IN August 1-15, 2023

Tribal women who were paraded naked by mob in Manipur approach SC

New Delhi, July 31 (IANS) The two tribal women, who were paraded naked and sexually assaulted by a mob in Manipur, have approached the Supreme Court.

A bench led by Chief Justice

of India D.Y. Chandrachud is scheduled to hear on Monday the plea filed by the two survivors along with the clutch of pleas related to inter-ethnic clashes in Manipur, including the suo moto case where Centre and Manipur governments were directed to take immediate steps on the viral video of the two young women being paraded naked.

The bench will also consider the reply of the Centre government detailing the actions taken

in relation to the disturbing incident.

In its reply filed, the central government has informed the Supreme Court that investigation in the incident has been transferred to CBI and requested the top court to order transfer of the entire case, including trial to any state outside Manipur.

On July 20, the Supreme Court took suo moto cognizance of the disturbing viral videos and

Urgent rethink needed to better manage mental health impacts of Aus bushfires

Canberra, July 28 (IANS)

Australian researchers have called for the need to urgently rethink to better manage the mental health impacts of bushfires, a study revealed on Friday.

In a study, a team from Australian National University (ANU) found

that weather-related disasters can have significant mental health impacts on people living thousands of kilometers away from the directly affected area, reports Xinhua news agency.

Surveys of Australians found that authorities have underestimated

Defence Policy Talks: IndiaAustralia review bilateral cooperation in Canberra

New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) The 8th India-Australia Defence Policy Talks (DPT) was held at Canberra in Australia, during which both

sides reviewed the bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries and explored new initiatives to further strengthen and deepen engagements. The talks were co-chaired by Special Secretary in Ministry of Defence Nivedita Shukla Verma, and Acting Deputy Secretary in Department of Defence, Australia,

World Hindu Congress to be held from Nov 24-26 in Bangkok

the mental impact of the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.

The fires, which burned for months across Australia, claimed dozens of lives and burned more

India prohibits de-oiled rice bran export till Nov 30

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Days after imposing a ban on export of non-Basmati white rice, the government on Friday prohibited export of de-oiled rice bran with immediate effect till Nov 30.

According to a notification issued

by Directorate General of Foreign Trade, the export policy on deoiled rice bran has been amended from "free" to "prohibited" till November 30.

India is a major exporter of the commodity and on an annual

basis, more than 10 lakh tonnes of de-oiled rice bran is exported by India.

It is useful for preventing diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

July ‘virtually certain’ to be world’s warmest month on record: Scientists

London, July 28 (IANS) Scientists have said that July is "virtually certain" to be the world's warmest month on record amid scorching heat waves across the globe.

With the blistering heat, the scientists are confident that the 2019 record will be broken, reports the BBC.

Some weather experts have also said that this July might be the warmest month in the past 120,000 years.

According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the world's warmest day occurred on July 6, and the hottest 23 days ever recorded were all this month.

The Service's provisional average

temperature for the first 25 days of the month is 16.95 degrees Celsius, which is well above the 16.63 degrees figure for the whole of July 2019.

Scientists have attributed the extra heat to fossil fuel use.

Karsten Haustein from the

Jaipur, July 28 (IANS) The World Hindu Congress this year wll take place in Bangkok from November 24 to 26, founder of the World Hindu Foundation Swami

Vigyananand made the announcement at a seminar organised at the Maharishi Narad Auditorium of Patheya Kan Sansthan here on Thursday. "The Hindu society will get respect in the world only when the present and future generations work hard and wisely, using their brains and resources in the right direction. For this Hindus need to focus

Australian-Tamil wins top literary award for novel on Sri Lanka civil war

Franklin Literary Award for her novel, "Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens".

The award was announced at a ceremony at The Ovolo Hotel in Sydney on Tuesday.

Melbourne, July 26 (IANS)

Australian-Tamil lawyer Shankari Chandran has won the $60,000 prestigious Miles

“It’s such an honour to win the Miles Franklin Literary Award, honestly, I’m still in shock. To be recognised among my Australian writing peers in this way is extraordinary. It means so much to me that 'Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens', a novel that explores what it means to ‘be

Vigyananand announced here.

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Urgent rethink needed to better manage mental health impacts of Aus bushfires

Continued from Page 1

than 24 million hectares, killing or displacing billions of animals.

A survey of more than 1,400 people across the country six months after the fires found that many Australians were dealing with a sense of loss regardless of whether they were directly affected.

Zoe Leviston, lead author of the report from the ANU School of Medicine and Psychology, said the findings suggest policymakers should be more aware of solastalgia -- the distress people feel as a result of unwanted environmental change -- and

deploy mental health support services in response.

She said some people could be on the other side of the continent witnessing the devastation and that solastalgic response to environmental destruction was enough to negatively impact their mental health.

"Traditionally the way we assess the damage caused by bushfires is thought of in terms of direct physical impact, such as how many people had to evacuate, how many people lost property and how many people lost their lives, which is all important information to capture," Leviston

World Hindu Congress to be held from Nov 24-26 in Bangkok

Continued from Page 1

said. "But importantly, people not directly impacted by a bushfire event also experience solastalgia and poorer mental health outcomes following bushfires. By not taking solastalgia into account, we are being very conservative in our estimates of bushfire impact on peoples' mental health and wellbeing."

Leviston suggested that given the less visible impacts of disasters such as solastalgia, climate scientists and the health sector should work together to identify areas where compounding disasters are more likely to occur and deploy resources accordingly.

LS passes 3 bills in 30 mins amid Oppn protests, House adjourned till July 31

with their protests while jumping in the well of the House, seeking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response on Manipur violence and his presence in the House, the government first introduced the IIM (Amendment) Bill and then within half an hour, three bills were passed.

single-mindedly on rebuilding the spiritual and physical heritage,” he said.

An engineering graduate from IIT Kharagpur, Vigyananand said that the Hindu community has no coherent global platform to raise and address issues affecting it. "But now the time has come to break this anomaly and take the Hindu society to the 21st century and beyond. The Hindu society needs to come together on a common platform with a common purpose and a shared vision to move forward with confidence in the future. It will have to grow with strategic preparedness."

He said that Hindu society has to be prepared strategically to influence important areas like economy, education, media and politics to move forward.

"In the words of Kautilya,

economy is the source of strength. This is more applicable to the modern world as well. The direct meaning of the power of a nation is economic power."

He also emphasized on education saying that a society which is not well educated is unable to sustain itself for a long time. It is education that brings positive social change.

With much to give to the world, he said that from Alexander to the Arabs, the British, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the French colonized Hindus for more than twenty centuries.

"They were persecuted and forcefully converted. Miraculously Hinduism and Hindus survived. Today Hindu society is taking a new turn. We have much to offer to the world today. Now the time has come for the present generation of Hindus to take this legacy forward."

members.

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) Amid total chaos and bedlam in Lok Sabha on Friday, three bills were passed within minutes, which included the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, which will allow private sector to bid for mining critical minerals like Lithium.

After the passage of the three bills, the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day till July 31.

The other two bills included the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023 and the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023.

While the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, was passed after a brief discussion, the other two bills were clubbed together and passed without discussion. Even as the opposition kept up

Opposition members indulged in slogan shouting and termed the passing of bills despite the fact that the no-confidence motion has been moved in the House, as “illegal” and “a fraud on the Constitution.”

Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was seen gesticulating angrily from his seat, even as Sonia Gandhi watched the chaotic scenes quietly from her seat. Coal, Mines and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi while piloting the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, called it as a “game changer.”

Interestingly, as noisy protests by opposition members continued, both Joshi and Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya went to the back benches, when their respective bills were being passed, to avoid the protesting

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, will allow private sector to bid for mining critical minerals like Lithium. Out of the list of critical minerals, a few of them have been brought under the proposed amendment, which will allow their mining by private entities.

In addition, the proposed amendments will also allow Central government to auction these minerals while the royalty will go to states.

In the bill, it is proposed to omit six minerals, namely Beryl and other beryllium-bearing minerals, Lithium-bearing minerals, Niobium-bearing minerals, Titanium bearing minerals and ores, Tantalliumbearing minerals and Zirconiumbearing minerals and ores from the list of critical minerals. Upon removal of these minerals from the said list, their exploration and mining will be opened up for the private sector as well.

As a result, exploration and mining of these minerals is expected to increase significantly in the country.

‘virtually certain’ to be

warmest month on record: Scientists

Continued from Page 1

University of Leipzig calculated that July 2023 will be 1.3C-1.7 degrees above the average July temperatures recorded before the widespread use of fossil fuels.

"Not only will it be the warmest July, but the warmest month ever in terms of absolute global mean temperature," the BBC quoted Haustein as saying in a statement. "We may have to go back thousands if not tens of thousands of years to find

Australian-Tamil wins top literary award for novel on Sri Lanka civil war

Continued from Page 1

Australian’, has been recognised in this way,” Chandran said in a statement.

Set in a Western Sydney suburb, the novel follows the lives of residents at an aged care facility run by a Sri Lankan native who fled the country in the eighties to escape civil war.

In the process, it explores themes of war, genocide, racism, family, love, as well as friendship.

Praising Chandran's novel, the judges said in a joint statement:

"It treads carefully on contested historical claims, reminding us that horrors forgotten are horrors bound to be repeated, and that the reclamation and retelling of history cannot be undertaken without listening to the storytellers amongst us.

"With enormous skill Chandran recounts a solemn history, largely through a cast of squabbling, endearing elders, and invites us to open our hearts and minds: ‘If you read the literature of a country…you will understand it; you will fall in love with it'.”

The 2023 judging panel comprised of author and literary critic,

Bernadette Brennan; literary scholar and translator, Mridula Nath Chakraborty; book critic, James Ley; NSW Mitchell Librarian and Chair, Richard Neville; and author and editor, Elfie Shiosaki.

Chandran’s parents, both doctors, fled Sri Lanka as the country stood on the precipice of civil war, first to the UK where the author was born, then to Australia three years later, The Guardian reported.

She grew up in suburban Canberra, in constant dialogue with herself about where she fitted in and the terms under which acceptance was granted, the report said.

Chandran has spent two decades working as a lawyer in the social justice field, on national and international program design and delivery, according to her website bio.

She continues her work in social impact for an Australian national retailer, and is based in Sydney. Her unpublished political thriller, "Unfinished Business", will be published as an Audible Original in 2024.

Defence Policy Talks: India-Australia review bilateral cooperation in Canberra

similarly warm conditions on our planet." While July is likely to be the warmest in records dating back around 150 years or so, some researchers believe the final temperature may be the warmest in tens of thousands of years.

To work out these ancient figures, scientists use records like the air trapped in polar ice cores, or sediments in the deep ocean. These capture a signal of the climate at the time.

From this evidence, while

scientists cannot pinpoint specific months going that far back, they say the last time the world was similarly warm was about 120,000 years ago -- when sea levels were around 8m higher than today.

"The extreme weather which has affected many millions of people in July is unfortunately the harsh reality of climate change and a foretaste of the future," the BBC quoted World Meteorological Organization's Secretary-General Prof Petteri Taalas as saying.

Continued from Page 1

Steven Moore on July 24-25, Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Wednesday. The discussions also focused on identifying ways to strengthen partnership in co-development and co-production of defence equipment. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The Indian side highlighted the

potential of its defence industry with capacity and capability to cooperate with Australian Armed forces in its shipbuilding and maintenance plans.

India-Australia share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since June 2020 and defence is a key pillar of this partnership. India and Australia’s partnership is based on a shared vision of a free, open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.

July

world’s

Carmichael mine delivers on its promises to regional Queensland

Mr Crowe said the business’ focus was now on continuing to export coal to meet growing global demand for thermal coal for energy, particularly in India and Southeast Asia. Contact: media@ bravus.com.au +61 438031780 2

Data from the World Coal Association shows 151GW of new coal-fired power is under construction in 16 countries and due to come online by 2026.

export infrastructure and those tonnes railed to the port for export during the first year of mining operations.

All of the coal was safely transported from the mine to the North Queensland Export Terminal, north of Bowen, by the Bowen Rail Company using trains running on the 200-kilometre Carmichael Rail Network that connects the Galilee Basin to the Newlands Rail System into the Port of Abbot Point.

Bowen Rail Company, also a Bravus Australia company, was established in 2020 and now employs more than 150 people in the local Bowen community to run, support, and maintain its locomotives and rollingstock.

Bravus Mining and Resources

“It also shows clear delivery on the commitments we’ve made, particularly to people in north and central Queensland, and just how much the coal industry can contribute when the job is done well.

“We said at the outset of the Carmichael mine and rail Project that we’d deliver more than 1,500 direct jobs during the construction and testing and commissioning period.

“We well and truly exceeded that with more than 2,600 people employed at the peak of construction and more than A$2 billion paid to regional Queensland contractors and businesses.

151GW is more than double all existing capacity in the Australian energy market.

“There’s no question that Australian coal will play a role, alongside renewables, as part of the global energy mix that delivers reliable and affordable power with reduced emissions intensity,” Mr Crowe said.

“Our advantage is we have all of our key Federal and State approvals in place, and we have the low-cost, high-quality reserves to be mining profitably through the price cycles for decades to come.

The first 10 million tonnes of high-quality thermal coal from the Carmichael mine near Clermont in central Queensland have been mined and railed for

export to nations overseas as planned.

The milestone covers the shipments sent during testing

Data on thermal coal from the World Coal Association and the International Energy Agency

• There is 2184GW of operational coal-fired power around the world.

• At the end of 2022, there was 151GW of new coal-fired power under construction across 16 countries. This generation is due to come online by 2026.

• Global coal consumption was forecast to rise by 1.2 per cent in 2022 to reach an all-time high of 8GT (ie 8 billion tonnes).

• Coal is still the world’s largest single source of electricity at more than 37 per cent of all

generation.

• Coal will still be 22 per cent of global generation in 2040, while taking a larger share of the load in emerging markets (39 per cent of generation in Southeast Asia in 2040).

• 1.7 billion people gained access to electricity for the first time between 1990 and 2010. Of these, around 93 per cent did so through coal.

Chief Operating Officer Mick Crowe said the 10 million tonnes railed milestone was an achievement shared by the tens of thousands of people who had so passionately supported the business over the years of obtaining its comprehensive approvals and building the mine and railway.

“This is a terrific milestone for our team, our contracting partners, and supporters of our

“That investment in jobs and contracts has flowed on in production and today we have more than 750 people working at Carmichael at any one time, with another third of that number on their operations swing.

“Importantly the bulk of these people live in a regional city or town named Townsville, or Rockhampton, or Clermont, or Charters Towers or Mackay, and that’s something we’re very proud of.”

Bowen Rail Company

• The Bowen Rail Company (BRC) is a Queensland rail freight business launched in August 2020.

• Headquartered in Bowen, North Queensland, BRC combines world-leading technology with clever solutions to transport Queensland’s highquality resources for export to the world.

• BRC’s GT46C-ACe Gen

III locomotives help its local workforce work more efficiently, safely, and with a smaller environmental footprint.

• BRC’s first customer was Bravus Mining and Resources’ Carmichael mine.

• BRC operates on the Carmichael Rail Network, a 200km railway connecting the Carmichael mine 160km northwest of Clermont in central Queensland to the

“We are already meeting the rising demand for thermal coal in our region with a product that not only has a lower emissions profile than coal supplied by international competitors, but one that is mined responsibly in a highly regulated environment with the right checks and balances in place.

“That’s good news for those nations trying to lift their citizens out of energy poverty, and it’s good news for regional Queensland and the thousands of people who want a job in mining or to supply to our industry.”

Newlands Rail System.

• BRC transports high quality coal from Carmichael to the North Queensland Export Terminal north of Bowen. Here, Carmichael coal is exported to nations around the world where it is used alongside renewables to help lift people out of energy poverty while at the same time reducing emissions intensity as the world transitions over coming decades to a low carbon future.

Free nurse training program comes to Springfield

Mater Education is bringing its renowned nurse training program to Springfield – and it will be fee-free for students starting in October

career.

Springfield’s Diploma of Nursing students will become hospitaltrained Enrolled Nurses in just 18 months.

“We are excited to be bringing our Diploma of Nursing program to Springfield, which will give local students the chance to learn from highly qualified clinical educators with real-world experience,” said Mater Education Executive Director Barry Hankinson.

“And the timing of our first Diploma of Nursing program could not be better, as all our new Springfield students will now receive their nurse training for free.

“This is a great opportunity for people to become part of Queensland’s fast-growing health workforce – and to become part of this community’s bright future.”

the hub will provide a range of health services, including allied health services, women’s health, paediatric and child development services and group wellbeing services. Many specialists from Mater Private Hospital Springfield will also have consulting rooms at the new hub.

Mater Education’s Springfield nursing students will study in a purpose-built centre with state-of-the-art simulation technologies.

They will gain hands-on, practical learning during placements at Mater Private Hospital Springfield and Mater’s South Brisbane hospital campus.

Mater Education is the only hospital-based Registered Training Organisation in Australia which connects the hospital and classroom environments for those seeking a career in healthcare.

And thanks to the support of the Australian and Queensland Governments’ Fee-Free TAFE initiative, all students who enrol for the first intake in October will receive free training for their new

The nurse training program will be taught at the new Mater Health Hub, Springfield, which is set to open on Southern Cross Circuit, Springfield Central, in October. As well as Mater Education,

Potential students can also contact Mater Education student services on 1300 070 350 or go to matereducation.qld.edu.au.

Conditions and criteria apply |

Subject to ANMAC approval | RTO 5210 | HLT54121

Visionary receives UQ’s highest honour

“This is a tremendous honour and I thank the University of Queensland,” Mr Sinnathamby said.

“I had the privilege of addressing graduates at the ceremony. I told them how failure had been one of my best motivations.

“I learned from failure. During my engineering degree at university, my father wrote to me and told me that the darkest night brings the brightest dawn. He was right.

“And I told the graduates that as you think, so you will become. So, think big.”

The University of Queensland recognised Mr Sinnathamby as a “visionary entrepreneur” for his “commitment to philanthropy, community welfare and initiatives that uplift and empower communities”.

Honorary Doctorate (“Doctor of Business honoris causa”) at the University of Queensland’s midyear graduation ceremonies. “Honorary Doctorates acknowledge those whose exceptional achievements have made a unique and lasting contribution to the community,” UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said.

The honour adds to Mr Sinnathamby’s achievements including the Centenary Medal, the Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary International, and the Australian Institute of Management Medal for Management Innovation.

Mr Sinnathamby was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2019 for “his significant service to the building and construction industry, and to the community”.

Springfield City Group

Chairman Maha Sinnathamby

AM acknowledged the lessons learned in challenging times as he received the University of

Queensland’s highest honour yesterday.

Mr Sinnathamby was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for his service as a community

leader, philanthropist and as an entrepreneur driving the development of Springfield city, southwest of Brisbane.

The university singled out Springfield City Group’s passion for education through its 22 early learning centres, 12 schools and a university campus in a city that now features more than 50,000 residents.

Mr Sinnathamby was awarded the

Prime large homesites from $615,000

The Mater Education Diploma of Nursing program is being launched in Springfield to help meet the region’s demand for nurses, which is set to soar with the Stage 2 expansion of Mater

Private Hospital Springfield. The new hospital will employ more than 1,100 people, creating an exciting range of new opportunities for students and those looking for a career change.

Amarnath Yatra 2023 surpasses last year’s pilgrim numbers

Another batch of 2,155 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Valley in an escorted convoy on Friday.

Over 9,000 performed the Yatra on its 27th day on Thursday.

having 'darshan' inside the cave shrine situated 3888 metres above the sea-level.

Helicopter services are also available for Yatris on both routes.

Srinagar, July 28 (IANS) With 3,69,288 Yatris having performed this year's Amarnath Yatra so far, the pilgrim number has already surpassed last year's figure of 3,65,751.

Flawless arrangements of security, management and supervision made by the authorities this year for the Yatra are being widely praised. Locals have been helping the Yatris perform the pilgrimage while the security forces are ensuring that the locals are not put to inconvenience because of the escorted Yatri convoys and regulation of traffic for this purpose on the twin routes of Baltal and Pahalgam.

Officials said that 2,155 pilgrims who left for the Valley on Friday include 1660 males, 443 females, 6 children, 34 Sadhus and 12 Sadhvis.

Since it started on July 1 this year, 36 pilgrims have died so far during this year's Amarnath Yatra. Pilgrims approach the Himalayan cave shrine either from the traditional south Kashmir Pahalgam route, which involves an uphill trek of 43 kilometres from Pahalgam base camp or from the north Kashmir Baltal base camp, which involves 14 Km uphill trek.

Those using the traditional Pahalgam route take 3-4 days to reach the cave shrine while those using the Baltal route return to the base camp the same day after

The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that devotees believe symbolises mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

The ice stalagmite structure wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.

This year's 62-day long Amarnath Yatra started on July 1 and will end on August 31 on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival.

To protect the pilgrims from high altitude sickness, authorities have banned all junk food at the free community kitchens called the 'Langars' that have been set up along both the routes of the Yatra. The banned items include all bottled drinks, halwai items, fried foods and tobacco based products.

Now Jharkhand Assembly to pass bills only in Hindi

Ranchi, July 28 (IANS) The Jharkhand Assembly has decided that from now onwards the drafts of bills to be introduced and passed in the House will be prepared only in Hindi. The draft of the Bill will be sent to the Jharkhand Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan for approval only in Hindi.

In the last two years, several bills passed by the State Assembly were returned by the Governor on the grounds that their Hindi and English drafts either contained errors or lacked uniformity.

The Assembly Speaker Rabindra

Nath Mahato says that if the Raj Bhavan or the state government feels the need then they can get the bills passed in Hindi translated to English. Bills being returned from the Raj Bhavan only because of an error in translation from Hindi to English cost the State Assembly a lot of time in the process of getting them re-passed.

In 2021, the Jharkhand government had passed the Anti-Mob Lynching Act bill in the House wherein a provision was made for life imprisonment to the culprits of mob lynching. This bill was returned by the Governor because of the differences between the Hindi and English versions of the bill.

Even after two-and-a-half years, this bill could not be passed again.

It is now all set to be reintroduced

in the Monsoon session of the State Assembly starting on July 28. Similarly, the Pandit Raghunath Murmu Tribal University Bill was returned by the Governor due to difference in Hindi and English drafts, following which the Jharkhand government had to pass it again.

Apart from this, the Jharkhand State Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2022, and the Settlement of Dues of Jharkhand Taxation Acts Bill were also returned for the same reason.

Earlier this month, the Raj Bhavan, while returning the bill related to the establishment of a private university, questioned the difference in its Hindi and English drafts.

operation on to rescue people from flood-hit Telangana village

NDRF

Hyderabad, July 28 (IANS) The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) launched an operation to rescue people stranded in floods in Kondai village in Telangana's Mulugu district.

The NDRF teams with the help of district administration and police were trying to rescue people from the village submerged in water from overflowing Jampanna Vagu, a rivulet.

Villagers spent the night on rooftops of a few houses, waiting for help. About 60-70 people are said to be stranded without food and water.

Boats were being pressed into service to rescue the villagers. Minister for tribal welfare Satyvati Rathore has also requested for Army helicopters for the rescue operation. She was monitoring the rescue work.

