India News - Feb 16-28, 2023

NIA arrests two terror suspects in AQIS case

of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

The NIA on Saturday conducted raids in Bengaluru and Thane and detained the suspected persons. On Sunday, the agency confirmed that they have made two arrests in the matter.

revealed that the accused, Arif and Shaikh were in contact with foreign-based online handlers affiliated to proscribed terrorist organizations. They had also made elaborate plans to leave for Afghanistan to progress their terrorist activities," the NIA said.

faulty construction of buildings that collapsed in the earthquakes, Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Sunday.

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Sunday that they have arrested two terror suspects in a case related to activities

The accused were identified as Mohammad Ari, a resident of Karnataka, and Hamraz Worshid Shaikh, a resident of Maharashtra. "Preliminary investigations have

The suspected accused Arif was the first to be arrested by the NIA, he was planning to go to Syria via Iraq to join ISIS. He was held from Bengaluru in a joint operation

Adani fights back - and it’s helping

Ever since the Adani Enterprises Limited Follow-On Offer opened on January 27, the group has been on the backfoot post the Hindenburg report questioning it and its finances.

The aftershocks of the report rattled the group and its impact was felt by the markets as well. The group began its slow and steady fightback and did many things to restore its image and credibility among various stakeholders.

The stock markets, which had

witnessed crazy volumes and price movements in the Adani pack, saw volumes reducing significantly last week. The exchanges took measures to curtail volatility and introduced higher margins on the stocks. Further, the price volatility seems to be subsiding and things are getting back on track. From the table which gives price changes during the week, the intraweek high and lows for the period from February 3 to

Ms. Swati Dave appointed as the inaugural Chair of

Advisory Board to the Centre for Australia-India Relations

It is often a pleasure to see an Indian appointed to a High-level post in the Government especially when the candidate is a woman.

Senator Penny Wong announced on her Twitter feed on 7th February 2023 “Very pleased to announce Ms. Swati Dave as the

inaugural Chair of the Advisory Board to the Centre for AustraliaIndia Relations.

Ms. Dave brings valuable strategic, leadership, and business experience to the Board and I look forward to working with her in this role.”

Ankara/Damascus, Feb 13 (IANS)

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked Turkey and Syria last week has climbed to 29,605 and 1,414 respectively.

The number of wounded, meanwhile, rose to more than 80,000 in Turkey and 2,349 in Syria, according to official figures released on Sunday.

Turkey has issued arrest warrants for 134 suspects involved in the

Three of the suspects were arrested, Bozdag told reporters. The catastrophic earthquakes have flattened more than 20,000 buildings across the 10 quakeaffected regions, Xinhua news agency reported.

Yavuz Karakus and Sevilay Karakus, contractors of many buildings destroyed in the earthquake in southern Adiyaman province, were detained at Istanbul Airport while trying to escape to Georgia, the local NTV broadcaster reported on Sunday.

Bengaluru, Feb 11 (IANS) The body of an Indian, who went missing following the massive earthquake in Turkey, has been found under the rubble of a hotel on Saturday, the Indian Embassy said, adding that it would be sent to India as

early as possible.

"We inform with sorrow that the mortal remains of Vijay Kumar, an Indian missing in Turkey since the February 6 earthquake, have been found and identified among the debris of a hotel in Malatya, where he was on a business trip," the Indian Embassy said in a statement.

As per sources, Vijay Kumar's body was identified with his tattoo of the word "Om" on one of his hands as his face was badly disfigured.

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NIA arrests two terror suspects in AQIS case

Continued from Page 1

between the Internal Security Division (ISD) of Bengaluru and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Later on, Shaikh was arrested.

The NIA sources have claimed that Arif was in touch with abroad-based terrorists and was held for his suspicious activities. Sources said that Arif was allegedly radicalizing gullible youths. The Central agencies have found several suspected transactions made by him and done into his account.

The NIA recovered electronic gadgets from his possession and recovered tons of data from his laptop which is said to be highly objectionable and anti-India.

Arif was reportedly working in a private tech firm as a software engineer.

Sources said that Arif was planning to flee Karnataka in the month of March and was about to sell all his home furniture and electronic gadgets online. The source claimed that Arif had also booked tickets for Iraq and from

there he had planned to go to Syria.

"He confessed that he received money from abroad-based handlers of ISIS and Al-Qaeda to radicalize youth. He wanted to join ISIS. He was contacting his handlers through the Telegram app. We were keeping an eye on him for the past two years. This morning we conducted raids and have held him," sources claimed. Further probe into the matter is on.

Adani fights back - and it’s helping

Continued from Page 1

February 10 shows that three shares from the pack rose, two shares registered marginal losses and the remaining four had double-digit losses.

Let us see some of the major events during the week concerning the group.

* MSCI has reviewed the stocks in its indices in its quarterly review and decided to keep the Adani pack as it is.

* The Adani group has appointed US legal firm Wachtel as its adviser and legal counsel to take on Hindenburg in the US.

* SEBI has discussed the issue of the markets and Adani group and is comfortable with the markets.

* RBI has reviewed the Adani group exposure and believes there is no overleverage in any company.

* The government has discussed the issue in Parliament and made it clear that the group is a business house like any other and dismissed the need to debate it further.

* LIC and SBI have made statements about their exposure to the group.

* Some of the pledged shares have been released and loans retired prematurely.

* Additional pledged shares given to provide additional comfort to foreign lenders.

* Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday said "Indian regulators are aware of the concerns regarding the Adani Group" while responding to the Supreme Court's observation regarding the need for investor protection. This statement was made at the customary RBI meet

Massive earthquakes kill over 30,000 in Turkey, Syria as incredible rescues still bring hope

Continued from Page 1

Two more people were arrested for cutting the column of a building that collapsed in Gaziantep province, the semiofficial Anadolu Agency reported.

Anadolu Agency reported. A survivor was rescued from the debris in the Antakya district of Hatay province by Chinese and local rescuers on Sunday afternoon, 150 hours after the quake hit the region.

On Sunday, Algeria and Libya also sent planes full of relief items to the quake-hit areas.

post-budget.

* The matter has already reached the Supreme Court and SEBI has been asked to give a statement on the interests of shareholders being protected.

The group has got its act together. Results for the entire group listed entities have been announced and there is no untoward incident in the results which could make one worried. I believe the second part of the battle has begun and the complainant and short seller would be carefully watched and his actions be under the radar. Very clearly, the Adani fightback has begun in all earnest.

(Arun Kejriwal is the founder of Kejriwal Research and Investment Services. The views expressed are personal)

Thousands of rescuers continued to search for any sign of life in collapsed multi-storey buildings on the seventh day of the disaster. Hopes for finding alive survivors are fading, but the teams still manage some incredible rescues.

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca posted a video of a girl child rescued at the 150th hour. "Rescued a little while ago by crews. There is always hope!" he tweeted on Sunday.

Rescue workers pulled out 65-year-old women in the Antakya district of Hatay province 160 hours after the quake, the

Meanwhile, foreign heads of state and ministers started to pay visits to Turkey and Syria for showing solidarity.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias visited Turkey on Sunday in a show of support. "We will continue to do our best to overcome difficult times, both at bilateral and the level of the European Union," said Dendias, the first European Foreign Minister visiting Turkey after the disaster.

The visit by the Greek Foreign Minister comes amid longstanding tensions between the two NATO states over territorial disputes.

Turkey quake: Body of missing Indian found and identified through tattoo

Continued from Page 1

Hailing from Uttarakhand's Kotdwar, Vijay Kumar worked at Bengaluru-based Oxyplants India Private Ltd and was on a business trip to Turkey's Malatya and

staying at a four-star hotel there. His family said that his body would be flown to Istanbul and then will arrive in New Delhi, and then Uttarakhand.

Greater Springfield Kite Festival was a blast of fun and a booster for community spirit.

A well-organized event by the Greater Springfield Indian Association headed by the Founder and President Mr. Mukesh Dubey. It was one of those events where young and old could enjoy themselves together and compete with each other no matter their level of skills.

A pure fun-filled event that was well received by the Indian diaspora and the local families in the Springfield area. This was a maiden event of the Greater

Springfield Indian Association.

Kite festival is one of the auspicious festivals of India where the farmers are celebrating the end of the winter season and the beginning of the harvest season. In many parts of India, farmers will celebrate the Makar Sankranti marking the arrival of spring in India and the kite festival is the harbinger of the harvest season which starts after the makar sankranti day. On this day farmers will worship

the sun god for giving valuable nourishment to the crops, protecting them giving them the necessary oxygen needed for the fruits and vegetables to grow. In the urban sectors though the kite festival is looked at as more of a sport where everyone in the family comes together to celebrate and fly the kites. There is competition among the players in terms of whose kite lasts in the air for a long time and how many kites one cuts down in the

process of survival.

These days Kite festival is celebrated all over the world and India now has an international Kite festival where visitors from around the world, especially from countries including Japan, Italy, UK, Canada, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, the US, Malaysia, Singapore, France, and China take part in the celebration.

The Kite festival at Brisbane was a mixed bag of all cultures coming

together and celebrating it. There were the Indian kites flying high in the sky along with the Chinese Dragons and the US giant banners. Overall it was a fun day that unfolded from the morning at 9 am to the afternoon at 4 pm. The weather was also perfect to fly kites. Many community leaders and government officials attended the event. Charis Mullen MP supported the event and Mayor Teresa Harding - Ipswich City Council attended the event to support it.

Faster commute, local jobs among new Carmichael plane perks

The first of the multi-milliondollar planes has entered service this month.

Bravus Mining and Resources

Chief Operating Officer Mick Crowe said the new aircraft would get Carmichael’s workforce to site and back home again more quickly, safely, and in greater comfort.

The average flying time for the Dash 8 300 is just 45 minutes between the Carmichael mine and Townsville, and 50 minutes between the Carmichael mine and Rockhampton.

“Like every mine, the safety and wellbeing of our people, contractors, and suppliers is always our number one priority,” Mr Crowe said.

“Our somewhat unique challenge is the remoteness of our operation. Carmichael is more than a 160-kilometre drive to Clermont, and more than 300 kilometres from Queensland’s east coast.

“So that means fatigue risk management and maximising quality of life for our workforce are top of mind when it comes to getting people to work and back home again safely and efficiently.

productive workers.”

Skytrans co-owner Johnathan Thurston said it was a credit to Bravus to be investing in local companies.

“From a Skytrans point of view, we are very excited to have the relationship with Bravus,” Mr Thurston said.

“This contract is going to create around 20 new jobs for Skytrans, employing local people in Townsville and Rockhampton, so it is great work from Bravus and Skytrans.”

Skytrans CEO Alan Milne said the company would establish bases of operation in Townsville and Rockhampton and recruit pilots and flight attendants who live locally to service the contract.

“This is really exciting news for the workers at Carmichael, who are going to receive an incredible level of service, and for Townsville and Rockhampton who’ll see new jobs and investment,” Mr Milne said.

About Bravus Mining & Resources

• The Carmichael mine is producing high quality coal for export to nations around the world that want to lift their people out of energy poverty.

• The mine continues to safely and efficiently ramp up to its constructed level of production which is in the order of 10 million tonnes per annum.

• Townsville and Rockhampton remain the primary employment hubs for the Carmichael mine and we continue to recruit workers who can drive to site from the Isaac Region.

• More than 2,600 people were employed and more than A$1 billion paid to regional Queensland contractors and businesses since construction began on the Carmichael project in 2019.

Skytrans has signed on to operate two Dash 8 300-series aircraft to exclusively service 24 direct flights a week to or from the central Queensland coal mine and Townsville and Rockhampton.

“These news planes will do just that. Those of our team who can’t drive in from the Isaac Region will be at work or at home in about an hour. That means less of their R&R lost to work-related travel, more time to spend with friends and family, and, hopefully, happier, safer, and more

“Townsville and Rockhampton airports will now be formal bases of operation for us with local pilots, flight attendants and maintenance crews, just like we have in Cairns, Brisbane, and Horn Island.

“It’s terrific to see Bravus Mining and Resources continue to back fully Queensland-owned businesses like ours, and we look forward to building on this successful partnership long into the future.”

• Although the primary construction phase is finished, Carmichael still has more than 750 people on site at any time while another third are on days off.

• Carmichael coal is high quality 5,000-5,400 kcal/kg coal with low sulphur, low trace elements and low ash which will meet the import requirements of many international markets, including those in the Asia-Pacific region.

• Carmichael coal is sold into the international seaborne export market and its ultimate destination depends on market demand.

(L-R) Wayne Croton, Bravus Mining and Resources, Johnathan Thurston, Skytrans co-owner, Jacquelyn Blanford, Bravus Mining and Resources, Kaitlyn Fitzsimmons, Skytrans Cabin Crew, Ted Pham, Bravus Mining and Resources.

(L-R) Jacquelyn Blanford, Bravus Mining and Resources, Johnathan Thurston, Skytrans co-owner, Wayne Croton, Bravus Mining and Resources and Ted Pham, Bravus Mining and Resources

Workers at Bravus Mining and Resources’ Carmichael mine will be flying in style under a new deal stuck between the miner and Skytrans Airlines.

NASA to launch Mars science mission on Bezos-run Blue Origin’s rocket

ESCAPADE is a twin-spacecraft Class D mission that will study solar wind energy transfer through Mars' unique hybrid magnetosphere.

enter into new civil space launch contracts.

value... We should welcome them with open arms and reduce friction for them," he said.

Washington, Feb 10 (IANS) The US space agency has announced a science mission to Mars aboard Jeff Bezos-run Blue Origin's New Glenn space launch vehicle

NASA awarded 'Mars Science

Mission Launch' to Blue Origin's New Glenn as part of the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) contract.

ESCAPADE is part of the NASA Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) programme. It is a dual spacecraft mission to study the magnetosphere of the Red Planet.

"ESCAPADE follows a long tradition of NASA Mars science and exploration missions, and we're thrilled NASA's Launch Services Programme has selected New Glenn to launch the instruments that will study Mars' magnetosphere," said Jarrett Jones, senior vice president, New Glenn, Blue Origin.

Named after astronaut John Glenn, New Glenn is a partially reusable heavy-lift rocket designed to launch commercial satellites and national security payloads.

New Glenn is proceeding to fulfill its current commercial contracts, pursue a large and growing commercial market, and

Blue Origin was on-ramped to the NASA VADR launch services Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract on January 26, 2022, with a five-year period of performance.

The Bezos aerospace company is working to create that future by developing reusable launch vehicles and in-space systems that are safe, low cost, and serve the needs of all civil, commercial, and defence customers.

Blue Origin's efforts include flying astronauts to space on New Shepard, producing reusable liquid rocket engines, developing an orbital launch vehicle with New Glenn, building next-generation space habitats, and returning to the surface of the Moon.

‘Need to protect investors’ interest’, SC seeks Sebi’s response on Hindenburg report

company share prices and caused massive losses to the investors. During the hearing, the top court noted that the point that really "bothers us is how do we protect the interest of the Indian investors".

New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Friday observed that there is a need for a robust regulatory framework to protect the interest of the Indian investors and if the Centre agrees, a committee may be set up to suggest regulatory improvements. The Supreme Court said this while hearing a plea seeking a direction to set up a committee monitored by a retired apex court judge to investigate the Hindenburg Research report, which resulted in crashing of Adani Group

A bench headed by Chief Justice of India, D.Y. Chandrachud, asked market regulator Sebi, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, to detail in its response how a strong framework could be brought to prevent instances like these from happening.

The court also suggested a committee having experts from the securities area, a former judge, or an international financial law expert to look into the matter. It added that Sebi

could have a wider role and then it could embark on analysing how it can be improved since the capital flow will become more seamless.

The bench, also comprising justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala, said, "It is said the total loss by Indian investors is several lakh crores. How do we ensure they are protected? How do we ensure that this does not happen in the future?"

The bench stressed that in future, what should be the role of Sebi? During the hearing, the bench recommended the expert committee that could confer wider powers to Sebi, and also emphasised that it does not want to cast any doubt on Sebi or the regulatory agencies.

Amartya Sen-Visva Bharati row over a sliver of land turns into a political slugfest

Hubballi (Karnataka), Feb 4 (IANS)

Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy on Saturday appealed to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman to bring back the old regime of allowing the NonResident Indians (NRIs) to stay in the country for 183 days.

Addressing the 14th Development Dialogue conference of the Deshpande Foundation in Hubballi, Murthy said, "Though they have no need to do so, NRIs have a heart for the betterment of India. For the same reason, they come and spend time here."

Murthy maintained that it is his request to the political leadership and bureaucrats to welcome NRIs. "They come with tremendous

The decision to reduce the stay of NRIs from 183 days to 120 days in a financial year has made the country lose 63 days of the presence of NRIs, who work for the betterment of Indian society, Murthy said.

"My humble request to the Union Finance Minister is to bring back the old regime in this regard and allow the NRIs who will make the life of the local people better to stay for a longer period," he said.

"The objective of turning the dreams of the founding fathers of our country to provide the poorest child in the remote village with access to good education, healthcare, nutrition, and a shelter would be achieved fast through embracing NRIs, who come with tremendous value," Murthy added.

"There is nothing wrong if the stay of NRIs is increased to 250 days. The country would only benefit as their presence will make the nation better. It will have an impact on the startups as well," he said.

Mumbai, Feb 10 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday paid glowing tributes to the miniscule Dawoodi Bohra community for its immense contributions to Indias progress, development and nation-building. Modi lauded the community for its all-round involvement and commitment to the nation through education, trade, business, conserving water, protecting environment and other social-academic activities.

Dawoodi Bohras have always proved themselves at the forefront on this count, and the learning institution ('Aljamea-tusSaifiyah') is a glowing example in this direction.

The 'Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah' was founded in Surat in 1810 by then spiritual head Syedna Abde'ali Saifuddin, and later it opened campuses in Karachi (1983) and Nairobi (2011), with the fourth campus starting in Mumbai on Friday.

Modi had visited the Surat campus as then Chief Minister in 2003, and earlier, then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had also graced the venue in June 1960.

Kolkata, Feb 5 (IANS) The issue is just 13 decimals of land. But that piece of land within the premises of the iconic Visva Bharati University at Bolpur-Santiniketan in Birbhum district of West Bengal, which was founded by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, has led to a bitter political slugfest involving Nobel laureate economist Amartya Sen.

It started when the vice chancellor of Visva Bharati University, Bidyut Chakraborty started accusing Sen of illegally occupying 1.38

acres of land which is in excess of his legal entitlement of 1.25 acres. However, the Nobel laureate refuted the allegation claiming the original 1.25 acres was gifted to his grandfather late Kshitimohan Sen who was the second vice-chancellor of Visva Bharati University. Later Sen's father late Asutosh Sen, who was also a professor at the same university, purchased the remaining 13 decimals of land, which is at the center of the dispute.

Till the beginning of last month, the row between the university vice-chancellor and the Nobel laureate was within some basic limits of decency, restricted to two-way communication. However, things changed last month when Sen in an interview

acknowledged the quality of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee to occupy the chair of the Prime Minister of the country. A political hullabaloo erupted over this observation of Sen, ignoring his supplementary observations on this point. While Sen's acknowledgment of the quality of the chief minister was highlighted, his related observations where he expressed doubts about how far Mamata Banerjee would be a uniting factor for the anti-BJP opposition were totally ignored. Later Sen explained that although he acknowledged the quality of Mamata Banerjee on this count he never said that she was the only political leader possessing such quality.

"The Dawoodi Bohras are playing an important role in the development of India. They are spread out all over the world. Now they should become the 'brand ambassadors' of India wherever they have settled," Modi said amid a thunderous applause.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the prestigious Dawoodi Bohra seat of learning - the Mumbai campus of the 'Aljamea-tus-Saifiyah' - at Marol, in the presence of the spiritual head of the Dawoodi Bohras, Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis and other dignitaries.

Pointing out that any community is judged by how it keeps pace with the changing times, the Prime Minister said that the

Modi extolled the vision and dedication of the founder, Syedna Abde'ali Saifuddin, who displayed the foresight to launch an academic institution of excellence, considered inconceivable at the height of the British Raj.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in)

India gets one more rocket, SSLV-D2 orbits 3 satellites successfully

belonging to ANTARIS of the US and 8.7 kg AzaadiSat-2 belonging to Space Kidz India, Chennai.

Aero India 2023: Indian Army to test jetpack suit from B’luru startup

miss. We have implemented corrective measures."

Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), Feb 10 (IANS) India on Friday got one more rocket to launch satellites.

SSLV-D2 successfully orbited three satellites with its new rocket -- Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV).

On its second developmental flight, the SSLV-D2 put into orbit an earth observation satellite-07 (EOS-07) weighing about 156.3 kg and two others - 10.2 kg, Janus-1

Speaking after the successful launch S. Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation said the country has one more rocket to launch satellites. In 2023, ISRO will launch a navigation satellite with its GSLV rocket.

"The SSLV-D2 rocket has launched the three satellites successfully.

The orbit achieved was good.

"All the rocket systems worked well," said the Chairman.

Recalling the failed maiden SSLV-D1 mission last year, Somanath said: "We had a narrow

S.Vinod, Mission Director said India has a new satellite launch vehicle.

"It all started in 2018 and the rocket has reached the intended destination today (Friday)."

He said last year's SSLV-D1 mission had a small problem. Detailed analysis was carried out and corrective actions were taken.

"In the shortest period we came out with a new satellite separation system and guidance system," Vinod added.

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in)

BJP leaders pay tribute to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay on his death anniversary

ensure the fruits of development reach the marginalised and the downtrodden."

India. You will always continue to light our path by being an inspiration."

Bengaluru, Feb 15 (IANS) Jetpack suit, displayed at the Aero India Show 2023, manufactured by a Bengaluru-based startup has caught the attention for its uniqueness and is in the reckoning for the contract by the armed forces.

research is continuing on gaining more fuel efficiency in terms of mileage.

It is expected to be handy in Army operations in impassable and inaccessible landscapes and can be handy in times of natural calamities, landslides, fire emergencies, and building collapse. It could be used as a drone, helicopter to cross rivers, or broken bridges.

As per the company, the jet suit has 70 per cent indigenised components and efforts are on for total indigenised content. It is powered by a gas turbine and can lift a soldier up to a height of 10 to 15 meters with a top speed of 50 kilometre per hour.

New Delhi, February 11 Feb 11

(IANS) BJP leaders on Saturday paid tributes to the late political leader Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya on his death anniversary.

Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "I pay homage to Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Ji on his Punya Tithi. We will never forget his efforts for national progress and serving the poor. Inspired by his vision, we are working round the clock to

On his part, Union Home Minister AMit Shah said that "through Antyodaya and unitary humanism, he showed the way to make every person a participant in the progress of the country. Following the same path of Deendayal ji's public welfare, the Modi government is connecting the underprivileged with the mainstream".

Also in a tweet, BJP National President J.P. Nadda said: "I bow down to the pioneer of Integral Humanism, founder member of Bharatiya Jana Sangh, unique thinker Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay ji on his death anniversary. Your entire life was devoted to the upliftment of the last person in the society and building a better

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said: "After independence, the voice that talked about the welfare of the person at the lower strata of society became the victim of a conspiracy. Pt. Deendayal Upadhyay was the person who talked about Antyodaya that became famous in the country & the world."

Meanwhile, the Delhi BJP unit paid floral tributes at the statue of the late leader installed at Pt Deendayal Upadhyay Park.

BJP leaders Ramesh Bidhudi, Manoj Tiwari, Dr Harshvardhan, Vijay Goyal, Vijender Gupta and Virender Sachdeva were present at the tribute program.

Google search for ‘international trip’ nearly doubled in India in 2022

"People are turning to digital services like electronic payments and instant delivery to simplify their everyday lives, and free up time for in-person activities and long awaited indulgences such as travel, live concerts, and dining out."

According to sources, Indian armed forces are all set to test the suit manufactured by this Bengaluru startup which will enable soldiers to fly like birds and carry out missions in March. The Indian armed forces have placed a Request for Proposal (RFP) for procurement of 48 jet suits on trial basis. If they pass the test, the Army would initiate large scale procurement, the sources said.

Manufactured by Absolute Composite Private Limited, based in Bengaluru, the jetpack suit has used five engines, including the turbo engine at the back. The suit weighs three kilograms and can fly 80 kilogram weighing soldiers. It has the capability to fly 10 kilometers in 10 minutes. The

Raghav Reddy, Managing Director of Absolute Composites, stated that it is the most compact flying machine that has ever been built. It has taken two years of time to manufacture the product. The wearable jetpack consists of a backpack with diesel tank, electronics. The tank capacity is 30 liters and it is configurable.

"We had not pitched into the armed forces. There was a Request For Proposal (RFP) from the Army. We have responded and demonstrations are due coming next week and we are planning to go and demonstrate to them. If we qualify, take their requirements and we may have an opportunity to supply. We are excited about it," he said.

India needs 30 mn digitally skilled professionals by 2026: Report

New

Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) India

New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS) Google on Thursday shared its "Year in Search 2022" report which revealed that searches for 'international trip' nearly "doubled to grow at 80 per cent" in the country last year.

"Emerging from Covid-19 confident of their digital savvy, Indians are tapping into Search to strike a balanced blend of online convenience and real-world experiences," the tech giant said in a statement.

While queries for 'movie in theatre' rose 220 per cent, 'live concert' grew by 80 per cent and 'OTT release' by 380 per cent last year.

Talking about sporting events, queries for 'cricket match ticket' grew by 170 per cent and 'Fifa world cup ticket' by over 140 per cent.

Moreover, searches for 'instant delivery' grew by over 180 per cent and 'e-wallet' by more than 40 per cent last year.

"As people become increasingly proficient in merging the ease of digital with the magic of experiential into a continuum,

businesses too need to reenvision their channel strategies and minimise frictions between their online and in-store presence," said Roma Datta Chobey, Senior Director-Digital First Businesses, Google India. In 2022, search interest for 'Thailand trip' grew by over 90 per cent and for 'Europe trip' by more than 50 per cent.

"Increasingly discerning about value, consumers are searching for assurances that their choices will deliver quality and reliability at the correct cost," the company said.

"Towards this, people are enhancing their financial and economic awareness with search interest for 'fuel price rise hike' by +150 per cent and 'inflation' growing by 50 per cent," it added.

will need 30 million digitally skilled professionals by 2026, and about 50 per cent of the current workforce would require to re-skill themselves in areas of emerging technologies, a new report said on Friday.

Currently, India has about 500 million people of working age, and industry data suggests that only 49 per cent of total youth (age group of 22-25 years) in the country is employable, according to employment services provider TeamLease.

"Our own survey have indicated that 75 per cent of companies face a skill gap in the industry. Even among people, who can stay in their current jobs, 40 per cent of fundamental abilities are likely to change and thus re-aligning the skill strategy will be crucial for companies," said Rituparna Chakraborty, Co-Founder & Executive Director, TeamLease Services.

Moreover, the report suggests that developing a skills matric, conducting skill audits to target specific learning journeys and intermingling upskilling within the company culture; a comprehensive skill development strategy will lead to a more sustainable future of work. The proposed suggestion also includes having an effective outcome-focused learning approach with structured impact evaluation metrics.

"Over 2 million jobs in AI, Cyber Security, and blockchain are expected to remain unfilled in 2023. Additionally, the workplace is evolving so rapidly that 76 per cent of the global workforce is not equipped with the requisite skills to function in the new digitally focused workplaces," mentioned Chakraborty.

"The long-term goal of all skill development programs must focus on the creation of a futureready and future-proof workforce for that is the only way we can tackle the fluctuations in the world of work and infuse a sense of greater stability. The adoption of sustainable skill development thereby creating a healthy talent pipeline in any country is the only way to address the vagaries of talent Inequity."

TDP

leader’s daughter gets assistance from Jagan government for study abroad

financial assistance to those who want to study abroad.

She is one among the 213 students who have been selected as beneficiaries of the scheme. A few days ago Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan

Amaravati, Feb 6 (IANS)

Daughter of a leader belonging to opposition TDP in Andhra Pradesh will receive financial assistance of Rs 84 lakh from the state government to realise her dream of pursuing higher education in the US.

Sailaja, daughter of Bodrothu Srinivasa Rao, a former sarpanch hailing from Sangam village in Vizianagaram district, is one of the beneficiaries under Jagananna Videshi Vidya Deevena, under which the government provides

Mohan Reddy released the first installment of financial assistance under the scheme.

According to the TDP leader, his daughter Sailaja went to the US to pursue higher studies and to make ends meet, he had to take a huge loan, whose repayment was his biggest cause of worry. However, thanks to Chief Minister Jagan Reddy's revolutionary schemes in the field of education, Srinivasa Rao's daughter is all set to receive financial aid of over Rs 84 lakh over the next two years under the Jagananna Videshi Vidya Devana scheme.

