Yatra Music enthrals audience during Vishu celebrations

Plea in SC seeks nationwide ban on Halal products

New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) A plea has been moved in the Supreme Court seeking a nation-wide ban on Halal certified products and also withdrawal of Halal certification. The plea, by advocate Vibhor Anand, said: "That the present petition is being filed by the petitioner on behalf of 85 per cent citizens of the country for the enforcement of their fundamental rights provided under Article 14, 21 of the Constitution of India as the same are being infringed and violated. It is being seen that for the sake of 15 per cent of the population, rest 85 per cent people are being forced to consume the Halal products against their will." The plea said people who may not be comfortable with halal meat, or for people with religions where only jhatka meat is allowed, no longer have any choice in the matter. The plea contended that because the acceptance of Halal certification by private organizations like Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind and few others mean that the existing government certification like ISI and FSSAI on consumer products are not enough. "Because the Halal certification of products is discriminatory towards other communities and imposes a religious belief on the non-followers too," it alleged. It said that by allowing the demand of one community of Halal certification by the private organisations gives rise to the apprehension to come up the other communities' demand for similar certification on the basis of their religious belief. The plea contended that the Muslim minority, which is 15 per cent of the population, wants to consume 'Halal' meat, it is being forced upon the rest 85 per cent of the people. "Now, this 'Halal' certification is not restricted to meat, but it has been extended to even food items, cosmetics, medicines, hospitals, housing societies and malls. It includes snacks, sweets, grains, oils, cosmetics, soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, nail polish, lipsticks, etc," added the plea. The plea urged the top court to issue direction to the Central government to declare all the certificates issued by various organisations as null and void and also direct the Centre to impose a ban on all products which have been Halal certified.

Judicial system should be Indianised; Process shouldn’t be like wedding mantras: CJI

Chennai, April 23 (IANS) The Indian justice delivery system should be Indianised for the benefit of the country's population, said Chief Justice of India N.V.Ramana on Saturday. He also said people should relate and understand the practices, procedures of the courts, the development of the case and efforts should be made towards that. "It should not be like chanting of mantras in a wedding which most of us do not understand," Ramana said. Speaking at the foundation stone laying function at the Madras High Court here, Ramana stated that Indian people look up to the judiciary in times of distress with a firm belief that their rights will be protected by the courts. Ramana said it is necessary to contemplate on how to improve the functioning of the judiciary and reach out to the people to fulfill their judicial needs. "This is precisely why I have been a strong proponent of Indianisation of the justice delivery system," he said. According to him, Indianisation of the justice delivery system is a moulding of the judicial system for the benefit of Indian people and is a multi-dimensional concept. "It calls for inclusivity, providing access to people to participate in the proceedings, removal of language barriers, reforms in practice and procedure, development of infrastructure, filling up of vacancies, augmenting the strength of judiciary and so on," he said. He said a Judicial Infrastructure Authority both at the national and state level should be set up to implement a National Court Development Project. "I have sent a comprehensive proposal to the Government of India. It is pending with the Government," Ramana said. On the judicial vacancies, he said a proposal has been sent to the central government - to increase the sanctioned strength of judges and fill up the vacancies. Another issue of Indianisation of the judicial system is the language used in the court. The common citizen cannot relate to the practices, procedures of our courts. Efforts should be to make the general population an active part of the justice delivery process. The people should understand the ongoing process and development of the case. "It should not be like chanting of mantras in a wedding which most of us do not understand," Ramana said. On the demand for use of regional language in the High Courts as provided in the Constitution, Ramana said it has been debated several times. There were certain processes that prevented local languages from being adopted in the High Court proceedings. I am sure with the innovation in science and technology and the advancement such as artificial intelligence, some of the issues associated with the introduction of languages in the High Court may be solved in near future, he said. The practice of law before constitutional courts should be based on one's intelligence and understanding of law and not mere proficiency in language. It is time some decisions are taken on these issues after assessment of pros and cons. Inclusivity is one of the dimensions of Indianisation. Any profession having representation from all classes and sections will be beneficial to all, he remarked. A strong proponent of higher representation of women from all classes and at the levels in the judicial system Ramana also said inclusivity does not stop with that. "The social and geographical diversity of a nation must find reflection at all levels of judiciary. Then people will feel it is their own judiciary. A judge with a rural background is better placed to appreciate issues concerning the rural population. A judge from the marginalised section can understand issues of marginalised section," he added. On the demand for setting up of regional benches of the Supreme Court Ramana said he was not aware of the central government's views on the private member bill on the subject introduced by DMK MP P. Wilson. He said in the same spirit of accessibility, in consultation with other judges in the Supreme Court, a decision has been taken to continue online hearing of miscellaneous cases. On non-miscellaneous cases an advocate can seek permission of the court to appear online. "This will enable advocates from all over the country to continue their practice before the Supreme Court. I hope this practice continues," Ramana said.

India staring at power outage in multiple states

New Delhi, April 23 (IANS) Amid rising power demand in the country due to a continued heat wave, India is staring at an electricity crisis heightened by a coal shortage at over 150 power plants. The coal stock position at the Central Election Authority (CEA) supervised 173 power plants stood at 21.93 million tonnes (MT), which, according to a Nomura report, is less than the regulatory requirement of 66.32 MT as on April 21. Media reports have suggested that coal inventories had dipped to the lowest since 2014 at the beginning of the financial year to nine days as against the Centre's mandated 24 days' worth of stocks. While on one hand, the CEA daily coal report said that coal stock at 81 out of the 150 government owned power plants is critical, on the other is the increased power demand -- from 106.6 billion units (BU) in 2019, it increased to 124.2 BU in 2021 to 132 BU in 2022. "There is a coal shortage and the situation still could have been salvaged, but the early heat has exponentially increased the power demand, widening the demand-supply gap," said an official from the power sector. States such as Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana and Andhra Pradesh are witnessing powercuts amid low coal stocks. Earlier on Friday, the Maharashtra government had declared that it is planning to import coal and acquire a coal mine from Chhattisgarh for power generation. "Coal is not being supplied in the country as per demand, forcing us to consider alternatives to bridge the gap of around 3,500 MW-4,000 MW shortfall between the demand and supply," Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar had told mediapersons in Mumbai. Last week, the state Cabinet authorised the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Co Ltd to purchase power from elsewhere to tide over the current crisis. Pawar reiterated that insufficient coal is being supplied to various states by the Centre, and even Maharashtra is not getting the required quantities, though all efforts are being made to ensure smooth power supply and end the ongoing powercuts. The coal shortage has further been accentuated due to shortage of railway rakes for coal supply of the power plants.

