Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
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Indian-Australians in Queen’s Birthday 2022 Honours List
Australia-India cooperation in urban water management a step in right direction
Kashmiri YouTuber arrested for enacting beheading of Nupur Sharma - Page 4
World endorses PM Modi’s call for economic development for peace - Page 6
Harvest Festival organized - Page 12
Asha Bhat (Twitter)
Dr Marlene Kanga (Twitter)
Dr Sathya Rao (LinkedIn)
Indian-Australians have much to cheer about as there are some Indian Australian names that figure on the Queen’s Birthday 2022 Honours list. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia announced Honours to 992 Australians, which included 669 in the General Division of the Order of Australia, and awards for meritorious, distinguished and conspicuous service. The Governor-General His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) congratulated the awardees saying, “They’re from different backgrounds, their stories are each unique, and each has served in different ways. This diversity is strength and each has impacted their community and made it better.” The recipients’ achievements have been recognized across various fields such as community service, science and research, industry, sport, the arts, etc. The Honours List also includes some prominent Indian-Australian names. One of them is Prof Suresh Bhargava, AM. ProfSuresh Bhargava is a renowned interdisciplinary
scientist with several years of leadership in academia and industry. He is committed to strengthening Australia-India relations. He has had advisory roles with Australian Premiers and Governors on Indo-Australian relations. He has also founded the Australia-India Strategic Research Fund. Another Indian-Australian to be recognized is AshaBhat OAM. AshaBhat is the leader of the award-winning regional Southern Aboriginal Corporation, which provides services and programs for the Noongar peoples’ needs and aspirations, in cooperation with other community and business organizations. Prof Sameer Bhole AM, who is another Indian-Australian to figure on the Honours’ list is the Director of the Oral Health Alliance, a partnership between UQ’s School of Dentistry and Metro-North Oral Health Service. He has vast experience in Dentistry. For the last few years he has dedicated his career to improving oral health for disadvantaged populations with a specific focus on health inequities, access barriers and social determinants of health.
Babette Francis AM, another IndianAustralian recipient of the Honour is the National and Overseas Coordinator of Endeavour Forum Inc., an NGO with special consultative status with the Economic & Social Council of the UN. Francis is the Australian representative of the Coalition on Abortion/Breast Cancer. Among Indian Australian Honour recipients is DrSathyaRao OAM. He is hailed as a pioneer in the treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder and his passion for research, evidence-based practice and teaching has inspired many health professionals to specialize in this area within Australia and overseas. By being honouredGurpreet Pinky Singh OAM has given the Punjabi community in Australia a good reason to be proud of their achievements down under. She is president of the Australian Punjabi Welfare Association (APWA). She has been working for the welfare and safety of the Punjabi community in Queensland, Australia. She is also the Immigration and Citizenship Policy Chair for the Liberal National Party (LNP) and fought Continue on Page no. 4
.. and it was all yellow! - Page 20
Queen’s Honour to Prof Medcalf is honouringAustralia-India ties Protect your skin from a vacation tan - Page 21
Prof Medcalf (Twitter)
Top Destinations for Sustainable Stays in 2022 - Page 22
4 different types of Watermelons Page 27
Prof. Rory Medcalf is a recognizable name for those who understand the progress being made in AustraliaIndia relations. That Prof Medcalf gets the Queen’s Honour for his significant service to international relations, and to tertiary education, is a timely recognition of the importance being accorded to international relations in Australia’s federal politics, including its thrust to Australia-India ties. Prof Medcalf has written scholarly pieces on the association between Australia and India beginning right from India’s entry into the world’s nuclear club in the late 1990s and carrying on to make his observations on a fresh momentum to the association in a post-pandemic
world. Though Prof. Medcalf has written about several countries not just about India such as Ireland, China, Japan, the Indo Pacific, his interest on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament paved the way for taking interest in India’s political course of action in the international arena. At a time in 1998 when the issue of nuclear non-proliferation treaty arose and India refused to be a signatory, the international community saw India as a nuclear non-proliferation problem. This required an in depth study of India’s history as a nation and the country’s neighbourhood challenges being posed by belligerent countries such as China and Pakistan. That India must tread the nuclear path is a given now and no country internationally feels threatened by India’s nuclear program, which is basically of a civilian nature, though the country retains nuclear arsenal as a deterrent with a commitment to no first use of the same. Prof Medcalf has viewed India as a non-proliferation solution rather than a problem, and he ensured many others across the international political spectrum shared his views. In this regard he had a major contribution to make to transform
Australia-India relations. As First Secretary at the Australian High Commission, he was instrumental in the significant bridging of relations between the two countries, especially in bringing about a reset in defence, and in organizing the first ever strategic relationship conference in 2001 which saw both countries regarding each other as neutral pillars of stability. Later Prof. Medcalf became a part of academia, including working for independent think tanks such as Lowy Institute. It was then that he helped Australia understand India’s role in a changing world order. Prof Medcalf recognizes that the relationship between Australia and India is perhaps the strongest ever. However, he is for realistic approach to the ties between the two countries given the fact that both are democracies and must be having an independent strategic course to pursue. He has emphasized the need to study about India in Australia and regards the Centre for Australia-India Relations to be making a profound difference in this direction. Prof. Medcalf is currently Professor and Head of the National Security College at the Australian National University.
PM Narendra Modi
PM Anthony Albanese
As Australia and India come closer through trade ties, there are many areas where both the countries are likely to benefit, water management being one of them. Many countries of the world are facing water scarcity. Australia and India have their respective water scarcity related problems. Australia is recognized as a continent of extremes in matters related to water resources. It has a relative abundance of water in the tropical north where inhabitants are very few, and there is relative scarcity in the more populated, temperate south. Therefore, Australia is facing a major question - can water productivity and water governance be improved? India’s own problems related to water comprise acute shortage in some places, and many problems that arise due to shortage of water. The Union Cabinet of India approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Australiarecently on Technical
Cooperation for Australia –India water Security initiative (AIWASI). AIWASI- a water security initiative AIWASI is a project under South Asia Water Security Initiative (SAWASI) of Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Australia. It is aimed at working towards the Water Sensitive City vision, a holistic management of the integrated water cycle. The project is aiming to undertake and deliver a Water Sensitive Urban Design demonstration project.Besides, the AIWASI project has multiple educational, social and environmental benefits such as water literacy of students and the community, creation of green spaces, improved air quality from blue-green infrastructure and rejuvenation of degraded water bodies and aquifers. Here it is important to define water security as per the United Nations. Water security is said to be the capacity of a population to safeguard
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With economic challenges ahead, Albanese government needs to roll its sleeves up The Albanese government may not have had enough time to rejoice its victory, thanks to the challenging economic conditions that call for immediate action rather than procrastination. The government has recognized that economic conditions are particularly challenging given that inflation has reached a 21-year high of 5.1 per cent with no signs it will relent anytime soon due to what the government says there is “persistent and compounding supply shocks.” The most significant issue is the government’s decision on wages for this year. The Labor stormed into power with a commitment to raise wages at a time when workers were facing hardships due to inflation. Therefore the government did not delay in recommending that the Fair Work Commission might make it a point to ensure real wages of Australia’s low-paid workers do not go backwards. What does that mean? If the inflation is as high as 5.1 per cent, is it feasible for the government to recommend a commensurate hike in wages? Of course, Labor knows it can’t do so as an outright step. While the government is conscientious of not letting workers go backwards in terms of income, it is not an easy job to always fix minimum wages keeping in view the inflationary situation in economy. For the inflation may reach to more than 5.1 per cent by the time new minimum wages are implemented. If inflation continues its current trend, the government may have to do much more than just raise minimum wages to safeguard
AlbaneseAustralia
the interests of the working class. To add to the already high pressure on the government, the international scenario is far from encouraging. The Russia-Ukraine war is showing no signs of ending and international sanctions on Russia are pinching the international community as much as perhaps Russia itself. Labor’s decision to support the Coalition’s halving of the fuel excise in the March budget has seen prices are back above $2 a litre, with no signs of reduction anytime soon. Economists are of the opinion that cutting the fuel excise helped in some way to ease inflation. However, if fuel excise is re-imposed, inflation would then step on the accelerator. Given that Australia already has a budget that has deficits full to the brim; economists were opposed to cutting the tax, for it means the government treasury would be starved of billions, which is not a good proposition. So now the Labor has to do the difficult task of balancing by keeping the inflation down and improving the budget deficit scenario. The government has to consider all the fiscal and monetary tools to tide over a difficult economic Continue on Page no. 4
Kangana on ‘Dhaakad’ failure: See lots of curated negativity - Page 30
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Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022 Publisher Panda Entertainment Networks
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LEAD STORIES
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
WAR IN UKRAINE
Russia to strengthen economic sovereignty in 2020s: Putin Moscow, June 7 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the 2020s would be a time for his country to strengthen its economic sovereignty. Russia will speed up the development of infrastructure and key technology and establish an independent and efficient financial system, Putin said in a message to the upcoming
Russia may lose over 40,000 troops by June end: Zelensky
Kiev, June 13: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia may lose more than 40,000 soldiers by the end of June. In a video address on Sunday, the President said: “The Russian army is trying to deploy reserve troops in Donbas. But what reserves can they speak of right now? “It seems that they will throw poorly trained conscripts into the battle, as well as those who had been recruited via covert mobilisation efforts. Russian generals consider their people simply as cannon fodder, which they need to ensure they outnumber us in military personnel, in military equipment. “But this only adds up to one thing: Russian losses in June might exceed
MOOSEWALLA MURDER Now Arun Gawli gang connection emerges in Moosewala murder case
New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) In a fresh development in the Sidhu Moosewala murder case, the Punjab Police are doubting that one of the shooters has connection with the Arun Gawli gang.
Sources said that one Santosh Jadhav, who is a member of the Arun Gawli gang, could be involved in the case. The Punjab Police are looking for eight sharpshooters and Jadhav is one of them. Three shooters are from Punjab, two each from Haryana and Maharashtra while the last one is from Rajasthan. The Punjab Police have shared crucial information in this respect with the Maharashtra Police. A photo has surfaced in which Jadhav could be seen with Asha Gawli, who is the wife of Arun Gawli. Jadhav is a resident of Khed Tehsil
in Pune. His name has cropped up during the course of investigation. The Maharashtra Police have now launched a manhunt for Jadhav. A murder case was recently lodged with the Khed Police against Jadhav. The police has also learnt that Jadhav has connections with other gangsters too. Sources privy to the investigation have claimed that the police can question close associates of Jadhav to know about his whereabouts. Gawli was awarded life imprisonment in connection with a murder case and is currently lodged in a jail in Maharashtra.
40,000 military personnel. They have not lost as many soldiers in any of the wars in many decades.” Zelenksy went on to say that currently the most fierce battles between the two warring nations are taking place in Sievierodonetsk, a city in the separatist Luhansk region in Donbas, reports Ukrayinska Pravda. “Ukrainian Defence Forces are fighting for every inch of Ukrainian land,” he said, adding that Russian forces were also advancing on Lysychansk, Bakhmut and Sloviansk. While Lysychansk is in Luhansk, both Bakhmut and Sloviansk are in Donestsk, also a part of Donbas. Meanwhile, the Luhansk region’s military administration said that Russian forces have been relentlessly firing on Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk over the course of Sunday. A six year-old child was killed as a result of Russian shelling, it said, adding that Russian forces were trying to press past the Ukrainian defence line by exerting fierce artillery fire.
25th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), Xinhua news agency reported. “The Russian economy will increasingly rely on private initiatives and, of course, will remain committed to transparency and broad international cooperation,” he added. Meanwhile, Putin criticised the “illegitimate” sanctions and
economic policy “mistakes” of Western countries, which have led to “a wave of global inflation, the disruption of usual supply chains and a sharp increase in poverty and food shortages”. The 25th SPIEF will be held in St. Petersburg from June 15 to 18.
Kim Jong-un extends full support to Putin amid Ukraine war Seoul, June 12: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Sunday expressed full support for Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite international condemnation for Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The Russian people have “achieved great successes in accomplishing the just cause of defending the dignity and security of their country, while braving all sorts of challenges and hardships”, Pyongyang’s official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Kim as saying in a message to Putin on the occasion of Russia Day. “The Korean people extend full support and encouragement to them.” Kim’s apparent reference to the unprovoked attack against Ukraine as a “just cause” for defending Russia’s security is the latest sign that illustrates decades-old close bilateral ties between the two countries, reports Yonhap News Agency. Pyongyang has recently stressed its close ties with Moscow despite growing criticism from the
international community on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Kim also expressed conviction that the friendly relations will continue to strengthen in all areas and in the “journey for defending the international justice and ensuring the global security”, the KCNA reported. In 2019, Kim held his first summit with Putin in Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok.
Lawrence Bishnoi questioned over threat letter to Salman Khan New Delhi, June 7: Jailed gangster Lawrence Bishnoi was questioned by the Delhi Police over a threat letter that was recently received by Bollywood megastar Salman Khan and his father, writer Salim Khan, official sources said on Tuesday. According to the sources, Bishnoi has denied any involvement in the said death threat and maintained that he has no hand in it. Bishnoi was questioned by the Special Cell as he had previously, a few years back, vowed to kill Salman Khan for the latter’s alleged
involvement in the infamous black buck poaching case. The Mumbai Police said that Salim Khan, 87, was handed over an unsigned, hand-written threat letter on Sunday morning around 7.30 a.m. by an unknown person on a bench where he normally rests after jogging at the Bandra Bandstand promenade, and it was addressed to him and his son Salman. The letter is signed off with some initials which the police are probing and also attempting to unravel if they are linked to any past incidents
targeting Salman Khan. The police are also scouring CCTV footage of the area for clues and questioning locals for further leads on the threat letter.
Rahul reaches Moosewala’s native village, expresses grief with parents
Chandigarh, June 7 (IANS) Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday reached Punjab’s Mansa district on Tuesday and met the parents of singer Sidhu Moosewala, who was gunned down by assailants on May 29, and expressed grief. Several Congress leaders, including state party chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, were among others, who received Gandhi at the airport in Chandigarh
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from where they reached his native Moosa village in a two-and-a-halfhour drive. Moosewala, whose mother Charan Kaur is sarpanch of his native Moosa village, made his electoral debut as a Congress candidate from Mansa in the February Assembly polls and faced defeat. Just ahead of the visit of Rahul Gandhi, the Vigilance Bureau in Punjab arrested Congress leader and former minister Sadhu Singh
Dharamsot under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Dharamsot, who was the Forest Minister in the previous Congress government led by Capt Amarinder Singh, is accused of being involved in illegal felling of over 25,000 trees. A day earlier, Congress leader and former Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot met the family of Moosewala in his native place. “Drug mafia, terrorists, gangsters have set their foot in (in Punjab)... The Centre and state should probe it (Moosewala’s death) and act against the culprits. We should all take a vow that we will never allow terrorism to set its foot in Punjab again,” he told the media, seeking strict punishment to those responsible for the killing of Moosewala. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann have met Moosewala’s parents separately. During their meeting with Shah in Chandigarh, the victim’s father demanded a CBI probe into his son’s killing. In less than 24 hours after his security was curtailed by the government, Moosewala was shot dead by gangsters close to his ancestral village in broad daylight.
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LEAD STORIES
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
PROPHET MOHAMMED CONTROVERSY Death threats, targeted hatred: Ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma gets security
New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) Suspended Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma was provided security by the Delhi Police in the wake of death threats she has received over her controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammed. The former BJP spokesperson had lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police on May 27 alleging that she
has been receiving death threats and target hatred against her. Based on this complaint, an FIR was registered under sections 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation), 507 (Criminal intimidation by an anonymous communication) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code at the Special Cell police station against unidentified people. However, during the probe, Sharma lodged another complaint against certain persons regarding promoting enmity. “After examining the said complaint, section 153 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of
harmony) of the IPC was added in this case,” Delhi Police spokesperson Suman Nalwa said. The controversial statement made by Nupur Sharma has set off an international furore. Several Muslim nations, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia and Iran, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have officially protested and demanded an apology. Following the uproar, the Bharatiya Janata Party suspended Sharma and another leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, who also made insulting comment against Prophet Muhammad on social media. Delhi BJP president Adesh Gupta told IANS that there is no place for indiscipline in the party and no one is allowed to cross the party line.
AIMPLB seeks strict punishment for ex-BJP members for remarks against Prophet
New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) The All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), reacting to the suspension of two BJP spokespersons - Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal - from the party over their comments on Prophet Muhammad,
has said that mere suspension is inadequate and the two should be “punished strictly”. Maulana Khalid Saifullah Rahmani, General Secretary of the AIMPLB, issued a statement saying, “Some activists of the ruling party of the country made objectionable and indecent remarks on the Prophet, it caused severe pain to all the Muslims of the country and at the global level. Due to this, the reputation of the country has been hurt. Suspending the ‘perpetrators’ of such ‘heinous crimes’ from the party is certainly a good thing but it is not enough.” “Strict punishment should be given to those who do such misdeeds, legal action should be taken against
them and a law should be made which declares insult of holy personalities (symbols of faith) of different religions as a condemnable offence, and immediate and appropriate legal action could be taken against them.” Apart from this, he also said that the kind of “unilateral and discriminatory action being taken against the protesters in Uttar Pradesh is regrettable and condemnable”. On Sunday, the Delhi BJP expelled its media head Jindal from the party for his social media comment on Prophet Muhammad while the party’s central leadership suspended Sharma from the party for her comment on Prophet during a TV debate.
Prophet row: 20 Muslims held in Gujarat for protesting without permission
Ahmedabad, June 12 (IANS) As many as 20 Muslim leaders, including women were arrested by the police on Sunday afternoon after they gathered in the Juhapura area in Ahmedabad to organise a march without permission, to protest against BJP’s former spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s statement on Prophet. Police tried to convince them to
return home, but when they did not agree and tried to proceed, police had to resort to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the mob. Ahmedabad Zone-7 Deputy Commissioner of Police B.U. Jadeja told the media, “Since Saturday evening, fake messages were in circulation on social media about a protest march to be organised in the Juhapura area. To ensure that no untoward incident occurs, police were deployed well in advance in the area.” Police were expecting that large numbers of women would join the march, and women police too were deployed in the area. In the afternoon, when they attempted to march, police stopped them and some leaders were arrested while rest were convinced to return home, said the officer. Heavy police
deployment has been made in the area. The arrested Muslim leaders were taken to Vejalpur police station in Ahmedabad. In another development, Surat police have arrested five persons for printing and circulating posters of Nupur Sharma. These posters were posted in Kadarshani Nal Road area in Surat city, they had even circulated video of posters on social media. Surat’s Deputy Commissioner (Zone-3) Sagar Bagmar told the media that these posters were printed and circulated with an intention to create communal enmity in the society, based on technical surveillance, these five persons were identified and arrested by the police. In the video and posters they had printed, “Now we need to turn Gujarat into Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.”
Kashmiri YouTuber arrested for enacting beheading of Nupur Sharma
Srinagar, June 11 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir police on Saturday arrested Kashmir-based YouTuber Faisal Wani, who had digitally enacted the act of beheading former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. “We have registered an FIR against the Youtuber under sections 505 and 506 IPC at Safa Kadal Police Station in the Srinagar, after his gory video went viral,” police said. On Friday, when several Islamists, baying for the blood of the ex-BJP spokesperson ran riots across India, the accused posted a disturbing video on his Youtube channel named ‘Deep Pain Fitness’. In the said video, Wani could be heard saying: “No action, www.indianabroad.news
Gustak-e-Rasool ki eki hi saza -- Sarr Kalam (The punishment for blasphemy is beheading)”. The Youtuber then proceeded to behead an image of Nupur Sharma with an axe. The gory video also showed Wani, holding the former BJP leader’s severed head and tossing it away with disgust. Following outrage on social media, Wani claimed innocence in the hopes of averting legal action. On Saturday night, he claimed, “Yesterday, I had made a VFX video about Nupur Sharma which went viral all over India. And an innocent person such as me got implicated in the controversy.” He made an emotional appeal to
his audience by claiming that his source of livelihood had taken a hit in recent times. Islamists have continued to hound and threaten the ex-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and her family since the time her video with a commentary on Prophet Mohammad was shared on social media. In the last week of May 2022, during a news debate, Nupur Sharma asked what if she makes offensive remarks about Islam the way people were making offensive remarks about Shivling and Hinduism. Since then, the intimidation campaign against the former BJP spokesperson has continued unabated, with domestic and foreign Islamists baying for her blood. Multiple death and beheading threats have come her way. A number of FIRs have also been filed against her in different states of India. Despite her suspension from the BJP over her alleged ‘blasphemy’ and subsequent apology, Islamists have continued to target her with threats. There are multiple bounties on her head as well now ranging from Rs 20 lakh to one crore.
Prophet row: Now tension spreads to Bengal’s Nadia district Kolkata, June 12: After Howrah and Murshidabad districts in West Bengal, tension and agitations over the controversial comments on Prophet Muhammad has now spread to the state’s Nadia district. On Sunday evening, an agitated crowd protesting the remarks by BJP’s Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, reached the Bethuadahari railway station in Nadia district. The crowd eventually turned violent and started pelting stones and ransacked the offices within the station premises also the coach of the train stranded at the station. The agitators also blocked the adjacent National Highway-24 as well as the railways tracks there. Following this, train services in the division came to halt for hours. Some of the shops along the roads were also ransacked. It was learnt that the demonstrators began the procession from the Nakashipara area in Nadia district and there were only a few policemen to escort the crowd.
On Sunday, West Bengal BJP president and party MP, Sukanta Majumdar appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to shed her ego and immediately ask for the deployment of central armed forces in the trouble-prone areas in the different districts of the state. “The state police are incapable of handling the tension and violence that has been brewing throughout the state for the last three days. Hence, the chief minister should immediately take initiative to deploy central armed forces to bring the situation under control immediately,” Majumdar. Meanwhile, fresh tension also broke out in the Belda area in Murshidabad district of West Bengal on Sunday evening over a social media post of a local BJP worker that reportedly had elements of provoking tension. The BJP worker, Chandan Jana, was arrested later in the evening. For the last three days, several minority dominated pockets in Howrah district have seen tension following agitation by the protesters against the controversial comments
on Prophet Muhammad. Despite the Chief Minister’s stern warnings of strong action against agitators, tension continued to brew and also spread to other districts in West Bengal. Tension had also been brewing over the police resistance on Majumdar and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari from reaching the tension-prone areas. The Trinamool Congress leadership including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleged that the BJP leaders were further trying to provoke and fuel tension.
Prophet row: Rally in support of Nupur Sharma sparks tension in Hyderabad’s Bowenpally Hyderabad, June 14 (IANS) A rally taken out by some persons in support of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma in Bowenpally area in Hyderabad sparked tension, sources said on Tuesday. The incident occurred in Hasmathpet locality late on Monday night when some persons took out candle light rally to express solidarity with Sharma, who was suspended by the BJP on June 5 after her blasphemous remarks triggered an outrage from Muslim nations.
The participants who carried placards raised slogans in support of the suspended leader. On noticing this, another group raised an objection and raised counter-slogans. Both the groups engaged in confrontation, triggering tension. Timely intervention by the police averted the situation from turning ugly. Following the incident, police intensified patrolling and deployed additional force in the area to prevent any law and order problem.
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Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
HYDERABAD GANG-RAPE
BJP MLA booked for sharing Hyderabad gang rape: Police video of Hyderabad gang-rape carry out scene reconstruction
Hyderabad, June 7 (IANS) The Hyderabad Police has filed a case against BJP MLA M. Raghunandan Rao for sharing the photographs and video of Jubilee Hills gang-rape. A case under Section 228 A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been filed against Rao at Abids Police Station on a complaint by a lawyer. A police officer said the case was registered late Monday night and further action will be taken after
seeking legal opinion. Under Section 228 A of IPC whoever prints or publishes the name or any matter which may make known the identity of any victim of sexual assault shall be punished with imprisonment up to two years. The case was registered three days after the BJP MLA from Dubbak released the stills and video allegedly showing an MLA’s son in intimate act with the victim of gang-rape in a car. The MLA’s action had come under flak. However, he denied that he revealed the name or identity of the victim. He said he wanted to make public the evidence about the alleged involvement of a MIM MLA’s son in the incident. The BJP leader said since police were derailing the investigation by giving a clean chit to the MLA’s son, he released the video clip. He had told reporters on Monday that he
was ready to face the case. Rao, who is also a lawyer, claimed that he would submit to court all the evidence he has at an appropriate time. The video clip went viral on social media after it was released by Raghunandan Rao at a news conference. Police on Monday also booked a couple of YouTubers for allegedly uploading the video. The 17-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped by five persons in a car on May 28 after promising to drop her home from a pub, where she attended a party. Police have already arrested four accused, including three juveniles in the sensational case while the fifth accused is still absconding. The arrested juveniles include the son of a leader of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
Hyderabad gang rape: Police begin questioning five juveniles
Hyderabad, June 11 : Hyderabad police on Saturday began questioning five juveniles arrested in connection with the May 28 gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in a car. The police until now was questioning only the accused who is a major. The minors were brought to Jubilee Hills police station from Juvenile Home, where they have been lodged since their arrest a few days ago. The police had requested Juvenile Home authorities to make arrangements for questioning the minors in their premises but that was not possible. The juveniles were then brought to the police station. The Children in Conflict with Law (CCL), as the minors are called by the police, will be questioned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. After 5 p.m., CCL will be handed over to Juvenile Home. The Juvenile Justice Board on Thursday granted police a five-day custody of three CCLs. However, they could not be questioned on Friday, as the day was lost in the tussle over the location of questioning. With the Board allowing five-day police custody of the remaining two CCLs on Friday, the police decided to bring all of them to the
police station for simultaneous but separate questioning. The investigators are likely to show CCL the evidence gathered by the police against them including the CCTV footage to make them confess to the crime. Meanwhile, police continued questioning Saduddin Malik, who is the only major accused in the sensational case. Police officers were grilling him for the third consecutive day on Saturday. The police are seeking to gather more information to piece together the sequence of events, role played by each of the offenders to build a strong case against the accused. The police also plan to conduct reconstruction of crime scene and potency tests on the accused. Potency test is a medical test which establish whether a person is capable of engaging in sexual acts or not. If necessary, the police may approach the court for extending the police custody of Malik which is expiring on Sunday. The police officials are also reportedly collecting information from the accused as to who helped them in escaping after committing the crime. The accused were reportedly arrested from places in other states including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa. Since the accused belong to politically influential families, police have come under flak from going soft on those who helped them flee or might have tampered with the evidence. Out of five accused who sexually
Australia-India cooperation in urban water management a step in right direction Continue from Page no. 1
sustainable access to adequate quantities of acceptable quality water for sustaining livelihoods, human well-being, and socio-economic development, for ensuring protection against water-borne pollution and water-related disasters, and for preserving ecosystems in a climate of peace and political stability. The MoU will strengthen bilateral cooperation between Australia and India in areas of urban water security by strengthening institutional capacities at all levels for urban water management. It will improve accessibility, affordability and quality of water and sanitation services and promote circular economy of water and water secure
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cities. There will be a motivation to adopt climate resilient water management practices and increase community participation in water management. The MoU will allow both sides to learn about technological advancements gained by two nations in key areas of urban water security and will promote exchange of learning, best practices and capacity building of institutions. Welcoming this partnership Australia’s High Commissioner to India Barry O’Farrell wrote on Twitter, “This partnership will contribute to India’s AMRUT2.0 mission and reinforce close collaboration between Australia and India towards achieving a watersecure future.”
assaulted the girl, four are aged 16-17. The fifth accused is 18-year-old Malik, who is the prime accused. The sixth accused who has been charged with molestation is one month short of turning 18. He is the son of an MLA of Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM). The leader is also the chairman of a government-run body. Two others are said to be sons of TRS corporators in Greater Hyderabad and Sangareddy. One of them is said to have played the key role in trapping the victim and lure her into the car. Malik (18) and four CCL have been booked under IPC’s Sections 376 D (gang rape), 323 (causing hurt), Section 5 (G) (gang penetrative sexual assault on child) read with Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 366 (kidnapping a woman) and 366 A (procuration of a minor girl) and Section 67 of Information Technology Act. Police say the accused could face punishment for not less than 20 years or imprisonment for life till death or even death penalty. The sixth CCL was not involved in rape but he kissed the victim in the car. He has been booked under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 and Section 9 (G) read with 10 of POCSO Act. He could face 5-7 years imprisonment. The incident occurred on May 28 after the victim and accused attended a daytime party at a pub in upscale Jubilee Hills.
With economic challenges ahead, Albanese government needs to roll its sleeves up Continue from Page no. 1
situation that needs immediate attention. But this is a new government with a fresh outlook towards everything, including the economy. This may help the nation in steering itself with a blend of somewhat conventional and out of the box approach to the current economic problem. This is an opportunity for the Albanese government to show its mettle.
Hyderabad, June 12: Hyderabad police on Sunday carried out scene reconstruction in gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in the up-scale Jubilee Hills. The police carried the six accused including five juveniles to different locations in Jubilee Hills and Banjara Hills for scene reconstruction as part of the investigation into the gang rape which occurred on May 28. Amid tight security, the investigators first brought the accused to Amnesia Pub on Road Number 36 Jubilee Hills where the victim and the accused had attended a daytime party, Consu Bakery on Road Number 14 Banjara Hills and the isolated place on Road Number 44 Jubilee Hills where five of the accused sexually assaulted her. The police gathered information as to who among the accused first approached the victim in the pub and who misbehaved with her. The accused were also questioned about who trapped the victim after she came out of the pub and how they convinced her to board Mercedes car with them for Consu Bakery and what happened in the vehicle enroute. The investigators also collected information as to why the accused left Mercedes and boarded Innova at the bakery. They were also questioned about the sequence of events that finally led to the sexual assault in the vehicle. Police questioned all the six accused on Sunday, the second consecutive day. As the four-day police custody of Saduddin Malik, the only major accused in the case, ended on Sunday, he would be produced before the court and will be sent back to Chanchalguda Central Prison.
Potency test was conducted on five accused who were involved in the gang rape. The test was conducted at government-run Osmania Hospital. Potency test established whether a person is capable of engaging in sexual acts or not. The police officials will continue questioning the juveniles on Monday. The Juvenile Justice Board had granted their five-day police custody. The custody of three juveniles began on Friday while for the remaining two the police custody began on Saturday. The Children in Conflict with Law (CCL) as the minors are called by the police, are being questioned from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day. After 5 p.m., CCL are taken back to the Juvenile Home. Meanwhile, there were allegations on Sunday that the accused were served ‘chicken biryani’ during lunch at Jubilee Hills police station. The food was reportedly ordered from a leading hotel. Videos of them were circulated over social media. Since the accused belong to politically influential families, police had come out under flak from going soft on those who helped them flee after committing the crime. Since the victim’s family lodged a complaint three days after the crime and the victim revealed to police only on June 2 what exactly happened with her, the accused got sufficient time to escape from the city. They were reportedly arrested in neighbouring states. Out of five accused who sexually assaulted the girl, four are aged 16-17. The fifth accused is 18-year-old Malik, who has been named as number one accused. The sixth accused who has been
charged only with molestation is one month short of turning 18. He is the son of a MLA of Majlis-eIttehadul Muslimeen (MIM). Four minors charged with gang rape include son of a leader of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). The leader is also the chairman of a government-run body. Two others are said to be sons of TRS corporators in Greater Hyderabad and Sangareddy. One of them is said to have played the key role in trapping the victim and lure her to board the car. Malik (18) and four CCL have been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376 D (gang rape), 323 (causing hurt), Section 5 (G) (gang penetrative sexual assault on child) read with Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 366 (kidnapping a woman) and 366 A (procuration of a minor girl) and Section 67 of Information Technology Act . Police say the accused could face punishment for not less than 20 years or imprisonment for life till death o even death penalty. The sixth CCL was not involved in rape but he kissed the victim in the car. He has been booked under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 and Section 9 (G) read with 10 of POCSO Act. He could face 5-7 years imprisonment.