Financial aid worth Rs 13,99,154 has been offered as the first instalment and a total of Rs 84 lakh financial help will be granted over the next two years, officials said.

"My daughter studied at IIT in Hyderabad and went to the US. We took a loan for her education and were worried if we would ever be able to repay it. But today, my daughter got assistance via Jagananna Videshi Vidya Deevena Scheme. We will always be indebted to Jagananna. He is a revolutionary leader and for him welfare of the people is his only priority. Now, I want my daughter to complete her studies and return to Andhra Pradesh and contribute towards the state's development," said Srinivasa Rao.

Budget doubles funds for Indian knowledge system; thrust on regional languages

the allocation has been increased by 100 per cent.

New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) Special provisions have been introduced in the Union Budget 2023-24 to promote indigenous languages and Indian Knowledge System (IKS) among the youth.

An allocation of Rs 300.7 crore has been made in the budget for teaching, promoting and encouraging the youth in regional languages. It is 20 per cent higher than the previous year's allocation.

On the other hand, for the IKS,

According to the Union Education Ministry, the Central government has taken several steps to promote regional languages in educational institutions. This includes starting technical and vocational courses in regional languages in educational institutions.

According to the budget document, the grant for the promotion of Indian languages has been increased to Rs 300.7 crore in the year 2023-34 from Rs 250 crore in the year 2022-23.

Compared to 2021-22, this time there has been a 70 per cent increase in the allocation for the promotion of Indian languages.

The institutions through which regional languages are being promoted include Central Institute of Classical Tamil, Central Sanskrit University, Central Hindi Institute, National Council for Promotion of Urdu Language and National Council for Promotion of Sindhi Language.

In addition, the Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore, is an institute that works for the promotion of all Indian languages, including Telugu, Odia, Malayalam and Kannada.

For IKS, the budget allocation has been increased from Rs 10 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 20 crore in 2023-24.

CAG team to visit Bengal to review midday meal statement of expenses

questions on the proportion of students to per day quantity usage of foodgrain and vegetables used in midday meal preparation in certain state-run schools. Besides representatives from the Union education ministry, the inspection team also had nutrition experts and representatives from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

to meet NEP targets

Arvind Chaturvedi Pro Vice Chancellor, IILM University, Gurugram said that an 8 per cent increase in allocation to education sector is not sufficient. "A higher allocation was expected."

New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) In Budget 2023-24, the Education Ministry has been allocated Rs 1,12,899.47 crore - the highest ever. Due to this, the share of higher and school education has also gone up.

An amount of Rs 44,094.62 crore has been allocated for higher education, which was around 8 per cent higher than the previous year's allocation of Rs 40,828.35 crore. However, some educationists believe that the higher education need even more funds to meet the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) targets.

Professor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar, Chairman, UGC said, "his is to overcome the learning losses of the Covid-19 pandemic and inject more digital technology into higher education for more access and equity. Increased fund allocation will accelerate the implementation of NEP 2020, bringing further dividends to the students to make them employable and strengthen our efforts in making India a knowledge-based economy, Kumar added.

"Educationists were expecting a higher allocation to meet the NEP target of 6 per cent of GDP. In that sense, it is disappointing. However, the focus of budget proposals has been on IT education and skill development, which is a welcome move," he added.

Shishir Jaipuria, Chairman, Seth Anandram Jaipuria Group of Educational Institutions, and Chairman of FICCI Arise have a different opinion. He said, "The Union Budget 2023-24 spells out progressive initiatives and reforms for the Indian education sector in many areas, including skill development, teacher training, future-readiness of learners, and greater accessibility of learning content."

In the budget this year, the Centre has fixed a target of training 47 lakh youths in 3 years. Beside this, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) 4.0, national apprentice scheme, job training in partnership with industry in coding, internet of things (IOT), Drones, Mechatronics and Artificial Intelligence (AI) related new initiave have also been announced in the budget.

Union Budget lays more emphasis on taking skilling to last mile

number of youth in emerging technologies such as AI, robotics, mechatronics, and IoT," Katiyar emphasised.

New Delhi, Feb 6 (IANS) The Union Budget 2023-24 has done well for developing and enhancing the digital talent pool in the country that will help fully realise our demographic dividend, industry leaders said on Monday.

Sandip Patel, Managing Director, IBM India/South Asia, said that the budget will prepare youth for international opportunities and take skilling to the last mile through setting up of 30 Skill India International Centres across states. "The government's proposal to set up 100 labs across engineering institutions to develop applications for 5G services will go a long way in developing cutting edge ICT services in India, for India and for the world," said Patel.

Kolkata, Feb 9 (IANS) A special team of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) will visit West Bengal to review the statements of expenses by the state government on account of the midday meal scheme in the state.

The CAG team will be coming to the state following a request from the Union ministry of education on this count. The CAG team's review on this count will follow the recent visit of a special

inspection team from the Union education ministry to review the implementation of the midday meal scheme in the state.

It is perceived that the decision to ask CAG to review the statement of expenses under the scheme in West Bengal is prompted by some adverse findings by the Central inspection teams during their course of field inspection.

In fact, the Central field inspection team during the course of field inspection raised

Veteran from the state government said that this is the first time in its history that a CAG team will conduct a special investigation on the statements of accounts in the midday meal in the state.

In the request to CAG, the Union ministry of education has stated that the review of the statement of expenses under this scheme has become necessary in view of the serious allegations of misuse of funds in the state under this scheme for the last three years. The audit by the CAG will encompass, performance and financial audit.

The country is expanding investments in modern capex, digitalisation, skilling for youth and expanding support and opportunities for all.

Vijendra Katiyar, Country Manager, India and SAARC at Trend Micro said that the budget places a strong emphasis on talent development, digital skills training, and upskilling.

"This is in response to India's current situation where only 48.7 per cent of the country's youth are considered employable and many companies report a skill gap. The budget includes the launch of PMKVY 4.0, which is aimed at training a large

According to Chocko Valliappa, Vice Chairman, Sona group of Education Institutions, Salem the series of pathbreaking moves to deploy digital technology in education for young children, school and college students as also training of teachers will give a fresh stimulus to MOOCS, NPTEL on Swayam platform. "The launch of re-imagined Skilling 4.0 and the newly minted Vishwakarma Kaushal Samaan initiative will help build capacity, train youth to pick industry relevant skills and preserve age old crafts thus ensuring livelihood for millions in the coming years," said Valliappa.

Educationists say more funds are required

MAKE IN INDIA

As world economies restart their engines in a bid to regain lost ground due to the Covid-19 pandemic, India too shows signs of economic buoyancy and promise. India’s Make in India initiative holds a key to the global economic revival, something that should interest Australian government ministries, corporate sector, entrepreneurs, institutions seeking R&D collaborations and Australia Inc in general, among others. India assumes greater importance as several major world economies including American, Japanese, German, British and South Korean look to move out and diversify their businesses from China. India has jumped to 63rd rank in the World Bank’s Ease of Development 2020 report, and has also been ranked as the 9th largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment destinations in 2019 by the World Investment Report 2020 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

UP will drive India’s growth: PM Modi

Lucknow, Feb 10 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while speaking at the launch of the three-day Global Investors Summit 2023 being held here, said that Uttar Pradesh would drive India's growth.

PM Modi said that developments were happening in the fields of electricity, connectivity and infrastructure in the state, only after the switch of power in 2017. Adding that the change took in just six years, he said that Uttar Pradesh had become a centre of hope for the entire country.

Modi said that there was a time when UP was referred to by the acronym 'Bimaru', but the state had established a new identity in recent years.

hub, Mohindroo added.

The Uttar Pradesh Electronics Manufacturing Policy 2020 is targeting investments of Rs 40,000 crore and creating 4 lakh employment opportunities within the state by 2025.

The Prime Minister added that the state is now recognised for its good governance and improved law and order condition.

PM Modi said that there has been a tremendous improvement in the state's infrastructure and it will be known as the only state in the country with five international airports.PM Modi at the beginning of his speech said that he was the chief guest at the event, but since he was an MP from the state he was welcoming them.

Top industrial houses including Reliance, Birla, Tata to invest in UP

said that bio-gas will not only improve the environment, but will also benefit the farmers and guarantee the farmers becoming energy providers along with being food providers.

Ambani said: "Uttar Pradesh has become the centre of hope for new India."

Lucknow, Feb 10 (IANS) Top industrial houses, including Reliance, Birla and Tata, on Friday announced investment proposals for Uttar Pradesh on the first day of the three-day Global Investors Summit 2023 being held here.

Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries Limited, announced an investment of Rs 75,000 crore in UP in the coming four years. About one lakh new jobs are expected to be created by this investment.

Speaking at the event, Ambani said that the state would become a trillion dollar economy within the next five years.

Reliance is expected to set up a 10 GW of renewable energy capacity in UP, which will be the biggest renewable energy project in the state so far.

The company also announced foray into bio-gas energy business in UP, on which Ambani

Aditya Birla Group Chairman

Kumar Mangalam Birla, while speaking at the inaugural session, said that the group will invest Rs 25,000 crore in the state in the fields of cement, metals, finance services and renewable energy. among others.

Birla said that India is the fastest growing economy in the world, in which UP has made a crucial contribution.

He said that unprecedented development has taken place in the state under the leadership of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, including a network of highways, metros and airports being built in the state.

Birla lauded the state government's 'Nivesh Mitra' initiative and said that UP ranks second in 'ease of doing business'.

He said that that the state had issued a new policy for

investment, under which $1.1 billion had come in the state as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the last three years till September 2022, the highest in the last two decades.

Tata Sons Chairman N. Chandrasekaran thanked Adityanath for the improved law and order condition and strong infrastructure in the state.

He added that Tata group shared a long history with UP and has more than 50,000 employees in the state.

He said that the group has been undertaking massive expansion of its companies in the state due to the investment-friendly environment that has been created in the last few years. Chandrasekaran added: "We are investing heavily in Noida through TCS."

On this occasion, Daniel Bircher, CEO of Zurich Airport (Asia), the operational partner company of the under-construction Jewar (Noida) International Airport, and Sunil Vachani, Chairman of Dixon Technologies, also shared their experience and informed about future investment plans.

ICEA to help UP become a global IT and electronics manufacturing hub

UP government to facilitate investments as the electronics manufacturing and skill hub to cater to domestic demand and exports.

New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) The India Cellular and Electronics Association (ICEA) on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the

The government has set a target to achieve $300 billion of electronics manufacturing by 2025-26, out of which $75100 billion of electronics manufacturing is expected from Uttar Pradesh.

"Uttar Pradesh already has

more than 60 per cent of total manufacturing units of mobile phones and components. We are confident that with strategic outreach and support, UP can witness accelerated investments and growth of electronics system design and manufacturing (ESDM) units," said Pankaj Mohindroo, Chairman, ICEA. "Uttar Pradesh has to grow secularly in all verticals and eclipse Shenzhen in China as the global electronics manufacturing

"The state will need to gear up to become globally competitive in terms of infrastructure, ease of doing business, quality and cost of power, among other things.

The amended Uttar Pradesh Electronics Manufacturing Policy is a step in the right direction," Said Mohindroo.

UP is the largest exporter of

consumer electronics in India with more than 196 ESDM companies and 55 per cent of India's total mobile component manufacturing units operating in the state.

This has resulted in approximately 60 per cent of the total mobiles manufactured in the country coming from the state. "The state is working towards becoming a powerhouse of IT and electronics. Our partnership with ICEA will further bolster our efforts," said Arvind Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary-IT and Electronics, state government.

Union Budget 2023: Empowers Startups with Extended Set Off and Carry Forward Period

The Union Budget 2023 has proposed a change that will have a significant impact on the Indian Startup ecosystem. The amendment to Section 79 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, proposes to extend the period for eligible startups to carry forward and set off losses incurred in the first 10 years of their incorporation. This change comes as a much-needed respite for startups who often face financial challenges in their initial years of operation. Previously, companies that experience a change in their shareholding were not eligible to carry forward and set off losses from previous years unless 51 per cent of the voting power remained with the same shareholders. However, for eligible startups, these losses could only be carried forward and set off for a period of 7 years. The proposed amendment extends this period by three years, providing startups with a longer runway to recover and utilize their losses.

The extension of the period to 10 years has numerous benefits for startups. Firstly, the extended period will allow startups to reduce their taxable income and reduce their tax liability, providing them with more capital to reinvest in their business and plan their finances more effectively. This, in turn, will lead to improved cash flow management and financial planning, giving startups the stability, they need to grow and

succeed.

Furthermore, startups with reduced tax liability will become more financially stable, increasing their creditworthiness, and making them more likely to secure loans and investments. This stability will provide a cushion for startups during their critical initial years of operations, thereby encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation in India.

The amendment to Section 79 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, is a testament to the government's commitment to supporting the startup ecosystem in India. The extended period of 10 years will provide startups with the support they need to navigate the challenges they face in their initial years of operation and lay a solid foundation for future growth.

In conclusion, the proposed amendment to extend the period for carry forward and set off of losses for startups is a step in the right direction. It will provide startups with better cash flow management, improved financial planning, and a longer runway to grow their business. This amendment will further boost the startup ecosystem in India, encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation in the country and setting the stage for a brighter future.

SOURCE: Invest India

Proposed mine blocked in Australia to protect Great Barrier Reef

news agency.

She proposed blocking the site in August 2022 and launched a public consultation process, receiving more than 9,000 submissions -- about 98 per cent of which were in favour of rejecting the project.

Canberra, Feb 9 (IANS) Australia's Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek on Thursday blocked a proposed coal mine to protect the Great Barrier Reef.

Plibersek had recently announced she has rejected plans for the Central Queensland Coal Project because of the risks it posed to the iconic reef, freshwater creeks and groundwater, reports Xinhua

"I made this decision after a lot of careful consideration because I decided based on the evidence before me that there was an unacceptable risk to the Great Barrier Reef, to freshwater creeks and groundwater leading into the reef," she told Sky News on Thursday.

"The freshwater and the groundwater that would be

Alcohol bans in central Australia reinstated amid crime wave

around the mine site -- they were part of my considerations as well."

The planned mining site was about 10 km from the Great Barrier Reef world heritage area. If approved, the open-cut pits would have been constructed on the site to extract up to 10 million tonnes of coal annually for the next 20 years. Plibersek's decision was welcomed by the state government and environmentalists after an independent regulator found the project posed a risk to the reef. Jaclyn McCosker, a campaigner from the Australian Conservation Foundation, said the mine would have been a climate and natural disaster, damaging local habitats.

Not expecting recession in 2023, says Australian Treasurer

expects further increases will be needed to ensure inflation returns to target.

Responding to the move, Chalmers said there were signs inflation has begun to moderate.

flow through."

Australia's inflation hit 7.8 per cent in the 12 months to December 2022, the highest it has been since 1990, with housing costs rising 10.7 per cent.

Canberra, Feb 7 (IANS) Alcohol bans will be reinstated for indigenous communities in central Australia in response to a crime wave.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chief Minister of the Northern Territory (NT) Natasha Fyles confirmed that dry zones will be reinstated for indigenous town camps and communities near Alice Springs, reports Xinhua news agency.

It comes less than 12 months after intervention-era alcohol bans in the NT ended in July 2022, making alcohol legal in some areas for the first time in 15 years.

As a result, rates of alcoholfuelled violence have soared in Alice Springs, drawing national attention and calls from Mayor Matt Paterson for Australian

Canberra, Feb 8 (IANS) Australia's Treasurer Jim Chalmers said on Wednesday that the country is not on track for a recession in 2023 despite the central bank again raising interest rates.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on Tuesday raised interest rates for the ninth meeting in a row to 3.35 per cent, reports Xinhua news agency.

Making the announcement, RBA Governor Philip Lowe said he

"The expectation of the Treasury forecasters is higher interest rates combined with difficult global conditions will slow our economy considerably, but they don't expect at this point a recession here in Australia," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

"There is of course, as the RBA Governor acknowledged in the statement yesterday, the fact that when interest rates go up, people with a mortgage feel it immediately but the impact on the economy takes a little while to

Stephen Jones, the Assistant Treasurer, said that Tuesday's rate rise should mark the peak of the monetary tightening cycle, warning that households are "doing it tough".

"We think that inflation has peaked and it is starting to turn around," he told Sky News on Wednesday.

"So we're hoping that this is, if not the last, then nearly the last of the interest rate increases."

iPhone 14 Crash Detection alerts police minutes after accident in Australia

A four-wheel drive truck towing a horse float collided with a tree stump in Tasmania at 1.45 a.m. on Monday, reports ABC News.

The Crash Detection feature alerted the nearby police, who arrived on the scene within eight minutes despite the passengers' unconsciousness.

Sydney, Feb 1 (IANS) After an early morning accident that took place in the Australian state -- Tasmania, the Crash Detection feature in the iPhone 14 alerted police instantly, allowing the victims to receive help immediately.

Five persons were taken to the hospital, ranging in age from 14 to 20, and one person with serious injuries was flown to Melbourne by air ambulance, according to the report.

As a result of the automatic crash alert sent by one of the two occupants' mobile phones, Inspector Ruth Orr said that police responded quickly because

they were already near the scene for "an unrelated matter".

"But in a case where people had lost consciousness in a crash like this, it is certainly something that alerts police quickly," Orr was quoted as saying.

In December last year, the Emergency SOS via satellite and Crash Detection feature of the iPhone 14 helped rescue two people involved in a serious car crash in the US.

According to MacRumors, the incident occurred on the Angeles Forest Highway in the US state of California's Angeles National Forest, with a vehicle careening over the side of a mountain and falling approximately 300 feet into a remote canyon.

Defence Force (ADF) support. Albanese visited the region in late January and launched a review that recommended the return of bans.

Under the new legislation that will be introduced to the NT Parliament, communities can apply to opt out of the reinstated bans if 60 per cent of residents support the decision and they have an alcohol management plan in place.

Addressing the Parliament, Albanese conceded the current and former government could have done more to plan for the end of the 15-year bans.

He said the situation in Alice Springs is about more than alcohol and announced A$250 million ($173 million) in funding for a "better, safer future" for the region.

"This is about intergenerational disadvantage. It is about a lack of employment services, a lack of community services, a lack of educational opportunity," he said.

Attracting foreign doctors key to fixing health system: Australia minister

Butler, who has said Medicare is in the worst condition in its 40year history, believed attracting more GPs would relieve pressure on the whole system.

"It's about going overseas and recruiting as an Australian healthcare system doctors and nurses and other health care professionals to come to Australia," he told Sky News Australia.

Canberra, Feb 5 (IANS) Australian Health Minister Mark Butler has identified attracting more foreign doctors as key to fixing the country's health system.

The minister said on Sunday that a review into general practice (GP) should investigate ways to attract more foreign health workers to Australia and have their existing qualification recognised, Xinhua News Agency reported. Federal, state and territory leaders agreed on Friday to the review of GP before they address widespread problems in the health system later this year. A separate report on Medicare, Australia's universal health care system, made recommendations to improve the accessibility and affordability of health care.

"I think the premiers and chief ministers recognised that last week, they're seeing the pressure on their hospital systems because of the problems in general practice. If we don't turn that around, then the whole of our healthcare system is going to be under enormous pressure."

Additionally, the government has flagged giving pharmacists the ability to prescribe medications for common conditions rather than requiring a GP visit.

According to the Pharmacy Guild of Australia (PGA), the measure would circumvent 6.5 million GP visits every year.

Butler said it "doesn't make sense" to have health workers not working to the full extent of their training.

Australian adults eligible for new round of Covid boosters

Canberra, Feb 8 (IANS) Australian Minister for Health Mark Butler on Wednesday said the government has accepted the advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) to roll out a new round of booster shots.

From February 20, all adults who

have not had a booster shot or were infected with Covid-19 in the past six months will be eligible for another dose, reports Xinhua news agency.

Butler said ATAGI particularly recommended that everyone aged 65 and over and younger adults with medical comorbidities,

disability or complex health needs have a 2023 booster dose.

The government has 4 million doses of Omicron-specific vaccine doses available now with another 10 million expected to arrive in February.

"From February 20, all adults who haven't had a booster or an

infection in the past six months can go out and get a booster shot, to give them additional protection against severe illness from Covid," Butler said in a statement.

"Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells and I will be writing to aged care providers to encourage them to bring local pharmacists

Majority Australians in favour of Indigenous Voice to parliament: Poll

Australians would be acknowledged in the constitution and included in the law-making process, with the body to advise Parliament on issues relating to First Nations people.

Canberra, Feb 6 (IANS) Support for a proposed Indigenous Voice to Australia's Parliament remains high ahead of a referendum, a new poll revealed on MOnday.

According to the poll published by News Corp Australia, 56 per cent of voters are in favour of enshrining the voice in the constitution, 37 per cent opposed and 7 per cent undecided, reports Xinhua news agency.

A referendum on changing the constitution to establish the voice is expected to be held in the second half of 2023.

If successful, Indigenous

Senator Patrick Dodson, the government's Special Envoy for Reconciliation, said the body could also have a role advising the national cabinet, which consists of the prime minister and state and territory leaders.

"I'm not sure how that's going to work out in the legislative framework of how to interact with the parliament and the executive government, but I would think that national cabinet is one of the aspects that you'd want to be able to talk to," he said.

The support for the proposal

revealed in Monday's poll is a boost for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has come under pressure from the Opposition to reveal details of how the voice would function.

Neither the conservative Liberal Party nor progressive Greens has yet announced whether they will support a yes vote in the referendum.

Monday's poll found only 28 per cent of voters said they were "strongly" in favour of the Voice and 23 per cent strongly opposed, meaning almost 50 per cent of the population could still be swayed. In order to be successful a referendum must achieve a double majority, meaning a simple majority of voters nationwide and a separate majority of voters in at least four out of six states in favour.

NZ, Aus PMs reaffirm close trans-Tasman ties

Meeting with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese in Canberra, which was their first bilateral meeting, Hipkins said, "New Zealand has no closer partner than Australia", reports

Xinhua news agency

Aus Sikh temple to get new building as community grows

The number of Punjabi speakers has increased by 80 per cent to more than 239,000 in the last five years, says a 2021 census conducted by Australia Bureau of Statistics.

Of the over 239,000 Punjabi speakers in Australia, more than 209,000 are Sikhs.

Melbourne, Feb 8 (IANS) A Sikh temple in Australia will soon get a new and bigger building to accommodate the needs of the growing Sikh population in Canberra.

Construction of a two-storey building is underway in Gurdwara Sahib at Hickey Court in Canberra to accommodate 1,300 worshippers, SBS Punjabi, a multicultural and multilingual broadcaster, reported. The already-existing gurdwara was built in 2012.

"It (gurdwara) can accommodate only a small number of people at a given time, and during big events like Gurpurab or the annual Baisakhi festival, it gets overcrowded, and people have to wait for long to enter the premises," Satnam Singh Dabrikhana, President of Canberra Sikh Association, told SBS Punjabi.

Dabrikhana added that the new building will have a library and a larger community kitchen. It will also hold Punjabi language classes and have a larger space for community events.

Canberra, Feb 7 (IANS) Through New Zealand and Australia's single economic market, peopleto-people links and shared interests in the region and the world, the two nations are strongest when working side by side, visiting New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins said on Tuesday.

It was Hipkins' first overseas visit since he took office last month, reflecting the close relationship between New Zealand and Australia, according to a New Zealand government statement.

The two leaders discussed the global economic challenges facing both countries and affecting New Zealanders and Australians alike, including rising inflation, the cost of living and the wide-ranging impact of the Russia-Ukraine

conflict, Hipkins said. Cooperation and engagement in the Pacific region was also on the agenda, in particular the importance of working together to support Pacific partners facing a complex and growing array of challenges, including climate change, he said.

Hipkins said he is looking forward to hosting the AustraliaNew Zealand Leaders Meeting and Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum in July this year, which will provide further opportunities for trans-Tasman business and government leaders to connect.

Australia Post suffers half-year loss due to ‘unstoppable’ decline

31, 2021 (1H22), according to an official statement.

Canberra, Feb 9 (IANS) Australia

Post has announced that in the first half 2023 financial year, its revenue was A$4.69 billion ($3.25 billion), down 2.4 per cent from the same period last year, which is largely driven by an ongoing decline in letter volumes.

Meanwhile, the group profit before tax plunged to A$23.6 million, seeing an 88.2 per cent drop from A$199.8 million for the six months up to December

The national postal service provider regarded the shrinking profit "considerably lower than the prior corresponding period, largely the result of a record firsthalf letters loss of A$189.7 million dollars, compared to A$69.9 million in 1H22", reports Xinhua news agency

According to Australia Post, letters revenue now makes up just 18.8 per cent of the group's total revenue, down from 19.5 per cent in 1H22.

In early January this year, Australia Post lifted the basic postage rate from A$1.1 to A$1.2. But the group said that this increase will only partially offset

the substantial letters losses.

"Every year it's costing Australia Post more to deliver fewer letters. We know letters are in an unstoppable decline, thanks largely to digital communications, yet letter costs are rising due to the increasing number of delivery points we service every day," said Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Paul Graham. He anticipated that annual volumes will decline further, with Australian households receiving less than one letter per week by the end of the decade.

"As flagged in our 2022 financial results, Australia Post will report a full-year loss this year for the first time since 2015," Graham added.

Australia's Sikh population has burgeoned in recent years, with about 210,400 Sikhs now living in the country, according to the latest census data.

He said that they have $1.6 million funding for the project, "but the proposed plan will cost at least around $7 million over different stages".

Australian govt declares health reform top priority for 2023

have reported growing waiting times at emergency departments, with people increasingly avoiding visiting their general practitioners (GPs) because of the costs.

Canberra, Feb 3 (IANS) Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Friday that health reform would be the top priority for himself and state and territory leaders this year.

Albanese made the remarks when meeting with state premiers and territory chief ministers to discuss an overhaul of the health system, reports Xinhua news agency.

The leaders received a report into Medicare, Australia's universal healthcare system, that was commissioned by Albanese's government shortly after winning power in 2022.

The report made 21 recommendations for improving the affordability and accessibility of healthcare and relieving pressure on hospitals.

Hospitals across the country

State and territory leaders had joined forces to call for the federal government to overhaul Medicare and increase hospital funding but agreed to wait until later in the year to decide how to address the strained system.

"We all agree on what some of the issues are. Part of the issues are people are turning up at emergency departments because they don't have other options," Albanese told reporters after the meeting on Friday.

"We know that the key, going forward, is to better integrate the systems, so that patients are what it is all about, better healthcare, and we know that the earlier the care is provided, the cheaper that care will be as well."

The government has set aside A$750 million ($528 million) to fund the Medicare report's recommendations and the Minister for Health Mark Butler flagged further spending in May's federal budget.

Australia’s climate wetter, warmer than average in 2022: Report

Canberra, Feb 8 (IANS) Australia's Bureau of Meteorology on Wednesday issued its analysis of the country's climate and weather events last year, saying that the country has a wetter-andwarmer-than-average 2022.

According to the climate report, Australia's national mean

temperature was 0.5 degrees Celsius warmer than the 19611990 average, making 2022 the 22nd-warmest year on record (equal to 2006) since national temperature records began in 1910, reports Xinhua news agency.

Annual maximum temperatures were above average for most of

northern Australia, Tasmania and parts of the west coast, while annual minimum temperatures were above or very much above average for most of the country.

Besides, the 587.8 mm of rainfall was 26 per cent above the 19611990 annual average, making 2022 the ninth-wettest year on record

since the national rainfall dataset commenced in 1900.

Spring in 2022 was the secondwettest on record for Australia and the wettest on record for the Murray-Darling Basin, for New South Wales and for Victoria.

New CEO appointed for Queensland Treasury Corporation

Brisbane, February 12: Queensland Under Treasurer Leon Allen has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Treasury Corporation.

Announcing the appointment, which was conducted by the QTC Board and undertaken by an executive search firm, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said Mr Allen’s experience in Queensland and internationally made him the ideal candidate.

“When governments and institutions across Queensland need to invest in future growth, QTC is their window to the world,” the Treasurer said.

“Leon has been an integral part of Queensland’s world-leading economic response to COVID-19, which has put our state in a position to seize opportunities for future growth.

“His guidance of Treasury has played an important role in restoring the strength of Queensland’s balance sheet postpandemic.”

Mr Allen was appointed Under Treasurer in September 2021, having been Deputy Under Treasurer since May 2020.

This followed 13 years with the Commonwealth Bank, including four years based in New York as its Managing Director for the Americas.

QTC Chair Damien Frawley said Mr Allen’s experience with global financial markets and the public sector will ensure QTC can harness the significant financial opportunities that lie ahead for Queensland.

“Leon’s expertise and calibre are the ideal fit to grow the solid foundations that have been built over QTC’s 35-year history,” Mr Frawley said.

“The next decade presents an incredibly exciting time for Queensland and QTC with many catalytic projects to deliver across the Queensland Government’s portfolios.”

