India News - March 16-31, 2023

India, Australia have forged deeper connections in various fields: PM Albanese

New Delhi, March 12 (IANS)

Australian Prime Minister

Anthony Albanese on Sunday said that his country and India have forged a deeper connection in education, culture, defence, and

India-Australia agree to further enhance bilateral trade relations

trade.

"We've forged a deeper connection between Australia and India, from education and culture to defence and trade," Albanese said in a tweet, a day after returning from his four-day visit to India.

Continued on Page 4

India, Aus join hands for innovation in areas of national challenges

New Delhi, March 11 (IANS) India and Australia have joined forces to drive innovation in areas of national challenges and shared priorities of both countries, an official said on Saturday.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), NITI Aayog and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) -- Australia's national science agency, have joined hands by signing a Letter of Intent (LoI) to encourage cooperation to drive innovation activities, a statement said.

The move came during the visit of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to India as he met Prime Minister Narendra

Modi on Friday in Delhi. An official said that the meeting between Modi and Albanese spanned across areas of mutual interest and explored avenues of strengthening bilateral engagement in a range of key areas with innovation as one key item.

The LoI between AIM and CSIRO calls for a greater collaboration in areas of mutual interest and strategic priorities and serves as a general framework for cooperation intended to

Continued on Page 4

Modi raises issue of temple attacks with Australian Prime Minister

raised the issue of incidents of attacks on temples in Australia with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. Modi raised the issue during the course of bilateral talks between the two leaders.

New Delhi, March 12 (IANS)

India and Australia on Sunday acknowledged the significance of their trading relations, as bilateral trade exceeded $31 billion during the last financial year.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Australia's trade minister Don Farrell met to discuss next

steps for further enhancing the bilateral economic relationship. They discussed implementation of the economic cooperation and trade agreement (ECTA), negotiations for the IndiaAustralia Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) and further developing two-way investment. Both the ministers agreed that given the trade complementarities between the two countries, there is considerable potential for

India-Australia to finalise economic cooperation agreement by this year

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS)

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday

"It is a matter of regret that reports of attacks on temples have come regularly from Australia over the past few weeks. It is

natural that such news worries everyone in India, disturbs our mind," Modi said during a joint press briefing with Albanese after bilateral discussions.

"I conveyed these feelings and concerns to Prime Minister Albanese and he has assured me that the safety of the Indian community is of special priority for him. Our teams will be in regular contact on this matter, and will cooperate as much as possible," Modi added.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday said that his country and India have agreed on an early conclusion of the ambitious comprehensive economic cooperation agreement, expecting it to be finalised by this year itself.

"I am hopeful that we will be able to finalise it this year," Albanese said during a joint press briefing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi after bilateral talks between the two leaders.

"Our teams are working on a comprehensive economic agreement between our two countries," PM Modi said during the joint briefing. Meanwhile, he added that security cooperation is an important pillar in the comprehensive strategic partnership between India and Australia.

"We discussed maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region today," Prime Minister Modi said. Modi also thanked his Australian counterpart for inviting him for the Quad leaders' summit in May. "India and Australia are both members of the Quad. I thank PM Albanese for inviting me to Australia for the Quad Leaders'

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International Women’s Day organized by the Women’s Ethnic Network (WEN)

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After the award, it’s party time for ‘RRR’ team, courtesy Rajamouli

Fresh from their win at the 95th Oscar Awards presentations, the 'RRR' team let the good times flow.

Pictures and videos from the after-event party show the cast and crew enjoying the hospitality of the director, who just can't seem to stop grinning for a moment.

One of the videos has a ecstatic Keeravani playing the piano with the cast and crew listening in enthusiastically.

Bomman and Bellie.

Hyderabad, March 13 (IANS) Post the awards ceremony, it is usually time to celebrate. And that is exactly what the RRR team did at director S.S. Rajamouli's Los Angeles home on Monday.

Actor Ram Charan's wife Upasana took to her social media handles to share some of the magic moments at the after-event party. Needless to say, the pictures and videos are being lapped up by 'RRR' fans.

In another video clip, actor Ram Charan is seen striking a pose with the Oscar and all the other awards that 'RRR' has won so far. All in all, the Oscars are the culmination of a great Indian cinematic journey that began almost a year ago on March 24 with a fantastic box office performance, went on to win a Golden Globe award, and ended on a high note with an Oscar on March 13.

UK cuts diplomatic jobs in countries like India, Pak, China: Report

number of British-based Foreign Office staff was between 110 and 119 in the Pakistan embassy and consulate.

This fell to 50-59, a cut equivalent to about 50 per cent.

Chennai, March 13 (IANS)

The Oscar-winning short documentary 'The Elephant Whisperers' was shot in the Theppakadu Elephant Camp at the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve in the Nilgiri Mountains in Tamil Nadu.

The Mudumalai Tiger Reserve, of which the Theppekadu Elephant camp is part of, has a good population of the indigenous Kattunaykan tribes to which Bommie and Bellie belong to.

The Theppakadu Elephant Camp rehabilitates rogue elephants that enter human habitations and enter into conflict with people. These elephants are given proper training at these camps and converted to Kumki elephants.

London, March 13 (IANS) Britishbased diplomatic posts for key Indo-Pacific countries like India, Pakistan and China have been cut by up to 50 per cent in recent years, according to new government figures.

Despite being identified as key places to deepen ties with over the coming decade, staff members of embassies and consulates in Pakistan, China and India have all been diminishing over the last seven years, the Guardian reported.

According to the report, the

Over the same timeframe, the number of British-based Foreign Office staff was cut from 70-79 to 40-49 in the past seven years in India.

The figures shared by the Guardian came from the Foreign Office minister David Rutley, in response to written parliamentary questions by the Labour frontbencher Catherine West. The figures also showed a reduction in the number of trips by ministers to these countries.

The Foreign Office and international development department conducted 37 ministerial trips to the IndoPacific region in 2018, with some

countries being visited more than once a year.

However, by 2022, the number of ministerial trips conducted was less than a third of that, with just 12 recorded, the Guardian reported.

A Foreign Office spokesperson told the Guardian that these numbers do not give an "accurate picture" of Britain's presence in the Indo-Pacific region. The reduction in headcount of UK-based staff in China and India is partly due to Covid and how the UK spends its overseas development budget, the Guardian was told.

Citing evidence of the UK's growing influence in the region, the spokesperson told the Guardian that there was a boost of 16.4 per cent in trade with the Indo-Pacific year-on-year from autumn 2021 to 2022.

Flood water inundates Australian state with crocodiles lurking underneath

know what is lurking beneath," Queensland Police Service warned on social media.

The Theppakadu Elephant Camp in Mudumalai Tiger Reserve is the oldest elephant camp in Asia and was established 105 years back. Situated on the banks of river Moyar, it presently has 28 elephants. A dedicated bunch of Mahouts is providing training and care to these elephants. The director of the movie, Kartiki Gonsalves had stayed in the Mudumalai Tiger Reserve for five long years to shoot the documentary and it has paid off taking her to an Oscar victory. The movie, which is of 41 minutes duration, explores the tentative and precious bond between an orphaned elephant Raghu and his caretakers, a mahout couple,

The elephants in the camp are also used to drive away problematic elephants that enter into human surroundings. Mahouts Kirumaran and Wasim have trained two rogue elephants Moorthy and Easwaran into good formidable animals that have become much gentler. Moorthy had killed 22 people as a wild Tusker and has been captured and rehabilitated at the Theppakadu Camp. Kirumaran said that Moorthy is so gentle that he lets his grand children play with the elephant these days. However Wasim, the Mahout of Easwaran, sounded a word of caution and said that he had suffered injuries thrice while handling Easwaran.

Brisbane, March 13 (IANS) With major flooding still occurring in Burketown and the Gregory River, the police force in the Australian state of Queensland on Monday reminded residents to limit movement in floodwaters due to unseen hazards and recent crocodile sightings.

"Police rescued a baby kangaroo from floodwaters behind a residential community in Burketown yesterday. A helicopter pilot flew over at the time and spotted two very large crocs nearby, a timely reminder to stay out of floodwaters as you never

In an update on the severe weather event affecting northwestern Queensland, the state police said sewage and water treatment plants in Burketown are now offline, with residents instructed to conserve water usage and continue to monitor advice from local councils.

As significant flooding is surging downstream of Urandangi to Roxborough Downs, police are closely monitoring the situation in Urandangi, with 16 people so far evacuated from the town in preparation for rising floodwaters.

According to the police, air assets are stationed nearby and on standby for emergency rescues and transport of food, water and medical supplies.

Days of heavy rainfall led to major to record-breaking floodings through parts of northwestern Queensland.

"No observations are available for the Burketown Airstrip manual gauge. Based on anecdotal information from Burketown, the river level is expected to have peaked above the 2011 record flood level of 6.78 meters on Sunday," said the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).

"Major flooding is expected to be easing slowly on Monday. The river level along the Albert River at Burketown Airstrip is expected to continue easing slowly over the next few days, but is likely to remain above the major flood level (6.00 m) during Monday and Tuesday, possibly longer," the BOM added.

Mumbai, March 13 (IANS) Actress

Kangana Ranaut has praised Deepika Padukone, who was one of the presenters at the 95th Academy Awards, and said that she stands as a testimony to the fact that Indian women are the best.

Kangana took to Twitter and Instagram, where she said that Deepika was looking beautiful. "How beautiful @ deepikapadukone looks, not easy to stand there holding the entire nation together, carrying its image, reputation on those delicate shoulders and speaking so graciously and confidently.

Deepika stands tall as a testimony to the fact that Indian women are the best, " Kangana wrote on Monday.

Deepika was the celebrity presenter, who announced that the song 'Naatu Naatu', which brought India an Oscar, will be performed on the stage. She even called the number a "total banger".

The actress said: "An irresistibly catchy chorus, electrifying beats and killer dance moves to match with, have made this next song a global sensation. It plays during a pivotal scene in 'RRR', a movie about real-life friendship between Indian revolutionaries Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaran Bheem. In addition to being sung in Telugu and illustrating the film's anti-colonial themes, it's also a total banger."

She further mentioned: "It has earned millions of views on YouTube and TikTok, has audiences dancing in movie theatres all around the world and is also the first song ever from an Indian production to be nominated for an Oscar. Do you know 'Naatu' - because if you don't, you're about to."

The song was crooned on stage by Kaala Bhairava as the international dancer grooved to the electrifying beats and the livewire lyrics of the song.

After the award, it’s party time for ‘RRR’ team, courtesy Rajamouli

Kangana: Deepika is testimony to the fact that Indian women are the best

India, Australia have forged deeper connections in various fields: PM Albanese

Continued from Page 1

He had arrived in India on March 8, and during the course of the

visit, held bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

India-Australia agree to further enhance bilateral trade relations

Albanese had also held discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar during his visit.

Continued from Page 1

significantly enhancing bilateral trade within the next five years.

India,

Aus join

hands for innovation in areas of national challenges

Continued from Page 1

facilitate the development of more programme specific interventions.

The core of the bilateral engagement is the IndiaAustralia Innovation and Technology Challenge (IA-ITC) -- a programme envisioned to bring together the innovation ecosystems of India and Australia. The programme intends to leverage the complementary capabilities and resources of the innovation ecosystem of both the countries.

According to a statement, the IAITC builds on the success of the India Australia Circular Economy (IACE) hackathon 2021, which witnessed university students,

start-ups, and SMEs from both India and Australia develop innovative tech-based solutions for circularity in food system value chain.

Chintan Vaishnav, Mission Director - AIM, NITI Aayog said: "We are thrilled to partner with CSIRO on fostering innovation and co-developing the India Australia Innovation and Technology Challenge."

"This partnership and the IA-ITC program in particular is an exciting opportunity for India and Australia to collaborate at different levels of the ecosystem involving startups, SMEs, business incubators and accelerators, VCs and the

industry. This will open new horizons in knowledge sharing and co-creation given CSIRO's vast experience with Science and Technology programmes."

Jonathan Law, Executive Director - Growth, CSIRO said: "CSIRO is excited to partner with AIM and work towards solving shared global challenges. AIM has an impressive track record of fostering and leveraging world-class innovations and entrepreneurs. We look forward to combining our strengths and expertise to create scientific breakthroughs that make realworld social, economic and environmental impact."

The ministers also discussed engagement in the G20, the IndoPacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

They agreed that Australia and India share high ambition for the IPEF, as evidenced at the special round of IPEF negotiations in New Delhi, and would continue to work together though IPEF on areas of mutual interest, including the clean economy and resilient supply chains.

Both Goyal and Farrell noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese look forward to swift progress in negotiations and for an early conclusion of an ambitious Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which will build on the foundation laid by the ECTA, including new areas of trade, investment and cooperation.

CECA will create new employment opportunities, raise living standards and improve the general welfare in both countries. The ministers look forward to concluding CECA as soon as possible, are pleased with the progress resolving various bilateral technical market access issues and look forward to continuing engagement.

They highlighted the importance of a smooth and timely clean energy transition as both countries work towards achieving their respective net zero goals. The ministers noted the complementary nature of Australia and India's economies and committed to further enhancing economic, technology, and trade and investment cooperation to get to net zero emissions.

Goyal and Farrell reaffirmed the importance of the multilateral trading system, with the WTO at its core.

India-Australia to finalise economic cooperation agreement by this year

Continued from Page 1

summit in May. I have invited him to India for the G20 summit in September," Modi said.

Both the leaders also witnessed exchange of several MoUs between the two countries.

The MoUs were signed in sports and for audio-visual co-production, while terms of reference for solar taskforce were also exchanged between India and Australia.

Modi also raised the issue of incidents of attacks on temples in Australia with Albanese.

"I have seen reports of attacks on temples in Australia. I have conveyed this to PM Albanese and he has assured me that the safety and well-being of the Indian community in Australia is a priority for them," the prime minister said.

New studies confirm no damage to springs from Carmichael mine

New groundwater modelling using five years of expert, onthe-ground, science has proved current and planned open-cut mining at the Carmichael mine has not, and will not, harm the Doongmabulla springs.

Bravus Mining and Resources has submitted an updated groundwater model for the area of the Carmichael mine and its surrounds to the Queensland Government as per the requirements of the Groundwater Management and Monitoring Plan, one of the suite of State or Commonwealth regulatory documents that form the operation’s rigorous environmental approvals.

At the heart of the new groundwater model is data that expert hydrogeologists collect

and record every two months from a network of more than 120 monitoring bores on Bravus’ mining and pastoral leases and on neighbouring landholders’ properties.

Surface water samples are collected from another 15 locations including the Doongmabulla springs complex, which is a grouping of individual groundwater springs that naturally discharge water from the Great Artesian Basin. The nearest of the springs is located about 11 kilometres from any mine activity at Carmichael.

Bravus Mining and Resources

Chief Operating Officer Mick Crowe said the peer-reviewed data was the most comprehensive scientific understanding of groundwater in the local area

and demonstrated the process of environmental checks and balances for the mine was working well.

“The Carmichael mine has some of the strictest environmental conditions of any resources project in Australia’s history,” Mr Crowe said.

“As part of those conditions we have been measuring groundwater levels in and around the mining area for the last five years and have now submitted that information to the Queensland Government.

“The work we’ve done shows that we are not dropping the level of the water in the Doongmabulla springs complex with any of the open-cut surface mining we are undertaking now.

“The expert modelling also demonstrates that future opencut surface mining will not cause water levels in the springs, the nearest of which is about 11 kilometres away from our mining activities, to drop.

“While we are not doing any underground mining now, the new model does indicate we have additional work to do on our future underground mining plans to ensure they do not cause water levels in the springs to fall by more than the 20 centimetres after mining occurs, which is one of our regulatory conditions.

Contact: media@bravus.com.au

+61 438031780 2

“Protecting the springs has always been a top priority for us as we understand both their value to the Traditional Owners of the area

and their inherent environmental value, and we will now use the science and the model to rework our future underground mining plans to ensure we comply with our approvals.

“This process shows the right checks and balances are in place to protect groundwater, however anti-coal activists have begun a misinformation campaign to twist the truth to try to dupe the community into believing that our mine will damage the springs. This is absolutely not the case.

“Queenslanders can be confident we are mining in a way that protects the environment and sites of cultural significance and will continue to create local jobs and business opportunities for generations.”

Queensland’s newest stadium is ready to expand

host Olympic events in 2032 and assist when the Gabba closes for redevelopment in the coming years.

The 127-year-old Gabba is expected to be closed for up to four years to prepare for the Olympic Games, forcing a rethink in how Brisbane hosts major events.

Brighton Homes Arena is open and ready to go without any planning issues or viability concerns beyond the Gabba’s reopening.

Brighton Homes Arena Springfield Central Stadium is Queensland’s newest stadium. It opened last November with a full house for the AFLW grand final, underlining the public’s support for a venue that is easily accessed.

Greater Springfield’s stadium has shown its potential with another sold-out event, proving it can be a solution for southeast Queensland in the coming years and beyond.

The capacity crowd at last Thursday night’s AFL practice match between the Brisbane Lions and Geelong was another vote of confidence for a venue that has put elite events within the heart of the growing

southwestern corridor.

Brighton Homes Arena

Springfield Central Stadium is Queensland’s newest stadium. It opened last November with a full house for the AFLW grand final, underlining the public’s support for a venue that is easily accessed.

There are plans to increase the state-of-the-art stadium to 30,000 seats, ensuring it could

It will provide access to events like AFL men’s matches to people who may not have watched the Lions play. Spectators can take a train to Springfield Central station, which is only a few metres from the ground.

It can develop a legacy for the Greater Springfield region even before the Olympic Games arrive. An upgrade will ensure that Brighton Homes Arena’s capacity reflects average Gabba

attendance. And it will provide a venue suitable for a region growing at a remarkable rate.

Greater Springfield has recorded average annual economic growth of four times the national average. The wider region is preparing to welcome another 280,000 residents by 2032, increasing demand for quality entertainment venues.

Thursday night’s practice match provided a major boost to the local economy with reports of record trade in nearby areas. The stadium at Greater Springfield has been a decade in the planning.

The AFLW was yet to begin when Greater Springfield was first floated as a home for the Brisbane Lions.

A $15 million commitment from the Federal Government was put on hold after the 2013 election.

The idea was revived by the Lions in 2017 and their men’s team made it on to the ground on Thursday night for the latest step in the stadium’s journey. The stadium is now ready for its next stage which will provide obvious benefits for southeast Queensland.

International Women’s Day organized by the Women’s Ethnic Network (WEN)

Spectacular International Women’s day 2023 by the Women’s Ethnic Network Group of Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland.

For the first time in Brisbane, the Ethnic Women’s Network brought together the ethnic women leaders under one roof to celebrate International Women’s

Day 2023.

Both men and women participated in this celebration. It was an honor to be in that space with those beautiful women of color, who have paved the way to reach their goals.

The Women’s ethnic network is a group of women representing different cultures who are members of the Ethnic

Communities Council of Queensland. The group meets together for the purpose of networking, sharing information, supporting each other in their projects, and consulting on policy consultations for ECCQ.

The Breakfast was a good avenue for everyone to come together. The keynote speeches were delivered by Leanne Linard MP, Dr Jackie Huggins AM

FAHA (Yes23), Solange L. (Lazos LatinOz), and Tamina Naderi. It was a humbling experience to learn the stories of these strong women.

Elijah Buol OAM, MAICD (ECCQ Chair) and Lisa Ward (ECCQ CEO) facilitated the ceremony, in which the family of Nick Xynias (ECCQ's founder) was honored. At the occasion highlight being the announcement of the Annual Cleo

Xynias Multicultural Woman of the year scholarship.

Elijah Buol OAM, Chairperson of ECCQ said, "women from multicultural communities have been accelerating on the narrowest pathways of equity and opportunities for so long and it is time for us all to take real actions and open those pathways wider by creating more equitable opportunities".

Commonwealth Day 2023 Multicultural Service at St John’s Cathedral Brisbane

The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the commonwealth charter.

The Commonwealth Charter is a document of the values and aspirations which unite the Commonwealth. It expresses the commitment of member states to the development of free and democratic societies and the promotion of peace and prosperity to improve the lives of all the people of the Commonwealth. It especially acknowledges the role of civil society in supporting the goals and values of the Commonwealth. The Theme for 2023 is Forging a sustainable and Peaceful Common Future. This is so much needed in the day and age of the wars being fought around us and the unrest, and agitation by a few civilians who are disrupting the peace and harmony of the place. The theme was especially chosen because the governments and people of the 54 commonwealth countries connect at various levels through networking of friendship and goodwill. It is

important that countries connect to tackle bigger issues such as climate change and its impacts, find sustainable solutions to use the natural resources both the land and the ocean, protect the environment, encourage inclusive economic empowerment and fair trade, empower women, young people, and the marginalized communities to facilitate sharing the fruits of progress and prosperity of our democratic economies.

With that theme in mind, a Multicultural Service was held at the St. Johns Cathedral in Brisbane on March 14th, 2023. The welcome-to-country ceremony was performed by Wajji Walu Dreaming, Jah Marley Dawson. Her Excellency Hon. Dr. Janeatte Young AC PSM Governor of Queensland and Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD graced the ceremony with their presence. Her Excellency Hon. Dr. Janeatte Young AC PSM Governor of Queensland read the Kings Commonwealth Day message. To highlight a few key messages from the speech

“This week marks the tenth anniversary of the Charter of the Commonwealth, which gives expression to our defining values – peace and justice; tolerance, respect and solidarity; care for our environment, and for the most vulnerable among us. These are not simply ideals. In each lies an imperative to act, and make a practical difference in the lives of the 2.6 billion people who call the Commonwealth home. Whether on climate change and biodiversity loss, youth opportunity and education, global health, or economic cooperation, the Commonwealth can play an indispensable role in the most pressing issues of our time. Ours is an association not just of shared values, but of common purpose and joint action. In this, we are blessed with the ingenuity and imagination of a third of the world’s population, including one and a half billion people under the age of thirty. Our shared humanity contains an immensely precious diversity of thought, culture, tradition, and experience. By listening to each other, we will find so many of the solutions that

we seek.”

Dignitaries from various cultures were present at this service. Consulate Generals of the UK, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, and Consulate General of India Hon. Mrs. Archana Singh were present at this occasion. Hon. Consul Mrs. Archana Singh's presence voices and emphasizes the support, and respect, for the message of peace and harmony. She often encourages harmony within our diversity among the Indian Diaspora as well as peace and harmony in Brisbane. The ceremony also gave an opportunity to express voices to the youth of different schools in Brisbane who performed cultural dances representing various countries. St. James Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dance group performed a beautiful reflection dance performance. Wavel State High School Dance Group performed “Clarity” by Oliver Davis. St. Peters Lutheran College- Suprada Academy performed the Indian Semi classical Bollywood Dance and Bhangra. Two of the students

of St. Peter Lutheran College, one with Indian background Ms. Mahi Kar Ray along with Jay Fiske voiced the reflections of the youth in Brisbane in their commonwealth reflection speeches. Taisoo Kim Watson, a Member of the Toowoomba Interfaith Working Group, also addressed the audience with her commonwealth reflection speech. Morayfield State High School’s Taiko Drummers and the Queensland Police Pipes and Drums stole the show with their drumming performance. Rhonda Davidson- Irwin - Musical Director conducted the Choir and Rev Ben Hentschke, first Assistant Bishop, of the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District read a reading from the First Letter to the Corinthians at the ceremony. Following the service, all Dignatories were invited to a networking reception organized by the Victoria League under the leadership of William Willcocks where many consulate generals of various countries for the first time came together and exchanged ideas, and cultural reflections, as well as developed bonds for collaboration.

Queensland Cricket’s Namastey India visit forges key partnerships

The Queensland Cricket Association undertook the Namaste India visit coinciding with the visit of the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to Ahmedabad, Gujarat to attend the fourth test match of the Border Gavaskar trophy, also graced by PM Narendra Modi. This historic tour of Queensland Cricket aimed to forge mediumand long-term partnerships

and lasting engagements with a number of cricket officials, stakeholders, institutions, training academies and charity organisations.

The delegation was led by Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson, Ian Healy-board member, Adam Dale-General Manager Corporate Relations and Dr Ashutosh MisraProject Multicultural leader. The delegation interacted

with the president of Gujarat Cricket Association Mr Dhanraj Nathwani, Honorary Secretary Anil Patel, President of BCCI Roger Binny, Secretary Jai Shah, former chairman of IPL Brijesh Patel, former Indian players VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh and Dilip Doshi.

