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4th Covid dose approved for more Australians vaccine dose for people aged 50 and above, while those aged 30-49 can also choose to have it. Previously only the over-65s, those with a disability, aged care residents and immunocompromised people were eligible for a second booster shot, reports Xinhua news agency. Canberra, July 7 (IANS): The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (ATAGI) on July 7 announced it has recommended a fourth Covid-19
Health Minister Mark Butler said 7.4 million more Australians would now be able to receive the fourth dose, offering extra protection ahead of a projected winter surge in the BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants.
"This will help provide additional protection from severe disease against the emerging surge of Omicron sub-variant infections and reduce the burden on Australian hospitals and the health care system in coming months," he said in a statement. "ATAGI did not support making the fourth dose available to healthy adults under the age of 30 years as it was not clear whether the benefits outweighed the risks in this population group." ATAGI noted that the number of people ill with Covid-19 has Continued on Page 3
Sri Lanka’s Parliament to elect a new President on July 20 Colombo, July 11 (IANS): Sri Lanka, which is completely bankrupt and embroiled in a political crisis virtually with no leader, has decided to elect a new President from the Parliament on July 20.
next steps to appoint an all-party government. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was also at the meeting.
Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena made the announcement after President Gotabaya Rajapaksa informed him officially that he would resign on July 13, as he promised earlier.
"It was decided to summon the Parliament on July 15 and an announcement is to be made with regard to the vacancy for the post of Presidency that needs to be filled. On July 19, nominations would be called to appoint a new President through an election in the Parliament on July 20.
The Speaker had summoned more than 35 political party leaders from both government and the opposition to decide the
"According to the Constitution when the post of President is vacated, Parliament should be summoned within three days Continued on Page 3
India to surpass China as world’s most populous country in 2023: UN ranking by size.
New Delhi, July 11 (IANS): India is projected to surpass China as the world's 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 growth rates among the world's largest countries will reorder their
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 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. Continued on Page 3
Quad leaders mourn assassination of co-founder Abe group.
New York, July 9 (IANS): The leaders of the Quad have mourned the assassination of former Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, whose vision led to the founding of the Indo-Pacific
In a joint message on July 8, Prime Ministers Narendra Modi of India and Anthony Albanese of Australia, and US President Joe Biden said the former Japanese Prime Minister "played a formative role in the founding of the Quad partnership, and worked tirelessly to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific". They said that they were "shocked Continued on Page 3
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EDITORIAL BOARD Professor Prasad Yarlagadda, Queensland University of Technology Dr Uttam Kumar Sinha, Senior Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, India Mr Shaun Star, Director, Centre for Australia India Studies, Jindal Global University, India
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4 t h C ov i d d o s e a p p rove d fo r m o re Au s t r a l i a n s Continued from Page 1
increased in recent months. It said a fourth dose alone would not be enough to prevent the spread of the virus, recommending measures such as mask-wearing. "ATAGI advises that other public health and social measures, in addition to vaccination, will have
the greatest impact against the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 surge in infections," it said.
Australia on July 7 reported more than 40,000 new Covid-19 cases and 60 deaths.
"This includes increased use of masks and increasing the use of antiviral treatment in people diagnosed with Covid-19, including in people aged 50 years and above."
The nationwide caseload currently stands at 8,327,916, with 10,131 deaths, and approximately 282,003 active cases.
Sri Lanka’s Parliament to elect a new President on July 20 Continued from Page 1
and an announcement should be made calling for nomination to appoint a new President. Thereafter, within two days, an election should be held," main opposition party Samagi Janawbalwegaya's (United People Front) General Secretary Ranjith Maddumabandara said. The cabinet ministers, who met Wickremesinghe on July 10 morning, announced that they had decided to hand over their responsibilities to an all-party
government that is planned to be appointed. Meanwhile, Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe has warned that ongoing political instability would worsen the current economic crisis, as it would delay talks for aid, reports said. As the nation faced its worstever economic crisis, Sri Lankans had been demanding President Rajapaksa to resign from his position since March 31, the day they surrounded his private
residence. Later the antiRajapaksa protesters reached Colombo on April 2 and occupied the entrance to the President's Office and continued to protest until they took over the official residence of the President and the Prime Minister on July 9, amid violence with police and military fired teargas and live bullets on July 9. Over 100 protesters and police personnel have been injured with one in critical condition.
Can’t be an impression of police state’: SC asks Centre to bring separate law on bail New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday said criminal courts are guardian angels of liberty and a conscious failure by them would constitute an affront to liberty, as it asked the Centre to consider introducing a separate law in the nature of a Bail Act to streamline the grant of bails. It emphasized that in a democracy, there can never be an impression that it is a police state as both are conceptually opposite to each other. A bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and M.M. Sundresh noted that jails in India are flooded with undertrials and statistics indicate that more than 2/3rd of the inmates of the prisons constitute undertrial prisoners. It said the majority of them may not even be required to be arrested, despite registration of a cognizable offense, being
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July 16-31, 2022 - Vol 3, Issue 1
charged with offenses punishable for seven years or less. It added that they are not only poor and illiterate but also would include women, thus, there is a culture of offense being inherited by many of them. "It certainly exhibits the mindset, a vestige of colonial India, on the part of the investigating agency, notwithstanding the fact arrest is a draconian measure resulting in curtailment of liberty, and thus to be used sparingly. In a democracy, there can never be an impression that it is a police state as both are conceptually opposite to each other," said the bench, in its 85-page judgment. It said criminal courts in general, and the trial court in particular, are the guardian angels of liberty and liberty has to be preserved, protected, and enforced by the
criminal courts. "Any conscious failure by the criminal courts would constitute an affront to liberty. It is the pious duty of the criminal courts to zealously guard and keep a consistent vision in safeguarding the constitutional values and ethos," it noted. Taking these factors into consideration, the top court said: "The Government of India may consider the introduction of a separate enactment in the nature of a Bail Act so as to streamline the grant of bails." It added that bail applications ought to be disposed of within a period of two weeks except if the provisions mandated otherwise. "Applications for anticipatory bail are expected to be disposed of within a period of six weeks with the exception of any intervening application.
India to surpass China as world’s most populous country in 2023: UN Continued from Page 1
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.
Quad leaders mourn assassination of co-founder Abe Continued from Page 1
at the tragic assassination" of Abe, "a transformative leader for Japan and for Japanese relations with each one of our countries". Saying their "hearts were with the people of Japan - and Prime Minister (Fumo) Kishida - in this moment of grief," they declared, "We will honour Prime Minister Abe's memory by redoubling our work towards a peaceful and prosperous region". Abe was among the first to envision with former Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the group of democracies as a potential counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific taking forward the cooperation of the four countries in providing relief during the 2004 tsunami. He sketched its outlines in a speech to the Indian Parliament in 2007.
His idea was to expand the trilateral cooperation between the US, Japan and Australia to include India, an emerging dynamic force in the region. Although it did not make much headway at that time, Abe revived it ten years later during his second term as Prime Minister. At his initiative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Malcolm Turnbull, the then-Prime Minister of Australia, and former US President Donald Trump held their first Quad summit in 2017 in Manila. From there on, the Quad has taken off with support growing despite the changes in governments in the US, Japan and Australia boosted by the growing aggressive posture of China in the Indo-Pacific.
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PM unveils National Emblem cast on roof of new Parliament building New Delhi, July 11 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 11 unveiled the 'National Emblem' cast on the roof of the new Parliament building.
Parliament.
The Prime Minister also interacted with the Shramjeevis (workers) involved in the construction work of the new
Rajya Sabha vice-chairman Harivansh was also present.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, union ministers Hardeep Singh Puri and Pralhad Joshi and others were present on the occasion.
The National Emblem is made
of bronze with a total weight of 9,500 Kilograms and is 6.5 meter in height. It has been cast at the top of the Central Foyer of the new Parliament building. A supporting structure of steel weighing around 6,500 Kg has been constructed to support the
emblem. The concept sketch and process of casting of the National Emblem on the roof of the new Parliament building has gone through eight different stages of preparation from clay modeling/computer graphics to bronze casting and polishing.
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Medical & Geriatric Center opens in Springfield Central including early onset dementia, medication reviews, Parkinson’s disease and continence assessment. Dr Ahmed said there was “no service of this kind” in the Greater Springfield region. New Census data released on Tuesday revealed the state’s fastest-growing local government areas (LGAs), with Ipswich a standout performer, where an extra 29,105 people pushed the population by 12.7 percent over five years. Dr Ahmed said the locality of the Southside Specialist Medical and Geriatric Center, in the Greater Springfield Specialist Suites, was a major drawcard to patients. “Patients can catch the train or drive here easily,” he said. “Some of our patients come as far as Beaudesert, instead of traveling to Brisbane’s CBD. “Our medical center is in a calm place within a city environment and you don’t have to struggle to find a carpark.”
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Dr Kah Wai Chan & Dr Mujtaba Ahmed
reater Springfield and surrounding residents living with complex medical issues can now access specialized care at the newly opened Southside Specialist Medical and Geriatric Center in Springfield Central. Business partners, Dr Kah Wai Chan and consultant physician and geriatrician Dr Mujtaba Ahmed, opened the multispeciality specialist center just three weeks ago after realizing a
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need to provide a high standard and comprehensive medical care for people with complex medical issues and others needing to manage diseases with multisystem involvement. “We focus on disease prevention and work on strategies to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases and related morbidities,” Dr Ahmed said. The center, which has a focus on general medicine and geriatrics, provides care for patients with
various diseases and disorders including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, metabolic bone disease, stroke, endocrine disorders, and kidney disease. Dr Ahmed said older people with diseases or disabilities were at the forefront of medical care at Southside Specialist Medical and Geriatric Center. He said they provided care to older patients with complex medical and psychological comorbidities, and other issues
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Dr Chan runs his private outpatient clinics at multiple locations and said they provided hospital-based care to patients. “Right next to the Mater Hospital is the Aveo Retirement facility where some patients come from,” he said. He is also a visiting medical officer at the Mater Private Hospital (South Brisbane) and a staff specialist at Logan Hospital. Dr Chan specializes in cognitive assessments, management of different types of dementia, Parkinson's disease, frailty,
falls, osteoporosis/fractures and Comprehensive Geriatrics Assessments. With the announcement of a new Mater Public Hospital at Springfield, Dr Ahmed said he would look at other specialists joining the center, including a pain specialist, so patients had one place for multi-specialist medical care. Dr Ahmed became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 2014 specializing in Geriatric Medicine and Internal Medicine. He started as Consultant Physician at Logan hospital and has private consultation rooms as part of Southside Specialist Medical and Geriatric Center. Dr Ahmed is involved with teaching medical students and he is also a supervisor for basic and advanced physician trainees. Southside Specialist Medical and Geriatric Center is located at the Greater Springfield Specialist Suites, Suite 404, Level 4/2 Wellness Way, Springfield Central Phone: 3184 6207 Website: www.ssmgc.com.au
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Back to school for Bowen locals switching career tracks with BRC local people to work for Bowen Rail,” he said. “Part of the answer was to invest in next generation locomotives and wagons that remove many of the physical barriers that had previously prevented some people from becoming a train driver. “The other piece was to partner with Trojan Rail to offer a worldclass local training program and that’s really paying dividends. “The trainees are a great example of the local talent Bowen has to offer, and the energy, enthusiasm, and diverse career and life experience they bring to the role makes us a better workforce and business.” For Taylor’s classmate Ebony Geddes, 27, the Bowen culture embedded in the trainee driver program has been an unexpected highlight.
Bowen Rail Company
Taylor Paul is proof of the power of perseverance. After years of trying to get a foot in the door of Queensland’s rail industry, the 31-year-old Bowen local is swapping his plasterer’s float for the keys to a Bowen Rail Company GT46C-ACe Gen III locomotive. “This is a dream come true,” Taylor said. “I’d applied for other positions with other companies over the years and, in all honesty, those experiences had me expecting not to make it this far. “But these sorts of opportunities
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don’t present themselves too often in a small town such as Bowen, so I thought I’d put my application in and give it a crack, and I’m so happy this has come through for me.” Taylor is one of 12 former tradespeople, supermarket managers, police officers, and childcare workers to change tracks on their career as part of Bowen Rail Company’s (BRC) second driver school. More than 1,600 applications were received for the roles which are being delivered in partnership
with expert rail industry training business Trojan Rail. Bowen Rail Company General Manager Brendan Lane said each of the trainee drivers brought enormous enthusiasm and a different way of thinking to the business. “We knew that the industry talent pool wasn’t going to be able to provide the more than 80 drivers needed to operate our full complement of trains, so we had to think differently and create new opportunities and mechanisms to open doors for
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> The Bowen Rail Company (BRC) is a Queensland rail freight business launched in August 2020. > Headquartered in Bowen, North Queensland, BRC combines world-leading technology with clever solutions to transport Queensland’s highquality resources for export to the world. > BRC’sGT46C-ACe Gen III locomotives are the most technologically advanced rail fleet in Australia, meaning the local workforce can work more efficiently, safely, and with a smaller environmental footprint.
“I’ve always wanted to work in the rail industry so when I saw this opportunity come up I had to throw my hat into the ring,” the former childcare worker said. “The cab of a locomotive is going to be a great office and I’m really looking forward to the challenge. “I’d have to say the highlight for me so far though is probably meeting people from Bowen I hadn’t met before and learning about their backgrounds as we go through the training together. “BRC has done a great job employing a lot of locals and you see the values and culture that makes this community great reflected in the business.” A range of positions at Bowen Rail Company are advertised regularly. For more information visit: https://www.bowenrail.com. au/work-with-us/. > BRC’s first customer is Bravus Mining and Resources’ Carmichael Mine. Both Bowen Rail Company and Bravus are Australian businesses of the Adani Group. > BRC operates on the Carmichael Rail Network. > The Carmichael Rail Network was built as part of the Carmichael Project, through which more than $1 billion has been paid to regional Queensland contractors and businesses. > For more information visit: https://www.bowenrail.com.au/
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Oppn memorandum against ‘Agnipath’ scheme not signed by Manish Tewari
New Delhi, July 12 (IANS): Congress MP Manish Tewari has not signed the memorandum, seeking immediate withdrawal of the 'Agnipath' scheme, submitted by the Opposition MPs during a crucial meeting with the members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence on Monday, sources said. In the past also, Tewari has supported the 'Agnipath' scheme. Speaking to IANS, Tewari had said, "The process of Defence reforms including right sizing the military started in the US way back in 1975 when Donald
Rumsfield was Defence Secretary in the Ford Administration and every successive administration has seen it through. Rumsfeld initiated the conceptual basis of preparing armed forces for future warfare as he could envision the changing nature of the battlefield. Even the Chinese started the process of right-sizing the PLA way back 1985."
Patil, Shaktisinh Gohil and Manish Tewari from Congress; and A.D. Singh from RJD.
Apart from the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Defence Secretary, the three chiefs of the Armed Forces and other senior officials of the Ministry of Defence were also present in the meeting.
"Number of applications coming in the Agnipath scheme is not a proof of the success of the scheme but shows unemployment in the country. It is a failure of the scheme otherwise more people would have come," the memorandum reportedly underlined. Along with the memorandum, the Opposition MPs asked Singh to hold wider consultations across the country, and also to send the scheme to the Standing Committee for Defence.
Out of total 12 MPs in the meeting, six were from Opposition parties that included Congress, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The Opposition leaders who attended the meeting included Sudip Bandyopadhyay and Saugata Roy from TMC; Supriya Sule from NCP; Rajni
bench comprising Justices Indira Banerjee and J.K. Maheshwari. The counsel contended before the bench that a complaint was made to the police but no action has been taken so far against her.
New Delhi, July 6 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to list urgently a petition seeking to arrest former BJP Spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her alleged remarks against Prophet Muhammad during a TV debate. The plea was mentioned for urgent listing before a vacation
The bench told the counsel, "Why mention it before the vacation bench? Mention it before the registrar." After hearing brief submissions, the court declined to urgently list the matter and asked the counsel to mention it before the registrar for the listing of the matter. On July 1, a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala minced no words in slamming suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma, whose remarks on Prophet Muhammad sparked a controversy. The top court
Trinamool not to take onus of FIRs against Mahua Moitra
made it clear that it will take no responsibility on the FIRs against her in different parts of the country on this count.
The opposition MPs voiced their concerns over the new military recruitment scheme in the meeting, and said it should be rolled back. As per a source, the Opposition members submitted a memorandum against the scheme to the Defense Minister.
SC declines urgent listing of plea seeking Nupur Sharma’s arrest said her loose tongue has set the entire country on fire and her irresponsible remarks shows that she is "obstinate and arrogant". Senior advocate Maninder Singh, representing Sharma, sought transfer of all FIRs filed against her to Delhi. However, the bench reprimanded Sharma for making irresponsible comments against a religion. It said, "These remarks are very disturbing...shows her arrogance. What is her business to make such remarks?" Singh pointed at the written apology issued by her. The bench said she damaged the social fabric with her comments, resulting in the unfortunate murder of a tailor in Udaipur and declined to entertain her plea.
On behalf of the party, veteran Trinamool Congress leader and three-time party Lok Sabha member, Saugata Roy issued a statement saying that the onus is on Moitra and not on the party to take care of the FIRs.
The development is naturally provoking the question whether it is the beginning of the end of Moitra's association with the Trinamool Congress, as the maverick party MP, who had taken stand against the party leadership on many issues in the past, has unfollowed Trinamool Congress' official Twitter handle soon after she was censured by the party leadership over her comments about Goddess Kali. Moitra though is tight-lipped on this question, political analysts feel that her unfollowing of the party's official Twitter handle is a sort of her clandestine protest against her own party on this issue. The BJP had already made a big issue over Moitra's comments. Besides filing FIRs in different parts of the country including West Bengal, BJP activists arranged protest demonstrations in different parts of the state. The leader of the opposition in West Bengal has even threatened to Kolkata, July 7 (IANS) Distancing itself further from the party Lok Sabha member Mahua Moitra over her recent comments on Goddess Kali that has sparked huge controversy, the Trinamool Congress leadership on Thursday
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late Chief Minister became the interim general secretary. With the abolition of the posts of coordinator and cocoordinator held respectively by O. Panneerselvam (OPS) and K. Palaniswamy (EPS), the posts of interim general secretary have come back into the functioning of AIADMK. Meanwhile, the party general council adopted a resolution to expel former Chief Minister and former coordinator
OPS is a leader who has been with the AIADMK in its thick and thin and had stood behind Jayalalithaa like a rock in her time of crisis. The AIADMK headquarters on Monday witnessed clashes between the supporters of OPS and EPS with many injured and the cadres were dispersed with the arrival of the police.
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At the same time, Trinamool Congress' secretary general and West Bengal Commerce & Industries Minister, Partha Chatterjee has told media persons that since the opinions expressed by Moitra are her personal views, the party will not take any responsibility in the matter. Approach the Calcutta High Court demanding Moitra's arrest. However, Moitra has refused to shift from her stand and instead challenged BJP to prove her wrong. "I do not want to live in an India where BJP's monolithic patriarchal Brahmanical view of Hinduism & rest of us will tiptoe around religion. I will defend this till I die. File your FIRs, will see you in every court in the land," she had said in her latest Twitter message.
against the basics of morality and decency. Further, the alleged poster was tweeted by defendant (Leena) from her Twitter handle, the petitioner added.
of the party O. Panneerselvam (OPS), and his close associates R. Vaithyalingam, Manoj Pandian, and JCD Prabhakar from the primary membership of the party.
Chennai, July 11 (IANS): The AIADMK general council meeting held on Monday, passed a resolution and appointed former Chief Minister K. Palaniswami (EPS) as its interim general secretary. The party general council also moved resolutions to abolish the dual leadership structure in the party which was in effect in the AIADMK since the demise of J. Jayalalithaa but for a brief period, the close aide of the
"As far as TMC is concerned, the party doesn't approve the poster for the film 'Kaali', it's unacceptable to us. We also don't approve of Mahua Moitra's statements on the matter. It's our party's official position. Our party is secular, it respects all religions. As far as the FIRs are concerned, it's on Mahua Moitra to take care of that. Until BJP takes action on Nupur Sharma for her comments against the Prophet, they have no right to speak about anything else," the statement read.
Kaali poster row: Delhi court summons filmmaker Leena Manimekalai
AIADMK: EPS and OPS expel each other from party
In an immediate reaction, OPS also expelled both Palaniswami and K.P. Munisamy from the party. While EPS having been appointed as the party interim general secretary has all the powers according to the party constitution, OPS will not be in a similar position to expel EPS and the expulsion of OPS and his associates will remain valid.
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New Delhi, July 11 (IANS): A district court here has issued summons to filmmaker Leena Manimekalai and others for August 6, in a suit seeking an interim injunction to restrain them from depicting Hindu goddess Kaali in their latest film poster, video, and tweet "in a very uncalled way". The plea moved by Advocate Raj Gaurav, contended that the poster of the film depicts the goddess smoking cigarettes which not only hurts the religious sentiments of common Hindus but is also
"The relief of interim injunction is discretionary relief. Further, as held by the Supreme Court in a number of cases the exparte ad-interim injunction has to be granted in exceptional circumstances and the undersigned is of the opinion that the defendant needs to be heard before passing any order against them," Justice Abhishek Kumar of Tis Hazari Court said. "...therefore, issue summons of the suit and notice of the injunction application.. " the court said in the recently passed order made available today. Apart from the filmmaker, notices and summons were also issued to her company, Touring Talkies Media Private Limited.
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‘Adequate punishment is must’, SC sentences Vijay Mallya to 4 months in jail for contempt of court New Delhi, July 11 (IANS): The Supreme Court on Monday awarded four months' jail to fugitive businessman Vijay Mallya and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000 under contempt charge, and added that adequate punishment is must to uphold the majesty of the law. In March, the top court had reserved the order on sentence to Mallya, who was found guilty of contempt in 2017 for disobeying court's order for not disclosing full particulars of assets in case between the SBI and Kingfisher Airlines. A bench headed by Justice U.U. Lalit also ordered Mallya to deposit USD 40 million, which he had transferred to his family members in violation of the court orders. The top court noted that Mallya did not show any remorse
for his conduct and also did not appear before the court. The top court ordered Mallya to deposit USD 40 million with interest within four weeks, failing which attachment against his properties will be initiated. On February 10, the top court gave final opportunity to Mallya, seeking his appearance, before it pronounced sentence in the 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. The bench clarified that if Mallya is not present in the hearing, then
ED summons Sonia Gandhi on July 21 in National Herald matter
the 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 Ministry of Home Affairs told the Supreme Court that the UK Home Office has intimated that there is a further legal issue which needs to be resolved before Vijay Mallya's extradition takes place and this issue is outside and apart from the extradition process having effect under the UK law.
