Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
MORE STORIES ONLINE Email: info@indianabroad.news
PUBLISHED FORTNIGHTLY DAILY UPDATES ONLINE
How the National Emblem on new Parliament building is unqiue Angry protesters set fire to Sri Lanka PM’s private house - Page 3
First I2U2 projects to promote agriculture, Russia-China ties under stress? food, green energy in India- Page 5
Yogi govt in UP to develop Naimish Dham as Vedic city - Page 7
New Delhi, July 11 (IANS): The 6.5-metre tall fully hand-crafted National Emblem of India on the roof of the new Parliament building, weighing 16,000 kg, is made of high purity bronze. There is no other similar depiction
of the emblem, from the perspective of material and craftsmanship, anywhere else in India. Over 100 artisans from various parts of the country tirelessly worked on the design, crafting and casting of the emblem for over six months to
bring out the quality that could be seen in the final installation. The installation itself was a challenge as it was 32 metres above the upper ground level. Giving wings to the ambition of creating such an expression of the emblem needed dedication, meticulous supervision, and skilful installation -- all depicting various elements of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. When seated on the top of the temple of our democracy - the Parliament building - it truly represents the paradigm of ‘for the people, by the people’. The design The National Emblem is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Asoka which is preserved in the Sarnath Museum. The Lion Capital has four lions mounted back-to-back on a circular abacus. The frieze of the abacus is adorned with sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull, and a lion separated by intervening Dharma Chakras. The profile of the Lion Capital has been adopted as the National Emblem of India. This finds pride of place and the design is adopted for the emblem above the Parliament building. The process of casting of national emblem A computer graphic sketch was made and based on that a clay model was created. Once approved by the competent authorities, the FPR Model was made. Then with the lost wax process, the wax mould and bronze cast was done. The process of lost wax casting To cast the clay into the bronze, a mould is made from the model, and Continue on Page no. 4
‘To maintain majesty of law’: SC sentences Vijay Mallya to 4-month imprisonment - Page 14
H
eartening news for the Australians has emerged after the Australian Bureau of Statistics revealed that more than 88,000 Australians found a job in June, while the number of unemployed residents declined by 54,300 with the unemployment rate falling to its lowest level since 1974. After dropping by 0.4% the unemployment rate is now at 3.5%, as announced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on July 14.
Elaborating on the statistics Head of labour statistics at the ABS, Bjorn Jarvis said, “The 3.4 per cent unemployment rate for women was the lowest since February 1974 and the 3.6 per cent rate for men was the lowest since May 1976.” In fact the report suggests that Australia’s unemployment rate has not seen an upward trend since October 2021 following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions after the lockdowns in late 2021. In the beginning of the pandemic Australia’s unemployment rate showed an upward trend and it increased during lockdown in 2021. But the recent figures reveal a heartening fact that there are 1.7 per cent more residents in a job than the number before the pandemic. Besides, going by the monthly employment rate, it has been found to have undergone eight consecutive
rises. Significantly, an average of around 52,000 people was reported to have found a job each month since November 2021. The ABS report shows that the recent fall in unemployment has seen an almost simultaneous steep increase in job vacancies (480,000 in May 2022) and as a result almost the same number of unemployed people in June 2022 (494,000 people) as vacant jobs. However, despite the rise in the employment rate, it was found that the number of hours employees spend working slightly fell since more people missed work due to an increase in COVID-19 and influenza infections. “In line with large numbers of COVID-19 cases in June, the number of people working reduced hours due to illness continued to be high,”
Continue on Page no. 12
No Chinese military base in the offing, says Solomon Islands’ PM Most Indian businesses now investing in risk management capabilities: Report - Page 25
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare y Indian Abroad Newsdesk When the news of the deal between Solomon Islandsand China reached the international community, it sparked a huge concern, particularly related to the text that said China would be permitted to “make ship visits”. In
B Kaali poster row: Canadian MP Chandra Arya says anti-Hindu, anti-India groups active - Page 30
www.indianabroad.news
By Indian Abroad Newsdesk Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is making an effort to reinstate Australia’s international reputation on climate change, with a promise to “once again be a trusted global partner” on the international community’s bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Addressing the delegates at the Sydney Energy Forum on July 12, Albanese said that Australia is “eager and ready” to move to a net zero world. He hailed Australia’s research and engineering capacity in clean energy technologies. The forum, co-hosted by the Australian government and the International Energy Agency, is an effort to bring government and industry leaders together to pave the way for the development of clean energy in the Indo-Pacific region. After winning the May election the federal government increased the pace of Australia’s climate action. Australia’s emissions 2030 reduction target under the Paris Agreement was increased from 26 to 28 per cent to 43 per cent commitment. Besides, the federal government has plans to decarbonise the electricity grid along with a few other initiatives to speed up the development of clean energy alternatives. Albanese was seeking to promote the climate plans before he left for Fiji later in the day to attend the Pacific Islands Forum. In his speech to the Forum the Prime Minister highlighted Australia’s potential to develop critical minerals needed in solar panels and batteries. His speech read, ” “We have an abundance of
the rare earths and critical minerals that will underpin new energy economies — such as aluminium, lithium, copper, cobalt and nickel.” Emphasizing the country’s commitment the Prime Minister said, “Australia is eager and ready to do our part.” While Australia is back on the table and making efforts to create and implement clean energy technologies, India has claimed that it has achieved clean energy targets nine years ahead of schedule. This was informed by India’s Power Minister RK Singh at the Sydney Energy Forum on July 13. “We reached this target on November 2021 and what our Prime Minister did was ask us to raise our ambition and so in Glasgow (at the UN COP-21) our Prime Minister committed to installing 500 GW of renewable energy by 2030, which would then be 50% of the installed capacity. Despite having among the lowest per capita emissions in the world, we have invested in this energy transition because our traditions teach us to respect and care for our environment. We are not doing this for economic reasons,” the Indian Power Minister said. Continue on Page no. 4
Govt to boost higher education sector after Unemployment rate lowest in almost 50 a ‘reset’ of relations, says Jason Clare years as more Australians find jobs in June I
Gujarat to host 36th National Games in September - Page 18
Game changing sustainable fabrics Page 20
India’s clean energy record may inspire Quad, other countries
a bid to reassure the international community, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Manasseh Sogavare has said there will never be a Chinese military base in his country, emphasizing that any such deal with Beijing would undermine regional security, making Solomon Islands an “enemy” and “put our country and our people as targets for potential military strikes”. Speaking to the Guardian, RNZ and SIBC after signing the security deal with China earlier this year, Manasseh Sogavare laid emphasis on the fact that it was time for the world to “trust us”.“Let me assure you all again, there is no military base, nor any other military facility, or institutions in the agreement. And I think that’s a very important point that we continue to reiterate to the
family in the region,” Sogavare said. “I have said it before and I will say it again, that is not in someone’s interest, nor the interest of the region for any military base, to be established in any Pacific island country, let alone Solomon Islands,” Sogavare said. The Solomon Islands’ Prime Minister has also made it clear that Australia remains the “security partner of choice” for Solomon Islands and China would only be called on to send security personnel to the country if there was a “gap” that Australia could not meet. “If there is any gap, we will not allow our country to go down the drain. If there is a gap, we will call on support from China. But we’ve made it very clear to the Australians, and
/IndianAbroadNews
Continue on Page no. 12
n a recent speech on higher education, Federal Education Minister Jason Clare has said that his government is committed to a “reset” of relations between the government and universities. He has promised that there will be more effort to increase the proportion of students from disadvantaged backgrounds. He said that he is also expediting visa processing to help rebuild Australia’s education export industry. The minister also underlined the fact that he wants Labor’s September jobs summit to discuss how to retain foreign students after they complete their degrees so as to increase Australia’s skilled workforce. The minister in his address, ‘Reset, Rebuild and Reform’, to a Universities Australia dinner in Canberra recently, said that an independent inquiry will be initiated
Jason Clare into the role and function of the Australian Research Council, which looks after the national research grants program. The higher education sector did not progress much under the former government. Clare said that in coming months the government would appoint a group of eminent Australians to spearhead Labor’s planned “Australian Universities Accord”.
Continue on Page no. 9
Albanese govt for providing equal opportunities and pay for women By Indian Abroad Newsdesk The Albanese government is committed to improving the employment scenario in the country. In its bid to do so it is also committed to providing equal opportunities and pay for women, which is one of the many topics laid down for the federal government’s jobs summit to be held on September 1 and 2. As many as 100 invitees from business, unions, civil society groups, and other levels of government will participate in the summit. The summit was referred to by Anthony Albanese in the election campaign. The details of the summit were announced recently. The summit is a near emulation of the Hawke economic summit of 1983, although it will not be that long. Sources say that some of the summit’s outcomes could be
/indianabroadnews
Albanese implemented in the October budget. Individual ministers will be entrusted to lead different areas of work. For instance, Minister for Women Katy Gallagher will co-ordinate work on the women’s labour market, while Employment Minister Tony Burke will lead the job security and wages area. Then there are other areas which will be Continue on Page no. 23
1
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022 Publisher Panda Entertainment Networks
Itching to tell a story? If you have something interesting to tell our readers and can write well, we want you. You can start with us as a feature writer, or, if you are an authority on a subject, then even as a columnist. Long as you know how to string a sentence together, know your words, can spot and tell a story in a clear and coherent way, you can write for us. A good story and a flair for writing is all we need in you. So if you believe some event has been ‘under-reported’; or know a commendable charity, an extraordinary human, or a growing trend among Australia’s Indian community you feel our readers too should know about; or just feel that media did not cover a story the best possible way and that you could have done a better job, we want you to contact us. Give all those inspiring ideas tossing about in your head an outlet. Write for us. Just shoot our editor an mail at editor@indianabroad.news, suggesting the story you want published in Indian Abroad newspaper, and we’ll take it from there. In that email, also attach your current resume in Microsoft Word file, provide your published clips, and tell us about your area of expertise and subjects you like to work on. We look forward to working with you.
Editor Dr Ramana Panda Associate Editor Ananya Sharma Contributors Aena Malhotra Devashish Chakraborty Rabindra Mukherji Sharon Bath Website Design & Updates Panda Entertainment Networks Designing Panda Entertainment Networks Editorial editorial@indianabroad.news Advertising adverts@indianabroad.news Indian Abroad Riverwalk Avenue, Robina,Qld-4226
ADVERTISE WITH US
0488-067-243
www.indianabroad.news
/IndianAbroadNews
/indianabroadnews
2
LEAD STORIES
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
WAR IN UKRAINE
Ukraine probing over 21,000 alleged Russian war crimes
Russian navy receives 1st submarine carrying nuke-powered drones
Kiev, July 7 (IANS): Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said that over 21,000 war crimes and crimes of aggression allegedly committed by Russia
since it began its invasion of Kiev on February 24 is being investigated. Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, Venediktova claimed that she was
receiving reports of between 200 to 300 war crimes on a daily basis. She admitted that many trials would be held in absentia, but stressed that it was “a question of justice” to continue with the prosecutions. Venediktova told the BBC that Russian soldiers who killed, tortured or raped civilians “should understand that it’s only a question of time when they all will be in court”. She said that although her team was working in regions across Ukraine, it was unable to investigate all cases “properly and effectively” because of a lack of access to some people and areas.
In May, Venediktova had said that about 600 suspects had already been identified and 80 prosecutions had begun. The first Russian soldier to be put on trial in Ukraine, Sgt Vadim Shishimarin, was sentenced to life in prison for killing a civilian. The International Criminal Court has described Ukraine as a “crime scene”, dispatching its largest team of detectives ever to the country to assist in multiple investigations. Russia has however, repeatedly denied all war crimes allegations and claims of targeting civilians.
About 1 mn people defending 346 kids killed in Ukraine Ukraine: Defence Minister since beginning of war Moscow, July 9: The Russian navy has received the first submarine Belgorod which is designed to carry Poseidon nuclear-powered underwater drones.
floated out in April 2019 and was initially planned to be delivered to the navy in 2020.
The submarine opens new opportunities for Russia to implement various scientific research tasks and conduct rescue operations in remote areas of the oceans, Xinhua news agency quoted Nikolay Yevmenov, commander-in-chief of the Navy, as saying at a ceremony on Friday.
According to an earlier report by the TASS News Agency, the Poseidon drone is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead with a yield of up to 2 megatonnes to destroy enemy naval bases.
The nuclear-powered Belgorod was
Two more such submarines will be commissioned by 2027.
It can travel fast in an intercontinental range with an operational depth of over 1 km.
Kiev, July 9: Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that about 1 million people are participating in defending the country’s in the wake of Russia’s ongoing war. Some 700,000 soldiers of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, 100,000 officers
SRI LANKA UPRISING Anti-govt protesters storm SL President’s house
Colombo, July 9 (IANS): Demanding the resignation of Gotabaya Rajapaksa, anti-government Sri Lankan protesters on Saturday stormed the President’s House in Colombo braving several police and military barricades and tear gas shells. Security forces fired teargas and water cannons to disperse the protesters but later withdrew and resorted to firing in the air. At least 20 people have been hospitalised following violent clashes between the police and the protesters. Since early Saturday night, there were attempts to disperse the protesters and university students who had occupied the area near the President’s House overnight. The President’s whereabouts are
currently unknown but it is suspected that he is at the heavily-guarded Army headquarters in Battaramulla. A major people’s protest march to Colombo from around the island for Saturday has been planned by religious leaders, political parties, medical practitioners, university teachers, civil rights activists, farmers, and fishermen on Saturday demanding the resignation of President Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. On Friday night, authorities enforced an indefinite curfew in entrance areas to Colombo and the Defence Ministry had warned police and military have been empowered to act against those engaging in any form of violence. Lawyers challenged the declaration of curfew as illegal and announced
that people could ignore it. Since early Saturday, people from all the over the country starting pouring into Colombo in trains and buses, chanting slogans eGota go home’ and eGota a mad man’. In the wake of the island nation’s worst economic crisis since it gained independence in 1948, people have been protesting since March 31 against President Rajapaksa and his government, asking him to step down. In the wake of the violent protests, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, his brother former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa and several other family members who were in the cabinet and parliament resigned. With no fuel country’s transportation have been stopped completely for two weeks and Indian ocean island is virtually under lockdown. The island nation of 22 million people has witnessed its foreign exchange reserves shrink due to economic mismanagement and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result it has struggled to pay for imports of essential goods, including fuel, food and medicine. In May, it defaulted on its debts for the first time in its history after a 30-day grace period to come up with $78 million of unpaid debt interest payments expired.
Angry protesters set fire to Sri Lanka PM’s private house Colombo, July 9 (IANS): Antigovernment protesters on Saturday set fire to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe’s private residence in the heart of Colombo after his security attacked them. The protesters, who marched to Colombo on Saturday morning demanding resignation of President Gotobaya Rajapaksa and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe, stormed the President’s official residence, braving police, and later occupied the Prime Minister’s official resident, the Temple Trees. Later, the protesters marched to Wickremesinghe’s private residence in Colombo 7 and surrounded it, demanding that he step down. However, the police’s elite Special Task Force (STF) attacked the
www.indianabroad.news
protesters and six journalists from a private television station. Angered by the attack, the protesters had set fire to the house of Wickremesinghe who had left it with his wife. “Protesters have broken into the private residence of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and have set it on fire,” the PM’s office announced. At the party leaders meeting summoned by the Speaker to solve the current crisis, Wickremesinghe had refused to resign from his post. Later he announced that he would resign once an all-party government is formed and a political group proved its majority in the parliament.
of the National Police, 90,000 members of the National Guard and 60,000 border guards are involved in the activities of the security and defence sector in Ukraine, Xinhua news agency quoted Reznikov as saying. Ukraine is interested in attracting more investment in its military-industrial complex and creating joint ventures with partners to meet the needs of the defence forces, the Minister said. Due to the war which began on February 24, Ukraine has become a kind of “huge training facility” where new types of weapons and innovative solutions are used, Reznikov noted.
Kiev, July 7 (IANS) Since Russia began its ongoing invasion of Kiev on February 24, at least 346 children have been killed in Ukraine. In its latest update on Thursday, the Office of the Prosecutor General said 645 children have also been injured, reports Ukrayinska Pravda. The Office however, said that the figures were “not final, as work continues to establish the data in places of active hostilities and in the temporarily occupied and liberated territories”. Due to the relentless bombing and shelling by the Russian forces, 2,108 educational institutions in Ukraine have been damaged, of which 215
are completely destroyed. In a report last month, the Unicef had said 3 million children inside Ukraine and over 2.2 million children in refugee-hosting countries are now in need of humanitarian assistance. Almost two out of every three children have been displaced by fighting, according to the UN agency. The Unicef further warned that the war has caused an acute child protection crisis. Children fleeing violence are at significant risk of family separation, violence, abuse, sexual exploitation, and trafficking.
China employed ‘Debt Trap Diplomacy’ to gain strategic edge over SL: Think tank New Delhi, July 10: China employed its devious ‘Debt Trap Diplomacy’ to gain a strategic edge over Sri Lanka, an independent foreign policy think tank said on Saturday after Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe resigned making way for an all-party cabinet to assume control of the country. “In response to Sri Lanka’s financial crisis, China employed its devious ‘Debt Trap Diplomacy’ to gain a strategic edge over the nation and hold its economy hostage. The port cities of Hambantota and Colombo have been leased to China for 100 years. China is now the second largest lender to Sri Lanka, holding more than 10 per cent of Sri Lanka’s outstanding foreign debt in 2019,” Red Lantern Analytica said in a statement. It added that Sri Lanka has fallen apart as a country because of the economic disaster caused by the poor governance, lack of transparency, the Chinese debt trap, and corruption. Sri Lanka’s GDP-to-Debt ratio has been continuously increasing since 2010, when the island nation’s financial downward spiral began, the statement said, adding that an increase in the current account deficit and a steep decline in exports precipitated a full-blown economic crisis in 2019. However, when China took
advantage of the situation to increase Sri Lanka’s debt burden, India gave a helping hand by offering financial packages consisting of a $500 million credit facility for gasoline imports and a $1 billion credit facility for imports of critical products from India, the think tank asserted. Additionally, India has sent $2.4 billion through currency swaps, loan deferrals, and other credit lines. However, it was unable to save Sri Lanka, which was entirely enslaved by Chinese debt and ultimately succumbed to it, added the statement.
The think tank also said that China’s economic help to Sri Lanka was mostly a plan to get political and security leverage against India, and move forward with its expansionist goals along the Indian Ocean Rim. “The nations of the world must learn from the fall of Colombo and avoid falling into China’s debt trap. In addition, other major powers must devise development plans and infrastructure projects for underdeveloped nations to halt the expansion of China’s BRI,” the statement noted.
Amidst public protest, SL President decides to resign on July 13 Colombo, July 9 (IANS): After a months-long massive public agitation, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaska on Saturday informed the Speaker that he would resign from the Presidency on July 13. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene announced that President Rajapaksa had informed him about his decision to resign. People set off fire-crackers as soon as the news broke. Following a massive public march to Colombo on Saturday morning and forcible occupation of the President’s House, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe asked the Speaker to summon the leaders of all political parties and decide on the way to resolve the crisis. A majority of party leaders had decided to remove the President and the Prime Minister and appoint a temporary President and all-party government for a specific period
/IndianAbroadNews
until a fresh election is held to form a government. President Rajapaksa, who had not appeared publicly since Friday night, had announced he would agree any decision taken by the party leaders. Following the all-party meeting, the Speaker had sent a letter to the President and the Prime Minister, urging them to step down for a peaceful transfer of power. Starting from March 31, when President Rajapaksa’s private residence outside Colombo was surround by protesters who demand he step down amidst the growing financial crisis, protests continued throughout the island with one slogan “Gota go home”. On April 2, the protesters surrounded the President’s office at Galle
/indianabroadnews
Face Green and blocked its entrance as they continued to demand that he step down. With no fuel, the country was virtually locked down for two weeks from June 27 but people planned to come to Colombo to demand that the President step down.
3
LEAD STORIES
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
MOHAMMAD ROW FALL-OUT
Amravati killing was carried out to terrorise people: NIA
New Delhi, July 8 (IANS): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Friday claimed that pharmacist Umesh Kolhe’s killing in Amravati was carried out with an intention of instilling fear among a section of people supporting former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma over her controversial remark about Prophet Muhammad. In its FIR lodged in connection with Kolhe’s killing, the investigating body termed the crime an “act of
larger conspiracy” to frighten people who are supporting the suspended BJP leader. A group of people hatched a conspiracy to send out a message to a group of people supporting Sharma and another expelled BJP leader Naveen Kumar Jindal who tweeted in her support. “They conspired to strike terror amongst a section of people of India and with their assertions attempted to promote enmity on grounds of religion. Kolhe’s murder was carried out as part of the conspiracy to “terrorise a section of the people of India,” the NIA has claimed in the FIR. It did not rule out the possibility of the accused having international links. On Wednesday, the central agency
conducted searches at 13 locations in Maharashtra which led them to the recovery of incriminating documents. During searches on the premises of accused and suspects, digital devices (mobile phones, SIM cards, memory cards, DVRs), pamphlets spreading hate messages, knives and other incriminating documents and materials, were seized. The case relates to killing of a pharmacist Umesh Kolhe on June 21, 2022 in Maharashtra’s Amaravati. He was killed for his social media post in which he had supported Nupur Sharma. The case was initially registered with Police Station City Kotvali on June 22. Later, the probe was handed taken over by NIA on July 2. Further investigations in the matter is on.
Gujarat advocate gets life threat for supporting Nupur Sharma
Ahmedabad, July 7 (IANS): Ahmedabad city police have dispatched a team to Kutch to arrest a person who has threatened an advocate for supporting BJP’s suspended former spokesperson Nupur Sharma whose comments on Prophet Muhammad set off a huge controversy in India and abroad. Sabarmati Police Sub Inspector U.K. Pandya is investigating into the complaint lodged by advocate Krupal Raval. Based on technical input, police were able to track down Bhuj
based Shah Nawaz, who had threatened the advocate. Police Station Officer told IANS that on Wednesday itself a police team was dispatched to Bhuj to pick up the accused. Advocate Raval practises law in the High Court and in his complaint with the Sabarmati Police Station, he stated, “On June 13, I had uploaded BJP’s suspended leader Nupur Sharma’s photo as my WhatsApp status around 12.13 p.m. Few minutes later, I realized that this can hurt sentiments of some people and
so I removed it at 12.16 p.m.” He further said that two hours after he removed the photo, he first received a WhatsAapp message, “On what basis are you supporting Nupur Sharma, answer?” Raval blocked the number and on the same day he received a call threatening to kill him. Soon after he left the city and so it took longer to file a complaint. Meanwhile, he spoke to his Muslim friends, from whom he gathered information that a person named Safin living in London had taken his phone’s screen shot and circulated it on social media. His well wisher Muslim friends had advised him not to lodge any complaint, but concerned about his life after the Udaipur and Amravati incidents, he decided to lodge a complaint on the night of July 6.
Man held in UP for threatening to behead Nupur Sharma Bareilly (UP), July 7: One person has been arrested for allegedly threatening to behead former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma whose controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad had set off a huge controversy in India and abroad. The accused Nasir, in a viral video, had threatened Nupur Sharma after which the Faridpur police arrested
him. The FIR against Nasir wad lodged by inspector Naresh. The accused has been booked under the provisions of the IT Act and other provisions of the IPC. In the viral video, Nasir is heard using abusive language against the former BJP spokesperson and also threatening to behead her.
3 held in UP for threatening Nupur Sharma’s supporter Moradabad, July 8 (IANS): Three persons have been arrested for allegedly threatening a supporter of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma in this Uttar Pradesh district. The complainant had uploaded a social media status supporting Nupur Sharma following which the accused allegedly threatened to kill him. All the three accused are in police Continued from Page 1
custody for questioning, officials said. Additional SP Sagar Jain said: “The accused -- Mohammed Faizan, Shahnawaz Alam and Danish -- had threatened to kill the complainant Nirmal Kumar for supporting Nupur Sharma. The accused allegedly said that Nirmal will face a similar fate as those killed in Amravati and Udaipur.”
How the National Emblem on new Parliament building is unqiue
India’s clean energy record may inspire Quad, other countries
the inside of this negative mould is brushed with melted wax to the desired thickness of the final bronze. After removal of the mould, the resultant wax shell is filled with a heat-resistant mixture. Wax tubes, which provide ducts for pouring bronze during casting and vents for the gases produced in the process, are fitted to the outside of the wax shell. Metal pins are hammered through the shell into the core to secure it. Next, the prepared wax shell is completely covered in layers of heat-resistant fibre reinforced plastic, and the whole is
In 2015, India committed to a target that 40 % of its energy would be from renewable sources by 2030 as part of its Nationally Determined Contributions. It is creditable for a developing country like India to adhere to its clean energy targets while maintaining the pace of economic development. India’s efforts to ensure clean energy by raising its renewable energy capacity could be inspirational for other countries, especially India’s Quad allies Australia, Japan and the United States, who are also attending the Forum along with Indonesia’s energy minister.
www.indianabroad.news
inverted and placed in an oven. During heating, the plaster dries and the wax runs out through the ducts created by the wax tubes. The plaster mould is then packed in sand, and molten bronze is poured through the ducts, filling the space left by the wax. When cool, the outer plaster and core are removed, and the bronze may receive finishing touches. Finally, the statue is polished and breezed and ready with clear coat of protective polish and no paint to showcase the rich metal.
Udaipur killing: NIA makes seventh arrest New Delhi, July 10 (IANS): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday said that they have made the seventh arrest in connection with the brutal Udaipur murder. Farhad Mohammad Sheikh alias Babla of Rajasthan is the latest to be arrested for killing of tailor Kanhaiya Lal at his shop, over his support of suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma’s remarks on the
Prophet, on June 28. The case was initially registered on June 29 at Dhanmandi police station, and the NIA re-registered the case and took over the investigation. Farhad Mohammad was a close criminal associate of arrested prime accused Riyaz Attari and said to be an active part of the conspiracy to kill Lal.
The new cross-border terror is far more audacious By D.C. Pathak he two ghastly incidents of Islamic terrorists slitting the throat of a Hindu target at Amravati in Maharashtra and the beheading of another at Udaipur in Rajasthan a week later, in full public view after delivering an open threat in both cases for the support voiced by the victims on social media for now suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her remarks on Prophet Muhammed made during a TV debate, indicate a new level of threat to India’s internal security from radicals manoeuvred by a hostile Pakistan. In both cases, the terror act was preceded by meticulous planning negating the view that these events of raw violence could be attributed to ‘sudden and grave provocation’ linked directly to what the party functionary of BJP had said. Many people in the legal profession have disagreed with the judicial observations made by the apex court while throwing out the request of the ‘accused’ former BJP spokesperson to club together the numerous cases filed against her on the same count. In essence, the court held Sharma directly responsible for the Udaipur beheading of a hapless Hindu tailor. Can it be said that what the BJP representative gave out by way of a ‘spoken’ word -- for which a set of laws is already being applied -- was good enough for a group of people to plan physical violence of gruesome murder of two Hindus for merely agreeing to her remarks? The socio-political environ -- howsoever bad -- cannot legitimise resorting to a medieval kind of public violence. The state in democratic India must punish these ‘terrorists’ on a deterrent note for the sake of its internal security and go all out to uncover the wider conspiracy behind these events involving India’s adversaries, for an equally effective response. In India, all religions are on the same footing as far as respecting the sensitivities of their followers is concerned and no community could claim to be on a different pedestal from others in this regard. It is now becoming clear in the investigation of these cases by the NIA that the acts of terrorism might be the doing of Pakistani agents who have been guided through the planning, resource mobilisation and modus operandi for carrying them out. These events should be seen as the culmination of three alarming aspects of cross-border terrorism which became particularly marked ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- known for his tough stand on Pakistan-sponsored terrorism against India -- returned to power for a second term in 2019. One is the extensive harnessing of Islamic radical outfits by Pak ISI in the proxy war against India in Kashmir and elsewhere -- more so after the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution. It was aided by the re-installation of the Taliban Emirate in Kabul in August 2021 that had come about with the full backing of Pakistan. Secondly, the rise of the anti-Modi lobby comprising elements of the opposition, civil society fora and anti-India forces abroad, with its narratives of majoritarianism, authoritarianism and anti- minority outlook of the regime, has encouraged Pakistan to openly denounce India for promoting Hindutva at the cost of Muslim rights and freedom.
T
/IndianAbroadNews
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan clearly made this allegation while announcing the National Security Policy of Pakistan. His successor, Shehbaj Sharif, has followed it up with a stepped-up propaganda about suppression of human rights in Kashmir -- this was done in an attempt to draw Pakistan closer to the US once again. There is an acceleration of attempts by Pakistan to spread radicalisation and raise potential agents in India through clandestine use of social media for creating terror modules taking advantage of the HinduMuslim conflicts here. It may be recalled that following the ban imposed on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) -- a militant communal front of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind -- in 2006, the Indian Mujahideen (IM) emerged as the Jehad front of SIMI that was responsible for several acts of terror subsequently. IM had strong international links and showed how Islamic terrorism could be whipped out of communal militancy. It is a matter of great satisfaction that India’s intelligence setup is fully geared to detect every potential militant linked with Pakistan or any other foreign entity. The third disquieting development is the stepping up of minority politics by a diminished opposition and its allies for the purpose of garnering electoral numbers -- they campaigned that India under Modi has ceased to be a secular state. This was done in complete disregard of the fact that the built-in secularism of the Constitution ensured that the democratic principles of one man one vote, development of all and equal protection of law to be provided by state governments, could not be diluted. The domestic environ is marked by an increased proneness to communal violence and spread of radicalisation. The case of alleged insult of Prophet Muhammed by a BJP functionary is being used by Pakistan to highlight the overriding identity of Indian Muslims as a part of Ummah and bring in OIC in the picture to buttress this -- an unusual demand was made that India as a nation must apologise for what was at best an indiscreet expression of views by a party person about the Prophet in a debate where a Muslim participant was earlier freely insulting Hindu Gods. The leadership of the minority community here was silent on the ‘internationalisation’ of a domestic event -- it had every right to take it up with the government and protest against it. The sovereign democratic republic of India cannot be questioned by any country on a matter of internal governance. There are forces -- home-based and those operating from across the borders -- which are seizing every opportunity of destabilising this country, particularly on inter-community issues. The narrative of majoritarianism and lack of protection of minorities is now being turned into calls for violence and many leaders of the minority
/indianabroadnews
community are even putting up with foreign-inspired radicalisation and terror. It was clear all along that following the success of the anti-Soviet armed campaign in Afghanistan, Pak ISI had planned to replicate the Afghan Jehad in Kashmir and tried sending the first Taliban Mujahideen into the Valley under the cover of Harkatul Ansar in 1993. It is not surprising that Taliban elements reportedly made an appearance in POK following the recent return of the Kabul Emirate. The militancy in Kashmir is being made an instrument for spreading radicalisation in the rest of the country and stepping up recruitment of terrorists for planned action wherever possible. The incidents of Amravati and Udaipur have to be seen in this larger backdrop and the strategy of dealing with this threat be reframed for urgent action. Time has come for taking to zero tolerance against any violence that adds up to a terrorist activity. Stray communal violence and isolated cases of clash among individuals are on a different footing. It is good that the NIA is going into all the aspects of the Amravati and Udaipur cases, including conspiracy as well as the role of local administrators and police officers. If any political elements are directly involved, no latitude should be shown to them. The Centre needs to demonstrate its political will to legally pursue the matter till its logical conclusion in order to create a deterrence against this kind of dictated violence. It needs to be mentioned that the average members of any minority community in India have the same concerns of livelihood and security as the ordinary people of the majority community here would face -- they all desire to live in peace. Democratic India must sternly put down the violence encouraged out of political motives and in particular counter radicalisation fomented by the adversary. Scan of social media has to be enlarged manifold since this has become an instrument of combat and subversion. People have to be made aware that social media is like a public platform which should be used only for legitimate communication and which is subject to do’s and don’ts governed by the IT Act. Broadly speaking, one should not use social media for anything that one would not be doing or saying at a public forum. Right to privacy cannot be taken for granted while using social media. Indian citizens need to be also educated on national security in a broad sense and on their contribution to the same for the sake of national unity and integrity as enjoined upon them by the Preamble to our Constitution. The country should stand together against terrorism regardless of internal differences on political or religious issues. (The writer is a former Director of Intelligence Bureau. The views expressed are personal)
4
OPINION
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Shinde’s rebellion a wake-up call to all dynasts
By Deepika Bhan The happenings in Maharashtra have thrown up several questions. Is it really a rebellion against a dynasty or a political tussle to get power? Eknath Shinde has made it a fight for “setting the party on the right path”, which clearly means a return to its late supremo Bal Thackeray’s core Hindutva ideology, giving up on the Maha Vikas Agadhi (MVA) alliance and going back to the “old friend”, the BJP. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s dwindling camp and his MVA partners have accused the BJP of engineering the
plot. As the political tussle rages, the country is watching the unravelling saga, which may have a bearing upon the system of dynasts in vogue in a number of political parties. Whatever the result, it may set a new course in the political setup of the country. But the big question is: Can India shake off dynasty politics? Some of India’s most powerful political families include the Gandhis, Tamil Nadu’s Karunanidhi family, Uttar Pradesh’s Yadav family, Bihar’s Lalu Prasad dynasty,
Kashmir’s Muftis and Abdullahs, Punjab’s Badals, Haryana’s Chautalas, Hoodas, Jindals and Bishnois, Jharkhand’s Sorens and Jogis, Scindias in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Thackerays and Pawars in Maharashtra, Sangmas in Meghalaya, Karnataka’s Deve Gowda and Yediyurappa families, the NTR and YSR families of Andhra ... The list is very long. Can these political parties exist without the families that have been controlling them? Can we imagine the Congress without the Gandhis, National Conference without the Abdullahs, RJD minus Lalu or the Samajwadi Party without MulayamAkhilesh, TRS without the Raos, etc, etc? In fact, It may be a difficult proposition, perhaps in most of these parties the family without the party seems to be an unacceptable concept. The party without the family nameplate, or the owner family sans the party, both seem like impossible ideas. Except for the Congress, which briefly had two non-Gandhis at the helm, the rest have not deviated from the family ownership pattern. These parties have seen family feuds, some breaking away and joining rivals or forming new parties, but the family’s hold has not been diluted. Non-family leaders keep trudging along, bowing to the dynasty and fading away in the course of time. Challenge to the dynasty The sudden implosion in
First I2U2 projects to promote agriculture, food, green energy in India
New York, July 15 (IANS): The first projects of the I2U2 will be located in India and help with agriculture, food and green energy, according to the joint statement of the four leaders after the group’s launch. Indian Prime Minister NarendraModi along with his Israeli counterpart YairLapid and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan along with the US President Joe Biden launched the Middle East Quad known as “I2U2” from the initials of the participants. The UAE will invest $2 billion in the agriculture and food project that aims to “maximise crop yields and, in turn, help tackle food insecurity in South Asia and the Middle East,” the statement said on Thursday. Biden claimed that the project that will utilise US and Israeli expertise “has the potential to sustainably increase India’s food yield in the region threefold in just five years”. Gujarat will be the beneficiary of the 300 megawatt wind and solar energy programme and projects like that “have the potential to make India a global hub for alternate supply chains in the renewable energy sector,” the statement added. Speaking through a videolink from India, Modi said, “The I2U2 has established a positive agenda from its very first summit on Thursday.” “We have identified joint projects in several areas and have also made a roadmap to take them forward,” he added. The I2U2 will work in six areas -- water, energy, transport, space, health and food security -- combining the expertise and the resources of the four nations, Modi said. With political and strategic divergences among the four countries,
www.indianabroad.news
the emphasis was on economic and technical cooperation. Unlike in the Indo-Pacific region, where the other Quad of India -- the US, Japan and Australia -- face direct aggressive conduct by China, in the Middle East the challenge for I2U2 is from China’s Belt and Road initiative to extend its power more subtly through predatory lending and trade practices. The US President, who was present in person with Lapid in Jerusalem for the launch, said, “The first two projects that we’re tackling together on food security and clean energy are designed to take on two of the most urgent crises affecting people around the globe: food insecurity.” “Our nations represent some of the most innovative, technologically capable, and entrepreneurial people on the planet,” he added. The mobilisation of the strength of the I2U2 nations can be seen in the two projects in India. UAE will invest $2 billion in the agriculture and food project, and the US and Israeli private sectors will lend their expertise while India will provide the land facilitating farmers’ integration into food parks, the joint statement said. The project will “develop a series of integrated food parks across India that will incorporate state-of-the-art climate-smart technologies to reduce food waste and spoilage, conserve fresh water and employ renewable energy sources,” it added. For the $330 million Gujarat wind solar electricity project that is to be complemented by a battery energy storage system, UAE-based companies are exploring opportunities to serve as “critical knowledge and investment partners,” the statement
said. The US Trade and Development Agency has funded a feasibility study for it and the US and Israel are to work with the UAE and India to highlight private sector opportunities, it added. “Indian companies are keen to participate in this project and contribute to India’s goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030,” it said. UAE President said that he wanted to “emphasise the importance of giving priority during the coming time to research and development, healthcare and space”. Among the future projects mentioned is providing vaccines -- something that has been a focus area for the other Quad in the Indo-Pacific. While putting the spotlight on food and energy security, the joint statement laid out an ambitious agenda ranging from infrastructure for better physical connectivity in the region to financing start-ups, with waste treatment in between. The I2U2 statement detailed them: “We intend to mobilise private sector capital and expertise to modernise infrastructure, advance low carbon development pathways for our industries, improve public health and access to vaccines, advance physical connectivity between countries in the Middle East region, jointly create new solutions for waste treatment, explore joint financing opportunities, connect our startups to I2U2 investments, and promote the development of critical emerging and green technologies, all while ensuring near- and longterm food and energy security.”
Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena has stunned political observers. Can an entrenched dynasty be challenged this way? Perhaps Eknath Shinde has shown the way. A ‘courageous’ move that has all the BJP’s backing. Uddhav Thackeray’s Man Friday is now the rebel. Fifty-six years after the party was formed, the Thackerays are on the brink of losing their Sena. It was on June 19, 1966, when Bal Thackeray formed the party that later made Hindutva its core ideology. Ironically, it is in its founding month that the party is wracked by a coup that is based on the allegations that Bal Thackrey’s son Uddhav and grandson Aaditya deviated from the core ideology and went with those whom the founding father had all along opposed. With support for him growing from within the party, Shinde wants to name his faction as Shiv Sena Bal Thackeray. The tussle within the party is heading towards a legal finish, the result may be whatever, but Shinde has shown that dynasties can be challenged. Wake-up call for all dynasts Maharashtra is a wake-up call for all those who believe that political inheritance and dynastic rule can fetch dividends for all time to come. Rebellions can happen and Shinde has shown the way. The Congress has seen the G-23 rise, even though it has failed to
produce results. On the other hand, the dissenting leaders are slowly ebbing away. Kapil Sibal quit the Congress after he was denied a Rajya Sabha ticket, veterans Ghulam Nabi Azad, Anand Sharma, etc. find no major role in the party now. The Congress continues to depend on Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Vadra Gandhi, even as questions are being repeatedly raised on their ability to lead the party to election victories. Those who felt ‘suffocated’ left the party and some of them are doing very well in their new political addresses, notably Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. But they chose to move out rather than rebel within the party. Dynastic politics is not the hallmark of just the Gandhi family; it is now an integral part of politics in the country. Almost all the states have their own share of parties led by dynasties. In most of the regional dynasty-led parties, voices are raised from time to time, but the rebels just move away to join other parties. The iron grip of the regional satraps on their parties does not allow anyone outside the family to rise. The BJP has been raking up the ‘vices’ of dynasty politics and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been consistently attacking the Gandhis and the regional dynasties. “Democracy in the country will be strengthened only when all political
parties shun dynasty politics and allow the youth of the country to reach the top,” Modi said, terming dynastic politics as a challenge to democracy. Watershed moment Will the Shinde rebellion help rewrite Shiv Sena history? The party saw its first rebellion when Chhagan Bhujbal left the Shiv Sena in 1991, upset that the leadership did not appreciate his work for the party. Bal Thackeray was leading the Sena when Bhujbal broke away with 18 MLAs to support the Congress, which was then in power in Maharashtra. But 12 of the 18 rebels returned to Thackeray’s fold on the same day. Then in 2005, Narayan Rane left the party; in 2006, Uddhav Thackeray’s cousin Raj also left and formed his own political outfit, namely, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). Shinde’s rebellion, however, is totally different from the earlier ones. After securing the support of a majority of the MLAs, his sole demand is a “return to Hindutva” and the dissolution of the MVA combine as it is “annihilating” the party. Will Shinde be able to lead his rebellion to its logical end? That’s the million-dollar question today, but his action is a warning to all other dynasts. (Deepika Bhan can be reached at deepika.b@ians.in)
Russia-China ties under stress? By Asad Mirza Recent events in Ukraine and Taiwan are once again testing the Russia-China ties, as neither has commented upon or shown support to each others actions in different theatres of action. Two time-tested allies, though differing ideologically at present but firmly rooted in the same political ideology roots and having faced several crises together, supporting each other at regional and international level through political brinkmanship are facing a new stress. Though each of them deny publicly of supporting each other, yet no one can discount the secret deals which help further cement their ties. To boost the bilateral ties and trade, a new cross-border bridge between Russia and China was inaugurated on June 10 in the Far East in a bid to further boost bilateral trade between traditional Communist friends, besides countering rising US-led sanctions over Taiwan and Ukraine. Kremlin’s representative in the Russian Far East, Yuri Trutnev, described the bridge as carrying a special symbolic meaning in today’s divided world. While Russia’s Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev said that the bridge would help increase bilateral annual trade between the two countries to more than 1 million tons of goods. Russian authorities claim that the bridge would bring Moscow and Beijing closer together by expanding trade. China’s Vice Premier Hu Chunhua also welcomed the development, saying that Beijing seeks to deepen practical cooperation with Russia in all areas. Russia announced in April it expected commodity flows with China to surge, and trade with Beijing to reach $200 billion by 2024. China is a major purchaser of Russian natural resources and agricultural products. The development comes amid Western criticism of Beijing’s refusal to condemn Moscow’s military operations in Ukraine while also censuring US-led sanctions against Russia and acting arrogantly against Taiwan. China-US Ties It seems as if Chinese tensions with the US are taking a turn for the worse. On June 10, Chinese and US defence ministers held a tense meeting, clashing over Taiwan. Addressing the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin asserted that Washington would do its part to manage tensions with China and prevent conflict. US President Joe Biden declared last month that his country would get involved militarily should China attack Taiwan, although his administration has since claimed that American policy on the issue has not changed. On his part Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe warned Austin that Beijing will “not hesitate to start a war” if Taiwan declares independence. The Chinese minister vowed that Beijing would “smash to smithereens any ‘Taiwan independence’ plot and resolutely uphold the unification of the motherland”, and also “stressed that Taiwan is China’s Taiwan... Using Taiwan to contain China will never prevail”.
/IndianAbroadNews
Russia-China Ties The new bridge further underlies the growing strengthening of relations between China and Russia, albeit with some reservations from both sides. So far, China has not given any public expression of support for Putin’s ‘special military operation’. Xi himself has subsequently stated that China is ‘committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries’. Though Russia has asked for military aid from China but no response has been forthcoming at least publicly, so far. Neither does it seem that China wants to risk being involved in trade wars with the West. Chinese companies, particularly those established in the US, appear to be equally circumspect about breaking US sanctions. Putin’s war in Ukraine has highlighted the resilience and also the limitations of Sino-Russian partnership. Far from being an “arc of autocracy”, this could be described as an interests-based relationship between strategically autonomous powers. Also more rhetorical than time and action tested. Foreign policy coordination between China and Russia is limited by their different views of global order. Beijing wants a stable international system, skewed in its favour, whereas Moscow thrives on disorder and uncertainty. Xi Jinping aims to preserve the Sino-Russian partnership while maintaining ties with the West. But Beijing’s balancing act will become harder to sustain as the war continues. The balance of power within the bilateral relationship has tilted sharply towards Beijing. Russia is more reliant on China than ever. The long-term outlook for the relationship is unpromising. At their Beijing summit in February 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin proclaimed a “friendship without limits”. Yet Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Chinese response to it, has exposed the limitations of the Sino-Russian partnership. Far from being an “axis of authoritarians”, as described by western observers, this is a traditional great power relationship centred in strategic calculus. Chinese and Russian interests diverge in key respects, and the war has highlighted contrasting visions of global order and disorder.
/indianabroadnews
Xi Jinping has attempted to chart a “neutral” course that maintains the partnership with Russia but protects China’s global interests. This balancing act might become harder to sustain if the Ukraine war drags on. Both sides value the partnership as too important to fail. But over time, its strength may erode. As both pursue different global ambitions, the cohesions may become fewer. The relationship will become increasingly unequal and dysfunctional, and would be defined principally by its constraints. China’s regional ambitions Meanwhile, Central Asia has become of increasing strategic importance to China as a result of the RussiaUkraine conflict, which has pinched direct supply chain routes between China and the EU. It is just like how Russia views Ukraine and other former Soviet republics in its immediate neighbourhood. China has invested much in C+C5 alliance, supported by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in terms of security and trade. The trade aspect also includes the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), which includes Russia as well as C+C5 members Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, while Uzbekistan is an observer nation and expected to join the block soon. Interestingly, China has a Free Trade Agreement with the EAEU but has not yet agreed tariff reductions. When it does, regional China-Central Asian trade will increase significantly. While at its core is the issue of Afghanistan, the C+C5 is intent on becoming an institutionalised regional voice. While the C5 already have their own dialogue arrangements with Russia, which also includes infrastructure developments and trade, the China format allows them some ability to compare as well as cooperate. Given the issues between Russia and the European Union right now, winners will be China and the C5 states. Thus, though for the time being China will continue to support Russia, and may not give-up the ideological common ground militarily but economic factors may impel it to overlook Russian interests in certain matters, as it continues to consolidate its global power and also in the central Asian region guided by its economic goals. (Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi. He writes on Muslims, educational, international affairs, interfaith and current affairs)
5
INDIA
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Shinde, Fadnavis meet PM Modi
New Delhi, July 9 (IANS): Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Saturday. The Prime Minister’s Office tweeted: “The Chief Minister of Maharashtra
Shri @mieknathshinde and the Deputy Chief Minister Shri @ Dev_Fadnavis called on PM.” Earlier on Saturday, before meeting PM Modi, Shinde and Fadnavis addressed the media here. Answering a question about portfolio allocation, Shinde said:
“Tomorrow is Aashadhi Ekadashi. We (Shinde and Fadnavis) will meet in Mumbai after that and then discuss portfolio allocation.” Asserting there is no political agenda regarding the first visit to the national capital with Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after forming the government in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Saturday said the portfolio allocation would take place after Aashadhi Ekadashi that falls on Sunday. Responding to a question if the government will last (the remaining) two and a half years (term of the assembly), Shinde claimed, “We will not just last the remaining term but also win the next polls with 200 MLAs.” Since landing in Delhi on Friday evening, both Fadnavis and Shinde called on President Ram Nath Kovind, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and also BJP president J.P. Nadda as part of what they termed as “courtesy meetings”.
Punjab Police conduct statewide search operation against drugs, gangsters Chandigarh, July 9: In order to infuse fear among the anti-social elements and instill a sense of safety and security among the common people, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Saturday led to conduct cordon and search operation in all 28 police districts. DGP Yadav, who was joined by ADGP (Law and Order) Ishwar Singh in Mohali to conduct the operation, said with the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led government adopting zero-tolerance policy against drugs and gangsters, such operations would continue. “Since, we have tightened the noose around drug smugglers and gangsters, I would warn such anti-social elements to voluntarily leave the state otherwise the Punjab Police will deal them with a heavy hand,” the DGP said. Interacting with the media on the sidelines of the operation, the DGP said the topmost priority of the government is to further strengthen the fight against drugs to make Punjab a drug-free state, besides eliminating gangster culture, maintaining law
and order, and detection of crime. He said basic policing which includes keeping vigil in vulnerable spots and advance preparation to tackle any untoward situation would be revived and police stations will be upgraded. Answering a query on harassment of residents with this operation, he said the operation is being conducted for residents’ safety and security and residents welfare societies were
also taken into confidence before conducting this operation. “We have strictly instructed all the police personnel to deal with every resident in a friendly and polite manner while conducting door-todoor checking during the course of this operation,” said DGP Yadav. Meanwhile, such operations will also help in activating and mobilising the police force by making direct contact with the public.
Army carries out rescue ops for Amarnath Yatris at Baltal 27 newly-elected Rajya
Srinagar, July 9: The Indian Army is continously carrying out rescue operation for the Amarnath Yatris injured in the cloudburst at Baltal in Kashmir. The Army in a statement on Saturday said the rescue team immediately rushed to the site after getting information about the casualties. “An Infantry Battalion led by Colonel along with Quick Reaction Teams, an additional company worth of personnel from Sector RR and a team from Special Forces reached the holy Amarnath cave along with specialised rescue equipment to undertake the rescue operation,” the Army said. “Through the night, Commander Sector RR & CO Infantry Battalion oversaw and coordinated rescue operations from the holy cave and Nilagrar. Medical resources at holy cave and Nilagrar were activated
and additional resources deployed. Nine surveillance detachments with hand held thermal imagers, night vision devices and other night sights were also deployed for search operations.” “Two ALH helicopters were moved for casualty evacuation at holy cave, however owing to bad weather, night landing at the Amarnath cave was unsuccessful. Two Through Wall Radars and two search and rescue dog squads were also moved to the holy cave for rescue operations.” The Army said that the search, rescue and medical effort continued early Saturday morning. “At 6.45 a.m. the first ALH landed at site to commence evacuation of the injured. A total of 15 dead and 63 injured Yatris have been rescued. Both Army and civilian helicopters are carrying out relentless sorties to evacuate the injured and the dead.”
“The medical treatment of the injured Yatris (pilgrims) is ongoing. A total of 28 patients have been evacuated from the holy cave to Nilagrar advanced dressing station. After stabilising, 11 persons have further been moved to SKIMS Srinagar in civil helicopters for treatment. Fifteen bodies have been moved from holy cave to Nilagrar.” “Stranded Yatris are being escorted by Indian Army personnel till Baltal since the track is slushy and slippery. Simultaneously search was also commenced early morning at Amarnath Nar at Sangam for any possible casualties,” the Army added. Lt General ADS Aujla, GOC Chinar Corps and Major General Sanjiv Singh Slaria, GOC Kilo Force, visited the Amarnath cave early Saturday morning to review the rescue and medical efforts being undertaken by the Indian Army. The GOC Chinar Corps also interacted with the Yatris and locals and assured of all possible help from the Indian Army. “Citizens are advised to contact Army helpline number + 919149720998 for assistance/enquiry. Callers are also advised to have details of Yatris such as name, Yatra registration/RFID number, contact number, Aadhaar number and the last known location and time.” “The Indian Army is committed to assist the Yatris in all possible ways and under all circumstances. The rescue and medical efforts will continue through the day and details will be updated for general information of the public.”
India to surpass China as world’s most populous country in 2023: UN
Sabha members take oath New Delhi, July 8: Twenty-seven newly elected Rajya Sabha members, including Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal, took oath on Friday. Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Mukul Wasnik, RLD’s Jayant Chaudhary and BJP’s Surendra Singh Nagar are prominent names among the members who took oath. The members elected to the Rajya Sabha during the recent biennial polls took oath in the presence of Chairman of the House M. Venkaiah Naidu in the chamber of the Upper House. These 27 members from 10 states took oath in 10 languages - 12 in Hindi, four in English, two each in Sanskrit, Kannada, Marathi and Oriya and one each in Punjabi, Tamil and Telugu. Four of the 57 newly-elected members have taken oath recently. During an interaction with some leaders and members of the House after the oath taking ceremony, Chairman Naidu clarified that those elected members who are still to take oath also can vote in the Presidential election on July 18. Naidu further elaborated that from the date of the notification of the winners in the elections to Rajya Sabha, they are deemed to be Members of the House and making
oath/affirmation is only a prerequisite for the newly elected members to participate in the proceedings of the House and of its Committees. Others who took oath are Vivek K. Tankha, K. Laxman, Laxmikant Vajpayee, Kalpana Saini, Sulata Deo and R. Dharmar. Fourteen of the 57 members were re-elected to the House. Naidu informed that the ensuing Monsoon Session of the House will also be held as per the Covid-19
protocol conforming with the social distancing and safety norms. Naidu urged the members to uphold the dignity and decorum of the House through meaningful deliberations and abiding by the rules and conventions. Rajya Sabha Chairman advised the members to make proper use of the ample opportunities that will be available under various instruments of the House and to attend the House regularly during the sessions.
300 women police officers to attend all-India summit in Shimla
than 1.4 billion each, accounted for most of the population in these two regions. The world’s population is projected to reach 8 billion on November 15, 2022. The latest projections by the United Nations suggest that the global population could grow to around 8.5 billion in 2030, 9.7 billion in 2050 and 10.4 billion in 2100.
New Delhi, July 11: India is projected to surpass China as the worlds most populous country in 2023, according to a UN report. More than half of the projected increase in global population up to 2050 will be concentrated in just eight countries: Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines and Tanzania. Disparate
www.indianabroad.news
growth rates among the world’s largest countries will re-order their ranking by size. In 2022, the two most populous regions are both in Asia: Eastern and South-Eastern Asia with 2.3 billion people (29 per cent of the global population), and Central and Southern Asia with 2.1 billion (26 per cent). China and India, with more
Population growth is caused in part by declining levels of mortality, as reflected in increased levels of life expectancy at birth. globally, life expectancy reached 72.8 years in 2019, an increase of almost 9 years since 1990. Further reductions in mortality are projected to result in an average longevity of around 77.2 years globally in 2050. Life expectancy at birth for women exceeded that for men by 5.4 years globally, with female and male life expectancies standing at 73.8 and 68.4, respectively. A female survival advantage is observed in all regions and countries, ranging from 7 years in Latin America and the Caribbean to 2.9 years in Australia and New Zealand.
Shimla, July 8 (IANS): The Ministry of Home Affairs through the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) will be hosting the 10th National Conference of Women in Police on August 5-6 in Shimla in association with Himachal Pradesh Police amid the attendance of 300 officers, Director General of Police (DGP) Sanjay Kundu said on Friday. The national summit is being organised bi-annually by the BPR&D in collaboration with states since 2002. The conference provides a platform for women police officers across ranks to share their experiences, issues relating to women-specific service condition, showcase
/IndianAbroadNews
achievers among women police officers and share best practices to address crime against women. The summit is also a platform through which leadership qualities and abilities of women police officers are enhanced. At the conclusion of the conference, a policy paper is prepared for follow by the Central government and the state governments. The first conference, held in 2002, was a monumental moment. It was inaugurated by L.K. Advani, the then Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. It led to the construction of toilets and restrooms for women in each
/indianabroadnews
police station across the country. In the upcoming two-day conference, various sessions related to work, service conditions of women, interventions on tackling crimes against women and work life balance issues will be discussed. As per the past practices, the conference is inaugurated by the Union Home Minister and attended by Supreme Court judges, women ministers in the Union Cabinet, among other dignitaries. Around 300 women police officers and personnel from states, UTs and Central police forces are expected to participate in the event.
6
INDIA
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Yogi govt in UP to develop Naimish Dham as Vedic city
Lucknow, July 11: The Uttar Pradesh government is all set to develop Naimish Dham as a Vedic city and the global centre for spiritual and religious tourism. An action plan has already been prepared in this regard on the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to develop Naimisharanya pilgrimage site in four phases on the lines of Kashi, Ayodhya and Mathura. According to the government spokesman, the chief minister has also directed concerned authorities to start electric bus and helicopter
services between Lucknow and Sitapur soon in order to facilitate travel to Naimish Dham for pilgrims from both within the country and abroad. Tourism, Urban Development, PWD and Irrigation departments will work together on the project. As per the action plan, the development of prominent projects such as Chakra pilgrimage site, Maa Lalita Devi Temple, Dadhichi Kund and Sita Kund will take place in the first phase while Dadhichi Kund, Rudravart Mahadev, Devdeshwar Temple and Kashi Kund would be developed in the second phase. Similarly, separate action plans have been chalked out for urban and regional development. The chief minister has also issued directives to authorities for ensuring availability of clean water in all the ponds of Naimisharanya, renovation of Chakra pilgrimage site and beautification of Dadhichi Kund and Maa Lalita Devi temple. The government has also decided to expand the area of Misrikh Municipality and develop Kosi Parikrama Path. Furthermore, Yogi Adityanath has instructed authorities to acquire
land as per requirement to carry out tourism development and beautification works in Naimish Dham and make adequate arrangements for tourists’ accommodation, lighting, parking and security, reiterating the government’s commitment to develop the dham, which happens to be the shrine of 88,000 sages. Meanwhile, the Tourism, Urban Development, PWD and Irrigation departments have been directed to prepare a concrete action plan for tourism development in Naimish Dham. The Tourism Department will also prepare a convenient tourism package for Naimishdham. It may be mentioned here that Naimisharanya pilgrimage site is a centre of faith for crores of Sanatan Dharma followers. There are many places of mythological and spiritual significance at Naimish Dham such as Maa Lalita Devi Temple, Chakra, Vyas Gaddi, Soot Gaddi and Hanuman Garhi among others. Lakhs of devotees visit the pilgrimage site every full moon and new moon as well as on occasions such as Navratri and fourteen Kosi parikrama of the month of Phagun.
Over 7,100 pilgrims leave for Amarnath cave shrine from base camp
Srinagar, July 12 (IANS): Amarnath Yatra, which was resumed on Monday after a two-day suspension following flash flood near the cave shrine, continued on Tuesday as another batch of 7,107 pilgrims moved from Jammu base camp towards the Valley.
Flash flood near the cave shrine on Friday killed 16 people and injured 37 while 15,000 were rescued. Reports that 40 pilgrims from Andhra Pradesh are missing have been denied by the Andhra Pradesh government saying that only two pilgrims from that state are still
missing while all others are safe. Officials said Yatra was resumed on Monday from Pahalgam base camp while it was not resumed from Baltal base camp because the 14 km long north Kashmir trek is damaged at three places. “Helicopter services for the Yatris continued from both the base camps to the cave shrine,” officials said. Another batch of 7,107 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu in two escorted convoys for the Valley on Tuesday. “Of these, 5,158 are going to Pahalgam while 1949 are going to Baltal,” officials said. Over 1,20,000 pilgrims have so far had Darshan inside the holy cave shrine. The 43-day long Amarnath Yatra 2022 started on June 30 and will end on August 11 on Shravan Purnima coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan festival.
Killing of chicks gone up alarmingly: PETA
Lucknow, July 12: An investigation carried out by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India has found that the gruesome and killing of chicks has gone up by thousands at a time. (PETA) India, at an emergency press conference held here shared the findings of its latest undercover investigation into numerous hatcheries across major egg- and/ or chicken meat-producing states-Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Uttar Pradesh. Hatcheries are where chicks are born before they are sent to farms. The footage shows day-old chicks being dumped into drums, pits, rubbish bins, and ponds and left to die; buried alive using earthmovers; drowned, crushed, suffocated, and burned alive; fed alive or ground up alive to be fed to fish; and abandoned to be eaten by dogs or eagles.
www.indianabroad.news
Some are coloured with chemicals and sold to children, which means they are ultimately mishandled and commonly starved to death. Among the companies named in PETA India’s report are major industry players like Venky’s, Skylark Group, and Srinivasa Farms. “Newborn chicks are being drowned, burned alive, and killed in other violent and horrific ways at hatcheries across the country, all for the fleeting taste of meat or eggs,” said PETA India Senior Advocacy Officer Harshil Maheshwari. PETA India has called on people, rightfully appalled by these practices, to go vegan today, without any delay. Today, chickens used for meat are bred to have heavy, fleshy upper bodies, while those used for eggs are bred for abnormally high egg production.
Male chicks are considered useless by egg hatcheries because they don’t lay eggs and, thus, they are usually killed. Meanwhile, in both the meat and egg industries, many chicks are rejected because of size or health issues and also killed. PETA India is urging the Indian government to follow in the steps of France and Germany by mandating that the Indian poultry sector adopt in ovo-sexing technology, which allows male embryos to be identified at an early stage of development so that an egg, rather than a live bird, can be destroyed. PETA India has also asked the sector to seek guidance from the Animal Welfare Board of India on the humane handling of chicks who are sick and weak. This investigation marks the second time that PETA India has revealed haphazard, atrocious chick-killing practices in the country. Previously, PETA India had publicised video footage taken by Animals Now (previously Anonymous for Animal Rights) of unwanted chicks in India being drowned, burned, ground up, crushed, and fed alive to fish by the lakhs in 2016. PETA India’s latest investigation proves that the poultry sector continues handling chicks in cruel ways and that a government policy on the matter is an urgent need.
Centre bound to release Abu Salem after 25 years imprisonment: SC New Delhi, July 11 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Monday said the Central government is bound to honour the commitment given to the Portuguese government and release gangster Abu Salem on completion of 25 years imprisonment, following his conviction in the Mumbai serial blasts case. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.M. Sundresh said: “On the appellant (Abu Salem) completing 25 years of sentence, the Central government is bound to advise the President of India for exercise of his powers under Article 72 of the Constitution, and to release the appellant in terms of the national commitment as well as the principle based on comity of courts.” The top court also made it clear that Abu Salem’s detention period will begin from October 2005, and not from September 2002 - when he was arrested pursuing Red Corner notice. Abu Salem was represented by advocate Rishi Malhotra in the top court. After the top court’s order, Abu Salem would be released from jail in 2030. The bench added: “The necessary papers be forwarded within a month of the period of completion of 25 years sentence of the appellant. In fact, the government can itself exercise this power in terms of Sections 432 and 433 of the CrPC. and such an exercise should also take place within the same time period of one month.” At the beginning of the verdict, Justice Kaul, who authored the judgment on behalf of the bench, said crime and punishment is something which has agitated the judicial minds and punishment cannot be disproportionately high or low. “It should not be oppressive, but
should serve the purpose of deterrence against crimes in a society along with a sense of justice to the victim and their family. This is a delicate balance, which has to be kept in mind,” he said. During the hearing, Abu Salem’s counsel contended that the assurance was given to the Portuguese government by India that he will not be either awarded death penalty or punished beyond 25 years, but he has been sentenced with life imprisonment by the court. The top court noted that the Indian government had given a solemn sovereign assurance on December 17, 2002, in view of the powers of the President of India under Article 72(1) of the Constitution. As the President acts on the aid and advice of the government under the provisions of Article 74 of the Constitution and, thus, the government is bound itself to advice the President to commute the sentence to 25 years in view of its commitment to the Courts in Portugal. The bench said it respects the very basis on which the courts of Portugal observed the principles of comity of courts by recognising that there is a separation of powers in India and, thus, the courts cannot give any assurance. “The corresponding principle of comity of courts, thus, has to be observed such that the Government of India having given the solemn assurance, and having accepted the same before us, is bound to act in terms of the aforesaid,” it said. It added that the judiciary had to perform its functions of imposing a sentence in accordance with law, while the executive would have to perform its duty by restricting the sentence in conformity with the assurance given to the Portuguese
courts. The Central government, in an affidavit, had submitted that it is bound by the assurance dated December 17, 2002 and the period of 25 years which is mentioned in the assurance will be abided by it at an appropriate time subject to the remedies which may be available. However, at this, the top court had said: “We did not appreciate the underlined portion aforesaid as once it was recognised that the government would abide by the assurance, nothing more or less was to be said. As far as the courts were concerned, they were to take a view as to the effect of that assurance.” The bench emphasised that the courts must proceed in accordance with law and impose the sentence as the law of the land requires, while simultaneously the executive is bound to comply with its international obligations under the Extradition Act as also on the principle of comity of courts, which forms the basis of the extradition. A special TADA court in February 2015, sentenced Abu Salem to life imprisonment in another case of murdering Mumbai-based builder Pradeep Jain in 1995 along with his driver. The gangster was extradited from Portugal in November 2005.
Delhi Court defers Alt-News co-founder Mohammed Zubair’s bail hearing to July 14 New Delhi, July 12: A Delhi Court on Tuesday adjourned to July 14 the hearing on a bail plea filed by Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair in a case related to an “objectionable tweet” which allegedly promoted enmity between religious groups. Additional Sessions Judge Devender Kumar Jangala noted that the Supreme Court is hearing a separate case in this regard and accordingly, the matter was adjourned. During the course of the hearing, Zubair’s counsel Vrinda Grover reiterated the arguments, in which she questioned what is so provocative about the 2018 tweet even after four years and also said police is constantly adding improvements to the initial case. New charges invoked against Zubair are under Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 201 (causing disappearance of evidence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 35 of the Foreign Contribution
(Regulation) Act. Public Prosecutor Atul Shrivastava, the newly-appointed Special Public Prosecutor for Delhi Police, apprised the court that he is in Bhopal and sought time to reply as the apex court is also hearing the matter. On July 2, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Snigdha Sarvaria at the Patiala House Courts rejected the bail plea of Zubair and granted his 14-day custody as sought by the Delhi Police. “Since the matter is at the initial stage of investigation and given the overall facts and circumstances of the case and nature and gravity of the offences alleged against the accused, no ground for grant of bail is made out,” Sarvaria said while dismissing Zubair’s bail plea. As per the FIR, accused Zubair had used a screengrab of an old Hindi movie which showed an image of a hotel, with its board reading ‘Hanuman hotel’ instead of
‘Honeymoon hotel’. In his tweet, Zubair had written, “BEFORE 2014: Honeymoon Hotel. After 2014: Hanuman Hotel.”The Delhi High Court had earlier issued a notice to the Delhi Police on a plea moved by Zubair challenging the Patiala House Courts’ order allowing his police custody and seizure of his laptop in connection with the alleged objectionable tweet.
Rain fury in Karnataka: Woman, daughter killed in wall collapse Bengaluru, July 12 (IANS): A woman and her daughter were killed in a wall collapse incident in Markawada village of Uttara Kannada district as heavy rain continued to lash Karnataka on Tuesday. Several incidents of landslides, school building and house collapse were reported from coastal as well as north Karnataka region. The deceased are identified as 35-year-old Rukmini Vittal and her 13-year-old daughter Sridevi Vittal. The deceased were asleep when the incident took place. Though the neighbours tried to clear the debris, the victims had succumbed. Meanwhile, the authorities have fished out a youth’s body on Tuesday in Kaniyur near Puttur of Dakshina Kannada district. The search for another body is on. The deceased youth were travelling in a car which was washed away by flood water. The body was found 250 meters away from where the car was recovered. Following heavy rains, people living on banks of river Krishna in north Karnataka and Cauvery in
/IndianAbroadNews
south Karnataka have been asked to shift to dafer places. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, before leaving for rain-affected regions in the state, took stock of the situation from Home Minister Araga Jnanendra, Minister for Revenue R. Ashok and Minister for Energy V. Sunil Kumar. After arriving in Mysuru, speaking to reporters Chief Minister Bommai stated: “We have inputs on loss of life, incidents of house collapse. The survey of loss to agriculture is being conducted.” “Importantly there is road connectivity loss due to heavy rains. There are landslides, Kodagu district has experienced earthquakes, and there is sea erosion. In north Karnataka, houses on river banks are damaged. First phase crop loss survey has been done in the state and I will get details in the evening,” he said. CM Bommai maintained that the National Disaster Management Authority has got Rs 739 crore funds to take up rescue and relief operations in the state. There is no dearth of funds for taking up relief work. There are sensitive seismic zones in
/indianabroadnews
Kodagu which experienced tremors recently. It has been happening in the same places. He further maintained that the entire government is engaged in addressing the woes of people in rain-affected regions. “I will issue directions for the district administration. I will stand with people,” he says.
7
AUSTRALIA
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Australia cuts Covid reinfection Sydney inundated with flood waters, residents asked to evacuate period to 28 days
Canberra, July 9 (IANS): The Covid-19 reinfection period or Australians has been advised to be reduced to 28 days, according to a statement from a medical expert committee. The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC), which is made up of federal, state and territory chief health officers, made the recommendation, reports
Xinhua news agency. “Given reinfections may occur as early as 28 days after recovery from a previous COVID-19 infection, the AHPPC advises that the reinfection period be reduced from 12 weeks to 28 days,” it said. That means people who test positive for Covid more than 28 days after ending isolation due to previous infection should be reported and
managed as new cases. It warned that Australia was at the beginning of a new wave of infections driven by the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants. “This winter, we are experiencing significant community transmission of both COVID-19 and influenza, which is placing real stress on our community and health system,” the AHPPC said. “We expect that this wave will lead to a substantial increase in infections, hospitalizations and sadly, deaths, at a time when our communities and health systems are already under strain.” On Saturday, Australia reported more than 35,000 new Covid cases and over 70 deaths. The country’s overall caseload and death toll now stood at 8,413,831 and 10,225, respectively. There were 3,977 cases being treated in hospitals, including 141 in intensive care units.
Sydney, July 4 (IANS): Floods triggered by heavy rainfall across Australia’s southeast coast since last week has once again inundated Sydney and large parts of New South Wales (NSW) state, triggering the evacuation of thousands of residents. NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet addressed the public on Monday, urging residents in affected areas to follow emergency instructions, reports Xinhua news agency. “I want to continue to ask people to follow the instructions of the State Emergency Service (SES). If there is an evacuation warning in place, please get ready to evacuate. If there is an evacuation order in place, please leave immediately.” He said the NSW SES have received 1,593 requests for assistance overnight to Monday morning, and during the same time SES workers have performed 83 flood rescues.