Mr Allen thanked the QTC Board for their support and said he looked forward to working with them and QTC staff to keep delivering great outcomes for the people of Queensland.

“In Treasury it has been great to be part of a team helping to drive Queensland’s economic strength and growth,” Mr Allen said.

“We have worked hard across government and in support of

Learner licence fees cut in half for Queenslanders

the private sector to deliver jobs-generating investment and financially sustainable outcomes.

“It has been my privilege to also have been a Government Champion for Pormpuraaw and to have been involved in Treasury’s support for the Queensland Government’s Path to Treaty.

“This is a significant reconciliation step.”

The Treasurer thanked Mr Allen for his work on a number of significant Treasury achievements in recent years.

“Leon was pivotal in Treasury’s lead role in developing the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan,” the Treasurer said.

“His delivery of the Savings and Debt Plan and during his tenure we have established vehicles to cater for Queensland’s future development including the Housing Investment Fund and Debt Reduction Fund.

“I also want to thank former QTC CEO Philip Noble for his long and dedicated service to Queensland, and QTC board member Neville Ide for serving as QTC’s interim Chief Executive.”

Deputy Under Treasurer

Maryanne Kelly will be Acting Under Treasurer while a recruitment process to replace Mr Allen is undertaken.

Cars, bikes seized as compliance program ensures those who owe money to Queensland pay their debts

Brisbane, February 10: The Palaszczuk Government’s Debt Recovery and Compliance Program (DRCP) has delivered almost half a billion dollars in additional revenue, more than 18 months ahead of schedule.

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said the program of revenue and State Penalties Enforcement Registry (SPER) debt collection measures had already exceeded its June 2024 forecast of $488.1 million.

“If money is owed to Queensland taxpayers, I think it’s only fair that those debts are paid,” the Treasurer said.

“That’s been the objective of our Debt Recovery and Compliance program since I announced it – getting that money repaid to Queenslanders as quickly and efficiently as possible.

“We’ve already collected $541 million in almost half the time it was expected to take to recover our initial target.

“This is a pleasing result, because that money can now be put towards deliver better services for Queenslanders through new hospitals, schools and critical road upgrades.”

The Treasurer said the result came as more than 50 vehicles were seized from Gold Coast debtors during a recent enforcement blitz by SPER to recover unpaid fines, a key

initiative of the DRCP.

“Enforcement officers seized 54 vehicles - a record for a single operation - and collected more than $3 million in cash, while securing payment plan commitments of a further $10 million,” he said.

“SPER officers clamped and then seized vehicles across the Gold Coast, including Coomera, Helensvale, Southport, Robina, Burleigh Heads and Tugun.

“SPER officers seized a range of vehicles, including Range Rovers, BMWs, high-end SUVs, utes, a Harley-Davidson and even a prime mover.

“12 of these vehicles have been sold at auction because the owners refused to pay the fines and penalties that they owed.

SPER officers begin are now undertaking an operation across inner-Brisbane suburbs.

“Through this operation, SPER officers will be targeting Brisbane debtors who continue to break the law, rack up fines and then refuse to pay,” he said.

The Treasurer said the government’s investment in debt recovery had seen SPER achieve record collections of almost $300 million last financial year.

“A new debt management centre at Ipswich has collected more than $276 million in SPER payments since 2020, some of which has been outstanding for years,” he said.

Brisbane, February 10: The Palaszczuk Government is reducing the cost of a learner licence to just $75 – less than half of the current fee.

The change offers first time drivers a saving of more than $100, which will come into effect from March 1.

Learner licences will continue to be valid for a three year period.

On average it takes Queenslanders almost two years to move to their provisional licence, and many even longer, which is why learner licences are provided for this amount of time.

In the last five years, the average age for a Queenslander to obtain a learner licence is 16 years and 3 months and to upgrade to a P1 is 17 years and 11 months. Quotes attributable to Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey: “I’m proud the Palaszczuk Government can offer this massive saving to Queenslanders

who are getting their licence for the first time.

“The LNP had the opportunity to cut learner licence fees when they were last in government but didn’t – only the Palaszczuk Labor Government is making driving more affordable for young Queenslanders.

“Our learner licence fee is comparable to other Australian states – especially when factoring in other associated licence costs.

“The cost of licences supports the jobs of thousands of frontline transport staff, and the important systems in place that keep your identity secure.

“I’m pleased we can continue to deliver the same strong level of customer service while putting money back in the pockets of young Queenslanders and their families.

“My department will continue to review driver licences and fees, as we prepare for the rollout of digital licences this year.”

First Look: New plans for Buranda station revealed

Artists impression available here

“That’s been supported by an investment in SPER’s field enforcement capabilities, which has seen SPER target highvalue debtors through its wheel clamping operations and seize 350 vehicles in the past two years.

“Our government is backing SPER to collect the money owed to Queenslanders and victims of crime.”

The Treasurer said it wasn’t just debt collection yielding results, with new revenue compliance measures ensuring that everyone is paying their fair share of taxes, royalties and transfer duty.

“We’ve given Queensland Revenue Office (QRO) the tools to improve upfront compliance, cut red tape and introduce more userfriendly self-service platforms to help businesses meet their obligations,” the Treasurer said. For an initial investment of $74.95 million, the program had been estimated to increase collections and revenue by $488.1 million, between 2020–21 and 2023–24.

Brisbane, February 3: Buranda station is one step closer to improved accessibility for customers, with new designs released as part of a $500 million investment to upgrade stations across the South East Queensland rail network.

Member for Greenslopes Joe Kelly said the vital improvements will make the station easier and safer for customers to use.

“This is a significant milestone in the Buranda station accessibility upgrade project with updated concept designs released following extensive work with the neighbouring commercial and residential developments to ensure it all works together,” Mr Kelly said.

“Designs were also informed by community consultation and refined through discussions with disability sector representatives to ensure stations are easy to use and can be accessed by everyone in our community.

“The modern design includes a new pedestrian footbridge with lift access, full-length raised platforms, extended platform shelters, an upgraded hearing augmentation loop and tactile platform surfaces.

“The upgrade also includes new security cameras, lighting, wayfinding and platform signage around the core zone as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $500 million investment to make stations accessible for all our customers.”

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said it was another step towards

making more of South East Queensland’s train stations accessible for everyone.

“Since 2017, the Palaszczuk Government has completed 12 station upgrades including at Alderley, Newmarket, Graceville, Nambour, Dinmore, Morayfield, Boondall, Strathpine, East Ipswich, Dakabin, Cannon Hill and Auchenflower,” Mr Bailey said.

“As part of the rolling program, a new tranche of station upgrades has been announced with works to commence this year at Bundamba, Burpengary, Banyo, Morningside and Lindum stations.

“As part of the Cross River Rail project, Dutton Park to Salisbury stations on the southside, and Exhibition Station in Brisbane’s Inner City, are at various stages of upgrades from main construction to concept and planning.

“Cross River Rail will also deliver three new, fully accessible stations built on the Gold Coast. “And another eight stations will be upgraded to be more accessible as part of the Kuraby to Beenleigh rail duplication project.”

Queensland Rail CEO Kat Stapleton said the upgraded station is progress towards easier and safer rail travel for our community, including customers with diverse disabilities, seniors, and people travelling with luggage or prams. For updates on this project visit www.queenslandrail.com.au.

WORLD THIS WEEK

In collaboration with National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bengaluru Bibhu Prasad Routray, Rashmi Ramesh, Ankit Singh, Abigail Miriam Fernandez, Avishka Ashok, Padmashree Anandhan, Anu Maria Joseph, Apoorva Sudhakar and Sethuraman Nadarajan

country in the world by 2048. Europe: Imports from China increased by 34 per cent in 2022

What happened?

On 03 February, Ukraine

President Volodymyr Zelensky held a joint summit with the EU since the war began. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel and foreign policy chief Josep Borrell along with 15 other EU leaders took part in the summit. In a joint statement: “The EU reiterated its unwavering support and commitment to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders.”

The Summit focused on ways to increase support for Ukraine, creating pressure on Russia to end the war, Ukraine’s candidacy for the EU and global food security.

On 03 February, in an address, Von der Leyen said: “We will introduce with our G7 partners, an additional price cap on Russian petroleum products, and by the 24th of February, we aim to have the 10th package of sanctions in place.” Zelenskyy said: “Today's Summit is the 24th EU-Ukraine Summit. This is a powerful symbol that we will overcome any obstacles to strengthen our partnership and integration.”

On 02 February, in an interview reported by RT on a question over which country could be the next “Anti-Russia, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded that after Ukraine it would be Moldova.

What does it mean?

First, Europe’s move to the center. The summit was to display its strength of diplomacy to keep Russia at the edge to prevent further escalation of the war. It is also to assure Ukraine its support in the war, despite its demands for increased sanctions and advanced weapons having been met or delivered only at EU member states prolonged decisions. Europe ensures to take a balanced step in handling both Ukraine and Russia, but can be observed to be slowly moving into the center of the conflict as its role in the military, and humanitarian aspects increase. Second, a waiting game for Ukraine. The demand list keeps extending for Ukraine to counter

Russia. Ukraine is in dire need of extensive support for Europe at a rapid phase. While Europe manages to meet the demands at later stage, as the war prolongs Ukraine seems to be stuck with no resolution but to be vulnerable to the attacks, and sustain its defence against Russia. Until there is a tough stance from Europe or negotiable talks with Russia, it would be a waiting game for Ukraine.

Myanmar: Two years since the coup

In Myanmar, a violent game of attrition is at play, with one adversary waiting on the other to blink first. However, it isn’t a mere contestation of wits, but a brutal civil war, which claims victims each day. Two years since the early morning coup on 1 February 2021 that prevented the democratically elected NLD from assuming power, the Tatmadaw (Myanmar military) continues to unleash a ruthless stabilisation campaign against the opposition. The latter’s violent resistance too has peaked. The stalemate has been catastrophic for the country. Worse still, it has the potency of dragging on well into 2023.

Forecast for 2023

Apart from the reasons mentioned before, two principal factors could determine the developments in Myanmar in 2023.

Firstly, the proportionality of capacity among conflicting parties prolong the civil war situation. The PDFs have managed to vastly upgrade their war fighting capacities over the months. Their guerrilla urban war techniques and insertion of drones into their armoury make them worthy opponents of the military. This could make the military’s efforts against the opposition much more brutal, without producing the desired results. Its capacity to hold the elections in 2023 looks doubtful, as the PDFs continue to systematically attack and assassinate officials associated with the election preparation.

Secondly, in contrast to the Chinese and Russian strategic backing of the Tatmadaw, the West and the UN’s move on Myanmar has largely continued to remain normative and hence, lack teeth. Unlike the ongoing Ukraine

war, there is no overt measure to augment the fighting capacity of the opposition in the country. The PDFs appear to be receiving some covert military assistance from unknown sources. That has increased their fighting capacities, but isn’t enough to pressurise the Tatmadaw significantly. In December 2022, US President Joe Biden signed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which includes the Burma Act. The Act allows the US government to spend US$50 million annually from 2023 to 2027. Another US$220 million is budgeted for humanitarian aid to Myanmar for the 2023 fiscal year. That, however, is unlikely to decisively shift the stalemate in favour of the opposition, and may even lead to competitive assistance to the Tatmadaw from its allied countries.

Myanmar could well be staring at a bloody 2023, with mounting human costs.

The EU-Ukraine Summit 2023 ALSO IN NEWS

China: Ground stations in Antarctica to support ocean monitoring satellites

On 2 February, Reuters quoted China Space News agency on the recent tender won by China Aerospace and Technology Group Co. to build two permanent Chinese stations in Antarctica. The move comes after, a stateowned Swedish space company denied to renew the contract to provide to help Chinese spacecraft and transmit data.

China: Foreign Ministry responds to US military for shooting down airship

On 4 February, the US military fighter jets shot down a balloon over the Atlantic Ocean on suspicion of being a spy vessel. The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s responded to the US military and said: “The spokesperson of US Defense Ministry has said that the balloon does not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground. Despite this, the US has obviously overreacted by insisting the use of force and seriously violated international practice.” The Chinese Foreign Ministry also insisted that airship strayed into the US airspace due to force majeure and was an accident. The spokesperson further called on the US to properly handle the incident.

ASEAN: Chair to begin negotiations with China on Code of Conduct in SCS

On 4 February, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi addressed the ASEAN ministerial retreat in Jakarta and expressed

the organisation’s commitment to implementing the Declaration of Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the South China Sea, signed in 2002. The ASEAN Chair will initiate new rounds of negotiations with the member states and China from March 2023. Retno said: “The commitment of members to conclude the negotiation of the COC as soon as possible is obvious, bearing in mind the need to have a substantive, effective and actionable COC.”

On 02 February, Euractiv reports that according to Chinese customs statistics there has been an increase in exports of 34 per cent from the Xinjiang province of China to EU members in 2022. A contradictory result to the mutual sanctions imposed between EU and China in 2021 over the prosecution of Uygur Muslims. The exports reached USD 1.1 billion in 2022 as Germany imported 1,750 tons of lithiumion electric accumulators vital for green transition and electric vehicles. The dilemma the EU encounters are to be sustainable and conscious of human rights infringement or to ensure material flow for the growth of the industry.

India: Investigative report from the US causes route in Adani shares, loses USD 58 billion

On 3 February, Gautam Adani who had become third richest in the world with a fortune of USD 121 billion, cancelled its share sale worth INR 20,00 crore (USD 24 billion) as it lost USD 58 billion in a stock market route after Hindenburg published a report on levelling accusations of corporate malfeasance against the Adani Group.

The US: Fighter jets shoots down suspected Chinese spy balloon

On 5 February, the controversial Chinese spy balloon which entered US’s airspace was shot down off the coast of South Carolina. President Joe Biden had issued orders to take down the balloon while China defended that it was used for meteorological and scientific purposes and had accidentally strayed into the US airspace.

About the Authors

Sri Lanka: 75th Independence Day ceremony starts

On 4 February, the 75th Independence Day celebrations began after President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived at Galle Face Green and hoisted the national flag. President Wickremesinghe in his special address said that all of us are responsible for the economic crisis and no particular individual can be blamed. He added that a system change is needed to come out of the current economic crisis. He said: “All areas of this political system, the legislature, parliament, Executive, state machinery, etc. should be modified to suit the modern era.”

He said that because of the harsh measures, every citizen now has basic needs. He asked every citizen to work together to make Sri Lanka the most developed

Dr Bibhu Prasad Routray is Director of Mantraya, Goa. He was formerly a Deputy Director at the National Security Council Secretariat, Government of India. Rashmi Ramesh and Ankit Singh are PhD scholars in the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Abigail Miriam Fernandez, Avishka Ashok, Padmashree Anandhan, Anu Maria Joseph, Apoorva Sudhakar and Sethuraman Nadarajan are Research Associates at NIAS.

US state’s Senate passes bill to allow fireworks during Diwali

The bill would designate Diwali as a state commemorative period and will allow the sale and discharge of fireworks during the five days of Diwali, which is usually between late October and early November.

New York, Feb 7 (IANS)

Lawmakers at the Utah Senate in the US unanimously passed a bill that will make Diwali a state commemorative period, and allow discharge of fireworks during the Indian festival of lights.

Moved by Senator Lincoln Fillmore from South Jordan, the Senate Bill 46 was approved unanimously last week, ABC4 reported.

Fillmore said one of his constituents in Herriman reached out to him and gave him the idea for this bill, which needs just one more vote before heading to the House of Representatives.

"I appreciate Utah's Indian community. Their collaborative efforts to organise events to include the neighbouring communities, as well as their efforts to increase education

Chinese spy balloon capable of gathering intelligence: US

about Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism, have helped create a better sense of understanding in our state," Senator Fillmore said in a statement.

"This bill recognises others' cultures, contributing to the wonderful tapestry that is Utah."

The bill will be scheduled for a third reading at the Utah Senate in the near future.

Diwali was celebrated in the White House for the first time in 2002, and in 2007, the US government gave official recognition to the festival.

In 2021, the Diwali Day Act was introduced in the US to declare the festival a federal holiday. This year, Diwali will fall on November 12.

New Zealand residents urged to prepare for cyclone Gabrielle

It is difficult to predict exactly what course the cyclone will take, but if the cyclone continues on its current path, it is likely to be a severe weather event impacting communities in Northland, Auckland, and other regions in the North Island, the Minister noted.

of emergency declared by the government.

More than 769 per cent of rainfall in a normal January was recorded, which was about more than a third of Auckland's entire annual average.

Wellington, Feb 10 (IANS) The New Zealand government on Friday urged residents across the country to prepare for the Category 3 cyclone Gabrielle after severe flooding hit the largest city of Auckland and claimed four lives two weeks ago.

Gabrielle could bring significant severe weather to many regions of New Zealand and the government stands ready to support communities that may be impacted, Xinhua news agency quoted Minister for Emergency Management Kieran McAnulty as saying at a media briefing.

"Cyclone Gabrielle is likely to impact across the North Island with severe gales and heavy rain forecast from Sunday through to Tuesday (February 14). That gives us time to plan and prepare -- and this preparation is well underway," McAnulty said.

He called on New Zealanders to use the next few days to get ready.

The tropical cyclone hurtling toward New Zealand is now expected to bring dangerous conditions to more North Island regions, and parts of the South Island, according to the latest MetService update.

The update revealed that the cyclone, packed with 140km/h plus winds and a month's worth of rain, will now impact from the top of the North Island to the top of the South for the first part of next week.

On Friday, a first monster wave alert was issued with sevenmetre waves expected to pound the south-east coast of the North Island on February 13.

The last round of record rainfall on January 27 had caused massive flooding, with the state

Also as a precautionary measure, flag carrier Air New Zealand on Friday asked all passengers domestic and international passengers to reconsider travel, reports The NZ Herald. The carrier is extending travel flexibility for international travel from Friday up to and including February 22.

"If your travel is not essential, please consider postponing your plans, especially if you have children travelling alone or if you are travelling with pets," the airline said on its travel alert page.

In a statement issued on Friday, Auckland Airport said it has supplies of blankets, water, snack food and essentials in case travellers are stranded by the cyclone.

Thousands of passengers at the airport were hit by last month's flooding which inundated the international terminal and many were forced to spend a night.

Guterres appeals for aid to Syria, Turkey, depoliticising relief

United Nations, Feb 9 (IANS)

UN Secretary General Antonio

Guterres on Thursday appealed for international aid to earthquake-devastated Syria and Turkey and said relief operations should be depoliticised.

"Now is the hour to stand up for the people of Turkey and Syria," he said speaking to reporters. Recalling the welcome refugees have received from both the countries, he said: "I strongly appeal to the international community to show the people of Turkey and Syria the same kind of support and generosity with which they received, protected and assisted millions of refugees."

While Turkey has been receiving aid, including from India which has sent personnel relief material on at least six flights, Guterres focused on Syria which is isolated. Relief operations there face political obstructions because the government of President Bashar al Assad is under western sanctions and most of the quakehit areas are under rebel control with limited international access.

"It's not the moment to politicise or to divide, but it is obvious that we need massive support," Guterres said.

"The Syria humanitarian fund and the Syria cross-border fund need an urgent injection of support," he said.

He said that he will be launching a "flash appeal" for assistance to Syria.

With the Syrian government under sanctions from several countries, notably the US, Guterres said: "This is a moment in which everybody must make very clear that no sanctions of any kind interfere with relief to the population of Syria."

Most of the areas in northwest Syria hit by the quake are held by rebels, with only one border crossing into the area from Turkey allowed under Security Council resolutions.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @ arulouis)

Washington, Feb 10 (IANS) As the FBI is analysing recovered parts of the suspected Chinese spy balloon which was shot down on February 4, it was revealed that the device "was capable of conducting signals intelligence collection operations" and was part of a fleet that had flown over "more than 40 countries across five continents", a US State Department official said.

"We know the PRC (People's Republic of China) used these balloons for surveillance. Highresolution imagery from U-2 flybys revealed that the highaltitude balloon was capable of conducting signals intelligence collection operations," CNN quoted the official as saying on Thursday

Signals intelligence refers to information that is gathered by electronic means -- things like communications and radars.

Senior FBI officials confirmed on Thursday that they have started initial stages of evaluating the pieces of the balloon that were recovered and brought to the Bureau's lab in Quantico, Virginia, on Sunday.

The investigation into recovered balloon is the first of its kind in the FBI's history.

Only evidence that was on the surface of the ocean has been delivered to FBI analysts so far, one official said, which includes the "canopy itself, the wiring, and then a very small amount of electronics", one of the officials was quoted by CNN as saying.

He added that the analysts have not yet seen the "payload," which is where you would expect to see the "lion's share" of electronics. The officials also said that understanding the components of the balloon is vital intelligence and could be "important pieces of evidence for future criminal charges that could be brought".

Administration officials from the Pentagon, State Department and intelligence community briefed lawmakers on Capitol Hill Thursday on the balloon.

The House of Representatives lawmakers called the balloon a "brazen violation of US sovereignty" as the body voted 419 to 0 on Thursday morning to condemn its use, the BBC reported.

The suspected spy balloon, which US defence officials first announced of tracking the on February 2, was shot down two days later by an American F-22 fighter jet.

The officials waited until the "strange object" was safely over water before shooting it down. The balloon was retrieved off the coast of Myrtle Beach in South Carolina on February 5

Earlier this week, The Washington Post had reported that the US believes the suspected surveillance balloon project was being operated from China's coastal Hainan province and targeted countries including Japan, India, Vietnam, Taiwan and the Philippines.

In a briefing on Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Washington "was not the only target of this broader program which violated the sovereignty of countries across five continents".

Several petrol pumps in Pakistan run dry

Lahore, Feb 10 (IANS) Amid claims of adequate availability and the Pakistan government warning of stern action against hoarders, the shortage of petrol persists across Punjab province disrupting the routine life of the public at large.

The situation is worst in remote areas where the pumps have had no supplies for the last over a month, Dawn reported.

On the other hand, the Pakistan Petroleum Dealer Association (PPDA) has held all Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) responsible for not ensuring adequate supplies as per demand thus making the pumps dry and leaving the motorists with no option but to search for petrol in cities.

Rejecting the claim, the OMC Association of Pakistan (OMAP) said some pumps were involved in hoarding petrol and causing artificial shortages to earn more profits keeping in view the

expected increase in petroleum prices.

"At present, 30 to 40 per cent of the total 450 pumps in Lahore and its outskirts have no petrol due to squeezed supplies from OMCs, including the largest public sector company and two international firms. Previously these three companies were never to be allegedly involved in such practices. But now they, like others, have started playing such tactics," PPPDA Punjab Information Secretary Khawaja Atif claimed.

He said similarly, several pumps are closed for many days in Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Sheikhupra, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Kasur and other districts, Dawn reported.

However, the situation is worst in the remote areas of various districts where the pumps are without the commodity for almost one month or so, Atif added.

‘Delhi Declaration symbolises UNSC determination to fight terrorism’

"Terrorists keep adjusting their tactics, widely use ICTs (internet, communication technologies) not only for financing their criminal activities, but also for spreading their ideology and plotting attacks. This is a universal problem that requires well-coordinated inter-state prevention mechanisms."

EU assures Ukraine of support as Zelensky visits Brussels

Macron to Brussels on Thursday, where he delivered a speech to European lawmakers and later addressed all 27 leaders of the EU member states' special summit. It was Zelensky's first official visit to the European Parliament (EP) after having addressed its members remotely during an extraordinary session on March 1, 2022.

United Nations, Feb 10 (IANS)

UN Security Council (UNSC)

President Vanessa Frazier said that the Delhi Declaration adopted under India's leadership symbolises the Council's determination to meet terror threats using new technologies.

Several UNSC members joined her on Thursday in welcoming the Declaration adopted in October 2022 at a special meeting of the Council's Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) held in Delhi as they warned of the dangers of new technologies in the hands of terrorists.

Frazier, who is Malta's Permanent Representative, recalled being at the meeting in Delhi and said that the Declaration "symbolises the Council's shared determination to address this challenge" from terrorists using new technologies.

CTC Chair Lana Nusseibeh said:

"As the current Chair of this Committee, the UAE intends to build on this important achievement."

She said the Committee "took a key step last year by adopting the Delhi Declaration which offers non-binding guidance to stakeholders on how to counter the terrorist use of new and emerging technologies".

Nusseibeh, who is the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), succeeded India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj as CTC head.

Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative Gennady Kuzmin said: "We welcome efforts made last year by India in its capacity as Chair of the CTC, thanks to which the Delhi Declaration was elaborated to counter the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes.

Ecuador's Permanent Representative Hernan Perz Loose said: "The use of technology to spread a narrative of violent extremism and the use of drones by terrorist groups constitute new challenges for the international community."

The Delhi Declaration "is an example of how the Security Council can respond to the changing nature of terrorism", he said.

Switzerland's Permanent Representative Pascale Christine Baeriswyl said that "with the Delhi declaration the Committee has a solid basis to consider" the threats from the Islamic State (IS) terror group using new technologies. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @ arulouis)

Kim Jong-un calls for stronger military power during photo op

army" and noted "one can demonstrate one's dignity and honor only when one is strong", according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

Top military officials attended the photo session, including Ri Pyong-chol and Ri Yong-gil, who both serve as vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the ruling Workers' Party.

Kim last held such a mass photo session last month with members of the Korean Children's Union.

Seoul, Feb 10 (IANS) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for bolstering the country's military strength at an unprecedented pace, during a photo session with the participants of a military parade held earlier this week, Pyongyang's state media reported on Friday.

Speaking on Thursday, Kim stressed that the prosperity of the North depends on a "powerful

He added that suppressing the "increasingly brutal imperialist tyranny by force" requires its army to "grow stronger at an incomparably faster speed than that of the past history", Yonhap News Agency quoted the KCNA as saying.

Kim also praised the participants for "glorifying" the parade as an event to be "specially recorded in history", saying that it has "made a clearer description of the prestige and greatness, high honour and rosy future of our state".

Brussels, Feb 10 (IANS) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has assured Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky of the EU's continued support and she said that preparations are underway for a 10th round of sanctions against Russia.

Ukraine and the EU are "one family," she added on Thursday, and that the country can depend on Europe's continued support in its fight against Russia. "You can count on us. We will continue to provide our full support," she told Zelensky during a press conference after he addressed the EU leaders' meeting.

The Belgian capital was the third stop on the Ukrainian President's whirlwind tour of Europe. He visited London on Wednesday to address Parliament and meet Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He also met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace. He then crossed over to Paris for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during a tri-party dinner held at the presidential Elysee Palace, Xinhua news agency reported. Zelensky then travelled with

The North held the night-time parade Wednesday to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of its armed forces, during which it displayed its key weapons, including Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Kim attended the event along with his wife, Ri Sol-ju, and his daughter Ju-ae. State media did not mention whether Kim delivered a speech during the event.

Addressing the EP, Zelensky said that "A Ukraine that is winning is going to be member of the European Union."

EP President Roberta Metsola told Zelensky that "Ukraine is Europe and your nation's future is in the European Union," adding that the EU should give Ukraine the "fastest possible accession process".

He later told a joint press conference with von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel that he expected to start discussions on his country's EU accession this year and reiterated his request for more weapons, including longrange missiles.

Von der Leyen said the EU had mobilised 67 billion euros ($72 billion) in support in the past year, "from budget support to fast recovery; from energy supply to military capabilities; from humanitarian aid to refugee support."

She added the EU will propose the 10th package of sanctions against Russia in the coming days, which will include additional export bans worth more than 10 billion euros.

Russia launches cargo ship to int’l space station

Moscow, Feb 9 (IANS) Russia has successfully launched the Progress MS-22 cargo spacecraft to the International Space Station (ISS) on Thursday, Russia's state space corporation Roscosmos said.

The Soyuz-2.1a carrier rocket blasted off from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 9:15 a.m. Moscow time, Roscosmos said in a press release, Xinhua news agency reported.

The spacecraft separated from the third stage of the rocket, and its antennas and solar panels opened normally. The ship is scheduled to dock to the ISS on Saturday.

The Progress MS-22 will deliver over 2.5 tons of cargo to the ISS, namely 720 kg of fuel, 420 liters of drinking water, 40 kg of nitrogen and 1,354 kg of various equipment and materials.

Aid agencies seek $2.6bn to help 7.6mn Somalians amid historic drought

Mogadishu, Feb 9 (IANS) The UN and its partners, along with Somalian state and federal authorities, announced that humanitarian groups are seeking $2.6 billion to assist some 7.6 million people this year as the East African nation is currently under the grip of the longest and most severe drought in its history, following five consecutive poor rainy seasons.

Nearly half of the population, 8.25 million people, need immediate help and protection from the drought that has devastated

Somalia, reports Xinhua news agency.

Unless humanitarian assistance is sustained and rainfall is sufficient, famine is a strong possibility between April and June, according to an official statement.