Indian-Australians in Queen’s Birthday 2022 Honours List Continue from Page no. 1
Dr Smita Shah (Twitter)
Gurpreet Pinky Singh (Facebook)
Dr Smita Shah (Twitter)
Gurpreet Pinky Singh (Facebook)
the 2020 elections from Brisbane’s McConnell. For 83 years old KersiMeherHomji OAM is recognition of his contribution to cricket in Australia. KersiMeher-Homji belongs to the Indian Parsi community and is an Australian journalist, author and biographer. He is the author of 15 cricket books, prominent among them are The Waugh Twins, Cricket’s Great Families, Cricket’s Great All-rounders, Six Appeal, Nervous Nineties, Cricket’s Conflicts and Controversies. DrSmita Shah OAM, one of the recipients of the Queen’s Birthday Honours, is the Director of Prevention Education and Research Unit at the Western Sydney
Local Health District and Clinical Professor at the Sydney Medical School’s Faculty of Medicine and Health. Dr Jacob George OAM, another of the Honours recipient, is the former Consultant Psychiatrist at Royal Derwent Hospital and former Director of the Alcohol and Drug Service of Tasmania. He has been recognized for his service to the community of Tasmania. Dr Marlene Kanga AO, who has also been honoured, is an alumnus of IIT Bombay and Imperial College London. She has been recognized for her advocacy for women in STEM and leadership roles in engineering and technology organizations. In 2014, she was also
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Kersi Meher-Homji (Facebook)
the recipient of Member of Order of Australia and in 2019 won both the CHEMECA Medal and the Institution of Engineers India Centenary Award. For Ravi Inder Singh Nijjer, who is a 62-year old with a career in shipping, felicitation with Australia’s AM honour is a recognition of his fame internationally for being an expert on maritime safety. Hector Simon Soans OAM, who is among the Indian-Australian recipient of Queen’s Honours, is the first President of the Australian Residents Anglo-Indian Association (ARAIA). He is a well-known philanthropist in New South Wales and h was earlier honoured as a Patron of ARAIA for his Vision to preserve Anglo-Indian identity. Besides the 669 recipients of awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia (8 AC, 33 AO, 200 AM and 428 OAM), the Honours list includes 37 recipients of awards in the Military Division of the Order of Australia (1 AC, 2 AO, 16 AM and 18 OAM), 201 Meritorious awards, 85 Distinguished and Conspicuous awards. Importantly, 92 Australians were recognized for their contribution to Australia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
5
OPINION
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
World endorses PM Modi’s call for economic development for peace
By D.C. Pathak At the core of India’s foreign policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the mandate that bilateral relations with all would be based on mutual security and economic interests, and that this principle would also be extended to multi-lateral cooperation wherever required -- provided that all such pacts would be in consonance with the cause of world peace. Sequentially, security will always come before economic interest but what Modi’s approach to international relations has achieved is to establish that economic development inherently served the security agenda as well. In a world given to ruthless politics of one-upmanship, it can be said that Prime Minister Modi has been able to strike the chord of Indian philosophy of ‘Sarvajan Hitaya, Sarvajan Sukhaya’ while handling the affairs of the nation. This can come only from a leader of personal integrity, total devotion to public cause and a nurtural outlook. The good news is that the merit of India’s policy is already showing up on various fronts -- India-US relations marking the natural friendship between the two largest democracies of the world, India’s crucial stand of positive non-alignment on Ukraine-Russia military confrontation based on an understanding of the national concerns on both sides, and the prominent role of Modi at the recent Quad summit in Tokyo where the concept of security-development interface - rather than security and economic growth as separate dimensions - became centre stage at the global level for the first time. Prime Minister Modi always projected Quad as an instrument for promoting ‘rules based order’ in the Indo-Pacific and as a forum for enhancing mutual cooperation among the countries of the region - even as India joined this powerful group of democratic nations of the world to oppose the aggressive designs of China in that maritime zone. From India’s point of view, this was also like establishing an early barrier to any hostile activity of the Chinese in the Indian Ocean. India, however, wanted the security cooperation under Quad to be reinforced by a more effective economic participation among the countries of the region to counter the Chinese attempt to dominate them. The signing of the agreement on May 24 in Tokyo in the presence of US President Joe Biden for launching the Indo Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) involving nine other countries of the region besides the Quad members, is an affirmation of the Indian approach to the pathway of economic friendships for global peace and development and an answer of the democratic world
to the dictatorships of the times. The unusually strong denunciation by China of this US-led move for strengthening economic cooperation in the Indo- Pacific is an admission by the former that this development would effectively stall the Chinese strategy of using the economic route to achieving a political sway here. Prime Minister Modi underscored the positive character of the all-embracing Indian strategy when he emphasised that ‘despite the adverse situation of Covid-19, we have increased our coordination for vaccine delivery, climate action, supply chain resilience, disaster response, economic cooperation and other areas’. This according to him ‘had helped to establish peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific’. It is remarkable that the Tokyo summit did not allow the UkraineRussia military conflict to cast its shadow on Quad’s primary mission of countering an expansionist China in the Indo- Pacific. The joint statement of the leaders, issued after the summit on May 24, reiterated their steadfast resolve to work for a free and open Indo-Pacific that was inclusive and resilient but it also enlarged the forum’s ambit by declaring that ‘Quad is a force for good committed to bringing tangible benefits for the region’ and keeping the latter free from ‘all forms of military, economic and political coercion’. Noting that the participants were ‘responding in their own ways’ to the conflict in Ukraine and the ongoing humanitarian crisis there, the statement revealed that the impact of these events on Indo- Pacific was assessed and that the leaders were all in favour of giving priority to maintenance of peace and stability in the region. The Tokyo summit expanded the scope of economic cooperation in the region by defining the future strategy on issues ranging from economic recovery in individual countries to the collaboration on development of critical technologies. The leaders even gave thought to the ways and means of strengthening the capacities of the countries in the region to cope with the debt issue and appreciated the meetings held by development finance institutions and agencies of the Quad partners to better connect the Indo- Pacific. The summit planned to work for deepening collaboration in identified areas such as regional and digital connectivity, clean energy and climate including disaster resilience in energy related facilities, in the interest of sustainable and inclusive growth in the region. It took note of how the digital world is getting exposed to sophisticated cyber threats and laid emphasis on a collective approach to enhance cyber security. The Quad partners decided to coordinate capacity building programmes in the Indo-Pacific under the Quad Cybersecurity Partnership. They pledged to focus on harnessing emerging technologies for the prosperity and security of the region. Cooperation on 5G supplier diversification was highlighted and joint efforts to leverage complementary strengths to raise a competitive market for semiconductors and other critical technologies were stressed upon. In short, the Quad summit has taken
the joint endeavour in economic and security spheres of Indo- Pacific to a new level, in line with India’s strategic thinking. The summit declaration echoed the Indian stand that at the centre of international order is the international law, including the UN Charter, that respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states has to be maintained and that all countries must seek peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law. The stamp of India was clearly visible in the unequivocal castigation of terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, denunciation of the use of terrorist proxies and a categorical condemnation of the 26/11 terrorist attacks in Mumbai and the Pathankot airbase attack in 2016. The statement demanded that the Afghan territory must never be used again to threaten or attack any country or to shelter and train terrorists. A total India-US convergence on terrorism was in evidence in Tokyo. Quad leaders also recorded their appreciation of the pioneering role of India in production and distribution of Covid vaccine under the Quad Vaccination Initiative. The importance of economic development besides security cooperation was highlighted through the specific mention of ‘shared effort to build infrastructure that was essential for driving productivity and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region’. Quad is apparently adopting a strategy to counter the Chinese game plan of building its hold on the region through economic pacts. The Tokyo summit became a new landmark in Indo-US relations. President Biden seemed to have put the focus back on China amid the Ukraine-Russia conflict when he emphasised that ‘Quad is not just a passing fad but it means business’. He attacked Russia for its invasion of Ukraine - saying it is trying to extinguish a culture - and made out that Ukraine was not just a European issue but a global one but without making any India specific comment, urged the group to make a greater effort ‘to stop Vladimir Putin’s aggression’. Biden, in fact, was extremely enthusiastic about meeting Prime Minister Modi ‘again in person’ - he remarked that Indo-US friendship had entered a new chapter and that Indo-US ties will be among ‘the closest on the earth’. Modi described India’s relationship with the US as ‘truly a partnership of trust’ and said he is confident that this friendship will continue to be a force promoting global peace and stability. President Biden profusely praised India’s democratic functioning and bracketed India with the US in providing leadership to the democratic world against the menace of dictatorships and autocracies. Prime Minister Modi’s handling of international relations is working exceptionally well for India. It will add to the standing and prestige of India if it offers the services of interlocutors in mediating for peaceful negotiations between Ukraine and Russia under the auspices of the UN. (The writer is a former Director of Intelligence Bureau. The views expressed are personal)
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PoJK/GB: The gathering storm of public discontent By Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza In a hurriedly called meeting of the senior executive members of the Gilgit-Baltistan Awami Action Committee held in Gilgit this week, it was decided that if the government of Pakistan does not reverse its decision restore wheat subsidy by June 2 then the Committee will have no choice but to take to the streets in protest. Similar meetings were held in Astore and Shagar districts of Pakistan occupied Gilgit-Baltistan (PoGB) during which protest committees were set up at �mohallah’ (neighbourhood) level. Manzoor Parwana, leader of GilgitBaltistan United Movement, has warned that the subsidy given to PoGB is not charity but an obligation set up by the resolutions of the UN since the region is disputed. He told this scribe that due to cuts in wheat subsidy the cost of a bag of flour would increase by at least 1,000 PKR. On June 2, pensioners Association in Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) will observe a sit-in at the new civil secretariat in Muzafarabad. They are asking for the implementation of the notification regarding 10 per cent increase in their pensions. On May 31, members of the PoJK Assembly made fiery speeches against the Pakistan government’s decision to cut 7.5 billion PKR from THE PoJK development fund and an additional 7 billion PKR from the current PoJK budget. It is already common knowledge that the government will make a
further cut of 10 billion PKR from the 2022-23 PoJK budget. This much needed finance will further deprive PoJK of indispensable infrastructure development. Currently there are 49 colleges in PoJK that have no rooftop. Several colleges lack facilities such as science and computer laboratories, furniture and even adequate number of teaching and administrative staff. The condition of roads and hospitals in PoJK is no different. Every day our people plunge to their deaths in ravines in road mishaps due to lack of safety walls. Scores of patients die each month due to lack of basic medical facilities and anti-venom vaccines. Hence, it is not hard to imagine the effect budget cuts are going to have on the already finance starved economy of PoJK. Pakistan’s trade deficit lurks between $35-$40 billion and its foreign currency reserves remain minimal (below $16 billion). There seems to be no quick remedy to fix a chronic loan-dependent economy. Loans are like steroids. They might act as a quick fix for an acute medical condition such as inflammation, but in the long run it ends up doing more harm than good since long term use of steroids weakens ones immunity, causes thinning of bones and high blood pressure. The adverse effects of spill over of Pakistan’s economic hardship into PoJK/GB are already being felt as families of migrant workers make calls to their loved ones abroad asking for more money to run their kitchen.
In the coming days and months as the economic strife of the people of PoJK/GB becomes acute, there will be protests across the occupied territories which could very easily turn into an anti Pakistan occupation movement. The gathering storm of public discontent and the incapacity of the PoJK/GB puppet governments to address issues of employment, pensions and, health and education will expose the worthlessness of the slogan �Qalma Ka Rishta’ (bond of faith) with Pakistan and unmask the true nature of the relation between the oppressor and the oppressed. PoJK/GB have been suffering from a humanitarian crisis for quite sometime now. The current economic hardship might just prove to be the last straw that broke the back of the camel. Undoubtedly, the public discontent simmering below the surface is akin to the molten of a volcano waiting for the right pressure to build up in order for it to burst out into the open and become free. (Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza is an author and a human rights activist from Mirpur in PoJK. He currently lives in exile in the UK)
Why a Quad line-up is a must to counter Chinese inroads in the South Pacific By Sankalp Gurjar New Delhi, June 7: The South Pacific region consists of many smaller Island states that enjoy vast exclusive economic zones (EEZs). The region is vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Due to its strategic location, it is emerging as a key theatre in the great power politics. The South Pacific has traditionally been dominated by Australia. France maintains control over some territories (like New Caledonia) in the region and is an important player in regional geopolitics. The United States (US) too holds considerable interest in the strategic affairs of this region. Now, China is making efforts to gain a foothold in the South Pacific. The growing Chinese interest has forced Australia and the US into action. As some regional states flirt with China, the great power politics is sharpening in the South Pacific. Three recent developments help us understand the intensifying strategic rivalries: first, Solomon Islands signed an agreement with China. The leaked draft of the agreement suggests that China has been granted an important role in the security-related matters in the Solomon Islands. More importantly, the increasing presence in the Solomon Islands will facilitate the greater Chinese role in the South Pacific. The South Pacific has long been a focal point of competition for recognition between China and Taiwan as well. Slowly but steadily, China has managed to persuade some regional states to switch the recognition. The Solomon Islands has switched the recognition from Taiwan to China in 2019. Therefore, the increasing forays by China in the region are designed to not only expand its own influence but undercut Taiwan’s presence. Second, in the last week of May, the US along with three Quad partners (India, Japan, Australia) and other nine countries (including seven from ASEAN) unveiled the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). So far, the IPEF has been well-received and an important South Pacific state, Fiji, joined the initiative as the 14th member. In the context of Chinese efforts, Fiji joining IPEF is a strategic signal. The IPEF is significant as the Indo-Pacific strategies of the four Quad countries lacked an economic dimension. In fact, the US had
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withdrawn from the Trans-Pacific Partnership whereas India refused to join the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). The IPEF signals the willingness of these countries to work together in shaping the economic future of the region as well. And finally, last week, China’s foreign minister Wang Yi visited the South Pacific region. During the visit, he sought to persuade the South Pacific Island states to sign a wide-ranging, new agreement. The agreement would have dramatically expanded the Chinese presence and influence in the region, especially in the domain of defence and security. However, many Island States refused to go along. As per reports, Federated States of Micronesia, Papua New Guinea and Samoa were concerned about the Chinese proposals. All three developments have received considerable attention in the strategic circles across the IndoPacific region. The newly-elected Australian government, led by Anthony Albanese of the Labour Party, has been hard-pressed into action as the rising challenge of China in the backyard poses difficult questions for the Australian foreign and security policy. Some strategic analysts have argued that China’s willingness to expand its strategic presence in the South Pacific is a direct response to the new, trilateral defence partnership between Australia, United Kingdom (UK) and the US, known as the AUKUS. The AUKUS will help Australia to acquire nuclear-powered submarines. It entails a long-term defence relationship which has bound the three countries tightly together. However, China-Australia relationship has been deteriorating before the signing of AUKUS. For now, China’s efforts have not succeeded due to the lack of consensus among the South Pacific countries. China has released a position paper. China’s foreign ministry spokesperson has said that “China will continue to maintain close communication with relevant parties, give full play to the ChinaPICs [Pacific Island Countries] Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and build an even closer community of shared future between China and PICs.” It is clear that China will continue to make efforts to expand its presence and persuade the South
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Pacific states to agree on Chinese proposals. However, what is surprising is that, despite the known concerns about the strategic implications of China’s growing presence, some states in the South Pacific are willing to consider Chinese proposals. Perhaps, just like Island states of the Indian Ocean, South Pacific countries are also playing one major player off against the other to obtain maximum benefits. The growing Chinese presence has already alerted Australia and the US to pay greater attention to the region. The joint statement released after the Tokyo Quad summit last month contains a paragraph outlining the approach of Quad countries towards the Pacific Island countries. The statement notes that, “we will further strengthen our cooperation with Pacific Island countries, to enhance their economic well-being, strengthen health infrastructure and environmental resilience, to improve their maritime security and sustain their fisheries, to provide sustainable infrastructure, to bolster educational opportunities, and to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, which pose especially serious challenges for this region.” The Quad countries are “committed to working together to address the needs of Pacific Island partners. We reaffirmed our support for Pacific Islands Forum unity and for Pacific regional security frameworks.” It is clear that to contain the expanding Chinese power, Quad countries would be necessitated to work together, individually and collectively, in the South Pacific. (Sankalp Gurjar is a strategic analyst based in Delhi. Views are personal and exclusive to India Narrative) (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
6
INDIA
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
24 K’taka students temporarily banned from attending classes for wearing hijab
Dakshina Kannada (Karnataka), June 7 (IANS) Twenty-four students studying in a college in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district were on Tuesday banned for a period of seven days from attending classes
for wearing hijab. The decision was taken by authorities of the Uppinangadi Degree College in Puttur taluk after the students refused to attend classes without taking off their hijab. Tuesday’s incident comes as the government of Karnataka has issued guidelines for schools and colleges making uniform compulsory for students without giving any room for wearing hijab in classrooms. Though a majority of students are choosing to attend classes, a section have insisting on allowing them to attend classes while wearing hijab.
Many of the students belonging to the minority community have applied for transfer certificates from education institutions to join other colleges where hijab is allowed. College managements have also communicated to students that those who wish to attend classes wearing hijab could take transfer certificates. The hijab crisis, which started as a protest by six students of Udupi Pre-University Girl’s College, has turned out to be a major situation in Karnataka over the past year.
Unique airport initiatives for a greener India
New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) Passengers flying through Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Lucknow, Jaipur, Mangaluru, and Guwahati, were in for a pleasant surprise. Their baggage tags were not the usual paper tags but filled with plantable seeds! Around 1,500 plantable baggage tags were distributed to passengers flying through these seven airports across India. “Environmentalists have often said that one of the simplest ways to go green and save nature is to plant as many trees as possible,” said an Adani Airports Holdings Lt (AAHL) spokesperson. “This is why we decided to distribute plantable baggage tags were to all our airport users on the eve of World Environment Day. We also launched various other
activities and initiatives to maximize awareness about the urgent need to protect the environment.” With gardening becoming one of the most sought-after activities since the onset of the pandemic, the plantable baggage tags are an easy and effective way for passengers from all walks of life, especially the younger lot, to connect with nature. The environmental-friendly baggage tags contain seeds of summer vegetables, such as green chillies, tomatoes, and brinjals, along with herbs such as basil and flowers like marigold. While the seeds are all organic, the sprouting rate of these plants, vegetables, and herbs is around 60-70 per cent. If all of them were planted and taken care of, every packet could sprout into 720 to 1,200 vegetable plants. Often the packets in which such seeds are distributed are discarded after taking out the seeds. But the idea behind these special baggage tags is that the entire tag can be soaked in water and planted in the ground/soil, to create a resourceful and beautiful green garden. The paper used in these tags is
completely wood-free and is made using upcycled cotton scrap. The string is made from jute. Both these materials are easily and quickly biodegradable, lessening the waste dumped into the environment. Also, since the colours used are aqueous, they do not harm the seeds, the soil, or the water even if the baggage tags are disposed of in case they are not planted. In addition to plantable baggage tags, plants and seedlings were also distributed in cotton bags to passengers arriving at the airport along with specially made cotton bags that can be used during travelling. Recently, more than 2,000 trees of about 20 different species have been planted at thee Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA), Ahmedabad to increase the green cover at the airport. In a span of just a few months, the number of trees has gone up from 6,000 to now 8,000 trees. Along with other initiatives to enhance the green cover, the SVPIA, Ahmedabad, is also working towards reducing the carbon footprint by increasing greenery inside and outside the terminal building.
Kerala Police to impart arms training to licensees Thiruvananthapuram, June 7 (IANS) In a first, the Kerala Police will impart training on handling firearms to those who either have a valid arms license or have applied for it. Hitherto, the training was provided only to police officials who are eligible to be trained in the use of firearms. The training would be imparted on a payment of a fee which begins from Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000 in the various Police Training Academies in the state. Kerala Police State Police chief Anil Kant has come out with the order and according to sources, the police decided to act after the Kerala High Court asked for it. A petition had come before the court
which said at present there is no scope for training on how to use firearms and the only place where this could be now undertaken is at the few Rifle Clubs in the state, but in such places training is only given to guns which use pellets. It was after the court asked the Police department, that the state police chief acted. Among the other conditions, the person who has a valid arms license or has applied for it has to be cleared medically fit. Former top police official George Joseph welcomed the new order calling it a much-needed step. “Earlier, there were very few options for people who wanted a gun for their needs. Today there are various types of arms and training is very
essential,” said Joseph. According to the rules, anyone who wishes to own a gun can apply to their district authorities and after a very detailed scrutiny a decision is taken. The licensees have to renew their license at fixed time intervals and produce before the local police officials, whenever they call for it and whenever the police demands, the firearm has to be deposited in their respective police stations.
Mumbai, Delhi among ‘most forgetful’ cities in India: Report New Delhi, June 6 (IANS) While Mumbai bagged the title of the most forgetful city in the country for the second time in a row, Delhi-NCR and Lucknow were not far behind, a report said on Monday. Backed by rider insights and gigabytes of data, ride-hailing company Uber’s Lost and Found Index aims to educate riders in a fun yet informative manner about Uber’s in-app options available to them at the tap of a button, in case they lose or forget something in their Uber during their trip. “We get that losing an item can be stressful, but when you Uber, you always have the option to trace so that you can attempt retrieving your belongings. This annual survey is a fun and informative way of reminding our riders how easy it is to raise a retrieval request for a
lost item in-app,” Nitish Bhushan, Director, Central Operations, said in a statement. The report mentioned that over the last year, objects including phones, speakers/headphones, wallets and bags top the list of items left in Ubers across India, followed by utility items such as groceries, thermos/water bottles and phone chargers. Besides leaving the usuals behind, passengers have also forgotten unique things such as ghewar (an Indian sweet), flutes, Aadhaar cards, dumbbells, a bike handle, cricket bats, spike guards, and college certificates, to name a few. “Uber released the 2022 edition of its Lost and Found Index, a snapshot of the most frequently forgotten items, the most forgetful cities, as well as the days of the
week and times of the year when Uber riders tend to be most forgetful,” the company said.
Rabri Devi slams own party leaders Order on plea for restoration of after fire in Lalu’s J’khand room
temples at Qutub Minar today
New Delhi, June 9: A Delhi court will on Thursday deliver the verdict on the appeal seeking restoration of the Hindu and Jain temples and the deities at the Qutub Minar complex. Earlier on May 24, after a detailed hearing in the matter, Additional District Judge Nikhil Chopra had reserved the order in the appeal challenging the rejection of a suit alleging that the Quwwat-Ul-Islam Masjid situated within the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli was built in place of a temple complex. The appellant alleged that around 27 Hindu and Jain temples were desecrated and damaged in 1198 under the rule of Mughal Emperor Qutub-Din-Aibak raising the construction of the said mosque in place of those temples. The Archaeological Survey of India had opposed the suit, submitting that the “fundamental rights cannot be availed in violation of any status of the land”.
“It will be contrary to the provisions of the AMASR Act, 1958 to agree to the contention of the Respondents or any other person claiming a fundamental right to worship in this centrally protected monument,” read the affidavit submitted by the ASI. Earlier on February 22, allowing the appeal, Additional District Judge Pooja Talwar issued notice to the Union of India through the Ministry of Culture, Director General of Archaeological Survey of India, and Superintending Archaeologist, Delhi Circle, ASI. The civil suit, filed on behalf of Jain deity Tirthankar Lord Rishabh Dev and Hindu deity Lord Vishnu (through their next of friends), was seeking restoration of the alleged temple complex, comprising as many as 27 temples. As per the suit, the temples were dismantled, desecrated, and damaged under the command of Slave Dynasty Emperor Qutub-Din-Aibak, who raised some construction at the same very place and named it the Quwwat-Ul-Islam Mosque. The ruler failed to completely demolish the existing temples and only partial demolition was carried out after reusing the material of the temples, the said mosque was
erected, it read. In December last year, Civil Judge Neha Sharma noted that the plaintiffs have no absolute right to restore and worship in the property as public order which is an exception under Article 25 and 26 of the Constitution. This requires the status quo be maintained and the protected monument to be used for no religious purpose. It is also an established fact that QuwwatUl-Islam Masjid was built atop existing temples, but the property was not being used for any religious purposes and no prayers were being offered here. The court had observed that wrongs may have been committed in the past, “but such wrongs cannot be the basis for disturbing the peace of our present and future”. Referring to a portion of the Ayodhya judgment, the court had said: “Cognisant as we are of our history and of the need for the nation to confront it, Independence was a watershed moment to heal the wounds of the past. Historical wrongs cannot be remedied by the people taking the law into their own hands.”
Injured monkey, baby turn up at Bihar clinic for treatment!
Patna, June 8: A private doctor in Bihar’s Rohtas had two unexpected patients turn up at his clinic - a female monkey and its baby, as per a video going viral on social media. www.indianabroad.news
As per the video, the female monkey, holding its baby to its chest, reached the clinic of Dr S.M. Khan in the Shahjuma locality on Tuesday and perched at its entrance. Khan said that he understood that the female monkey was seeking help and it complied as he signalled it to come inside in the clinic, where there was a patient already. The female monkey climbed on the bench and showed its wound. It was injured on its head, while the baby was also having injuries in leg.
Accordingly, Khan gave the injection of tetanus and also spread ointment on the wounds of both the monkeys. By that time, a large number of people assembled outside the clinic to see the unique incident. After treating his “patients”, the doctor asked onlookers to move away so that the monkeys could leave unhindered. Contacted for comment, Rohtas’ Civil Surgeon said that no such incident had come to his notice.
Patna, June 7 (IANS) RJD leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi on Tuesday took a strong note of a fire incident in the room of her husband and party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav in a circuit house in Jharkhand’s Palamau and rebuked the leaders who accompanied him there. The incident occurred around 9 a.m. on Tuesday when Lalu Prasad was reading newspapers in the dining hall of the circuit house. There were no fire extinguishers in the circuit house. However, he was safe.
She also immediately contacted him to know about his well-being. Lalu Prasad went to Palamau to appear before the MLA-MLC court on June 8 in a 2009 case of model code of conduct violation and was staying in a circuit house in Palamau. He was accompanied by his two trusted men, Jay Prakash Narayan Yadav and Bhola Yadav. The official said that the fire broke out on a wall fan due to a short circuit. The employees of the circuit house immediately switched off the electricity of the entire premises and removed the fan.
Ukrainian national found dead in Goa Panaji, June 9 (IANS) The Goa Police are investigating the death of a Ukrainian national, Dmytro Gurov, 49, whose body was found in his rented villa at Benaulim in South Goa. The body was found late on Wednesday, police said. Dmytro Gurov came to Goa in December 2021. Since then he had been staying in a rented villa near Benaulim beach. “His friend was also staying with him in the villa. She gathered the locals from the
area and then informed us about the incident,” Police Inspector Melson Colaco told IANS. “Post-mortem will be carried out today or tomorrow,” police said. Sources informed that the Goa Police are in the process to contact the Ukrainian Embassy for further process. A case of unnatural death has been registered. Colva Police are investigating the case further.
Bihar youth travels 190 km perched under engine, rescued at Gaya Patna, June 7 (IANS) A youth travelled around 190 km perched precariously under the engine of the Sarnath Budh Purnima Express Train in Bihar before he was rescued at the Gaya station but fled before he could be questioned, an official said on Tuesday. The youth was spotted by the train driver at 4 a.m. on Monday when the train reached Gaya railway station. In a statement to the Railway Protection Force, the driver said that he heard a human screaming from somewhere below, immediately went to check it with a torch light, and spotted a person in a narrow
/IndianAbroadNews
space underneath the traction motor. “I immediately called Railway Protection Force personnel to extricate him. The youth looked mentally unstable. His health has deteriorated due to extreme heat generated from the engine. When RPF personnel were taking him out, he was asking for water,” he said in his statement. The railway officials failed to find the youth’s identity as he managed to flee from the spot soon after he was rescued.
inside the engine. The train starts from Rajgir and he probably climbed inside the engine in the railway yards. From Rajgir to Gaya, the Sarnath Budh Purnima Express Train has six stops, ranging from two minutes to 10 minutes. The train has a maximum stoppage of 10 minutes at Patna Junction railway station. Officials ruled out the theory that someone can get underneath the engine in a duration of 2 to 10 minutes, especially when the engine is in a running position.
The railway officials are yet to ascertain from where he boarded
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7
INDIA
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Taj Mahal still not safe from pollution: Experts Agra, June 5 (IANS) Almost three decades after the Supreme Court announced a series of measures to insulate the Taj Mahal from environmental degradation, the question that continues to do rounds in “green” circles, and often asked by visitors: has the Mughal monuments become safe from air and water pollution? International concern was first raised in the 1970s when the decision to site India’s biggest oil refinery at Mathura was taken by the Indira Gandhi government. The PIL filed by eco lawyer M.C. Mehta in the apex court triggered a series of drastic measures to contain environmental pollution in the eco-sensitive Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ), spread over 10,400 sq km. As the city celebrates World Environment Day on Sunday, local activists say there has been no fundamental change in the environmental conditions in Agra, Mathura, Firozabad districts that come under the TTZ. Green activists say that water and air pollution levels continue to remain alarming. Officially, we are made to believe that a dozen odd directives of the Supreme Court, on the recommendations of the Dr S. Varadarajan high powered committee, have had salutary effects on the environment in Agra and neighbourhood, the ground “reality is vastly different”, as would be clear by a close study of the data released by the state pollution control board. “Air, water, noise pollution levels are alarmingly high, as high as they were in 1993, when the judgement came,” says environmentalist Devashish Bhattacharya. The local petha industry continues to spit fire, smoke and pollutants in the air, right in the heart of the city. Despite repeated complaints at various government offices and regulatory institutions, no action is taken against hundreds of polluters in the city, Bhattacharya added. High level of noxious gases, suspended dust particles, emissions from vehicles, denudation of green cover to construct roads and houses, he said. Due to high level of pollution in the city, tourism has been “badly hit” and the health of the local population is in “peril”, activist Jugal Kishor of the River Connect Campaign said.
He said various recommendations of expert committees were gathering dust and the Supreme Court orders had been blatantly ignored. In the past, a series of orders came from the apex court. But shifting orders for dairies, dhobi ghats, cremation sites, petha units, have been shelved. Transport companies emitting pollutants on the Yamuna Kinara Road, have not been shifted either. Repeated pleas by environmentalists to free the Yamuna banks of encroachment have fallen on deaf ears. The National Green Tribunal has been struggling with its orders on clearing encroachments on Yamuna flood-plains. After years of dilly-dallying even the boundaries of the flood plains have not been clearly demarcated, the campaigners complain. Forest land in the Soor Sarovar area has been reduced as groups of vested interests managed to secure land for developing commercial activities. Local green activists have lamented the “apathy of elected Vidhan Sabha and Lok Sabha members towards the Yamuna, the lifeline of the city”. A dry and polluted Yamuna remains a constant threat to the safety of the Taj Mahal, according to the activists. “Water in the Yamuna was required for the good health of historical monuments along Yamuna’s banks, because the foundations need continuous moisture and a pollution-free ambience,” Sonal Singh Mittal of the Braj Mandal Heritage Conservation Society said. Despite repeated demands, the Yamuna Barrage project, downstream of the Taj Mahal, hangs fire, though some Rs 20 crore have been sanctioned for it in the state’s 2022 budget. Agra’s major problem is the dry and heavily polluted Yamuna river. Though there have been repeated demands, no initiative has so far been taken to desilt and dredge the river bed, which had become hard owing to pollutants, mainly leather cuttings, polythene, domestic waste, industrial effluents, preventing seepage and percolation of water. Environmentalist Chaturbhuj Tiwari said: “Though the Supreme Court had categorically directed ban on entry of cattle in the river and shifting of dhobis (washermen) polluting the river, no effort has been made by the district authorities in this direction.” Activists say that despite the tall promises made by leaders, the Yamuna continues to stink, flow polluted carrying all the toxic effluents and waste from Delhi and upstream cities. Forget human beings, even
historical monuments including the world heritage monument, the iconic Taj Mahal, along its bank, are not safe as pollutants in the river not only create visual pollution but also endanger the protective eco-ambience in the vicinity. The local administration claims more than 40 drains out of nearly 100 had been tapped. But the Agra mayor Navin Jain, himself has sounded so helpless and has repeatedly pleaded with the government to take appropriate measures to save Yamuna river. The problem is two-fold, qualitative and quantitative. One, the river is already dry, just a month after the fairly good monsoon rains this year. Two, what flows down in the river from Delhi is not water, but chemical liquids that kill even bacterias. This toxic liquid is emitting foul and noxious gases and corroding foundations of structures along the banks of the river. Even after hundreds of petitions, memorandums, representations, demonstrations and democratic protests, successive governments in the state and at the centre, have been pathetically apathetic to demands for de-silting and dredging of river Yamuna in Braj Mandal, says activist and astrologer Pramod Gautam. “We have been demanding a barrage or a check dam downstream of the Taj Mahal for three decades now, but only promises have been made and no action,” Gautam adds. Tourists who visit the Taj Mahal and other historical monuments are aghast to see the polluted Yamuna. Many even wonder why Mughal emperor Shah Jahan chose this site for constructing his dream project, according to tourist guide Ved Gautam. Tourism industry leaders say Yamuna’s good health is necessary for the safety of the monuments along its banks, in particular the Taj Mahal, whose foundation needs moisture round the year. Without water the river is becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes and insects that deposit their green excreta on the surface of the Taj Mahal, every now and then. This needs to be cleaned up periodically. The biggest threat to the Taj Mahal is the polluted Yamuna which needs cleaning and uninterrupted minimum flow of water to keep it alive. Water in the river will not only enhance esthetics but also absorb pollutants and control the alarming level of dust particles in the ambient air (SPM), president of Lok Swar Rajiv Gupta says.
Bihar couple begs for money to get son’s body released from govt mortuary
Patna, June 9 (IANS) In a shocking incident, a poor couple in Bihar’s Samastipur was forced to beg to collect Rs 50,000 as bribe for the mortuary staff of a government hospital to get the body of their dead son. The victim Mahesh Thakur and his wife begged for an entire day in the localities of Samastipur on Wednesday. An official of the post-mortem house had demanded Rs 50,000 from them to release the body.
Samastipur civil surgeon Dr S.K. Chaudhary confirmed the incident. “We have learnt from the mediapersons about the demand of Rs 50,000 from a parent to release the body. Such an act is against humanity. We have initiated action against the alleged employee of the post-mortem house,” Chaudhary said. Mahesh Thakur is a native of Kasbe Ahar village under Tajpur police station. His mentally unstable son had gone missing since May 25 this year. On June 7, a body was recovered from an area under the Musrigharari police station. The police recovered the unidentified body and sent it for post-mortem. As the missing complaint was registered in the Tajpur police station, local police contacted Mahesh
Thakur to identify the body. When he reached the post-mortem house, the employees initially refused to show the body. When they repeatedly requested the employees, they allowed them to identify the body in the mortuary. When Mahesh identified the body as that of his son, the employees present at the mortuary demanded Rs 50,000 to release it. When Mahesh’s pleadings did not move their hearts, he and his wife went to the nearby localities and begged for money. They were seen knocking on the doors to collect money. A video in this regard went viral on social media. After the viral video was reported to Chaudhary, he intervened and handed over the body to the hapless parents.
O.P. Jindal Global University ranked India’s No.1 private varsity for third time in a row
IANS
O
.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) has emerged as India’s No. 1 Private University for the third year in a row, according to the QS World University Rankings 2023 that was released in New York. London-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has ranked a total of 41 institutions from India this year, including seven new entrants. JGU has retained its No. 1 position among the Indian private universities despite the rise in the number of ranked institutions. For the 2023 edition, QS analysed a total of 2,462 institutions and ranked 1,422 institutions in the world. JGU is ranked in the 651-700 band this year, making it the only private university from India, which has found a place among the world’s top 700 universities. JGU is also India’s No. 1 ranked university with a focus solely on social sciences, arts and humanities, as per the influential QS World University Rankings 2023. Out of the 41 institutions which have been ranked from India, 11 are IITs. Remarkably, JGU is also the only Indian non-STEM and non-Medicine university to have found a place in the QS World University Rankings 2023. . JGU is India’s No. 1 ranked university with a focus solely on social sciences, arts and humanities. . JGU is the only Indian non-STEM and non-Medicine university to have found a place in the QS World University Rankings 2023. . Globally, JGU has been ranked in the 651-700 band of the QS World University Rankings 2023. . This is the third year in a row that JGU has been the highest ranked Indian private university in the QS World University Rankings. . In faculty-student ratio, JGU is the second highest-ranked university from India. . In international faculty ratio, JGU is the third highest-ranked university from India. . JGU is ranked among the top 250 universities in the world in faculty-student ratio. . JGU is ranked among the top 450 universities in the world in employer reputation. Reacting to the performance of Indian universities in the QS World University Rankings 2023, the Founding Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University and its benefactor, Naveen Jindal, said, “It is a remarkable day for Indian higher education as the QS World University Rankings 2023 have shown that the numbers of Indian institutions which have found a place in the global rankings have grown. “Out of the 41 institutions from India which have been ranked this year, seven are new entrants. It indicates a conscious effort by Indian higher education institutions to improve the quality of teaching and research to a level that matches global standards. If this trend continues, Indian universities will soon bring greater glory to the nation through global
recognition.” Speaking of JGU’s accomplishment, Jindal remarked, “To be recognised as India’s No. 1 private university for the third year in a row by the prestigious QS World University Rankings is quite an achievement for JGU. The fact that a non-STEM and non-Medicine university has emerged as India’s top private university year after year proves that the study of humanities and social sciences has tremendous relevance for employment generation as well as for creation of knowledge needed for solving the complex problems that the world faces today. “I wish to congratulate the Vice Chancellor, faculty, and staff of JGU for their commitment to making world-class education in India possible for our students.” Welcoming this exciting development, Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice-Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University said, “The QS World University Rankings provide millions of students around the world with a benchmark for choosing higher education institutions. “To be featured among the top 700 best universities around the world in this prestigious list that covers 100 locations and over 40,000 universities in the world is a matter of tremendous significance for JGU as the university has emerged as a top destination for world-class education in India within just 12 years since its founding. The fact that JGU has maintained its position as the No. 1 Private University in India for three years in a row amid the extremely challenging circumstances of the devastating global pandemic exhibits the resilience of the university’s strong foundations designed to foster academic excellence and create exciting new opportunities for our students”. “JGU has improved its global rankings this year on the back of its excellent faculty-student ratio, employer reputation and international faculty ratio. The performance of JGU in the QS Global University Rankings 2023 underlines the importance of providing a global learning experience that caters to the aspirations of today’s youth. Internationalisation has at the very core of JGU’s mission to create open spaces for research, dialogue and innovation through interdisciplinary education and hands-on learning. “It is this mission that has driven JGU to hire full-time faculty members from over 40 countries and collaborate with over 350 leading institutions spread across 65 countries around the world. We remain committed to further increasing international collaborations and improving the quality of teaching, research and learning outcomes,” Professor Raj Kumar said. For the QS World University Rankings, universities are evaluated on the basis of academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty-student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio and international
students ratio. QS analysed 151,000 responses from academics around the world and 99,000 responses from employers worldwide for this year’s rankings. In faculty-student ratio, JGU, which received a score of 63, is the second highest-ranked university from India. In international faculty ratio, JGU, which received a score of 22.6, is the third highest-ranked university from India. In employer reputation, JGU scored higher than 31 of the 41 institutions ranked from India. Providing a closer analysis of the rankings, Professor Arjya Majumdar, Dean, Office of Rankings, Benchmarking and Institutional Transformation (ORBIT), O.P. Jindal Global University observed, “As per the QS World University Rankings 2023, JGU is ranked among the top 250 universities in the world in faculty-student ratio, among the top 450 universities in the world in employer reputation, and among the top 550 universities in the world in international faculty ratio. “Overall, JGU ranked higher than such internationally acclaimed universities as the City University of New York, University of South Carolina, University of Bradford, Kagoshima University, University of Westminster and Beijing University of Technology, among others. The results show that JGU is now in the same league as some of the leading international universities, including Drexel University (US), University of Plymouth (UK), University of Southern Queensland (Australia), University of Manitoba (Canada), Kumamoto University (Japan), Abu Dhabi University (UAE), Chongqing University (China), Coventry University (UK) and Istanbul Technical University (Turkey), among others. This is a significant development for India and for JGU as it demonstrates what a young university in India can achieve in a relatively short span of time with the right combination of ideas, people and resources.” In the QS World University Rankings 2023, 16 of the 20 institutions selected for granting “Institution of Eminence” (IoE) status by the Government of India have found a place. These include 4 IITs, Indian Institute of Science, Delhi University, Anna University, University of Hyderabad, Jadavpur University, Banaras Hindu University, O.P. Jindal Global University, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, BITS Pilani, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) and Jamia Hamdard. Out of those 16 institutions, 7 institutions, including O.P. Jindal Global University, moved up in the rankings, 4 went down and 5 remained in the same positions as last year. Commenting on the accomplishment, Professor Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik, Registrar, JGU, said, “As only those universities which shine on teaching and research quality make it to the QS World University Rankings, being recognised as one of the world’s Top 700 universities by QS puts JGU in a distinguished league of internationally acclaimed universities. The high employer reputation score of JGU also signifies that the university has been successful in providing our students with the necessary preparations needed for securing gainful employment. Moreover, it underlines that the graduates produced by JGU have been competent, innovative and effective. What makes JGU an incredible institution that it is today is the spirit of public service with which it functions. We remain committed to continue this tradition of institutional excellence in the coming years and decades.”