Across the state and in Sydney, there are currently 70 evacuation orders in place affecting over 32,000 people. Seven emergency evacuation centres have been established in the worst affected areas of the state. Rain and storm conditions are forecast to continue before easing on Tuesday. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said parts of the state would receive an additional 50 to 100 mm of rainfall, which could prompt further flash flooding. The sudden flooding is in part due to the overflow of the state’s major dams which have been at 100 per cent capacity due to Australia’s historically wet summer. Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the unprecedented and unrelenting floods were a “very serious situation” and were further evidence to the lived reality of
climate change in Australia. “The process from here is that the NSW government needs to formally declare a disaster. We are expecting that will happen pretty soon and that will trigger a whole range of federal and state government support,” Watt told national broadcaster ABC News on Monday morning.
NSW state commits to ‘historic’ handover Test skipper Cummins urges people of parkland to indigenous owners
to donate to crisis-hit Sri Lanka
Colombo, July 9 (IANS): Australia Test captain Pat Cummins on Saturday urged the world to donate wholeheartedly to Sri Lanka, which is in the midst of a massive economic crisis. The pace-bowling stalwart posted a video on social media and listed the hardships being faced by the island’s people, many of whom are not able to get two square meals a day. Cummins, Unicef’s Australia ambassador who is in Sri Lanka playing a two-Test series, tweeted, “Sri Lanka is facing its worst humanitarian crisis in decades. I recently sat
down with Kowsala and Sathuja (two local girls) in Sri Lanka to speak about their experience and learn more about what’s happening on the ground.” “I have to say it’s an incredible country with fantastic people. However, day to day life here in Sri Lanka is tough at the moment and children are at the very heart of it,” said Cummins in a two-minute video on Saturday. “I recently spoke to Kowsala and Sathuja who live here in Sri Lanka and are a part of Unicef’s Sport for Development Programme.” The two girls narrated the hardships
being faced by children in the country, with many forced to skip school due to the fuel shortage. “Due to the current economic and fuel crisis, it’s been a challenge for us to go to the ground to engage fully with cricket. Because of the fuel crisis, transportation is a problem now. It’s very difficult for use to get the bus,” said Kowsala, the captain of her school’s women’s cricket team. “The teachers are travelling from far and away but due to the fuel crisis, they aren’t coming to school regularly. Because of this, we have been struggling to learn. School is only open three days a week now,” she said, adding, “Most people are only having one meal a day. Most of the people who rely on fishing aren’t able to go fishing due to the fuel crisis. It’s very difficult,” she added. Cummins said he was part of Unicef’s programme which aims to provide “life-saving water, nutrition, health, education and child protection services”, adding that through the video, he wants to send out a message to people to “respond to the rising needs of children” by donating freely.
New Zealand PM in Australia to boost trade ties
into the future,” Xinhua news agency quoted Ardern as saying in a statement. Topics discussed on the form include reconnecting through travel and tourism; trans-Tasman innovation opportunities; labour shortages and the future of work, economic growth challenges post-Covid-19; and climate change collaboration. Australia is New Zealand’s second-largest trading partner after China, with two-way trade accounting for over $13.6 billion in the year to December 2021, statistics show.
Sydney, July 7: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Thursday attended the AustraliaNew Zealand Leadership Forum (ANZLF) in Sydney to boost trade
ties between the two countries. “Building on our trans-Tasman trade and economic links is fundamental to ensuring New Zealanders’ economic security both now, and
Usually held around every 18 months, the forum last took place in 2019 in Auckland before Covid-19. Separate to the ANZLF, Ardern and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will hold their first formal Australia New Zealand Leaders Meeting on Friday in Sydney.
Canberra, July 4 (IANS): The government of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has commenced a programme that would see management of national parkland gradually transferred to the indigenous population. The joint management model would see the handback of national parkland, which covers nearly 1 per cent of NSW’s total area, over a 15-to-20-year period, reports Xinhua news agency. NSW Environment Minister James Griffin said that 30 per cent of the state’s national parks is already under Aboriginal joint management but Aboriginal people only hold title to just over 4 per cent of national parkland. “Expansion of the joint management model in this way would be a historic step that no other Australian jurisdiction and few other countries, if any, have taken,” said Griffin. The programme would also provide job opportunities for Aboriginal people and new business opportunities. About 3.2 per cent of Australia’s population, 812,000 people, were identified as being of Aboriginal and, or Torres Strait Islander origin in
the country’s most recent census data released at the beginning of the month. Indigenous Australians experience lower levels of employment, shorter life expectancies, and reduced access to education compared to their non-indigenous counterparts. Aboriginal Affairs Minister of NSW Ben Franklin said the state government would be seeking input from Aboriginal people on how to make joint management arrangements work best for them while also giving them pathways to employment. “Developing a new model for joint management is one way to make
meaningful progress on improving outcomes for Aboriginal people and communities in New South Wales,” said Franklin. While giving Aboriginal Australians new opportunities to engage with the land, the programme would also bring new knowledge into the conservation of bushland in the state. “This is about reconnecting people to country, aligning with native title processes and integrating Aboriginal knowledge in caring for country in the way they’ve been doing for tens of thousands of years,” added Franklin.
NZ, Aus PMs reaffirm renewed trans-Tasman relationship Sydney, July 8 (IANS): New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese met in Sydney on Friday for their first annual Australia New Zealand Leaders Meeting. The meeting aimed to “further cement the close renewed relationship between Australia and New Zealand”, Xinhua news agency quoted Ardern as saying in a statement. The Prime Ministers discussed cooperation and engagement in the Pacific region, climate change and the responsibility of countries to commit to ambitious climate change action among others. Ahead of the meeting, Albanese said in a tweet that he and Ardern would discuss “opportunities for our countries to grow and improve living standards”. “We live in the most dynamic region
in the world. The possibilities are boundless,” he added.
in Australia in June shortly after Albanese won the election.
The two leaders met informally
Melbourne announces plan to reduce Covid transmission at workplaces Melbourne, July 8 (IANS): Authorities in Melbourne on Friday released a project promising to cut down the transmission of Covid-19 by improving ventilation in office spaces throughout the city.
displacement ventilation air conditioning, which supplies air from the floor level, was the most effective in lowering Covid-19 transmission by 83 per cent, while also reducing energy consumption by 20 per cent.
The project found that while opening windows reduced transmission by 53 per cent, it was not an ideal solution as it increased energy use by up to 20 per cent and was not available to all buildings.
A first-of-its-kind study evaluated three different ventilation systems over three months in vacant office buildings including displacement ventilation air conditioning, in-ceiling air filters, and natural airflow through open windows, reports Xinhua news agency.
“This industry-leading research has identified simple but effective changes that can be implemented in office buildings to help workers feel safe, comfortable and protected,” said Melbourne Acting Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece.
While data shows workers are beginning to return to the office in the wake of strict lockdowns, the return has been a trickle and not the flood many had predicted.
The pilot study found that while all three methods reduced the potential for transmission of airborne viruses, www.indianabroad.news
“Bringing people back to the city safely remains a key priority for the city of Melbourne, and that’s why we have undertaken this pilot study.”
/IndianAbroadNews
Data from the Australian property representative body, the Property Council of Australia, has shown that in May office occupancy rates in Australian cities were still around 50 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.
/indianabroadnews
Beyond addressing workers’ fears about catching Covid-19 in the office, municipal governments have been rolling out various programs to incentivize workers to return to the office, including discounts for meals and free events for people during their lunch breaks. Similarly, businesses have been offering various hybrid work options to allow residents to maintain some of the flexibility of working from home while easing back into office life.
8
WORLD
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
200 shot, killed in holiday weekend Rishi Sunak bids to be UK Prime Minister gun violence across US accounted for during the holiday weekend, at least 11 were classified as mass shootings by the Gun Violence Archive. Any situation where four or more people, excluding the shooter, are killed or wounded by gunshots is considered a mass shooting.
Washington, July 7 (IANS): Gun violence spiked over the Fourth of July weekend and shootings were reported in nearly every US state, with at least 220 people killed and some 570 others injured, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Published tallies showed the number of weekend shootings was
almost equal to the number of resulting injuries, with well over 500 instances of shootings documented nationwide between July 1-4, reports Xinhua news agency. There were only five states where one or more shootings were not reported in that time frame.
The database lists 315 mass shootings across the country since the beginning of this year, and roughly 22,500 deaths caused by any form of gun violence. The number of injuries so far traced to gun violence approaches the total death toll. In 2021, more than 180 people were killed and 516 were injured in shootings that took place during the same holiday weekend.
Of all gun violence incidents
SL President asks Putin to help buy fuel
Colombo, July 7 (IANS): Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has asked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to help the cashstrapped island nation buy fuel as the country is undergoing its worst-ever economic crisis since gaining independence in 1948. Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, Rajapaksa said: “Had a very productive telecon with the Russia President, Vladimir Putin. While thanking him for all the support extended by his government to overcome the challenges of the past, I requested an offer of credit support to import fuel to (Sri Lanka) in defeating the current economic challenges.” In his tweet, the President said that he also requested Russian flag carrier Aeroflot to restart operations
in Sri Lanka after the airline suspended services to the island nation last month. “We unanimously agreed that strengthening bilateral relations in sectors such as tourism, trade and culture was paramount in reinforcing the friendship our two nations share,” he added. Rajapaksa’s appeal for help comes after Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera issued a stark warning on Sunday saying that the country only had enough petrol left for less than a day under regular demand. Last week, authorities had suspended sales of petrol and diesel for non-essential vehicles in an attempt to preserve its dwindling fuel stocks, reports the BBC. In an effort to tackle the soaring cost of living in the country, the Central
Bank of Sri Lanka on Thursday raised its key interest rates by one percentage point. The lending rate was raised to 15.5 per cent, while the deposit rate was increased to 14.5 per cent, the highest in 21 years. It comes as annual inflation hit a record high of 54.6 per cent June as the cost of food rose by more than 80 per cent amid the crisis. On Wednesday, hundreds of protesters gathered near Parliament building in Colombo as they launched their “final push” to remove Rajapaksa-led government. The island nation of 22 million people has witnessed its foreign exchange reserves shrink due to economic mismanagement and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. As a result it has struggled to pay for imports of essential goods, including fuel, food and medicine. In May, it defaulted on its debts for the first time in its history after a 30-day grace period to come up with $78 million of unpaid debt interest payments expired. The country is currently in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over a bailout. Sri Lanka’s government has said it needs $5 billion this year in support from the international community, including the IMF.
China denies ‘Moon takeover’ plans irresponsibly about China”. “The US side has constantly constructed a smear campaign against China’s normal and reasonable outer space endeavours, and China firmly opposes such irresponsible remarks,” he added, claiming that China has always stood against weaponisation and promoted a shared future of humanity in outer space, RT reported. Beijing, July 5 (IANS): China has rejected claims by the US space chief that Beijing might be contemplating a “takeover” of the Moon as part of its military space program, and accused Washington of seeking to turn space into a “warfighting domain”. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told German newspaper Bild in an interview that the world must “must
be very concerned” about China potentially “landing on the moon and saying, ‘it’s ours now and you stay out’”. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian responded to the accusations on Monday, saying that this was “not the first time that the head of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration has ignored the facts and spoken
When asked to clarify what military purposes China could be pursuing in space, Nelson said that Chinese astronauts are learning how to destroy other countries’ satellites, and claimed that the competition for the south pole of the Moon would be especially intense. He also said that by 2035 Beijing might finish construction of its own Moon station and start experiments a year later.
Continued from Page 1
Govt to boost higher education sector after a ‘reset’ of relations, says Jason Clare The accord would consider the interests of all stakeholders in the higher education sector such as university staff, unions, business, students, parents and all political parties, and look at “everything from funding and access to affordability, transparency, regulation, employment conditions”. It would also look into how universities, TAFEs and other providers worked together. Emphasizing the importance of action to bring equity in education, Clare underscored the point that in 2008 when the Bradley review of higher education was published, only 29% of 25-34 years old had a bachelor’s degree. The review www.indianabroad.news
increased the target to 40% by 2020. The minister said that this target was achieved with the figure now being more than 43%. However, Bradley’s other target such as the one that required 20% of enrolments by 2020 should be students from low socio-economic backgrounds had not been achieved. It is barely 15% enrolments from low socio-economic backgrounds rather than the target of 20% fixed for 2020. Clare said, “Where you live also matters,” It means that in capitals more than 48% of 25-34 years old had a degree, but in regional Australia it was hardly over 20%, and
in more remote areas around 16%. What is more, as Clare highlighted the figures are even worse than that for the indigenous population which is less than 10%. “Where you live, how much your parents earn, whether you are Indigenous or not, is still a major factor in whether your are a student or a graduate of an Australian university,” the minister said. The minister announced $20.5 million over four years to expand the work of the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education at Curtin University.
London, July 8 (IANS) Indian-origin former Chancellor of the Exchequer in the British government Rishi Sunak on Friday formally launched his bid to become leader of the Conservative Party. If he succeeds, he will automatically become Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
He tweeted: “I’m standing to be the next leader of the Conservative Party and your prime minister.” He added: “Let’s restore trust, rebuild the economy and reunite the country.” He also launched a website ready4rishi.com Sunak posted along with the tweet a three-minute video setting out his intentions. He said: “I got into politics because I want everyone in this country to have those same opportunities, to be able to give their children a better future.” He continued: “Our country faces huge challenges, the most serious for a generation. And the decisions we make today will decide whether the next generation of British people will also have the chance of a better future.”
Sunak shot from relative obscurity to fame when the just-ousted Prime Minister Boris Johnson fast-tracked him to the powerful post of Chancellor in 2020. He had been a Member of Parliament for less than five years. He became quite popular within months by providing financial support during the Covid pandemic, including furloughs to employees and soft loans to employers.
But the public liking for him was dented when this year he introduced taxes to reduce the government’s heavy borrowings. This was followed by controversy over his wife avoiding paying taxes in Britain and instead doing so at a lower rate in India from her dividends from shares in Infosys, the Bangalorebased software giant founded by her father N.R. Narayana Murthy. Sunak was then accused of retaining his Green Card in the US, where he had studied and worked. It will not be surprising if his opponents in the upcoming competition cite his wife’s matter and the Green
Card issue against him. The son of a medical practitioner is, however, still one of the favourites in the contest, with probably Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary, the current favourite. Sunak resigned as chancellor on Tuesday, highlighting ideological and policy differences with Johnson. But also saying in his resignation letter that “the public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously”.
Amidst public protest, SL President decides to resign on July 13 Colombo, July 9 (IANS): After a months-long massive public agitation, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaska on Saturday informed the Speaker that he would resign from the Presidency on July 13. Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene announced that President Rajapaksa had informed him about his decision to resign. People set off fire-crackers as soon as the news broke. Following a massive public march to Colombo on Saturday morning and forcible occupation of the President’s House, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe asked the Speaker to summon the leaders of all political parties and decide on the way to resolve the crisis. A majority of party leaders had decided to remove the President and the Prime Minister and appoint
a temporary President and all-party government for a specific period until a fresh election is held to form a government. President Rajapaksa, who had not appeared publicly since Friday night, had announced he would agree any decision taken by the party leaders. Following the all-party meeting, the Speaker had sent a letter to the President and the Prime Minister, urging them to step down for a peaceful transfer of power. Starting from March 31, when President Rajapaksa’s private residence outside Colombo was surround by protesters who demand he step down amidst the growing financial crisis, protests continued throughout the island with one
slogan “Gota go home”. On April 2, the protesters surrounded the President’s office at Galle Face Green and blocked its entrance as they continued to demand that he step down. With no fuel, the country was virtually locked down for two weeks from June 27 but people planned to come to Colombo to demand that the President step down.
Shinzo Abe assassinated, condolences pour in Tokyo, July 8: Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe passed away on Friday, hours after being shot while addressing an election rally in the city of Nara, according to state media. According to state broadcaster NHK, the attack took place at around 11.30 a.m. (local time) near the Yamatosaidaiji Station in Nara city while Abe was making a speech during a Liberal Democratic Party candidate’s election campaign. A doctor attending on Abe at the Nara Medical University Hospital said that the leader died at 08:03 GMT, BBC reported. Abe suffered cardiopulmonary arrest at the scene of the crime and no vital signs were detected when Abe was rushed to the hospital, the doctor said. “During the four-and-a-half-hour treatment, medics tried to stop the bleeding and carried out a blood transfusion, using more than 100 units of blood, but he bled to death,” the doctor said. Abe sustained two wounds, believed to be bullet injuries, but medics could not find bullets during surgery, the doctor added. Abe, 67, immediately collapsed after being shot and was seen bleeding before he was taken to hospital. The suspect, identified as 41-yearold Yamagami Tetsuya, a resident of Nara city, has been arrested. According to the police, the accused told investigators that he was dissatisfied with the former Prime Minister and intended to kill him. Sources added that the suspect worked for the Maritime Self Defense Force for three years until around 2005. Investigative sources told NHK a gun seized at the scene appeared to be handmade. Japan is slated to hold parliamentary election this Sunday. Abe’s visit was only confirmed late last night, so how the suspect
/IndianAbroadNews
managed to find out about this and carry out the attack remains an open question, said the BBC. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the attack was a “despicable act that took place during an election period, which is the foundation of democracy”, state broadcaster NHK reported. “It is totally unacceptable. I condemn the act in the strongest possible terms.” Kishida said he is “lost for words”, describing Abe as a “personal friend”. Global leaders have expressed shock and grief over Abe’s demise. Expressing grief, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted, “I am shocked and saddened beyond words at the tragic demise of one of my dearest friends, Shinzo Abe. He was a towering global statesman, an outstanding leader, and a remarkable administrator. He dedicated his life to make Japan and the world a better place.” Prime Minister Modi also commended Abe for his “immense contribution” to elevating New Delhi and Tokyo relations and remembered his last meeting with the former PM. “As a mark of our deepest respect for former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, a one day national mourning shall be observed on 9 July 2022,” Modi wrote in another tweet. In a telegram of condolence adressed to Abe’s wife Akie Abe and mother Yoko Abe, Russian President Valadimir Putin said, “The hand of a criminal cut short the life of an outstanding statesman who headed the Japanese government for a long time and did a lot to develop good neighborly relations between our countries.” “We maintained regular contacts with Shinzo, in which his excellent personal and professional qualities were fully demonstrated. The bright memory of this wonderful man will forever remain in the hearts of all who knew him,” The Moscow
/indianabroadnews
Timnes quoted Putin as saying. Taking to twitter, French President Emmanuel Macron tweeted that he was “deeply shocked by the odious attack” on Abe. Macron paid tribute to Abe as “a great prime minister” and said “France stands at the side of the Japanese people.” New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern said she was “deeply shocked” and extended condolences to Abe’s family. South Korean president Yoon Sukyeol expressed his condolences to Japan, describing the shooting of Abe as an “unforgiveable act of crime” Former UK PM Boris Johnson tweeted, “Incredibly sad news about Shinzo Abe. His global leadership through unchartered times will be remembered by many. My thoughts are with his family, friends and the Japanese people. The UK stands with you at this dark and sad time.” Abe became Japan’s longest-serving Prime Minister after serving from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2012 to 2020. He stepped down in 2020 citing health reasons. He later revealed that he had suffered a relapse of ulcerative colitis, an intestinal disease, the BBC reported. He was succeeded by his close party ally Yoshihide Suga, who was later replaced by Fumio Kishida.
9
COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Annual event Raja 2022 held
O
rioz WA held their Annual event Raja 2022 at Lynwood Community Centre on
26th June. A beautiful cultural presentation was organized under the auspices of Orioz WA President
Shantanu Kumar and the entire team.
Queensland Telugu Committee gets new executives
T
he Queensland Telugu Committee’s Annual General Meeting was held on 3rd July at Garden City Library, Upper Mount Gravat. Announcements were made revealing the names of the newly elected executive members at this General Assembly. The following are their names: 1. President - Sri Ravi Gundepalli 2. Vice President - Sri Ramakrishna Bulusu
3. Secretary - Sri UmeshVangapalli 4. Treasurer - Sri Ravi VinayakEnamandra 5. Cultural Secretary - Sri RaghavendraSampathirao 6. Executive Member - Mrs. PavaniGandra 7. Executive Member - Mrs. ManjuSegu This yeareach candidate has been unanimously elected, with only one candidature for each position.
The new president Ravi GundepalliGaru took charge and addressed the members in his presidential speech, raising the vision statement of Queensland Telugu Samithi and his team to achieve them. The Queensland Telugu Samiti with Vigneshwara’s blessings has announced their plans to start their programs with VinayakaChavitiVrataKalpa and then carry on with Dasara, Deepavali etc.
ADVERTISE WITH US 0488-067-243
Indian Cooking with Lata Modi BESAN BURFI
CHICKEN MINCE MEATBALL CURRY, CHICKEN KOFTA
MRS. LATA MODI
H
ello friends, It’s peak of winter in our country Australia at this time. On top of that, it is school holidays. Kids are home and you need to have lots of healthy and tasty snacks for kids. We all know that besan gives warmth to our body and it’s particularly good for winter. My kids and grand kids always like besan laddoo as their comfort food. So I make it very often. If you do it very often, you need to have a simple recipe which is quick and tasty. So today I am making
www.indianabroad.news
very tasty besan burfi. Two things to remember in this recipe is the choice of ingredients you can increase or decrease according to your taste. For example the ghee and sugar can be reduced or increased. And the second but most important thing to remember is patience. You can’t rush when you are frying besan. It must be done on a medium heat with love. If we follow these tips, the burfi is bound to be good. So let’s get started and make our family happy. Happy cooking everyone.
INGREDIENTS (for 4-6 people) • One kilo chicken mince • Three medium size onions (made to paste) • Ten cloves of garlic and one big piece of ginger (paste) • Three big tomatoes (blended) Or two table spoon tomato paste • Freshly chopped chillies to taste • One cup fresh natural yoghurt • Lots of fresh coriander chopped
• One cup bread crumbs • Salt to taste • One tea spoon turmeric powder • Two tea spoon coriander powder • Two tea spoon chicken tikka masala powder (optional) • One tea spoon cumin powder • One tea spoon Garam masala • Two tea spoon lemon juice • One cup oil for frying the meat
/IndianAbroadNews
INGREDIENTS (for about 20 big pieces) • Three cup besan (gram flour) • One and a half cup ghee • One and a half cup powder sugar • Pinch of ilaichi powder (cardmom) • Half cup finely chopped nuts of your choice METHOD • In a heavy based wok or frying pan heat ghee on a medium heat. • Add Besan and fry it until it’s golden brown in color and leaves ghee from the sides
of pan. • Once it’s golden brown, the texture will start to become loose. That’s when you add sugar. • Give it a good mix, and turn the heat off. • Grease a tray with butter or oil. • Transfer the mixture in the tray. It will take couple of hours to set. • Garnish with chopped nuts. Once it’s starting to set, quickly make cuts to it choosing the shape you like. Once it’s completely set, it gets hard to cut. Transfer it in an airtight container and enjoy it for up
balls METHOD • In a mixing bowl put chicken mince. • Now add half the ginger garlic paste, some fresh chillies and fresh coriander chopped. • Add salt and lemon juice and breadcrumbs. • Apply some oil on your palms, give it a big mix. • Once all the spices are totally mixed in, make small round shape balls (golf ball size) • In one kilo chicken mince, we might make about 30 balls. • Cover and keep them aside for 10 minutes. • Now heat oil in a frying pan • Fry all the koftas on a medium heat until cooked through and golden brown. STEP TWO • In a big saucepan or pressure cooker, heat two table spoon oil (use the same oil we fried the kofta). • Fry onions until golden brown. • Now add ginger garlic paste, keep frying it for a minute and then ass tomatoes and chillies.
• Add half cup water and keep mixing it quickly so it will not burn. • Now add all the spices and some salt. • Add yoghurt and fry an extra one minute. • Now add two cups of warm water and add the kofta too. • If using a pressure cooker it will take 10 minutes to soften the meatballs. • If using a saucepan, it might take up to 30 minutes on a medium heat. • Garnish with fresh chopped coriander and serve hot.
/indianabroadnews
10
COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Indian gastronomic delights in Athens
G
reece is known for its ancient culture and so is India. And when it comes to the confluence of cultures what can beat the offerings in the form of lip-smacking delicacies for anyone who wishes to reach the sublime through the experience of one’s palate. That an experience of food can lift the spirit leaving an indelible impression is hard to believe till one has oneself experienced. Restaurants in themselves are a part and parcel of contemporary culture and from the cuisines they unleash to the manner they serve the guests are art forms perfected over years of experience by many a restaurateur. Entering any restaurant anywhere in the world is a wonderful experience even for the sheer joy of the food we taste, the flavor we fathom, the ambience we behold and the hospitality we receive. And being an Indian if one happens to go to a foreign land and find an Indian restaurant, it is like visiting India, albeit in miniature. In this context a visit to this Indian restaurant named ‘Indian Palace’ at Michalakopolou, adjacent to Crowne Plaza Athen City Centre is an experience replete with joy and thrill unimaginable. This restaurant is being run by an Indian couple Parminder Singh and ParamjitKaur who serve an extremely delicious Indian menu that will have one salivate till the food is devoured. The menu for vegetarians had many items to satisfy one’s palate. Anyone who is a connoisseur of good food and has discernible quality will no doubt make the observe post the meals that the spices and the salt were in the right proportion, tuned perfectly like the tuning of a musical instrument. Good food is like good music, everything is tuned to perfection with nothing being superfluous. The food ordered for
in this restaurant is ready within 20 minutes or so and is not a burden on one’s pocket. Delicacies like alooparatha, saffron rice and the ones comprising paneer dishes are delicious as much to the palate as to the eyes. One can order food and it is still hot when it reaches you. But along with the food it is the hospitality that adds to its taste and flavor. People as hosts in the Indian Palace give vent to their friendly nature in a typical Indian cultural fashion. Indians have always been known even in the past for their hospitality. The guest is the lord himself. So it seems is the philosophy of the owners and the employees at Indian Palace. Authentic Indian food with authentic Indian hospitality is served leaving the guest spellbound to say the least. What is the best part of the restaurant is that it serves spicy food but they are not too much spicy. Even people who are not Indians enjoy eating there for the simple reason that many like the flavor of Indian cuisines and enjoy their taste. Among the many delicacies one can enjoy dishes like vegetable biryani, spinach paneer and aloogobi. The Indian food experience gels well with a country in Greece that itself boasts of an ancient culture. A friendly host which has a staff that is well trained to know how to deal with the guests adds to the value of the restaurant. Guests, therefore, take a vow to come here again and visit this restaurant every timethey come to this city. Following is an interview with the owners Parminder Singh and ParamjitKaur of ‘Indian Palace’, an Indian restaurant in Athens, Greece. Serving the real taste of India 1. Parminder and Paramjitji, when did you start your career as a
restaurateur in Athens and what was the inspiration behind it? I started my restaurant on 1 June 2022. I opened ‘IndianPalace’ restaurant in Athens,Greece to be proud of my country and my community all over the world. They are the inspiration behind it. 2. What are the specialties of your restaurant and how are these attributes distinct from that of other restaurants in the city? The specialty of our restaurant is the real taste of Indian food.It is ourfamily style concept and hospitality that distinguishes us from other restaurants in the city. 3. Having reached the dizzy heights of success, what would you say are the qualities that have contributed to the success of your restaurant business? I have a very good and strong Indian team in my restaurant.All are very cooperative. They have collectively contributed to our success. 4. Have you faced any challenges so far in running your business? I’m facing many challenges while running my restaurant such ashacking of my Google id; change of address, right location on Google map and showing of phone numbers have not been effected. 5. Are there any future plans to expand your footprints in other countries? I have future plans to expand my footprints i.e. the taste of my India to other European countries. 6. What is your advice to aspiring restaurateurs? My advice to them is to accept the challenges as they come. Do not stop. Provide great service and .enjoy your work.
Cultural evening of art and literature A
rtists from Haryana enthralled the audience with their electrifying performances recently. As part of the Azaadi ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, an
www.indianabroad.news
exclusive book showcasing 75 success stories of Indian-Australians edited by Shri Harmohansingh Walia was also released.
/IndianAbroadNews
/indianabroadnews
11
COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
ISKCON organizes Rath procession
T
he annual Rath (chariot) procession was held by ISCKON Sydney Temple recently to
mark the auspicious occasion of the Festival of Chariots.
Rotary Club Brisbane elects new President
R
otary Club of Brisbane International has recently elected ArunRaniga as its new President for 2022-2023.
Indian actor visits cultural centre in Sydney
R
enowned Indian Actor Prashant Damle and VarshaUsgaokar visited Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the
Consulate General of India, Sydney recently. The duo is presenting a dynamic play in Sydney
Continued from Page 1
No Chinese military base in the offing, says Solomon Islands’ PM many times when we have this conversation with them, that they are a partner of choice … when it comes to security issues in the region, we will call on them first, ” Sogavare said. However, the promises made by the Solomon Islands’Prime Minister
www.indianabroad.news
do not seem to have been credible enough especially in the light of his comments made recently in which he praised China as a “worthy partner”, even going to the extent of saying relationships with some countries “at times can sour”, which has been construed as a reference
to Australia. Moreover, Sogavare had also expressed his desire to see China play a permanent role in training police in his country. He had even welcomed donations of police vehicles and drones from Beijing much to the irritation of Australia and the Western countries.
Unemployment rate lowest in almost 50 years as more Australians find jobs in June Jarvis said. He further said that this was a reflection of the ongoing disruption associated with the Omicron variant and cases of influenza. Jarvis added, “There were around 780,000 people working fewer hours than usual due to own illness in June 2022, almost double the usual number we see at the start of winter.”
/IndianAbroadNews
However, despite the unemployment rate falling, the underemployment rate saw a rise by 0.3 per cent to a rate of 6.1 per cent. Significantly, the youth underemployment also climbed by 1.2 per cent to 13.9 per cent. While unemployment rate is low and must further go down, the underemployment rate needs to be
/indianabroadnews
maintained to its low rate. Australia being home to a multicultural community, people from across the world reach this country in search of better job opportunities. This will necessitate government policy measures to boost investments in key sectors to increase the rate of employment.
12
COMMUNITY NEWS
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Yoga event held
T
he Sydney Sanskrit Society recently held a yoga event. Narasimhaji began the yogasana with Suryanamaskara and taught the participants the various pranayamas that are helpful in bringing order to the mind. A calm and focused mind is a necessary requirement for better learning and retention. Bhastrika,one of the cleansing rituals in yogasana along with Kapalabhati was introduced. Bhramari, imitating a bee, is one of the important exercises in pranayama where the exhalation is practiced longer than inhalation.
Students were asked to slowly push their limits with every practice of yoga to attain perfection at a steady pace. A sumptuous breakfast of upma and chutney were served to the participants for their next session of Sandhi. Prathama students were introduced to the concept of Sandhi. Dwiteeya and Trutiya were challenged to decipher the words and their combinations with their acquired knowledge on the same. Students’ enthusiastic participation kept everyone’s spirits sky high.
Coast multicultural communities IMA Women’s Night held Gold organize networking event A M s part of Ipswich Malayali Association (IMA) Women’s Night, June 2022, the members recently showcased
many talented women from the IMA family. The participants were offered a platform to share their skills and talents and inspire a lot more
talented women members to come forward in the future.
ulticultural Communities Council Gold Coast held a Meet, Greet &
Eat - Multicultural Community networking event. Many prominent members of the community
attended the event.There were also some presentations by the City of Gold Coast on Disaster Management.
Kite Festival held ‘MelaPunjabana Da’ organised Eid celebrated T G E ujarati Community of Queensland (GCQ) held the Winter Kite Flying Festival recently. The Festival was a grand success due to the hardworking and dedicated volunteers, Logan City
www.indianabroad.news
Council, Logan City Rugby Union ClubCouncillor Mindy Russell and event supporters Namaskar Gujarat AustraliaJSK PackagingLoaney Arise Solar.
he ‘MelaPunjabana Da’ fair was held at Mango Hill State school in Brisbane on July 9 from 2 pm to 8 pm. The event
was organised by Urban Pendu Productions in close collaboration with Metric Reality, Allora College and Macallan College.
/IndianAbroadNews
id celebrations were held by the Gold Coast community members on 10th July at the
/indianabroadnews
Labrador State School, Gordon Street between 10 am and 3 pm.
13
BUSINESS
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
BPCL refuels over 100 SL Airline flights CERT-In warns users of multiple bugs in Google Chrome, Zoho software
Chennai, July 8: The Indian government-owned oil marketing company
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) on Friday said that it
refuelled more than 100 flights of the SriLankan Airlines. In a tweet, the BPCL said: “We are pleased to support SriLankan Airlines, with refueling of their long-haul flights at Indian airports, to overcome the Jet Fuel shortage in their country. So far, more than 100 flights have been refueled at #Trivandrum, #Chennai & #Kochi airports.” In reply the SriLankan Airlines tweeted: “Thank you @BPCLimited! We truly value our partnership.” The island nation is undergoing severe economic crisis, and its fuel stocks are extremely limited.
India sees 33% dip in startup funding at $6.9 bn in April-June
Bengaluru, July 7 (IANS): The funding in the Indian startup ecosystem nosedived by a huge 33 per cent to $6.9 billion in the April-June period (Q2), from $10.3 billion in the first quarter (Q1) this year, amid the economic meltdown and layoffs in the funding winter, a report showed on Thursday. In Q2, 121 new startups closed their first funding rounds, four startups turned unicorns, 62 startups got acquired, and five filed their IPOs, according to data intelligence platform Tracxn Technologies. The Indian startups raised $6.9 billion in Q2 in 409 funding rounds
and the top startups were VerSe ($805 million), Delhivery ($304 million), and udaan ($275 million). They were followed closely by ShareChat ($255 million) and upGrad ($225 million). Bengaluru, Delhi, and Mumbai are the top cities attracting the maximum investments, as per the report. “We aim to give industry stakeholders key insights of the ecosystem that would help in business decision making that is backed by extensive market intelligence and thorough research and data analysis,” said Neha Singh, Co-Founder, Tracxn. With Leadsquared, Purplle, PhysicsWallah, and Open becoming new unicorns, the total valuation of unicorns escalated to $31.8 billion in Q2. With respect to exits, while eMudhra, Delhivery, Handicrafts village, Eighty Jewellers, and Veranda Learning Solutions filed for IPOs, Blinkit (By Zomato), Whiteteak (By Asian Paints), and MyHQ (By ANAROCK) were the top acquisitions in the second quarter.
Social Platforms, internet first media, payments, B2B e-commerce and e-commerce enablers are the top sectors receiving the most funding from investors between April and June, the report mentioned. The total funding in Q2 also witnessed a decline in comparison to the same quarter last year (Q2 2021), where the total funds raised were $10.1 billion. “Though investors are a little wary due to the current environment it hasn’t dampened the investment spirit of the community. They have become more decisive about the startups they want to nurture and are focusing extensively from a long-term gain perspective,” said Abhishek Goyal, Co-Founder, Tracxn. While IPV and Blume Ventures topped the investment charts in seed-stage startups, Sequoia Capital and Accel ranked highest in the early-stage startups funding standing. Sofina and DST Global are the leading late-stage institutional investors, theATracxn report mentioned.