"The efforts of local communities and the scale up of humanitarian assistance prevented famine thresholds from being surpassed in 2022, but millions of lives remain on the line," said Adam Abdelmoula, UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia.

It is the worst drought in four decades, which also affects parts of Kenya and Ethiopia.

The Horn of Africa has become hotter and drier due to climate change, and at least 36.4 million people across the region need emergency assistance to survive, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

In Somalia, more than 1.4 million people have been displaced while at least 3.5 million livestock have died, which destroys livelihoods and reduces children's access to

milk.

Although technical famine thresholds have not been reached, OCHA said the situation in Somalia is extremely alarming as prolonged and extreme conditions have led to higherthan-normal deaths. This includes more than 727,000 people who are likely to face catastrophic conditions.

Furthermore, about 8 million people do not have access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services.

Cholera and measles cases have surged, along with acute malnutrition, while conflict and insecurity continue to drive needs and hamper humanitarian access. Last year, aid organisations, local communities and government authorities ramped up response and reached 7.3 million people, but now they are calling for additional resources and unhindered access to those in need.

J&K sanctions Rs 62 cr project for commercial cultivation of herbal riches

is expected to rise to over Rs 783 crore by 2037.

Over 20K foreign buyers from 28 countries invited to inaugural Rajasthan Intl Expo

the best practices and undertake research to develop new herbal formulations and drugs.

Jammu, Feb 3 (IANS) The Jammu and Kashmir government has announced a pioneering project envisaging total transformation in the landscape of medicinal and aromatic plants (MAPs) cultivation in the Union Territory, officials said on Friday.

With a budget of Rs 62 crore, this five-year project aims at to cultivate MAPs on 5000 kanals of land spread across 28 clusters, creating over 3,000 jobs and 28 enterprises.

The MAP sector is estimated to contribute about Rs 75 crore every year after five years, which

This ambitious project marks a significant transition from traditional, wild extraction based practices to a a more sustainable, modern approach to MAP cultivation, conservation and entrepreneurship.

The mission of this project is to achieve commercial production of MAPs outside the forests, promote organic farming, develop local and international markets besides boosting advance scientific knowledge through insightful research.

The initiative also aims to promote cultivation and conservation of MAPs, promote organic farming and standardisation, provide special facilities for primary processing, preserve intellectual property rights, educate cultivators on

"There are a number of MAPs that are unique to our agro-climate and offer immense potential for employment and exports. The demand for herbal drugs and cosmetics is growing both domestically and internationally while MAPs extracted from forests put pressure on biodiversity besides pushing many plant species on the verge of extinction" said Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary, APD. "J&K has 129 hectare of cultivatable wasteland, of which only 2 per cent shall be used for MAP cultivation. Additionally, farmers who adopt MAP cultivation can expect to see 30-40 per cent increase in their agricultural income," he added.

Amazon ‘faces’ US FTC antitrust investigation over market practices

in an influential academic paper that Amazon had "amassed too much market power" and that antitrust law had failed to restrain it.

She is the author of an influential 2017 Yale Law Review article titled "Amazon's Antitrust Paradox."

San Francisco, Feb 4 (IANS) The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly preparing an antitrust suit against Amazon over its allegedly monopolistic market practices.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal citing sources, the FTC could challenge an array of the e-commerce giant's business practices as anticompetitive.

FTC Chair Lina Khan had argued

The FTC has also been scrutinising the company's Amazon Prime subscription service's bundling practices, according to the report.

Amazon and the FTC declined to comment.

The FTC began probing Amazon during the tenure of Republican Chairman Joseph Simons while Donald Trump was president.

Shortly after Khan was appointed as FTC chair in 2021, Amazon filed a petition with the commission that argued "she should be recused in investigations of the company, in light of her extensive past criticisms of Amazon." he commission hasn't publicly responded to that petition. The FTC has also been investigating non-antitrust issues related to Amazon.

Amazon had complained about the FTC's probe and accused the FTC of making excessive and unreasonable demands on founder Jeff Bezos and company executives.

Twitter to charge $1,000 per month from businesses for their gold badges

businesses offering gold check mark verification for $1000 PER MONTH! And affiliate account verification for $50 each per month," tweeted Navarra. Twitter did not immediately comment on this.

New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS) Twitter has told businesses to pay $1,000 per month for retaining gold badges and brands and organisations which do not pay the money will lose their checkmarks.

The Elon Musk-run company, which is busy monetising its platform via various means, will also charge an extra $50 per month to add badges to each account affiliated with the brand, reports The Information.

A screenshot posted by social media consultant Matt Navarra also suggested that Twitter is going to charge a massive $1,000 per month.

"Twitter is reportedly emailing

"As an early access subscriber, you'll get a gold checkmark for your organisation and affiliation badges for its associates," read an email sent by Twitter to businesses.

"If you'd like to subscribe, Verified for Organisations is $1,000 per month, and $50 per additional affiliated handle per month with one month of free affiliations," it added.

Twitter had rolled out gold badges ahead of its Verification for Organisations programme (formerly called Blue for Business), which allows brands to "verify and distinguish themselves on Twitter."

In December last year, Twitter

relaunched its Blue subscription service with verification, costing $8 for Android users and $11 for iPhone owners per month.

Musk has now said that all legacy verified accounts will soon lose their Blue badges as those are 'deeply corrupted'.

The micro-blogging platform has expanded its Blue service subscription service to six more countries, taking the total to 12 where users can subscribe to it.

Jaipur, Feb 3 (IANS) The first edition of the Rajasthan International Expo is scheduled to be held from March 20-22 at the Trade Facilitation Centre in Jodhpur.

For the expo, invitations have been sent to 20,000 buyers from 28 countries. The state government has also reached out to Indian embassies around the world to gather a list of international buyers. This was disclosed by state Industries and Commerce Minister, Shakuntala Rawat, during the launch of the logo and brochure for the event on Friday.

"The International Expo will be a major milestone in the field of exports with Jodhpur being the handicrafts capital of India. The

Expo will feature a wide range of handicrafts, wooden and iron furniture, ceramic, and other products for export from Jodhpur. "Therefore, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has chosen Jodhpur to host this international exhibition, highlighting the importance of the region and its potential for growth. Also, the government of India recently approved special assistance of Rs 95 crore for capacity building of the already operational inland container depot in Jodhpur, making the Expo an enticing proposition," Rawat said.

Rajiv Arora, Chairman, Rajasthan Export Promotion Council (REPC), said that invitations have been sent to buyers from 28 countries to join the upcoming Expo.

"Buyers from Germany, France, the UAE, the UK, Singapore, the Netherlands, Mexico, Belarus, Chile, Hungary and Portugal have been invited to participate in the Eexpo," he said.

Hackers stole $3.8 bn from crypto investors in 2022

by bad actors," said the report. North Korea-linked hackers such as those in cybercriminal syndicate Lazarus Group have been by far the most prolific cryptocurrency hackers over the last few years.

In 2022, they shattered their own records for theft, stealing an estimated $1.7 billion worth of cryptocurrency across several hacks, the report said.

New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS)

Cryptocurrency hackers stole $3.8 billion last year, making it the worst year on record for crypto investors, up from $3.3 billion in 2021.

According to Blockchain analytics platform Chainalysis, October was the biggest single month ever for cryptocurrency hacking, as $775.7 million was stolen in 32 separate attacks.

DeFi (Decentralised Finance) protocols as victims accounted for 82.1 per cent of all cryptocurrency stolen by hackers -- a total of $3.1 billion -- up from 73.3 per cent in 2021.

Of that $3.1 billion, 64 per cent came from cross-chain bridge protocols specifically.

Cross-chain bridges are protocols that let users port their cryptocurrency from one blockchain to another, usually by locking the user's assets into a smart contract on the original chain, and then minting equivalent assets on the second chain.

"If a bridge gets big enough, any error in its underlying smart contract code or other potential weak spot is almost sure to eventually be found and exploited

Most experts agree the North Korean government is using these stolen cryptos to fund its nuclear weapons programmes. About $1.1 billion of that total was stolen in hacks of DeFi protocols, making North Korea one of the driving forces behind the DeFi hacking trend that intensified in 2022.

"Besides DeFi protocols, North Korea-linked hackers also tend to send large sums to mixers, which have typically been the cornerstone of their money laundering process," the report noted.

For much of 2021 and 2022, North Korea-linked hackers almost exclusively used Tornado Cash to launder cryptocurrency stolen in hacks.

Sinbad is a relatively new custodial Bitcoin mixer that began advertising its services on the BitcoinTalk forum in October 2022.

During December 2022 and January 2023, North Korea-linked hackers have sent a total of 1,429.6 Bitcoin worth approximately $24.2 million to the mixer, the report said.

From the editor’s desk US weapons for Russia, courtesy Taliban

In the wake of the devastation in Turkiye and Syria, many have lost their loved ones. It is not easy to cope with such situations. But life must go on… I search the debris day and night to only find grief

Why me? I ask,

It is fate, maybe

Yet, Why me? I again ask.

A father so dear in the disaster I lost,

A gentleman, who never raised a fist nor a verbal roast. A child, an infant, what life he got?

Trapped in the pillars and left to rot.

Deep in sleep that he was,

I wonder if he will ever know What took his life, for what cause? With no family, friends, or dear ones, the love to share I live on the streets, The cold, it bites, covered with clouds of despair Why me? I have to ASK

WHY ME? I AGAIN ASK

The humanitarian aid is here, With gratitude and hope we cheer, Not everything is astray, And life moves on, Wiping the tears forlorn, Wiping those tears forlorn.

Written by Amrita Deshpande

By Asad Mirza

Indeed, war and political circumstances can make you sleep with your enemy, and despite different ideologies, they can also make opponents strange bedfellows.

As per reports in the British media, Russia is eyeing weapons left by the hastily-withdrawing US forces in Afghanistan in 2021. To secure these arms, Russian diplomats are reportedly wooing the Taliban elements of the caretaker government in Afghanistan.

British tabloid The Sun reported last week, citing a Telegram channel 'Kremlin Insider', that Russia is seeking weapons from Afghanistan, including those left behind by the US forces in 2021. Though Moscow has denied these claims, Ukrainian and Western officials said Russia is facing a shortage of arms.

Reports claimed that amid planning for an expected spring offensive, Russia has reportedly turned to the Taliban government in Afghanistan for weapons.

As per a US Department of Defence report, the American troops had left more than $7 billion worth of weapons and equipment when it pulled out of Afghanistan, CNN reported. US arms for Russia

The Sun, citing a Telegram channel, 'General SVR', reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin has asked the Taliban for equipment left by the US. The General SVR channel claimed, citing the Kremlin Insider, that in exchange for arms, Putin will "recognise" the Taliban government.

"Putin is overseeing negotiations with the Taliban to recognise the Taliban government. In return, the Russian leadership is offering a major arms and military equipment swap," General SVR claimed, The Sun reported. General SVR further stated that those aware of the negotiations say that the Taliban are "extremely surprised" by such proposals, however, they are discussing them in "earnest".

This claim comes amid other conflicting reports claiming that Russia and Pakistan are stressing on the need for "practical engagement" with the Taliban. Some claim that Russia is considering recognising the Taliban government while others claim that it is not considering such a proposal for the time being.

If indeed these reports are true, then it may come as a shot in the arm for the Taliban, as finally they'll be able to get at least one former super power to recognise them and additionally they also might get some financial package from the Russians, money which is desperately needed by the Taliban government to function properly.

Reportedly, the Russian presidential envoy for Afghanistan - Zamir Kabulov - met with Pakistani officials in Islamabad on January 25 and apprised them about his meetings with the Taliban in Kabul earlier this month.

Official Pakistani sources in the know of the meeting told Voice of America (VOA) that Kabulov said Russia will continue to engage with the Taliban, but it is not considering granting formal recognition to the rulers "for the time being".

The Russian envoy "advised" the all-male Taliban to create a "politically inclusive" government and ease restrictions on women in order to move forward on the issue of their legitimacy, VOA reported citing sources.

US weapons in Afghanistan

As the US troops withdrew from Afghanistan amid the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in 2021, 70 per cent of American weapons as well as $48 million worth of ammunition provided to the Afghan forces were left in the war-torn country, Foreign Policy had reported in April last year. The military equipment included 23,825 Humvees and around 900 combat vehicles. As many as 42,000 pieces of night vision, surveillance, biometric and positioning equipment were also left behind in Afghanistan, as per the report.

The officials familiar with the defence department report had said that it was unlikely for the Taliban to use the US weapons, which require technical support and specialised maintenance. But they had also expressed concerns about the Taliban fighters using small arms, including automatic rifles.

The reality

The big question is whether Russia is actually short of weapons. No, claims former Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, the newly-appointed head of the military-industrial commission that is monitoring weapons production for the war.

Hitting out at Western media reports that Russia is facing a paucity of missiles and artillery, Medvedev had said last week that Moscow's weapons stocks are adequate to continue the fight in Ukraine.

A video posted on the former President's Telegram channel showed him taking a stock of Kalashnikov rifles, artillery shells, missiles and drones. Russian troops have also deployed Iranmade 'kamikaze' drones for their attacks in Ukraine.

Despite Russia's denial, Ukrainian and Western military officials have claimed that Russia is facing a crunch of arms.

In December last year, Britain's armed forces chief - Admiral Sir Tony Radakin - had said that Russia had planned for a "30-day war" and is now facing a "critical shortage" of artillery shells. The Guardian had reported him as saying that Russia faces a critical shortage of artillery munitions. This means that their ability to conduct successful offensive ground operations is rapidly diminishing.

When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February last year, it was planned to be a blitzkrieg-like operation that would sweep the capital Kiev. However, the fierce resistance by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) pushed the Russian troops to the fringes and made it a war of attrition that will complete a year next month.

The war has essentially proved to be a double whammy for Russia. Not only has the country lost a massive number of men and materials, Moscow has also been unable to manufacture weapons at pre-war levels due to crippling sanctions.

Going by the daily estimates published by Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, Russia has so far lost more than 3,100 tanks, over 6,300 armoured vehicles, more than 2,100 artillery, over 1,900 drones, and almost 300 military jets, to name a few.

Meanwhile, there are also reports that NATO is going to supply Ukraine with more superior tanks to counter the hotly-predicted pre-spring Russian offensive.

(Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi. He can be contacted at www.asadmirza.in. The views expressed are personal)

Chakbast: The forgotten poet of patriotism, reason, and rare wit

By Vikas Datta

Nearly nine decades after his passing away, his work returned to public consciousness with his famous couplet - "Zindagi kya hai, anasir mein zuhur-etartib/Maut kya hai, inhi ajza ka pareshan hona" recited in the start of offbeat, but hardhitting Bollywood film "Masaan" (2015). However, Pandit Braj Narain Chakbast was not only an accomplished Urdu poet, but also earned the distinction of devising its first-ever meme.

As the story goes, Chakbast, a lawyer by profession, was once sent a hemstich, or half line of verse, by a 'khafifa' (small cause) court official to complete. This line was "Rag-e-gul se bulbul ke par bandhte hai" and Chakbast responded, wittily but rather cruelly too, to make it "Khafifa adalat mein ullu ke patthe/Rag-egul se bulbul ke par bandhte hai."

As per literary scholar Saraswati Saran 'Kaif', this couplet spread widely across the country in the 1920s and 1930s, though few knew who its author was, with users freely changing the first line to "Suna hai ki Meerut mein ullu ke patthe.." or "Aligarh mein ullu ke patthe.." or as needed for the put downs of specific cities or regions.

That, however, is far from the high point of the poetry of Chakbast, who, in his comparatively short life (18821926), brought together - and reflected - in his poetry four

major strands - the inclusive nature of Urdu literary tradition, the 'Lakhnavi' culture he grew up in, his own Kashmiri Brahmin heritage, and the socio-political millieu of his time. While he is usually deemed a poet of patriotic themes, particularly in the form of nazms, his canvas was much larger and contained everything from religion, nature, and humanity. And like many other noted nazm writers, he did not forsake the basic poetic form of the ghazal.

There was one distinguishing feature in his 'ghazal-goi' though - unlike many of his contemporaries, Chakbast's ghazals eschew the common staples of wine, women, and song, in favour of lofty, philosophical themes - as the 'sher' - from one of his earliest ghazals - used in "Masaan" shows.

The reason is in his family background. Chakbast was born in Faizabad on January 19, 1882, in fairly affluent circumstances, with his father, Pandit Udit Narain Chakbast being a Deputy Collector - the highest administrative posts Indians could rise to in those days. But his father, who also wrote poetry under the 'takhallus' "Yaqeen"though just a couple of dozen-odd couplets survive - was rather too fond of high living and dissipated the family wealth and properties before his own untimely death in 1887 at the age of around 44.

Though his maternal uncle helped raise him and his siblings, Chakbast took the lessons of his comfortable-turned-straitened early life to heart. As per his family and his friends, Chakbast, despite being convivial and joining the society of the Lucknow gentry fond of the good life as well as the British, never touched alcohol, visited a courtesan, or gambled. He generally avoided them in his poetry too.

Chakbast is said to have started to compose at the age of nine, though his first recorded verse dates from he was 12 years olda nazm titled "Hubb-e-Qaumi" delivered at a session at the Social Conference of Kashmir Pandits in 1894. As he continued writing, community elder and litterateur Pandit Bishan Nath Dar, with whom Chakbast was wellacquainted, facilitated his craft by recommending his own ustad, Marhamat-ud-DauIa "Hakeem", the son of the legendary Muzaffar Ali Khan "Aseer Lakhnavi", for poetic guidance.

Under "Hakeem" and later, his younger brother, Afzal-udDaula "Afzal", Chakbast, who was inspired by Mir, Ghalib, "Atish Lakhnavi", and 'marsiya' writer Mir Anis, grew so proficient that the latter soon started returning his verse unchanged, saying there was nothing in it to correct or enhance.

Chakbast was also embroiled in a major literary controversy in 1905. Having prepared a new edition of the "Gulzar-e-Naseem" of early 19th century Lakhnavi poet Daya Shankar Kaul "Naseem", he extolled him extensively. However, Maulana Abdul Halim "Sharar", the esteemed historian of Lakhavi culture, hit back, questioning Naseem's authorship of masnavi "Gul Bakawali". A

major literary skirmish, waged mainly through newspaper articles and letters, ensued for nearly an year with wide support to Chakbast, mainly from Munshi Sajjad Hussain and his satirical political weekly "Avadh Punch" but also many other in Lucknow circles, including a poet whose work Chakbast had criticised. There were others ranged against Chakbast, before Sharar, who was a fair-minded man, admitted that he was mistaken.

By 1907, Chakbast had emerged as poet of note, and completing his LLB, began his legal career. One of his best-known works dates from his early period, and in nazm "Ramayan ka Ek Scene", he uses the rhythmic cadence of Urdu to depict the beginning of Ram's exile:

"Rukhsat huya vo baap se le kar khuda ka naam/Rah-e-vafa ki manzil-e-avval hui tamaam", it begins, and goes on to scale further heights with couplets like:

"Jumbish hui labon ko bhari ek sard aah/Li gosha-ha-e-chashm se ashkon ne rukh ki raah.." and more, before ending: "Us ka karam sharik agar hai to gham nahi/ Daman-e-dasht daman-e-madar se kam nahi."

However, Chakbast wrote on other Hindu motifs, including the cow, he, born and bred in the communal amity and acculturation of Lucknow, was no religious supremacist. He had already irked his community's orthodox by supporting widow remarriage and was a votary of more freedom for women and modern education. As he wrote on the inauguration of the Ganga Prasad Library in Lucknow: "Daulat-e-ilm Iutegi isi dar se din raat/Ham ne sochi hai yahi nam pe uske khairat/Dair se aaye

barahman (Hindus) ki haram se sadat (Muslims)/Sab yahan payenge sarmaya-e-taskin-ehayat."

And when it came to religion, Chakbast closely resembled his near contemporary Syed Akbar Hussain "Akbar Allahabadi".

Take him on outward religious trappings: "Dil surat-e-aina jo raushan nahin hota/Zinhar (sacred thread) pahanne se barahman nahin hota" or rituals: "Jinke amal mein mazhab ki latafat nahin khaak/Unke kadmon se na yeh pak havan ho napak."

He freely railed against blind faith and obscurantism: "Haq parasti ki jo main ne but parasti chhor kar/Barahman kahne lage ilhad ka bani (heretic) mujhe" or "Hamare aur zahidon ke mazhab men farq agar hai to is qadar hai/ Kahenge ham jisko paas-e-insan (love of humans) wo usko khaufe-khuda kahenge" or "Aashna ho kan kya insan ki faryad se/Shaikh ko fursat nahin milti khuda ki yad se."

And like Akbar's "Har zarra chamakta hain anwar-e-illahi se..", Chakbast wrote: "Ain kasrat men ye wahdat ka sabak Ved mein hai/Ek hi nurhai jo zarra-okhurshed men hai (the same light can be observed in a grain of sand as the Sun)."

But, his poetic oeuvre, though limited, is profound in its depiction of the human condition: "Agar dard-e-mohabbat se na insaan aashna hota/Na kuch marne ka gham hota na jeene ka mazaa hota."

And, as he said: "Is ko na-qadrie-aalam ka sila kahte hain/Mar chuke ham to zamaane ne bahut yaad kiya." Do we?

(Vikas Datta can be contacted at vikas.d@ians.in)

First Energy Transitions Working Group Meeting to begin on Feb 5

member countries to help build a sustainable future for all.

Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy R.K.

Singh will deliver the keynote address of the three-day event.

New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) The first G20 Energy Transitions Working Group (ETWG) Meeting under India's Presidency will begin on Sunday.

The first G20 ETWG Meeting under India's Presidency being held in Bengaluru will have over 150 participants including G20 member countries, nine special invitee guest countries -- Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, UAE and Spain.

India's G20 Presidency will share, collaborate, and build on the sense of trusteeship amongst the

Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi will deliver a special address. The priority areas of the ETWG meeting include energy transition through addressing technology gaps; low-cost financing for energy transition; energy security and diversified supply chains; energy efficiency, industrial low carbon transitions and responsible consumption; Fuels for Future (3F) and universal access to clean energy and just, affordable, and inclusive energy transition pathways.

The Energy Transitions Working Group, while retaining focus on achieving energy transition,

NASA to launch Mars science mission on Bezos-run Blue Origin’s rocket

will emphasise on addressing technology gaps and financing to ensure that it is delivered across countries in a time-bound and affordable manner without compromising the energy needs of the communities. The expected outcomes of the deliberations would include agreement to advance cooperation initiatives under Research and Development-20 roadmap for channelising adequate lowcost international finance towards deployment of critical technologies, declaration on collective efforts to ensure energy security and diversified supply chains of new energy sources, roadmap for doubling global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030, action plan for enhancing and promoting bio-energy cooperation, and recommendations on global best practices for supporting Just, Affordable, and Inclusive energy transitions.

Initiative to inspire women for climate conversations launched

commonly face higher risks and greater burdens from the impact of climate change, and yet are under-represented in conversations around solutions. Solutions to address climate change must include women, including in the initial stages. Women need to be part of defining the problem and impact.

New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) As India takes giant strides to build green growth reiterating commitments on cleaner energy sources and net zero carbon emissions by 2070, Women Climate Collective (WCC), a community that seeks to increase representation of women's voices and perspectives in climate, was launched.

Supported by 10 diverse organizations and with 16 climate champions, the initiative aims to inspire women to use their voice and participate in climate conversations, empowering them to be part of the solution to ensure more equitable outcomes. Sectors that WCC's 16 climate champions are drawn from include grassroots climate storytelling, clean air solutions, sustainable architecture, marine conservation, waste management, climate governance and agriculture.

While the impact of climate change is well-recognized, seldom is the impact of climate change on women talked about. Women are disproportionately at risk, and creating awareness of gendered impacts as well as the solutions through the voices of women climate champions will make the Indian climate ecosystem more representative and responsive, especially to the most vulnerable.

According to UN reports, women

Women Climate Collective believes that when women have the voice they deserve, they have the capacity to create a more sustainable and more inclusive world.

WCC believes that amplifying inspiring stories of women responding to the climate crisis in India, and pairing this with an upskilled supportive community of women interested in gender and climate, can provide the much needed fillip to womeninclusive climate action.

The virtual launch of WCC on Thursday saw participation from corporate and impact organizations, influencers and individual climate champions who have led by example. The initiative includes an online community on Facebook for women from across India to share voices and upskill themselves as stronger proponents of climate change actions (facebook.com/ womenclimatecollective).

The initiative is supported by Fondation L'Oreal, Purpose Climate Lab, Yuvaa, MASH, C40, Youth Ki Awaaz, Red Dot Foundation, Chintan, Sustera, Climate Collective -- and soon others.

Commenting on the Collective, Alexandra Palt, CEO of the Fondation L'Oreal, said: "Climate change is disrupting our lives, our societies and economies, with women once again on the frontline. The fight against

climate change must increasingly take women into account. When gender equality is higher, when women have the voice they deserve, they have the capacity to create a more sustainable, more inclusive and better society. That is why we consider it strategic to empower women's voices and women-led climate action in India."

Shruti Narayan, C40 Cities' Regional Director for South and West Asia, said: "Enhancing women's participation and leadership in cities to accelerate climate action is critical to securing an equitable and inclusive future for all. The ongoing C40 Women4Climate programs in Bengaluru, Chennai and Mumbai match committed women leaders from diverse sectors with mentees to explore innovative and inclusive climate projects with the potential to contribute to cities climate action plans, bringing women to the forefront of discussions on climate action."

Washington, Feb 10 (IANS) The US space agency has announced a science mission to Mars aboard Jeff Bezos-run Blue Origin's New Glenn space launch vehicle NASA awarded 'Mars Science Mission Launch' to Blue Origin's New Glenn as part of the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) contract.

ESCAPADE is part of the NASA Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) programme. It is a dual spacecraft mission to study the magnetosphere of the Red Planet. ESCAPADE is a twin-spacecraft Class D mission that will study solar wind energy transfer through Mars' unique hybrid magnetosphere.

"ESCAPADE follows a long tradition of NASA Mars science and exploration missions, and we're thrilled NASA's Launch Services Programme has selected New Glenn to launch the instruments that will study Mars'

magnetosphere," said Jarrett Jones, senior vice president, New Glenn, Blue Origin.

Named after astronaut John Glenn, New Glenn is a partially reusable heavy-lift rocket designed to launch commercial satellites and national security payloads.

New Glenn is proceeding to fulfill its current commercial contracts, pursue a large and growing commercial market, and enter into new civil space launch contracts.

Blue Origin was on-ramped to the NASA VADR launch services Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract on January 26, 2022, with a five-year period of performance.

The Bezos aerospace company is working to create that future by developing reusable launch vehicles and in-space systems that are safe, low cost, and serve the needs of all civil, commercial, and defence customers.

Blue Origin's efforts include flying astronauts to space on New Shepard, producing reusable liquid rocket engines, developing an orbital launch vehicle with New Glenn, building next-generation space habitats, and returning to the surface of the Moon.

Sri Lankan coal company requests over $12 mn amid power cuts fear

Colombo, Feb 5 (IANS) The Lanka Coal Company, incorporated to procure and supply coal for coalfired thermal plants of Sri Lanka, has requested over $12 million to buy coal for power plants.

Chairman of the Lanka Coal Company Shehan Sumanasekara told media on Saturday that he has asked the money from Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekera, Xinhua news agency reported. The Lanka Coal Company needs 2 million metric tons of coal annually, or 33 ship loads, to

manage energy needs, he said. Earlier, Ceylon Electricity Board, the state-owned electricity producer, warned that without a continuous supply of coal, the country may face extended power cuts in the dry season.

Sri Lanka has been experiencing daily power cuts since early 2022 due to foreign reserve shortages. About 45 per cent of the country's electricity is generated by the thermal power, which relies on the import of fuel.

of scrap in primary steel production to grow to 50%’

New Delhi, Feb 4 (IANS) Union Minister for Steel Jyotiraditya

Scindia said that the Central government stands firm on its commitment to the material recycling industry, a sector that needs to be encouraged and pushed forward in today's world. The recycling industry contributes almost Rs 10,000 crore to India's GST and in the years to come, it is expected to go up by Rs 35,000 crore.

The Union Minister was speaking at the plenary session of the 10th edition of the International Indian Material Recycling Conference organised by the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI).

The Minister assured full commitment to the circular economy and recycling sector of the country, and increased per capita consumption of steel. He pointed out that "22 per cent of our steel is produced through recycling, but we need to include the informal sector for the development of the sector as well", adding: "For our commitment to Net Zero by 2070, we can look at short term goals by using energy efficiency tools by 20 per cent by 2030."