Meghalaya govt’s ‘e-Proposal System’ wins UN Award

Shillong, April 24 (IANS) The Meghalaya government's Planning Department's key initiative of "e-Proposal System", wins the coveted UN Award - World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum Prizes 2022, officials said on Saturday. The "e-Proposal System", part of Meghalaya Enterprise Architecture (MeghEA), eliminates 75 per cent physical work of files in government departments. An official of the state government said that Meghalaya was selected among the top 360 projects across the world. Out of these, UN selects the top five in 18 categories and awards them as Champion Project. Meghalaya has been selected by the UN as Champion Project in the category of - "The role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of Information and Communication Technologies for development," along with projects from Australia, China, Argentina and Tanzania. One among these top five would be declared a Winning Project. Meghalaya e-Proposal System is poised to win the winner award also, for which the award giving ceremony would be held on May 31 in Geneva, Switzerland. The e-Proposal system now automates sanctions and administrative approvals of all the departments and directorates in Meghalaya and delivers government services with desired outcomes to all the citizens and other stakeholders across Meghalaya in an integrated and seamless manner. Earlier, the sanctions and approvals would take months to be processed, but now with the automation, the process does not take more than a couple of weeks. This initiative has been supporting the state in seamless tracking and monitoring of the schemes and approvals, with the click of button. Additionally, integration with the government's finance system to process cash transfers and benefits to citizens, has been a game changer in effective and efficient service delivery, an official statement said. Speaking about winning the UN Award, Vijay Kumar D, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Planning Department, said: "We are thankful to all for voting Meghalaya's Project into the top five. We feel that the e-Proposal System will be a game changer in effective governance and would also inspire other states in the country to adopt similar initiatives." MeghEA is a flagship initiative of Meghalaya Government, supported by National e-Gov Division (NeGD), a first of its kind in the country.

Security beefed up close to high-security Burail jail in Chandigarh

Chandigarh, April 23 (IANS)

Security was beefed up in Chandigarh on Saturday evening after suspicious material was found close to the high-security Burail Model Jail, close to border in Punjab's Mohali town. "Suspicious activity was noted close to the Burail jail in Chandigarh. We reached the spot, some objectionable material was found. A bomb disposal team reached the spot. Prima facie, a burnt codex wire and a detonator was found," Senior Superintendent of Police Kuldeep Singh told the media. The Burail jail is housing several high-profile prisoners. The assassins of Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh -- Paramjeet Singh Bheora, Jagtar Singh Hawara and Jagtar Singh Tara -- and murder convict Devi Singh escaped from the Burail jail on the night of January 21, 2004. Tara, who was arrested in 2015 after the escape in 2004, has been undergoing imprisonment in the Burail jail.

India’s daily domestic air passenger traffic crosses 4 lakh mark

New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) India's daily domestic air passenger traffic crossed the 4 lakh mark on Sunday - for the first time in the last two years, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia said on Monday. In a tweet, he said: "And we hit the 4 lakh mark for the first time in the last two years!" On Sunday, 407,975 domestic passengers were ferried on 2,838 flights. The total flight movement stood at 5,672. According to industry experts, lower Covid infection rate as well as lesser restrictions and holiday travel propped up the passenger numbers.

Focusing on filling up vacancies of judges, infrastructure: CJI

Hyderabad, April 15 (IANS) Chief Justice of India Justice N.V. Ramana on Friday said that the judiciary is overburdened and that he is giving priority to filling up vacancies of judges and improving infrastructure to deal with the backlog of cases. He said after taking over as the CJI, he took up both these issues. "The reason is access to justice is possible only when we provide sufficient number of courts as well as infrastructure so that litigant public can approach the institution for justice," he said at the inaugural session of two-day conference of judicial officers of Telangana here. "Our judiciary is overburdened. It is an admitted fact and there is no dispute that pendency has increased in courts and the reasons are hundreds. In these circumstances, the feeling is that once you go to court. how many years will it take for the result. It's a big question mark. With the hierarchy of the appeal system in the country, it takes more time," he observed. "That's why I felt it necessary to appoint as many judges as possible. I don't want to keep even one vacancy in high courts or Supreme Court or district judiciary and also strengthen the system," he added. Chief Justice Ramana said a detailed survey by the Supreme Court registry in different parts of the country found that infrastructure in courts is very inadequate and he requested the Centre to strengthen it. He urged the judges to come out of fear of pandemic. "Please make sincere efforts to spend extra time in courts, beyond regular court hours," he said and exuded confidence that the judges would do their bit to deal with the backlog. He told them without improving the internal efficacy of the system, the goal can't be achieved. "Targeted action and effective case management can make a big difference," he said and advised judges to use alternate dispute resolution methods whenever possible. The CJI exhorted judicial officers to perform their judicial duties without any fear. "I am aware of the increasing physical attacks on judges. I am doing my utmost to prevent such occurrences. Directions were issued to improve security of judicial officers both inside and outside courts," he said. He requested judicial officers to create a congenial environment for litigants who would be under a lot of stress. "Always remember the human aspect of the dispute. Law cannot be far from equity. It is important to project the human face of the judiciary whenever you have scope for invoking your discretion. You must sensitise yourself to different vulnerabilities of the parties like minors, women, persons belonging to weaker sections of the society, persons with disabilities etc. They might all have different requirements. Treat everyone with respect." He told the judges that the role they play is highly significant in the Constitutional scheme. "Apply your mind independently on the materials presented before you. For instance, the requirements of criminal procedure code are not mere formalities. They are all important checks on executive excesses and represent substantive rights of the accused." He pointed out that the law is constantly changing. High courts and Supreme Court give numerous pronouncements on diverse subjects daily, legislations are passed, guidelines and circulars are published frequently. "You must keep yourself updated. Learning in this field never stops. Only when you are aware about changing law and precedents, you will be able to use the same to cases before you and ensure justice." Chief Justice Ramana said after he took over as CJI, he cleared the file pending for two years to increase the number of judges of the Telangana High Court from 24 to 42. All praise for Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao for sanctioning 4,320 posts in the judiciary, he said at a time when governments were doing away with government jobs and making appointments only on contract basis, this was not a mean achievement. The CJI also hailed the Chief Minister for translating his dream of setting up International Arbitration and Mediation Centre (IAMC) in Hyderabad a reality. He noted that with several global companies located in Hyderabad, the centre will ensure early resolution of disputes and thus contribute to strengthening of the economy. Noting that demands are also coming from Maharashtra and other states to set up arbitration and mediation centres, he suggested that once IAMC at Hyderabad strengthens itself, franchise centres can come up in other states. The Chief Minister thanked CJI for increasing the number of judges in Telangana High Court. He announced that the government will build residential quarters for all 42 judges of the High Court on 30-42 acres of land near Durgam Cheruvu in the Financial District and requested the CJI to lay foundation stone for the same.