Google India to guide 10K startups in tier 2 & 3 cities
New Delhi, July 6 (IANS): Google India on Wednesday announced the launch of Startup School to guide 10,000 startups in tier II & III cities in the country. Startup School is a series of guided online trainings designed to equip early-stage startup founders with the tools, products, and knowledge that growing companies need. The curriculum will feature instructional modules on subjects like shaping an effective product strategy, deep dives on product user value, roadmapping and product requirements document development, building apps for next billion
users in markets like India, driving user acquisition and many more. The nine-week programme will also feature fireside chats between Google leaders and trailblazing collaborators from across the startup ecosystem spanning fintech, D2C, B2B and B2C e-commerce, language, social media and networking, and job search. “There will also be opportunities for founders to gain orthogonal insights from discussions around what makes an effective founder, formalising hiring and more,” Karthik Padmanabhan, Developer Relations Program Manager Lead and Aditya Swamy, Director - Play Partnerships, wrote in a blogpost. With close to 70,000 startups, India is the third largest birthing ground for startups in the world. And as more Indian founders lead their companies successfully to IPOs or unicorn status, it has set off a virtuous cycle wherein their success has ignited aspirations among
young Indians across the length and breadth of the country. Startups are no longer restricted to Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai or Hyderabad. India has multitudes of fast-growing startups headquartered in centres such as Jaipur, Indore, Gorakhpur and more. But, “these account for nearly 50 per cent of all recognised startups in the country. About 90 per cent of all startups fail within the first five years of their journey -- mostly for the same key reasons -- unmanaged cash burn, flawed demand assessment, ineffective feedback loops or lack of leadership,” the blogpost read. “There is a need for programmes which can organise this knowledge into a structured curriculum and deliver it across a wide footprint. Startup School India -- a Google for Startups initiative is designed to do precisely that as we align our efforts to support this expansion,” it added.
New Delhi, July 7: The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), which comes under the IT Ministry, has warned users of multiple vulnerabilities in Google Chrome which could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code and denial-of-service (DoS) conditions on the targeted system.
Chrome due to ‘Heap Buffer’ overflow in ‘WebRTC’, ‘Type Confusion in V8’ and ‘Use after Free’ in Chrome OS Shell.
A remote attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by sending specially crafted requests on the targeted system.
CERT-In also advised users against a ‘Remote Code Execution’ vulnerability that has been reported in a Zoho Corporation software which could be exploited by an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system.
“Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code and denial-of-service (DoS) conditions on the targeted system,” said CERTIn the advisory late on Wednesday. These vulnerabilities exist in Google
The vulnerability (CVE-2022-2294) is being exploited in the wild, said the cyber agency, adding that the users are advised to apply patches urgently.
This vulnerability exists in ‘Zoho ManageEngine ADAudit Plus’ due to a ‘misconfigured XML’ parser that processes user-supplied input
without sufficient validation. “Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an unauthenticated remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system,” warned the cyber agency, advising the users to upgrade to the latest Zoho ‘ManageEngine ADAudit Plus’ security build update.
Twitter claims it suspends 1 mn spam users a day San Francisco, July 8 (IANS): As Elon Musk threatened to scrap the $44 billion Twitter acquisition deal over spam and fake accounts, the microblogging platform has revealed that it is suspending more than 1 million spam accounts a day.
since started to supply him with public tweet data.
The new figure represents a doubling of its previous update.
The one million figure will include accounts that are weeded out as they attempt to join the platform and therefore are never counted as daily users.
Chief Executive Officer Parag Agrawal had said in May that spam account suspensions were running at 500,000 a day, reports the Guardian. The report mentioned that Musk has agreed to buy Twitter for $44 billion, but his lawyers have written to the company accusing it of refusing to provide sufficient information about the number of spam users on the service. It has
Twitter has stated consistently in its quarterly results since 2014 that it estimates its spam account problem to represent less than 5 per cent of its daily active users.
The microblogging platform has just under 230 million daily active users. The Tesla CEO has expressed concerns that the 5 per cent figure is substantially higher, a stance that appears to be a bridgehead for either terminating or renegotiating a deal
that is bound by a tight legal agreement. Twitter has given Musk access to a stream of data comprising more than 500m tweets posted every day to answer his concerns, the report said.
5G FWA subscriptions to exceed 460 mn subscriptions by 2030 New Delhi, July 4 (IANS): As the buzz around 5G gains momentum, 5G-enabled Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) broadband subscriptions to cross 462 million by 2030, from roughly 75 million in 2021. 5G FWA will drive the bulk of the growth beyond 2025, replacing 4G FWA connections that will be still prevalent in some markets across Middle East and Africa (MEA), developing Asia and Latin America until 2024, according to Counterpoint Research. FWA is a scalable cellular wireless option for broadband connectivity to stationary equipment that provides Internet access. “By the end of 2021, only one out of every three households around the world (excluding China) had access to fixed broadband. And only 25 per cent of those households enjoyed speeds greater than 100 Mbps,” said Principal Analyst Tina Lu. As 5G takes centre-stage, the new 5G
network architectures and broader spectrum promises enhanced broadband services at a scale not possible in previous generations. Many developing economies as well as parts of developed economies still suffer from a digital divide with many unable to access broadband connectivity. “5G-enabled Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) is a killer use-case for bridging this digital divide and providing connectivity where fibre or even DSL has not yet reached,” said the report. The report said that there is a significant push from operators and even governments to prioritise national broadband initiatives with 5G FWA becoming integral to their 5G rollout strategies. “The US is currently the single biggest 5G FWA market, with both Verizon and T-Mobile being bullish on 5G FWA with mmWave rollouts ideal for dense urban connectivity,
and sub-6GHz spectrum driving broader coverage and above average throughput speeds,” said Lu. But the last-mile connection to fibre is very costly in rural areas, which opens the need for 5G FWA. “Africa, India, and other South Asian countries (excluding China), on the other hand, have the lowest fibre penetration and thus have the most potential to drive the 5G FWA subscriber growth this decade,” added Lu.
‘To maintain majesty of law’: SC sentences Vijay Mallya to 4-month imprisonment New Delhi, July 11: The Supreme Court on Monday sentenced fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya to four months’ imprisonment for contempt of court in 2017, as he had suppressed information from the court. It also ordered Mallya to deposit $40 million -- which he had transferred to his family members in violation of the court orders - failing which attachment of his properties will begin. A bench of Justices U.U. Lalit, S. Ravindra Bhat, and P. S. Narasimha said: “In the circumstances, in order to maintain the majesty of law, we must impose adequate punishment upon the contemnor and must also pass necessary directions so that the advantages secured by the contemnor or anyone claiming under him are set at naught and the amounts in
www.indianabroad.news
question are available in execution of the decrees passed in the concerned recovery proceedings.” The bench noted that Mallya never showed any remorse nor tendered any apology for his conduct, as it imposed a sentence of four months and fine of Rs 2,000 on him. The bench added that in case the amount of fine is not deposited within the time stipulated, Mallya would undergo a further sentence of two months. The bench also ordered Mallya to deposit $40 million, which he had transferred to his family members in violation of the court orders, failing which attachment of his properties will begin. “The contemnor (Mallya) and the beneficiaries under said transactions, shall be bound to deposit the amount received by such
beneficiaries along with interest at the rate of 8 per cent per annum with the concerned Recovery Officer within four weeks,” it said. “In case the amounts are not so deposited, the concerned Recovery Officer shall be entitled to take appropriate proceedings for recovery of said amounts; and Government of India and all the concerned agencies shall extend assistance and complete cooperation. It shall be open to take such appropriate steps including the appointment of Forensic Auditor(s).” The top court also directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to secure the presence of the contemnor to undergo the imprisonment imposed upon him. “Needless to say, the Government of India including the Ministry of External Affairs and all
/IndianAbroadNews
other agencies or instrumentalities shall carry out the directions issued by this court with due diligence and utmost expediency. A Compliance Report shall thereafter be filed in the Registry of this Court,” it said. On February 10, the top court gave final opportunity to Mallya, seeking his appearance, before it pronounced sentence in contempt case filed by banks, in which he was found guilty. The top court said it has found Mallya guilty of contempt and punishment has to be imposed. It added that going by normal logic, the contemnor has to be heard, but he has not appeared before the court so far. It had said that if Mallya is not present in the hearing, then the
/indianabroadnews
matter will be taken to its logical conclusion. According to a judgment delivered on July 14, 2017, Mallya was found guilty of contempt for not paying Rs 9,000 crore worth of dues to the banks despite repeated directions. Additionally, he was also accused of not disclosing his assets and also secretly trying to dispose of the assets to defeat the purpose of recovery proceedings. On October 6 2020, the MHA told the Supreme Court that the UK Home Office has intimated, there is a further legal issue which needs to be resolved before Mallya’s extradition takes place and this issue is outside and apart from the extradition process having effect under the UK law.
14
BITCOIN UPDATES
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Now top crypto broker Voyager RBI hits hard on Bitcoin, DeFi, crypto trading platforms Digital files for bankruptcy more than $350 million of cash for customers. The proposed plan of reorganisation “contemplates an opportunity for customers to elect the proportion of common equity and crypto they will receive, subject to certain maximum thresholds”, said the company. The company said it has over $110 million of cash and owned crypto assets on hand, which will provide liquidity to support day-to-day operations.
San Francisco, July 6 (IANS): Top cryptocurrency broker Voyager Digital on Wednesday filed for bankruptcy in the US, after top crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC) did the same last week, in which Voyager has made significant investments which the company is yet to get back. It had significant investments in Singapore-based hedge fund 3AC, which failed to make payments on a loan of 15,250 Bitcoins and $350 million USDCs -- that makes the loan worth more than $650 million. “This comprehensive reorganisation is the best way to protect assets on
the platform and maximize value for all stakeholders, including customers,” said Stephen Ehrlich, CEO of Voyager. The prolonged volatility and contagion in the crypto markets over the past few months, and “the default of Three Arrows Capital on a loan from the company’s subsidiary, Voyager Digital, require us to take deliberate and decisive action now,” he said in a statement. Earlier this week, Voyager suspended all trading, deposits, withdrawals and loyalty rewards on its platform.
Voyager said it was actively pursuing all available remedies for recovery from 3AC. The development came as popular crypto tokens such as Bitcoin and Ethereum nosedived by nearly 70 per cent from their record highs amid the economic meltdown. The Monetary Authority of Singapore last week slammed Three Arrows for providing false information and breaching an asset under management threshold. The mega fund, founded by Credit Suisse traders Zhu Su and Kyle Davies, once managed an estimated $10 billion in assets.
Voyager has approximately $1.3 bn of crypto assets on the platform and
Massive personal data of 1 bn Chinese people up for sale on Dark Web leaked data may belong to Chinese citizens as a user on an underground hacking forum claimed to be selling a 23TB database for 10 Bitcoins of billions of Chinese citizens. The information may have been leaked from the Shanghai National Police (SHGA) database, although the Chinese government was yet to react to this. “In 2022, the Shanghai National Police (SHGA) database was leaked. This database contains many TB of data and information on Billions of Chinese citizens,” the post by the user named ‘ChinaDan’ said that also went viral on Telegram. New Delhi/Beijing, July 5: In what could be the biggest-ever data breach, sensitive personal information about more than a billion people has been leaked from a government agency, possibly from China, and put up for sale on Dark Web for 10 Bitcoins. Changpeng Zhao, CEO of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, tweeted that their threat intelligence detected 1 billion resident records for sale on the Dark Web. “It includes name, address, national ID, mobile, police and medical records from one Asian
country. Likely due to a bug in an ElasticSearch deployment by a government agency,” Zhao claimed in his tweet late on Monday. “This has an impact on hacker detection/prevention measures, mobile numbers used for account takeovers, etc. It is important for all platforms to enhance their security measures in this area,” he further posted. Binance has already stepped up verifications for users potentially affected, Zhao said.
“Databases contain information on 1 billion Chinese national residents and several billion case records, including: name, address, birthplace, national ID number, mobile number, all crime/case details,” the post added. The data breach was also referenced by rights activist Fu Xianyi on Twitter, who said the leak was from the “Shanghai public security database”, reports RFA. “Most likely it was leaked from Alibaba Cloud,” the report mentioned.
Media reports claimed that this
Top crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital files for bankruptcy insolvent,” claimed Deribit. The Monetary Authority of Singapore this week slammed Three Arrows for providing false information and breaching an asset under management threshold, the report noted. The mega fund, founded by Credit Suisse traders Zhu Su and Kyle Davies, once managed an estimated $10 billion in assets. Its insolvency has forced major industry players to reshuffle operations and limit customer withdrawals amid a crypto selloff that seemed to catch plenty of mega firms off guard, according to The Verge. San Francisco, July 2 (IANS): Top crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital (3AC) has filed for bankruptcy in the US, days after its liquidation began in the British Virgin Islands, the media reported on Saturday. The liquidation, and now Chapter 15 bankruptcy in New York, comes as popular crypto tokens such as Bitcoin and Ethereum nosedived by
www.indianabroad.news
nearly 70 per cent from their record highs amid the economic meltdown. According to court documents seen by the Financial Times, crypto options and futures exchange “Deribit claimed Three Arrows failed to repay $80 million, as financial woes have plagued the hedge fund”. “The company is or is likely to become unable to pay its debts as they fall due, and is therefore
On Friday, beleaguered crypto lending firm BlockFi announced a deal with leading crypto exchange FTX US, saying it had lost around $80 million from its dealings with Singapore-based 3AC. The Chapter 15 bankruptcy will allow the foreign firm to protect its stateside assets while the liquidation is carried out in the British Virgin Islands.
New Delhi, July 1 (IANS): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has slammed unbacked crypto assets (such as Bitcoin), stablecoins and decentralised finance (DeFi) and crypto asset trading platforms, underscoring the need for regulatory guardrails to ensure financial stability and consumer and investor protection. In its annual ‘Financial Stability Report’ (FSR) 2022, India’s central bank and regulatory body said that the early ramifications are reflected in the crypto ecosystem with one stablecoin losing almost all its value and another depegging from the US dollar. It referred to the collapse of TerraUSD and Luna cryptocurrencies that threw many investors into a panic in May. In a crash, the once bullish TerraUSD and sister coin Luna had lost almost all their value, sending shock waves across the world. “Several vulnerabilities associated with crypto asset markets have been highlighted such as linkages between crypto asset markets and the regulated financial system; liquidity mismatch, credit and operational risks, with the potential spillover to short term funding markets; increased use of leverage in investment strategies; concentration risk of trading platforms; and opacity and lack of regulatory
oversight of the sector,” the RBI report highlighted. The International Organisation of Securities Commissions has noted that DeFi is a spectrum and not a ‘binary outcome’, and that some DeFi products and services may retain a level of centralisation through concentrated ownership of the ‘governance tokens’, or by restricting the governance decisions for users.
Global regulatory efforts continue to focus on risks associated with the crypto ecosystem and the threat of decentralisation. Stablecoins -- whose value is pegged to another asset like a fiat currency or a commodity -- are bad investments and are ill-suited as a form of money, Siddharth Tiwari, the Asia-Pacific head of the Bank of International Settlements (BIS), said last week.
“The risks associated with DeFi include speculative trading, flash loans, cross-border lending and borrowing, front running, cybersecurity, asymmetry and fraud,” said the RBI.
RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said that cryptocurrencies are a clear danger to the financial systems, adding that the world must be mindful of the emerging risks on the horizon.
This has stressed the need for continuous examination of this evolving landscape and its implications for traditional financial institutions.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced that the RBI will roll out the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) in FY23 that will be based on Blockchain technology.
“The growing threat of the crypto-assets ecosystem warrants drastic approaches by national authorities,” the RBI noted.
Crypto friendly Singapore mulls tougher restrictions amid meltdown Singapore/New Delhi, July 5: The Singapore government is planning to introduce additional tough measures to safeguard consumers from the crypto meltdown, including restrictions on retail trading. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Minister in Charge of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), said that the recent market conditions clearly demonstrate the risks with prices of several cryptocurrencies dipping significantly, reports ZDNet. The country, known for a crypto-friendly atmosphere, is now mulling over additional rules in cryptocurrency trading “necessary to safeguard the general public”. “MAS has been carefully considering the introduction of additional consumer protection safeguards. These may include placing limits on retail participation and rules on the use of leverage when transacting in cryptocurrencies,” Shanmugaratnam said in a written response to a parliamentary question. The Singapore authority in January this year restricted the marketing and advertising of cryptocurrency
services in public places. Since then, crypto providers have removed cryptocurrency ATMs and advertisements from public areas and public transport venues. The European Union last week reached a provisional agreement on cryptocurrency regulations that aimed to “protect investors and preserve financial stability”. MAS in May announced plans to pilot use cases of asset tokenisation and assess the feasibility of autonomous trading powered by Blockchain technology. In India, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) last week slammed unbacked crypto assets (such as Bitcoin), stablecoins and decentralised finance (DeFi) and crypto asset trading platforms, underscoring the need for regulatory guardrails to ensure financial stability and consumer and investor protection. In its annual “Financial Stability Report” (FSR) 2022, India’s central bank and regulatory body said that the early ramifications are reflected in the crypto ecosystem with one stablecoin losing almost all its value and another depegging from the US dollar.
It referred to the collapse of TerraUSD and Luna cryptocurrencies that threw many investors into a panic in May. In a crash, the once bullish TerraUSD and sister coin Luna had lost almost all their value, sending shock waves across the world. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said that cryptocurrencies are a clear danger to the financial systems, adding that the world must be mindful of the emerging risks on the horizon.
US charges South African firm, CEO with $1.7 bn Bitcoin fraud Washington, July 1 (IANS): The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has filed a civil enforcement action against a South African company and its CEO for running a fraudulent commodity pool worth over $1.7 billion in Bitcoin -- the largest fraudulent scheme involving Bitcoin charged in any CFTC case -- from thousands of people including 23,000 Americans. The case, filed in the US District Court for the Western District of Texas, charged Cornelius Johannes Steynberg of Stellenbosch, Western Cape, Republic of South Africa and Mirror Trading International Proprietary Limited (MTI) with fraud and registration violations. Steynberg created and operated, through MTI, a global foreign currency commodity pool that only accepted Bitcoin to purchase a participation in the pool, with a value of over $1,733,838,372, the CFTC said in
/IndianAbroadNews
a statement late on Thursday. “The CFTC seeks full restitution to defrauded investors, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, civil monetary penalties, permanent registration and trading bans, and a permanent injunction against future violations of the Commodity Exchange Act and CFTC Regulations,” the commission said in a statement. The CFTC cautioned victims that restitution orders may not result in the recovery of money lost, “because the wrongdoers may not have sufficient funds or assets”. From May 18, 2018 till March 30, 2021, Steynberg engaged in an international fraudulent multilevel marketing scheme, in addition to social media, to solicit Bitcoin from members of the public for participation in a commodity pool operated by MTI. During this period, Steynberg accepted at least 29,421 Bitcoin - with
/indianabroadnews
a value of over $1,733,838,372 at the end of the period, to participate in the commodity pool without being registered as a commodity pool operator as required. “The defendants misappropriated, either directly or indirectly, all of the Bitcoin they accepted from the pool participants,” the agency said.
15
POLITICS
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Rajini, Kamal, Chiranjeevi, Khushboo hail Ilaiyaraaja’s RS nomination
Chennai, July 6 (IANS): Several celebrities from the film industry, including two of Tamil cinema’s top stars -- Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan -- congratulated Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja on being nominated to the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his happiness over Ilaiyaraaja’s nomination to the Rajya Sabha in a tweet in which he said: “The creative genius of Ilaiyaraaja Ji has enthralled people across generations. His works beautifully reflect many emotions. “What is equally inspiring is his life journey -- he rose from a humble background and achieved so much. Glad that he has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha.”
Superstar Rajinikanth tweeted, “My hearty congratulations to my dear friend Ilaiyaraaja who has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha.” He and Ilaiyaraaja are going to reunite after 28 years for R. Balki’s next film with Rajinikanth in the lead. Khushbu Sundar, actress and influential BJP member, was among the first to react to the news. She tweeted: “The greatest. The magician. The Maestro. Illayaraja gets nominated to the Rajya Sabha. What more can we ask for! The most happiest craziest fan like me can’t ask for more. Vaazthukkal (congratulations, sir).” Kamal Haasan, who shares a very close bond with Ilaiyaraaja, also congratulated the Maestro. But his tweet was not a simple one. Writing in Tamil, Kamal Haasan put out a tweet that said, “If it is to honour the incomparable and greatest Ilaiyaraaja for his art, he could be offered the post of the President unanimously. Even then, let us congratulate him for his nomination to the Rajya Sabha.” Telugu Mega Star Chiranjeevi also wholeheartedly congratulated Ilaiyaraaja. He tweeted: “Heartiest congratulations to Shri Ilaiyaraaja, the unparalleled music genius. Your presence in the Rajya Sabha would certainly add the touch of genius to
the Upper House.” On a personal note, he added: “A matter of personal delight for me as I had the good fortune of you composing music for several of my films.” Chiranjeevi went on to thank the Prime Minister for nominating Ilaiyaraaja. “Grateful thanks to Honourable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji for bestowing the well-deserved honour of Presidential nomination as Rajya Sabha members on extremely deserving stalwarts from the film Industry -- Shri K.V, Vijayendra Prasad garu and Shri Ilaiyaraaja garu.” K.V. Vijayendra Prasad, incidentally, was most recently in the news for being the ‘RRR’ screenwriter. One of the greatest music composers of the country, Ilaiyaraaja hails from a small village called Pannaiyapuram in the Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. He has scored music for more than 1,400 movies and composed over 7,000 songs, many of which have gone on to emerge as chartbusters and timeless classics. Winner of five National Awards, Ilaiyaraaja was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2010 and the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second highest civilian award in 2018.
Tejashwi accuses Centre of snatching 1.3cr jobs per month Narendra Modi government of snatching 1.3 crore jobs per month. “During the 2020 Bihar Assembly election, the NDA had promised to provide 19 lakh jobs to people. During the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised two crore jobs and assured that 80 crore people of the country will be employed till 2022. Instead of providing jobs, this government has snatched 1.3 crore jobs per month,” Tejashwi said in a tweet. Patna, July 9 (IANS): Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Saturday accused the
Unemployment is one of the key issues that the RJD leader has been raising against the BJP government and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish
Kumar. During the 2020 Bihar Assembly election, Tejashwi had promised to give 10 lakh jobs in his first cabinet meeting if he was elected to power. The NDA leaders countered his claim with providing 19 lakh jobs to the youth of Bihar. The RJD leader had earlier said that the Prime Minister recently announced to give 10 lakh jobs in next one-and-a-half years. “Bihar government is claiming to provide 19 lakh jobs and the Centre is saying it will give 10 lakh jobs. Will 10 lakh jobs count from the 19 lakh jobs promised in Bihar?” Tejashwi asked.
Punjab CM starts second innings, marries doctor Kaur
India is emerging through Atmanirbhar: Goa Governor
Chennai, July 9 (IANS): Goa Governor P.S. Sreedharan Pillai has said that Indian economy has emerged through Atmanirbhar Bharat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was speaking at a function on the launch of Green Silver Nano particle treated natural fibre saris, here on Saturday.
The Goa Governor said that the British had looted the country and had even forcefully taken over our textile technology during the regime. He said that before the British rule in India, the share of the country in world trade was 27 per cent but after the British left in 1947, the share of our country in world trade was only 2 per cent. Sreedharan Pillai said that Swadeshi
Jagaran Manch’s idea of self reliant or Atmanirbhar Bharat is being promoted in the country now and added that several local level entrepreneurs have come up with quality products. The Goa Governor said that while India is presently 5th in World Economy ratings, Britain lags behind at 6th place. Kanthaswarna Niranjan Kumar received the green silver Nano particle treated natural fibres sari from the Goa Governor. Shekar C. of Anakaputhur natural fibre weaver cluster spoke about the manufacturing of sari and cloth material from natural fibre. Kanthaswarna Niranjan spoke about the need for support from
Government of India to the natural weavers and other textile clusters in the country and asked the Goa Governor to take the initiative. Mahesh Krishnamoorthy of Swadeshi Jagaran Manch presided in the meeting while C. Rajeev of Centre for Policy and Development Studies expressed vote of thanks.
Cong charges BJP of ‘Talibanizing’ India in veil of nationalism Mumbai, July 9 (IANS): In a blistering attack, the Congress on Saturday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of ‘bloodying’ the country’s atmosphere in the guise of ‘hypocritical nationalism’, and labelled it as a ‘Bharat Jalao Party’ against the backdrop of a spate of violent incidents across India. AICC spokesperson Ajay Kumar said in the recent past weeks, there been several instances like the Pulwama killing, murder of Kanhaiya Lal in Udaipur, a jailed terror financer Niranjan Hojai in Assam, in which the BJP’s links have emerged, “tearing the veil” of its hollow nationalism. Detailing the incidents at a media conference, he alleged that the BJP’s activists was involved in some of these killings and terror activities in the country. “A prime accused in the Udaipur killing - one Mohammed Atari turned out to be a BJP worker and employed with a company of a BJP leader Gulabchand Kataria’s sonin-law, and enjoys close ties with several senior BJP leaders,” said Dr. Kumar. Similarly, one of the two Lashkar-eTaiba militants captured in Jammu & Kashmir, Talib Hussain Shah, is a BJP office-bearer and his photos with Union Home Minister Amit Shah have gone viral, while another BJP leader and a Sarpanch, Tariq Ahmed Mir was nabbed in J&K in 2020 on charges of supplying arms to terrorists, he added. Maharashtra Congress Chief Spokesperson Atul Londhe said in
the June 2022 murder of a pharmacist Umesh Kolhe in Amravati, the prime accused Irfan Khan had taken part in the election campaign of local independent MP Navneet Kaur-Rana and her husband MLA Ravi Rana. “The links between the BJP and the Rana couple are no secret... The Amravati killing occurred on June 21, the Udaipur murder took place on June 28, yet Navneet Kaur-Rana wrote a letter to Amit Shah on June 27, demanding the NIA should probe the matter. How did she know about the incident one day in advance? Was it all pre-planned?” Londhe demanded. In the local body elections in Srinagar, the BJP had fielded Mohammed Farooq Khan, a supporter of the terrorist Masood Azhar, while a Dy.SP of J&K Devendra Singh was arrested for transporting two militants to Delhi. “The then Lt. Governor had written a letter saying that it would not be in the national interest to probe the matter. Where is Devendra Singh now? He was in Pulwama during the February 24, 2019 terror attacks and it is still not clear from where the 200 kg RDX used in it came from,” said Kumar. Following the Indian Airlines plane hijack (1999), the former BJP government had released the Jaish-e-Mohammed dreaded terrorist Masood Azhar at Kandahar in December 1999, and he later masterminded the attacks on Indian Parliament (December 13, 2001), the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and Pulwama strike in
February 2019. In Madhya Pradesh, a Bajrang Dal activist Balram Singh was arrested in 2019 in a terror funding matter, and earlier in 2017, Dhruv Saxena of the BJP’s IT Cell was linked with Pakistan’s ISI in an illegal telephone exchange case, said Dr. Kumar. Labelling the BJP as ‘Bharat Jalao Party,’ he said it is not in the national interest to ally with terrorists and sell-out the country’s interests -- and cited the examples of former Congress Prime Ministers who sacrificed their lives without compromising on the nation’s security. Referring to the Amravati incident, Londhe said though it has been over a fortnight since Kolhe was killed, Navneet Rana goes around performing poojas everywhere instead of visiting the Kolhe home to console the family. The Kumar-Londhe duo said that the ‘Bharatiya Jhootha Party’ is attempting to Talibanize India, but the Congress will not allow it at any cost.
In election year, Himachal CM lays foundation for projects worth Rs 55 cr in Shimla Chandigarh, July 7 (IANS): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday tied the knot with Gurpreet Kaur, a doctor from Haryana, in a low-key small private ceremony as per Sikh rituals at his official residence here amidst the presence of Delhi Chief Minister and AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. It is for the first time that a marriage ceremony was solemnised in the Chief Minister’s residence. Mann, 48, divorced his first wife Inderpreet Kaur in 2015. He has two children from that marriage -- daughter Seerat Kaur Mann (21) and son Dilshan Singh Mann (17), who attended Mann’s swearing-in ceremony on March 16. The Chief Minister made a surprise wedding announcement a day earlier. It is believed to be an arranged marriage. Donning golden attire and a yellow turban with traditional studded ‘kalgi’ atop, groom Mann arrived for the wedding under a Phulkari ‘dupatta’ with AAP Rajya Sabha member Raghav Chadha, Kejriwal and a select few AAP senior leaders walking beside him. Kejriwal performed the wedding
www.indianabroad.news
rituals as Mann’s elder brother. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was also performed with the bride’s women friends blocking the entrance of the marriage venue. After the conclusion of Anand Karaj ceremony, the couple took blessings of those present at the wedding. Bride Kaur, 32, an MBBS degree holder from Maharishi Markandeshwar University in Mullana in Ambala district, is the youngest of three sisters. The elder ones are settled in the US and Australia. Just hours before tying the knot, Mann’s would-be bride said the auspicious day has come. “Din Shagna Da Chadyaa (the auspicious day has come (for her wedding),” Kaur tweeted and also posted her photo. Only close family members, including Mann’s mother, sister and a few relatives and friends attended the wedding. Speaking to the media before attending the wedding, Kejriwal said his younger brother Bhagwant Mann is getting married and embarking on a new journey. “My younger brother is getting married and embarking on a new
journey. My best wishes to him,” Kejriwal told the media at the Chandigarh airport. Responding to Mann’s wedding, AAP Rajya Sabha MP Chadha told the media here, “Happiness is back in Bhagwant Mann’s house after a long time.” An elated Chadha added, “Saade veer da vyah, sanu gode gode chah (My brother is getting married, I am extremely happy).” He shared a picture on Twitter with Mann, who was seen in wedding golden attire donning a yellow turban. Consul General of Canada in Chandigarh, Patrick Hebert, greeted the Chief Minister by tweeting, “Beautiful day for a wedding in #Chandigarh. Congratulations to Chief Minister @BhagwantMann and @DrGurpreetKaur_and best wishes for a happy life!” The food menu for the wedding includes karahi paneer, lasagna Siciliano, tandoori kulche, dal makhani, navratan biryani, apricot stuffed kofta and Burrani Raita. A variety of lip-smacking sweets include fresh fruit trifle, moong dal halwa, angoori rasmalai and rabari.
Shimla, July 8: Ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled later this year, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday laid the foundation for four development projects worth Rs 55 crore in Shimla. These include construction of a vegetable market at Darni Ka Bagicha, a flyover in Khalini and foot-over bridges near Vikasnagar. While addressing a public meeting at Dhalli near here, the Chief Minister said these projects would not only prove to be a landmark for Shimla, but would also facilitate locals as well as tourists. He said Shimla is not only the state capital, but also had the distinction of being the summer capital of British India besides being a popular tourist destination. The state government is committed to restore the old glory of Shimla, besides making it a smart city, he said. He said efforts are being made to widen the existing roads, construct pedestrian paths and parking slots, improve water supply and beautify parks. Thakur said the Chabba water supply scheme at an outlay of Rs 70 crore was completed in a record time of nine months after Shimla witnessed unprecedented water
/IndianAbroadNews
crisis in the summer of 2018. He said this has solved the water problem of the town. He also accused the previous state government for ignoring the interests of the people of Shimla. He said the present government has initiated several projects for Shimla to facilitate the people of the state capital. The Chief Minister said a Rs 1,813 crore water supply scheme is being constructed for Shimla, which on completion would provide 24-hour water supply to the people of the town. Thakur also said a double-lane tunnel is being constructed in Dhalli, which would ensure smooth and uninterrupted plying of vehicles on the busy route.
tunnel has been constructed after Independence in Shimla. Stating that he is a silent worker who does not believe in politics of vendetta and vengeance, the Chief Minister thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his benevolence towards the state and its people. He said the Prime Minister chose Shimla for celebrating eight years of the NDA government and again for organising the chief secretaries’ conference in Dharamsala, which showed his affection towards the state. He said 20 more electric buses would be provided for Shimla and 15 for Dharamsala to facilitate the commuters of these towns. A charging station would also be setup at Taradevi near Shimla.
He added that not even a single
/indianabroadnews
16
HEALTH
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
diet not only expands your Ayurvedic drug can help High-fat waistline but also shrinks brain kidney recovery: Study
New Delhi, July 9 (IANS): Patients suffering from ascites -- a condition in which fluid collects in spaces within the abdomen -- can be treated by Ayurvedic poly-herbal drug that has potential not only to slow down the progression of chronic kidney disease but also restore normalcy in functional parameters of the vital organ, a team of researchers has claimed. In a study published in latest issue of Journal of Ayurveda
and Integrated Medical Sciences, Assistant Professor Komala A, Siddesh Aradhyamath and researcher Mallinath IT from JSS Ayurveda Medical College and Hospital in Karnataka gave a range of Ayurvedic formulations along with AIMIL Pharmaceutical’s innovation Neeri KFT for impaired kidneys. “A dose of 20 ml of this ayurvedic formulation daily --morning and evening -- was given for a month,” the researchers said, adding the outcome was positive. The herbal drug not only helped protecting the kidneys of the patients from further damage due to the condition but also helped excreting the collected fluid from their abdomen. The consumption of herbal formulation had flushed out fluid from the abdomen through the urinary tract, said the researchers. The NEERI-KFT, a herbal medicine extracted from plants, is composed of herbs such as Punarnava, Varun, Sigru, Sariva, Makoi and Sirish, also known for their diuretic properties.
Sanchit Sharma from AIMIL Pharmaceuticals told IANS that in the past few years Neeri KFT has proven to be effective in strengthening the kidney as well as clearing toxic fluids from the body. Ascites usually occurs when the liver stops working properly or it malfunctions, leading to a build-up of fluid in the space between the abdominal lining and the organs. Ascites is the most common complication of cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). It affects around 60 per cent of people with cirrhosis within 10 years of their diagnosis, and the two-year survival rate is 50 per cent. Patients suffering with ascites may have the symptoms like painless swelling in the abdomen that worsens rather than going away; abdominal discomfort; weight gain; feeling full after eating a little, shortness of breath as pressure increases in the abdomen, pushing up on the diaphragm and reduction in the space for the lungs to expand.
Sydney, July 10 (IANS): Love to binge on a high-fat diet always? Beware fatty foods may not only be adding to your waistline but also playing havoc with your brain.
exacerbating psychiatric disorders and cognitive decline. We demonstrated this in our study with mice,” said Larisa Bobrovskaya, Associate Professor from the varsity.