Stressing that the steel industry is the sub-segment of the recycling sector, it must be at the forefront of adaptation and mitigation by joining hands with the principle of 6 Rs -- Reduce, Recycle,

‘Usage

Govt report reveals Australian health system in crisis

It found 3.5 per cent of Australians postponed or skipped visits to their general practitioner (GP) in 2021-22 because of the cost -- up from 2.4 per cent the previous year.

lobby the federal government to overhaul Medicare, Australia's universal healthcare system, and increase hospital funding.

Canberra, Feb 2 (IANS) A growing number of Australians are delaying vital healthcare because of soaring costs, a government report published on Thursday revealed.

The Productivity Commission published its annual report on the health system, revealing soaring hospital waiting lists and major delays for ambulances, dental care, and doctor appointments, reports Xinhua news agency.

Almost a quarter of the population delayed seeing a mental health professional because they could not afford it. More than 23 per cent of people who visited their GP waited longer than they thought appropriate for an appointment.

The report was released ahead of a key meeting on Friday between Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and state and territory leaders where they will discuss health system reforms.

The state premiers and health ministers have joined forces to

Mark Butler, the Minister for Health, has previously conceded the health system is in the worst state of Medicare's 40-year history.

It has never been harder to see a doctor than it is right now, he said.

"It's also never been more expensive. We've been working very cooperatively with doctors groups, patient groups, nurses groups, allied health groups, and many others to develop the Strengthening Medicare Task Force report and the Prime Minister has committed to presenting that at National Cabinet later this week," Butler added.

Healthcare industry gives ‘mixed response’, lauds proposal for new nursing colleges

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) The integration of the Ayush system in the National Health ecosystem has got a major boost in the Budget 2023-24 presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday.

The total allocation to the Ayush Ministry has increased by 20 per cent to Rs 3,647 crore. The budget has also emphasised on promoting evidence-based research in Ayush systems through Ayush research councils.

primary health care through upgrading health care facilities as Health & Wellness Centers (HWC), and co-location of Ayush facilities at PHCs, CHCs & DHs", said Ayush Ministry in a statement.

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman while presenting the Union Budget 2023-24 in Parliament on Wednesday announced a major push for the healthcare sector. She announced the establishment of 157 new nursing colleges in co-location with the existing 157 medical colleges, established since 2014, in her budget address.

Sitharaman also announced the launch of a Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission which will entail awareness creation and universal screening of 7 crore people in the age group of 0-40 years in the affected tribal areas. However, the healthcare industry has given a mixed response to the budget. "While the budget on the whole is positive, I wish healthcare was given a greater push. Promoting health insurance strongly, greater SOPs to private health care would have helped," said Dr Nandakumar Jairam, Independent Healthcare Consultant & Former Chairman, NABH.

"The impact of the budget on the healthcare industry, particularly the healthcare delivery side, doesn't appear to be substantial. Whilst some impact-producing features like sickle cell anaemia, attaching nursing colleges to medical colleges, and a focus on AI are very welcome, the opportunity for transformation seems to have been missed", said Dr Narottam Puri, Advisor, FICCI Health Services & Advisor.

Terming the budget good, Dr Ajay Swaroop, Chairman, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital said, "We are very pleased that this year allocation of funds for health care has been increased. Starting of 157 nursing colleges will help in shortening gap in students for nursing care".

He added that some incentive should have also been given to charitable hospitals, some focus on funding and incentive for doing telemedicine and research.

Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a common blood disorder with over 20 million patients living with SCD in India posing a considerable health burden, said Dr Archna Dhawan Bajaj, Delhi based fertility expert, adding that the mission to eliminate sickle cell anaemia by 2047 with entailing awareness creation and universal screening of 7 crore people is a most welcome step. There is a lack of awareness towards SCD resulting in high

disease burden in various parts of our country. Spreading awareness about this disabling disease is the need of the hour for the country, Dr Bajaj said.

The budget has various encouraging initiatives that will help in the growth of the economy. The government has taken well-defined initiatives towards the health and wellness sector which is the need of the hour. We laud the proposal for a multidisciplinary course for medical devices for skilled manpower as it will ensure the availability of skilled manpower for futuristic medical technologies and high-end manufacturing and research, said Deepshikha Sharma, CEO, Sharp Sight.

Meanwhile, lauding the government for announcing establishing 157 new nursing colleges, Probal Ghosal, Executive Chairman of Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, said that it will fill the dearth of skilled healthcare workers especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. The government has also proposed a multidisciplinary course for medical devices for skilled manpower. However, he added, some areas like GST rationalization in healthcare, gap funding on infrastructure in building hospitals in Tier 2 cities, should also have been addressed in the budget.

"The budget allocation to centrally-sponsored National Ayush Mission (NAM) has got a 50 per cent increase from Rs 800 crore to Rs 1200 crore. The NAM is majorly focused on providing cost effective Ayush services with the universal access through up-gradation of Ayush Hospitals and Dispensaries, comprehensive

The NAM also supports cultivation of medical plants, production of quality and standardised ingredients for supply of Ayush, integration of medicinal plants in farming systems and increasing export of value added items of medicinal plants. All the states (Rs 920 crore), union territories (Rs 96 crore) and north eastern areas (Rs 231 crore) have also witnessed an increase in grants-in-aids i.e from Rs 861.97 crore to Rs 1,246.73 crore, said the ministry.

The ministry said: "The budget considers the strength of the traditional Indian system of medicine. Other Ayush systems like homeopathy, unani, siddha, naturopathy and sowa rigpa need to be promoted through enhancing education facilities and community outreach."

Tokyo, Feb 2 (IANS) A Tokyo civic group said it has detected high concentrations of potentially harmful substances known as PFAS in the blood samples of some inhabitants of the western area of the Japanese capital, suggesting contamination of local water supply, local media reported.

In a statement to the media, the group said that PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are found in firefighting foam used on American military bases but it was unclear whether the contamination had any relation to the Yokota Air Base, a US Air Force installation located in the Tama area of western Tokyo, Xinhua reported citing Kyodo News.

Koji

Harada,

associate professor

of public health at Kyoto University who headed the testing efforts, said, however, the concentrations of PFAS found should not cause serious damage to health, said the report.

PFAS is a general term for a group of artificial chemicals, such as PFOS, or perfluorooctane sulfonate, and PFOA, or perfluorooctanoate.

The group began carrying out tests in November to determine the source of the contamination, which involved 87 people, mostly residents of Kokubunji and some from other cities, such as Kodaira, Koganei and Musashino, according to Kyodo News. The interim results showed that 21 of them were found to have exceeded acceptable levels of PFOS in their bloodstream while six of the 21 had unacceptable levels of PFOA.

Harada said that the concentration is evidently high for some residents, which leads one to think potable water is the main cause of it.

Researchers develop device to detect brain tumour through urine

has a brain tumour.

Tokyo, Feb 3 (IANS) A team of researchers in Japan have developed a new device to identify a key membrane protein in the urine that indicates if the patient

A research group led by Associate Professor Takao Yasui and Professor Yoshinobu Baba of Japan-based Nagoya University in collaboration with the University of Tokyo has developed a new analysis platform for brain tumour EVs using nanowires at the bottom of a well plate. They used this device to identify two types of extracellular vesicle

(EV) membrane proteins known as CD31 and CD63 in urine samples from brain tumour patients. Doctors may be able to identify tumour patients before they develop symptoms if they look for these tell-tale proteins.

The presence of tumour-related extracellular vesicles (EVs) in a person's urine is one possible sign that they have a brain tumour. EVs are nanoparticles that perform a variety of functions, including

cell-to-cell communication.

"Currently, EV isolation and detection methods require more than two instruments and an assay to isolate and then detect EVs," said Yasui. Moreover, the researchers believe that the key membrane protein present in the urine could be used to detect brain cancer, eliminating the need for invasive tests and increasing the likelihood

of tumours being detected early enough for surgery.

"Liquid biopsy can be performed using many body fluids, but blood tests are invasive," Yasui said. "Urine tests are an effective, simple, and non-invasive method because the urine contains many informative biomolecules that can be traced back to identify the disease," he added.

Union Budget gives major emphasis on increasing Ayush services, scientific research

Potentially harmful chemicals found in blood of Tokyo citizens: Civic group

US State Senate passes resolution honoring Sikh community

resolution highlighting the history and significant contributions of the Sikh community. We were joined by members of Utah's Sikh community as well as those from India and other parts of the world," a tweet from the Utah Senate read.

Sikh boy asked to remove Patka during a football match in Spain

New York, Feb 6 (IANS) The Senate in the US state of Utah unanimously passed a resolution highlighting the history and significant contributions of the Sikh community.

The resolution, which was passed last week, appreciated the Sikhs for their humanitarian services, despite receiving hate and facing oppression for their faith worldwide.

"The Senate unanimously passed H.J.R (House Joint Resolution) 4, a

The resolution was moved by Representative Angela Romero and Senator Luz Escamilla from Salt Lake City. It noted Sikhism as one of the largest religions in the world focused on "loving service to humanity," but has for long faced "oppression and discrimination throughout the world".

"The state of Utah seeks to further the diversity of its community and afford all residents the opportunity to better understand,

recognize, and appreciate the rich history and shared experiences of Sikhs to enforce laws for access to equal opportunity of humans, irrespective of their caste, creed, color, or appearance," the resolution stated. Before Utah, 15 other states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, have recognized the Sikh community for their service. In December, Utah became the 15th state in the US to include information about Sikhism, Sikh practices, and traditions in their schools' social studies syllabi. Sikhism is the fifth-largest religion in the world and the community has contributed to American society for over 125 years in the fields of civil rights, politics, agriculture, engineering, and medicine.

Ensure Oz territory is not used for anti-India activities: India to Aus

that are proscribed terrorist organizations," Bagchi said during the weekly briefing.

He added that India has firmly conveyed that it rejects the so-called Khalistan referendum and the politically-motivated exercises by extremist elements.

Madrid, Feb 4 (IANS) A 15-yearold Sikh boy was asked by a referee to remove his 'Patka' (under-turban) during a football match in Spain, saying that wearing "a hat" is prohibited according to game rules. In all previous matches, referees allowed Gurpreet Singh from the Arratia C team to wear his Patka, the Sikhexpo's Instagram page said quoting La Vanguardia newspaper.

"He has been playing normally for at least five years, even in his first year as a cadet and so far this season. We have never had the slightest problem," Pedro Ormazabal, president of Arratia, told the paper.

"It has been something that has been carried out with absolute normality," he said, adding that the whole situation was "humiliating" for Gurpreet.

The Arratia players, who were to play against the local Padura de Arrigorriag team, interceded on Gurpreet's behalf to explain that it is an element linked to his religion.

But with the referee insisting on the rules, Gurpreet's teammates decided to leave the field as a sign of solidarity.

"The kids were the first to support him. The coach was also very clear... Afterward, he received the support of the rival team, and from the families that had attended the game," Ormazabal was quoted as saying on the Instagram page. Gurpreet is set to return to the competition with the hope that the situation that occurred will not be repeated.

"I hope the referee is open to learning more on this and not as stubborn as he reacted that day.

What’s the India connection of OpenAI CTO Mira Murati?

New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) Strongly denouncing the recent acts of violence against its diaspora, India on Thursday asked Australia to ensure that its territory is not used for activities detrimental to India's territorial integrity, security, and national interest.

"We have requested Australia to ensure the safety and security of the members of the Indian community and their properties, and to not allow the use of Australian territory for activities that will be detrimental to India's territorial integrity, security, and national interest," said Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs.

Bagchi was responding to the recent attack on Indians by Khalistan supporters in Australia during a referendum called by the banned 'Sikhs For Justice' for the creation of an independent Sikh state.

In several videos shared on social media, Khalistan supporters could be seen attacking Indians with sticks in broad daylight. They were also seen snatching and damaging the tricolor.

"We strongly condemn such attacks by extremist elements and we urge the local authorities to investigate and punish the perpetrators. We have been repeatedly taking up with Australian authorities our concerns about actions by such elements, including those

The Khalistan Referendum campaign is being run across the world by pro-Khalistan 'Sikhs For Justice', calling for a new state that would take in the Punjab regions of northern India.

The attack, which left five people injured, came despite the Indian community in Australia informing the police about the planned protest at the Federation Square in Melbourne, The Australia Today reported.

In January alone, Khalistan supporters attacked three Hindu temples in Melbourne with antiIndia graffiti.

On being asked about the recent act of vandalism in Canada, Bagchi mentioned Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly's stance and said that India "reaffirms the position strongly and condemns acts of vandalization".

"I stand with the Hindu communities in denouncing the vandalism at Gauri Shankar Mandir in Brampton," Joly had said, adding, "We have a collective responsibility to denounce hateful acts", which have no place in Canada.

San Francisco, Feb 10 (IANS) Mira Murati, the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of OpenAI, the company that created the ChatGPT AI-powered chatbot, recently expressed her concerns about its misuse.

In an interview with Time Magazine, Murati expressed concerns over the potential misuse of the chatbot, saying:

"Artificial intelligence (AI) can be misused, or it can be used by bad actors. So then, there are questions about how you govern the use of this technology globally. How do you govern the use of AI in a way that is aligned with human values?"

Mira Murati was born in 1988 in San Francisco in the US to Indianorigin parents. She joined OpenAI in June 2018, and in May 2022, she was promoted to her current role. According to her LinkedIn profile, her previous roles at OpenAI included VP of Applied AI and Partnerships (June 2018-December 2020) and SVP of Research, Product, and Partnerships (June

2018-December 2020), (December 2020-May 2022).

She has previously worked for Goldman Sachs (2011), Zodiac Aerospace (2012-13), Tesla (201316), and Leap Motion (2016-18). Murati graduated from Dartmouth College with a Bachelor of Engineering (BE) in Mechanical Engineering and is currently based in the San Francisco Bay Area. Earlier this week, Microsoft introduced its new Bing-powered by "next-generation" ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI), and also updated its Edge browser with new AI capabilities.

The AI-powered Bing search engine and Edge browser are now available for preview at Bing.

Turkish envoy calls India ‘dost’, thanks for sending relief aid

Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities in action.

New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS) Turkey's Ambassador to India Firat Sunel referred to New Delhi as 'dost' (Hindi for a friend) after the

Centre decided to send relief and humanitarian aid to the quakehit nation where more than 4,300 people died in the aftermath of a devastating 7.8-magnitude quake that struck an area close to the Syrian border.

In a tweet late Monday night, Sunel said: "'Dost' is a common word in Turkish and Hindi... We have a Turkish proverb: 'Dost kara gunde belli olur' (a friend in need is a friend indeed). Thank you very much."

On Tuesday, India dispatched the first batch of humanitarian aid along with a rescue team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to Turkey.

Taking to Twitter, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Arindam Bagchi said: "India's Humanitarian

The 51-member NDRF team headed by Deputy Commandant Deepak Talwar left from the Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad for Turkey on board an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft.

On Monday, the Centre announced that two NDRF teams comprising 100 personnel with specially trained dog squads and necessary equipment were ready to be flown to Turkey for search and rescue operations. According to the government, medical teams were also being readied with trained doctors and paramedics with essential medicines.

As of Tuesday morning, the toll in Turkey stood at 2,921, while in Syria it increased to 1,451.

IELTS One Skill Retake available in Australia

Giving test takers a second opportunity to achieve their study, migration or work goals

“I was ecstatic when my friend told me about IELTS One Skill Retake... I am very lucky to be one of the pioneering people to have this opportunity. One Skill Retake is a game-changer,” – Melbournebased, One Skill Retake test taker. Test takers of the world’s most popular high-stakes language test, IELTS, can now access a new feature to help boost the score they need to achieve their global learning and career goals.

Already available in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, and coming to Sydney and Brisbane in March, IELTS One Skill Retake enables test takers to retake one of the four skills (Listening, Reading, Writing or Speaking) if they did not achieve the score they aimed for the first time around.

Warwick Freeland, Managing Director – IELTS, IDP Education, said IELTS One Skill Retake had been introduced after listening to test taker feedback.

“With the right preparation and support, most of our test takers achieve their best score the first time around,” Mr Freeland said. “However, we listened to our test takers and they told us they wanted the opportunity to retake one skill of the test if they didn’t get the score they were aspiring to on test day. With IELTS One Skill Retake, test takers can get a second shot at achieving their

study, migration or work goals,” he said.

Test takers who took part in the first One Skill Retake test praised the new option. " I was ecstatic when my friend told me about IELTS One Skill Retake...

I am very lucky to be one of the pioneering people to have this opportunity. One Skill Retake is a game-changer ,”commented a Melbourne-based test taker.

Test takers who choose an IELTS

One Skill Retake will receive a second Test Report that can be used for migration and study purposes by the Australian Department of Home Affairs for certain visa subclasses. Depending on their score, test takers can choose whether they would like to use their old or new Test Report for the skill they retook.

Mr Freeland said this new option demonstrates IELTS’ commitment to helping customers achieve their best scores and to supporting organizations to attract the right candidates.

“IELTS One Skill Retake improves fairness by providing an opportunity to retake a single skill if the test taker feels their original performance was not representative of their language proficiency level,” he said.

“Organizations that accept the IELTS One Skill Retake can offer

their candidates the flexibility to achieve entry requirements without compromising on applicant quality.

“We are proud of this initiative that reinforces our commitment to helping test takers achieve their full potential,” he said.

IELTS One Skill Retake is now available in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth and will be introduced in Sydney and Brisbane next month. For more information, please visithttps://ielts.com.au/ australia/about/ielts-one-skillretake

Test takers are also encouraged to visit the Department of Home Affairs website to understand which visa subclasses accept IELTS One Skill Retake.

About IELTS

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is designed to help you work, study or migrate to a country where English is the native language. This includes countries such as Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and USA. Your ability to listen, read, write and speak in English will be assessed during the test. IELTS is graded on a scale of 1-9. IELTS is jointly owned by the British Council; IDP IELTS; and Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

Over 80 Multicultural

Business Scholarships are on offer to

help local businesses

Brisbane City Council: A city-wide call out to find Brisbane’s most aspiring multicultural business leaders has begun with the 2023 Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Scholarship Program now open.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the program provides a great opportunity for current or future multicultural business owners to grow their skills and better their business models.

“Brisbane is the most smallbusiness friendly city in Australia and we want to encourage residents from all backgrounds to do business here,” Cr Schrinner said.

“With nearly a third of our residents born overseas, multiculturalism and the business acumen of our residents is one of our city’s greatest strengths.

“This business scholarship program is a fantastic way for up-and-coming business leaders with a multicultural background to gain invaluable training opportunities and to take their business aspirations to the next level.”

Since the program began in 2008, nearly 600 scholarships have been delivered, to upskill and train many members of Brisbane’s multicultural communities.

In this latest round, more than 80 scholarship placements will be awarded across a range of

Brisbane businesses.

Scholarship recipients will take part in one-day workshops, diplomas, degrees, masters and governance courses, giving multicultural residents the knowledge and skills they need to establish or grow a business at any stage.

“Council will continue to support our local multicultural business community through a range of schemes and initiatives including the International Internship Program, the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Awards for Business, the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Business Dinner and Awards, the Lord Mayor’s Multicultural Round Table and the Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum,” Cr Schrinner said.

“With COVID-19 and then a devastating flood last year, it’s been a tough few years for all business owners, and now more than ever, it’s important we continue to support local businesses through practical programs and initiatives.

“We remain committed to working with business owners, residents and the local community as we focus on creating new opportunities that chart a clear path to ensuring our city continues to grow.” For more information or to apply, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/ multicultural. Applications are open until 31 March 2023.

Millionaires Overnight The Winning Australian bids

A decade back no one thought Women would have a chance at cricket. Yet they have paved their way not only by showcasing their talent on the field but also by earning what they are worth.

Yesterday watching the Women’s Premier League auction for players felt proud to see the brain, the talent, and the intellect being appreciated as the players got picked by the teams. Yes, it was a proud moment to see players being appreciated for their talents.

Indian players of course ruled the auction but Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner grossed 3.2 crores

WPL Auction were

Rupees amounting to 558,000 Australian Dollars j just falling short of Smriti Mandana with 3.4 crores Rupees about 591688.70

AUD. Beth Mooney with 2 crores, Meg Lanning 1.1, and Ellyse Perry making more than 1.7 crores became the favorites in the room.

Women’s cricket has brought female cricket players to a different level earning Millions now making them responsible, and accountable.

Ash Gardner – Gujarat Giants for 3.2 crore ($558,000)

Ellyse Perry – Royal Challengers Bangalore for 1.7 crore ($297,000)

Tahlia McGrath – UP Warriorz for 1.4 crore ($244,000)

Beth Mooney – Gujarat Giants for 2 crore ($349,000)

Meg Lanning – Delhi Capitals for 1.1 crore ($192,000)

Annabel Sutherland – Gujarat Giants for 70 lakh ($122,000)

Alyssa Healy – UP Warriorz for 70 lakh ($122,000)

Erin Burns – Royal Challengers Bangalore for 30 lakh ($52,000)

Heather Graham –Mumbai Indians for 30 lakh ($52,000)

Grace Harris – UP Warriorz for 75 lakh ($131,000)

Georgia Wareham –Gujarat Giants for 75 lakh ($131,000)

Laura Harris – Delhi Capitals for 45 lakh ($78,400)

Jess Jonassen – Delhi Capitals for 50 lakh ($87,000)

Megan Schutt – Royal Challengers Bangalore for 40 lakh ($69,000)

Best Places for Solo Travel in India

If you want to visit France or Switzerland, then Puducherry or Himachal will offer you similar views and vibes

Indian tourists experience the best of Maldives

February 05, 2023 (IANSlife)

There are some things in life that you must do on your own, all by yourself and at least once. Solo Travel is gaining popularity among the travel community steadily due to the sheer spontaneity that comes with it. The quest to discover oneself along with spiritual rejuvenation and flow of adventurous adrenaline becomes a perfect reason to pack your travel bag and climb those serene mountains or stroll by silent beaches, all by yourself. Solo travel also allows you to not be enslaved by the whims and fancies of your fellow travellers, and your planning is largely unmarred by group dynamics.

Jibhi, Tirthan-valley

Jibhi, frequently referred to as a captivating "hamlet," is the ideal location to unwind and spend quality time with your loved ones. It is surrounded by colourful mountains and set amidst lush green forests. Jibhi is a remote area of Himachal Pradesh that has not undergone development and is surrounded by natural beauty. This location is worth visiting because of the thick pine trees, peaceful freshwater lakes, and spotless temples. After seeing this location, you won't want to leave since you will be enchanted. An added advantage that gives you the impression that you are living in the Victorian Era are the cosy cottages in which you can stay. In the midst of nature, sip on a cup of chai while taking in the fresh air and listening to the birds' lovely chirps.

Hampi, Karnataka

This Karnataka location, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must-see, especially if you enjoy art and history. Make sure you allow enough time for your tour because there are more than 500 monuments to visit scattered across the lovely hillside backdrop! Just a few kilometres

apart, in this peaceful setting, are the political and royal centre of the Vijayanagara empire, temples, and even the quarters of Muslim commanders in the royal army. Hampi's attractiveness is enhanced by the river Tungabhadra, which features coracle boats and stone hills.

Kasol, Himachal Pradesh

Every trekker's bucket list includes Kasol, which has the potential to be dubbed the "Goa of the Hills." It's a tiny settlement on the banks of the Parvati River in the valley that caters to a lot of hippies. The river is perfect for fishing because it is stocked with trout, but you need a permit from the forest department. Additionally, it's a fantastic location for water sports like rafting.

Varkala, Kerala

A peaceful cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea, Varkala is a coastal town in Kerala. Ponnumthuruthu Island, Papasnanam Beach, Kapil Lake, Janardhan Swami temple are some of the sights to see here. You could also just lie down at the beach in a hammock and watch the day go by because the place is that beautiful. Ayurvedic spas and massages are also famous here.

Shillong, Meghalaya

Shillong, the capital of Meghalaya, is a lovely city surrounded by pine trees. Its name comes from the Shillong Peak idol Lei Shyllong, which is revered there. Shillong, which rises to a height of 1496 metres, offers relief from the heat felt throughout the nation. This hill town is renowned for its charming scenery and customs. Shillong is pleasant year-round due to its temperate environment. The pleasantness of visiting this hill station is enhanced by the occasional drizzles and the cooling soft wind. The "Scotland of the East" is another name for this location.

Rishikesh, Uttarakhand

Rishikesh, regarded as the "Yoga Capital of the World," is a city in the Himalayan foothills where the Ganga and Chandrabhaga rivers meet. It is also recognised for its adventure sports, historic temples, well-liked eateries, and adventurous activities. With the expansion of the whitewater rafting industry and the emergence of numerous camping and cafe locations, Rishikesh has become a popular destination that can meet the needs of a wide range of visitors.

Udaipur, Rajasthan

The jewel in the crown of the state of Rajasthan is Udaipur, commonly known as the City of Lakes. This city is as wonderful as it is because the stunning Aravalli Hills surround it on all sides. The abundance of natural beauty, captivating temples, and spectacular architecture in this "Venice of the East" make it a must-visit location in India. You can see why Udaipur is the pride of Rajasthan by taking a boat trip through the calm waters of Lake Pichola.

Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu

A scenic drive from Chennai, Mahabalipuram is a small templetown. A major sea-port of the Pallava Kingdom, it is also a World Heritage Site. The architecture of the rock-cut temples is beautiful, which everyone goes to see. There are also local craftsmen who keep the art alive of carving idols out of a single stone.

Pondicherry

Go to Puducherry if you wish to visit France but lack the funds to do so. This tiny small town is ideal for a tranquil beach break because of the French influences in its design. It's a good location to go if you want a genuine gourmet experience because the food has a lot of French influence and the beer is inexpensive. You should go to the Auroville temple if you wish to rekindle your spirituality.

With Mastercard’s exclusive Priceless program launch

By IANSlife

February 02, 2023 (IANSlife) Given the popularity of Maldives as one of the top tourist destinations for Indians, Mastercard recently announced the launch of its Priceless program in the Maldives during an event at Hulhumalé. The program will enable domestic and global travelers who are Mastercard cardholders to have exclusive access to specially designed experiences across five atolls of the mesmerizing nation of islands, and more such additions will follow subsequently.

Maldives has become the latest destination in South Asia to join Mastercard’s coveted Priceless program, a carefully curated list of destinations that offer

exclusive experiences to its cardholders from around the world. The program is expected to bolster Maldives’ tourism industry while showcasing the unique and authentic experiences that the country can offer to a global audience.

“Mastercard is thrilled to present ‘Priceless Maldives’, which is aligned with its commitment to support the revival of tourism in the country while giving tourists a new travel experience. In 2022, nearly 2.25 lakh Indians visited Maldives, which is a significant increase from previous years. The Priceless program will allow Mastercard cardholders to experience the best of Maldives in terms of adventure, cuisine, culture, and more,” said Vikas Varma, Chief Operating Officer, South Asia, Mastercard.

Westin Resort & Spa debuts in the Himalayan foothills

The destination is the perfect address for holistic well-being

By IANSlife

January 28, 2023 (IANSlife)

Westin Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott Bonvoy’s extraordinary portfolio of 30 hotel brands, unveils The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas. Offering a haven of wellness and renewal, the resort sets foot near the yoga-capital of the world – Rishikesh. The Westin brand has been a global hospitality leader in wellness for over a decade and The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas will be a quintessential property of the brand’s embodiment of wellness. Located just 45 minutes from Jolly Grant Airport Dehradun, the resort sits in the pilgrimage and yoga hub of the world, nestled in the picturesque foothills of the mighty Himalayas.

The destination itself is the perfect address for holistic well-being. The resort occupies a unique vantage point, where guests can rejuvenate their mind, body, and soul as they connect with the natural splendor of Rishikesh. The architecture and location of the hotel is inspired from the concept of biophilia and aims to provoke thoughtful moments of community, spirituality and celebration.

“We are excited to open the eleventh Westin hotel in India, expanding the brand’s signature well-being offering to more locals and travelers. With an unparalleled location, The Westin Resort & Spa, Himalayas embodies Rishikesh’s captivating beauty with the wellness promise that Westin Hotels & Resorts is known for, providing mindful travelers a new way to relax,

Australia forced to cancel practice on spin-

friendly Nagpur pitch after watering of track

Nagpur Test has exposed Australia’s weakness against good spin bowling on turning pitches: Ian Chappell

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) After suffering a crushing defeat, Australian team had a planned a training session on the spinfriendly Nagpur pitch, which confounded them in the Border Gavaskar Trophy series opener, but they were forced to cancel it as a Vidarbha Cricket Association ground staff watered the surface following the end of first Test

match. According to a cricket. com.au report, a member of the VCA Stadium ground staff was observed hosing down the pitch after the Australians left the ground on Saturday afternoon not long after India had wrapped up an innings victory inside three days. The report further said that the Australians had requested the pitch be kept intact to allow their misfiring top-order valuable additional practice the following afternoon.