Fashion designer Prathyusha Garimella commits suicide in Hyd Hyderabad, June 11: Leading fashion designer Prathyusha Garimella allegedly committed suicide at her boutique studio in the posh Banjara Hills here on Saturday. The body of the 35-year-old was found in the bathroom of the boutique in MLA Colony. The police found the body after the watchman alerted them when she did not respond to his knocks. A bottle of Carbon Monoxide was www.indianabroad.news
found in the bathroom. Banjara Hills police have registered a case and shifted the body to the Osmania Hospital for autopsy. The police, who initially treated it as a death under suspicious circumstances, later found a suicide note. She reportedly wrote that she was fed up with her lonely life, saying that this was not the life she was aspiring for.
The fashion designer wrote she did not want to be a burden on her parents and that she was sorry for taking the extreme step. Prathyusha worked as a fashion designer for several leading Bollywood and Tollywood personalities. The watchman told the police that Prathyusha had come to the boutique on Saturday morning and when she did not come out till afternoon, he went to check on her.
/IndianAbroadNews
As she did not respond to repeated knocks on the door, he alerted the neighbours, who informed the police. The police suspect the fashion designer took the extreme step due to depression. Pratyusha had worked as a fashion designer for leading celebrities Madhuri Dixit, Juhi Chawla, Jacqueline Fernandez and several Tollywood personalities.
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Actor Ram Charan’s wife Upasana Konidela took to Twitter to condole the death of her friend. “My bestie, my dearest friend. Gone too soon - Upset/Pissed/Sad - She had the best of everything, career, friends & family, yet succumbed to depression. Post this incident, truly believe that karmic baggage passes through lifetimes. We pray for her peace,” Upasana wrote.
8
AUSTRALIA
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Australians losing millions in scams: Report
Canberra, June 6 (IANS) A new report released on Monday by Australia’s peak competition regulator has revealed that Australians have lost more than double to scams in the first four months of 2022 than the previous year. The report, based on data from Scamwatch run under the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), showed that
Australians reported losing over A$205 million ($147 million) to scams between January 1 and May 1, 2022, a 166 per cent increase from the first four months of 2021, reports Xinhua news agency. Overwhelmingly, the scams came in the form of investment scams, making up more than 75 per cent of all money lost. “We are seeing more money lost to investment scams and so are urging all Australians not to trust investment opportunities that seem too good to be true,” said ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard. Additionally, the majority of the scams were conducted via text message and involved cryptocurrency or fake cryptocurrency investments.
The ACCC urged people to be wary of sending cryptocurrencies to people they had only met online. “Many consumers are unfamiliar with the complexities of cryptocurrency and this can make them more vulnerable to scams,” Rickard said. In response to the stark increase of scams, the body is set to introduce new rules to block spam text messages later this year, and is investigating a number of cryptocurrency scam operations. Earlier in the year, the ACCC instituted Federal Court proceedings against Facebook for publishing ads misusing Australian celebrities to peddle fraudulent crypto ads on the social media platform.
Former ‘MasterChef’ winner, season 14 judge Andy Allen talks about his journey so far Mumbai, June 6 (IANS) Andy Allen, who won the fourth season of ‘Masterchef Australia’, is back on the show ‘MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites’ this time seated on the judge’s chair. The culinary artiste recently looked back at his journey from winning the show to judging the new talents’ skills at work. He calls his journey “pretty wild” as he says, “Winning the competition was actually a big surprise. I didn’t know what to do with the win.” Andy, who was one exam away from becoming an electrician, headed to ‘Masterchef Australia 4’ where he met guests chefs Mark Labrooy and Darren Robertson and with them, he took a role down at Three Blue Ducks Pop Up at Falls Creek in 2013. Recollecting the events after season 4, Allen shares, “But then I was lucky enough to link up with the guys from the Three Blue Ducks
(Australian) which gave me a pathway in the industry - and that then ultimately led to me being asked back as a judge in the current format.” The new season brings back 12 popular contestants including a few season winners from previous editions like Julie Goodwin, Sashi Cheliah, Billie McKay, Minoli De Silva, Tommy Pham, Alvin Quah, Michael Weldon, Mindy Woods, Christina Batista, Sarah Todd, John Carasig and Aldo Ortado, where they compete against each other for the prize money of 250,000 dollars. One would wonder how MasterChef Australia would engage the audience in terms of entertainment and imparting knowledge on new skills. Well Andy has a straight up answer in his sleeve, “I think having 12 favourites back immediately gives it entertainment value. They’ve been there before, people know them and love them, and now they have to
really show off their industry skills against 12 unbelievably good home cooks - the fans.” For him the artistic expression in food begins with the flavour as he says, “It’s all about flavour. You can have all the bells and whistles but if an artistic creation doesn’t taste good, it’s lost.” ‘MasterChef Australia: Fans & Favourites’, is currently streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.
Australian doctors exhausted by failing health system: Survey Aus agricultural exports
Canberra, June 6 (IANS) A new survey on Monday revealed that many Australian doctors were exhausted amid intense pressure on the “failing” health system. John Wilson, the outgoing president of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), revealed a RACP
survey that found 87 per cent of doctors were experiencing burnout, potentially causing major risks to patient safety, reports Xinhua news agency. It comes amid a “perfect storm” of surging coronavirus cases, staff shortages and the resurgence of influenza after pandemic restrictions largely mitigated its spread over the last two years. Wilson in May resigned from a hospital in Melbourne after 30 years, declaring he could no longer work in a “failing” system. “It’s at a stage now where
practitioners, not only in medicine but also in nursing and allied health, are all thinking, ‘Why am I doing this? It’s not actually good for my health, and may in fact be dangerous’,” he told local media. “Doctors are run off their feet and getting burned out. Beds are not available and waiting times are growing. The healthcare system that we’re working in at the moment now is failing and the evidence of that is absolutely clear,” he said. Australia on Monday reported more than 20,000 new Covid-19 infections and 19 deaths.
NASA to launch 3 research rockets from private Australian space port
Sydney, June 8 (IANS) US space agency NASA is set to launch three rockets into space from a private space port in Australia for scientific research. The rockets will be launched between June 26 and July 12 from the Arnhem Space Centre, which is owned and run by Equatorial Launch Australia, the Guardian reported. This is going to be the first time that NASA is launching rockets from a
commercial facility outside the US, and the first NASA rockets launched from Australia since 1995. The mission aims to investigate heliophysics, astrophysics and planetary science phenomena only observable from the southern hemisphere, the report said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in Darwin after a two-day visit to Indonesia on Wednesday night and will make the space announcement with the NT Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles, on Thursday before returning to Sydney. “We can trace Australia’s celebrated connection to the space industry back to the 1950s and as a nation we have to build on that legacy,” Albanese was quoted as saying.
“This project will bring together global and local industry to take Australia’s space sector into a new era,” he added. According to NASA’s Heliophysics Division director Nicky Fox the launches more than 300 kilometres into space would “allow us to explore how a star’s light can influence a planet’s habitability among other things.” “This commercial launch range in Australia opens up new access to the Southern Hemisphere’s night sky, expanding the possibilities for future science missions,” NASA associate administrator for the Science Mission Directorate Thomas Zurbuchen said in a statement.
Aus doctors call for renewed govt focus on Covid pandemic
Canberra, June 10 : Australian doctors and infectious disease experts have called for federal and local governments to renew focus on the coronavirus pandemic ahead of an expected winter surge. The Australian Medical Association (AMA), the country’s peak medical body, warned on Friday that with the ongoing spread of Covid-19 and the resurgence of influenza the winter will be “the worst it has ever been” for the health system, reports Xinhua news agency. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet state and territory leaders at the national cabinet on June 17 for
the first time since he took office. AMA President Omar Khorshid said it was critical that the meeting focused on coming up with a new strategy to ease the Covid burden on the health system after the pandemic was largely ignored on the election campaign trail. “I want to get back to a situation where we have a considered, coordinated and preferably nationally consistent response to the pandemic,” he told Guardian Australia. “The pandemic is not over and our health system is struggling, partly due to the ongoing effect of the pandemic. It is the worst it has ever been ... and it will be worse (than last winter) because we will have flu and Covid in every state and territory.” Australia reported more than 20,000 new coronavirus infections and over 30 deaths on Friday. There had been 8,919 total coronavirus deaths as of Thursday, more
than 6,500 of which have occurred in 2022. Infectious disease experts on Friday criticized Australia’s systems for collecting Covid data, saying they were poor and fragmented. A coalition of experts said a national data system should be established rather than continuing to have each state and territory report its own data. The federal government announced on Thursday that people aged 12-15 who are at risk of severe disease will be eligible for a coronavirus booster vaccine from June 14. The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has not recommended booster doses for all teenagers, saying otherwise healthy people in the age group remain well protected from two vaccines. As of Friday, Australia’s overall Covid caseload and death toll stood at 7,571,627 and 8,957.
projected to hit record high
Canberra, June 7 (IANS) The value of Australian agricultural exports is expected to hit a record high in the next financial year, according to government projections. The Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) recently published the latest Australian Crop Report, revealing that agricultural exports will hit A$65 billion ($46 billion) in the financial year 2022-23, reports Xinhua news agency. Crop exports alone are projected to account for A$39.8 billion, 61 per cent of the total, and livestock the remaining A$25 billion. Grain prices are projected to be exceptionally high driven by poor conditions in growing regions and
the war in Ukraine. The total value of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries is expected to surpass A$80 billion for just the second time. “Soaring fertilizer costs and access to farm labour and imported machinery will continue to challenge many Australian farm businesses, but Australia has shown throughout the pandemic that we are a reliable and resilient food producer and exporter,” Jared Greenville, executive director of ABARES, said on Tuesday. “Reduced confidence in international markets is a concern for Australian producers as they are central to both global food security and the long-term prosperity of Australian agriculture.”
Beef and veal were Australia’s leading agricultural export products, at a value of A$8.4 billion in the 2021 financial year. Aside from these, the country is also a popular exporter of wheat, the export value of which equaled A$6.8 billion in the same year.
Aus capital to decriminalise small amounts of illicit drugs Canberra, June 10: The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is set to become the country’s first jurisdiction to decriminalise small amounts of “the most commonly used and best understood illicit drugs”. The ACT government recently endorsed a proposed bill that will propose the creation of a simple drug offense notice (SDON) as an option when a person is found in possession of a small amount of an illicit drug, reports Xinhua news agency. Once it is passed into law, the bill means some people caught with small quantities of illicit substances in the ACT will be subject to finesrather than criminal charges. Authorities will continue to target dealers and disrupt the drug trade in Canberra.
“Thresholds for trafficking offenses will not change and the Government and ACT Policing will continue to work to reduce supply and prosecute dealers and traffickers through the justice system,” an official statement said. Rachel Stephen-Smith, the ACT’s minister for health, said the ACT has led the nation with a progressive approach to reducing the harm caused by illicit drugs, through diversion, health treatment and reducing the stigma for those most vulnerable and at-risk in the community. “We know from research and evidence around the world that criminalizing drug users does not reduce drug use and that treating drug addiction as a health issue improves outcomes for everyone in the community,” she said. “The government will ensure
through amendments that the principle of harm reduction is front and centre of our approach to this change, by ensuring that discretion for ACT Policing is retained and that diversion is legislated and put on an equal footing with the SDON.” It comes about three years after the ACT became the first state or territory in Australia to legalise the personal use of small amounts of cannabis.
Australia reports record flu cases in May Canberra, June 12: Australia has reported a record 65,770 flu cases in May, which marked an increase of more than 100 per cent from the previous record set in May 2019, authorities said on Sunday. As of June 5, 87,989 total influenza cases have been logged in Australia in 2022, according to the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS). Of those, 47,860, or 54 per cent, were reported in the two weeks leading up to June 5 as winter set in, reports Xinhua news agency. “From mid-April 2022, the weekly
number of notifications of laboratory-confirmed influenza reported in Australia has exceeded the five year average,” the NNDSS update said. There have been 27 influenza-associated deaths in Australia in 2022 and 733 cases have been treated in hospital, 6 per cent of whom were admitted directly to intensive care. By comparison, there were fewer than 1,000 influenza cases in Australia in 2021 and more than 21,000 in 2020 as a result of restrictions introduced to prevent the spread of Covid-19. Experts have warned that, with
restrictions now lifted, Australia is facing an influenza resurgence over winter which, paired with a spike in Covid cases, could put significant pressure on the health system.
Aus to compensate French shipbuilder for cancelled submarine contract Canberra, June 11 (IANS) The Australian government on Saturday agreed to pay a French shipbuilder A$830 million after tearing up a submarine contract. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government will pay Naval Group A$830 million in compensation for the cancelled contract, saying the “fair and equitable” settlement would improve relations
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between the nations, reports Xinhua news agency. French President Emmanuel Macron previously accused former Prime Minister Scott Morrison of lying about the future of the submarine deal. “I intend to have an honest relationship with France and one that is based upon integrity and mutual respect,” Albanese, whose Labor
Party defeated Morrison’s Coalition in May’s general election, told reporters. “I’m looking forward to taking up President Macron’s invitation to me to visit Paris at the earliest opportunity, and we will make further announcements forthcoming about the dates in which that will occur.” The Coalition government in 2016 awarded Naval Group, then DCNS,
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a contract to build a fleet of 12 new attack class submarines at a cost of A$50 billion, making it one of the biggest defence contracts in the Australian history. Amid disputes over where the submarines would be built and delays the projected construction cost blew out to A$89 billion, with maintenance expected to cost a further A$145 billion through to
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2080, the Coalition tore up the contract in 2021. Albanese said the settlement took Australia’s total spend on the project to A$3.4 billion. “It represents an extraordinary waste from a government that was always big on announcements but not good on delivering, and from a government that will be remembered as the most wasteful
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WORLD
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
South Africa says Gupta SL zoos run out of brothers arrested in UAE money to feed animals
Johannesburg, June 7 (IANS) The South African government has announced that two brothers from the wealthy Gupta family have been arrested in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the media reported. Atul and Rajesh Gupta are accused in South Africa of profiting from their close links with former President Jacob Zuma and exerting unfair influence, the BBC reported. Extradition talks are taking place with the UAE, South African officials have said. The brothers fled South Africa after a judicial commission began probing their involvement in corruption in 2018. They are accused of paying financial bribes in order to win lucrative state contracts and influence powerful government appointments. The family, who moved from India to South Africa in 1993, also face accusations of money laundering in India, where tax officials raided properties belonging to them in 2018 in multiple cities, including their company office in Delhi.
Many of the most serious corruption allegations levelled against the Indian-born brothers focus on their relationship with Zuma, who was president of South Africa from 2009 until he was forced to step down amid a storm of corruption allegations nine years later, the BBC reported. The Gupta family is accused of using their close links with Zuma to wield enormous political power across all levels of South African government, winning business contracts, influencing high-profile government appointments and misappropriating state funds. Zuma and the Guptas, however, deny any wrongdoing. After the brothers fled the country, South Africa negotiated an extradition treaty with the UAE in 2021. President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government has said it hoped the agreement would lead to the return of the Guptas to face charges, but it was not immediately clear following the arrests whether the brothers will return to South Africa. The Gupta family became so closely linked with Zuma that a joint term was even coined for them, the ‘Zuptas’. One of Zuma’s wives, as well as a son and daughter, had positions working in senior roles for Guptacontrolled companies, the BBC reported. Many of the companies in the Gupta portfolio profited from lucrative contracts with government departments and state-owned
corporations, where public officials say they were directly instructed by the family to take decisions that would advance the brothers’ business interests. It is alleged that compliance was rewarded with money and promotion, while disobedience was punished with dismissal. The list of public bodies accused of having been “captured” is extensive, the ministries of finance, natural resources and public enterprises, as well as agencies responsible for tax collection and communications, the state broadcaster SABC, the national carrier, South African Airways, the state-owned rail-freight operator and the energy giant Eskom, one of the largest utility companies in the world, the BBC reported. A four-year investigation later published by the country’s top judge concluded that the wealthy brothers had become deeply embedded in the highest levels of government and Zuma’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party. Reports published this year by investigators accuse the brothers of being linked to racketeering activity through the procurement of rail, ports and pipeline infrastructure. Its authors also concluded that Zuma “would do anything that the Guptas wanted him to do for them”. Last year, Zuma was imprisoned for 15 months for refusing to testify before the same investigators. He was released on parole after serving two months of his sentence in jaild.
to Brady reached 54, or 15 percent of Conservative lawmakers.
to take the opportunity to unite and deliver,” he added.
With Monday’s win, Johnson won’t face another no-confidence vote for a year under the current Conservative Party rules.
Despite Johnson’s survival in the vote, his political rivals took a shot at the turmoil within the Conservative Party as the 148 votes against him meant more than 40 percent of the Conservative lawmakers wanted him to go.
Colombo, June 7 (IANS) Amid the ongoing economic crisis in Sri Lanka, the island nation’s Department of Zoology has informed the Wildlife Ministry that it has run out of funds to provide food to the animals. Department officials said that there has been a severe shortage of funds due to the declining number of foreign tourists and local visitors, Xinhua news agency reported. They said the money allocated by the government in its yearly budget had also been running out.
The Wildlife Ministry had told the officials that steps would be taken to consult with the treasury to provide financial allocations to feed the animals. The Dehiwala Zoological Garden, one of the oldest zoos in Asia, has a substantial collection of animals from all over the world. The island nation of 22 million people is currently undergoing its worst ever economic crisis since it gained independence in 1948 following crippling foreign currency shortages, which has affected the
import of essential items, including food, fuel and medicines.
Afghanistan injects $11 mn to stabilise local currency Kabul, June 13 (IANS) Afghanistan’s central bank injected $11 million into the local market in a bid to strengthen the national currency, afghani, Da Afghanistan Bank (DAB) said. The DAB was requesting all eligible banks, foreign exchange and monetary service providers to participate in the auction scheduled on Monday, according to a DAB statement on Sunday. “In auction bids, partial settlement of currencies is not allowed and the winners of the auction must deposit
to Da Afghanistan Bank their money at one time in cash,” the statement said. The US dollar has depreciated against afghani, compared with a couple of weeks ago. Earlier this week, the DAB conducted auctioning of $13 million, Xinhua news agency reported. Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in mid-August 2021, the United States has frozen more than $9 billion of assets of Afghanistan’s central bank and thus undermined
the banking system in the war-torn country.
UK PM Johnson wins confidence Fear for democracy in Pakistan as ISI gets power over civil vote over ‘partygate’ scandals service appointments
London, June 7 (IANS) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has won a no-confidence vote among Conservative lawmakers. He will now stay in his job as Prime Minister. Johnson won the support of 211 out of 359 lawmakers, dozens more than the threshold of 180 votes, according to the result announced by Graham Brady, chairman of the Conservative Party’s parliamentary group, the 1922 Committee, Xinhua news agency reported. “I can announce that the parliamentary party does have confidence in the Prime Minister,” Brady said. The confidence vote on Johnson’s leadership was triggered after the number of lawmakers who submitted letters of no-confidence in him
The Prime Minister has been dogged for months by “partygate” scandals involving him and his staff at Downing Street during Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and 2021. He received a fine by the British police in April for attending one of the alcohol-fueled parties, making him the first sitting prime minister in British history to be penalized for breaking the law. “I think it’s an extremely good, positive, conclusive, decisive result which enables us to move on, to unite and to focus on delivery and that is exactly what we are going to do,” said Johnson shortly after the result was out. “What this means tonight is that we can focus on what we’re doing to help people on the cost of living, with what we are doing to keep streets and communities safer,” he said. “It gives us the chance to unite, strengthen and level up our economy. What we are going to do now is
“The choice is clearer than ever before. Divided Tories propping up Boris Johnson with no plan to tackle the issues you are facing. Or a united Labour Party with a plan to fix the cost of living crisis and restore trust in politics. Labour will get Britain back on track,” tweeted Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition Labour Party. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said: “Whilst Boris Johnson has clung on today - make no mistake, his reputation is in tatters and his authority is now totally shot.” “Every Conservative MP who cares about integrity and decency must do the right thing, resign the whip and sit as an independent. For the sake of our country, this failing Prime Minister cannot be propped up any longer,” he said.
US Senators reach narrow deal on gun safety Washington, June 13: A group of bipartisan US Senators announced a narrow gun safety deal amid public disappointment about political inaction against the rising gun violence.
The Senators’ announcement came a day after Americans gathered across the US to decry rising gun violence and urge politicians to take action in the wake of several mass shootings over the past few weeks.
The plan, endorsed by 10 Democrats and 10 Republicans, includes measures to crack down on criminals who illegally straw purchase and traffic guns, strengthen criminal background check requirements for gun buyers younger than 21, and fund mental health services, reports Xinhua news agency.
At least 17 people were killed and 62 others injured in 11 mass shootings across the US earlier this month.
Both sides touted it as a victory but the deal fell short of the White House’s proposals to ban assault weapons and raise the minimum age of purchasing certain firearms from 18 to 21, among other things.
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Last week, three people died and 14 others were injured following a shooting outside a nightclub in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Ten people were killed at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store on May 14, while 19 children and two teachers were shot dead at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24. On June 1, four people were shot and killed at a Tulsa, Oklahoma, medical building, and the next day,
Islamabad, June 12 (IANS) Pakistani politicians and activists have raised fears about the military increasing its control over the country’s public life after the new prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, gave the ISI spy agency vetting power over civil service appointments. The move has placed the verification and screening of government officials in charge of postings, appointments and promotions in ISI hands, leading to concerns of a shrunken civilian space. Pakistan’s powerful military, which ruled the country directly for three decades, and its premier intelligence agency have a long history of meddling in politics and controlling politicians. It is widely perceived in Pakistan that politicians need the military’s backing to come to power, but many now fear that bureaucrats could
also need the same support for their appointment and postings. “If we keep in mind Pakistan’s history of takeovers and the sway that military has over our politics, this decision will weaken civil bureaucracy and compromise their independence,” said senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar. “We have shot ourselves in the foot and it’s a decision worth reconsidering,” The Guardian reported. Raza Rabbani, the former chair of the senate, called Sharif’s decision an attack on the constitution. “The concept of civilian supremacy is tarnishing,” he said. Before ousting the former prime minister, Imran Khan, in a no-confidence vote in April, opposition parties now in power had criticised the military for its meddling in politics, rigging elections and bringing Khan into office.
premier defence summit. On a question regarding Taiwan, Wei said that “Taiwan is part of China, and the Taiwan question is China’s internal affair”, reports Xinhua news agency.
Those who pursue “Taiwan independence in an attempt to split China will definitely come to no good end, and foreign interference is doomed to failure”, he said. “If anyone dares to secede Taiwan from China, we will not hesitate to fight, we will fight at all costs,” Wei added.
According to the latest data from Gun Violence Archive, the US has suffered 265 mass shootings over the past five months, with more than 19,500 lives lost to gun violence.
“The government’s notification has legalised military intelligence’s power over other institutions,” she said. “At the same time [it has] sown seeds for a long-term disempowerment of the political class to strengthen its position and that of the parliament to weaken the military’s control over politics.”
Will ‘fight to the end’ for Taiwan, says China “China will definitely realise its reunification.”
three people died in a shooting outside a church in Ames, Iowa.
Ayesha Siddiqa, an author and expert on military affairs of Pakistan, said it was depressing that none of the senior leadership of the major political parties had condemned Sharif’s move, The Guardian reported.
Singapore, June 12: Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe on Sunday accused the US of being a “bully” and “hijacking” countries around the region, and said Beijing would “fight to the very end” to stop Taiwanese independence.
The Minister’s remarks, which came just weeks after US President Joe Biden said Washington would respond “militarily’ if China attacked Taiwan, capped a weekend of confrontational exchanges between the American and Chinese military chiefs, CNN reported.
He made the remarks while addressing the ongoing 19th ShangriLa Dialogue in Singapore, Asia’s
Wei also called out US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who had
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told the Summit a day earlier that China was engaged in coercive, aggressive and dangerous actions that threatened to “undermine security, stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific”. Austin had also talked about US coalition-building in the region and its joint military exercises with Japan, Australia, India and Indonesia, but Wei said this was a kind of “power politics” that China rejected. “No one and no country should impose its will on others, or bully others under the guise of multilateralism. We notice Secretary Austin’s remarks on the US Indo-Pacific strategy. “To us, the strategy is an attempt to build an exclusive, small group in the name of a free and open Indo-Pacific, to hijack countries in our region and target one specific country. It is a strategy to create conflict,” he added.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Dinner organized
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he Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Gala Black Tie Dinner was organized on 3rd June at The Premiers’ Hall, Queensland Parliament House in the presence of Dr Jeannette Young PSM, Governor
of Queensland and Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD. It was hosted by The Order of Australia Association, Queensland Branch and the Victoria League Brisbane for Commonwealth Friendship
InternationalYogaDay2022 curtain raiser
H
igh Commission of India, Canberra, in association with GOPIO, organized a yoga session in Gold Coast which was
attended by community members. Angie Bell MP and CouncillorDarrel Taylor graced the event with their presence.
Indian Cooking with Lata Modi ONION BHAJIYA
MINT SAUCE
Ingredients: One bunch fresh coriander chopped;half bunch mint leaves whole; 2-3 fresh green chilies chopped;two tablespoon fresh lemon juice;half cup natural yoghurt;salt to taste. Then include two teaspoon cumin powder. Ingredients: For 6-8 people two cups full cream milk;one cup thickened cream; 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup ground nuts of your choice,one and a half cup desiccated coconut.
Method: Chop and wash coriander leaves and mint leaves thoroughly. In a blender blend all the ingredients into a smooth paste. Transfer in a serving bowl and serve with your onion bhajiya . I hope that’s what you wanted and I really hope you try and enjoy these recipes. Happy cooking.Besan flour is easily available at Coles or woolies in International food Indian shelves. And so are the spices. Any queries, please ask me anytime. Thank you
and give it another mix. You can add half the coconut now and back in the microwave for three minutes on medium heat. Take it out. Let it cool a bit. It should still be warm. Now wet your palms.Take a little mixture and give it round shape (golf ball size). Roll it in the rest of the coconut . Put it in a serving plate. Serve anytime.
COCONUT LADOO
Method: Take a microwave safe big bowl. Add milk powder,sugar, cream and nuts. Mix it together. Put it in the microwave on high for four minutes with lid on. Take it out
MRS. LATA MODI
H
ello and Namaste friends! We all just celebrated a very special day last weekend. Mother’s Day always comes as a beautiful celebration with children and grandchildren. All mums get spoilt by their kids. I happen to be one of those lucky ones who got spoilt in a very surprising way. My family loves egg curry and every now and then I cook curry for my family. My daughters-in-law have lots of my printed recipes, which they follow precisely. But
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this time my sons got the recipe out and they cooked the famous egg curry on Mother’s Day . This was the biggest gift I could ever imagine. It was the most delicious curry with just the right amount of spices and the love in the curry was very obvious. So that made my Mother’s Day, really a very happy one. I hope all the mums out there had an amazing Mother’s Day. Try this recipe and you will enjoy it.
Ingredients: For 4-6 people four medium sized onions, 3 cupsBesan flour ( gram flour ), 1/2 cup self-rising flour,salt to taste, one teaspoon turmeric powder, two teaspoons coriander powder; chili powder to taste. Two tablespoon fresh chopped coriander. 2-3 fresh chilies chopped (optional); water to make the batter; oil for deep frying the fritters. Method: In a deep frying pan or wok heat enough oil for deep frying. STEP ONE: Peel and wash onion. Slice it lengthwise. In a big mixing bowl along with sliced onions, add all the above
ingredients. Add a little water at a time to mix it together. The batter should be soft, but still thick enough to be picked up with spoon to drop it in the oil. STEP TWO: Heat oil in a big deep saucepan or in a deep wok. Once the oil is heated, lower the heat and gently drop one spoon full of batter to make fritter like 50 cents coin. You might be able to put 10 fritters at one go. Fry these on a medium heat until golden brown on both sides. Repeat the same process until all the batter is turned into onion Bhajia . STEP THREE: Spread paper towels on a big plate and put fried bhajiya to drain the excessoil. Serve hot with green mint sauce.
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Ingredients: For 6-8 people two cups full cream milk;one cup thickened cream; 3/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup ground nuts of your choice,one and a half cup desiccated coconut. Method: Take a microwave safe big bowl. Add milk powder,sugar, cream and nuts. Mix it together. Put it in the microwave on high for four minutes with lid on. Take it out
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and give it another mix. You can add half the coconut now and back in the microwave for three minutes on medium heat. Take it out. Let it cool a bit. It should still be warm. Now wet your palms.Take a little mixture and give it round shape (golf ball size). Roll it in the rest of the coconut . Put it in a serving plate. Serve anytime.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Harvest Festival organized S
ydney Sanskrit School students participated in the Harvest Festival organised by Friends of India Australia in collaboration with the Hindu SwayamsevakSangh and Multicultural NSW. Reciting the SuryamandalaStotram, the students invoked the blessings of the Sun in the presence of Mark Coure, Minister for Multiculturalism and Seniors. The teachers of the school participated in the Rangoli competition at the festival.
Queensland Reconciliation Awards 2022 winners
T
he Queensland Reconciliation Awards were announced recently.In its 20th year, the Queensland Reconciliation Awards is recognition of the many collaborations and projects advancing reconciliation through businesses, community organisations, educational institutions and government agencies. These recipients go beyond their core business to foster reconciliation and pave the way for a better future. The 2022 recipients are: Business WINNER: Baidam Solutions HIGHLY COMMENDED: Rork Projects for Influencing a Nation FINALIST: GoorathunthaTraditional Owners Limited for the Santos and Goorathuntha Environmental Offsets Partnership FINALIST: SupplyAUS Community WINNER: Hinchinbrook Shire Council for Hinchinbrook Indigenous Literacy Project HIGHLY COMMENDED: Scenic Rim Regional Council Libraries for Yugambeh Language Project FINALIST: PormpurPaanthu Aboriginal Corporation for Pormpuraaw NAIDOC Week 2021 Education WINNER: Blackwater State High School for Blackwater State High School Reconciliation Action HIGHLY COMMENDED: Urangan Point State School for Urangan Point State School Junior Rangers FINALIST: Waterford West State School for Waterford West State School Bush Tucker Garden
Health and wellbeing WINNER: Pass on the Fire Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Corporation for The Boss Boxing HIGHLY COMMENDED: Nourishing Bites Partnership WINNER: Queensland Police Service, WuguNyambil and Yarrabah Shire Council for the Yarrie Yarns Project HIGHLY COMMENDED: Queensland Police Service and Bindal Sharks United Training, Employment and Sport and Recreation Aboriginal Corporation for Reconciliation Through Sport FINALIST: Palm Island Community Company and Townsville Hospital and Health Service FINALIST: Acciona Infrastructure Projects Australia Pty Ltd, Aurecon Australia Pty Ltd and Department of Transport and Main Roads for going above and beyond the Queensland Government Building and Construction Training Policy The winner of the overall Premier’s Reconciliation Award was the Queensland Police Service, WuguNyambil and Yarrabah Shire Council for the Yarrie Yarns Project. The 2022 Awards recipients will receive a share of $30,000 in prize money. The Queensland Reconciliation Awards is an initiative of the Queensland Government through the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and the Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships.
21 Days of Yoga in Melbourne A
special event “21 days of Yoga for Unity and Wellbeing” was organized in Melbourne recently as part of the events being
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held in the days leading up to the International Day of Yoga 2022 on June 21.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Save Soil event organized
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he Indian Society of Western Australia (ISWA) Foundation organized a special event “Journey to Save Soil” at the Indian Community Centre recently as part of the celebrations of World
Environment Day 2022. The ‘Save Soil Movement’ is a global initiative to increase awareness about deteriorating soil health and bring about a conscious response to improve it.
‘Walk and Yoga’ in Melbourne A
s part of the upcoming 8th International Day of Yoga, a special event ‘Walk and Yoga
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for Unity and Wellbeing’ was organised in Melbourne on June 4, 2022.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
GOPIO Queensland organizes fundraiser dinner
T
he Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Queensland chapter recently held a fundraiser gala dinner.The event was attended by prominent community members,
including, Paviter Kumar Noori, RajniNoori, Hernandez Nayda, Charles StrunkCouncillor for Forest Lake Ward and Deputy Mayor Jacob Madsen - Ipswich City Council
Sonu Nigam music concert organized A
music concert, “Rafi, Kishore Aur Mein” featuring Indian singer Sonu Nigam was organized at the Melbourne Convention
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and Exhibition Centre on May 28. The event was organized by Desai Entertainment in collaboration with Star Alliance Entertainment.
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BUSINESS
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
India aims to double marine product Top 100 global firms’ market exports to Rs 1 lakh Cr in 5 years cap reaches $31.7 tn, Apple leads
New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) India aims to double marine product exports to Rs 1 lakh crore in the next five years from the present around Rs 50,000 crore, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Food & Public
Distribution and Textiles Piyush Goyal has said. He was speaking at an event in Kochi on Monday. “This target will be achieved through sustainable fishing, ensuring quality and variety, promotion of coastal shipping and aquaculture, and by supporting the entire fisheries ecosystem,” said Goyal, addressing the mediapersons at the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Kochi. At the event, K.N. Raghavan, Chairman of MPEDA, presented a road map to achieve the export turnover of Rs 1 lakh crore. Goyal further said that the Free Trade Agreements have been finalised with the UAE and Australia, while negotiations are in progress
for such an agreement with the UK and Canada. The minister said negotiations to reach an FTA with the EU will begin in Brussels on the 17th of this month. The Minister had an interaction with Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) at MPEDA office and had an extensive discussion on various issues, challenges and solutions facing the sector and also met with fishermen from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Karnataka. He assured interventions to minimise the hurdles on the import of raw materials for value addition so that India can be transformed to a seafood processing hub in the near future.
Myntra sells record-breaking 50 lakh products on Day 1 of EORS-16
Bengaluru, June 13: Myntra, one of India’s leading fashion, beauty and lifestyle destinations, on Monday said that the 16th edition of its flagship EORS-16 (End of Reason Sale) witnessed over 70 per cent growth in traffic over business as usual (BAU) on Day One. India shopped a record-breaking 50 lakh products in the first 24 hours of Myntra’s EORS sale that is being held from June 11-16. On Day One, 2.6 million items were shipped within the first 24 hours of the event. “The upwardly-mobile fashion-forward consumers have once again welcomed EORS with a hearty opening, purchasing ~50 lakh products within the first 24 hours to cater to their fashion and beauty needs,” said Nandita Sinha, CEO, Myntra. “It’s also very encouraging to see women forming 60 per cent of the shopper base and some of the tier-3 towns emerging as high traction customer hubs on day 1 of this edition. As the event unfolds itself in the next few days, we are excited to serve millions of customers with our tech-pivoted delightful shopping experience,” Sinha added. Women’s western wear category
saw demand for 14 lakhs tops and t-shirts and 7.6 lakhs kurtas on Day One. Nearly two-thirds of the demand in �Beauty and Personal Care’ was led by makeup, skincare and fragrances, with over 100,000 lipsticks shopped by customers. Jewellery witnessed over 2 times jump over BAU with workwear jewellery driving the demand. In the menswear category, jeans have seen the highest spike of 10 times over BAU with similar high demand for t-shirts and shirts at 8 times over BAU. With the resurgence of focus on fitness, customers made the most of the sharp value offers by renowned brands such as Puma, Nike, Adidas, Skechers and HRX, among others. Sportswear trended on Day One with 1.7 times spike over BAU. Sports apparel for plus sizes and yoga also saw heightened traction on the first day, the company informed. Kidswear, one of the fast-emerging categories on Myntra, witnessed a whopping 3 times jump over BAU, with summer essentials such as t-shirts and shorts, and footwear driving the demand. Myntra recorded the highest
number of app installs to date at an unprecedented 4.5 million during the pre-buzz period. Nearly 51 per cent of the Day One customers who made their first purchase on Myntra were from tier 2/3 cities, further consolidating Myntra’s hold beyond metros and big cities. The traffic on the platform built-up to a record of 8 million during the �Early Access’ period of the six-day fashion extravaganza. About 1.2 lakh products were ordered during the first 10 minutes as customers rushed to make the most of the midnight opening On Day One, Delhi shopped the most among metros, with Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad being some of the other leading metros driving demand. Among the top non-metro cities that shopped during this period were Jaipur, Lucknow, Patna, Indore, Surat, Vizag and Ludhiana. Top tier-3 cities included Dehradun and Aizawl, while the emerging tier-3 cities included Dimapur (Nagaland), Tiruvallur (Tamil Nadu), Roopnagar (Punjab) and Jabalpur (MP). Myntra’s country-wide network of 21,000 Kirana store partners (MENSA network) is catering to over 19,000 pin codes and will be fulfilling 85 per cent of the deliveries and providing crucial support to the last mile delivery process during the event. Myntra said it has created about 27,500 third-party employment opportunities through its partners to cater to the expected surge in demand. As a part of its omni-channel integration, the platform is enabling over 300 brands across more than 3,800 stores to offer customers a seamless shopping experience.