Over 7,100 pilgrims leave for Amarnath cave shrine from base camp 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.
New Delhi, July 11: Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to join the investigation in connection with the National Herald matter on July 21. Earlier, she couldn't join in the probe as she was not keeping well. Sources in the ED said that she will be asked the same set of questions which were asked to Rahul Gandhi during his five-day questioning. Her questioning which was scheduled to take place on June 23 was postponed on her request as she was not well.
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
growing problem as multiple studies have established the harmful impacts on marine biodiversity, ecosystems and human health.
New Delhi, July 12 (IANS): The 75-day 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' campaign harps on behavioral change in order to drive home the concept of cleanliness and focuses on three underlying goals for effective coastal cleanliness, it was announced on Monday. Across India's 7,500 km coast line, plastic litter is a major threat to the marine environment and a
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Beach clean-up activities would be undertaken across all coastal states and a time table has been drawn for the 75-day campaign that started on July 3 and shall culminate with coastal clean-up activities at least at 75 beaches/ places. Terming 'Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar' as a first of its kind coastal cleanliness campaign that will continue not just up to September 17, the International Coastal CleanUp Day, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), M. Ravichandran refuted that this is yet another cosmetic effort and said, "This is a 75-day citizen-led campaign for improving ocean
health through behavioral change. But we will not leave it just after this event. After September 17, we would continue work with the communities and leave it to the community only when it understands the importance." The campaign is a joint exercise by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, National Service Scheme, Indian Coast Guard, National Disaster Management Authority, Seema Jagran Manch, Sustainable Sanitation Alliance, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, Paryavaran Sanrakshan Gatividhi, a recently formed body under the RSS patronage, along with multiple other local social and educational organizations.
Jaipur, July 11 (IANS): Yashwant Sinha, the Opposition Presidential nominee, said here on Monday that he will stop the misuse of central agencies a day after taking oath. Sinha also questioned the silence of the current President on vital issues and said, "If we talk about the last five years, it was a period of silence in the Rashtrapati Bhavan. We saw a silent President." Sinha also said that his former party BJP is dead and gone. However, he termed former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee as a consensus builder who always consulted the Opposition. "Politics based on consensus has ended and now it is the era of politics of confrontation," he said. Speaking to the media here on Monday, Sinha said, "I can say this much that if I win the election and become the President, from the second day onwards I will stop this misuse of agencies by the government. I will not tell you now how I will stop it , but I will do it. "I will also call the Prime Minister and tell him that remaining silent
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As per the ED, the Gandhis are major beneficiaries in the whole deal. Earlier Pawan Bansal and Mallikarjuna Kharge were questioned by the ED. Since Vora has passed away the needle of suspicion pointed towards the Gandhis.
on the burning issues facing the country is not right, and he should speak out on these issues."
Over 1,20,000 pilgrims have so far had Darshan inside the holy cave shrine.
Behavioral change focus of 75-day beach cleaning campaign
Earlier Rahul Gandhi had said that the late Motilal Vora was looking after all these affairs. Vora held a 12 percent stake in YI whereas Rahul and Sonia held a 76 percent stake.
Will stop misuse of agencies a day after taking oath, says Oppn Prez candidate Yashwant Sinha
"Of these, 5,158 are going to Pahalgam while 1949 are going to Baltal," officials said.
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.
the deal between Young India and Associated Journals Ltd (AJL)," the sources said.
"We have to ask about her role in
Another batch of 7,107 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu in two escorted convoys for the Valley on Tuesday. 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.
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He added, "The Prime Minister should speak on many issues. At least the President can call the Prime Minister and discuss the current situation in the country. That is why the last five years have been a period of silence. A Constitutional obligation of the President was not fulfilled." Sinha also said the Opposition is not fighting against only one political party, but the fight is also against the agencies of the government which are being used to harass people. "That's why the fight is against the ED, CBI and Income Tax department. I don't know what will happen to me after the election," he said. Sinha also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the falling rupee against the dollar and accused the Centre of playing a game of toppling elected governments in non-BJP states. "Why are they playing this game just before the Presidential poll? First Maharashtra, and now they are trying to buy MLAs in Goa. They only want to increase their numbers," he said.
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Reserve Bank of Australia raises interest rates increase in mortgage prices were beginning to put pressure on household budgets and presented a “source of ongoing uncertainty” for Australia’s economic outlook. “Although household budgets are under pressure from higher prices and higher interest rates... The household saving rate remains higher than it was before the pandemic and many households have built up large financial buffers,” he said.
Canberra, July 5 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on Tuesday raised interest rates by 0.50 basis points (BPS), bringing the new rate to 1.35 per cent as the country continues to battle rising inflation. The 0.50 per cent increase marks the third consecutive month the RBA has lifted interest rates from their “emergency” level of 0.10 per cent maintained through the Covid-19 pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency. RBA Governor Philip Lowe, in the monthly statement about monetary policy decision, once again said the move was
a withdrawal of “extraordinary monetary support” put in place to support the Australian economy during the pandemic. “The Board expects to take further steps in the process of normalizing monetary conditions in Australia over the months ahead.” Headline inflation in Australia currently sits at 5.1 per cent, more than double the rate of wage growth which was at 2.4 per cent in the year to March, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Lowe acknowledged that this disconnect as well as the
The Australia New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) has forecast that inflation would peak at 7 per cent in the second half of the year, and the RBA would steadily lift the cash rate to 2.6 per cent by early 2023. Rising interest rates have begun to prompt a correction in Australia’s housing market. Data from property analyst firm, CoreLogic, showed that house prices dropped for their second consecutive month in June with a fall of 0.6 per cent nationally. A number of private banks have forecast that the decline in house prices would continue into the double digits as monetary conditions normalize.
Aus state commits to ‘historic’ handover of parkland to indigenous owners
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.
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. The two leaders met informally in Australia in June shortly after Albanese won the election.
The Prime Ministers discussed
Aussie state sees Covid-19 hospitalisation rise despite case dip reported.
The NSW Health department warned last week that the state is facing the latest wave of Covid-19, which is likely to peak in late July or early August. The department urged people to get the booster vaccine.
Sydney, July 11 (IANS): Hospitalisations of Covid-19 patients in Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) continued to rise on Monday, despite the number of new infections falling. The NSW Health department reported 7,586 new cases on Monday, down from 8,670 on
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Sunday. There were 2,002 cases with the virus being treated in hospital, including 63 in intensive care. Monday’s hospitalisation marked the first time the number surpassed 2,000 since early February this year when the first Omicron wave was about to end in the state, Xinhua news agency
In a recent interview with Xinhua, Chair of biostatistics and epidemiology at the University of South Australia, Adrian Esterman said at the moment hospitals across the country are under enormous pressure and the health system is struggling. He added that two doses of vaccine are not sufficient against the dominant sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 in the country. “It requires that booster dose to really bring people’s immune system up to a level where it can find the virus.”
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NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA
Australian online shopping continues surge in record financial year expectations throughout the pandemic. “We’ve seen more than 900 million parcels delivered in the last three years alone, which says so much about how quickly eCommerce has grown in a short amount of time,” said Yip. “It’s now the norm for so many Australians.”
Canberra, July 7 (IANS): A new report from Australia’s national postal service on Thursday revealed that in the 2022 financial year a record number of people were shopping online, further evidence of the nation’s stark shift to e-commerce during the pandemic. The report released by Australia Post showed that in the financial year ending on June 30, 2022, a record 9.3 million households had shopped online, representing an increase of 200,000 from the previous year, reports Xinhua news agency. Meanwhile, online purchases grew by almost 12 per cent. In each month of the year, an average of 5.6 million households purchased something online, 1.5 million more than before the pandemic, a trend that was especially prevalent in the six months between July and December of 2021 -- when many Australian cities were in pandemic-related lockdowns. Australia Post Head of eCommerce Data Analytics Rose Yip said the growth in online shopping had accelerated beyond
Australia’s most populous state, New South Wales (NSW), saw the most dramatic shift, with e-commerce growing by 27 per cent compared to the previous year -- nationally one in three online purchases were destined for NSW. According to data from the eCommerce analyst platform, ecommerce DB, Australians’ appetite for online orders was dominated by the groceries industry, the nation’s two largest supermarket chains frontrunners in annual online sales. Woolworths is in the midst of constructing a number of fullyautomated fulfilment centres as it attempts to keep up with the surging demand for online orders. Over the past two years alone, Woolworths has seen the demand for online groceries in Western Sydney more than triple, the supermarket chain said in a previous statement. In its report, Australia Post also announced that the continued growth had prompted new investment into facilities, technology, and vehicles to keep up with the curve.
Australia widens eligibility for antiviral treatments Canberra, July 10 (IANS): The Australian government said on Sunday that eligibility for “potentially lifesaving” Covid-19 antiviral treatments will be widened from Monday.
Health Minister Mark Butler confirmed that all Australians aged over 70 who test positive for Covid will be able to access antivirals on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which means the government will subsidize the treatments, reports Xinhua news agency. Access will also be expanded to people aged over 50 with two or more risk factors for severe disease, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people aged over 30 with two or more risk factors for severe disease. Immunocompromised people over 18 may also be eligible. It comes as the Covid infections continue to surge in Australia in the current winter months, when community transmission of both coronavirus and influenza is placing stress on the health system. There were about 4,000 cases being treated in Australian hospitals recently.
numbers are climbing, particularly with the new variants,” Butler said in a statement on Sunday.
“These oral antivirals dramatically reduce the risk of severe disease, particularly for older Australians, and will help keep people out of the hospital.” Antiviral treatments, taken as a tablet or capsule, help to stop Covid-19 infection from becoming severe, but they need to be started early after testing positive, according to the Health Minister. Australians aged 30 and older will be eligible to receive a fourth Covid vaccine dose from Monday. On Saturday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged as many people as possible to take up the opportunity. “I intend myself to get this additional booster shot. People if they’re eligible should do it. It minimizes the impact and people should follow that health advice,” he told reporters. “The pandemic isn’t over.” On Sunday morning, Australia reported more than 20,000 new Covid-19 cases and 10 deaths.
“Covid cases and hospitalization
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NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND
New innings for high- Police launch vaping awareness performance Cricket videos for local schools claims that e-cigarettes are safe.’’
Upgrades at Kedron include an ultramodern pavilion, new turf wickets on three ovals, 16 turf practice wickets with nets, new lighting, more carparking and better public facilities.
Superintendent Hallam said police had an important role to play in addressing vaping among young people and highlighted the affects it could have on the broader community.
The Palaszczuk Government contributed $7 million to the Campus with funding also from the Federal Government, Cricket Australia, Queensland Cricket and Brisbane City Council. Brisbane, 14 July: Queensland has opened a new innings in highperformance sport with today’s launch of a $19 million National Cricket Campus in Brisbane.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said the handover of Allan Border Field to complete the NCC project was cause for celebration.
Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the international transformation of Allan Border Field was the start of a big future for the National Cricket Campus.
“The National Cricket Campus has been a priority infrastructure project for Australian Cricket and today’s opening is a special moment for the many people who have worked so hard to turn this ambitious vision into reality,” said Mr Hockley.
“This is a $19 million, three-stage investment in Queensland’s place as an Australian leader in highperformance sport and talent development,” Mr Hinchliffe said. “Today’s opening of Allan Border Field completes the National Cricket Campus, delivering a new home for women’s cricket and a premier venue for state, national and youth championships. “Allan Border Field’s refurbishment at Albion upgrades the ground to ICC standard for international cricket, right down to the new white picket fences. “The centre wicket block has been expanded to 11 turf wickets and the eastern boundary stretched by 13 metres to meet the ICC’s international cricket requirements. “Field lighting has been upgraded with the renovation of the playing surface and new broadcast TV infrastructure including wiring for stump cameras and microphones. “Next door at Ray Lindwall Oval, five new international standard training wickets have also been built to create a new international cricket precinct for games and training. “Together with Allan Border Field, this puts Albion on the map as a very attractive destination for international cricket teams playing and training in Queensland. “It’s an exciting future for the Campus as a hub for the best coaches, administrators and sport scientists, all working to develop the next generation of cricket talent. “The three-stages of the National Cricket Campus supported 300 jobs ahead of a sizzling summer of international cricket in Queensland.” The National Cricket Campus is spread over two sites including Allan Border Field and the Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club grounds at Shaw Road, Kedron.
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“We thank the Australian Government, Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council, Queensland Cricket and Northern Suburbs District Cricket Club for their wonderful support of the project. “The Allan Border Field redevelopment completes Queensland Cricket and Cricket Australia’s commitment to create a 365-day facility that provides a world-class training and playing environment for our elite national and state teams, as well as a fantastic facility for community use as we work together to inspire and develop the next generation of Queensland and Australian cricketers. “Cricket Australia thanks and congratulates the Queensland Cricket Board and staff, as well as staff at the Bupa National Cricket Centre for their dedication to the National Cricket Campus project and we look forward to seeing the redeveloped facilities in action.” Mr Hinchliffe said four Super 12 Games of the T20 World Cup would be played at The Gabba from late October. “There are also up to eight warm-up matches likely for The Gabba and the new international standard Allan Border Field,” Mr Hinchliffe said. “We’re expecting a record six international touring teams in Queensland this summer, a Test Match in December and games in Townsville, Cairns and the Gold Coast. “More training camps, national performance programs and visiting international teams to the National Cricket Campus all contribute to our visitor economy. “The T20 World Cup alone is likely to generate almost $5 million for local accommodation, transport and hospitality providers.”
“As police, we have the responsibility of educating our community and enforcing Queensland’s laws, including laws that impact underage vaping,” Superintendent Hallam said. Brisbane, 14 July: Moreton police today launched a series of videos designed to urge children to “think twice” before vaping.
were an important tool in educating young people to make better decisions in all aspects of their lives.
In Caboolture, Member for Morayfield and Minister for Police Mark Ryan and Health Minister Yvette D’Ath joined Superintendent John Hallam to launch the awareness campaign, which educates school-aged children about the health implications of vaping.
“These videos are designed to give young people additional information around not just the health impacts of vaping, but of the legal implications.’’
The two-part video series also includes information around the legislation affecting vaping, as well as health messaging supported by Queensland Health and the Lung Foundation. Minister Ryan said the videos
Minister D’Ath said young people needed to be aware that vaping could affect their lungs. “Queensland Health warns that there are many known harms that arise from e-cigarettes and vaping and young people are amongst those at greatest risk of harm.’’ “At this point in time, there is insufficient evidence to support
“Over the past few months, stores selling vaping accessories in the Moreton Police District have been subject to a number of break and enter offences where vaping products have been stolen and sold to underage people. “These videos have been created to empower young people to make better decisions, giving them critical thinking skills that will contribute to minimising a range of offending behaviours and improving their health.” This awareness campaign comes as Queensland Health last week launched Vape Truths featuring Dr Karl Kruszelnicki. More information on this campaign is available here: www.vapetruths. initiatives.qld.gov.au
Flashing school zone signs making student travel safer
Crossing Supervisors would be hired over the next three years.
Brisbane, 13 July: As thousands of students return for Term 3 this week, their journey is being made safer with more than 1230 school zones state-wide benefitting from flashing signs. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the Flashing School Zone Sign program was vital in ensuring safer travel for students. “These signs are part of our Targeted Road Safety Programs – helping to keep our roads safer for all,” Mr Bailey said. “Students are our most vulnerable road users given so many walk or ride a bicycle or scooter to school and their safety is paramount. “Speed is one of the biggest killers on our roads – one of the Fatal Five – so it’s critical that drivers slow down around schools. “The flashing signs act as a visual reminder for motorists to slow down to 40km/h during the signed times and be on the lookout for students and their families. “We’ve installed over 889 flashing school zone signs across the state at public and private primary and secondary schools since 2015 and that number is only getting higher. “Over the past 12 months alone we’ve seen 89 high-risk school
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zones treated with flashing signs installed, with another 11 in the pipeline, at an investment of almost $1.9 million. “We are continuing to fund the installation of flashing school zone signs in another 100 riskassessed sites this financial year and their locations will be released shortly.” “This budget, the Palaszczuk Government allocated a further $40 million to improve the infrastructure around Queensland schools through the School Transport Infrastructure Program,” Ms Grace said. “Already we are seeing applications flow through from school communities, parents, and local groups with ideas on how to make their school zone safer. “Whether it’s a new stop, drop and go areas, bus or car turnaround spaces, pedestrian crossings or signage among other safety treatments, we’re open to suggestions on what your school needs. “These applications are then assessed by the technical experts and prioritised for funding, so I encourage schools or their representatives to submit an idea if they have any road safety concerns.” Ms Grace said more School
“Our commitment to safer school zones will also see 83 new crossing supervisors brought onboard over the next three years,” she said. “These people play an important role in keeping Queensland kids safe and teach our young ones the importance of safely crossing the road. “The 22-23 budget is great for our Education sector, and all those involved in giving Queensland kids the best start in life.” Mr Bailey also reminded drivers about the increased penalties which came into effect on 1 July. “In line with our tough stance on road safety, we have increased some traffic offence penalties,” he said. “This includes the offences of speeding and not wearing your seatbelt, which have increased across the board. “Obeying the speed limit, especially in school zones, is the best thing you can do for those around you, your back pocket and your driving record. For more information on the Flashing School Zone Sign program, visit School zone speed limits and signs, on STIP visit School Transport Infrastructure Program and on speeding penalties visit StreetSmarts.
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Manchester United welcomed to nation’s sporting capital
Win for business and jobs as Qatar adds Melbourne flights
Melbourne, July 14: Manchester United - one of the world’s biggest sports clubs in the world – will thrill more than 150,000 fans in two epic games at the MCG over the coming days, in another major events coup for the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos today welcomed Manchester United to Melbourne following a training session at AAMI Park. More than 40 per cent of ticketholders are from outside Victoria, underscoring the power of major events to boost the economy and support jobs. Manchester United will take on local A-League men’s team Melbourne Victory tomorrow and Premier League rivals Crystal Palace on Tuesday, 19 July. This tour is taking place on the eve of the 2022/23 Premier League season and before the start the
2022 FIFA World Cup, giving local fans the chance to see exciting warm up action on the field. The games will attract huge crowds into the city and deliver an important boost to local businesses and jobs. Manchester United has a big Australian following and there will be a strong showing of support for the Red Devils’ first Melbourne matches since 1999.Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, winning 13 English Premier League titles since 1992 – with a legion of fans globally. The Labor Government is backing the return of a packed calendar of major events in 2022, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and supporting local jobs. In 2019, Victoria’s world-class calendar of major events delivered a $2.5 billion annual economic boost to the state.
Celebrating one year of Victorian Pride Centre Melbourne, July 11: Today marks the first birthday of the landmark Victorian Pride Centre, Australia’s first purpose-built community hub for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) communities. The Andrews Labor Government invested more than $25 million to deliver the Centre – one of the biggest of its kind in the world – which celebrates our LGBTIQ+ communities, honours their past, and supports organisations and groups driving equality across the state. Located in St Kilda, the community-run centre houses major and important LGBTIQ+ resident organisations and provides flexible and multi-use spaces for hire, including meeting rooms, a rooftop terrace, coworking spaces, a theatrette and gallery. In its first year, the Victorian Pride Centre has brought together LGBTIQ+ communities and allies through a range of social events, including following the February Pride March where more than 1,200 people visited the Centre for its first large celebration. In addition, the Centre’s gallery space has attracted a range of
art exhibitions, highlighting the diversity and resilience of Victoria’s LGBTIQ+ communities. The Victorian Pride Centre in St Kilda is accompanied by a virtual Pride Centre. This online directory of LGBTIQ+ resources and events will support LGBTIQ+ people to celebrate who they are and connect with each other, wherever they are in the state. The Labor Government has made significant progress towards equality in recent years, removing discrimination from legislation, delivered adoption equality legislation, a historic apology to Victorians convicted for homosexual acts and delivering the Victorian Pride Centre – however there is more to be done. Earlier this year, the Government released Pride in our future: Victoria’s LGBTIQ+ strategy 20222032 – Victoria’s first long-term plan for LGBTIQ+ equality.
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Melbourne, July 7: More than 900 jobs will be created and tourism businesses boosted as Qatar Airways expands its services to Melbourne, thanks to support from the Andrews Labor Government. Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll today announced the airline will fly a second daily service from Doha to Melbourne starting from Saturday, 1 October, bringing more visitors to the state and boosting outbound airfreight capacity for exporters on the airline’s Boeing 777 aircraft. The new service is backed by both
the Victorian Government and Melbourne Airport and will see Tullamarine as the only Australian airport the airline flies to twice a day. Once fully operational, Qatar Airways’ two daily flights to Melbourne will provide 250,000 seats to Victoria each year, generating around $82 million in economic activity and creating an estimated 910 jobs in the aviation and tourism sectors. The large freight capacity of the Boeing 777 means the flights will also provide over 10,000 tonnes of air freight capacity each year, boosting Victorian exporters’ access to markets in Europe and the Middle East. Qatar is one of the richest economies in the world by GDP per capita and a growing consumer of Victorian products. Meat and dairy are Victoria’s most valuable exports to Qatar by airfreight, valued at over $47 million in 2021. Qatar Airways joins other major
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airlines including Singapore, United, Qantas, Emirates and Etihad in expanding direct services to Melbourne with the support of the Victorian Government.Victoria’s international aviation sector directly employs 6,700 people and supports thousands of other jobs. Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll said: “Backing international aviation supports our economy and we will continue to work with airlines like Qatar Airways to establish and expand routes into Melbourne to boost local jobs.” Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos said: “Today’s announcement is another sign of confidence in the future growth of our tourism industry. The extra flights will make it even easier for visitors to come and enjoy everything we’re known for – from our food scene and cultural institutions to major events.”