Pulwama operation big success, says IGP, Kashmir Vijay Kumar

Srinagar, April 24 (IANS) Inspector General of Police, Kashmir Zone, Vijay Kumar termed Sunday's operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district in which three LeT terrorists were killed a big success and congratulated the joint forces for carrying it out in a professional manner without any collateral damage. Police said based on specific input generated by Pulwama police regarding presence of terrorists in Pahoo area of Pulwama, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by police and army. "In the ensuing encounter, three terrorists linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter," police said. They have been identified as Arif Ahmad Hazar alias Rehan (Deputy of LeT's top commander Basit), Abu Huzaifa aliasA Haqqani (Pakistani terrorist) and Natish Wani alias Haider resident of Khanyar, Srinagar. "As per police records, all the killed terrorists were part of groups involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police/security forces and civilian atrocities," police said. "Pertinently, the killed terrorist Arif Hazar was a categorised terrorist, active since March 2021 and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on Police/security forces and civilian atrocities besides... several cases were registered against him in Srinagar city. "He was involved in killing of Inspector Parvez in front of a mosque at Menganwari Nowgam on June 22, 2021, killing of PSI Arshid Ahmad Mir near PS Khanyar on September 12, 2021, killing of police personnel Javaid Ahmad at Saidapora Eidgah on June 17, 2021, killing of mobile shop owner Umar Nazir Bhat at Main Chowk Habba Kadal on June 23, 2021, killing of civilian Mohammad Shafi Dar at SD Colony Batamaloo, killing of civilian Rouf Ahmad Khan outside his house at Mejinpora Safakadal on December 22, 2021. "Besides, he was also involved in grenade attacks on police patrolling party at Safakadal and joint Naka party at Rainawari. Moreover, he alongwith his associates was also involved in an attack on a BJP leader's residence at Aribagh, Nowgam Srinagar. In this terror attack, one police personnel Rameez Raja attained martyrdom and his service rifle was also snatched. He was also involved in attack on two outside labourers at Suthsoo Kalan area of Nowgam on April 22, 2022," police said. Incriminating materials, and arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of encounter. A case has been registered and investigation has been initiated.

Jaipur police team reaching spot to quell fight attacked, shut themselves in room

Jaipur, April 24 (IANS) The local SHO of Jaipur's Kanota and his team had to shut themselves in a room after they were attacked by people from two groups who were engaged in fighting in the area late on Saturday, police said on Sunday. The police team had, in fact, come to pacify two groups engaged in a spat in Kanota on Saturday evening, but were attacked themselves. Even the SHO's private vehicle was damaged as the crowd pelted stones on it. Police officials said that SHO Arun Poonia and his team were not in uniform when they reached the spot and one of the quarelling groups took them to be members of the other group and attacked them. The team had to take shelter in a room and called the police control room for help. Soon after, a police team, drawn from six stations, reached the site to rescue the SHO and his team which included three policemen. Additional DCP, East, Avnish Kumar Sharma said that police had received information about a quarrel between the two parties at around 10.30 p.m. near Jamdoli intersection in Kanota area. Kanota SHO Poonia reached the spot in civil dress with two policemen and came under attack from one of the sides. The windshield and window glasses of the SHO's personal vehicle were smashed with stones and sticks. The policemen locked themselves in a room to save themselves. As the besieged policemen informed the police control room and officials about the incident, teams of Bassi, Tunga, Khoh Nagorian, Kanota, Transport Nagar and Adarsh Nagar police stations reached the spot. Additional forces were also sent from the Reserve Police Line. Additional forces were deployed to maintain peace and order in the area. The police are searching for the attackers and have registered a case against them under various sections.

Ola says Guwahati rider was overspeeding as father blames firm for accident

New Delhi, April 22 (IANS) After an Ola customer claimed on social media that a fault in the company's electric two-wheeler led to his son's accident, the ride-hailing major said on Friday that its investigation showed the rider was overspeeding. Balwant Singh from Guwahati had tweeted on April 15 that his son had met with an accident "due to fault in regenerative breaking where on a speed breaker instead of slowing, the scooter accelerated, sending so much torque that he had an accident". The tweet thread went viral on social media. Ola said it did a thorough investigation of the accident and the "data clearly shows that the rider was overspeeding throughout the night and that he braked in panic, thereby losing control of the vehicle. There was nothing wrong with the vehicle". The accident happened on March 26 when Singh's son was driving an Ola S1 Pro. "The scooter went airborne before crashing and skidding. My son was hospitalised on March 26 and had a fracture in left hand and 16 stitches in right hand due to fault in Ola S1 Pro," tweeted Singh. Ola said that the scooter's speed on the night of the accident was between 95 kmph and 115 kmph. At the time of the accident, three brakes were applied together - front, rear and regenerative - bringing the speed from 80 kmph to 0 kmph in 3 seconds. "Road safety is of paramount importance to us. We strongly recommend everyone to ride responsibly, adhere to speed limits and ensure your're wearing a helmet," Ola said.