The delegation also met with Colonel Arvinder Singh, CEO of Gujarat Titans and his entire team in Ahmedabad. The delegation

also visited the MS Dhoni cricket academy in Ahmedabad and an Aged care facility and the Ecstatic Smile Charity Foundation headed by Dr. Julie Desai in Ahmedabad. Delegation also met with Mike Baird and Todd Greenberg representing the ICC and the Australian Cricket Association, respectively. Amongst the corporate organisations the delegation interacted with Reliance New Energy Limited,

the Adani Enterprise, and Sports Live Hyderabad CEO Prasad Mangipudi.

The delegation hopes to foster exchanges between Brisbane Heat and Gujarat Titans, junior and senior state teams, coaches, technical staff and former national players to facilitate training and mentoring of emerging players and also to bolster mutual investments.

Maitri Scholarship for Indian students to study in Australia

education, Albanese said, “It is the most comprehensive and ambitious arrangement agreed to by India with any country. It paves the way for commercial opportunities for Australian education providers to offer innovative and more accessible education to Indian students. And it provides a solid basis for our tertiary institutions to consider new ways of partnering with each other.”

Australia & India have much to share & learn from each other: Albanese

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Mumbai, on March 9, to attend ‘Taste the wonders of Australia event’, organized by Austrade, and the Australian Food and Wine Collaboration.

Prime Minister Albanese, who was on a 4-day visit to India, reached Ahmedabad, on March 8, to attend a few events there.

He greeted a gathering at ITC Narmada Hotel, in Ahmedabad, on the same day, in Gujarati saying, “Khem cho”, he expressed his pleasure to be here in India. About the achievement of Deakin University, the Prime Minister said, “It gives me great pleasure to acknowledge that Deakin University will be the first overseas university approved to establish a branch campus in India. It’s a great honor for Deakin University – and for Australia, too.”

“The campus will be built at the new GIFT district not far from here and will offer students the opportunity to study cyber security and business analytics with Deakin, “he informed. He said that besides Deakin, the University of Wollongong also has intentions to establish a campus at GIFT City, though Australia always welcomes students to come and study in Australia, and that will continue to be an essential focus for us.

However, he acknowledged that not everyone has the means or the ability to study in another country owing to a host of factors such as financial constraints, family commitments, or a variety of reasons to stay closer to home. Therefore, the presence of Australian universities in India, opens up new ways for Indian students to obtain an Australian education by staying in India. About his personal experience in higher education, the Prime Minister reminisced, “When I was growing up, I didn’t know anyone who was going to university. No one in my family had ever been to university. But Sydney University was just up the road from where I lived. I’d see it all the time. And the proximity made it real to me. It made it seem possible.”

He also announced the Australia–India Education Qualifications Recognition Mechanism under which Indian students who study or about to study in Australia, their degrees will be recognized when they return home to India. Similarly, Indian qualifications will be recognized in Australia for members of Australia’s Indian diaspora.

Praising this agreement in the

Calling this arrangement in education as a fantastic piece of work with tangible benefits, the Prime Minister said, “These developments – Australian university campuses and the qualification mechanism – are the latest additions to our evergrowing education partnership.”

He also announced that The University of Melbourne, which has been offering blended Bachelor of Science degrees in partnership with some Indian universities for several years, now plans to expand this collaboration by launching a dual degree with three of India’s leading universities.

About the scholarships being offered to students, the Prime Minister referred to the New Colombo Plan, which he said, has already awarded 29 scholarships and more than 7,000 mobility grants for Australian undergraduates to study in India. This includes, he said, five scholars and 110 mobility grants in the 2023 intake.

Announcing the introduction of a new scholarship for Indian students, Albanese said, “I am pleased to announce a newer scholarship offering - the Maitri Scholarship. These are for Indian students to study in Australia for up to four years. The scholarships are part of the wider Maitri program that seeks to boost cultural, educational, and community ties between Australia and India. With ‘maitri’, of course, being another word for ‘friendship’.”

Addressing the guests from the Indian food and beverage, film, tourism and hospitality industries, Albanese said, “Since returning to India yesterday, I’ve been immersed in the wonders of this country; celebrating the festival of Holi in Gandhinagar; watching the cricket with Prime Minister Modi in Ahmedabad.

I’m delighted to be sharing some of the wonders of Australia in return — our food and wine, our tourist destinations, and our cinema because these things are celebrations — of our land, our people, and our stories. Australia and India share this sense of life.”

Talking about the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement, the Prime Minister said that it was the unlocking of enormous potential in bilateral relationship between Australia and India. He said that the agreement gives Australian businesses far greater access to the mighty Indian economy — a market of 1.4 billion people, and one of the world’s fastest growing major economies.

As far as benefits of the agreement to India are concerned, Albanese said that more than 85 per cent of Australian goods exports by value to India are now tariff free — and 96 per cent of imports from India to Australia are tariff free, too. Citing the example of lobster and lamb, Albanese said, “Australian fresh lobster and lamb used to be subject to a 30 per cent tariff in India. Now, it’s zero.”

Furthermore, the Prime Minister said that tariffs on other products like avocado, citrus and seafood are on a pathway to zero. He said that the bustling restaurants of Mumbai and Delhi can benefit by showcasing various Australian products, with a glass of premium Australian wine alongside, reminding the guests that Australia is one of the

world’s leading wine-producing countries.

Prime Minister Albanese expressed his pleasure at some of Australia’s most popular product varieties and labels which were showcased at the event, such as Shiraz from the Barossa Valley, and Sauvignon Blanc from Southern New South Wales. He congratulated Coopers’ craft beers for securing distribution with Vbev, one of India’s largest alcoholic beverage importers. He said, “It’s a great example of an Australian brand finding new markets, and bringing their quintessentially Australian product to the world.”

About his India visit and its significance for film industries of Australia and India, the Prime Minister said, “I feel so fortunate to be visiting India for the third time in my life. This is the first trip for one member of my team, though because he grew up watching Bollywood films on SBS. He told me he was so excited to come here. So it’s particularly special to be here in Mumbai, the capital of Indian cinema. Prime Minister Modi and I will have more to say on this tomorrow, but I am pleased that our two governments have been working hard to bring our two film industries closer together.”

Bringing our two countries’ storytellers together – actors, producers and filmmakers – will in turn bring our people closer together. I look forward to seeing

more Indian – Australian coproductions on our screens soon showcasing the best of both our cultures, landscapes and people,” he said. “As a cricket tragic, I’m hoping fast-bowler-turnedBollywood-actor Brett Lee might even feature,” he added in a lighter vein.

Inviting Indians to come to Australia, Albanese said, “With the end of the pandemic, I also hope that Indian tourists, students and other travellers will continue to flock back to Australia. We can’t wait to welcome you with a hearty g’day, and to share our country’s wonders,”

Counting the pleasures of visiting Australia, the Prime Minister said, “From the natural beauty of the Great Barrier Reef and Katherine Gorge, to the architectural feats of Sydney’s Opera House and Harbour Bridge, to the rich tapestry of our multicultural society — which includes a thriving Indian community of almost one million people, to our rich Indigenous culture that dates back some 65,000 years and whose deep, spiritual connection to the land is represented by the sacred site of Uluru.”

Alluding to the multicultural ethos present in both the countries, the Prime Minister said, “Australia and India have so much to share, and so much to learn from each other. So let us experience the wonders of our nations, and deepen the friendship between our peoples.”

Albanese calls India a top tier security partner for Australia

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on March 9 went onboard the Indiandesigned and manufactured INS Vikrant and received a guard of honour by the Indian Navy in Mumbai. About his INS Vikrant visit, Albanese said, “I am honoured to be here today on the newly-commissioned, Indiandesigned and manufactured INS Vikrant at the invitation of Prime Minister Modi.”

He said that his visit reflects his government’s commitment

to place India at the heart of Australia’s approach to the IndoPacific and beyond.

“While here, I have had the great pleasure of meeting with the talented and highly professional men and women of India’s Navy. It made me reflect that strong defence relationships are forged over time and by many. But arguably, what lifts defence relationships to new levels is the resolve and foresight of those who see the relationship not only for what it is, but what it could be Prime Minister Modi is one such

person,” Albanese said. In a veiled reference to China, which is a threat for both Australia and India, the Prime Minister said, “A partnership that is of increasing strategic importance as we navigate the challenges of our region together. For Australia, India is a top tier security partner. The Indian Ocean is central to both countries’ security and prosperity.”

Referring to the defence relationship between the two countries, Albanese said, “And

there has never been a point in both of our country’s histories where we’ve had such a strong strategic alignment. We both depend on free and open access to sea lanes in the Indo-Pacific for our trade and economic wellbeing. And we share an unwavering commitment to upholding the rules-based international order and ensuring the Indo-Pacific is open, inclusive and prosperous.”

India News Newsdesk

India News Newsdesk

Australia-India ties have great potential to grow: PM to CEOs Australia to keep full op control of new nuclear submarines: Albanese

Prime Minister Anthony

Albanese said that the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement signed between India and Australia is a transformative agreement which will unlock the next level of potential in trade and investment. Albanese was addressing the India-Australia CEO forum held in Mumbai, on March 9.

The Prime Minister appreciated the large turnout of Australian investors that came to India, and the key Indian business houses as well, that participated at the roundtable.

Minister for Trade and TourismSenator the Don Farrell was also present on the occasion, along with India’s Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles Piyush Goya.

Don Farrell said thatthe USD 2.5 billion worth trade benefitted from the lower tariffs arising from ECTA agreement in Jan 2023 alone.He reassured that this growth would continue to rise further. He urged the industry to think much bigger to satiate the demands of the growing relationship.

Echoing similar sentiments and emphasizing the potential for bilateral trade to increase further, Goyalsaid that the current goal of doubling the bilateral trade must be reset by the industries and CEOs present there, as there was great potential to increase trade manifold between the two nations.

The Forum was organized by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry along with Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with a view to leveraging the ever-growing trade and investment between the two countries. The forum was co-chaired by MD & CEO, Mahindra Group Dr Anish Shah, and MD & CEO, Macquarie GroupShemaraWikramnayake.

About India’s importance among Australia’s trading partners, Prime Minister Albanese said, “Australia's sixth-largest trading partner, we can do so much

better than that in the future, I have no doubt. And as you rise with the extraordinary growth in development that we've seen over recent periods as well, we are very jealous of your economic growth rates.”

He counted many areas in which both the economies are complementary.

Highlighting the importance Australia accorded to India as a trading partner, Albanese said that the business delegation accompanying him to India was the most serious business one“that I've seen leave Australian shores”.

“And that says a lot about the opportunity that is there for growing cooperation, in trade, in tourism, in education, in resources, in manufacturing and value adding, in the shift that we're seeing in both countries and globally, to a clean energy economy as well,” he said.

He said that the relationship between the two countries is growing, but has a greater potential to grow much more.

“In the last seven years, we've seen our two-way trade double. But if you look at the growth of that trajectory, and you look at the amount of businesses who are here, not just this delegation, I was with the Smart Energy Council today, 30 Australian businesses, looking at twoway investment between our countries,” Albanese said.

Referring to the four-year memorandum of understanding signed between the Confederation of Indian Industry and Business Council of Australia at the India-Australia CEO forum held in Mumbai,during his current visit to India, the Prime Minister said, I was so pleased that the MOU has just been signed by the respective leaders of the BCA and the CII. It is a transformational agreement that has come into effect.”

However, Albanese said that the economic cooperation between the two countries must go further than what has been achieved so far. “We really want to conclude, and I've raised with Prime Minister Modi this morning, progressing as well the upgrade of that, to conclude the

Closer Economic Cooperation Agreement, to unlock the next phase, the phase of opportunity and investment in our common interest,” Albanese said. About the complementaritiesin Australia-India relationship, Albanese said that while Australia has endowment of natural resources, critical minerals, and research nous, India has manufacturing scale, high domestic demand, a growing middle class, and enormous research capacity. “On my last visit to India I went to Hyderabad. The transformation of a city like that, based upon information technology and new industries and innovation, is incredibly exciting for the world, the Prime Minister said. He said that the government investment in Australian business literacy is important to leverage the opportunities which lie in business ties between both the countries. He predictedan era of unprecedented growth in Australia-India relations, and expressed his conviction that the governments of both Australia and India have the support of the business community of both as well.

India News Newsdesk

Prime Minister Albanese has assured that Australia will retain full operational control of new nuclear submarines that Australia will acquire from the United States under AUKUS. The Prime Minister categorically stated this in reply to a question while giving an interview during his recently-concluded India visit. He was answering a question during an interview in Ahmedabad, on March 9, ahead of his visit to the cricket stadium with Indian Prime Minister Modi, and later his visit to INS Vikrant.

The question was if he could provide an assurance that Australia would retain full operational control of new nuclear submarines, or they could be commanded by Americans, and joint decisions would be made over their use, thereby implying a situation of shared sovereignty.

In answer to two separate questions, one, if the new nuclear submarines to be acquired from the US under AUKUS arrangement, could not be manufactured in Australia,

and the other related to the timeframe for acquiring the nuclear submarines, Albanese said that an announcement regarding these details would be made after multilateral and bilateral meetings with US President Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, scheduled for March 12.

(A UK government press release on March 12 has confirmed that the Prime Ministers of Australia and UK met in San Diego, US, on March 12, ahead of their trilateral meeting with US President Biden to discuss the next phase of the AUKUS nuclear submarine partnership. Both Prime Ministers agreed on the great significance of the AUKUS partnership).

In a lighter vein, when Prime Minister Albanese was asked about how he felt seeing hundreds of billboards with his face on them around the streets, during his India visit, the Prime Minister agreed it was hard to not have noticed them.

India News Newsdesk

London, March 7 (IANS) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has called the BJP a wing of "fascist RSS which subverts the democracy it uses to come to power".

The Wayanad MP made the remarks during an interation at London-based think tank Chatham House on late Monday evening.

"The complete capture of India's institutions by the RSS has

changed the nature of country's democratic contest," he added.

Rahul Gandhi also alleged the Opposition is "not allowed to have any conversation around the Demonetisation, Kisan Bill, GST imposition and the Chinese aggression".

Speaking about his Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress leader said: "The Yatra was our communication gateway to reach out to the people of India."

"The BJP is blinded by the power it has recklessly enjoyed in the last nine years," Rahul Gandhi said, adding that the saffron party has "no interest in listening to public's opinion".

He also said that Prime Minister

In London, Rahul Gandhi calls RSS ‘fascist’ ‘PM defamed country abroad’:

Narendra Modi "comfortably uses agencies and spywares against the Opposition - a complete opposite picture of what it used to be under our government".

"Our society is built in a democratic manner. The Chinese do not practice the same model and (they) see it as their biggest challenger... We need to offer the world our own vision of 'productivity with prosperity',"

Rahul Gandhi asserted The COngress leader said that the idea of a democratic model "is under attack" and the democracy on the planet "will suffer a blow if our (India's) democratic model collapses".

Congress defends Rahul’s speeches in UK

Gandhi, in London, said that Indian political leaders can give a talk in Cambridge or Harvard Universities but he can't give a talk in an Indian university.

Anglo-American destabilisation being launched to topple Modi in coming months: Report

New Delhi, March 7 (IANS) A series of suspiciously-timed and targeted events suggest that there is an Anglo-American destabilization being launched to topple Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming months, claims F. William Engdahl of the Centre for Research on Globalization.

One of the most critical economic partners of Russia amid the unprecedented Western economic sanctions from Washington and the EU over the Ukraine war has been the Indian government. In the past several years, Modi, playing a delicate balancing act between alliances with Russia and also with the West, has emerged as a vital trade partner of Russia amid the sanctions.

refused to join Washington in condemning Russia's Ukraine actions. It has defied US sanctions on Russian oil buying, despite repeated US threats of consequences. In addition to being a fellow BRICS member, India is also a major longtime buyer of Russian defense equipment.

Modi is facing a national election in Spring 2024, and important regional ones this year, that will determine his future. In January a clear Anglo-American assault on Modi and his key financial backer was launched.

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS)

In wake of the BJP attacking Rahul Gandhi on his speech in London, the Congress on Monday mounted a strong defence of its leader, alleging that it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has been saying things abroad about the country and the opposition. Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said: "When the Prime Minister said that nothing has been done in past 70 years, he is demeaning the country and its people."She also slammed Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur for his comments on Gandhi.

"The reason is that our government simply does not allow any idea of the Opposition, any concept of the Opposition to be discussed. Same happens in the Parliament house. When there are important things that we need to speak about demonetisation, GST, the fact that the Chinese are sitting inside our territory... when we try to raise these questions, we are not allowed to raise them in the House. It is a fact. It is shameful but it is true, and this is not the India that all of us are used to."

The BJP has attacked this and said he is undermining the Parliamentary democracy Gandhi, addressing the Indian diaspora, said that the biggest

issues in India today are unemployment, price rise and the violence that Indian women face.

"We have an ideology of hatred and violence, a disrespectful ideology that attacks people because of their ideas, and you must have noticed one thing and this is in the nature of the BJP and the RSS," he said.

He slammed Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, noting that he had said that China is stronger than us, so we can't fight with them, adding that at the heart of the ideology is cowardice.

"The British were stronger than us, so then we should have not fought with them. How would we ever get Independence? If we had followed the BJP's principle and the RSS' principle that if they are stronger than us, we don't fight with them, then we would still be ruled by the British," he contended.

Dhankhar targets Rahul for attempt to tarnish India on foreign soil

country, which is ill-premised, unwholesome and motivated.

Despite repeated efforts by US President Joe Biden's dministration and UK officials, Modi has refused to join sanctions against Russian trade, above all oil trade, the article said. India under Modi has repeatedly

A shadowy Wall Street financial firm, Hindenburg Research, supposedly does "forensic financial research" to look for corruption or fraud in listed companies, with which it then sells a company "short" as their research is published. The mysterious company emerged in 2017 and is suspected of having ties with US Intelligence, the article said.

Branch office of WTC to be opened soon in Kolkata: Mamata

New Delhi, March 9 (IANS)

Without taking name, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on Thursday targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for making 'anti-India' remarks on foreign soil, terming them as ironic and painful.

Speaking at the launch of the book 'Mundaka Upanishad: The Bridge to Immortality' penned by veteran politician Karan Singh, Dhankhar said, "How ironic, how painful! While the world is applauding our historic accomplishments as a functional vibrant democracy, some among us, including parliamentarians,

are engaged in the thoughtless, unfair denigration of our wellnurtured democratic values. How can we justify such wanton orchestration of a factually untenable narrative?"

He said that at a time when India is having its moment of glory as G20 President, there are people outside the country working in overdrive to denigrate the nation.

"Such misplaced campaign mode to taint and tarnish our Parliament and constitutional entities is too serious and exceptional to be ignored or countenanced. No political strategy or partisan stance can justify compromising our nationalism and democratic values," the Vice President said.

Dhankhar said he would be on the wrong side of the Constitution if he maintains silence on this misadventure-orchestration by a Member of Parliament outside the

"How can I sanctify a statement that mics are put off in the Indian Parliament? How can people say so? Has there been any illustration? Yes! We did have a dark chapter of our political history. Proclamation of Emergency was the darkest period any democracy can suffer. But Indian democratic polity is now mature. There can be no repeat of that.

"Anyone who says so, inside or outside the country, that in mics are put off in the Parliament... Imagine this being done after having held the floor for nearly 50 minutes. Such kind of wanton and misadventure to run down our democratic values cannot be countenanced. I call upon everyone - intelligentsia, media and youth who are our warriors of 2047 - to rise to the occasion, expose these forces and neutralise them," he said.

Kolkata, March 7 (IANS) A branch office of New York's renowned World Trade Center will be opened in Kolkata shortly, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday.

"A team of their representatives will be coming to Kolkata on March 21. They will sign a memorandum of understanding with the state government on this count. This will strengthen our ties with the international business communities in the coming days," she told the mediapersons. She said "Kolkata acts as an important gateway to entire eastern India".

"That is why this city has been chosen as the principal city of eastern India. We too want Kolkata to be the principal corridor of industrial activities in the eastern part of the country," the Chief Minister said. She also said that the process for identifying the land for setting up the branch office of the World Trade Center has already started.

"This is really a matter of pride for our city that it has got the preference over all other eastern Indian cities in the matter," the Chief Minister added.

India getting ‘world ready’ and world getting ‘India ready’: Jaishankar

hour and visited all the three floors of the haveli. He along with other dignitaries also watched a 'Kathak' dance performance and enjoyed the food of Chandni Chowk.

challenge during restoration was to keep the haveli intact, as the mansion was going down because of its weight."

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday that in India's G20 presidency year, the country is getting "world ready" and the world is getting "India ready".

Jaishankar made the remarks after inaugurating the refurbished 'Golden Haveli' in Delhi's Chandni Chowk. The haveli has been restored by former Union Minister and BJP leader Vijay Goel.

The External Affairs Minister stayed there for more than an

Every citizen of "this beautifully diversified country must take pride in their heritage and conservation", he said, adding that "promoting our culture and heritage, generating tourism and expanding employment go hand in hand".

"Tourism is the most powerful remunerative industry in the world today and is also the most employment-friendly industry in the world today," Jaishankar asserted.

Talking about the restoration of the haveli, Goel said that it took four years for him to restore the 'Golden Haveli'. "The biggest

He said that "passion, paisa and patience" is required for such restoration and heritage work.

"The government is very serious about heritage, tourism, restoration and conservation," Goel said, adding that he requested the Prime Minister for development and restoration of entire Chandni Chowk.

Goel, who is also the president of Heritage India Foundation, further said that both the state and the Central governments should work together for the promotion of tourism in Chandni Chowk and development of the area especially in terms of sanitation, security and to stop unauthorised construction.

Col Geeta Rana becomes 1st woman officer to command EME unit near China border

New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) Col Geeta Rana has become the first woman army officer to be given the charge of an independent field workshop in the Eastern Ladakh sector close to the IndiaChina border.

"Colonel Geeta Rana of Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers scripted history by becoming the first woman officer to take over command of an Independent Field Workshop in a forward and remote location in #EasternLadakh," Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army tweeted on Wednesday.

The Indian Army has recently cleared 108 vacancies for women officers to take command of

independent units in the Corps of Engineers, Ordinance, EME and other branches following which Col Geeta Rana took charge of the EME unit.

Women officers will now be able to command many different units of the army.

Recently, in a key decision taken by the Indian Air Force, Group Captain Shaliza Dhami was handed the command of a Frontline Combat Unit in the Western SectThe India-Pakistan border area is located in this area of the Western Sector.

This is also the first time a woman officer in the Indian Air Force took charge of a combat unit.

President Murmu pays obeisance at

Golden Temple

New Delhi, March 9 (IANS) After the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday arrested former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia in connection with the 2021-22 Delhi excise policy case, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that people are watching everything and they will give a befitting reply.

Kejriwal said in a tweet that the Centre's only intention to keep Sisodia behind the bars in any case.

"Manish was first arrested by the CBI. The CBI did not find any

evidence, no money was found in the raids. There is a bail hearing tomorrow. Manish would have been released tomorrow. So today ED arrested him. They have only one intention to keep Manish inside at any cost, creating new fake cases everyday. The public is watching and will answer," Kejriwal said in a tweet in Hindi. The ED made the arrest after questioning Sisodia for hours inside the Tihar jail as part of its money laundering probe into the alleged irregularities in the 202122 excise policy of Delhi, officials said.

Sisodia was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on February 26 in the same case and he is currently in judicial custody till March 20. His bail plea will come up for hearing before the Rouse Avenue District Courts on Friday.

ED sources told IANS the probe agency has got permission to quiz Sisodia for three days, and it will seek his custodial remand.

Russia releases trailer for first feature film shot in space

Amritsar, March 9 (IANS) On her maiden visit after becoming President, Droupadi Murmu on Thursday arrived in Punjab's holy city of Amritsar, and paid obeisance at the Holiest shrine of Sikh religion, Golden Temple, where she was presented with a robe of honour.

Tight security arrangements were made in the city for the President's day-long visit.

Accompanied by Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief Harjinder Singh Dhami, she paid obeisance inside the sanctum

sanctorum of Harmandir Sahib, popularly known as the Golden Temple.

She also mingled with a couple of devotees and chatted with them for a brief period as Gurbani played in the backdrop.

Before paying obeisance inside the sanctum sanctorum, she was taken around the temple by the officials of the SGPC, the apex religious body of the Sikhs, and was also shown Shri Guru Ram Dass Langar Hall.