At least eight people were washed

away in overflowing Jampanna Vagu on Thursday. Bodies of five of them were found on Friday. Unprecedented downpour on Wednesday night triggered flash floods in Mulugu district. At least 30 villages and hamlets in Eturnagaram, Mangapet and SS Tadwai mandals were inundated. Flood waters from Jampanna Vagu also inundated the famous Sammakka-Sarakka tribal shrine at Medaram in Tadwai mandal.

flows above danger mark in Kanpur, villages inundated

Ganga

Kanpur, July 28 (IANS) With the release of water from Narora and Haridwar, the Ganga is now flowing above the danger mark, inundating villages and houses in Katri and Shuklagunj in Unnao.

At present, the Ganga is flowing 72 cm above the danger mark in Kanpur.

The water has begun entering Chainpurwa and Nathupurwa villages in Katri.

About 300 houses have been affected by the flood water in residential pockets of Shuklagunj. The people in these villages have not been moved yet but they have been told by the administration to be prepared for evacuation if the water level rises further.

Nathupurwa and Chainpurwa in Katri are among those villages which are affected by rise in water level first. The water is a mere 10 feet away from the entry points. The depth of water was about knee deep, the villagers said on Friday.

In Shuklagunj, the water rushed into localities such

as Syed Compound, Karbala, Champapurwa, Tejipurwa, Shahi Nagar, Hussain Nagar and Mansukh Khera where 300 houses were inundated.

The Unnao administration has provided two boats for movement in Karbala and Hussain Nagar. At Ganga Barrage, the gushing water was eroding the banks fast, following which the Kanpur administration prohibited any river activity such as boating and bathing.

Divers have been stationed at the flood post and policemen were strictly enforcing the decision on visitors, mostly youngsters. According to the irrigation department, 1.44 lakh cusecs of water from Narora and 1.14 lakh cusecs from Haridwar was released on Thursday, and as this water reaches Kanpur in four to five days, the Ganga would rise further.

Additional District Magistrate (ADM), finance, Rajesh Kumar said the administration was closely monitoring the situation. About 15 shelters home had been made in schools in pockets on higher ground but near the Ganga.

Vigil had been upped in Bithoor and 12 flood posts asked to maintain communication with the people who could be moved quickly.

LU signs MoU with INTACH to enrich learning experience

Lucknow, July 28 (IANS) Lucknow University (LU) has signed an MoU with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for academic activities and research.

With this the students in the Lucknow University (LU), will now be able to get practical experience of archives, museums, art galleries, state information centres and heritage libraries like Rampur Raza Library and Khuda Bakhsh Oriental Public Library.

"The LU's department of library and information science is the first in India to join hands with INTACH, the largest network of conservation centres in the world. Prominent Indian cities, including New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Kolkata

and Lucknow, also have INTACH centres. Students and teachers will be significantly benefited from this collaboration," LU vicechancellor Prof Alok Kumar Rai said on Friday. He said that the MoU signed between the two institutes laid the foundation for an enriched learning experience for library science students, with a focus on preserving documentary resources, manuscripts, rare books, old paintings and indigenous cultural heritage. INTACH will conduct academic activities such as training workshops and internship programmes, providing students with opportunities to learn from experienced professionals.

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill 2023 passed in LS amid chaos

New Delhi, July 27 (IANS) Amid chaos and confrontational scenes between the treasury and opposition benches, the Lok Sabha on Thursday passed the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 through voice vote.

The bill proposes to decriminalise various offences in 42 laws including minor ones that invite jail term.

It was passed within half an hour after a short discussion, which saw participation of only three MPs, one each from BJP, BSP and YSR Congress, amid vociferous protests by Congress-led opposition, who were seeking the Prime Minister's presence in the House on the Manipur situation. In fact, the opposition members became more vociferous when Union Minister Piyush Goyal was replying to the discussion on the bill, shouting: "Piyush Goyal go back!"

The opposition's belligerent attitude towards Goyal was a result of his confrontation earlier in the day with Congress leader, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury.

Meanwhile, Goyal said while

Woman priest, 3 sons held for suspected human sacrifice of 14-yr-old boy in Odisha

replying to the discussion, that the legislation's aim is to reduce the compliance burden on individuals and businesses, to fulfill the twin objectives of ease of doing business and ease of living for the citizens.

It will amend almost 113 imprisonment clauses in various pieces of legislation, governing matters pertaining to the environment, air pollution, housing, and money laundering among others.

"It will remove all obstructions related to businesses and instil confidence among small businesses. Several laws will be decriminalised after the passage of this bill," the minister said.

Gujarat: PM Modi inaugurates international airport in Hirasar

conditions of every social class and region.

Bhubaneswar, July 31 (IANS)

The Odisha police have arrested a traditional healer and her three sons for allegedly killing a 14-year-old boy in the state's Angul district, police said on Monday.

a tree in Baruni forest area, which sparked off tension in the area and the people a police vehicle afire in protest. They also staged a road blockade on KiakataAthamallick road, which was lifted after police assurance of action in the matter.

Rajkot, July 27 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday inaugurated an international airport near the city of Rajkot in Gujarat.

The airport has been constructed at an expenditure of Rs 1,405 crore and is situated in Hirasar village, about 30 km from Rajkot. The airport spans over an expanse of 1,025.50 hectares (2,534 acres), with 1,500 acres being allocated for the airport’s construction by the Airports Authority of India.

The Prime Minister said that the Central government has continued its efforts in last 9-years to ameliorate the living

He emphasised on the commitment of ‘Sushasan’ or good governance and underlined the considerable strides made in poverty reduction, referring to a recent report that revealed 13.5 crore citizens rising above the poverty line in the past halfdecade, creating a burgeoning neo-middle class.

Prime Minister also said that the government is commitment to enhance connectivity. He said that while only 4 Indian cities had metro networks in 2014, now over 20 cities have the metro connectivity.

“Growth in the number of airports from 70 in 2014 to more than twice that number now and modern trains like Vande Bharat are operating across 25 routes,” the PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that enhancing ease of living and quality of life are high on the government’s agenda and also acknowledged the numerous challenges previously faced by the public, including long queues at hospitals and utility payment centers, difficulties with insurance and pension, and complexities in filing tax returns. These issues, he said, have been addressed by the Digital India initiative, which has simplified mobile banking, tax filing, and other services.

The new Hirasar International Airport, featuring a 3,040 metrelong and 45-meter-wide runway is capable of accommodating 14 aircraft simultaneously.

It was first conceptualised in 2017 when the Prime Minister conducted the ground-breaking ceremony.

Siddaramaiah instructs to amend K’taka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation Byelaw

Bengaluru, July 27 (IANS) Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday instructed to prioritise the effective implementation of comprehensive Development Plan for Mining Sectors. The Chief Minister has also directed the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation to amend the byelaws of the Corporation to make the Chief Minister the Chairman of the Governing Body to enable it to effectively implement the action plan of the Comprehensive Development Plan for Mining Impact Zones (CEPMIZ) in mineaffected districts as approved by the Supreme Court. He inspected the functioning of the Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration

Corporation. 466 villages of 4 districts that is Bellary, Vijayanagar, Chitradurga and Tumkur have been declared mine-affected in the State.

The Supreme Court has sanctioned and approved an action plan with estimated cost of Rs 24,996.71 crore for the development of these villages.

As per the order of the Supreme Court, Justice Sudarshan Reddy, retired judge of Supreme Court has been appointed as the supervising authority to oversee the approval and implementation of the projects. The authority has so far spent a total of Rs 7634.96 crore in 4 districts. 317 proposals are approved. In order to quickly prepare the rest of the proposals and get approvals,

the CM directed to set up an engineering cell in these four districts and prepare action plan swiftly under the guidance of the District in-charge minister and Deputy Commissioner. The Chief Minister pointed out that there is ample opportunity to develop the mine-affected villages by utilizing this project and directed the officials to maintain the quality of the works. Forest Minister Ishwara Khandre, Horticulture and Mines and Geology Minister S.S. Mallikarjun, Chief Minister's political secretaries Dr. K. Govindaraju and Naseer Ahmed, Additional Chief Secretary to CM Dr. Rajneesh Goel, ACS to Government and Development Commissioner E V. Ramana Reddy and other senior officers were present in the meeting.

The deceased has been identified as Sanchit Biswal of Subarnapur village under Kiakata police station in the district. The arrested are -- woman priest Ritanjali Bagh -- and her three sons -- Dibyaranjan, Soumyaranjan and Jyotiranjan.

According to locals, Sanchit was not keeping well and her mother Basanti took him to Mangala Kothi, a special worship place for Goddess Mangala which was run by Ritanjali Bagh, to seek blessings on July 22. Sanchit and his mother were made to sleep in separate rooms in the Kothi that night. The next morning, the boy was found missing.

The family members launched a frantic search for him. Unable to find him anywhere, Basanti lodged a missing complaint at Kiakata police station and a case was registered on July 24.

On July 28, the mutilated body of Sanchit was found hanging from

The police have conducted a postmortem of the body and sealed the Mangala Kothi.

“We have arrested the lady and her three sons in this case. The arrested persons have partially confessed to this crime. We are waiting for the post-mortem report and scientific examination report,” said Sudhansu Sekhar Mishra, SP, Angul.

The police will seek remand of the accused for further investigation in the murder case, he said. When asked about the human sacrifice angle in this case, the SP said that at this stage, without any scientific evidence, it is not possible to accept or deny it.

"After analyzing the post-mortem report, details of injury marks and opinion of the doctors and cause & time of death, we can give any conclusive opinion," he added.

Manipur violence : Two journalists among 27 people missing

Imphal, July 27 (IANS) At least 27 non-tribal persons, including two journalists, two minors and two women, are missing in violencehit Manipur, sources said on Thursday.

The two missing journalists of local media are Atom Samarendra Singh, 47, and Yumkhaibam Kirankumar Singh, 48. These 27 persons, some of them remained missing since May, some in June, and remaining from July and they are residents of Imphal West, Imphal East, Tengnoupal, Bishnupur, Kangpokpi, Thoubal, and Kakching districts. The missing cases were reported in various police stations. The ages of the missing persons ranged between 17 years to 47 years.

NEP will help students to study in local languages: PM Modi

people who are doing language politics and are running shops of hatred,” the PM said.

Addressing the students and teachers, the PM said that only education can change the future of the country.

UP launches five DTH channels for children

New Delhi, July 29 (IANS)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

on Saturday said that with the implementation of New Education Policy (NEP), the Indian students will be able to study in their own local language which will benefit them in all-round development.

The Prime Minister was speaking at the inaugural event of the 2-day All India Education Convention at Pragati Maidan.

The convention is also known as Akhil Bhartiya Shiksha Samagam. It is a two-day programme which is being held on July 29 and 30.

The convention will provide a platform for academics, sector experts, and higher education and skilling institutions to share their insights in implementing the NEP 2020 policy.

PM Modi said that all developed countries use their local language but in India a person’s skill is not accepted if he is unable to speak in English language.

“Developed countries have progressed with the help of their local languages. We have projected our local language as backward which is unfortunate. People who are unable to speak in the English language are not accepted though they are talented and innovative. In the Amritkal of Independence, we have shed this practice,” the PM said.

He said that the NEP endorses equity and that he also spoke in local language at the UN.

“This will also close the shops of

He said that education policy is playing a crucial role in achieving the goals of our country.

The PM said that consultation is a must for knowledge and discussion is necessary for education.

He said that he is happy that with consultation and discussion, they were taking a leap into the future.

“Earlier, such a program was held at the newly constructed convention hall of Kashi. This time, it is happening in the newly constructed Bharat Mandapm of New Delhi. This very first program is about education here.

“I am overwhelmed by the feeling that the first program at this newly constructed auditorium is about education. From Kashi’s Rudrakash hall to this most modern Bharat Mandapm, the journey of Akhil Bhartiya Siksha Sangam has a message. The message is of togetherness and merging of ancient and modern eras,” the Prime Minister said. He said on one hand the education system was securing ancient culture and modern science, and on the other hand, they were moving fast in the field of high-tech technology and modern science.

PM said that the NEP was completing three years with today’s program.

“The intellectuals, academicians, and teachers took it as a mission.

I also visited the exhibition in the adjoining pavilion. In this

exhibition, our skills and the power and achievements and new innovations in the education sector were displayed. I also interacted with the children over there. We can see children are learning through different games and education, and schooling is also being changed in a positive manner,” PM said.

He also requested people to visit the newly constructed Bharat Mandapm.

He said three years back when the NEP was introduced, at that time it had a goal to achieve.

Speaking about primary education, the PM said that to introduce a new curriculum and to bring books in the local language and to make the research eco-system stronger, the academicians played crucial roles.

“Teachers and students know that instead of 10+2, we are now focusing on 5+3+3+4 education system. The education will now start at the age of three. Recently, the Cabinet gave its permission to introduce the National Vision Foundation bill in Parliament. With the help of the National Education Policy, we are also in the process of introducing a national curriculum framework. And I was informed that the framework was even completed for foundation age (3 to 8 years) kids. We are also working for the rest,” PM said.

The PM said that the CBSE will have one curriculum in the entire country and that NCERT is in process of launching new books. He said that from class IIIrd to XII, books of around 130 subjects will be launched soon. These books will be in 22 different languages.

Indian educational institutions should be brought at par with int’l norms: Parl panel

institutes and learning centres at par with international norms so that India can emerge as a sought after destination for education".

Lucknow, July 30 (IANS) The Uttar Pradesh government has launched five direct-to-home (DTH) television channels to enhance children’s learning experience at home.

The initiative is a part of the Centre’s PM e-Vidya programme. These channels will broadcast subject-wise and class-wise educational videos for students from Classes 1 to 12. Additionally, videos on pre-primary education and others made specially for the differently abled children will be broadcast.

The channels, which were made available free of charge on DD Free Dish and Dish TV from Saturday, bring supplementary education to children’s homes in

their own languages. It may be noted that the PM e-Vidya programme was launched on May 17, 2020. One of its components was the launch of DTH TV channels under the One Class-One Channel initiative. Pawan Sachan, the director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), has informed the District Institute for Education and Training (DIET) principals, district school inspectors, and district basic education officers about the inauguration of PM e-Vidya DTH channels.

While new videos on different subjects will be broadcast daily, their repeat telecast will run throughout the day, he said.

AICTE Chief: 600 colleges to offer UG-PG semiconductor tech courses

There are around 600 technical institutions, which will provide courses on semiconductors.

IANS: AICTE has banned the opening of new engineering colleges in India till 2024, what is the status now?

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) While the Indian diaspora and students have achieved recognition in field of arts, sciences, engineering, technology and humanities, Indian educational institutions do not perform well in world rankings, said a report presented in the Parliament on Friday.

The Parliamentary Committee on External Affairs, in its report, suggested that the government should make concerted efforts to "improve the standard of our universities,

In the report titled "India's Soft Power and Cultural Diplomacy: Prospects & Limitations", the panel said that the country should give special focus on its cinema as an instrument of soft power and take steps to popularise it's films abroad, including regional cinema.

"The committee are of the strong view that added emphasis needs to be given to the global imprint of our cinema as an instrument of soft power while taking effective steps to celebrate and popularise our movies abroad, including regional cinema," it recommended in the report.

The panel further said that

"Indian television news may not yet have made any impact globally, the Hindi film industry, popularly known as Bollywood, has emerged as one of the most notable examples of global entertainment emanating from outside the Western world".

In view of the surge in yoga teaching and centres across the globe, the committee recommended that the AYUSH Ministry, in collaboration with the External Affairs Ministry, should constitute a Yoga Certification Board for certifying Indian yogic practices and therapies.

"Collaboration with the Indian diaspora should also be encouraged to disseminate yoga training abroad, in regions where it is not yet popular," it said further.

New Delhi, July 30 (IANS) Over 600 engineering and technical institutions across the country will soon start offering "worldclass" courses on semiconductor technology, All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) chairman T.G. Sitharam has said. The AICTE is a national-level apex advisory body to conduct a survey on the facilities available for technical education and to promote development in the country in a coordinated and integrated manner. It comes under the Union Education Ministry and is also responsible for accrediting all postgraduate and graduate programs, under specific categories of technology. There was a moratorium on the opening of new engineering colleges in the country till 2024, which, the AICTE chief - during an exclusive conversation with IANS - said, has been revoked now.

Here are excerpts of the conversation:

IANS: What are the new courses, which the AICTE will introduce to meet the global standard?

Sitharam: We are working on new-generation courses on cutting-edge technologies such as semiconductors. We are working on it, and soon there will be more than 16,000 seats available for undergraduate, postgraduate and diploma-level courses on semiconductor technology.

Sitharam: Yes, there was a ban on the opening of new engineering colleges across India till 2024 but we have reviewed our decision and now, we have revoked the moratorium.

It means new engineering colleges can be established anywhere in the country by following the rules and regulations set by the AICTE. Even permissions for the opening of 250 new engineering colleges and technical institutions have been granted recently after the moratorium was revoked by the AICTE.

IANS: Thousands of students dropped out of higher educational institutions (HEIs), and even some suicide incidents too were reported in HEIs. Have you taken any initiative to address these student-related problems?

Sitharam: We are coming up with a 'Mentor-Mentee Programme'. Under this programme, there will be a mentor for students in every institution so that interaction beyond academics can be promoted.

To deal with their issues and stress, these mentors will discuss with students their personal issues, family issues, issues related to the institution and personal well-being. We have a policy ready on this and it will be approved in the next council meeting.

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).

AiMeD expresses dismay over FICCI’s ‘Un-Make in India’ drive

New Delhi, July 28 (IANS) In an unprecedented move, India's leading industry body - FICCI's Medical Devices Division - joins hands with forces inimical to the Make in India drive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, giving a body blow to domestic manufacturers of medical devices and equipment, which have urged the Central government to withdraw the official memorandum (OM) permitting the import of pre-owned medical devices.

"Nothing could have been worse than what FICCI Medical Devices Division is doing at the behest of MNCs lobby. Much to our dismay and disappointment, FICCI Medical Devices Division is working against the interest of domestic medical devices manufacturers. Its 'Un-make in India' campaign amounts to bulldozing the Make in India dream of PM Narendra Modi," said Rajiv Nath, Forum Coordinator Association of Indian Medical Device Industry (AiMeD).

Expressing concern over how

the vested interests under the patronage of an organisation like FICCI Medical Devices Division are being encouraged to break the spine of domestic players, Rajiv Nath said: "MSMEs are working day in and day out to make medical devices and equipment in India, thereby not only to strengthen the clarion call of Make in India given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi but to make healthcare affordable for all." Cautioning against the repercussions of the move by MoEFCC&MoHFW, Gaurav Agarwal, Managing Director, Innvolution Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. said that the utilisation of refurbished equipment under the guise of C-arms and advanced X-ray systems for performing catheterisation procedures is both misleading and potentially hazardous.

"Against the need of 500 Cath Labs a year to serve the Indian population, Indian manufacturers has the capacity to manufacture more than 600 indigenised Cath Labs which play a critical role in diagnosing and treating cardiovascular diseases, and it is essential that these facilities meet the highest standards of quality,

Critical & emerging technologies to emerge as important metrics of power: Jaishankar

manufactures, what are the market shares, where are the resources, who has the skills, where is the talent pool -- these are increasingly the crucial questions."

reliability, and patient safety," he said, adding that by importing refurbished equipment, we miss the opportunity to nurture a robust ecosystem of innovation, research, and development in the medical technology sector.

Rajiv Nath said: "The entire development smacks of a larger conspiracy, as the move to finish the domestic medical device industry raises concerns for the safety of patients, e-waste dumping, and the affordability and reliability of foreign make equipment. The quality and affordability of healthcare is going to be a sure short casualty for which FICCI Medical Devices Division has conspired with their MNC friends."

Cautioning against the policy of allowing free imports of old, used and discarded medical equipment from other countries, Suresh Vazirani, Chairman of India's largest IVD company, Transasia Bio-Medicals Ltd. said: "The use of old, discarded medical equipment can not only be dangerous for the lives of our fellow Indians but it will destroy our PM Modi's dream of making India AtmaNirbhar in medical technology."

New Delhi, July 30 (IANS)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday said that critical and emerging technologies (CETs) are going to emerge as important metrics of power.

Addressing the SemiconIndia conference virtually, Jaishankar said, "It is not surprising that CETs should now emerge as one of the important metrics of power. Who invents, who

He noted: "The depiction of a Chip War may be somewhat overstated, but it has more than a fundamental kernel of truth. To a considerable extent, concerns in the CET field are influenced by how market shares and production dominance was leveraged in other areas".

The external affairs minister said that technology trade is not just trade, it is as much as about political science.

Engaged with 100 global suppliers to build chip, display fabs in India: Vedanta

New Delhi, July 18 (IANS) The Vedanta Group on Tuesday said it remains committed to building India’s first semiconductor and display fabs in Gujarat, and has already engaged with more than 100 global suppliers and ancillary industries.

The statement came after Taiwanese chip-making giant Foxconn withdrew from a joint venture to manufacture chips with India-based industrial giant.

Seoul, July 27 (IANS) Samsung on Thursday announced the availability of its next generation of 'Make in India' foldables, Galaxy Watch and new tablets in the country that will go on pre-booking from July 27 (12 noon onwards) across all leading online and offline retail stores with some attractive offers.

While Galaxy Z Flip5 (8GB+256GB) will be available for Rs 99,999 and 8GB+512GB variant for Rs 109,999, Galaxy Z Fold5 (12GB+256GB) will cost Rs 154,999, the 12GB+512GB model will come for Rs 164,999 and the 12GB+1TB variant will be

available for Rs 184,999. Customers pre-booking and buying the devices between July 27 and August 17 will get offers up to Rs 20,000 on Z Flip5 and Rs 23,000 on Z Fold5, according to the company.

Galaxy Z Flip5 comes with a new Flex Window that is best suited for content creation, while Galaxy Z Fold5 takes seamless multitasking to an all-new level, delivering unrivalled foldable experiences to customers. Meanwhile, Indian consumers can also pre-book all-new Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic from July 27.

Galaxy Watch6 starts from Rs 29,999 while Galaxy Watch6 Classic begins from Rs 36,999 with attractive offers. Consumers can also avail exciting pre-book benefits and can own the all-new Galaxy Watch6 series starting at Rs 19,999.

Samsung Tab S9 Ultra (512 GB) will be available from Rs 119,999 while the 256GB variant will come for Rs 108,999. Tab S9+ in 256 GB variant will cost Rs 90,999 while Tab S9 (256 GB) will be available for Rs 83,999 with some amazing offers. According to Samsung, consumers buying Galaxy Z Flip5 through Samsung.com will get the option of choosing from three exclusive colours -- Gray, Green and Blue. Those buying Galaxy Z Fold5 from Samsung.com will get the option of one exclusive colour - Platinum.

Customers pre-booking Galaxy Z Flip5 and Z Fold5 during the "Samsung Live" event starting at 12 p.m. on Thursday (July 27) will get an additional exclusive gift of a Silicone Case with a Ring worth Rs 4,199 on purchase of Z Flip5 and Standing Case with Strap worth Rs 6,299 on purchase of Galaxy Z Fold5.