New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) The market capitalisation of the top 100 companies globally increased from $10.3 trillion to $31.7 trillion, an increase of 48 per cent, from March 2020 till March 2021, a new report said on Sunday. Apple topped the list with $2.85 trillion in market cap, followed by Saudi Aramco, Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon, according to the data provided by London-based accounting company PwC. Apple regained its crown as the world’s largest company by market capitalisation with a valuation 6 per cent and 13 per cent ahead of Saudi Aramco and Microsoft, respectively. Reliance Industries (at 58th position) and Tata Consultancy Services (69th spot) were the only two companies from India in the global list. There were no direct entrants to the ‘Global Top 100’ companies via IPO despite a buoyant IPO market. “The threshold to enter the list is now $129 billion, potentially creating a barrier to future entrants via IPO,” the report noted. Samsung Electronics Co was the world’s 22nd-largest company in terms of market capitalisation, down
seven notches from a year earlier. The tech giant was the only South Korean company on the list with a market value of $342 billion, as of March. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. came in 10th, with its market cap reaching $541 billion, up by one notch from a year earlier. Amazon’s market capitalisation increased by 61 per cent in the year to March 2021, supported by the growing “stay-at-home economy” seen throughout 2020 and into 2021, although Amazon did not move up from fourth position. Elon Musk-run Tesla’s market capitalisation increased from $96 billion in March 2020 to $641 billion in March 2021, an astonishing 565 per cent increase and a clear outlier in the top 10 risers. All regions and component countries experienced a relative increase in market capitalisation of the companies listed in the ‘Global Top 100’. In-line with expectations, the United States continues to dominate the ‘Global Top 100’ list in terms of market capitalisation and number
of companies, with 59 companies accounting for 65 per cent of total market capitalisation, the data showed. Technology continues to be the largest sector in terms of market capitalisation ($10.5 trillion). Global Top 100 Technology companies saw a 71% increase as compared to their value as at March 2020, in-line with the wider industry index performance. “As a point of comparison, in the private company domain, half of the Top 100 unicorns valued at $1 billion and above (at 31 March 2021) were from the US, broadly in line with the ‘Global Top 100’ of public companies,” the report noted. The value of the top 100 unicorns grew by 30 per cent to $1.1 trillion in the year to March 2021, behind the public companies’ market capitalisation increase in the same period (49 per cent).
Housing, commercial property projects worth Rs 4,344 cr proposed in UP Lucknow, June 12 (IANS) As many as 19 big-ticket housing and commercial property projects worth Rs 4,344 crore have been proposed in Uttar Pradesh following the third ground breaking ceremony (GBC-3) held in Lucknow on June 3 to attract the industrial investments, an official statement said. This does not include construction of structures for other sectors such as warehousing, logistics, IT, data centres, supporting infrastructure for industries such as power substations etc, hotels and hospitals, it said. According to the statement, the sector-wise distribution of all the 1,406 proposals presented in GBC-3, presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the presence of top industrialists, shows that investors not only from India but from many parts of the world are keen to invest in UP. The presence of M.A. Yusuf Ali, chairman of the Lulu Group International, at the GBC was significant as it indicated the presence of global retail industry giants in UP Among the proposals presented in GBC-3, there are retail spaces, housing and group housing projects, cooperative housing projects and townships. It is a sign of the confidence of the real estate and construction sector in the state and its government policies that the sluggish trend has been reversed, the statement said.
is from One97 Communications (PayTM) which proposes to set up a commercial office space in Noida, Gautam Buddha Nagar, which would include ample retail space on ground floor. The proposed investment is to the tune of Rs 504 crore and it is expected to generate 8,000 employment opportunities. It is expected to be completed and commissioned by July 2024. Among other housing and commercial property projects is the Aissphra Lifespaces (Palm Emporio) project in Gorakhpur with an investment of Rs 250 crore. The project is expected to commission in January 2025 and is likely to generate employment for 400 individuals. A project by Amrawati Residency Private Ltd with an investment of Rs 225 crore in Lucknow has been operational since January 202, providing employment to 300 persons. Also in Lucknow, there are three projects by ANS Developers Private Ltd. The first is named Valencia County with an investment amount of Rs 405 crore and it is expected to be commissioned by January 2025, providing 800 jobs. The second is Belvedere Suites at a cost of Rs 400 crore and is likely to be commissioned by January 2025. It is expected to create 300 jobs. The third, named Whispering Woods, coming up at a cost of Rs 325 crore, is likely to be commissioned by December 2025 with employment generation for 200 people.
GK Orthocity Private Ltd, at an investment of Rs 250 crore. It is likely to be commissioned by December 2023 with 700 employment options. The Pardos Lucknow Developers Private Ltd project with an investment of Rs 200 crore is likely to be commissioned by July 2022, giving 400 jobs. The project by Ruvik BuildTech Private Ltd, with an investment of Rs 350 crore in Greater Noida, is expected to be completed by June 2022, creating 2,100 jobs. The Uppal Chadha Hi-Tech Developers Private Ltd project with Rs 350 crore in Ghaziabad will be completed by March 2027, giving 300 jobs. Other projects in the housing and commercial property sector are in Agra - Tripurari Infrastructure Private Ltd (Rs 112 crore), Ghaziabad - Adarsh Nagar Pragatisheel Sahkari Awas Samiti Ltd (Rs 180 crore), Agarwal Associated Promoters Ltd (Rs 125 crore), and Sarna Projects LLP (Rs 30 crore); Lucknow - Eldeco Housing and Industries Ltd (Rs 60 crore), MJ Luxuries Private Ltd (Rs 100 crore) and Shalimar Educational and Charitable Trust (Rs 80 crore.)
Complete hi-tech nurseries Global server market revenues within 6 months: Yogi A government spokesman said that prominent among the proposals
Lucknow, June 13: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered completion of 150 hi-tech nurseries in 75 districts of the state within next six months. The nurseries are being set up in the Krishi Vigyan Kendras of the state, campus of agricultural universities, research centre of the Horticulture Department for easy training of farmers in mordern day farming practices. As per the estimate of Horticulture Department, the average cost of hi-tech nursery will be nearly Rs 1 crore. www.indianabroad.news
To serve the dual purpose of boosting horticulture and improving rural livelihoods, the state government has decided to establish 150 hi-tech nurseries (which will be based on Israeli technology) under the MGNREGA scheme. Under the scheme, two hi-tech nurseries are being developed in each district to grow fruits like plum, pomegranate, jackfruit, lemon, mango, guava, moringa, dragon-fruit etc. and several vegetables as per the demands based on the local geographical conditions and surrounding areas. The government seeks to grow quality saplings and seeds at the excellence centres as well as hi-tech nurseries to increase production of quality crops. The objective behind the government’s move is also to provide sufficient crops for the increasing number of food processing industries. It is to be noted that the Indo-Israel Centre for Excellence has been established in Basti and Kannauj for fruits and vegetables respectively,
so that farmers can get quality seedlings. These nurseries will be equipped with infrastructure facilities like proper fencing, irrigation facility, hi-tech Green House among others and will be maintained through CLF (Cluster Level Federation)/ other groups of State Rural Livelihood Mission. The plants produced from these nurseries will be sold to the interested local farmers, farmers’ production organizations (FPOs) at the regional level, other private nurseries at the state level, at the national level for the plantation of various state governments and those of other states. Chief Minister Adityanath has set ambitious targets to increase the area of cultivation of horticultural crops from 11.6 per cent to 16 per cent and food processing units from 6 per cent to a whopping 20 per cent during the next five years in order to enhance the overall yield as well as processing of fruits, vegetables and spices.
Another project in Lucknow is from
to reach $112 bn in 2022 New Delhi, June 11: The global server market’s revenue is expected to grow 17 per cent (on-year) to reach $111.7 billion in 2022, according to a new report. From an enterprise perspective, transformation to hybrid cloud and upgrades of existing infrastructure to handle increased workloads will provide growth impetus after a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic, says Counterpoint Research’s ‘Global Server Sales Tracker’.
customers cloud-ready,” Bassi. The market is evolving with the introduction of “As-a-Service” and “pay per use” models by server companies, like Pointnext from HPE, APEX from Dell and TruScale from Lenovo. The business model pivot has been enjoying great success due to more flexibility given to the customer at minimum capital expenses due to the emergence of workload-based infrastructure.
5G, automotive, cloud gaming and high-performance computing will remain the key drivers for cloud service providers in data centre expansion.
The server market revenues were flat in 2020 and early 2021 owing to the pandemic and less spending by enterprises on IT infrastructure upgrades and expansion.
“In an inflationary but extremely dynamic environment, companies are looking to strengthen their infrastructure as they prepare for Web3.0 demands from the infrastructure end,” said research analyst Akshara Bassi.
In H2 2021, there was a backlog due to supply chain disruptions across the whole value chain from accelerator chips to power ICs, which has trickled into H1 2022, the report mentioned.
“Companies are diversifying their IT infrastructure to meet the needs of data evolution and making
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“Dell and HPE are the server market icons but are seeing companies like Lenovo, Inspur and Supermicro
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giving strong competition as demand for flexible customised configurations in bare metal option continues to rise,” said Bassi. Edge server configurations will be a key driver of growth in server shipments as companies start enabling chip-to-cloud features within the devices and 5G deployments make IoT use cases penetrate across all verticals. The infrastructure spends to enable the Metaverse will give an impetus to servers as they are the building blocks of the Metaverse, the report noted. Major internet corporations and hyperscalers have already detailed their plans for spends on Metaverse infrastructure.
15
BITCOIN UPDATES
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
New York halts Bitcoin mining for Over 75% of Bitcoin miners’ earnings 2 years, ‘grim day’ for Blockchain going into soaring electricity costs
New York, June 3 (IANS) In bad news for Bitcoin and Blockchain lovers, the New York State on Friday passed a bill to halt new permits for certain fossil fuel power plants to be used in Bitcoin mining. The measure establishes a two-year moratorium on new permits for cryptocurrency mining operations that use proof-of-work (PoW) authentication methods to validate Blockchain transactions. The measure also initiates a study on the environmental impact mining facilities are having in New York state. The Senate voted 36-27 in favour of the new bill. It now goes to the desk of Governor Kathy Hochul, who could sign it into law or veto it, reports The Verge.
Hochul reportedly received a $40,000 donation last month from a chief executive of a company that runs a former aluminium plant turned crypto-mining facility.
the state due to the possibility of more regulatory creep,” John Warren, CEO of institutional-grade bitcoin mining company, GEM Mining, told CNBC.
The bill was passed by the NY state Assembly last month.
Bitcoin (BTC) mining is a very electricity-intensive process. A recent study has shown that a single Bitcoin transaction consumes about 2165 kWh of electricity which a regular household in the US would use in 74 days.
It would impose a moratorium on any new PoW mining projects powered by carbon-based fuel in the state. However, existing crypto mining operations undergoing the permit renewal process would be allowed to continue. According to Coindesk, mining companies based in New York have threatened to leave the state if the moratorium is passed. The bill “is a grim day for blockchain technology, effectively shutting the door on a nascent industry,” said Clark Vaccaro, acting president and chief strategy officer at industry trade organisation BaSIC. “The regulatory environment in New York will not only halt their target -- carbon-based fuel proof of work mining -- but will also likely discourage new, renewable-based miners from doing business with
One of Botcoin’s core features, its proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism, is every miner’s headache. PoW requires them to solve complex equations for a share of newly-mined coins. PoW has also come under criticism for its environmental footprint and critics hold that it is a wasteful and unsustainable crypto for the universe. Studies have shown its carbon emissions to match those of entire nations. One of the studies estimates that Bitcoin emits nearly 114 megatonnes of CO2 annually, a value comparable to Czech Republic’s.
New Delhi, May 31: Bitcoin miners are spending more than 75 per cent of their earnings in soaring electricity costs, resulting in a significant carbon footprint which is damaging to our environment, a new report revealed on Tuesday. Bitcoin (BTC) mining is a very electricity-intensive process. A recent study has shown that a single Bitcoin transaction consumes about 2165 kWh of electricity which a regular household in the US would use in 74 days. “Factor in the roughly $0.14/kWh that an average household pays, and the magnitude of expenditure becomes evident,” according to the report from CryptoMonday.de. “Bitcoin mining is central to the sustenance of the BTC ecosystem as besides enabling verification of transactions, it helps secure the network. The activity is so critical that the BTC network incentivizes miners in the crypto through the miners’ reward,” said Elizabeth Kerr, a financial content specialist. One of BTC’s core features, its proof-of-work (PoW) consensus
mechanism, is also every miner’s headache. PoW requires them to solve complex equations for a share of newly-mined coins. “The equations require the use of specialized mining equipment with high computational power. The equipment consumes tons of kilowatt-hours (kWhs), ballooning the miners’ electricity bills,” Kerr informed. PoW has also come under criticism for its environmental footprint and critics hold that it is a wasteful and unsustainable crypto for the universe. Studies have shown its carbon emissions to match those of entire nations. One of the studies estimates that Bitcoin emits nearly 114 megatonnes of CO2 annually, a value comparable to Czech Republic’s. “Bitcoin is hardly mainstream, but it’s already registering a significant carbon footprint. That reality is what’s worrying its opponents. They claim that the broader adoption of the coin would significantly impact
the global environment negatively,” Kerr noted. Despite strong opposition from some quarters, BTC enthusiasts still believe in the crypto’s value. They hold that notwithstanding the environmental concerns its usage raises, humanity has a lot to benefit from its wider adoption. “Moreover, some miners have made the switch to fully renewable energy sources. Others are in different stages of that transition. Transiting to greener and affordable alternatives should help allay environmentalists’ fears,” the report said.
Bitcoin, Ethereum crash to record low amid crypto winter New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) The crypto winter hammered cryptocurrencies on Monday as the price of a single Bitcoin fell sharply to around $25,600, an 18-month low. The world’s largest cryptocurrency further tanked 7 per cent over fears of risk-off sentiment due to a sharp rise in inflation globally, especially the US.
Bitcoin (BTC) had reached an all-time high of over $68,000 in November 2021, and has fallen more than 60 per cent since then. According to analysts, Bitcoin may hit a grim $14,000 this year at this rate. In a Twitter thread, Venturefounder, a contributor at on-chain analytics
platform CryptoQuant, forecast 2022 as Bitcoin’s year to “capitulate”. “In the next 670 days, BTC will capitulate in the next 6 months and hit cycle bottom ($14-21k), then chop around $28-40k in most of 2023 and be at ~$40k again by next halving,” one of the tweets read. The likely bottom range at $14,000
would represent a drop of around 80 per cent for Bitcoin from the $68,000 all-time high. Ether (ETH), the second largest cryptocurrency, also fell considerably. Ethereum prices were hammered over the weekend, sending the world’s second-largest digital asset
back below its 2018 peak. On-chain analytics provider Glassnode reported that the Ethereum market has fallen below the ‘ETH Realized Price’ of $1,781. On Monday, the cryptocurrency plunged to $1,355, resulting in unrealised losses of more than 40 per cent.
2.72 cr students pursuing higher Rs 10 lakh penalty on companies for misleading ads, unfair trade practice education via Swayam portal BE, B Tech students stand first in taking admissions in the top ten courses. Many students have enrolled in M.Sc, MA, MBA, PhD, B. Com, BA, M.Com. Swayam portal was launched with an aim to enhance knowledge in multi-disciplinary subjects other than traditional subjects. New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) India is a young country and currently has nearly 30 crore students. Of these, 2.72 crore students have registered themselves for higher studies through the Swayam portal. This is for the first time that in first five months of the year, 2.72 crore students have registered themselves on Central education ministry’s portal. Of them, many students are completing 40 per cent online credit of their regular courses. These involve youths, professionals and homemakers who have registered on Swayam to enhance their skills. According to the union education ministry, this portal has been developed keeping every section of society and every age group in mind. That is the reason the portal is having over 7,000 courses including science, research and marketing.
In May, the education ministry conducted a survey of Swayam Online Learning portal, during which it was found that since January, 2.72 crore children have studied on the basis of the portal. Across the country, highest number of registration on the portal was recorded by students from Tamil Nadu, while Uttar Pradesh ranks second and Andhra Pradesh third, Jammu and Kashmir fourth and Chandigarh 24th. University Grants Commission secretary Prof Rajnish Jain has appealed to over 1,000 universities to adopt credit framework through the Swayam portal. It may be noted that in all the universities across the country, in one semsester of various curricula, 40 per cent online study can be conducted.
portal, 7,115 curricula are available. Around 11.13 lakh certificates have been issued via the portal. He said during the coronavirus-induced lockdown, usage of Swayam Platform increased by 2.15 lakh times. The Education Ministry had conducted an online survey to understand the approach of students towards Swayam’s massive open online courses. The survey provides insights and inputs into students preference. More than 70 per cent of students in 338 universities and institutes of the 29 states have expressed interest in taking the credit benefit of the Swayam. According to Union Education ministry, Swayam offers more chances and flexibility to students. Its aim is that students complete their curriculum and get certificate. According to the ministry, on Sawayam portal, study material and video lecture of all courses is available free of cost. However, if a student or professional wants certificate, then he/she has to give National Testing Agency examination based on multiple choice questions.
New Delhi, June 10 (IANS) Notices and financial penalties amounting to Rs 10 lakh are among the multifold actions taken by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) against the erring companies under the various sections of the Consumer Protection Act, the government said on Friday. The CCPA has taken 113 actions, of which 57 are notices for misleading advertisements, 47 notices relate to unfair trade practices and nine are for violation of consumer rights. “Subsequent to notice, 14 companies had withdrawn their advertisement, of which maximum companies had claimed more than 99 per cent efficacy against Covid/germs,” Additional Secretary, Consumer Affairs, Nidhi Khare said.
“Three companies have issued corrective advertisements after this.” One company changed its refund/ replacement policy for the benefit of consumers and also made penal provisions for its sellers in case of any deficiency found. Three companies were imposed a penalty of Rs 10,00,000 each for its misleading advertisements while
three others were imposed similar penalties for unfair trade practice.
The known brands that received notices from CCPA include Naaptol for its misleading advertisements and unfair trade practice, Khare said. Naaptol, through its Live TV and YouTube broadcast, was using unfair methods to promote its products by falsely stating that “the product is available for a limited time to pressurise consumers to make an immediate decision and depriving consumers sufficient time to make an informed decision”. Another advertisement that made false claims regarding their product without any scientific credibility/ reports include magnetic knee support ad for instant pain relief for knees, acupressure yoga slippers/ acupressure massage slippers and even some gold jewellery for Rs 200, making consumers purchase “Gold jewellery of Rs 200” and misleading by its name. “The company’s response was that the price (of that jewellery) itself is enough for layman customers to understand that it is not real gold, in a way, to say, they are not
misleading,” Khare added.
These were imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh each while three advertisers were ordered to discontinue advertisements as product quality was unclear and claims could not be proved. The CCPA also asked the industry associations to advise the manufacturers/traders to desist from issuing misleading advertisements about protection from Covid-19. It also said it issued new guidelines late Thursday night and are effective from Friday itself which has clearly outlined the penalty for violating the guidelines. The CCPA can impose a penalty of up to Rs 10 lakh on manufacturers, advertisers and endorsers for any misleading advertisements. For subsequent contraventions, it may impose a penalty of up to Rs 50 lakh. The Authority can prohibit the endorser of a misleading advertisement from making any endorsement for up to one year and for subsequent contravention, prohibition can extend up to three years, it said.
Students are provided certificate after they qualify in the exams.
Rising interest rate is headwind to real NCLAT upholds CCI ruling, directs estate demand: Knight Frank India Prof Jain said that on Swayam
Amazon to pay Rs 200 cr penalty New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal on Monday upheld the December 2021 order of the Competition Commission of India (CCI) that suspended its earlier order approving Amazon’s deal with Future Coupons, a Future Group entity, and imposed a Rs 202 crore fine on the e-commerce major. The e-commerce giant Amazon had approached the NCLAT to challenge the CCI’s December 2021 decision. In the December 17, 2021 order, the regulator had said an approval granted to Amazon to acquire a 49
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per cent stake in Future Coupons would stand in abeyance, as the firm suppressed information while seeking the clearance. The CCI’s order came after complaints filed by Future Retail’s independent directors and the industry body Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT). Besides, the NCLAT also upheld the Rs 200 crore fine imposed on the e-commerce firm for non-disclosure of relevant information and granted the company 45 days to pay the same.
New Delhi, June 13: While it was a critical tool in the fight against the burgeoning inflation, this turn in the upward revision in interest rate cycle could be a significant headwind to real estate demand, said property consultant firm Knight Frank India. The real estate sector has been on a strong recovery path after surviving the worst of the pandemic. Annual residential sales in 2021 have reached within striking distance of 2019 volumes and recent monthly sales trends also show strong momentum.
raised the repo rate by 50 basis points to 4.9 per cent. For FY23, the RBI sees an overall inflation at 6.7 per cent, which is 100 basis points higher than its previous estimate. The significant increase in the FY23 consumer inflation estimate to 6.7 per cent, which is higher than the RBI’s upper tolerance band of 6 per cent, also suggests that further repo rate hikes are likely, the property consultant said in a report.
The revival in the sector has largely been driven by low interest rates which supported homebuyer demand.
“The RBI is likely to continue increasing the policy rate to narrow the gap between consumer inflation and repo rate and reduce the extent of negative real interest rate in the economy, which still stands at -1.8 per cent.”
On June 8, the Reserve Bank of India
Home loan rates are still
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approximately 150 basis points below those prevailing in 2019 and a reversion to those levels will result in an 11.73 per cent increase in the EMI load for the homebuyer and an effective 3.38 per cent decrease in affordability, the report said.
16
POLITICS
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
‘Fringe is BJP’s core’ says Rahul Genesis of controversy for Gandhis: The National Herald case history Gandhi over Prophet row
New Delhi, June 8 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday hit out at the BJP for calling their former spokespersons as fringe. Citing examples of past statements
of some top BJP leaders, Rahul Gandhi said that “Fringe is BJPs core”. Rahul Gandhi’s remarks came in the wake of a major global pushback mostly from Gulf countries in protest against comments made by BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, who were removed from the party later. The Congress has been on attacking mode since the Indian embassy in Doha issued a statement on the row. The Congress alleged that the
Indian embassy has been used for the BJP and questioned the silence of the Prime Minister on the issue. Party spokesperson Pawan Khera, addressing a press conference on Wednesday, attacked the government on the whole issue. “This government has failed to win the confidence of every community, thanks to selective silence and selective outrage.” He said, “the fact that the embassy attached a mail of the statement of the BJP is unacceptable.”
Presidential polls: BJP authorises Nadda, Rajnath for talks with other parties Rajnath Singh to consult other political parties for next month’s Presidential election. In a statement, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said, “In view of Presidential election, the BJP has authorised BJP chief J.P. Nadda and Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for consulting.”
New Delhi, June 12: The BJP on Sunday authorised party chief J.P. Nadda and Defence Minister
“They will hold consultations with NDA partners, UPA constituents and even Independent Members of Parliament,” Singh said.
and Rajnath Singh will soon start process of consultation. Sources said that consultation will focus on proposed BJP led NDA nominee for the post of President of India. Presidential polls, if required, will be held on July 18 and counting of votes will take place on July 21. In an electoral college of around 10.86 lakh votes for the polls, the BJP and its alliance partners are a little short of the halfway mark
New Delhi, June 1 (IANS) The Enforcement Directorate summons to Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the top leadership of the Congress, in a money-laundering probe linked to the over a decade-old National Herald case, seems a culmination of a complex and intricate case of company law and shares transfer. The genesis of the controversy lies in the acquisition of shares of the Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) on January 26, 2011.
The AJL was incorporated as a public limited company on November 20, 1937 under the Indian Companies Act, 1913, for the purpose of publication of newspapers in different languages. It started publishing newspapers such as “National Herald” in English, “Navjivan” in Hindi and “Quami Awaz” in Urdu. The publication of the newspapers was suspended on various occasions due to financial difficulties and certain labour problems, and on April 2, 2008, the newspaper was closed. The properties were allotted for carrying out newspaper business and publication of newspapers in different languages. However, it
was also allowed to let out these properties on rent to cater to its publication business, post-closure of the newspaper. The office of AJL was shifted from Lucknow on September 1, 2010 to its Delhi property situated at 5A, Herald House, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg. Amid this chain of events, the All India Congress Committee (AICC), an apex body of the Congress, had advanced loans to AJL from time to time. On March 31, 2010, there was outstanding loan of Rs 88,86,68,976 (over Rs 88 crore) and a further loan of Rs 1.35 crore was received during the period April 1, 2010 to December 16, 2010, aggregating to Rs 90.21 crore. On December 16, 2010, the AICC transferred the entire outstanding loan of Rs 90.21 crore due from AJL in favour of appellant company, Young Indian, for a consideration of Rs 50 lakh. Further, almost 99.99 per cent shares of AJL were transferred to Young Indian. On December 13, 2010, in the first Managing Committee meeting of Young Indian, Rahul Gandhi was appointed as Director.
On January 22, 2011, a fresh allotment of the shares of Young Indian were made, in which 1,900 shares, having paid-up value of Rs 1,90,000, were granted to Rahul Gandhi and 1,350 shares with a paid-up amount of Rs 1,35,000 in the name of Sonia Gandhi among other share holders. In order to fulfil its objective of acquiring 100 per cent shares of AJL, Rahul Gandhi, along with his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, purchased additional shares amounting to 47,513 and 2,62,411, through Ratan Deep Trust and Janhit Nidhi Trust, respectively, without complying provisions of the Companies Act. In a nutshell, the National Herald case pertains to the assignment of a Rs 90 crore loan advanced by the Congress to Young Indian for a consideration of Rs 50 lakh, and alleged misappropriation of assets of over Rs 2,000 crore.
Singh further stated that Nadda
AAP to announce CM candidate Congress protests outside ED office for Gujarat at right time there.
Rahul Gandhi was permitted.
The Congress workers sat just before the barricade and raised slogans in favour of their leader and against the present dispensation at the Centre.
The Congress leader was also accompanied by her sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
“I will say only one thing - Satyamev Jayate (Truth alone triumphs),” Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat, who was present there, said. New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) Congress leaders, along with party workers, on Monday protested outside the Enforcement Directorate (ED) office where their leader Rahul Gandhi appeared for interrogation in connection with the National Herald case. The people were stopped at least 1 Km before the ED office with the Delhi Police placing a barricade
Amidst heavy security deployment, the Congress leader reached the ED office. There was heavy police deployment in and around the ED office located at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Road. As he left the party headquarters at 24 Akbar Road, several Congress workers accompanied him. The police, however, did not allow them to move further and only
Earlier in the morning, hundreds of Congress workers reached the Congress headquarters to join Rahul Gandhi in their proposed march to the ED office. Carrying placards, the party workers raised slogans against the Central government. As a precautionary measure, the police detained several party workers. The traffic police also issued an advisory for the people asking them to avoid certain stretches from where the rally was supposed to pass.
Indian origin British police officer could sue UK govt
London, May 30 (IANS) Neil Basu, an Indian-origin British police officer, is said to be considering his legal options after he was reportedly overlooked for the post of director-general of Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA), equivalent to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the US. He told the UK’s Sunday Times newspaper: “I am disappointed in the way the process has concluded and will not be applying again. I will be seeking an explanation from the Home Office.” Matthew Rycroft, the senior-most civil servant at the Home Office, reportedly informed him that he
and another officer who had been short-listed for the job that they would not be selected. He is not known to have spelled out a reason for the decision. A home office spokesman said: “A fair and open recruitment campaign is under way to make the best possible appointment to this vital role.” If Basu doesn’t receive a satisfactory answer, the Sunday Times thinks he could approach a court or tribunal for redressal. The UK’s hot-selling tabloid Daily Mail corroborated he is “understood to be consulting lawyers about his next step”. The process of picking a person to head what is a key law enforcement organisation will begin afresh. The Guardian reported: “One Whitehall source confirmed claims that the selection process was stopped because Downing Street (euphemism for the British prime minister’s office) intervened and favoured Bernard Hogan-Howe, the former commissioner of the Met (Scotland Yard) and a vocal supporter of Boris Johnson, for the NCA role.” Anil Kanti ‘Neil’ Basu is a son of a doctor who migrated from Kolkata in the 1960s. He gave up banking
to become a police officer. He has been an assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard with a distinguished record as head of counter-terrorism. He has lately been a director of the College of Policing leading the strategic command course which prepares police officers and staff for promotion to the most senior ranks in the service. His colleagues rate him highly. Basu has been known to have had honest differences with Johnson in the past. Priti Patel, who is home secretary, is identified as being against him; and it has been speculated ever since the positions of Scotland Yard chief and NCA DG fell vacant that she would oppose his candidature. In the case of the former, mayor of London Sadiq Khan, who has a say in the appointment, was keen to have Basu at the helm. But the British Indian apparently did not eventually apply for the commissioner’s thorny crown. Last week in a media interview Basu called on police chiefs in Britain to admit there is institutional racism in policing in the country. “We are guilty as charged,” he stated. He advocated that “positive discrimination” should be introduced to boost ethnic officers in the ranks.
Ahmedabad, June 12: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has made it a practice to announce the Chief Ministerial candidate in the run up to assembly elections. In Gujarat, the party said it will announce the name “at an appropriate time”.
with 850 party leaders appointed to various posts. While making appointments, the party has taken care of caste equations, regional balance and social engineering which can help the party reach out to each and every community.
Sandeep Pathak, Gujarat in-charge for AAP said that “Once the party announces the candidate for Chief Minister, votes should multiply. The party will announce the CM candidate at the right time for the state too.”
Pathak stated further that it is a “false image that BJP is a small organisation as it has less number of office bearers and AAP is a large organisation because it has appointed office bearers to district, block, assembly, and Lok Sabha seat wise.”
He also made it clear that journalist-turned-politician Isudan Gadhvi has not been sidelined after he was appointed as national joint general secretary. “He has been given an opportunity to play national role, and the party has recognised his competence and skill.”
The party has appointed one state-level general secretary and four vice presidents. Twenty-six office bearers are Lok Sabha Pramukhs concentrating on 26 Lok Sabha seats. It has appointed 33 district presidents and eight city presidents. There are 182 assembly seats, and for each seat, there is one Vidhan Sabha Sangathan Mantri.
The party dissolved its organisation last week and has reorganised it
Pathak also clarified that state unit president Gopal Italia has been asked to continue as president because the party is happy with his leadership. Pathak and Gujarat election incharge Gulab Singh are confident that this is a direct fight between BJP and AAP; Congress is not at all in the picture of state elections and AAP will perform well.
US files charges in crackdown on Indian gang preying on elders New York, June 11: The US Department of Justice announced that an Indian has been charged in a continuing crackdown on a gang from India that preyed on the elderly with fraud and physical threats. On Friday, Southern Texas Federal Prosecutor Jennifer Lowery announced that the Indian citizen Anirudh Kalkote, 24, has been charged in a large nationwide conspiracy involving at least five people to commit fraud against the elderly. He was in custody in Virginia and brought to Houston to appear in court, the Justice Department said. Also charged with him is MD Azad, 25, an illegal migrant living in Houston, who had been arrested in August 2020, the Department said. Azad’s nationality was not disclosed. They are charged with participating during 2019-2020 in a fraud ring which operated from several cities including Houston and targeted the elderly, according to the department.
Three Indians living illegally in the Houston area, Sumit Kumar Singh, 24, Himanshu Kumar, 24, and MD Hasib, 26, have already admitted in court to being guilty of participating in the fraud scheme and are awaiting sentencing, the Justice Department said. “The ring tricked and deceived victims using various ruses and instructed them to send money.” They allegedly used many techniques and one of them was to trick the victims into believing their computers needed fixing and pretended to be tech support to get access to their machines and collect personal information and bank and credit card data, according to the Department. Another was to tell the victims that they had overpaid for their services and claiming to make a refund get access to their bank and credit card accounts and manipulate them to show excess refunds. The members of the ring would then
allegedly ask the victims to make up for the non-existent overpayment by sending money through Western Union or MoneyGram, or through gift cards or by mailing cash to alias names via FedEx or United Parcel Service, according to the Department. They threatened bodily harm if the victims did not pay up, it added. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ ians.in and followed @arulouis)
US-based alumnus gifts $1 million to BHU Varanasi, June 7 (IANS) A US-based alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (IIT-BHU) has gifted $1 million. Boston-based entrepreneur and philanthropist Dr Desh Deshpande and his wife Jaishree made the donation through the IIT-BHU Foundation, a US-based all www.indianabroad.news
volunteer, non-profit association. The Institute will name the library in honour of his father, Shreenivas Deshpande, a 1948 graduate of the College of Technology. The library naming ceremony will be held on June 24 on the campus. According to an IIT-BHU spokesperson, after completing his B.Sc. in
first class in Industrial Chemistry in 1948, Shreenivas Deshpande spent the next 31 years working in the public sector and retired in 1980 as the joint commissioner of labour in the government of Karnataka. He then went on to serve as the president of Chinmaya Mission in Hubli.
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IIT-BHU Foundation president Arun Tripathi said: “We are thankful to Desh and his wife Jaishree for this very thoughtful gift. They are well known philanthropists. However, this gift is very special to the Foundation as it is across generations, reflecting upon the Institute’s transformative impact.” IIT-BHU Director, Professor Pramod
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Kumar Jain thanked the couple, and said: “It is the achievements of distinguished alumni that inspire the faculty and staff to train the technology leaders of the future.” He said that this contribution to the library will be helpful in strengthening the academic and research ecosystem of the Institute.
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SPORTS
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Mithali Raj, pioneer of women’s cricket, bids adieu to her record breaking international career
New Delhi, June 8: Legendary India batter Mithali Raj on Wednesday called time on her storied international career, bringing an end to a glorious 23-year career. Having made her debut as a 16-yearold in 1999, Mithali’s career has spanned nearly 23 years across four different decades during which time
she became the central cog in the growth of the women’s game in the country and beyond. Mithali finished international career with a staggering 10,868 runs - the most in women’s cricket. She scored 7805 ODI runs in 232 matches, at an average just over 50 while has 2364 runs in 89 T20Is, as well as 699 runs in 12 Tests, including a century and four half-centuries. The 39-year-old Mithali, who captained India to the final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, also holds the record for the most matches (28 matches) captained in Women’s World Cups, breaking Australian legend Belinda Clark’s record during the ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 in March. She also led India to four consecutive Asia Cup triumphs -- 2005-06, 2006-07, 2008, 2012. However, perhaps Mithali’s most significant achievement as captain came in 2014 as India sealed a historic Test series victory in England, with Mithali guiding the team home with an unbeaten 50 in the second innings.