The President partook 'langar' served by the community kitchen at the Golden Temple

She later visited Jallianwala Bagh, Durgiana Temple and Bhagwan Valmiki Ram Tirath Sthal.

At the Jallianwala Bagh, hundreds of Indians were killed in 1919 on the orders of the then British General Dyer.

On arrival, Punjab Governor Banwari Lal Purohit and Chief Minister Mann welcomed her.

New Delhi, March 9 (IANS)

Russian has released a trailer for the first ever feature film to be shot in space.

"The Challenge" was shot aboard the International Space Station (ISS) over the course of 12 days in 2021. It is about a female cardiac surgeon called Zhenya (played by Russian actress Yulia Peresild) who is part of a team of doctors sent to operate on a cosmonaut (played by cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy) who loses consciousness while on the orbital station.

The film is a joint project of Roscosmos, Russia's Channel One and the Yellow, Black and White studio. Russian cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov, Novitsky and Pyotr Dubrov also have parts in the movie.

Overall, about 35-40 minutes of the film's screen time were to be filmed in orbit.

"The Challenge" will be released on April 12.

"The movie is aimed to popularise Russia's space activities, as well as glorify (the) cosmonaut profession," according to Russian space agency Roscomos.

At the time of filming, NASA stated that it "marks the

expansion of commercial space opportunities to include feature filmmaking".

Roscosmos first announced the film project in November 2020 and Peresild, 37, was chosen for the role.

Peresild and producer-director Klim Shipenko travelled to the ISS alongside veteran Russian cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov in October 2021 and filmed the movie over the course of 12 days. Although "The Challenge" is the first feature-length film to be shot in space, it's not the first project to be filmed aboard the ISS.

Earlier, Soviet-era cosmonauts filmed aboard Soyuz T-9 and inside the Salyut 7 space station for the Russian 1984 narrative film "Return from Orbit."

Twenty-four years later, privately-funded astronaut Richard Garriott shot "Apogee of Fear," a short science fiction film set aboard ISS.

The list also includes a 2002 IMAX documentary narrated by Tom Cruise and a 2012 eightminute science fiction film by entrepreneur and space tourist Richard Garriott.

After ED arrests Sisodia, Kejriwal says ‘people will answer’

Australian varsities interested in setting up campuses in India: UGC

Australian Education Minister and UGC officials here on Thursday.

Deakin University becomes 1st foreign varsity to get the nod for opening a campus in India

New Delhi, March 2 (IANS)

Australian universities are interested in establishing their campuses in India, the University Grants Commission (UGC) said on Thursday.

Two Australian universities have already decided to set up their campuses at the GIFT CITY in Gujarat. Now campuses of Australian universities might come up outside Gujarat as well. These proposals were discussed during a meeting between the

Jason Clare, Minister of Education, Australia, and Barry O'Farrell, Australian High Commissioner to India, visited the UGC office on Thursday along with a 30-member team comprising vice-chancellors of more than 10 Australian universities and other highranked education officials.

After the meeting, UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar said, "We had a detailed discussion on how reforms are being implemented in the Indian higher education system. We also discussed the UGC draft regulations on foreign university campuses in India. We agreed that these regulations provide a great opportunity

for India and Australia to work together, not only for training the students but also for joint collaborative research work.

"The vice-chancellors were very appreciative of the scale at which these reforms are being implemented. We also discussed the need to use digital technology in higher education and India's effort in establishing a national digital university to provide high-quality education to Indian students in the emerging areas."

Clare showed keen interest in the possibility of establishing Australian university campuses in India. Both sides decided to enhance India-Australia collaboration in the field of higher education, Kumar added.

Delhi L-G approves proposal to send teachers to Finland for training

government.

New Delhi, March 4 (IANS)

Delhi Lt. Governor V.K. Saxena has approved the Education Department's proposal for training programme for Primary In-charges in Finland, an official said on Saturday.

However, the L-G has increased the number of primary incharges, who were to proceed to Finland for training, from 52 to 87 so as to ensure equal representation of primary incharges from all 29 administrative zones of the Education Department.

With this, a total of 87 primary in-charges that includes three in-charges from each of the 29 administrative zones will be selected for the training programme, as against the 52 primary in-charges who were arbitrarily selected by the

"I would like to underline that despite, myself having, duly and rightfully enquired about impact assessment on the learning outcomes of foreign training programs conducted in the past and the desirability of examining and identifying similarly placed training programs in the institutes of excellence within the country, no comments have been offered by the Department/ Minister thereto," the L-G has noted in his observation.

"Considering that there are about 450 schools of the Directorate of Education having primary classes, it will only be in the fitness of things that the benefits of the learning from the training are extended to all the students of primary classes simultaneously. It should also be ensured that all 29 administrative zones of the Department are represented", the L-G has directed.

The development comes after the AAP government accused the L-G of 'rejecting' the proposal for the training program in Finland even as the same was pending decision

due to the AAP government's reluctance to provide details of the impact assessment and analysis of similar foreign training programmes funded by the Delhi government in the past.

The L-G also advised the government to adopt a fair and transparent selection process for identifying the organisers for the training programme.

"There is nothing on record to show as to what has been the selection procedure to identify the institute for organising the proposed training programmes. It is advised that in all future proposals, the Department should essentially adopt a fair and transparent selection process for identifying the organisers for the training programme. For optimal utilisation of the resources and maximising the benefits of the training programmes, it is advisable that these organisers of training programmes should conduct training in India itself for wider coverage in a much shorter time span," he noted.

New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) The Deakin University of Australia has become the first foreign varsity to receive approval from the International Financial Services Centres Authority (IFSCA) to set up an International Branch Campus (IBC) in India, an official said on Friday. The IBC will be set up in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City).

"By virtue of this approval, Deakin University will be able to offer the same degree courses it offers in Australia in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Financial Management in GIFT IFSC to both Indian and foreign students. The degree offered shall be identical or similar to that offered in the home jurisdiction," IFSCA chairperson Injeti Srinivas said.

"Apart from making available world-class education within

India (GIFT-IFSC), it is also expected to be a huge value proposition in terms of reduced costs for students with greater international employment opportunities. This will also lead to greater internationalization of GIFT-IFSC by attracting students from all parts of the world," he added.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in the Budget 202223 speech had announced that "world-class foreign universities and institutions will be allowed in the GIFT City to offer courses in Financial Management, FinTech, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, free from domestic regulations, except those by the IFSCA to facilitate the availability of high-end human resources for financial services and technology".

The IFSCA said that the setting up of world-class educational institutions in GIFT will contribute to developing a robust extended ecosystem and make available high-end human resources to the financial institutions operating out of GIFT City.

Fearing poor score, Class 12 student dies by suicide in UP’s Badaun

Badaun (Uttar Pradesh), March 3 (IANS) A 17-year-old student of class 12 in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun district consumed rat poison under the Alapur police circle, after he felt that he had fared poorly in Physics examination, police said.

The police added the victim had been identified as Raghav Pathak, son of Bhaskar Pathak, a farmer. According to police, the 17-yearold victim was a student at a private school in Badaun. He took his Physics exam on March 1 and had been fretting over not securing a good score.

The stress over his performance may have eventually led him to take the extreme step, police

added.

The victim's father said, "My son was very bright in his studies and wanted to get admission to a top college. He was upset since he returned after giving the exam on Wednesday. I consoled him and advised him not to worry about his grades but he remained upset and locked himself in his room. In the evening, we found that Raghav had consumed poison and then immediately rushed him to a private hospital where his condition did not improve. We then rushed him to a government medical college where he breathed his last."

Need to adopt focused approach to impart best pharmacy education: MoS Health

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Health Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar on Monday underlined the need to adopt focused approach to impart the best pharmacy education in line with the latest developments.

"It is the need of the hour to change our gears and adopt a focused approach to impart the best pharmacy education keeping our curriculum in line with the latest developments in the field and also provide extensive education of specialized drugs so as to benefit the reach of pharmacists in the country," she said in her address at the inauguration of Pharma

Anveshan-2023 on the occasion of National Pharmacy Education Day. The event was organised with a vision of providing a platform for sharing the academic research with industry to exchange the benefits of research outcomes between academia and industry.

"A pharmacist is just as important as doctors and nurses in helping patients get treated for diseases and other health concerns.

Pharmacists know the science of medicine in and out. By educating a patient and making sure their prescription is safe to take with their other health conditions and medications, pharmacists

improve their quality of life and possibly even save a life," Pawar said, adding that pharmacists played a vital role in maintaining the supply chain of essential medicines during Covid.

Accentuating on the future healthcare landscape need, she underlined the pivotal role of pharmacists in the future of healthcare, evolving beyond dispensing medicines and becoming an essential part of the healthcare team. "Patient counselling and maintaining patient medical history can also be our focus area for better utilisation of medicines and reducing adverse events. Doing

so will help reduce the cost of treatment, she said. She said that the world trusts India today and this earned trust has garnered India the title of 'Pharmacy of the World'. It is important to ensure that the drugs manufactured in the country and consumed by international consumers are of high quality and comply with standard global manufacturing protocols, she stressed.

"This can be done by producing better quality generic medicines, medical devices in the country and by increasing Research & Development (R & D), innovation

and production capacity," she added.

The PCI also signed an MoU with the Karnataka Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Manufacturers Association (KDPMA), the Life Sciences Sector Skill Development Council (under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship) (LSSSDC), the Indian Pharma Alliance (IPA), and the Federation of Pharma Entrepreneurs (FOPE) to reduce the gap of industry and academia, strengthen faculty and student training and promote entrepreneurship and infrastructure development on the occasion.

World This Week

This week was dominated by the major trip Anthony Albanese is on currently visiting India, America, and Fiji. India, March 8: Anthony Albanese traveled to India, met PM Modi and other industrialists to strengthen the bilateral trade relationship. He was welcomed with holi colors and cultural goodies. Both PM discussed strategies for partnership that are of increasing strategic importance.

For Australia, India is a top tier security partner. The Indian Ocean is central to both countries' security and prosperity. Both of the countries' histories have had strong strategic alignment. Both are dependent on free and open access to sea lanes in the IndoPacific for trade and economic as well as wellbeing. Both countries share an unwavering commitment to upholding the rules-based international order and ensuring the Indo-Pacific is open, inclusive and prosperous.

President Anthony Albanese also met with American President Joe Biden and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to strike the nuclear submarine deal. 3 US manufactured submarines will be brought by Australia for the purpose of re-engineering and building submarines in Australia. The investment is expected to cost Australia 386 Million dollars. Yet another time Indonesia experienced Mt. Merapi eruption

Jakarta, March 15 (IANS)

Mount Merapi, located on the border between the Indonesian province of Central Java and the Special Region of Yogyakarta, erupted twice, spewing smoke and ash.

The country's geological disaster institute BPPTKG in a written statement reported that the volcano spewed hot ash at 5.50 a.m. and 5.59 a.m. local time on Tuesday.

Authorities have told nearby residents to avoid the area within a seven-kilometer radius of the crater, Xinhua news agency reported.

The status of Mount Merapi, the most active of Indonesia's 130 volcanoes, has stayed unchanged at its second highest level since November 2020.

In 2010, its major eruption killed more than 300 people and displaced 20,000 residents.

Pakistan faced a major political crisis with PM Imran Khan and protest broke out on streets

Lahore, March 14 (IANS):

Protests break out in major Pak cities at the call of Imran Khan. Protests broke out in major Pakistani cities on Tuesday at the call of PTI Chairman Imran Khan as police and party workers continued to clash outside his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, the media reported.

And Vietnam faced an economic crisis due to the rising inflation.

Hanoi, March 15 (IANS) :The State Bank of Vietnam has said it would cut its policy rates by 100 basis points from Wednesday to address the liquidity problem for households and businesses.

The discount rate will be cut to 3.5 per cent from 4.5 per cent, the interbank overnight lending rate to 6 percent from 7 per cent, while the refinancing rate will be kept unchanged at 6 per cent, the central bank said on Tuesday in a statement posted on its website.

The central bank will also cap bank dong loan rates at 5 per cent, down from 5.5 per cent, Xinhua news agency reported.

The central bank's last cut of the rates was in 2020 to support the economy through the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year, as Vietnam was faced with upward pressure on inflation and downward pressure on its currency, the central bank, taking similar steps by policymakers around the world, raised policy rates in September and widened the exchange rate trading band in October.

Vietnam will try to keep its economic growth at 6.5 per cent this year, backed by public investment, foreign direct investment, exports and domestic consumption.

While Japan raised its sexual consent age from 13 yrs, after more than a decade.

Tokyo, March 14 (IANS) Japan's Cabinet on Tuesday approved a bill to amend the country's Penal Code regarding the age of sexual consent and a range of sexual offense charges.

According to the bill aimed to be passed during the current parliamentary session, the age of sexual consent in Japan will be raised from 13 to 16, reports Xinhua news agency.

Sex with children under the age of 16 will be criminalized by raising the legal age of consent, with Japan having long been under pressure from child consultation centers here which deal with abuse, as well as international human rights organizations, for the legal age of consent to be raised.

The age of sexual consent in Japan has not been legally raised from 13 since its enactment in 1907. It was time China took the decision to lift the ban on travel restrictions. This week China lifted the ban and has allowed tourists to enter the country as well as fly out.

China to ease visa, entry policies

Beijing, March 14 (IANS)

Foreigners with valid visas issued before March 28, 2020 will be allowed to enter China, as the country is adjusting its visa and entry policies to facilitate travel across the border, the National Immigration Administration announced on Tuesday.

Govt focussed on semiconductor industry, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

telecom technology. We took that as a challenge and within two and a half years, a world class telecom stack is ready and is getting deployed as we speak. We recently tested it for 10 million simultaneous calls."

contribution to the world," the minister noted.

New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) Minister for Electronics, Railways and Telecom Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said that the government is focussing on the semiconductor industry for India.

"We are talking to all stakeholders in the semiconductor industry. It's a new industry and an uphill task, but we are committed to do what is needed," he said.

Addressing the scope for growth in the semiconductor industry, Vaishnaw said that a lot of interest has been shown by stakeholders in the sector, "We should see a vibrant semi-conductor industry in the next three to four years".

Vaishnaw, who was addressing the CII Partnership Summit, while commenting on developments in the telecom sector said, "Time has come where we need at least one more source in the telecom sector. The world has a handful of players, which is a barrier in many ways. India thus decided to make an end to end stack of

On the role of public investment in providing data connections to the most vulnerable sectors, Vaishnaw said, "Accessibility will always pose a challenge to take data connections to the most vulnerable sectors, and that is where public investment has to come in. We are investing about $8 billion in providing 4G and 5G services till the last mile." Affordability, the minister added, is extremely important in digitisation of India.

"Almost eight years back, the cost was about Rs 300 per GB of data. Now it is about Rs 14 per GB of data. It happened when we laid a clear policy framework for the telecom sector. The sector is now the entry point for digitisation," he informed.

Vaishnaw further said that India has opened up mass solutions such as vaccination and payment digitisation to the world, adding that these solutions are India's contribution to the world.

"Digitisation in payments, vaccination are population level solutions. Any country that would like to use these solutions, we humbly offer it to you. This is our

"We have a very large ecosystem of banks, companies, startups and then 1.2 billion people on Unified Payment Interface (UPI). This gives us power where no single company or player can dominate the country's money economy," Vaishnaw said while commenting on the UPI ecosystem and its capabilities.

On Indian railways, the minister, who also handles the portfolio, remarked that it is making a huge difference in transportation costs. "With more share in railways, logistics costs will dramatically come down. For a very long period of four to five decades, investment in railways was very small. It picked up after 2013. Since then it has increased from Rs 40,000 crore to Rs 2.41 lakh crore in the current budget," Vaishnaw informed.

"Our focus in railways is to increase railways' carrying capacity significantly. Our focus here is on Make In India and design in India by using our talent pool," the minister said.

Payment risk is the biggest risk in railway contracts, the minister said.

"We decided that if payment in railway contracts is not done within 30 days of invoice, the government will pay interest on it," Vaishnaw informed.

Wings for F-16 to be made by TataLockheed Martin JV in India

Chennai, March 10 (IANS)

Global defence aerospace player Lockheed Martin and Indias Tata Group have inked an agreement for the production of fighter plane wings at their joint venture Tata Lockheed Martin Aerostructures Ltd (TLMAL) in Hyderabad. According to Lockheed Martin, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) envisions production of 29 fighter wing shipsets, with an option of additional shipsets, with deliveries commencing in 2025.

"These wings are initially intended for the F-16 Block 70/72 jets and would be delivered to our US facility in Greenville, South Carolina, for inclusion into the production/final assembly line. However, the transfer of technology and manufacturing rigor that Lockheed Martin and Tata have demonstrated will transfer to the F-21 if/ when selected by the Indian Air Force. We are proposing the F-21

for India and these would be produced in India," a Lockheed Martin official told IANS. Lockheed Martin formally recognised TLMAL as a potential co-producer of fighter wings in October 2021 after the latter's successful production and qualification of a prototype fighter wing shipset. Through this prototype project, TLMAL was required to demonstrate the capability to perform detailed part manufacturing and delivery of a fully-compliant fuel-carrying 9-g, 12,000 hour, interchangeable/ replaceable representative fighter wing, Lockheed Martin said on Friday.

"That achievement further strengthened Lockheed Martin's partnership with India, and supports its F-21 offering for procurement of 114 new fighter aircraft exclusively for India and the Indian Air Force by proving additional indigenous production capability. The India F-21 represents an unprecedented strategic and economic opportunity for the US-India relationship and represents a catalyst to future advanced

technology cooperation," Lockheed Martin said.

According to the Lockheed Martin official, the F-21 would serve as a force multiplier for the Indian Air Force with an unmatched capability-to-cost ratio compared to the competition.

"In addition, the F-21 is equipped with state-of-the-art systems and sensors that would allow the Indian Air Force to detect, track and engage multiple targets in a contested environment. The current and future state of warfare is and will be centered on gathering and sharing information across multiple domains (air, land, sea, space and cyber) to make effective decisions as quickly as possible. The F-21 will be able to integrate across these domains and across Indian services to provide current and future relevance," the official added.

The F-21 will leverage advanced technologies from across the Lockheed Martin fighter portfolio. It is a single engine, low life cycle cost platform with an optimal max take-off weight right in between the Rafale and Tejas.

Another Hindu temple bears brunt of Khalistani hatred in Australia

the Queensland police officers, and they assured to ensure the safety of Temple and devotees."

Khalistan referendum.Between January 12 to 23 alone, three prominent Hindu temples in Melbourne were targetted.

role. He will arrive in Ahmedabad on March 8. He will also visit Mumbai on March 9 and reach Delhi later in the day.

Melbourne, March 4 (IANS) There seems to be no let-up in cases of temple attacks in Australia with Khalistan supporters targeting the Shree Laxmi Narayan Temple in Brisbane on Saturday.

Temple President Satinder Shukla told The Australia Today: "Priest and devotees called this morning and notified me about the vandalism on the boundary wall of our temple. We have informed

The latest incident, which comes just after Khalistani supporters targeted the Indian consulate in Brisbane on February 22, has left the Indian community angry and shocked.

Beginning 2023, Hindu temples in Australia have seen a spurt in vandal attacks by Khalistani elements defacing the walls with anti-India slogans and graffiti.

Last month, Brisbane's Gayatri Mandir received intimidating calls from Khalistan extremists based in Pakistan, asking the Hindu community to support the

"Khalistan supporters are terrorising the Australian Hindu community and making it a very traumatising experience to practice our religion and visit temples," a Brisbane resident told The Australia Today.

"The frequency and impunity with which the vandals appear to be operating are alarming, as are the graffiti which include glorification of anti-Indian terrorists," the Indian High Commission in Australia had said in a stronglyworded statement.

Police arrest 12 suspects, prevent 2.4 tonnes of cocaine from reaching Australia

a Mexican drug cartel, reports Xinhua news agency.

New Delhi, March 4 (IANS)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's India visit from March 8 and 11 is expected to provide further momentum to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

In Delhi, the visiting dignitary will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan on March 10.

Both the prime ministers will hold the Annual Summit to discuss areas of cooperation under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, besides regional and global issues of mutual interest.

Canberra, March 6 (IANS) The Western Australian (WA) Police Force said on Monday that 12 drug traffickers were arrested with a record haul of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine seized during an international covert operation. According to the police, the estimated street value of the seized drugs reached A$1 billion and the cocaine was linked to

The operation commenced in November last year after the 2.4 tonnes of cocaine, which was destined for Australia, was intercepted off the South American coastline.

As intelligence suggested that the drug traffickers were unaware of the seizure and held the belief that the cocaine remained in transit to Australia, the WA police substituted the cargo with an inert substance and dropped it in the ocean -- about 70 km west of the Perth coastline.

On December 30, 2022, officers

arrested three members of the shore party onboard a Cool Runnings boat.

The following day, six more men were caught while the police executed search warrants across the metropolitan area. Another three suspects were tracked down in January, including a 39-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman who hoarded over A$2 million in their vehicle.

"The 12 accused, some of whom are from America, New South Wales and the Northern Territory, are progressing through WA's courts," said the state police.

New robotic arm to 3D bioprint directly on organs inside human body

"I look forward to travelling to India next week at the invitation of Prime Minister @ narendramodi. We will work to strengthen our security cooperation and deepen our economic, sporting and educational ties," said Anthony Albanese on Twitter on Saturday ahead of his visit. He will be accompanied by Senator Don Farrell, Minister for Trade and Tourism, and Madeleine King MP, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, along with senior officials and a high-level business delegation. This will be Prime Minister Albanese's first visit in his current

Prime Minister Albanese will also call on President Droupadi Murmu.

As per the Ministry of External Affairs, India and Australia share warm and friendly relations based on common values and democratic principles.

The Strategic Partnership between the two countries was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in June 2020 which has been strengthened and deepened through frequent highlevel exchanges and enhanced cooperation across sectors.

Prime Minister Albanese's visit is expected to provide further momentum to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Sydney, March 6 (IANS) Australian researchers have developed a miniature and flexible soft robotic arm which could be used to 3D print biomaterial directly onto organs inside a person's body.

3D bioprinting is a process whereby biomedical parts are fabricated from so-called bioink to construct natural tissue-like structures.

Bioprinting is predominantly used for research purposes such as tissue engineering and in the development of new drugs -- and normally requires the use of large 3D printing machines to produce cellular structures outside the living body.

The tiny flexible 3D bioprinter, developed by researchers at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, has the ability to be inserted into the body just like an

endoscope and directly deliver multilayered biomaterials onto the surface of internal organs and tissues. The proof-of-concept device, known as F3DB, features a highly manoeuvrable swivel head that "prints" the bioink, attached to the end of a long and flexible snake-like robotic arm, all of which can be controlled externally.

According to the researchers, this could be especially important in surgery to remove certain cancers, especially colorectal cancer, via a process known as endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).

Within five to seven years, the technology could be used by medical professionals to access hard-to-reach areas inside the body via small skin incisions or natural orifices, said the researchers in a paper published in the journal Advanced Science.

Dr Thanh Nho Do and his team have tested their device inside an artificial colon, as well as 3D printing a variety of materials with different shapes on the surface of a pig's kidney.

"Existing 3D bioprinting

techniques require biomaterials to be made outside the body and implanting that into a person would usually require large open-field open surgery which increases infection risks," said Dr Do, Senior Lecturer at UNSW's Graduate School of Biomedical Engineering (GSBmE).

"Our flexible 3D bioprinter means biomaterials can be directly delivered into the target tissue or organs with a minimally invasive approach. "This system offers the potential for the precise reconstruction of threedimensional wounds inside the body, such as gastric wall injuries or damage and disease inside the colon," Do said. Further, experiments on living cells showed that the cells were not affected by the process, with the majority of the cells observed to be alive post-printing.

The cells then continued to grow for the next seven days, with four times as many cells observed one week after printing. The researchers also plan to implement additional features, such as an integrated camera and real-time scanning system which would reconstruct the 3D tomography of the moving tissue inside the body.

New Delhi, March 4 (IANS)

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Saturday met

Bharatiya Janata Party president J.P. Nadda here under the 'Know BJP' campaign at the party headquarters.

Abbott, a member of the Liberal Party, served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives (1994-2019). He was the Prime Minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015.

Taking to Twitter, Nadda wrote: "Met former Australian PM Abbott today as a part of our #KnowBJP campaign at the BJP HQ. We had an insightful discussion ranging from strengthening bilateral ties, to the BJP's vision for nation building and how we can learn from each other's experiences."

Nadda launched this initiative to make people more familiar with the BJP on the party's Foundation Day in April last year.