According to Vedanta Semiconductors and Display Global MD Akarsh K. Hebbar,

Vedanta Group remains fully committed to building India’s first semiconductor and display fabs in Dholera Special Investment Region in Ahmedabad district. “Substantial progress has happened to tie up technology and equity partners in semiconductors and we will make an announcement soon,” he said. He said that the state government has allotted the land in Dholera and work is already underway to prepare it for construction of the fabs. “In display fab, we already have a partnership with Innolux and are ready to proceed with speed with full support of our partner,” Hebbar said. The company is currently awaiting the government’s nod to its applications under the modified scheme for semiconductor and display fabs.

First Barge of series

LSAM 7

delivered to Indian Navy

New Delhi, 18 July (IANS) First Barge of the series LSAM 7 (Yard 75) has been delivered to Indian Navy on Tuesday.

This special Barge was handed over to the Navy in presence of Cmde Iftekhar Alam, Commanding Officer, INS Tunir.

The Barge has been built under the classification rules of Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) with a service life of 30 years.

According to the ministry of defence, with all major or auxiliary equipment sourced from indigenous manufacturers, the Barge is proud flag bearer of “Make in India” initiative of Ministry of Defence.

Induction of MCA Barges will provide impetus to operational commitments of Navy by facilitating Transportation, Embarkation and Disembarkation of ammunition to Indian Navy Ships both alongside jetties and at outer harbours, official added.

On Tuesday India and Russia also discussed several issues of defence equipments and technical Cooperation. The 3rd Meeting of the Working Group on Military Cooperation of the IndianRussian Intergovernmental Commission on Military and Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-M&MTC) held in delhi on 18 July.

Pre-booking for ‘Make in India’ foldables begins in India with cool pricing, attractive offers

New Zealand, Australia PMs meet to celebrate close ties

New Zealand Leaders' Meeting and the celebration of several anniversaries.

The meeting took place as both countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of Closer Economic Relations (CER), the 50th anniversary of the Trans-Tasman Travel Arrangement, and the 80th anniversary of diplomatic representation, said a New Zealand government statement.

Ministers met in seven months. The Australia-New Zealand Leaders' Meeting is their annual opportunity to "assess and set priorities for the relationship for the following year", Hipkins said.

Man shot dead in ‘targeted’ attack in Sydney

Wellington, July 26 (IANS) New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese met here on Wednesday for their first annual Australia-

"It was great to meet again with Prime Minister Albanese to celebrate our closest international relationship, mark this special year of anniversaries and work towards an even better future," Xinhua news agency quoted Hipkins as saying.

It was the fifth time the two Prime

Wednesday saw an agreement to put together a joint AustraliaNew Zealand expert group, with a clear deadline of 12 months, to "scope initiatives to move closer towards seamless travel across the Tasman", the statement said. Measures would be adopted to help trans-Tasman businesses and tourism with a simplified border, without compromising security, it said, adding the expert group will report back by the end of June 2024.

The two sides also discussed issues of economic cooperation, trade, and climate change, among others.

Portable air purifiers could protect millions of Australians during bushfires

provides protection against smoke pollution indoors are air purifiers fitted with HEPA filters," Amanda Wheeler, lead author of the study from the CSIRO, said in a media release.

Sydney, July 27 (IANS) A man was shot dead in Sydney's southwest on Thursday, which is believed by the local police to be a targeted incident.

New South Wales (NSW) Police Force said in a statement that emergency services were called to Broughton Street, Canterbury, at about 2:00 a.m. local time, after receiving reports of shots fired,

Xinhua news agency reported. A man, sustaining gunshot wounds, was treated by paramedics but died at the scene. The identity of the victim who was thought to be in his 20s has yet to be officially confirmed.

This is the second targeted shooting reported by NSW police within two days. Both incidents occurred in the southwest of Sydney.

On Wednesday, a 31-year-old man was shot outside a home on Narelle Crescent, Greenacre, by an unknown person. He was later sent to the hospital and in stable condition.

Indian national dies after being hit by bus

for him,” Rubal Singh, a relative of the deceased, told SBS Punjabi. Rubal Singh said that the Major Crash Unit was investigating the circumstances leading to his death.

Canberra, July 31 (IANS) Portable air purifiers could protect millions of Australians from smoke inhalation during major bushfire events, according to a new study published on Monday.

In the stud, a team from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) found that purifiers fitted with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can improve indoor air quality by up to 74 per cent during bushfire events, reports Xinhua news agency.

Much of Australia was blanketed by smoke during the devastating 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires,

causing a 44 per cent increase in the number of people reporting asthma symptoms and presenting to emergency departments. A landmark inquiry into the fires later heard evidence that the smoke was linked to an estimated 445 deaths.

The new study estimates that its findings could protect 2.7 million Australians with asthma and an additional 7 million at elevated risk of health problems during extreme smoke events.

"Staying inside and closing windows and doors during extreme smoke events is important, but ultimately what

"Using more than one, if possible, inside houses is likely to lead to improved health outcomes. To draw their findings, researchers monitored indoor and outdoor concentrations of PM2.5, high levels of which can cause significant health levels when breathed in. They found that nine homes operating a HEPA filter during prescribed burning periods had PM2.5 levels at least 30 per cent lower, with construction code compliance also a significant factor.

Wheeler said it was critical to find ways to protect the population from the serious health impacts of bushfires as climate change continues to extend the length of the threat season, potentially prolonging smoke exposure and associated adverse health effects.

Melbourne, July 24 (IANS) A 28-year-old Indian national from Ludhiana, who had been working as a driver for the past six months in South Australia, died after being hit by a bus.

Gagandeep Singh from Ludhiana had parked his bus on Conroy Street and had exited when the bus rolled forward and pinned him against a gate this month, Australian broadcaster SBS Punjabi reported. While Gagandeep received immediate medical response from paramedics at the scene, he died after being transported to a nearby hospital, police said.

“I talked to him (the) day before the incident. Excitedly sharing his plans for the future, he mentioned that it would be his final shift as a bus driver in Port Augusta. He had been eagerly looking forward to relocating to Melbourne later this month. Little did he know that fate had other plans in store

“We believe somehow the handbrake wasn’t applied to the bus that he parked at the yard. After exiting the bus, he realised that it was still moving. He tried to stop it by shutting down the roller gate but was tragically crushed between the bus and the gate,” he added.

A fundraiser has been set up by the community to take Gagandeep's body back to India and support the family that lost their only son and working member.

“Tragedy has struck the family as we mourn the sudden and untimely loss of our beloved, Gagandeep Singh,” GoFundMe organiser Sunny Singh wrote. “Together, we want to honour Gagandeep’s memory and send him back to his parents in India so they can say their final goodbyes following all the last rituals and traditions.”

The campaign has so far raised A$59,000.

Meta firms fined $14mn by Australia for misleading consumers

back in December 2020.

The federal court has ordered the two subsidiaries of Meta, Facebook Israel and Onavo Inc, to each pay AUS$10 million for engaging in conduct liable to mislead in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.

keep users' data protected and safe, for example with language such as 'Use a free, fast and secure VPN to protect personal information' and 'Helps Keep You and Your Data Safe'," the commission said.

app over 270,000 times.

Facebook discontinued the service in May 2019.

listings conveyed that the Onavo Protect VPN would only use users' data.

Sydney, July 26 (IANS) An Australian court on Wednesday ordered Meta (formerly Facebook) platforms to pay fines of nearly $14 million (AUS$20 million) for misleading consumers about the use of their data.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) sued Meta over its use of Onavo

The subsidiaries, which were the Onavo Protect VPN app's developers and suppliers, were found to be responsible for misleading app descriptions displayed in Google and Apple App Store listings.

"In Google and Apple App Store listings, Onavo Protect was promoted as a product that would

"In fact, Onavo and Facebook Israel shared the personal activity data from users collected by the app in anonymised and aggregated form with parent company Meta (then known as Facebook Inc) for commercial benefit," it added.

The watchdog also discovered that between February 2016 and October 2017, Australian users installed the "Onavo Protect" VPN

"We took this case knowing that many consumers are concerned about how their data is captured, stored and used by digital platforms. We believe Australian consumers should be able to make an informed choice about what happens to their data based on clear information that is not misleading," ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb, said in a statement.

As stated in joint submissions to the Court, Onavo and Facebook Israel agreed that the App Store

In the listings, Onavo Protect did not mention that it collected data about its Australian users' online activities for other purposes, including as a 'business intelligence tool'.

"In the case of the Onavo Protect app, we were concerned that consumers seeking to protect their privacy through a virtual private network were not clearly told that in downloading and using this app they were actually facilitating the use of their data for Meta's commercial benefit," Cass-Gottlieb said.

Victoria to ban gas in new homes from 2024

along with uncertainty around supply, Xinhua news agency reported.

The state government noted that Victoria has the highest use of residential gas in Australia, with around 80 per cent of homes connected, while the gas sector contributes about 17 per cent of the state's emissions.

51 stranded whales die in Western Australia

beach for safety concerns, reports Xinhua news agency.

Cheynes Beach Caravan

Park noted that an incident management team has been established by DBCA.

Brisbane, July 29 (IANS) The state government of Victoria, Australia, has announced its decision to stop gas connections in new homes from 2024.

"From January 1, 2024, planning permits for new homes and residential subdivisions will only connect to all-electric networks, with houses taking advantage of more efficient, cheaper and cleaner electric appliances," the Victorian government said on

Friday in a statement.

Commencing immediately, all new public buildings that haven't reached the design stage will also be all-electric. This includes new schools, hospitals, police stations and other government-owned buildings.

According to the statement, the decision was made out of the concern that the cost of gas is rising sharply across the world,

"We know that with every bill that arrives, gas is only going to get more expensive. That's why we're stepping in to help even more Victorians get the best deal on their energy bills," said Lily D'Ambrosio, the state's Minister for energy and resources. She added that reducing reliance on gas is critical to meeting the state's emission reduction target of net zero by 2045 and getting more Victorians on electric appliances, which will save money on their bills.

12-year-old girl horrifically mauled by pet dog

Melbourne, July 30 (IANS) A 12-year-old girl was horrifically mauled by her pet dog as she leaned to kiss him in Drouin suburb in Melbourne.

On Thursday afternoon when the girl, Niki Chrysanthopoulos, was having snacks after returning from school, the dog American Bull terrier named Ollie started to growl. As the girl asked him not to growl and leaned to kiss him, Ollie

bit her on face.

In the attack, her lip was ripped off and teeth were knocked out, 7NEWS Australia reported. She was rushed to hospital with severe facial injuries and is still in hospital.

Niki’s mother Tanya said she "did not hesitate" to "put the dog down" after the attack as her baby was bitten.

Indian-origin boy robbed, stabbed

"The victims were taken to hospital with non-lifethreatening injuries while the offenders were last seen in a dark coloured vehicle," the police added.

"When we heard this news our world just collapsed,” Singh's mother told 7News.

Perth, July 26 (IANS) Western Australia's Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) confirmed on Wednesday that 51 stranded whales died overnight at Cheynes Beach in the state's southwest. "Parks and Wildlife Service personnel are working in partnership with registered volunteers and other organizations to try to return the remaining 46 whales to deeper water during the course of the day," said the Department. It also urged members of the public to stay away from the

"Experienced staff from DBCA are currently being deployed, including Perth Zoo veterinarians and marine fauna experts, along with specialized equipment, including vessels and slings," the park updated on its social media.

On Tuesday morning, DBCA received reports that a large pod of long-finned pilot whales clustered about 150 metres off Cheynes Beach.

The mass whale stranding incident triggered a shark alert issued by the state government of Western Australia, as the possible dead and injured animals may attract sharks to come closer to the shore.

Likely rocket debris removed from beach

Melbourne, July 30 (IANS) An Indian-origin boy celebrating his 16th birthday was stabbed in an unprovoked attack in Melbourne, following which police have arrested a 20 year-old suspect.

Rhyan Singh and his two friends were playing basketball with friends in Tarneit, a suburb in Melbourne, when they were randomly ambushed by a gang armed with machetes on Thursday evening, TV channel 7News reported.

A group of about seven to eight males asked Singh to give his new Nike Air Jordan sneakers, which he had received as a gift, in addition to his and friends' mobile phones.

Singh was stabbed in his ribs, arms, hand and back, and was hit in the back of his head.

"An altercation occurred and the youths were stabbed a number of times before the offenders left the scene," the Victoria Police said in a statement.

“When he said ‘mummy I love you, I think I’m dying, I’ve been stabbed, I think I’m dying’ I was like, ‘that’s it, that’s it, we’ve lost him forever’,” Singh's heartbroken mother told the channel.

According to Victoria Police, officers from Alliance Taskforce executed a warrant at an address in Commonwealth Drive, Aintree on Friday and arrested a 20-yearold man.

He has been charged with armed robbery, recklessly causing serious injury, police said.

Sydney, July 20 (IANS) The Western Australia (WA) Police Force has said that a large unidentified object has been removed from the beach at Green Head, north of Perth, with the space authority believing it a possible rocket debris. According to a statement on Wednesday by the WA police, a giant gold-coloured cylinder was reported to police on Sunday. "The object was cordoned off from the public while the identification process commenced. It has since been rendered safe and was removed from the beach to an undisclosed location yesterday," said the WA police.

Police also noted that the object is related to a rocket system and the Australian Space Agency (ASA) will take over the ongoing assessment and identification of the object, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a social media post, the ASA updated the public on the investigation into the object, considering it as "most likely a solid rocket motor casing". "We're continuing the process of identifying the type of rocket and its origin through ongoing engagement with our global counterparts," the agency said.

Aus state establishes specialist police team for domestic violence

Sydney, July 31 (IANS) A new registry has been established by the police force of New South Wales (NSW) to drive targeted prevention, disruption and investigation responses to domestic and family violence in the Australian state.

The Domestic and Family Violence Registry is staffed by officers with expertise in domestic and family violence

issues with 24-hour capability to provide advice, guidance, and response to domestic and family violence incidents, Xinhua news agency quuted NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb as saying in an announcement.

"Domestic and family violence is one of today's most challenging and complex community issues; it feels like an epidemic. It is time for that to change," said Webb.

The registry is the first specialist policing team targeting such issues set up in Australia, according to a NSW Police statement. The NSW Police Force attended 182,121 domestic violence-related matters in 2022 and the number continues to rise, according to a report of Review of NSW Police Force Responses to Domestic and Family Violence Incidents,

New Delhi, July 24 (IANS) JM Financial has reiterated that buy on Reliance Industries Limited with a target price of Rs 2,900 a share as it believes that net debt concerns are overdone, and also because RIL has industry-leading capabilities across businesses to drive robust 14-15 per cent EPS CAGR over the next 3-5 years.

Digital EBITDA was in line; ARPU and subscriber addition were a tad higher than expected, while retail business EBITDA was up 34 per cent YoY on continued strong store addition, the report said. Reported consolidated PAT (after minority interest) was also 1

per cent above estimates at Rs 160 billion, though it was 6 per cent below consensus due to normalisation of tax rate to 25 per cent (PBT was in line with consensus).

The board approved a dividend of Rs 9/share for FY23 (vs. 8/ share paid in FY22). Capex at Rs 396 billion in 1QFY24 continued to be high as expected due to 5G rollout; reported net debt was marginally higher QoQ at Rs 1,266 billion or 0.8x net debt to EBITDA (below the company’s guidance to maintain reported net debt to EBITDA below 1x).

Motilal Oswal Financial Services said in a report that RIL’s consolidated revenue declined 5 per cent YoY/3 per cent QoQ to Rs 2,075.6 billion.

The sharp decline in O2C segment (with 31 per cent drop in crude oil prices) was offset by continued growth in consumer

business and increase in volumes from O2C and oil & gas businesses.

RJio’s revenue/EBITDA grew 3 per cent QoQ each led by 2 per cent subscriber additions and marginal increase in ARPU. Despite the aggressive 5G-led capex, network opex has remained under control during the quarter.

Reliance Retail posted healthy revenue/EBITDA growth of 21 per cent/34 per cent YoY (in line) led by all-round improvement, rising footfalls and growing digital business.

“We ascribe an equity valuation of Rs 750/share to RJio and Rs 1,500/ share to Reliance Retail, factoring in the recent stake sale. We have further included an equity valuation of Rs 6/share pertaining to new energy on book value," the report said.

ITC Board accords in-principle approval to demerge hotels business into a new entity

and sustained value creation as also enable leveraging of cross synergies between the Company and the new entity.

New Delhi, July 24 (IANS)

Earnings upgrade in the last one year are emanating from domestic cyclicals, internet stocks while the downgrades are driven by defensives and commodities, ICICI Securities said in a report. Bulk of the earnings upgrade over the past one year has been driven by stocks related to domestic cyclical demand (financials, consumer discretionary, auto, tobacco, industrials) and internet stocks.

On the flip side, bulk of the downgrades was driven by stocks related to defensive sectors (IT, healthcare, staples) and commodities (metals, cement).

currently stands at Rs 12.75 trillion as compared to Rs 13.3 trillion a year ago.

The 4 per cent downgrade to aggregate profit pool appears reasonable given the shocks such as the massive QT cycle, RussiaUkraine war and banking crisis in DMs, the report said.

Also, the bulk of earnings upgrades over the past one year have been driven by domestic cyclicals and internet stocks.

Overall, the market cap of the 600 stocks rose by 28 per cent over the last one year to reach Rs 275 trillion with bulk of market cap expansion happening over the past three months.

The rapid expansion in market cap over the recent past is likely due to a sharp decline in ‘equity risk premium’ and benign ‘riskfree rate’ environment.

New Delhi, July 24 (IANS)

The Board of Directors of ITC Limited on Monday evaluated and discussed various alternative structures for the Hotels Business towards crafting the next horizon of growth as also enhancing value creation for all stakeholders.

In the meeting, the Board noted that the Company's Hotels Business has matured over the years and is well poised to chart its own growth path as a separate entity in the fast- growing hospitality industry with sharper focus on the business and an optimal capital structure, whilst continuing to leverage ITC's institutional strengths, brand equity and goodwill.

After due consideration, the Board accorded its in-principle approval to the demerger of the Hotels Business under a scheme of arrangement; with the Company holding a stake of about 40 per cent in the new entity and the balance shareholding of about 60 per cent to be held directly by the company's shareholders proportionate to their shareholding in the Company.

The proposed reorganisation would ensure continued interest of the Company in the hospitality business, provide long term stability and strategic support to the new entity in its pursuit of accelerating growth

The demerger will help the new entity in attracting appropriate investors and strategic partners/ collaborations whose investment strategies and risk profiles are aligned more sharply with the hospitality industry. In addition, it will unlock value of the Hotels Business for the Company’s shareholders by providing them a direct stake in the new entity along with an independent market driven valuation thereof.

This move by the Company also reinforces the sharper capital allocation strategy put in place in recent years, manifest in the pivot to ‘asset-right’ strategy in the Hotels Business.

Details of the proposed reorganisation, including the scheme of arrangement, shall be placed for approval of the Board at its meeting to be convened on August 14, 2023.

To progress the proposed reorganisation as aforesaid, the Board has also approved incorporation of a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, to be named ITC Hotels Limited or such other name as may be approved by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

Over the last two decades or so, ITC’s Hotels Business has scaled up significantly in terms of room inventory, Revenue and Profits, and has established itself as a pioneer in green hoteliering anchored on its ‘Responsible Luxury’ ethos. Today, with over 120 hotels and 11,600 keys across 70+ locations, the ITC Hotels group is renowned for its world-class properties, iconic cuisine brands and unparalleled

service standards. The Business today ranks amongst the fastest growing hospitality chains in the country with marquee brands viz., ‘ITC Hotels’ in the Luxury segment, ‘Welcomhotel’ in the Premium segment, ‘Fortune’ in the Mid-market to Upper-upscale segment and ‘WelcomHeritage’ in the Leisure & Heritage segment. Having achieved considerable scale and market standing, the Business in 2017 pivoted to an ‘asset-right’ strategy which envisages a substantial part of incremental room additions to accrue through management contracts.

Accordingly, two new brands, ‘Mementos’ in the Luxury Lifestyle segment and ‘Storii’ in the Premium segment, have also been launched recently to offer varied experiences to new age travelers.

After 2 years of pandemicled disruptions, the Indian hospitality industry has bounced back strongly with significant improvement in room rate and occupancy.

ITC’s Hotels Business has also emerged stronger and has delivered robust growth and margin expansion in FY 2022-23 and is well poised to sustain the growth momentum.

The Indian Hospitality industry is expected to witness rapid growth going forward. The key drivers of growth include the strong macroeconomic fundamentals and growth prospects of the Indian economy, increasing affluence and favourable demographic profile of India’s population, Government of India’s thrust on the

"Given the nature of the economic recovery in India, which is led by growth in ‘gross fixed capital formation’ or capex cycle, we expect the earnings upgrade cycle to continue for domestic cyclicals," ICICI Securities said. Global economic environment continues to be uncertain and could weigh on earnings revision of the stocks related to global economy.

The aggregate profit pool estimate of 600 stocks for FY24

Top stocks that have witnessed maximum consensus upgrades over the last one year belong to domestic cyclical sectors such as financials, consumer discretionary, auto, industrials and internet stocks.

Top stocks that have witnessed the maximum consensus downgrades are related to defensive sectors (IT, healthcare, consumer, telecom) and commodities (metals, cement), the report said.

(Sanjeev Sharma can be reached at sanjeev.s@ians.in)

Gurugram, July 24 (IANS) Adolescence is a time when youngsters undergo significant physical, emotional, and cognitive changes. These changes can be overwhelming or even traumatic for some impacting their mental health and the development of their personality and well-being in the future.

To help these children successfully navigate these crucial years of their lives, GD Goenka University in collaboration with Fortis Mental Health Programme organised a "National School Counselor's Summit on Risk Management, called VARTAH". The two-day summit 'VARTAH' which stands for "ValuesAwareness - Reform - Thrive - Action - Hope" was focused on managing risky behaviours in school children. The initiative aims at nurturing a positive mental health culture within educational ecosystems. It provides a platform to raise awareness, advocate positive changes, and initiate measures to promote the well-being of children and adolescents.

School counsellors and educators across the country will have the opportunity to participate in it. Emphasising the need to include mental health and well-being in the academic curriculum, Dr Samir Parikh, Chairperson, Fortis National Mental Health Program said: "Empowering children in their formative years with skills for life that help them navigate through ups and downs with confidence, self-belief and resilience is essential, that takes them on their paths of success, can have meaningful relationships and contribute to the society." He stressed that promoting mental health among adolescents requires different roles from society, parents, and the media. It is not the responsibility of any one party alone, and change can only come when everyone works collectively.

Dr Parikh also spoke about the need to promote the concept of Psychological First Aid (PFA). Addressing the gathering, he said: "We all talk about physical first aid, but nobody mentions psychological first aid.

Earnings upgrade led by domestic cyclicals, downgrades driven by defensives, commodities

Promoting mental well-being: The joint venture way

RIL has industry-leading capabilities to drive robust 14-15% EPS CAGR over next 3-5 years

Lithium Demand in India and Australia: A Comparative Analysis

solutions, predominantly lithiumion batteries. With a growing number of consumers embracing EVs and solar energy storage systems, India's lithium demand is expected to witness substantial growth.

demands, making it more vulnerable to fluctuations in global market prices.

to invest in renewable energy, storage, and transmission to secure its energy supply.