Speaking to radio station SEN, coach Andrew McDonald insisted the planned session was not "naughty boy nets" but rather an opportunity for their batters to

come to terms with "extreme" subcontinent conditions. Notably, the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy had ended within three days as the Australian batters failed to find the way to handle Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin as the spin together duo claimed 15 of the 20 wickets. After winning the toss and opting to bat, the visitors managed to score 177 and were bowled out for a mere 91 in the second innings inside a single session on Saturday, giving India 1-0 lead in the four match series.

Women’s T20 World Cup: Healy, Gardner help Australia thrash New Zealand by 97 runs

Paarl (South Africa), Feb 12 (IANS)

Alyssa Healy smashed 55 on her return from injury while Ashleig Gardner picked a five-wicket haul as Australia thrashed New Zealand by 97 runs to kickstart their defence of the Women's T20 World Cup on a high.

Alyssa's 55, her highest score in the format since the 2020 Women's T20 World Cup Final helped Australia post an imposing 173/9 in their 20 overs. In reply, New Zealand lost Suzie Bates on the very first ball and were bundled out for just 76 in 14 overs.

Ashleigh, the top-ranked allrounder in Women's T20Is, was the chief destroyer with a sublime spell of 5/12, by some way her best T20I bowling figures, to give the five-time champions a dominant victory.

Beth Mooney only lasted two balls as she poked unconvincingly at

Lea Tahuhu and Eden Carson flew to her right to pouch a stunning catch at backward point. Alyssa and captain Meg Lanning joined forces for a 70 stand for the second wicket until Amelia Kerr bowled the latter while playing a cut shot to a straight delivery for 41.

One brought two and Lea found Ashleigh's leading edge in the next over, as Eden took a simple catch to make it 76 for three. Alyssa and Ellyse Perry took over, cruising to a 50 partnership in just 28 balls with controlled aggression.

After Alyssa was deceived by Lea's slower ball and caught on the fence, Ellyse and Grace Harris' partnership promised fireworks and burned bright for 22 in eight balls, but fizzled out when the latter was run out on 14 after a mix-up in the middle.

Ellyse kept swinging, lifting Amelia over the cover boundary, but she was gone for 40 a ball later and Jess Jonassen went for a two-ball duck in the same over. There was a late flurry of wickets as Alana King and Tahlia McGrath came and went in quick succession, but Australia still got

above 170.

In defence, Megan Schutt bowled five wides with the first ball and with the second, bowled Suzie while going for an improbable scoop. Both openers were gone within the over as Sophie Devine was given out LBW turning one to leg.

Amelia and Bernadine Bezuidenhout briefly stabilised things before the latter departed for 14, caught by Darcie Brown off Ellyse. New Zealand sunk to 37/4 with Maddy Green run out and shortly after, Amelia was clean bowled by Ashleigh.

The slide continued for New Zealand as Lea and Hannah Rowe were accounted for by Ashleigh in quick succession. In the end, New Zealand lost three wickets for four runs in 11 balls and Ashleigh taking the final two wickets to close the game.

Brief Scores: Australia 173/9 in 20 overs (Alyssa Healy 55, Ellyse Perry 40; Amelia Kerr 3/23, Lea Tahuhu 3/37) beat New Zealand 76 all out in 14 overs (Amelia Kerr 21, Bernadine Bezuidenhout 14; Ashleigh Gardner 5/12, Megan Schutt 2/8) by 97 runs

Australian sprinter Browning targeting sub-10s run within months

Despite his comfortable win, the 25-year-old described the time as sluggish as he seeks to become the second Australian man in history to run 100m in under 10 seconds after Patrick Johnson did so in 9.93 in 2003.

Tokyo Olympics in July 2021 before finishing fifth in his semifinal in 10.09, a Xinhua report said.

As training for 2023 ramps up, he said by the time of the national championships in April he will be in prime condition to crack 10 seconds.

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS)

Legendary Australian cricketer

Ian Chappell believes Australia's heavy defeat by an innings and 132 runs to India in the first Test at Nagpur has exposed their frailties against good spin bowling on turning pitches and warned the visitors' to adapt quickly to avoid suffering the fate which other touring teams have got in the past.

"The first Test has exposed Australia's weakness against good spin bowling on turning pitches. If they can ensure this setback doesn't mean their mental capacity to cope in India is not dented, it will keep them in the series. If they waver, they are in big trouble."

"The reality is that India have developed into a very strong side all round the world, with a special feel for how to win at home. If Australia, who have a weakness against spin in India, don't adapt to conditions quickly, they are going suffer the same fate that has befallen other visiting sides," wrote Chappell in his column for ESPNCricinfo on Sunday.

In the build-up to the Nagpur Test, there were huge allegations of the pitch being doctored. Now, Chappell has pointed out that the pitch wasn't a difficult one to play for Australia. "The noise was exactly that in the case of the pitch. Not unexpectedly, it turned

out to be nothing more than a fairly typical first-day Indian redsoil wicket."

"It was by no means impossible to play on, as Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith showed, but Australia failed to post a testing first-innings total. The media making allegations about pitchdoctoring is nothing new."

"Players need to ignore this little game or else it has a debilitating effect on the visiting team. Far too much emphasis is put on how pitches are going to play and on doctoring. It's worth remembering that both teams have to play on the same pitch."

Chappell further questioned the selections made by the Australian team for the Nagpur Test, especially the omission of lefthanded batter Travis Head, while hailing debutant off-spinner Todd Murphy for taking seven wickets on debut.

"The selections in this match were a mixture of brave choices and one that was a head-scratcher. The omission of Travis Head, despite his troubles against good spinners, was difficult to fathom. The choice of offspinner Todd Murphy in his first Test after only seven first-class games was brave. Nevertheless it also displayed great faith in Murphy's skills."

"Murphy was economical but also took wickets and he was unafraid to bowl a leg-stump line to contain the Indian batters. The problem was Australia's lack of first innings runs, which meant the bowlers had to perform the most difficult of tasks: take wickets while also containing the batters."

"In the end the choice Australia made, to favour economy over wicket-taking potential, quickly took its toll and India capitalised on bowlers tiring from a heavy workload."

Real Madrid beat Al Hilal to win FIFA Club World Cup

Rabat, Feb 12 (IANS) Real Madrid were crowned the FIFA Club World Cup champions in the Moroccan city of Rabat after beating Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal 5-3.

Hilal a lifeline as he found a gap in the heart of the Madrid defense to slip the ball past the helpless Andriy Lunin.

Canberra (Australia), Feb 12 (IANS) Australian sprinter Rohan Browning has said he is on the brink of breaking the 10-second mark in the 100m event.

Browning opened his 2023 competitive season with a victory over a field of Australia's best sprinters in 10.25 seconds at the Adelaide Invitational on Saturday night.

"I really want to go sub-10 this year and every race is a good opportunity to try and do it," Browning told the Australian Associated Press (AAP).

"That time is where I need to be at this stage of my career, I definitely want to go sub-10 and hopefully get the Australian record."

Browning burst into national spotlight when he ran a personal best 10.01 in the heats at the

"It will take a really well-executed race, in good shape, against really world-class competition," he said.

Vinicius Jr and Fede Valverde both scored twice, while Karim Benzema, who was back in the side after injury, also hit the target for Real Madrid, reports Xinhua news agency.

Vinicius opened the scoring in the 13th minute, sliding the ball home when put clean through on goal, and Valverde doubled Madrid's lead in the 18th minute with a volley that took a slight deflection off a defender.

It started to look as if the game would be a stroll for the Spanish side, but Moussa Marega gave Al

Real Madrid looked to slow the ball down after the goal, but Benzema and Luka Modric both went close before halftime, with the Spaniards, who beat Egyptian outfit Al Ahly in the semifinal, on top. Benzema scored in the 54th minute, taking advantage of an excellent cross from Vinicius, who was enjoying some defending that was less rigorous than he usually receives in Spain.

More gaps in the Al Hilal backline allowed Valverde to score a fourth for Madrid in the 58th minute as he was able to run onto a measured pass from Dani Carvajal.

Shubman Gill named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for January

were several highlights for Gill. His stand-out performance came in the form of a stunning doublehundred in the nail-biting victory over New Zealand in the series opener in Hyderabad.

Dubai, Feb 13 (IANS) India's Shubman Gill, who hammered a magnificent double hundred against New Zealand last month, has been named the ICC Men's Player of the Month for January 2023, voted ahead of New Zealand's Devon Conway and compatriot Mohammed Siraj. This is the first time that Gill has won the ICC Player of the Moth award following another fine series of performances in ODI cricket.

Gill was the top contender in the shortlist With 567 runs during January, which included three century-plus scores, and the 23-year-old batter expectedly won the award.

Gill had wowed fans in January with a lethal combination of graceful and attacking strokeplay. In a month in which India played a lot of white-ball matches, there

Gill's unbeaten 208 came in just 149 balls with 28 boundaries - a startling feat not just because it made him the youngest doublecenturion in the ODI format, but because all those around him seemed to falter on a difficult pitch for batters.

Besides the superb double century, Gill also scored two more centuries -- 116 in a dominant victory over Sri Lanka and 112 in the final ODI against New Zealand.

Gill overcame a competitive field to claim the award, beating New Zealand opener Devon Conway and compatriot Mohammed Siraj in the global vote. In doing so, he becomes the first Indian winner since Virat Kohli in October 2022, the ICC informed in a release on Monday.

Reflecting on his excellent month and the ICC Men's Player of the Month prize, Gill said, "I am thrilled to have been voted the

ICC Men's Player of the Month by the ICC panel and global cricket fans. January was a special month for me and winning this award makes it all the more memorable. I owe this success to my teammates and coaches who continue to support me as a player, and I'd like to congratulate my fellow nominees on their excellent performances also. "It is always heartening to be recognised for your performances, and I will take great confidence from these innings, especially as we head into an extremely important period before an ICC Men's Cricket World Cup on home soil," Gill was quoted as saying by the ICC.

Former Zimbabwe international and voting panel member Pommie Mbangwa added: "The month gone by was seemingly a re-announcement of the talent of Shubman Gill. His languid elegance and beautiful style have been evident right from his under-19 days, and they continue.

"Gill's double century against New Zealand puts him in an elite club and may signal the take-off of his career proper. He's had a prolific month of cricket with the bat in hand and it has been a sight to behold," Mbangwa added.

IND v AUS: Third Test moved from Dharamshala to Indore, to start on March 1

pitch at the HPCA Stadium have forced the game to be moved. Dharamshala hosted its only Test in 2017. Incidentally, that game too was played between India and Australia.

Women’s T20 World Cup: India beat Pakistan by seven wickets in campaign opener

in 19 overs with seven wickets in hand.

Cape Town (South Africa), Feb 12 (IANS) India produced an impressive performance to beat arch-rivals Pakistan by seven wickets in their opening match of Women's T20 World Cup 2023 at Newlands Cricket Ground, here on Sunday.

Riding on brilliant performances by Bismah Maroof (68 not out off 55) and Ayesha Naseem (43 not out off 25), Pakistan posted a competitive total of 149-4 in stipulated 20 overs. Chasing 150, Shafali Verma was partnered by Yastika Bhatia for India at the top with Smriti Mandhana out injured. The duo put on 38 for the opening wicket before Yastike was dismissed by Sadia Iqbal in the final over of the Powerplay.

Earlier, Pakistan, who won the toss and opted to bat first, lost opener Javeria Khan to Deepti Sharma in the second over. Bismah Maroof and Muneeba Ali took the attack to Deepti to help Pakistan to 39/1 at the end of the Powerplay, their highest against India in the first six overs in women's T20Is.

However, Radha Yadav struck soon after with the wicket of Muneeba and Pooja Vastrakar sent back Nida Dar for a duck to put India back on top. The in-form Sidra Amin joined Maroof in the middle and the duo put on 25 for the fourth wicket before a freak dismissal saw Amin dismissed by Radha.

New Delhi, Feb 13 (IANS) The third Test between India and Australia in the ongoing BorderGavaskar Trophy series has been shifted from Dharamshala's HPCA Stadium to Holkar Stadium in Indore, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said on Monday.

The third Test is slated to take place from March 1 to March 5. "Owing to harsh winter conditions in the region, the outfield lacks sufficient grass density and will need some time to develop fully," the BCCI said in a statement on Monday.

The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) had relaid the entire outfield, including the pitch. The issues with the relaid

The Holkar Cricket Stadium has previously hosted two Tests against New Zealand and Bangladesh in 2016 and 2019 with India winning both by huge margins.

India have a formidable record at Indore's Holkar Stadium. The home side hammered Bangladesh by 321 runs in 2016 before thrashing New Zealand by innings and 130 runs in 2019.

India is leading in the present series 1-0 after an emphatic win over Australia in Nagpur.

The first Test in Nagpur had ended within three days as the Australian batters failed to find a way to handle the spin duo Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin -- the duo together claimed 15 of the 20 wickets.

After winning the toss and opting

to bat, the visitors managed to score 177 in the first innings. After stretching their lead to over 200 runs, India bowled out Australia for 91 91 in the second innings inside a single session to win the Test by an innings and 132 runs. Jadeja was declared the Player of the Match for bowling figures of 7-81 and scoring 70 runs with the willow.

After a huge loss in the first Test, Australia will be looking to hit back in Delhi for the second match, to be played at Arun Jaitley Stadium, starting on Friday. Australia is currently on top of the ICC World Test Championship standings and need to avoid a 4-0 whitewash to India to ensure they reach June's final at The Oval. The schedule for the remaining three Tests is as below:

February 17-21: 2nd Test, New Delhi

March 1-5: 3rd Test, Indore March 9-13: 4th Test, Ahmedabad.

Golf: Scheffler wins Phoenix Open, regains World No. 1 ranking from McIlroy

Scottsdale (USA), Feb 13 (IANS)

Scottie Scheffler successfully defended his WM Phoenix Open title at TPC Scottsdale to regain the No. 1 spot in the world. It was his first win since the 2022 Masters that set him on the road to becoming World No. 1.

Scheffler closed with a 6-under 65 to beat Nick Taylor by two strokes

on the Stadium Course Sunday. The 26-year-old Texan took the No. 1 ranking from Rory McIlroy with his fifth PGA TOUR victory. Scheffler moved to fifth in the FedExCup standings.

Though there have been 16 starts since his last win, Scheffler has finished no worse than Tied-11 (at American Express) in his last six

starts indicating that he is getting back to his best as the Majors are around the corner. Last year, Scheffler beat Patrick Cantlay in a playoff for his first TOUR title. Scheffler added victories in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play and the Masters Tournament and was the PGA TOUR's player of the year.

Verma and Jemimah Rodrigues rebuilt, but Pakistan struck in the 10th over when Sidra Amin pulled off a stunning catch close to the ropes to send back Verma. While Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah fought back for a bit, Nashra Sandhu sent back Kaur in the 14th over to give Pakistan a massive boost.

But, Jemimah Rodrigues led India's fight in the run chase by smashing a fine unbeaten fifty (53 not out off 38) and along with Richa Ghosh (31 not out off 20), took India over the victory line

Ayesha Naseem's entry added impetus to Pakistan's innings as she raced off the blocks with some lusty blows. Maroof held one end up as Ayesha charged from the other to lift Pakistan past the 100-run mark in the 16th over. Maroof completed her fifty soon after as the duo put on a partnership that pushed India onto the back foot. The unbeaten 81-run stand helped Pakistan to 149/4 at the end of 20 overs. The last five overs yielded 58 runs as Pakistan gave India a stiff target.

Brief scores: Pakistan Women 149-4 in 20 Overs (Bismah Maroof 68 not out, Ayesha Naseem 43 not out; Radha Yadav 2/21) lost to India Women 151-3 in 19 Overs (Jemimah Rodrigues 53 not out, Richa Ghosh 31 not out; Nashra Sandhu 2/15) by 7 wickets.

Women’s Premier League player auction promises start of something big for women’s cricket in India

New Delhi, Feb 12 (IANS) When Ireland and England will be facing off against each other in their Group 1 match in Womens T20 World Cup at Boland Park in Paarl, cricket enthusiasts will be divided over how to simultaneously follow the action in South Africa and off the field in Mumbai.

It's quite understandable because the inaugural WPL player auction at the ballroom of the Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai on February 13 will turn out to be a life-changing day for many Indian women cricketers and overseas as well.

In the WPL Player Auction, a total of 409 players will go under the hammer with 246 of them being Indian cricketers and 163 being overseas players.

Five teams, with many legendary names in the support staff, will decide who will be their respective 15-18 players, including six overseas players, and be

signed up to feature in the 22game league to be held in Mumbai from March 4-26.

"Very excited for the WPL auction. It's a big moment for women's cricket. I always watched men's IPL and auction and I am really excited that how it will unfold. Hope it goes well, all teams are well-balanced and hopefully, I get a good team," said India's lefthanded opener Smriti Mandhana in a video posted by the league on Twitter.

Even before a ball has been bowled, the WPL has easily gone past the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) in Australia and The Hundred in England to be most financially lucrative T20 franchise league in women's cricket through sale of five teams yielding INR 4699.99 crores and media rights fetching INR 951 crores.

"I think it is going to be a gamechanger, not only for India but for the world as well as its happening for the first time.

1st Test: Rohit, Jadeja, Axar, Ashwin star as India thrash Australia by innings and 132 runs

lasting 32.3 overs and lasted just 131 minutes.

Ashwin, who claimed his 450th wicket in the first innings, recorded his 31st five-for as the Australian batters failed to read his bowling and went back to the pavilion in a procession.

Nagpur, Feb 11 (IANS) India

capitalised on the fear of spin in the minds of the Australian batters on a spin-friendly wicket, to bowl them out for 91, their lowest total in India and second lowest ever, winning the first Test by an innings and 132 run defeat in the first Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium here on Saturday.

India thus took a 1-0 lead in the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, setting themselves for the 3-0 win they need to comfortably seal their Berth in the World Test Championships Final to be held later this year at the Oval in London.

Ravichandran Ashwin bowled a devastating spell of 12 overs to claim 5 wickets for 37 runs as India bowled out Australia within a session after Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Mohammed had helped the hosts reach 400 runs in their first innings, adding some quick runs in the morning session, giving India a lead of 223 runs.

However, Ravindra Jadeja was the star of India's memorable win as he shone both with the ball and bat to single-handedly put Australia under pressure. Jadeja, making a comeback from a knee

injury after a five-month break, claimed 5-47 in their first innings and then scored 70 runs, sharing crucial partnerships of 61 runs with skipper Rohit Sharma, who scored a majestic 120, and 84 runs for the eighth wicket with Axar Patel (84) as India handed Australia a comprehensive defeat. Skipper Rohit Sharma had set the tone for India's dominance with a brilliant century, starting aggressively and then buckling down to tackle the Australian spinners, grinding out the bowling.

India had added 79 runs in the morning session to set Australia the target of scoring a minimum of 224 runs to make them bat again. But the Australians, who were out for 177 in their first innings, fared even poorly in the second essay as they succumbed too easily with their batters coming up with a spineless performance.

Ashwin bowled his overs from the North End of the ground and in 50-odd balls had the Australians reeling to their lowest-ever score in India. The previous lowest score for Australia was 93 they scored in 2004.

Australia were bowled out in less than a session, their innings

Steve Smith remained not out on 25 as only four Australian batsmen managed to reach double figures in a disastrous batting display. At one time they were looking to get out for the lowest score at the VCA Stadium, Jamtha -- 79 scored by South Africa in 2017.

Ashwin claimed the wicket of Usman Khawaja (5) caught by Kohli as he was deceived by the turn, trapped David Warner (10) lbw with one that stayed low, caught Matt Renshaw plumb in front of the wicket with another one that stayed low and got Peter Handscomb lbw, hitting the front pad around the knee roll.

Alex Cary played a premeditated reverse sweep and missed the line totally to be hit on the back pad as Ashwin destroyed the Australian batting.

Ravindra Jadeja, who had claimed 5-47 in the first innings, bagged 2 for 34 while Mohammed Shami claimed 3-13 from five overs as he wiped out the tail.

The Australians had come to India well-prepared for playing spin bowling. They had a camp at Sydney and Alur, near Bengaluru, where they got pitches tailormade to what they perceived they would face in India. Their batsmen were given extensive practice for a sweep and reverse sweep shots and it was apparent from their two innings in the first Test that they were told to go for sweep or reverse sweep against

the spinners as much as possible. Their batters played predetermined shots in the first innings and the innings folded for 177. They did not learn much from that debacle and went about in the same manner in the second innings, playing the ball for what they thought it would do and not what it was actually doing.

With the wicket offering a slow turn and low bounce, the Aussie batsmen had to use their feet and get to the ball to negate the lbw getting into the equation, which they couldn't do so and crashed to a huge defeat.

Earlier in the morning, the Indian lower-order batters continued to plunder runs as the hosts scored 400 in their first innings, taking 223-run lead which eventually proved enough.

Ravindra Jadeja was out for 70 but Axar Patel raised 84 and Mohammed Shami slammed 37 as the last three wickets contributed 160 runs to the Indian total. Resuming at the overnight score of 321/7, the Indians added 79 runs to their total on the third morning with Axar Patel and Mohammed Shami raising 52 runs for the ninth wicket after Patel and Ravindra Jadeja had capitalised on the platform provided by skipper Rohit Sharma on the second day with a magnificent century. Shami went for his runs in the morning session. He got down to one knee and hoicked Murphy over square midwicket for a six and also square-cut Nathan Lyon for a four past the backward point fielder. Patel was the last man to get out, as a Pat Cummins delivery sneaked in and clipped the off stump and bail fell off. Patel played a vital innings for India,

scoring 84 runs during a 174-ball stay at the wicket during which he struck 10 boundaries and one six. He was cautious to start and went for the runs after Jadeja got out, showing the visitors how to build innings on this wicket.

The Aussies had prepared themselves for a snake pit of a wicket that was specially made to render the left-handed batsmen packed in their lineup hors de combat. But ironically, it were two left-handed batters in the Indian lineup -- Jadeja and Patel -- that took the match away from them with a crucial partnership for the eighth wicket.

However, there was a silver lining for the visitors too as rookie off-spinner Todd Murphy bowled brilliantly, used the conditions well to add two more wickets to his tall for a seven-wicket haul on debut.

Murphy bowled great line and length and showed superb control, using the slider that goes straight to great effect, foxing some of the Indian batsmen as they played for the turn but found the ball going straight.

The 22-year-old off-spinner let the ball drift and troubled all the batters with his superb bowling. He finished with 7-124 off 42 overs, bowling most of his overs from the North End.

Brief scores:

Australia 177 & 91 all out in 32.3 overs (Steve Smith 25 not out; R Ashwin 5-37, R Jadeja 2-34, M Shami 2-13) lost to India 400 all out in 139.3 overs (Rohit Sharma 120, Ravindra Jadeja 70, Axar Patel 84, Mohd Shami 37; Todd Murphy 7-124, Cummins 2-78) by innings and 132 runs.

We’re giving blokes thumbs up when they’re beating us outside the off stump: Allan Border

when they're beating us outside the off stump. What the hell is going on? That is just ridiculous. Don't go stupid, but Australia play hard nose cricket. We're even giving someone thumbs up ... bloody hell," Border was quoted as saying by Fox Cricket.

as bad as we can play, there's only one way to go from here," he added.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) After Australia were thrashed by India by a huge margin of an innings and 132 runs in the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar series at VCA Stadium in Nagpur, legendary Allan Border slammed the visitors, saying the batters are giving thumbs up to the bowlers on being beaten outside the offstump.

During the match, there were a few moments when talismanic batter Steve Smith was seen giving a thumbs up to Ravindra Jadeja after he was beaten on the outside edge in the first innings, which drew Border's ire. "Play with a harder edge. I mean, we're giving blokes the thumbs up

In the second innings, where Australia were 91 all out on Saturday, Smith had the highest score with his 25 not out. Apart from him, no other batter made more than 20 as Australia lost all 10 wickets in a session, with ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin taking his 31st five-fer, to lose the Nagpur Test.

Border remarked Australia now need to do some soul-searching and figure out their way of playing for the rest of the series.

"There's so many scars there now, it's going to be a tough few days. You can talk the talk, but ultimately the boys with the bat in hand and ball in hand have got to do the job," he said.

"It's going to be hard to find a way, but they've just got to do it. A big, soul-searching dressing room drink-a-thon tonight, just to try to thrash something out. That's

The 67-year old was also left baffled at the decision to omit left-handed batter Travis Head for the Nagpur Test, mentioning it was the moment that proved Australia's Test tour of India was going to be full of 'chaos.'

"I think that Travis Head thing I just could not work out what they were thinking. Surely you had clarity going into the first Test match about what you wanted to do, what you expected. Looking under covers at suspect pitch marks and how they're looking at the pitch," he said.

"We always knew it was going to be a turner, I don't know why the mystery. That was an odd one for me, that one has come right out of left field. I think Travis Head was the perfect example that it was chaos before they even got started," he added.

Border further pointed out that Australia didn't make much efforts on day two to get India out cheaply, adding that Marnus Labuschagne's part-time leg-spin wasn't used much.

Australia had India reduced to 168/5, but Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel made 70 and 84 respectively while Mohammed Shami had a cameo of 37 to take India's first-innings score to 400, giving them a substantial 233-run lead, which proved to be enough for an innings win.

"There were certain periods (on day two) he could've bowled more overs, for sure. You know what he's like. He has that habit of he can bowl some full balls which happen with part-timers, but he can also take some wickets. He was under-utilised for sure throughout that innings," Border said.

Apart from debutant offie Todd Murphy taking 7/124, only Nathan Lyon and captain Pat Cummins were among the wicket-takers for Australia, which didn't leave Border pleased.

"It's a worrying thing for me that the debutant got 7-fa and there was little to show from the rest of the bowling. Going forward, what's the make-up of the side look like? Because it looks like Murphy is going to play, and you're not going to drop Nathan

Lyon at this stage. So, where do we go?," he concluded.

Nagpur, Feb 11 (IANS) Australia captain Pat Cummins on Saturday admitted that an embarrassing defeat like the innings and 132 runs hammering they suffered in the first Test of the four-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India is sure to leave some psychological scars but said they will like to forget this as soon as possible, review things over the next few days and talk through things among themselves to get ready for the second match in New Delhi.

Cummins' team which came to India with nine wins in 10 matches, slumped to a huge defeat, getting bowled for 91 runs in their second innings on the third day of the match on Saturday as Ravichandran Ashwin

claimed 5-37. The visitors had managed 177 runs in their first innings after Cummins had won the toss and decided to bat first.

Ravindra Jadeja claimed 5-47 for India in the first innings.

Rohit Sharma scored a majestic 120, Jadeja 70 and Axar Patel 84 as India scored 400 in their first innings, Incidentally, Australia's combined score from two innings was 268, while Rohit, Jadeja and Axar among them contributed 278 runs to the Indian total.

The Australian captain said his players will need to forget all these things and work out plans to tackle the Indian spinners in a better way in the remaining Tests.

"Yeah, I think it's sometimes kind of easier to put behind you these kinds of wins and those kinds of losses. You're not looking for a small margin, you gotta have a really good hard look at your game and where you made some big strides that you need to change to," Cummins said in the post-match press conference.

Australia had come to India after wins in Pakistan and Sri

Bigger than the Ashes*

By Michael Jeh

playing for an IPL franchise. Whether the Indians can keep their emotions in check at key flashpoints is probably going to decide the outcome. This applies too when calling for DRS. Too often, India has allowed an over-excited bowler to sway their thinking. Smith and Labuschagne, on the other hand, will almost always review their own dismissal—it’s something India should goad them into.

The key participants

In India, your heart guides you more than your head. I have heard this statement many times and it may well be the difference between who wins the Border Gavaskar Trophy next month. In Australia, this series has now surpassed the Ashes for the most eagerly anticipated Test cricket event. The time zones lend themselves to prime-time viewing and the love/hate relationship that Australian cricket now has with India is compelling. India is now seen as the last frontier where reputations (and fortunes) are made. It’s a far cry from the old adage that you had to score runs in Australia before you were considered a true Test batsman—it’s now equally true of succeeding in India.

Emotional roller-coaster

There is of course an inherent danger of playing with the heart if you allow the emotional rollercoaster to carry you away in India. You may not win a Test in a single session, but when the crowd roars and soars with every boundary, a foolhardy moment can lose the game.

Australian cricketers no longer fear Indian pitches, weather or crowds but they understand that this series is far removed from

Lanka and were expecting tough conditions and spinning wickets. "We've had a really good run the last kind of 12 months or so. Yeah, there haven't been many losses in that changing room. I don't think we need to reinvent the wheel. It's just again tweaking different approaches to how we play and maybe particular methods," Cummins said.

Cummins was also questioned on their team selection as they dropped batter Travis Head, who has done very well in the last 12 months and is ranked 4th in the ICC Rankings for batters. The Australia skipper said they had full confidence in the 11 players they had selected for the Nagpur Test.

