoot day." She adds that he is enriching her as an artiste and she can only be grateful to him for choosing her to be a part of his vision. "He deserves all the happiness and love on his birthday because through his films, he has spread so much love and joy to people. He has taught everyone so many values that are rooted in our Indian culture for generations." "We are blessed to have had someone like Sooraj sir shaping Hindi cinema. His contribution is simply timeless." In Sooraj's 'Uunchai', Parineeti will be acting with megastar Amitabh Bachchan and brilliant acting icons like Anupam Kher and Boman Irani. In 2022, Parineeti will be seen in Sandeep Reddy Vanga's 'Animal' opposite Ranbir Kapoor.
Two years after 'SMZS', Ayushmann reflects on inclusion
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ollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana's film 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhaan' (SMZS) spoke about the need to accept same sex relationships in India without any discrimination. On the second anniversary of SMZS, Ayushmann shared a powerful poem highlighting that he is just a vehicle to highlight issues that are close to his heart and he said that
he will continue rooting for equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community in India. Ayushmann says, "I have always considered myself merely a vehicle or a medium to tell stories that hopefully will affect positive social change. The strong message about gender inclusivity that 'Shubh Mangal Zyada Savdhaan' was delivering through its beautiful story, propelled me to do the film that is now being considered as one of the most loved movies in recent times." He adds, "I was thrilled with how the audiences reacted about the movie. The acceptance of the film and the nationwide conversation it started about gender equality was actually the success of SMZS. So, on the second anniversary of the film, I again wanted to reiterate the fact that we all can be vehicles of change in society." "We have to strive to make it a better world for everyone, for every gender. We all have the power to make a difference in and around us. So, let's unite to do just that."
Ayushmann, who became the first mainstream hero in India to play a gay man on screen, feels the path has been paved for LGBTQIA+ community's representation in mainstream movies. He says, "Also, what's most important right now is representation of the community in mainstream cinema. I think some of us have tried our best to address and raise awareness about the community's need for inclusivity. I think awareness among Indians have been created by such films including the likes of SMZS, 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' and now 'Badhaai Do'." Ayushmann adds, "We need to now see the community's representation in mainstream movies. That will indicate that real change has happened and the effort was worth it. That's the impact I was chasing with SMZS and 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui'." Ayushmann will be seen next in films like Anubhav Sinha's 'Anek', 'Doctor G' and Aanand L. Rai produced 'Action Hero'.
Nisha Rawal reacts to entry of ex-husband and actor Karan Mehra in 'Lock Upp'
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ain Lakshmi Tere Aangan Ki' actress Nisha Rawal is all set to be locked up inside the jail of Kangana Ranaut in the reality show 'Lock Upp'. She talks about the entry of her estranged husband and actor Karan Mehra in the show. She replied: "I have no apprehensions about who comes on the show. I have always fought my own battles, and I am sure that I will fight this battle with all that I have." The actress had alleged that she had faced domestic abuse while being in a relationship with Karan. Speculations are rife that Karan would want to be a part of the show and will definitely try to prove his point and not be caught on the backfoot if there are any fresh allegations levelled against him by Nisha. However, she is ready to face all the challenges and not apprehensive about any situation or facing her ex-husband. "I am here on Lock Upp on my own and I am not afraid of anybody except for failure," she added. The fearless reality show 'Lock Upp' hosted by Kangana Ranaut will have 16 contestants who will compete for basic amenities as they fight for the winner's title. It will stream from February 27 on ALTBalaji and MX Player.
'Angoori Bhabi' Shubhangi Atre enjoys 'me time' in Rishikesh
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ctress Shubhangi Atre, who currently essays the role of Angoori Bhabi in the sitcom 'Bhabiji Ghar Par Hain' is happy to spend some 'me time' in Rishikesh. She says: "I got few days off from my shoots. So I planned to travel to Rishikesh all alone to explore and spend some 'me time'. I'm literally enjoying the atmosphere here and the natural beauty is making me feel so peaceful. I feel such me times are important for every individuals." The actress further reveals she was keen to explore Rishikesh. "I'm a spiritual person. There is lot of mythological narration about this place. Ganga itself is a very holy river and the Himalayas too have its own significance. Above that the place is commonly referred to as the 'yoga capital of the world' and I'm a yoga lover. I'm just enjoying the place." Shubhangi is known for featuring in popular shows like 'Kasturi', 'Chidiya Ghar', 'Do Hanson Ka Jodaa' among others.