The global transition towards cleaner and sustainable energy solutions has led to a significant surge in the demand for lithium, a crucial component in rechargeable batteries. Lithiumion batteries power everything from electric vehicles to portable electronics, making them a key driver in the renewable energy revolution. This article aims to provide an insightful analysis of lithium demand in two prominent countries, India and Australia, as they play pivotal roles in the global lithium market.

Lithium Demand in India: India's shift towards electric mobility and renewable energy sources has spurred a remarkable increase in lithium demand over the past decade. The Indian government's initiatives, such as the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) and Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles (FAME) program, have encouraged the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across the country.

Additionally, India's ambitious target of achieving 450 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2030 has further amplified the need for energy storage

Lithium Demand in Australia: Australia is a major player in the global lithium market, boasting significant lithium reserves and a robust mining industry. The country's vast reserves, mainly found in Western Australia, have made it one of the world's leading lithium producers. Australia's strong position in lithium mining has given it a competitive advantage in meeting the surging global demand for this crucial resource.

Furthermore, Australia has been proactive in fostering partnerships with international manufacturers and battery producers. These collaborations have bolstered the country's lithium export capabilities and positioned it as a key supplier in the global lithium-ion battery value chain.

Comparative Analysis: While India and Australia have both experienced a surge in lithium demand, several key factors set them apart in terms of their roles in the global lithium market:

1. Lithium Reserves: Australia possesses abundant lithium reserves, making it a major exporter of lithium concentrates and other lithium-related products. India, on the other hand, relies heavily on imports to meet its increasing lithium

2. Domestic Consumption vs. Export: India's growing lithium demand is primarily driven by domestic consumption, as the country rapidly adopts electric vehicles and renewable energy solutions. In contrast, Australia's demand is shaped by both domestic consumption and export to other countries, thereby contributing significantly to the global supply chain.

3. Lithium Value Chain: Australia has a well-established lithium value chain, from mining to early stages in refining and long-term export, which offers the country significant economic benefits. India, while emerging as a key consumer of lithium, still has room for growth in developing its own value chain and becoming a more self-reliant player in the lithium market.

Both India and Australia play pivotal roles in the global lithium market, but their positions differ significantly. Australia's abundant lithium reserves and wellestablished mining industry have made it a prominent exporter, while India's rising lithium demand is driven by its ambitious electric mobility and renewable energy goals. As the world continues to embrace cleaner energy solutions, the lithium market dynamics in these two countries will undoubtedly evolve, presenting new opportunities and challenges for stakeholders in the renewable energy and electric vehicle sectors.

Taliban keeps China on tenterhooks over lithium mining contracts in Afghanistan

through Pakistan.

During its 20-year stay in Afghanistan, the US government had said that the country is estimated to hold at least $1 trillion worth of lithium which could help pull out the country from its economic mess. For the Taliban, which is still trying to establish an effective government in the country in the face of global opposition and frozen bank accounts, China seems to give hope.

According to Australia's Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, nuclear energy has never been part of Australia's energy mix due to its abundance of renewable energy sources. Bowen emphasized that nuclear energy poses various issues from Australia's perspective, including high costs, generation of large amounts of waste, and its inflexibility as an energy source. Instead of turning to nuclear energy or coal, Australia is focused on reducing reliance on coal and increasing dependence on gas-fired power stations, which offer more flexibility. The country has been shutting down its older coal plants and aims

Australia's renewable energy sector has made significant progress, with renewable energy accounting for 35.9% of total electric generation in 2022. The country's push towards renewables has reduced coal demand and increased gas production.

To achieve its net-zero goals, Australia needs more investments in different sectors, and Bowen emphasized the importance of individual sector plans. He also highlighted the support and engagement from Australian businesses and international investors in achieving climate goals.

Looking ahead to the COP28 climate summit, Australia aims to work with countries of goodwill to achieve significant progress and a positive outcome in addressing climate change.

State Enforcement Bureau set up to curb illegal mining in Haryana

Picture Credits: IANS

The Haryana government has set up the State Enforcement Bureau (SEB) to stop illegal mining, liquor smuggling, electricity, and water theft, and for removal of encroachments on government properties, an official said on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, Nishant Kumar said that at present, eight police stations are functioning across Haryana under the SEB to deal with illegal mining, electricity

theft, water theft, and liquor smuggling, action in case of encroachments on government properties, illegal colonies etc. Related cases in Gurugram and Nuh will be registered in a police station located in Sushant Lok Phase-1, he said, while presiding over the meeting of the District Level Task Force Committee of the Mining Department here. He has also given instructions to set up special monitoring teams to strictly deal with illegal mining activities in the district. These special teams will monitor the vehicles involved in illegal mining activities and ensure departmental action against offenders as per prescribed rules. These teams will be monitoring the vehicles involved in illegal mining activities in the Farukhnagar, Bhondsi, Sohna, Panchgaon, and Pataudi.

The frenzied exit of US troops in 2021 brought the Chinese rushing in to fill the vaccum in Afghanistan. The Chinese government and businessmen were keen to extract lithium, which has taken a place of pride among minerals for its rising use in electric vehiclesSince then China has made progress with the Taliban government in signing business deals, at least in concluding a pact to extract oil from the Amu

Darya basin in northern Afghanistan. Beijing and its businessmen have also offered big deals to the Taliban to extract lithium but the Taliban is sitting on those offers at the moment, says Kabul Now.

After taking over the reins of the country, one of the important decisions by the Taliban was to stop the mining and the export of lithium. In recent months it even arrested a Chinese national for smuggling lithium ore to China

The communist country is heavily invested in the conflict-torn nation in partnership with allweather ally Pakistan.

Recently, The Washington Post reported that Afghanistan – called ‘the Saudi Arabia of lithium’ by the US, is being courted by Chinese nationals who have been trekking the mountain ranges of the country looking for lithium, even in areas known to be dangerous for foreigners. The interest in Afghan lithium among the Chinese has evoked imagery

of the 19th century gold rush. However, the Taliban government said that it was not in a rush to give away lithium contracts to China. Arab News quoted Hamayoon Afghan, spokesman for the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, as saying: "We are not in a hurry for the lithium contract, we will not take hurried steps and action in this regard. We are not obliged to give this contract only to China."

China has been courting the Taliban with various offers. These include extending the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan, which recently completed 10 years in neighbouring Pakistan. In a trilateral summit in Pakistan's

capital Islamabad, the three nations had resolved to extend trade and investment besides curbing terror groups.With the US gone and the Taliban trying to reduce violence by curbing the activities of hostile groups, Beijing is once again making a determined effort at extracting Afghanistan’s rare earth reserves. Lithium is equated with gold and oil for its use in batteries as well as electric gadgets. With the world in a rush to switch over from fossil fuels and avoid the wrath of a changing climate, there is a mad rush to mine the rare mineral. China is a frontrunner in the Afghan lithium sweepstakes even as the West continues to figure out how to deal with the Taliban.

Picture: Hard-Rock Lithium Mine in Greenbushes, Western Australia Opinion piece by Kriti Bhardwaj (Mining, Energy and Resources professional)

Australia has asserted that nuclear energy is not included in its net zero pathway

Picture Credits: CNBC

Queensland Premier locks in Sister-State deal with Shanghai

Municipal Government this month– renewing a Sister State Agreement between Queensland and Shanghai.

Queensland has a long-standing relationship with China, an important trading partner for the State.

This partnership is underpinned by two State level agreements with Shanghai (Sister-State), first signed in 1989, and Guangdong (Friendship), signed in 2008.

South East Queensland is growing

Over the next 25 years the number of older people aged 65 years or older will increase.

Hua Yuan, Vice Mayor of Shanghai, and delegation from the Shanghai

“Queensland has renewed an important Sister-State Agreement with Shanghai, cementing our strong and enduring bond with China.

“Sister-State Agreements are key in advancing trade, business

and cultural exchanges between regions, and I’m proud to continue this more than 34-yearlong partnership.

“We are a Queensland that recognises and celebrates our long, rich history of diversity and multiculturalism.

“I want to thank His Excellency Mr Hua Yuan for visiting Queensland, and for believing in the rewarding partnership between our two growing regions.

“We will continue to work together to build on our achievements in growing our partnerships across trade, business, education, agriculture, tourism and research.

Disaster repairs delivered for Queensland’s heritage list

$300,000 in grant funding to help repair and restore properties damaged by the extraordinary rainfall and flooding events of the 2021-2022 severe weather season.

• SEQ’s population will increase by almost 2.2 million to around 6 million by 2046, new figures show.

• SEQ’s population is currently around 3.8 million.

Brisbane, 31 July: Queensland’s population is growing, 6 million people will call South East Queensland home by 2046 - that’s 2.2 million more South East Queenslanders.

The population is growing, but it is also changing.

The number of one person households will increase substantially from 23.4 per cent in 2021 to 40.5 per cent in 2046.

These changes mean we need more smaller homes in the mix, to deliver more housing options. The Growth projections have been confirmed ahead of the release of the State Government’s updated draft SEQ Regional Plan. Updating the plan was an outcome of the Housing Summit.

$80 million program helps up to 15,000 job seekers

•First $40 million of an $80 m illion jobs creating initiative will soon start rolling out the door.

• The $80 million program, which has a focus on young people, will help up to 15,000 disadvantaged Queensland jobseekers over the next 12 months.

care), Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, at risk youth, people with disability, matureage job seekers, women reentering the workforce, recently released prisoners, veterans and ex-service personnel, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

• Ten Queensland heritage-listed buildings will share in more than $300,000 in funding under the Heritage Disaster Recovery Grants Program.

• The one-off grants program is jointly funded by the Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and provides funding to help repair and restore disasterimpacted properties

• Grants of between $10,000 and $35,000 were made available for projects that will rehabilitate and restore cyclone, rain and floodaffected State heritage places and to improve their resilience to future disaster events.

Brisbane, 28July:Ten of Queensland’s heritage-listed buildings will share in more than

Revitalised

• EQ Resources has been awarded a tender for resource exploration activities which includes a former tungsten mine

• Tungsten is a critical mineral used in many renewable technologies such as solar technology and wind turbine blades.

• The tender is an opportunity to turn a former mine into an asset and create more good jobs in regional Queensland.

Brisbane, 27 July: One of Australia’s leading tungsten producers, EQ Resources, has been awarded the tender for resource exploration activities across a 480 square kilometre

The one-off Heritage Disaster Recovery Grant program is jointly funded by the Albanese and Palaszczuk Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DFRA).

The program provides grants of between $10,000-$35,000 for projects that will restore cyclone, rain and flood-affected State heritage places and improve their resilience to future disaster events.

The successful grant recipients are:

• Scenic Rim - Wyambyn Homestead at Tabragalba$35,000 to re-paint the exterior of the homestead to repair damage, caused by the weather events of February to April 2022.

• Scenic Rim - Lahey’s Tramway Tunnel - Scenic Rim Regional Council will receive $35,000 to restore access which was obstructed due to the weather

area, which includes the former Wolfram Camp and Bamford Hill mines.

Situated 90km west of Cairns, Wolfram Camp is named for wolframite – an important primary ore of tungsten which miners have been extracting from the site since the 19th century. The critical mineral has numerous uses including in solar technology, wind turbine blades, drill bits and filaments for lighting.

Global demand for critical minerals like tungsten will continue to increase as more countries work towards a net zero future.

events of February to April 2022.

• Gympie - Memorial Park Bandstand - Gympie Regional Council will receive $35,000 to undertake works to restore the which was inundated by floods in 2021 and 2022.

• Brisbane - St Mary’s Anglican Church in Kangaroo Point - the Corporation of the Synod of the Diocese of Brisbane will receive $28,800 to carry out roof restoration works, damaged by storms in February and March 2022.

• Brisbane - Hanworth House in East Brisbane will receive $26,700 to carry out works to restore the structural integrity of the building that has been affected by rising damp since the weather events of February to April 2022.

• Brisbane - St Mary’s Catholic Church in South Brisbane - the Corporation of the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane will receive $27,782 to repair and restore parts of the roof, impacted by the weather events of February to April 2022.

• Round 1 delivers 162 projects, by 100 organisations, supporting more than 5,300 jobs.

Brisbane, 29July: The first 5,300 job opportunities of up to 15,000 over the next 12 months for unemployed, disengaged, at risk or disadvantaged Queenslanders will soon begin to flow.

The Palaszczuk Government has approved the first $40 million in the Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative. Applications are now open for the second round of $40 million.

The program’s focus is on young people (including those in and transitioned from out-of-home

Round 1 funding is supporting a number projects, engaging youth known to Youth Justice Services, Queensland Corrective Services, Queensland Police Service or are deemed at-risk of offending.

By ensuring young people at-risk of offending are provided with skills training, there are more opportunities to keep them diverted from crime and from the youth-justice system.

Round 1 successful project providers include: yourtown, Reclink Australia, Carers Queensland Energy Skills Queensland and Career Employment Australia.

Queensland’s sportstech economy driving golden investment opportunities

• Sportstech Trade and Investment Roundtable to identify opportunities in the sportstech arena.

• Australia’s sportstech sector now equal to $4 billion fintech industry.

• Brisbane ranked 15th on BCW 2023 Ranking of Sports Cities.

Key objectives include:

• identifying export and investment opportunities

• strengthening and growing local companies, and

• attracting high value talent to support continued growth.

Re-commercialisation of former mines is a key component of the Palaszczuk Government’s new Critical Minerals Strategy as well as the Queensland Resources industry Development Plan.

• Brisbane - Farrington House in Alderley will receive $24,146 to repair the gabled dormers and plaster ceiling which have deteriorated since the February 2022 weather events.

• Jimbour East – Jimbour House will receive $35,000 to repair damage to the western balcony’s soffit caused by recent rain events and to install a drainage system to prevent future flooding and damage to the aircraft hangar.

Brisbane, 28July:A Sportstech Trade and Investment Roundtable is being held in Brisbane to promote trade opportunities and investment interest in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The forum will be moderated by former Wallaby and Australian Sports Commission Executive General Manager, Pat Howard.

• Toowoomba - Russell Mineral Equipment will receive $24,368 to repair the roof and box gutter of 2 Russell Street Toowoomba which was damaged during the February 2022 storms.

• Blackall - Blackall Historical Woolscour - the Historical Woolscour Association will

Trade and Investment Queensland (TIQ), the Palaszczuk Government's global business agency, will introduce a dedicated sportstech stream within its latest Go Global Export Program. The program provides matched funding of up to $25,000 to support Queensland companies who are export ready launching into new international markets.

receive $35,000 to repair and replace roofing sheets and water-damaged flooring in the shearing shed area, which was damaged by the November and December 2021 flooding event

Brisbane, 31 July: Queensland

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk met with His Excellency Mr

WORLD THIS WEEK

In collaboration with National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bengaluru

Authored by Akriti Sharma, Ankit Singh, Padmashree Anandhan, Anu Maria Joseph, Femy Francis and Rishika Yadav, Genesy Balasingam, Sandra Sajeev D Costa and Dhriti Mukherjee

North Korea: Beijing and Pyongyang to further cooperation

On 29 July, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met with the Chinese delegates as part of the 70th Korean War armistice anniversary. The Chinese delegation expressed that they want to further their ties and stated: "Reaffirmed at the talk was the stand of the parties and governments of the two countries to cope with the complicated international situation on their own initiative and steadily develop the friendship and comradely cooperation onto a new high stage."

China: Foreign Minister Qin Gang removed

On 26 July, The Strait Times reported the removal of Qin Gang as the Foreign Minister and the reinsating of former minister Wang Yi. The legislature did not announce any reason for his removal but stated that he will retain a Cabinet position. Qin Gang has

Taiwan: US to supply USD 345 million defence support

On 29 July, Japan Times reported that the US plans to supply Taiwan with USD 345 million worth of arms equipment and training. Defence Minister mentioned that critical defensive stockpiles, multi domain awareness, anti-armor and air-defense capabilities are part of the defence support. China expressed its displeasure; its spokeprson Liu Pengyu asked to: "stop creating new factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait."

Timor-Leste: Visit by Portuguese PM

On 26 July, the government of Timor Leste reported that António Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal visited East Timor from July 25th and 26th, the first by a Portuguese Prime Minister since Timor's new executive took office on 01 July. Portugal aims to strengthen cooperation, friendship, and solidarity with the Portuguese-Speaking Community country, focusing on economics, Portuguese language, mobility, sustainable development, and global challenges.

Myanmar: NUG launches digital bank to support revolution

On 24 July, Myanmar Now reported that Myanmar's National

Unity Government announces the soft launch of Spring Development Bank (SDB), the country's first digital bank, to support the anti-regime Spring Revolution. It aims to cut off junta funds and consolidate fundraising efforts. The bank will have 100 billion shares at USD 0.0001 each and plans to use Myanmar's frozen USD 1.3 billion foreign reserves as collateral. Initially, the SDB will allow deposits in multiple currencies and plans to serve 500,000 users within a year. While some doubt the bank's success due to complexities and duration of the revolution, NUG officials assured the security of user information. NUG Pay operations will be linked with the bank.

Thailand: Pressure on Pheu Thai Party

an open, inclusive and prosper indo-pacific. In Colombo we confirmed it: strong as in our 75 years of diplomatic relations, we would open a new era to our partnership.”

India: Sri Lanka’s President in New Delhi

On 21 July, the President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in India. He met with the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, and the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi. Both countries discussed regional and global issues of mutual interest. One of the key focus of the visit was the joint projects undertaken by the two countries.

Prime Minister of India tweeted: “Glad to welcome President Wickremesinghe. I congratulate him on completing a year in office and working for Sri Lanka’s progress with great courage. Sri Lanka is key to our 'Neighbourhood First' and 'SAGAR' efforts and thus, we discussed ways to deepen bilateral ties.”

Yemen: UN orders an operation to remove oil from a decaying supertanker

declaration that called for “the establishment of a more just, balanced and stable multipolar world order, firmly opposing all types of international confrontation in the African continent."

EU: Council adopts new regulation to control emission of greenhouse gases from maritime sector

On 25 July, a new regulation called 'FuelEU maritime' was introduced by the Council to lower the carbon footprint of the EU's maritime industry. The regulation aims to enhance transparent mechanisms for ship operators and fuel producers. It will help kick-start large-scale production of sustainable maritime fuels, thereby significantly delivering on European and global climate commitments. This initiative is a key component of the EU's Fit for 55 package and it aims to increase demand for and consistent use of renewable and low-carbon fuels.

UK: Foreign Secretary calls for renewed partnership commitments with Middle East

On 27 July, President Joe Biden hosted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House, as Italian PM assented to support the U.S.’s effort in aiding Ukraine. Earlier, Meloni had expressed her willingness to pull Italy out of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. The joint statement reaffirmed unshakable alliance, strategic partnership, and deep friendship between the United States and Italy.

Bolivia: To trade in RMB, following Brazil and Argentina On 27 July, Economy Minister said that Bolivia conducted 10 per cent (USD 38 million) of its foreign trade in RMB. While mentioning commodities under RMB transactions, he said: “Banana, zinc, and wood manufacturing exporters are conducting transactions in yuan, as well as importers of vehicles and capital goods.” According to the director of the Asia & Latin America Program at the Washingtonbased Inter-American Dialogue, the countries conducting trade in RMB are looking to establish stronger ties with China.

On 26 July, Bangkok Post reported that the Pheu Thai party is under pressure to expedite the process of forming a new government, as urged by some of its key figures. The party is currently mulling on the reasons behind its recent by-election defeat in Khon Kaen. This loss has prompted internal discussions and calls for the party to take swift action in establishing a stronger government. Pheu Thai's leaders are facing mounting demands to address the issues within the party and solidify their stance in Thai politics. The coming days are crucial as the party navigates its next steps to ensure a more effective political presence.

Sri Lanka: President of France in Colombo

On 25 July, the UN began transferring one million barrels of oil from a supertanker in Yemen that had been moored off to the Red Sea coast. UN SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres said: “The United Nations has begun an operation to defuse what might be the world’s largest ticking time bomb.”

Syria: Blast kills six lives

On 27 July, six people were killed and many more were wounded after a bomb was placed by unidentified people in a taxi near Syria’s most visited Shia pilgrimage site. The blasts happened a day ahead of Ashura – which is a day of mourning for Shia muslims. The Syrian Interior Minister has termed it a ‘terrorist bombing’.

Russia: The Africa summit at St Petersburg

On 25 July, James Cleverly, UKs Foreign Secretary, started his three-day official tour to Qatar, Kuwait and Jordan to emphasise the UK’s growing partnership with the region – as critical partners in energy, defence and security cooperation. This trip explores various opportunities to strengthen cooperation and economy between the countries. Representatives from UNHCR (the UN’s refugee agency) and the World Food Programme met foreign minister, the minister announced UK’s funding to support women and girls and to help the most vulnerable refugees in Jordan.

The US: Biden welcomes Italian PM at White House

Argentina: IMF approves disbursement of USD 7.5 billion loan

On 28 July, IMF, in a press release, announced combined loan disbursement of the fifth and sixth review while noting down that: “Key programme targets through end-June were missed on account of the larger-thananticipated impact of the drought, as well as policy slippages and delays.” Argentina had signed a thirty extended fund facility of USD 44 billion in March 2022.

About the Authors

Akriti Sharma and Ankit Singh are PhD scholars in the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Padmashree Anandhan, Anu Maria Joseph, Femy Francis and Rishika Yadav are Research Associates at NIAS. Genesy Balasingam, Sandra Sajeev D Costa and Dhriti Mukherjeee are Research Interns at NIAS.

On 28 July, President of France Emmanuel Macron arrived in Sri Lanka for the first time. He met with the President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, and held bilateral talks on regional and global issues of mutual interest. Sri Lanka and France are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic ties. President Macron tweeted: “Sri Lanka and France are two nations in Indian Ocean sharing the same goal:

On 27 July, the second RussiaAfrica Summit began in the Russian city of St Petersburg. Representatives of 49 African countries including 17 heads of state attended the summit. The war in Ukraine and food insecurity following the Russian withdrawal from Black Sea Grain Initiative were the main agenda of the summit. Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised free grain supplies to six African countries. Putin stated: “In the coming months, we will be ready to provide Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, the Central African Republic and Eritrea with 25,000-50,000 tonnes of grain free of charge." The participants signed a joint

Biden to host trilateral summit with S.Korean, Japanese leaders in Aug: WH

Washington/Seoul, July 29 (IANS)

US President Joe Biden will host a trilateral summit with his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington on August 18, the White House said.

"At the summit (in Camp David), the leaders will celebrate a new chapter in their trilateral relationship as they reaffirm their strong bonds of friendship and the ironclad alliances between the US and Japan, and the US and the Republic of Korea," Yonhap News Agency quoted White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre as saying in a statement on Friday, referring to South Korea by its official name.

The leaders will mainly discuss

threats posed by North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile programs, according to JeanPierre. "The three leaders will discuss expanding trilateral cooperation across the IndoPacific and beyond -- including to address the continued threat posed by the DPRK and to strengthen ties with ASEAN and the Pacific Islands," the White House spokesperson said, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Also confirming the development, spokesperson of the South Korean presidential office Lee Do-woon said: "This summit will be an important opportunity to elevate the cooperation among the three countries that share core values to a new level. We expect the three nations to enhance the rules-based international order together and to make more active contributions to regional and global security and economic prosperity."