Through the 'Know BJP' campaign, the party seeks to improve bilateral ties with several nations while also educating the public about its principles and methods of operation.

We’ll work to strengthen security cooperation, says Australian PM ahead of India visit

Former Australian PM meets BJP chief Nadda

Australian cash rate hits record high since May 2012

expectations, it would be very costly to reduce later, involving even higher interest rates and a larger rise in unemployment," said Lowe.

decline this year and next to be around 3 per cent in mid-2025.

Sydney

Canberra, March 7 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has decided to lift the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 3.6 per cent, the highest since May 2012. This is the 10th consecutive rate hike since May of last year when the RBA announced the first 25-basis-point increase, reports Xinhua news agency.

Following an RBA board meeting on Tuesday, the bank's Governor Philip Lowe said in a statement that high inflation makes life difficult for people and damages the functioning of the economy. "And if high inflation were to become entrenched in people's

According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 7.4 per cent in the 12 months to January.

"The monthly CPI indicator suggests that inflation has peaked in Australia. Goods price inflation is expected to moderate over the months ahead due to both global developments and softer demand in Australia.

"Services price inflation remains high, with strong demand for some services over the summer. Rents are increasing at the fastest rate in some years, with vacancy rates low in many parts of the country," said Lowe.

The Governor revealed that the central forecast is for inflation to

Meanwhile, Lowe noted that growth in the Australian economy has slowed, with GDP increasing by 0.5 per cent in the December quarter and 2.7 pe rcent over the year.

"Growth over the next couple of years is expected to be below trend," he added.

The central bank acknowledged that the full effect of the cumulative increase in interest rates is yet to be felt in mortgage payments and some Australians are experiencing a painful squeeze on their budgets. But Lowe said that a further tightening of monetary policy will be needed to ensure that inflation returns to the 2-3 per cent target range and that this period of high inflation is only temporary.

Rooftop solar set to surpass coal as Australia’s largest power generator

It forecast that when the 2,000 MW Liddell coal plant is closed by energy giant AGL in April, rooftop solar will become Australia's biggest electricity source for the first time.

"This is an immense amount that has been made possible due to millions of Australian households and businesses and supported by Australia's thriving solar industry."

Sydney, March 6 (IANS) The police force in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has declared a critical incident investigation, after an armed man was shot dead in southwest Sydney.

According to a statement released by NSW Police Force, officers were called to a home in William Street, Yagoona, at about 8:50 a.m. local time, responding to reports of a domestic violence-related incident.

The police said that on arrival, officers were allegedly threatened by an armed man. A police officer discharged his firearm after a Taser was deployed, Xinhua news agency reported.

First aid was immediately rendered to the 29-year-old man until the arrival of NSW Ambulance paramedics. He was taken to Liverpool Hospital where he later died.

NSW Police Force said that a critical incident team comprised of officers from State Crime Command's Homicide Squad will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, including the discharge of the police firearm.

The man was wielding two large knives when a female and a male officer arrived, NSW Police Force Assistant Commissioner Stuart Smith told local media, noting that the female officer fell to the ground during the confrontation and the man tried to attack her with both knives.

"What I can describe as what followed was an attempt by this male to either wound or kill the male police officer, who then deployed his police service weapon and fired three rounds," Smith said.

The assistant commissioner added that both officers were injured, sustaining superficial wounds.

It is the second fatal police shooting in NSW in a week. On Tuesday, a 32-year-old knifewielding man was killed inside the Auburn Police Station in western Sydney.

Canberra, March 1 (IANS) Rooftop solar is set to overtake coal as Australia's most prominent source of power, according to a new report published on Wednesday. The report, published by solar consultancy firm SunWiz, revealed the generation capacity of small-scale solar systems on households and business roofs has surpassed 20,000 megawatts (MW), or 20 gigawatts (GW), reports xINHUA NEWS AGENCY.

There are more than 3.4 million rooftop solar systems in Australia, with 300,000 being installed every year.

"When the Liddell coal-fired power station closes in April 2023, rooftop solar alone will generate more power than the remaining coal-fired power stations operating across the country, making rooftop solar the largest power generator," Warwick Johnston, Managing Director of SunWiz, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

In the northeastern state of Queensland, 82 per cent of dwellings deemed suitable for the technology have solar panels, more than double the worldleading national rate.

It took Australia 11 years to reach its first 10,000 MW of solar generation capacity and just four years for the second 10,000 MW, the report said.

It forecast that total installations will add 3,000 MW in 2023 and exceed 3,200 MW in 2024.

Fire danger rises in Aus state amid severe weather conditions

be contained, including two at emergency warning levels.

Firefighters and aircraft are working in difficult conditions in the state's central west, where numerous fires are burning, said NSW RFS.

Sydney, March 7 (IANS) Australiabased software company

Sydney, March 6 (IANS) Hot, windy and mostly dry weather conditions over the eastern and northern parts of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) have led to rising fire dangers from Monday through Wednesday. NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) said that as of 6.30 p.m. on Monday, there were 38 bush and grass fires, reports Xinhua news agency. Total fire bans are now in place for multiple regions across NSW, with three bushfires and one grass fire still yet to

According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), maximum temperatures are forecast to spike six to 12 degrees centigrade above average across eastern parts of NSW.

The eastern parts of the state are also likely to see dry thunderstorms on Monday, with the potential for lightning to spark new fires due to a lack of rainfall, while northeast NSW may be affected by severe thunderstorms with damaging winds in the next two days.

"These conditions are being

driven by hot and dry continental west-north-westerly winds, bringing the high temperatures to eastern NSW including Sydney," said the BOM.

"It is not unusual to experience heatwaves during early autumn as the weather transitions from the warmer months of summer to the cold of winter."

The weather bureau is reminding residents that some hot weather can still occur even though the heatwave is likely to peak on Tuesday before easing throughout NSW on Wednesday and Thursday. Last week, the BOM issued its long-range forecast for autumn, indicating that La Nina is likely near its end in the Pacific Ocean, and much of Australia is likely to be drier and warmer than usual.

Atlassian, known for making tools like Jira, Confluence and Trello, has announced to lay off 5 per cent of its workforce, or about 500 employees.

Atlassian co-founders and coCEOs Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar in a note on Monday announced that this move shouldn't be seen as a reflection of the company's financial performance.

Rather, the co-founders presented this decision as a "rebalancing" that will allow the company to focus on areas where it is growing.

"We've made hard calls to reduce our investment in specific areas, in order to reinvest in others. This is different to a financially-driven reduction, where you would look to make abroad-based cuts -- for example, a 10 per cent cut equally distributed across every org

within the company. This is not what is happening here," the cofounders wrote in a blogpost. Atlassian will lay off workers in areas such as talent acquisition, programme management, and "research and insights".

The company will be offering affected employees 15 weeks of severance pay, plus one additional week per year of service, with unused paid time off also getting paid out.

Further, it will offer accelerated vesting and employer-sponsored healthcare for the next six months, as well as visa support, also the employees will be able to keep their work laptops, too.

2 found guilty of murdering man outside Hindu temple in UK

on August 30, 2022 and died later in hospital, the BBC reported.

A jury at Reading Crown Court convicted Hassan Al-Kubanji, 22, of Pimlico in London, and drug dealer Riaz Miah, 21, of no fixed address on Thursday, adjourning their sentencing until April 3. While Miah previously pleaded guilty to supplying heroin and cocaine as well as possessing a blade in public, the jury found Al-Kubanji not guilty of the same three offences.

According to a Reading Chronicle report, the defendants began shouting after the verdict and a brawl broke out in the court with riot police being called subsequently.

Kayani, a keen boxer and a Virgin Atlantic Heathrow check-in agent, was stabbed in the chest and collapsed in a pool of blood.

He was chased from a playground in Concorde Way to the Slough Hindu Temple after an "altercation", according to media reports.

than 100,000 people in reception centres.

London, March 10 (IANS) Two men have been found guilty of fatally stabbing a man outside a Hindu temple located in South East of England, media reports said.

Mohammed Rafaqit Kayani, 24, from Slough, was found injured in the temple car park in Keel Drive

A third defendant, Miguel Parian John, 42, was found guilty of assisting an offender and two counts of blade possession. However, he was cleared of two counts of possessing cocaine and heroin with intent to supply, the report said. John will be sentenced at a later date.

The Reading Crown Court heard earlier that Miah and Al-Kubanji were allegedly "defending themselves" from Kayani and his friend Adil Mahmood.

Kayani's wife described him as "a loving son, caring brother, selfless friend and proud Muslim man".

Egypt’s Prez urges intensive efforts to calm Israeli-Palestinian tensions

Cairo, March 9 (IANS) Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi has called for exerting intensive international efforts to achieve calm in the Palestinian territories amid the rising Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

Sisi made the remarks on Wednesday during his talks with visiting US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement issued by the Egyptian presidency.

The meeting focused on a number of regional and international issues, including the decades-

long Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the statement said.

Sisi also called for halting unilateral measures and escalation in the conflict, while reaffirming the two-state solution as "the pathway toward achieving just and comprehensive peace for the benefit of the peoples of the region".

During the meeting, also attended by Egypt's Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki, Sisi emphasised "Egypt's commitment to further intensifying cooperation with the US in an array of areas, particularly in the military and

security fields, the statement said. Austin expressed Washington's appreciation of Egypt's key role in the Middle East as "a rational and responsible stabilising force", while underlining the US commitment to further strengthen its cooperation and strategic partnership with Egypt, particularly the defense cooperation.

Austin's visit to Egypt came following his visits to Jordan and Iraq where he met with leaders of both countries.

China’s new Foreign Minister warns of potential for conflict with US

Guardian reported.

Beijing, March 7 (IANS) The US and China are heading towards inevitable conflict if Washington does not change its approach, Chinas new Foreign Minister Qin Gang said in a fiery press conference on Tuesday in which he also defended his countrys strengthening relationship with Russia.

In his first media appearance as Foreign Minister, Qin Gang outlined China's foreign policy agenda for the coming years, presenting Beijing and its relationship with Russia as a beacon of strength and stability, and the US and its allies as a source of tension and conflict, the

Qin said the Washington side claimed that it wanted to outcompete China but didn't seek conflict "but in reality, the US side's so-called competition is allout containment and suppression, a zero-sum game where you die and I live".

"If the US does not hit the brakes but continues to speed down the wrong path, no amount of guardrail can prevent derailing, and there will surely be conflict and confrontation."

Qin defended the close friendship between China and Russia, a relationship closely watched by the west in light of the war in Ukraine, the Guardian reported.

He said the ties between Beijing and Moscow "set an example for global foreign relations".

"With China and Russia working together, the world will have a driving force," he said.

"The more unstable the world becomes the more imperative it is for China and Russia to steadily advance their relations."

He said there was "close contact" between the leadership of the two countries, with "head of state" relations forming the anchor of the relationship.

"The strategic partnership will surely grow from strength to strength."

Qin's comments aligned with a speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping, to political delegates on Monday, decrying what he called US-led "suppression" of China, the Guardian reported.

"Western countries led by the US have implemented all-round containment, encirclement and suppression of China, which has brought unprecedented severe challenges to our country's development," he said.

United Nations, March 10 (IANS)

The UN and its specialised agencies have continued delivering aid to Turkey and Syria following the devastating February 6 quakes that killed more than 53,300 people in the two countries, a spokesman said. In Syria, at least 8.8 million people were affected by the earthquakes, which, among other factors, also have a significant impact on the response to a cholera outbreak, said Farhan Haq, the deputy spokesman for UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres.

"Our partners launched a cholera vaccination campaign in earthquake-hit areas of Northwest Syria on Tuesday," Xinhua news agency quoted Haq as saying.

"They plan to distribute 1.7 million vaccine doses in high-risk areas. More than 53,000 suspected cholera cases and 23 associated deaths have been reported in Northwest Syria as of March 5."

More than 100,000 people who had their water infrastructure damaged received water since the start of the response, he said.

Humanitarian workers have also provided hygiene kits to more

"Our colleagues also tell us that 3.7 million children in earthquakeaffected areas across Syria are facing the risk of contracting diseases and lack access to basic services," Haq told a regular briefing.

He said the Syria earthquake flash appeal has received $218 million, or 55 per cent, of the nearly $400 million needed.

Turning to Turkey, the spokesman said the world body continues to support the governmentled response to the massive earthquakes.

"The UN and our partners have provided more than 42,000 tents and hundreds of thousands of blankets, bedsheets and mattresses," he said.

"More than 900,000 people have received food assistance and the World Food Programme has supplied more than 5.7 million food packages and hot meals."

Haq said the World Health Organization provides healthcare to nearly 24,000 people.

The Unicef reached 319,000 people, including more than 183,000 children, with hygiene kits and non-food items, winter clothes and heaters, among other critical supplies.

However, Haq said the Turkey earthquake appeal of $1 billion is only 10.4 per cent funded.

China agrees to help SL’s debt restructuring

bilateral creditor to the island nation accounting for 52 per cent, had been hampering Sri Lanka's effort to get the much needed dollar bail out promised by the IMF in last September.

Colombo, March 7 (IANS)

Breaking the biggest barrier to receive the promised conditional International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout package of $2.9 billion to help Sri Lanka's cashstrapped economy, China has given assurance to help the island nations debt restructuring programme.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe on Tuesday informed Parliament that the government received a letter of assurance from the Chinese Exim Bank on Monday night and the letter of intent signed by the Central Bank Governor and himself was sent to the IMF immediately. Wickremesinghe, who also the Finance portfolio, assured that once the IMF agreement is reached, the deal would be tabled in Parliament along with the draft of the government's future plan and road map.

A delay by China the biggest

Referring to Sri Lanka's attempt reach the IMF conditions to get the bailout, in January US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung urged China not to be a spoiler. "For the sake of the Sri Lankan people, we certainly hope China is not a spoiler as they proceed to attain this IMF agreement," she complained.

In an interview to the BBC on January the US Ambassador claimed that the greater onus to move with regard to Sri Lanka's debt restructuring, a prerequisite for an IMF bailout, was on China, as the biggest bilateral lender. "We hope that they do not delay because Sri Lanka does not have time to delay. They need these assurances immediately," Ambassador Chung stated. Accounting for 12 per cent of total debt, India, the third largest bilateral creditor to Sri Lanka after China and Japan, was the first to formally inform the IMF of its assurance for the external debt restructuring programme.

UN agencies continue to deliver quake-related aid to Syria, Turkey

China open to US Commerce Secretary’s visit: Official

Beijing, March 8 (IANS) China is open to US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo's wish to visit the country this year, as it is very important for the commerce departments of both sides to maintain dialogue and communication, a Chinese Commerce Ministry official said

on Wednesday.

"We have noticed relevant media reports but have not received any proposal from the US side on Raimondo's visit to China," the official with the Ministry of Commerce said in response to an inquiry, Xinhua news agency

Facebook users in S.Korea dip below 10 mn, young people ditch platform

reported.

China will remain committed to addressing each other's concerns through dialogue and will promote constructive and pragmatic cooperation, the official added.

World faces biggest cholera surge in 20 years

from the storm season in Southern Africa risks further fuelling outbreaks, even as the weekly case tally in the continent appears to dip.

London, March 7 (IANS) The world is facing the biggest surge in cholera for at least 20 years, as economic crises, climate change and the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic see deadly outbreaks flourish, experts say. At least 30 countries have seen flare-ups of the water-borne infection, long associated with poverty, inadequate hygiene and poor sanitation, including several which have not seen the disease for years, The Telegraph reported. The combination of the number and scale of the outbreak is thought to be the worst in decades and comes after many countries had made progress cutting deaths from the infection. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that flooding

Philippe Barboza, the WHO lead for cholera emergencies, said patchy historic data made it difficult to compare this year's outbreaks with the past, but they were the biggest seen in two decades.

"I would say the number of countries with these large outbreaks occurring at the same time, we have not seen it in at least 20 years," he told The Telegraph.

Health services that had been overwhelmed by Covid in the past three years were struggling to stop outbreaks or protect people when they were underway. Public health efforts to prevent cholera had often been put on hold during the pandemic.

Malawi has been battling its worst outbreak since records began in the 1970s and had seen 1,564 deaths by the end of February.

A new storm and flooding season is now battering Southern Africa and may make outbreaks worse. Mozambique reports cases have been growing exponentially since December 2022 and are cropping up in areas where it has not been seen for more than five years, The Telegraph reported.

Barboza said climate change was thought to be adding to the problem.

He said: "Most of the major outbreaks we are looking at are all driven by major, unusual climate events."

The worrying spread of the outbreaks is underlined by the return of cases to countries where the disease is no longer endemic and has not been seen for decades, he said.

Lebanon has been dealing with its first outbreak in 30 years while the country endures an economic collapse described by the World Bank as one of the worst in the past 150 years, The Telegraph reported.

Women deeply under-represented in govt leadership roles: UN report

The report also showed that men continue to dominate policy areas such as economy, defense, justice and home affairs portfolios. Women only comprise 12 per cent of cabinet ministers leading defence and local government portfolios, 11 per cent in energy, natural resource fuels and mining portfolios, and 8 per cent in transport portfolios.

Seoul, March 10 (IANS) The number of Facebook users in South Korea fell to a record low last month as a growing number of young people opted to use Instagram and other social media platforms, industry data showed. Facebook had a combined 9.79 million South Korean monthly active users (MAU) on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store as of last month, down 2.6 per cent from a month ago, according to the data by Mobile Index.

It is the first time that Facebook's MAU in South Korea dropped to below the 10-million threshold since Mobile Index started to compile related data in 2020, reports Yonhap news agency. Its monthly figure has been on a steady decline since August 2021, when it hit 13.41 million.

Insiders said the decline came as the younger generation prefers using other social media more compatible with shortform content like Instagram to Facebook's traditional text-heavy features.

Mobile Index said the number of Instagram's MAU reached 18.52 million last month in South Korea, up 7 per cent from a year earlier. According to a separate survey by the Korea Press Foundation, 46.1 per cent of local students in elementary, middle and high schools said they used Facebook last year, down from 80.3 per cent in 2019.

But the favourable response to Instagram rose sharply to 81.6 per cent in 2022 from 61 per cent in 2019.

EU considers sending more military support to Ukraine

Geneva, March 8 (IANS)

More women than ever hold political decision-making posts worldwide but gender parity is still far off, according to a report jointly released by the InterParliamentary Union (IPU) and the UN Women.

The report, presenting the latest rankings and regional distribution of women in executive positions and national parliaments as of January 1 of this year, showed the number of women in political leadership roles has increased overall, Xinhua news agency reported. However, women are still deeply under-represented in government leadership roles, and

remain a minority as heads of state and government, according to the report.

At the very start of this year, 11.3 per cent of countries have women heads of state (monarchybased systems excluded), and 9.8 per cent have women heads of government. These represent an increase from a decade ago, when figures stood at 5.3 per cent and 7.3 per cent respectively.

According to the report, only 13 countries, mostly in Europe, have gender-equal cabinets, with 50 per cent or more women cabinet members serving as ministers. Nine countries have no woman cabinet member heading any ministry.

"We're witnessing ongoing progress in the number of women in politics this year, which is encouraging. However, we still have a long way to go to reach gender equality when we see the current rates of growth," said IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong.

Stockholm, March 9 (IANS)

European Union (EU) defence ministers discussed the idea of sending further military support to Ukraine, at an informal meeting in the Swedish capital Stockholm.

"There was increasing consensus around the table that the EU needs to act in order to provide the Ukrainians with more ammunition," Sweden's Minister for Defence Pal Jonson said in a video released after the meeting, Xinhua news agency reported.

The defence ministers discussed a plan by Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, for the EU to reimburse member states who

immediately send more artillery ammunition to Ukraine.

Under the plan, member states would also jointly purchase large quantities of ammunition through the European Defense Agency, to speed up deliveries while keeping costs down.

The EU plans to allocate two billion euros ($2.1 billion) from the European Peace Facility to the purchase of ammunition.

"I hope that by our next defense ministers' meeting on March 20 in Brussels we actually will be able to reach an agreement," Jonson said after the meeting.

Nearly 65% women prefer housing as investment, while gold loses lustre: Survey

is the 'sweet spot' for 36 per cent of women home seekers, and 27 per cent prefer premium homes priced from Rs 90 lakh to Rs 1.5 crore. Twenty per cent prefer luxury homes priced over Rs 1.5 crore.

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) A new survey has revealed that nearly 65 per cent women preferred housing as an investment asset class while just 8 per cent of them preferred gold for investment. While women are a key homebuyer segment, nearly 83 per cent of the women respondents in ANAROCK's most recent Consumer Sentiment Survey, are looking at homes priced above Rs 45 lakhs. The Rs 45-90 lakh budget range

Affordable homes priced under Rs 45 lakh are the least preferred. The survey by the real estate consultancy firm also found that gold has lost its sheen even as real estate has gained favour for women investors.

At least 65 per cent of women homebuyers now prefer to invest in real estate, followed by 20 per cent favouring the stock markets. Just 8 per cent of women respondents favour gold, and 7 per cent prefer FDs.

Santhosh Kumar, Vice Chairman, ANAROCK Group, said: "Over the last decade, women have emerged as a major residential real estate buyer segment, especially in the urban centres. Their preferences are also distinctly shaping newer trends -- from bigger homes, ready-to-move properties to specific budgets, they know exactly what they want. And like millennials, their preferences now influence the supply that developers put on the market." More women are now also buying property for investment. As per the survey, the ratio of women buying properties for end-use and investment has changed from the previous survey. It now stands at 77:23, where it was previously 82:18.

India’s white-collar sector sees 35% spike in jobs for women: Report

The highest demand share of women in the workforce is currently held by the ITES/BPO (36 per cent) industry, followed by IT/computers-software (35 per cent), and banking/accounting/ financial services (22 per cent).

Bengaluru, March 6 (IANS) India's white-collar sector has seen a 35 per cent spike in job openings for women, compared to last year, according to a report released on Monday.

It is primarily because women, who dropped out of work during the pandemic to become full-time caregivers, have now re-joined the workforce, revealed the report by talent management platform foundit (formerly known as Monster jobs).

In addition, the focused efforts by India Inc such as introducing benefits such as menstrual leaves and childcare, introducing programmes to fight bias in the workplace, allowing flexibility at work, and diversity-focused hiring, among others are helping increase female participation in the workforce.

Further, Delhi-NCR (21 per cent) is leading with the highest percentage of jobs available for women, followed by Mumbai (15 per cent), Bengaluru (10 per cent), Chennai (9 per cent) and Pune (7 per cent).

It is also interesting to note that 6 per cent of the total women workforce on the platform are those who have taken a career break and returned to work. Moreover, freelance roles account for 4 per cent of the total jobs for women, indicating a rise in gig-based opportunities in the white-collar economy.

"There have been many economic success stories of women in the last 50 years, but one of the biggest has been the stride they have made in the labour market. Women leaders worldwide have

made headlines for how well they managed to stay afloat in times of great crisis. But there is still work to be done and miles to walk," said Sekhar Garisa, CEO, foundit (formerly Monster, APAC & ME). The report also showed that the job roles with the most significant percentage of women are customer service/ call centre/ BPO at 25 per cent. IT roles hold the second largest share at 23 per cent, followed by HR roles at 18 per cent and sales/ business development at 12 per cent. Across experience levels, women in leadership hold 8 per cent of the total share, indicating a great scope for more growth and inclusivity at workplaces.

"There is a radical need for increasing women participation in the workforce across all sectors if we were to achieve our dream of becoming a 5 trillion-dollar nation," Garisa said.

"Companies need to innovate their work modes to ensure flexibility, actively work to foster an inclusive workplace, and ensure that diversity extends beyond their hiring pamphlet," he added.

Cryptocurrency transactions to come under money laundering provisions: Govt

under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act or PMLA, the Centre has said.

This was announced through a gazette notification, issued on March 7.

The step has been taken to tighten misuse of digital assets.

Government in the gazette has warned investors against "participation in and provision of financial services related to an issuer's offer and sale of a virtual digital asset".

According to the Income tax act, a virtual digital asset refers to any information, code, number, or token generated through cryptographic means.

Hong Kong, March 6 (IANS)

Google is now laying off employees in China that have hit senior positions and highpaying workers as part of the global announcement, the media reported on Monday.

The aim of the company is to "reset the salary standard and reduce operating costs while improving overall work efficiency", reports Pandaily.

The compensations include stock and annual leave discount and 30,000 yuan ($4,339) in cash and medical insurance, and these benefits can only be obtained by signing the agreement of leaving the company before March 10, the report noted.