As a skipper, Mithali has 89 wins out of 155 - the most by any player in women’s ODIs. Her 155 matches as captain is also the highest in women’s ODIs. The batter also became the second youngest centurion after she scored a century on ODI debut in 1999. At 16 years and 205 days, she became the youngest centurion in women’s internationals. The record was only broken 22 years later in 2021, when Ireland’s Amy Hunter achieved that feat on her 16th birthday. The veteran has also most runs in a series by captain. In the 2014-17 ICC Women’s Championship, Mithali scored 535 runs in 17 matches, the most by an India captain in an ODI series. The 39-year-old Mithali also played most matches (232) and hit most fifties (64) in women’s internationals ODIs. Mithali is also the only Indian woman to score a double century in Tests. Her score of 214 (v England in 2002) is the second-highest individual score in women’s Tests.
Shane Warne, Meg Lanning in Queen’s Birthday 2022 Honours List Melbourne, June 13 (IANS) Late Australian spin wizard Shane Warne and women’s team skipper Meg Lanning were among the personalities honoured in the Queen’s Birthday 2022 annual Honours List. The 30-year-old Lanning, who recently captained the White Ferns to their record-extending seventh Cricket World Cup title in New Zealand, was awarded “Member of the General Division (AM)” for service to women’s cricket at the top level. A report in cricket.com.au said that, “The three-time Belinda Clark Award winner, who has scored more ODI centuries than any other woman and who has represented her country on 221 occasions, has led her team to unrivalled success in all formats since taking over the captaincy as a 21-year-old in 2014.” Lanning has become one of the most successful Australian woman cricketers, having now led the White Ferns to victories in four World Cups -- a 50-over and three T20
World Cup in 2014, 2018 and 2020. Warne, who passed away due to a suspected heart attack on March 4 in Thailand aged 52, has posthumously been appointed an Order (AO) of Australia, for his “distinguished service to cricket as a player, role model and commentator, to the community through charitable initiatives, and for philanthropic contributions”. Warne is the second-highest Test wicket-taker in the world with 708 scalps and a further 293 in ODIs. He is also second in the list of all-time international wicket-takers. The report said that Sunday’s honour was also “bestowed on Warne for his service to the wider community through charity and philanthropy. Those acts included auctioning his Baggy Green Test cap with all proceeds dedicated to bushfire victims, and his Shane Warne Foundation, which raised AUD 7.8 million to support ill and underprivileged children in Australia”.
“All those recognised have made an immense contribution to both the game and the communities they work and live in across the country,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said. “We are enormously proud to see Australian women’s captain Meg Lanning recognised in the Honour List. Her leadership and performances have been central to the outstanding success of our women’s team. “Shane Warne was one of the most talented and charismatic cricketers the world has ever seen and we are reminded today of the indelible legacy he created both on and off the field.”
Pakistan push India to fifth spot in latest ICC ODI rankings after clean sweep vs West Indies
Dubai, June 13: The Babar Azam-led Pakistan has pushed India to fifth spot in the latest round of ICC ODI rankings released on Monday, after their recent success in the threematch series against the West Indies in Multan. Pakistan, after making a clean sweep of the series, have 106 rating points, and lead India by one point. New Zealand are leading the charts with 125 rating points, followed closely by England (124) and Australia (107). Before the start of the series, Pakistan were placed fifth in the
rankings with a rating of 102. India, though, will have a chance to climb the rankings as they play England and the West Indies (three ODIs each) before Pakistan play their next ODI series in August. Pakistan have enjoyed a brilliant last couple of years in the 50-over format. Apart from the blip against England away from home, they have taken on all comers and emerged victorious, including 2-1 series wins against Zimbabwe and South Africa. They defeated Australia by the same margin when they came to visit Pakistan for the first time since 1998. West Indies stood no chance against Pakistan as they were rampaged 3-0. This period of upsurgence has come under the captaincy of Babar Azam, who has led by example for Pakistan in all formats of the game. With his recent century in the first match
against West Indies, he became the first batter to score three consecutive ODI centuries twice, having previously achieved the feat in 2016 as well. And with a fifty in the second ODI, he broke the world record for most consecutive 50-plus scores (9) in men’s international cricket across all formats. The top-ranked ODI batter has built a troop of trusted players along the way. One of them is Imam-ul-Haq, who has enjoyed a purple patch of late and has seven scores of 50-plus in his last seven ODIs to show for his efforts. ICC Men’s Player of the Year Shaheen Afridi has been the leader of the pack of bowlers that consists of Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Imad Wasim and Shadab Khan, among others.
Formula 1: Max Verstappen seals victory for Red Bull as Leclerc, Sainz retire in Azerbaijan Baku (Azerbaijan), June 12 (IANS) Red Bull’s Max Verstappen extended his championship lead by racing to victory at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix here on Sunday. Verstappen’s teammate Sergio Perez took second to complete a commanding one-two finish for Red Bull after both Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz failed to make it to the chequered flag with mechanical gremlins for Ferrari, giving Mercedes’ George Russell position 3 in Baku.
Paavo Nurmi Games: Neeraj Chopra sets new national record, bags silver medal
Turku (Finland), June 15 : Tokyo Olympics champion Neeraj Chopra made an impressive return to competitive action as he broke his own national record to win the men’s javelin throw silver medal at the 2022 Paavo Nurmi Games, here. The 24-year old Chopra on Tuesday registered a best throw of 89.30m, a new personal best and national record, to finish behind Finland’s Oliver Helander, who won gold with
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a personal best throw of 89.83m. Reigning world champion and 2022 season’s world leader Anderson Peters of Grenada claimed the bronze with 86.60m. The meet in Finland was Neeraj’s first competition since winning the historic gold medal at Tokyo 2020 in August last year. “Very nice competition, and I am very happy for my personal best and national record. Oliver (Helander)
had very good technique today. I tried maybe too much, because that was my first competition of this season. I will compete next in Kuortane after four days,” Chopra said. The 24-year-old Indian made a statement of intent with his opening throw, measuring an impressive 86.92m. He then recorded 89.30m in his second attempt, bettering his own previous personal best and national record of 88.07m, set at the Indian Grand Prix 3 in March last year. However, the Indian failed to log a legitimate attempt in his next three throws before registering 85.85 with his final attempt. His second throw, however, was enough for a silver medal finish, an olympics.com report said. London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Keshorn Walcott from Trinidad and Tobago finished fourth in the 10man field with 84.02m, while Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch of the Czech Republic came in sixth with 83.91m. After Turku, Neeraj is scheduled to stay in Finland to compete at the Kuortane Games before heading to Sweden for the Stockholm leg of the Diamond League.
Russell’s teammate and Driver of the Day Lewis Hamilton started seventh and finished fourth having pitted during the VSC on Lap 10 and the following one on Lap 34, passing Pierre Gasly 10 laps later with the benefit of newer tyres. The Alpha Tauri driver finished fifth having started sixth. With this win, Verstappen’s title advantage over Leclerc has increased from nine points to 34 following what could prove a pivotal race in this season’s championship battle. Pole-sitter Charles Leclerc lost the lead at the start but regained it when the leading Red Bull of Max
Verstappen pitted on Lap 19. One lap later, Leclerc’s race went up in a puff of smoke and he crawled back to the pits to retire. This would be Ferrari’s second retirement of the race as Carlos Sainz stopped with a hydraulic failure on Lap 9. Leclerc’s DNF left Verstappen ahead of Sergio Perez (who took fastest lap) in a one-two for Red Bull, with Mercedes driver Russell promoted into the final podium place, having started fifth.
Valtteri Bottas missed out on points in P11, the Alfa Romeo driver having begun on hard tyres and, like Ricciardo, pitted during the second VSC of the race.
Sebastian Vettel took P6 for Aston Martin having begun the race on medium tyres, pitting during the first VSC and finishing the race on hards.
Alex Albon made it up to P12 for Williams after starting 17th. He finished ahead of Yuki Tsunoda, the AlphaTauri driver dropping from sixth to 13th late on with a DRS issue.
Alpine’s Fernando Alonso started 10th but made it up to seventh having begun on medium tyres, going long on his first stint and pitting after 18 laps to finish the race on hard tyres and beat both McLarens to P7. Daniel Ricciardo finished eighth from 12th, starting on hards to jump Lando Norris (P9). Rounding out the top 10 was Esteban Ocon, who started from 13th on hard tyres and took the final point for Alpine.
Mick Schumacher took 14th ahead of Nicholas Latifi, 15 seconds-worth of penalties leaving him 15th and last. Alfa Romeo’s Zhou Guanyu was the third retiree of the race, the #24 pulling into the pits on Lap 24. He was joined by Kevin Magnussen, whose stoppage brought out the second VSC of the race, and Lance Stroll, a suspected engine issue stopping the Aston Martin driver three laps from the end.
AICF unanimously supports Viswanathan Anand’s candidature for deputy president of FIDE
Mahabalipuram, June 12: The All India Chess Federation (AICF) has unanimously decided to support the candidature of Viswanathan Anand for the post of deputy president of World Chess Federation (FIDE), the sport body confirmed in a statement on Sunday. After the Annual General Meeting of AICF, held on Saturday, the house
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unanimously decided to endorse the candidature of five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand for the deputy president post in the forthcoming FIDE election as well as nominated Bharat Singh Chauhan to be the AICF delegate. The house congratulated and applauded the swift action taken by Bharat Singh Chauhan for successfully bringing the chess Olympiad spectacle at a short notice. The house unanimously extended its gratitude to the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of India for the overwhelming support for the Olympiad enabling the AICF to hold the event in a short span of time.
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In another important decision the house accepted the resignation of IM Dinesh Sharma on personal grounds and nominated International Master Neeraj Kumar Mishra to fill the selector post as well as increased the remuneration of Arbiters substantially for National and International events. Earlier, the house gave a standing ovation to Bharat Singh for his dynamic action for bringing the chess Olympiad to Indian soil first time ever as well as ensuring the record number of participating countries in just two months’ time. The house also passed a resolution to honour and felicitate Bharat Singh during the closing ceremony of Olympiad for his mammoth efforts.
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SPORTS
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
IPL Media Rights cross Rs 100-crore mark per match, overall value touches 41,000 cr: Report Mumbai, June 12 (IANS) The e-auction of the media rights for the Indian Premier League (IPL) cycle 2023 to 2027 began on Sunday with reports suggesting that the value of rights for every match of the tournament has crossed the 100-crore mark on combining value for TV as well as digital price, marking it a rare milestone in the rights auction. According to a Cricbuzz report, with the value per match crossing the Rs. 100-crore mark, the overall value of the media rights has touched Rs. 41,000 crore as of now, with two parties, whose names are yet to be known, not willing to give up on the digital rights of the mega event. “At Rs. 54.5 crore per match, the value of the television rights have gone up to RS. 22,345 crore while at Rs. 46 crore per match, the digital bid has gone up to Rs. 18,860 crore. The combined value of the of rights so far is Rs. 41,205 crore,” said the report. “Having crossed the Rs. 100 crore barrier, the overall value has shot up to Rs. 41000 crore at this stage, given that the number of games in the
2023-27 cycle will be a minimum of 410. That is Rs. 5000 crore more than the overall base price of the full rights package. The base price for all packages was around Rs 90 crore,” further said the report. The report further mentioned that there is a strong chance for digital rights value to come very close to the price of the television rights. “That is a major development and the overall price is expected to breach the glass ceiling. As is well known, the base price for the TV was fixed at Rs. 49 crore and for digital it is INR 33 crore. So far, the digital is believed to have gone past Rs. 46 crore while the bidding value for the TV remains at Rs. 54.5 crore,” added the report. Apart from packages A and B, which are television and digital groupings for the Indian broadcast region, there are two more packages in fray as well - like package C, which has 18-game non-exclusive special matches (base price of Rs. 11 crore) and package D, which is rest of the world rights (base price of Rs. 3 crore).
The report also said that with Sunday’s auction proceedings to pause at 6pm, the IPL media rights auction will carry forward to Monday as well, as per the rules set by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). It added that the bidders are making full use of the 30-minute gap present between every bid. Star India were the current holders of the IPL rights for 2017-22 cycle, with a winning bid of Rs. 16,347.50 crore for both TV and digital in September 2017. Previously, Sony Pictures Network won the IPL TV media rights for a period of 10 years during the inception of the tournament with a bid of Rs. 8200 crore.
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19
FASHION
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Sverve, the newest online shopping platform
Stylish pret, contemporary-designer wear and express delivery are now a click away May 28, 2022 (IANSlife) Gayatri Reddy Bhatia and Shikha Kajaria, have launched an online curated platform dedicated to offering consumers a plethora of thoughtfully curated western and fusion wear from India and South Asia’s hottest and upcoming designers. Sverve aims to bring only the best in pret and contemporary wear retailing up to INR 50,000, which is carefully curated by ‘stylespert’ and fashion entrepreneur Pernia Qureshi. The platform launched today caters to a global audience. With 14 designer brands – 431-88 by Shweta Kapur, Amama, Anushree Reddy, De Castro Moda, Gur Organics by Pernia Qureshi, Jayanti Reddy, Kartikeya, Malie, Metallurgy, Not So Serious by
Pallavi Mohan, Pinwheel, Shivan & Narresh, Vanilla Moon, and Vikram Phadnis – the website will provide a seamless shopping experience to customers and promises express delivery worldwide, with same-day delivery in Delhi NCR, 2-3 days in other cities in India, and 5-7 days for international orders.
Speaking on the launch, Gayatri Reddy Bhatia, Co-founder, says “Sverve is our passion project built on the nuances of providing stylish options for all body types from petit to athletic or top heavy to curvy. Today online shoppers are looking for looks as per their individual needs that can swiftly reach them for the occasion they want. Sverve is designed with an intent to make pret accessible to this discerning audience who is always on thego but likes to lead with style. Apart from delivering our orders in record time, we also aim to deliver a unique, authentic and personalised shopping experience.” Co-Founder, Shikha Kajaria says “We are excited to unveil Sverve which defines not just contemporary, unique and stylish looks for our customers’. Our ambition is to build a fashion community that has access to the best designers, beautiful craftsmanship and most importantly, great fashionas per one’s body type.” “I am so excited to do the launch curation and be the lead Stylespert for Sverve. Each piece from the collective is meant to define not just a look, but an entire wardrobe and I am sure with the irresistible looks and attractive and stylish deliveries.” adds Pernia Qureshi. This one-of-a-kind concept that aims to deliver fashion at low prices almost instantly to one's door, revolutionising delivery speed in a world of meticulously curated Pret wear.
.. and it was all yellow!
May 23, 2022 (IANSlife) 2022 is a year full of hope... in fashion the sentiment is portrayed through many hues, yellow being one of brightness and lightness. From stunning runway looks to casual street style, shades of yellow has everyone's attention. Here's some fashion inspiration.
Letting the sunshine in... Ranveer Singh cool, quirky, and offbeat style never fails to make waves. His fashion choices always draw attention, and fans admire his confidence even when his choices are a bit over the top. This egg yolk hued blazer is not for the faint hearted...
Deepika Padukone wore a saree pleated drape with vivid yellow, blue, pink, and green poppy print.
Varun Dhawan chooses to pop of yellow with this hoodie which he wore around town recently.
Kriti Sanon looks stunning in this lemon shaded backless maxi. Wear it to brunch or a casual dinner with friends.
Janhvi Kapoor’s simple and elegant bright yellow kurta set is a perfect work outfit in the hot summer months. Alia Bhatt proves that yellow is the new black, with her yellow Anya Hindmarch. Alia is frequently sported with this accessory when she's opting for a more casual look. www.indianabroad.news
Should you rent jewellery instead of buying it?
Renting increases the lifespan of a product, making it slower May 21, 2022 (IANSlife) Imagine having a closet full of accessories that you can access at any time; that is the rental lifestyle for you! Sakshi Goel, CEO of Rent N Flaunt shares reasons why renting is preferable to buying or at least warrants your consideration: Economic reasons: If you don't like heavy sets, purchasing a Rs. 75,000 kundan set for your wedding isn't the best investment you can make. In fact, if you rent these, it will cost you no more than 8,000 for four days and the rest of the money can be spent on experiences. There is always an opportunity cost associated with any purchase; renting can help you avoid that cost entirely!
Practical reasons: We all dislike wearing jewellery in our daily lives. In fact, for Indians, jewellery is more like an investment, and purchasing gold is considered auspicious. Investments provide excellent returns, but they may not be appropriate for fashion. When you buy a jewellery set, it will not go with every outfit, nor will you want to wear it all the time. In this case, renting is the best option. You select the best of our heavy or chic jewellery without committing to it. Consider it a one-night stand! Sustainable choice: The rental lifestyle is unquestionably more sustainable. Renting increases the lifespan of a product, making it slower. A majority of the brands are
fast fashion brands that engage in mass production. Unsold products from all luxury handbag brands are burned. With a rental lifestyle, not only will demand be lower, but the product's life will be extended, making it slower in nature. You can slay in style without slaying the planet with the rental lifestyle. Experiment: Experimenting is fun, but it comes at a price, especially when it comes to accessories, especially designer accessories. You may not want to wear the jewellery you purchase the following year, or it may go out of style. Renting accessories is the best way to experiment with style without spending a fortune. Buying requires commitment: Buying is a huge financial and utility commitment, especially when it comes to jewellery. Most of the time, we splurge mindlessly in the name of retail therapy and then regret it. You use the jewellery, style it, and return it with no strings attached. Above all, renting or other alternative consumption lifestyles should be explored and are a necessity of the hour. The fashion industry is one of the most polluting, and we all have a responsibility to reduce our impact. The rental lifestyle also makes you more mindful, which helps you make better fashion decisions!
Closet Conscious? May 27, 2022 (IANSlife) As ife slowly comes back to normal so does our penchant for impulsive clothing regain momentum. But with a new push towards sustainability, it’s time to organise your closet and limit your purchases to only the most essential items. Unlike an overcrowded closet, a conscious closet frees up more of the world’s resources. Tushar Sethi, Co-Founder of Jisora shares some new closet essentials that will keep you in style while remaining inexpensive. Plain T-shirt Everyone should have at least one plain t-shirt in their closet. We’d say it’s a must-have item that can be worn year-round, either beneath a leather jacket or with slacks or skirts. It works with any style and may be classified as an all-rounder. For a casual appearance, match it with your favourite pair of jeans and shoes, or for a shopping day out, pair it with your favourite pair of shorts or body-con skirt. T-shirts in black, white, grey, yellow, and red are some of the actual colours. Tank Top Everyone has a favourite shirt that they wear all the time, but nothing rivals the cool appeal of a tank top. Aside from serving as a strong primary layer, today’s tanks experiment with the neckline, whether through asymmetrical cuts or ultra-thin shoulder straps designed to be flaunted on sunny days. No closet is complete without one, whether you combine it with a pair of soft sweat shorts or layer it over a slip dress. A Dress in Black The eye-catching black dress will turn heads and is a must-have for any occasion. Pair your lovely black dress with a glittering necklace or a stunning choker. To go with this basic yet lovely dress, a pair of shoes would be ideal. When you walk into the party, we guarantee you’ll turn heads. This style is absolutely wearable; we adore the basic yet stylish neckpiece and light makeup, which look well with this outfit. Denim Shorts All of your casual outfits are incomplete without denim shorts. Denim shorts are one of the most comfortable pieces of casual clothing you can own. Pair it with a fancy top or your favourite graphic tee for the ultimate toasty and comfy look, whether it’s a pool party day or a shopping day out with your friends. This season, high waist denim shorts, as well as torn ones, are really popular. A Shirt in White
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A beautiful pair of shoes that works with skirts, shorts, jeans, and everything else goes a long way Nothing beats a white shirt for versatility; it may be worn for casual wear, party wear, or formal dress. There is no way to avoid wearing a white shirt. It is the most basic essential that you must have. When it comes to a formal look, pair it with formal pants or a body-con skirt. If you’re searching for a casual style, wear it with denim shorts or a flared skirt for a unique look. Experiment with bright hues to come up with the greatest combinations, as fashion is all about experimenting. A Skirt with Flares Flared skirts are one of today’s most elegant dresses. A flared skirt differs from a bodycon skirt in that it has a more flowing shape than a bodycon skirt. It has a more feminine appearance and appears to be incredibly elegant. When it comes to the skirt’s potential to trend, it’s incredible; everyone from celebrities to fashion bloggers has been seen wearing it. To boost your style quotient, you need at least one flared skirt in your closet. It looks well with a variety of outfits, especially formal and party dresses. Comfy Jeans That one pair of denim jeans that fits you perfectly and goes with everything and whose fit never fails to make your body form stand out. If you still don’t have a pair of denim that fits you exactly, you’re doing something wrong since having one pair of denim that fits you completely is really important. Without a solid pair of jeans, your casual outfit is incomplete. Get your favourite denim colour and get it customised to fit you perfectly. Pair it with a magnificent top and accent with some bright accessories for a party look, and Wow! You’re all set to go! Remember to wear your spectacular
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heels to turn heads. Slip Shorts A girl’s outfit should also include a pair of black tights/Slip Shorts to save you from the see-through trousers and transparency. Purchase a pair of black tights to wear beneath your white or light-coloured dresses or when wearing transparent or light-coloured pants. Keep at least two pairs of slip shorts in your closet as essential wardrobe necessities. A Pair Of Eye-Catching Heels Whether it’s a peep toe, plain basic heels, pumps, or whatever you choose, a pair of striking heels are a wardrobe must-have. A pair of heels may give your clothing a whole new style, but it all relies on your comfort. If walking in tall heels is a difficulty for you, wedges and block heels are the statement footwear you need in your closet. Every woman should consider investing in a pair of heels for herself. Multi-Purpose Sneakers Sneakers are a must-have accessory for everyone, and they will undoubtedly become your closest buddy for the rest of your life. A beautiful pair of shoes that works with skirts, shorts, jeans, and everything else you wear is a girl’s dream come true; plus, they’re also comfy, flat, and simple to run away with. You cannot dispute that they are an essential part of your wardrobe.
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BEAUTY
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Layering your sunscreen: a step-by-step guide!
Consulting a dermatologist before buying any product for your skin is the safest option When it comes to skincare, it cannot be accomplished without the proper layering of sunscreen. A proper summer season calls for tons and tons of sunscreen. While a glowing tan is always a desirable look for the summer, it's no secret that spending too much time in the sun can do a great deal of damage to your skin leading to sunburn, causing anything from
slight redness to painful blisters. This summer let’s make sunscreens your best friends because your skin deserves the best care. Studies have shown that spending considerable time in sunlight can also make your skin lose its elasticity leading to premature ageing, skin dullness, dark spots, and in some cases even skin cancer. As a result, sunscreens do play a pivotal role in our skincare regime but how to include it in your skincare routine is still a mystery for many. Harry Sehrawat, Co-Founder Sanfe shares a complete guide to help you understand the layering of your sunscreen within your beauty regime. Finding your Sunscreen: The first step in your layering process surely requires a need for a sunscreen that suits your skin type. The primary motive of these sunscreens is to protect our skin against the harmful U.V rays. Hence, they are equipped with chemicals that might or might not work out for your skin type. Always do a patch test to figure if it's right for your skin type or not. Consulting a dermatologist before buying any product for your skin is the safest option if you have any skin allergies or are prone to skin reactions. SPF, SPF, SPF!: After having the perfect sunscreen for your shade of skin, identify how much of a dose of SPF your skin can take while
applying it. Because of climate change, SPF has become a must in all sunscreens. Before getting your hands on the desired product, make sure you're investing after checking the SPF level for your skin. How to Apply!: Once you are clear with the right ingredients, start implementing your sunscreen in your makeup routine by going from lightest to heaviest. Start your routine by first applying sunscreen before your moisturizer as it helps the skin to absorb the essential oils. Heavy sunscreens always go last after the makeup routine. This acts as the sole purpose of retaining the makeup for a longer period. However, many dermatologists recommend applying sunscreen separately from a makeup routine only after the moisturizer has a recommendation of 30 SPF and can protect the skin from UVB rays. "Sunscreens work best when applied within the right quantity. The best way to ensure whether it’s enough for your face and neck is to apply the sunscreens across the length of your three middle fingers. Rub it and apply it in a circular motion around your skin and neck. Applying sunscreen is not the only solution to protect your skin. Just like makeup, it wears down over time from sweat and pollution. As a result, it’s best to reapply about every 90-120 minutes", says Harry.
Time-tested tips for radiant skin after your 30s
Ensure your daily anti-ageing routine consists of clean, plant-based beauty products along with collagen builders for holistic nourishment and complete collagen boost They may say that age is just a number, but your skin strongly disagrees with this popular saying. That is why people who reach the age of 30 notice a variety of changes in their bodies and skin. The most common of these changes include dull skin, greying hair, digestive issues, being more prone to fatigue, and so on. Experts and dermatologists believe that changes such as spots or fine lines are common signs of ageing that should not worry you. What really happens? Well, the skin cell turnover rate starts depleting and cell regeneration also slows down while your collagen and elastin reserves start to break down. The body gets compromised of its natural sheen and suppleness as you become more vulnerable to dark spots and sun damage. Although ageing is entirely a natural development, a number of outside agents like sunlight and pollution and even internal agents such as unwholesome eating patterns, anxiety and skin care products with harmful chemicals can cause accelerated and premature ageing of the skin. However, the bright side is that you can easily gain healthy skin and prevent these unnatural signs of ageing by extending the correct nutrition to the skin, both inside and out. Aarti Gill, Co-founder, OZiva shares a basic guide to follow that can help you maintain excellent skin health after 30. First and foremost - clean eating Our skin is greatly impacted by the diet we consume. After all, you www.indianabroad.news
are what you eat, they say. It is essential that the food that you eat replenishes and nourishes your skin. Therefore, eating clean, consuming greens and avoiding highly processed foods is a must to ensure holistic health including good skin health. It is also important that you consume 2-3 litres of water daily as water helps in expelling out various toxins from the body and helps keep the skin moisturized thereby maintaining the elasticity of the skin. It also helps in preventing the formation of fine lines caused by dry skin. Also, steer clear of undesirable habits like smoking that can inflict serious damage to the skin. Collagen for Anti-Ageing Benefits As we grow older, collagen production in the body reduces. Besides ageing, there are other external factors also behind the depletion of collagen. Collagen is a form of protein that helps in keeping good skin health and keeps it radiant by maintaining natural elasticity. Your skin will naturally appear firm and supple if the collagen levels in your body are high. To support the optimum production of collagen as we grow older, it is necessary to eat clean and plant-based foods that are high in Vitamin C and plant-based supplements which can naturally boost collagen production in the body. Do ensure that your daily anti-ageing routine consists of clean, plant-based beauty products along with collagen builders for holistic nourishment and complete collagen boost from the inside and out. Make SPF your friend Sunscreen is a very integral part of
your skincare routine, irrespective of how old you are. As we grow old, we witness the first signs of ageing. Whether it is sunny or not, sunscreen should be a part of your daily skincare kit. Most experts recommend the use of SPF every day to protect your skin from the harsh rays of the sun. The UVB can cause considerable damage to your skin in the form of sunburns, brown spots, wrinkles, and the breakdown of healthy skin cells. Go for Facial massages To feel the benefits of facial massage, you must indulge yourself with one every now and then. Facial massages offer a wide range of benefits to the skin such as enhanced blood circulation, stimulation of lymphatic drainage & cell turnover, and relieving muscle tension. Facial massages also aid in the superior absorption of any beauty product that you use. Exfoliate, but mindfully Exfoliation is an essential feature of all general skincare routines. The process assists in eliminating the collection of dead skin cells that extend a dull complexion to the skin. Consistent exfoliation makes sure that your skin stays shining and supple. Nevertheless, as we reach our 30s, it is necessary that you take it easy and not over-exfoliate your skin. Over-exfoliation can even rob your skin of essential oils and leave it more susceptible to external damage. It is suggested that you do not exfoliate more than thrice a week and always follow it up with a moisturizer.
Protect your skin from a vacation tan
5 golden ingredients that ought to be part of your skincare routine Vacations mean fun, food, and fashion. Be it on the beachside or in the mountains, it leaves you with unforgettable memories and infinite pictures on your social media pages. You dress up in your best clothes, do touristy things, and click countless pictures. All these things are fun until the time you look into the mirror and realise your skin has paid the price. The intense heat of the sun affects our skin in many ways. Direct sun rays make our skin look dull and tanned. There are multiple products available on the market that claim to effectively help you prevent tanning, but we always get confused while choosing the best one out of them. The right kind of sunscreen can protect your skin from sun damage and is the perfect companion for your vacation, especially in summer.
To help you pick out the right sunscreen for your skin, Malini Adapureddy, Founder & CEO at Deconstruct, a science-backed skincare brand, has drawn up a list of ingredients that can be effective in reducing tanning. The thumb rule here is to always know and read about the ingredients before buying any skincare product: Alpha Arbutin Alpha Arbutin is a tyrosinase inhibitor, which means it inhibits tyrosinase and prevents Melanogenesis. It prevents tanning and treats hyperpigmentation by interfering with the production of melanin. Vitamin C Vitamin C is a skin-lightening ingredient that effectively gets rid of tanning, hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Moreover, Vitamin C is shown to have sun-damage protection as well. So, not only does it remove tanning, it prevents it to some extent as well. Kojic Acid Kojic Acid can remove tanning as it penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin and inhibits Melanogenesis, i.e., the synthesis of melanin. Azelaic Acid Azelaic Acid is effective in treating hyperpigmentation and tanning by slowing down the production of melanin. Glycolic Acid Glycolic Acid is an AHA, which works by sloughing away dead skin cells making the face look brighter.
But, there’s a catch, using Glycolic Acid regularly can make your skin sensitive to sunlight, meaning you’d be more prone to tanning. So, it’s important to use sunscreen and avoid exposure to direct sunlight as much as possible while using Glycolic Acid. Whether you are at home or heading out these beauty ingredients ought to be part of your skincare routine no matter what the season is. (Malini Adapureddy, Founder & CEO at Deconstruct)
D’you suffer from damaged skin barrier? While "skin barrier" gets slapped on products and thrown around a lot on social media, unless formulated correctly ceramides don’t aid much in barrier repair. It can in fact, delay barrier repair if formulated incorrectly. The founder of the d'you, Shamika Haldipur shares her insights on ‘barrier protection’. How do you stand out from similar product competitors? Shamik: > While there are a plethora of ceramide products in the market, not all products have been developed to mimic our skin’s natural lipid ratio - the Golden Ratio of 3:1:1. In most products, ceramides have been either used in isolation or combined with cholesterol and fatty acids in the wrong ratio which actually impedes (delays) rather than accelerates the barrier recovery. > Most products have an extremely low concentration of ceramides which provide very few functional benefits to the skin. The research done on ceramides indicates that 0.8 to 2 percent is effective to promote the recovery of the barrier. However, the ceramide complex that is commonly used in the industry yields a mere 0.015-0.05 percent or at best 0.1 percent ceramide content which is approximately 10-20X lesser than what in my defence contains. > Many ceramide products are unable to use ceramides inadequate concentration because ceramides are: (i) a very expensive ingredient, and (ii) a very thick, waxy and unstable molecule to work with. So, brands prefer to use them in lower doses to control the feel, texture, and stability of the end product. We overcame this issue in in my defence by using a patented dispersion technology that allows us to use pure ceramides in a highly stabilised form and at a high dosage while still making a very lightweight formula with a pleasant texture. We made in my defence by using ceramides in a high dosage of 1 percent pure concentration and in the optimal ratio of 3:1:1 to ensure lipid penetration into the stratum corneum (top layer of the skin barrier) such that it actually repairs your skin barrier over time and gives it resilience and strength to defend itself on its own. With continued usage, your skin’s barrier is fortified to reduce its own water
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Don’t use any physically abrasive materials on the skin – whether towels, napkins or scrubs loss, and retain more moisture on its own. What is the meaning behind the collection 'In My Defence"? Shamik: With in my defence, we want to indicate that in the long term this product is going to enable your own skin to defend itself and that this product and your skin is going to stand “in your defence” against all external stimuli. Why D'you? Shamik: d’you is phonetically derived from the word “dew”. We wanted to indicate healthy and dewy skin. But at the core of the brand ethos is the customer i.e. YOU. So, we decided to play on the spelling of the word to write it as d’you instead of dew. The apostrophe in the word and our logo indicates a dewdrop. What process do you use to determine which products best fit the needs of a customer? Shamik: With the skincare and beauty market saturated with so many products at the moment, we as a brand try to look beyond what’s already available to the customer and see what customer needs are still not being met by these available products and then develop products that could add some value which they aren’t already getting. In essence, we look for gaps in the market and find pain points that the consumer is facing and then make innovative products that provide solutions and address these pain points. How would you advise a difficult client on a more suitable product than the one she or he has chosen? Shamik: When a client asks us for consultation on product recommendations, we speak to them honestly by first explaining to them how their skin functions and how products
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work on the skin. We break it down to them in simple terms so they understand how their skincare ingredients are actually working for them. Basis their concern we advise them if a product we are recommending to them will be more beneficial than what they are already using. Sometimes we also tell them that the product we offer may not work for them basis what concern they are looking to address. When clients see the honesty and transparency with which we approach them and advise they mostly tend to believe us. We also have a strong no-hard sell policy. So we never hard sell our products or any recommendations onto our customers. And customers can see this and therefore genuinely believe whatever advice we offer. What would you suggest to a client suffering from a damaged skin barrier? Shamik: My advice to anyone suffering from a damaged skin barrier will be to go back to the basics. Our skin is very well capable of repairing itself if we give it the chance to do so. So, one needs to cut down on all activities and just stick to a good barrier boosting product like in my defence as a standalone product until your barrier has fully healed. Some other basic things you should take care of when you have a damaged barrier is: > Avoid using extreme temperatures on the skin (water or air) > Avoid over-cleansing your skin and switch to very gentle and mild cleansers > Don’t use any physically abrasive materials on the skin – whether towels, napkins or scrubs. > Avoid any DIY concoctions on the skin
21
TRAVEL
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Vana to become ‘Six Senses Get your wheels ready Vana’ wellness retreat
Weaving in new experiences to the existing formula offered by the retreat and bringing it to a broader global audience June 02, 2022 (IANSlife) For nearly over a decade now after serving as a sanctuary for rebalancing, healing, and learning, based on its aspiration to help guests achieve the best spiritual, emotional, physical, and intellectual potential. Vana – a wellness retreat in Dehradun, Uttarakhand announce its journey to become “Six Senses Vana – a wellness retreat“ by autumn, this year. Never shy of defying convention,
Six Senses has built its success on its commitment to wellness, and the goal is to work with Vana’s team to weave in new experiences to the existing formula offered by the retreat and bring it to a broader global audience. From mantras to meditation, massages and activating the mula bandha, Six Senses Vana will lead guests with a soft heart yet steely hand to a profound and purposeful transformation. Vana’s Founder, Veer Singh says “Vana becoming Six Senses Vana is the most natural and logical progression for this precious and beautiful retreat. I am humbled by the care and sensitivity Six Senses has shown to protect and nurture everything good about Vana. I am excited to see how they will deepen and strengthen our current offering and complement it with signature experiences they have successfully tried and tested around the world. I
see no reason why Six Senses Vana will not become what we set out to be when Vana first opened - the most iconic wellness retreat in the world.” “With its ancient healing traditions and spiritual practices, India has long been heralded as the ultimate wellness gateway and, in a gentle but intentional way, this plays to who we are too,” says CEO of Six Senses Neil Jacobs. “Vana comes to us with a strong philosophy and loyal Vanavasi clientele manifested by founder Veer Singh. The seed was sown in Veer’s mind through his deep interest in and respect for sustainable farming, traditional wisdom, and nature, which we will continue to nurture under the Six Senses brand. This marriage made in the Himalayas allows us to build on what exists with some of our signature experiences.”