COVID advice for Victorians to stay well in winter Melbourne, July 12: The Victorian Government is providing Victorians with more advice on how they can protect themselves and their families this winter, with enhanced communications, community engagement and outreach, and support for business to keep customers and workers safe and their doors open.
The Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants, which are now dominant along the east coast of Australia, are expected to continue to cause increases in new cases, reinfections and hospital admissions – with a 53 per cent increase in the number of Victorians in hospital with COVID-19 over the last two weeks. We are also seeing an increase in respiratory illnesses like cold and flu which, along with COVID-19,
are putting additional pressure on hospitals and healthcare workers across the country. In recognition of this next phase of the pandemic and as part of our plan to protect our healthcare system, sensible changes to pandemic orders and public health recommendations will come into place at 11:59pm tonight, to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and ensure Victorians are aware of proactive steps they can take to look after themselves and each other. A significant new investment will boost public health messaging and engagement efforts with the community to encourage third and fourth COVID-19 vaccination doses, flu vaccination, the benefits of wearing a mask and maximizing ventilation indoors. The Stay Well in Winter campaign will run across TV, radio, outdoor
and digital channels.
Importantly, this investment will support community leaders and business to encourage the uptake of sensible, preventative actions to keep well this winter. The Government is also announcing another round of its Small Business Ventilation Grant Program to help businesses invest in equipment that will keep their workers and customers safe in indoor settings. In line with AHPPC advice, the period when someone is considered a recently confirmed case (and therefore exempt from testing and isolation/quarantine requirements) has been revised to four weeks, down from 12 weeks. This reflects the emerging evidence that new variants of COVID-19 can evade prior immunity gained from infection.
Victorian government backing local med tech firm to go global Melbourne, July 8: High-growth medical technology company Seer Medical has established its Global HQ in Melbourne and is rapidly scaling up to service local and global markets – after receiving support from the Andrews Labor Government.
jobs across its headquarters, research and development, manufacturing and production. This will allow Seer Medical to support growth into overseas markets for its at-home diagnosis and monitoring technology for epilepsy.
Breakthrough Victoria will invest in Seer Medical, Australia’s largest provider of epilepsy diagnostic services, to support the company’s expansion in overseas markets. This follows the Labor Government’s previous support to secure Seer Medical’s Global HQ in Victoria.
Born out of research and clinical collaborations between the University of Melbourne and St Vincent’s Hospital, Seer Medical has developed an athome diagnosis and monitoring technology for epilepsy. The technology enables Australians to access essential clinical-grade epilepsy monitoring, which has reduced patient waiting times
These investments will help Seer to create up to 225 new Victorian
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from 6-18 months to within 1-6 weeks. Seer Medical’s at-home monitoring has diverted more than 179 years of in-patient hospital bed monitoring, freeing up hospital beds for urgent care and making critical care available to regional patients. Breakthrough Victoria is a Government-owned, independent investment fund manager established to manage the $2 billion Breakthrough Victoria Fund. “We’re accelerating the growth and investment in medtech manufacturing in Victoria to boost our economy and create new, high skilled jobs.”
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Rishi Sunak now bookmakers’ favourite to become UK PM Foreign Affairs Committee, was quoted at 9/1; while Jeremy Hunt, a former foreign secretary, was being offered at 14/1. Another bookmaker Skybet also had Sunak as favourite at 15/8, Mordaunt as second favourite at 7/2 and Truss as third favourite at 4/1.
London, July 12 (IANS): Rishi Sunak, of East African Indian origin, was on Monday being touted as the bookmakers' favourite in the British Conservative party's leadership contest. The winner will automatically become the UK's Prime Minister. Previously, the favourite in a poll of Conservative party members, who will ultimately determine the choice, was Ben Wallace, presently defence secretary. He has, however, declared he will not compete. Oddscheckers' price on Sunak was 1.6/1. The second favourite was Penny Mordaunt, minister for international trade, who had in the past been defence secretary, at 3.3/1. The third favourite was the foreign secretary Liz Truss at 4/1. Tom Tugendhat, who has no ministerial experience but is chair of the House of Commons'
The vacancy was created when the incumbent Boris Johnson lost the confidence of his party MPs after a series of scandals, and resigned on Thursday. 11 candidates have since thrown their hats into the ring. Among them, Sunak, who was chancellor of the exchequer before he resigned last Tuesday, and Suella Fernandes Braverman, who is of Goan descent and is still serving as caretaker attorney general. There are two runners of Pakistani extraction - Sajid Javid, who was health secretary in the Johnson cabinet till he led the spate of resignations on Tuesday, and Rehman Chishti, who was appointed a third tier minister in the Foreign Office after nearly 60 ministers decided not to remain in office under Johnson. On Monday evening in London, Sir Nicholas Brady, the chairman of the Conservative Parliamentary Party's '1922 Committee', which sets the rules of the race, said nominations will close on Tuesday. A candidate will need the backing of at least 20 MPs out of a total of 358 Conservative MPs to go forward. The first ballot
(AFR) said that not all the boats had been affected, but engineering advice was that the faults could ultimately afflict the entire fleet, reports Xinhua news agency. In a statement issued on Friday, the Defence Ministry said it has advised the government of an issue involving a potential fault in the exhaust system.
According to the reports, Australia has delivered 15 Guardian-class patrol vessels to the Pacific island countries including Papua New Guinea (PNG), Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Palau, Kiribati and the Solomon Islands since 2018, as part of a A$2.1 billion ($1.45 billion) Pacific Maritime Security Program to give 22 vessels to these countries for a range of purposes like preventing illegal fishing, and search and rescue operations. The Australian Financial Review
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Other issues including cracking in the coupling between the engine and the gearbox, and ventilation in the sick bays have emerged over the past 16 months and have remediation plans in place. Though the problems have emerged since last year, the new Australian government only found out about the problems in the past two weeks, and took aim at the previous administration. Pat Conroy, Minister for Defence Industry, said that "this is the latest example of (how) the previous Liberal government was all announcement and no followthrough when it came to defence projects". "Former Defence Minister Peter Dutton talked a big game on national security but has left
Food security to be focus of first West Asia Quad summit: US
will take place on Wednesday afternoon and the outcome will be revealed the same evening. Similarly, the second round is provisionally scheduled to take place on Thursday. He expected that a maximum of three rounds of balloting will be needed to whittle down the contestants to two. The full membership of the Conservative party - estimated to be around a quarter of a million - will then choose the winner. The result will be declared on 5 September, when parliament is scheduled to return from its summer recess. The Guardian indicated: "With just two contenders so far having the support of the 20 Tory (Conservative) MPs needed to get them on to the ballot, the remaining nine hopefuls were scrambling to shore up support by Tuesday night before knockout votes begin on Wednesday." Sunak and Mordaunt were said to have the backing of 40 and 24 MPs respectively. Braverman is reported to have 12. A candidate will have to muster at least 30 votes in the first round to enter the second round. Johnson will remain as lame duck premier until the election of his successor is made public. He told reporters he "wouldn't want to damage anybody's chances" by offering his backing to any of the candidates.
Aus patrol boats gifted to Pacific island nations found defective
Canberra, July 1 (IANS): A fleet of patrol boats that Australia gifted to its Pacific island neighbours were found to have major design flaws which must be urgently fixed, local media reports said on Friday.
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yet another mess in defense capability for the new government to clean up." As it is reported that Pacific island countries may halt the use of the patrol boats after the serious defects were discovered, and delivery of future vessels will be affected by the faults, the Australian government is trying to fix the problems and seek a solution with the regional neighbours. The Defence Ministry said the shipbuilder Austal and Defence representatives soon will travel to Pacific Island nations to assess all vessels and work with Pacific island countries on temporary rectification measures ahead of a longer-term solution. Conroy said his department was working closely with regional neighbours on how to deal with the problems. An Austal spokesperson said it was working with the Defence Ministry to develop both temporary measures to fix the boats and long-term solutions for the issues with the exhaust systems.
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Washington, July 12 (IANS): Food security will be the focus of the first-ever summit of a new West Asia-focussed Quad comprising India, Israel, the US and the UAE that will take place virtually during President Joe Biden's visit to the region this week, starting with Israel. Biden's next stop will be Saudi Arabia, which will corner all the hype and attention of his West Asia visit; specially his meeting with Mohammad bin Salman, the crown prince who has been accused by the US of ordering the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi dissident who lived in the US and worked as a columnist with The Washington Post. The new Quad is called I2U2 (India and Israel are the two Is and the US and the UAE the two Us), and it was launched October 2021. Its defined portfolio is to expand economic and political cooperation in West Asia and Asia. Biden will participate in a fourway virtually with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Israel's Prime Minister Yair Lapid and UAE's President Mohammed bin Zayed during his four-day visit to Israel starting Wednesday. The West Asia Quad is the third four-country group with the US as a member launched in recent years. The others are the Quad that the US formed with India, Australia and Japan and the Quad, which grew out of cooperation between these countries in the aftermath of the 2004 Tsunami in the Indian Ocean; and the one is made with Afghanistan, Pakistan and Uzbekistan. Biden will "hold a four way virtual summit with the leaders of Israel, the UAE and India with a focus on food security", said Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, briefing White House reporters on the upcoming visit on Monday. Sullivan got no questions about the Quad though.
His boss, Biden, is already facing criticism for his upcoming meeting with bin Salman, including from members of his own Democratic party. The meeting, they argue, marks a major, policy departure for him and other critics of Saudi Arabia, a country he, as a candidate for the White House, had vowed to make a global "pariah" for its appalling human rights record. Biden pushed back in an OpEd in The Washington Post on Saturday. "From the start, my aim was to reorient - but not rupture - relations with a country that's been a strategic partner for 80 years," he wrote in the signed piece. "Today, Saudi Arabia has helped to restore unity among the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council, has fully supported the truce in Yemen and is now working with my experts to help stabilize oil markets with other OPEC producers." Saudi Arabia's efforts to stabilize oil prices, however, may have been top of Biden's reasons for rethinking his policies. Rising oil prices are hurting him at home and along with highest inflation in 40 years could cripple Democrats in the upcoming midterm polls in November. The Democrats now control the White House and the two chambers of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate. Midterms have been historically unkind to the party in power and Democrats are expected to lose Congress, at the least House of Representatives. But they are hoping to rally their troops and resources the issue of abortion, which was a constitutional right until the Supreme Court outlawed it recently, and gun law reforms. But these are both issues way down on the list of voters, who according to a new CNN poll, hold inflation and gas prices most important.
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Guterres expresses concern over recruitment of kids by ‘armed groups’ in India organisations - or on national security grounds.
for the protection of children's rights".
The report said that security forces killed five children and maimed 29, of whom 19 were injured by pellets used by the Central Reserve Police Force.
"But". he added, "I remain concerned about the risk of child recruitment by armed groups in affected districts".
Four children became victims of "unidentified perpetrators", seven in crossfire between "armed groups, and unidentified perpetrators", and four in crossfire and shelling across the line of control. United Nations, July 12 (IANS): United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the recruitment of children by armed groups in India while saying that the UN has verified "54 grave violations against 49 children" in conflict situations in India and the recruitment of 18 boys by terrorist groups in Kashmir in 2021. A report on children and armed conflict released on Monday asserted that 33 boys were detained by security forces in Kashmir for alleged association with "armed groups" - a euphemism for terrorist
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The report said that two teachers were killed by terrorists in Srinagar. Giving a global picture, Guterres's Special Representative for Children in Armed Conflict, Virginia Gamba, said, "Over 19,100 child victims of grave violations during 2021 in the 21 country and regional situations we monitored". Guterres said that he welcomed "the legal and administrative framework for the protection of children and improved access to child protection services in Chhattisgarh, Assam, Jharkhand, Odisha and Jammu and Kashmir, and progress in the creation of a Jammu and Kashmir commission
Guterres said that India may be removed from classification as a situation of concern in his report because of enhanced cooperation between India and the UN. He cited the interaction between Gamba and the Indian government, including an interministerial meeting in November and the appointment of a national focal point to enhance the protection of children. He added that he also welcomed the agreement for technical-level meetings with the UN this year "to identify areas of enhanced cooperation for child protection". The report listed Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Israel and the Palestinian Territory, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen as the areas where most of the grave violations took place.
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High-fat diet not only expands your waistline but also shrinks brain 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. An international study led by neuroscientists at University of South Australia established a clear link between mice fed a highfat diet for 30 weeks, resulting in diabetes, and a subsequent deterioration in their cognitive abilities, including developing anxiety, depression and worsening Alzheimer's disease. Mice with impaired cognitive function were also more likely to gain excessive weight due to poor metabolism caused by brain changes. 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. "Obesity and diabetes impair the central nervous system, exacerbating psychiatric disorders and cognitive decline. We demonstrated this in our study with mice," said Larisa Bobrovskaya, Associate Professor
from the varsity. 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. 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. Genetically modified Alzheimer's disease mice showed a significant deterioration of cognition and pathological changes in the brain while fed the high fat diet. "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.
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with section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2321k), I am providing notice of my intent to rescind the designation of Afghanistan as a Major Non-NATO Ally.” Following this announcement, the Talibanled interim administration welcomed the decision. A Taliban spokesperson said, “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) is not worried,” adding, “What benefit did this title have for Afghanistan?” The United States designated Afghanistan as a major non-NATO ally in July 2012.
Contributed by A publication of the National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bengaluru
Compiled by Akriti Sharma, Harini Madhusudan, Rashmi Ramesh, Ankit Singh, Avishka Ashok, Abigail Miriam Fernandes, Apoorva Sudhakar, Padmashree Anandhan, Rishma Banerjee and Arshiya Banu
The UK: After Boris Johnson’s resignation, a tight race for the next Prime Minister begins Secondly, getting Brexit done just not in rhetoric will be a harder negotiating path yet to be foreseen. The Northern Ireland protocol bill could have sabotaged the Good Friday agreement, but the question that still remains is how to bring the electoral representation back to the province?
Japan: Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s assassination and his legacy What happened? On 9 July, former Health Secretary Sajid Javid launched his bid to replace Boris Johnson as the next prime minister of the United Kingdom. Alongside, former foreign secretary, Jeremy Hunt was the second candidate to enter the race with his policy to lower business taxes. On 8 July, the leader of the Labour Party said they would call a national election using a vote of confidence unless the Conservatives removed Johnson from office. On 7 July, after a series of cabinet resignations and with blame for disrespecting one’s code of political conduct, Prime Minister Boris Johnson stepped down as the party leader. He will however continue as the Prime Minister till a new leader is elected from within the conservative party. The outgoing leader said, “To you the British public… I want you to know how sad I am to be giving up the best job in the world. But them’s the breaks.” On 5 July, 44 resignations had determined Johnson’s resignation. But on 7 June, the pushout of Johnson started after controversies over Downing Street parties breaking the COVID-19 protocol tainted the party’s public image. The Tory MPs called a confidence vote on the prime minister, which he won by 211 votes, yet 41 per cent of parliamentary Tories wanted him out. What does it means? First, the new leader of the conservative party will not only have to provide an alternative to the party but also to the people and the region itself. Starting with the introspection of the party pathways, conservatives will have to bring back the Number 10 operation with full political trust. For the new leader, the support of the backbencher committee, accountability in the PMQ sessions, and honest interaction with the press could probably salvage the inner rebellion and the Conservative’s fear of a rout in the local elections.
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The heads of states pledged to “honour Abe’s memory by redoubling our work towards a peaceful and prosperous region.” What does it means? The assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe comes as a shock because of the nonviolent and practically rare gun related violence in the country. He was an asset to Japan who led the country during challenging political and economic times. His contributions to the economic revival have played a key role in Japan’s status and stature in the international order in the present times. He foresaw the threats of militarization in the region and rallied support to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. Abe efficiently managed Japan’s foreign relations between the US and China at a time when there was growing hostility and trade wars between the global superpowers. Abe’s assassination is an unfortunate event in the history of Japan.
ALSO IN NEWS What happened? On 8 July, the former Prime Minister of Japan and serving member of the House of Representatives Shinzo Abe was assassinated at a political rally in the Nara Prefecture. Abe was rallying for his party Liberal Democratic Party’s candidate when he was shot from behind. He was declared dead five and a half hours after being rushed to Nara Medical University Hospital. The assassination was carried out by a former member of the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force Tetsuya Yamagami who held Abe responsible for his family’s bankruptcy caused by the Unification Church. The accused used a homemade gun resembling a double-barreled shotgun. Other explosives and homemade weapons were found at the suspect’s house, who is now in police custody. Heads of States around the world responded to Abe’s death with great remorse and expressed their condolences. The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, China’s President Xi Jinping, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, South Korea’s President Yoon Sukyeol and many more leaders across the world expressed their shock and recounted Abe’s achievements and praiseworthy decisions during his tenure as the leader of Japan. The Quad also issued a joint statement at the assassination and was signed by the US, Australia and India.
Australia at G20: Promises to make attempts to end trade blockage The Foreign Minister of Australia, Penny Wong announced that the country would attempt to end the trade blockages and seek to defrost the icy relations with China. Wong said: “We all know we have our differences. There are challenges in the relationship. We believe engagement is necessary to stabilise the relationship. We won’t be making any concessions regarding Australia’s interests. We don’t believe those blockages are in our interests. We would say to China, “they are not in China’s interests.” India at G20: Indian EAM meets Chinese, Russian counterparts On 7 July, Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) Jaishankar met the Chinese Foreign Minister and Russian Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in Bali. Indian Minister tweeted: “Met FM Sergey Lavrov of Russia on the sidelines of the Bali #G20FMM. Discussed bilateral matters of mutual interest. Also exchanged views on contemporary regional and international issues including the Ukraine conflict and Afghanistan.” He tweeted the same day: “Began my day in Bali by meeting FM Wang Yi of China. The discussion lasted one hour. Focused on specific outstanding issues in our bilateral relationship pertaining to the border situation. Also spoke about other matters including students and flights.”
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Taiwan: China responds to US Senator’s visit and meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen On 8 July, the Eastern Theatre Command of the People’s Liberation Army announced that the military had held joint combat readiness exercises, patrols and drills near Taiwan’s sea and airspace. China’s Ministry of Defence Spokesperson Wu Qian further reasoned that the exercises were held as a response to the provocations by the US and Taiwan. The Chinese fighter jets crossed the median line of the Taiwan Straits in response to US Senator Rick Scott’s visit to Taiwan and his meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen. Wu responded to a question on Scott’s visit during a press briefing and said: “The US side’s move seriously violates the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US joint communiqués, seriously damages the political foundation of Sino-US relations, seriously undermines the relationship between the two countries and the two militaries, and escalates tensions in the Taiwan Strait region.” Taiwan: New jet trainer showed off by Air Force On 6 July, the new AT-5 Brave Eagle was unveiled by Taiwan’s air force, which was created and manufactured domestically, and was showcased for its superior combat capabilities in place of the current fleet’s outdated and accident-prone older models. Even though the majority of Taiwan’s armed forces’ equipment comes from the United States, President Tsai Ing-wen has prioritised the growth of sophisticated domestic defence industry, particularly as China, which claims Taiwan as its own, intensifies military modernization activities and drills close to Taiwan. With a US$2.3 billion budget, the stateowned Aerospace Industrial Development Corp built the jet trainer, which had its first test flight in 2020. Afghanistan: the US to rescind Kabul’s designation as a major non-Nato ally
Pakistan: Gwadar rights leader threatens to close Gwadar port On 4 July, Dawn reported that Maulana Hidayatur Rehman Baloch, the leader of the Gwadar rights movement, threatened to close the Gwadar port on 21 July if the demands agreed by the provincial government earlier in April were not fulfilled. He said that the demands of the Gwadar rights movement included freeing the coast of Balochistan from the trawler mafia, opening border points in Gwadar, eliminating drug trafficking, and removing unnecessary check-posts. France: President Macron reshuffled his cabinet after June’s election loss On 4 July, President Emmanuel Macron of France reshuffled his cabinet following the loss of getting a majority in last month’s elections. He retained a few prominent ministers while changing the rest. Ministers for defence, finance, and foreign affairs are the same, while the portfolios of the rest were shuffled. Ministers who lost their seats in June’s election have been replaced by people selected by Macron so that they can rebalance his alliance after the loss. The reshuffling came into fruition because of French political tradition that the ministers who lost their seats should resign from the cabinet. The significant change was the removal of the solidarity minister Damien Abad due to him facing rape charges which he denied. Ukraine: Fall of Luhansk region On 3 July, Russia’s defence minister Sergey Shoigu reported that the Russian Armed Forces and the People’s Militia of the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) had entirely established control over the city of Lysychansk. Ukraine’s general staff after the withdrawal of troops from Lysychansk. On 4 July, Russia’s president Vladimir Putin declared victory in Luhansk: “The units that took part in active combat operations and achieved success and victories in the Lugansk direction, of course, should rest and build up their combat capabilities.”
On 6 July, President Joe Biden’s letter to Congress expressed his intent to rescind Afghanistan’s designation as a major non-Nato ally. He said, “In accordance
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EDUCATION
STUDENT MENTORING AND RESEARCH TRAINING (SMART) PROGRAM June-August 2022
Bennett University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australia-based Institute for Australia India Engagement (IAIE) to create opportunities for students to undertake internships in Australia. As a part of the MoU students are inducted into the Student Mentoring and Research Training (SMART) program which provides research and leadership training and mentoring and an opportunity to design, edit and publish commentaries on Australia-India relationship, for the INDIA NEWS and IAIE’s SMART Newsletter. Program Coordinator: Ms. Anushka Saxena, IAIE Adjunct Fellow, and post-graduate student, O.P. Jindal Global University Page Editor: Ms. Pooja Lakshmi, Student, BBA LLB Hons., Bennett University Commentators: Ms. Isha Raje, Ms Yashi Sharma, Ms. Sreejoni Baruah, Mr. Ishan Vats, Mr. Yuvraj Singh, Ms. Maitreyi Upadhyay and Ms. Pooja
Watershed Moment in Bilateral Ties Co-operation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) between India and Australia, which aims to increase bilateral trade to $50 billion in five years while facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services across borders.