"In addition, Google has provided a three-month buffer period for laid-off employees, during which they cannot work but will continue to be paid normally," it

added.

Alphabet, Google's parent company, recently laid off 12,000 workers and even 100 robots that cleaned its cafeterias at its headquarters. The company sacked about 400 employees in India as part of the global announcement.

On January 20, Google CEO Sundar Pichai confirmed in a letter to employees that about 12,000 people will be laid off globally, accounting for more than 6 per cent of the total workforce. Several Google employees went to social media, especially LinkedIn, to share their plight.

Denying that the layoffs were done "randomly", Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai had said that he is "deeply sorry" for reducing the workforce.

In an email to employees, Pichai said he takes "full responsibility for the decisions that led us here".

The layoffs at Google's parent company were expected amid the deepening funding winter that has hit companies of all sizes in the global slowdown and recession fears.

Govt focussing on maintaining quality in products: Piyush Goyal

respect for domestic products and Indian producers.

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS)

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said that the government is focussing on maintaining quality in Indian products, and to ensure this, practical quality standards would be introduced to strengthen manufacturing competitiveness and to protect consumers.

Addressing an industry body event organised by FICCI, Goyal said that the consumer industry in the country, FMCGs and other products have been impacted by indiscriminate low quality products, adding that India's imports from a certain geography (hinting at China), had widened the trade deficit enormously, thus weakening domestic manufacturing. The minister asked manufacturers, FMCG providers and consumers to work collectively to revive Indian domestic manufacturing in terms of scale by ensuring high quality at competitive prices.

Focus on domestic quality will stop the influx of low quality products into the country, the minister noted further. Goyal said that when India liberalised its economy, a number of foreign companies and foreign suppliers entered the country, with some of them manufacturing in India. Many of them, he said, had imported goods into India.

"That should have been a period where quality Indian manufacturing at scale had to be strengthened. (But) I think we lost out by allowing a lot of indiscriminate, low quality, low cost goods coming into the country," he rued.

New

"Exchange and transfer of virtual digital assets would also fall under PMLA laws," the notification further said.

In this, the FMCG sector should be a major driver of economic growth in India, Goyal added, urging consumers to foster

"The government over the last few years has focussed its energies on bringing back the building blocks to get manufacturing into India again and it's going to be a long haul," he added. Goyal stressed on the importance of buying products which ultimately provided jobs, which will not only strengthen countries which are inimical to India's interests, but also strengthen India's economy, will have more people become consumers and help boost the virtuous cycle that of investments in India, money spent in India, leading to jobs in India, incomes for the people of India, who then become consumers.

Google now begins laying off employees in China

Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Any participation in transactions involving virtual digital assets or cryptocurrency, would come

From the editor’s desk Test cricket should not be made into a farce

MARDI GRAS 2023

This Mardi Gras was coveted as years of the COVID-19 pandemic stalled the celebrations on the streets of Sydney. Anthony Albanese immortalized his name as the first prime minister of Australia when he marched with the LGBTQIA+ community at the 45th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and gave us reasons to celebrate and reflect simultaneously. Since 1978, only 45 years after it was first held in Australia, could the nation’s prime minister show such solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community.

From people being arrested during the first Mardi Gras in 1978 to the NSW Police partaking in the parade in 1998, from the NSW Police and Government apologizing in 2016 for the persecution of the community in 1978 to the Australian Federal Police embracing the community at the recently held parade in Sydney, Australia has come a long way.

While the police’s act of arresting the members of the community in 1978 and divulging their details publicly led to immense social and mental harm culminating in suicides by some people whose details had been published in Sydney Morning Herald, the circumstances that the community finds itself in even today are at times precarious and vulnerable.

Many Australians still harbour homophobia. The attacks in early 2022 by teenage boys on gay men in Sydney, the suicide committed by a gay teenage boy in Brisbane in 2016 after

horrendous abuse, the 2007 near-fatal street attack on gay partners in Sydney, the attacks on gay men throughout the 1990s and 1980s leading to murders and suicides in Australia or the shameful attack on Miss Universe Australia’s brother after the recently concluded Mardi Gras 2023, are testimonies to the fact that the mindset of hate towards the gay community is still creeping within our community despite numerous successful people throughout the world openly identifying with the community.

Ellen DeGeneres, Miley Cyrus, Sia, Sam Smith, Penny Wong, Vikram Seth, and Tim Cook among many others are just a few examples of influential people around the world who have proudly come out and added glitters to the colourful community.

But many still suffer in silence. The stigmatization of the community and their victimization by the society not only impacts them directly but also affects many other important aspects of their lives. First, it can affect their ability to earn and deteriorate their social standing. Second, it can impede their health outcomes due to the inability to avail of quality health services. Third, it can also severely hamper their mental abilities and lead them to life-threatening impulses such as consuming drugs and considering suicide. Lastly, societal pressures adversely affect their relationships which in turn impacts their ability to sustain long-term relationships

BY YAJURVINDRA SINGH

The conventional and traditional form of the game, 'Test Cricket' cannot be made into a farce. A 5-day encounter is specifically there to bring forth the essence of what the royal game stands for. It brings out patience, tenacity, concentration and several other characteristics that make up the battle between two teams. Victory is the ultimate aim, however, getting to it over the 15 sessions and 450 overs provided, with warlike planning, is what makes it interesting and absorbing.

The instant world that we live in has brought about a completely different mindset, not only amongst the spectators and followers but also in the way the cricketers and the cricket administrators perceive it. Capturing 'eyeballs' seems to be the order of the day. The commercial aspect of exploiting it requires exciting cricket to keep the fans interested. The slow and steady pace is not at all appreciated and a respectable draw becomes a disappointing result.

In order to pep up and create a drama, doctored wickets are prepared and the fashionable approach of aggressive cricket, now popularly referred to as 'Bazball' has made its way into the popularity chart.

The third Test between India and Australia in Indore and the two previous Test matches are good examples of under-prepared wickets. It may be an exciting prospect to see wickets falling or batters struggling to keep afloat, however, the contest between the bat and the ball, unfortunately, diminishes to favour the bowler. The outcome of it is that an

average Test match bowler is seen as a demon. Whereas, the batters, however, accomplished, seem to be praying to the almighty to survive.

India, quite understandably, wants to win the series against Australia convincingly to qualify for the final of the ICC World Test Championship, however, to have matches finish in 3days definitely does not augur well for the game. The home and away concept is an acceptable format. An International cricketer looks forward to playing in unfamiliar conditions, as it is a challenge and one in which one looks forward to succeeding. The bouncy wickets of Australia and South Africa. the green tops of England and New Zealand and the turning pitches of the Asian countries are what make cricket so enduring and absorbing. A cricketer revelling in these unfamiliar waters is what differentiates the "Men from the Boys".

In India, the curators at all the Test centres were expert groundsmen. They lived every day of their lives nurturing each strip of the wicket and knew exactly the characteristics of each one of them. They all loved cricket as much as any enthusiastic player and their aim were to ensure that a wicket was prepared to give that tad of an advantage to their team, however, ensuring that the very essence of the game remains intact. Unfortunately, the days of this unrecognised loyal and diehard breed of local curators have gradually disappeared.

The BCCI now has a team of curators who are given the task of preparing wickets at various centres. The problem that arises is that although each one may be competent, however, they may

lack an understanding of the layers of what is underneath the surface. With the effect of climate change that seems to have taken over the world, the unconditional weather would play a huge part as well for them to understand.

This is precisely why a diktat of preparing a turning track in India has gone totally awry. The easiest way to do so is to ensure not to water the wicket and keep it dry. Similarly, in cold and damp countries, a layer of fresh grass would be the course of action. Both these easy ways have not proven to be an ideal solution.

Cricket somehow has lost the true breed of wicket-preparers. In India, one played on tracks that were prepared to cater to good cricket for two and a half days of the Test match and thereafter, spin and cutters of the ball came into play. One still needed the skill to out-fox the batsman. On the green tracks, it went the other way round.

One's technique was tested to the hilt when facing the moving ball in the early part of one's innings, however, as the days went by the wicket became a wonderful one to bat on. Both the batter and the bowler had that short period of time to flourish and this battle between the bowling and the batting side was what made Test cricket a treat to watch.

The Bazball has misfired where England is concerned against New Zealand in their last Test encounter. Overconfidence and brashness have brought them down to reality. Test cricket is not a joyful adventure but one in which the one who succeeds is the winner. England can console themselves for their loss by the fact that they showcased positivity. However, a defeat even by a single run is one that hurts internally and will linger on for quite a while.

India, on the other hand, have been shaken and not stirred through their own homemade strategy. The behaviour of the wicket that was now curated by the so-called professionals proved to be their nemesis.

One hopes that the newly built Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad brings good fortune to the Indian side in their next Test and final encounter against Australia. The Indian team have the firepower to succeed without any intervention.

For God's sake let us not make Test cricket into a farce, just to qualify.

(Yajurvindra Singh is a former India cricketer. The views expressed are personal)

Trade pact with India will unlock potential for future investments: Aus PM

CEO forum here, Albanese said the business delegation accompanying him is one of the most serious and high-profile delegations to visit India from Australian shores.

He also said that it is a turning point in accelerating economic co-operation and mutual benefits in the relationship between the two countries.

Mumbai, March 9 (IANS)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Thursday that the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) signed between India and Australia is a transformative agreement, which will unlock the next level of potential in trade and investment. Addressing the India-Australia

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, who was present at the event, said that the current goal of doubling bilateral trade must be reset by the industries and CEOs present, as there is great potential to increase trade manifold between the two nations.

He reiterated the growth potential of bilateral trade and

investments between India and Australia.

Goyal, while recalling his previous visit to Australia in April last year, recounted his interaction with the CEO of Cochlear, Australian hearing implant manufacturers. After the interaction, he had reassured Goyal that their current market share in India was only a minuscule of the potential for the business, given India's population, rapid growth in middle class and the growing demands of the overall economy for a better lifestyle. The forum was organised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce, along with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in order to leverage the ever-growing trade and investment opportunities between the two countries.

CLOSE-IN: A sparkling start to women’s franchise cricket in India

BY YAJURVINDRA SINGH

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) should be complimented in organising the Women's Premier League. It was inaugurated by some dance sequences by young Bollywood stars, however, it sparkled through a dashing innings played by India's captain, Harmanpreet Kaur. This was the ideal beginning to a tournament that could change the face for the betterment of women's cricket in India, forever.

The WPL being played in the line of the fastest-growing sports event in the world, the Indian Premier League, is a platform that highlights professionalism to the core.

In India, cricket has always had a serious following, however, it was looked upon as just a sport to play and enjoy. 'Amateur' was the way in which it was perceived and professionalism came about once it was suitably commercialized.

The early days of Indian cricket were a good example of cricketers going to England to play in various club and county leagues to earn money during the Indian off-season.

The great Indian all-rounder, Vinoo Mankad, opted out of an Indian squad that was to tour England in 1952, because of his commitment to play for a club in the then-famous Lancashire League. His retort to everyone was that he needed the money to live. Fortunately for India, Mankad's club allowed him to represent India and they were compensated for the matches that he missed while doing so. After a serious and humiliating loss that India suffered at Old Trafford against England, Mankad was recalled to bolster the side. He stood out like a knight in shining armour, through his stupendous feat at the Lord's by his brilliant performance, the best-ever by an

IND v AUS, 4th Test: Rohit Sharma, Steve Smith receive special Test caps from PM Modi and Anthony Albanese

Indian cricketer.

Indian cricket still did not accept professionalism. Russi Surti and Farokh Engineer were both not considered for selection for India's tour to the West Indies in 1971, solely because they were playing in Australia and England, respectively.

One saw the gradual change of recognition and realisation that came about in Indian Men's cricket. They were seen as professional athletes and were being compensated for their efforts. The multi-media world gave them a stardom image and Indian men's cricket grew exponentially. It is truly heartening, therefore, to see that the women cricketers too have finally made their mark. However, with such exposure, they need to completely change their mindset and approach to the game. In the initial matches of the WPL, one can see that apart from a few top Indian players, foreign players are hogging the show. The issue that arises is that as paid professionals, the mental approach to how one plays changes quite significantly. Playing for one's country, state or club team is totally different from being paid to play. This is why in the earlier days; male cricketers went overseas to play professional cricket.

Unfortunately, the simplest calculation that arises is the money that one is paid vis-a-vis one's performance on the field. This brings about pressure which is quite different from what one normally encounters.

The Indian women players, apart from a few, are still in a nascent stage as regards the game of cricket and their mental approach to it. The system in India has still not been fully put into place to deliver 57 quality players. The 30 foreign players have played franchise-based cricket

before and are therefore more well-versed in how to approach their game. This is where many of the young, unknown and inexperienced Indian players are finding it difficult to cope.

A couple of areas that need significant improvement amongst the Indian cricketers are fitness and fielding. Playing under lights in a stadium full of loud energetic spectators can be quite unnerving. Furthermore, one is also aware of the millions watching one's every move on the multi-media platforms and this too can be frightening for one not yet at ease with it. One is, therefore, seeing plenty of fumbling while fielding as well as dropped catches. Nerves play a big part in it.

The WPL, like the IPL, will be superb for the growth of women's cricket in India. Parents, many of them reluctant to let their girls play the game because of various reasons, may look at it as more acceptable. To see one's daughter or relative on television and earning while doing so, is in itself a wonderful feeling for ones near and dear ones.

The platform is now set for Indian women's cricket to progress by leaps and bounds. However, there is still a long way ahead for them to reach the quality of cricket which will make them proud. To do so, a proper structure of academies, tournaments and infrastructure needs to be put in place. The BCCI have the capabilities and funds to make their dream come true.

The spark that has been ignited in Women's cricket through WPL needs to light a flame that will keep it burning for years to come. Cricket will now not be called a 'Gentleman's game' but one which is played by 'Gentleladies' as well. (Yajurvindra Singh is a former India cricketer. The views expressed are personal)

Ahmedabad, March 9 (IANS)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese were present on Day 1 of the fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Ahmedabad on Thursday, where the two leaders met captains of their respective countries and presented special Test caps to them.

PM Modi presented a special cap to Rohit while Australian PM Albanese presented a special cap to Smith. The two leaders did a lap of honour around the Narendra Modi Stadium in a goldpainted chariot embellished with

bat, wicket and ball to celebrate 75 years of cricketing contests between the two nations. They also met the players from their respective countries at the world's biggest cricket stadium after the toss. Both the leaders took a seat in the stadium to the high-octane action of the series finale after the National Anthem. Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah presented PM Modi with a framed artwork of the Prime Minister himself at the ceremony, celebrating 75 years of friendship with Australia through cricket.

Modi, his Australian counterpart watch cricket match in Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, March 9 (IANS)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese watched the first day of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy test match at the Narendra Modi stadium here on Thursday.

After arriving at the stadium, the leaders took a tour of the facility amid cheers by the amazed spectators. Later, they met their respective cricket team captains -- Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith (stand captain) -- and watched the game for about 25 minutes together.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

was received at the stadium by Governor Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, BCCI chairman Roger Binny and secretary Jay Shah.

This is the fourth meeting between the two countries' leaders since the Australian Prime Minister was elected in 2022. He will be on India visit till March 11. Australia is setting up a Deakin University facility at the GIFT city in Gandhinagar. Prime Minister Albanese also launched a scholarship policy for Indian students called, "Maitri".

US forum calls for countries to speed up energy transition

Houston, March 8 (IANS) Voices from the Global South are an integral part of the ongoing global energy forum CERAWeek, as speakers from the developing economies gather together with other world industry leaders. Their opinions have added timely importance as the world is facing harsher twin challenges of energy security and transition amid turbulence, observers say, Xinhua news agency reported.

The five-day event kicked off on Monday under the theme, "Navigating a Turbulent World: Energy, Climate and Security".

More than 7,000 participants, including policymakers, industry

leaders, company executives, investors and researchers from over 80 countries and regions, joined the forum, according to the organiser.

"It is necessary to ascertain how dependent finance can be made more reachable to the countries that need them," said Malaysia's Tengku Muhammad Taufik, president and group chief executive officer at Malaysia's state-owned energy firm Petronas.

Taufik said that small and medium-sized enterprises have to deal with harsh realities resulting from climate change, such as frequent flooding and record-

high temperatures recently experienced in parts of Asia.

"We are not climate deniers. I want to put this on record. Eight out of 10 countries in ASEAN have got very ambitious nationally determined contributions targets," Taufik said, adding that the big challenge is to "put these aims in order and match them with real pragmatic actions".

The Russia-Ukraine conflict and the 2022 energy market volatility have added a "big catalyst to invest in renewable energy from the energy security point of view", rather than just "investing in renewables because of the sustainability", Liza Mustapha, executive vice president and group chief financial officer of Petronas, said in a separate panel.

OPEC Secretary General ponders energy security, transition

Houston, March 8 (IANS)

Haitham

Al Ghais, Secretary General of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), has said that the energy industry needs considerable investment to meet rising global demand and ensure market stability as energy security concerns return to the fore.

He said the oil and gas industry, which will retain its share as a critical component of the energy mix, must transform and decarbonize operations, Xinhua news agency reported.

As COP28 comes up in Dubai later this year, "We at OPEC stand fully behind the UAE to bring on board everybody," he said during the annual CERAWeek global energy forum in Houston.

Security of supply

"The key thing that we focus on is always trying to make sure that there is stability, there's adequate supply to the market," said the Secretary General, warning

of the "underinvestment" in hydrocarbons.

"We've seen a significant shortfall in investments in the oil sector," he said.

It can take a long time to come into actual energy production since the typical span is a "few years at best" and up to seven years before new projects come online, he explained.

Security of demand

Ghais said it is not a concern that Russia redirects its crude oil exports while Middle East exports are increasingly going to Europe, citing his 30 years of experience in the industry.

"It's quite normal to see this," he said, "We've always seen redirection of flows, whether it's related to geopolitical events or demand centers being created and others disappearing. So this is typical where we have a redirection in flows from the east to the west or the west to the

east."

According to the forecast from OPEC, oil demand will increase by 2.3 million barrels a year, with the majority of the rise in demand coming from China and India, the Secretary General said, Xinhua news agency reported. However, the global energy market is big enough despite improving demand, said Ghais. Energy transitions OPEC sees energy transitions as "absolutely an opportunity," Ghais said.

"I don't think it's a threat. Again, it was something that we are already embracing. We believe this is an opportunity for us to meet our Paris Agreement goals," he said.

"I think it's important to look at the whole issue of energy transition, which I prefer to call energy transitions, by the way, not transition, with a sense of reality. There is no one size fits all solution," he added.

Environment minister says India’s climate policy aimed at sustainable development

of UN Critical Decade of Action, with just seven years remaining to achieve the 17 sustainable development goals, drafting and ensuring execution of Climate Smart Policies has taken centre stage in India".

Tehran, March 5 (IANS) Iran has allowed increased inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its nuclear sites, the official news agency IRNA reported Sunday, just after the IAEA chief's two-day visit to Tehran.

In an interview with IRNA published on Sunday, Behrouz Kamalvandi, the spokesman of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran (AEOI), said the IAEA inspections of Iran's Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant (FFEP) have now increased to 11 from eight, commenting on the reports of a 50-per cent rise in the IAEA's inspections of Iranian nuclear sites, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Since uranium enrichment to a 60-per cent level recently started at FFEP, inspections of the site should increase according to the safeguards agreements, Kamalvandi explained. "Basically, any rise in the enrichment level at or entry of more sensitive materials into nuclear facilities lead to

an increase in the inspections according to what the two sides agreed upon," he said.

However, no agreement was reached between IAEA and AEOI regarding the installation of new surveillance cameras at Iranian nuclear sites, Kamalvandi noted. Kamalvandi also ruled out "unlimited access" for the IAEA to three sites where the agency was reported to have "detected traces of uranium," saying the international nuclear watchdog made no such request.

In a joint statement issued at the end of IAEA's Director General Rafael Grossi's visit on Saturday, the AEOI and IAEA said they have reached a consensus that their interactions should be carried out "in a spirit of collaboration and in full conformity with the competencies of the IAEA and Iran's rights and obligations."

In recent months, the IAEA had criticized Iran for its lack of cooperation with the agency.

In November last year, the IAEA's Board of Governors passed a resolution proposed by the US, Britain, France and Germany that called on Iran to collaborate with the agency's investigators regarding "uranium traces." Iran has repeatedly rejected such allegations and emphasized the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme.

Terminals at the heart of global hydrogen energy transition

New Delhi, March 5 (IANS)

Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday said that India's climate policy is directed towards sustainable development and poverty eradication, while striving continuously to decouple emissions from growth and achieve energy efficiency across sectors.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue on the issue of 'The Next Step for Climate Smart Policies', he said "As we enter the third year

The minister said it is because Indians are pro-planet people as the nation, with more than 17 per cent of the global population, has contributed only about 4 per cent to the global cumulative greenhouse gas emissions between 1850 and 2019, against the 60 per cent contributed by developed nations.

"Even today, India's per capita emissions are less than one third of world's per capita GHG emissions," he added.

Yadav said "Climate Smart Policies" act as a policy tool for specific action for sustainable development.

"It is unfortunate that the world learnt about the concept of sustainability the hard way," he added.

He said we are now witness to how mindless consumption and unplanned development have jeopardised food and energy security across many a nation. The minister noted that there are developing countries that are reeling under the menace of unsustainable debt and at the same time, are also victims of unsustainable consumption and production processes of the developed world.

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) Stanlow Terminals Ltd has announced that it will develop a major new open access import terminal for green ammonia in the Port of Liverpool.

The new terminal, which will be an expansion of Stanlow Terminal's existing facilities, will provide the connecting infrastructure to enable significant volumes of green ammonia to be imported into the UK.

The new terminal contributes to Essar's ambition to be a major hub of low carbon energy innovation and a leader in production globally.

Green ammonia is a highlyeffective liquid carrier of hydrogen, which allows for the safe and cost-efficient transport of green hydrogen at scale. The new terminal will enable the import and storage of more

than one million tonnes per year of green ammonia for onwards distribution into the UK or conversion back to green hydrogen for supply to the North West's industrial customers.

The green hydrogen produced will be used by a wide range of industries in the region, including as a sustainable fuel for marine shipping and to help decarbonise energy usage and, in doing so, contribute significantly to the UK's net zero ambitions.

Green ammonia is a crucial component in the development of the global hydrogen economy and is expected to develop into one of the world's major sustainable energy commodities. Once operational, the new terminal will put Stanlow Terminals at the heart of the global hydrogen energy market, with ready access to large scale international green ammonia imports.

Iran agrees more IAEA’s inspections of nuclear sites amid 60% uranium enrichment

Stanlow

New Delhi, March 6 (IANS) Prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday claimed that for several decades after Independence, there was a lack of an integrated approach and long term vision in the health sector.

"For several decades after Independence, there was a lack of an integrated approach and a long-term vision in health. We have not kept healthcare restricted only to the health ministry, but have emphasised on the whole of the government approach," he said while addressing a webinar on "Health

and Medical Research".

It has been the endeavour of the Centre, to make medical treatment affordable in India, the Prime Minister added.

"That has been the thought behind providing free medical treatment of upto Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Under this, approximately Rs 80,000 crore, that would've been spent on medical treatments, were saved," he said further.

For serious diseases, quality and modern health infrastructure in the country is important, the PM said.

Government's focus is also on ensuring that people get testing facilities near their homes and there are better facilities for first aid, he added.

For this, he said, 1.5 lakh health and wellness centres are being prepared in the country, the prime minister informed.

Referring to the Coronavirus pandemic, the Prime Minister said that it showed that when such a crisis occurs, even developed systems of prosperous nations collapse.

"World is now much more focussed on health. But India's approach is not restricted to healthcare, we're also working on ensuring wellness," he added.

"Corona also taught us that supply chain has become a very important matter. When the pandemic was at its peak, for some countries even life-saving things like medicines, vaccines, and medical devices had become weapons," the Prime Minister noted.

Reminding the audience that India helped many nations by providing vaccines to them, he said, "That's why we have kept a vision before the world - 'One Earth, One Health' - holistic healthcare for everyone."

UP plans to have All India Institute of Ayurveda

first AIIA in Uttar Pradesh." AIIA is similar to AIIMS or All India Institute of Medical Sciences.