Confusion galore over Ansar Sheikh’s roots

Kolkata, April 23 (IANS) Confusions continue to galore over the roots of Ansar Sheikh, the prime accused in the case pertaining to the communal violence that broke out in Delhi's Jahangirpuri area on April 16. Although he owns a luxurious mansion at Kumarpur in Haldia, the prime industrial township in East Midnapore district near Kolkata, his name does not figure in the local voters' list. A top official of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal, who did not wish to be named, said that after being contacted by the Crime Branch of Kolkata Police, the CID did it own cross-checks about Ansar's past and his associations with Haldia. "Although several theories are doing the rounds about Ansar Sheikh's political affiliations, we did not get any definite information about his active political involvement, at least in Haldia and East Midnapore, be it in the past or now," the CID official said. The second contradiction is about his roots. While some sources have claimed that he was originally from Assam, some others claimed that he actually hailed from Bihar. "His association with Haldia started after he married a local woman and later built a two-storey mansion there. In fact, as told to us by the local people, by the in-laws of Ansar Sheikh came from an extremely humble financial background and their lifestyle improved only after the marriage. According to the local people, Ansar was an ideal son-in-law," the CID official said. Meanwhile, another controversy has erupted about the contradictory statements made by Trinamool Congress councillor from Ward No. 15 in Haldia, Sheikh Ajijul Rahman, whose picture with Ansar went viral on April 21. On that day, Rahman claimed that although he knew Ansar as a local from Haldia, he could not recollect where the picture was clicked. But now he is claiming that the picture was clicked in 2019 in Delhi. "I went to Delhi with my family and from there we were supposed to go to Manali. On hearing that I am in Delhi, Ansar came to meet me, since we were known to each other. At that point of time the picture was clicked. That was our last interaction," claimed Rahman, who's also a member of the chairman-in-council of Haldia Municipality. As reported by IANS on April 19, Ansar enjoyed the image of a philanthropist in Haldia due to his charity works. He was also quite popular among the neighbours as whenever he used to visit Haldia, he arranged feasts at his mansion where the neighbours were invited.

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Microplastics entering human food supplies in South Australian waters

Canberra, April 20 (IANS)

Microplastics are making their way into human food supplies in oceans around Australia, researchers have found. In a study published recently in Science of the Total Environment, a team from Flinders University sampled microplastic levels on 10 beaches in South Australia (SA). They found variable concentrations of microplastics in blue mussels and water, warning that it means microplastics have found their way into human food supplies, including wild-caught and farmed fish and seafood in the Southern Ocean, Xinhua news agency reported. "Our findings shed light on the urgent need to prevent microplastic pollution by working with the communities, industries and government to protect these fragile marine systems," said Karen Burke da Silva, senior author from the university's College of Science and Engineering. "Low to medium levels of microplastics measured in the common blue mussel, a filter feeder affected by ecosystem conditions, were measured to analyze the main kinds of pollution affecting the environment, and single-use plastic was the main offender." Microplastics are fragments of plastic smaller than five millimeters in length. Experts estimate that there are trillions of microplastics polluting the world's oceans and waterways. The Flinders University team found that mussel samples collected from near cities and towns had microplastic levels four times higher than those from remote areas. Plastic types identified included polyamide (PA), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), acrylic resin, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and cellulose, suggesting synthetic and semi-synthetic particles from single-use, short-life cycle products, fabrics, ropes and cordage, according to the study. "The areas examined include some biodiversity hotspots of global significance, including the breeding ground of the Great Cuttlefish in the Northern Spencer Gulf and marine ecosystems more diverse than the Great Barrier Reef (such as Coffin Bay), so cleanup and prevention measures are long overdue," Burke da Silva said. "Apart from the harvesting of blue mussels, we also need to consider the impact of microplastic particles entering other parts of the human food chain with microplastic pollution expected to increase in the future."

Climate change top issue for Australian voters: Poll

Canberra, April 22 (IANS) Climate change, cost of living and the economy are the most important issues to Australians in the general election to be held on May 21, a new poll revealed on Friday. State broadcaster the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) published data from Vote Compass, which asks voters where they stand on a series of major issues before telling them which party they most closely align with, reports Xinhua news agency. It revealed that 29 per cent of voters identified climate change as their most important issue for how they will vote in the election. However, only 8 per cent of people who said they intend to vote for the governing conservative Coalition identified climate change as an important issue compared to 30 per cent of supporters of the opposition centre-left Labor Party and 50 per cent of people who vote for the left-wing Greens. The Coalition has promised to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 26-28 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030 and has committed to a 2050 net zero target. Under Labor's climate policy, emissions would be cut by 43 per cent by 2030. Cost of living and the economy rated as voters' next biggest concern, with 13 per cent of 97,159 Vote Compass participants choosing each, followed by government accountability, the environment, and healthcare. More than a third of Coalition voters chose the economy as their biggest issue followed by the cost of living and defence and public security. Among Labor voters, climate change was followed by government accountability and cost of living. Only 7 per cent of Labor supporters said the economy was their biggest concern.