By Pooja Lakshmi, BBA LLB Hons. Student, Bennett University Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his former counterpart Scott Morrison witnessed the signing of the Economic
Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to the agreement with Australia as a “watershed moment in bilateral ties,” and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal anticipates that it will contribute 10 lakh new employment to the nation over the following five years. According to the agreement, which will facilitate work visas for Indian students in Australia for two to four years on a “reciprocal basis” and allow Indian chefs and yoga practitioners to work Down Under, “together we will be able to increase the resilience
of supply chains, and also contribute to the stability of the Indo-Pacific region,” he said. Indian exports to Australia have been expanding at a rapid rate. The agreement will provide for zero duty access on over 96 percent of Indian exports, including several laborintensive industries, according to Mr. Goyal and according to Mr. Morrison, for Australian producers, manufacturers, and farmers, among many others, the agreement opens a massive door into the world’s fastest expanding major economy. Australia’s trade, tourism, and industry minister Dan Trehan said in a joint statement with Mr. Morrison that “tariffs will be eliminated on more than 85% of Australian goods exports to India (valued at more than $12.6 billion annually), rising to almost 91 % (valued at $13.4 billion over 10 years)”.
India-Australia Critical Mineral Partnership cobalt. These minerals are used everywhere right from making mobile phones, electric vehicles, green technologies like solar panels and wind turbines, and computers to batteries.
global production. According to International Energy Agency, was responsible for some 70% and 60% of global production of cobalt and rare earth elements, respectively, in 2019.
Significance of this partnership
Stand of different countries around this issue
Since India has to fulfill its emissions and also India needs critical minerals for the space and defense industries, Australia can help India fulfill these ambitions with its resources. By Sreejoni Baruah, BA LLB Student, Bennett University Recently both India and Australia decided to strengthen their partnership in critical minerals, where Australia committed USD 5.8 million to the three-year India-Australia Critical Minerals Investment Partnership. Critical minerals are the building blocks of important modern-day technologies and are at risk of supply chain disruptions. Different countries make their own lists depending on their own needs and other considerations. Mostly included are graphite, lithium, and
India has a strong interest in diversifying its bilateral partnership with Australia through critical minerals and similar projects, this will also help India in expanding global trade and supply chains. The China Challenge China is the world’s largest producer of 16 critical minerals, as per the 2019 US Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Commodity Summaries report. China refines around 50-70% for lithium and cobalt, 35% for nickel, and nearly 90% for rare earth elements.
Recently, the UK revealed its new Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre to study critical minerals in near future.
Though the Chinese Officials claim that the initiative is to protect the trade interests of China, it is clear that China is trying to grow its presence in the Indian Ocean Region. The region is very crucial for India as about two-thirds of India’s oil imports and half of the liquified gas pass through the Strait of Hormuz. Not only India but other Southeast Asian countries and Oceania are also dependent on the IOR as their majority maritime trade passes through the region. By Ishaan Vats, BA LLB Hons. Student, Bennett University Since 1962, with a dispute over the Aksai Chin region in the Himalayas, China has come a long way to continuously threaten the territorial integrity of India. The threat to India is not only posed at the borders but also through the sea routes as China under the Belt and Road Initiative (formerly known as the One Belt One Road or OBOR Initiative) is establishing military bases in India’s neighbour, Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka, Gwadar Port in Pakistan, etc. which is also famously known as the String of Pearls Policy (a name given by the United States in 2004).
The United States, after ordering a review of vulnerabilities in its critical minerals supply chains, has shifted its focus on expanding production, domestic mining, processing, and recycling of critical minerals. As of 2020, different countries, have launched a map of critical mineral deposits to help governments to find out options to expand the sources of their critical minerals.
China is also responsible for
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Thus, it is necessary for these countries especially India (in the light of the recent Sea Guardians 2 naval exercise between China and Pakistan) to have a stable relationship with each other to cope with the growing presence of China in the Indian Ocean Region and to combat China during the standoffs. Towards this India has taken significant steps such as actively participating in the ASEAN, QUAD, and other dialogues. India has also built strong relationships with Iran and Bangladesh which led to the stationing of the Indian Naval Force at the Chabahar Port in Iran and the Chittagong Port in Bangladesh.
Job and Skills in the Digital Transformation: A Gender Perspective
India has set, up KABIL, or the Khanij Bidesh India Limited, to ensure the mineral security of the nation.
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String of Pearls: Can China dominate the IOR?
By Yashi Sharma, BA LLB Hons. Student, Bennett University The nature and substance of occupations are changing as a result of the digital revolution, and this has an impact on the skills that are in demand. However, a sizable portion of the workforce may lack the abilities needed in this new technological paradigm and runs the risk of being left behind in a labour market that is heavily reliant on digital technology. Evidence from the “computer revolution”
of the 1980s and 1990s suggests that women may benefit more from digitalization than men due to their superior cognitive abilities compared to manual or motor skills and their superior interpersonal skills, which have become more crucial with the spread of computers. The existence of gender-specific returns to skills, which are investigated by keeping the skill endowment of workers constant, is one of the factors contributing to the persistence of gender wage inequalities. In other words, men are found to not only be better equipped with the abilities that are most in demand in the digital age, but they are also compensated higher for those skills in industries that rely heavily on technology. While gender disparities still exist in many aspects of economies and society, tremendous progress has been made in recent decades to support girls’ education in all nations, regardless of economic development level. Closing
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INDIA NEWS the achievement gap between boys and girls in education will undoubtedly contribute to narrowing the skill and pay gaps between men and women in the job. Education has a clear impact on outcomes in the labour market at later stages of life. Since 2012, the majority of G20 economies have made significant strides toward closing
the gender participation gap, with particularly significant declines seen in Brazil, Indonesia, and Japan. A few nations, most notably Australia, Brazil, Germany, Japan, and the United Kingdom, have already surpassed their goal because they saw a bigger drop in the gender gap than was necessary to keep on track.
Au s t r a l i a - I n d i a I n d o - Pa c i f i c O c e a n s I n i t i a t i ve Pa r t n e r s h i p both government and nongovernment actors’ actions. The AIIPOIP is focused on developing areas of practical collaboration between Australia, India, and the Indo-Pacific in 2021–2022, notably in the fields of fighting marine plastic waste and marine ecology. These areas have been highlighted as priorities by the Australian and Indian governments.
India-Australia Framework for Security Cooperation
By Yuvraj Singh Varya, BA LLB Hons. Student, Bennett University In diverse regions, the Framework for Security Cooperation represents a substantial advancement. It indicates a desire to expand on the relationships that have grown over the last few decades. The framework is expanded into new areas and enhances corporation in existing areas while strengthening collaboration in existing ones. The 2014 Framework indicates a gradual shift in Delhi’s perception of Australia as an essential regional partnership. In September 2014, Tony Abbott’s visit to Delhi effectively eliminated uranium as a symbolically significant issue for India. Modi has shown far more faith than the former Indian government in putting India’s new defense and security alliances in the Indo-Pacific region into action. The India-Australia partnership is evolving into a major bilateral
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relationship. The relationship between the two countries in various sectors includes regional security, counterterrorism, cyber, other non-traditional security domains, and assistance to victims and disaster relief (HADR). Furthermore, India and Australia are close allies for collaboration and cooperation due to shared democratic values, a shared love of sport, and economic and strategic interests. In November 2014, PM Narendra Modi visited Australia, and one notable outcome of his visit was the formation of a Framework for Security Cooperation, which reflected the need for a comprehensive strategy for security and defense cooperation. The Action Plan addresses a whole new area of collaboration in defense research and development, including engagements by Australian and Indian defense material delegates and efforts to build cooperative industry connections. The Action Plan also includes agreements to collaborate on border security, coast guard, and customs. This seems to be likely to become a more major area of engagement in the future. The Action Plan also promises to increase collaboration between Australian and Indian authorities with international search and rescue (SAR) duties.
By Maitreyi Upadhyay, Student, B.B.A. LL. B. (Hons.), Bennett University, India In order to support an open, inclusive, resilient, prosperous, and rules-based maritime order, the Australia-India Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative Partnership (AIIPOIP) helps to shape maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. The AIIPOIP created ideas and collaboration to start implementing the IPOI in 2020–21, which is influencing
In November 2019, at the 14th East Asia Summit in Bangkok, Prime Minister Modi made the IPOI announcement. The initiative encouraged greater cooperation between India and its regional allies in order to jointly protect the oceans, improve maritime security, protect marine resources, build capacity, fairly share resources, reduce the risk of disasters, and foster free, fair, and mutually beneficial trade, and advance maritime transportation. At the 14th East Asia Summit
on November 4 in Bangkok, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which is built on the following seven pillars which are Maritime Ecology, Maritime Security, Marine Resources, Capacity Building, and Resource Sharing, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation and Trade, Connectivity and Maritime Transport. From 2020–21 through 2023–24, the AIIPOIP’s competitive open call grant round 1 and following rounds are expected to distribute up to $1.4 million. With a focus on plastic waste, Australia, the lead partner on the maritime ecology pillar, wants to promote scientific cooperation and exchange best practices on decreasing marine pollution throughout the IndoPacific.
Necklace of Diamonds: What does India have in Store for China? dominance in IOR; “The String of Pearls” by China, to which “The Necklace of Diamonds” by India is a counter-response. Though, these are not official strategies laid by the governments, they are interpretations by geopolitical thinkers.
By Siddhant Nagar, BA LLB Hons. Student, Bennett University The Indian Ocean region has emerged as a key sector of India and China’s strategic interests, and this, has led to escalating competition for strategic influence in the IOR. There are strategies by both the nations which are at play to gain
China through its “Debt Trap Diplomacy,” under the name of economic expansion traps nations strategically located around India to borrow infrastructure loans, and when these nations are in debt, China forces them to aid its interests. Through the Debt Trap Policy and String of Pearls, China is creating a ring around India to get a stronghold in IOR. As a response, India has started counter-encirclement of China with its Necklace of Diamond strategy. Under this
strategy, India is expanding its naval and army bases across various countries strategically located near China. These bases include the Changi Naval Base in Singapore, Sabang Port in Indonesia, Duqm Port in Oman, Assumptions Island in Seychelles, and the Chabahar Port in Iran. India also through strategic cooperation with countries such as Japan, Mongolia, Vietnam, etc. is trying to counter the String of Pearls. The strategy’s summarizing is that the necklace represents the connections between various places, which together form the shape of a necklace, and the diamonds represent specific locations. The link between these various areas is intended to resist China’s expansionism.
How India and Australia can Emerge as Leading Powers in the Quad in the Quad summit show the same strategy of developing as well as common viewpoints, interests, and beliefs that lead to positive results. The relationship between the countries seems to accelerate driven by economic and geopolitical factors over the last decade.
By Isha Raje, BBA LLB Hons. Student, Bennett University India and Australia have preferred to emphasize what the Quad is for, as a like-minded grouping, rather than what the Quad is against, whether Russia or China. Minister Payne also stated that Quad’s agenda is positive. India and Australia
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Minister Jaishankar and Minister Payne (Australian Foreign Minister) in a joint news conference presented high-level steps that expand on current agreements signed under the Australia-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It included new Maitri series of initiatives to assist improve education and cultural relations between Australia and India including $A11.2 million for the Maitri Scholars Program, which promotes Indian students to
study at Australian institutions, $A3.5 million for the Maitri Fellowships Program, which connects future leaders, and for the cultural partnership of Maitri, $A6.1 million. After Modi visited Australia, the two countries signed a security framework agreement recognizing the significance of Indian Ocean defense cooperation. The two most powerful countries in the Indian Ocean region are India and Australia. The two nations also lead the Indian Ocean Regional Association (IORA), a formal gathering of Indian Ocean Littoral States. Indian Ocean Naval Symposium has Australia as the permanent participant, which brings the Indian Ocean region’s naïve close together. Furthermore, the first India-
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Australia Cyber Framework Dialogue was held during the Quad summit, which was attended by both Foreign Ministers. And the long-awaited Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which involves the objective of an “early harvest” free trade agreement, will not only broaden investment opportunities in both countries but will also diversify market opportunities and minimize reliance on a single regional trading partner.
participation. The statement by India, one of the world’s largest consumers of lentils, that it will reduce the 11% import duty on Australian lentils to zero is a prime example. Minister Jaishankar stated at the AII event that “the relationship of India and Australia is evolving right in front of our eyes.”
Tourist, of course, is linked to international student mobility, and both nations signed a new Memorandum of Understanding to boost travel between the two markets and expand collaboration on tourism policy, data exchange, training, and industry
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July 16-31, 2022 - Vol 3, Issue 1
EDITORIAL
From the editor's desk Institutions are the key for Australia Sports is changing lives in Jammu and Kashmir Sports has been a vehicle for a long time for building bilateral relations, engaging with misguided and vulnerable youth, countering extremism, deepening diplomacy and nurturing resilient societies around the world. Sports is used by international bodies including the United Nations to prevent extremism and bolster community resilience. India is no exception. Jammu and Kashmir is using sports to engage with youth across the Union Territory under the Sports Policy 2022 for promoting universal wellness and fitness from the grassroots to the international level and sponsoring local athletes. The central government’s Rs 200 crore under the Prime Minister’s Development Package will be used for up-gradation of sports infrastructure in the state. The Pencak Silat Association of J&K is conducting a coaching camp in Srinagarto shortlist a 40 member Indian team for the World Pencak Silat championship in Malaysia. Just last week, it held a Anantnag district Pencak Silat Championship that drew 260 male and female participants from all age groups. 19 J&K powerlifters will participate in Germany and Australia, five in the National Equipped Power Lifting Championship in Hyderabad. Martial arts is a big hit and Judo is attracting a large number of youth and four participated in the World Deaf Judo Championship in France. J&K Boxing team participated in the Youth National Boxing
Championship in Chennai. J&K fencers participated in the 30th Junior National Fencing Championship held at Cuttak and the the boys’ Sabre team again won the gold; whereas men’s Epee team bagged bronze in Madhya Pradesh and two girls won silver and the bronze in addition to the girls’ team winning the gold. The Khelo India Centre of Excellence for fencing, that has been set up in Jammu, provide all the modern equipment and gadgets necessary for J&K’s fencers. In Kulgam district the District Wushu Association is organizing championships. In J&K and Ladakh five cricket tournaments have been organized which may spot future talents like Umran Malik, Abdul Samad, Parvez Rasool, Ian Dev Singh and Shubham Khajuria. Similarly, the Ladakh Sqay Association organised the inter-state National Sqay Championship in Ladakh in which over 150 players participated. Golf too is very popular and at the Royal Springs Golf Course in Srinagar and the Lidder Valley Golf Course in Pahalgam, 88 golfers from the Addicts Golfing Society in south India and their local counterparts participated. It is very heartening to see how the youth has embraced sports in J&K and Ladakh and shown immense passion to excel in their area of interests. It offers great promise for the region and finally bring people out of the dark times which had engulfed them for decade.
India relations Anil Wadhwa and Ashutosh Misra Australia-India ties are at a historic high. Currently a trade mission led by Western Australia’s Deputy Premier Roger Cook is in India to bolster bilateral ties. Earlier, Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles visited India recently on a four-day tour to boost defence and strategic cooperation with India and “compare notes with friends”. The visit bears high significance, both in bilateral and strategic contexts, and his bold remarks have proven the sceptics who anticipated a softening of the Australia’s policy towards China wrong. In his speech at the National Defence College, he pointed out that China was Australia’s biggest trading partner as well as a security anxiety and reminded that neighbours needed reassurance to prevent any military buildup as a quid pro quo. In India’s context he emphasized, “India’s own experience illustrates this maxim more than most. The assault on Indian forces along the Line of Actual Control in 2020 was a warning we should all heed. Australia stood up for India’s sovereignty then and continues to do so now. It is vital that China commits to resolving this dispute through a process of dialogue consistent with international law. The global rules-based order matters everywhere, including in the highest place on earth”. On Australia-India relations he, “There hasn’t been a point in both countries’ histories where there has been such a strong strategic alignment…[and Canberra is keen to] deepen its understanding of, and engagement with, one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, the soon to be most populous nation in the world, and a deeply consequential power”. During the visit it was also conveyed that Australia places India at the heart of its policy in the Indo-Pacific and beyond. The emergence of bipartisanship in India policy in Canberra augurs well for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). In April 2022, Anthony Albanese, then the Leader of the Opposition, had welcomed the “deepening of ties” and signing of the Australia India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA). In 2017, Albanese had also led a parliamentary delegation to India to deepen parliamentary ties, people-to-people relations and understand the social, economic, governance and political issues. In his visit brief he wrote: “…it is important that the parliamentary officers work closely to ensure that Australian parliamentary visitations don’t wait some 17 years before the next visit.” India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar has taken great satisfaction in how the CSP has deepened in recent years
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and also become the fulcrum of a buoyant Quad in the Indo-Pacific. It is heartening to note that the strategic and bilateral interests have assumed a mutually complementary character. Peter Varghese, the author of India Economic Strategy maintains, “… the stronger that [Australia-India] broader relationship the better the prospect of an economic strategy. India should not be seen only as a geopolitical partner”. New Delhi too now sees Australia both as an economic partner and a geopolitical partner. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has observed that India’s youthful population and diversified growth trajectory present significant opportunity in education, agriculture energy, resource, tourism, healthcare, financial services and infrastructure among other areas. Two-way trade has risen to US $ 27 billion in 2021, but it is still below full potential. By 2035, both sides aim to double their bilateral trade and Australia seeks to bring India in its top 5 trading partners (currently 8th). The bilateral investment figure is a healthy US $ 20 billion into each country, and has a huge potential. The Australia Economic Strategy report prepared by me (Anil Wadhwa) for CII with KPMG at the behest of India’s Ministry of Commerce was launched in 2020 has identified 12 key sectors and 8 emerging sectors including, mining, services and start-ups, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and medical technologies, education and skills, agribusiness, infrastructure, power and renewable energy, railways, gems and jewellery, automotive spare parts, and tourism. The report complements Varghese’s India Strategy across 10 sectors. Now that both sides possess a much-informed view and appreciation of mutual interests, predicaments and priorities— thanks to the two country strategies and frequent policy and political dialogues at various levels— there is a need to uphold institutional legacies and engage with key institutions to ensure progress in different sectors. One such institution is the Australia India Business Council which has spearheaded bilateral business and trade initiatives since 1986 when it was founded was by then Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Rajiv Gandhi. AIBC Chair and member have accompanied prime ministerial, ministerial and industry delegations to India ever
since and have contributed to policy discussions and facilitated subsequent business and trade initiatives. With council chapters in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, the AIBC also has industry chapters headed by leaders in field. These chapters are: agribusiness; corporate and investment; defence and security; education and skills; healthcare; information and communication technology and digital; infrastructure; make in India; renewable energy; sports; startups and innovation; women in business; young business leaders; and membership benefits. In 2014, the AIBC Chair and Vice Chair accompanied then Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s CEO delegation to India. AIBC has been the lead institution in supporting discussions on the Economic and Cooperation and Trade Agreement since 2014, which was signed in April this year. The 2016 AIBC-Australian Financial Review (AFR) first ever national business conference “Engaging with India” was successful in bringing Australian and Indian government, business leaders and influencers on a single forum to discuss the progress on CECA. AIBC members also participated in the biennial Vibrant Gujrat Global Business Summit and Prawasi Bhartiya Diwas in India which enables business and entrepreneurs from both sides to connect. AIBC in partnership with Springfield City Group launched the India technology Summit in 2021 to build the Australia-India relationship by attracting world-leading Indian technology companies to Australia and make Springfield (only the second planned city in Australia after Canberra) to become onestop-shop location for leading tech companies from India and Australia to collaborate and invest. In sum, institutions like AIBC hold the key to an effective, meaningful and productive business and trade engagements and legacies built over a long period of time can become forcemultipliers for both Australia and India. (Ambassador Anil Wadhwa is a former Indian diplomat and Secretary (East), and Ashutosh Misra is the CEO of Institute for Australia India Engagement, National Sports Chair for AIBC and Editor-in-Chief, India News.)