"We were confident that this was our best 11 for this week. We know the quality batter Travis is. He is a huge part of this team. But yeah, we're confident in the 11 guys that were out there. He's been really good around the group. Yeah, he's been out the nets, you know, working hard on his game like he always does," Cummins said.

prized scalps, but when things get tight, Brisbane 2021 will no longer conjure up bad memories unless someone else can channel that inner-Pant.

Nagpur, Feb 11 (IANS) India's leftarm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been fined 25 per cent of his match fee and given one demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the first Test against Australia at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said in a release that Jadeja was fined for applying cream to his bowling finger without permission from the umpires. It added that Jadeja did not, however, alter the condition of the ball. One demerit point added to Jadeja's disciplinary record means it is his first offence in 24 months.

asking for permission to do so from the on-field umpires, footage of which went viral on social media.

In the video, Jadeja was seen taking a bit of ointment off the back of Mohammed Siraj's palm through his right hand. Jadeja then appeared to rub the ointment onto the index finger of his left hand just before beginning to bowl a delivery. At that time, the ball was in his hand. The incident triggered a lot of debate on social media.

"Jadeja admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by Andy Pycroft of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees, so there was no need for a formal hearing."

"In reaching his decision to sanction the player along with the Level 1 sanction he imposed, the Match Referee was satisfied that the cream was applied to the finger purely for medical purposes."

Virat Kohli and David Warner thrive on the raw energy.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Usman Khawaja provide the antithesis to that mindset. Labuschagne will have to find a way to conserve his nervous energy; he will be tempting fate if he continues to give as many chances as his Test career thus far has afforded him. I have always said that when he goes through a patch when catches are gleefully snapped up, it will test his resolve. India need to see that as an opportunity to make inroads into the middle order, albeit with Steve Smith in rare form to stand in their way. His quirky technique will be tested but he seems to find a way to overcome most bowling plans.

Australia are due to lose a few tosses. They won all five tosses this summer at home. That could be a key determinant if the pitches take late spin. Australia have all bases covered with a balanced attack, but their depth will be tested if injuries take their toll. India are already severely disadvantaged without Rishabh Pant and possibly Jasprit Bumrah. Pant is the batsman Australia feared the most because of his unwillingness to be squeezed.

Kohli and Pujara will be the most

Australia’s mantra of the 80s In the 1980s, the Aussies came up with the mantra when touring the sub-continent—to lose your patience is to lose the war. That theory may no longer hold true. The advent of DRS means that batsmen are given out when they lead with the front pad and bat-pad catches are detected on Hot Spot. The IPL has demystified spinning pitches to some extent. England showcased a new way of taking the game by the scruff of the neck in Pakistan recently. But it’s one thing targeting an inexperienced Pakistani attack... will England (or India) have the courage to take on Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins and keep doing it even if it fails the first time? Australia will not sit back and wait for India’s spinners to suffocate them. The reverse sweep will be more than a novelty shot. Khawaja, Warner and Alex Carey will try to sweep R Ashwin to distraction. It might be the most influential shot of the series. India’s best fielders need to be deployed at short third man. On such small details will the series be decided.

The author graduated from Brisbane State High School in 1986 and then attained a commerce degree in Australia before going on to a postgraduate scholarship at Oxford University where he won two Cricket Blues. He played firstclass cricket, was a professional League cricketer for 12 years and now based in Brisbane with his family. He is also a wildlife ranger/ guide in Africa and take clients on exciting conservation/charity focused safaris.

The incident occurred in the 46th over of Australia's first innings on day one of the match on Thursday, when they were at 120/5. Jadeja applied a soothing cream to a swelling on the index finger of his bowling hand without

"The cream was not applied as an artificial substance to the ball and consequently it did not change the condition of the ball, which would have been in breach of clause 41.3 of the ICC playing conditions - Unfair Play -- The Match Ball -- Changing its Condition," said the ICC.

Doubts emerge over Dharamshala hosting third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test: Report

Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India, captained by stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane, won by eight wickets to win the series 2-1.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) Doubts have emerged over the hosting of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test between India and Australia at Dharamshalas picturesque

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium, scheduled for March 1-5.

A report in ESPNCricinfo says the third Test could be shifted out of Dharamshala as the ground might not yet be ready to host international cricket after a recent renovation, while adding that the BCCI would take a final call over the next few days, based on what the inspection of the ground to be conducted by the board's team of experts yields.

"The BCCI, it is learned, has already shortlisted a backup venue, but will only announce that if Dharamshala is ruled out. A shortlist of backup venues where the third Test could be moved include Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Pune and Indore," said the report.

Dharamshala has previously hosted one Test, which was the fourth and final match of the 2017

The last time international cricket was played in Dharamshala was the back-to-back T20Is between India and Sri Lanka in February 2022. Since then, no cricket has been played at the ground located in the Dhauladhar mountain range because the HPCA decided to relay the outfield and get a new drainage system. It meant that the Himachal Pradesh team in the Ranji Trophy played its home matches in Nadaun.

"It is understood that the outfield still is not ready, and is interspersed with a bald patch where the grass cover has not taken hold yet. It is learned that an inspection was carried out by the BCCI's team on February 3, and then it was decided that a final call will be taken after another round of inspecting, scheduled for this weekend."

"The inspection team will determine if the outfield is fit and safe and can withstand the wear and tear that accompanies a Test match. It is understood the outfield is sand-based, which experts say requires a dense grass cover," added the report.

1st Test: We don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just review our plans for next match, says Cummins after big defeat to India

Ravindra Jadeja fined 25% match fee, given one demerit point for applying cream to bowling finger

Actor Gurfateh Pirzada to launch Curato’s second store in Kala Ghoda

in Mumbai. January 2023 marks a special year for the design studio, as it is all set to unveil its second store with Gurfateh Pirzada in the heart of Mumbai - Kala Ghoda.

Curato aims to create a space that resonates with a stylish closet displaying all menswear needs and fashion essentials

By IANSlife

January 28, 2023 (IANSlife) New Gen Bollywood Actor Gurfateh Pirzada is all set to launch

Curato’s second store in Kala Ghoda. Curato, which means curate in Italian, has been India’s one-stop store in menswear, with its aesthetically designed space

After garnering a lot of love for its flagship store, with carefully curated ensembles designed by established designers and budding talent from across India, the second store which is spread across 500-600 square feet will cater to a more fun, edgy vibe.

“Curato has always aimed to disrupt the illusion and mindset that men aren’t conscious about fashion. However, seeing the massive dearth in menswear styling and fashion essentials, led us to open our second store.

10

Shopping Trends For 2023!

After a brief absence, high heels are once again in style

Curato aims to cater to men across age groups and their diverse styles and I can’t wait to show the mix of designers we have in store for you at our new one-of-a-kind destination at Kala Ghoda,” said Tanisha Rahimtoola Agarwal, founder, Curato. Actor Gurfateh Pirzada adds, “With Curato, I don’t have to worry about shopping anymore. I now have a place where I can get everything I need. Tanisha has done an excellent job curating styles for the new-age Indian man and I wish her all the very best.” Curato aims to create a space that resonates with a stylish closet displaying all menswear needs and fashion essentials.

Sabyasachi Jewellery now in Hyderabad

Located in Taj Krishna, Hyderabad

century hand stitched velvet choli in embroidered zardosi, complete with a hidden pocket.

After a brief absence, high heels are once again in style

By N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

February 07, 2023 (IANSlife) Being in sync with what's current in the fast-paced fashion world is critical. But thanks to Pinterest,

we can tell if it's silk or cotton, puff sleeves or sleeveless, lace, tulle, or ruffles with a single glimpse. Meghna Kaur, Fashion and Lifestyle Content Creator, takes us through all of the buying trends that will dominate our fashion landscape in 2023!

Located in Taj Krishna, Hyderabad

By IANSlife

January 28, 2023 (IANSlife)

“Crowded narrow lanes with balconies jutting out of beautiful old mansions and homes, jostling for space in North Calcutta. So rich in its nonchalance, between the clamour of grandeur and decay. It’s almost spiritual, the neglect of luxury and the casual existence of glamour. It makes Calcutta unforgettable,” says Sabyasachi Mukherjee.

Sabyasachi’s inaugural jewellery flagship store in Hyderabad, is an homage to craftsmanship, heritage and the spirit of Calcutta. An intimate parlour of exquisite jewels, the store is framed with original art made by The Sabyasachi Art Foundation—inspired by Persian Qajars, Mughal botanicals and miniatures, and Company paintings found in the grand old homes and palaces of Calcutta. The modernist interpretations are interspersed with hand crafted Pichhwais, and vintage handwoven and crafted textiles from across India—including Mughal hand embroidered zardosi caps and a late 18th

Dutch pottery, age-old ceramics and leather bound books peek through Lladro figurines of Indian goddesses. Even as the floors are marked with hand knotted and woven carpets and kilims, the wallpaper and upholstery are part of the Sabyasachi for Nilaya collection, presenting the various house motifs and hallmarks. While the house’s signature block printed velvet lined vitrines and busts that are laced with the finest of necklaces, rings, earrings and head gear.

The Victorian era is here to stay. The look of your waist cinched with ropes, gives a sexy yet cool look. The style has been taken over by celebs heavily. The loop started last year, but the time is not yet over. Corsets seem to take over this year also. Be it pairing your corset with a long, ruffle skirt for a royal look or carrying it with a pair of leather pants or ripped denim, corsets have their league set for 2023.

Everything oversized

It seems just like the 2000s were ruled by layering as many skin tights clothes as you can, this century has successfully been tagged the oversized century. Your once favorite pair of skinny jeans has now been banished by Gen z. With extra large jackets, t-shirts, and pants in almost every influencer’s closet, the baggy trend seems to rule this year also. Not only is the trend fashionable, but also excessively comfortable. Just one tip, make sure to buy oversized, not big.

Sheer Fabric

Sheer fabric is not for someone who is faint-hearted. It is a statement. A statement that shows off well. It is a trying and dazzling choice fit for individuals who are glad for each inch and part of their body. It takes a specific arrangement of eyes to see the excellence in this material and to allow the creative mind to run, allowing to make a charming body design that is craftsmanship as opposed to vulgarity. Cutouts anywhere and everywhere.

The resurgence of cutouts has taken center stage among the various early-aughts trends that returned in 2023. The idea of cutouts has recently been explored and reimagined through the prism of high fashion, replacing its previous associations with party nights and rebellious teenagers. Although cutouts were probably once somewhat of a contentious design statement, modern celebs and models have embraced the look.

Sabyasachi’s vision for the retail experience remains consistent across the various cities, countries and stores. It’s an escape and a reminder to step away and into a timeless sense of being and the complete abandon and decadence of the joy of ageold heritage and slow luxury.

Party disco diva!

We as a whole settle on one thing we maintain that should accomplish by the end of the late

spring. Get up and move. It's no big surprise that our garments mirror the expansion in dance music discharges all through

Scream Corset

Skincare tips to let go in 2023

removed by a professional or get some good nose pore strips.

And what to adopt instead

By Dr.Anand Toshniwal

February 06, 2023 (IANSlife) A good skin-care routine is the keystone of good grooming. Well-cared-for skin means you’ll experience less frequent breakouts, you’ll show less irritation and redness, and you’ll stave off visible signs of aging. A solid routine will ensure you age more gracefully for the rest of your life. Most importantly, taking care of yourself is a feel-good factor.

There’s no single universal best skin-care routine, because everyone’s skin is different. Instead, there are two important concepts when it comes to figuring out the right routine for you: skin type and skin concern. We are growing, evolving beings, and our skin is affected by everything. Seasonal changes, climate changes, stress, age, lifestyle changes, and health issues can affect how the skin behaves and what it needs. Thus, we have to be more flexible in our daily skin care routine. But what habits should we keep, and which should we let go?

Given below are a few skincare practices that you should let go in 2023:

Washing the face too much: While washing your face helps your skin remain bacteria-free, too much washing can remove your skin’s natural, helpful oils. If you find your skin feeling dry, tight, and irritated, then it's likely that you've gone overboard. Thus, knowing how often to wash your face is crucial in keeping your skin healthy, clear and glowing. As a general rule, it is recommended to wash your face twice a day.

Washing your face in the morning removes any irritants from the night and preps your face for the day ahead. Washing your face at night is important because it ensures that you cleanse away all makeup, dirt, oil, and bacteria that builds up in the day.

Popping and squeezing: Most people have the habits of popping, picking, squeezing. Popping pimples is a big no-no. Not only will it result in infection, it might lead to long term scarring. The infection may also result in more acne breakouts. It’s best to let acne dry naturally or use a pimple drying lotion. Similarly, it’s best not to pop blisters. The unbroken skin over a blister keeps it sterile, decreasing the risk of infection. Also, squeezing blackheads is a bad idea. The oil, bacteria, and dead skin cells accumulated in the plugged-up pore comes out when you squeeze the blackheads. It can cause irritation, skin trauma, redness and scarring. The best option is to get them

Overuse of makeup: Unhealthy makeup habits can cause acne, aging, and oiliness or dryness. Overuse of makeup, especially foundations, can lead to skin irritation or acne breakout. Your skin renews itself in a cycle that lasts about 28 days. The application of daily makeup may interfere with that cycle. The longer your skin can go without makeup, the better it will regulate your skin's temperature, oil control, hydration, and its natural exfoliation process. Additionally remember to wash your brushes; once a week is optimal.

Using too many serums: Simplicity is the key to a good skincare routine. Overloading your skin with several products is not that helpful and can have an adverse effect, particularly when you’re using too many actives in your skincare products. Excessive use of serums containing AHA/ BHA products can cause irritation, inflammation, redness, and even hyperpigmentation.

A heavy moisturiser containing an oil base or heavy occlusive ingredients (like silicones or petrolatum) can cause blackheads, breakouts and acne. If you are adding in new steps to your skincare routine, do it in one product at a time so that your skin gets used to it.

Applying products in the wrong order: The order matters because it determines what ingredients and products are the first to soak into your skin, which can ultimately affect how your skin looks and feels once your routine is complete. If you apply in the wrong order, you could create a barrier on the skin and prevent active ingredients from penetrating it.

Skincare practices that you should definitely adopt this year: Get the basics right: Cleansing, moisturising, and applying SPF (look for at least SPF 30 and “broad spectrum” on the label) diligently are three essential steps to include in the morning. At the end of the day, it’s important to remove dirt, makeup and any other irritants that may have got onto the skin. You can use the same cleanser for both morning and night. Add serums with ingredients like niacinamide and other antioxidants to tackle more than one skin concern. Finally, seal in hydration with a moisturiser.

Sleep, eat, and exercise: We are not alien to all of these celebrities talking about their “beauty sleep”. It is the time when your body repairs itself. During sleep, your skin’s blood flow increases, and the organ rebuilds its collagen and repairs damage from UV exposure, reducing wrinkles, dark circles, and age spots. One must sleep for at least 7-9 hours every day. Good hydration is crucial for skincare. Water is essential for keeping skin supple and

moisturised. By eating more fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, fatty fish and legumes, you can help nourish your skin from the inside out. Exercising regularly is also helpful to maintain a healthy glow by keeping the blood circulating.

Use bio-remodelling for hyaluronic acid: Bio-remodelling injections are the latest hyaluronic acid anti-ageing treatment to promote the remodelling of ageing and sagging skin tissue and improves skin quality and skin firmness. It is injected underneath your skin, to nourish and rejuvenate from within. Unlike dermal fillers, bio-remodelling injections are not used to create volume or fullness. Instead, they work to hydrate the skin from the inside and stimulate the production of elastin and collagen, which naturally depletes as you age. This results in smoother, firmer, tighter and younger looking skin. Profhilo is one of the trusted brands out there that offers natural, non-toxic, and patientcentric skin relief using 100% hyaluronic acid. Besides the face, it can also be injected into neck, hands and other areas with high skin laxity.

Retinol and Vitamin C:Retinol,which is essentially vitamin A in its purest form, and vitamin C are excellent ingredients for reversing signs of aging and giving your skin a dewy glow. Retinol helps reverse the signs of ageing and increases the cell renewal process to prevent and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, age spots, and pigmentation. On the other hand, vitamin C is a storehouse of antioxidants. It reduces the damage caused by free radicals, has anti-inflammatory, hydrating, and moisturising properties.

Celebrating 5 years of Nykaa, its Global Store is brings the best in beauty from across the globe

By IANSlife

February 02, 2023: The largest beauty and lifestyle portal in India, Nykaa, celebrates five illustrious years of democratising access to foreign beauty products in India. Since 2018, when access to international cosmetic brands was primarily through travel, the market has changed dramatically.

Celebrating five years of Nykaa’s distinct global beauty offering, Anchit Nayar, CEO, E-Commerce Beauty, Nykaa, said “From day one, we have been committed to offering a world of beauty to consumers as they have never experienced before. This not only means bringing authentic brands and trends from across the globe closer to them but also taking away the ambiguity from the process. Our portfolio stands unmatched with 100+ brands from across the globe who chose Nykaa as their preferred retail partner. We enjoy the trust of some of the biggest beauty founders like Huda & Mona Kattan, Charlotte Tilbury, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Dr Barbra Sturm, who work with us to not only bring their incredible products to the Indian consumer but also tell their brand stories and drive education and awareness. We are excited about the future and look forward to bringing consumers more authentic and seamless experiences in the most efficient way.”

In January 2018, Nykaa launched Huda Beauty, a brand created by international celebrity Huda Kattan, exclusively on its marketplace. It was one of the key turning points in Indian beauty, and the rest, as we all know, is history! In order to ensure that the hottest trends were accessible to Indian consumers, Nykaa has continued to launch carefully selected brands from throughout the world, whether it is introducing K-Beauty to India with Tony Moly or molecular cosmetics with Dr. Barbra Sturm. The Nykaa Global Store, the most reputable source for accessing international beauty in India today, enables customers to enjoy the satisfaction and comfort of having their chosen beauty goods delivered to their doorstep effortlessly and without difficulty with just a single click. Huda, Kayali, Charlotte Tilbury, Anomaly, Olaplex, elf Cosmetics, Pat McGrath Labs, Pixi, Murad, Fable & Mane, Sol de Janeiro, 111Skin, Nimya, and Foreo are just a few of the well-known brands that are present on the site, which is home to over 100 brands in total. The great majority of these brands are only offered through the Nykaa platform, giving the portfolio a distinctive and differentiating feel for its customers.

The Nykaa Global Store introduced the Cross-Border Store, which offers a significantly greater selection of international beauty products, to further expand the consumer's options. These firms ship directly to Indian consumers without the inconvenience of establishing a base in a new nation by utilising Nykaa's Platform, cutting edge back-end access, and solid foothold in logistics.

By IANSlife

February 3, 2023 (IANSlife)

Noticing that your hair is thinning might be distressing. Although it may be a natural process or part of ageing for many of us, some might experience rapid thinning of hair due to several factors that need immediate attention and professional solutions. Because once you know the root cause, it becomes a lot easier to manage your hair and make it feel thicker and look shinier. However, it is essential to talk to a dermatologist or trichologist who can recommend treatment methods that might be right for you.

Dr. Abhishek Pilani, MD

Dermatologist, Founder of Assure

Clinics suggest these tips to maintaining your hair: Wash and condition your hair regularly: To maintain healthy and strong hair, you do not need to wash your hair every day. Instead, dermatologists suggest that one must wash their hair two or three times a week. Remember, washing your hair every day will soon scrape your hair of necessary oil and cause damage. In addition, use moisturising shampoos that do not contain sulphates. It will give your hair a shine and help it get stronger. Use a leave-in conditioner or detangler: Soon after applying shampoo and conditioning, use a conditioner or detangler for your hair. It will boost moisture in your hair and provide heat protection before you begin styling.

Hairstyle: Avoid complicated hairstyles. Chronic stress on the

hair follicle, often due to tight hairstyles, may lead to hair loss. In particular, ensure you're not wearing hairstyles that pull on the scalp, such as high and tight ponytails, braids, or dread for extended periods. Microneedling: It is a dermatologist-suggested treatment method that may help you with hair growth. Microneedling is also known to improve the health of hair follicles. Get in touch with a doctor who can tell you whether this treatment is safe for you, including recommending a specific micro-needling device.

Hair transplant: Hair transplant gives you lasting results. A surgeon removes individual hairs from one part of the body and transplants them to thinning or balding areas on the scalp. Again, you need to talk with a dermatologist to determine if this treatment is proper for you.

The 15th edition of India Art Fair will take place at NSIC Grounds, Okhla, New Delhi from 1 to 4 February 2024

The curtains come down at India Art Fair DAG Celebrates the launch of its flagship new gallery at Janpath, New Delhi

February 14, 2023 (IANSlife) India

Art Fair, the leading platform showcasing modern and contemporary art from India and South Asia, closed to significant acclaim amid reports of buoyant sales. The event took place from 9 – 12 February 2023 at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi, and featured a strong line-up of 85 exhibitors, including 71 galleries and 14 institutions.

Led in partnership with BMW India for the seventh time and with artists’ voices at its centre, the fair brought together galleries, collectors, institutions, artists, organisations and art-lovers alike, fostering crucial opportunities for dialogue, discovery and exchange. The 14th edition of India Art Fair, organised by Angus Montgomery Arts, welcomed new and returning visitors, acknowledging it as an unmissable event on the international art calendar, to discover, nurture and collect South Asian art and artists.

Jaya Asokan, Fair Director of India Art Fair comments, “This edition of India Art Fair has been our most ambitious to date, with a fourth exhibition hall to accommodate an increase of gallery applicants and visitors. The fair continues with its expanded Young Collectors Programme aiming to educate and empower new collectors to make their first purchases, providing a gateway and entry point for collecting art and culture. We are dedicated to promoting pioneering South Asian art, elevating a diverse array of powerful artists, voices, and art forms, including those from lesser-known parts of the country.”

Dr. Thomas Girst, Head of Cultural Engagement, BMW Group comments “India Art Fair is a celebration of the beauty that humans are capable of creating. Congratulations to India Art Fair for an amazing instalment. India

Art Fair makes an effort to be inclusive, which is the essence of what defines this fair.”

The fair attracted an audience enamoured by the South Asian art scene, and those curious to learn more, including a significant number of private collectors as well as representatives from local, regional, and international art institutions, highlighting the fair’s reputation.

VIPs in attendance included local and international museum curators, visiting collectors and patrons, including Adriano Pedrosa, Curator of Venice Biennale 2024 and Artistic Director of Sao Paulo Museum of Art; Natalia Di Pietrantonio,

Curator at Seattle Art Museum; Gregor Muir, Director of Collection International Art at the Tate; Giulia Sartori Conte, Senior Manager, Collection Committees at the Tate; Mallica Kumbera Landrus, Curator at Ashmolean Museum; Lauren Schell Dickens, Senior Curator at the San Jose Museum of Art; Sean Leffers, Institute of Contemporary Art, San Diego; Victoria Lynn, Director of the TarraWarra Museum; Skinder Hundal, British Council; and patrons from Museum of Modern & Contemporary Art, Sri Lanka.

The fair also welcomed representatives from over 10 leading cultural festivals, collectives and foundations in the institutions section, including Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (New Delhi / NOIDA), Britto Arts Trust (Dhaka), Devi Art Foundation (New Delhi), Art & Soul Foundation (Mumbai), Purushottam Public Trust (Vadodara), Space Studio (Vadodara), K and Prameya Art Foundation (New Delhi).

Throughout the fair week, galleries reported robust sales, with many highlighting an enthusiastic response from both established and emerging collectors cementing the strength of the Indian market.

A snapshot of reported sales include: Vadehra Art Gallery sold an artwork by Rameshwar Broota for USD 200,000 to a private collection in the UK, and another by Balkrishna Doshi for USD 100,000 to Kiran Nadar Museum of Art; Galleria Continua reported sales by Anish Kapoor, Subodh Gupta, Nikhil Chopra, Shilpa Gupta, Loris Cecchini, Kiki Smith, Alejandro Campins and Osvaldo González within a price range of USD 5,000 to nearly USD 900,000, with an average price of USD 20,000 to USD 30,000; Chemould Prescott Road sold a number of works including a sculpture by N S Harsha for ₹5,500,000 (USD 66,650); Nature Morte sold a work by Tanya Goel for over ₹5,000,000 (USD 60,600) and another by Reena Saini Kallat for over ₹2,000,000 (USD 24,200); Latitude 28 sold out 75% of their booth in the first two days, including works by Sanket Viramgami and Yogesh Ramkrishna which are priced at ₹800,000 (USD 9,700) each.

Lekha Poddar, Patron and founder, Devi Art Foundation said “I was enthused by galleries bringing younger artists from different parts of India. The energy of the younger collectors was palpable at the Fair. The Fair has come out strongly to promote a variety of collateral events related not only to Arts but to many other Creative Mediums. I feel that engaging with a younger audience is the way forward to establish a strong market for Arts in India.”

Asha Jadeja Motwani, founder of Motwani Jadeja Foundation, said “The quality of art is outstanding at India Art Fair. It was wonderful to converse with other collectors and the set-up of the fair is seamless. I look forward to working closely with the fair in the coming years.”

Thomas Rom, Art advisor and philanthropist, said “The future of our global cultural economy belongs to South Asia, and India Art Fair is at its epicenter. The annual development of the fair is not only impressive and seductive, but also very telling of where we head. I found the gallery presentations to be captivating, thoughtful, and stimulating, and I enjoyed engaging in artistic discourse with the artists and dealers. It felt fresh, sharp, and sensually tantalizing. Delhi is not a destination, it’s THE destination.”

India Art Fair’s participating galleries showcased ambitious presentations featuring exceptional works by artists from throughout South Asia as well as several international artists. The main Galleries section showcased outstanding presentations by leading regional and international galleries; Focus section highlighted solo presentations curated by participating galleries, putting a strong emphasis on painters from distinguished names such as Jayashree Chakravarty; The Studio housed an arresting selection of tech-meets-art projects and installations, inviting audiences to explore and experience the power of digital art; the Platform section showcased the rich artistic traditions of India through the works of contemporary masters of traditional arts; the Outdoor Art Project included thoughtprovoking sculptural installations by Parag Tandel and others; and the IAF Parallel programme provided a unique multi-layered experience for visitors to celebrate the art scene of New Delhi.

Kishore Singh, Head of Exhibitions, DAG said “Enquiries have been brilliant this year with a wide range of prices, starting from ₹50,00,000. The Indian art scene has seen a transformation over the last three years. Since the pandemic we’ve seen sales and values rise, which is evident at the fair. It has been wonderful to see so many young collectors alongside our usual collector base.”

Salomé Zelic, Associate Director, Galleria Continua said “We are delighted to have returned to the fair after several years of absence in India. Vibrant conversations took place and we were overjoyed by the atmosphere and attendance. There was a strong interest from Indian collectors in both our local and global artists. It was wonderful to have our artist

Patrons and art connoisseurs in attendanc

By IANSlife

February 14, 2023 (IANSlife)

Hosted by Ashish Anand, CEO and MD of DAG, an evening marked DAG's booth at the India Art Fair and its new gallery situated at Janpath.

The event also highlighted the opening of its prestigious annual exhibition Iconic Masterpieces of Indian Modern Art, Edition 2, which continues to explore and expand the repertoire of Indian art with rare and historic works by Western and Eastern orientalists, India's National Treasure artists, undiscovered pre-modern masters, the Progressives, and other modernists and sculptors that, collectively, tell the story of Indian art practise across two centuries.

Gayatri Rangachari Shah and Akshay Chudasama

On display were thirty masterpieces including the only sculpture created by Amrita Sher-Gil, a rare painting from the Ramayan by Japanese master Shokin Katsuta, the largest scroll painted by Avinash Chandra, a portrait by Bengal

India

School founder Abanindranath Tagore, a prescient painting on the outcome of the war in East Pakistan leading to the creation of Bangladesh, by Chittaprosad, a Company Painting from the time of the East India Company and its involvement in the opium trade. These are among the 50 works that include F. N. Souza, M. F. Husain, S. H. Raza, Ganesh Haloi, Natvar Bhavsar, Krishen Khanna, Ram Kumar, Prabhakar Barwe, M. V. Dhurandhar, Nirode Mazumdar, and others. Each of these works has been selected for its exceptional quality; many are rare, historic paintings, and a selection such as this would be the envy of any museum.

The special evening saw art collectors, patrons and art connoisseurs in attendance including the likes of Naresh Gujral, Mohit & Feroze Gujral, Priya Paul, Indrani Paul, Vivek Nanda, Andrew Logan, Gauri Keeling, Rajeev Sethi, Suhel Seth, Chetan Seth, Gayatri Rangachari Shah, Akshay Chudasama, Kazem Samandari and wife, Manjeet Bhullar, Sanjoy Roy, Aman Nath, Sonali and Manat Rastogi, Peter and Cecile d’Ascoli, artists Manu and Madhvi Parekh among others.