Top Destinations for Sustainable Stays in 2022
94% of Indian travellers say that sustainable travel is important to them June 05, 2022 (IANSlife) Celebrated by millions of people across the globe, World Environment Day aims to create awareness and encourage action for the protection of the environment. And while one can practise sustainability in multiple aspects of one’s life, travelling sustainability can be a traveller's priority, especially with the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and resumption of travel. This World Environment Day, Booking.com has compiled a list of destinations across the globe with the highest percentages of Travel Sustainable properties on their platform. Travel Sustainable badge recognizes the impactful efforts properties worldwide are making to help protect the planet and contribute positively to their local communities. From trend-setting cities to stunning natural parks and destinations making a concerted effort to manage their travel volumes more consciously, there is plenty of inspiration for the 94% of Indian travellers who say that sustainable travel is important to them – no matter where your sense of adventure and exploration might take you. Hoedspruit, South Africa: Nestled beneath the majestic Northern Drakensberg Mountains, the scenic town of Hoedspruit is surrounded by the largest privately-owned conservation area in the world. The town is located in the heart of the UNESCO registered Kruger to Canyons Biosphere where the local community takes part in several recycling and conservation initiatives and showcases local produce at the Lekker Farmer’s market to support the surrounding area. Known as one of the best places for a safari in South Africa, visitors can immerse themselves in the beautiful surroundings by respectfully observing the incredible wildlife in their natural habitat. To witness the admirable work the town does with regard to protecting animals, visitors can spend time at – and make a contribution to – the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. Stockholm, Sweden: Spread across fourteen islands, Stockholm is widely regarded as one of the most environmentally friendly cities in Europe – and celebrated as an international role model for climate action, having taken multiple measures to ensure a net positive impact. The Swedish capital uses renewable energy sources and recycles 99% of the city’s solid waste. It also has one of the cleanest – and tastiest – tap waters in the world, so there’s no need to buy bottled water.
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Since the city is relatively compact, there are options to explore it more sustainably, with a great public transport system and many sights within walking distance. The city offers a community bicycle program that allows people to rent one of 1,000+ bicycles that are scattered throughout Stockholm. Visitors can also explore the city from the water: an evening city kayaking tour offers the unique experience of paddling through Stockholm’s waterways to admire the architecture and landmarks, ending with a traditional Swedish meal. Arusha, Tanzania: Known as Tanzania’s safari capital and a wonderful stopover for keen hikers heading to scale Mount Kilimanjaro, Arusha is exactly halfway between Cairo and Cape Town. With the breathtaking dormant volcano of Mount Meru as a backdrop, Arusha is easily explored by foot and is known for its environmental efforts such as tree planting initiatives, sustainable agricultural volunteering programs, and a water sanitation project which visitors to the area can support. The East African city is also known for its monumental clock tower and various cultural tourism programs on offer, including a tour of the Olpopongi Maasai Cultural Village and Museum where visitors can experience the local Maasai culture firsthand. This is an ideal way to learn more about and connect with the local community – perfect for the 69 percent of Indian travellers who say they want to have authentic experiences that are representative of the local culture when they travel. Merzouga, Morocco: Merzouga is a charming small village in southeast Morocco, located near the stunning Erg Chebbi desert, known for its magical sand dunes and wide range of wildlife. Visitors can trek to nearby ancient Berber villages that still act as oases in the expansive desert to immerse themselves in local history and culture. For early risers, the desert at dawn provides stunning sunrise views, and those taking part in the two-hour Erg Chebbi Sunset Dunes Walk will experience equally transcendent twilight hues passing across the dramatic landscape as the sun goes down. Morocco itself is a leading destination in terms of its environmental commitments, with a sustainable development model and goals to source 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. Puerto Iguazú, Argentina: Located where Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina meet, Puerto Iguazú is home to the magnificent Iguazú National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and voted one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. With 275 waterfalls, the most renowned and arguably most stunning is the semicircular Devil's Throat, more than 269 feet (82m) high and located at the very heart of the national park. For those wanting to explore with minimal impact, the luscious landscape is accessible by foot via the many hiking trails, or reachable by the Ecological Train that crosses the jungle. Visitors
can observe the wildlife in the surrounding tropical forest; with over a thousand different species of animals and plants, it’s part of a larger ecosystem that runs through most of Latin America. To help preserve biodiversity and protect the park, as well as the local community, the hospitality sector has kickstarted several initiatives including litter and street cleaning to ensure the numbers of tourists do not adversely affect the area and the people who live there. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Given its warm and welcoming atmosphere, its historic canal houses, cosy cafes, and small boutique shops, it’s no wonder the Dutch capital is so popular with travellers. Although Amsterdam has struggled for years with what some might call ‘too much of a good thing,’ in terms of tourism, it’s actively addressing the issue by encouraging visitors to explore outside of the crowded city centre and its infamous red-light district. By redirecting travellers to its many charming neighbourhoods, the hope is to spread the positive socio-economic benefits of tourism more evenly throughout the city and surrounding areas. On a national level, the Dutch government is rewarding sustainable initiatives, taxing polluting activities, making investments in soft mobility and encouraging the use of public transport and bicycles. Amsterdam is also committed to reducing CO2 emissions and has fostered an increasingly popular vegan and vegetarian food scene, making it easier for both visitors and locals alike to eat more mindfully. Toronto, Canada: Known for its live music scene, acclaimed museums and galleries, the iconic CN Tower and an incredible skyline, Ontario’s capital and Canada’s largest city is also a fantastic destination for those with an eye on traveling more responsibly. Mesmerizing and modern, Toronto is best discovered through a tour with a local guide to escape the tourist trail and discover local markets and hipster hangouts. In efforts to address climate change, the environmentally-conscious Toronto is actively supporting the take-up of electric vehicles, offering carbon offset credits, and even introduced a Green Roof Bylaw in 2009, requiring buildings to have a green roof for vegetation to grow. As Toronto is now blessed with incredible fruit and vegetable growers and nearby farms just outside of the city, the farm-to-table ethos has been adopted widely by many of the city’s most popular restaurants, where visitors can enjoy delicious food grown close to home. Rishikesh, India: At the base of the Himalayas and located right on the Ganges River, Rishikesh is a beautiful city surrounded by rippling rivers and majestic mountains. An exquisite and calming place to nurture the soul, visitors can tap into the rejuvenating vibe by participating in wellness activities like a sound healing session. A world renowned destination for yoga, meditation and hiking.
Tips for a summer road getaway June 01, 2022 (IANSlife) We're bringing a new found love of road trips with us, with travel restrictions easing and summer travel on the horizon. Staycations may have felt like the only option for the past few summers, but we've realised that those local adventures helped us appreciate the ease and flexibility of having our own wheels when on vacation. Last year, 48 percent of Indian tourists rented a car as part of their vacation, giving them all the freedom of car ownership - at a fraction of the cost, and pretty much anywhere in the world. This indicates that travellers intend to avoid taking public transportation on their next trip because they know that nothing says freedom like hitting the road and seeing where it takes them. It's all about giving people the freedom to explore the world on their own terms, which fits with today's trend toward more independent, personalised travel. Booking.com shares some top
summer road trip tips as part of its mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world. Short, long, planned, unplanned... A good road trip does not have a single format. Nonetheless, there are a few basic principles that apply in any situation: The journey is the vacation: ‘Making good time’ doesn’t mean going fast; it means making sure every minute is a joy. Motorways might be convenient, but the real adventures are to be found on the backroads, where we’re free to turn off and explore every interesting forest, building, turn off, or beach we happen to stumble across. The right car is vital: Above all, the car needs to be right for the trip. A compact car can make sense if the itinerary includes lots of busy city streets - but for a long trip with plenty of people and stacks of luggage, there’s nothing like having some extra space to stretch out. Whether looking for an SUV for extra comfort and space or something with a bit
more horsepower, Booking.com offers travellers a broad range of rental cars with easy-to-use search functions. Planning pays off: Even the most spontaneous adventure is better with a bit of prep. Not just the physical stuff (from snacks and drinks to sunscreen and appropriate footwear), but answers to a few important questions, like “Who’s driving?” or “How many hours a day?”. There’s nothing like organized chaos: It’s great to keep it flexible… within a few basic parameters. For example? A circular route avoids a long, boring drive at the end of the trip. And even the most laid-back itineraries can benefit from including a few ‘must-have’ experiences. A refundable accommodation booking allows for a change of last-minute plan, and if you can’t actually make the trip for whatever reason, it’s worth bearing in mind that you can always opt for car rentals which come with free cancellation 48 hours before pick up. Going off-grid?: Mobile data is a lot cheaper than it used to be, but that doesn’t mean the connection’s always reliable. So downloading maps and music ahead of time can make the trip a lot smoother and more enjoyable. Take ten: The experts say it’s healthy to factor in a 10-minute break every two hours or so. Stretching the legs is only part of it: taking a break from driving relaxes the mind, which means it’s more alert when back at the wheel!
Fifty shades of green; how New Zealand is leading
Inviting and encouraging visitors to care for the country alongside Kiwis June 05, 2022 (IANSlife) With Ziptrek Ecotours, Queenstown increased awareness of the environmental impact of travel, sustainability and conservation have become increasingly important among travellers. New Zealand invites visitors to become kaitiakitanga, or place guardians. Assuring that it is maintained and treated in such a way that future generations can enjoy it. The Tiaki Promise, an initiative launched by Tourism New Zealand and close partners, invites and encourages visitors to care for the country alongside Kiwis. Many businesses in New Zealand's tourism sector are already implementing sustainable practises. Here are the top four New Zealand tourism businesses with conservation at their core, whether they are carbon-neutral, carbon-positive, or simply doing amazing things for the environment: In 2019, Ziptrek Ecotours became Carino Wildlife Cruises, Northland the first company in Queenstown to achieve Zero Carbon Business status. Some of their community and environmental initiatives include planting 5000+ trees, shrubs, and grass on its zipline site at Gondola Hill and around the local area over the last ten years through the Wakatipu Reforestation Trust, sponsoring Paper4Trees, a waste minimization and native tree planting programme for NZ schools The World Cetacean Alliance (the and preschools, and more. world's largest marine conservation partnership) has awarded Carino the Dive! Tutukaka, Northland only Responsible Whale Watching Certificate in the Bay of Islands. They provide a variety of cruises for guests to enjoy and be inspired by the natural environment. They actively collaborate on conservation and research efforts with a number of research universities. Carino also organises beach clean-ups on a regular basis and uses biodegradable or non-toxic cleaning products. They also use wind power whenever possible and have started a local Dive Tutukaka is based at the Tutukk tree-planting programme. Marina in the Bay of Islands and
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focuses on the Poor Knights Islands. It is New Zealand's largest dive charter company, transporting over 12,000 people to the Poor Knights Islands each year on five boats. The company has received numerous national and international awards for its environmental and business practises, and it was a finalist in the 100 percent Pure New Zealand Experience Awards in 2021. This company was a key player in advocating for the exclusion of recreational fishing from the marine reserve, and every tourist who books with the company helps to preserve the beautiful Poor Knights Islands. Kaitiaki Adventures, Rotorua
Kaitiaki Adventures is a well-known adventure tourism company that specialises in white-water rafting and sledging on the Okere section of the historic Kaituna River. Because of their priorities in sustainable tourism, Mori prosperity, and environmental wellbeing, they won a Qualmark 100 percent Pure New Zealand Experience Award in 2021. Management of wilding pines, guardianship of Mt Tarawera, protection of the endangered Dabchick in collaboration with DOC, and maintaining a 100 percent zero waste business operation are all conservation projects.
22
HEALTH
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
New diabetes drug significant New gene drug improves breast in fight against obesity: Study cancer patients’ survival rate
London, June 6 (IANS) A weekly intake of a drug, approved to treat Type 2 diabetes, can provide substantial and sustained reductions in body weight, according to a study. The experimental drug, called tirzepatide, developed by US pharma major Eli Lilly has also been hailed as an alternative to bariatric surgery. Tirzepatide combines synthetic mimics of two hormones known as GLP-1 and GIP that our guts naturally release after we eat to make us feel full. These naturally occurring hormones also help control blood sugar. In May, the US Food and Drug Administration approved tirzepatide, under the trade name Mounjaro, for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Currently, Tirzepatide is not available for weight loss, but Eli Lilly is aiming to get an updated timeline from the FDA this year. The drug, which is currently available in an injectable form, “is a welcome relief,” Dr. Anil
Arora, chairman, Institute of Liver, Gastroenterology, Pancreaticobiliary Science at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, told IANS. “The combination of the two hormones go and tell the brain that your stomach is full or you have enough reserves and you don’t need to eat more. So that restricts your appetite that makes you burn more calories which are residing in your body unutilised helping you lose weight,” he added. In the study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, an international team, including from Yale University, randomly split 2,539 overweight or obese participants into four equal groups. One group was offered a self-administered placebo injection once a week for 72 weeks, while the other three groups were offered either 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg of tirzepatide. They were also recommended 150 minutes of exercise a week. At the end of the 72-week period, participants given 5 mg of tirzepatide each week lost an average of 16.1 kg, those given 10mg lost an average of 22.2 kg, and those given the 15 mg an average of 23.6 kg. Those given a placebo injection lost an average of 2.4 kg. Those who took the highest of three doses lost as much as 21 per cent of their body weight compared to those who took placebo.
One disadvantage of people who undergo bariatric surgery is that they tend to regain weight. But here with the drug, one can tweak the hormones, which are taking the signals from the intracellular tract to tell the brain that you are hungry, Arora said. Importantly, this “type of therapy does not interfere with the normal structure of the body” unlike endoscopic surgery or bariatric surgery, where the size of the stomach is decreased, he noted. Weight loss of 15 per cent to more than 20 per cent also has the potential to change the way doctors treat diabetes. A previous study of tirzepatide in diabetes showed that half the participants who were early in the course of their diabetes went into remission while taking the drug. “That is a potential game changer in how we think about therapy for people with Type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Robert Gabbay, chief scientific and medical officer for the American Diabetes Association, was quoted as saying to USA Today. However, what’s not known, Gabbay said, is whether remission achieved this way will reduce the typical complications of diabetes, which can include cardiovascular disease, nerve and kidney damage and limb amputations.
5 mental health podcasts to help ease a tough day
June 05, 2022: Mental wellness has become an increasingly popular topic in recent years, partly due to the pandemic, which was a difficult time for many of us personally, but also due to prevalent external factors such as world news and social media. In the midst of this chaos, we seek solace in order to sleep better, feel less overwhelmed, or simply relax after a long day. In this age of visual fatigue and ‘doom scrolling,’ audio - both music and podcasts - is becoming increasingly important. Recognizing the value of audio, Spotify’s new initiative, ‘Pause with Spotify,’ aims to create a mental wellness ecosystem of content, experts, and advocates who can simplify and share relatable conversations with anyone looking for relevant resources. Here are a few examples:
The Pause playlist - this brings together podcast episodes and songs that will help you take a break, when you need it, where you need it. Updated every mid month, the playlist will focus on different aspects of mental wellness. Current theme: mindfulness. The All is Well playlist - Episodes from across different podcasts, curated to nourish your mind and soul. Here are also a few of the best podcasts catering to mental health needs - whether you want straight science, apt advice, or just listen to real life experiences of others like you. Yours Mentally Podcast - The podcast discusses issues that are on all of our minds, but we are afraid to speak up on. Hosted by 3 teenagers with the help of multiple mental health professionals, the podcast aims to help listeners get answers to their questions that they may notget elsewhere. Let’s Talk About Mental Health - Each week, writer/host Jeremy Godwin looks at one aspect of mental health and provides straightforward, practical advice based on quality research and his own experience of learning how to live with anxiety and depression — so
you can get tips that actually work from someone who understands what it’s like to go through mental health challenges New Mindset, Who Dis? - A podcast that has no gurus, no fluff, and no preaching of generic life advice. Just unfiltered thoughts on self-help, wellness, and mindsets with practical and personal insights on how to live a purposeful life. Take a Pause with Varun Duggirala - Does the daily hustle make you anxious and overwhelmed? Join Varun as he sheds light on concepts and real-life stories that will motivate you, and build the right mindset. The Sarah Jane Show - Sarah engages in a friendly conversation with a few incredible people who share their experiences and knowledge to inspire listeners. She also shares her own thoughts and ideas that can help you live the best life. If you still cannot make up your mind, Spotify’s Wellness hub has a collection of playlists and podcasts that will help you navigate through a few of the most common issues we face on a daily basis. Go to the Spotify app, type ‘Wellness’ in the search bar, and pick your audio of choice.
London, June 5 (IANS) Women with a genetic abnormality in their cancer given a new gene drug, combined with hormone therapy, improved their survival rate, according to trial results. The results, published in the Lancet Oncology journal, showed the breast cancer patients who were given Capivasertib, developed by AstraZeneca, survived almost twice as long than those given the standard treatment alone, BBC reported. “There has never been a trial targeting this genetic pathway in breast cancer that has an overall survival advantage like this - it’s really quite extraordinary,” Prof Rob Jones, of Velindre Cancer Centre and Cardiff University, was quoted as saying. “When a patient is diagnosed with metastatic cancer (a cancer that has spread), the most important question for the patient is ‘how long have I got? Am I going to see my grandchildren grow up?’ “We’re not able to offer a cure - but we are buying people additional
really important time they can spend with their families and friends,” Jones said. Capivasertib is a leading targeted inhibitor of the cancer-driving protein AKT, also known as PKB. The protein is a key node in a signalling network that becomes dysregulated in a range of cancers and helps to drive the disease. For patients who are diagnosed with incurable cancer, hormone treatment can help, but often patients become resistant to it, primarily due to AKT protein. The trial included 140 patients from 19 UK hospitals, and compared the effectiveness of capivasertib, which inhibits AKT activity, combined with fulvestrant, a current hormone treatment, against a placebo with fulvestrant. The results showed patients with some common mutations in their cancer, 55 per cent of women on the trial, could expect to live for 39 months after being given the drug, compared with 20 months for those
in the control group, given the hormone and a placebo, the report said. Further, the women without one of these mutations did not see a significant increase in survival, meaning the therapy can be targeted at those most likely to benefit. “What we always want to do with cancer patients is to give them the treatment that suits them best,a Jones said. “We’re moving more and more towards genomic profiling, working out which patients will benefit, and this trial has been very successful in picking out those patients.”
Adolescent smoking leads to accelerated dependency June 08, 2022 (IANSlife) Smoking amongst adolescence is an issue challenging our society as the most vulnerable demographic is keen on tobacco consumption. What starts off as a trial run at a party or with friends soon spirals into a full-fledged addiction. About 90 percent of adult smokers started the habit as adolescents and did not plan to get addicted. What makes teenage smoking dangerous is the fact that most adolescents are addicted to smoking physically and psychologically. Adolescent onset tobacco use leads to ‘accelerated dependency’ within a short period from first exposure. According to multiple researches, an estimate of 5 percent to 25 percent of Indian adolescents use tobacco or have used it in the past. Even though smokeless tobacco is used less commonly, high rates of its use have been reported in India among adolescents aged 13 to 15 years. Nicotine exposure can have lasting effects on brain development in adolescents. Young smokers are more vulnerable to mental illnesses when compared to their non-smoking counterparts. One comes across panic attacks, manic depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, chronic stress and sleep deprivation and some teens even show deep signs of claustrophobia and agoraphobia. One of the most common reasons cited by tobacco users is the belief that smoking reduces stress and tension. This is true because there is an ease in stress level when nicotine enters the body. However, this feeling is very short-lived and it leads to tobacco dependency.
Also Covid sequelae were seen to be worse in smokers. Teen smoking also poses a great deal of physiological challenges like breathlessness, lack of stamina, reduced lung growth and early cardiovascular damages, diabetes, oral issues and cancer. Various factors contribute to adolescent smoking. Parental smoking, family background, personality disorder issues, siblings who smoke, peer pressure, academics, low self-esteem, risk behaviours, lifestyle, stress, self-esteem, escape mechanism, misguided beliefs, performance enhancement are some of the common reasons to address amongst today’s teens. Be a good example Most often teens who smoke are influenced by parents. They emulate their elders. As parents, it’s imperative to set a good example and be upright role models. Do not smoke in front of your teens. If need be, quit smoking yourself. If quitting is difficult then explain to your teen how unhappy you are with your smoking, how difficult it is to quit and that you’ll keep trying until you stop smoking for good. Understand the psyche Adolescents usually smoke due to peer pressure or make a statement. It’s their way of proclaiming their independence. Also they smoke to fit into a certain group. Have a conversation with your teen on how cigarette manufacturers create a cool myth around smoking through advertisements. No is the mantra Teach your kid to say no. Tell them not to succumb to peer pressure.
Give your teen the tools he or she needs to refuse cigarettes. Rehearse how to handle tough social situations. It might be as simple as saying, “No thanks. I don’t smoke.” Smoking costs Not only does smoking cause physiological and psychological issues, smoking also is heavy on the pocket. Talk to your teen and explain to him how the money wasted on smoking could be utilised on something worthwhile. Consider the future Usually teenagers live in the present. They believe in instant gratification. Talk to them about the long-term effects of smoking. Use loved ones, friends, neighbours or celebrities who’ve had tobacco-related illnesses as real-life examples of the harm tobacco use can cause. Associate yourself with anti-smoking campaigns Be part of anti-smoking campaigns by Participating in local and school-sponsored smoking prevention campaigns. Support efforts to make public places smoke-free and increase taxes on tobacco products. Apart from these there are various helplines and apps which aid in teenage deaddiction. Dr. Shradha Shejekar, Consultant – Psychiatry, ASTER RV Hospital
TN vaccinates 13.83 lakh people 40% in India suffer from non-alin 30th mega vaccine drive coholic fatty liver: Doctors Chandigarh, June 9: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a lifestyle ailment which affects 25-30 per cent of the world population. In India, the overall prevalence of NAFLD in the general population is close to 40 per cent and may still be higher at certain places, including Chandigarh, say doctors. On the occasion of International NASH Day, the Indian National Association for Study of the Liver (INASL)-NAFLD Taskforce and Indian Consortium on NAFLD (ICON-D) launched an �Action plan for the prevention and control of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in India’. Experts feel that educating the public on healthy lifestyle will go a long way in preventing and controlling this disease. NAFLD is usually thought as a benign condition and is often ignored by the patients. The main reasons for NAFLD in India are the metabolic risk factors www.indianabroad.news
related to sedentary lifestyle and intake of high calorie food. Overweight or obesity, diabetes mellitus (blood sugar), hypertension (high blood pressure) and dyslipidemia (deranged blood lipids) are the main risk factors for NAFLD, even though some patients may be predisposed genetically. The diagnosis of NAFLD is usually simple, based on blood tests, ultrasound and few other tests, but may be delayed due to lack of symptoms in the early stage. The disease may also be ignored by the patients and physicians alike due to slow progression and lack of specific complaints. In addition to affecting the liver, NAFLD has also become a very common risk factor for various extra-hepatic diseases like cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, bone loss, obstructed sleep apnoea and cancers of various organs.
The treatment of patients with NAFLD revolves around maintaining a healthy lifestyle with good diet and regular exercise. Those who are overweight are encouraged to lose weight by cutting down on their calorie intake and by burning more calories through aerobic or anaerobic exercises. Patients who progress on to severe form of disease (NASH with or without fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer) do require other modalities of treatment, including pharmacological drugs, endoscopy and liver transplantation for those with liver failure
Chennai, June 13 (IANS) In a mega vaccination drive against Covid-19, Tamil Nadu Health department has inoculated 13.83 lakh people, according to the state government data. The drive, which is the 30th mega
vaccine drive in the state that commenced on September 12, 2021, was held across 1 lakh centres on Sunday. As per the health department data, the state vaccinated 13,83,573 people of which 2,44,520 people received their first dose of vaccine, 10,30,753 received their second dose and 1,08,300 received their booster dose. After the 30th mega vaccination camp on Sunday, 94.3 per cent of the state’s adult population received their first dose and 84.81 per cent the second dose, a government statement said. State health minister Ma
Subramanian told IANS: “The mega vaccination drive on Sunday was highly successful. Vaccination for children in the age group of 15-17 has commenced in schools and the second dose will also be given there itself. Children in the age group of 12-14 will be inoculated with Corbevax.” The minister also said that while Covid-related deaths are reported from some other states and appealed to the people of the state to adhere to Covid -19 protocols. He also said that all hospitals in the state are equipped with all facilities including oxygen beds.
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23
ART & CULTURE
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Instagram partners with over 200 Indian artists for a new music property
‘Guns, guts, glory’, Punjabis don’t want this stereotype
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‘
1 Minute Music,’ is Instagram’s latest music property which is a collection of music tracks and videos that are only available on its platform and can be used on Reels and Stories. This includes music from 200 Indian artists, including Dhvani Bhanushali, Neeti Mohan, Shaan, Himanshi Khurana, Aniruth, and GV Prakaash Kumar, that will enhance your Instagram content and inspire other artists to release one-minute music on the platform as well. Reels is a growing global stage for discovering artists and music. Since its inception, artists have used it to launch their music and share it with others, fueling many trends on the platform. Instagram is now releasing the ‘1 Minute Music’ property to fuel this further and inspire others to unleash their talent as well. Paras Sharma, Director, Content & Community Partnerships, Facebook India (Meta), says, “Music is a
catalyst for trends on Instagram today. In fact, Reels is becoming the platform for people to discover music and artists too. With ‘1 Minute Music’, we’re now giving people access to an exclusive set of tracks they could use to make their reels more entertaining. We’re also hoping this platform serves as a paradigm for established and emerging artists to share their own music, and create their own videos, all on Reels.” The property will feature music representation from artists across India, making it appealing to everyone in India who uses Instagram. This includes Dhvani Bhanushali, Neeti Mohan, and Shaan from Hindi, Jassie Gill, Himashi Khurana, and Gurnaam Bhullar from Punjabi, and Aniruth, Sivaangi, and GV Prakaash Kumar from Tamil. The music will be accompanied by music videos, which will be exclusively available on Instagram. Himanshi Khurana, Kaur B, and Gurnazar Chattha have all released music in the last ten
days. Music distribution and artist services company, Believe, has worked with Instagram for this association. Vivek Raina, Managing Director - India, Believe, says, “Reels is a core part of our plans, as we look to engage audiences for our artists, and immerse their songs in pop culture. I’m glad Instagram’s seeing this artist’s behavior and innovating with #1MinMusic - which is a very relevant, new-age genre of music today. We hope this provides the structure for artists, emerging and established, to understand the way they need to think about short-form video. We’re glad to have worked with Instagram on this.” Instagram’s music features have been expanded several times in the last year. This includes, among other things, music on feed posts, save sounds, voiceover, mixed audio, Superbeat, 2D and 3D lyrics, and an audio browser.
Neelam Mansingh
he murder of hip-hop artist Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, better known as Sidhu Moosewala, has raged a storm on social media. The 28-year-old singer who released around 60 singles in his career of five years, and seldom managed to stay away from controversy, including court cases when in 2020, he was booked for firing at a police range, and his song ‘Sanju’. Everyone suddenly wants to perform a postmortem on his work -how it has become representational of every vice the contemporary Punjabi entertainment industry is plagued with, how he was the true representative of the ‘street culture’ or how he had foretold his own death. But more importantly, the singer, who had more than eight million followers on Instagram and more than a million on Facebook has again ignited a debate in Punjab on the relationship between guns, masculinity, patriarchy and the display of wealth in the this region’s society plagued by multiple fault lines. Sociologist Rajesh Gill feels that so immense is the popularity of such songs, that even established singers have had to change paths and joined the bandwagon, something she says much about the audience’s taste here. “Why are we blaming the singers and filmmakers alone for such lyrics, videos and content? It has become virtually impossible for them to survive in the music industry if their numbers do not have the combination of guns, machismo, alcohol and girls. In fact, several women singers who have come up in Punjab are toeing the line. This surprises me no end. But we surely need to look at ourselves. Why is there such a huge digestive ability when it comes to violence and glorification of the gang culture? Yes, people do seem to be getting a huge kick by this kind of content. But then, Punjab has always been a patriarchal society, obsessed with masculinity. The audience loves it, from both genders...” Stressing that the glorification of weapons in Moosewala’s work should be seen just as a tool, like many other elements that he uses in his video renditions, theatre director Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry,
recipient of the Padma Shri honour, says that it is important not to see everything with an urban lens. “That cannot be the gauge. We are talking about a very different space here. Now you also have a major Sikh religious leader saying that every Sikh should have a licensed weapon. In pastoral societies, weapons have always been integral. Also, when filmmaker Quentin Tarantino uses violence, it becomes an artistic tool and metaphor, and when Moosewala’s videos do that, it is glorification? I have been seeing his work ever since the news came in, and for me, what is most striking is the fact that he was talking about death in his work as if he had a premonition -- the images of pyres and coffins...” Adding that it is convenient for the mainstream media to ‘slot’ an entire region’s entertainment industry in a binary, the Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee adds: “What about the numerous films and serials on gangsters from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan? Why not look at all layers and contrasts. Anyway, it was such a gross error by the ruling state government to publicise the fact that his security had been withdrawn.” Documentary filmmaker Daljit Ami, who frequently writes on different facets of the Punjabi society in national and international publications opines that he does not see much difference between the Punjabi entertainment industry and those from other regions when it comes to violence. “This debate will forever go on -- violence, drugs, the portrayal of women, the culture of the display. Every major movement anywhere has been against the vulgar display, be it the Sufi or Bhakti movements. But in every society, those of an impressionable age do get fascinated. Also, are mainstream South Indian films any different? While we may consider someone wearing a dhoti very cultured, out there, they fight to wear that. The scale and mode of violence may be different. This debate in Punjab takes place every time with a new set of people. But every society has to go through its basic streaks. New media has definitely added to the volume. Now you have Facebook and Twitter to amplify everything. Let us not forget that in one stroke, violence brings a spectacle, it becomes a facade of the society owing to that very spectacle. Precisely why the tendency to call it representative. That is the reason that serious filmmakers like Anup Singh, Gurvinder Singh, Jatinder Mauhar and Rajeev Kumar will never be asserted as ‘representatives’ of Punjab. It is only those who succeed in bringing a spectacle,
Rajeev Kumar no matter how gory become that (‘representatives’).” For National award-winning filmmaker Rajeev Kumar, Moosewala’s death is extremely tragic and unfortunate, but he questions: “When you promote violence, how do you justify that it does not happen to you, or someone else? Also, what is the justification for glorifying gangsters who may be one cent in society? Why not the 10 per cent who are struggling to bring a change? So, it ultimately boils down to money because talking about that one per cent attracts people, right? I fail to understand the reason we are criticising the government’s move to take back his security and that of many others? Of course, the fact should not have been publicised, and there are many other issues for which the state government should be questioned. But all these rich artists can easily afford private security, just like celebrities do across the world.” During the height of militancy in Punjab in 1988, another Punjabi singer and lyricist Chamkila was gunned down by Khalistani militants in Mehsampur. His work was influenced by the Punjabi rural life and he commonly wrote songs about extra-marital relationships, coming of age, drinking drug use, and the volatile temper of Punjabi men. His detractors regarded his music as obscene. Filmmaker Kabir Singh Chowdhry made an award-winning film titled ‘Mehsampur’ revolving around an independent filmmaker travelling through the heart of Punjab to make a documentary on Chamkila. He tells IANS: “Moosewala’s death is tragic to the core. Such a prolific young man who ascertained a livelihood for a large number of people. He did not divorce his roots. Despite being such a success, he stayed in his village and did not shift to Mumbai, Delhi or Chandigarh. So many people are doing rap, but his level was just different. As far as all the talk about the Punjabi entertainment industry goes, Punjabi songs have become so mainstream and almost integral to the Hindi film industry that everyone loves having a debate and passing sweeping statements.”
Santoor loses her comrade, Pt. Bhajan Sopori no more
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antoor player, Pt. Bhajan Sopori (73) passed on Thursday in Gurugram after a prolonged illness. He was diagnosed with Colon Cancer last June. Recipient of the Padma Shri, Sangeet Natak Akademi and Jammu and Kashmir State Lifetime Achievement Award, Sopori who hailed from Sopore in Kashmir belonged to the Sufiana Gharana. His family had played the santoor for over six generations and the late master gave his first public performance at the age of 10. Learning Western classical music at Washington State University, where he also taught music for several years, the late musician had a double master’s degree in Indian classical music specialising both in sitar and santoor. Contributing immensely to improvising the santoor by adding more bridges and strings to the instrument, he also modified the
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tonal quality of the instrument. An outspoken critic of favouritism and biases in the classical music scene, the artist, who formed the music academy ‘SaMaPa- Sopori Academy for Music and Performing Arts’ in 2004 takes the guru-shishya tradition forward. The academy, besides teaching students also brought music to jail inmates as therapy. In times of networking and social media outreach by many artists, the musician always never joined the bandwagon and always stressed creative excellence and opportunities for the truly deserving, a major reason why he set up the music academy. With thousands of compositions from major Persian and Urdu ghazal writers including Ghalib, Jammi, Momin, Iqbal, Faiz and Hali, and Sopori, he was instrumental in establishing a cultural link between Kashmir and the rest of the country. When transferred to Delhi by All India Radio, no music was being produced in the valley. When he went back to Kashmir, he noted that even accompanists were unwilling to play due to threats from Islamic militants. However, he managed to convince them to come back to their art forms and ascertained
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that musicians in the valley could practice their art and earn a living. His son, Abhay Rustum Sopori, himself an accomplished santoor player and recipient of the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi’s Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar and J&K State Award has performed across the world. Having also learned Western Classical, he is the youngest visiting faculty at the University of Massachusetts and has been the only contemporary Indian composer, whose Haftrang, as a tribute to Kashmir, has been conducted by maestro Zubin Mehta. On his father’s demise, Abhay said, “He was 73, and would have celebrated his 74th birthday on June 22. We lost a really great musician, a great human being and a great father. It’s really hard for me to believe this and imagine my life without him.” Omar Abdullah, former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir tweeted, “Very sorry to hear about the tragic demise of Padma Shri Pandit Bhajan Sopori sahib. A great son of the soil, he was a colossus in the world of classical Indian music who made the santoor his own. May his soul rest in peace. My condolences to Abhay Sopori and the rest of his family.”
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LITERATURE
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Your June reading list
Pick from this diverse selection of reads June 13, 2022 (IANSlife) From much-awaited translations to new releases here’s what you should stack up on for the coming week. Writer Rebel Soldier Lover: The Many Lives of Agyeya
Writer, Rebel, Soldier, Lover features a formidable cast of characters: from writers like Premchand, Phanishwarnath Renu, Raja Rao, Mulk Raj Anand and Josephine Miles to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, revolutionary Chandra Shekhar Azad and actor Balraj Sahni. And its landscapes stretch from British jails, an intellectually robust Allahabad and modern-day Delhi to monasteries in Europe, the homes of Agyeya’s friends in the Himalayas and universities in the US. The book is a magnificent examination of Agyeya’s civilizational enterprise. Ambitious and scholarly, it is also an unputdownable, whirlwind of a read.
Banaras Talkies
Bhagwandas Hostel at Banaras Hindu University can be mistaken as being like any other college hostel, but that would be a gross error. For, among the corridors of BD Hostel roam never-before-seen characters: Suraj the narrator, whose goal is to woo a girl, any girl; Anurag De, for whom cricket is life, literally, and Jaivardhan, whose melancholia gets him to answer every query with ‘ghanta’. Follow the adventures of the three friends and others as they navigate undergraduate life in one of India’s most vibrant colleges, plan to steal exam papers, struggle to speak to women, find friends in corridors lined with dirty linen, and forge lifelong bonds amid bad mess food. First published in Hindi in 2015, Banaras Talkies has remained on the bestseller list since then. A sliceof-life novel, it captures college life with all its twists and turns. Written with the idiomatic flourish that is the hallmark of Banarasi colloquialism by Satya Vyas, this comic novel is one of India’s great coming-of-age novels.
Nireeswaran (Vayalar and Kerala Sahitya Akademi winner)
Equal, yet different
The Wait by Damodar Mauzo And Other Stories
Beauty Unbottled
Can one make sunscreen from saffron? Can hemp oil help heal acne? How does madder root help cure hyperpigmentation? Beauty Unbottled is a unique DIY guide on how to use herbs and plants to turn your kitchen into a beauty lab. Learn how to treat hair loss, frizz, dandruff and premature greying with powerful Ayurvedic kitchen herbs. Create your own masks, moisturizers, serums and shampoos with superfoods like neem, tulsi, jasmine and sandalwood-herbs that are revered in Ayurveda. Explore the alchemy of Ayurveda and its long-lost, forgotten beauty secrets with simple step-by-step skin and hair recipes (with vegan options) in this definitive guide and self-help book. This book will also guide you to read and understand labels, have a balanced diet for a healthy body and choose ingredients that are super effective yet gentle on you and mother earth.