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July 16-31, 2022 - Vol 3, Issue 1
SPECIAL FEATURES
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the authentic role model to all leaders
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is Holiness the Dalai Lama lives in exile for over 60 years; having forfeited his active role as the spiritual and temporal leader of the over 7 million Tibetan Buddhists due to Chinese aggression. But he reflects the inimitable characteristic of a divine presence on earth, not losing his composure, his sense of humour, altruistic tendencies, the simple child-like nature and relentless hard work towards his global and national commitments. He is now celebrating his 87th birthday and what he has achieved on a global level over the period of his exile would need many pages of history to record. His commitments on global peace, the relevance
his unreserved pure, willful, sacrificial love that intentionally desires another's highest good and his equilibrium and blissfulness at all occasions have all been clearly witnessed by people in the events that he attended or conducted over the years. His remarks at a symposium at the Cambridge Union are worth mentioning to get a glimpse of his simplistic nature: "I never think of myself as a leader, I think of myself as a simple Buddhist monk. It's part of my practice to serve sentient beings as best I can. My body, speech and mind are dedicated to their welfare. If someone asks, I share my experience with them, but I don't impose my views without a request or invitation." and importance of Buddhist teachings to the contemporary world, individual peace and happiness, health of planet earth, the liberation of his motherland and its people, the importance of education and a reconciliation between Buddhism and science. In his lectures, deliberations, discourses and meetings held in world capitals over the years, he has conveyed his messages very clearly on these issues, aside from establishing institutions in India for the propagation of these concepts. His simple child-like nature, and the capacity to laugh aloud without any trace of concern or worry while engaged in grave global issues and threats,
Hundreds of quotations, such as the one below, from his lectures and discourses in world capitals and at institutions of international repute can be cited to portray his outlook on fellow human beings and his approaches to the contemporary world: "Brothers and sisters, I dislike formality. When I meet you I like to think that we are all human beings. Any idea that I am somehow different from you because I am Asian, Tibetan or Buddhist, or that I am somehow special because I am the Dalai Lama is nonsense. You are human beings, I'm a human being; you want a happy life, and I want a happy life. But I think that aim will not be fulfilled only on the
basis of material values; what we all want is affection and what we all need is to be more warmhearted. This is how we create a healthy mind that ensures our physical health." He has consistently advocated policies of non-violence, even in the face of extreme aggression. His Holiness has travelled to more than sixty-two countries spanning six continents. Since 1959, His Holiness has received over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes, among others, in recognition of his message of peace, non-violence, inter- religious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion. His Holiness has also authored more than 72 books. His Holiness describes himself as a simple Buddhist monk. Three Main Commitments His Holiness has three main commitments in life. Firstly, as a human being, His Holiness promotes human values such as compassion, forgiveness, tolerance, contentment and selfdiscipline. Secondly, as a religious practitioner, His Holiness is committed to promoting religious harmony and understanding among the world's major religious traditions. Despite philosophical differences between them, all major world religions have the same potential to create good human beings. Therefore, all religious traditions need
to respect one another and recognize the value of their respective traditions. Thirdly, His Holiness is a Tibetan and as the 'Dalai Lama' is the focus of the Tibetan people's hope and trust. Therefore, his third commitment is to preserve Tibet's Buddhist culture, a culture of peace and non-violence and protect the natural environment of Tibet. The institutions that he established range from educational institutions for the Tibetan refugee children to institutions dealing with controversial global issues. At last, His Holiness has lately spoken of his commitment to revive awareness of the value of ancient Indian knowledge among young Indians today. His Holiness is convinced that the rich ancient Indian understanding of the workings of the mind and emotions, as well as mental training such as meditation are of great relevance today. He is confident that ancient Indian knowledge can be combined with modern education. As one of the most revered spiritual leaders, the 14th Dalai Lama is an icon who advocates democracy and freedom not only for his country but also for the world. He is a role model to everyone who wishes to see positive differences in the world. (Ven Prof Lenagala Sirinivasa is Dean of Faculty of Language Studies at the Buddhist and Pali University, Sri Lanka)
Markets looking for a trend but not gaining success
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ecently, the markets behaved on expected lines and made marginal gains. It could be called a time period where markets tried to find their levels but were unable to do so. At the end of five days, gains were notched on June 27, there were losses on two days and the remaining two days were flat. BSESENSEX gained 179.95 points or 0.34 per cent to close at 52,907.93 points while NIFTY gained 52.80 points or 0.34 per cent to close at 15,752.05 points. The broader indices saw BSE100, BSE200 and BSE500 gain 0.32 percent, 0049 per cent and 0.55 per cent respectively. BSEMIDCAP was up 0.26 percent while BSE SMALLCAP gained 1.17 per cent. The Indian Rupee lost 70 paise
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or 0.89 per cent to close at Rs 79.04 to the US Dollar. Dow Jones gained on two of the five trading days and lost on the remaining three. It closed with losses of 403.42 points or 1.28 per cent at 31,097.26 paise. The week's trading saw an interesting event happening. While the gap which was talked about was entered into, but failed to be filled. Having done so, it just gave way. The high of the week was made on June 27 itself at 53,509 on BSESENSEX and at 15,927 on NIFTY. This indicates that markets exhausted all their momentum in just one day. Not only the highs were not attempted again, but markets remained range bound with only intraday volatility.
There was plenty of economic activity. The government increased the import duty on gold from 7.5 per cent to 12.5 per cent. It also levied a windfall profit tax on exploration companies. This is a tax which is being levied in a number of countries as a result of the sharp increase in crude prices. At the same time, it also levied an export duty of Rs 13 per litre on diesel and Rs 6 per litre on petrol and ATF. This would reduce the effective realisation made by refiners who find it easier to export than sell in the local market. GST numbers for June 2022 were very encouraging at Rs 1.44 lakh crore. This gives confidence that the number of 1.4 lakh crore could be taken as a base for the future collections and the gross GST collection could be in the range of Rs 16.5-17 lakh annually. FPI sales seem to continue unabated. In the month of June 2022, they have sold Rs 58,112 crs making the total in the first half of calendar year 2022 a total of Rs 2.2 lakh crore. This becomes one of the highest sales by FPI in a month and the highest half yearly as well. Coming to the market's performance on July 1, it is quite interesting. The day was propped
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up by ITC which rose Rs 10.90 or 3.98 per cent. For the week, ITC was up Rs 18.55 or 6.98 per cent. Heavyweight Reliance lost Rs 185 or 7.13 per cent on July 1. For the week, Reliance lost Rs 92 or 3.68 percent. Along with Reliance, another oil explorer ONGC and OIL India were also sharply down on July 1. June futures expiry on 30th June was a quiet affair. The series closed with losses of 389.90 points or 2.41 per cent at 15,780.25 points. The series had begun at 16,170.15 points. Results would begin in the week ahead and the market would keenly watch the impact of commodity prices and how companies have coped with the same. It would be interesting to see how the favourable impact of the depreciation in the rupee has helped the IT sector. The week ahead would be crucial for the markets as we need to decide which way they are headed. While broadly speaking we would continue to be range bound, and trading in a range, we need to decide the trend. As readers would recall the immediate resistances would be at 15,900-15,950 levels, all the way to 16,100 points. On the BSESENSEX these levels would
correspond to 53,750-53,950 points. This would be followed by the downward gap made on 13th June at the level of 15,886 points to 16,172 points. The gap on BSESENSEX is at 53207 to 54,205 levels. It is important that for there to be a breakout and upward momentum to set in, the gap needs to be filled and also sustained. On support we have them at 52,650-52,750 on BSESENSEX. The final support would be at 51,000 levels. On NIFTY the support would be at 15,350-15,425 points followed by 15,150-15,200 as the final support. The strategy for the week ahead would be to avoid overnight exposure as markets have a nasty habit of opening with gaps in either direction. The gap is not the worry as after the opening, markets have become range bound for the remaining part of the day, making trading difficult. Use rallies to sell and sharp dips to buy in only large cap stocks. Allow markets to decide a trend or at least attempt making a trend. Trade cautiously. (Arun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services. The views expressed are personal)
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July 16-31, 2022 - Vol 3, Issue 1
MAKE IN INDIA
MAKE IN INDIA
As world economies restart their engines in a bid to regain lost ground due to the Covid-19 pandemic, India too shows signs of economic buoyancy and promise. India’s Make in India initiative holds a key to the global economic revival, something that should interest Australian government ministries, corporate sector, entrepreneurs, institutions seeking R&D collaborations and Australia Inc in general, among others. India assumes greater importance as several major world economies including American, Japanese, German, British and South Korean look to move out and diversify their businesses from China. India has jumped to 63rd rank in the World Bank’s Ease of Development 2020 report, and has also been ranked as the 9th largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment destinations in 2019 by the World Investment Report 2020 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).
PM launches development works worth Rs 16,800 cr in Jharkhand Modi said, "I look forward to being in Jharkhand and Bihar tomorrow to attend various programmes. In the afternoon, I will reach Deoghar where I will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for development works worth Rs 16,800 crore."
New Delhi, July 12 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a day-long visit to Jharkhand and Bihar on July 12 during which he inaugurated and lay foundation for development works worth Rs 16,800 crore in Jharkhand. In Bihar, the Prime Minister attended a programme to mark the closing ceremony of the centenary celebrations of Bihar Assembly. In a series of tweets on July 11,
The Prime Minister dedicated the in-patient department and operation theatre services at AIIMS, Deoghar, to the people of the state. "In line with our commitment to providing top quality healthcare services, IPD and OT services at AIIMS, Deoghar, will be inaugurated," he said. The Prime Minister said that some components of the development project at the Baidyanath Dham temple would be inaugurated which would boost spiritual tourism.
"Baidyanath Dham, Deoghar, is one of the most sacred sites for us. It draws people from all over the world. During the programme tomorrow, some components of the Development project at the Temple would be inaugurated which would boost spiritual tourism," Modi said. The Prime Minister had mentioned that at the programme in Deoghar on July 12 , many road, rail and infra works would also be launched or their foundation stones would be laid. "In the evening tomorrow, 12th July, will be in Patna to attend a programme to mark the closing ceremony of centenary celebrations of Bihar Legislative Assembly. The foundation stone for the Vidhan Sabha museum will also be laid," the Prime Minister tweeted.
Telangana to set up aerospace university in partnership with industry
Hyderabad, July 7 (IANS): The Telangana government is in discussion to set up an aerospace university in Hyderabad in partnership with the industry, and also taking steps to set up more aerospace and defence parks to further strengthen its presence in the sector. This was revealed by state Industry Minister K.T. Rama Rao while inaugurating two new plants of French aerospace major Safran in Hyderabad. He welcomed the announcement by Safran's to set up a mega aero engine MRO (maintenance, research and overhaul) facility in Hyderabad. The MRO and test cell will come up with an initial investment of $150 million. When completed in 2025, it would be Safran's largest MRO
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anywhere in the world. Rama Rao noted that this project holds national importance as the first engine MRO in the country by a global EOM (original equipment manufacturer) in India. He said the state government was in discussion with Safran for the project since 2020 and he was told that Hyderabad competed with Bengaluru and Chennai. KTR, as the minister is popularly known, said this MRO will not only cater to airlines in India but exuded confidence that many airlines in the Middle East will send planes here and a lot of airlines in South East Asia will also use this facility. KTR also welcomed Safran's announcement to set up a digital transformation centre in Hyderabad. He noted that this would be the fourth investment of the company in Hyderabad in six years He claimed that Telangana is the most vibrant and happening aerospace valley in India. The state has the best industrial policy in the form of TSiPASS with tailor made incentives for mega projects. He noted that there are 1,000 MSMEs integrated into the
aerospace and defence supply chain in Hyderabad. Safran Aircraft Engines and Safran Electrical & Power were inaugurated by KTR in the presence of Safran CEO Olivier Andries, Safran Aircraft Engines CEO Jean-Paul Alary, and other officials. The Safran Aircraft Engines plant, spanning 162,000 sq ft, will make rotating parts for the LEAP engine from CFM International. It will provide the additional capacity needed to meet the requirements of a production ramp-up for the best-selling commercial airplane engine of its generation.
Blue-Green Infrastructure: Key to Sustainable Urbanization
When one thinks of an urban city, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Isn't it the well paved roads and the gleaming high towers - that is the very definition of grey infrastructure. For a long time, the idea of urban dwellings has been synonymous with the above image. Although, cities and metropolitan areas are at the core of economic activities, contributing to around 60% of the world GDP, they are also the major contributors to climate change, accounting for 70% of the GHGs emissions and 60% of resource use. Given the growing consensus among experts about the complex relation between climate change and economic growth, there has been a growing realisation in international communities to actively work towards achieving sustainable development targets. Listed 11th amongst the 17 Sustainable Development Goals established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015 as Sustainable Cities and Communities, the main aim of this goal is “to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable”. Goal 11 promotes inclusive and sustainable urbanisation. It encompasses investments in public transports, improving urban planning and resource management as well as implementing policies for climate adaptation and improving resilience to disasters. Particularly, target 11.6 and 11.7 aims at reducing the adverse per capita environmental impact of the cities and providing universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces respectively.
The growing pace of economic growth along with commercialisation and industrialisation in India have been the driving force behind rapid urbanisation, as individuals migrate from rural to urban areas in search of better employment opportunities and to attain improved standards of living. It is estimated that by 2050, about 68% of the world population is expected to reside in urban dwellings. This means that 2 in every 3 Indians are expected to live in cities by then. Currently, most Indian cities are plagued with problems of pollution, congestion and unequitable access to resources. Rapid urbanisation has exerted excessive pressure on fresh water supplies, sewage capacities, living environment as well as public health. In light of these facts, there is a pressing need to change our stance around urban planning beyond the traditional grey infrastructure. Sustainable infrastructure has been identified as a crucial solution to tackle the aforementioned problems. A core component of it being Blue-Green Infrastructure. Although there is no universally accepted definition of BlueGreen Infrastructure there is a growing consensus among experts that it is an emerging solution for sustainable urban planning and efficient utilisation of urban space. While green infrastructure often refers to projects that include elements such as parks, green roofs, vertical and horizontal gardens, it is imperative to recognise its dependence on “blue” processes. Blue infrastructure on the other hand refers to features of urban planning which are designed to benefit both the quality and quantity of resilient provision of water supply. Therefore, the term blue-green infrastructure is an amalgamation of the above two types of infrastructure.
Safran Electrical & Power's plant, located in the same airport zone as the Safran Aircraft Engines plant and sharing all support functions, makes wiring for LEAP engines and the Rafale fighter. Opened in November 2018, the plant currently has 150 employees. Operating in India for the last 65 years, Safran has 10 facilities and 750 employees in the country. The Safran CEO said they look to triple the workforce in India by 2026 with an investment of more than $200 million.
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July 16-31, 2022 - Vol 3, Issue 1
MAKE IN INDIA
Blue-Green Infrastructure: Key to Sustainable Urbanization Source: Integrating green and blue spaces into our cities: Making it happen, Imperial College London Blue-green infrastructure promotes sustainable as well as resource efficient living. Taking a simple example, effective and efficient water treatment plans allow for multipurpose use of wastewater in industries and agriculture, therefore reducing excessive water wastage and depletion. The benefits of bluegreen infrastructure are immense and yield cross-sectorial results across the following 3 sectors: economic, social and environmental.This type of infrastructure plays a vital role in protecting the environment, it is specially considered as a potent source of climate mitigation actions. Initiatives in this segment help to reduce pollution, lower urban temperature, and regulate local ecosystems. These in turn have an important economic impact, for example, terrace gardens promote lower temperature of building surfaces which reduces the cooling
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demands, in turn decreasing the demand for energy and power. Other financial and economic benefits include reduced use of important raw material and resources, pollution prevention and reduced carbon emission. Therefore, urban planning that takes into account themes and designs from blue-green infrastructure planning provides for a feasible and effective solution for the various challenges faced by urban regions such as excessive contribution to climate change, extremely stressed water supply induced by rapid urbanisation and impervious land cover as well as the dwindling green cover in urban India. Furthermore, SDG 11 is deeply interlinked with various other SDGs. A careful analysis of the targets of 11th SDGs highlights its role in improving not only the living conditions of urban dwellers but also its role in improving health and well being (SDG 3), provision of clean water and sanitation (SDG 6) as well as mitigation of climate change (SDG 13) making its adoption all
the more vital. Perhaps one of the major advantages of Blue-Green infrastructure is its applicability in the smallest of infrastructure projects such as individual buildings to large cities. Example: As depicted below, one can introduce vertical and terrace gardens in apartment complexes which apart from playing a role in reducing cooling demands of the building, also increases the water retention and recycling capabilities. Similar initiatives enacted on a larger scale across
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cities can then majorly improve the water level in cities while capturing airborne pollutants. Source: Strengthening BlueGreen Infrastructure in Our Cities Although the concept of BlueGreen Infrastructure is relatively new, it is important that as India embarks on the journey of COVID-19 recovery with infrastructure development at its forefront, adequate policies and plans are put in place to reach the sustainable development goals by
putting emphasis on Blue-Green Infrastructure. Especially with India expected to house 6 megacities with population above 10 million by 2030, it is important to recognise that economic and social stability of cities is hinged on the environment with efficient urban planning needed for a sustainable future. This has been authored by Nehal Kaul and Devika Chawla. Source: Invest India, Government of India
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Inflation to ease in second half of FY23: RBI Governor target rate of four per cent by the third quarter of FY23, with a projected average inflation rate of 4.5 per cent for 2022-23
New Delhi, July 9 (IANS): The inflation in India is expected to ease in a gradual manner in the second half of FY23, said Shaktikanta Das, Governor, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on July 9. Speaking at the Kautilya Economic Conclave, organised by Institute of Economic Growth, New Delhi, Das said, with the supply outlook appearing favourable and several high frequency indicators pointing to resilience of the recovery in the first quarter (April-June) of 2022-23, the inflation may ease gradually in the second half of 2022-23, precluding the chances of a hard landing in India. Tracing the history of inflation in India, Das said in early 2022 inflation was expected to moderate significantly to the
"This assessment was based on an anticipated normalisation of supply chains, the gradual ebbing of Covid-19 infections and a normal monsoon. The median inflation projection from the Survey of Professional Forecasters at five per cent for 2022-23 was also quite benign," he said. However, this was overtaken by the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022, leading to a sharp spike in global crude oil and other commodity prices. "Global food prices reached a historical high in March and their effects were felt in edible oil, feed cost and domestic wheat prices. The loss of Rabi wheat production due to an unprecedented heat wave put further pressures on wheat prices. Cost-push pressures were also aggravated by supply chain and logistics bottlenecks due to the war and sanctions," Das said. According to him, RBI's objective was to safeguard the economy and preserve financial stability. "Our endeavour has been to ensure a soft landing. These objectives continue to guide our
actions even today and it will continue to be so in future," he added.
According to him, the insurance against such inevitable global shocks ultimately is built on sound economic fundamentals, strong institutions and smart policies. Price stability is key to maintaining macroeconomic and financial stability. "We will continue to calibrate our policies with the overarching goal of preserving and fostering macroeconomic stability. In this endeavour, we will remain flexible in our approach while being cogent and transparent in our communication," Das said.
Despite Adani’s denial, analysts don’t rule out group’s entry into consumer mobility auctions can be used to offer commercial services in the future by taking a Universal Access License,” financial services firm Jefferies said in a research report. “In the past, telecom stocks have performed until revenue growth is strong but have derated closer to new entrants service launch,” it said.
Chennai, July 11 (IANS): The Adani Group’s announcement on entering the telecom sector seemed to have its impact on the shares of two other players Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea - at bourses on July 11. While the troubled Vodafone Idea’s scrip gained 3.44 per cent to reach Rs 8.72, the stronger Bharti Airtel’s scrip went down by 5.03 per cent to Rs 660.30. On July 9, the Adani Group said it would enter the telecom sector and participate in the 5G spectrum auction to offer private network solutions but does not have the intention to venture into consumer mobility space. However, brokerage houses/ industry experts are not entirely buying that view. “Adani’s intent to buy spectrum in upcoming auctions only for private use has uncanny similarities to Jio’s (Reliance Industries Ltd) purchase of 2300 MHz spectrum in 2010 that could not be used for voice services. Spectrum bought through
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According to Jefferies, enterprises can build private networks by applying for a Captive Non-Public Network (CNPN) license and seek direct spectrum assignment from the government for a period of 10 years. They don’t have to pay entry or license fees. However, a CNPN licensee is not allowed to offer commercial services. “In contrast, spectrum acquired through auctions is expensive because it is eligible for commercial services. Given that the Adani Group has chosen to buy spectrum through auctions, it may still be able to offer commercial services by applying for a unified access license in the future,” Jefferies added. The CLSA, in its report, said Adani Group’s entry will create uncertainty over spectrum pricing in the 5G auctions. “We await the confirmation of the final list of bidders on July 20, 2022 and believe RJio and Bharti Airtel are likely to lead the upcoming 5G auction,” it said. On its part, BofA Securities India Ltd, in its report, said in the enterprise segment, there
RBI announces measures for settlement of international trade in rupees The RBI said in terms of Regulation 7(1) of Foreign Exchange Management (Deposit) Regulations, 2016, authorised dealer banks in India have been permitted to open Rupee Vostro accounts.
Das said the benefits of globalisation come with certain risks and challenges. Shocks to prices of food, energy, commodities and critical inputs are transmitted across the world through complex supply chains. "In fact, recent developments call for greater recognition of global factors in domestic inflation dynamics and macroeconomic developments which underscore the need for enhanced policy coordination and dialogue among countries to achieve better outcomes," he said.
is space for a new telco because the millimetre wave (26GHz) spectrum is available and at a cheaper price. “As the corporate market grows, there is opportunity for a new player to offer enterprise solutions, especially paired with a data centre offering. Hence apart from Adani, we are seeing interest from other parties also,” BofA Securities said. The BofA said a pan-India 400 MHz of 26 GHz costs $0.4 billion versus 100 MHz of 3.5 GHz cost of $4.0 billion. To service its airports, ports and others, Adani doesn’t need a pan-India spectrum. When a company acquires panIndia spectrum, it would imply that the company is looking to target large enterprises also and could potentially showcase a good captive offering to gain more business, it said. The success of the Adani Group in the telecom sector would be contingent on its execution or if it gets into a JV with an enterprise expert, the BofA added. “Our talks with industry participants indicate that there is certainly a consumer bent within the (Adani) Group, which could extend beyond its existing FMCGled offerings,” Motilal Oswal said. With so many ifs and buts, clearly the answer to the Adani Group’s venture into the telecom space is not a binary one, it added.
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BUSINESS & TRADE
Chennai, July 11 (IANS): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on July 11 announced an additional framework for invoicing, payment, and settlement of exports/imports in Indian rupees. According to the RBI, the authorised dealer banks should get the prior approval from its Foreign Exchange Department. The central bank said the measure is taken to promote growth of global trade with emphasis on exports from India and to support the increasing interest of the global trading community in the Indian rupee. The RBI said the broad framework for cross border trade transactions in Indian rupee under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) include that all exports and imports under this arrangement may be denominated and invoiced in Indian rupee, the exchange rate between the currencies of the two trading partner countries may be market determined, and the settlement of trade transactions under this arrangement shall take place in Indian rupee.
Accordingly, for settlement of trade transactions with any country, the authorised dealer banks in India may open Special Rupee Vostro Accounts of correspondent bank/s of the partner trading country. In order to allow settlement of international trade transactions through this arrangement, the RBI said that Indian importers undertaking imports through this mechanism shall make payment in rupee which shall be credited into the Special Vostro account of the correspondent bank of the partner country, against the invoices for the supply of goods or services from the overseas seller / supplier. Indian exporters, undertaking exports of goods and services through this mechanism, shall be paid the export proceeds in rupee from the balances in the designated Special Vostro account of the correspondent bank of the partner country. The RBI has also listed out the framework in case of advance against exports, setting of export receivables against import payables, bank guarantee, use of surplus balance in the Special Vostro Accounts and others.