Australia says Chinese military base on Solomon Islands would be ‘a red line’

Canberra, April 24 (IANS) Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared on Sunday that a Chinese military base on the Solomon Islands would be an unacceptable "red line", without adding how Canberra would retaliate, media reports said. Morrison's government and the US are scrambling to respond to a recently-signed security deal between the islands and Beijing, which they consider an "aggressive" move, RT reported. "Working together with our partners in New Zealand and of course the United States, I share the same red line that the United States has when it comes to these issues," Morrison said. "We won't be having Chinese military naval bases in our region on our doorstep." A tiny archipelago sitting around 2,000km off the northeastern coast of Australia, the Solomon Islands made international news last week when it signed a security pact with China. With the island nation reeling from violent protests last year, the deal - according to a leaked draft of the agreement - promises Chinese assistance in "maintaining social order" and allows China's warships to dock at its ports, RT reported. Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare insists that the deal was necessary to beef up security and was "guided by our national interests". He stated last week that the agreement does not allow China to set up a military base on the islands, something that Beijing has also stressed. However, Australia and her allies fear otherwise. "The reality is that China has changed. China's incredibly aggressive, the acts of foreign interference, the preparedness to pay bribes to get an outcome... that's the reality of modern China," Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton told Sky News on Sunday. Beijing so far has not responded to these allegations of corruption. Sydney, April 24 (IANS) Authorities of Australia's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) announced the Covid-19 plan for schools as the colder season is approaching. The Covid smart plan came after the state eased the isolation requirement for those close contacts of confirmed cases, reports Xinhua news agency. Under the new rules that took effect last week, close contacts of a confirmed Covid-19 case will not have to isolate, as long as they have no symptoms. But those close contacts still have to notify their employer or educational facility about their status, and comply with guidelines including not visiting aged care and hospitals unless a special exemption applies, undertaking daily rapid antigen tests (RATs) before coming into close contact with people outside their household, avoiding contact with elderly and immunocompromised persons, and wearing a face mask in indoor settings outside the home. In line with the updated rules, teachers and students who are household contacts, but do not have the disease or any symptoms, can return to school, according to the Covid smart plan for schools. They must, however, notify the schools that they are household contacts, and do a daily rapid antigen test before school and wear a face mask indoors in the next five school days after their household confirmed positive. More free RATs are expected to be provided to school staff and students to support compliance with these new rules. The authorities also pledged to provide good ventilation for schools with additional air quality measures. NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the removal of isolation requirements for household contacts will support continuity of teaching and learning in schools. However, the transmission of virus in local schools is still alarming. According to local media The Sydney Morning Herald, attendance among the state's 823,000 public sector students dropped to about 86 per cent in mid-March, compared with almost 92 per cent during the same period last year. The fall equates to more than 45,000 students. On Sunday, the state recorded 11,107 new cases, and 1,588 people are being treated in hospitals with 64 in intensive care.

Number of people living in Aus who were born overseas falls after 20 yrs

Canberra, April 26 (IANS) The number of people living in Australia who were born overseas has fallen for the first time in more than 20 years, according to government data published on Tuesday. The data published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed that in 2021 there were 7.5 million residents who were born overseas, down from 7.7 million in 2020, reports Xinhua news agency. The portion of the total population who were born in another country was 29.1 per cent, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points from 2020. It marks the first decrease in the proportion of the Australian population born overseas since 2000 when the figure was 23 per cent. "While Australia's population increased by 45,000 from June 2020 to June 2021, there was a decrease in the overseas-born population," Jenny Dobak, head of Migration Statistics at the ABS, said. The decrease reflected reduced overseas migration in and out of Australia, given the Covid-19 travel restrictions. The travel and migration intentions of many people changed due to the pandemic, including those migrating to work or study, said Dobak. "In the first year of the pandemic there were fewer people born overseas migrating to Australia, as well as fewer people born in Australia departing to live overseas." The UK continued to be the biggest source of overseas-born Australians, accounting for 12 per cent of the total number followed by India at 9.4 per cent.

Australia accuses China of election meddling

Canberra, April 28 (IANS) Australias Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has accused China of attempting to interfere in an election set for next month, saying a recent security deal with a nearby Pacific nation suggested nefarious motives. In comments to a Brisbane radio station on Wednesday, Andrews warned that Australians ought to be "taking notice of and paying some attention to" China's pact with the Solomon Islands, announced last week, RT reported. "Beijing is clearly very aware that we're in a federal election campaign here at the moment. Why now? Why, right in the middle of a federal election campaign is all this coming to light?" she asked, addin: "We talk about political interference and that has many forms." While it's unclear exactly what impact the China-Solomons deal would have on the May 21 federal election, the ruling Liberal Party has argued that Beijing is hoping to see victory for the opposition Labor Party, as the centre-left faction takes up an increasingly hawkish line toward Beijing, RT reported. Labor spokesperson Penny Wong blasted Prime Minister Scott Morrison for his supposed weakness on China, arguing that the Solomons deal occurred "on Morrison's watch" while warning of "the prospect of a Chinese base less than 2,000 km from Australia's coastline". Senior Labor lawmaker Jim Chalmers was dismissive of Andrews' remarks, saying that, even by the "incredibly low standards of this government", her criticism "was remarkably desperate and remarkably unhinged", adding that instead of the Chinese Communist Party, "the Australian people will determine who wins" next month's election.

Ukraine asks IAEA for equipment to safely run nuke plants

Vienna, April 25 (IANS) Ukraine has provided the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) with a comprehensive list of equipment it needs for the safe and secure operation of its nuclear facilities in the wake of the ongoing war, Rafael Grossi, chief of the Vienna-based UN watchdog, announced. According to the IAEA, The list Ukraine sent covers a range of equipment for different nuclear facilities in the country, and includes various radiation measurement devices, protective material, computer-related assistance, power supply systems and diesel generators. “The detailed equipment requirements submitted through the IAEA’s Unified System for Information Exchange in Incidents and Emergencies (USIE), a secure web site for the exchange of notifications and other emergency-related information between countries, would enable the Agency to effectively coordinate and implement the delivery of support to Ukraine,” Grossi said in a statement on April 24. Previously, the IAEA had delivered initial equipment to Ukraine when Grossi visited the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant last month and more will be handed over when he travels to the Chernobyl this week. Since the beginning of the war on February 24, the Russian military has taken control of two nuclear power plants, Zaporizhzhya and Chernobyl, which are now back in Ukraine’s control.