COP28 president-designate urges G20 to lead climate action

As for the summit's agenda, the spokesperson said the three leaders will hold indepth discussions on policy coordination regarding the North Korean nuclear and missile threats, as well as cooperation on economic security and other major regional and global issues. The proposed summit will be the first stand-alone trilateral summit to be held as the leaders of the US, South Korea and Japan have only held trilateral summits on the sidelines of other gatherings, such as regional meetings, in the past, according to Seoul officials.

John Kirby, National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, said the summit will also mark the first visit to Camp David by a foreign leader since 2015.

"At the summit, the leaders will celebrate a new chapter in their trilateral relationship, and they will reaffirm strong bonds of friendship," Kirby said at a press briefing.

Kim Jong-un meets Chinese delegation after armistice anniversary

to enhancing their bilateral relations, according to the North's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

North Korea implemented border lockdowns due to Covid-19 in early 2020, alongside a Russian delegation.

Kim met the Russian delegation on Wednesday.

Dubai, July 29 (IANS) COP28

President-designate Sultan Al Jaber has called on the G-20 nations to take a leadership role in mitigating climate change, media reported.

Al Jaber, also the UAE's special envoy for climate change, made the call at the G20 Environment and Climate Sustainability Ministerial Meeting held in Chennai, India, said the report on Friday. Noting that the G20 economies account for around 80 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, Jaber said decisions made by the group could "have a huge influence on outcomes for everyone" and therefore urged G20 nations to drive actions to limit global warming to 1.5

degrees Celsius. He also urged solidarity and cooperation among all parties toward scaling up renewable energy, comprehensively decarbonising the energy system, and building a system free of fossil fuels, Xinhua news agency reported.

The president-designate highlighted the importance of making progress on adaptation, a key part of the Paris Agreement, reiterating the need to "move the needle on adaptation finance," which is merely around 10 per cent of that allocated for mitigation.

In the three-day meeting, the G20 major nations failed to agree on concrete targets to mitigate emissions, with disputes lingering over carbon budgets, historical emissions, net-zero goals, and financing for developing countries, according to a document issued by organisers on Friday.

Israel, US wrap up joint naval drill

Seoul, July 29 (IANS) North

Korean leader Kim Jong-un met a Chinese delegation, a day after commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, Pyongyang's state media reported on Saturday.

During Friday's meeting, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment

The Chinese party-government delegation arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday to attend anniversary celebrations held the following day, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Led by Li Hongzhong, a member of the Chinese Communist Party Politburo, the delegation was one of the first foreign groups to visit Pyongyang since

On Friday, Kim expressed gratitude to China for its help during the Korean War and said North Korea will always remember the significant contributions made during its "most difficult period", according to the KCNA.

Kim also voiced his appreciation to Chinese President Xi Jinping for sending the delegation and a personal letter.

SL lifts ban on 5 Islamic groups proscribed under terrorism law in 2019 Easter Sunday terror attack

before the second anniversary of the Easter Sunday attack.

Jerusalem, July 28 (IANS) The Israeli military has said that its Flotilla 13 naval commando unit has concluded a joint exercise with the US Armed Forces. During the drill, dubbed 'Juniper Spartan', the forces held several maritime security training scenarios, according to a statement released by the Israeli military on Thursday. Israel frequently collaborates with the US Armed Forces in

joint drills, which the Israeli Army said would "lead the two sides to mutual learning, the strengthening of professional ties, and professional improvements". The recent exercise was "yet another sign of the deep and operational cooperation between the Israel Defense Forces and the US Armed Forces," the statement said as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. The drill was carried out amid heightened tensions between the Israelis and the Palestinians, growing Israeli concerns over Iran's activities in the Middle East, and internal turmoil triggered by a contentious government plan to overhaul the country's legal system.

Colombo, July 28 (IANS) Sri Lanka has lifted ban on five out of 11 Islamic groups that were proscribed under the terrorism law in connection with the Easter attack more than four years ago.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe in his capacity as the Defence Minister issued an extraordinary gazette lifting the ban issued under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) by the former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The ban has been issued under the section "Proscription of Extremist Organisations" under the PTA on April 13, 2021, a week

The Sri Lanka President repealed the ban on the United Thawheed Jamma'ath (UTJ), Ceylon Thawheed Jamma'ath (CTJ), Sri Lanka Thawheed Jamma'ath (SLTJ), All Ceylon Thawheed Jamma'ath (ACTJ) and the Jamiyathul Ansaari Sunnathul Mohomadiya (JASM).

President Gotabaya had banned the organisation amid the pressure by Catholic Church and the people demanding action against the first-ever coordinated suicide bomb attacks on April 19, 2019, at three churches and three start-class hotels in the capital Colombo.

The attacks killed nearly 270 people, including foreigners, and injured more than 500. Organisations banned included those linked to the main suicide

bomber, who killed himself along with eight others. They had pledged allegiance to the then ISIL leader, Abu Bakr alBaghdadi.

The inquiry into the attacks revealed that India's intelligence services had alerted Sri Lankan intelligence leaders with details on the attack more than two weeks prior to the attacks but Sri Lankan counterparts had failed to act on them.

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court found former President Maithripala Sirisena and four other senior defence officials guilty for their negligence to prevent the attacks.

Former police head Pujith Jayasundera and the then Defence Secretary Hemasiri Fernando were indicted over the attacks but they were acquitted at the end of the trial.

Ukraine requires $37 bn in external financing next year

press service on Thursday.

The official stressed the need for Ukraine to continue its cooperation with the International Monetary Fund and other foreign partners to obtain the aid, Xinhua news agency reported.

Kiev, July 28 (IANS) Andriy

Pyshnyy, Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU), said that Ukraine will require at least $37 billion in external financing next year due to high expenditures on defence.

"International support will remain very important for maintaining macrofinancial stability in the coming years," Pyshnyy was quoted as saying by the bank's

Pyshnyy informed that since the beginning of this year, Ukraine received about $27 billion in international assistance, which allowed it to boost foreign reserves to an all-time high of $39 billion at the end of June. At the end of this year, international assistance for Ukraine is expected to reach $42 billion, Pyshnyy said.

Funding crunch forces WFP to cut operations:

Official

level and catastrophe level, he said.

Daredevil known for stunts dies after falling from top of 68-storey HK skyscraper

United Nations, July 29 (IANS)

A funding crunch is forcing the World Food Programme (WFP) to cut its operations, said a highranking official.

"WFP is in the midst of a crippling funding crisis that is forcing us to scale back life-saving assistance right as acute hunger is hitting record levels," Carl Skau, deputy executive director and chief operating officer of the WFP, told reporters on Friday at the UN Headquarters in New York.

At least 38 of 86 WFP country operations have already cut, or plan to soon cut, the size and scope of life-saving food, cash and nutrition assistance programs, he said.

In Afghanistan, the WFP was forced to cut rations from 75 to 50 per cent for communities

facing emergency level of hunger in March; in Syria, the WFP cut assistance in July for 2.5 million of the 5.5 million people who rely on the agency for their basic food needs; and in Yemen, the agency will be forced to scale down its work as early as next month, with cuts for seven million people across the country, he added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

Most of the countries in West Africa are facing extensive ration cuts, particularly the seven larger crisis operations of Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Niger, and Cameroon, where acute hunger is on the rise, said Skau.

"Less funding means WFP is forced to stop assisting people who are only in the hunger category known as 'crisis level'. This is so that we can save those who are literally starving -those in the catastrophic hunger category," he added.

But what happens is that those people at crisis level of hunger now rapidly drop into emergency

"And so, we will have an additional humanitarian emergency on our hands down the road if this continues. We are entering a humanitarian doom loop where we save people who are starving, at the cost of allowing millions of others to fall closer into that same category. Ration cuts are clearly not the way to go forward," he added.

Skau warned that funding is drying up while humanitarian needs continue to grow and the drivers for hunger remain.

The funding prospects for 2024 are more dire as aid budgets and humanitarian budgets both in Europe and the US are not what they were in 2021 and 2022, he said. World leaders must act to prioritise funding for humanitarian response, enhance coordination among aid organisations and governments, and invest in long-term solutions that address the root causes of these crises, such as conflict resolution, poverty reduction, and sustainable development, Skau added.

Cambodian PM Hun Sen to retire after over 38 yrs, transfer power to son in new govt

Hun Sen said the National Assembly would convene for the first time on August 21 under the auspices of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, and the new five-year-term government led by Hun Manet would be sworn in on August 22, reports Xinhua news agency.

Phnom Penh, July 26 (IANS)

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Wednesday announced that he would step down on August 22 after serving in the post for more than 38 years in the Southeast Asian nation, and would pass the reins of power to his eldest son Hun Manet. "Hun Manet will become the prime minister in just more than three weeks," the world's longest serving living Prime Minister said in a televised address on the state-run National Television of Cambodia (TVK).

The upcoming power transition was to continue ensuring the country's peace and political stability, he said, adding that the new cabinet would consist of young and dynamic leaders.

Hun Sen said the political power would remain in his hand because he was still the president of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP); however, he would not interfere in the new government's leadership.

Hun Sen, 70, said he would take

the post of President of the Senate after the Senate Election on February 25 next year. His announcement came after the CPP won a landslide victory in the seventh general election on Sunday, which was held to elect the members of parliament for the 125-seat National Assembly for the 2023-2028 new term.

The National Election Committee (NEC) released the preliminary results on Wednesday, showing the CPP received almost 6.4 million votes, or 82.3 per cent of the total valid votes of 7.77 million, and the Funcinpec Party led by Prince Norodom Chakravuth gained 716,443 votes, or 9.22 per cent of the total valid votes. Based on the results, the CPP won 120 parliamentary seats and Funcinpec gained the remaining five seats.

Sudan fighting triggers increase of diseases once under control: UN

erupted are now increasing.

"The diseases include malaria, measles, dengue and acute watery diarrhoea," the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Thursday.

Hong Kong, July 31 (IANS) Remi

Lucidi, a 30-year-old French daredevil known for climbing various towers around the world, has died after falling 721-ft from the top of a 68-storey Hong Kong skyscraper that he had been scaling, according to a media report.

Lucidi, known as 'Remi Enigma' on social media, had reached the 68th floor of the 721ft Tregunter Tower, a residential block in Hong Kong's upscale Mid-Levels area before his fatal fall, reports the Daily Mail.

The daredevil had been seen by a maid knocking on the windows of the penthouse to get back inside the building, but fell to his death before any help could arrive.

On the evening of his death on July 27, Lucidi had arrived at the tower at 7.30 p.m. telling a security guard that he was visiting a friend on the 40th floor.

Building surveillance camera footage then sees Lucidi getting out of the elevator on the 49th floor before taking the stairs to the very top on level 68. The door to the rooftop was locked but Lucidi forced it open, said the Daily Mail report.

A day before his death, Lucidi, who went by the name Remi Enigma on Instagram, had posted a picture of high-rises in Hong Kong

Intense heat continues in Japan

Tokyo, July 28 (IANS) The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said scorching heat continued to grip the country on Friday, with the number of prefectures with heatstroke alerts in place reaching a record high of 40. The JMA said that temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius or higher are forecast in Kanto, Tokai,

Kansai and Kyushu regions, while the mercury is expected to hit 39 degrees in the western prefectures of Kyoto and Oita, reports Xinhua news agency. Temperatures are likely to rise further in the afternoon, with daytime highs reaching 39 degrees in Kyoto City and 36 degrees in central Tokyo, said the JMA.

The officials warned that risks of developing heatstroke are extremely high, with 40 prefectures, out of the total 47, having been put on the alert, and called on people to be fully vigilant of the intense heat.

Canadian Prime Minister overhauls cabinet

agency reported.

Ottawa, July 27 (IANS) Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced major changes to his cabinet, introducing new ministers of defence and public safety.

United Nations, July 28 (IANS) UN humanitarians have warned that because fighting in Sudan disrupts public health operations, diseases that had been under control before the conflict

"As the rainy season begins, these outbreaks are likely to claim more lives unless urgent action is taken to control their spread."

The office added there are shortages of crucial medicine

and medical supplies reported in some states, despite health partners' efforts, Xinhua news agency reported. Health facilities and workers in Sudan continue to be targeted, OCHA said.

The World Health Organisation reported 53 attacks on healthcare in Sudan since April, which led to 11 deaths and dozens of injuries.

According to the announcement on Wednesday, the cabinet retains 38 ministers, in addition to the Prime Minister.

A total of 23 ministers were tasked with new roles, including Bill Blair as Minister of National Defence, Dominic LeBlanc as Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Sean Fraser as Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Xinhua news

The shuffle dropped seven ministers and promoted seven new faces. Eight ministers remain in their portfolio which include Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Chrystia Freeland, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry FrançoisPhilippe Champagne, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Steven Guilbeault and Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly. The new cabinet is ready to deliver on what matters most to Canadians including making life more affordable for the middle class and growing the economy, Trudeau said.

Local media reported that it meant to reset the minority Liberal agenda after eight years in power and the prime minister is hoping with these changes to lock in the team he will lead into the next election, currently slated for 2025.

From the editor’s desk India’s success stories in bilateral relations with Egypt & UAE

A feisty cricketer who performed selflessly for his team

It is true cricket lives on even after the very best in business have decided to hang up their cricketing boots. The greats of different eras in different departments of this insatiable game have played their last match as if it were their first, and fans have wished they could catch the man playing more of the game. But like all callings, retirement is also a calling from the farthest corners of one’s heart perhaps, when the soul is willing but the body is too wearied to continue to perform at the highest level. Age hardly matters in sport, and lesser mortals don’t get to play Test matches beyond the limits of their counting fingers, definitely not 167 Test matches. And if you are someone by the name Stuart Broad and you happen to play for one of the most competitive sides in world cricket in contemporary times, you have to have quite a big heart to renounce the world of cricket. Cricket was all about fierce competition, and the best and the worst both are on display when the Ashes is underway. And cricket is a religion in the Indian subcontinent, but the religious fervour of the game is now fast catching up in other countries as well, including in England and Australia. And Broad is Broad. He is always at you when he bowls, and has never been known to let his team down, though challenges have presented themselves before him in the battlefield of the game of cricket.

When former Indian all rounder Yuvraj pays glowing tributes to Stuart Broad, the man who had hit him out of the park in the form of six sixes in an over, gritty Broad has come back and proved his mettle to himself and to the world. Taking to Twitter Yuvraj wrote on July 30 as would anyone who has played Broad, “Congratulations on an incredible Test career one of the finest and most feared red ball bowlers, and a real legend! Your journey and determination have been super inspiring. Good luck for the next leg Broady!”

Stuart Broad, the innocentlooking lad with his blond hair and baby-faced good looks, is feistier than many cricketers the world of cricket has produced. Once the fifth and final Ashes Test is over, no matter who wins or the match is drawn if rain plays spoilsport, Broad’s newball partnership with James Anderson for England would be missed by international cricket. Broad has been instrumental in sustaining the English Test attack for years, and he has done so with intensity and aggression, exhibiting his

ability to bounce any batsman to utter submission or remain anchored without too many shots to the fence. He matched Anderson's technical excellence with nicety. While doing the duty of bowling, playing second fiddle to Anderson was never a problem for Broad. And the cricketing world acknowledges now that when Broad and Anderson bowl in tandem, the English attack becomes formidable.

One of Broad’s sterling career performances that will be remembered by the fans for years was when he took 8 for 15 as Australia were bowled out before lunch, in only 18.3 overs, for 60 in an Ashes Test in 2015 on his home ground of Trent Bridge.

Broad has always had the ability to raise his bowling when the need arose for the team. As an instance of that one may reminisce the occasion of his 100th Test in November 2016, when he had taken five wickets in a single spell seven times. Those are the moments he is at his dangerous best as he runs in hard to bowl the very best he has in his arsenal. Sometimes his combative fast bowling would overwhelm him and he would show the volatile side of his temperament for which he has been subjected to criticism as well. But he has been respected wherever he went. The English management showed their belief and appreciation by making him Twenty20 captain, and he led the side on 27 occasions between 2011and 2015. However the management realized he was a very precious Test player who needed to be retained for Test services only. Broad has picked 178 wickets in 121 ODIs, and 65 wickets in 56 T20Is since his international debut in August 2006. In Test cricket, from 167 games he has picked up 602 wickets. He is undeniably a great cricketer of his generation, and will be remembered for his grit and determination in trying conditions across generations. He is in fifth place on the all-time list of Test wicket-takers and is one of only two fast bowlers to take over 600 wickets, alongside his bowling partner Jimmy Anderson. Quite appropriately, Stuart Broad received a guard of honour from Australia as he walked out to bat for one last time in Test cricket during Day Four of the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval on July 30.

Former England captains Michael Atherton and Nassir Hussain feel it was the right decision on the part of Stuart Broad, who has served England very well for so long, to retire at the top of his form in the game.

By Rabindra Mukherji

Though Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visits to US and France have been much publicized and debated upon, there were two other important visits he had embarked on which were not paid attention to, owing to the influence of social media on mainstream media these days. While returning to India from his US visit, Indian Prime Minister Modi halted for a two-day visit to Egypt. The visit was significant to the extent that some analysts went so far as to hail the visit as a potential game changer for bilateral ties. When highprofile visits are reciprocated, just as Modi visited Egypt after Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s January visit to New Delhi when he was the chief guest at India’s 74th Republic Day celebrations, bilateral relations become meaningful, and more importantly, an environment of trust and mutual understanding is built around such a relationship. Incidentally, El-Sisi was the first Egyptian president who was accorded the honour of becoming the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations.

Modi’s visit to Egypt was expected to enhance substantially India’s investment in the country, and in return an opportunity for Egypt to gain entry to the BRICS economic bloc. Significantly, Modi’s visit to Egypt was his first as prime minister and the first by any Indian prime minister since 1997. What el-Sisi’s India visit achieved in elevating bilateral relations to a strategic level, Modi’s visit to Egypt cemented it further. Moreover, Modi’s visit has defined the path ahead for the future of India-Egypt relations.

Regarding the visit Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi quite rightly pointed out that the visit will not only continue the momentum to the relationship between the two countries, but will also help it expand to new areas of trade and economic engagement. Nowadays none of the visits of a leader are looked upon as successful unless it has achieved something in terms of a trade or business deal. While on one hand Egypt

apt one, as still China’s bilateral trade with Egypt is $15bn, which is double that of India’s $7.26bn in 2021-22. Therefore visits like that of both the leaders to each other’s country can pave the way for a better and stronger bilateral relations which will benefit both countries, in the long run and in the short run.

In that context Egyptian ambassador to India, Wael Mohamed Awad Hamed’s remark in calling the reciprocal visits “game-changers” is most appropriate and made in the right spirit.

has achieved in diversifying partnerships beyond the Western bloc, India has managed to strengthen its position as a representative of the Global South before the G20 meeting in September in New Delhi.

Since the days of the Non-aligned movement, of which India and Egypt were also the founding members in 1961, both the countries have close relations. The significance of India for Egypt can be gauzed from the fact that in recent years, el-Sisi has visited India thrice. Having realized India’s potential as an emerging economic power, Egypt has sought India’s investment in the country. India, on the other hand needs Egypt in order to look for more access to the Middle East and North Africa region.

While it is true that Egypt and India have had friendly relations historically, there is a greater need for both countries to seek renewed friendship and cooperation of each other. BRICS is one grouping where world’s significant economies with a lot of potential meet. Egypt wants to become its member and India also wants Egypt in BRICS to balance China in this organization. Also, with this visit to Egypt, Modi may have been able to send a message to the domestic audience in India that India and Egypt, the most powerful Arab country, have close relationship because Egypt realizes Modi does as much for the Muslims in India as he does for the Hindus or any other community.

From Egypt’s point of view, it would like to stabilize its position economically given the fact that it is going through a food supply crisis owing to the RussiaUkraine war. The foreign reserves are also low, which can be strengthened after Egypt trades with India. It is very important for Egypt to regain its lost position in the Arab world. For that trade relations with India will be beneficial for Cairo.

As for India, Cairo can serve as a gateway to major markets in both Europe and Africa. Moreover, India’s concern regarding China’s growing influence in Egypt is an

Another of Modi’s important foreign trips was the recent visit to UAE after his visit to France for the Bastille Day celebrations there. Modi’s fifth visit to UAE as Prime Minister began on July 15. This visit was looked upon by many foreign policy experts as a significant transformation in India-UAE relations. Modi’s previous visit to UAE as Prime Minister was in 2015, which was incidentally the first visit to UAE by an Indian Prime Minister after 34 years.

Both Indian Prime Minister Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan are said to share a common vision of friendship and cooperation between both the countries. Modi’s first visit in 2015 to UAE had seen bilateral relations being elevated to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership. It is significant that both Modi and UAE President are in favour of bringing development and prosperity in the region. There have been rapid strides made in strong economic exchanges, in terms of trade and investments, people-to-people connects, and also sharing of views on many regional and international issues. Bilateral trade has increased to $85 billion in 2022-23, making UAE India's third-largest trading partner. UAE has also become India’s second largest country in terms of export. It is the only nation from the region which has offered to store strategic oil reserves in India. UAE has also built the first Hindu temple in Dubai, a symbol of friendship with India, and recognition of the aspirations of the Indian Diaspora.

Moreover, the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) signed between both countries in 2022 has ushered in an era of tremendous increase in trade and economic partnership between India and UAE. CEPA has a target and it is to increase employment opportunities and bilateral trade in goods to US$100 billion in five years and trade in services up to US$15 billion. The agreements between India and UAE symbolize the trust and commitment both countries have in valuing each other’s friendship.

Increased terror threat to India

By Asad Mirza

New Delhi, July 31 (IANS) A recent UN report has identified India as one of the peripheral countries where terrorist organisations like Al Qaeda, Islamic State (IS) and Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) are planning to increase their presence.

The report by the Analytical Support and Sanctions

Monitoring Team of the UN Security Council says that Al Qaeda is regrouping in Talibanled Afghanistan. But what is more worrying is that around 200 fighters of the Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), the South Asia-focused branch of the parent terrorist organisation, are still active, and who might be planning operations in Jammu and Kashmir, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The report says that the AQIS is grooming an affiliate for Kashmir operations. Plus, it also raises concern on Talibanruled Afghanistan becoming the epicentre of global terrorism, with around 20 militants groups operating from its soil. While developing their network at home in India, the IS supporters also provides recruits to join jihadi organisations, outside India. According to reports, as many as 200 have left India, a significant number of these are from Kerala. Although this

number might look surprisingly low considering India’s large Muslim population, the participation had an impact on the domestic network, forming an important conduit for advice and communication with the organisation in Syria and in Afghanistan.

As per the Washington-based US Institute of Peace (USIP) report, one of those who benefited from this link was Umar Nisar Bhat.

Nisar was a central figure in the pro-IS network in India from the inception of ISJK, playing a major role in the network’s propaganda dissemination until his arrest in July 2021.

But the threat here is multiorganisational, not just from Taliban or the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), but also from the ISKP, which has emerged as one of the dominant terrorist organisation in Afghanistan.