An international study led by neuroscientists at University of South Australia established a clear link between mice fed a high-fat diet for 30 weeks, resulting in diabetes, and a subsequent deterioration in their cognitive abilities, including developing anxiety, depression and worsening Alzheimer’s disease.
In the study, mice were randomly allocated to a standard diet or a high-fat diet for 30 weeks, starting at eight weeks of age. Food intake, body weight and glucose levels were monitored at different intervals, along with glucose and insulin tolerance tests and cognitive dysfunction.
Mice with impaired cognitive function were also more likely to gain excessive weight due to poor metabolism caused by brain changes.
The mice on the high-fat diet gained a lot of weight, developed insulin resistance and started behaving abnormally compared to those fed a standard diet.
The findings, published in the journal Metabolic Brain Disease, adds to the growing body of evidence linking chronic obesity and diabetes with Alzheimer’s disease, predicted to reach 100 million cases by 2050.
Genetically modified Alzheimer’s disease mice showed a significant deterioration of cognition and pathological changes in the brain while fed the high fat diet.
“Obesity and diabetes impair the central nervous system,
“Obese individuals have about a 55 percent increased risk of developing depression, and diabetes will double
that risk,” Bobrovskaya said. “Our findings underline the importance of addressing the global obesity epidemic. A combination of obesity, age and diabetes is very likely to lead to a decline in cognitive abilities, Alzheimer’s disease and other mental health disorders,” she added.
Adding salt to your food at table Head injuries in kids can affect may raise your risk of death: Study
brain size, learning difficulties
London, July 10 (IANS): Traumatic brain injury may lead to reduced brain size in some children and teenagers, which can be linked to cognitive problems, a new study has shown. People who experience a serious blow to the head can suffer brain injury resulting in long-term cognitive problems such as difficulties with memory, concentration and solving problems. While the problem has been studied in adults, it is harder in children and teenagers because their brains are growing and changing so rapidly. In the new study, researchers at Imperial College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital collated detailed measurements of children’s
brains that are developing normally and used these as a guide to help spot any differences with children who have suffered a moderate or severe brain injury. They discovered that injury can result in some children’s brain volumes being smaller than expected and found that this can be linked to learning and behavioural problems. Their findings are published in the journal Brain. “The effects of head injuries are complicated and vary from person to person. If we can get to a point where precision analysis of scans assists in routine clinical management, that could help us identify why some children and young people are at risk of learning or behavioural difficulties and provide them with additional support or rehabilitation,” said Professor David Sharp, from the Imperial’s Department of Brain Sciences. “This is really important as difficulties experienced by young people can have lasting impacts on their education and subsequent opportunities in adult life.” The researchers used MRI scans to make detailed measurements of the brains of more than 1,200 healthy children and young people aged from 8 to 22 years, enabling them to understand the normal growth and
development of different areas of the brain. They compared these with brain scans taken of a group of 39 teenagers, aged between 12 and 16 years, who had suffered a moderate or severe brain injury in the previous months or years. Among the 39 teenagers with brain injury, 11 had a reduced volume in at least one area of white matter in their brain and seven had a reduced volume in at least one area of gray matter in their brain. White matter is made up of the “wiring” that connects different parts of the brain, while gray matter is made up of cell bodies where information is processed and thinking takes place. They also found that those teenagers who had relatively smaller brain volume also had issues such as slower mental processing speed, learning difficulties, higher levels of depression, apathy and anger compared to the group of healthy children. Among some children without low brain volume, they or their parents reported difficulties in everyday functioning, highlighting the challenges of addressing the needs of children following an injury.
New York, July 10: Love to add salt to your food at the table? Beware, you may be at higher risk of dying prematurely from any cause, warned a study of more than 500,000 people.
to support recommendations to modify eating behaviours for improving health”, said Professor Lu Qi, from the University’s School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine in the US.
The study, published in the European Heart Journal, defines premature death as death before the age of 75 years.
“Even a modest reduction in sodium intake, by adding less or no salt to food at the table, is likely to result in substantial health benefits, especially when it is achieved in the general population,” Qi added.
Researchers from Tulane University in the US showed that those who always added salt to their food had a 28 per cent increased risk of dying prematurely, compared to those who never or rarely added salt. About three in every hundred people aged between 40 and 69 die prematurely. The increased risk from always adding salt to food seen in the current study suggests that one more person in every hundred may die prematurely in this age group. In addition, the study found a lower life expectancy among people who always added salt compared to those who never, or rarely added salt. Men and women in the habit of always adding salt to their food had 1.5 years and 2.28 years knocked off the life expectancy. The study “provides novel evidence
However, the researchers also found that the risks of salt tended to be reduced slightly in people who consumed the highest amounts of fruit and vegetables, although these results were not statistically significant. “We were not surprised by this finding as fruits and vegetables are major sources of potassium, which has protective effects and is associated with a lower risk of premature death,” said Qi. In an editorial to accompany the paper [3], Professor Annika Rosengren, a senior researcher and professor of medicine at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, who was not involved with the research, writes that the net effect of a drastic reduction in
salt intake for individuals remains controversial. “Given the various indications that a very low intake of sodium may not be beneficial, or even harmful... it is important to distinguish between recommendations on an individual basis and actions on a population level,” Professor Annika Rosengren, Professor of medicine at University of Gothenburg in Sweden, wrote in an editorial accompanying the paper.
US FDA mulls to okay overMP Shocker: Video of boy cradling the-counter birth control pill infant brother’s body goes viral
Bhopal, July 10: In a shocking scene, a 8-year-old boy is seen seated with the body of his 3-yearold brother on his lap in Madhya Pradesh as his family desperately looks around for an ambulance, as per a video going viral. In the video, taken in the state’s Morena, the boy is seen seated on the ground, against a wall, waiting for his father to take the body home for cremation. The father was seen searching for a vehicle to take the body home as the hospital refused to provide an ambulance. As per reports, villager Poojaram
www.indianabroad.news
Jatav had brought his three-year-old son Raja to the district hospital. Raja was suffering from anaemia, and succumbed during the treatment at the government-run district hospital. As the ambulance that brought Raja from Ambah Hospital had returned immediately, Jatav asked the doctors and staff of the hospital for a vehicle to take the body back to the village but they refused, saying that there was no vehicle in the hospital, and asked him to hire another vehicle. A hapless Jatav then came out of the hospital with the body of Raja, along
with his eight-year-old son Gulshan. On receiving the information, SHO Yogendra Singh reached the spot. He picked up the body and went straight to the district hospital. Soon, the hospital administration arranged an ambulance and the body was sent to home. This is the third such incident reported from the state in the last five months. Opposition Congress slammed the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government over the incident. Veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister, Kamal Nath took to Twitter to slam Chouhan and urged him to strengthen the medical system in the state. “I again request you that as the head of the state, you should strengthen the medical system so that seven crore people of the state do not have to suffer for your negligence. “I want to know from Chief Minister that why cases of non-availability of ambulances keep coming up in Madhya Pradesh at regular intervals. Sometimes a pregnant woman has to lose her life due to non-availability of an ambulance, and sometimes people have to take their sick relatives to the hospital on a cot,” he said in a series of tweets about Sunday’s incident.
Washington, July 12 (IANS): Amid the US Supreme Court’s decision to ban abortion in the country, the Food and Drug Administration is considering to approve the first-ever over the counter (OTC) birth control pill. Two companies -- French drugmaker HRA Pharma and US-based Cadence Health -- have approached the FDA to authorise their pill for OTC-sales in the US. HRA Pharma has applied for an Rx-to-OTC switch for Opill, a progestin - only daily birth control pill (also referred to as a mini pill or non-estrogen pill). The pill has already been approved for use in the US since 1973, but only with a prescription. If approved, this would be the first daily birth control pill available OTC without a prescription in the US, the company said in a statement. “This historic application marks a groundbreaking moment in contraceptive access and reproductive equity in the US,” said Frederique Welgryn, Chief Strategic Operations and Innovation Officer at HRA Pharma, in the statement. “More than 60 years ago, prescription birth control pills in the US empowered women to plan if and when they want to get pregnant. Moving a safe and effective
/IndianAbroadNews
prescription birth control pill to OTC will help even more women and people access contraception without facing unnecessary barriers,” Welgryn added. Cadence, whose pill is a combination of progestin and oestrogen plans to submit an application in the coming year, The New York Times reported. While both companies have been in discussions with the FDA for years, the timing of the HRA Pharma application is “a really sad coincidence,” Welgryntold The Times. “Birth control is not a solution for abortion access,” she stressed. The FDA is expected to take around 10 months to make a decision on
/indianabroadnews
HRA Pharma’s application, media reports said. Meanwhile, major medical organisations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Family Physicians, have expressed support for moving birth control pills OTC. Earlier this year, the US House of Democrats also signed a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf requesting a “timely review” of applications to make birth control pills available OTC, and more than 100 Democrats have signed on to a bill to make health insurance companies cover the cost of OTC birth control, The Times reported.
17
SPORTS
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Gujarat to host 36th National Games in September
Gandhinagar, July 8 (IANS): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel has announced that the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has agreed to host the 36th National Games in the state. This will be the first time the state will host the prestigious games, scheduled to take place between September 27 and October
10, 2022. Minister of State for Sports, Harsh Sanghvi welcomed the decision and said, “Gujarat is known for setting records and benchmarks. With the 36th National Games, Gujarat will set yet another record to host the event within the limited time of three months, with more than 34 sports disciplines in six cities across the state.” The 36th National Games were to be organised in Goa in May 2020, But they were postponed indefinitely due to the spread of Covid-19. Principal secretary, sports, Ashwini Kumar said in a press statement, “The various sporting events will be spread across the state covering six cities of Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot and Bhavnagar. This will ensure a larger
community movement through means of sports.” Aligned with the Olympic movement, Gujarat will enhance and optimally utilise its existing infrastructure to organise these games. This way, the infrastructure created and enhanced will continue to be utilised by the state’s sportspersons on a regular basis. Secretary-general, IOA, Rajeev Mehta expressed his happiness with Gujarat’s readiness to organise the National Games. He mentioned that the infrastructure in the state was assessed in consultation with the IOA and National Sports Federations (NSFs) and the details of the sports were finalised accordingly. He appreciated the proactive approach of the state government to host the Games.
Rohit terms embracing new batting approach as biggest takeaway from T20I series
Nottingham, July 11: Though India lost the final match of the T20I series against England at Trent Bridge by 17 runs, they had already won the first two matches at Southampton and Edgbaston to set up their fourth straight T20I series win over the hosts. In both of their victories, the new aggressive batting approach stood out, something which has been happening since the Delhi T20I against South Africa in June. The embracing of the new batting approach by the Indian batters was what skipper Rohit Sharma termed as the biggest takeaway from the 2-1 T20I series win. “The biggest takeaway has been the approach of each and every individual who has played in this series for us. How they have relished the moment in the middle, taking on the opportunity, the opposition and taking that extra risk. The mindset
is something we’re trying to change and that I guess is the biggest takeaway from all the players,” said Rohit in the post-match press conference. Sharma further revealed how taking up the new batting approach has been accepted by the Indian players. “They are willing to do that, they are willing to take that risk. When I go and talk to certain individuals or players and I hear the same kind of response from them, that is the biggest takeaway. While doing that, results will go here and there. We’re looking at the larger picture and to achieve that we will make some mistakes. “As a captain, I’m pretty much okay with that. Honestly, to come here and win a series in England, it’s not easy. It was a challenging one for us. Winning always gives you confidence, and we can try to take that confidence and move forward
and try to see how we can improve in all the departments.” In the third T20I, talismanic batter Virat Kohli showed glimpses of moulding himself into the new batting approach by India, flicking David Willey over mid-on for four and followed up with a clean loft down the ground for six. But his time at the crease was short-lived as he stepped out to slap through covers, but was caught out at short extra cover on the very next ball. Rohit admitted that Virat’s 11 in the third T20I was as per the new batting approach of India in the shortest format of the game, which involves high risk. “We, as a team, want to play in a certain way and every player needs to buy into that thought process. Otherwise, it’s not gonna happen for you.” “All the batters who are part of this squad are willing to take that extra risk and go and see what extra they can do with the bat. It’s important to find out within yourself, to try and do different kinds of things and unless you try it you will never be able to find out. So, I think it is something that we’ve been trying to do for a while now. “I have said it at (previous) press conference at the start that some days, it might just come off, some days it might not. But we don’t want to be afraid of going and taking that extra risk. That’s how we’re going to learn as a team and that’s how we’re going to move forward as a team as well. So it’s everyone’s thought process and everyone are quite comfortable with that idea as well. So, that’s the kind of direction the team is willing to move.”
Winning at Wimbledon extra special; it got me playing tennis as a kid: Novak
London, July 11 (IANS): Serbian tennis ace Novak Djokovic reiterated that winning at Wimbledon was “extra special” for him, given that this was the major that got him playing the sport as a kid in the first place. Djokovic produced a tennis master-class on Sunday evening to defeat Australia’s Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) for his seventh Wimbledon title, and fourth consecutive crown at the grass-court major. This is Djokovic’s first major title of the season and his 21st Grand Slam overall. “Obviously over the moon with joy and happiness of experiencing this moment once again. I’ve said it many times, this tournament is www.indianabroad.news
extra special for me because it has been the first tournament that I’ve ever watched as a kid that got me to start playing tennis,” Djokovic was quoted as saying by atptour.com. “I don’t take any wins for granted, and particularly not (at) Wimbledon. In contrary, actually every time feels a bit different, special in its own way. Of course, having family and close people in my life here to share this victory with them, it was beautiful.” This time one year ago, the Serbian top seed here had earned his third major of the 2021 season and positioned himself for a run at the Grand Slam -- winning all four major trophies in a calendar year. But this year, he was forced to miss the Australian Open due to his stance on taking the Covid-19 vaccine, and lost
the French Open quarterfinal match to Rafael Nadal. “Coming into Wimbledon, I felt good for my tennis because I’ve won three titles in a row here prior to this year. I always liked playing on grass. I felt like each year I’ve been improving my tennis on grass,” Djokovic said. “I came off from Paris (Roland Garros) from a tough and also emotional loss against Nadal that obviously was disappointing. But Rome, Paris, I was already playing the tennis that I want to play, that puts me in a position to compete for the greatest titles. “I liked my chance coming into Wimbledon. As I always am, I’m very inspired to play my best tennis in London,” added Djokovic. The tennis ace also thanked the Wimbledon crowd for supporting him in the final. “I did definitely feel support and feel love from the crowd today, so I’m very grateful for that,” Djokovic said. “Obviously it’s not (a) secret that any player would like to have people backing him during the match because in the end of the day this could make a quite big difference with how you feel mentally. Definitely easier to overcome certain obstacles and situations in the match when you have people supporting you and being there for you.”
Harmanpreet to lead 15-member Indian women’s squad in Commonwealth Games Mumbai, July 11 (IANS): Seasoned batter Harmanpreet Kaur will lead a 15-member Indian team in the maiden women’s cricket competition at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham starting on July 28, the BCCI announced on Monday. Opener Smriti Mandhana will be her deputy in the competition that will feature women’s T20Is. “The All-India Women’s Selection Committee met on Monday to pick the squad for the forthcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. This will be the first time that Women’s T20 International will be featured in the prestigious multi-sport event,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah informed in a release. India is in Group A with Australia, Barbados, and Pakistan. Sri Lanka, England, New Zealand, and South Africa are placed in Group B. The top two teams from the respective pools will progress to the semifinals. India is scheduled to play three games in the league stage of the tournament starting July 29, the release said. Besides Harman and Smriti, other regulars like opener Shafali Verma,
spinners Sneh Rana and Rajeshwari Gayakwad, all-rounders Deepti Sharma and Pooja Vastrakar and wicketkeeper-batter Taniya Bhatia have been included in the squad. Upcoming bowler Meghna Singh who had some great outings in the recently-concluded away series with Sri Lanka coming in as a substitute bowler, has also been retained. Jemimah Rodrigues, who was dropped for the Women’s World Cup in New Zealand earlier this year, before making a comeback in the just-concluded ODI series against Sri Lanka. Playing her first international match since October 2021, Jemimah scored a crucial 36 not out off 27 balls against Sri Lanka in the first T20I in Dambulla to help India start their tour with a win. Simran Dil Bahadur, Richa Ghosh and Poonam Yadav have been named as the reserves. The Indian women will play their first match against T20 World Champions Australia at Edgbaston on July 29 and take on Pakistan on July 31 before rounding off their preliminary league engagements
against Barbados on August 3, the release said. The Indian women’s squad: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, S. Meghana, Taniyaa Sapna Bhatia (wk), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Deepti Sharma, Rajeshwari Gayakwad, Pooja Vastrakar, Meghna Singh, Renuka Thakur, Jemimah Rodrigues, Radha Yadav, Harleen Deol, Sneh Rana. Standby: Simran Dil Bahadur, Richa Ghosh, Poonam Yadav.
World champion Nikhat Zareen ready for ‘new experience’ at Commonwealth Games with eye on Paris Mumbai, July 8: World Champion Nikhat Zareen will get a chance to judge the competition and gain experience in the 50kg weight class for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, when she embarks on her campaign in the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, starting on July 28.
because they could be taller and may have longer reach. So, 50kg was the best option in this scenario as 52kg is not part of the competition,” Nikhat said.
Nikhat, who won the gold medal in the recent World Championship in the 52kg category, will have to reduce weight and come down to 50kg for the Commonwealth Games. Incidentally, this is the same weight class that has been shortlisted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for Paris 2024.
“I have checked out a few things and boxers from England and Ireland will be my main opponents. I am taller than both of them and I would try and use my longer reach and attack from distance against them,” said Nikhat.
“IOC has selected 50kg for Paris while in Asian Games, competitions will be held in 51kg. They have picked 50kg for Commonwealth Games too. Coming down from 52 to 50 is not a big difference, I will not have to reduce a lot of weight,” Nikhat said on Friday during an interaction facilitated by the Sports Authority of India (SAI). “Though I will have to lose two kgs weight, I will continue to have the same muscle mass and strength. There is also, 54kg in Olympic (and WCG) but that would be tougher because many times those in 60kg come down to 54 so competing against them would be difficult
Nikhat said Commonwealth Games would be a new experience for her as she would be taking part in a new weight category.
The 26-year-old boxer from Nizamabad in Telangana, who defeated Thailand’s Jitpong Jutamas in the fly-weight final to win a gold medal in the 2022 IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in Istanbul, was confident that the 12-member Indian team -- four female and eight male -- do well in the Commonwealth Games. Nikhat predicted the team to win eight medals including four gold in Birmingham. “We have a strong team with four women and eight men boxers in Commonwealth Games. I expect us to win eight at least eight medals, four of them gold,” she said. Nikhat said 2022 has proved her best year in recent times and said
her attitude towards the sport has changed in the one year or so and she is now more serious and dedicated towards her sport. Nikhat, who has had to endure many a hardship as she came through the ranks to get into the national camp, into the international arena, and succeed, said went into the trials for the Commonwealth Games because she had to participate in many events following her World Championship triumph. “There were a lot of events that I had to attend but I managed to keep myself fit so that with three days of preparation, I could get ready for the trials,” she said, adding that her preparations have gone on well after the trials and now is ready for the CWG challenge.
Wimbledon 2022: Liv Hovde clinches girls’ junior singles title London, July 9 (IANS): United States’s Liv Hovde defeated Luca Udvardy of Hungary 6-3, 6-4 to clinch the Wimbledon 2022 junior girls’ singles title, here on Saturday. On a full No. 1 Court, the 16-year-old Hovde of Texas took 1 hour and 13 minutes to take down Udvardy and win her first junior Grand Slam title. Hovde’s previous best showing at a junior major was a semifinal result at this year’s Australian Open. “It feels amazing and I can’t even believe it. There were a lot of people, so it was very nerve-wracking at the beginning, but then I just focused on myself, and it got better throughout the match,” said Hovde in her postmatch press conference. Hovde, who is currently sitting at a career-high junior ranking of No 4, is the 14th American to win the girls’ singles title at Wimbledon, joining Claire Liu (2017) as champions in this century. Before Liu, the last American to win the girls’ singles trophy was Chanda Rubin 30 years ago. The teenager has had a tremendous season on the grass, coming into Wimbledon with the Grade 1
/IndianAbroadNews
Roehampton title in her pocket from the week before. She has now gone an overpowering 12-0 on the surface over the last two weeks. Hovde had dropped only one set en route to the final, and she kept up her commanding form to start the championship match. She raced to a 4-1 lead over 16-year-old Udvardy, the younger sister of WTA Top 100 player Panna Udvardy. Udvardy fired solid volleys to pull back on serve at 4-3, but Hovde used an error-forcing forehand to break again for 5-3. In the next game, Hovde used a powerful backhand to force another error on her first set point. In the second set, Hovde stopped a run of five straight service breaks by holding onto her serve for another 5-3 lead. Udvardy powered through a quick hold to reach 5-4, but Hovde, unbothered, found four excellent serves in a row to hold at love and take the title. Hovde had 13 winners to Udvardy’s 11, and the American converted six of her eight breakpoints on her way to hoisting the champion’s trophy.
/indianabroadnews
Meanwhile, in the junior doubles final, unseeded Rose Marie Nijkamp of the Netherlands and Angella Okutoyi of Kenya edged No.4-seeded Canadians Kayla Cross and Victoria Mboko 3-6, 6-4, [11-9]. It was a historic day for Kenya as 18-year-old Okutoyi became the first Grand Slam champion from her nation. Both Okutoyi and 16-year-old Nijkamp earned their first junior Grand Slam titles with the 1-hour and 13-minute win.
18
SPORTS
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Sri Lanka’s win in second Test pushes them to third in WTC standings; Australia lose No. 1 spot
Galle, July 12 (IANS): Sri Lanka’s massive victory over Australia in the second Test at Galle has had major ramifications on the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) standings, with the Pat Cummins-led side losing the No. 1 spot to South Africa. Sri Lanka recorded a stunning innings and 39-run victory over the visitors at the Galle International Stadium on Monday with Australia dismissed for a paltry 151 in the second innings. With the victory,
the Dimuth Karunaratne-led side levelled the series at 1-1. Australia had won the opening Test at the same venue by 10 wickets. The win on Monday helped Sri Lanka jump ahead of a trio of rivals and up to third on the latest WTC standings. But it’s right at the top of the standings that now has a new look, with Australia losing their place as No. 1. South Africa take over as the new leader on the latest standings with
a win-loss percentage of 71.43 per cent, while Australia drop to second with 70 per cent after their first Test loss in the current period. Sri Lanka are now firmly in the mix for the World Test Championship final next year, with their win helping them jump in front of Pakistan, India and West Indies and up to third on the standings. Despite the absence of a host of key players due to Covid-19, Sri Lanka got dominant performances from star batter Dinesh Chandimal and debutant Prabath Jayasuriya in the second Test to cruise to an easy victory. It means Dimuth Karunaratne’s side now has a 54.17 win-loss percentage and has them ahead of a host of close rivals in the race for the World Test Championship mace. Sri Lanka don’t have to wait long to close the gap even further on the sides in front of them on the standings, with a two-match Test series at home against Pakistan commencing later this month. Australia, meanwhile, take a short break from five-day cricket, with their next Test assignment coming at home against West Indies at the end of November.
Indian grapplers bag 22 medals in Asian U-20 wrestling in Bahrain 65kg weight class. India finished second in the team ranking in women’s wrestling,second in men’s freestyle and fifth in the team ranking in Men’s GrecoRoman competition, the Sports Authority of India (SAI) tweeted on Monday. Among the medallists, women wrestler Sweety (53kg), Reena (65kg), Bipasha (72kg), Priya (76kg) won silver medals while Mulayam Yadav (70kg), Ashish (97kg), Mohit Kumar (61kg), Jaideep (74kg) and Mahendra B Gaikwad (125kg) are the male grapplers to bag silver medals. Mumbai, July 12: India’s U-20 wrestling team came up with a superb performance to bag 22 medals including four gold in the Asian U-20 Wrestling Championships in Manama, Bahrain. Besides the four gold medals, India claimed nine silver and nine bronze
medals in the event which ended on Sunday night. Among the 22 medals, the women’s team won 10 medals including three gold through Priyanka (65kg), Arju (68kg) and Antrim (53kg). Men’s freestyle wrestler Sujeet won the fourth gold medal for India in the
Three women -- Sito (57kg), Tanu (59kg) and Sarika (62kg) -- and four male freestyle wrestlers -- Aman (57kg), Deepak (67kg), Jointy Kumar (86kg), Akash (92kg) besides two men’s Greco-Roman wrestlers -Rohit Dahiya (82kg) and Ankit Gulia (67kg) -- won bronze medals in the event.
Celebrated UK athlete Mo Farah reveals he was trafficked into the country from Somalia “There is a something about me you don’t know,” Mo reveals at the beginning of the BBC programme. “It’s a secret I’ve been hiding since I was a child. And to be able to face it and talk about the facts, how it happened, why it happened, is tough. The truth is I’m not who you think I am. And now, whatever the cost, I need to tell the real story.” He then produces his visa document, and says, “Yeah that’s my photo, but it’s not my name.”
London, July 12 (IANS): Celebrated England long-distance runner and winner of four Olympic gold medals in 5,000m and 10,000m events, Mo Farah has revealed he was smuggled into the United Kingdom as a kid and his real name was Hussein. A report in Daily Mail on Tuesday said the 39-year-old, winner of both the 5,000m and 10,000m events at the 2012 London Olympics and Rio Games, was trafficked from war-torn Somalia in the UK under another child’s name after his father was killed in his home country. The champion runner has also revealed that he worked as a domestic help for the family of “the woman who brought him to Britain”. While all along the world knew that Mo Farah arrived in Britain as an eight-year-old and stayed with his uncle and aunt, the star athlete’s revelations in a BBC documentary ‘The Real Mo Farah’, which will be aired on Wednesday, have come as a shock. Mo Farah says when he arrived in the UK he only knew three English
www.indianabroad.news
phrases -- ‘Excuse me’, ‘Where is the toilet?’ and ‘C’mon then’. The athlete, who said his original name was Hussein Abdi Kahin, was enrolled in a “tough junior school in the predominantly white area of Feltham, west London, where his refusal to be cowed meant he was forever getting into fights”. The athlete also revealed the names of his biological parents were, Abdi and Aisha. Mo Farah’s father died in 1987 in the war when he was just four and he was separated from his mother and sent to Djibouti to live with relatives. But in 1993, he was smuggled into the UK as an illegal immigrant “under a false passport bearing his new identity ‘Mo Farah’ -- a name that had been stolen from another child,” the report said. During his first year in junior school in 1994 in the predominantly white area of Feltham, west London, he confided in his teacher, who alerted social services to his condition and Mo Farah was placed in the care of another family.
Recounting the tough times he faced in west London, Mo Farah says, “I would lock myself in the bathroom and cry and there was nobody there to help.” Mo Farah, who was knighted in 2017, added, “I had all the contact details for my relatives (back home in Somalia) and once we got to her (the woman who brought him to Britain) house, the lady took it off me and right in front of me ripped them up and put it in the bin and at that moment I knew I was in trouble. “If I wanted food in my mouth my job was to look after those kids, shower them, cook for them, clean for them, and she said ‘If you ever want to see your family again, don’t say anything. If you say anything, they will take you away’.” Mo Farah says his PE teacher Alan Watkinson helped him get away from the family and also helped him get the UK citizenship. “I often think about the other Mohammed Farah, the boy whose place I took on the plane and I really hope he’s OK. Wherever he is, I carry his name and that could cause problems now for me and my family,” he added.
David Warner’s heartfelt message to the people of Sri Lanka at conclusion of series Galle, July 12 (IANS): Veteran Australia opener David Warner has penned a heartfelt messaged for the warm and welcoming people of Sri Lanka, who braved the economic and political crisis in the country, to turn out in huge numbers to witness the keenly-contested month-long series between the two countries. The island nation is passing through one of the worst crisis in more than seven decades with severe shortage of fuel, medicines and essential commodities in the wake of the political instability in the country. Still, people turned out in droves to witness the matches, and cheer not just the home team but also the Australians, to express their gratitude to the visitors for agreeing to visit the country amid the turmoil. Even Australia white-ball skipper Aaron Finch was overwhelmed by the response his team received during the limited-over series, comprising three T20I and five ODIs, which concluded at the R. Premadasa Stadium on June 24. Thousands of people in Australia’s traditional colours had descended
On Monday, at the conclusion of the two-Test series, Warner took to Instagram to express his gratitude to the Sri Lankans.
While the country was in the grip of protests with millions of people coming on the streets to demand the resignation of the Sri Lankan President, the month-long series went off smoothly with not a minute’s disruption.
“Thank you Sri Lanka for hosting us here during what is an extremely difficult time. We are so grateful to be able to come here and play the game we love and know you all love supporting. You have opened your arms up to us and we will never forget this trip,” said Warner.
“What I love about your amazing country is no matter the circumstances you always have a smile on your face and are always so welcoming. Thank you and I can’t wait to one day visit for a holiday with my family. #respect #love #cricket,” added Warner.
on the R. Premadasa Stadium for the final ODI in a show of solidarity for the visiting team.
Gavaskar slams senior players seeking rest; says if they can play IPL, they can play for India Mumbai, July 12: India’s cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar wants the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to handle the senior players, who seek rest ahead of crucial series, firmly, and added that when they can play non-stop IPL cricket for more than two months, why are they shying away from playing for the country. There have been reports of a couple of senior players, including former India skipper Virat Kohli, requesting the BCCI to exclude them from the five-match T20 away series against the West Indies beginning later this month.
you will take rest from playing for India. I don’t agree with this logic. You have to play for India... don’t talk about rest or whatever. T20I is a matter of 20 overs and it doesn’t take a toll on your body,” said Gavaskar. “In Test cricket, your body and mind does take a beating, but T20 matches, it’s a matter of 20 overs of batting and 20 overs of fielding, so there is no problem with that. The Indian cricket board should revisit its policy on acceding to the players’ demand for rest,” opined Gavaskar.
Questioning the reported demand of some seniors to be dropped from the T20I series, Gavaskar told Sports Tak that he doesn’t agree with it.
“Every A-grade or A+ grade players gets a huge retainer fees from the BCCI. Apart from the contract, players get huge payments for playing matches. Tell me, which company or corporate will pay their chief executives, directors or managing directors for such extended time offs. Is there any company which gives such high salaries for not working?” questioned Gavaskar.
“I don’t agree with this. You won’t take rest during the IPL and then
Gavaskar felt if Indian cricket has to become more professional, it will
While Kohli is not part of the three-match ODI leg of the tour, reports have suggested that he also wants to be rested for the T20 series beginning on July 29.
have to draw a line somewhere. “If Indian cricket has to become professional then they have to draw a line; that is if you want rest, then your guarantees will have to be reduced. “How can they say they won’t play for the Indian cricket team? By sitting at home you won’t be able to score runs or take wickets, so better to go out and scroe some runs and take wickets,” Gavaskar opined.
My dream is to win all the tournaments that ATK Mohun Bagan play in: Coach Juan Ferrando New Delhi, July 11: ATK Mohun Bagan head coach Juan Ferrando is not shying away from his ambition and is eyeing a clean sweep of trophies for the club next season. The Mariners will be in action in the latter stages of the AFC Cup, the Durand Cup, the ISL and possibly even the Super Cup and Ferrando wants to win it all. “I can’t predict the future. But I can talk about my dreams. My dream is to win the AFC Cup, the Durand Cup, the Championship, and the Super Cup. We are working our way, preparing the team with a good plan, and this is our target. In my point of view, we have a good team, we have good players but this is the moment to show ourselves. “Of course, the opponent in the AFC
Cup will be very strong because we are talking about the semifinals, we are not talking about play-off before the group stage. But it’s the same in the championship when you play the last games against Jamshedpur FC, against Hyderabad FC, these are not easy games, it’s necessary to prepare a good plan. It requires proper training, quality training and everyone needs to be ready to face the challenge,” he said. The Spaniard, who led the Mariners to the semifinals of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2021-22 season, has fuelled the team with new signings for the upcoming longer season. “I’m incredibly excited for the new season because this season is different. Firstly, we have a great opportunity in August with the Durand
Cup. I think the championship in front of us is a great opportunity to try to give our best. Then, you have the Super Cup, so, it’s going to be an amazing season,” he said.
Formula 1: This is completely unacceptable, F1 responds to horrific fan behaviour claims Spielberg (Austria), July 10 (IANS): Formula 1 has acknowledged concerns over the behaviour of some fans at the Austrian Grand Prix after reports of abusive behaviour were posted on social media. The sport governing body has released a statement condemning reports of abusive behaviour at the Austrian Grand Prix. Numerous posts on Twitter have seen people revealing incidents around the event, held in Spielberg. A post on FIA Twitter account said, “This kind of behaviour is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.” “We have been made aware of
/IndianAbroadNews
reports that some fans have been subject to completely unacceptable comments by others at the Austrian Grand Prix. We take these matters very seriously, have raised them with the promoter and event security, and will be speaking to those who reported the incidents.” British racing driver Alice Powell also reacted to the reports. “I’m actually shocked to read about the awful experiences some women are experiencing in the grandstands at the Austrian Grand Prix. Can’t people just be nice to each other and enjoy watching some racing, regardless of gender and sexuality. Blows my mind,” he said.
/indianabroadnews
Meanwhile, Females in Motorsport also released a statement, saying they are disappointed and saddened to hear many reports of sexist, racist and homophobic behaviour by fans.
19
FASHION
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Rahul Mishra presents ‘Tree of Life’ at Paris Haute Couture Week
New Delhi, July 5: “Trees have always been an inspiration to us, rendered first in an Escher-esque design language - now an identifiable signature, for our International Woolmark Prize-winning collection. The tree is metamorphosed into buildings, portraying the Metamorphosis the planet has gone through over the past few centuries,”
reveals an Instagram post by fashion designer Rahul Mishra. Taking inspiration from the tree of life, which symbolizes growth, strength, and beauty. Fashion designer Rahul Mishra presents his Couture Fall 2022 collection titled “Tree of Life” at Paris Haute Couture Week.
Rahul opens his show with a flurry of 3D golden embroideries of foliage expressing his appreciation for nature. “Our ‘the Tree of Life’ collection celebrates opulence with a strong palette of gold and black and focuses on high precision craftsmanship,” says Rahul. “Trees From Our Atelier, at the onset of a new beginning, we look at the one source that never goes out of style - the handbook of nature. Through analogies to nature, many of the problems faced by mankind have been optimally solved. The ‘Bursting Tree’ motif was birthed at the atelier, capturing how a strong wind would gush through a dense tree, with the nesting birds flying out of it, showing us how fragile our ecosystem is, how beautiful our planet is, and the necessity of preserving the purity of it,” he says. Being one of the first Indian designers to showcase at the Paris Fashion Week/Haute Couture Week, Mishra champions slow, state-of-the-art fashion with traditional Indian crafts and Lenskart’s ‘Do More, Be More’ spirit.