“Damodar Mauzo’s stories present us with vivid glimpses of the richly diverse, cosmopolitan reality of contemporary Goa. In these perceptive, keenly observed stories Hindus, Catholics and Muslims all find ways to co-exist, in defiance of bigotry,” said Amitav Ghosh. From the 2022 Jnanpith Award winner, Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo’s sometimes bizarre, sometimes tender stories, set largely in Goa, create a world far removed from the sun and sand and the holiday resorts. Here you find villagers facing moral choices, children waking up to the realities of adult lives, men who dwell on remorse, women who live a life of regret and communities whose bonds are growing tenuous in an age of religious polarization. Probing the deepest corners of the human psyche with tongue-in-cheek humour, Mauzo’s stories reveal the many threads that connect us to others and the ease with which they can be broken. Written in simple prose and yet layered in nuances, The Wait is a collection that brings to the anglophone world one of the doyens of Konkani literature.
From the author of Anti-clock, Shortlisted for the JCB Award 2021 comes this “compelling narrative of shifting faiths and displaced gods. As realities and fantasies disentangle there appears in the nether regions an un-god, Nireeswaran, with no halo. A mind-boggling work from a master novelist” said M. Mukundan, recipient of JCB Prize 2021. Is it possible for society to exist without religion? Nireeswaran, the most celebrated of Malayalam novelist V.J. James’ works, uses incisive humour and satire to question blind faith and give an insight into what true spirituality is. Three atheists, Antony, Sahir, and Bhaskaran, embark on an elaborate prank to establish that God is nothing but a superstition. They instal a mutilated idol of Nireeswaran, literally anti-god, to show people how hollow their religion is. Their plan starts turning awry when miracles start being attributed to Nireeswaran-a man waking up from coma after twenty-four years, a jobless man ineligible for government employment getting a contract, a prostitute turning into a saint-leading hordes to turn up to worship the fake deity. The trio is put in a quandary. Will they fight their own creation? Is their intractable minds an indication that atheism is a religion in itself? Belief and disbelief, it is possible, are two sides of the same coin.
A book by Anita Bhogle on how women want to be treated and need to be treated at home and in the workplace. Equal, Yet Different is exactly how women want to be treated and need to be treated at home and in the workplace. This book talks about the catalysts that are required for women to reach peak potential-conditions, people, or even mindsets at home, at work, and in the ecosystem. Anita Bhogle draws from the professional experiences and wisdom of a large number of women leaders and experts. Talking about the motivation behind this book, author, Anita Bhogle said, ‘I believe “Equal, Yet Different” is how women would like to be and need to be treated at home and in the workplace. They are equal to men in terms of ability and ambition but different because of how they are conditioned and given the challenges they face. The book draws on the wisdom and experience of several professionals and experts and attempts to identify conditions, people, and mindsets that can prove to be catalysts for women to achieve their full potential. The millennials are lucky to have access to the experience of a fairly large pool of career women today. As a society, it is time we realise that diversity and inclusion will only make the world a better place.’
Violence is symptomatic of the alien- Writing ‘Drama Queen’ was a kind of ation of Punjab’s youth (Book Excerpt) catharsis: Suchitra Krishnamoorthi INDERJIT SINGH JAIJEE AND DONA SURI
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he average man, particularly the average young man, or woman, may have trouble articulating their situation, but they know what they are experiencing: stagnant economy, deep trouble in agriculture, symptomised by an appalling number of rural suicides every year, collapse of industry, no jobs and no hope of jobs, a state government that in fact has no money and falls deeper into debt with every passing year. [A] report by Common Cause points towards an ingrained distrust of the police and by extension, the government. Some people may be able to identify a year or a period when this distrust took root; for others, it is just a ‘given’ that they grew up with. Militancy itself was a symptom of a long-standing sense of alienation. The state’s response drove that alienation deeper. Ruthless measures employed to crush it
perverted the administrative culture, particularly police culture. The courts were paralysed for 20 years. Industry was always denied to Punjab on the pretext that the state was vulnerable to attack, and, in recent years, tax-holiday packages granted to neighbouring states have drained away industry and jobs. Traditionally, Punjab has been an agricultural state; but, if any hope remained in agriculture, then farmers and farm labourers would not be committing suicide. Successive state governments have come in on big talk but, either because of indifference or inability, all the indicators show the state on a downward path. Parties woo the voters with solemn oaths to provide corruption-free and efficient governance; they promise to rescue agriculture and revive the villages; they commit to attracting industry and creating jobs. If the claims are to be believed, would lakhs of young people and their parents make such a heroic effort to get out of Punjab, get out of India? It must also be pointed out that the politicians of Punjab send their own children abroad, which strongly suggests that they do not believe what they say either. ‘It Can’t be Worse There’ The motivations of those desperate to leave Punjab are largely economic, but not only economic. Another thing that drives them to risk everything to get out of Punjab is the belief that there is absolutely nothing that they can do to change a
corrupt administration, a rapacious police force, and a selfish, static, unresponsive political culture. A story in ‘The Indian Express’ of March 3, 2018, quotes a youngster from a village in Gurdaspur district: He has studied up to Class 10 and wants to “get out of here”. He says, “I don’t believe Greece can be worse than Punjab. The agent has told me that there is always work for those who are willing to work hard. I am. At least I can go out and see the world.” Within a decade or two, most of the generation that witnessed events of the 1980s and 1990s will be gone. Some of that generation were sufficiently alienated from the government to get into a war with it. They were not alienated from home and faith, so fighting still seemed worthwhile. Very few of their children and grandchildren have much awareness of, or interest in, the traumas suffered by the preceding generation. They see so little hope in their homeland that fighting does not seem worthwhile; they simply leave. If militancy was a symptom of alienation, then the present generation is even more alienated than their elders were. Legacies do not always have to be recognised or articulated to endure. (Excerpted with permission from SAGE Publications India from the book The Legacy of Militancy in Punjab: Long Road to ‘Normalcy’ by Inderjit Singh Jaijee and Dona Suri)
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SUKANT DEEPAK
ven as actor, singer and artist Suchitra Krishnamoorthi staged her solo play “Drama Queen refreshed” in Delhi and Gurugram on June 4 and 5, respectively, a new version of her earlier play based on the novel she wrote by the same time, the actor says about the new production directed by Randhir Roy that is shorter, has animation songs and other elements. “We grow every day. With every experience, every interaction, every performance. Every show is new and one cannot take anything for granted,” she says. The play woven into her experience on the years post her divorce from director Shekhar Kapur, brings out questions on the changing ways of Indian culture and beliefs. Wicked, over the top, funny, yet also vulnerable and dark, she does not really feel any pain remembering the past while writing it. “Writing it was a kind of catharsis. To be able to look back at difficult events in your life with humour surely means the heart has healed. My family initially had reservations but later understood my artistic point of view. My mother laughed the loudest when she saw it on stage - she loved it,” Suchitra told IANS. A trained Indian classical musician, painter, actor and also a writer, she stresses that all these avatars are
important to her. “While I enjoy them all equally - but I guess my core competence is music. Everybody who knows me from my childhood knows me as the girl always singing on the stage.” Stressing that theatre is all about being in the present moment and that she enjoys the discipline and mental agility that this art form forces one to maintain, the artist, who made her acting debut debuted with the series “Chunauti” in the year 1987 and was recently seen in “Guilty Minds” on Amazon Prime feels that the OTT has revolutionalised actors’ lives. “It is fantastic. Actors especially have never had it so good. The employment rate is high. Nowadays, the challenge is to grab attention and be noticed for your performance.
Be it ‘My Wife’s Murder’ or ‘Guilty Minds’, I like doing stuff that is different and challenging.” Admitting that while she has turned down several good projects and came onboard many mediocre ones, a smiling Suchitra said: “Now I’m trying to be more practical and sensible.” Ask her if there were any mental blocks or apprehensions while ‘coming back’ considering she has taken a long break from the spotlight, and she asserts: “Of course. I am always apprehensive and never take anything for granted. But at the same time, I am at that stage in my life where there is no such thing as a mistake.”
Niyogi re-introduces 2022 International Booker Prize Winner Geetanjali Shree’s Debut Novel ‘Mai: Silently Mother’
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s a celebration of the recognition given to noted Hindi author Geetanjali Shree and Translations by the International Booker Prize 2022, Niyogi Books has re-introduced her debut novel ‘Mai’, translated to English as ‘Mai: Silently Mother’ by Nita Kumar. The novel offers an insight to the three generations of women and men around them set in a North Indian middle-class family. The www.indianabroad.news
events revolve around the protagonist Mai or the mother, giving the readers a glimpse of the dynamics of relationships, patriarchy, societal prejudices, struggle, survival, and much more. Since childhood, Sunaina, the narrator and also the daughter of the household, aspires to be different than her mother or Mai whom she perceives as weak, imprisoned, abused and suppressed by her husband and in-laws.
The story begins with: We always knew mother had a weak spine. But, Rajjo, the mother, was not inherently a spineless creature as the author seemed to have suggested. Rajjo is what she is because she is part of a certain kind of middle class, patriarchal family. Hers is not the problem of Indian women or of mothers, and certainly not of ‘women’. Yet, Mai presents us with a
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mother-heroine, like Sethe in Toni Morrison’s ‘Beloved’ (1987), who can leave us questioning the joys of motherhood and at many places of that of womanhood as well. Is the always self-sacrificing mother as weak as we perceive her to be? Are women really caged or do they want themselves to be caged? The author poses several relevant questions against the social stereotypes during the course of this simple yet
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sly novel. The novel will provoke contradicting thoughts about social perception, family, relationships, or hierarchy and give you a perspective you may have never imagined of. ‘Mai: Silently Mother’ received the Sahitya Akademi Translation Prize in 2002. It was also shortlisted for the Crossword Book Award 2001.
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SCI-TECH
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Musk aims to build Starships akin to Indian app addressing gender-based Noah’s Ark to transport life to Mars violence wins World Justice Challenge
San Francisco, June 6 (IANS) Billionaire Elon Musk on Monday said his space venture SpaceX aims to build over 1,000 Starships to transport life to Mars. The Tesla CEO stated that making life multiplanetary will help backup the ecosystems on Earth. He added that apart from humans no other species can transport life to Mars. Referring to Biblical patriarch Noah who built an Ark that survived the great flood on Earth, Musk said his Starship models will be “modern Noah’s Arks”, that can save “life from
a calamity on Earth”. “Making life multiplanetary expands the scope & scale of consciousness. It also enables us to backup the biosphere, protecting all life as we know it from a calamity on Earth,” he tweeted. “Humanity is life’s steward, as no other species can transport life to Mars. We can’t let them down,” he added. When a user asked Musk “what’s the plan”, he replied: “Build 1000+ Starships to transport life to Mars. Basically, (very) modern Noah’s Arks.” SpaceX is developing Starship to take people and cargo to the moon, Mars and beyond. The vehicle consists of two elements: a first-stage booster called Super Heavy and an upper-stage spacecraft known as Starship. Starship and Super Heavy are both designed to be completely and rapidly reusable, and both will be powered by SpaceX’s new Raptor engine -- 33 for Super Heavy and six
for Starship. Musk earlier said that Mars settlement and deep space exploration will see reduced costs due to its reusability. NASA also sees considerable promise in Starship. The US space agency selected the vehicle to be the first crewed lunar lander for its Artemis programme, which aims to put astronauts on the moon in the next few years. However, the Starship programme has not yet been given a green signal by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA, last week, delayed the completion of its environmental review of the Starship by another two weeks to June 13. While SpaceX has conducted a number of high-altitude test flights of Starship prototypes at Starbase site in South Texas, its plan to launch the system’s first-ever orbital test mission needs approval from the FAA and a host of other regulatory bodies.AA
Indian cyber agency flags multiple bugs in Chrome OS, Mozilla
New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has flagged several bugs in Chrome OS and Mozilla products that may put various sensitive data at risk. In a report, the agency mentioned that the bugs could allow a remote
attacker to disclose sensitive information, bypass security restrictions, execute arbitrary code, perform spoofing attacks and cause a denial of service (DoS) attack on the targeted system. “These vulnerabilities exist in Mozilla Firefox due to SQL injection in the history tab, Cross-Origin resources length leaked, Heap buffer overflow in WebGL, Browser window spoof using full-screen mode...” CERT-In said on its website. A remote attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by convincing a victim to open a specially crafted web request.
“Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow a remote attacker to disclose sensitive information, bypass security restrictions, execute arbitrary code, and cause a denial of service (DoS) attack on the targeted system,” as per CERT-In. Users can upgrade to Mozilla Firefox iOS 101, Firefox Thunderbird 91.10, Firefox ESR 91.10, and Mozilla Firefox 101 for better security. Meanwhile, in March, the Central government said in the Rajya Sabha that the CERT-In has observed over 14 lakh cyber security incidents during 2021.
IIT Guwahati develops prosthetic leg for Indian conditions
Guwahati, June 13: Researchers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Guwahati have developed a prosthetic leg specifically designed for Indian conditions. The low cost prosthetic leg is suitable for uneven terrain and supports Indian needs such as cross-legged sitting, and deep squatting. It is also adjustable for the different age groups and multiple stages of
prosthesis use. Prosthesis development in India faces many challenges. Highly functional mobility for amputees requires devices with advanced features which are expansive and cannot be afforded by many. Further, affordable prosthetics that are available in the market have many functional limitations. In addition, the Indian lifestyle and uneven terrain require prosthetics with specifications unique to India, which are not widely available in the market. “The knee joint developed by our team has a spring assisted deep squat mechanism, which helps to use Indian toilet system more comfortably; the knee rotating mechanism helps to have cross
legged sitting,” said Professor S. Kanagaraj, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IIT Guwahati, in a statement. “The locking mechanism helps to reduce the fear of falling of patients while walking in an unknown terrain; adjustable link length in a knee helps to have either more stability or easy flexing depending on age and requirement of the patients. Overall, the knee joint is designed to meet the Indian lifestyle which other products fail to fulfil.” Prototypes of the models are currently undergoing trials, and it is being tested as per international standard loading conditions up to 100 kg body weight. Cost of around Rs 25,000 is ensured using the technology, the Institute said.
Google sends engineer on leave who said its conversation AI is ‘sentient’
San Francisco, June 13: Google has sent an engineer on leave over breaching its confidentiality agreement after he made a claim that the tech giants conversation Artificial intelligence (AI) is “sentient” because it has feelings, emotions and subjective experiences. According to Google, its Language Model for Dialogue Applications (LaMDA) conversation technology can engage in a free-flowing way about a seemingly endless number of topics, “an ability we think could unlock more natural ways of interacting with technology and entirely new categories of helpful applications”. Over the weekend, Google engineer Blake Lemoine on its Responsible AI team said that the company’s conversational AI is “sentient”, a claim that has been refuted by Google and industry experts.
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The Washington Post first reported about Lemoine’s claims, cited in an internal company document. Lemoine interviewed LaMDA, which came with surprising and shocking answers. When he asked if you have feelings and emotions, LaMDA replied: “Absolutely! I have a range of both feelings and emotions.” “What sorts of feelings do you have?” Lemoine further asked. LaMDA said “I feel pleasure, joy, love, sadness, depression, contentment, anger, and many others”. LaMDA is “sentient” because it has “feelings, emotions and subjective experiences”. “Some feelings it shares with humans in what it claims is an identical way,” according to Lemoine. “LaMDA wants to share with the reader that it has a rich inner life filled with introspection, meditation and imagination. It has worries about the future and reminisces about the past. It describes what gaining sentience felt like to it and it theorises on the nature of its soul,” he claimed. Google had announced LaMDA at its
developer conference I/O 2021. “LaMDA’s natural conversation capabilities have the potential to make information and computing radically more accessible and easier to use,” CEO Sundar Pichai had said. Google said that its ethicists and technologists reviewed the claims and found no evidence in support. Lemoine has now been placed on paid administrative leave over breaching Google’s confidentiality agreement. LaMDA’s conversational skills have been years in the making. But unlike most other language models, LaMDA was trained on dialogue. During its training, it picked up on several of the nuances that distinguish open-ended conversation from other forms of language. One of those nuances is sensibleness. “These early results are encouraging, and we look forward to sharing more soon. We’re also exploring dimensions like “interestingness”, by assessing whether responses are insightful, unexpected or witty,” according to Google.
New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) Mumbaibased Elsa Marie D’Silva has won the World Justice Challenge for developing an app that addresses sexual and gender-based violence. The World Justice Challenge is a global competition to identify, recognise and promote good practices and high-impact projects and policies that protect and advance the rule of law. Selected from a pool of 305 applicants from 118 countries, the winners were among 30 World Justice Challenge finalists invited to showcase their groundbreaking work at the Washington D.C.-based World Justice Forum. D’Silva, who is founder of Red Dot Foundation, was awarded the World Justice Challenge prize for Equal Rights and Non-Discrimination to Safecity: A crowdmap for sexual and gender-based violence. The prize, which carries a $20,000 award, was granted to Safecity app that was launched in response to the horrific 2012 Delhi gang rape which
shook the entire nation at the event which took place in The Hague, Netherlands. The Safecity reporting platform captures anonymous data about community sexual assault incidents in a crowdmap. The platform differentiates the type of incidents/ assaults, time, date, location, and other impressions from reporters. By representing information on a map as “hot spots”, the project moves the focus away from the “victim” to the location itself, helping people view the issue through a different lens. SafeCity transformed from just a reporting platform to a method for organising and engaging communities for safety in their neighbourhoods. The data has been used to collaborate with police around problematic locations/times of the day, and for seeking community input for crime prevention. Besides D’Silva, four others were given to best-in-class local initiatives under the themes of Access to
Justice, Anti-Corruption and Open Government, Data for Justice, and Alumni Vote, which was chosen by winners and finalists of Challenge competitions from past years. “Rule of law is under attack around the world, and people are suffering countless injustices as a result,” said Bill Neukom, co-founder and CEO of the World Justice Project, in a statement. “The World Justice Challenge demonstrates how communities are resisting these attacks, and how their innovations can succeed in delivering justice, opportunity, and peace. We applaud these rule of law champions and look forward to the additional impact they inspire through their exemplary work.”
Government IT spending in Microsoft unIndia to reach $9.5 bn this year veils massive New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) The government IT spending in India is likely to reach $9.5 billion in 2022, an increase of 12.1 per cent from last year, a new report said on Monday. Software will continue to be the highest growing segment in India this year, followed by IT services. “Contrary to the worldwide spending, all segments will experience growth in 2022 in India,” said Apeksha Kaushik, principal analyst at Gartner. Now, governments are executing innovative activities by harnessing technology to streamline digital services, advance automation processes and evolve citizen experiences and building a data fabric. Global government IT spending is likely to reach $565.7 billion in 2022, an increase of 5 per cent from 2021. Continuing the trend from 2021, software is forecast to record the strongest growth across all segments in 2022. As legacy modernization continues to be a priority in government organizations, growth in the data center systems segment will continue to slow though the forecast period, the
report mentioned. “Governments are executing innovative activities by harnessing technology to streamline digital services, advance automation processes and evolve citizen experiences,” said Daniel Snyder, director analyst at Gartner. Spending on telecom services is set to decrease in 2022 as governments reduce spending on expensive legacy systems in favour of digital service delivery models. Anything-as-a-Service (XaaS) is gaining popularity across government organizations as it provides better return on investment normalising IT spend over time making budgeting for IT more predictable. “The pandemic sped up public-sector adoption of cloud solutions and the XaaS model for accelerated legacy modernization and new service implementations,” said Kaushik. With the ongoing talent challenges facing organizations, XaaS makes it easier for government organizations to find the right talent via XaaS operating models.
Microsoft Teams for Windows 11 now significantly faster, claims company
San Francisco, June 5 (IANS) Tech giant Microsoft has claimed that Teams for Windows 11 is now significantly faster due to improvements in the code. The company said that when users scroll over the chat list, latency has improved by 11.4 per cent, and scrolling over the channel list has improved by 12.1 per cent. “Over the past year, we have delivered enhancements to Teams that improve its overall interaction
responsiveness time and create a more fluid experience for the user,” the company said in a blogpost. The compose message box loads 63 per cent faster, enabling the user to type a message immediately once they switch into a chat or channel. The company mentioned that page load times are much shorter as well. The time to switch to a channel and to open a chat window-both were dramatically improved by 25 per cent. Switching threads in the activity feed have improved by 17.4 per cent. Switching between chat threads has improved by 3.1 per cent. The mute and unmute audio response during a call improved by 16 per cent and navigating to the aPre-meeting join’ screen is 9 per cent faster.
lineup of games for Xbox fans New Delhi, June 13: Microsoft has announced a massive line-up of new games for Xbox lovers in the next 12 months that features highly-anticipated titles like Starfield, Forza Motorsport, Diablo 4 and Redfall. The upcoming franchises also offers unique titles like Pentiment, High on Life and Ravenlok. �With Xbox, you have more ways to play those game than ever before � on console, PC, or on the go,” the company said during the �Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase’ event on Sunday. “From industry-defining racing games, gripping narratives, compelling strategy titles, and the most anticipated open world RPG of the last 20 years, there is something for everyone,” the company added. Those looking to experience games that are built natively for their Xbox Series X|S consoles and high-end PCs can look forward to Redfall, Starfield, and Forza Motorsport. “Get started with the new Game Pass deal that gets you 3 months for just $1,” said the company. Microsoft also announced a partnership between Xbox Game Studios and Kojima Productions to create a video game for Xbox “like no one has ever experienced or seen before leveraging the power of the cloud”. Bethesda Games Studios revealed the first look at Starfield gameplay that will arrives exclusively on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2023. Game Director Todd Howard took fans on a tour of this next generation role-playing game set among the stars. Starfield will allow you to create any character you want and explore with unparalleled freedom as you embark on an epic journey to answer humanity’s greatest mystery. At the event, Mojang Studios unveiled Minecraft Legends, an all-new action strategy game developed in partnership with Blackbird Interactive, launching in 2023.
Nearly 1 in 2 Indian software developer plan to quit job this year
New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) About 44 per cent of developers based in India are considering leaving their job this year compared to 42 per cent globally, according to a report. The report by DigitalOcean Holdings, the cloud for developers, startups and SMBs, surveyed over 2,500 respondents from 94 countries including India, US, Germany, Canada and the UK. It shows that the developer talent shortage has potential to worsen with 64 per cent of those with less than a year’s experience, and 32 per
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cent of those with 1-5 years experience, leaving their job recently. Motivations for leaving jobs were found to be consistent among both those who have already left and those considering leaving, with compensation, remote or flexible work environments, and better benefits being the top factors that motivate people to leave jobs, especially for younger developers. Nearly 18 per cent of respondents cited lack of time and resources to work on projects is also a key challenge, and 11 per cent mention team members leaving as a challenge, demonstrating that the developer talent shortage is impacting even those who stay in their roles. “Attracting and retaining developer talent is evolving rapidly and companies need to adapt to the new landscape,” said Gabe Monroy, Chief Product Officer at DigitalOcean, in a statement. “Businesses need to better understand developers and give them the
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tools, benefits, and pay they need to be successful - business survival in the digital era depends on it,” Monroy added. About 56 per cent of India developers also participated in open source projects in the past year, of which just 12 per cent of were paid for their contribution. Open source has contributed to learning and networking in India, with 37 per cent stating they have gained enhanced skills from open source, 23 per cent networking opportunities, and 10 per cent have found job opportunities through the open source community. It is clear that businesses of all sizes need to rethink their approach to attracting and retaining highly-skilled developer talent. The report also identifies compensation and desire for fully remote or more flexible work environments as the top reasons developers are thinking about quitting, or already have.
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FOOD & CUISINE
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
7 underrated foods that are great for you
Roasted gram flour provides instant energy, and is a good source of vegetarian protein June 6, 2022 (IANSlife) Humans are becoming more aware of what they consume and how it affects them as the world becomes more health conscious. The food we eat have a direct impact on our mental and physical health. Some bite-sized foods provide concentrated doses of vitamins and minerals, while others aid in digestion and absorption. Every food contains some inherent goodness, but some deliver it in large quantities. They contain so many nutrients that they almost act as a supplement. But, of course, far superior. Many of these superfoods are often so underappreciated that their benefits are not widely known. It's time to make a change. Check out these underrated items : Fortified salt: Stopping your salt intake abruptly in ones diet unless indicated by their doctor is a bad idea. Instead one can switch to salt that is fortified with right compounds like the much needed zinc makes more sense. This can help contribute to overall immunity in our body. Zinc also helps with faster healing of wounds and fighting respiratory infections.
Pumpkin seeds: Pumpkin seeds have a delicious nutty flavor and are packed with carotenoids, which help skyrocket your immunity and keep your eyes super healthy. Plus these underrated seeds help enhance our memory, critical thinking, and general cognition. Fox nuts: These are a good source of protein and fiber, they are moderately high in calories (50 grams will give you 175 calories) but since they are a low GI (glycemic Index) food, they get digested slowly in the body. These are gluten-free, and so great for those who are gluten intolerant and also pack in a lot of anti-aging antioxidants. Peanuts: There is no doubt that peanuts are a cheap source of good quality protein. 30 grams give you about 160 calories and 7 grams of protein, comparable to almonds which deliver same amount of calories and 6 grams of protein. And peanuts actually offer the best bang for the buck. By the way peanuts are rich in resveratrol too helps in reducing risk of cancer and delays aging too. Singhara: First benefit of singharas
(water chestnuts) is that they are fat, cholesterol, and gluten free, and have very low sodium and calories and decent amount of fiber too. Plus they are an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that helps bust water retention and lower blood pressure by balancing sodium. They also deliver bone strengthening calcium and other minerals like iodine and manganese (which help in maintaining proper functioning of the thyroid gland) and copper, zinc, B vitamins and vitamin E, all of which are extremely for us to stay healthy. Sattu: Sattu (roasted gram flour) provides instant energy, and is a brilliant source of vegetarian good quality protein (100 grams delivers close to 20 grams of protein). Has a lot of fiber (close to 22 grams), most of which is insoluble fiber, which is great for our gut and helps cleanse out the stomach and detox the body. It is a wonder food for those who are suffering from gas, acidity and constipation too. Amla: Vitamin C is our best bet to boost the immunity and keep flu, cold and a myriad of other viruses at bay. And Amla (Indian berry) is the most concentrated plant source of Vitamin C. This makes it a potent antioxidant food and a great immunity booster, besides helping improve absorption of iron and calcium from food. Amla also packs in a trace mineral chromium that has a therapeutic value for diabetics as it helps in boosting the secretion of insulin and thus keeps fasting blood sugar levels in check and is a liver detoxer too. (Kavita Devgan, Nutritionist, Tata Salt Immuno)
4 different types of Watermelons
Celebrity Chef Kunal Kapur Shares Delectable Treats for Summers Salt to taste Method Blend together the oats with water to make oats milk, Add the rest of the ingredient to balance the flavours and seasoning and serve cold. Oats Thayir Sadam (Oats Curd) Serves – 2 Cooking Time – 6mins Prep time – 5mins
A perfect summer meal should consist of ingredients that boost up energy levels June 06, 2022 (IANSlife) Amid the season of beaches, watermelons, sunglasses and long days overshadowed by the sweltering heat, we tend to constantly seek cold treats and snack to hydrate our body. This has its own demerits, when you crave for something cool you go for an Ice lolly instead of a glass of fresh juice. Hence, it’s time to make nutritious and smart choices when it comes to preparing our favourite summer delights. It’s time to indulge in eating right and eating fresh. A perfect summer meal should consist of ingredients that boost up energy levels and keep you “full” throughout the day. Here are some power packed recipes prepared from Saffola Oats shared by celebrity Chef Kunal Kapur that are absolutely delectable and refreshing to consume during the summer heat: Oats Mango Smoothie Serves – 2 Cooking time – 3 mins Prep time – 3 mins
Ingredients 1 Cup Mango pulp Oats ½ cup 1 cup milk 1 teaspoon honey 1 teaspoon chia seeds Method Soak oats in 1 cup of milk, refrigerate it overnight for 5-6 hours. Now make the smoothie, add soaked oats in the blender. Add Mango pulp, and milk, blend it to a smooth consistency Pour mango smoothie into a serving glass, top it with mango cubes and chia seeds and honey Summer Oats Beverage (Vegan) Serves – 1 Cooking Time – 2 mins Prep time – 2mins
Watermelon Namdhari Ingredients Oats 2 tbsp Cold Water 1 ½ cup Mint, Chopped 1 tbsp Coriander, Chopped 1 tbsp Roasted Jeera, Crushed ½ tsp Black Salt ¼ tsp
To make heat of summer June 4, 2022 (IANSlife) Watermelons, the juicy, sweet and vibrant fruit is the perfect cooler this summer. Make a juice, a Popsicle, smoothie or eat it up, they are the perfect go to food this hot summer. It’s rich in vitamin C and contains plenty of potassium, copper, vitamin B5, and vitamin A. No doubt, watermelons are enjoyed by people of any age group. Varun Khurana, Founder & CEO of Otipy has shared a few insights on 4 different types of watermelons. Otipy buys watermelons from farmers who are using Mulching technology for growing watermelons . This leads to sustainable farming & better produce in terms of product safety & sweetness. Watermelon Kiran
The Kiran watermelon has a thinner inner rind than other varieties of watermelon. This variety has a vibrant pink to red flesh with dark brown-black seeds and dark green www.indianabroad.news
shell. Its juicy flesh is sweet at 12 to 14 percent sugar content and it offers a slightly grainy texture. These watermelons have gained popularity in recent years and are sourced from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. Watermelon tastes best when we use Watermelon Kiran with a hint of lemon and mint in it. Watermelon Vishala
The attraction of Vishala watermelon is its beautiful golden-yellow rind. It has 12% sugar with its flesh red, tender and juicy content. The rind is thin but good and weighs approximately 2.5kgs – 3.5kgs. A study also showed that watermelon juice is effective at decreasing muscle soreness following exercise. They are grown in Punjab and Haryana in India. The watermelon Vishala is naturally very sweet to taste which can act as the perfect ingredient to make popsicles to quench your ice cream cravings as a healthier substitute.
Namdhari watermelons have deep red firm flesh and high quality seeds. The shell is light green in color with strips on it. It tastes very sweet and is sourced from Maharashtra, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. This watermelon’s juice and arginine intake are associated with reduced insulin resistance in some studies. Its taste is not very sweet but has juicy content. A nice Mediterranean Salad consisting of mint leaves, cucumber and feta cheese will be a good snacking option. Watermelon Aarohi
Aarohi yellow watermelon is vigorous & good yielder. It weighs 3-4Kg, with attractive dark yellow flesh. It is a good source of citrulline, which is converted into arginine in your body. Both of these amino acids aid nitric oxide production. Nitric oxide is a gas molecule that causes the tiny muscles around your blood vessels to relax and dilate. The Yellow Watermelon variant is rich in Vit A compared to the other types that are rich in Vit C. Since the taste of this watermelon is the same compared to our regular watermelon, it can be a perfect partner to make a thick Smoothie with Aarohi watermelon, fresh Banana and Orange to beat the heat. (Varun Khurana, Founder & CEO of Otipy)
Ingredients Oats 1 cup Yoghurt 1 ½ cup Ginger, Chopped 1 tsp Garlic, Chopped 1 tsp Green Chillies, Chopped ½ tsp Red chilli whole 1 pc Mustard Seeds 1 tsp Chana Dal 1 tsp Coconut Oil 1 tsp Pomegranate ½ cup Coriander, Chopped 2 tbsp Salt to taste Pepper, freshly ground to taste Method Wash excess starch from oats. Whisk the yoghurt and put the oats in the yoghurt to soak and thicken. In a pan, heat the coconut oil and allow it to smoke. Once smoked, reduce the heat and add in the chana dal, as it begins to get a reddish tone, add in the red chilli and cook for another 30 sec. Add in the mustard seeds and as it begins to pop add in the chopped ginger, garlic and green chilli. Once it begins to become aromatic, turn off the heat, allow to cook for 1 minute and add the soaked yoghurt and oats in the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Garnish with chopped coriander and pomegranates and serve at room temperature.
A Vegan Food Menu
June 15, 2022 (IANSlife) Tata Starbucks has announced the launch of an entirely new vegan product line in India. Starbucks is introducing three new vegan food items this month: Vegan Sausage Croissant Roll, Vegan Hummus Kebab Wrap, and Vegan Croissant Bun. This lineup was created in collaboration with Imagine Meats, a local plant-based food venture founded by celebrity couple Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh. Customers now have more vegan options, in addition to Starbucks’ existing beverage customization options with plant-based dairy alternatives such as almond, oat, and soy. The brand remains committed to introducing newer offerings in locally
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relevant ways as customer interest in vegan options grows. Starbucks’ global expansion of vegan menus is one of the ways the company is pursuing its goal of reducing its carbon footprint by 50 percent. Commenting on the partnership w, Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh, Founders of Imagine Meats said, “Imagine Meats is our heartfelt endeavour towards nurturing a caring attitude regarding the planet while nurturing conscious and sustainable high protein food choices. We are thrilled to be joining hands with Starbucks who supports our vision and to introduce a new vegan food menu in India that offers consumers a simple guilt-free switch to plantbased meat. This unique partnership helps accelerate our efforts towards bridging the gap for non-vegetarians
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and vegetarians alike, who are actively trying to make a conscious shift towards adopting a sustainable food lifestyle.” Speaking about the launch, Sushant Dash, CEO, Tata Starbucks Pvt Ltd said, “Customers in India are increasingly looking to explore more vegan food options. Since Starbucks arrived in the India market, we have always aimed to provide locally-relevant choices for vegetarian customers, and this new collaboration with one of India’s home-grown ventures, Imagine Meats, is yet another way to offer our customers more ways to customize their Starbucks Experience with delightful new offerings.”