The IS’s presence in South Asia is not limited to Afghanistan and Pakistan but extends to include “periphery” territory, including India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

Reportedly, Al Qaeda uses Afghanistan as an ideological and logistical hub to mobilise and recruit new fighters while covertly rebuilding its external operations capability.

According to the UN report, the Al Qaeda core in Afghanistan

remains stable at 30 to 60 members, while all fighters in the country are estimated to be 400. The report also mentions Osama Mehmood being the AQIS chief. One of the most alarming aspect of the UN report is that Al Qaeda is maintaining “a close and symbiotic” relationship with the Taliban government. Under the patronage of highranking Taliban officials, Al Qaeda members “infiltrate law enforcement agencies and public administration bodies”, ensuring the security of the group’s cells across Afghanistan.

Though, Al Qaeda’s capability to conduct large-scale terror attacks “remains reduced while its intent remains firm”.

The report says that Al Qaeda is also working to strengthen cooperation with non-Afghan terror groups such as the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) and Jamaat Ansarullah.

Meanwhile, a war of words between TTP and ISKP has also been reported, with each blaming and criticising the other having ties with regional intelligence agencies.

The UN report also assessed the Islamic State of Iraq and LevantKhorasan Province (ISIL-KP) as the “most serious terrorist threat in Afghanistan and the wider region”.

The ISIL-KP has actually in recent years developed close links with AQIS and many recruits from India and Pakistan have worked for this terror network.

For the Indian government, the most alarming aspect is the aspirations of the AQIS targeting India and Kashmir, which has been on its radar since 2010 onwards. However, as per another UN report of 2017, Al Qaeda has not been able to make significant inroads into the Kashmir theatre. The new threat, as evident from the UN report, may be a renewed effort by the terror group to reinvigorate its network.

However, as per the USIP report the IS has largely failed to mobilise large numbers of supporters in India to migrate to the Levant or to engage in extremist activities at home. The group’s presence in India started with the establishment of several pro-Islamic State groups operating in the Indianadministered region of Jammu and Kashmir.

In July 2017, these supporters took the name “Islamic State in Jammu and Kashmir” (ISJK), yet it was not until May 2019 that the IS officially established a separate province in India, also covering Kashmir, as per the USIP report.

The USIP report further says that the nexus of AQIS-ISIL-KP has already made its foray into India. This terror network poached some youth from Kerala who went missing and then were reported to have joined IS.

Similarly, many youth who were arrested between 2013 to 2016 from various locations like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi and Odisha were supposed to be members of the AQIS.

The UN report has also expressed concerns that the outlawed TTP could become a regional threat if it continues to have a safe operating base in Afghanistan. Part of the reason why India, despite its large Muslim population, has seen fewer attacks than other countries in the region are due to India’s counterterrorism capabilities, which have considerably improved since the devastating 2008 Mumbai attack.

The USIP report suggests that to counter radicalisation, states can promote political pluralism and respect for minorities. Government policies that discriminate against, marginalise, and even violently repress minorities are fostering severe domestic cleavages in South Asian countries, alienating groups to the extent that some of their members look to the IS to help them fight back.

To mitigate the risks associated with such policies, India should promote political and religious pluralism respecting all minorities.

(Asad Mirza is a Delhi-based senior political and international affairs commentator. He also served as an Advisor to the UNCT panel for two years)

Bengal wrongs don’t make Manipur right

That teen's story became headlines then. The police made some arrests and voices were raised about women's safety and dignity.

New Delhi, July 23 (IANS) There can be no worse horror. What two women in Manipur underwent is shocking and unnerving. The entire episode raises serious questions on the fragility of the dignity of women in our country. And there seems to be no end to such cases.

Similar cases have occurred in the past, some have come to light and many may have gone unreported.

In August 2010, an Adivasi teen was paraded naked and molested across three villages in West Bengal. The incident would have gone unnoticed, but for one of the several MMSes that the men recorded on their mobile phones and these reached the media three months later, which made the police act.

The video was grotesque, showing the teen struggling to shake groping hands off her, desperately trying to seek a cover and after some time walking like a log of wood with a face that haunts sane minds.

Thirteen years later, a similar horrifying incident occurred in Manipur, the only difference being that the number of women was two. Again, the case came to light nearly four months after it took place. One of the several videos reached the media and occupied the headlines.

Soon, the chest beating began and political leaders made statements, most of which were stingingly aimed at each other. The Opposition made a direct attack on the Prime Minister, questioning his silence and seeking his statement in Parliament.

Both Houses of Parliament have witnessed commotion on the first two days of the Monsoon Session. On social media, campaigns for justice for the two Manipuri women are being run and the Opposition is trying its best to corner the Centre and state governments.

As the political uproar over the Manipur women's case grew, the BJP came out with similar cases taking place in West Bengal.

BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya tweeted some similar horror videos from West Bengal. On July

8, the day of the panchayat poll in West Bengal, a "Gram Sabha female candidate [was] beaten, stripped naked and paraded in Howrah's Panchla, a stone's throw away from Nabanno, where Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sits".

In her complaint the woman has accused "Hemanta Roy, TMC candidate from the same Gram Sabha, along with other criminals and 40-50 other men of hitting her on chest, tearing her saree and pulled off her inner wear, before parading her naked."

Malviya also tweeted another case: "Two tribal women were stripped naked, tortured and beaten mercilessly while the police remained mute spectators in the Pakua Hat area of Bamangola Police Station, Malda, in West Bengal. The horrific incident took place on the morning of July 19. The women belonged to socially marginalised community." In this case the perpetrators were women and the men were only making videos. While women mourn the death of their dignity, the politicians and their parties are engaged in scoring brownie points. But the trauma that the women underwent will haunt them and their families for life. They will be in pain forever and nothing can compensate for that. One of them also lost her father and brother.

What happened in a Bengal village in 2010 recurred in a Manipur village in 2023. The reasons offered for the barbarity were different. The teen girl of 2010 was punished because she was going around with a boy from a different community. The villagers, instead of being ashamed of what they put her through, were unrepentant. Similarly, the Manipur incident was the worst case of a mob that wanted revenge.

The Supreme Court also took suo motu cognizance of the horrific video of the two women in Manipur. Expressing "deep concern" over the video of the two women being paraded naked in Manipur and calling it "simply unacceptable" and "the grossest of constitutional and human rights violations", a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud told the Centre to act, and warned "otherwise, we will take action if nothing is happening on the ground".

Even as the ruling party, the Opposition and even the Supreme Court are talking about Manipur, there are thousands of cases of women being humiliated, tortured, assaulted and killed, and no justice being done.

Thirty-three years ago, Girija Tickoo, a university librarian in Kashmir, was kidnapped,

tortured, gang-raped and then brutally murdered by cutting her alive with a carpenter's saw. The case has been much talked about, but justice continues to elude her family even today.

The list is long and full of horrifying stories. The cases of crime against women are ever increasing.

Political noise and candlelight marches or campaigns on social media do not change anything. Momentary din leads to no justice and the country has seen enough of this. Even the most talked about case -- Nirbhaya -- took seven years, three months and four days to be brought to its right conclusion, when the four convicts -- Mukesh, Pawan, Akshay and Vinay -- were hanged to death in Delhi's Tihar Jail. It will need humongous efforts to bring much-needed change.

Unless and until the change is in the fundamentals of our society's way of thinking and attitudes, in the enforcement of strict laws and quick justice, and in making moral education mandatory in formative years, the horror will surface again and again.

(Deepika Bhan can be reached at deepika.b@ians.in)

Deepika Bhan

Sitar - The Sound of India | Purbayan Chatterjee & Jay Dabgar

from meditational to sheer energy and excitement.

Weaving a musical fabric

Purbayan Chatterjee & Jay Dabgarpresent their Adelaide concert as part of a national tour and invite QLD audiences to enjoy an evening of classical Indian music in the ambient environment of Brisbane Multicultural Arts Centre.

Purbayan Chatterjee: Based in Mumbai, India, Purbayan is one of the finest contemporary Sitar players performing Indian Classical music. Through the mesmerising sounds of his Sitar playing, he has attained a reputation as one of the great sitar players of his generation.

Date: 4th Aug 2023, Time 7.30pm to 9.30pm

Brisbane Multicultural Arts

Centre

Level 1/102 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, QLD 4169

Bookings: https://bemac.org.au/event/

purbayan-chatterjee-and-jaydabgar/

One of India's most celebrated sitar players Pandit Purbayan

Chatterjee is joined by tabla virtuoso Jay Dabgar on a national tour presenting a series of exciting concerts featuring instrument that best captures

the essence of Indian traditional music.

Experience musical virtuosity with unusual energy, skills and dynamic improvisation. Purbayan Chatterjee presents the sitar in all its shades and textures both melodic and playful and wistful and spiritual. The music ranges

Virginia Governor appoints IndianAmericans to key admin posts

state’s health education system. The board’s responsibilities include overseeing the operations of the health system, as well as providing strategic direction to various medical schools and hospitals.

Harshad Barot, owner of Galaxy Corporation and Kamlesh Dave, President, Heart Care Associates, were named to the Virginia Asian Advisory Board, which serves as a formal liaison between the administration and the diverse and rapidly growing Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in the Commonwealth.

In their new role, Barot and Dave will advise the Governor on ways to improve economic and cultural links between the Commonwealth and Asian nations.

Padmanabhan Seshaiyer, Professor and Director of George Mason University, and Kunal Kumar, President of Pooja Group, were named to the Virginia Board of Workforce Development, which acts as the principal advisor to the Governor and provides strategic leadership to the state regarding the workforce development system and its efforts to create a strong workforce aligned with employer needs.

Purbayan belongs to the famous Senia Maihar Gharana, the musical school established by, Baba Allauddin Khan (the guru of renowned artists including Ustad Ali Akbar Khan). Purbayan also studied

with Ustad Ali Akbar Khan on the sarod as well as with sitar players Pandit Ravi Shankar and Pandit Nikhil Banerjee. In addition to his mastery of North Indian raga music, he also performs with musicians from the South Indian raga tradition and participates in various fusion projects with jazz. His music has been appreciated by jazz greats, such as Chick Corea, Bella Fleck, and Pat Metheney, as well as by world musicians all over the globe. In addition to this, he is an astounding vocalist and has lent his soulful voice to many mellifluous compositions. Purbayan has designed the DWO, which is a Doppelganger of the Indian Sitar. Purbayan's DWO celebrates the oneness of two. It creates sound where the acoustic and the digital, where the ancient and the modern, where the ethnic and the urban, where the esoteric and the virtuosic, all complement each other and become one.

New UK passports to bear

Majesty’ title for the first time since 1952

New York, July 19 (IANS) Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin has announced additional key administration and board appointments, which includes many Indian-Americans.

Dr Bimaljit Singh Sandhu, a gastroenterologist at Richmond

Gastroenterology Associates, took oath as a board member of the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Authority.

As board member, Sandhu, who migrated from Punjab to the US in 2004, will play a pivotal role in the

"I am thankful for these appointees' service to our Commonwealth as we continue to make Virginia the best place to live, work and raise a family," Governor Youngkin said in statement released last week. "Their critical work will provide essential help as we move into my administration's day two agenda," he added.

London, July 19 (IANS) British passports bearing the title of ‘His Majesty’ will start being issued this week in the name of King Charles III for the first time in 70 years.

"For 70 years, Her Majesty has appeared on British passports and many of us will not remember a time when she did not feature. Today marks a significant moment in UK history, as the first British passports since 1952 start featuring the title of His Majesty, the King," Home Secretary Suella Braverman announced on Tuesday.

In the first six months of 2023, over five million passports were processed with more than 99 per cent issued within the standard UK service of 10 weeks, the vast majority well within this timeline, with over 90 per cent delivered within three weeks.

This marks a significant improvement in HM (His Majesty's) Passport Office’s performance since 2022, during which time 95.4 per cent of passports were issued within this 10-week timeframe, a Home Office statement said.

According to the statement, the success can be attributed to a series of strategic measures

implemented to overcome the challenges faced in early 2022, including process improvements, significant advancements in digital systems, enhanced access to flexible resources, and the introduction of a second supplier of customer contact services. The earliest recorded British passport can be traced back to the reign of Henry V in 1414 and documents were known as safe conducts.

It was not until 1915 that the first modern-style British passports, including a photograph and signature were first issued. The first security feature, a special watermark, was introduced in passports in 1972. Since then, a large number of security features have been incorporated into British passports -- from watermarks, holograms, elaborately printed patterns, to the polycarbonate page.

The first burgundy-coloured machine-readable passports were issued in 1988 and over 30 years later, in 2020, the distinctive blue cover was re-introduced following the departure of the UK from the EU.

‘His

Singapore

minister asks police

Offering his condolences to Gopal's family, Shanmugam said Gopal died "under tragic circumstances", and asked Singapore police to look into the allegations made by the officer before his death.

“(Mr Uvaraja) has put up a post, which among other things, says he faced racial discrimination in SPF (Singapore Police Force). These and other allegations are serious,” Shanmugam said in a Facebook post on July 21.

to

probe racial bias faced by deceased Indian-origin cop

the workplace by his superiors and racially abused by his team members, and claimed that he had sought help but did not receive any.

"The police were aware of the challenges at work which had been raised by the officer in his Facebook post, and we had extended various assistance to him," the SPF said in a post shared on Facebook.

Indian expat in Dubai flies home with 10kg tomatoes in suitcase

Twitter with many asking the user questions on storage and customs rules.

Singapore, July 22 (IANS)

Following the death of an Indian-origin cop in Singapore, Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam has asked police to investigate claims of racial discrimination, workplace bullying and other allegations.

Uvaraja Gopal, 36, died in hospital on Friday after he was found lying motionless at the foot of a residential block in Yishun, The Straits Times reported, citing Singapore police.

“I have asked SPF to investigate the matter thoroughly. We will get to the bottom of it. And be accountable. We have a clear policy of non-discrimination. All officers are entitled to be treated fairly. SPF as an organisation is committed to that principle. We will investigate the facts,” Shanmugam wrote.

In a Facebook post, which has since been made unavailable, Gopal had said he was bullied at

They further said that they did not suspect foul play, and that investigations are ongoing into the unnatural death.

"We will be looking thoroughly and will investigate into all the issues he has raised in his post," police said.

"We are all deeply saddened by the passing of a colleague. We extend our deepest condolences to the family of the officer and are assisting the family in their time of grief."

Critical north Brisbane road project could be bust within a week without Federal Labor decision

“Brisbane is the fastest growing capital city in Australia right now,” Cr Wines said.

“Interstate and international migration rates indicate that’s not going to change any time soon.

New Delhi, July 21 (IANS) To fulfil her mother's wish, a Dubai expat has flown back to India with 10 kg of tomatoes in her suitcase packed in kitchen storage containers. The woman who was coming home to India for holidays asked her mother what she wanted from Dubai, who said tomatoes in response, considered highly valuable these days in the country amid their surging prices.

Sharing the anecdote, the expat's sister, who goes by the name Revs on Twitter, wrote: “My sister is coming to India from Dubai for her children's summer holidays, and she asked my mum if she wanted anything from Dubai and my mother said bring 10 kilos of tomatoes. And so now she has packed 10 kg tomatoes in a suitcase and sent it.

On being asked by another user about the shelf life of tomatoes, usually a week, Revs said the 10 kg package would be made into pickles and chutneys, among other things, adding that as a family, they use a “ridiculous amount” of tomatoes for consumption.

Twitter user Nayantara Bagla said: “Best daughter award might be going in that direction for these times of inflation,"

Another user pointed out that her sister was a “saint of a daughter”. Tomato prices have risen in recent weeks, rising from an average of Rs 20 per kg to as much as Rs 250 per kg in parts of the country.

Customs officials recently released three tonnes of tomatoes that were being smuggled into India from Nepal.

Tomatoes cost around Rs 100 to Rs 110 in Nepali currency, which is Rs 62-69 in India.

A congestion-busting road project could be scrapped within seven days, Brisbane Civic Cabinet Chair for Infrastructure Andrew Wines has warned.

The $92 million Beams Road upgrade is one of dozens of Brisbane projects left in limbo by the Federal Labor Government’s 90-day review of infrastructure funding.

Cr Wines said the future of the jointly-funded project is now at a critical stage after Labor’s review forced Council to pause awarding the tender.

“I’m advised the tenders submitted for the Beams Road project will expire on August 7, in just a weeks’ time,” he said.

“If the Federal Government can’t make up its mind by then it will mean one of two things.

“Either this much-needed upgrade to Beams Road is scrapped entirely, which is bad news for Brisbane motorists.

“Or new tenders will be required at a later stage which will result in

the project cost increasing by tens of millions of dollars, which is bad news for taxpayers.

“Council has already spent over $17 million on early works for Beams Road and invested in a significant stockpile of concrete pipes for this and other projects,” he said.

“It shouldn’t take a Canberra bureaucrat 90 days to figure out that this project stacks up.

“All they need to do is go down there one morning or afternoon during peak times to see how congested Beams Road is.”

The upgrade, addressing more than 2km of the beams road corridor will reduce congestion by widening Beams Road to four lanes and improving intersections between Lacey and Handford roads while also incorporating significant public and active transport solutions.

Cr Wines said the Federal Government should be investing in Brisbane roads, not cutting projects.

“Now is the time to be investing more in our transport and infrastructure network, not stripping money from important projects that will help Brisbane motorists get home sooner and safer.

“Our Council is playing its part by investing in important road upgrades, like the Moggill Road Corridor Upgrade Project, and public and active transport solutions, like the Brisbane Metro and green bridges.

“By ripping money from our road projects, Federal Labor is condemning motorists to gridlock and demonstrating they’re more interested in Sydney and Melbourne.

“Short-sighted decisions to ditch investment in our transport and infrastructure network now will only make the cost of tackling congestion far more in the future.”

By Cr Andrew Wines, Chair of the Infrastructure Department, Brisbane City Council

Brisbane projects impacted by Federal Labor’s 90-day review include:

• Beams Road level crossing removal (QLD State Government project)

• Lindum level crossing (QLD State Gov project, delivered by Council)

• $11.7M worth of Council road

projects funded by the 2023-24 Roads to Recovery program

• $11.7M worth of Council road and infrastructure projects funded by the 2023-24 Local Roads and Community Infrastructure program

• Approximately $3M worth of Council road safety upgrades through the Black Spot program annually

• Boundary Road (Coopers Plains), level crossing removal (QLD State Government project)

“Apparently she put it in big Pearlpet dabbas (boxes) and put the dabbas in a suitcase and brought them.”

With 53.2k views at present, the amusing story has gone viral on

According to reports, delayed monsoons, high temperatures, and low production might be behind the increase in prices of tomatoes recently.

Heavy rains have also contributed to the significant spike in prices.

FREE $1000 Gift Card, FREE 1 year Management Fees – HURRY!

In the dynamic world of real estate, you are bound to come across enticing offers from property management companies, such as tempting $1,000 gift cards or promises of 12 months of free management services just to get your business and to manage your properties. While these might seem like excellent deals, it is

crucial to look beyond the surface and understand the potential pitfalls of such offerings.

It's essential to consider the sustainability of these firms before entrusting them with the management of your valuable properties. A constant rotation of property managers can be disruptive and unsettling, leading

to potential misunderstandings about your property's specific needs and the well-being of your tenants. While the idea of costeffectiveness is appealing, we urge you to be cautious about making decisions solely based on price. There have been unfortunate cases where property management companies employing such gimmicks to grow their rent-roll quickly and then on sell it for a premium price. This can have severe consequences for you as a landlord and for the tenants residing in your property, causing uncertainty to be “sold off” At its core, property management is not just about seeking the cheapest option available. It involves managing people's homes, where families reside and create memories. Your property is a culmination of your hard work and financial investment, and it deserves the best care possible. Effective property management relies on open and transparent

communication, fostering strong relationships with both landlords and tenants. A reliable property manager acts as the vital link between you and your tenants, handling maintenance issues, rent collection, and addressing concerns promptly and professionally.

An experienced property manager possesses the wisdom to make informed decisions on maintenance matters, ensuring your property remains well-maintained without compromising on quality. This level of expertise can only come from years of experience, something that might be lacking in discount property management companies that focus primarily on cost-cutting.

In conclusion, we urge you to look beyond the tempting offers and consider the long-term implications of your choice in property management. Your investment deserves a dedicated partner who can provide quality service, effective communication,

and valuable experience. By prioritizing value over cost, you can safeguard your investments and build successful, lasting relationships with property management companies you can trust.

So, if you're ready to take the next step towards better property management, I invite you to call me today on 0424 164 980 or email to anna@lyrahomes.com.au for a quick chat on how I can help you manage your investments better. Let's work together to ensure your properties are wellcared for and thriving, allowing you to maximize your returns and achieve peace of mind as a successful investor.

Warmest Regards

Anna Khandhar (Bhavna) 0424 164 980 ; anna@lyrahomes. com.au

Principal, Lyra Homes Pty Ltd

Building 6, 2404 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains, QLD 4133

Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards crowns local photographers

From Lord Mayor’s Desk: A captivating image of a riverside alleyway has taken the top prize in the 2023 Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner congratulated local photographer, Conner Gouws on his win, which included a $5000 cash prize. “Brisbane is absolutely brimming with talent and creativity,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Conner’s photo of a riverside alleyway, nestled within city streets, captures a peaceful stillness that’s removed from the

hustle and bustle.

“The 2023 theme ‘Rediscover Brisbane’ encouraged photographers to share their own unique view of Brisbane and we received more than 2000 individual entries.

“This year’s category winners have done an incredible job of capturing Brisbane through their own lens.

“From the quiet beauty of Brisbane streets to vibrant multicultural celebrations and photos that unravel the untold stories of residents.”

Winners of the Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards 2023:

• Open category, $5000 – Conner

Gouws

• Open category first runner-up, $2000 – Rosemary Featherstone

• Open category second runnerup, $1000 – Tae Young

• Green Heart category, $1500 –Trevor Petersen

• Student category, $1500 –Tapash Alister

• Social Media category, $1500 –Jane Hatzl

• LaVonne Bobongie Award, $1500

– Daniel Fewquandie

• People's Choice Award, $1500 –voting open now!

Fiji sees strong growth in tourist arrivals

the island nation recorded 90,460 visitor arrivals in June alone, equivalent to 106 per cent of June 2019 figures, reports Xinhua nes agency.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner encouraged residents to jump online and cast their vote to help decide the winner of the 2023 People’s Choice Award.

“Voting is now open for the People’s Choice Award, which comes with a $1500 cash prize,” Cr Schrinner said.

“There are 24 images in the running. I encourage everyone to jump online and vote for their favourite photograph.”

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards was one example of

the many free and affordable programs available to Brisbane residents.

“This annual competition is fun, free to enter, and the winners receive a share of more than $15,000 in prizes,” Cr Schrinner said.

“This could go towards new camera equipment or just some extra cash for the hip-pocket.

“I’m committed to providing free and affordable activities across Brisbane, whether it’s photography competitions, our free Active and Healthy classes or

our $2 Summer Dips Program.”

The winning images and finalists’ photos for the People’s Choice Award can be viewed in person at the Brisbane Square Library or the People’s Gallery in Brisbane City Hall Library.