Hemal Dev on her film 'Unaad': The story Tollywood actress Kriti Garg to romance is raw and draws a lot from reality Ravi Bhatia in Bollywood debut 'Zufash'
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ctress Kriti Garg known for featuring in Tollywood movies like 'Bhanu, '2 Hours Love' and 'Raahu', is excited to make her Bollywood debut opposite actor Ravi Bhatia. The actress will essay the titular role in upcoming movie 'Zufash', directed by Naseem Khan and Sakib Shaikh. She says: "I'm really delighted to be part of the movie. I'm playing the role of Zufash. My charecter is really interesting and challenging. It has different shades and is a kind of dream role for me. Earlier I shot for a Hindi movie, which could not release for its own reason. But as they call it destiny. I'm lucky to finally make my Bollywood debut." The film also stars popular actors like Mushtaq Kak, Amit Antil, and Vikas Shukla, among others and is produced by Yahya Ibrahim. Ibrahim who is also making his debut in filmmaking says: "For me it was for the first time to experience shoots and the process of making a film. It was unplanned decision to unite with the team. When Naseem bhai (director) came to me with the story idea, it really excited me." 'Zufash' is scheduled to release later this year.
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ctress Hemal Dev's film 'Unaad' will premiere at the MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. She is excited and looking forward to the response from the audience and critics. "The story of 'Unaad' is raw and draws a lot from reality. Kudos to my director Aditya Sarpodar who has made sure to get the best out of all of us. When you watch the film you will feel you are a part of that universe. We shot the film in Konkan. The name of my character is Swara. I can't reveal much about the role, you have to watch the film to know more about Swara and the narrative," she says. The film features Ashitosh Gaikwad in the leading role. Hemal says that he has done a phenomenal job. "He is the most passionate actor I have ever worked with. He has inspired me to do better. Abhishek Barate, who played Dev Patel's elder brother in 'Lion', is also a part of the film. He is somebody who has already touched Hollywood and I am fortunate to work with him. We were a bunch of fresh talent along with some veterans like Devika Daftar, Devendra Pem. "I was lucky to work with actors who know the craft well. I learnt a lot in the process. We were not trying to mimic anything or anyone, we were just beings in the universe that was created by Aditya sir," Hemal shares about her co-stars in the film. 'Unaad' is Hemal's second release.
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She has shot for a couple of Marathi films, her first was 'Ashi Hi Aashiqui' that was an out-an-out commercial venture directed by Sachin
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Pilgaonkar, released in 2019. "Unlike 'Ashi Hi Aashiqui', 'Unaad' is in the artsy zone. I have not used any makeup in this film. I have gone with a natural tan to look the part," she adds. Talking about the difference between films and TV shows, she says, "In films, you have the luxury of time to be able to create something in terms of working on your scripts, character and understanding. You have more time to let it slowly seep inside your soul. In daily soap, you don't get much time so whatever you do is spontaneous. Both mediums have their pros and cons.`` "Sometimes you will end up creating something much better spontaneously than what you would do even after months of preparation. And there are also times when months of preparation are an absolute necessity. I feel as an actor you should work in all sorts of the medium to learn more." Being a Marathi herself, Hemal feels a special draw towards Marathi cinema. "Marathi film industry is coming up with good content films. And, because of the success of the recent film called Zombivali which was directed by Aditya Sarpodar, there has been much interest around the industry. 'Zombivli', 'Jhimma' these films have proved that Marathi cinema is back after the lockdown. Now we are back to kill it again," she sounds proud.
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ENTERTAINMENT
Vol 2, Issue 2 Mar 1-15, 2022
Alia glows in pristine white as she Pooja Hegde: Experimenting with promotes 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' in Capital different ensembles is exciting for me
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ollywood actress Alia Bhatt looked every-inch gorgeous dressed in a pristine white saree as she was seen promoting her forthcoming film 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' in the capital. Alia made heads turn on Tuesday as she was seen promoting the Sanjay Leela Bhansali's upcoming film on Tuesday. Dressed in mesh white
saree, the actress was clicked posing for the shutterbugs next to a bright red vintage car. The 28-year-old also did a signature 'namaste' pose from the film for the cameras. She completed her look with nude make-up, orange lips and a small bindi. 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' tells the tale a young girl named Ganga who
becomes Gangubai, a madame in the red light area of Kamathipura. It is loosely based on the true story of Gangubai Harjivandas, popularly known as Gangubai Kothewali, whose life was documented in the book 'Mafia Queens of Mumbai' written by S. Hussain Zaidi. The film is scheduled to release on February 25.
Samantha continued filming 'Shakuntalam' despite developing rashes because of jewellery
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he angelic first-look poster of Samantha from her upcoming epic saga 'Shakuntalam' was released on Monday. Producer Neelima Guna, who lauds the 'Oh Baby' actress for her dedication to work, reveals that Samantha Ruth Prabhu had to go through difficulties but still continued to film for 'Shakuntalam'. Samantha's role required her to wear specially designed accessories, which caused rashes on her skin. Producer Neelima Guna, who closely worked with Samantha on the sets of 'Shakuntalam' said, "At times, Samantha suffered from rashes while sporting floral jewellery. But she applied medication and continued to wear it. It was also a bit heavy for her, but she went that extra mile. Her efforts were truly inspiring". As Samantha reprises a role based on the mythological story, she had depicted an enchanting beauty, who was raised in a forest ashram. To bring in the resemblance, designer Neeta Lulla had styled special jewellery for Samantha. "We used floral accessories, which were imported from Amsterdam. These accessories were customised to suit the current generation, while it will still showcase the special character", Neelima said. 'Shakuntalam' is to hit the screens soon. The mythological movie is directed by Guna Sekhar.