Art Fair 2023 opens its doors

The market for Indian and South Asian art continues to expand

is a meeting ground for collectors, curators and art professionals, strengthening cultural dialogue and ties with the international art scene.

By IANSlife

February 11, 2023 (IANSlife)

India Art Fair, the leading platform showcasing modern and contemporary art from India and South Asia, is on from 9 – 12 February 2023 at the NSIC Exhibition Grounds in New Delhi. Led in partnership with BMW India and with artists’ voices at its centre, the fair presents 85 exhibitors, including 71 galleries and 14 institutions. With India set to become the world’s fifthlargest economy, the expansion of its art market has grown in parallel with India Art Fair at its helm. Building on the success of the last edition, the 2023 fair will be the most ambitious to date, with expanded floorspace to showcase South Asia’s greatest talent, spanning cutting-edge contemporary art and modern masters, and an extended Studio presenting the fair's Digital Artist in Residence programme. The fair

Jaya Asokan, Fair Director of India Art Fair comments “This year, the India Art Fair raises the bar, boldly presenting its most ambitious edition to date. With an expanded programme of galleries, talks, performances, workshops, a new all-womxn artist posterzine, and the first-ever Young Collectors Hub in the city, the fair sets the stage for powerful artists' voices to be heard loud and clear. As the market for Indian and South Asian art continues to expand, we invite visitors to immerse themselves in a world of creativity, and to embrace and proudly own their culture.”

India Art Fair 2023 is set to include some of India’s most important contemporary art galleries presenting established names and promising young talents. Top Indian contemporary galleries exhibiting include Vadehra Art Gallery, Gallery Espace,

London, Feb 6 (IANS) Months after a near-lethal attack that left him debilitated and without vision in one eye, Sir Salman Rushdie says that he is "lucky" and has been told that he is "doing very well". But he still finds it difficult to type or write.

attack

I was "lucky ... my main overwhelming feeling is gratitude. I've been better. But, considering what happened, I'm not so bad," he said in an interview with journalist-author David Remnick in 'The New Yorker', the BBC reported.

The award-winning novelist was attacked on stage at an event in New York state last August and spent many weeks in hospital. He subsequently lost vision in one eye.

"The big injuries are healed, essentially. I have feeling in my thumb and index finger and in the bottom half of the palm. I'm doing a lot of hand therapy, and I'm told that I'm doing very well," he said.

Rushdie said it was difficult to type and to write due to a lack of feeling in some of his fingertips.

Best-selling author, podcast guru Jay Shetty turns global talent scout

He also said that he has barely been out since the attack, other than to go for hospital appointments.

"I'm able to get up and walk around. When I say I'm fine, I mean, there are bits of my body that need constant check-ups. It was a colossal attack," Rushdie said.

He said he also has mental scars from the attack and that he is having to rethink his approach to security. Rushdie has lived without security for more than two decades.

"There is such a thing as PTSD, you know," he said. "I've found it very, very difficult to write. I sit down to write, and nothing happens. I write, but it's a combination of blankness and junk, stuff that I write and that I delete the next day. I'm not out of that forest yet, really."

Bihar: More than 700 people take part in book reading marathon

The purpose of the programme, organised by the Panchdeori Reading Marathon Club at Jamunahan Inter College campus on Sunday, was to motivate people to reconnect with books.

the people who participated in the programme appreciated the event and urged them to organise similar events regularly.

Los Angeles, Feb 9 (IANS) UKborn Indian bestselling author of 'Think Like A Monk', podcast host, social media sensation, life coach and former Hare Krishna monk Jay Shetty is expanding his media footprint, now launching a talent agency, 'Variety' has learned exclusively. Shetty, whose health and wellness podcast 'On Purpose' has featured the likes of Alicia Keys, Khloe Kardashian and Kobe Bryant, is said to have been downloaded more than 300 million times, but he has also been accused of plagiarism, which has made him get careful about attribution of quotes. Shetty now lives in California after spending four years as a Hare Krishna monk in India.

His second book, '8 Rules of Love:

How to Find It, Keep It and Let It

Go', has become an instant 'New York Times' best-seller after being released last week.

Along with his partners Rula Zaabri, Brittany Louks and Blaire Zierke, Shetty has announced the formation of House of 1212, a full-service, purpose-driven talent agency that will represent creators, thought leaders and innovators who are impacting positive change, according to 'Variety'.

Shetty will serve as co-founder and partner of House of 1212; Zaabri as founder and CEO; Louks as co-founder and president; and Zierke as co-founder and head of operations. Zaabri was previously Shetty's chief of staff, overseeing business initiatives and managing his day-to-day operations.

The name of the agency '1212' is derived from numerology. It is known as an angel number, which symbolises abundance, organisation and harmony with prosperity, growth and enlightenment centered at its core, 'Variety' notes.

Gopalganj, Feb 6 (IANS) In this day and age, where we find ourselves straying further away from books and getting closer to digital media, a book reading marathon was organised in Bihar's Gopalganj to increase people's interest in books, where more than 700 people sat together and read books for around two hours.

A total of 721 people read books of their choice at the event. The mobile phones of people who participated in the marathon were switched off to avoid any disturbance.

Local Block Development Officer and Inter College Principal Dr Durgacharan Pandey played a huge role in making the event successful.

The members of the Reading Marathon Club said that most of

The event was inaugurated by the District Magistrate of Gopalganj, Dr Nawal Kishor Choudhary, who advised that everyone should read a book for at least an hour daily. Describing good books as man's best friends, he said that books had their own importance in the digital era.

Praising the programme, he said that similar programmes will be organised in the country, inspired by the reading marathon in Gopalganj.

Many young litterateurs and dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Shailja Kaushal - From a diary keeper to award-winning writer

Colonial sentiments rule in Indian mines: Amitav Ghosh

New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS) Ever since childhood, she has been maintaining a diary. Recording not just the musing of the day gone by, but how it touched or untouched her. She says the record-keeping over several years gave the confidence that her writing could be out in the world. "Of course, there were apprehensions initially, but the reception of the previous and latest books have ascertained that now I do not think twice before calling myself a writer," smiles Chandigarh-based Hindi author Shailja Kaushal whose second Hindi book 'Paanch Ke Sikkey Tatha Anya Kahaniyan' was adjudged the 'Best Book of Year' 2021 by Chandigarh Sahitya Akademi in January. In fact, her

debut collection of short stories 'Vaastav Mein' also received the 'Best Book of the Year Award'2015 from the same body. Stressing that most of her stories are derived from lived experience, the writer, who in 2019 was invited to address a gathering at the Indology Department, Sofia University in Bulgaria on 'Stories of Shailja Kaushal and their characters' stresses that since childhood, she has been a keen observer of social, cultural and varied aspects of human relationships and their intricacies.

"The same has subconsciously influenced my thought process and writing. Whatever I write revolves around these dimensions. My latest collection of stories is the outcome of some soul-stirring and intensely impactful episodes." Like, one of her stories 'Mrs. Lobo Special' derives inspiration from the special bond that she shared with her grandmother. "The central

theme of this particular story is based on the exceptional culinary skills that the grandmother passes on to her granddaughter," she adds.

Lamenting that not many publishers in the Hindi ecosystem encourage and give a break to young and new writers, Kaushal says it is extremely tough to break into and get a foothold in the existing publishing ecosystem. "One needs financial backing or own assets to convince a publisher," she says.

Planning to explore the theme of travel in her next work, Kaushal says, "I am working on constructing a plot or stories based on my travels across diverse countries. It could either be a travelogue or fiction based on my travels."

For her, writing is a way to exhale. It is also a medium to speak her mind through the characters she creates. "Sometimes, our creations manage to convey much more than we can," she concludes.

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 3 (IANS) An exploitative economy in all its ruthless facets was the hallmark of colonialism across the globe in the earlier centuries, and the same economics continues to rule in the mineral-rich mines of Jharkhand and Odisha, said renowned writer and Jnanpith Award winner Amitav Ghosh. He said this while speaking at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters (MBIFL) that has opened here.

Ghosh, who for a brief period, was a faculty at the prestigious Centre for Development Studies here said resources have become the bane of people as their native land comes into the crosshair of exploitative economy.

"The uranium mines of Jharkhand are now being exploited by mining companies at the cost of all the local people whose lives are essentially doomed because of the resources they once had. Another good example is Niyamgiri in Odisha. It is sacred mountains for the Adivasis of the region, but they have been thrown off their land and their land has been seized by mining companies," said Ghosh.

Presenting the background of his book, 'The Nutmeg Curse', to explain his concern, he said the 1,621 massacre of the native people in the Banda Islands was

carried out to control the trade of nutmeg, which was a priced item and grew only in that region due to soil fertility caused by volcanic activity. This later on also led to slavery of people and many were taken from south India to work in nutmeg plantations in Banda. History is replete with such instances where people and nature became expendable before commercial interests. Iraq and Libya were more modern recent examples of such "extractivist economics", he said.

"Fortunately for a few years in India, we were able to hold extractivism at bay, but now this extractivism is absolutely rampant. It has become the dominant model in the Indian economy," Ghosh said.

This is an exploitative thinking that is rooted in the 17th century European outlook that earth is a dead, clockwork machinery that can be manipulated in any way. The opposition against this was strong even in Europe as people who regarded land as sacred fought this. Women were in the forefront of this fight and the witch-hunt against them is rooted in this confrontation, he explained.

‘Find it difficult to write’: Salman Rushdie speaks out after

SELFIEE

RELEASE DATE: 24 February 2023

LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles)

PRODUCER: Cape of Good Films, Dharma Productions, Magic Frames

DIRECTOR: Raj Mehta

CAST: Akshay Kumar, Emraan Hashmi, Diana Penty, Nushrratt

Bharuccha

SYNOPSIS: Bollywood superstar Vijay Kumar needs to obtain a new driving license, from RTO officer, Om Prakash Agarwal, a diehard fan of Vijay. But a misunderstanding leads to a war of words between the two, eventually escalating into a feud which is played out in front of the media and the entire country.

AFWAAH

RELEASE DATE: 24 February 2023

LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles)

PRODUCER: Anubhav Sinha, Krishan Kumar, Bhushan Kumar

DIRECTOR: Sudhir Mishra

CAST: Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Bhumi Pednekar, Sumeet Vyas, Sharib Hashmi & Others

SYNOPSIS: Afwaah is said to be a quirky Thriller set in the backdrop of Rajasthan

BHOLAA

RELEASE DATE: 30 March 2023

LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles)

PRODUCER: Ajay Devgn Ffilms,

Dream Warrior Pictures, Reliance Entertainment

DIRECTOR: Ajay Devgn

CAST: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Raai Laxmi

TU JHOOTHI MAIN MAKKAR

RELEASE DATE: 8 March 2023

LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles)

PRODUCER: Luv Ranjan and Ankur Garg

DIRECTOR: Luv Ranjan

CAST: Ranbir Kapoor,Shraddha Kapoor,Dimple Kapadia,Boney Kapoor

Vivek Agnihotri calls Prakash Raj

naxal’, ‘Andhkar Raj’ after he criticises ‘The Kashmir Files’

Forever."

Mumbai, Feb 9 (IANS) After Prakash Raj, whom he called 'Andhkar Raj', criticised his film 'The Kashmir Files', filmmaker Vivek Ranjan Agnihotri has come out with a harsh response to actor-politician's statements and said his film has given "sleepless nights to urban naxals".

Prakash had recently mocked the filmmaker's claims of the film having a stake at winning an Oscar award.

Agnihotri took to Twitter on Thursday morning and wrote: "A small, people's film #TheKashmirFiles has given sleepless nights to #UrbanNaxals so much that one of their Pidi is troubled even after one year, calling its viewer's barking dogs. And Mr. Andhkaar Raj, how can I get Bhaskar, she/he is all yours.

He had also shared a video clip of Prakash from a live chat session held at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters in Kerala, where he called 'The Kashmir Files' a "nonsense film". He said: "The Kashmir Files is one of the nonsense films, but we know who produced it. Shameless. International jury spit on them. They are still shameless. The other fellow, the director is still telling, 'Why I am not getting Oscar?' He will not even get a Bhaskar."

Vivek had also posted a video in response in which he said, "I challenge all these urban naxals and the legendary filmmaker who came from Israel that if they can prove any single shot, event or dialogue is not completely true, then I will quit filmmaking."

"Who are these people who stand up against India every time? These are the same people who never allowed Moplahs and Kashmir's truth to come out."

Tiger Shroff’s innovative ‘warm up’ to the sets of ‘Bade Miyan Chote Miyan’

Mumbai, Feb 12 (IANS) Ditching the comfort of luxury cars, action star Tiger Shroff chose a new way of reaching the sets of his upcoming film 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' - rollerblades. Taking to his social media, Tiger shared a video in which he can be seen rolling up at high speed in his skates while on his way to the sets of 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan'.

Jotting down the caption he wrote - "Reached work on time today and warmed up for our intro action sequence #bmcm" 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan' is directed by Ali Abbas Zafar and actor Prithviraj Sukumaran will be seen as the antagonist. The movie, which will mark the beginning of an action franchise, is a follow-up to Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda's 1998 hit film 'Bade Miyan Chote Miyan', which was directed by David Dhawan.

Vashu Bhagnani and Pooja Entertainment present Bade Miyan Chote Miyan in association with AAZ film. The film is written and directed by Ali Abbas Zafar, and produced by Vashu Bhagnani, Deepshikha Deshmukh, Jackky Bhagnani, Himanshu Kishan Mehra and Ali Abbas Zafar.

‘urban

first Hindi film to make $100 mn without China release

the movies were dubbed for local audiences.

Similarly, 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan', which features Salman Khan, who also appears in 'Pathaan', is still ahead globally, having had a dubbed China release. There is no word yet on a China window for 'Pathaan'.

Los Angeles, Feb 7 (IANS)

Continuing its powerhouse run at worldwide turnstiles, Shah Rukh Khan's espionage actioner 'Pathaan' has topped the global box office century mark (that is, in million dollars), getting there in 12 days on Sunday, reports 'Deadline'.

And now with its earnings going up to $103.6 million through Monday, it is the first Bollywood movie to reach the $100-million milestone without a China release, 'Deadline' adds.

The split sits at Rs 526 gross crore

($64.2 million) in India and $39.4 million from overseas markets through Monday. Already, the Siddharth Anand-directed movie is the biggest Bollywood movie ever globally in the original Hindi language.

This is where, according to 'Deadline', it gets slightly confusing in terms of the records posted. Aamir Khan-starrers 'Dangal' and 'Secret Superstar', both Bollywood titles, remain ahead of 'Pathaan' worldwide, but that includes more than $100 million each from China, where

Shahid Kapoor: Vijay Sethupathi is very childlike and innocent

first time on a digital platform, and I'm excited to see how people respond to that."

In India, notes 'Deadline', where box office earnings are measured in both gross and net figures, 'Pathaan' maker Yash Raj Films reports that the film's Rs 438.5 crore net takings on Monday surpassed the net of the Hindidubbed version of the Yashstarrer 'KGF 2' (it was originally in the Kannada language). Next ahead of 'Pathaan' on a net basis is S.S. Rajamouli's 'Baahubali 2' with a Rs 510-crore ($61.7 million) lifetime collection in Hindi (the film was originally in Telugu). Whichever way you slice it, as 'Deadline' puts it, 'Pathaan' is having an incredible ride.

Jagjit Singh gave back to ghazal its popular voice

undeniable that no other earlier practitioner even approaches his popularity.

he performed a bhajan -- "Laagi Ram bhajan ni lagani".

Mumbai, Feb 9 (IANS)

Bollywood actor Shahid Kapoor, who is gearing up for the release of his show 'Farzi', worked with south sensation Vijay Sethupathi for the first time and he shared that he found him to be extremely innocent.

Talking about Vijay, Shahid said on IMDb Original 'Burning Questions': "He is very childlike and innocent in the way he comes across. There is a lot of integrity to him as an actor, and he is also unpredictable as an actor. He's a pure artist; you can just sense it when you work with him. That's the biggest compliment you can give anybody. It was a pleasure working with him."

Shahid made his debut in the Hindi film industry 20 years ago. When asked how he deals with adversity, he shared some words of wisdom. "Adversity is challenging, but when you are challenged, you become a better version of yourself, so it's an opportunity." About his biggest challenge till date, he said, "People Management. I think it's more challenging than what I do."

On the one film he wants everyone to see, Shahid spoke about a classic. "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro is a film I'd want everyone to see. It had dad (Pankaj Kapur), Naseer uncle, Satish Kaushik ji and some fantastic actors. I don't know how many people have seen it. It even had Vidhu Vinod Chopra as an actor."

Veteran Urdu poet Bashir Badr once shared a "secret". He said: "I have one enemy -- his name is Jagjit. Whatever is mine (poetry), people think it is his (when he sings it). That is why I never introduced him to my wife."

It was an oblique tribute to Jagjit Singh, whose mellifluous voice imbued pure magic in whatever form of verse -- classical to popular to religious to folk -- he rendered.

In the course of his decades-long musical journey, Jagjit Singh, who was born on this day (February 8) in 1941, endeared himself to generations of music lovers in India and became Indian music's best-known figure globally after Pandit Ravi Shankar. This was a far cry from his first public appearance -- as an uncredited extra in a Rajendra Kumar film. Amid all this, he gave a new lease of life to ghazal, which he transformed from a preserve of largely upper-class connoisseurs -- which it had become due to several political and social factors -- to again a genuinely popular musical genre, as its leading practitioners had always intended it to be.

There are some purists who may deprecate his reliance of weaving music into his rendition, even to the point where they say it overshadows the voice, but it is

It was, however, an arduous path for Jagjit Singh, who was born Jagmohan Singh Dhiman in Sriganganagar in what was then the princely state of Bikaner. His father, Sardar Amar Singh Dhiman, who came from Ropar in Punjab, was a surveyor in the Public Works Department and wanted him to follow in his footsteps, or otherwise, become a civil servant.

Dhiman senior, who himself renamed his son Jagjit, was also conscious of his musical talent and allowed him to pursue his interest along with his studies.

Jagjit Singh trained under Pandit Chagan Lal Sharma and later Ustad Jamal Khan of Maihar gharana, who instilled in him the nuances of classical music.

Jagjit Singh completed his school education from Sriganganagar and earned his Bachelor's degree from Jalandhar, where he launched his public music career in 1961 by performing in the local AIR station, and went on to complete his Master's in History from from the newly-established University of Kurukshetra. His heart, though, remained in music and he surreptitiously went to Bombay in 1965 to try his luck.

His foray turned out to be abortive -- some music directors liked his voice but were noncommittal. His one high point, as mentioned above, was a bit part in Rajendra Kumar's anti-war film "Aman" (1967), where the then stillturbaned Jagjit Singh is one of the friends who welcome the hero, on his return from London, and hugs Rajendra Kumar and lifts him up. Then he got the opportunity to get his voice heard -- but in the Gujarati film "Bahuroopi", where

He also met, fell in love and married Chitra Dutta, setting the frame for a two-decade-plus musical partnership. The duo performed in private soirees and occasional concerts, but fame was still away.

This would only come with the release of their album "The Unforgettables" (1977), where they finally got acclaim, popularity and acceptance with Jagjit's rendition of ghazals such as Kafeel Azar's "Baat niklegi to phir door talak jayegi", Amir Meenai's "Sarakti jayee hai rukh naqab ahista ahista", Sudarshan Faakir's "Gham badhe aate hai qatil ki nigahon ki tarah", and duets with Chitra Singh of Firaq Gorakhpuri's "Bahut pahle se un qadmon ki aahat jaan lete hain" and Kunwar Mahender Singh Bedi Sahar's "Aaye hai samjhane log".

A major new voice took its place in the glittering firmament of Indian music, and from then on, Jagjit Singh's stock only continued to grow. He also gained a foothold in Bollywood, scoring the music in "Prem Geet" (1981), which also featured his first filmi ghazal, the evergreen "Hotho se chhu lo tum" (Indeevar's lyrics).

"Arth" (1982), where Chitra Singh and he provided mesmerising music and also rendered the soundtrack, including such enduring classics like "Jhuki jhuki si nazar", "Tum itna jo muskura rahe" (both Jagjit Singh; lyrics by Kaifi Azmi) and "Tu nahin to zindagi mein" (Chitra Singh; lyrics Iftikhar Imam Siddiqi) cemented his position.

"Saath Saath" (1982) did not see them score the music, but Jagjit Singh impressed with his solo "Pyaar mujh se jo kiya tumne to", and duets, such as the soothing

With Farzi streaming in a few days from now, Shahid said, "I am very happy with the show. It takes away a lot of nervousness when you feel satisfied with what you've done. I feel very happy with the way it's turned out and am excited to share it with people. It's my

"They were all a bunch of friends who came together and made it. Kundan Shah directed it. It's one of the funniest films I have seen. It can make me laugh anytime. If you want to have a fun time, just watch it, it's great!"

He also revealed that 'Dunki' is the movie he is looking forward to watching in 2023, as it brings together Shah Rukh Khan and Rajkumar Hirani.

Mumbai, Feb 9: The brutal battle that superstar Shah Rukh Khan's character Pathaan has with John Abraham's, the anti-hero Jim in Dubai was possible because the entire Burj Khalifa boulevard was shut down for the first time ever for any film in the world.

Director Siddharth Anand reveals, "The toughest action to execute in Pathaan - one is on top of a moving train, one is mid-air with planes, one is in Dubai which takes place in the boulevard around the Burj Khalifa which no Hollywood film has been able to do this."

"To shoot this sequence in Dubai, it just looked impossible. But the Dubai police and the authorities made it happen for us."

He adds, "My friends, who live at the Boulevard, came and told me that they got circulars saying

on this day between this time, you will not be able to access the boulevard so please plan your days. And they were amazed thatoh my god... that's for my film!"

Siddharth further states, "I said I can't believe it and this wouldn't have been possible if they had not agreed to our vision and supported us wholeheartedly. So I want to thank the Dubai police and the authorities in Dubai."

'Pathaan' released on January 25. It also stars Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia and Ashutosh Rana.

‘Pathaan’

Priyanka Chopra has Valentine’s Day plan with Celine Dion

which "involves Celine Dion", the Canadian singer known for her superhit track 'My Heart Will Go On' from the James Cameron directorial 'Titanic'.

She captioned the video: "YOU, Celine, Sam & I... let's make a plan for Valentine's Day. We're bringing you @loveagainmovie - trailer in ONE WEEK! @samheughan @ celinedion."

Mumbai, Feb 8 (IANS) Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas has shared the trailer release date of her upcoming film, 'Love Again'. The actress took to her Instagram on Wednesday and shared a video about her Valentine's Day plan

With all the visually pleasing looks & moments, 'Love Again' is the one film everyone globally is looking forward to.

The film, which also stars Russell Tovey, Steve Oram, Omid Djalili,

Sofia Barclay, Lydia West, Arinze Kene and Celia Imrie, is produced by Screen Gems and distributed by Sony Pictures.

Recently, Priyanka's husband Nick Jonas spoke about their daughter attending a public event for the first time. Speaking on the 'Today Show', Nick said: "It was really her first time out in public and we were nervous about it. The whole day I think was such a great setting for the family to be together and for all of us to celebrate. Having my little girl out there was really special."

Trailer out for Dhanush’s Telugu-Tamil bilingual ‘Sir/Vaathi’

the role of a college teacher taking on the education mafia.

Chennai, Feb 8 (IANS)

Dhanush's Telugu-Tamil bilingual 'Sir' (Telugu)/'Vaathi' (Tamil) directed by Venky Atluri is all set for a grand release worldwide on February 17. Ahead of the theatrical release, the film's trailer is out now.

The movie has Dhanush essaying

The chairman of a private educational institution announces the adoption of several government colleges to provide better education to students in rural areas. Dhanush is one of the teachers who is sent as faculty. He falls in love with a teacher played by Samyuktha Menon, and the two believe that they can do some good for the college. Dhanush, however, takes on the education mafia when he realises the real motive behind sending them to the rural areas.

Venky Atluri, who previously made youthful entertainers, has now come up with a movie that has a socially relevant message. The trailer assures a hard-hitting

social drama that throws light on several issues which distress the education segment. The dialogues are thoughtprovoking and at times whistleworthy too.

Dhanush fits the part of a junior lecturer well and the role offers him various emotions that complete a commercial hero outing, and there's more. It's not completely a serious role. Samuthirakani plays the antagonist in the film. The presence of Hyper Aadi promises to add a good dose of comedy as well.

The film has cinematography by J. Yuvraj while the music has been composed by G.V. Prakash Kumar. Produced by Sithara Entertainments and Fortune Four Cinemas, 'Sir/Vaathi' promises to be an entertainer with a message.

Mumbai, Feb 9 (IANS) Actor Chandan K Anand, who is known for projects like 'Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl' and 'The Body', is currently seen in a pivotal role in Netflix's show 'Class'. He agrees that people might find the webseries ahead of time.

Sharing about how this show is different from other teen shows he says, "People may find it -ahead of times but we all know it's a competitive world and we all preach kids to be the best, set their goals, it's not the time to rest, be a hustler, money and power is everything."

"When this kind of society is created - pressure comes on kids and then competitiveness and ill -will seeps in with booze, drugs, cheating, lying, complicated relationships and we see them relaxing in a dark world. So all the characters are wicked and dark. I would say though the series Class is set in the rich society but this world prevails and it's a clear reflection of our youth."

Spilling beans on his role in 'Class', he states: "I am portraying Suraj Ahuja, a well-known builder and business tycoon based in New Delhi. He is politically connected and it's his School - Hampton International; where our show class is set."

"It's sad that in my school; my daughter is murdered and the whole series is about unfolding the mystery of who killed her. I have a very estranged relationship with my daughter Suhani Ahuja."

Describing his working experience in the show he says: "Each and every cast member while working was into their characters. They all were passionate and gave their best. I would say the entire cast and crew team were professional, passionate and were together to bring out the best film making experience to the audiences."

"I was impressed and that's how professionalism should be. Also, for all of us Class was a really big project. Finally, we all are happy and proud to be a part of this Class with our Director Ashim Sir's vision."

Helmed by director Ashim Ahluwalia, 'Class' released on February 3 on Netflix.

Mumbai, Feb 9 (IANS) Bollywood actor and philanthropist Sonu

Sood feels very honoured and has expressed his gratitude after he got to know about another temple being made in his honour at the borders of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

A video shared by Viral Bhayani, a celebrity paparazzi, showed a statue of Sonu Sood with a banner in the back which had "Real Hero Of India Sonu Sood Temple".

IANS reached out to Sonu and spoke about the love coming his way and about the temple being made in his honour.

He told IANS: "So yea just got to know about another temple that is made in the borders of Andhra and Telangana. This is the fourth temple you know that they have made in Telangana, Andhra and one in Chennai.

"I feel really humbled you know I have no words to say anything... you know I really feel full of gratitude that people show and shower so much love but also I want to say... you know I totally don't deserve so much.

He added that it is just "prayers of a lot of people who made this happen."

"I used to always read all these stories or the books and sometimes on the news that people used to shower so much love... never know that I would be given so much love, I just want to thank every single individual and they are making temples on me they rather make some schools and hospitals that can give education to people and cure the needy."

On the Bollywood front, Sonu will next be seen in 'Fateh', which is inspired by real-life incidents and will feature high-octane action sequences.

The action-thriller is helmed by Abhinandan Gupta, who earlier worked as an assistant director in films such as 'Bajirao Mastani' and 'Shamshera'.

After 'Fateh', he will begin work on another movie 'Kisaan'.

Jaipur, Feb 3 (IANS) Bollywood

actors Kiara Advani and Sidharth Malhotra will tie the nuptial knot at Suryagarh Palace in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer on February 6, sources said. Their family members will reach Jaisalmer a day earlier, on February 4.

Around 150 VVIPs will reportedly attend this high profile wedding along with the guests from the cinema industry.

Kiara and Sidharth will arrive in Jaisalmer on February 5.

Preparations have also started at Suryagarh hotel. Special security arrangements have been made to monitor the security of the VVIP guests who have been invited in the wedding.

Sources said that a wedding planner company in Mumbai is looking after the arrangements. The Suryagarh Hotel is located

about 16 km from Jaisalmer.

The hotel was built in December 2010 by a Jaipur-based businessman. Spread over an area of about 65 acres, this hotel is made of yellow stones from Jaisalmer.

It is famous all over the world for destination weddings.

The hotel accommodates a special place called 'Bawdi' where the couple will take 'pheres'. This place was set up for special wedding ceremonies.

Four pillars have been placed around the mandap.

The hotel has 2 large gardens located on the lake side.

The big courtyard of the hotel is considered one of the best spots for music, haldi ceremony and mehendi.

The hotel hosts most of the destination royal weddings.

‘Class’ actor Chandan K Anand: People may find the show ahead of times