For more information and to cast your vote in the People’s Choice Award, visit brisbane.qld.gov. au and search ‘People’s Choice Award’.

Voting for the People’s Choice Award will close at 4pm on Friday 18 August.

Australia failing to reduce road deaths: Report

Canberra, July 24 (IANS) Road deaths in Australia continue to rise, marking a failure to improve road safety, a new report revealed on Monday.

According to the new Benchmarking of the National Road Safety Strategy report, which was published by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA), 1,205 people died on Australian roads in the 12 months to the end of June, reports Xinhua

news agency.

It marked an increase of 3.2 per cent from the previous year.

The new report shows that Australia is far from on course to meet the strategy's targets of halving road deaths by 2030 and reducing serious injuries by 30 per cent over that period.

Michael Bradley, Managing Director of the AAA, criticised the federal government, calling for

data that track serious injuries, urban road deaths and national highway deaths per annum to be made available.

"You can't improve what you don't measure, and when it comes to road trauma, the Australian government is measuring very little," he said in a statement. He said a new approach is needed, starting with national statistics to guide law enforcement, road investment, and policy change.

Suva, July 21 (IANS) Fiji witnessed an 11-per cent increase in tourist arrivals for June this year compared to the same period in 2019.

Tourism Fiji said on Friday that

Neighboring countries Australia and New Zealand contributed to 73 per cent of visitor arrivals, with 24,000 visitors from New Zealand, the highest in a month since the reopening of borders following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fiji has welcomed 417,852 arrivals this year and 1,077,390 since the reopening of borders in 2021.

Tribal women who were paraded naked by mob in Manipur approach SC

Continued from Page 1 asked the Centre and the state governments to apprise it about the steps taken by July 28.

“Using women as instruments for perpetrating violence is simply unacceptable in a constitutional

democracy,” said a bench headed by CJI D.Y. Chandrachud on July 20, a day after the viral video surfaced on social media.

The bench told the Solicitor General of India that the top court will be constrained to “step in”

if the state government does not take action. "We will give a little time to the government to act otherwise we will take action," it had said.

Keeping close watch on developments in Pacific Island nations: Govt

New Delhi, July 23 (IANS) Government has said that it is aware of various developments related to Pacific Island countries and is keeping a close watch with a bearing on India’s security and interests.

The government said that it is also taking all necessary measures to safeguard India’s interests.

The government’s response came after a question was asked in Lok Sabha whether the government has taken note of the steps taken by the Chinese government for influencing the South Pacific small island nations for setting up its bases to tighten its grip over the region.

Indo-Canadian fined $60K

Toronto, July 14 (IANS) An IndoCanadian gas station owner has been fined $60,000 after a human rights tribunal found that he took advantage of an Indian worker's precarious immigration status. Kuldip Singh, owner of Husky gas station in Burnaby, withheld Harika Kasagoni's overtime pay for two years and accused her of lying about an injury, CBC News reported. She had filed a WorkSafeBC claim for her injury, which angered Singh, who then ended up firing her from the job, which was essential for her to obtain permanent residency status.

The government was further asked whether it has come across the fact that China is pushing security pacts with Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and many other nations and the steps taken in view of the statement of President of Federation of States of Micronesia that China was trying to coerce countries in the region to toe its line on Taiwan. Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan in his reply said: “Government is aware of the various developments pertaining to Pacific Island Countries (PICs)... The Government keeps a close watch on all developments

for exploiting

The British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal heard that Kasagoni, then 23-years-old, came to Canada in 2013 from a rural village in India with hopes to further her education and settle in the country.

In November 2013, Kasagoni secured an open work permit and began working part time for Singh at a Husky gas station.

Initially, she was a "customer service representative" earning $10.25 per hour.

However, by January 2014, she advanced into a position as a full-time supervisor. In 2015, Singh, who called her an 'excellent and honest employee', agreed to support her application for permanent residency through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for which he referred her to an immigration consultant.

with a bearing on India’s security and interests and takes all necessary measures to safeguard the same.”

He also informed that India robustly engages with PICs as a part of its extended neighbourhood in the IndoPacific region, including through the Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit first held in 2014. “In order to further enhance cooperation, 12 collaborative projects were announced by the Prime Minister at the Third Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC) Summit in May 2023, focussing on shared

priorities and the needs of PICs,” Muraleedharan further said.

Last year in April, China had announced that it had signed a security deal with the Solomon Islands.

The pact paved the way for China to deploy security forces in the Pacific island nation and giving China a strategic foothold in the Pacific.

The pact had evoked concern from Australia and the United States, which had even dispatched it’s top officials to the Solomon Islands.

Indian worker’s immigration status

Kasagoni alleges that, in addition to his own fees, the Immigration Consultant charged her $6,500 in cash to pay Singh for his support.

In December 2016, Kasagoni fell and injured herself.

When she reported to her doctor that the fall had happened at work, he referred her to WorkSafeBC, which accepted her claim.

Singh did not believe that Kasagoni's fall had happened at work, and said she was lying in order to access WorkSafeBC benefits.

In her complaint, Kasagoni said that Singh discriminated against her in her employment by underpaying her, harassing her about her disability-related claim with WorkSafeBC, terminating her employment, and forcing her to pay Singh $6,500 in support of her

Importance of guru in life

Swami Atmeshananda, Vedanta Centre Springfield Lakes

PNP application. She also said that it was discrimination based on her race, colour, ancestry, and place of origin because Singh took advantage of her vulnerability as a newcomer to Canada with a precarious immigration status. Singh said he treated Kasagoni well throughout her employment but ultimately lost trust in her when he determined that she had lied about her fall. In addition, he denied terminating Kasagoni's employment, and said she simply never returned to work.

"As a newcomer to Canada, Kasagoni was not familiar with employment laws and minimum standards. She trusted Singh and counted on him. Singh knew this," tribunal member Devyn Cousineau wrote in her written decision.

between Shri Ramakrishna and Vidyasagar (a great educationist and reformer) recorded in the ‘Gospel of Shri Ramakrishna (5 August, 1882):

Sri Ramakrishna: “Just see how picturesque this universe is! How many things there are! The sun, moon, and stars; and how many varieties of living beings! – big and small, good and bad, strong and weak – some endowed with more power, some with less”. Vidyasagar : “ Has he endowed some with more power and others with less?”

"While this may seem like a nice sentiment, it can create conditions for abuse in an employment context, as I find it did here. It can allow employers to impose obligations on employees out of a sense of obligation, gratitude, or debt, outside of the contractual exchange of labour for pay," Cousineau added. The tribunal ordered Singh to pay Kasagoni nearly $25,000 in compensation for lost wages, including the wages that she would have earned working regular full-time hours at the gas station if her employment had continued until December 2018, two years after her fall. As a result of the end of her employment, the PNP withdrew its support for Kasagoni's permanent residency.

1) Srotriya, that is, he should have the knowledge of the scriptures. But actually, he should know the spiritual essence of the scriptures. Personal experience of what the scripture says is of utmost importance to become a Guru.

2) Avrjina, that is, his conduct should be above reproach. He should live strictly in conformity with the scriptural ideal. There should be purity in thought, word and ded.

He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches.’ said Bernard Shaw. His wise crack is but an echo of an old adage ‘example is better than precept’ – Guru tradition lays emphasis on this practicality on the part of Guru. – brahma vit tamah; the best among the knowers of Brahman’. In our tradition, one of the terms for guru is ‘Acharya’ – a-charati iti. He is an exemplar – leads a life that the disciple can emulate. He is the mould from which is fashioned the personality of the disciples - he is the model and

students are copies.

Next to the great philosophies of Hinduism, the institution of Guru occupies the central place. No other religion or culture venerates the teacher as Hinduism does. All our ceremonies, study, prayer, meditation etc. begin only after paying proper respect to Guru.

Gurushakti

Shri Ramakrishna says, ‘Sat-chitAnanda is the ONLY Guru’ So, Guru is actually the manifestation of the Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient Divine That is of the

nature of Existence-KnowledgeBliss Absolute in ‘a form ‘! It is a power! Not a person! Guru is actually a ‘Shakti’. One may argue that if the Gurushakti is the manifestation of the power that is everywhere, why do we need to accept a form of a person as our Guru. To answer this, we refer to a conversation

Shri Ramakrishna : “ As the All-pervading Spirit He exists in all beings, even in the ant. But the manifestations of His Power are different in different beings; otherwise, how can one person put ten to flight, while another can’t face even one? And why do all people respect you? Have you grown a pair of horns? (Laughter) You have more compassion and learning. Therefore people honour you and come to pay you their respects. Don’t you agree with me? “

Vidyasagar smiled.

Who can be a Guru?

The scriptures point out three characteristics for a Guru:

3) Akamahata, that is, his relation with his disciple should not have any kind of selfish motive. Otherwise, the relationship between the disciple and Guru will be a ‘business’ relationship! (Guru Purnima was observed at the Vedanta Centre in Springfield Lakes on the 2nd July 2023).

The Vedanta Centre in Springfield Lakes is an intercultural faith and community hub engaged in benevolent activities like food assistance, educational workshops, activities for children and youth, classes on Vedanta and volunteer opportunities. The Centre has a Café, Soup Kitchen, community garden and reading library. All are welcome. Email: info@vedantabrisbane.org

Kartik to be honoured with The Rising Global Superstar of Indian Cinema award at IFFM

The festival celebrates the diversity and richness of Indian cinema, showcasing the talent and creativity of Indian filmmakers to a global audience. Moreover, as part of the celebration, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will showcase multiple screenings of Kartik's films including his recent success 'Satyaprem Ki Katha' and blockbuster 'Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2', which emerged as the biggest Hindi film of 2022.

Mumbai, July 24 (IANS) Bollywood

actor Kartik Aaryan will be honoured with the Rising Global Superstar of Indian Cinema award at the annual awards Gala night of the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne on August 11.

The award will be presented by the Governor of Victoria, recognising Kartik's remarkable achievements and his significant impact on the world of Indian cinema.

Kartik said: "I am deeply

honoured and grateful to the Victorian government and the festival for this prestigious award and humbled to be celebrated at the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne."

"It is a tremendous privilege to receive this recognition for my work in Indian cinema. I have always believed in the power of storytelling and the ability of films to touch hearts and inspire minds. I look forward to celebrating the magic of cinema together," the actor added.

Commenting on this momentous occasion, the festival director, Mitu Bhowmick Lange said: "We are thrilled to celebrate Kartik Aaryan at the 14th Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. He is much loved world wide especially in Australia and the diversity of his performances is very admirable."

"His contributions to Indian cinema in young generation have been exceptional. We are excited to honour him with the Rising Global Superstar Of Indian Cinema award and looking forward to host him at the event," Mitu added.

Megathiruvathira and Vallasadya to mark Kerala Fest 2023

12th August 2023 during the festival season of Onam. The three key features of the celebration are All Queensland Thiruvathira competition, Megathiruvathira with about 300 participants, and Vallasadya, a grand vegetarian feast with over 65 dishes. An established Malayalam film actor, Manoj K. Jayan will officiate the function with his graceful presence along with several dignitaries from Brisbane.

Deeply rooted in the cultural fabric of Kerala, the festival of Onam holds immense significance for the people of Kerala, the southern Indian state, as well as the Malayalee (People who have Malayalam as their mother tongue/natives of Kerala) community dispersed across the globe. Lasting for ten days, Onam is a joyous celebration that not only brings together families and friends but also promotes community strengthening and the acceptance of others. Onam is believed to commemorate the homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali, who is revered as a just and benevolent ruler. According to certain myths, during King Mahabali's reign, Kerala experienced a period of harmony, prosperity, and equality among all its inhabitants. The festival serves as a reminder of this golden era and aims

to recreate the spirit of unity and goodwill among people. The atmosphere is filled with excitement as people engage in various activities like cultural performances, traditional games, and the grand feast known as Onasadya.

One of the most unique aspects of Onam is the significance it places on the spirit of inclusivity and acceptance. Regardless of caste, religion, or social status, Onam unites people under its festive umbrella. The festival serves as a reminder that, at its core, humanity transcends all boundaries and that embracing diversity is the key to a harmonious society. This message holds a particular relevance in today's globalized world, where cultural exchange and understanding are more crucial than ever.

For the Malayalee community residing outside Kerala, Onam acts as a cherished link to their cultural roots. Despite being far away from their homeland, Malayalees come together to celebrate Onam with great enthusiasm, showcasing their customs, traditions, and culinary delights. In these communities, Onam serves as a unifying force, fostering a sense of belonging and preserving their shared heritage.

Moreover, Onam emphasizes the spirit of giving and charity. Many

charitable organizations and individuals take the opportunity to extend their help to the less fortunate during this festival. Donations, contributions, and acts of kindness are abundant during Onam, reflecting the collective belief in uplifting the community and standing by those in need.

The highlight of the celebration this year will be a presentation of Megathiruvathira dance form with more than 300 participants from across the state. In this dance form, women dance around a lighted lamp (Nilavilakku), clapping their hands in symphony and moving their feet in rhythm with the accompaniment of music in what is regarded as the celebration of womanhood. Please contact the following individuals for further details about the event: Dr. Jacob Cheriyan0419732780, Jiji Jayan- 0404418033, Shaji Theckanath – 0401352044. The team can be contacted at umqqld@gmail.com.

Please use the following link to book the grand Onasadya (Vallasadya) - https://www. trybooking.com/events/ landing/1083322.

Reported by Johnson Punneliparambil

The United Malayalees of Queensland Inc, an umbrella organisation operating from

Brisbane, is organising Kerala Fest 2023 at 44 Acacia Road, Karawatha QLD 4117, on Saturday

BRIMM hosts annual community picnic in Mansfield

BRIMM is also thankful to Brisbane City Council and Cr. Ryan Murphy for their support in successfully executing the BRIMM Picnic.

Brisbane Maharashtra Mandal Inc (BRIMM) successfully hosted their annual community picnic on 16 July 2023 at Broadwater Park, Mansfield.

BRIMM’s picnic is a fun-filled community event to come together and enjoy a day outdoors in a park with family and friends. An opportunity for the community to come together and know each other, playing games such as cricket, lemon-spoon race, tug of war etc.

Trident Cricket Club members

came together to host Cricket session and all age groups enjoyed playing the game together.

Renuka Bhoge organised artwork session which was completely enjoyed by the kids. Renuka also showcased some of her traditional artwork, paintings to increase awareness.

Swati Lavekar conducted an informative session for seniors about falls prevention and general mobility. It was greatly appreciated by the attendees.

Along with above sessions, participants enjoyed tug of war, lemon-spoon race, and antakshari. We had an increased participation by the students, and it was great to see lot of them came forward for volunteering activities.

BRIMM this year is celebrating 18 years of community services. Bina Adhikari and Jitendra Vombathkere were invite to express her opinions about BRIMM’s journey.

BRIMM President Ganesh Deshpande provided an overview of this year’s programs, introduction of cultural partners for the upcoming Ganesh festival, and brief overview of BRIMM activities in the recent time. He

also urged the community to support international students for accommodation & jobs hunt. Delicious food by Mahendra’s Indian cuisine was a treat for everyone. Tongue teasing wada pav and paav bhaji was enjoyed by everyone.

One of the BRIMM sponsor Crown Mangoes, owned by a Marathi person, has an offer for Marathi community members and please visit their website for more details about Crown Mango Club https://crownmangoes.com.au/

BRIMM is thankful to our sponsors for their continued support: Smiles Dental, Crown Mangos, Sri Ganesh Grocery, Relianz Home Loans, Mahendra’s Indian Cuisine.

No event can be successful without unconditional support from Volunteers and Management Committee. BRIMM sincerely express our thanks to all Volunteers for their support. Prashant Sant, Supriya Sant, Aditya Sant, Shrikant Puranik, Swati Puranik, Sahil Joshi, Rohan Joshi, Tejas Mokal, Chinmayi Dabholkar, Gauri Kokane, Ameya Tidke.

BRIMM Management Committee: Ganesh Deshpande (President), Asha Joshi (Vice-President), Deepesh Tamhane (Secretary), Pradeep Athale (Treasurer), Sohil Sanzgiri (Deputy Treasurer), Sandeep Mozar (Advisor), Digambar Nagarkar (Advisor) BRIMM Membership is open for this year : http://brimm.org.au/ members/

By Ganesh Deshpande, BRIMM President

Make a difference … Have your voice heard on women’s health

Women from the Indian community are not well-represented in health research. So, how do we ensure they don’t get left out When the government is making important decisions that affect women's health?

policy is no longer appropriate.

Times are changing, and we now know that people from different ethnic backgrounds have different risk levels for some diseases. For example, women of Indian heritage have higher risks of diabetes and heart disease. We are also likely to experience different types of menopausal symptoms to women from European backgrounds.

Professor Gita Mishra is the director of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health at The University of Queensland. She believes improving the representation of Indian Australian women is crucial so that the government can tailor health services to our community’s needs.

57,000 women have completed surveys on their health and wellbeing since the Study began in 1996, making it the largest, longest-running research project of its type in Australia.

“The information our participants share through the health surveys has been used to develop federal and state government policies across a wide range of issues impacting women’s health and the services they use,” said Professor Mishra.

than 1 in 1000 participants in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health have Indian heritage.

To make sure that the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health remains representative of all Australians, the study is recruiting new participants from the Indian community.

mothers, daughters, aunties, and grandmothers of not only the Indian community but all women in the community.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our community’s voices to be properly represented,” Ms Naresh

Historically, women have not been properly represented in health research. As Indian women, we have even less visibility. Australia’s health policies and disease management guidelines are largely based on data from people with a European heritage, but this one-size-fitsall approach to developing health

“Good policy is based on research,” said Professor Mishra. Research provides the information that is needed to make the best decision, which is why it must include the voices of all people. The Australian Government funds research programs to gather information on the healthcare needs of the population. The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health is one such program. Over

The study is longitudinal, meaning that it regularly surveys these same women every few years. Over time, this builds a detailed picture of how women’s health and their health service needs change from puberty and young adulthood through to their child-bearing years, menopause, and into older age.

The women participating in this research were representative of the Australian population when the study started, but 25 years of immigration have changed Australia’s cultural makeup. India is now the top country of birth among permanent migrants to Australia. Roughly 3 out of every 100 people in Australia have Indian heritage. However, less

Reema Naresh is leading the engagement and recruitment campaign for the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health.

“This is an incredible opportunity for our community’s voices to be properly represented,” said Ms Naresh.

She feels the survey’s holistic approach to health will resonate with Indian Australian women.

“As a culture, we understand that wellbeing is about more than medicines and physical symptoms. So it’s exciting to be part of this huge project that recognises all the social, psychological, economic, and environmental factors that can influence women’s wellbeing.”

She is excited about the potential for the research project to improve healthcare for the

“It is an opportunity to be part of something so much bigger than yourself,” says Ms Naresh.

Visit us at our stall at the India Day Fair on August 19th, at Roma Street Parklands to find out more about the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Members of the team look forward to meeting you.

The Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health recruitment drive is open to women aged 28-24 (born 1989-1995) and 45-50 (born 1973-1978).

To participate in Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health visit www.alswh.org.au/ join-womens-health-australia/ For more details, contact Reema Naresh via alswh@uq.edu.au

SEMI announces intent to host SEMICON India in partnership with India Semiconductor Mission (ISM), India

India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) Provides Key Endorsement of Event

Electronic System Design Alliance (ESD Alliance), FlexTech, the Fab Owners Alliance (FOA), the MEMS & Sensors Industry Group (MSIG) and SOI Consortium are SEMI Strategic Technology Communities. Visit www.semi. org, contact one of our worldwide offices, and connect with SEMI on LinkedIn and Twitter to learn more.

About ELCINA

ELCINA delivers this through knowledge sharing, industry research, policy support and enabling creation of an efficient eco-system in the country. We engage with all stakeholders, technical institutes and industry associations to promote business expansion through B2B and B2G industry programs.

India and MILPITAS, Calif.,

July 31: SEMI today announced its intent to support the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) in creating a vibrant semiconductor manufacturing and design ecosystem in India. The collaboration would build on the successful execution of ISM’s two editions of SemiconIndiaand continue SEMI’s tradition of bringing stakeholders in the global end-to-end semiconductor ecosystem together. A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is under development.

SEMI is in discussions with the Electronic Industries Association of India (ELCINA) and Messe MünchenIndia(MMI) as key partners to stage itsflagship event.

The ISM has noted that SEMICON Indiawould be highlycomplementary to efforts by the government of India to advance the domestic semiconductor ecosystem and connect to the global industry.

“For more than 50 years, the SEMICON platform hasconnected companies from across the global semiconductor industry to uncover new business opportunities, gain insights into market and technology trends, and collaborate to drive innovationand address top electronics industrychallenges,” said Ajit Manocha, SEMI President and CEO. “With SEMI recognized worldwide as a key enabler of industry growth, the establishment of SEMICON India marks a significant step forward for the region.”

The partnership will give Indian semiconductor and electronics companies access to more than 2,500 SEMI member companies across the global semiconductor and electronics manufacturing and design supply chain. Additionally, SEMICON India will provide a platform for stakeholder participation in critical SEMI initiatives across areas includingWorkforce Development, Sustainability and Supply Chain Management to advance industry growth.

“India is all set as the next destination on the global map for semiconductor manufacturing,” said Bhupinder Singh, CEO of Messe MünchenIndia. “We applaud initiatives by the India Semiconductor Mission to establish semiconductor design, manufacturing, packaging, capacity building as well as R&D in the region. Messe MünchenIndia looks forward towork with SEMI to organize SEMICON India in collaboration with ELCINA, a partnership that is a natural extension of the longstanding work between Messe München and SEMI to stage events in Europe and China. Staying true to our purpose of enabling meaningful handshakes and unlocking business opportunities. This platform will integrate upstream and downstream value chains for wafer fabs and OSATs and help the India semiconductor and electronics industry become more self-reliant.”

"The semiconductor industry has taken centrestage in the electronic systems design and manufacturing ecosystem,” said Sanjay Agarwal, President of ELCINA andManaging Director at Globe Capacitors Ltd.“The industry is a strategic, vital enabler of economic growth in India. Coming together with SEMI as our partner is of great value as together we can strengthen the semiconductor industry in India and become a trusted partner to chip companies worldwide. We look forward to working with SEMI and leveraging our existing partnership with Messe München to make SEMICON India a grand success.”

AboutSEMI

SEMI® connects more than 2,500 member companies and 1.3 million professionals worldwide to advance the technology and business of electronics design and manufacturing. SEMI members are responsible for the innovations in materials, design, equipment, software, devices, and services that enable smarter, faster, more powerful, and more affordable electronic products.

Electronic Industries Association of India (ELCINA) was established in 1967 as the first industry association supporting electronic components and hardware, when India's Electronics industry was still in its infancy. Since then, ELCINA has established itself as an interactive forum for electronics manufacturers. ELCINA’s key objective is to promote value added manufacturing, R&D and business expansion in the Electronic System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) sector.

ELCINA actively advises the government on policy and business environment issues. With greater liberalization, ELCINA's focus has shifted to professional and value-added services to the Electronics Community. Visit www.elcina.com to learn more.