FDCI to celebrate 15 years of India Couture Week 13 Couturiers to showcase at a 10-day long fashion extravaganza from July 22-31
July 8, 2022: The Fashion Design Council (FDCI) is back with the 15th Edition of the India Couture Week 2022, set to take place from July 2231 in the Capital. The physical event will take place after two years at the Taj Palace Hotel, and will include a
number of offsite shows, making it a ten-day fashion extravaganza. The FDCI has been consistently working to get the most coveted names in the country to showcase at this ultra-luxe event. This year too, the participating couturiers include
Amit Aggarwal, Anamika Khanna, Anju Modi, Dolly J, Falguni Shane Peacock, JJ Valaya, Kunal Rawal, Rahul Mishra, Rohit Gandhi + Rahul Khanna, Siddartha Tytler, Suneet Varma, Tarun Tahiliani and Varun Bahl. “I think the most beautiful part of this 15 year journey for me has been to be able to create a blueprint for the future with India Couture Week. This has been a memorable journey of celebrating the unique heritage we possess as a country. And this year too we have 13 of India’s leading couturiers showcasing the finest crafts which will hold centre stage at the ten-day extravaganza,” said FDCI Chairman, Sunil Sethi. The event is in association with Lotus Make-up and Archana Aggarwal Timeless Jewellery is the jewellery partner. The physical shows will be live-streamed on the FDCI’s digital platforms - Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and also the website.
Game changing sustainable fabrics Linen is regarded as one of the most sustainable fabrics used mostly in the production of clothing and bedding
By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe July 12, 2022: While the fashion industry is flourishing, there has been a lot of attention to the adverse environmental impact caused by the industry, responsible for 10 percent of the world’s greenhouse emissions. Moreover, the wastage caused by unsold inventory and the discarding of dead stock has had troubling consequences causing water, air, and soil pollution, thereby affecting the life cycle of a living being. As people have become more informed about climate changes, and global warming and mindful of the use of natural resources, conscious decision-making has come into play for most. In an effort to cater to the needs of the audience while being accountable for the cause of conserving the planet for future generations, the fashion industry is attempting to make textiles more sustainable by ethically, sourcing, producing, and packaging them. To understand more about sustainable fabrics let’s look at the definition of ‘Sustainable Fabric’. What is Sustainable Fabric? Sustainable clothing refers to fabrics derived from eco-friendly resources, such as sustainably grown fiber crops or recycled materials. It also refers to how these fabrics are made. with the goal of minimizing damage caused by the manufacturing process. Such fabrics can also help with waste minimization, www.indianabroad.news
conservation of water, carbon reduction, and soil restoration. Linen Linen is a plant-based natural fiber that has been used in the production of clothing for centuries. The grasslike fibers need to be grown, treated, and processed for months before they are soft and supple enough to be weaved into garments. When discarded, due to its biodegradable qualities, linen offers a more environment-friendly alternative. It is a super soft and breathable textile derived from the flax plant and is frequently blended with cotton. Linen is regarded as one of the most sustainable fabrics used presently in the production of clothing and bedding. Bamboo Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing, regenerative plants which doesn’t need fertilization and is frequently promoted as a sustainable fabric. Micro holes and tiny gaps in its fiber, allow for better moisture absorption and ventilation than other fibers. Sustainable brands prefer bamboo fabric since it is extremely comfortable and absorbent. Just like Hemp, bamboo absorbs more CO2 than some trees. It doesn’t need a lot of resources and can survive just on rainwater. Modal Another semi-synthetic fabric noted for its superior comfort and breathability is modal. It’s a cutting-edge fabric created from
spinning cellulose from the beechwood tree. As beechwood trees regenerate on their own, they’re regarded as a long-term raw material for making the revolutionary modal fabric. The fabric is also 50% more absorbent when compared to cotton and has a silky, smooth texture, thus making it a suitable option for sports and underwear manufacturers. Modal’s manufacturer, Lenzing, has also developed non-toxic and ecologically friendly techniques which allow it to recover up to 95 percent of the materials utilized in its production, lowering the textile’s overall carbon emissions. Viscose Viscose is derived from cellulose which is the main constituent of plant cell walls. It is a high-quality fabric that falls and drapes according to the body type and moves with the body. Its soft and smooth quality makes it a smart pick. This moisture-absorbent fabric will have your back to fend off hot humid days. Interestingly, the rate of absorption of viscose is higher than that of cotton. Indian fashion brands have made a conscious effort to choose partners that focus on reducing emissions, planting trees, and promoting sustainable business practices. The dimensions of sustainability are measured according to international standards of manufacturing, and a company needs to define its policies by taking the three pillars of sustainability namely Society, Economy, and Environment equally into consideration ‘Sustainability’ is the new buzz and all brands are jumping on the bandwagon and warming up to environment-friendly practices. Fast fashion has also imbibed environmentally responsible operations and also curated their collections keeping biodegradable materials at the center to transform the global fashion industry. (Inputs contributed by Liva Fabrics, from the house of Aditya Birla)
A special fashion shoot in Israel celebrates 30 years of Israel-India ties Embassy of Israel collaborates with Indian designer Sahil Kochhar July 9, 2022: To commemorate 30 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and India, the Israeli Embassy in India collaborated with designer Sahil Kochhar to present a special collection for both men and women inspired by Israeli landscapes. On this occasion, H.E. Ambassador Naor Gilon, Embassy of Israel said: “This is another important project that the Israeli Embassy in India is leading this year to further strengthen the growing partnership and strong friendship between our two nations. The designer came up with the concept of involving local talent from Israel for the shoot. The idea was to have inclusion and local faces telling their stories. It was very important for us to involve as many Israelis as possible in this project.” Designer Sahil Kochhar said: “I look at this as a great opportunity to take forward our narrative of making sure we involve talents not only belonging to the fashion industry. To have a team from Israel and India working together on this project will ensure there is an exchange of culture, experiences and will have a bigger impact in building up the Israel and India relationship.” The project’s team is a mix of
Indians and Israelis who collaborate on all aspects of the fashion shoot. This project is part of the ‘Yachad’ campaign, which is a Hebrew word that means ‘together.’ The designer and his team spent several months scouting Israeli talents who are the best at their craft for this campaign. The models chosen are not only professional models, but also local talent from various extreme sports
from across the country. The fashion shoot is currently taking place in Israel. The Embassy will be able to show an Israel that the Indian public may be unfamiliar with through this project. It is a one-of-akind project that we hope will pave the way for future opportunities and collaborations between Israel and India in the fields of culture, fashion, and lifestyle.
In conversation with Miss India Sini Shetty Sheer determination, authenticity, and being true to myself is what sets me apart from others, says the title holder
July 10, 2022: Sini Shetty was crowned Femina Miss India World 2022 at the Grand Finale held on the 3rd of July in Mumbai. The young and talented contestant from Karnataka put her best foot forward to beat her contemporaries in a challanging fight to the finish. Read more about Shetty to find out more about her and her goals. Read Excerpts: How did it feel to win the title? Sini Shetty: I felt overwhelmed, there was a roller coaster of emotions, you feel happy and shocked and felt that triumphant joy but as soon as the crown was placed on my head, I could see in the crowd how proud my parents were, that very moment I felt content. What do you believe made you win and really shine out amongst your peers? Sini Shetty: I’m humbled by my competition and each one of them is an amazing individual and qualified to wear the crown. All of the girls who entered today have an edge in their commitment. The world tries to define your values in a certain way. I believe in finding my own meaning to it. I have placed myself in four corners of the box, trying to figure out what fits best in my picture of accomplishment. Sheer determination, authenticity, and being true to myself are what sets me apart from others here. You feel strongly about …… Sini Shetty: Being an independent individual and creating my own journey. Films are the ultimate goal for all miss India winners, including yourself? Sini Shetty: I believe beauty pageants are just not about beauty or the entertainment industry, it is also a platform where women can voice their opinion. Hindi film industry or the South Indian film industry? Sini Shetty: Hindi Film industry The most valuable lessons your family has taught you Sini Shetty: To be grounded and to respect your roots because that’s what makes you who you are.
/IndianAbroadNews
Sini Shetty/ Instagram
/indianabroadnews
20
BEAUTY
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Karnataka’s Sini Shetty crowned Femina Miss India World 2022
New Delhi, July 4: Sini Shetty of Karnataka was crowned the coveted Femina Miss India World 2022, Rajasthan’s Rubal Shekhawat as First Runner-Up, and Uttar Pradesh’s Shinata Chauhan as Second Runner-Up during the glamorous ceremony held on July 3 at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai.
In its ongoing effort to transform the lives of young talented women and extend wholehearted support to the new generation of women with the potential to influence positive change and represent India on the global stage, Femina Miss India 2022, co-powered by Sephora, Moj, and Rajnigandha Pearls, launched a nationwide hunt to find prospective
talents from all corners of the country through virtual auditions. The extensive scouting drive and subsequent interview rounds culminated with the shortlisted selection of 31 state winners. These shortlisted finalists arrived in Mumbai and had to go through rigorous training and grooming sessions and were mentored by the best in the industry, to compete for the coveted Femina Miss India World 2022 crown at the Grand Finale Talking about the pageant with pride and passion, Neha Dhupia said: “Each year as the journey of Femina Miss India begins, it brings back all the memories of the priceless experiences I’ve had with this pageant. It’s almost like reliving every moment of my journey with these young glamorous girls who are so full of enthusiasm and capability to take on the world with power and elegance. Certainly, there are challenges with the digital process in the wake of the pandemic, however, I’m confident it will be as exciting and worthwhile irrespective of the layout.” The star-studded evening witnessed enjoyable and enthralling performances by Kriti Sanon, Lauren Gottlieb, and Ash Chandler who left the audience spellbound. The show was hosted by none other than the best, Maniesh Paul.
A hard push for lab-grown diamonds in India
By Parag Agrawal New Delhi, July 6: Contemporary society has languished many antiquated notions of beauty, and opened its arms to several sustainable trends that have not only changed peoples’ perceptions but also laid a non-conformist ideological plank that works both on monetary and intellectual levels. For ages, the beauty industry was mocked for promoting unrealistic standards of beauty and being classist that only caters to the ultra-rich populations. But it is entirely untrue in the present context. LG Diamonds or Sustainable Diamonds is one such game-changing money-spinner in the Indian markets, which also promoted an eco-friendly policy that was conspicuously absent before. The concept of LG diamonds was very new in the mide2000s in Indian territory when most experts wrote it off, saying that it would never be able to stand tall against naturally mined diamonds, which were at the peak of sales in those days. But, due to drastic climate changes that have clouded in recent times and the responsive and corrective pro-environment strategies that have been put in motion across industries, the sales of sustainable
diamonds have massively picked up and become a top favourite among women buyers nowadays. As the number of self-sufficient and empowered women in society has grown majorly, so has their income flow channeled towards different types of luxury indulgences. Diamonds are one of the most ineffaceable gratifying pleasures of women. They expend their resources on diamonds, but sustainable diamonds seem to be the pick of the bunch in markets today. Their making process entirely coincides in a lab without releasing greenhouse emissions or pollution-causing agents. It costs less and has the same physical and chemical attributes as natural diamonds. This makes it popular not only in the elite class population but also reachable and easily accessible to the middle class and higher middle-class families. As the awareness about environment conservation has struck a chord with millions of people, they are also making maximum efforts to assuage green-house problems. Women, in this case, are increasingly opting for LG diamonds for various occasions like engagement rings, wedding rings, proposal rings, etc.
Sustainable Diamonds do not even disappoint when it comes to variety. Holistically available in all kinds of women’s accessories like nose pins, pendants, bangles, bracelets, and necklaces, they can be worn on all types of family, communitarian or official gatherings. Needless to say that women are excellent investors, which is why they want to pool their money in products that are cost-efficient and also last for a long time. Sustainable Diamonds are not mere rocks; they represent a robust eco-minded value system that most women see themselves aligned with. It does not spread the wrong message to keep your whims above the common good. Instead, it advocates that splurges always should carry a positive undertone that depicts a person’s mindset. LG Diamonds are multi-faceted and can be used to ramp up looks, attires, dresses, and trousseau in any given design that one would like. They are lighter, easy to carry and saps well with traditional clothing as well as western raiment. Sustainable Diamonds are widely known to be the quintessence of aesthetic and ethereal appeal. It increases the grace and magnetism of a woman’s presence. It is one of the prime reasons why it has become an unmissable part of a modern-day working women’s ensemble. It radiates an aura and defines a style statement that is here to stay. The fluorescence of sustainable diamond markets in India also highlights the awareness that has sprung up among buyers in present times. It will only expand and gain a huge growth spurt in the coming days. (Parag Agrawal is the co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Fiona Diamonds.)
Jewellery tips for zoom and online meetings New Delhi, July 5: Dressing with style and character is a skill that must be developed over time. The pandemic presented most of us with a new challenge. how does one look fashionable and sharp waist up? Your face is what is mostly in focus, so get some help from jewellery. A majority of women who work online screens have increased their spends on jewellery. Dhanya Balasubramanian, Brand strategist, Paksha by Tarinika said, “Bold gold pieces that look unique and stylish, colourful baubles in a variety of styles, and classic timeless designs are all in vogue. Wearing the right kind of accessory boosts your confidence and helps you stand out and stay memorable. Frankly, it’s a lot easier than having to put together an entire outfit. A wide range of jewellery to go with your existing shirts and blouses and you’re all set to carry your best self to work,” Balasubramanian shares tips to help you style:
A Dainty Gold Plated Silver Necklace: A delicate gold-plated silver necklace artistically designed to reflect the celestial night sky, makes for an everyday essential. Jadau ring: A ring is made for special occasions featuring jadau encrusted stones is always a right choice when you tend to use your hands to express yourself. Gold Plated Silver Drop Earrings:
A dainty pair of earrings crafted expertly in Moissanite stones, is an alluring accessory. Open Style Silver Bracelet: Being flexible in design, this piece makes it very easy to layer along with watches and other bracelets. Pearls Last Forever: An elevated pearl accessory or a necklace signifies you mean business
The food items hold the secret to glowing skin By Kamlesh Salvi New Delhi, July 6: Yes, you can have glowing healthy skin just by eating right. This list of food items is easy to incorporate into your diet. This includes strawberries, oranges, carrots and avocados, and salmon. Maintaining a healthy body is just as important as keeping a healthy skin. It gives you more confidence, and your smile shapes your beauty. Discover more... Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, and Avocados: Carrots, sweet potatoes, and avocados are high in beta-carotene (which is converted to vitamin A), vitamin C, and vitamin E, which are required for the healthy growth and repair of skin cells. Carrots are high in antioxidants, which protect the skin from damage. Avocados are high in healthy fats and essential vitamins for glowing skin. Most skin care experts recommend eating avocado in the form of a juice or salad. They are high in antioxidants, which protect the skin from damage. Avocados are used in a variety of ways to improve skin and prevent wrinkles. Tomatoes and Oranges: Oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, which is important for skin health because it promotes collagen production. Tomatoes are high in lycopene, the antioxidant responsible for preventing skin damage, they reduce inflammation and redness. Salmon and Eggs: Eggs are a good source of protein, which is essential for healthy skin. They also contain vitamins A and E. Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which moisturise the skin, and aid in the reduction of inflammation. Kale and Spinach: Kale is a high-nutrient-dense green leafy vegetable, high in vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to the skin. Spinach is known to be high in minerals and vitamins. It is well known that eating spinach can help with a variety of health problems. These green leafy vegetables are also high in Vitamin A, which helps with cell growth and repair. Regular use prevents skin
damage. Pomegranates: Because of their unstable nature, free radicals cause cell damage, which leads to wrinkles and aging. Pomegranates, which are high in antioxidants, help to prevent the growth of free radicals and keep skin healthy and youthful. Almonds, Chia seeds, Sunflower seeds, and Pumpkin seeds: They are high in zinc, vitamin E, and omega-3 fatty acids. Taking a few grains each day aids in the maintenance of healthy, glowing skin. Meal Plans for a healthy and glowing skin Glowing Skin Breakfasts: • Smoked Salmon Avocado Toast • Blueberry Smoothie • Tomato Avocado Omelette • Almond Breakfast Smoothie • Feta Spinach Omelette Glowing Skin Lunches: • Smoked Salmon • Vegan Rice Bowls • Mango Avocado Salad with Pomegranates • Strawberry Spinach Salad with Chicken • Carrot Soup Glowing Skin Dinners: • Avocado Pesto Pasta • Cheese and Spinach Smothered Chicken in Crockpot • Creamy Chicken Stew in
Crockpot • Caprese Chicken • Grilled Salmon • Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Tomatoes • Cherry Tomato Pasta • Healthy Shrimp Tacos • Vegan Buddah Bowl • Glowing Skin Snacks: • Orange Ginger Carrot Juice • Yogurt Strawberry Popsicles • Cottage Cheese Meal Prep Snack • Blueberry Almond Cottage Cheese Protein Snack • Simple Fruit Salad • Glowing Skin Drinks: • Blueberry Lemonade • Green Tea Detox Drink • Strawberry Lemonade • Vanilla Orange Smoothie • Strawberry Detox Water These food and meal plan effectively improve skin health. Regular oil massage and natural remedies can help your skin glow and become healthier. Wrinkles are a problem in today’s fast-paced world. Wrinkles appear at a young age and rob your skin of its youth. Following a smooth and less oily diet can aid in the fight against wrinkles. (Kamlesh Salvi is a Digital Lifestyle Blogger)
Niacinamide: One-stop solution for all your skincare woes By N Lothungbeni Humtsoe New Delhi, July 6: With climate change and increasing pollution, new skincare problems are emerging every day. Keeping a list of products essential for your skin can be a tedious task for anyone. How about having an ingredient that answers all your problems? Vitamin B3 often known as Niacinamide is the powerhouse skincare ingredient that is here to take away all your skincare worries. Below are the versatile benefits of the hero-ingredient niacinamide shared by Dr. Prajct Sao on behalf of Cetaphil. * Improves skin texture: Niacinamide improves overall skin
texture by rebuilding cells and decreases the appearance of pores. It enhances the look and feel of your skin and gives you the most loved texture. It helps to prevent hyperpigmentation and gives your skin the boost it needs. It has collagen-building properties which reduce the dark spots and escalates the process of new skin cells to help you get an even tone and flawless skin. * Keeps the skin hydrated and moisturised: Niacinamide can increase skin hydration by preventing moisture from the skin from evaporating into the environment. It locks moisture so you can have the gift of soft and supple skin for a longer time. * Soothes your skin: With the
changing seasons, dry and irritated skin tends to cause problems. Niacinamide is enriched with natural anti-inflammatory properties to soothe irritated skin gently. It also regulates sebum production which reduces breakouts. * Prevents fine lines and wrinkles: It is one of the most actively used ingredients in anti-aging creams. It renews and restores your skin layer and strengthens the skin cells, minimizes fine lines and wrinkles by treating all skin problems. It aids in the formation of keratin, a protein that is essential for keeping skin tight, plump, and healthy. * Prevents UV damage: The biggest problem of this season: The sun. Niacinamide has a solution for
this too. It protects the skin from harmful oxidative stress and free radical damage caused by the sun. It promotes the growth of new cells and acts as a shield for the sun. * Suitable for Sensitive skin: Niacinamide can increase skin hydration by preventing loss of moisture and locks into the skin. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory, so it is perfect for soothing irritated skin while also being gentle enough for sensitive skin. For those with sensitive skin who struggle with breakouts and want to improve the texture of their skin without harsh acids, this is a go-to ingredient to eliminate all the skin woes. (N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in)
21
ART & CULTURE
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
The influential stage visionary who made ‘Mahabharata’ a global epic Vishnu Makhijani
T
he soul of Peter Brook’s work as a director, actor and writer was in his productions noted for what he called “colour-rich”, as opposed to “colour-blind”, casting. In his view, when the audience sits bored, listening to a recital of words with no emotion, the actor has failed. Brook once said: “People have entrusted themselves to you for two hours or more and you have to give them a respect that derives from confidence in what you are doing. At the end of an evening, you may have encouraged what is crude, violent or destructive in them. Or you can help them. By that I mean that an audience can be touched, entranced or -- best of all -- moved to a silence that vibrates round the theatre.” And this, literally, brought the roof down on the opening night of William Shakespeare’s ‘Timon of Athens’ at the once-dilapidated Bouffes du Nord theatre in Paris that he helped restore. The applause shook the building. “There were various problems on the opening night. It was a big success but the applause brought down some of the ceiling. People had bits of plaster on their heads,” Brook said in an interview to Chris Wiegand, Stage Editor of ‘The Guardian’ newspaper in 2016. How did the turnaround happen? “I wanted that Elizabethan feeling where if you come to the theatre, you mix with all people -- not just the rich. We had people sitting on the ground from the start. Actors were in close contact with the audience, reacting immediately with them. The acting space was much further forward than it had been when it was a proscenium theatre. So we had this proximity with the audience but there was also this great, vast space reaching to the back wall -- that was important to depict Timon after his exile.” Brook explained. “We put in steps coming up from the pit, so actors could make spectacular entrances. We used cubes and boxes, very rough things. The designer wanted to find how we could make clothes that were free of associations, yet true to the actors. The Bouffes is now surrounded by Indian shops and restaurants but at that time there was nothing Indian in the area. “So our designer went to the African market nearby and got all sorts of fine clothes and made simple new shapes with them. These were definitely not modern dresses, but simple clothes, to which you have no immediate connections -- such as to Elizabethan or Victorian times
-- in your mind. We continue to use that approach today. “The theatre’s fine acoustics enabled you to feel as if you were playing in a courtyard in the open air, yet the space also had an intimacy that made it possible for the actors to play as if they were in a film. That was the double nature of the Bouffes, and what Timon -- and any Shakespeare play -- demands. “You mustn’t make it cosy and intimate at the expense of its heroic, epic qualities and you mustn’t make it epic and heroic at the expense of the fact that, moment by moment, it’s all about real people and real feelings,” Brook said. In a 2017 interview with British art critic Michael Billingron, Brook spoke about how important it is to “swim against the tide and achieve whatever we can in our chosen field. Fate dictated that mine was that of theatre and, within that, I have a responsibility to be as positive and creative as I can. To give way to despair is the ultimate cop-out.” Not surprisingly, after his productions at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and the Bouffes du Nord, his base for more than 30 years was in African villages where his actors improvised performances, and on stages both grand and in modes that his globetrotting ensemble visited refined the way theatre is looked at. Brook’s landmark achievements include a nine-hour version of the ‘Mahabharata’, putting Shakespeare on trapezes, and directing the likes of Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud and Paul Scofield at the RSC. ‘The Mahabharata’, in fact, was staged in a French quarry in 1985 and ‘The New York Times’, noting its “overwhelming critical acclaim”, said it “did nothing less than attempt to transform the Hindu myth into universalised art, accessible to any culture”. Many post-colonial scholars, however, have challenged this claim to universalism, accusing the play of Orientalism. Author Gautam Dasgupta wrote: “Brook’s Mahabharata falls short of essential Indianness of the epic by staging predominantly its major incidents and failing to adequately emphasise its coterminous philosophical precepts.” Brook returned to the epic in 2016 with ‘Battlefield’, staged with his long-time collaborator Marie-Helene Estienne. Brook also directed musicals, the anti-Vietnam war protest play ‘US’, and co-created with British author Ted Hughes ‘Orghast’, an
experimental play based on the ancient Greek myth of Prometheus, a Titan and god of fire. “I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. A man walks across this empty space, whilst someone else is watching him, and this is all that is needed for an act of theatre to be engaged,” Brook wrote in ‘The Empty Space’ (1968), which many directors and actors consider their Bible. For instance, Brook’s 1970 version of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ for the RSC, influenced by both a Jerome Robbins ballet and the Peking Circus, was performed in a white cube of a set and boasted trapezes, stilts and a forest of steel wire. Often referred to as “our greatest living theatre director”, Brook won multiple Tony and Emmy Awards, a Laurence Olivier Award, the Japanese Praemium Imperiale and the Prix Italia. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Shri in 2021 “for his valuable contributions towards art”. Born in London on March 21, 1925, at age seven he acted out a four-hour version of ‘Hamlet’ on his own for his parents. After attending Magdalen College, Oxford, he was soon at the Royal Opera House, directing Richard Strauss’s opera ‘Salome’ with designs by Salvador Dal�. He directed Laurence Olivier as Titus Andronicus in Stratford for the RSC in 1955 and when Peter Hall became its artistic director in 1958, he asked Brook to assist him there. Brook’s RSC productions included a 1962 staging of ‘King Lear’, a play he considered “the supreme achievement of the world’s theatre” that starred Paul Scofield. Several of his shows received Broadway transfers, including the avant garde ‘Marat/Sade’, which won the Tony award for best play in 1964. The concept was that the Marquis de Sade was putting on a drama about the French revolutionary Jean-Paul Marat, acted out by the inmates of a mental asylum. In 1970, Brook moved to Paris, where he set up his International Centre for Theatre Research. The company visited Africa, where his actors gave performances that “didn’t use anything that corresponded to the theatre of the time -we wanted to play to audiences who were not conditioned by anything. We wouldn’t, even experimentally, do a play with a text or a theme or a name.” ‘The Man Who’, which premiered in Paris in 1993, was inspired by neurologist Oliver Sacks’s book ‘The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat’, which revisited the disorders of Sacks’s patients. Brook’s own neurological research led to ‘The Valley of Astonishment’, about synaesthesia, co-created with Estienne, and performed at the Young Vic in London with Kathryn Hunter among the cast. Brook married the actor Natasha Parry in 1951 and they had two children, Irina (now a director) and Simon (now a producer). Parry died in 2015. “We have lost a beacon.... He didn’t just believe in the profound humanity and transformative power of theatre and Shakespeare, he put it into action. He was a true and rare practitioner and his legacy must live on in those of us who humbly follow in his eternal summer,” Michelle Terry, artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe, said of Brook’s passing.
Continued from Page 1
Albanese govt for providing equal opportunities and pay for women led by Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil (migration); Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth (workforce participation and barriers to employment); Skills and Training Minister Brendan O’Connor (skills and training); and Industry Minister Ed Husic (renewables, digital and manufacturing). Besides women’s employment, other noteworthy topics for the summit include keeping unemployment low and boosting productivity and incomes; promoting secure well-paid jobs and strong, sustainable wages growth; expanding employment opportunities, including for the most
www.indianabroad.news
disadvantaged; addressing skills shortages and getting the skills mix right; improving migration settings; maximising jobs and opportunities from renewable energy, tackling climate change, the digital economy, the care economy and a “Future Made in Australia”. Speaking at a news conference Prime Minister Albanese said there was “a lot of good will and real enthusiasm” from business groups and the ACTU to make the summit a success. About this summit the Business Council of Australia said this was “a chance to seize the opportunity
and end the deadlock on workplace relations, restore the Hawke-Keating enterprise bargaining system to lift productivity and let Australians earn more. And, we need a migration system that fills workforce shortages across the economy with the right targeting and incentives.” Speaking about the summit the ACTU said the summit was “an opportunity to fix an underfunded and neglected skills sector, ensure that migration is providing opportunities rather than exploitation and address a broken bargaining system which has failed to deliver wage growth for almost a decade.”
5 Artwork Techniques You Haven’t Heard Of
Dr. Gunjan Shrivastava
F
or centuries artists have tried to imitate life through surrealistic representations of how they perceive the world. And in that endeavour have developed creations that have stood the test of time inspiring generations of creative minds to study, replicate and interpret. But as you look deeper into the essence of the lifecycle of creative expression you will find a foundation that’s based on various classifications of technique and style. These techniques have been brought to the fore by movements that have defined eras in art history. For some, they have even rung the bells of critical acclaim standing on the shoulders of artists that either mastered or elevated them through their defining creations like; Monet and Pissaro’s contributions to Impressionism or Picasso’s pioneering experiments with Cubism. However there are still some techniques that haven’t been given their well-earned share of time in the sun but do present incredible possibilities for artists, curators, and admirers alike. So whether it’s the inspiration you are in search of or a new creative obsession to examine, dissect and enrapture you, here are a few to consider. Fumage Art Invented in the 1930s by Austrian surrealist artist Wolfgang Palen, Fumage Art is the technique of delicately using the soot or the traces of black carbon of the flame of a lit candle as a brush or pencil. The result of this careful technique is designs and images that have an unworldly, almost dreamlike feel as perfectly depicted in Palen’s 1941 creation the ‘Messenger’ that features a floating ghostly form painted with smoke onto a base of wet paint. While relatively unheard of, this technique is almost prehistoric given its use by cavemen. In fact, Canadian artist Stephen Spazuk has been using this technique for over 14 years to create ethereal works of art, with world-renowned artist Salvador Dali also experimenting with this technique as seen in his 1936 creation ‘Autumnal Cannibalism’. Anamorphosis Anamorphic art is the peculiar style of creating distorted portraits that can only be viewed in their
true form, from specific angles and perspectives. Artists have played with this technique for centuries and in some instances have even utilised mirrors and reflections in order to present an accurate view of the creation to their audience. The beginning of this incredible technique can actually be traced back to Leonardo Da Vinci’s notebooks in the 15th century; however, it was only until the 16th and 17th centuries when Renaissance artists truly began experimenting with this style. A notable example of Anamorphosis is German-Swiss painter and printmaker Hans Holbein the Younger’s ‘The Ambassador’. Jump to the 21st century and you’ll find traces of this incredible style donning streets, in the form of large-scale 3D murals painted on cascading steps of chalk art that transforms flat asphalt into vivid three-dimensional scenes. Typewriter Art A little over two decades after the first manufactured typewriter made its public debut, the first piece of typewriter art was created by British secretary Flora Stacey in 1898. A beautifully constructed butterfly made of brackets, dashes, slashes, and asterisks, this simple yet revolutionary creation at the time spurred on a deluge of artists experimenting with the humble typewriter to create works that were truly inspired. Among these artists emerged a man who was unequivocally known worldwide as the “Typewriter Artist,” Paul Smith who elevated the style to create picturesque scenes and portraits that exemplified
impeccable skill and imagination. In fact, while not as eloquent as this technique or Smith’s elaborate creations, you could even say that the origins of the modern-day emoji can be traced back to this style. Encaustic painting Also known as hot wax painting, encaustic painting utilises hot beeswax tinted with colour pigments to etch and apply onto a hardened surface which more often than not is wood but has also been used on canvas or metal. Perhaps the most famous example of this technique is the Fayum Funeral Portraits which were naturalistic painted wooden boards that were attached to the mummies of upper-class Roman-Egypt aristocrats. Impasto Impasto is the technique of layering paint making it stand out from the canvas in an almost 3D way, in order to create lifelike realness. Often referred to as a celebration of texture, Baroque artists like Rembrandt, and Frans Hals used this style to depict wrinkles or skin imperfections, the glint of elaborate armour or fine jewellry, and the liquid flow of rich fabrics. You can look at any works of Vincent Van Gogh’s in the 19th century to understand the nuances of this technique, and while widely used by the likes of Jackson Pollock and Frank Auerbach it tends to get overshadowed by larger concepts like modernism and realism. (Dr. Gunjan Shrivastava, is a Professional Artist, Educator, Art Critic and Co-founder of You Lead India Foundation)
Selected Pre-Raphaelite and Symbolist Art at Christie’s Online New Delhi, July 2: The Isabel Goldsmith Collection: Selected Pre-Raphaelite and Symbolist Art, which spans more than 40 years of collecting, will be accessible online from June 30 through July 14 as a part of London’s Classic Week Summer edition. The collection, which consists of 87 pieces, addresses topics such as sleep, dreams, the afterlife, spirituality, beauty, literature, and classical subjects. The star lot of the auction, The return of Orpheus by Sidney Harold Meteyard (estimate: 200,000-300,000 pounds), as well as pieces by Edward Burne-Jones, John Roddam Spencer-Stanhope, Simeon Solomon, Evelyn De Morgan, and Henry Ryland are included in the collection of PreRaphaelites and their adherents’ works. Levy-Dhurmer, Fernand Khnopf, and George Frederic Watts are among the symbolist artists whose works are on display, and there are also several Scandinavian landscapes in the sale. With estimates ranging from 600 to 300,000 pounds, the collection is expected to realise in excess of 1 million pounds. The pre-sale view will be open to the public from July 9 to 14. Peter Brown, Senior Director, International Specialist, Victorian, Pre-Raphaelite and British Impressionist Art, 19th-Century European Art, Christie’s commented: “Isabel Goldsmith has long impressed me with the curiosity and delight with which she encounters works of art. Hers is a singular vision: many of these Pre-Raphaelite
/IndianAbroadNews
and Symbolist pictures carry a mystical or spiritual dimension. This is an intriguing sale, full of the unexpected, which delights the eye and presents the market with rare opportunities to acquire notable works by Burne-Jones, De Morgan and Watts, and Khnopff, Stevens, and Levy-Dhurmer. Watts’ ‘The Open Door’ (estimate: 10,000-15,000 pounds) is sold to benefit Watts Gallery - Artists’ Village.” The Return of Orpheus by Sidney Harold Meteyard, which is estimated to sell for between 200,000 pounds and 300,000 dollars and is illustrated on page one with an in-person archive shot from 1992, commands the highest price. From left to right, additional highlights include Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones’ Luna
/indianabroadnews
(estimate: 70,000-100,000 pounds), Simeon Solomon’s Death Awakening Sleep (estimate: 10,000-15,000), Evelyn De Morgan’s The Field of the Slain (estimate: 30,000-50,000 pounds), and Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones’ Study for the Head of Medusa for “The Finding of Medusa” (1876) (estimate: 15,000-25,000 pounds). Highlights include Fernand Khnopff’s La Medusa endormie, ca. 1896 (estimate: 80,000-120,000 pounds, illustrated on page 1), Ophelie (Ophelia), 1887 by Alfred Stevens (estimate: 60,000-100,000 pounds), La bourrasque, 1897 by Lucien Levy-Dhurmer (estimate: 100,000-150,000 pounds), and The Search-Light by Evelyn De Morgan (estimate: 70,000-100,000 pounds).
22
LITERATURE
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Tamil Bible translation stolen from Silk & Steel: Action heroines First Thanjavur traced to London museum of popular literature Vikas Datta
T
he Tamil Nadu Police’s Idol Wing has traced the 300-yearold, world’s first printed Bible translation in Tamil, stolen from the state’s Thanjavur, to the King George III museum in London, officials said on Friday.
Sources in the Idol Wing told IANS that the department has commenced the process to bring the Bible back to India. An officer said that the Bible was stolen from Saraswathi Mahal Library in Thanjavur in 2005 and the theft is suspected to be the handiwork of a group of foreigners who had visited the library. The deputy administrator of Serfoji Palace in Thanjavur filed a complaint about the theft with the Thanjavur west police station on October 10, 2005 and a case was registered a case but there was no progress.