Investment inflows in Indian realty up "The first half of 2022 has 14% in first half
New Delhi, July 11 (IANS): Institutional investments in Indian real estate touched $ 2.6 billion during H1 2022, a 14 per cent rise from H1 2021, Colliers India said in a report. Investors are enthused by the recovery seen across the Indian real estate spectrum, after Covid19-induced disruptions. The inflows during H1 2022 was led by the office sector which accounted for about 48 per cent share, followed by the retail sector with a share of 19 per cent. On a quarterly basis, inflows into Q2 2022 have increased from the preceding quarter, while registering a 50 per cent increase from the average quarterly inflows of 2021. Delhi-NCR saw the highest share of inflows at 35 per cent, followed by Mumbai with an 11 per cent share and Chennai with a 10 per cent share. However, multi-city deals continue to be on the rise, with a 43 per cent in investments during H1 2022. These deals were entity-led for assets across multiple cities.
witnessed euphoria of businesses bouncing back with increased office and industrial leasing, retail and travel spend, and continued buoyancy in the residential sector. However, the market is seeing some caution on account of geopolitical tensions and increased expected riskadjusted returns. Investments in India continue to increase in both development and operating assets. With the current business environment, India will benefit the most from the Asian economies with increased Capital inflows. The Indian Real Estate is likely to witness both equity and credit inflows tapped by existing and newer Investment Management platforms," said Piyush Gupta, Managing Director, Capital Markets & Investment Services, Colliers India. Interestingly, domestic investors are back in the market with a 38 per cent share in H1 2022, a massive jump from just 13 per cent share in H1 2021. Domestic investors were majorly inclined towards mixed-use assets and the retail sector. However, investments continue to be driven by foreign investors wherein pension and sovereign funds are betting on income-yielding assets in the office, retail and industrial sectors.
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Solar, wind Australia’s cheapest source of electricity generation: Report Canberra, July 11 (IANS) Renewables remain Australia’s cheapest source of electricity generation, a report from the nation’s top scientists has found on July 11. The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) have published the annual GenCost report for 2021-22. It found that wind and solar were the cheapest new-build electricity generation operation in that time period even when accounting for related costs such as storage and transmission, Xinhua news agency reported. According to the report, most technologies were cheaper in 2021-22 as compared to 2020-21.
However, it warned cost reductions will likely stall over the next 12 months as global supply chains recover from the coronavirus pandemic. After the current inflationary cycle ends, it projected solar, wind and battery technologies would continue to get cheaper. Larry Marshall, Chief Executive of the CSIRO, said the detailed analysis in the GenCost report would help government and industry navigate Australia’s renewable energy transition. “The latest report shows renewables are holding steady as the lowest cost source of newbuild electricity,” he added in a media release. “With the world’s largest penetration of rooftop solar, unique critical energy metals,
Coal accounted for the majority of electricity generation, at 51 percent of total generation in 2021. The largest source of renewable generation was solar (12 percent of total generation) followed by wind (10 percent) and hydro (six percent).
Coal production goes up by 32.57% to 67.59 MT in June 22 75.46 MT from 62.53 MT during June 2022 as compared to June 2021. During June 22, CIL and Captives/Others registered a growth of 15.20 percent and 88.23 percent by dispatching 58.98 and 11.05 MT respectively. SCCL registered a negative growth of 0.46 percent during the month.
New Delhi, July 6 (IANS) The Ministry of Coal on July 6 said that the coal production has gone up by 32.5 per cent approx in June this year and the coal based power generation too has increased in the same period registering growth of approximately 26 per cent. The Ministry said that India’s coal production increased by 32.57 percent to 67.59 Million Tonne (MT) from 50.98 MT during June 2021. According to the provisional statistics of the Ministry of Coal,
during June this year, Coal India Ltd (CIL), Singareni Collieries Company Ltd (SCCL) and captive mines / others registered a growth of 28.87 percent, 5.50 per cent and 83.53 percent by producing 51.56 MT, 5.56 MT and 10.47 MT respectively. Of the top 37 coal mines, as many as 22 mines produced more than 100 per cent and production at another nine mines stood between 80 and 100 percent. At the same time, coal despatch increased by 20.69 percent to
The power utilities dispatch has grown by 30.77 percent to 64.89 MT during June this year as compared to 49.62 MT in June 21 due to increase in power demand. Coal based power generation has registered a growth of 26.58 percent in June 2022 as compared to June 2021. The overall power generation in June 2022 has been 17.73 percent higher than in June 2021. However, Coal based power generation in the month of June 2022 has been 95,880 MU in comparison to 98,609 MU in May 2022 and registered a negative growth of 2.77 percent. Total power generation has also decreased in June 2022 to 1,38,995 MU from 1,40,059 MU in May 2022 and registered a negative growth of 0.76 percent.
K’taka to be country’s largest producer of ethanol soon: Bommai
Bengaluru, July 8 (IANS) Karnataka would emerge as the country's largest producer of ethanol in the coming days, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said on Friday. In his address at a seminar on 'Ethanol Production in Karnataka' organised by the S. Nijalingappa Sugar Institute, Belagavi and Bquest Consultancy
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and Engineering Pvt Ltd, he said that in the state, 32 sugar factories are producing ethanol, while another 60 are at various stages of getting clearances to start production. The state government is formulating an Ethanol Policy, he added. Special incentives would be provided by the state and Union governments for ethanol production, which would see a huge increase in the next one and a half years in the light of the Centre's decision to raise the ethanol blending in petrol to 20 per cent, Bommai said, noting that ethanol could be produced from not only sugarcane, but from paddy, jowar, and wheat husk too. "The world is moving towards
G-20 Sherpas meet in Indonesia discusses health, food, energy security The Indian Sherpa spoke about the need to protect and promote interests of small and marginal farmers, and to mainstream sustainability into tourism sector.
a world-class research sector and a highly skilled workforce, Australia can turn our challenges into the immense opportunity of being a global leader in renewable energy.” Data published by the Federal Department of Climate Change and Energy in April revealed that fossil fuel sources accounted for 71 per cent of Australia’s total electricity generation in 2021, down from 76 percent in 2020.
clean energy, renewable energy. More research is needed on ethanol production and usage. Hydrogen is emerging as a major source of green energy. About 43 per cent of renewable energy in the country is being produced in Karnataka," he said. The state government has signed 3 MoUs for production of green energy involving a massive investment flow of Rs 1.30 lakh crores. It includes production of ammonia from sea water. These initiatives would give a big push for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's mission to make India Atma Nirbhar in the energy sector and help in making India a $5 Trillion economy, Bommai said.
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ENERGY & RESOURCES
Labuan Bajo (Indonesia), July 11 (IANS) India’s G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant led the Indian delegation to the second G20 Sherpa meeting, convened by Indonesia, to review the progress made under various Working Groups of the G20 Sherpa Track. In his interventions on various sector specific sessions, he reaffirmed India’s steadfast support to Indonesia during its G20 Presidency, outlined India’s achievements and experiences, and called for addressing global challenges in an inclusive, forward looking and cooperative manner. He emphasised the importance of all G20 members collectively addressing health, food and energy security challenges expeditiously, in an urgent, cooperative, non-politicized and equitable manner.
He highlighted the importance of data and digitalisation for development, empowerment, financial inclusion, capacity building, and sustainable job creation. On disaster risk, climate and environment issues, Kant called for development and climate discourse to be considered holistically, on an equal footing, to ensure just transitions. He highlighted the rapid strides made by India in scaling up renewable energy and reiterated India’s COP 26 commitments. On migration issues, he emphasized the need to further deepen international engagement and facilitate safe, orderly and regular migration. Kant also held bilateral interactions on the sidelines with all his G20 counterparts, guest countries and participating international organisations. In these meetings, he shared India’s thinking on global issues and its forthcoming G20 Presidency, and discussed ways to further support the Indonesian Presidency to achieve its outcomes.
Rail link to ensure faster coal movement to Odisha ports by December 2025 and provides connectivity to allocated coal blocks on the southern side and central part of Talcher Coalfields. Work is progressing rapidly, as notification for land acquisition and forestry clearances have been obtained, the statement said, adding that this line will cater to evacuation of around 58 MT coal from CIL and non-CIL coal blocks in Talcher.
New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) The first stretch of the Mahanadi Coal Railway Ltd (MCRL), being set up to transport coal from Talcher Coalfields, is expected to be functional in 2022, and ensure faster movement of coal rakes to Paradip and Damra ports, decongest the rail network, and reduce the transportation cost considerably, an official statement said. Under the MCRL’s Phase-I, the 14-km-long Angul-Balram corridor, expected to be operationalised by this year, will have movement of 25 MT coal from MCL mines in Talcher Coalfields, the Coal Ministry statement said. Phase-II, the 54-km-long Balram-Jarpada-Tentuloi span, is expected to be commissioned
The Ministry said that shipping routes are much cheaper compared to the rail network and will improve coal availability in the southern and western region of the country. Talcher Coalfields of Mahanadi Coalfield is one of the largest with about 52 BT of coal resources, which is 15 percent of total prognosticate coal resources in the country. Of the available resources in Talcher Coalfield, more than 63 per cent (33 BT) lies within 300m depth, presenting significant potential for open cast mining. Talcher coalfields produced more than 95 million tonne (MT) coal during FY22 and is likely to produce about 200 MT in FY 2024-25 and about 300 by FY 2030 from Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd and allocated coal blocks. To ensure efficient coal evacuation, the construction of rail line started in a phased manner and traverses Odisha’s Angul district.
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SPORTS
T20 Cricket World Cup Launch in Brisbane With the T20 World Cup beginning soon in Australia, the anticipation has already started to build in the sunshine state. On 15 July, former Australian cricketer Shane Watson and current T20 star Adam Zampa brought the trophy to Howard Smith Wharves in Brisbane along with school kids as part of the T20 World Cup launch. The event was attended by Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson, Brisbane City Council Deputy Mayor Cr. Krista Adams, Rugby League legend Wally Lewis, Barmy Army leader George, officials from Cricket Australia, Queensland government’s Department of Tourism, Innovation and Sport, Australia India Business Council, Rostron
Carlyle Rojas and the print and electronic media. Dr. Ashutosh Misra, CEO of the Institute for Australia India Engagement, Editor-in-Chief of India News and National Sports Chair, AIBC has been appointed the T20 Champion by Cricket Australia. He attended the event and interviewed Shane Watson about India’s and Australia’s chances of winning the world cup. The interview can be seen at https:// youtu.be/s33FKcX1eMs. IAIE’s Sports and Wellness Program Director Dr Amol Wagholikar also attended the event. Australia will be defending their title on home turf against 15 other teams, with matches being played all over the country starting in mid-October.
T20 Cricket World Cup Launch in Gold Coast
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SPORTS
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ENG v IND, 2nd ODI: Reece Topley takes careerbest 6-24 as England defeat India by 100 runs Dhawan in check with maidens in the first two overs. Topley’s show began by taking out Sharma for a ten-ball duck, getting one to come and hit the back pad.
London, July 15 (IANS) Tall leftarm quick Reece Topley picked up his career-best figures in ODI cricket as England defeated India by 100 runs in the second ODI at Lords on Thursday to level the three-match series at 1-1. After the Indian bowlers, led by Yuzvendra Chahal (4-47) bowled out England for 246, Topley made use of favourable conditions and varied his pace to pick 6-24 in 9.5 overs, the best figures by any England bowler in ODI history as India crashed to 146 all out in 38.5 overs, taking the series to a winner-takes-it-all decider at Manchester on Sunday. With England finding some nip off the pitch, they were able to keep Rohit Sharma and Shikhar
Virat Kohli, back in the team after a groin niggle kept him out of the first ODI, looked gorgeous while playing a straight drive, on drive and cover drive against Topley. But the tall left-arm quick came back strongly to take out a scratchy Dhawan, getting him to flick off his gloves and carried behind to Buttler. India continued to wither under pressure as Rishabh Pant smacked a Brydon Carse full toss straight to mid-on. In the next over, left-arm quick David Willey claimed the big scalp of Kohli as he tried to chase a wide ball away from his body and gave an easy catch to Buttler. Suryakumar Yadav tried to get India’s chase on track through a 42-run stand with Hardik Pandya. But Topley, coming back for his second spell, made an immediate impact, cramping a fluent Yadav for room and chopped onto his stumps.
Pandya then had a brief 28run partnership with Ravindra Jadeja, which was snapped by Moeen Ali bowling a wide ball away from the former’s hitting arc. By then, Pandya was into the sweep and holed out to square leg. Mohammed Shami played the long handle to perfection, hitting two fours and a majestic lofted six down the ground. But Topley, brought back for his third spell of the day, got Shami to miscue a fuller slower ball in the air and was caught by a charging mid-on. Liam Livingstone immediately struck with his part-time spin as Jadeja was clean-bowled while going for a flick. Topley claimed his five-fer by castling Yuzvendra Chahal and two balls later, got Prasidh Krishna to edge behind to Buttler to seal a resounding win for England after a ten-wicket thrashing in the first ODI. Brief scores: England 246 in 49 overs (Moeen Ali 47, David Willey 41; Yuzvendra Chahal 4-47, Hardik Pandya 2-28) beat India 146 in 38.5 overs (Hardik Pandya 29, Ravindra Jadeja 29; Reece Topley 6-24, Liam Livingstone 1-4) by 100 runs
This too shall pass. Stay strong: Babar Azam’s message to Virat Kohli Lahore, July 15 (IANS) Pakistan skipper Babar Azam has come out in support of the embattled Virat Kohli, whose lean patch with the bat has extended for more than two years, saying this phase too shall pass and he will come out stronger.
Recently, legendary cricketers such as Kapil Dev and Sunil Gavaskar have been critical of Kohli’s performance, with the former saying he should be dropped from the side and the latter indicating that some senior players are getting preferential treatment by being allowed to pick and choose which series they want to play.
keep up in a race for next year’s final, Kohli’s place in the team has been debated by fans and former legends, though his Pakistani counterpart has extended his support via social media.
The right-handed Kohli has now gone 77 consecutive international innings without reaching three figures, after scores of 1 and 11 in the T20I series against England and failures in the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston.
Fans, though, were surprised with Azam’s concern for the India batter, saying he shouldn’t be praising a rival team cricketer.
With a T20 World Cup around the corner in Australia and World Test Championship points needed to
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Sri Lanka’s win in second Test pushes them to third in WTC standings; Australia 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.
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 Cumminsled 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.
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.
Djokovic beats Kyrgios to clinch Wimbledon 2022 men’s single title fourth-set tie-break sealed the victory and extended his winning streak at SW19 to 28 matches.
While Kohli continues to dish out one lacklustre performance after another, making just 16 runs in the second ODI against England on Thursday, which India lost by 100 runs at Lord’s after he missed the first game with a groin injury, Babar Azam took to social media to back one of India’s most successful former captains.
India’s T20I squad to take on the West Indies is also missing Kohli’s name, with Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal rested for the same tour.
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Babar Azam posted an image of him walking with Kohli on twitter and wrote, “This too shall pass. Stay strong. #ViratKohli.”
While Kohli’s stocks have plummeted, Babar Azam has been going great guns in all three formats of the game. Making international centuries in recent series against Australia and the West Indies, as well as a T20I half-century against Australia in Lahore last month, the Pakistan skipper is top of the list in the ICC
batting rankings for both ODI and T20Is, and fourth in Test cricket. Earlier this week, Kohli also found support from captain Rohit Sharma, who stood up for his teammate ahead of the England ODIs. “When someone is scoring consistently for so long, we can’t overlook his contribution if he is not scoring in one or two series or in one or two years. We know the importance of Virat Kohli. The experts have got all the right to talk about it but for us these things don’t matter,” he added.
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London, July 10 (IANS) Top seed Novak Djokovic produced a returning masterclass to beat Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(3) in the final to clinch the Wimbledon 2022 men’s single title, here on Sunday. It is Djokovic’s fourth consecutive crown at the grass-court major and seventh triumph in London, which draws him level with legendary American Pete Sampras’ tally of singles trophies won at the All England Lawn Tennis Club. The 35-year-old Djokovic is now just one behind Roger Federer’s record of eight Wimbledon triumphs, and one Grand Slam title behind Rafael Nadal’s record of 22 major crowns. Despite Kyrgios firing 30 aces in a three-hour, one-minute encounter, the top seed broke his opponent at crucial moments in both the second and third sets before a nerveless showing in the
It was Djokovic’s first tour-level win in three attempts against Kyrgios, who had never been beyond the quarter-finals at a Grand Slam prior to this fortnight in London. Despite frequent moments of trademark brilliance from one of the biggest showmen on the ATP Tour, Kyrgios was unable to resist the relentless pressure from Djokovic’s highclass groundstrokes. The 27-year-old Kyrgios showcased his trademark variety frequently in the early stages on Centre Court. He landed a 125 mph second-serve ace and used an underarm serve in his opening service game, before curling a stunning forehand down-the-line winner for 15/15 at 1-1. Kyrgios settled in quickly behind his huge serve in warm temperatures in London. He lost just five points behind his delivery in the first set, and a solitary break in the fifth game was enough for him to move ahead as six-time champion Djokovic struggled to make an impact early in his eighth Wimbledon final. Accustomed to handling big pressure moments in Grand Slam finals, it was Djokovic who held his nerve with an impressive fourth-set tie-break showing to retain his title in south-west London.
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Australia scraps requirement to declare Covid vax status for int’l arrivals
HEALTH
Australia surpasses 10,000 Covid-19 deaths
choose Australia as a destination." All people flying to Australia will still be required to wear face masks for the duration of the flight. The announcement came when Covid-19 case numbers continue to rise in Australia. On Monday morning, Australia reported more than 25,000 new Covid-19 cases and 25 deaths, 24 in Victoria and one in New South Wales.
Canberra, July 4 (IANS): The Australian government has announced an end to requirements for international travelers to declare Covid-19 vaccination status.
It marks an end to all Australia's international travel restrictions more than two years after they were first introduced in March 2020 to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil and Health Minister Mark Butler on Sunday announced that, from Wednesday, travelers arriving in Australia will no longer have to complete a Digital Passenger Declaration (DPD) to declare vaccination status, reports Xinhua news agency.
"As more and more of us travel internationally and we get more confident in managing our risk of COVID, our airports are getting busier," O'Neil said in a statement.
"It is putting pressure on hospitals with more than 3,000 people in hospital today with Covid. We are still seeing around 300 or more deaths every week with Covid," Butler told a reporter on Sunday.
"Removing these requirements will not only reduce delays in our airports but will encourage more visitors and skilled workers to
"We are not affected by this virus yet so that's why I continue to reinforce it to people to get their third dose of the vaccine."
Butler said "it is pretty clear" that the cases are going to rise in the next couple of months.
Canberra, July 3 (IANS): Australia has surpassed 10,000 coronavirus deaths as Covid-19 case numbers continue to rise in the country, with 30 more deaths reported on Sunday. Of those deaths, more than 7,500 have occurred in 2022 during which restrictions have been largely abolished, Xinhua news agency reported. The states of Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), which account for more than 55 per cent of Australia's population,
The Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment scheme ended as planned on Thursday, meaning Australians who miss work due to being in coronavirus quarantine are no longer entitled to a lump sum payment from the federal government, reports Xinhua news agency. Defending the move to end the scheme, Butler said the government could not afford to
continue funding the payments, saying he "hoped" people would continue to isolate when required. "We're going to have to start moving towards more normal programs that support the Australian community and people have been on notice about that for some time," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio. Butler echoed a warning from health authorities in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) on Wednesday that the country was facing a new wave of Covid-19 infections through July and August, urging as many people
as possible to get their booster vaccines. "Even if you caught Covid-19 in that big summer wave, where millions of Australians caught it, if you've only had two doses you are potentially susceptible to infection over coming months," he said. Australia on Friday reported more than 30,000 new Covid-19 cases and over 30 deaths. The new figures took the overall caseload and death toll to 8,132,210 and 9,900, respectively. There were 3,267 cases being treated in hospitals, including 98 in intensive care.
Melbourne announces plan to reduce Covid transmission at workplaces airborne viruses, 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.
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. 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. The pilot study found that while all three methods reduced the potential for transmission of
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"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. "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." 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.
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. 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 prepandemic levels. 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.
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There were more than 30,000 new Covid-19 cases reported across Australia on Sunday, taking the country's total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to approximately 8.2 million.
Australia cuts Covid reinfection period to 28 days to previous infection should be reported and managed as new cases.
Australia ends Covid isolation payments amid new wave warning Canberra, July 1 (IANS): Australian Health Minister Mark Butler on Friday warned that Covid-19 isolation requirements would remain in place despite the end of pandemic leave payments.
have accounted for more than 75 per cent of the nation's Covid-19 deaths. Almost 35 per cent of Australia's coronavirus deaths were aged 80-89, with a further 25 per cent for those aged 90 and older.
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. 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
"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.
India logs 16,678 new Covid cases, 26 deaths The recovery of 14,629 patients in the last 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,29,83,162. Consequently, the recovery rate stands at 98.50 per cent. Meanwhile, the Daily Positivity rate has increased to 5.99 per cent, while the Weekly Positivity Rate stands at 4.18 per cent. New Delhi, July 11 (IANS): India on Monday reported 16,678 Covid cases, a decline against previous day's 18,257 count, as per Union Health Ministry's data. In the same period, 26 fatalities took the nationwide death toll to 5,25,454. Meanwhile, the active caseload has also risen to 1,30,713 cases, accounting for 0.30 per cent of the total positive cases.
Also, a total of 2,78,266 tests were conducted across the country, increasing the overall tally to over 86.68 crore. As of this morning, the Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 198.88 crore, achieved via 2,60,96,863 sessions. Over 3.74 crore adolescents have been administered with a first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket.
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Hindi, Tamil to be introduced as optional subjects Hindi Language Teachers Association of Western Australia deliberated on challenges to introduce Hindi in Western Australia schools as an optional language. Consul Naresh Sharma represented the Consulate General of India in Perth in the discussions. Hindi as well as Tamil languages will be offered in local Schools from next academic year.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Indian Minister attends meeting on trade and investment Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines of India Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi attended a meeting on trade and investment in Australia and India organized by Mineral Council Sydney in the first week of July. Members who attended the meeting on this occasion have been invited to participate in the auction process of mining and minerals in India. The two countries can utilize the
available minerals with mutual cooperation. A roundtable with AustraliaIndia Trade & Investment was hosted by the Minerals Council in Sydney. While addressing the gathering, the minister extended an invitation to participate in India's mine and coal auctions. With mutual cooperation, India and Australia can secure mineral availability.
Gold Coast multicultural communities hold meet and greet event Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast held a Meet, Greet & Eat - Multicultural Community networking event. The event was attended by many prominent members of the community. There were also some presentations by the City of Gold Coast on Disaster Management.
‘Mela Punjabana Da’ organised in Brisbane The ‘Mela Punjabana Da’ fair was held at Mango Hill State school in Brisbane on July 9, 2022 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.