Esha Deol joins Suniel Shetty in noir action thriller series 'Invisible Woman'
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ctress Esha Deol has been roped in to star alongside actor Suniel Shetty in the upcoming noir action thriller series 'Invisible Woman'
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Esha says, "A project like this is truly fantastic. It explores an unusual genre. The story has mystery, intrigue and great scope for histrionics. And to work with Suniel
Anna again is an absolute delight . Shooting has begun and it feels just great " The other actors in the series are Rahul Dev, Sudha Chandran, Chahat Tewani, Karanvir Sharma, Mihir Ahuja, Gargi Sawant, Mir Sarvar, Teena Singh, Siddharth Kher and Enakshi Ganguly. Siddharth Anand Kumar, Vice President - Films, Saregama India adds, "We are just thrilled to have Esha on board and to have her join an amazing assembly of actors for our very first series. We needed someone like her to add another layer of talent to the ensemble and everybody is excited to have her aboard." The series is by Yoodlee, which also has an interesting slate for 2022. It is all set to bring director-actor duo of Simerijit Singh and Amarinder Gill reuniting for their next untitled Punjabi film and Nivin Pauly's next Malayalam film 'Padavettu'. The production house recently announced a fictional series based on Kamal Amrohi's and Meena Kumari's legendary love story during the making of the epic 'Pakeezah' which is slated to go on floors in 2023.
ooja Hedge, whose song 'Arabic Kuthu' from the film 'Beast' took the Internet by storm, has talked about sporting a look she has never carried before for the number. The actress says experimenting with different ensembles is exciting for her. The song is composed by Anirudh, written by Sivakarthikeyan and sung by Jonita Gandhi and Anirudh in Tamil. Striking us as an Egyptian goddess, Pooja sports kohled eyes, wavy hair, metallic elements on her attire, graceful moves and her signature golden smile in the song. The Arabic theme of her ensemble not only reflected in her exotic white and wine coloured outfit but also in the delicate way her jewellery was accessorised. Elated at the response to the song, Pooja says, "I was so thrilled to shoot a song that styled me in exotic Arabic looks. Experimenting with different ensembles is exciting for me. The choreography of the song is super groovy and I'm happy that viewers have loved it. It's great to have so many viewers react to the song." 'Beast' is an upcoming black comedy action-thriller film written and directed by Nelson Dilipkumar and produced by Sun Pictures. Pooja Hegde is gearing for her upcoming movies like 'Radhe Shyam' opposite Prabhas, Salman Khan's 'Bhaijaan', 'Cirkus' opposite Ranveer Singh, 'Acharya' with Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan, and 'SSMB28' opposite Mahesh Babu.
Sharvari: Hope I get to dance next to Madhuri Dixit some day
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ctress Sharvari has just started taking Kathak lessons and she credits her on-screen icon and 'twinkle toes' Madhuri Dixit for inspiring her to learn the dance form. Sharvari, who made her big screen debut with 'Bunty Aur Babli 2', says, "I've always been in awe of Madhuri Dixit ji, she's been a huge inspiration for me always wanting to learn kathak. Unfortunately, I started just recently after so many years of wanting to learn kathak. " She added: 'But every time I would see Ma'am's songs or even snippets on Instagram or dance shows, I would google kathak teachers to start learning. She's been my idol and I hope I get to dance next to her someday! It would be an honour." Madhuri and Sharvari hail from Maharashtra, and Sharvari has always been a fan of the superstar who ruled the silver screen in the late 1980s and all of 1990s. Sharvari says, "I think as an actor you keep playing so many different roles that at the end of the day you don't know whats going to come to help. But, of course, learning a different dance form will never go out of hand. It will bring grace; it brings rhythm in your body." She adds, "For me, Kathak actually stems from my love for Madhuri Dixit. Somewhere I want to learn it because I've seen her perform so well! So, it is something I am just trying to do because I love her so much and from that I am trying to pick it up and learn it on my own."
Shafaq Naaz on the evolution of women on Indian television
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hum Hai Kisi Ke Pyaar Mein' actress Shafaq Naaz, who is seen as Shruti in the show, opens up on how she believes that the projection of women has changed on the small screen. Talking about the same, Shafaq averred: "This is a very good change that Indian television has adapted wherein unlike the earlier days female actors are no longer showcased as weak or vulnerable. There is a huge exposure nowadays after the introduction of OTT and people's mindsets have changed overall." "People nowadays want to see women who are strong-headed rather than being vulnerable onscreen in the narrative, or play the damsel in
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distress." The actress is popularly known for playing Kunti in 'Mahabharat' and Mayuri in 'Chidiya Ghar'. Furthermore she added: "And I think it is very important to break the stereotype of women being fit to only play roles wherein they play the sympathy card. If you compare the previous shows made with the shows made now, there's a vast difference." "There are shows talking about women empowerment and I believe we need more such concepts," she concluded.
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