New York, March 6 (IANS) Looking to try weight loss by following a 'keto' diet? You could be at twice the risk of suffering heart attack and stroke, warns a study.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia in Canada showed that the popular weightloss dietary programme, which includes very low amounts of carbohydrates and high amounts of fats, is associated with higher blood levels of 'bad' cholesterol. It is also linked with a two-fold heightened risk of cardiovascular events such as chest pain (angina), blocked arteries requiring stenting, heart attacks and strokes, they said while presenting the study at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session.

levels of both LDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B (apoB) -- a protein that helps carry fat and cholesterol through the human body.

Previous studies have shown that elevated apoB may be a better predictor than elevated LDL cholesterol for risk of cardiovascular disease, Iatan said. After about 12 years of follow-up, the team found that people on the keto-like diet had more than two-times higher risk of having several major cardiovascular events, such as blockages in the arteries that needed to be opened with stenting procedures, heart attack, stroke and peripheral arterial disease.

Lucknow, March 5 (IANS) Uttar Pradesh will soon set up an All-India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) that would be a centre of excellence for Ayurveda tertiary health care and promote education, research and patient care.

Dr PC Saxena, director, Ayurveda, said, "A proposal for AIIA has been sent to the state government. Once approved, the process will start with identification of land to establish the AIIA. This will be the

An AIIA provides postgraduate/ doctoral and post-doctoral teaching, research facilities and quality patient care under the Ayurveda system of medicine. Intramural and extramural research is also a significant area in an AIIA, apart from medicinal knowledge and linkages to current healthcare system. "We need around 15 acres of land to establish the AIIA. Once the state government approves the project and land is identified, the process of planning the infrastructure and facilities will

begin," said Dr Saxena. The project is likely to come up in eastern Uttar Pradesh and Varanasi is a probable district. A final decision will be taken by the state government.

Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general, Association of International Doctors, said, "One crucial area in AIIA is national and international collaboration. As AIIA is an apex institute in Ayurveda and it can collaborate with other branches of medicine for research and patient care."

Uttar Pradesh presently has over 100 Ayurveda colleges, including 65 in the private sector and an AYUSH University in Gorakhpur.

Pandemic spiked depression severity whether people were infected or not

researchers found that depressive symptoms and severity of depression was significant among all patients in the study, regardless of whether they were infected with Covid-19 or not.

"Our study found that regular consumption of a self-reported diet low in carbohydrates and high in fat was associated with increased levels of LDL cholesterol -- or 'bad' cholesterol --and a higher risk of heart disease," said lead author Iulia Iatan, from St. Paul's Hospital and University of British Columbia's Centre for Heart Lung Innovation in Vancouver, Canada.

For the study, Iatan and her team analysed 305 participants who were compared with 1,220 individuals eating a standard diet. They defined a low in carbohydrates and high in fat diet as consisting of no more than 25 per cent of total daily energy or calories from carbohydrates and more than 45 per cent of total daily calories from fat. Compared with participants on a standard diet, those on a ketolike diet had significantly higher

In all, 9.8 per cent of participants on the keto-like diet experienced a new cardiac event, compared with 4.3 per cent of those on a standard diet, a doubling of risk for those on the keto-like diet. Iatan cautioned people who are considering going on an LCHF diet.

"Before starting this dietary pattern, they should consult a healthcare provider. While on the diet, it is recommended they have their cholesterol levels monitored and should try to address other risk factors for heart disease or stroke, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, physical inactivity and smoking."

However, the researchers noted that their study "can only show an association between the diet and an increased risk for major cardiac events, not a causal relationship," because it was an observational study, but their findings are worth further study.

The event was held under the theme of 'Healthy Women

New York, March 5 (IANS) The Covid-19 pandemic impacted just about every part of people's lives and increased rates and severity of depression irrespective of whether they were infected or not, a new study has revealed. Quarantining, social distancing, societal disruptions and an evershifting, uncertain landscape of rules and restrictions and variants created stress and isolation that impacted the mental health of millions.

In a study of nearly 136,000 patients from Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City,

"It didn't matter if a patient was positive or negative for the virus. We found increased rates of depression and depression severity across the board," said Heidi T. May, cardiovascular epidemiologist at Intermountain Health and principal investigator of the study.

As poor mental health can impact chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, "screening for and treating mental health is a critical part of any overall patient care process right now. Doing so will both help patients in this moment, and protect their future health," May added.

Researchers found that depression symptoms rose

significantly during the pandemic, with more than half of all patients reporting some degree of clinically-relevant depressive symptoms.

They also found that before the pandemic, about 45 per cent of patients reported some degree of depression.

Starting in 2021, that changed to 55 per cent of patients showing at least some degree of depression.

"We know depression is a risk factor for chronic disease, so given these findings, it's really important to mitigate some of the effects of depression so these patients can lead healthier and happier lives right now, and in the future," said Dr May.

The study was presented at the American College of Cardiology's 2023 scientific session in the state of New Orleans on Saturday.

New Delhi, March 5 (IANS) Ahead of International Women's Day, the Union health ministry on Sunday organised a mega walkathon event 'Walk for Health' at district headquarters across the country to promote physical and mental wellbeing.

On the same pattern, a similar event was held in the national capital city this morning. The 'Walk for Health' started from Vijay Chowk via Kartavya Path and passed through India Gate to reach Nirman Bhawan.

Healthy India'. As per reports, the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) are accounting for more than 63 per cent of deaths in the country and are strongly associated with major behaviour risk factors. Physical inactivity is one of the major risk factors for development of NCDs.

Joint Secretary (health) Vishal Chauhan, other senior officials of the Ministry, Doctors, Nurses and Staff of Central Government hospitals like Safdarjung Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital and Lady Hardinge Medical College participated in the Walkathon.

Over 500 people who participated in the event pledged to adopt healthy and active living to prevent and control lifestyle health related problems such as hypertension, diabetes, mental illness and cancer.

‘Keto-like’ diet can double your risk of heart attack, stroke: Study

‘Walk for Health’ to promote physical, mental wellbeing

For many years after Independence, there was no long term vision in health sector: PM

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) To be an author was never in the pipeline until she went through a custodial family law situation for her son, says San Franciscobased entrepreneur Sheetal Ohri, adding: "It was more of an Indian citizen vs US citizen issue in the US courts."

"There was a bias towards US citizens depriving a mother of her own child's custody based on immigration status," Ohri told IANS in an interview on her book "Custodial Battle: Chronicles of an Immigrant Mother who was Delayed Justice in Family Law due to Immigration Status" that has been nominated for awards in the US and the UK.

"I had to write down the issues, the biased situations, the frustration of being an immigrant

and not having a status and being deprived of justice or my own son's custodial rights even though I had not done anything wrong.

"The US family law itself was my inspiration to write about the system. Seeing the biased system, seeing how easily the system was swayed on the basis of citizen vs non-citizen, how the system was flawed when everyone thought US law was the best in the world. Sitting and seeing many cases before my own case and dealing with bias and injustice which was at times intolerable was the reason to write the book," Ohri explained.

When she started writing her book, she decided that her voice needed to be heard, and what better way than to write and be heard by the world through a book that could be resourceful for other parents dealing with similar situations, she added. She went through many law books, family law data, self-help centers, and details for various states in the US. Extensive research was done on custody sharing and visitation rights, children suffering psychological effects due to parental alienation, and much research on South Asian domestic violence.

The book narrates the traumatic tale of the protagonist,Ritika', and her struggle with the American

judicial system in the nearly decade-long custody fight for her son. This gripping and heartbreaking book navigates the reader through the mazes and loopholes of the judicial system in the US and how it tends to work in favor of the powerful and against the powerless.

Ohri tells an against-the-odds story through the character of Ritika and her Indian culture, weaving in her own experiences of that system and her efforts to overcome its many challenges, and imbuing it with her emotions and struggles, as she elevates Ritika's stubborn refusal to back down in the face of her exhusband's oppression and the inequities -- subtle and not-sosubtle -- of American Family Law. To this end, the writing of the book was a catharsis.

"Definitely, writing the book was emotional and a catharsis of sorts. After going through a journey of proving myself as a good resident and a good mother in US courts, where I saw bias happening in family courtrooms, paying the same or more attorney fees as the other party, it was a relief to write similar situations for my book's character.

"Writing about the courtroom scenes brought a sense of release more than anything, as that's where the idea of writing the

book had begun. By writing the book, I completed what I had intended to do, which is to let the readers get resources, and understand the custody situation and immigration issues which not many understand unless attorneys are involved. I try to provide help through my book detailing family law situations and cases.

"The whole goal was to bring the positive side out from this story for the readers by sharing the story of Ritika, who fought against a powerful judicial system and even in times of adversity, never gave up on herself and her child," Ohri elaborated. Does she anticipate any changes in the law to prevent the recurrence of what she has recounted?

"I have seen changes in the last many years in the judicial system. There are training sessions being provided to understand our Indian culture. With the growing South Asian population, the courts are appointing mediators to get training to understand our South Asian culture and way of living. Many local South Asian non-profits are volunteering these pieces of training to advise on our culture. As far as the immigration status situation goes, the courts are looking into it case by case," Ohri said.

What has been the response to the book?

"There has been a good response to the book. The book has been sold in many countries via Amazon. The book was covered by many local and national print media, TV channels, and podcasts in California and the US. It is nominated for awards and received recognition in the US, the UK, and India. In India, it is available for sale at Kunzum book store in New Delhi," she said.

What made her switch roles from entrepreneur to writer and does she plan to take this up as a fulltime career?

"I never switched roles. In fact, I continued both aspects of my life together. I wanted to bring the issue of immigration and non-understanding of our Indian culture to US family law courts and thus wrote the book. For now, I will continue to write books but I will also continue my journey as an entrepreneur," Ohri explained. What is the next book on?

"My next book is again on real issues. It is based on complicated relationships. I intend to write about real situations and real issues we all deal with in our lives," Ohri concluded.

(Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)

‘Exposing flaws in US family law was cathartic, brought a sense of relief’

Women’s Mentoring Foundation

to rebuild their skills to become leaders, increasing confidence and focus which leads to better mental, emotional, and social health.

WMF has been busy building a lot of relationships with other organizations during the month of January. I believe that we at WMF, may be small compared to others, however, we are very powerful and strong in our faith and the delivery of our services. That comes with the truth of the matter, that we cannot do what we do if we didn’t love all people unconditionally and come from a place of serving them.

Cap reached for H-2B visas for the second half of FY 2023

foundation/

Mental Health Australia’s Weekly Update Newsletter: https://mhaustralia.org/ newsletters-bulletins/ceoupdate-mental-health-australiawe-need-plan

Article by: Pushpa Vaghela

The Women’s Mentoring Foundation (WMF) through its various programs targeting the Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) women and young people strives to help its clients heal from hurt, distress, grief, and trauma experienced in their life. The purpose is to support women

A big Thank You goes out to all of our Community Mental Health & Wellbeing Sector organizational supporters of WMF that have so kindly mentioned and promoted our services on their own websites, specifically:

Queensland Association For Mental Health (QAMH):

https://www.qamh.org.au/ourmembers/womens-mentoring-

My Mental Health: https://mymentalhealth.org.au/ services/support-for-diversecommunities/mental-healthservices-for-culturally-andlinguistically-diverse-people Check out our programs and the information you need to know on our website https:// womensmentoringfoundation. com/ Get involved with Women’s Mentoring Foundation and support women in Brisbane.

New York, March 3 (IANS) The US has received a sufficient number of applications to meet the congressionally-mandated H-2B cap for the second half of the fiscal year 2023, the country's federal agency for immigration services announced.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said February 27 was the final receipt date for new cap-subject H-2B worker petitions requesting an employment start date on or after April 1 and before October 1.

Currently, the congressionallymandated cap for H-2B visa is set at 66,000 per fiscal year, with 33,000 for workers who begin employment in the first half of the fiscal year (October 1-March 31) and 33,000 for workers who begin employment in the second half of the fiscal year (April 1-September 30). The agency also announced the filing dates for the supplemental H-2B visas for FY 2023, made available under the

supplemental visa temporary final rule. Under this rule, the USCIS began accepting H-2B petitions increasing the cap by up to 64,716 additional H-2B non-immigrant visas for FY-2023.

These supplemental H-2B visas are for US employers seeking to petition for additional workers at certain periods of the fiscal year before September 15.

They are available only to US businesses that are suffering irreparable harm or will suffer impending irreparable harm without the ability to employ all the H-2B workers requested in their petition, the USCIS said. The agency further said that it will continue to accept H-2B petitions that are exempt from the congressionally mandated cap, which includes current holders of this visa in the US who wish to extend their stay and, if applicable, change the terms of their employment or change their employers.

“Voices of Afghan Women”-International Women’s Day event (WEL) at Parliament House

Brisbane, March 11: Rita Anwari

Sultani and her team Women

Empowerment and Leadership organized the “Voices of Afghan Women”-International Women’s Day event (WEL) at Parliament House. The Founder and CEO Rita

Anwari Sultani acknowledged and honored all the women leaders who have helped her do fantastic work for Afghan women and their families. Among them are Lisa Ward, Nasrin Vaziri, Janeth Deen, Pushpa Vaghela, Auntie Peggy Tidyman, and many others.

Congratulations to all women who were recognized at the event.

Such events that recognize the strengths of women of color should definitely be organized and should be attended in large numbers by our community

members. More so it is a must to acknowledge those women in the community at the decisionmaking level who pave the paths for other women who stand up for their own rights and also create paths for others to trend on.

Lisa Ward, Janet Deen, Pushpa

Vaghela, and Aunty Tidyman are those women who have been relentlessly working hard to make these paths for other women smother, trendier, and easier to tread on. Their contributions are huge and greatly appreciated.

Community News Editor's Desk

Indian-American named Chancellor of California Community Colleges

"She understands what is needed to deliver on record levels of higher education investment to make real improvements to the lived reality of our students. I look forward to continuing to partner with Dr. Christian to ensure our community colleges are engines of equity and opportunity."

Christian, who is Kern Community College District Chancellor, will step into her new role on June 1, 2023. She replaces Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley, who stepped down in August after leading the community college system for nearly six years.

Why it’s important to time your workouts

the sixth chancellor of the Kern Community College District, where she implemented a call to action with a focus on advancing student success and closing achievement and equity gaps. She also spearheaded a statewide coalition in 2015 that led to securing philanthropic funding for the 20-college Guided Pathways demonstration project in California, leading to a $150 million state investment in Guided Pathways and broad adoption of the framework throughout the college system, according to a press statement.

New Delhi, March 4 (IANSlife) A common misconception around fitness remains that working out for longer durations fetches better results. The reality is quite the contrary. The ideal duration of exercise varies depending on your fitness goals. Timing your workouts ensures that you get enough exercise without overdoing it. It also makes you less prone to losing out on motivation, in turn helping you achieve your fitness goals in a sustainable manner.

'Living at the gym' is not a healthy solution

strain as an ailment. As a result, you will feel fatigued more, and may fall sick frequently. The intensity of your workout should determine the duration of your workout. A vigorous exercise session requires fewer minutes than a relaxed, low-intensity workout. Be mindful of the time you are spending working out. Modulate it according to the needs of your body, depending upon the intensity.

Consistency matters

New York, March 3 (IANS) IndianAmerican Sonya Christian has been named the 11th permanent Chancellor of the California Community College system, the largest and most diverse system of public higher education in the US.

With her appointment, Christian, a Kerala University graduate, becomes the first woman and the first person of South Asian origin to lead the college system that serves 1.8 million students every year.

"Dr. Christian is one of our nation's most dynamic college leaders, with a demonstrated record of collaboration and results in the Central Valley," California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a statement.

For more than 30 years, Christian has actively engaged in policies and practices related to state and national completion, quality, and equity agendas.

"I am honored to be selected to lead the most important system of higher education in the country and grateful to the Board of Governors for their confidence," Christian said.

"We continue to face many challenges, but I truly believe our greatest challenges enable us to do our greatest work. We are called to design the most vibrant, resilient, and effective learning environment ever. We are called to do this work at scale, not eventually, but now. And we will work with a shared vision that keeps students first."

In July 2021, Christian was named

The distinguished educationist started her career in higher education as a mathematics faculty and later as division chair, then Dean of science, engineering, allied health, and mathematics at Bakersfield College.

She served as an administrator at Lane Community College in Oregon for several years before returning home to Kern Community College District in 2013 after being selected as the 10th president of Bakersfield College.

Christian earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Kerala; her Master of Science in Applied Mathematics from the University of Southern California; and her doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Have you heard the expression 'too much of a good thing'? It often holds true in the case of working out. While performing a challenging workout to gain strength, your body needs time to rejuvenate. In contrast, a strenuous workout, while removing stress chemicals, produces new ones. It can knock off the immune system for up to 72 hours. Strength training generates minute rips in muscle tissue, which when mended, strengthens it. If you don't allow your body a day or two off between strenuous exercising, it won't be able to restore itself.

Excessive workout is a recipe for failure

Overtraining causes you to develop a dislike for exercise. In response to excessive training, the immune system treats the

Life is full of unanticipated events, but that doesn't call for missing out on your workout. To achieve the desired fitness levels, consistency in exercise is key. If you break your workout streak, you can always start again. But, that doesn't mean that you can make up for the missed days by over-exerting your body. An easy way to avoid falling off the fitness bandwagon is to take a simple walk around the block at night on days you miss exercise due to any unforeseen circumstance or simply because you didn't feel like hitting the gym. Stay committed to your fitness regimen. Variation matters too It is necessary to balance your exercise routine with other commitments. But doing nothing except crunching for hours every day will not give you a six-pack. You must be realistic if you are serious about losing weight and sculpting your physique. To make it happen, you will also need to put in the necessary work.

In India, with India, for India: Deakin to open world-first campus

to providing a world-class education and learning experience for students around the globe.

Deakin Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin said Deakin has a long and proud history in India.

“Deakin was the first international university to establish its presence in India in 1994, and since then, through innovative collaborations across research, education and training, we have forged a bond based on commitment, excellence, trust and transparency,” Professor Martin said.

authorities upon questions which need personal acquaintance with India and its peoples.

We may hold it to be inevitable, as well as natural, that one of the first outward going movements of our expansive Australian life will bring us into contact, and then into communion, with India.”

(Alfred Deakin, Irrigated India, 1893)

Mr John Stanhope AM, and many distinguished guests in Ahmedabad to formally announce this exciting initiative.”

Deakin Vice-President (Global Alliances) and CEO (South Asia)

Ms Ravneet Pawha said it was a “momentous occasion for Australia and India”.

Geelong, 9 March: Deakin will become the first university in the world to open an international teaching campus in India. The state-of-the-art campus in the heart of the smart business district GIFT City (Gujarat International Finance TecCity) will give students access to future-ready Deakin postgraduate courses aligned with local employment needs. The campus will open as early as possible and by no later than mid-2024, the same year Deakin celebrates its 50th anniversary and 30 years in India. The international campus will deliver job-ready graduates to meet India’s soaring labour demands and bolster Deakin’s commitment

“Our India partnership is one of the jewels in the crown of our growth and success over the almost 50 years of Deakin’s existence from humble beginnings on a green field site at Waurn Ponds in 1974.

“Back in 1893, Alfred Deakin – the Australian Prime Minister for whom our university is named – predicted that students from Australia and India would traverse international borders and form lasting intellectual partnerships:

“We are near enough to readily visit India and be visited. Its students might come to the universities of our milder climate, instead of facing the winters of Oxford, Paris, or Heidelberg. Our thinkers may yet become

“Perhaps it’s taken a little longer than Alfred Deakin expected, but through the dedicated work of Government, academia and industry, today’s historic announcement takes our partnership to an entirely new level,” Professor Martin said.

Professor Martin said Deakin’s approach was ‘in India, with India, for India’ and that as the university prepared to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024, opening a new India campus marked an exciting new chapter.

“This is a historic opportunity to deepen our engagement with one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and open up access to our world-class education and pathways, delivered in India by Deakin alongside our industry partners,” he said.

“Last night, I joined our Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Deakin’s Chancellor

“We are thrilled to have contributed to two ‘firsts’ in the Australia-India education sector story; Deakin being the first international university in India in 1994, and now the first university in the world to open a teaching campus,” Ms Pawha said.

“The new campus aims to provide a world-class post-graduate education to meet the industry’s skilled workforce demands within the country.”

The India campus will provide better opportunities for local students who cannot afford to travel and live in Australia to study.

Concentrating on the needs of the digital economy, Deakin’s worldclass course offerings on campus will initially include the Master of Cyber Security and Master of Business Analytics, before expanding to degrees from the faculties of Science, Engineering & Built Environment, and Business & Law.

The campus will operate on the basis that standards and requirements are equivalent to those at Deakin’s campuses in Australia (Burwood, Geelong Waterfront, and Waurn Ponds). Students will receive the same standard of higher education in GIFT City as in Australia, with academic standards based on Deakin’s standards frameworks and manuals aligned with Australia’s national accreditation body, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

The campus will also work closely with corporate leaders collocated at GIFT City for cadetship and employment opportunities for Indian students and to ensure courses align with the requirements of local employers. Deakin has contributed over AUD 50 million in India through scholarships, research fellowships, community projects, and collaborative research.

The Australia-India Economic Strategy 2035, released in 2018, cited Deakin as an ‘ideal collaborator’ with India. Over almost three decades, Deakin has developed strategic partnerships with India’s premier research organisations, businesses and academic institutions.

Goa’s coolest new dining destination

An idyllic weekend retreat situated halfway between Mumbai and Pune

Terttulia Goa is a 24-hour diner that combines the character of a restaurant, cafe, and bar into one unique setting With a luxurious upgrade, Oleander Farms offers a delightful experience

Theideal blend of nature and luxury is now closer than ever. Managed by a young 24-yearold entrepreneur Aaliya Ahuja, Oleander Farms in Karjat offers a quick getaway experience unlike any other.

Following the success of Saltt, the multi-cuisine restaurant that started it all, the Saltt coffee house, and Common House, the brewery, Oleander Farms offers 46 rooms and one 3-bedroom villa with lake view, pool view, and lawn view rooms to all guests visiting the 180-acre wide property. "We knew the next step was to upgrade from a day out to the perfect stay destination after receiving so much love from our patrons over the last two years," says Aaliya Ahuja, director of Oleander Farms.

daily life offers a peaceful haven. The Pool View room is the perfect spot to stay after a long trip because it has a gorgeous balcony with stunning views of the aqua pool. The Lakeside Rooms, which offer a pleasant view of the lake and are tucked away in the arms of nature, are the ideal setting for rest and renewal.

The revamped 3 BHK villa is surrounded by beautiful gardens and trees that were planted more than three decades ago. It can easily house a family or group of friends looking to spend time together away from the city, with common areas and a large garden for activities.

"The villa we are renting to guests is the first structure we built on this property, our first home. We decided not to break it down because it was a landmark of where it all began for us," adds Vina Ahuja.

Goa

conjures up joy when you think of it. Goa immediately brings to mind beaches.

Terttulia's newest location is India's party capital. Its delectable cuisine has earned it many fans in Mumbai and Pune. A vast 6500 square feet of striking space, Terttulia Goa is tucked away in the center of Panjim City and can accommodate 120 guests at once. It is a 24-hour diner that combines the character of a restaurant, cafe, and bar into one unique setting.

It has been designed by ‘Otherworlds’, a multidisciplinary studio that specializes in creating unique spatial and visual domains in the real world as well as virtual domain. The restaurant has been crafted with intricate attention to detail, envisioned as one extended balcao under an overgrown bamboo canopy. The entire place is woven with a dual tone texture, and is planned to grow out and round the central bar. You could browse through its liquor and literature library for a book and a beer in the afternoon, or soak in the exuberant energy of its centerpiece chandelier by the time the sun sets. Each and every part of Terttulia Goa exudes vibrant energy in the morning

and a bustling vibe by night time. The menu is a diverse and dynamic collection of options that change periodically. You could taste the crowd favorite Eggs Benedict for breakfast, gorge on a Smoked Salmon Sandwich for lunch, or enjoy dinner with the lip smacking Tiger Prawns. A wide selection of breads including whole wheat, rye, five-grain,

tapas and main course are also on offer. If an exquisite spirit is what you seek, head to Terttulia’s glorious bar and pick your poison from an exclusively curated array of wines, beers, cocktails as well as sangrias and mock-tails. Taking its name from an exotic Spanish word that translates into ‘conversations between friends at a salon, restaurant or bar’, it has fetched multiple awards and accolades from publications and patrons over the years. With the endearing tagline of ‘Eat.Drink. Love’, it believes in creating a warm and wholesome dining space where guests can not just eat delicious food and enjoy delightful drinks, but also strike happy conversations and weave picture perfect memories.