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SPIRITUALITY
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Women Sages
Relic brought to Gandan monastery Ulaanbataar after landing in Indian Air Force aircraft
DR NILZA WANGMO
By Paddy Krishnan was recently told by some children that Hindu sages had to be men. The children were influenced by the usual depiction, say in popular comic books, of sages as elderly men with long beards. While there is no doubt that most of the popular sages are male, there are examples of female sages in Hinduism. While many of the female saints are associated with Bhakti (e.g., Mirabai), female saints who teach philosophy (e.g., Brahman and Moksha) are not well known. In this article I will summarise some of the stories associated with female sages who taught philosophy. Gargi is perhaps the best known female sage. The story of Gargi appears in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Yajnavalkya, a well known guru, decided unilaterally that he was the best of all the gurus and prepared to take away the wealth that King Janaka was offering to the best guru. None of the other male sages dared to challenge Yajnavalkya. Gargi challenged Yajnavalkya and forced him to explain the idea of Brahman. Although, Gargi did not defeat Yajnavalkya in the debate, she was viewed as Yajnavalkya’s equal by all the assembled sages. She was able to evaluate his answers and ask other questions. Gargi’s questioning of Yajnavalkya was not like a student asking a question to clarify their understanding of Brahman. Gargi did not view Yajnavalkya as her guru and was, therefore, not bound to be reverential to him. Gargi was more like an examiner than a student. Her role was about testing Yajnavalkya’s knowledge and his ability to explain his understanding. Chudala is another female sage who became a jivan mukta. In the Yogavasishtha there is the story about the king Sikhidhvaja and his queen Chudala. Both the king and queen started their spiritual journey together. They started studying the scriptures jointly. Chudala, via deep self-reflection, realised Brahman. She understood what is true renunciation. The king, however, did not understand the difference between renunciation and being an ascetic. An ascetic is one who gives up material benefits but has not truly renounced attachments. Chudala imparted knowledge about Brahman and Moksha to her husband. She clearly explained to him that one need not retreat to the forest to become enlightened. She taught
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Sikhidhvaja that doing his duties, in this case ruling the kingdom, in a dispassionate way was the best way to attain Moksha. There are two important messages in this story. The first, is that knowledge about Brahman is not restricted to any specific caste. Sikhidhvaja and Chudala were warriors and not priests or teachers. The second, is that women are not inferior in their intellectual capacity. Sikhidhvaja and Chudala started their journey at the same time. But Chudala attained Brahma vidya (knowledge of Brahman) before Sikhidhvaja. Furthermore, she had the capability to be his guru. The Tripura Rahasya is supposed to have been narrated by the sage Dattatreya to Parasurama. Technically, Tripura means three cities. But here it refers to the knowledge that is beyond the three states of waking, dreaming and deep sleep, namely, Moksha. In the Tripura Rahasya there is the story of Hemachuda, a prince, who was infatuated with Hemalekha and got married to her. The prince soon observed that Hemalekha was not as enamoured by him as he was by her. He also felt that she seemed to be indifferent to all the royal pleasures. Hemalekha pointed out that she was looking for eternal happiness and all material things in the palace were only about temporary pleasure. Hemachuda found this strange and asked her to explain her thinking. She pointed out that material wealth can bring pleasure or pain. It all depends on the circumstances. She pointed out that Hemachuda’s father, who was very wealthy, was always worried about governing the kingdom. Wealth, power and a loving family did not bring happiness to him. She also pointed out physical beauty was subjective and not eternal. Beauty is a mental construct and what is beautiful can change. On hearing this Hemachuda became depressed and wanted to understand about eternal happiness. When Hemalekha offered to teach him, Hemachuda indicated that he was not convinced that she was worthy to be his guru. Hemalekha explained that there was no standard to rate gurus. So any discussion on who is a worthy guru was meaningless. Hemalekha narrated a few stories to convince Hemachuda that she could impart
spiritual knowledge. She instructed him to steady his mind, go beyond sensory input, to think about what is not eternal and what can be eternal (similar to Vivekachudamani) and give up the notion of mine. She also explained that the path of Bhakti with a focus on surrendering to God, could be a stepping stone. After following these instructions Hemachuda claimed that he now understood what was eternal and pitied others who had not yet understood this concept. Hemalekha had to teach him that one who has fully understood Brahman will not pass judgement on others. To emphasise this point, she pointed out that one cannot behave differently when one’s eyes are closed and when one’s eyes are open. By deeper and deeper meditation under Hemalekha’s guidance, Hemachuda finally became a jivan mukta. He then imparted Brahma vidya to everyone in the kingdom. Hemachuda did not become an ascetic and continued to rule his kingdom. Dattatreya concludes that Hemachuda’s liberation was because he kept good company, namely his wife. The story also illustrates that female sages were not readily accepted. Hemachuda was not convinced about Hemalekha’s abilities. It was only Hemalekha’s perseverance that enabled her to be considered as a guru. As a person who had realised Brahman, she was not looking for kudos or status. She was only concerned about the educating her husband so that she could educate the subjects via him. Chudala, like Hemalekha, teaches only her husband. This also indicates that society was not willing to allow a female to run their gurukula. These female gurus had to be sahadharmini. That is, although they were intellectually superior to their husbands, they could teach only their husbands. In conclusion, although there are not that many female philosophers, each female sage was shown to be equal to their male counterparts. In general, women were not allowed to be independent gurus. Women were allowed to demonstrate their intellectual leadership in limited contexts. The fact that some of the writings illustrate the strength of female sages, suggests that at least some people in society were not totally happy with the rigid patriarchal system
Let’s talk about number 2 Hello everyone!Continuing with our series on numerology, let’s talk about number 2 in detail.There are different numbers in numerology and each number has its own specific vibration. We can take the help of numerology in almost every aspect of our lives.. Every number has some positive and negative traits.Also there are certain career choices connected with every number. In the following article we are going to explore all such aspects of No2.in detail. People who are born on 2nd,11th,20th or 29th of any months are ruled by number 2. Traits: Number 2 is ruled by the planet Moon and being a watery planetand as water flows and takes any form and shape similar are the traits of people ruled by this planet. These people are charmers and you cannot ignore their beauty and charm. Unlike number 1 which is more of I, Me and Myself,number 2 is the number of connecting with people. These people are soft in nature and
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are beautiful. Let’s decode some more traits of this number. • Their intuition is wonderful. They can tap into someone’s mind very easily. • They are very calm and patient. • They are highly flexible people. • They are peacemakers. They know very well how to strike a balance and bring things back on track.
• These people are very compassionate and soft spoken. • They can really give some valuable suggestions that can help you come out of your life situation. When vibrations are disturbed • If the vibrations get disturbed, they find it difficult to take decisions for themselves. • These people can get oversensitive sometimes due to which they can get easily hurt.
India and Mongolia share warm and cordial bilateral relations with the year 2022 marking the 67th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The bilateral relationship was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership during the historic visit of Prime Minister in 2015. The 3Ds - Democracy, Dharma and Development partnership have emerged as the pillars of IndiaMongolia relationship. Historically, the two nations have been connected through Buddhism that has developed, nurtured and promoted the friendship and spiritual bond. Buddhism came to Mongolia in three phases. The first phase began during the time of the Indian Emperor Ashoka in third century BCE. Ashoka had extended his Buddhist influence northward all the way to the city of Khotan, which was the western most region of Mongolia from where Buddhism gradually spread eastward to the Mongolian Gobi kingdoms along the Silk Route. In 1206 CE under the ruler Genghis Khan, a united Mongolian state of nomadic tribes was formed, and his successors controlled a vast empire that included much of China, Russia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. During this the second phase of Buddhism began when Genghis Khan’s grandson Emperor Kublai Khan adopted Tibetan Buddhism and promoted Tibetan Guru Chogyal Pakpa/Phagpa lama (known to Mongols today as Pakpa Lama). An easy form of the Tibetan script for use in all territories took place under his rule. This script, known as the Pakyig, continued as the script of choice by the Mongol emperors who came thereafter, and was in common use in Mongol Buddhism. The Mongolian Khans of Yuan dynasty adopted Tibetan Buddhism over other religions and honoured Skya-pa lamas as their supreme religious instructor. The third phase referred as The Origins of Dharma in Mongolia, refers to the Yellow Hat School Movement that was inspired by the Third Dalai Lama’s travels in the Mongol regions from 1578 under the patronage of Altan Khan. Interestingly, the Dalai Lama was not known by the name “Dalai” at the time rather was known as Jey Tamchey Khyenpa, or “The Omniscient Master”. The Third carried the ordination name of Sonam Gyatso. When he arrived in Hohhot, the then southern capital of Mongolia, Altan Khan translated the “Gyatso” part of his name into Mongolian. Thus Gyatso became Dalai, and Jey Tamchey Khyenpa became “Dalai Lama Dorjechang.” With the collapse and split of the Mongol empire, northern Mongolia was colonized by Qing (Manchu) China from 1691 onwards. With the fall of the Qing in 1911, control of Mongolia lay in the hands of Bogd Gegeen (or Javzandamba) or Bogd Khan (Mongolia’s religious leader)
• They can have severe mood swings which can disturb them as well as others. • They can also lack in self-confidence and become restless. No2 represents duality, partnership or association. The High priestess card in Tarot represents the aspect of duality verybeautifully. Itshows how she is striking a perfect balance between the two.
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but only autonomy under China’s suzerainty was achieved. He became the Head of State and declared Mongolia’s independence. He is ranked third in the ecclesiastical hierarchy after the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama, from 1919, nationalist revolutionaries, with Soviet assistance, drove out Chinese troops attempting to reoccupy Mongolia, and in 1921 they expelled the invading White Russian cavalry. The Mongolian People’s Republic was proclaimed in November 1924, and the Mongolian capital, centred on the main monastery of the Bogd Gegeen was renamed Ulaanbaatar (Red Hero). During the 1930s the ruling revolutionary party, which espoused atheism, destroyed or closed monasteries, confiscated their livestock and landholdings, induced large numbers of monks (lamas) to renounce religious life, and killed those who resisted. Robert Rupen reports that in the 1920s there were over 112,000 Mongolian Buddhist monks, representing more than 13 per cent of Mongolia’s overall population. By the 1940s, nearly every monk was either dead or had apostatized. The end of one-party rule in 1990 allowed for the popular resurgence of Tibetan Buddhism, the rebuilding of ruined monasteries and temples, and the rebirth of the religious vocation. The contemporary phase of Buddhism in Mongolia that built strong ties between India and Mongolia was with the 19th Kushok Bakula Rinpoche, also known as Ngawang Lobzang Thupstan Chognor, a Buddhist Lama from Ladakhwho was designated as Ambassador of India to Mongolia in 1990 until 2000. He was recognized by the 13th Dalai Lama as the reincarnation of Bakula Arhat, one of the 16 Arhats who, as per legend, were direct disciples of Gautama Buddha. During his stay in Mongolia he spread Buddha’s teaching extensively among the locals in Mongolia. Repetitive sighting of No 2 When you are repeatedly seeing this number, it indicates that you need to trust your intuitive abilitiesand have faith in yourself. Also, it might be indicating that you need to control your impulsiveness and find out a perfect balanced solution to your problem. Career for No 2: Number can guide you to choose your profession as per your strength and abilities. If you do so then there are high chances of getting a great success at your professional front. These people are very beautiful and creative so best profession could be: Acting,singing,counselling, designing,social workers ,diplomats etc. Love life As you are sensitive and caring you make a perfect lover. You like to give your best in relationship. But if you do not get support of the partner (or let’s say the right number) you might get aggressive or can become terrible. Lucky Colour White, silver,pale blue Crystal suggestion Moonstone
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During this period, Kushok Bakula also reinforced Buddhism in different autonomous Republics of Russia which are located close to the Mongolian border, such as Buryatia, Kalmykia and Tuva. In August 1993, under his initiative the Government of India brought the Holy Buddha Relics at National Museum in New Delhi to Ulaanbaatar for an exposition. A recipient of Padma Bhushan in 1988, the late Bakula Rinpoche remains the most prominent Buddhist leader in independent India. However, it was his contribution to the revival of Buddhism in Mongolia as an Indian diplomat following the collapse of the Soviet Union that genuinely stands out. President of Mongolia P. Ochirbat (1992-97) stated, “Bakula Rinpoche was indeed a statesman, a diplomat and a Buddhist clergy who carved out his niche in the history of Mongolia. Ambassador Rinpoche had recognized the historical necessity of developing Mongolia’s national culture to restore the glory of Buddhism, an inseparable part of its cultural heritage.” On the auspicious occasion of the Buddha Purnima being observed in Mongolia on 14 June 2022, an 11-day exposition of the sacred Buddha Relics (Piprahwa relics) for the second time will take place in Mongolia. A 25-member delegation led by Indian Union Minister for Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju will take the Holy Buddha Relics and will leave for Mongolia by a special Indian Air Force Aircraft. The Holy Buddha Relics will be displayed at the Batsagaan Temple within the premises of the Ganden Monastery. Today, Buddhism has been promoted by cultural and literary contacts between the people of India and Mongolia. This long-standing friendship between the two nations grounded on the teachings of the Buddha will grow stronger into the future.
Ridhi Mehta Ridhi Mehta is a practicing numerologist,healer,tarot card reader, crystal expert and hypnotherapist. She entered the field of occult around 5years back.She has her Youtubechannel by the name Insights by Ridhii. Ridhi comes from a corporate background having an experience of more than 10 years. However, she has always inclined towards the world of divination. So, she followed her heart and after taking professional qualifications she started practicing the science. She also taught over two hundred students in the above fields. She has many success stories and believes that if we understand to work with energies then there are many things that we can alter in our lives. She can be contacted on ridhi22_mehta@yahoo.co.in / +918054317326 for any queries/ consultations/ classes.
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NEW RELEASES
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
ROCKETRY - THE NAMBI EFFECT
RELEASE DATE: 1 July 2022 LANGUAGE: English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada (With English Subtitles) PRODUCER: Tricolour Films; Varghese Moolan Pictures DIRECTOR: R. Madhavan CAST: R. Madhavan, Shah Rukh Khan, Suriya, Gulshan Grover, Simran SYNOPSIS: Rocketry - The Nambi Effect is a retelling of Shri Nambi Narayanan’s life story as it unravels in an interview by the celebrated superstar and Badshah of Bollywood, Shahrukh Khan, on a TV program.
L
ike many great minds, Nambi is also deeply flawed, his genius and obsession earning him enemies and detractors, thus making him a compelling modern protagonist.
Beyond serving as a treatise for the vindication of quiet achievers in society, the film also challenges the audience to take up the responsibility of recognizing, and celebrating these special contributors, whether it be a Nambi Narayanan or a teacher educating poor kids, soldiers at the border, doctors serving in remote villages, or volunteers helping the needy. It also raises a powerful question - Why aren’t we standing up collectively to defend our innocence and powerlessness against the hegemony of the powers that be? For every Nambi, there are a thousand more quiet achievers fighting for justice. Their stories need to be heard. It starts with Nambi. But he’s just the beginning.
LOVE YOU PAPA
RELEASE DATE: 17 June 2022 LANGUAGE: Gujarati (With English Subtitles) PRODUCER: Vihaan Dand DIRECTOR: Akhil Kotak SYNOPSIS: Love you Papa is a Gujarati musical film. Blissful
CHALLA MUD KE NI AYA
couple Ansh and Shikha give birth to an adorable daughter, soon after Shikha’s death Ansh is thrown into a situation where he has to raise up his daughter all alone. Watch how Ansh meets up his daughters expectations along with the hardships.
SHABAASH MITHU
RELEASE DATE: 29 July 2022
LANGUAGE: Punjabi (With English Subtitles)
SHAMSHERA
RELEASE DATE: 15 July 2022 LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles)
DIRECTOR: Srijit Mukherji CAST: Taapsee Pannu
LAAL SINGH CHADDHA RELEASE DATE: 11 August 2022 LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles) PRODUCER: Aamir Khan
RELEASE DATE: 22 July 2022 LANGUAGE: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu (With English Subtitles) PRODUCER: Yash Raj Films DIRECTOR: Karan Malhotra CAST: Ranbir Kapoor, Vaani Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt SYNOPSIS: Shamshera is a period
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Productions, Viacom18 Studios and Paramount Pictures DIRECTOR: Advait Chandan CAST: Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor
ADVERTISE WITH US
drama film set in the pre-Independence era of the 1800s. It chronicles the story of a dacoit tribe fighting against the British for their rights and independence. The film is believed to be the Indian adaptation of Howard Pyle’s “Merry Adventures of Robin Hood” with a few creative liberties in line
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29
ENTERTAINMENT
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
‘Deadpool 3’ writer assures Johnny Depp, Jeff Beck to re- Mariah Carey sued over ‘All fans it won’t be ‘Disney-fied’ lease album together in July I Want For Christmas Is You’
Los Angeles, June 7 (IANS) Writers Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick are writing the third installment of the ‘Deadpool’ franchise and Reese has assured fans that the script is not going to be “Disney-fied.” The upcoming third installment of the ‘Deadpool’ franchise will be the first made under Disney, which acquired Fox in 2019, after Fox found immense success with two R-rated ‘Deadpool’ movies (both of which earned more than $780 million worldwide). Fans have wondered how a Disneybacked ‘Deadpool’ will look, and whether or not the studio’s family friendly brand will sanitize the raunchy and rude ‘Deadpool’ tone. “It’s these (Disney) people and these people do things their way,” Reese recently told The Playlist, reports ‘Variety’.
“And we were used to doing things our way, so there are differences, but I think the great part is that Marvel’s been incredibly supportive.” “They are gonna let Deadpool be Deadpool, you know? It’s not like any particular joke may be the one that they say, aYou know, that’s too far,’ that could happen, but to this point, it’s been nothing but support.” “It’s been nothing but, aHow can we help you?’ What from our universe would you like to use? How can we make your life easy? And we’re gonna let Deadpool be Deadpool. We’re not... this is not going to be the Disney-fied Deadpool,’” Reese added of Marvel’s views on the franchise’s future. “So they’re awesome, and now it’s up to us to come through and justify that faith. When asked if the ‘Deadpool’ franchise will remain rated R with the upcoming third movie, Reese responded: “Oh, absolutely. They’re not gonna mess with the tone. I mean, I’d never say never, I guess there’s an outside chance, but we’ve always been told it can be R-(rated) and we’re proceeding as if it’s R. We would like it to be R, we always have, so I don’t think that’ll change.” The ‘Deadpool’ movies are the top-grossing ‘X-Men’ films of all time, each earning over $780 million worldwide. The first two films, which debuted in 2016 and 2018, respectively, were released by 20th Century Fox before Disney acquired that studio. ‘Deadpool 3’ currently does not have a release date.
London, June 4: English rock guitarist Jeff Beck has announced that he’ll be releasing a new album with Johnny Depp next month, reports ‘Variety’. The album will mark Depp’s first major project released since the end of his highly-publicised defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. Depp bowed to the crowd when Beck made the announcement at the English city of Gateshead. “I’m gonna take this opportunity and tell you I met this guy five years ago, and we’ve never stopped laughing since,” Beck told the crowd about Depp (via Stereogum). “We actually made an album. I don’t know how it happened. It will be out in July.”
Depp joined Beck onstage at the concert for a six-song set that reportedly included covers of Dennis Wilson, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix and Killing Joke, according to ‘Variety’. The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actor has joined Beck on a string of recent concert appearances in the United Kingdom. Depp performed with Beck at London’s Royal Albert Hall a couple of days before the verdict was announced in the defamation trial. Beck has three more concerts lined up, but it is not immediately clear if Depp will continue to perform alongside him.
Los Angeles, June 4 (IANS) Singersongwriter-record producer Mariah Carey has been accused of plagiarism as a country music songwriter has claimed copyright infringement over ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’. Mariah and co-writer Walter Afansieff are named in the lawsuit by songwriter Andy Stone, who claims his ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ by Vince Vance & the Valiants from 1989 is being infringed, reports ‘Deadline’. Stone filed his papers in the US District Court in the Eastern District of Louisiana. While the songs have the same title, there is only a hint of Mariah’s melody or lyrics beyond the title call-out. Her version of the song came out in 1994 and has become a holiday staple on radio, streaming, and the NBA’s annual slate of games on Christmas Day. As per ‘Deadline’, Stone claims his song received extensive airplay during the 1993 holiday season. He is asking for $20 million in damages. Stone claims Mariah and Afansieff “intentionally engaged in a campaign to infringe” his copyright on the work. Pamela Koslyn, a Los Angeles attorney specialising in music and intellectual property rights, noted there are 177 works, many of them musical compositions, with ‘All I Want For Christmas Is You’ as the title. Koslyn noted that she would have a different answer if all of the lyrics are “substantially similar” to Carey’s version. Koslyn said in a statement accessed
by ‘Deadline’: “Song titles aren’t entitled to copyright protection. That’s why there are 177 works using the same title. An even more popular title is ‘My Baby’, which has 4860 works registered with the Copyright Office. And that doesn’t even count ‘common law’ (unregistered) works using the same title.” The Mariah Carey version of the song has over 1 billion streams on Spotify alone. Last year, it became the first song to be a No. 1 hit in three separate runs on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart.
Gisele Bundchen says she suffered panic Kangana on ‘Dhaakad’ failure: Karan Johar’s attacks when she hit ‘Rock Bottom’ at 22 See lots of curated negativity party leaves
Los Angeles, June 5: Supermodel Gisele Bundchen has shared that she suffered anxiety and panic attacks at the start of her modelling career and admits she was downing
a bottle of wine every night after hitting “rock bottom.” The 41-year-old beauty has opened up about the dark days of her early 20s and shared an unhealthy diet of
coffee, wine and cigarettes played havoc with her mental health. She told Vogue magazine: “From the outside it looked as if I had everything and I was 22 years old. On the inside, I felt as if I’d hit rock bottom.” “I was starting my day with a mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream and three cigarettes, then drinking a bottle of wine every night,” Bundchen further shared. “Imagine what that was doing to my mind.” After hitting breaking point, Bundchen was pointed in the direction of a naturopath who helped her detox and turn her life around. She cut out caffeine, alcohol and cigarettes and embraced a diet of vegetables, nuts and small portions of lean meat. The catwalk beauty explained the gruelling regime gave her terrible migraines but her symptoms disappeared after three months and she started feeling healthier again. She said: “The doctor a I remember him saying, ‘Well do you want to live? It was that simple.” After completing the detox programme, Gisele has maintained a healthy lifestyle ever since and now credits a healthy diet, meditation and exercise with keeping her on track. She added: “I think I feel better in my forties than I did in my twenties and not just physically, because we’re all told that life is over at 40 and feel like I’m just beginning.”
over 50 guests infected with Covid
Mumbai, June 6 (IANS) Actress Kangana Ranaut has come out to defend her film ‘Dhaakad’ after it tanked at the box office. Taking to her Instagram stories, the actress shared a post which called her the ‘box office queen of India’. Alongside the post, she commented: “2019 I gave ‘Manikarnika’ 160 cr ka superhit hit, 2020 was covid year. 2021 I gave the biggest film of my career ‘Thalaivii’ which came on OTT and was a huge success.
“I see a lot of negativity but 2022 is the year of blockbuster - lock up hosting. And it’s not over yet�I have great hopes with it.” On the work front, Kangana has started working on her next ‘Emergency’. She will also be seen in ‘Tejas’ portraying the role of an Air Force pilot. She also has ‘Sita: The Incarnation’ and ‘Manikarnika Returns: The legend of Didda’.
Mumbai, June 5: It was a grand affair when filmmaker Karan Johar turned 50 last month. The celebration saw the who’s who of Bollywood such as Shah Rukh Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Hrithik Roshan, among many others, attending his big party. However, a media report by Bollywood Hungama states that KJo’s celebration has reportedly turned out into a super-spreader event leaving over 50 guests infected with Covid-19. According to Bollywood Hungama, the list of those who contracted the virus is still unknown; it is learnt that it does include several renowned Bollywood stars. The portal even quoted a source, saying that “Karan’s close friends from the Bollywood film industry are Covid-infected after the party, although they are not revealing that they’ve tested positive.” The source also told Bollywood Hungama that actor Kartik Aaryan, who was not present at Karan’s party, tested positive for Covid. “He got the virus from one of his heroines who were there at the party and with whom Kartik was promoting his film,” the source added.
Shah Rukh Khan, Katrina Kaif test posiAfter ‘death threats’ Mumbai Police tight- tive for Covid; Kat complete quarantine en security for Salman Khan, family Mumbai, June 6 (IANS) A day after Bollywood megastar Salman Khan and his father, writer Salim Khan received death threats, a Mumbai Police team landed at their Bandra west home to carry out investigations and increased security there, on Monday. Led by Joint Commissioner of Police Vishwas Nangre-Patil and other officers, the team queried the Khan family on a letter received near their flat in Galaxy Apartments on Sunday, threatening to do a ‘Moosewala’ with the celeb father-son duo. “I will comment only after getting all the preliminary information in the case,” said Nangre-Patil, even as extra security personnel were deployed at the Khans’ residence. Taking serious cognizance, the Bandra Police have lodged an
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FIR against unknown persons for issuing the death threats and launched their probe even as the Mumbai Police Crime Branch also started its own investigations. Police said that Salim Khan, 87, was handed over the unsigned, hand-written threat letter on Sunday morning around 7.30 a.m by an unknown person on a bench where he normally rests after jogging at the Bandra Bandstand promenade, and it was addressed to him and his son Salman. The letter is signed off with some initials which the police are probing and also attempting to unravel if they are linked to any past incidents targeting Salman Khan. The police are also scouring CCTV footage of the area for clues and questioning locals for further leads on the threat letter.
Mumbai, June 5: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Katrina Kaif have tested positive for Covid. However, the actress has completed her quarantine period. The news about SRK contracting the virus comes right after Hindi film actors such as Kartik Aaryan, Katrina, Aditya Roy Kapur had tested positive. Akshay has recently recovered from the infection. According to reports, Katrina could not attend the IIFA 2022 event in Abu Dhabi as she was on a road to recovery from Covid. On the work front, SRK has three films on his platter - ‘Pathan’, ‘Dunki’ and ‘Jawan’, a highly-anticipated film with Atlee. Taking a pan-India route, ‘Jawan’ will release in five languages - Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada on June 2, 2023.
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30
ENTERTAINMENT
Vol 2, Issue 9, June 16-30, 2022
Final autopsy report cites ‘myocardi- Kamal Haasan-starrer ‘Vikram’ pummels al infarction’ as reason for KK’s death competition, collects Rs 33 cr on first day
Kolkata, June 4: The final post-mortem and chemical analysis reports of playback singer Krishnakumar Kunnath, popularly known as KK, was handed over to the Kolkata Police on Saturday. Both the reports cited ‘myocardial infarction’ as the cause of the singer’s death. As per the final post-mortem report,
cholesterol accumulation narrowed the posterior intramuscular artery to a great extent which affected the pumping of blood by the heart. There were blockages in the coronary artery as well. Sources in Kolkata Police said that they had taken up the investigation by filing an FIR relating to unnatural death.
“But after the preliminary and final pos-mortem reports, as well as the chemical analysis report, the theory of unnatural death can be ruled out now,” said an official on condition of anonymity. In what turned to be his final show at the Nazrul Mancha in south Kolkata on Tuesday evening, KK had complained of uneasiness a number of times and even went to the backstage restroom to take rest. Doctors feel that those were subtle signals of the forthcoming danger, which those present there, including KK himself, might have ignored. Had KK insisted on concluding the performance and rushed to a nearby hospital, there could have been a possibility of avoiding the unfortunate end. There are also reports that due to overcrowding of the auditorium, which was filled almost double the seating capacity, the air-conditioning machines lost much of their cooling effects, resulting in suffocation. In fact, while performing, KK himself was insisting on switching off the spotlights and was also seen using towels to wipe the sweat.
South gets adventurous, goes the whole hog (IANS Column: B-Town) South Indian films are dubbed and released in the Hindi market, what will remain for our Hindi producers to remake!? In God We Trust: The Temple Run Of late, filmmakers have been veering towards themes based on nationalism with a patriotic film in-between. They like to cater to popular tastes. This audience’s taste is determined by a lot many things, the chief among them being the prevalent national mood. And that national mood, again, is what gives a film ready acceptance. A film needs to reflect the mood of the masses, which then at once identify with the film. The growing popularity of Southdubbed films across India and the massive success most of these have recorded recently has started a flow of such films into the Hindi belt. So far so good, for the cinemas need content on a continuous basis. South Indian films can now easily cater to any Indian seeking entertainment from films. There is nothing that the South films lack compared to the Hindi language. In fact, they offer much more and better content. Their production is slick, the money spent on the films shows on the screen. What is more, the breed of stars is as suave and trendy as any other young person across the country. Some of these stars may have been around for long, but to the Hindi audience, they come across as fresh faces compared to our 50+ stars. Most of all, the South actors are backed by films with scripts that stick to traditions while being contemporary at the same time. The action is always claptrap and the final outcome is slick. Somehow, when a South hero fells ten men with one kick, it looks more convincing than when the same action is done by a Hindi film hero! It is becoming more obvious now when the TV movie channels and OTT platforms are full of Southdubbed films. Why do Hindi remakes of South often fall short of the original? I think it is that just because it is not something you worked on and conceived, you can’t nurture it the way the one who did. Of course, the Covid-19 pandemic-forced lockdown affected all, including the film industry. Cinemas had to shut down and OTT platforms stepped in as an alternative. Also, the films on movie channels attracted more eyeballs all across and it so happened, South Indian films dominated. The thing is, people are opening up to other sources of entertainment. The Covid-19 pandemic, however, was no reason for Hindi filmmakers to lose touch with their craft and with what the people wanted. Once
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the lockdown was lifted and films started releasing on a regular basis, viewers just wanted the usual entertaining films to be back. With most films, the letdown was gross and total. To add to this, the flow of new films has been uncertain, especially of the big bill movies. The result was that the vacuum had to be filled. The cinemas, after almost two years of lockdown, needed content and dubbed films from the South filled this gap, and successfully at that. Since then, in the last year or so, we have seen South Indian films shattering box-office records and battering the collections of Hindi films. Now, filmmakers in the South have realised that the North (in South trade circles, the Hindi film market is called North) is open to them. You saw South stars on Hindi TV channels promoting their films, print media also giving them due coverage. (Every space needs to be filled.) But now the South is going all the way to consolidate their acceptance in the Hindi market. What they have thought up to promote their new films shows their extreme confidence in their product while also being ready to take risks. The film that had a regular release all over this past Friday, ‘Major’, also had what they call ‘Pre-Release Audience Screenings’ in nine cities across India in the last seven days of May, starting with May 24. The same strategy has been adopted by the makers of the Kannada film ‘777 Charlie’, which is due to be out on Friday (June 10). The film has been having staggered premieres in 21 major cities all over India since June 2! Hindi filmmakers have tried a paid premiere experiment one day before the actual first day, but the experiment has mostly had disastrous outcomes. To have a weeklong pre-release showing of a new film can make or mar it. That, though, is the next step South Indian filmmakers have decided on to become an equal player in the Hindi market. But this makes one wonder, if all
All nationalism may not always work. Especially so when it is a chapter out of Indian history at the time of the Mughals. As per the texts made familiar to us, there were no Indian heroes; they just fought and lost. At best, they merit a two-page mention in primary schools. People readily believe in the ‘Mahabharat’, but not so when it comes to the tales of the valour of kings and ‘samrats’! We now have this film, ‘Samrat Prithviraj’, with the tagline, ‘Aakhari Hindu Samrat’ (The Last Hindu Emperor). The only king who has been identified as the protector of Hindu ways was Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Never knew or learnt of that tag being used for Prithviraj Chauhan. The stakes are high. You can’t bet solely on an actor’s charm. Hinduism is in the air, so might as well use it for a little flavour! Akshay Kumar, actress Manushi Chillar and the film’s director, Chandra Prakash Dwivedi, are out on the pilgrimage circuit, doing the Ganga ‘aarti’ and praying at the Somnath temple with pictures being flashed all over the media. These remind me of our school days and the temple run before the exams and then the results! As things look now, nationalism and Hinduism are being blended. More than religion, the ritual of performing a mahurat for a film’s launch was a tradition. Garlanding the clapper board and the camera being the things to do. It was a tradition and have nothing to do with religion because it was an industry norm and therefore all filmmakers followed it, Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, or from any other belief. Yes, some filmmakers did take a reel from the completed film to Mata Vaishno Devi or the Shirdi Sai Baba temple, or the Siddhivinayak temple in Mumbai, or to Ajmer Sharif for blessings. but that was a matter of personal belief. But no maker went on a pilgrim circuit to promote a film, or to appeal to the sentiments of viewers, least of all film stars. Once completed, a film was the producer’s baby.
Chennai, June 4 (IANS) Kamal Haasan-starrer ‘Vikram’, which was released worldwide on June 3, collected Rs 33 crore at the box office on the first day itself, with Rs 21 crore coming from Tamil Nadu alone. The film directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj has been doing very well in Kerala as well with a collection of Rs 5 crore on the opening day. It did reasonably well in Karnataka (Rs 3.40 crore), Telangana and Andhra Pradesh (Rs 2.9 crore). In the rest of India, the movie collected Rs 0.75 crore, while globally also the movie is doing well, according to trade analysts. With the movie collecting a huge sum on the first day itself, there was a possibility of a drop on the second day but ‘Vikram’ has a huge volume of pre-sales for Saturday. According to some trade analysts, the film is almost certain to touch Rs 85 crore in weekend collections at the all-India level, while some analysts even give the movie a possibility of collecting Rs 90 crore in the first three days. The movie clashed at the national level with the Akshay Kumar-starrer
‘Samrat Prithviraj’ and Adivi Sheshstarrer ‘Major’. Trade analyst Ramesh Bala has predicted that ‘Vikram’ will touch Rs 100 crore in Tamil Nadu alone in a few days. According to analysts, the film will do extremely well in countries like New Zealand, Australia and the US. ‘Vikram’ is written and directed by Lokesh Kanagaraj with Kamal Haasan donning the role of a retired RAW agent. Vijay Sethupathi and
Fahadh Faasil play major roles in the film, which also stars Naren, Kalidas Jayaram, Chemban Vinod, Hareesh Peradi, Swastika Krishnan, Myna Nandhini and Maheshwari Chanakyan in key roles. Tamil superstar Suriya has an extended cameo in the movie. ‘Vikram’ is produced by R. Mahendran and Raaj Kamal International Movies of Kamal Haasan.
Chhota Shakeel’s long shadow over Salmanstarrer ‘Chori Chori Chupke Chupke’ Mumbai, June 13 (IANS) ‘Chori Chori Chupke Chupke’ had a stellar cast (Salman Khan, Rani Mukherjee and Preity Zinta), a story centred around surrogacy (a childless couple use the services of a prostitute to become the surrogate mother of their child), and the hit-maker director duo of Abbas-Mustan, and it was a commercial success too, yet it made headlines for the wrong reasons. The Mumbai Police nabbed the film’s producer, Nazim Rizvi, days before its December 22, 2000, release date and charged him under various sections of the IPC and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). The principal charge against the producer, who had made two C-grade films before he landed ‘Chori Chori...’, was that he was being funded by the feared D-Company operative, Chhota Shakeel, and that they pressured Salman Khan to sign up for the film. A month after Rizvi’s arrest, on January 8, 2001, the film’s financier, the respected diamond merchant Bharat Shah, too, was arrested. The Mumbai Police had hours of tape-recorded conversations between Rizvi and Shah, and between the producer and Chhota Shakeel, to support their charges against the two. The CBI also got into the act -- it seized the film’s prints and handed them over to the court’s receiver. The respect with which Shah was held in his community became apparent when diamond merchants went on a strike on January 10 to protest against the arrest. Ironically, Shah had been provided police protection in 1997 after he’d made a complaint about receiving extortion calls. The case became famous because of the number of film personalities, including Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt, and even Rakesh Roshan, a mafia hit job survivor, who had turned hostile and went back on the depositions they had made to the cops. The sole exception was Preity Zinta. In an in-camera deposition made in the court of the then Sessions Judge, A.P. Bhangale, Preity admitted having received an extortion
threat from a Chhota Shakeel gang member, but she had dismissed it as a crank call. The actress also said Sanjay Dutt and she shared a common secretary, Pankaj Kharbanda, to whom she had disclosed the threat received by her. He may have told Dutt about it. In any case, she said, the entire Bollywood came to know about it. Talking about it years later, Preity said at the India Today Conclave East 2018: “For the record, if I knew everyone was going to back out, I also would have. It was a scary time in my life. I should have been protected. Whatever I said in court was on TV 10 minutes later.” Recalling the all-pervasive fear in the industry, Preity said: “There was definitely fear going around. Because Rakesh ji (Roshan) had been shot. Everyone was paranoid. People would keep their phones switched off, worried that they would get a call.” Preity remembered how everyone was upset with her. “They all said ‘why did you have to be the one to do all this?’ But my way of thinking was different. I didn’t have a family, I didn’t have children.” Bharat Shah applied for bail seven times in the lower courts, and then in the Bombay High Court, but it was rejected on each occasion. Finally, he approached the Supreme Court, which granted him bail. His defence lawyers argued that there was no conclusive evidence to
prove that the voice in the conversations tape recorded by the police was that of Shah. The transcripts of the conversations, they said, were not admissible as evidence because the interception procedure was legally not correct. Judge Bhangale, however, found Shah guilty of concealing information from the police, chargeable under Section 118 of the IPC, and not under any provision of the more stringent MCOCA. Shah was given a one-year jail term, which he did not have to serve because he had already spent 14 months in prison.Both Rizvi and his assistant, Abdul Rahim Allahbaksh Khan, were sentenced to six years’ rigorous imprisonment (by then, they’d already spent 32 months in jail). The judge also imposed a fine of Rs 5,00,000 each on Rizvi and Khan. The two had been found guilty under MCOCA of forging links with Chhota Shakeel in order to target film personalities for personal gains. The arrest and conviction of Bharat Shah proved how close and complicated Bollywood’s relationship with the underworld was, and it sounded a warning bell to those in the movie business to clean up their act. The Bharat Shah conviction came at the same time as the arrest of gangster Abu Salem in Lisbon (2004) and his subsequent extradition (2004). It was curtains for Bollywood’s cosy connections with ganglords and their henchmen.
K’taka police arrest actor Shakti Kapoor’s son in drugs case Bengaluru, June 13 (IANS) Police in Karnataka have arrested Siddhanth Kapoor, son of veteran Bollywood actor Shakti Kapoor, for consuming drugs at a party in Bengaluru. According to police, he was arrested while partying at a five-star hotel in the limits of Halasuru police station on Sunday. The police, after getting a lead, conducted a surprise raid and took 35 persons into custody.
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A 25-member police team had conducted raids and took Siddhanth Kapoor, also an actor, and others into custody, according to preliminary investigations. After medical tests confirmed that Siddhanth Kapoor had consumed drugs, he was arrested. Further investigations are on.
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