G
iven how monotonous and mundane the daily existence of most of us can be, action in its various cultural manifestations is a pleasure, giving us the vicarious experience of lives lived fast and dangerous. For good measure, the sphere is also one where there has been gender equality right from the very beginning. Religious pantheons -- GrecoRoman, Norse, SumerianBabylonian, Hindu -- all have female divinities who were no less than their male counterparts. The tradition was replicated in folklore, and later, in literature -- though never adequately in real life, till well into our times. But then, our world is far from perfect. In literature, however, there are far fewer double standards. Action heroines, who are usually the polar opposites of the ‘Damsel in Distress’, slowly rose from a rare subversion of what was socially acceptable to become a norm. Figuring in more than the usual woman versus woman fight, aimed mostly at titillating a section of readers (male adolescents mainly, but some older one too), these characters developed from just being the hero’s supporter to becoming someone who, on her own, could face dangerous foes and deadly obstacles -- and win. Action heroines come in various sizes and shapes, ranging from the “Action Fashionista” to the “Action Girlfriend” to the “Warrior Princess”, from the “Cute Bruiser” to the “Pirate Girl”, and from the “Damsel out of Distress” to the “Girls with Guns”, and more. They are the staple of comics, which lend themselves well to their depiction. But though comics have progressed as far as characterisation and plot go, prose still holds an edge in overall portrayal, as it leaves much to the readers’ imagination. Most action heroines appear usually in mythology, fantasy (eg, Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series) or science fiction, but they also have their ‘real world’ counterparts. For most, Steig Larsson’s Lisbeth Salander would be the most familiar, though not a prepossessing, being “an unusual kind of sociopath”. Let us now look at some other examples, beginning with the sultry, stunning and superlatively intelligent Modesty Blaise, who, in the words of Jennifer K. Stuller in “Ink-Stained Amazons and Cinematic Warriors: Superwomen in Modern Mythology”, is the “most complex, sophisticated, skilled and intelligent of all action heroines”. Peter O’Donnell’s raven-haired, high-cheekboned and buxom but fighting fit character has had an enviable cross-media stint. Apart from the long-running (1963-2002) globally syndicated comic strip, Blaise stars in 13 books, at least two films, many radio dramas and a number of pop songs. A TV series, however, didn’t materialise and Quentin Tarantino, who planned to make a film, only ended up showing his “Pulp Fiction” assassin Vincent Vega (John Travolta) reading one of the Modesty novels. www.indianabroad.news
There is plenty of action and sex (Modesty even has a distraction combat gambit of entering a room of enemies topless), vivid characters, including thoroughly dastardly villains, and intricate plots -- but so do many others. But what sets it apart is her close, platonic relationship with her aide, Willie Garvin, based on complete openness, understanding and trust -- and so devoted that threatening one will draw the other’s unflinching wrath (as many villains learn). It is this that gives this series its special allure. Thursday Next, the heroine of Jasper Fforde’s uproarious meta-fiction alternate history, comic fantasy series, is another action heroine, who saves both the worlds she inhabits. She also manages to marry the love of her life, saves him from non-existence, and goes on to raise a family. Living in a world where England is now a republic, time travel, cloning and genetic engineering exist (dodos are common pets and Neanderthals have been resurrected), but computers or jet aircraft don’t, a shadowy corporation exerts great influence, and literature is revered -- and has a special police force at its disposal (where she works); she also operates in the “Bookworld”. This is a dimension within literature where all books are “constructed” and also house the characters who, well aware they are in a book, act out their roles when being read but live their own lives the rest of the time. And both are beset by problems -which our plucky heroine manages to resolve. Nordic noir/Scandinavian noir, which combined crime with trenchant social commentary, emerged with a bang around the 1990s, though it had been around since the 1960s, and it was expected that it would soon boast of a female principal protagonist. Swedish nurse-turned-author Helene Tursten’s Inspector Irene Huss fills the gap -- with a difference. A former jujitsu champion, a mother of twin teenage girls, and the wife of a successful chef, Huss is a Detective Inspector in the Violent Crimes Unit in Sweden’s Goteborg. In her 10-odd appearances, she goes on to solve crimes among the upper crust, inexplicable murders at a hospital, or the massacre of a pastor’s family, confronts skinheads, organised crime, serial killers, human traffickers, and more. What sets this series (published in English 2003-17) apart from others of its genre is that it acknowledges society’s dark underside -- a staple of the modern crime novel -- as a danger that must be confronted. The protagonist is an ordinary person who is a cop, not a crusader, and just wants to improve her world a little bit at a time, instead of revelling in the abyss. And as the bad must be featured along with the good, let’s meet Sheba the She-Wolf from the irrepressible George MacDonald Fraser’s “The Pyrates” (1983), in which he tried to combine every single pirate
adventure story -- and succeeded. Full of all possible, tropes stereotypes and deliberate anachronisms, it stars a model classic hero, Captain Benjamin Avery of the Royal Navy, complemented by a bevy of damsels in distress, a charismatic anti-hero, a hilariously malevolent Spanish Viceroy, and six pirate cheftains -- Calico Jack Rackham, Black Bilbo, Firebeard, Happy Dan Pew, Akbar the Terrible and Sheba the She-Wolf. And it is Sheba who “had clawed her way to power in the Coast fraternity by a piratical genius and ruthless ferocity that had made her the toast of women’s liberationists all along the Main”. “Six gorgeous feet she was, from the heels of her tight-fitting Italian thigh boots (from Gucci, undoubtedly) to the curling plume of her picture hat, breeched and shirted in crimson silk that clung to her like a skin, lithe and sleek and dangerous as a panther -- Sheba, the black pirate queen, looking like something out of Marvel Comics with her lovely vicious face and voluptuous shape, her dark eyes flashing against her ebony skin, smouldering silently as she unsheathed her dainty rapier with its Cartier hilt, and posed with the contemptuous grace of a burlesque star, indifferent to the ecstatic sighs and groans of her besotted followers.” Enough said? Sir Terry Pratchett was known to create strong woman heroines in all his “Discworld” arc of fanatasies, but he created the ultimate action heroine in “Good Omens” (1990), co-authored with Neil Gaiman. “The redhaired woman in the corner of the hotel bar was the most successful war correspondent in the world. She now had a passport in the name of Carmine Zuigiber; and she went where the wars were. Well. More or less. Actually she went where the wars weren’t. She’d already been where the wars were.” We later learn that she is one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse -- it is evident which one. Finally, lets return to comic book superheroines -- but with a difference. Austin Grossman’s novel “Soon I Will Be Invincible” (2007) is an uninhibited but affectionate parody of both the Marvel and the DC universes. Here, we see the superhero group ‘New Champions’ taking on the super-strong, super-villain Dr Impossible (who suffers from Malign Hypercognition Disorder or evil genius syndrome) and is making his 13th attempt to take over the world after yet another jailbreak. There is a problem, however. Their strongest member, and the greatest superhero, CoreFire, is missing. Enjoy the antics of all the superheroes / heroines and the super villains, but keep an eye on Lily, a former group member claiming to be a resident of the future, sent back to avert an ecological disaster. Any more will be spoilers. (Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)
Subsequently, on October 2017, Saraswathi Mahal Library administrator E. Rajendran lodged a complaint with the idol wing, and a case was registered and investigations launched. After the progress was studied by Director General, Idol Wing, Jayanth K. Murali, a separate team was set up in 2020 and a detailed study of the registry was painstakingly undertaken by the team during the period the Bible went missing and it was found that on October 7, 2005, the library had hosted a group of foreigners. “We found that the visitors had come to India to attend a function to commemorate Bartholomeus Ziegenbalg, the Danish missionary who had printed the Bible,” Murali said. An officer with the Idol Wing then scanned all the websites of libraries and private collectors associated with Ziegenbalg manuscripts, and stumbled upon at King George III museum. They was able to find the stolen first
Tamil translation that was printed at a printing press in Tharangambadi in the 17th century, and could match the stolen Bible with the one at the museum. “We hope to retrieve the Bible and restore it to the Saraswathi Mahal Library under the UNESCO treaty soon. The wing has initiated steps to restore the Bible to the library,” the Idol Wing said. The King of Denmark had sent Ziegenbalg to Tamil Nadu and he arrived in Tranquebar (The anglicized name of Tharangambadi), which was then a Danish colony
close to Nagapattinam, in 1706. The Protestant missionary translated the New Testament into Tamil in 1715. After his demise, another missionary Schwartz handed over the first copy of the Bible to Tulaji Rajah Serfoji, the then ruler of Tanjavur. The Tamil Nadu government had kept this antique as an exhibit at Saraswathi Mahal Library. The Idol Wing, in its statement, also said: “The value of the Bible is further enhanced as the cover of this antique piece bears the signature of the then King of Tanjavur, Serfoji.”
‘Ingredients of a successful life cost nothing at all’
H
eres a guide to mastering ones thoughts for self-discovery and for fulfilling the purpose of life, a true ‘marg darshan’ for this generation and the others to come Incredible as it may seem, the ingredients of a hugely successful life cost nothing at all. In fact, we mass-produce 60,000 of them every day. These are the thoughts that our mind creates. They are responsible for the happiness and distress we experience. They are the precursors of all we do. We grapple with improving our actions, only to find our attempts undone by impure thinking. If we focus on transforming our thoughts instead, incredible results will accrue from a fraction of the efforts. Since all aspects of our life are so strongly linked to our thoughts, we have much to gain by deepening our understanding of them. From Swami Mukundananda, an alumnus of IIT-Delhi and IIMCalcutta, a world-renowned spiritual teacher and the author of the bestselling, “The Science of Mind Management” comes “The Power of Thoughts” (Penguin Random House India) that shares the secrets of harnessing one’s thoughts for greater success, clarity, and peace of mind. Through the book, Mukundananda will teach you about watching your thoughts, directing them, dismantling harmful thought structures, creative thinking, meditation and much more. When you focus on revolutionizing your thoughts - the most fundamental aspect of inner personality - you will discover yourself evolving to divine heights to fulfil the purpose of your life. “In the first half, I have dealt with thoughts that harm us and techniques for eradicating or sublimating them. In the second half, I have explained strategies to unleash your
/IndianAbroadNews
thinking to live life to the fullest. I hope you have a magnificent enlightening journey as we proceed together through the pages of the book,” the author says. After earning his degrees, Mukundananda chose to renounce a promising corporate career and embrace monkhood. He studied
/indianabroadnews
Vedic scriptures with Jagadguru Kripaluji Maharaj and for almost four decades now, has been sharing his vast knowledge through his books, lectures, and life-transformation programs.
23
TRAVEL
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
5 Insta worthy Indian destinations to spice up your travel feed The tea estates, Lakkam waterfalls, and Eravikulam National Park are some must-visit destinations in Kerela Thiksey, Leh
T
ravel is opening up across the world, and with that, our Instagram feeds are now being blessed with pictures of people exploring new and unique destinations. While most travel influencers
flaunt beautiful destinations from across the globe, there is absolutely no dearth of insta-worthy destinations in India. Right from flower-filled landscapes
Munnar, Kerala
to snowcapped mountain ranges, there is no shortage of beautiful destinations within the country, especially for those who want to make a quick getaway and explore picture-perfect destinations.
To help spice up your travel feed, EaseMyTrip shares a list of some of the most beautiful destinations that will make others envious of your Instagram feed:
Kutch, Gujarat
Thiksey in Leh is one destination that is surely set to become an instant favorite, especially with the concept of glamping being at the forefront of the experiences here. While there are only specific months during the year when visitors can enjoy the sights, the pictures clicked here are sure to last a lifetime. The Chamba Camp in particular is a luxury glamping site that offers some of the best backdrops for scenic views. When
visiting Thiksey, opt to stay in one of the local luxury tents, which creates a unique wilderness camping experience. October is one of the best times to visit this destination owing to the ThikseyGustor Festival, which gives visitors a unique insight into the ritualistic life of Tibetan people, and the culture that has been upheld for centuries in this region. Insta Worthy Location: Chamba Camp
KremLiatPrah, Meghalaya
Located in the Idukki district of Kerala, Munnar is a scenic destination straight out of a fairytale. This quaint hill station is a romantic paradise nestled in the confluence of three mountain streams. Among the notable attractions, the Neelakurinji, which blooms once every 12 years, is a sight to behold, as these rare and unique flowers present a picturesque blue
and purple landscape against the green rolling hills of Munnar. The tea estates, Lakkam waterfalls, and Eravikulam National Park are some must-visit destinations for those who want to explore the unique and magnificent sights of the hill station and add more color to their Instagram feed. Insta Worthy Location: Neelakurinji Bloom Hills
Aptly dubbed as the “White Desert of India”, Kutch is a unique destination that exudes a surreal feeling that is unmatched and sure to add a touch of flair to your feed. The vast and expansive white salt desert coupled with a backdrop of a starry sky is sure to have you staring in awe at the pictures that come as a result of it. The Rann Festival in particular is one of the most popular and instagrammable events, as the numerous sights and stalls set up here add a pop of color
to an otherwise pristine backdrop. One of the attractions of this festival is also the hot air balloon rides being offered to patrons, giving them a unique bird’s eye view of the vast saline mudflats that are iconic to this region. Kutch is also known for being home to the unique Tent City of Gujarat, whose notable attractions include the extensive lines of white tent houses and stores, as well as the renowned Statue of Unity. Insta Worthy Location: RaanUtsav (Tent City)
Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh
Popular for its scenic mountain ranges, coniferous landscapes, and 400-year-old monasteries adorned in colorful Tibetan flags, the quaint town of Tawang is considered to be one of the prime Insta-worthy
www.indianabroad.news
destinations, not just for those who want to grace their feeds with aesthetic posts, but also for those who want to visit a destination with tremendous natural beauty and history. The town is also home
to one of the biggest, and oldest monasteries in India, dating back to 1680. This destination is especially perfect for those who want to enjoy an offbeat vacation, and who want to explore the unique hiking trails
such as the Gorichen Peak, which gives travelers a breathtaking 360-degree view of Tawang. Insta Worthy Location: GadenNamgyalLhatse (Tawang Monastery)
/IndianAbroadNews
From the dazzling blue pools to stalagmites in gleaming hues, the unique caves nestled in KremLiatPrah make a traveler feel as if they are visiting a destination straight out of a fantasy novel. The KremLiatPrah stands as one of the longest natural caves in South Asia and is interconnected with over 150 caves to awaken the explorer in you. The caves can, however, only be explored along with an experienced cave guide, during the daytime, to
/indianabroadnews
truly experience the beauty of this unique destination. Winter is the perfect season to experience the vast stretches of cherry blossoms that bloom during this time of the year. KremLiatPrah is one of the most remote destinations in Meghalaya, which is why pre-booking a bus or a taxi to reach your destination from Shillong is considered to be the best option. Insta Worthy Location: Krem Dam Caves
24
SCI-TECH
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Musk to pay $1 bn as deal termination fee to Twitter
New Delhi, July 9 (IANS): Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who has cancelled the $44 billion Twitter buyout deal, will have to pay $1 billion in termination fee to the micro-blogging platform. As per an earlier filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), “Musk will be required to pay Twitter a termination
fee of $1 billion”, if he cancels the deal. Musk was expected to provide equity financing of approximately $21 billion on his own. The Tesla CEO had said that Twitter is violating the terms of his $54.20-per-share offer by refusing to give him more information about
how much of the platform’s traffic is driven by fake accounts. He then threatened to blow up the deal over the issue. With him terminating the deal, Tesla shares went up more than 14 per cent in after-hours trading on Friday, as investors reacted positively to Musk’s move. Tesla shares rose 14.51 per cent to close at $752.29. Musk in May committed to provide an additional $6.25 billion in equity financing for his $44 billion Twitter takeover, bringing his total equity commitment to $33.5 billion and bringing relief for Tesla investors. Tesla stock had nosedived more than 30 per cent after Musk announced to fund his Twitter buyout by borrowing against his Tesla ownership stake. Twitter on Saturday announced to sue Musk over terminating the deal.
Twitter to sue Musk for terminating $44 bn takeover deal San Francisco, July 9 (IANS): Micro-blogging platform Twitter on Saturday announced it was going to sue Tesla CEO Elon Musk for terminating the $44 billion takeover deal. In a surprising move, Musk’s legal team said in a US Securities and Exchange (SEC) filing that he is terminating the deal because Twitter was in “material breach” of their agreement and had made “false and misleading” statements during negotiations. In a following tweet, Twitter Chairman Bret Taylor said that the “board is committed to closing the transaction on the price and terms agreed upon with Musk and plans to pursue legal action to enforce the merger agreement”. “We are confident we will prevail in the Delaware Court of Chancery,” he added. Musk had put the deal on hold over the actual number of spammy/fake
accounts and bots on the platform, and sought a reply from Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal. On Thursday, Twitter claimed it is suspending more than 1 million spam accounts a day. “That is indeed the real question,” Musk replied on Friday. The new figure doubled the previous update from Agrawal who said that the platform removes 500,000 spam accounts a day. “We suspend over half a million spam accounts every day, usually before any of you even see them on Twitter. We also lock millions of accounts each week that we suspect may be spam -- if they can’t pass human verification challenges (captchas, phone verification, etc),” Agrawal had tweeted in May. In an internal memo to Twitter employees sent Friday and obtained by The Verge, the company’s general counsel, Sean Edgett, told staffers to “refrain from Tweeting, Slacking,
or sharing any commentary about the merger,” and that management would be “very limited on what we can share”. “I know this is an uncertain time, and we appreciate your patience and ongoing commitment to the important work we have underway,” Edgett wrote.
Samsung Galaxy S23 could likely use Twitter tells employees to ‘refrain’ Qualcomm processor worldwide
from posting on Musk deal
San Francisco, July 9 (IANS): Amid the high voltage drama happening ever since Elon Musk officially tried to pull out of his $44 billion agreement to buy Twitter, the microblogging site’s general counsel has told employees to not publicly comment on the deal. In an internal memo to Twitter employees sent on Friday and obtained by The Verge, the company’s general counsel, Sean Edgett, told employees to “refrain from
Tweeting, Slacking, or sharing any commentary about the merger”, and that management would be “very limited on what we can share”. “I know this is an uncertain time, and we appreciate your patience and ongoing commitment to the important work we have underway,” Edgett wrote. As per the website, the notice cites the fact that the merger is an ongoing legal matter. “The Twitter Board is committed to closing the transaction on the price and terms agreed upon with Musk and plans to pursue legal action to enforce the merger agreement. We are confident we will prevail in the Delaware Court of Chancery,” Edgett said. In a surprising move, Musk’s legal team said in a US Securities and Exchange (SEC) filing that he is terminating the deal because Twitter was in “material breach” of their
agreement and had made “false and misleading” statements during negotiations. Meanwhile, Twitter, in response, said that it was going to sue Musk for terminating the $44 billion takeover deal. In the following tweet, Twitter Chairman Bret Taylor said that the “board is committed to closing the transaction on the price and terms agreed upon with Musk and plans to pursue legal action to enforce the merger agreement”. “We are confident we will prevail in the Delaware Court of Chancery,” he added. Musk had put the deal on hold over the actual number of spammy/ fake accounts and bots on the platform, and sought a reply from Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal. On Thursday, Twitter claimed it is suspending more than 1 million spam accounts a day.
Microsoft now allows up to 10 ‘co-organisers’ on Teams
New Delhi, July 8: With an aim to make hybrid work easy and simple for users, tech giant Microsoft on Friday introduced four new features to Teams, including a new “co-organiser” role. The company said that organisers can share control by assigning the new “co-organiser” role to up to 10 meeting attendees. “Co-organisers have most of the same capabilities
as the organiser, including management of Meeting Options,” the company said in a statement. Limitations of the co-organiser role include an inability to create and manage breakout rooms, manage meeting recordings, and view or download attendance reports. Organisers can add co-organisers through Meeting Options. Only invitees within the same tenant as the organiser are eligible for the co-organiser role. Other new features let users customise meeting invites with multi-language support. With this feature, you can customise meeting invites to include the languages with which your users are most familiar and comfortable. Customise meeting invites with multi-language support’ enables administrators to display the join
information in meeting invitations in up to two languages across all email platforms. With the new update, IT administrators can now disable chat write access for non-federated users and unauthenticated users who join Teams meetings through a shared link. “This provides an added layer of security, for all organisations. Disable the chat write access via PowerShell,” the company said. “You can also do this through the admin portal under - Chat in Meetings - policy - Turn it on for everyone but anonymous users. This setting can be applied to a subset or all tenant users,” it added. Once this is set by an IT administrator, a meeting organiser cannot override this setting through meeting options.
Most Indian businesses now investing in risk management capabilities: Report
New Delhi, July 12: In the current turbulent business environment, nearly eight in 10 business executives in India say that keeping up with the speed of digital and other transformations is a significant risk management challenge, a new report said on Tuesday. Six in 10 executives also feel the need to actively seek external insights to assess and monitor risks in the increasingly disruptive business environment, according to
www.indianabroad.news
the report by global consulting firm PwC. While 88 per cent of business leaders are increasing their spending on technology and digital capabilities in the risk function workforce in the country, 64 per cent of business executives report that their risk function is actively seeking external insights to assess and monitor risks. “In an environment where change is constant, risk management capabilities provide the greatest value to board members and business leaders when they are embedded within the organisation’s strategic planning and decision-making processes,” said Sivarama Krishnan, Partner and Risk Consulting Leader, PwC India. The changing work environment brought on by the pandemic continues to disrupt talent and labour markets. Supply shortages, sanctions and rising raw material costs are heightening risks within supply
chains as organisations deal with upstream supply chain risks related to subcontractors and other fourth parties that further complicate risks. Many executives find the need to revise and adapt their strategies and operating models at a rapid pace, mentioned the report. “Investment in risk processes, frameworks and enabling systems is needed to help an organisation deploy a standardised and consistent approach to risk management,” the findings showed. When organisations embrace risk management capabilities as a strategic organisational capability, they are five times more likely to be very confident in delivering stakeholder confidence, a growth-minded risk culture, increased resilience, and business outcomes, the report noted. “They’re almost twice as likely to project revenue growth of 11% or more over the next 12 months,” it added.
Seoul, July 10 (IANS): South Korean tech giant Samsung is likely to single-source the processor for its Galaxy S23 series flagship from the US-based chip maker company Qualcomm. According to noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Qualcomm will likely be the sole supplier of chipsets (model number SM8550) for the Galaxy S23 series. “S23 may not adopt Exynos 2300 made by Samsung 4nm because it cannot compete with SM8550 in all aspects,” the analyst wrote on the platform. “SM8550 is optimised for TSMC’s design rule, so it has obvious advantages over SM8450/SM8475
in computing power and power efficiency,” Kuo added. A recent report said that Samsung Galaxy S23 series will not come with an under-display camera (UDC) technology, which also means that users may have to wait until the Galaxy S24 for the UDC technology. The report does not state the exact reason Samsung is holding off on introducing an under-display camera on its upcoming flagship S-series. The technology is available only on a few smartphones these days including the Xiaomi Mi Mix 4, ZTE Axon 30 5G, and the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Another report said that the Galaxy S23 series will come with an
upgraded 12MP selfie camera. Both the Galaxy S23 and the Galaxy S23+ are likely to use the same 10 MP resolution for the telephoto camera as the S22 and S22+.
India needs clearer personal data protection law to tame Twitter, others New Delhi, July 9 (IANS): The latest Centre-Twitter legal battle over repeated content blocking orders by the IT Ministry has brought an old debate to the fore -- is the country finally ready to penalise foreign intermediaries and social media platforms for not obeying the law of the land or is there still a long way to go? Unlike the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (EU GDPR), and tougher cyber laws in countries like Singapore, South Korea and Australia, the Indian government is using several agencies to tame social media platforms in the absence of a nodal cyber regulator that separately deals with Big Tech. In India, Twitter is in the eye of storm for not complying often with the new IT (intermediary) Rules, 2021. The micro-blogging platform even witnessed a police raid on its offices in Delhi and Gurugram related to the alleged Congress toolkit controversy last year. Twitter was at loggerheads with the Indian government last year over removal of certain posts and being compliant with the intermediary guidelines under the IT Act. As and when the government sends stern notices to Twitter, Google, YouTube and Meta (formerly Facebook) under the available laws (like Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000) to remove controversial content, the platforms immediately knock at the door of the courts, resulting in zero action. The tussle between Twitter, WhatsApp/Facebook and the government has reached its nadir, and the fact is that an absence of a stricter personal data protection law is forcing the concerned authorities to take routes like writing heaps of notices that have resulted in zero action to date, while social networking giants continue to take the country for a ride. According to experts, while the government can initiate action for suspension or blocking of intermediary apps or websites if they fail to comply with its directions over various issues under current laws, a strong data protection law is what
/IndianAbroadNews
can tame the social media platforms, the way the GDPR in the EU has achieved. In case Twitter fails to comply with the government directions, the latter has the powers to resort to penal consequences. “In that direction, appropriate FIRs can be registered against intermediaries and service providers and their top management can also be made liable for the said contravention under Section 85 of the IT Act, 2000,” Pavan Duggal, one of the country’s top cyber law experts, noted. The government can exercise its power under Section 69(A)(1). In case, any service provider or intermediary fails to comply with the provisions of the same, there are penal consequences prescribed under Section 69A(3) too. Non-compliance with directions for blocking is a non-bailable serious offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine. India has to learn from the EU when it comes to formulating a legal framework to secure data and tackle hateful or abusive online content, the experts said. The EU GDPR has been designed to harmonise data privacy laws across Europe -- to protect and empower all EU citizens’ data privacy and to reshape the way organisations across the region approach data privacy. The Indian government, time and again, has told Internet intermediaries and social media platforms to comply with the law of the land. Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar said in a tweet that all foreign intermediaries and platforms have a right to approach the court and judicial review in India. “But equally, all intermediary/ platforms operating here have an unambiguous obligation to comply with our laws and rules,” Chandrasekhar posted last week, as Twitter moved the Karnataka High Court against the government’s order to take down some content on its platform.
/indianabroadnews
IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that “be it any company, in any sector, they should abide by the laws of India”. Twitter has clearly said that these blocking orders are being challenged on the basis that “they are procedurally and substantially deficient of the Section 69A requirements”. The micro-blogging platform last year clearly stated that they will listen to the Indian government’s content removal demands seriously only when the Personal Data Protection Bill is firmly in place. The proposed Personal Data Protection Bill also has provisions that impose heavy penalties on companies for non-compliance. It has also proposed to term social media companies as publishers, which will make them liable for the content on their platforms. The moot question is: Once the global tech giants respond to government notices, the matter ends and according to leading experts, data of crores of Indians are still being misused in the absence of a robust mechanism. “As of today, India does not have a dedicated law on privacy or on cyber security,” Duggal pointed out. “It does not have a legal framework in place for protecting all kinds of data. The Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 is pending consideration before the Joint Parliamentary Committee. Further, India does not have a dedicated policy on data localisation.” According to legal experts, India must fight social media biggies with a strong data protection law in place.
25
FOOD & CUISINE
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
An enlightening guide to the desserts of India through the centuries
By Vishnu Makhijani New Delhi, June 28 (IANS) Religion might well be the opiate of the masses in India, but maybe the plethora of desserts offered in the name of religion have a role to play in it, says chef, columnist and food writer Rajyasree Sen, adding that in today’s political climate, there are few moments as satisfying as Hindus craving for some creamy sheer korma during Eid, or Punjabis asking their Bengali friends for mishti doi. And the fact that Muslim cooks bake the Christmas cake in Calcutta (“no, I will not refer to it as Kolkata”) for a largely Hindu clientele to celebrate a Christian festival proves that when it comes to desserts and mithai -- and maybe conveniently -- the barriers drop away; one of the biggest reasons to celebrate the sweets of India, she maintains. “I’ve been writing on food for a while now, almost 15 years I’d say. And it all started with me opening my Bengali and Anglo-Indian restaurant, Brown Sahib in New Delhi in 2007 (it shut down a decade ago). The thought behind the restaurant was to serve authentic Calcutta cuisine and to replicate some of the dishes I had grown up eating at home - keema chops, stuffed crabs, smoked hilsa, prawn malai curry. I have a background in journalism and with my interest in cooking, ingredients and in the history of foods and flavours, it was only natural that I’d be writing on food,” Sen told IANS in an interview of her book, “The Sweet Kitchen Tales & Recipes of India’s Favourite Desserts” (Aleph). She was the Wall Street Journal India’s food columnist for years, and has written columns on food for a variety of publications and also scripted many food shows for Fox, Nat Geo and Discovery. Thus, when approached to write on the history and cultural influences on Indian
sweets - a topic which surprisingly hasn’t been written about in detail in any one book - the outcome presents readers with some interesting anecdotes, historical facts and tid-bits about sweets in India, and introduces them to some sweets which they might not be familiar with. Considerable research went into the book. “As I mentioned, for a country which loves sweets as much as India does - and has a plethora of sweets unique to different communities and regions, it was quite surprising that there was no one definitive book, even academic, on sweets in India. I’ve referred to old texts, books, articles, recipes and spoken to people to discover and confirm much of what you will discover in the book,” Sen explained. As a result of her extensive research, Sen discovered historical facts she was not aware of or had even considered. For instance, which desserts must we thank the Persians, the Mughals, the Portuguese, and the French for? While she knew that a sweet had been created for Lady Canning in Bengal, she had no idea which Mughal emperor to thank for bringing halwa to India, or the Sikh connection to the creation of kaju barfi. She has also tried to demystify the very controversial question of whether Bengal made the rosogolla first, or if the credit goes to Odisha. She also discovered that daulat ki chaat, an airy, churned milk dessert available only during the cold winter of North India, has a Mughal origin. Beginning with ‘Sandesh: Muse of the Bengal Renaissaince’, Sen takes the reader through 13 chapters to discover ‘Rosogolla: Who Stole My Cheese’, ‘The Christmas Cake: Cultural Chameleon’, ‘Payasam, Payesh, Kheer: The Three Avatars of Sweet Pudding’, ‘Halwa: The Arab Who Strayed onto the Indian
Palate’, ‘Barfi: When Art Outdoes Nature’, ‘Gulab Jamun: Everybody’s Celebration Sweetmeat’, ‘Jalebi: Sweet Lord of the Rings’, ‘Daulat Ki Chaat: The Lingering Taste of Old Delhi’, ‘Misthi Doi, Shrikhand, Bhapa Doi: Haute Culture Curd’, ‘Goan Sweets: Gems from an Indigenous Pastelaria’, ‘Firinghee Sweets: Delicious Relics of the Raj’, and ‘In God’s Name: Sweetmeats and Culutral Congeniality’. Each of these chapters contains a short introduction of the sweet, details of the ingredients, the method of making, the preparation time and the number of people it serves. Sen also discovered that sweets are not strictly vegetarian -- they can also be made with meat and eggs. “For example, there are some non-vegetarian variants of halwa such as gosht halwa and ande ka halwa which are worth mentioning,” she said. “Giving a whole new meaning to the word ‘sweet meat’, the gosht halwa is a translucent, succulent dessert soaked in ghee and cooked with tender lamb mince. The recipe is referred to in old Persian recipe books, and khansamas who worked in Old Delhi homes have recreated the dish from memory, turning out a delightful dessert prepared by cooking meat for hours by stirring it with milk and sugar till it amalgamates into a thick halwa which is then flavoured with saffron and cardamom. This preparation is supposed to have originated in Rampur, Uttar Pradesh. “Ande ka halwa, or egg halwa, is made by cracking eggs into a pan with ghee, milk, sugar, and dried fruits. The mixture is cooked until a thick custard forms, which is then sprinkled with saffron. Most Indian halwas, however, use grains, such as the suji halwa and atta halwa,” Sen explained. She earnestly hopes the book will serve the purpose of breaking down barriers. “Like all good meals are supposed to do, this book should bring people to the same table and help create an understanding and appreciation of other communities and peoples. After all, if we love their foods, we can surely extend some affection towards them as well,” she elaborated. What next? What will her next book be on? “Who knows, maybe I’ll write a historical espionage! I’d love to write a book on Bengali cuisine with recipes. Let’s see, time will tell,” Sen concluded. (Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)
5 Sinful Chocolate Indulgences
New Delhi, July 3: World Chocolate Day commemorates the most beloved indulgence. So, here are some of the best places in Mumbai to celebrate the occasion: Hitchki Hitchki is more than just a fun and quirky diner with amusing Bollywood-themed dishes. The restaurant serves nostalgia on a platter through popular Hindi film dialogues and lyrics that every Hindustani heart can relate to, as the word ‘hitchki’ or hiccup itself stands as a metaphor for remembrance. Dessert filled with cigarette candies, gems, and nuts, as well as generous scoops of vanilla and chocolate ice cream topped with drizzled chocolate sauce and wafer cones are a must try. Chocolate Lava Kulfi, on the other hand, suggests a delectable twist on the kulfi-and-chocolate-lava combination to enjoy the best of both worlds. 1522 Bar and Kitchen With its chic atmosphere and festive vibes, 1522 Bar and Kitchen brings life to the city of dreams. Coming from Bengaluru, the place is accustomed to Mumbai’s pace,
zest, and spirit. The multi-cuisine dine-in caters to culinary needs while providing visitors with homely comfort. Not only are its royal kebabs and finely curated cocktails prepared with premium ingredients, but so are its chocolate dessert. Ferrero Rocher Entremet comes in first place, combining crunchy wafers and roasted hazelnuts in Ferrero Rocher with the stunning French entremet. For a guilt-free indulgence, try its low-calorie Keto Choco Fudge. Love and Cheesecake To celebrate the occasion, Love and Cheesecake, Mumbai’s premium dessert chain, will shower you with the best chocolate cheesecakes and layered cakes. This brand, co-founded by Ruchyeta Bhatia and Chef Amit Sharma, delivers across Mumbai from its fifteen store locations. Love and Cheesecake boasts a dessert menu with over 120 different flavours. From gooey chocolate fudge cake to the unique blend of flavours in Chocolate Banoffee Cake, this bakery’s Chocolate base is limitless. Mad Over Donuts
Head to Mad Over Donuts or order from their website from the comfort of your own home if you want to indulge in the fluffy and crispy goodness of doughnuts. Brownie Crumble, Chocolate Therapy, Double Trouble, Chocolate Decadence, and other variations on chocolate-flavoured doughnuts are available at this location. It serves bite-sized doughnuts, crunchy Belgian waffles, and eclairs, among other things, in addition to mouth-watering doughnuts with cream or melted chocolate filling. Poetry by Love and Cheesecake Poetry by Love and Cheesecake, a lively hangout spot, has locations throughout Mumbai. This cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner in an American-European style to its customers. It not only serves delicious and nutritious meals, but it also specialises in freshly prepared desserts. On this World Chocolate Day, you can indulge in the Belgian Chocolate Waffle with marshmallows, chilled vanilla ice cream, and maple syrup, or Chocolate OD, for a more traditional yet sinful chocolate treat.