The brainchild dynamic entrepreneurs Imrun Sethi, Sunny Sara, Ritik Bhasin and Ranbir Batra, the restaurant has a warm set of employees, talented of chefs for an unforgettable experience.

Vina Ahuja, designed the interiors of the rooms and the villa with the assistance of family and friends. All the furniture is carefully curated in-house, and most of the wood used is grown on the property, creating a premium feel and connecting guests to the natural beauty outside. "When guests enter the space, they should not only feel luxury and comfort, but also homeliness and a sense of being one with nature," said Vina Ahuja, when asked about the inspiration behind the interiors. The entire resort space is a representation of the Ahuja family's journey with the farm. The popular Superior Lawn View rooms, which easily sleep two or three adults, allow you to take in breathtaking scenery. The Premium Garden View rooms have a Zen-like appearance and feel due to an excess of natural light coming in through large windows, energizing décor, and a tranquil environment. This tranquil refuge from the bustle of

The revamped 3 BHK villa is surrounded by beautiful gardens and trees that were planted more than three decades ago. It can easily house a family or group of friends looking to spend time together away from the city, with common areas and a large garden for activities.

"The villa we are renting to guests is the first structure we built on this property, our first home. We decided not to break it down because it was a landmark of where it all began for us," adds Vina Ahuja.

"We are happy to open our farm and hearts to our guests and to keep elevating the experience as we grow. This place is our pride, and we are committed to taking it to a whole new level in the coming years," says Aaliya Ahuja.

Address - Oleander Farms, Karjat – Chowk Rd, Wavarle, Maharashtra

baguettes, brioche, croissants, muffins and bagels will impress the diehard dough lovers. A world class variety of soups, sandwiches, salads, appetizers,

Address: Tettulia, Opp. Mcdonald’s Roopali Bungalow, Miramar , Near Gymkhana Ground, DM Marg, Campal, Panjim, Goa Time: 12 pm onwards

Team India qualifies for WTC final against Australia in June after New Zealand beat Sri Lanka

heading towards a draw, Sri Lanka needed to beat New Zealand 2-0 in the two-match Test series to qualify. But rain in Christchurch took an entire session away in their quest to defend 284 runs against the Blackcaps.

Ahmedabad, March 13 (IANS)

India have qualified for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final of the 2021-23 cycle at The Oval starting from June 7, after New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by two wickets in a thrilling lastball win at the Hagley Oval on Monday.

Sri Lanka was the other team in contention for a spot in the WTC final. But now after losing the first Test to New Zealand by two wickets, it has cleared the path for India to go into the final and meet Australia in the summit clash. With the Ahmedabad Test now

Kane Williamson's unbeaten 121, and backed by Daryl Mitchell's outstanding 81 handed New Zealand a thrilling win and also ensured that India will meet Australia in the WTC final at The Oval from June 7-11, nine days after the end of IPL 2023.

Taking a 2-1 series lead in the opening three of four BorderGavaskar Trophy Tests at home against Australia proved to be enough for Rohit Sharma's side to clinch their spot in the WTC final. But the icing on the cake to confirm their WTC final spot was to avoid defeat in the ongoing fourth Test at Ahmedabad, which is heading towards an inevitable draw. With Sri Lanka's defeat to

New Zealand, Rohit Sharma's men cannot drop below second position in the WTC points table. India began their WTC campaign for the 2021-23 cycle in England, taking a 2-1 lead in their series against Joe Root's men, before the fifth Test in Manchester was postponed until July 2022 due to Covid.

They would go on to lose the fifth Test match in Birmingham, though series wins against New Zealand, Sri Lanka at home, followed by an away series victory over Bangladesh set up their charge to the WTC final.

Their Border-Gavaskar Trophy series win sets up a final against Australia on neutral ground at The Oval in London, with the winner claiming the World Test Championship mace. India lost the inaugural World Test Championship final to New Zealand in 2021, as Kane Williamson's side chased down a target of 139 in Southampton.

Young stars headline squad for Socceroos homecoming

Canberra, March 14 (IANS)

Australia national football team coach Graham Arnold has named a squad brimming with young talent for World Cup homecoming friendlies against Ecuador.

The 26-player squad, which was announced on Tuesday, features four uncapped players and 20

who were part of Australia's run to the round of 16 at the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The games against Ecuador - in Sydney on March 24 and Melbourne on March 28 - will be the Socceroos' first since they lost 2-1 to Argentina in Qatar, a Xinhua report said.

In addition to serving as a celebration of the team's achievements in Qatar, the matches will act as a launching pad for the Socceroos' 2023 AFC Asian Cup and 2026 FIFA World Cup campaigns. Tuesday's squad includes Manchester City's

Alexander Robertson, who has impressed for the Premier League giants' under-23 side.

Robertson represented England at youth level and is also eligible for Scotland and Peru, but has committed to playing for the Socceroos. A debut against Ecuador would make the 19-yearold a third-generation Socceroo, with his father and grandfather having also played for the national team."I've probably been talking to him for over 18 months. It was a matter of one step at a time," Arnold said.

New Delhi, March 14 (IANS) Steve Smith will captain Australia in the upcoming three-match ODI series against India as Pat Cummins remains at home following the demise of his mother.

Cummins left the India tour after the second Test in Delhi to be at the side of his mother Maria, who died from breast cancer last week while the final match in Ahmedabad was being played. Smith led the Australian side in the last two Tests in his absence.

"Pat won't be coming back, he's still taking care of what's happened back home. Our thoughts are with Pat and his family as they go through that grieving process," head coach Andrew McDonald was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.

Cummins has not been replaced in the 15-man squad, but Nathan Ellis was recently recalled after Jhye Richardson, who suffered a recurrence of a left hamstring injury while playing club cricket,

was ruled out of the India ODIs. McDonald also confirmed David Warner is set to return to the side after missing the last two Tests due to a fractured elbow. Ashton Agar has also returned to India after being sent home midway through the Test series.

The ODI series also marks the return of Glenn Maxwell from the badly-broken leg he suffered last November while Mitchell Marsh also got back in the mix after the ankle surgery which disrupted his home season following the T20 World Cup.

The first ODI of the three-match series is slated to take place on March 17 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Australia squad: Steve Smith (C), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa

4th Test, Day 5: Fourth Test ends in a draw at Ahmedabad, India wins Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1

six-wicket haul. Usman Khawaja, and Cameron Green notched up centuries for Australia, while Shubman Gill made a sparkling 128 and Virat Kohli made a magnificent 186 for India.

On Monday, with the draw looming as a foregone conclusion, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne notched up fifties as Australia reached 175/2 before the end arrived as hopes for an unlikely win for both teams terminated.

when he lofted Ashwin over mid-wicket for four, followed by Head making use of width from Jadeja to fetch another boundary. Though India got something as the ball began to show some tricks, there was no stopping Head, who danced down the pitch to slam a six off Ashwin straight down the ground.

offered on pads by Umesh Yadav for boundaries, before reaching his fifty with a brace through square leg.

Head was firmly on the verge of his sixth Test century, but Axar got one to spin sharply and go past the inside edge on the drive to clip the top of off-stump.

Ahmedabad, March 13 (IANS) The fourth Test between India and Australia has ended in a draw at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with the hosts' winning the BorderGavaskar Trophy series 2-1 and retaining the trophy at home. With more than an hour left on the clock for the game to end, both teams called for the match to end, as it reached the inevitable result of draw, as India pocketed their 16th consecutive series win at home. Also, it is the fourth straight series between India and Australia that has ended at

2-1 scoreline. India and Australia will meet again in the World Test Championship final at the Oval in England from June 7-11. India's spot was sealed after New Zealand beat Sri Lanka by two wickets in a thrilling last-ball finish at Hagley Oval.

It was a Test match in Ahmedabad where the batters were dominant on a slow, flat pitch, completely opposite of the spin-friendly pitches in the first three Tests, which all ended in three days. Despite that, ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took a

Twenty minutes into the first session, Ravichandran Ashwin had Matthew Kuhnemann lbw with an off-break delivery which went past his forward defence to smash into the front pad. Replays later showed Kuhnemann could have survived if he had taken the review.

With not much in the pitch to create trouble for the batters, Marnus Labuschagne comfortably came down the pitch to hit Ashwin through mid-wicket for four. Travis Head also joined boundary hitting when he cut a short ball from Ravindra Jadeja through off-side.

Labuschagne used his feet again

Head then tore into Axar Patel, taking back-to-back boundaries off him - a straight drive was followed by a punch leading to an edge past the slip fielder. He and Labuschagne played out the remaining overs in the session comfortably to ensure Australia didn't suffer any more damage.

Post lunch, Head reached his fifty when he guided a delivery from Axar past slip for four to take Australia towards safety. He then launched into Ashwin - a flick through mid-wicket for four was followed by a lofted six slammed down the ground. With the bowlers tiring, Head was turning out to be aggressive with his slogs and cuts.

Labuschagne looked comfortable with the pitch not doing much and easily put away anything

Labuschagne went into the tea break unbeaten on 56, while Steve Smith is yet to get off the mark after KS Bharat dropped his catch on the last ball of 62nd over.

After tea, Smith slammed a boundary each off Ashwin and Jadeja. He then put up another defensive clinic with Labuschagne for company till the draw arrived, bringing an end to a fascinating series which saw India retaining the trophy, before Australia fought back in Indore and Ahmedabad produced a batting paradise for both teams to be tied down in a draw.

Brief Scores: Australia 480 in 167.2 overs and 175/2 in 78.1 overs (Travis Head 90, Marnus Labuschagne 63 not out; Axar Patel 1/36, Ravichandran Ashwin 1/58) draw with India 571 in 178.5 overs

Steve Smith to lead Australia in ODIs against India as Cummins remains at home

Fashion Designer Ranna Gill to celebrate the power of flowers

The designer will be showcasing in Mumbai after 10 years with Karisma Kapoor as showstopper

classic and modern silhouettes. Known and loved signature prints, Casa dei Fiori blooms with vibrant and dazzling florals to create a feminine and playful sensibility.

Black rules the Indian fashion outing at the Oscars

India proud at the Oscars

Apioneering member of the Indian fashion industry, Ranna Gill is seen as a futurist, someone who believes in the power of fashion and in pushing the entrepreneurial boundaries, on a global level. Returning to the runway in Mumbai after a decade, Gill is looking forward to an evening of celebrating the modern Indian woman through

her collection Casa dei Fiori.

Casa dei Fiori will be presented at FDCI x Lakme Fashion Week on March 12th, 2023 at 5pm at Jio World Garden, Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai.

Inspired by her travels through Italy and her love for flowers, the fashion designer brings Casa dei Fiori, where effervescent hues and textures are transformed into

“Flowers never fail to bring a smile to my face. They are full of life, love and femininity. Each flower is unique in its colour, shape and characteristics; much like every woman. Casa dei Fiori celebrates the gentle power of flowers through vibrant prints, embroideries and elegant silhouettes. The name comes from my travels through Italy, where I cherished my time amidst sprawling estates with cobblestone roads, manicured lawns and dazzling gardens,” says, Ranna Gill. From dark botanicals that reflect the serene splendour of a lush garden, lit under moonlight; to cheerful coral bouquets that capture the joy and glory of crisp summer day, this season. Swoon-worthy prints, inspired by the blissful beauty of the blooming landscapes, beautifully transform onto breezy maxi dresses, chic matching sets, extravagant ball gown skirts and sequin gowns enhanced with intricate 3D floral embroidery.

FDCI Designer Stockroom all set to return

Leading designers available at discounted prices

March 13, 2023 (IANSlife) With three nominations and two wins at the Oscars, India was shining at the at the 95th Academy Awards. Actress Deepika Padukone made her debut at prestigious awards, choosing to channel old world Hollywood glamour on the champagne-gold carpet. Padukone, a presenter at the event, chose a glamorous bespoke Louis Vuitton gown which she paired with a Cartier necklace.

The actress received mixed reviews for her fashion choice, as some deemed the dress boring and predictable while others felt it was glamorous. Being the face of the French luxury house, Deepika Padukone is nowadays usually more often than not, spotted dressed in Louis Vuitton, whether it be for airport looks or international film and sporting events.

After an extremely successful edition in Mumbai during the Lakmé Fashion Week in partnership with FDCI in October 2022, the most anticipated sale of the fashion industry, the FDCI Designer Stockroom is set to return to the prestigious platform’s March 2023 edition at the Jio World Garden, BKC, Mumbai.

The FDCI Designer Stockroom, was established to provide leading fashion talent across the industry the opportunity to sell their stock (old/ new) to a large pool of consumers. Since its inception in 2018 the Stockroom has successfully made ensembles from leading designers available to the consumers at discounted

prices, thereby also uplifting the Indian fashion community. This season will mark the platform’s 10th Edition and will host over 70 designers panning, established as well as up and coming labels.

Scheduled to be hosted on the last day of the four-day fashion extravaganza, 12th March between 11AM-7PM, the event will give consumers a unique opportunity to shop the best of fashion at unbelievable prices.

“The FDCI Designer Stockroom is the perfect medium for established brands and up and coming designers to reach a diverse customer base. The on-ground edition in Mumbai last year received an extremely

positive response and we are delighted to bring it back again. We hope that our consumers get a chance to interact with a wide range of brands this season and in turn hope to contribute significantly to the growth of these brands in the Indian Fashion Community.” said Sunil Sethi, Chairman, FDCI.

It was the song 'Naatu Naatu' from the film RRR which won the Oscars for Best Original Song that stole the show. The performance of the song received a standing ovation at the global event, and actors Junios NTR and Ram Charan were spotted cheering the loudest. Making India proud both actors choose to dress in Indian designers and silhouettes for the occasion.

Ram Charan chose a Shantanu & Nikhil custom-made bandhgala jacket, teamed with an asymmetrical kurta, and straight pants, and accessorised with golden brooch. Jr NTR wore a bespoke outfit created by designer Gaurav Gupta. The angrakha style outfit featured an embellished hold tiger on the the shoulder and arm. Gupta's designs have been chosen by many international stars at leading red carpet events including the likes of Cardi B.

The international celebrities who really made an impact with their outfits included Malala Yousafzai and Lady Gaga. The Pakistani Nobel Peace Prize laureate made her Academy Awards debut dressed in a silver sequinned Ralph Lauren gown featuring a hood.

Lady Gaga wowed both on the red carpet and on stage as she presented two strikingly different looks. For the walk on the champagne carpet she choose a Versace gown from the label's latest fall collection worn on the runway by model Gigi Hadid. The structured corset gown had a sexy sheer element and was teamed five rows of diamonds from the house of Tiffany & Co. For her performance, Gaga stripped down the glamour to pair of black jeans and a black T-shirt, almost no make-up and sneakers.

Going beyond the traditional beauty e-tailing approach

Salicylic Acid or Glycolic Acid?

Karishma Khokhar, Founder & CEO, Kult App talks about the platform Choose the right Skin exfoliant

becomes your personal counselor with our algorithm that narrows down choices and allows users to make a decision for their specific skin needs.

experiences and gratification. While cosmetics are nonessential, consumers can and should have access to their hyper delivery along with essential items.

Kult App, a new-age beauty discovery platform, is intended to meet the growing demand for innovation and technological advancement. It is a tech-first beauty and lifestyle e-commerce app revamping the way consumers shop online using intuitive and interactive technology driven by insights from leading dermatologists. Integrating several global brands around the world into a single convenient platform, the app offers the best of luxury beauty, specializing in skincare, makeup, fragrance and hair. The app features a wide selection of curated and branded products from Colorbar, Fenty beauty, Ilana, Klairs, Nars Cosmetics, SUVA and much more.

Karishma Khokhar, Founder & CEO, Kult App speaks with IANSlife. Read Excerpts:

What was the initial idea before starting this platform, what made you venture into tech-first beauty and lifestyle m-commerce app?

Karishma: We have always been passionate about consumer experience. Kult App was born with the realisation that there was a tremendous opportunity to create a seamless experience that merged all touch points of a purchase cycle in an organic fashion. E-commerce needs to be beyond the twodimensional experience of a transactional website. There is hardly any experience attached to the current online shopping experience - you browse, order, receive the boring brown box and don’t even remember what you ordered. Kult App is all about changing that and re-creating excitement in the process. Kult App, a new-age beauty discovery platform.

What makes your platform stand out? How is it different from other beauty e-commerce websites or apps?

Karishma: Kult App is a tech-first beauty and lifestyle platform. Our focus has always been consumer centricity and thereby hyperpersonalisation.

With consultations from top dermatologists in India and the US, Kult App utilizes a skin typing indicator. Using the Leslie bowman indicator, Kult App doesn’t show you an endless carousel of products in our stores – rather it considers 4 different parameters to assess the skin; Oil levels, Sensitivity, Pigmentation and age of skin. Based on this, it

After the users take a one-time quiz, each product displayed in the search shows a personalized match score. This match score conveys how well it suits the user's skin needs. Additionally, the algorithm generates a personalized description for each product: why it works for you particularly and what all it will help target. No one anywhere globally has ever done that. From discovery to delivery, our one motto is - Once you’re at Kult App, all you need is right here.

Who is your target audience?

Karishma: Our key target audience are makeup and beauty enthusiasts who are constantly on a lookout to discover new and better beauty products. What we’ve generally seen is that our ‘super user’ might be between the age group of 16 to mid-30s.

How many brands do you currently have on board and what’s your target for this year?

Karishma: We have close to 300 international and home grown brands on board. We are looking at a target of about 700 brands by the close of next fiscal.

How has the D2C platform worked out for you?

Karishma: Aligned with our motto of customer centricity, our D2C platform strategy is the essence of the App. It allows us to cut through the traditional beauty e-tailing approach, and make beauty accessible through simple, easy and playful steps. As we are directly interacting with the shopper, we are able to create relationships with them, understand their needs and desires more accurately, and continuously evolve and adapt ourselves to make their wishes a reality. After all, Kult App is more than just a beauty company; it is an intuitive beauty and lifestyle experience, from discovery to delivery.

Tell us about your dark stores.

Karishma: In Mumbai, it is 7 and additionally, there’s the mother warehouse, we are planning to open more in Delhi as we go live with the hyperlocal. Our plan is to expand our dark stores to major metro cities and offer our hyperlocal services.

Do you believe a hyper-delivery model is needed for a nonessential commodity such as cosmetics? And why?

Karishma: The question Kult wants to ask is - Why not? Living in the era of faster and efficient deliveries, where customers are spoilt for choices, they have the liberty to choose the items, time and location to receive the order. When non-essential groceries can reach you promptly then why not skincare and makeup?

GenZ is looking for fast-paced

Kult aims to achieve exactly that - to scale deliveries across India to make this possible for every shopper. This kind of hyper delivery is also in line with our customer-centric experience. We do not only want to create excitement in our customers while they browse through our app but also retain it till the very end. Usually, by the time you get the product that you were dying to experience, the excitement is not the same. We deliver products in under 2 hours (within Mumbai) to continue delivering the joy and the rush that comes with making an exciting purchase.

What do you think will be the future of the beauty industry?

Karishma: The paradigmatic shift in the beauty segment from ‘one-size-fits-all’ to hyperpersonalisation is changing the face of the industry across the world. Consumers today are not looking for universal products but want uniquely personal solutions. New-age brands and young thought leaders are coming together to educate consumers on the diversity of skin and skin needs.

Innovation and creativity have made in-roads at every step of the purchase. Buying beauty products has to be a sensorial experience - shoppers react to elements of packaging, colour themes, textures, scents and the overall feel of the product.

How innovatively a retail store or beauty app interacts with the customers can make a world of a difference. Consumer-centric experiences are vital when shopping for highly personal products such as beauty. This is even more critical in online beauty sites as the consumer can easily leave a site when a friction is encountered. With such developments, technology has come up as the biggest enabler. What are the key opportunities and challenges that you see in 2023? What are your expansion plans?

Karishma: We plan to launch our under 2 hr delivery module in other key cities including DelhiNCR, Hyderabad, Bangalore launching our Android app very soon.

Expand category mix along with their reimagined experience on app. We will also be launching more ways to shop in our app to encourage more browsing options for our users.We've boarded over 200 brands.

On average we are signing 5 brands per week. Expect to hit 500 brands over the next couple of months including many exclusive international brands we will be launching in India.

In recent times, the skincare world has been brimming with innumerable, miraculous skincare ingredients. Thus, it becomes even more essential to opt for products that are effective and yield results while helping “restore equilibrium” of one’s skin. The topical use of both Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid helps resolve various dermatological concerns due to their medicinal effectiveness. However, before introducing Glycolic Acid and Salicylic Acid into your skin care regimen, gaining a deep understanding of these ingredients will be beneficial. We reached out to Dr. Aseem Sharma, a Consultant Dermatologist from Mumbai and Re'equil India’s advisor who shares his insights on the cardinal differences between AHAs and BHAs, herewith.

If you are not sure which is better for your skin Salicylic Acid or Glycolic Acid, this will help clear your confusion.

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic Acid belongs to the superfamily of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHA), widely loved for its mild exfoliating properties. These water-soluble acids are procured from natural sources like sugarcane, sugar beet, milk, etc. The topical application of alphahydroxy acids has a remarkable influence in improving skin texture and natural glow. Numerous scientific research studies have demonstrated that AHA-based chemical peels are highly potent for aging skin and facial discoloration.

Benefits of AHAs

Prevents Hyperpigmentation: Consistent use of Alpha Hydroxy Acids will effectively help get rid of hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. A global research study published in 2018 has concluded that topical use of AHAs has also shown clearance of dark spots left behind from sun damage. Alpha Hydroxy Acids also inhibit the activity of the tyrosinase enzyme which plays an essential role in the synthesis of melanin pigment.

Hydrates the Skin: AHAs not only slough off dead skin cells but also help keep the skin hydrated. Humectant properties of AHAs help to lock in moisture thereby improving the appearance of dry skin and making it soft, supple, and responsive to other therapies.

Minimizes the Appearance of Fine Lines and Wrinkles: Topical AHAs have been shown to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. AHAs help in cell renewal and also promote collagen production which helps to diminish fine lines and improve the skin texture, overall.

Boosts the Natural Radiance of Skin: It is one of the best hydroxy acids for your skin, in terms of tonal correction. AHAs are great chemical exfoliators, which help attain bright, smooth, and glowing skin. They penetrate skin layers and loosen up the bond between dead skin cells to clear all the impurities. Hence, its use helps to perk up overall skin complexion.

Salicylic Acid

Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid (BHA), mostly obtained from willow tree bark, hazel, and wintergreen leaves. This oilsoluble ingredient penetrates into the deeper layers of skin and helps to clean the clogged pores. Hence, it prevents the clogging of pores, which in turn makes it an ideal ingredient for acne-prone skin. In addition, salicylic acid possesses anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, which reduce the risk of acne flare-ups.

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Soothes Inflammation and Redness: BHAs possess natural anti-inflammatory properties which help to provide relief from inflammation and irritation associated with acne.

A Marvel of Jugalbandi

Mohan Brothers presented a live concert in New Delhi

Gupta, ghazal singer Radhika Chopra, and many others graced the occasion with their wonderful presence.

Coming together of Craft & Design

Tarasha’s Design Direct emphasis inclusive design, co-learning, cocreating, and two-way knowledge transfer

March 13, 2023 (IANSlife) The first Indians to be invited to perform at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles and nominee for the Global Indian Music Academy Awards for Best Classical Instrumentalists, the Mohan Brothers - Lakshay Mohan (Sitar) and Aayush Mohan(Sarod) presented Marvel of Jugalbandi Season 2, a live concert tour in the Capital's Kamani Auditorium, where audience witnessed a celebration of the true spirit of Jugalbandi (Duet) - a music format which brings about a

classic blend of two instruments. The Sitar and Sarod, which have been a part of our Indian Classical Music for hundreds of years and are thought to be two of the most difficult instruments to master, were used in a jugalbandi during this performance tour. The performances took place in Mumbai and Bangalore in addition to Delhi. Shyam Mohan Gupta, K L Ganju, golfer Neelam Prataap Rudy, Kathak dancer Shinjini Kulkarni, artist Manisha Gawade, entrepreneur & fashion designer Neha Gupta, poet Rekha

The Mohan siblings have created their own unique Jugalbandi style and have mesmerized audiences all over the world. They have given performances at a number of renowned venues and events. To mention a few, these include the Central Conservatory of Music in China, Thyagaraja Festival in Cleveland, Symphony Space in New York, Learnquest Music Conference in Boston, Berklee College of Music in Boston, and Thyagaraja Festival in Cleveland. The Sawai Gandharva Festival in Pune, the Vishnu Digambar Jayanti Samaroh in Delhi, the Gunidas Sangeet Sammelan in Mumbai, the Saptak Festival in Ahmedabad, the Harivallabh Sangeet Sammelan in Jalandhar, and the Serendipity Arts Festival in Goa are just a few of the notable venues where they have performed in India.