Re-elected Macron vows to ‘heal divisions’ in France

Paris, April 25 (IANS) In a victory speech, a mere 90 minutes after he was projected re-elected as French President for a second term on the evening of April 24, Emmanuel Macron, 44, with a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face, assured those who did not vote for him: “I am no longer the candidate of one camp, but the President of all.” But on a more emotional note, on a brightly lit stage in the Place de la Republique in central Paris, his wife Brigitte with him, thousands of people as his audience and the iconic Eiffel Tower glowing in the background, Macron vowed “to heal the divisions that have been expressed in these elections, by ensuring respect for everyone, every day.” He said: “The years to come will certainly be difficult, but they will be historic and we will have to write them, together, for the new generations.” According to Ipsos-SopraSteria, computing the result, Macron won with 58.8 per cent votes in his favour compared to 41.2 per cent for his far Right challenger, the 53-year-old Marine Le Pen. The second and final round of the French presidential election, which this was, is a straight contest between two candidates, after a first round eliminates others in the fray a fortnight earlier. The margin of Macron’s win was narrower than five years ago, when he attracted 66 per cent of votes to the same opponent’s 34 per cent. This was the first time since Jacques Chirac of the right-of-centre Republican party in 2002, that a sitting president has been granted dual terms by French voters, whose preferences have been quite volatile in recent years. Macron’s En Marche movement, launched only in 2016, was enthusiastically endorsed the following year at the expense of the long established Republican and Socialist parties. Simultaneously, there has been the steady rise of Le Pen’s ultra-nationalist and racist National Rally party as well as that of the radical left France Unbowed party of veteran Jean-Luc Melenchon. In her concession speech, a defiant Le Pen said: “The ideas we stand for are reaching new heights.” Certainly she had gained seven per cent on her showing five years ago. Melenchon, who narrowly lost out to Le Pen in the first round, also held a post-election rally. “Let’s get to work without hesitating,” he told his supporters. His objective is to unite the left and green formations in French politics to establish a strong presence in the National Assembly in parliamentary elections in June. An opinion poll broadcast on French television claimed 54 per cent of French voters did not want an En Marche majority to 46 per cent who did. If this transpires to be reality, Macron’s party might only become the largest single party, without winning an absolute majority, as it did in 2017. As En Marche supporters sipped champagne late into the night to celebrate their success, the conversation was more sobering, with talk of an immediate “third round”. There are fears of public unrest led by the France Unbowed in the run-up to the June elections over Macron’s proposal to raise the retirement age to 65 and the current high cost of living. Much relieved European leaders -- for Le Pen posed a major threat to the unity and integrity of the European Union -- rushed to congratulate Macron. The first foreign Head of state to signal his satisfaction was German Chancellor OlofScholz. “Your voters have sent a strong vote of confidence in Europe today,” he posted on Twitter. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, tweeted: “Together we will make France and Europe advance.” Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Macron’s win “is splendid news for all of Europe”. Even British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a Brexiteer who has often been at loggerheads with Macron, said he looked forward to “continuing to work on the issues which matter most to our two countries and to the world”. Macron’s victory was good news for India. The Indian government has been familiar with Macron since he was a cabinet Minister in the socialist President Francois Hollande’s (2012-2017) government. He has, therefore, represented a continuing and steadfast alliance with India on defence, security, intelligence sharing and economic co-operation since Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s government.

Freedom Movement celebrates landslide victory in Slovenia’s election

Ljubljana, April 25 (IANS) Freedom Movement (FM), a new center-left party, recorded a landslide victory at Slovenia's general election, defeating the center-right Slovenian Democratic Party led by Prime Minister JanezJansa. The results of the general election in Slovenia were announced on April 24. FM, led by Robert Golob, received 34.53 per cent of the vote and will hold 41 out of 90 seats in parliament, which is the highest number of seats that any party has held since Slovenia's independence in 1991, according to the preliminary result from the State Election Commission. The Slovenian Democratic Party got 23.54 per cent of the vote and 27 seats, Xinhua news agency reported. Only three other parties also passed the four-per cent threshold for parliament, down from nine parties four years ago. Thus, the parliament will include the lowest number of parties since Slovenia's independence. The turnout reached 69.69 per cent, up from 52.6 per cent four years ago, and was the highest since 2000. "High turnout tells it all. It says that people want changes and that they trust us that we will bring those changes," said Golob, who addressed his party over the internet because he is overcoming a Covid-19 infection. "Let's not forget, trust leads to expectations and expectations lead to our responsibility. Let's dance today but tomorrow a new day starts and tomorrow we start working hard to justify that trust," he added. The new parliament is due to convene by the middle of May following which Golob is expected to form and lead a new government in a coalition with smaller parties, most likely the center-left Social Democrats, which got seven seats, and the Left with five seats. The FM, which was formed in January, pledges to promote a green economy, democratic values, the rule of law and media freedom. Its main tasks will include battling the Covid-19 pandemic, improving the public health system, curbing the rising cost of energy prices and high inflation and dealing with trade unions' demands for hefty wage hikes.