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Queensland Telugu Committee announces new executives 5. Cultural Secretary - Sri Raghavendra Sampathirao 6. Executive Member - Mrs. Pavani Gandra
COMMUNITY NEWS
ISKCON holds Rath procession The annual Rath (chariot) procession was held by ISCKON Sydney Temple recently to mark
the auspicious occasion of the Festival of Chariots.
7. Executive Member - Mrs. Manju Segu This year, it's official that each candidate has been unanimously elected, with only one candidature for each position.
The Queensland Telugu Committee’s Annual General Meeting was held on 3rd July 2022 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 there names: 1. President - Sri Ravi Gundepalli 2. Vice President - Sri Ramakrishna Bulusu 3. Secretary - Sri Umesh Vangapalli 4. Treasurer - Sri Ravi Vinayak Enamandra
The new president Sri Ravi Gundepalli garu 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 have announced their plans to start their programs with Vinayaka Chaviti Vrata Kalpa and then carry on with Dasara, Deepavali etc.
New President for Rotary Club Brisbane Rotary Club Of Brisbane International has recently elected Mr Arun Raniga as its new President for 2022-2023
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COMMUNITY NEWS
July 16-31, 2022 - Vol 3, Issue 1
IMA Women’s Night celebrated Gold Coast community observes Eid
As part of Ipswich Malayali Association (IMA) Women's Night, June 2022, the members recently showcased many talented and vibrant women from the IMA family. The participants were offered a platform to share their skills and talents and hopefully inspire a lot more talented women members to come forward in the future.
Eid celebrations were held by the Gold Coast community members on 10th July, 2022 at the Labrador State School , Gordon Street between 10 am and 3 pm.
Indian actor visits cultural centre in Sydney
Renowned Indian Actor Shri Prashant Damle and Ms Varsha Usgaokar visited Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre of the Consulate General of India, Sydney recently. The duo is presenting a dynamic play in Sydney.
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BSK receives $ 2000 grant The Brisbane Super Kings (BSK) Cricket Club recently received $2000 from the Active Clubs
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grants. This grant will support the club to thrive as the cricket season approaches.
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July 16-31, 2022 - Vol 3, Issue 1
COMMUNITY NEWS
Sydney Sanskrit Society holds Yoga event The Sydney Sanskrit Society recently held a yoga event. Narasimha ji began the yogasana with Suryanamaskara and taught the participants the various pranayamas that are helpful in decluttering 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 filled us well for our 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.
GOPIO Gold Coast hosts gala dinner
GCQ holds Kite Festival
A gala dinner was hosted by Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Gold Coast Inc. on 25 June at the Hellenic Function Centre.
Gujarati Community of Queensland (GCQ) organised the Winter Kite Flying Festival recently and the event was a grand success due to the hardworking and dedicated volunteers, Logan City Council, Logan City Rugby Union Club Councillor Mindy Russell and event supporters Namaskar Gujarat Australia JSK Packaging Loaney Arise Solar.
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COMMUNITY NEWS
AIBC holds productive discussion with DFAT Welcome reception held in barriers supply chain was held. A rich and productive discussion Agreement in Brisbane, was The representatives also shared honour of Indian Minister with Australia's chief negotiator held along with Australia India IAIE and Australia India News Frances Lisson PSM and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Queensland Director Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Services Branch Stephen Dietz on the way forward on Australia India Interim Economic Cooperation and Trade
Business Council (AIBC), Institute for Australia India Engagement (IAIE) and Australia India News colleagues Shaun Star, Amit Mehta, Ram Mohan and Kritika Bansal. A detailed discussion on services, agriculture, investment, tariffs, non tariff
publications and collections of articles on Australia-India relations. There was a strong optimism on both sides with regards to the future of Australia India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under Anthony Albanese and Narendra Modi.
A welcome reception was organised by the Consulate of India in honour of Shri Pralhad Joshi, Indian Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines. Senator Tim Ayres Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Trade, Scott Farlow MLC, Paul Scully MP, Jodi Mckay, Andrew Robb AO, Dianne Tipping of Export Council of Australia, along with Mayors, Deputyy Mayors, Councillors, Business leaders and Indian Australian community members joined the reception.
QTIC NAIDOC celebrates First Nations culture
Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) celebrated First Nations culture at the QTIC National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Corporate Breakfast. Inspiring speeches were delivered by the Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney and Naomi Moran, General Manager of the Koori Mail.
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WHATS ON
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TRAVEL
July 16-31, 2022 - Vol 3, Issue 1
Glamp your way to a perfectly luxurious getaway in New Zealand You are cordially invited to stay at Eden Park in Auckland, New Zealand's national stadium. Guests will sleep in a premium glamping dome with a view of one of the world's most famous sports stadiums. Eden Park has two Staydium Glamping domes in operation. The two domes are adjacent but two metres apart, with doors facing opposite directions to maximise privacy. Cross Hill
Make your vacation even more memorable
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elax and enjoy the serenity at one of New Zealand's top glamping spots, from the deep south of TeAnau to the far north of the Bay of Islands. Whether you want to spend a romantic getaway or a friend's trip in style, New Zealand has glamping options for everyone. Glamping is becoming increasingly popular, with outdoor bathtubs and breathtaking views, cosy fires and expansive decks. The safe countryside and stunning landscapes of New Zealand make it the ideal remote escape. Here
are our top four suggestions for your next glamping adventure in New Zealand once the borders open: Te Awa Glamping
forget about the world through relaxation and recreation. It's a luxury retreat on the banks of the North Island's mighty Whanganui River, which is such an important part of New Zealand's history. Located deep in a family farm with private beach access, guests can arrive by jet-boat, canoe, air, or road for a memorable stay. Staydium Glamping
Te Awa Glamping, a riverside haven, is an immersive experience that allows you to
A never-before-seen Geodome experience. They provide premium and one-of-a-kind accommodation in Lake Hawea, New Zealand's South Island. Cross Hill Lodge & Domes guests are treated like family and receive the best in high country hospitality. Use your private geo dome as a base to explore the area before sharing your experiences with the host team and other guests at Cross Hill Lodge. Cross Hill provides more than just lodging; it is a place where paths cross, stories are shared, and memories are made.
Clifton Glamping
Your luxury accommodation with a difference awaits you among the rolling hills of Clifton Station - Hawkes Bay. Your luxury accommodation with a difference awaits you among the rolling hills of Clifton Station - Hawkes Bay. A one-of-a-kind experience on one of New Zealand's oldest working farms, find joy in your own remote section of the 2000 acres of paradise that the family has proudly owned for over 150 years. Conveniently It is only a 5-minute drive from TeAwanga and a 20-minute drive from Havelock North, Hastings, and Napier. Your safari tent and idyllic setting can transport you far away from home. TeWepu TeWepu is the ideal place to stop, relax, read, and breathe in the silence if you’re an adventurous soul, whether travelling in a small group, on an adventure for two, or flying solo.
From Kashi to Dibrugarh, the world’s longest river cruise journey
A 51-day cruise aboard Antara's newest Art Deco boutique ship, Antara Ganga Vilas
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n December 2022 the world's longest river voyage, an epic 51-day cruise along the Ganges and Brahmaputra will be launched by Antara Luxury River Cruises launches. From Kashi (Uttar Pradesh) to Dibrugarh (Assam) via the Sunderbans and Bangladesh, you can sail on 27 small rivers, 5 states and 2 countries. The 51-day cruise aboard Antara's newest Art Deco boutique ship, Antara Ganga Vilas, is a fantastic opportunity for those wishing to explore South Asian culture in some of its oldest regions and systems. Ideal for vacationers, history buffs, culture buffs, and nature lovers, the cruise also offers a hop-on hop-off option for those who only wish to travel on certain segments. Commenting on this unique itinerary, Raj Singh, pioneer
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in luxury river tourism and Founding President of Antara Luxury River Cruises, said, “Each experience has been personally reviewed by me and designed for fellow avid travelers. The historic route has been completed with the backing, support and cooperation of the governments of India and Bangladesh working together to ensure a smooth journey between the two countries. “Mr. Raj Singh is also a recognized authority on Indian wildlife and has respected written guides to the mammals, birds and aquatic life of the subcontinent.
During the trip, each day will have an experience at sea and an experience on land. Beginning in Varanasi, with short day trips to sights along the way, the cruise meanders the waters of the Ganges, stopping at World Heritage sites and ancient sites in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and in West Bengal for an in-depth look at its colonial influences and regional traditions. Sailing through the largest mangrove forest in the world, the UNESCOprotected Sundarbans, the ship arrives in Bangladesh. Shopping from the floating markets of Barisal to Bagerhat, home to the famous 60-domed mosque, to Sonargaon, the country’s historic city. The journey continues from Dhaka to Jamuna in northern Bangladesh, turning east to return to India at Dhubri, embracing the Brahmaputra for the Assam leg of the journey, sailing through wilderness and many sites culture along the way.
colonial, Dutch and French influences and the architecture of Inner Bengal, the wild and unspoiled beauty across the border from Bangladesh to Bangladesh India the Sunderbans, precious arts and crafts tours where guests can engage and converse with them - we have so carefully curated the entire trip, every stop and every experience. A real insight into understanding this special region while exploring the river landscapes to the phenomenal that the revered enjoy the offerings of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra.” Annapurna Garimella, art historian and director of Antara Cruises, reflects on the artisans and craftsmanship that lived along these ever-changing but seemingly eternal shores, adding: “Life and civilizations began along these rivers, and artistic expression is its strongest
reflection. of a culture. The cruise explores so many of these facets, whether in food, textiles, architecture or agriculture. Navigating through this vast landscape is to immerse yourself in the culture of this country that we now call India.” Built in a mid-20th century modern style, the 18-suite Antara Ganga Vilas is a luxurious blend of refined structure and understated elegance. Each room is inspired by a color square painted by Bauhaus and Black Mountain teacher Josef Albers, and all fabrics, linens, furniture, and tableware are made in India, some even along the river. Large floor-to-ceiling sash windows offer enchanting river views throughout the ship’s vast spaces, enhancing the feeling of walking inside while observing a moving river landscape.
Explaining the wealth of experiences offered by the trip, Raj Singh adds, “Our guests visit Matiari, where they see how brassware and textiles are handcrafted in the villages, and they walk the same site to archaeological sites that are over 2500 years old. We visit Vikramshila, one of the largest Buddhist universities alongside Nalanda and Bhagalpur for its centuries-old traditions of Tussar silk weaving, the fascinating
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TRAVEL
July 16-31, 2022 - Vol 3, Issue 1
A 210-year-old palace on the banks of the A Fund for the world’s Ganga gets MICHELIN Guide’s vote craziest listing ideas
Airbnb launches $10 million fund!
BrijRama Palace in Varanasi listed by Tablet Hotels
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rijRama Palace in Varanasi has been recommended by the MICHELIN Guide's Tablet hotels experts. The Palace, an integral part of Brij Hotels' collection of boutique luxury properties in India, has made it to the latest list for 2022, which includes some of the world's most iconic properties and accommodations. BrijRama Palace, a 210-year-old palace on the banks of the Ganga at the Darbhanga Ghat, is one of the city's oldest landmarks.
The palace was built in the 18th century as the residence of the former Maharaja of Nagpur, and it is frequently praised for its striking architecture as well as its one-of-a-kind experiential stay. Tablet Hotels recently compiled a list of some of the most magnificent accommodations from around the world that were once forts or watchtowers. It is an excellent resource for locating and booking the world's best and most extraordinary hotels.
BrijRama Palace was reviewed by Tablet Hotels experts and was deemed worthy of this prestigious award. The MICHELIN Guide, the hotel experts at The MICHELIN Guide, offer a curated selection of hotels, as well as visibility and recognition for distinctive hotels around the world, and Tablet Hotels, the hotel experts at The MICHELIN Guide, offer a curated selection of hotels, as well as visibility and recognition for distinctive hotels around the world.
Your FIFA World Cup™ Checklist houses, hotels of internationally renowned, private villas and first-class shops in boutiques and showrooms of the best brands. Tourists can stop and admire the most beautiful views of this island. It also offers a myriad of modern services such as valet parking, water taxi delivery, golf cart transportation, etc. Because there is so much to see and do, people can visit amazing beaches. Souq Waqif, Doha:
Discovering Qatar's unique features alongside the most famous sporting event of 2022
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re you planning to participate in the most prestigious football event, the FIFA World Cup 2022? If so, do you know that the Qatar has many surprises in store for you in terms of culture, architecture, food, among others? Traditional Qatari food: Treat your taste buds to this World Cup as you sample the most delicious cuisines in Doha. If you like biryani, the country will not disappoint you with its traditional dish "machboos" which resembles biryani. It will undoubtedly make you salivate. . With a perfect blend of flavors, seasoned rice is served with marinated chicken, fish or beef. It is the national dish of Qatar and is widely eaten throughout the country. If you like coffee or tea, be aware that the country has different names for the drinks. Arabic coffee is called "Gahwa" and tea is called "Karak". Villaggio Mall:
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Have you ever heard of a water channel running through the mall? Isn't that fascinating? This unique concept can be found in the Villaggio shopping center in Qatar. The indoor water channel that runs through the mall and the shops under the beautiful sky add to the appeal of this place. Shopping enthusiasts should visit this prestigious location known for its high-end boutiques. With numerous shopping attractions, the mall offers a unique experience to its visitors by offering rides in Gandola, gokarting and the Gandola skating rink.
are you a shopping freak? So don't miss the chance to visit Qatar's 250-year-old market. Its heritage rich in history attracts visitors from all over the world, offering unique art, culture and a scent of traditional spices. The market captures the very essence of traditional shopping. Visitors can purchase a unique traditional souvenir that is difficult to find elsewhere in Qatar. There is no better place to discover the best flavors of spices, gold jewelry, falconry show, Oud wood oil, Arabian pots and many other things. Longest cycle path: Doha holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous cycle path in the world. Fans can come here to rest and relax as it is away from the busy city streets.
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irbnb is on the hunt for the world’s craziest spaces — and will help foot the bill to build them. Whether it’s the next boot, UFO house or a 6-ton potato, the first-of-itssize $10,000,000 OMG! Fund is seeking ideas from existing and aspiring designers, architects, DIYers and makers from around the globe. The fund's $10 million will help finance 100 of the craziest ideas, giving 100 people an opportunity to turn them into actual Airbnb OMG! Category listings, which are Airbnb’s collection of the most unique homes. One hundred people with the craziest ideas will receive $100,000* each to make their creations possible and, ultimately, bookable. Ideas will be judged by an expert panel for their originality, feasibility, the experience the space will provide guests, and sustainability. The fund is shaped in part by the growing trend of flexible living that has emerged in the past two years. As part of this shift, Airbnb guests are craving more unexpected spaces that become the destinations themselves, and Airbnb Categories, which launched last month, provide a new way to search for these spaces. More than 30,000 unique listings across the world were added to the platform in 2021 and the OMG! Category - which since introduced has been viewed 2.5M times - showcases the craziest amongst them, making it easy for guests to discover these listings in places they wouldn't have otherwise looked. Hosting on the platform provides powerful economic benefits to Hosts and their communities. In 2021, unique Hosts income in India increased by around 45 percent as compared to 2019. Additionally, nights booked at unique properties increased globally by over 49 percent from
2019 to 2021. “When the Idaho Potato Commission retired a sixton prop potato, I took it off their hands and spent $32,000 transforming it into an Airbnb,” Airbnb Superhost and OMG! Fund judging panelist Kristie Wolfe said. “I went from making $13/hr to seeing $208,000** in earnings in less than three years, and leveraged that income to bootstrap my way through additional listings that allow me to express my creativity and connect with hundreds of people in the process.” Applications will be reviewed by a judging panel of boundarypushing design authorities, an architectural expert, and an Airbnb OMG! Category Superhost: > Iris Apfel, incomparable and irreverent centenarian style icon > Koichi Takada, founder of Sydney-based international studio Koichi Takada Architects, known for emotive design inspired by the natural world > Kristie Wolfe, Airbnb Superhost and prolific creator of OMG! Listings including the Potato Hotel, Crystal Peak Lookout, Big Island Treehouse and Cocoon Cottage > Bruce Vaughn, Disney alum and Airbnb’s VP of Experiential Creative Product The $10,000,000 OMG! Fund opens today for a period of 30 days, through July 22 at 11:59 pm ET. The 100 fund recipients will be selected by the panel over the next several months, with the intent of having their newlyconstructed spaces complete next year. To apply, visit airbnb.com/ omgfund Starting today, anyone with an out-of-this-world idea can submit an application at airbnb. com/omgfund. *For more information, including a list of eligible countries, see the Official Rules.
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July 16-31, 2022 - Vol 3, Issue 1
FASHION
Marrying art with fashion 5 pairs of jeans you need to own
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nsemble India and Payal Khandwala are proud to present a collaborative collection to commemorate Ensemble's 35th anniversary, reflecting Payal's design aesthetic of marrying Art with Fashion for modern Indian women and Ensemble's ethos of presenting Indian crafts in a contemporary light.
saris with dramatic prints, and more. The capsule includes versatile classics that can be worn separately and then passed down as heirlooms to the next generation.
Ensemble has been working with PayalKhandwala for nearly a decade, and this collection is an ode to their journey together. Ensemble gets a poetic ride through rich colorscapes, complete with maximalist prints on luxe fabrics. Consider oneshoulder drapes with micropleated details and bohemian vibes, billowy printed shirts for daytime occasions, pleated
‘I love how Payal’s design vocabulary has evolved over the years. You can see the artist in her in the way she combines colours and her graphics. The identity of a PayalKhandwalawoman is very synergistic with the Ensemble woman - very stylised, free thinking and independent. We are thrilled that our relationship has gone from strength to strength and this collection is a real testament to that” says Tina Tahiliani Parikh, CEO Ensemble India
“We visualised an exclusive palette, in a continuation of Release 7, to celebrate 35 years of Ensemble being stalwarts in the design industry. The strong colours are an ode to Tina and her team, a definitive voice in the fashion landscape of India today. Wishing Ensemble many more decades of style and success!’ Says Designer Payal Khandwala. The collection is live on www. ensembleindia.com and also available at Ensemble’s Khan Market store in New Delhi.
Tiger Shroff talks fashion and sports
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f there is anything common between people across the globe its a love for jeans. "Denim is always in vogue. When it’s new it looks cool, when its faded it looks hot. And, jeans work of anyone and everyone including university professors to a bartenders, all you need is an incredible attitude", said NidhiYadav, Co-Founder AksClothings. Here are five styles you need in your wardrobe: Skinny jeans: If you are a multitasking woman and believe in an active lifestyle, then you cannot avoid a pair of skinny jeans in black or grey. Skinny jeans usually come in stretchable and comfortable denim fabric that adapts easily to your physique. Besides, they can be paired with a myriad of tops, shirts, and Kurtis for office parties and other casual occasions.
Straight jeans: A pair of cigarette jeans are the most comfortable pair you can slip into. Commonly called straight jeans, they are as contemporary today as there were in the 1980s. The are great in a corporate set up as an alternative to trousers. Flare Jeans: A pair of long flare jeans are effortlessly chic and sexy. But, no matter, whether you
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hen it comes to being athletic, fit and sporty, actor Tiger Shroff ticks all the boxes. The youth icon is Japanese sportswear brand, ASICS India's top choice when it comes to connecting with its audience. As part of the brand's longterm vision and commitment to sustainability, they unveiled their Ambience Mall, Gurugram store in an all-new avatar with Tiger Shroff taking the lead. The store, launched on 22nd June is a blend of multiple digital touchpoints, a sustainability zone inspired by the brand’s philosophy of ‘Sound Mind, Sound Body’ which focuses on an all-encompassing spirit that inspires the athlete in each one of us.
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IANSlife caught up with Tiger Shroff to het his t Read Excerpts: Abs are made in the kitchen and not in the gym, do you agree? Tiger: I follow 7-day holistic workout regime, with each day focusing on a particular part of the body, but keeping a check on what I eat on a regular basis is equally important. I usually follow a healthy and balanced diet. Also, keeping your body hydrated is equally important. Those who can dance can also be sporty and athletic, which activity do you enjoy the most? Tiger: Yeah, I agree with that, to excel in sports you must have a combination good balance, speed, agility, and good coordination.
While I really enjoy dancing my other favorite sport would definitely be basketball and football. When it comes to working out a good pair of sneakers go a long way in preventing knee and back injury, which pair sneakers do you use for the gym and which one for cardio and runs? Tiger: Yes absolutely - the comfort, technology and style are things that top my list when choosing a footwear. Hence, what I really like about ASICS is that the USP and focus, has consistently been in upgrading the technology and comfort along with offering choices in their styles. I really love ASICS Gel Quantum 360, it’s my personal favorite pair
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are a teenage girl or a working woman in her 30s, this fashion statement is enshrined in the denim culture. Though they look similar to boot-cut, they are made for a looser and wider fit to enhance comfort.
Low-rise jeans: A collection of jeans remains incomplete without a pair gorgeous low-rise jeans. Women who are tall and slim can never say no to low-rise jeans that start a few inches below the belly button. Unwind on a weekend, go dancing or to the movies, these are as glam as denim gets. Ripped jeans: A pair of ripped jeans are full of creative choices ranging from near thighs cuts to holes and tears at the center of the knee.
from ASICS. The shoe infuses sport into a futuristic look, pulling inspiration from GEL® technology cushioning and the authenticity of its design.
Body’. I'm truly a huge fan of the brand even before my association with them especially for the technology-advanced shoes that they offer.
Tell us about your upcoming film projects.
The store at Ambience Mall is amazing, it has everything under one roof and the collection at the store fuses together heritage and modern designs in surprising and unexpected ways. The store has all major sports categories, so it has something for everyone who likes to be active and indulge in physical activities such as tennis, badminton, cricket, work out or running. If you have to ask my favorite section at the store, then it definitely has to be the SportStyle category!
Tiger: Currently, i am shooting for Ganapath and prepping for my other upcoming projects. How do you feel about your association with ASICS and what are your thoughts on the new store? Tiger: My association with ASICS has been really fruitful. I am grateful to be a part of a group of esteemed people, both global and national that believe and help in propagating the importance of having a ‘Sound Mind in a Sound
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INDIA NEWS
Expert-led skin solutions for the monsoon
Avocado Face Mask Recipes for Supple Skin Do this three times a week. Avocado, banana and egg yolk, the perfect mix
remove pore-clogging impurities, makeup, and 99% of excess oil without overdrying skin.