A lot happens between restrain and spontaneity: Artist Jagannath Panda

and imbibe it completely.”

An important theme in his work remains migration -- something Panda witnessed firsthand when he moved to Gurugram, at a time when the city was still being built.

March 13, 2023 (IANSlife) A special exhibition of artisan-designer partnerships called Tarasha's Design Direct is scheduled to run from March 17 through March 19 at Delhi's Craft Village. The event, which was jointly organized by Titan's Project Tarasha, Creative Dignity, and Craft Village, seeks to advance fair artisan-designer collaborations, advance craft techniques, and investigate novel,

novel opportunities within crafts. A opportunity to connect with important industry players like designers, design firms, architects, brands, craft enthusiasts, and the fraternity will be provided by Tarasha's Design Direct showcase for artisans. The purpose of the event is to introduce artisans to fresh market contacts and engagements.

Migration remains an important theme in his work

By Sukant Deepak

March 12, 2023 (IANSlife) For artist Jagannath Panda, spontaneity has always been of paramount importance in his work. Believing it to be a means to discover one’s unknown spaces, he adds, “It is between restrain and spontaneity that a lot of magic can happen.”

An important contemporary artist whose work is in several major collections such as the GVK Mumbai International Airport; Mori Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan; Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi; the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; and the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology in the Capital, Panda, who completed his MFA in sculpture from the Royal College of Arts London (2002) and has been a visiting researcher at Fukuoka University of Education, Fukuoka, Japan, has delved with multiple themes in his works. From issues pertaining to dislocation, and inequality on multiple levels to desire, the artist stresses that he does not wish to walk the journalistic line of observing from a distance, but rather live through experiences. “And that can happen when you become a witness to the transition

“Watching buildings take shape, the continuous intake of migrants and the labourers working on tall skyscrapers precipitated a lot of questions in his mind.

“The world was suddenly much more than I had imagined. The sharp contrast between the past and the present, and the rapid transitions that I saw were mind-boggling. The work on migration has constantly been about engaging people along with my journey as a migrant. And I have created artwork based on that. Sometimes it looks surreal. I always enjoy looking at things and the ideas that appear and where they belong to. And what we can negotiate with each other in terms of human growth.”

Someone who has always been a strong advocate for public art, the artist stresses it has always been an integral part of our culture, though sadly art and our cultural activities have been compartmentalized.

“You will witness tribes boasting of the ‘process’ of making the painting, dance, music, and rituals.

Everything comes together to make one event. It should not be looked at as something different and separate from the public. Every time I engage with the public with my foundation, I

enjoy working with the artists and people. And different people express differently.” Adding that it is important that art reaches not just the common people, but also the ruling class, and administrators so that the latter understand its importance and how it contributes to society, Panda says, “And it should be documented and talked about. Our traditions should be accessible. We must feel comfortable with them.”

Panda, who was recently invited by the Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi (CLKA) in collaboration with Indian Creative Minds, Delhi for ‘Different Perspectives…’, an audio-visual presentation feels that for the past many years, successive governments have done very little to strengthen the cultural infrastructure.

The artist who runs a private foundation, ‘Utsav’ feels it is important that private players step in to bridge the gap. “There are still very few of them but are doing a commendable job of promoting our culture. Their approach and methodology are contemporary and they understand diverse tools.”

Panda admits that the time spent in Japan has been a turning point in his artistic career. “I collaborated with several other artists there. The way they look at art and other disciplines has had a reflection on my work too. My practice has also evolved,” he concludes.

In India, craft and design have long been woven together like weave and weft. Project Tarasha and Creative Dignity introduced their Design Mentorship program with the same thought in mind. Over the course of three months, this interaction has led to the co-creation of innovative craft goods by artisan and designer pairs. Ajrakh rugs, cushion covers, table runners, a pop-up storybook for kids, a chessboard made with traditional leather puppetry, a home temple, modern candle holders, cooking utensils, tealights, and kid-sized cabinets are just a few examples of the unusual and creative goods available.

According to Ritika Gandhi, anchor for Project Tarasha, "our goal with Tarasha's Design Direct is to showcase the true potential of artisan-designer collaborations and support fair partnerships that value the special abilities

and cultural connotations of craft practices. Craft and style, in our opinion, are two sides of the same coin. In India, the terms "craft" and "design" have actually always been used synonymously. However, over the past 20 years or so, the dynamic has changed, favoring designers and relegating artisans to the status of suppliers or makers. With an emphasis on inclusive design, co-learning, cocreating, and two-way knowledge transfer, this event exemplifies an equitable artisan-designer collaboration.

Dates: 17th - Preview (invite only)/

Time: 5 pm to 6.30 pm

18th, 19th - Saturday & Sunday

Time: 11.30 am to 7 pm

Venue: Craft Village, 19B, Shivaji Marg, West End Greens, Rangpuri, New Delhi, India Entry free

Rare woman poets who ensured gender equity in ghazals

For a form of poetry whose name is supposed to have been derived from a graceful female deer and is dedicated to love and other facets of the human condition, it is startling to find women missing from the glittering constellation of Urdu ghazal for well over two centuries since its inception in the early 18th century. The reason is not difficult to ascertain. Ghazals, in the days before mass media and mass dissemination of knowledge,

were only known and spread by recitation in public events like 'mushairas' where prevailing social norms did not allow the attendance of women, leave alone their participation. There were women who wrote -- but this was a most private endeavour and they usually remain obscure. And there was "rekhti". Said to originate in early 18th century Lucknow with then Urdu poetry's "enfant terrible" Insha Allah Khan

'Insha', and his cronies like Saadat

Yaar Khan 'Rangeen', Meer Yaar Ali 'Jaan Sahib', it was an earlier form of "feminist" poetry, where male poets made use of women's voices, idioms, mannerisms, and, even accents, to talk about issues from the female viewpoint -- or what they imagined it to be While 'rekhti' was an affectation that generally fizzled out as decadent living declined, the social barriers persisted throughout the 18th and 19th centuries and change came only well into the 20th century. And even then, the process has been slow and far from encompassing, as far as ghazals are concerned. Women singers like Begum Akhtar, Suraiyya, Noor Jahan, et all could interpret them in a musical format, but original writers took time to emerge and become famous.

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

Anupama Mohan delves into her debut novel and the legacy of ‘Tamizh’

Kochi, Feb 27 (IANS) "Every evening I return to my rented room, but I am not going to die this way. That has got to be some way out here" read aloud poetactivist and Tibetan refugee Tenpin Tsundue from one of his poems.

Tsundue said this while taking part in 'Let's Talk', an interactive poetry reading session organised by Kashi Townhouse, a KochiMuziris Biennale Invitations Programme.

The wandering poet who combines activism and academia to share his thoughts on exile, writing, resistance, culture, and identity, says independence is only a status that is different from freedom.

Be it fifty or a hundred years, we will continue to fight. We also know that we are not going to lose anything anymore and we will return to Tibet, one day," said Tsundue.

He went on to add that Tibetans keep their culture and identity alive from generation to generation through stories and art on Tibet.

"We sustain our life in the land we left behind through the elders' tales. I lived in a refugee camp on the edges of the Sathyamangalam forest in Karnataka but our lives were filled with vivid images of snow mountains, apples, peaches, apricots, and a magical land named Tibet. This continues in our refugee camps even now. We may have been born a refugee but we are destined to be free," he asserted.

New Delhi, March 5 (IANS)

Growing up in the vibrant surroundings of Central Delhi's Karol Bagh, Anupama Mohan began writing at the age of nine -- "at least, that's how far back my memory of something tangible -a diary, a journal -- goes".

Not surprisingly, her debut novel "Where Mayflies Live Forever" (Picador) is as much a suspenseful mystery as it is a story about one woman's self-discovery in the natural world, with a disillusioned

but probing, and ultimately triumphant, heart -- completed during a residency in Kerala at the height of the pandemic. Written in fiery yet sublime prose and rendered with extraordinary power, "Mayflies" is an absorbing exploration of violence and trauma, choice and identity, and the journey to find oneself in the wild.

"As the only child of immigrant parents in Delhi, I was solitary for long stretches of time and turned to books. Reading, thinking, and writing were, therefore, a big part of my adolescent and then adult life," Mohan, an Associate Professor at IIT Jodhpur"s School of Liberal Arts, told IANS in an interview. "I was born in New Delhi and spent my early formative years in Karol Bagh, a vibrant community of people

from all states in India. As a result, I grew up around Punjabi, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi, Tamizh, Malayalam (my mother tongue), Hindi, and English, making for a rich tapestry of sounds and words and images from my very childhood on. "It was also a colony of refugees both from the 1947 Partition and then, during my childhood, the 1984 Sikh riots, so I grew up surrounded by old men and women whose stories of lost homelands mingled with the nostalgic remembrances of my parents' Kerala," Mohan added. She went to school at the lovely St. Thomas School on Mandir Marg, its gulmohar tree-lined avenue a powerful memory of the natural beauty of Delhi in the 1980s and 1990s.

(Vishnu Makhijani can be reached at vishnu.makhijani@ians.in)

Iranian Ambassador reviews conservation of Persian records at Telangana Archives

cataloguing of the old archival records, particularly in Persian language.

"In 70 years of Tibetan freedom struggle, we have realized that we need to think for the world, not just one country. When it comes to the Tibetan freedom movement, we know that it may take time but we are confident.

Tsundue was in the limelight in January 2002 when he displayed a banner with the words "Free Tibet: China, Get Out" and a Tibetan flag by climbing the scaffolding outside the hotel in Mumbai where People's Republic of China Premier Zhu Rongji stayed.

Of all the places he travelled, Tenzin finds peace in Kerala.

Hyderabad, March 3 (IANS)

Iranian Ambassador to India Dr Iraj Elahi on Friday visited the Telangana State Archives and Research Institute to see the work being undertaken by an Iranian organisation for conservation of historic records.

Accompanied by Mehdi

Shahrokhi, Iran's Counsel General at Hyderabad, he visited the institute which has joined hands with Noor Microfilm International Centre (NMIC) at Culture House of Iran in New Delhi for digitisation, conservation and

The Iranian envoy released the first facsimile copy of the farmans or royal orders of VIIth Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan.

The institute has requested that all the 355 chicket (bounded books) f Farmans of Nizam VI & VII and other necessary books be made into facsimile copies for the usage of the scholars and others.

An MoU between the Telangana State Archives and Research Institute and the Noor International Microfilm was signed on September 7, 2022 in Hyderabad in the presence of state Information Technology and Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao and then Iranian Ambassador Dr.

Ali Chegini.

The MoU was aimed at taking up the conservation, digitisation, and cataloguing work of classical Persian and Urdu language documents of non-confidential nature on a voluntary basis with no financial burden on the government treasury.

During his visit to the institute on Friday, the Ambassador said that Iran's relations with India had always been friendly and there have been many cultural exchanges between the two countries. He said as Persian is the national language of Iran, they are eager to save the heritage of Persian language in India which was once the national language of this country too.

New Delhi, March 8 (IANS) Don't you wish growing up, you had strong female voices that would speak to you in your time of need? Women, whose personal triumph would give you the courage and hope to stand up for yourself and always ask for more till the time you got what you truly deserved. Don't you wish your growing up years were not filled with damsels who were perpetually in distress and that strong voices were not limited to the reading of nonfiction and literary genre alone?

On International Women's Day, here are three women international authors of commercial fiction published by Penguin who are trying to change that for the current and next generation of young readers. This is a short list of some fantastic fiction titles, some of them are debut voices, while the others are established names. Let's let the world know that the age-old

perception that only literary fiction and non-fiction genres can be powerful, and life changing reads is just not true anymore. These are only few of the many commercial titles that are turning this perception on its head.

"Lessons in Chemistry" by Bonnie Garmus Chemist Elizabeth Zott is not your average woman. In fact, Elizabeth Zott would be the first to point out that there is no such thing. But it's the early 1960s and her all-male team at Hastings Research Institute take a very unscientific view of equality. Except for one: Calvin Evans, the lonely, brilliant, Nobel-prize nominated grudge-holder who falls in love with - of all thingsher mind. True chemistry results.

VISHNU MAKHIJANI

Actor Satish Kaushik, famed as ‘Calendar’ in ‘Mr. India’, passes away at 67

Veteran Bollywood actorwriter-director Satish

Kaushik - remembered as 'Calendar' in the film "Mr. India" - passed away at 67 late on Wednesday.

His friend and another legendary actor Anupam Kher shared the news in a tweet early Thursday.

Born in Haryana, Kaushik was an alumnus of the NSD and the FTII, and started his film career in the early 1980s.

He penned the dialogues for the 1983 classic "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron", which acquired a cult following

Arbaaz Khan talks about how Hindi cinema has changed from inside

over the years.

He is known for his comic roles as 'Calendar' in "Mr India", 'Pappu Pager' in "Deewana Mastana" among many others.

Kaushik also gave sterling performances in other films like "Ram Lakhan" and "Saajan Chale Sasural".

He directed Sridevi's film, "Roop Ki Rani, Choron Ka Raja" and later "Prem", both disasters, but he got his big hit with "Hum Aapke Dil Me Rehte Hain" and also "Tere Sang", among many others.

Many Bollywood personalities have paid tributes to the multifaceted artiste after learning about the news of his demise.

IIFA Technical Awards: ‘Gangubai Kathiawadi’, ‘Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2’ top winners

Bollywood superstar Ajay Devgn's crime thriller 'Drishyam 2' won the award for Best Editing by Sandeep Francis. Similarly, the Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt-starrer action adventure, 'Brahmastra: Part One-Shiva' took home the trophy for another post-production work - Best Special Effects (Visual) by DNEG, Redefine.

While Hrithik Roshan and Saif Ali Khan's 'Vikram Vedha' was awarded the Best Background Score designed by Sam CS, the Rajkummar Rao, Huma Qureshi and Radhika Apte-starrer streaming film 'Monica O My Darling' bagged the Best Sound Mixing (Gunjan A. Sah, Boloy Kumar Doloi and Rahul Karpe).

Bollywood actor Arbaaz Khan, who hosts the chat show 'The Invincibles', recently shared how the Hindi film industry has undergone certain changes for good.

He told IANS: "Change is a constant process, there cannot be one solution that will set everything right once and for all. It's the change that has helped our cinema evolve. There's more professionalism compared to the 1990s. Earlier, actors used to work on seven to eight films simultaneously in a year. Today, there are bound scripts given to every department, table reading sessions so that everyone is at the same page, literally and figuratively while making the film or a series. So this has changed today."

Arbaaz is son of screenwriter Salim Khan of the Salim-Javed duo, who are known to have changed the face of Indian cinema and have brought more respect for writers. He is better known as the brother of Salman Khan. The actor added: "The filmmaking process has become far more streamlined, there are dedicated

departments that cater to problem-solving on a daily front while a film is being made all the way up to its release. Work ethics have changed for the good. There is a sense of security for actors, the actors today focus on one project and give it dedicated time to help it reach its full potential compared to how it used to be earlier."

'The Invincibles' is available to stream on YouTube channel of Bollywood Bubble.

Kangana Ranaut plays Holi on the sets of ‘Chandramukhi 2’

The International Indian Film Academy and Awards (IIFA) has announced its technical winners from 2022. There are total nine categories of technical awards which include cinematography, screenplay, dialogue, choreography, sound design, editing, special effects (visuals), background score and sound design.

Of these, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' leads the pack as it bagged 3 awards

- Best Cinematography was won by DOP Sudeep Chatterjee, Best Screenplay went to Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Utkarshini Vashishtha, and Best Dialogues was conferred upon Utkarshini Vashishtha and Prakash Kapadia. The Kartik Aaryan and Kiara Advani-starrer horror comedy, 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2' won Best Choreography for title track by choreographer duo, BoscoCaesar, and Best Sound Design by Mandar Kulkarni.

Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, who will be among the celebrity presenters at the Oscars this year, has jetted off to the US for the prestigious event. Deepika was photographed at the airport leaving for the Oscars 2023 awards. Her husband and actor Ranveer Singh was seen dropping her at the airport.

A video shared by celebrity paparazzi Viral Bhayani showed Deepika getting off from her car dressed in a black blazer paired with denims. Ranveer was seen inside the car as he dropped her off at the airport.

The actress will join global stars like Emily Blunt, Samuel Jackson and Dwayne Johnson in

The 23rd edition of IIFA is set to be held at Yas Island, Abu Dhabi from May 26 through May 27. IIFA Rocks will be hosted by Karan Johar and Farah Khan with live performances by Amit Trivedi, Badshah, Sunidhi Chauhan, Nucleya, Mika Singh, and Sukhbir. The global IIFA Awards will be hosted by Vicky Kaushal, and Abhishek Bachchan. The IIFA magic will escalate with live performances by Bollywood A-listers like Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez, Rakul Preet Singh and Nora Fatehi.

Los Angeles on March 12 for the Oscars ceremony.

Deepika announced her name on the presenters list through Instagram. She shared a list of presenters at the 95th Oscars which includes her name alongside stars like Samuel Jackson, Zoe Saldana, Dwayne Johnson and Riz Ahmed.

Deepika was photographed at the airport leaving for the Oscars 2023 awards. Her husband and actor Ranveer Singh was seen dropping her at the airport.

Actress Kangana Ranaut was seen celebrating the festival of colours, Holi on the sets of her upcoming film 'Chandramukhi 2'. Kangana took to Instagram, where she shared a reel. In the video, the actress is seen dressed in a white kurta and pyjama paired with sunglasses as she starts putting colours on her crew and cast members of the film.

In one frame, designer Neeta Lulla can be seen putting colours on Kangana. The actress chose the song 'Rang Barse' sung by Amitabh Bachchan for her reel. She captioned the video, which currently has 290,000 views on the photo-sharing website: "Holi this morning on Chandramukhi set."

'Chandramukhi 2' is directed by P. Vasu. The film's prequel, which released in 2005, starred superstar Rajanikanth and Jyothika Saravanan.

'Chandramukhi' was a remake of the Malayalam film 'Manichitrathazhu' and was

adapted in Hindi as the Akshay Kumar-starrer 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa'. In 'Chandramukhi 2', Kangana will be seen playing the role of a renowned dancer in the king's court who's known for her breathtaking beauty. Meanwhile, Kangana also has 'Tejas' in which she essays the role of an Indian Air Force pilot, 'Emergency' and 'Noti Binodini' in the pipeline.

China release of Varun, Anushka-starrer ‘Sui Dhaaga’ on March 31

While it is a love story steeped in Indian roots and values, it is pure heartwarming cinema that got so much love when it released in India and I'm hopeful it will melt the hearts of audiences in China too."

Ajay Devgn: I enjoy the process of working

Ajay during the trailer launch of the film, which is all set to hit the screens on March 30, was asked what he enjoys more - acting or directing.

Bollywood

stars Varun Dhawan and Anushka Sharma's acclaimed film 'Sui DhaagaMade In India', which was released in 2018 in the country, will be hitting the screens in China on March 31.

The film is about finding love and respect through self-reliance.

"We are pleased to announce that our beautiful love story on self-empowerment, Sui DhaagaMade in India, will have its release in China on March 31, 2023!"

"The film touched the hearts of people when it released in India and given its universal theme of how every human being should be

self-reliant to fulfil their dreams, it should resonate in China too! We are hopeful that our film with its strong core values will appeal to audiences in China who have historically connected with stories that celebrate the undying human spirit," said Nelson D'Souza, Vice President, International Distribution, Yash Raj Films.

Producer Maneesh Sharma added: "As a film-maker, I have always believed that some stories are universal in their appeal and can transcend language and geographies. For me, Sui Dhaaga - Made In India is one such.

"Indian youth are dream-chasers and if we look at China, they are also the same. So, I feel our simple, feel-good love story of two aspiring entrepreneurs will connect with people in that country. I'm eager to see the reaction in China. Historically, they have loved uplifting stories about human emotions and rooted for underdogs to win the day. I'm hopeful they will love the theme of how self-reliance can aid people to achieve their goals."

The film's plot is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy that Indians should be selfdependent to achieve their goals. While Varun played the role of a tailor, Anushka is an embroiderer in the film who, as husband and wife, team up to fulfill their dreams of becoming entrepreneurs. 'Sui DhaagaMade In India' saw the National Award-winning dream-team of director Sharat Kataria and producer Maneesh Sharma, of

Oscars 2023: ‘Naatu Naatu’ win has father-son duo sharing Oscar glory

The 95th Oscar Awards show featured both of them, albeit at different points of time.

The audience at the Dolby Auditorium in Los Angeles had the opportunity to listen to both, father and son on Monday morning, Indian Time.

Actor-filmmaker Ajay Devgn, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming film 'Bholaa', says he enjoys the process of work and cannot choose between acting or directing because it is all one.

"I enjoy the process of working. You cannot segregate between acting and direction because it is all one. You enjoy total filmmaking. You enjoy waking up in the morning and going to work and both are a part of it. It's a combination. You cannot enjoy one without the other," he said. 'Bholaa' is an action thriller which also stars Tabu, Deepak Dobriyal, Sanjay Mishra and Gajraj Rao. It is reportedly a remake of Tamil film 'Kaithi', which released in 2019, featuring Karthi in the lead role, along with Narain, Arjun Das, Harish Uthaman, George Maryan and Dheena in pivotal roles.

Big B shares health update after injury, says ‘all work has stopped’

concern on my injury, may I express my gratitude and love for your prayers (sic)."

"I progress gradually, it shall take time and what has been prescribed by the doctors is being followed diligently. Rest and strapped chest, all work has stopped and will only begin once the condition improves and the medical gives an assurance (sic)."

Hyderabad, March 13 (IANS) It's a Monday that India will not forget in a hurry. It's even more special for the father-son duo of music director M.M. Keeravani and playback singer Kaala Bhairava, who have worked on 'Naatu Naatu' which made history by winning an

Oscar for the Best Original Song award.

While Keeravani has composed the music for the iconic song, his son Kaala Bhairava has lent his voice for the song, along with singer Rahul Sipligunj.

Kaala Bhairava mesmerised the Oscars audience with his live rendition of 'Naatu Naatu' on stage. A little later, Keeravani got on stage to receive his award, he crooned a take-off on an old Carpenters' number.

Keeravani is a well-known name in Tollywood, Bollywood, and Kollywood, while his son Kaala Bhairava has been making a name for himself as a playback singer.

Oscars 2023: ‘All That Breathes’ loses Best Documentary award to ‘Navalny

Los Angeles, March 13 (IANS) Indian documentary 'All That Breathes', directed by Shaunak Sen, lost out the Best Documentary feature award to 'Navalny'.

Other nominees in the list included 'Navalny', 'All The Beauty And The Bloodshed' and 'A House Made of Splinters'.

'Navalny', directed by Daniel Roher, the film revolves around Russian Opposition leader Alexei Navalny and events related to his poisoning. On August 20, 2020, Navalny was poisoned with a Novichok nerve agent, falling sick

during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow, and was hospitalised in serious condition.

Navalny was taken to a hospital in Omsk after an emergency landing there, and put in a coma. Two days later, he was evacuated to the Charite hospital in Berlin, Germany.

While accepting the award, director Daniel Roher made a political statement as he said that as Alexei Navalny languishes in prison, he calls out the unjust invasion of Ukraine by Russia and Vladimir Putin.

Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who suffered an injury to his ribs during the shoot of 'Project K', has shared that he has put all his work commitments on a temporary halt in light of the recovery.

The senior actor took to his Twitter and blog on Tuesday to share an update on his health. The actor expressed gratitude to his fans, who showered him with support and love after they came to know about his injury.

He also said that 'Holika' was lit at Jalsa on March 6.

An excerpt from his latest blog read, "First, to all that send their

The actor also informed people about Holika celebrations that were performed on Monday night at his Mumbai residence, Jalsa. He wrote, "The 'holika' was lit last night at Jalsa, there being a date confusion on the day for HOLI... it is now done. HOLI being celebrated today... and tomorrow... so in this confusion much of what could have been done was not done... I rest and repair. But my wishes for the celebration of this joyous festival is with you... May the colours of HOLI bring the multifaceted colours of life in your life... More later... But for now my gratitude as ever.