Breakthrough in Pak-IMF bailout talks as $8bn package approved

Islamabad, April 24 (IANS) Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have agreed, in principle, to extend the stalled bailout programme by up to one year and increase the loan size to $8 billion, giving markets the much-needed stability and a breathing space to the new government, the media reported. The understanding has been reached between Pakistan Finance Minister Miftah Ismail and IMF Deputy Managing Director Antoinette Sayeh in Washington, sources told The Express Tribune on April 24. Subject to the final modalities, the IMF has agreed that the programme will be extended by another nine months to one year as against the original end-period of September 2022, the sources added. The size of the loan would be increased from the existing $6 billion to $8 billion -- a net addition of $2 billion, a senior government functionary requesting anonymity said. The previous PTI-led government and the IMF had signed a 39-month Extended Fund Facility (July 2019 to September 2022) with a total value of $6 billion. However, the previous government failed to fulfil its commitments and the programme remained stalled for most of the time as $3 billion remained undisbursed. Before taking Pakistan's case to the IMF Board for approval, Islamabad would have to agree on the budget strategy for the next fiscal year 2022-23, the sources said. Also, the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would have to demonstrate that it would undo some wrong steps taken by the former regime against the commitments that it gave to the IMF Board in January this year. Pakistan is passing through a phase of political and economic uncertainty and the decision to stay in the IMF programme for longer than original period would bring clarity in economic policies and soothe the rattling markets, Express Tribune reported.

Brazil’s carnival returns after 2-yr suspension

Brasilia, April 25 (IANS) After a two-year suspension due to Covid-19, Brazil's carnival returned this weekend, giving a boost to the country's tourism sector. As millions of spectators enjoyed the traditional celebration at an unusual time of the year, the famous "blocos", or musical troupes, returned to parade in the streets in cities such as Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, while samba schools again lit up the Sambadrome. Originally scheduled for the end of February, the carnival was cancelled for the third straight year after an increase in Covid-19 cases due to the Omicron variant. However, pressure from the tourism sector over fears of another year without its main season of income and employment, led to a rescheduling for the end of April. Although lacking in thousands of foreign tourists, the carnival was boosted by domestic revellers that pushed hotel occupancy and revived the service sector. In Rio de Janeiro, the hotel occupancy was between 85 and 90 per cent this weekend, according to the Brazilian Hotel Industry Association. Other state capitals have also seen high rates, such as 70 per cent in Recife, 65 per cent in Florianopolis, 60 per cent in Natal and 60 per cent in Aracaju.

Vol 2, Issue 6 May 1-15, 2022

INTERVIEW

‘No one has perfect lives but your potential to soar is limitless’

New Delhi, April 18 (IANS) We live in a difficult world, easily weighed down by judgement and insecurities, where no one has perfect lives. The key lies in getting past our internal and external limitations, says Radhika Gupta, the dynamic MD & CEO of Edelweiss MF, the youngest and only female CEO in India's financial services sector, who records her journey in an inspiring book titled 'Limitless: The Power of Unlocking Your True Potential' (Hachette). "We live in a difficult world, where it is easy to be weighed down by judgement and insecurities. People think portfolios are what they see on Twitter, marriages on Insta, and businesses on Excel. The reality is -- no one has perfect lives," Gupta told IANS in an interview. "We all get rejected, we all feel lost, we have days where we hate what we do and days where we hate how we look. We feel held back sometimes by gender, by socio-economic background, or whatever else makes us different. How do we get past these limitations...internal and external, and live the maximum version of ourselves, is what I focus on in the book," she added. It's been quite a roller coaster for Gupta. In 2005, after being rejected by seven consulting firms back-toback-during campus placements at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), where she was a student at the Wharton School, she tried to jump off the 19th floor of a building. "I was a 21-year-old college student then and didn't know how to handle being told 'no'. Thankfully, my then classmate and now husband Nalin (came to my rescue (something he still does in many situations) and, as it happens with most of us, my life turned out fairly fine," Gupta writes in the book. She began her career at McKinsey, and then cut her teeth as an analyst on Wall Street in the mid-2000s at a boutique hedge fund called AQR Capital Management. In 2009, she moved back to India to start her own asset management company with two of her UPenn classmates. It was named Forefront Capital Management and later sold to Edilweiss Financial Services "and on most days, I wake up thinking I have the best job on earth", she writes. Comparison and risk form two important themes in the book, which is liberally peppered with her own experiences and with those of others. "Comparison is inevitable, it starts from childhood, from your parent's comparing you to what I call 'Sharmajika beta' to you comparing yourself to your classmate. I share my own struggles with comparison, as a naturally competitive person, and how to think about it in a more healthy way," Gupta said during the interview. "I also talk about risk -- which is easier said than done, because while unicorns sound fantastic in the news, not every start up is a unicorn, and many of us, forget starting up, are scared to even get out of the comfort zone in our day to day jobs," she added. To this end, Gupta offers a seven-step approach: Kicking The S**T Out Of Rejection Taking Risks, Understanding SIPS (Small is Powerful) And Surviving Blips The Golden AAA --- Ambition, Awareness, Asking Fresh Air And Unaccustomed Earth TGIF- Thank God I'm Flawed Hard Work x A Little Help Choose Your Sky, Learn To Fly. The idea of writing the book, Gupta said, was a "contradiction". "I always wanted to write it, but never thought it would happen. I have enjoyed writing since a young age, it's one of the few hobbies I have had, but always believed a book is something I would come to much later in life. The Covid induced lockdown and lack of travel changed that, and when Hachette came to me with the idea, after the initial resistance, I said why not. I had also been getting feedback on my social handles, where I have been micro-blogging, to do a long form book," Gupta explained. She thoroughly enjoyed the journey of putting "Limitless" together. "I spent time thinking about the themes I wanted to talk about a lot, the issues I had grappled with... and then thinking through the stories I wanted to share, both from my life and those around me. This is not an autobiography, where things are sort of chronological, so the outlining process was important. "My hope is the stories are authentic and honest, simple and yet meaningful. I spent about six months thinking through the outline, and then another six writing, thinking through the words, the tone. Since my weekdays are very full with my day job, 'Limitless' was essentially a weekend project. And then there was time on edits, versions, and more versions. As I say... it's a real labour of love," Gupta maintained. Harkening to the Bollywood movie "Dangal", in which the young wrestler Geeta's father (played by Aamir Khan) objects to her coach attempting to change her style and finally tells his daughter, "Attack karkekhel" (play in attack mode), Gupta writes: "My story is the same." "I have found self-confidence - which had wandered off somewhere in a battle of comparisons and a quest for perfection - by embracing my uniqueness, and I have learnt that I am at my best when I play my game my own way, in attack mode. It's a liberating feeling, to say the least. "Each of us has an open sky of opportunities; we can fly anywhere we choose to and at the speed we want, because we are all equipped with wings. Those wings may be of different colours, some a little bigger and some slightly smaller than those of the person next to us. They may be a little imperfect, but nonetheless they are wings to help us soar. If there is one thing I hope this book leaves you with, it is to look past your challenges - internal, external, whatever they may be - and trust in your wings. If you do, you will realise just how far you can fly... because your potential to soar is truly limitless," Gupta concludes the book.