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oes the very thought of going out in monsoon scare you? With the onset of monsoon and slow transition from the summers, not only do we experience showers or the fluctuation in temperature but several skin problems too. Considering many people have worked remotely for about a year (or more), returning to a prepandemic workplace environment can take some preparation and mindset shifts, one of them is taking care of your skin. As we head back to the office, the increased exposure to sunlight and sudden showers can lead to dry and irritated skin, acne breakouts, tanning, sunburns, inflammation, etc. Therefore, it becomes very important to tackle these itchy problems as they can lead to serious skin diseases and cause prolonged skin damage. Cetaphil, an expert trusted brand has brought some simple solutions to all of your skin problems as the weather changes: Dry Irritated skin: The sun is
excellent at draining moisture away from surfaces, including our skin. This is why, after spending time in the sun, our skin often feels dry and itchy. To prevent the drying effects of the sun, use a non-oily, non-sweaty moisturizer. You may also use it in combination with a moderate cooling cleaner. Acne breakouts: Oily and sweaty skin prepares the ground for the acne and pimples to thrive upon. When you touch your sweaty face, germs and bacteria get attached to it, and as the pores are open, these toxins will close the pores, get stuck inside, and cause acne. Acne can be reduced by keeping the skin clean on a regular basis. Carry your face - wash with you at all times and give it a brief wash at least three times a day or whenever you feel it needs it. You can try. Cetaphil PRO Oil Control Foam Face Wash has a deep cleansing formula, with hydrating glycerin and soothing zinc technology that instantly foams to gently
Suntan: Constant sun exposure, which is more common across seasons, causes the skin to tan more easily. To keep your skin safe from tanning, try to stay out of the sun as much as possible. Sunscreen is essential, and Vitamin C-infused products may be added to your skincare routine to provide all-around UV &Infraredprotection. Oily skin: Increased temperatures come with greater humidity and this further increases oil production from your skin’s oily glands giving you a wanted shiny look and breakouts. If not taken care of your oily skin, and your pores may become clogged and enlarge, thus resulting in the accumulation of dead cells. Cleanse your skin not more than thrice a day, excessive cleansing losses the muchneeded moisture, keep applying moisturizer at regular intervals. This process should suffice from getting the skin too oily. Heat Rashes: Clogged sweat glands prevent the evaporation of sweat from the body which causes tiny itchy bumps on the skin leading to a rash. Many people experience a prickly sensation on their skin when the bumps rupture and leak sweat. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting cotton clothes. Keep yourself clean and take bath using an anti-bacterial soap.
Medicines to prevent an acne breakout before your period
T
he largest organ in the human body is the skin. Skin acts as a protective barrier, regulates body temperature, and allows sweat and oils to escape. The complexion of a person changes with age and time. Sickness and environmental factors can also have an impact on how the skin looks and feels. Sex hormones, cortisol, and thyroid hormones all have an impact on skin health, function, and appearance. Vitamins and minerals can help to balance hormone levels, fight acne, and improve skin clarity. Acne medications, both topical and oral, have proven to be highly effective. Some of the most effective medicines for acne include Benzoyl peroxide: This treatment
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works well for period acne because it causes the pores to shed dead skin cells and excess sebum. It also aids in the prevention of acne by destroying bacteria beneath the skin.
that aids in reducing acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines. Rich in antioxidants, it renders a dewy glow on your skin giving you the perfect boost of hydration.
Salicylic acid exfoliates the skin and removes dead skin cells that clog pores, which aids in acne treatment. It has a soothing and calming effect due to its antiinflammatory properties.
Vitamin D: Enhancing the skin's immunity, Vitamin D is essential for skin renewal, growth, and repair. It stabilizes the cell turnover while preventing the build-up of dead skin cells.
Retinoids: This vitamin A derivative encourages the production of new skin cells, which helps to clear blocked pores of oils and dead skin cells. They also have anti-inflammatory properties, which aid in keeping skin clear.
Vitamin B3: also known as Niacinamide, aids in the formation of keratin, a type of protein that keeps your skin from sagging. It gives your skin a supple texture and aids in the retention of moisture.
Zinc: is an important element in the fight against acne and acne-prone scars due to its healing and protective properties. It stimulates cell growth and collagen production, further protecting you from harmful UV rays. Vitamin C: A potent formula
Probiotics: aid in the healing process by rebuilding the skin's protective layers. It is an excellent treatment for preventing acne, eczema, scarring, and their severity. (Dr. Noopur Jain, MD Dermatologist)
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If you are someone who keeps washing their face because it gets greasy every hour, rust your kitchen right now. A super easy pack that can be applied in any season has come to your rescue. Ingredients Avocado, not only tastes delicious but also has super benefits that can be good for your skin and intestines. Avocados contain fatty acids that provide long-lasting moisture to the skin without causing irritation. In fact, if you have inflammation and sensitive skin, this should be your go to ingredient. The fruit contains essential minerals such as calcium, iron, copper, potassium, magnesium and other vitamins which provide a wide range of benefits. Let us look at some face masks that we can make with this superfood: Avocado and Oats This homemade avocado face mask for glowing skin is packed with skin-healthy ingredients to fight acne and hydrate. At the same time, collagen is strengthened and the signs of skin aging are reduced. Ingredients – Gluten-free Rolled oats Avocado and Lemon juice Honey and Coconut oil Apple cider vinegar How to prepare and applyAdd the oats to a blender or food processor and pulse until they are ground down. Move to a medium bowl.
Soft avocado, Banana and Egg yolk How to Prepare and Apply Smash the avocado to make a paste. In a blender make a smooth paste with banana and egg yolk Mix all three together and apply a smooth layer on your face and neck. Keep it on for 15-20 minutes and rinse it off with cold water Avocado, mango, honey – not for eating but for applying Dry skin can be difficult to manage, not everything suits the skin and every little ingredient can have a reaction. The dryness of the face takes away the radiance of the face and makes it dull. But today we have a recipe that will give you the right hydration, vitamin C that will bring back the glow. Ingredients Avocado, Honey, Olive oil and Mango How to Prepare and Apply Take 2 tablespoons mashed avocado, add two tablespoons, honey. Add two tablespoons of olive oil and combine all the ingredients well. Then add one mashed mango and mix well to the mixture.
Scoop the avocado into the bowl, add in lemon juice, honey, and coconut oil.
Then apply the paste on your face and leave it for twenty minutes before rinsing your face with cold water.
Mash with the back of a fork until the avocado mask is smooth.
Avocado & Lemon Face Mask for Dark Spots
Apply to a clean, dry face and let sit for 15-20 minutes.
Dark spots can result from aging or sun exposure. Lemon is loaded with vitamin C, an antioxidant that protects the skin and helps reduce pigmentation. Avocado keeps the skin hydrated.
Rinse off with warm water, gently scrubbing as you rinse. Avocado & Tea Tree mix pack For those struggling with acne and wondering what to do to get that smooth skin. Here is a package that is just a dream for you. This pack detoxifies the skin, opens clogged pores and prevents the accumulation of bacteria. Ingredients Avocado Pure tea tree oil diluted in 100 ml water How to Prepare and Apply Mix the avocado and 2 tablespoons of the diluted tea tree oil Apply it to your face and wait for 10 minutes. Wash your face with cold water. Use a clean towel to pat your skin dry.
Ingredients ½ a medium avocado 1 teaspoon of lemon juice How to Prepare and Apply Mix the avocado and lemon juice in a bowl. Apply it to your skin and wait for 20 minutes. Wash with lukewarm water. Use a towel to pat your skin dry. Apply sunscreen (even if you are not stepping out). Do this twice a week. (Dr. Blossom Kochhar, Chairperson Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies)
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Ram Madhvani announces Season 3 of Sushmita Sen-starrer ‘Aarya’ The first season of the show even got an Emmy nomination . Based on Dutch drama series Penoza, the crime thriller revolves around Aarya (Sushmita), who joins a mafia gang and turns into a don to take revenge for her husband's murder. The show's lead actor said: "It is a new dawn for Aarya Sareen, and she is fierce. In Season 3, she is going places and starting her own story free from the obstacles of her past."
Mumbai, July 4 (IANS) Filmmaker Ram Madhvani has announced that the 3rd season of Sushmita Sen's digital debut series 'Aarya' is in development. Sushmita and Ram Madhvani spoke about their collaboration and how it is to work together.
Sushmita shared further how it feels to reprise her role and how it is to work with Ram Madhvani: "Reprising the role of Aarya is like slipping into old jeans but for a brand-new journey. It feels great to be back with Ram Madhvani and can't wait to return the love and appreciation viewers have showered on Aarya."
Aarya Season 3 will be streaming soon on Disney+ Hotstar. It also features Chandrachur Singh, Sikandar Kher, Ankur Bhatia, and Vikas Kumar among others.
Elated about the upcoming
Ranveer Singh likely to host ‘Bigg Boss OTT 2’ Mumbai, July 4 (IANS) After the successful season of ‘Bigg Boss OTT 1’ hosted by Karan Johar, a source close to the reality show say that popular Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh has replaced him for the next season. Nothing has been confirmed officially, though, and no announcement has been made yet. The source said: “Makers have started working on the second season of Bigg Boss OTT. As they couldn’t get dates from Karan Johar, the makers have finalised Ranveer Singh to host the show. He has earlier worked for the channel
Madhavan’s ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’ gets Rajinikanth’s thumbs up
season, creator and filmmaker Ram Madhvani added: "Disney+ Hotstar has been an amazing partner in building Aarya through 2 seasons and we are delighted to associate with them once again for yet another season." "The journey of developing a gripping storyline, thrill and family love has started and we are sure this will once again leave audiences wanting more. The stakes are only getting higher from here. It's great to be back with Sushmita Sen and CoProducer Amita Madhvani and the full Ram Madhvani Films team," he concluded.
for another reality TV show, The Big Picture.” The second season will also have five contestants. Popular TV stars Kanchi Singh, Mahesh Shetty and Pooja Gor have been finalised. The source also said that the makers are keen on getting Sambhavna Seth and Poonam Pandey on board, but the actresses are yet to sign up. Divya Agarwal emerged as the winner of the first season and Nishant Bhatt was named the runner-up. Popular actress Shamita Shetty made a flurry of headlines during the show. Bigg Boss OTT will stream on Voot Select.
‘Shamshera’ director, Ranbir’s trainer shed light on idea behind actor’s look in the film
ENTERTAINMENT
Chennai, July 4 (IANS) Actor Rajinikanth on Monday lauded actor Madhavan’s just released film ‘Rocketry: The Nambi Effect’, saying everybody in general and youngsters in particular must watch it. Taking to Twitter, Rajinikanth tweeted in Tamil, saying,” ‘Rocketry’ - A film that everybody must watch, especially youngsters.” He said that actor Madhavan had very realistically portrayed the history of Padma Bhushan Nambi Narayanan, who, for the sake of the country’s space research
development, had undergone several hardships and made sacrifices. “Madhavan, in his debut as director, has through his realistic acting and filmmaking proved that he is among the finest directors,” Rajinikanth said and added, “My heartfelt thanks and congratulations to Madhavan for giving a film like this.” Rocketry: The Nambi Effect traces the life of Indian scientist Nambi Narayanan, a former ISRO scientist and aerospace engineer who was caught in the throes of an espionage scandal. The biographical drama, which was shot in multiple languages simultaneously including Hindi, Tamil and English, unveils the truth behind the mystery. R. Madhavan, who plays Nambi Narayanan in the film, has directed, produced and written it.
Ayushmann shares his ‘Doctor G’ look from the campus comedy Kashyap. Ayushmann is portraying the role of a gynaecologist in this campus comedy drama, alongside Rakul Preet and Shefali Shah. In the photo, he was seen wearing a lab coat as he smiles and flashes the peace sign. Ayushmann wishes all the medical professional on this special day.
Mumbai, July 1 (IANS) On National Doctors' Day, Bollywood star Ayushmann Khurrana took to his social media handle to share his second look from the movie 'Doctor G', directed by Anubhuti
He captioned the post: "G se Gynecologist . G se Gupta. That's our #DoctorG. Doctor Uday Gupta aka #DoctorG and team ki Taraf se wishing all the G se Genius doctors a #HappyDoctorsDay." Junglee Pictures' 'Doctor G' is all set to be released on June 17.
Rajkummar was the only person on my wishlist: ‘Hit: The First Case’ director
Shedding light on Ranbir's fitness regime and his diet plan, Kunal said: "We had to keep the rustic, raw appeal that came along with that character. Hence, he is athletic and strong looking. Ranbir had five meals a day. He was on a high protein and low carb diet and went through rigorous training five days a week. He had a cheat meal only once a week."
Mumbai, July 11 (IANS) 'Shamshera' director Karan Malhotra, who is awaiting the release of his film, along with Ranbir Kapoor's trainer Kunal Gir recently shared the idea behind the actor's ripped look with a six pack. In the film, Ranbir plays the dual role of the titular character and his son Balli. Elaborating on the same, Karan reveals: "Ranbir has worked very hard to own up to the roles of Shamshera and Balli. The idea behind him building a particular physique for the film came from the fact that I wanted the
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audiences to feel his internal strength and resolve every time they saw him on screen." He further mentioned, "So, keeping that core idea in mind, I manoeuvred Ranbir towards building up a body which added more strength to his character in the film." For the director, "The intention was never for his physique to be a distraction but an asset to his characters." Kunal added that the target was to make RK look athletic, not too bulky as his character was like Robin Hood.
He added, "Each (training) session was an hour long followed by a quick 5 minutes high intensity cardio session we called 'truck'. It's where the treadmill was turned off and RK was to hold the handles of the machine and drive the belt with his legs. The shooting was mostly outdoors and RK had to deal with a lot of heat and dust. So, we worked on some breathing exercises that helped him stay calm and endure long and strenuous shooting conditions." Shamshera is produced under the banner of YRF. It will debut in theatres on July 22, 2022 in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
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Mumbai, July 11 (IANS) Director Sailesh Kolanu, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film ‘HIT: The First Case’, said that actor Rajkummar Rao was the only one on his wishlist to cast as Vikram in his film. Sailesh shared: “I wanted an actor who can communicate a lot without speaking much. Vikram carries a lot of emotional baggage which makes him a very intense guy, and he speaks very less and always is to the point. So I needed a terrific actor who can communicate a lot with his eyes and Raj is just that.”
“I have been following his work for a long time and I love the way he gets into the skin of the character. He was the only person on my wish list and I am glad we got him on board.” Gulshan Kumar and T-Series present in association with Dil Raju Productions HIT: The First Case. The film is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Dil Raju, Krishan Kumar, and Kuldeep Rathore. The Rajkummar Rao and Sanya Malhotra-starrer hits the theatres on July 15 2022.
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Alia-Ranbir reunion post her Hollywood shoot melts fans’ hearts Europe for the last two months.
Several fans expressed their sentiments on the two reuniting after two months as both the actors got busy with their respective projects immediately after their wedding.
Shantanu Maheshwari stars in Abu Jani, Sandeep Khosla’s film ‘Beyond The Light’ off looks that have the signature elements of the two prolific designers. Everything has an allure of its own right from the net jacket with bold geometric gold borders in zardozi hand-embroidery paired with a flamboyant, 8-layered, flared skirt in black mul mul, highlighted with gold laces, zardozi embroidery borders and tassels.
They got married in April this year. The celebrity couple announced pregnancy recently and are expecting their first child.
Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Alia Bhatt returned to Mumbai after completing her work in Hollywood film 'Heart of Stone' where she shares the screen with 'Wonder Woman' star Gal Gadot.
for her in a car. The video shared by celebrity paparazzi Viral Bhayani shows the Dear Zindagi actress rushing to Ranbir and crashing in his arms screaming "baby" in excitement.
Upon coming out of the airport, Alia rushed to her husband Ranbir Kapoor, who was waiting
Ranbir had come to receive Alia, who was away shooting for her debut Hollywood project in
The couple will be soon seen together in Brahmastra along with Amitabh Bachchan, Mouni Roy and Telugu superstar Nagarjuna. Brahmastra is a fantasy mythological drama. Additionally, Ranbir has Shameshera lined up for release where he will share the screen with the subject of his 2018 biopic - Sanjay Dutt, and Vaani Kapoor.
Saqib Saleem starts dubbing for ‘Crackdown’ Season 2 Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Actor Saqib Saleem has kicked off the dubbing for Apoorva Lakhia's 'Crackdown' Season 2, a series that revolves around RAW's special ops trying to crack a conspiracy and prevent a major threat to national security. The actor played the role of a notorious spy, Riyaz Pathan in the first season. Saqib says: "The dubbing for Crackdown Season 2 has begun in full force. It's a thrill to be lending my voice to a character that has been part of my journey for two seasons. Apoorva Lakhia's
sensibility for storytelling aligns with my own." "Joining hands with the director for the second time felt fresh and exciting. My bond with him translates into comfort when it comes to trying out variations of my craft. I'm looking forward to the streaming of the second season."
New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) TV personality and actress Archana Puran Singh, who is now seen as a judge along with Shekhar Suman on ‘India’s Laughter Champion’ (ILC), talked about her journey on ‘The Kapil Sharma Show’, why she accepted the opportunity to judge ILC, and how she finds her co-judge Shekhar Suman. In conversation with IANS, she talked about what it is like to work with Shekhar Suman: “He’s an old colleague. It’s always nice to work with people who you know. I think perhaps he balances me as a judge. I’m very open and loud in my expressions and laughter while he is more controlled. Also he doesn’t laugh as much or as heartily as I do. It’s a good balance.” India’s Laughter Champion has replaced The Kapil Sharma Show (TKSS), which has
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its own legacy and place in the hearts of the audience. Can ILC have the same appeal? Singh says: “No show can replace TKSS. It is irreplaceable. Also, this show was always only meant to be on this slot for as long as TKSS is away on a break.” She added: “It has already made its place in the hearts of fans because of its unique style of stand-up and a very solid comic base of its contestants, it is very different from TKSS which has its own die hard loyal fan following which is unshakeable.” Further, as she talked about her journey on TKSS, she shared that “It’s been a dream journey. I tell Kapil that for sure our relationship has to be from another life time. “Ever since Comedy Circus began in 2017, we have been working together. And we have a bond which is tangible and intangible both. What people can see is a fun and banter kind of relationship,” she said. “What people do not see is the underlying absolute love, respect and trust that is the backbone of both our personal as well as professional partnership. It is not for nothing that TKSS is an enduring show. It is because of the kind of person Kapil is that one cannot help but love him as
Mumbai, July 11 (IANS) Actor Shantanu Maheshwari is all set to be seen in fashion designer duo Abu Jani-Sandeep Khosla's upcoming film 'Beyond The Light'. Shantanu will now be starring in the role of Prince of Darkness in a mesmerising tale that blends delicious fashion with a deeply spiritual message that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The heartthrob is seen pulling
well as his work. Which is why TKSS shall always remain a show that is closest to my heart. “Sitting on that (in)famous chair I always raise my hands in salute to God; He has been the kindest. I am in a show which gives me live entertainment every weekend and takes care of my retirement plans in luxury!” On the reason for saying yes to ILC, Singh told IANS: “I am up for a comedy show or film anytime. When ILC was offered to me it did delay my long-standing holiday plans but it was too tempting to refuse, since it put me in a chair as a judge, something which I haven’t done since Comedy Circus.” She said further: “I enjoy witnessing the spectacular comic standup talents of our country. It is a genre which is both exciting and dynamic and like I said, judging a show of this kind is a high of sorts for a comedy junkie like me.” Kapil Sharma was often seen teasing Archana on TKSS for not going to the US with the team. She clarified: “There was never any plan of me going for the US tour.
"Beyond The Light drives the narrative with expressions, dance and costume. I have never played a deliciously dark character and they had faith and confidence in me on pulling off something like this."
statement from the makers or the actors but if the sources are to be believed, then Mandira has joined the cast of the show. A source close to the show says: "Mandira has been locked out by the makers to play a negative lead role in the show. She will play one of the significant characters in the series. The actress will be seen playing a business tycoon who's mother to the female lead in the show. She will be seen as a possessive mother." Mumbai, July 11 (IANS) The well-known face of TV industry, Mandira Bedi, who appeared in shows such as 'Shanti' and 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi' may be seen in Ekta R Kapoor's upcoming family drama, tentatively titled 'Sansaar'. The show is on the lines of 1994 movie 'Raja Babu' starring Karisma Kapoor and Govinda. Till now there has been no official
As per sources, veteran actors like Aruna Irani and Alok Nath are coming together to play male lead's parents in it. Pearl V. Puri will be seen playing the male lead and there is no confirmation on the female lead. As per social media, Mahika Sharma may also be seen in the show. Though nothing has been confirmed officially.
Deepika thanks ‘ma’ Farah for spotting her in Bangkok hoarding a mall in Bangkok. She shared the image on her Instagram stories and captioned it: "Looking good baby!" Deepika re-shared the post on her Instagram stories, thanking Farah Khan. Mumbai, July 10 (IANS) Bollywood star Deepika Padukone, who made her debut with 'Om Shanti Om' in 2007, has thanked Farah Khan, whom she referred to as 'ma', after the choreographer-filmmaker spotted her on a billboard in Bangkok. Farah is currently holidaying in Thailand with her family. She spotted Deepika on a hoarding at
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Shantanu Maheshwari says, "Firstly, working with Abu Jani and Sandeep Khosla Sir is not something I had ever imagined. They are legends in true sense. I admire their creations and how they have brought light on Indian Fashion globally."
Mandira Bedi might be seen in Ekta Kapoor’s upcoming series
Saqib will also be seen in horror comedy Kakuda opposite Sonakshi Sinha and Riteish Deshmukh and his production Double XL starring Sonakshi Sinha, Huma Qureshi, Zaheer Iqbal, and Mahat Raghavendra.
Archana Puran Singh: I’m up anytime for a comedy show or film
ENTERTAINMENT
She wrote, "Thank you Ma, YOU had a faith in me when no one else did..." Farah replied: "You were a star even then...so proud," followed by a red heart emoticon. Earlier this year, Deepika became the first Indian brand ambassador for the luxury brand Louis Vuitton. On the work front, Deepika will be seen with Shah Rukh Khan in 'Pathaan' and 'Fighter' with Hrithik Roshan.
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