Enjoy healthy and crunchy salads Mumbai’s healthy cafes are worth a visit June 24, 2022: Salads are one of the most adaptable meals that can be made quickly and enjoyed in summer. As people have become more health-conscious, there has been a dramatic shift towards quick, scrumptious, yet nutrient-dense meals. Here are some of the best spots in Mumbai for you to grab a refreshing salads: Poetry by Love and Cheesecake
Sequel
Healthy Eating Habits for Millennials Eating healthy is not rocket science
July 10, 2022: There is no escaping the fact that there are no shortcuts and that healthy eating is the only way to achieve holistic and sustainable well-being. Millennials make for around two-thirds of the Indian consumer market. The chunk of the population is also known for its unhealthy eating habits and this explains the high percentage of Gen Y contending with lifestyle diseases. However, lately, millennials are becoming aware of healthy eating habits for good health and well-being. These healthy eating habits can help you on your journey to health: Make a Schedule and Stick to it: Making a schedule and then sticking to it religiously will help you to discipline your own eating habits. To perfect the habit, take a diary and write everything that goes into your tummy. In addition, keep a close track of the intake of calories. And count how much you need and how much you spend. Within 21 days, you will find a considerable change in your eating habits and if you feel, don’t hesitate to take the help of
www.indianabroad.news
a professional nutritionist in the journey. Evaluate requirements and never skip meals: Depending upon the activity and profession, the nutritional requirements vary from person to person. Your body’s needs in terms of macro and micronutrients are unique and hence you must first evaluate your requirement and then make a plan for it. Rather than opting for fried foods, popped chips, dark chocolates, and energy bars make for a healthy and filling snacking option. Choose Intelligently and say no to Junk: Millennials are part of the specific lifestyle and work culture and hence, eating out comes naturally to this chunk of the population. The option is not best from the health perspective but still, you can choose intelligently on those party nights or weekend trips to save your health plans to go haywire. Consuming Colas and alcohol should also be off your list as both these things can severely hamper your health in the long term. Choose Food Over Supplements:
Today convenience and nutrition are the challenge for most millennials. To stay healthy, it is important to read the label carefully to know what has gone into the making of the product. Also evaluate the nutritional information, especially the content of fat, sugar, and carbs before buying. “Make sure that products you’re consuming are free from added sugar and unnatural substances,” says Apoorva Gururaj, Co-founder, Foodio.fit. Sugar leads to many lifestyle diseases, hence best to avoid it. Another important healthy eating habit is to keep up the intake of your liquid to the optimum. Water not only maintains our body’s temperature but also helps in flushing out the toxins from our system. Hence avoid sugar-sweetened beverages too. Consider Plant-Based Options: Plant-based diets are increasingly becoming popular and for a good reason. Vegan products pack all essential nutrients and are quite easy to digest for our system. In fact, vegan products are now recommended to get rid of many lifestyle diseases including high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart problems among others. Vipen Jain, Founder, of Fitspire reveals that the craze of vegan supplements is on the rise among athletes, bodybuilders, and fitness freaks. The good thing is that you need not follow fad diets nor do you require some fancy ideas for good health. Just stick to basic, fundamentals rules, closely monitor the unique requirements of your body and you’ll be sure to achieve your health goals in an effortless manner.
Poetry by Love and Cheesecake draws attention to its light and artistic salads. This café has a lot to offer, from the gooey Burrata Salad with crunchy walnuts and roasted sweet peppers to the basic Warm Grilled Chicken Salad. To accompany the vibrant and flavorful meal,
enjoy a steaming bowl of Cream of Mushroom Soup or a gourmet tea, Little Buddha, this Monsoon season. Not to mention the warm and welcoming hospitality in the prime locations of Juhu, Bandra, and Powai.
Sequel is a popular health club in Mumbai, with locations in Bandra, BKC, and Kala Ghoda. The delectable recipes at this Bollywood-favorite restaurant are made with organic produce. There are numerous options available, ranging from vegan to nutrient-rich to gluten-free. Despite being on the healthier side, Sequel’s salad bowls like The Wholesome Bowl and Pretty in Pink will captivate you. Pishu’s Café
Garde Manger Café
Garde Manger, located in Vile Parle and Juhu, is a vegetarian café that has expanded into vegan cuisine. The restaurant veganized its menu
/IndianAbroadNews
by introducing dishes such as Soya Kheema Pav. Salads, such as Zesty Quinoa Salad, can be eaten for a juicy and nutrient-dense meal.
/indianabroadnews
Pishu’s Café has locations in various parts of Mumbai, including Malad and Andheri. This place has gained popularity among fitness enthusiasts due to its emphasis on healthy and power-packed meals. It makes luscious smoothies of seasonal fruits and berries with super fresh ingredients. Furthermore, there are numerous salad options, including The Exotic Salad, which consists of sprouts, baby corn, bell peppers, and other vegetables sautéed in their homemade sauce.
26
SPIRITUALITY
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
The Anugita By Paddy Krishnan
A
nugita literally means following the Gita and appears in the Ashwamedha parva. After the end of the war Yudhishtra realises that his treasury is empty and he cannot be a benevolent ruler. Krishna advises Yudhishtra to mine for gold and then complete the horse sacrifice (i.e., the Ashwamedha yagna). Yudhishtra is still brooding over the people killed during the war. The Anugita starts with Krishna telling Yudhishtra not to grieve about the dead people and to focus on ruling the kingdom. He advices Yudhishtra, as king, he has to think and analyse the situation rather than depend on external help or hope for divine intervention. Krishna indicated that there was no necessity for him to stay back and prepares to go to Dwarka. Arjuna wants Krishna to repeat the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. Arjuna’s reason was that he had forgotten the main lessons after the battle. Krishna scolds Arjuna for forgetting the teachings so soon. Arjuna admits that after the war, he is not in the state of “yoga” and wants Krishna to reiterate all the instructions given to him on the
battle field. Krishna states that he cannot repeat verbatim the lessons in the Bhagavad Gita. He agrees to teach Arjuna by using ancient stories. This second round of teaching is called Anugita. Krishna’s teachings are in the form of a dialogue between a husband and his wife. Krishna covers a variety of topics including Karma, rebirth, the role of Jiva (or the individual soul), and means of attaining Moksha. Krishna repeats many of the ideas in Samkhya, including the three Gunas and the role of Purusha and Prakriti, in the creation of this universe. Krishna also talks about Patanjali’s Yoga and how the techniques enumerated there can be used to control a wandering mind. He also talks about the role of knowledge or jnana that goes beyond rituals. Meditation as a means of controlling the senses including the mind is identified as a form of yagna or sacrifice. Krishna teaches about the nature
of Atman (or one’s true Self) and the importance of spiritual wisdom. The Anugita outlines different levels of yagnas. It has very little regard for the physical and ritualistic nature of yagnas. These are placed at the lowest level. The Anugita strongly urges people to look beyond the ritualistic nature. The Anugita clearly states that ritualistic sacrifices only leads to the short-lived pleasures. Even those who reach Swarga (heavens) have still not attained the ultimate level in spirituality, namely Moksha. Advertisements REPORT THIS AD The limitation of rituals is explained by a discussion between an Adhvaryu (who is in charge of the rituals) and a learned person on the role of animal sacrifice. The Adhvaryu is taught that the proper sacrifice cannot be ritualistic. It is important that all sacrifices must be internal in nature (and hence no animals need to be sacrificed) and one must focus the mind on the knowledge necessary for Moksha. Initially, the Adhvaryu argues that all he is doing is supporting those wish to conduct rituals that include animal sacrifice. But he later realises that by not educating others, he is not doing his duties. He cannot perform the rituals without understanding their significance. Thus animal sacrifice is not an essential component of the rituals. Krishna teaches Arjuna about the duties of people at different stages of their life (i.e., student, householder, forest dweller and renunciate) leading to the notion of true renunciation which is different from austerity. Krishna uses the example of King Janaka who had overcome the sense of possession although he was
living in a palace. This shows how one can be Jivanmukta, i.e., one who is liberated when alive. Renunciation is said to be the best penance and such penance enables the understanding of the self. Renunciation in the form of self-control destroys one sins and leads to spiritual enlightenment. A jivanmukta is one who is equanimous. That is, they do not differentiate between life and death, pleasure and pain, and profit and loss. They do not desire what others have and are truly detached, i.e., have no attachments. Therefore, they have no notion of close family or enemy, and no notion of specific religious activities. Krishna states that all actions by a jivanmukta are dispassionate and does not result in any karma. They are true karma yogis where all necessary actions are performed. Krishna also emphasises Ahimsa (non-violence) by indicating that Moksha can be obtained only by showing compassion for all creatures. Like the Bhagavad Gita, there is discussion on what is a just war. Krishna reiterates that even those who are committed to Ahimsa, have to use violence to prevent behaviour that is against Dharma, especially where violence can persist over a long period of time. This is illustrated by the story of Kartaviryarjuna who in his arrogance kills the sage Jamadagni. Jamadagni’s son, Parasurama, kills not only Kartaviryarjuna but also all the kshatriyas. The aim was to reduce the power of the kshatriyas who had become too arrogant and violent, and thus, were a menace to society. Some of the ideas in the Anugita are different from Samkhya. For instance, in Samkhya, every
individual soul (jiva) is separate. But Krishna states a more Advaitic view, that one has to see the one true Self in all before one can attain Moksha. Bhakti, which is a major focus in the Bhagavad Gita is not emphasised in the Anugita. But there is more theism in the Anugita than in Samkhya. For instance, the role of Yama as the lord of the ancestors, Varuna as the lord of the waters, Agni as the lord of the elements and not just of fire is stated. Other gods mentioned include Vishnu who is described as the supreme God, Shiva, as Prajapati, the lord of all creatures and Brihaspati as the best of all teachers. Krishna also states that Vishnu is no different from Brahman and is thus eternal, i.e., is not created and also not destroyed. Every being including Yakshas, Gandharvas, and Rakshasas owe their existence to Vishnu. Krishna expands on the notion of Brahman. All experiences are because of Brahman. For instance, the nose’s power to smell, the tongue’s power to taste, the eye’s power to see colour, the ear’s power to sense sound etc. all emanate from Brahman. But at the same time, Brahman is not active. So Brahman does not smell, taste, see or hear for any purpose. Hence Bahaman
has no notion of good smells etc. This means that Brahman does not hate or like any object, which means there can be no desire or aversion. Properties such as good smell etc. arise when the three gunas are combined. Therefore, the properties are part of Prakriti. Brahman is said to be Sat, meaning only pure existence. There are two types of Asat or non-existence. The first is the set of objects that are “inconsistent” like a barren woman’s child. The second is the set of objects that come into existence but then get destroyed. So such existence is not eternal. Only Brahman (or Vishnu) is Sat. In summary, the Bhagavad Gita focuses on Bhakti, and Nishkama Karma. The philosophy is based on Samkhya and Patanjali’s Yoga with a focus on rules of actions especially for a conflicted kshatriya. The teachings are also applicable to householders. The Anugita is also based on Samkhya, but is more focused on Moksha based on knowledge or jnana. But it reiterates the importance of Nishkama Karma. Thus it introduces elements of Vedanta, where the idea of a nirguna Brahman is described. Therefore the Anugita has both dualistic and monist ideas.
Kumbh 2025 to be grander than previous one, says UP govt Prayagraj, June 27 (IANS): The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh is gearing up to make the Kumbh Mela in 2025 more majestic and grand than the one held in 2019. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has directed officials to complete the arrangements well before time, especially in view of the fact that general elections will keep the state administration busy in 2024. The state government expects a high footfall of pilgrims in Kumbh in 2025. In 2019, over 24 crore devotees from
Ruby - The Birthstone of July
T
he birthstone for July is ruby, whose vibrant red hue perfectly encapsulates the spirit of this sultry summer month, when days are long, hot, and intense. These rich red gemstones, known as “the heart of mother Earth,” are versatile and elegant, and have long been associated with passion, prosperity, and protection. Rubies have been treasured by everyone from ancient warriors and Hindus to the Chinese, who revere the “lucky” colour red, since they were formed deep beneath the earth’s crust 500 million years ago - an amazing feat of nature involving intense heat and pressure. They’re still a favourite of A-listers like Jennifer Garner and Gigi Hadid, and they’re frequently seen on the aptly named “red carpet.” Much has been written about their talismanic properties: in ancient times, warriors wore them into battle, and they were frequently placed beneath the foundations of buildings to protect those who lived and worked there.
www.indianabroad.news
Rubies are regarded as a fashionable alternative and complement to diamonds. They sit beautifully alongside their colourless counterparts, in bracelets, necklaces, rings, and earrings, and also hold their own in a statement piece: the Sandy Leong x Gemfields Halo ring, featuring a large, striking Gemfields’ Mozambican ruby, is one perfect example. They range in colour from orangey to bluish reds, with pure intense, or even fluorescent, red
gemstones being the most sought after. There is no better way to add a playful element to an outfit while also harnessing the power of colour than by incorporating coloured gemstones. Rubies are ideal for adding a splash of fiery red fun and glamour to any outfit. Coloured gemstones, particularly rubies, are an excellent way to make a strong personal statement.To that
end, the Francis de Lara x Gemfields Safari Sunset Bloom Ring, which features petal-shaped rubies in a flower formation, exudes confidence as well as concern for the environment. The AYA x Gemfields Chete ring, on the other hand, is understated and ideal for stacking.
/IndianAbroadNews
across the world had attended Ardh Kumbh and the number is likely to double in 2025. “Besides, we are expecting a strong tourist flow from Prayagraj to Kashi this time since the Kashi Vishwanath Dham corridor is a major attraction for pilgrims. We will provide world class facilities to devotees and pilgrims,” said an official spokesperson. Yogi Adityanath will be attending a high-level meeting regarding Kumbh 2025 preparations in Prayagraj next month. Gemfields is a world-leading miner of responsibly mined coloured gemstones and the majority owner of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposit: Montepuez Ruby Mining (MRM) in Mozambique, where rubies were first discovered in 2009 and where some of the world’s largest and most exceptional rubies have originated, including an extraordinary pair that were recently auctioned off. When it comes to purchasing rubies, there are “6 Cs” to keep in mind. Diamonds have traditionally been measured and defined by the famous “4 Cs” - colour, cut, clarity, and carat - and with rubies, two more are added to the mix, character and certification, in recognition of the many subtle features of coloured gemstones. Each ruby has its own set of values and personality, making the purchasing process both fascinating and personal. Top buying tips include looking for evenness of colour and saturation, viewing a gem in daylight, and accepting inclusion as part of a gemstone’s unique character. The most important rule, however, is to simply follow your heart and choose the ruby that you fall in love with.
/indianabroadnews
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Maurya, who is also reviewing preparations, said, “We anticipate footfall to double. Devotees will throng Prayagraj to take holy dip and to get a glimpse of the rich Indian culture, tradition, and spirituality on the banks of the Ganga. “The state government has started its planning and preparations for the forthcoming Kumbh and aims to complete all the development projects before the Kumbh.”
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.
27
WHAT’S ON
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
www.indianabroad.news
/IndianAbroadNews
/indianabroadnews
28
NEW RELEASES
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
SHAMSHERA
CHALLA MUD KE NI AYA
RELEASE DATE: 29 July 2022 LANGUAGE: Punjabi (With English Subtitles) PRODUCER: Karaj Gill DIRECTOR: Amrinder Gill CAST: Amrinder gill, Binnu dhillon, 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 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
Karamjit anmol, Sargun mehta, Sydney eberwein SYNOPSIS: Looking to earn money for his family, a young man in the early 1900s travels to Canada to join a small group of fellow Punjabis
working in a lumber mill. While there, the men face difficult working conditions and a growing threat, as locals begin to fear the implications of a rising trend in foreign immigration.
LAAL SINGH CHADDHA
EK VILLAIN RETURNS
RELEASE DATE: 29 July 2022 LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles) PRODUCER: TSeries, Balaji Motion Picture DIRECTOR: Mohit Suri
www.indianabroad.news
CAST: John Abraham, Arjun Kapoor, Disha Patani, Tara Sutaria SYNOPSIS: 8 years after Rakesh Mahadkar reigned terror on Mumbai, another serial killer has taken birth. More brutal and more dangerous but one that uses the
same cover, the Smiley Mask. Ek Villain Returns is the story of two men in one sided love. The paths they choose to fulfill their love stories decide who the Hero is and who is the Villain.
RELEASE DATE: 11 August 2022 LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles) PRODUCER: Aamir Khan
/IndianAbroadNews
Productions, Viacom18 Studios and Paramount Pictures DIRECTOR: Advait Chandan CAST: Aamir Khan, Kareena Kapoor
/indianabroadnews
SYNOPSIS: LAAL SINGH CHADDHA, a simple man whose extraordinary journey will fill you with love, warmth & happiness.
29
ENTERTAINMENT
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
Kaali poster row: Canadian MP Chandra Arya says anti-Hindu, anti-India groups active
Bengaluru, July 6 (IANS): An Indiaborn parliamentarian from Canada, Chandra Arya said on Wednesday that anti-Hindu and anti-India forces have joined hands in Canada. The Canadian parliamentarian, who originally hails from Karnataka,
made these remarks in connection with an offensive poster by filmmaker Leena Manimekalai on Hindu goddess Kaali that has created outrage and condemnation throughout the country. “Painful to see Kaali poster by
filmmaker Leena Manimekalai. Past few years, traditional anti-Hindu and anti-India groups in Canada have joined forces resulting in Hindu phobic articles in the media and attacks on our temples,” Chandra Arya stated on his social media handle. He also said that an apology from the Aga Khan Museum “is welcome and appreciated” in connection with the poster. The poster shows Hindu goddess Kaali smoking a cigarette. The offensive poster has created outrage in India. Goddess Kaali is revered across India and represents the powerful spirit which finishes off evil. Chandra Arya, earlier made news by delivering Kannada speech in the Canada Parliament. The video had gone viral on social media recently. His gesture of love for the mother-tongue was appreciated and celebrated all over the country. Chandra Arya had written on Twitter, “I spoke my mother tongue (first language) Kannada in the Canadian parliament. This beautiful language has a long history and is spoken by about 50 million people. This is the first time Kannada is spoken in any parliament in the world outside of India.” Chandra Arya hails from the village Dwalalu in Sira taluk of Tumakuru district in Karnataka.
Vikram’s first look as Aditya Karikalan in Mani Ratnam’s ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ out
Chennai, July 4 (IANS): The team of director Mani Ratnam’s eagerly-awaited magnum opus, ‘Ponniyin Selvan’ on Monday released the
first look of actor Vikram as Aditya Karikalan in the film. Taking to Twitter, Lyca Productions, the firm that is producing the film
along with Mani Ratnam’s Madras Talkies, said: “Welcome the Chola Crown Prince! The Fierce Warrior. The Wild Tiger. Aditya Karikalan! #PS1” The film, the first part of which is set to hit screens on September 30 this year, will release in five languages Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Hindi. The film is based on the classic Tamil novel Ponniyin Selvan by eminent writer Kalki. The brilliant story, that revolves around the early life of prince Arulmozhi Varman, who on went on to be known as the great Raja Chozhan, is one of a kind. The film, called by Mani Ratnam as his dream project, features a host of top stars including actors Vikram, Aishwarya Rai, Trisha, Karthi, Jayam Ravi, Jayaram, Parthiban, Lal, Vikram Prabhu, Jayaram, Prabhu and Prakash Raj. The project will be among the most expensive projects ever undertaken in the country. The film has the best in business handling each of its departments. A.R. Rahman is scoring the music for this film and cinematography is by Ravi Varman. National Award winning art director Thotta Tharani is in charge of production design while Mani Ratnam’s trusted editor Sreekar Prasad is handling its editing.
Raashi Khanna gifts plants to fans to reciprocate their love Chennai, July 5 (IANS): Raashi Khanna, who enjoys a huge fan base in both Tamil and Telugu film industries, met some of her fans in person and gifted them plants. Posting a video of meeting her fans on Instagram, the actress wrote, “Everyone’s journey has its own highs and lows and I think an actor’s courage to face uncertainties and failures comes from a long line of supporters holding their fort. “Without even remotely knowing us, you know so much! It’s this silent language of love that pushed me out of my shell to meet and greet and thank you for your unconditional love and support. “Don’t even know what I did to deserve this but my heart is full of gratitude and love. Thank you so much!” On the work front, the actress is part of several upcoming films, including the Dhanushstarrer ‘Thiruchitrambalam’ and Karthi-starrer ‘Sardar’. In ‘Thiruchitrambalam’, Raashi plays a character named Anusha, who happens to be Dhanush’s high school friend in the film.
Varalakshmi plays ‘embodiment of courage’ Premakumari in ‘Iravin Nizhal’ Chennai, July 4: Actress Varalakshmi plays a character named Premakumari in director Parthiban’s upcoming film ‘Iravin Nizhal’, its makers announced on Monday. The unit tweeted a picture of Varalakshmi from the film’s Twitter handle and said, “Get ready to meet Varalakshmi Sarathkumar as Premakumari, also known as Rajamatha, who stands out as the embodiment of courage and boldness in ‘Iravin Nizhal’, the world’s first non-linear single shot film releasing on July 15.” Earlier, the unit had disclosed that actress Brigida would be playing a character called Chilakkama in the film, which has caught the attention of movie buffs for having been made without an editor. The unit is gearing up for the film’s release on July 15. Parthiban, in an interview with IANS, had said that they would be first screening the making video of the film, which will be for almost half-an-hour, to all audiences who come to watch the film. “After the making video is screened, there will be a short five
to 10-minute break. After that, the actual screening will start and there will be no interval during the screening,” Parthiban had said.
‘Iravin Nizhal’ (which means ‘Shadow of the Night’) has music by Oscar winner A.R. Rahman and cinematography by Arthur A Wilson.
Sona Mohapatra draws Twitter CEO’s attention to sexism in his alma mater Mumbai, July 5: Playback singer Sona Mohapatra, who has crooned hit numbers such as ‘Bedardi Raja’, ‘Ambarsariya’ and ‘Rangabati’, has addressed a lengthy tweet to Parag Agrawal, CEO of the microblogging site, slamming the practice of not inviting women as headliners for cultural events at his alma mater IIT Bombay. In her tweet, Sona wrote, “Dear @paraga, Ur alma-mater has for decades, mostly never hosted women as headliners in their cultural festival. IITB alumni, even CEOs slammed me on fb for writing this letter.”
Sona urged Agrawal to watch her film �Shut Up Sona’ to get a glimpse of what female artistes have to go through to get equal respect, representation, and remuneration. She added: “I hope U watch my film #ShutUpSona to see what our reality as female artists in the 21rst century is. Love & Light.” She also attached screenshots of her viral open letter on Facebook. The tweet serves as a reminder to what even the most successful women have to face when they come up against systemic sexism. ‘Shut Up Sona’ is streaming on Zee5 and Zee 5 Global.
London, July 3 (IANS): Peter Brook, the British-born director who won Tonys and Emmys, and was conferred the Padma Shri last year, and is best known for his theatre work ranging from Broadway’s “Marat/Sade” and “Irma La Douce” to experimental productions such as “The Mahabarata”, has died, reports ‘Variety’. He was 97. Brook’s death was confirmed by his long-time publisher, and later the BBC, on Sunday. He died in Paris, where he has lived since the 1970s. The auteur is best known in India for his production of the French play “Le Mahabharata” (“The Mahabharata”), which was based on the Sanskrit epic, by Jean-Claude Carriere. The masterpiece was first staged in 1985 by Brook, who later translated it into English in 1987, in a quarry just outside Avignon in France. The play was nine hours long in performance (11 with intervals) and it toured the world for four years. For two years the show was performed both in French and in English. One of Brook’s final works, at 92 years old, was “The Prisoner”, which
he wrote and staged in Paris as well as at the Edinburgh festival and London’s National Theatre. Just this year, he staged and directed “The Tempest Project” with Marie-Helane Estienne, his long-time collaborator, ‘Variety’ reports. Brook’s career spanned eight decades and included opera, plays, musicals, as well as film and TV productions. After decades of bringing an unorthodox approach to traditional works from the likes of Shakespeare and Puccini, he moved to Paris, where he became even more daring and experimental: In one piece, audiences watched a French theatre troupe perform in a language the actors had invented themselves, informs ‘Variety’. Brook was born in London and educated at Westminster and Magdalen College, Oxford. His first job as director was for a 1943 production of “Dr. Faustus” in London. From 1947 to 1950, he was director of productions at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Among his productions was Richard Strauss’ “Salome”, featuring sets by Salvador Dali.
Wamiqa Gabbi says language, genre no longer matter in pan-India cinema Peter Brook, theatre genius who staged ‘The Mahabharata’, dies at 97 Mumbai, July 3: Language and genre are no longer restrictions, and actors across different regional industries are working together in Bollywood as one unit today.
Popular actress Wamiqa Gabbi, who was seen in ‘Jab We Met’, ‘Mausam’, ‘Love Aaj Kal’ and other Bollywood movies, believes that this is a good and much-needed change in the industry. Wamiqa says: “I feel that prominent names of cinema have a fresh formula to win the pan-Indian audience. They have learnt that the divide between vernacular and national films can be obliterated.” “Not only regional stars are making their way to mainstream Bollywood but vice versa too. Today, actors from across regional industries are coming together with a single aim -- to make good content,” she adds. Wamiqa was last seen in the official Indian adaptation of the hit American anthology series, ‘Modern Love’, by the name of ‘Modern Love: Mumbai’. The show is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
www.indianabroad.news
/IndianAbroadNews
/indianabroadnews
‘Variety’ notes that Brook directed operas for the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and the Aix en Provence Festival. He also worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company from 1950 through 1970, and his stint included directing Paul Scofield in “King Lear”, Laurence Olivier and Vivien Leigh in “Titus Andronicus” and John Gielgud in “Measure for Measure”.
30
ENTERTAINMENT
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
With Atal biopic in the works, here are ‘Shakuntalam’s producer updates on the stars who’ve played PMs on screen Dev Mohan’s first look in the epic saga
Mumbai, July 5 (IANS): After films based on the lives of Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi, late former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will now be the subject of a biopic titled ‘Main Rahoon Ya Na Rahoon, Yeh Desh Rehna Chahiye - ATAL’. The makers have not announced who’ll get the lead role, but a host of Bollywood actors have essayed prime ministers on the big screen, with Rajit Kapur having the distinction of playing both Jawaharlal Nehru and Narendra Modi (and Mahatma Gandhi). Although Roshan Seth played Nehru in Richard Attenborough’s multiple Oscar-winning ‘Gandhi’ and UKIndian actress Sarita Choudhury has appeared as Indira Gandhi in Deepa Mehta’s ‘Midnight’s Children’, among Bollywood stars, Anupam Kher has played Manmohan Singh, Lara Datta surprised audiences with her Indira Gandhi act, and Vivek Oberoi has donned Prime Minister Modi’s persona on the big screen. Rajit Kapur, who appeared as Gandhi in Shyam Benegal’s ‘The Making of the Mahatma’, played Nehru in the Nikhil Advani web series ‘Rocket Boys’, a role also reprised, though briefly, by YouTuber Rahul Vohra in ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’. Kapur’s character in
the Vicky Kaushal-starrer ‘Uri: The Surgical Strike’, albeit not presented as Modi, is every bit like the Prime MInister. More recently, Mohan Agashe essays a similar unnamed role in the Army action thriller series ‘Avrodh 2’, which is set against the backdrop of demonetisation, presented by the makers as a fight against counterfeit currency notes pumped into India by Pakistan. But the Prime Minister has been the subject of a biopic, ‘PM Narendra Modi’, where Vivek Oberoi played him. The film, which was controversially timed with the 2019 general elections, was directed by the production designer-turned-filmmaker Omung Kumar, who has earlier helmed the biopics ‘Mary Kom’ and ‘Sarbjit’. The man Modi replaced -Manmohan Singh -- was played by Anupam Kher to much acclaim in the biopic, ‘The Accidental Prime Minister’, directed by Vijay Ratnakar Gutte. The film was based on a memoir of the same name by the former prime minister’s media adviser and senior journalist, Sanjaya Baru, who is played by Akshaye Khanna. The film attracted much interest because it featured the Germanborn actress Suzanne Bernert as
Sonia Gandhi. International Emmynominated ‘Made in Heaven’ actor Arjun Mathur played Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi was essayed by Ahana Kumra, who’s now seen in a negative role in ‘Avrodh 2’ Indira Gandhi has made the most appearances in popular cinema. Suchitra Sen’s character of Aarti Devi in Gulzar’s ‘Aandhi’, which was banned during the Emergency, was first allusion to the slain former prime minister. Lara Datta’s prosthetic transformation as Mrs G in the Akshay Kumar-starrer ‘Bell Bottom’ may have excited widespread positive comment, and she herself called it her most challenging role, but Indira Gandhi has also been played, creditably, by ‘Pyaar Mein Twist’ actress Kishori Shahane in Vivek Oberoi’s ‘PM Narendra Modi’ and Avantika Akerkar in Kabir Khan’s World Cup cricket drama, ‘83’. Akerkar has the distinction of playing Indira Gandhi twice. She reprised the role in Abhijit Panse’s Marathi and Hindi 2019 biopic, ‘Thackeray’, where Nawazuddin Siddiqui is cast as the lead character. Mrs G will be played next by ‘Dangal’ star Fatima Sana Shaikh in the upcoming film ‘Sam Bahadur’, which is based on the life of the Bangladesh War hero, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw. The film is being directed by ‘Talvar’ filmmaker Meghna Gulzar and will star Vicky Kaushal in the titular role. Also, undeterred by the failure of her most recent film, ‘Dhaakad’, Kangana Ranaut will play Indira Gandhi in her second self-directed film, ‘Emergency’. The film will be Kangana’s second directorial after the 2019 release, ‘Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi’. The actress recently visited London to meet the Academy Award-winning make-up and prosthetics artist David Malinowaski to discuss the possibilities of her transformation as Mrs G. Vidya Balan, too, was toying with the idea of playing Indira Gandhi in a web series based on journalist Sagarika Ghose’s biography, ‘Indira: India’s Most Powerful Prime Minister’. The project, it is believed, has been deferred for the moment. Ironically, Indira Gandhi’s predecessor, Lal Bahadur Shastri, does not figure even in ‘The Tashkent Files’, although he is the central character in it!
Mrunal Thakur hails ‘Sita Ramam’ as debut of a lifetime film is a debut of a lifetime. Talking about her dream debut in South, Mrunal says: “It’s a wonderful opportunity because not all the actresses get a debut like this where you get to be a part of Vyjayanthi Movies and Swapna Cinema where the director is Hanu Sir and each and every frame that he has set up looks like a painting. “Especially the exotic locations that we have shot in right from Kashmir to Gujarat to Hyderabad. There’s not a single location we have shot at that doesn’t look grand.” She added: “And our producer, Ashwini sir is a highly experienced and extremely humble man. It has been wonderful to know him and to be Vyjayanthi Movies’ heroine. It’s a great story, a nuanced character, and a debut of a lifetime. I’m honestly blessed and overwhelmed and I’m certain that people are going to fall in love with this character.” Set in 1965, the upcoming romance drama chronicles the magical tale of Ram and Sita. Presented by National Awardwinning Vyjayanthi Movies & produced by C. Aswani Dutt for Swapna Cinema, directed by Hanu Raghavapudi, with cinematography by P. S. Vinod, music by Vishal Chandrasekhar & Mumbai, July 10 (IANS): Mrunal Thakur, who is all set to debut in the South with ‘Sita Ramam’, alongside Dulquer Salmaan, has called the film a debut of a lifetime.
www.indianabroad.news
A few glimpses of the film’s song ‘Inthandham’ was recently released by the producers Vyjayanthi Movies and Swapna Cinema. Mrunal shares why the upcoming
choreography by Brinda Master, Sita Ramam stars Dulquer Salmaan, Rashmika Mandanna and Mrunal Thakur.
Hyderabad, July 10 (IANS): The first look poster for Dev Mohan’s epic love saga ‘Shakuntalam’ will be released soon. Producer Neelima Guna took to Instagram for a little interactive session, in which she stated that the ‘Shakuntalam’ crew has been waiting to reveal exciting details. The creators of the next mythological film will soon release an exclusive poster showing Dev Mohan,
who plays Dushyanta, Shakuntala’s love interest, played by Samantha Ruth Prabhu. “Abhijinana Shakuntalam is Kalidasa’s most famous work, as a ballet, as a play, and in numerous other formats, this theme has been displayed,” Neelima Guna said, sharing further details on how Shakuntalam is being developed to amaze millennials.
“We wanted to make it interesting to millennials, with interesting backdrops, beautiful canvas, and relatable emotions. It was a challenge by itself”, Neelima Guna conveyed. Shakuntalam, is based on Shakuntala and Dushyanta’s epic love story, which is an adaptation of the ‘Aadi Parva’ of the epic Mahabharata.
Rashmika Mandanna’s Bakrid poster from ‘Sita Ramam’ is out Hyderabad, July 10 (IANS): On the occasion of Bakrid, the makers of ‘Sita Ramam’ shared a glimpse of Rashmika Mandanna, who plays Afreen. A poster featuring Rashmika Mandanna was released on Bakrid, as the makers wished everyone on the auspicious occasion. Dressed in a traditional Hijab, Rashmika depicts a typical teenager, gesturing ‘Salaam’ in the poster. Rashmika Mandanna plays an important role in Dulquer Salmaanstarrer Sita Ramam. Her character Afreen is a Muslim teenager who adds a crucial twist to the plot. According to the producers, the actress will not only add star power to the picture, but she will also demonstrate her acting abilities in the role. Sita Ramam will be released on August 5. The promotional material produced thus far has created a positive buzz about the film in the audience, helping Hanu Raghavapudi’ Mrunal Thakur is to be seen in another important role in Sita Ramam, which is said to be a classic romantic drama with a war in the backdrop.
From Haryanvi to Gujarati, ‘Meet’ has kept Ashi Singh on her toes Mumbai, July 9: For Ashi Singh, her role in the show ‘Meet’ is posing many challenges to her, especially in terms of learning different dialects. Initially, she was seen speaking Haryanvi as Meet Hooda; after a oneyear leap, the actress has to adapt to the Gujarati dialect for the role of Manjari, who is a Garba dancer. Ashi said: “’Meet’ has been a great challenge for me ever since I signed up for it. First, to get into the character of Meet Hooda, I had to learn and get my Haryanvi accent right. And now I am working hard towards adapting to the correct Gujarati dialect to play the role of Manjari. “I believe that the show has kept me on my toes and has helped me grow as an actor at every step. Having said that, it has been a little difficult to get the Gujarati accent right! It is not as easy as it sounds, but the whole team of ‘Meet’ has been incredibly supportive.” Sharing how the entire team is helping her learn the language, she said, “They have been helping me pick up the right pronunciations for difficult words. I must also mention that this whole learning process has been fun for me, and I am giving my best to present the character as authentically as possible.” ‘Meet’ airs on Zee TV.
The film hits the theaters on August 5 in Telugu, Tamil & Malayalam.
/IndianAbroadNews
/indianabroadnews
31
ADVERTISEMENT
Vol 2, Issue 11, June 16-31, 2022
www.indianabroad.news
/IndianAbroadNews
/indianabroadnews
32