Pushpinder Oberoi: Torchbearer of Indian culture in the Antipodes

Like the usual run of hotel management graduates from India who migrate abroad for greener pastures, Pushpinder Oberoi’s story could also have been just the story of professional success, which despite being an inspirational one in its own right, would have been rendered into oblivion with the passage of time. However, Oberoi proved when he first migrated to Sweden in 1974 that it is possible for an individual to not only stay connected with his roots and culture but also to foster it even on foreign shores. During the eight years that he spent in Sweden from 1974 and 1981, he was deeply involved in promoting Indian culture with assistance from the Indian Embassy, Stockholm and the Swedish government. He also formed and launched the Indo - Swedish Society in Uppsala. Thereafter, he moved to New Zealand and even as his professional career in the hospitality sector grew in leaps and bounds, he continued with his good work by promoting the Indian culture in Auckland, Rotorua and Hamilton. He also formed the India-New Zealand Cultural Association. Migrating to Australia in 1993, he went on to launch Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Gold Coast and not surprisingly he has been the President of the community group. Oberoi, Justice of Peace, Past President of GOPIO Gold Coast, and Multicultural Ambassador of Queensland for Mental Health Foundation, received the Outstanding Contribution award in 2018 as an appreciation for his contribution to the Gold Coast Indian Community and the Global Humanitarian Award in 2020 by the World Humanitarian Drive for his work in Thurrock during the coronavirus lockdown, when he worked to alleviate the pressures of isolation and organised several 'treats' for local people and international students in need of food and financial assistance. Even as his chain of restaurants continues to grow, Oberoi’s involvement with the spreading and popularizing of Indian culture has also increased. As the President of GOPIO, Gold Coast Chapter and member of the Australia India Business Council and Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland, he is committed to improving and adding to the India-Australia relationship through business, cultural activities and also through community programs. In this interview, Pushpinder Oberoi shares with the readers his experience in the hospitality industry over the years and how the industry is dealing with the challenges, especially the Covid-19 pandemic, with a positive attitude.

1. You have been associated with the hospitality industry for the past several years. How have you seen the industry evolve in India and the world over?

Ans- I have noticed the evolution in the hospitality industry in India and the world over.Hotel brands influence travellers in making their decisions. For example, Marriot- Sheraton, Hyatt, Hilton, etc., are at the forefront in influencing travellers while making their decisions. Now the hospitality industry does a lot of things like providing services to bring the hotels to the upcoming standards that have to be maintained. The industry does the job of a consultation advisor and assists in running management training programs as well. In the changing business scenario, the industry has adapted favorably by taking such measures as providing volume discounts to inbound and outbound travellers through aggressive national purchase programs and facilitating online bookings for frITs. All in all, the hospitality industry has become very competitive.

2. What are the challenges being faced by the hospitality industry currently, especially in the context of the pandemic, and what is the possible solution?

Ans- The challenges being faced by the hospitality industry at present are due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic has brought forth issues as to how to maintain health and hygiene of the guests. Then there is also the issue related to human resource management in a crisis like this one. As for the possible solution, first of all there is a need to learn from the current circumstance that has arisen due to the pandemic. Then we need to understand the limitations within which we have to work in the industry with a scope for future research which is much needed in the current scenario. More importantly, overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic and moving forward with a positive attitude, and seeing the bright side of the current situation are essential for the success of the industry.

3. Being associated with what is one of the most profitable industries- the hospitality industry, how have you managed to keep the humanitarian zeal going, along with the need to build a profitable business?

Ans- Humanitarian zeal and building a profitable business go side-by-side. One has to be a human first (caring and sharing) to build the human resources (employees and people around) through motivation and inspire them to grow. Their growth leads to successful and profitable business.

5. You have also been associated with cultural activities across many countries. How have you managed to adapt to diverse cultures?

Ans- I have managed to adapt due to my passion and love for diverse cultures by understanding them and taking time off to get involved with them with my heart and soul, and at the same time ensuring not to neglect my business as well.

6. What opportunities did Australia offer you to grow as a hospitality professional and a caring human being?

Ans- Australia is a multicultural country and it supports multiculturalism, and being based in Gold Coast (the tourism hub of Australia), I got all the opportunity to expand. If there is a will and passion and with a positive attitude, you can't go wrong.

4. You are the recipient of the “Global Humanitarian Award” from 'World Humanitarian Drive' (WHD). What is the significance of this award for you, especially from the perspective of being a successful hospitality professional all these years?

Ans- The significance of the “Global Humanitarian Award” bestowed upon me by WHD has been that this award has played a very important role in my life. It has brought more credibility to my personality and encouraged me to do more volunteer services. The community at large appreciates my services and this makes me feel proud of being acknowledged. As a gesture of appreciation for my services, I was appointed Honorary Ambassador for Queensland by the Mental Health Foundation of Australia. 7. What challenges, if any, have you been facing in carrying forward your humanitarian and cultural activities? Ans- With a positive attitude and by hoping for the best, you move forward.Challenges come but we have to face them in a positive manner and be determined to carry forward my humanitarian and cultural activities.

8. Finally, what is your advice to the young hospitality aspirants?

Ans- You have to have a passion for what you do and bring you happiness and satisfaction. Be positive and positive things will happen. Get involved in the local community and build up your profile with the community. They will help you become successful in what you do professionally.