About Messe München India

Founded in 2007 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Messe München GmbH, Messe MünchenIndia Pvt. Ltd. is one of the leading organizers of trade fairs in India with an extensive portfolio of B2B trade fairs covering various sectors: air cargo India, analyticaAnacon India/India Lab Expo, bauma

CONEXPO India, drink technology India, electronica India, IFAT India, Indian Ceramics Asia, Intersolar India/The smarter E India, LASER World of PHOTONICS INDIA, MatDispens, Pack Mach Asia Expo, Pharma Pro Pack, productronica India, SmartTechAsia, VRTECH India, and World Tea & Coffee Expo. Messe München Indiaworks closely with industry stakeholders to develop well-researched trade fairs encapsulating the latest trends and innovations dominating the industry.

Headquartered in Mumbai with offices in New Delhi and Bengaluru, Messe München Indiaconnects global competence by bringing professionals together for business, learning and networking. Visit Messe München India to learn more.

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Iskcon Brisbane’s Janmastami is back in 2023!

Brisbane’s largest Janmastami festival is set to attract devotees and guests from all around the city at The Croatian Club,Rocklea to celebrate the birth of Lord Krishna.

On Thursday,7thSeptember, the Croatian Club Brisbane 164 Dunn Road, Rocklea will be transformed into a spectacular arena enabling festival goers to experience the magic of Janmastami. From 5pm onwards, visitors can look forward to an enthralling stage program with dramas, live music and dance; experience the cuisine of India; shop from the bazaar; and keep children entertained with fun and engaging activities.

“2022, Janmastami was mainly celebrated at The CroatianClub with good presence of peoples across the Brisbane. Devotees can stay until the midnight arati ceremony - celebrating the exact time of Lord Krishna’s birth,” explains festival organiserMr Sheth.

“With a bigger venue, and years of experience, we’ve started working earlier to make this festival even bigger and better than previous years,” Mr Sheth said. For more than 8 years, the Janmastamiorganised by the Hare Krishna community has been headed and organised by the youth of the society. They bring innovation and dynamism to the traditional event - making it fun and appealing for people of all ages. From the decor, to the stage program, and even the different engaging activities - all aspects of

the festival have a unique flavour. The festival will begin at 5pm and go on until midnight - which is the exact time of the birth of Lord Krishna - in whose honour this festival is celebrated. The stage program will consist of live music, arati ceremonies, the abhishek (ceremonious bathing of the Lords), dramas and spiritual discourses. For those that want something more interactive - they can check out the many stalls on offer, grab a sumptuous bite to eat or watch as their children engage in various fun activities at the kids stall.

“We’ve really tried hard to keep making the festival better than previous years - we want it to be an event that everyone looks forward to - not something that people are dragged along to come because of cultural obligations,” explains JalajGuwalani who has co-organised the festival for more than 5 years in a row.

“And we’ve begun to see that over the past few years - with increasing numbers, and more people attending the festival for longer periods of time. Guests are engaged with each aspect of the festival - and it’s great to see their enthusiasm and appreciation for the whole event,” comments Mr Guwalani.

Several dignitaries and prominent personalities have confirmed their attendance for this year’s Janmastami, lending their support to the Hare Krishna community and all its initiatives

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin inaugurates Carbon zero turf for Asian Champions Trophy

used during the FIH Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2023 Bhubaneswar-Rourkela which was held earlier this year in January. The same turf will also be used for the 2024 Paris Olympics and the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026.

Chennai, July 28 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Friday inaugurated the Poligras Paris GT zero hockey turf at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here, ahead of the start of the highly-anticipated Hero Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023.

The Asian Champions Trophy 2023 will also serve as a preparatory event for the allimportant Hangzhou Asian Games. India, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, Japan, and China will compete for the coveted Asian Champions Trophy in Chennai from August 3 to 12.

The intricately designed hockey zero turf is made with 80 percent sugarcane and manufactured with green energy. The turf requires less water and hence has been designed to make it friendly for the environment by preventing. The turf was also successfully

"With the Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023 set to begin shortly, I extend a very warm welcome to all the participating teams to our beautiful city. I am very delighted today to inaugurate a first-of-its-kind environment friendly hockey turf," said Stalin. "The Department of Youth Welfare and Sports Development of Tamil Nadu’s decision to opt for the carbon zero turf showcases our government’s dedication towards the preservation of the environment, while also providing the best facilities for our athletes.

I congratulate all the officials who have tirelessly worked towards hosting a successful tournament and wish all the teams the very best," he added. Speaking at the inauguration of the pitch, Hockey India President Padma Dr. Dilip Tirkey said, "We are delighted to host the prestigious Asian Champions Trophy Chennai 2023

on carbon-free hockey turf. Apart from being environmentallyfriendly, the turf will also provide a chance for the top nations in Asia to compete for the trophy on the best infrastructure available. We are confident that players from all the participating nations will enjoy playing on the newly laid turf and will be delighted to be a part of the movement towards preservation of the environment. "The event was also graced by the Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department of Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi Stalin, Dr. Atulya Mishra, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Youth Welfare and Sports Development Department, Thiru J. Meghanatha Reddy, IAS, Member Secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu and Hockey India Executive Director Cdr R.K. Srivastava. Notably, the West Stand at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium has been named Kalaignar Pavillion after the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. Karunanidhi. He was popularly referred to as Kalaignar and Mutthamizh Arignar for his contributions to Tamil literature.

Zim Afro T10: Aged 40, Indian pacer Sreesanth loves to run-in hard and deliver goods for his team

understandably delighted, and said, “I am just very happy and would like to thank the Harare Hurricanes team management for giving me an opportunity here in the Zim Afro T10 which is being played at the Harare Sports Club. The team management and the members are very close to my heart, and I was just waiting for one opportunity.”

Sreesanth has been a veteran of many close-fought battles, be it in the Indian Premier League (IPL) or the Indian colours, and Harare, under the lights, he rolled back the years, much to the joy of his fans.

Changes in original schedule of ODI World Cup expected in coming days, says Jay Shah

of security on the day.

New Delhi, July 27 (IANS)

BCCI secretary Jay Shah said on Thursday that changes in the original schedule of the upcoming Men's ODI World Cup is expected to be made in next few days, without specifying if it also includes the highlyanticipated India-Pakistan clash at Ahmedabad.

IANS had reported on Wednesday that the BCCI officials during their meeting with representatives of ODI World Cup hosting state venues in the national capital, will also discuss the change of India-Pakistan match date from October 15, owing to its clash with the first day of Navaratri festival. With the marquee match of the World Cup clashing with the first day of the Navaratri, the local police have told the BCCI that it would find it difficult to take care

"You can expect to see some changes to the original World Cup schedule which will be cleared in the coming two, three or four days, following some requests for changes from two to three member boards. The changes will be there in the schedule, but not in venues. The ICC and BCCI logistics teams are looking into it," said Shah in a press conference.

Shah also informed that fastbowler Jasprit Bumrah could play in the T20I series against Ireland in August. Notably, Bumrah last played competitive cricket in September 2022 during T20Is against Australia, before a recurrence in back injury meant he has been out of action since then.

He has been undergoing rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru since undergoing back surgery in New Zealand in March this year. BCCI had said in a medical update last week that Bumrah was bowling with full intensity in the nets.

"Bumrah is totally fit and he may go to Ireland," said Shah.

Speaking about that, Sreesanth, who was part of the team that won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007 and also the ODI World Cup in 2011 with the Indian team, said, “I have to thank the team management really over here, especially the likes of head coach JP Duminy, we were always discussing what needs to be done and how to go about it. Whatever work ethic we have and all the hard work really shows on the field and obviously experience is something that helps.

Ashes 2023, 5th Test: I’ve never seen Australia play with so much fear, says Michael Vaughan

Harare, July 28 (IANS) Considered at one time to be among the most explosive and dynamic bowlers in the white-ball game, former India pacer S. Sreesanth introduced himself to the Zim Afro T10 with a game-changing over.

Defending eight runs for the Eoin Morgan-led Harare Hurricanes against the high-flying Cape Town Samp Army, Sreesanth, first picked a wicket and then effected a run-out as the Hurricanes tied the game and then won it in the Super Over in dramatic fashion. The 40-year-old was

“It was a very important match for the Harare Hurricanes, we had to win this game against the Cape Town Samp Army, and I am very grateful that I could deliver for the team when called upon in such a pressure situation. That I could be a part of that storied ending to the game, even at the age of 40, bowling fast and delivering those yorkers nicely was fantastic. I am grateful, God has been very kind,” a smiling Sreesanth said.

Sreesanth was away from the game for years because of a ban by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for his alleged involvement in the IPL 2016 match-fixing scandal. He returned to cricket after winning a court case. However, that final over against Cape Town Samp Army proved that being away from the game did not have any impact on his bowling.

"I always have this attitude that I will not give up, even if it is one ball. I always like to run hard and give my best. So, I think it is all about the experience and I have to really thank the players on the field and the captain Eoin Morgan, who was talking to me and telling me what to do and guiding me,” he was quoted as saying by the organisers of Zim Afro T10.

The Indian ace has always been a fan favourite and never misses out on a chance to entertain them.

Talking about the future, Sreesanth said, “I genuinely believe that if the Harare Hurricanes do well in the Zim Afro T10 and go on to win the tournament, whether I am playing or not, I need to be a part of it and the main plan and aim is to go on and lift the title with my team.”

London, July 29 (IANS) Former England captain Michael Vaughan has said that some of Australia's batting on day two of the final Ashes 2023 Test at The Oval was the worst and he has never seen Aussies play with so much fear. Half-century from Steve Smith, along with vital contributions from captain Pat Cummins and off-spinner Todd Murphy helped Australia take a lead of 12 runs against England after being bowled for 295 in the closing stages of the play on Friday.

Throughout the Day 2, Australia were content with a tentative approach as England's seamers bowled with immense control and discipline.

"They are taking home the urn, but I’ve never seen Australia play with so much fear. They are usually so aggressive and try to take the game forward," Vaughan told BBC Test Match Special.

“They have just sat in to bat a long period of time without remembering you have to put a bit of pressure on the bowlers. This morning I thought it was the worst I’ve ever seen Australia bat in my time watching them. They never play like that," he added. However, England pacer Stuart Broad, who took 2-49, said he was not surprised by the tourists' method.

"They stuck to the style of play that has been very successful for many years. Our style of play isn't about wanting other teams to emulate it," Broad said.

"It just works really well for us. Ultimately Australia are world Test champions, won every game in their home summer, and they are not going to change their style of play just because we have a different style," he added.

Why does Zimbabwe’s Tendai Chatara feel T10 is an easy format for the bowlers?

day long cricket carnival.

Italy, Turkey will bid to co-host Euro 2032

Harare, July 29 (IANS) One of the most prolific bowlers in the league stage of the Zim Afro T10, the experienced Zimbabwean pacer, Tendai Chatara has been giving batters of opposition teams plenty to think about.

He’s bagged 11 wickets in 8 innings, with an economy of 13.9 in what has been a tournament that’s seen plenty of fours and sixes.

The 32-year-old right arm bowler has been among the wickets right from the get go, and has been one of the toughest to score off. Speaking at the end of the first phase of the tournament, Chatara said, “We knew we had to win the final game for sure. So, going into the final over of the final game of the league stage, I knew what I had to do and I was focussed on that.” He further added, “T10 is pretty easy for the bowlers in a sense, because you know quite well that if you miss your mark you will get hit and disappear into the stands. So it

is about discipline and not being predictable when bowling in cricket’s fastest format. And that’s one of the things I love about this game.”

When asked about adjusting and working out his plans in the shortest format, Chatara, who made his international debut for Zimbabwe in 2010, explained that it is that know how from all the years gone by that works in his favour.

“I think I have the experience and have played in different conditions and on various pitches over the years, and that’s what helps me adjust to such situations and formats,” he said.

While Chatara is one of the more experienced players in the mix at the Zim Cyber City Zim Afro T10, he feels that the tournament is a great bit of exposure for the young players who have come through the Player Development Programme, organised in the build-up to what has been a ten-

“I think the main thing for the young players is to learn from the other senior players. When I started out, there were senior players and it was not too difficult when I came into the international set-up in a sense. The most important lesson for the bowlers to take out of this T10 tournament, is to work on the variations one can have in the armoury, and not to be too predictable as you have to be able to deceive the batter, who is always looking to attack,” Chatara explained.

Chatara, who has played more than 150 T20s and 87 ODI games, further added that the T10 is going to be beneficial for the younger bowlers in the system, as it allows them to learn more about applying the brakes on the big-hitting batters in the game.

“I think it is a good thing that the younger bowlers coming through the ranks have more games in the calendar, via this tournament. When I was growing up all I knew was to bowl with the new ball early on in the innings, but for the youngsters, they can work on their variations and learn to bowl at the death, because in such a fast-paced format like the T10, variations are important to be successful. I think it is a good thing for them and also a good thing for the national set-up, that bowlers will learn to handle such situations,” he signed off.

Rome, July 29 (IANS) Italy has announced that it would jointly bid to host the 2032 UEFA European Football Championship with Turkey.

Pending approval of the joint bid, which is very likely by all indications, it means the two countries would be virtually assured to host the 2032 event, while UK and Ireland are now all but guaranteed to host the 2028 edition of the tournament. The hosts for both editions will be announced on October 10, Xinhua reported.

Italy announced its candidacy for the 2032 tournament in April, followed soon after by Turkey, who submitted its candidacy for both the 2028 and 2032 events. Turkey and the joint bid from the four United Kingdom federations and Ireland were the main two candidates for the 2028 tournament, while Italy and Turkey were the main candidates

The biggest WBBL season yet

for the 2032 championship. The agreement between Italy and Turkey implies Turkey will withdraw its candidacy for the 2028 tournament, leaving one remaining bid for each of the two events.

In a statement, UEFA said it would collaborate with football associations from both countries to make sure their bid meets technical requirements.

"UEFA will now work with the FIGC (Italian Football Federation) and TFF (Turkish Football Federation) to ensure that the documentation to be submitted for their joint bid is compliant with the bidding requirements," read the UEFA statement on Friday.

Referring to the unusual decision for two candidates to merge their bids, FIGC president Gabriele Gravina said the move was "a historic turning point" in the effort to enhance football in Europe.

This sweating, breathing, and walking robot to unravel effect of heat on humans

New York, July 24 (IANS)

Scientists, including one of Indian-origin, have developed the world’s first outdoor breathing, sweating and walking thermal robot that will help researchers better understand how our human bodies are impacted by heat stress.

Developed by a team at the Arizona State University (ASU), the robot called ANDI can mimic the thermal functions of the human body and has 35 different surface areas that are all individually controlled with temperature sensors, heat flux sensors and pores that bead sweat.

It was housed in a heat chamber to better understand the human body's response to extreme heat. "ANDI sweats; he generates heat, shivers, walks and breathes," said Konrad Rykaczewski, associate professor at the ASU’s School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy.

"There's a lot of great work out there for extreme heat, but there's also a lot missing. We're trying to develop a very good understanding (of how heat impacts the human body) so we can quantitatively design things to address it."

Around the globe, 10 ANDI manikins currently exist, mostly owned and used by athletic clothing companies for garment testing, but ASU’s ANDI is only one of two used by research institutions and it's the first thermal manikin in existence that can be used outdoors, enabled by a unique internal cooling channel. The research comes as the US is experiencing deadly heatwaves. In the coming decades, every region in the US is expected to experience higher temperatures and more intense heat waves.

Inside ANDI’s heat chamber, researchers can simulate heat-exposure scenarios from different places around the globe.

Dubbed the “Warm Room,” the heat chamber is outfitted with advanced technologies that control the wind, temperature up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and solar radiation. ANDI is also built with internal cooling

channels that circulate cool water throughout its body, which enable it to stay cool enough to withstand extreme heat while measuring complex variables that contribute to our perception of heat in different environments -- solar radiation from the sun, infrared radiation from the ground, and convection from the surrounding air.

ASU researchers can account for variations in body type and health characteristics to create and input into ANDI different customised thermal regulation models for almost anyone in the US. "We can move different BMI models, different age characteristics and different medical conditions (into ANDI)," said Ankit Joshi, an ASU research scientist leading the modelling work and the lead operator of ANDI. “A diabetes patient has different thermal regulation from a healthy person. So we can account for all this modification with our customised models." With the data and information collected, researchers hope to design interventions, such as cooling clothes or exoskeletons for backpacks that are designed for cooling support.

CMFRI develops antiviral product from seaweeds against delta variant of Covid

friendly ‘green’ technology”, said Dr Kajal Chakraborty, Head of the Marine Biotechnology, Fish Nutrition and Health Division of the CMFRI who led the research works to develop the product.

Kochi, July 24 (IANS) The ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has come up with a nutraceutical product from select seaweeds to boost the innate immunity related to post-Covid complications.

Named as CadalminTM

Immunalgin extract (CadalminTM IMe), the product also has antiviral properties against the delta variant of Covid.

“The product is a synergistic combination of seaweed-based nutraceutical product, which is a 100 per cent natural blend of highly nutritious bioactive ingredients extracted with eco-

This marks the tenth product in a series of nutraceuticals developed by the CMFRI deriving from marine organisms. The institute, in the past, has successfully brought out nutraceuticals targetting a range of lifestyle diseases, such as type-2 diabetes, arthritis, cholesterol, hypertension, hypothyroidism, osteoporosis and fatty liver.

Dr Chakraborty said that bioactive pharmacophore leads from seaweeds were used to develop the nutraceutical product. “A promising reduction of viral infection rate was observed by administering

CadalminTM IMe on SARS

CoV-2 (delta variant) induced cells. CadalminTM IMe elevates innate immune responses by the regulation of the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines”, he added.

The nutraceutical does not have any side effects as established by detailed preclinical trials.

"It does not have toxicity concerning clinical and behavioural symptoms. The active ingredients in the product would be packed in plant-based capsules. Large-scale extraction of the active principles from the raw material was optimized in a factory unit, which demonstrated the commercial feasibility of the nutraceutical product”, said Dr Chakraborty, adding that the process for commercialisation of the product is in progress.

Global Polio Eradication Initiative team reviews vaccination strategies in Pakistan

Islamabad, July 23 (IANS) A high-level delegation of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) has concluded an official visit to Pakistan to review the strategies in place for vaccinating children that remain unreached in the polio-endemic districts of the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Pakistani Health Ministry said.

New Delhi, July 24 (IANS)

About 50 per cent of healthcare industry professionals with prior experience in artificial intelligence (AI) have strongly endorsed its use in clinical practice and administrative tasks, according to a report on Monday.

The report by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, showed that AI is increasingly becoming embedded in the provision of healthcare.

The report revealed that among different activities, diagnostics support and treatment decisions support are the two most popular cases with the use of AI tools.

“Some practices such as oncology have already been using AI to assist their clinical works like risk prediction and disease diagnosis.

Of course, while AI can help with diagnosis, treatment decisions and eventually provide more effective patient care, scientific validation is needed to verify results,” said Elton Kwok, Market Research Manager in Pharma at GlobalData.

The report, based on a survey of 426 healthcare industry professionals between March -June, offers insights into the current utilisation and

prospects of AI in eight major pharmaceutical markets -- the US, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan, and China. In these countries, the majority of physicians expressed great comfort in using AI for automating administrative tasks.

“This sentiment underscores the growing acceptance of AI as a valuable tool in streamlining healthcare operations and suggests a shift towards leveraging its potential for optimising administrative efficiencies in medical practices across these countries," Kwok said.

Importantly, China has emerged as a prominent player in the global healthcare landscape in embracing AI, reflecting its commitment to advancing healthcare accessibility and quality, and positioning the country as a key player in the ongoing digital revolution within the healthcare industry.

“AI's utilisation in drug development, encompassing target identification and drug repurposing, has yielded promising outcomes, fostering increased confidence in AI tools," Kwok said.

With AI's rapid evolution and the growing need to enhance healthcare delivery, the report foresees a gradual shift towards more extensive AI adoption in clinical practices, he noted.

During the four-day visit, the delegates visited the National and Provincial Emergency Operations Centers and attended a meeting of the National Task Force on Polio Eradication, while holding separate meetings with the top officials where they discussed the impact of political transition on eradication efforts in the affected areas, the Ministry said on Saturday in a statement.

New York, July 24 (IANS) Foods that pack the greatest prebiotic punch to keep your gut healthy are dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichokes, garlic, leeks, and onions, suggests a new study. The study comes amidst growing evidence that consuming prebiotics -- certain types of fibre often found in plants that stimulate beneficial bacteria in your gut -- can help to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. Studies have linked higher prebiotic intake with improved blood glucose regulation, better absorption of minerals like calcium, and markers of improved digestive and immune function.

Prebiotics, which can be thought of as food for the microbiome, are different from probiotics, which contain live microorganisms. Both can potentially benefit microbiome health, but they work in different ways.

"Eating prebiotic dense foods has been indicated by previous research to benefit health," said Cassandra Boyd, student at San Jose State University in the US.

"Eating in a way to promote microbiome wellness while eating more fibre may be more attainable and accessible than you think," she added.

Although most dietary guidelines do not currently specify a recommended daily allowance for prebiotics, the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics -- a non-profit scientific organisation that established the currently held definition of prebiotics -recommends an intake of 5 grams per day.

For the study, researchers used previously published scientific findings to analyse the prebiotic content of 8,690 foods.

About 37 per cent of the foods in the database were found to contain prebiotics.

Dandelion greens, Jerusalem artichoke, garlic, leeks, and onions had the greatest amounts, ranging from about 100-240 milligrams of prebiotics per gram of food (mg/g).

50% of healthcare professionals endorse AI in clinical practice: Report

Prebiotic rich artichokes, garlic & onions can keep your gut healthy: Study

Southeast Asia’s new emerging tourist hotspot

Monsoon Escape: Explore Vietnam Immerse in the enchanting beauty of Sikkim

By IANSlife

July 22, 2023 (IANSlife) The country's monsoon season is now at its height, making it a

Capella Hanoi

terrific opportunity to travel to new places and immerse yourself in different cultures. Vietnam, a newly popular tourism

destination in Southeast Asia, is one such location that is also easily accessible to Indians. As travellers take advantage of the country's varied landscapes, thriving food and beverage industry, beaches, steep rice terraces, and bustling cities, the country is quickly rising to the top of the list of Southeast Asia's tourism attractions. Vietnam is a mustvisit location due to its quick growth in hospitality, cuisine, culture, and infrastructure. Listed below are three resorts to keep in mind when you make travel arrangements to make the most of this distinctive experience.

At Capella Hanoi, leave the current behind and enter a realm of entrancing beauty. The art nouveau masterpiece, which is located on a calm street next to Hoan Kim Lake, is a tribute to the opera performers, creators, and designers. Discover unanticipated moments of gratifying reflection in this palace of craftsmanship, which is distinguished by opulent accommodations, captivating restaurants, and the awardwinning Auriga Spa. When you enter Capella Hanoi, raise a glass in salute and remember the fascinating stories behind opera's illustrious figures and works.

Unexpected design meets effortless elegance. In this opulent Hanoi hotel, embrace the charm of the area and its artistic intricacies. Each of the 47 rooms and suites is uniquely decorated with operatic memorabilia that pays homage to opera's great singers, composers, designers, and performances. It is only a short distance from the Hanoi Opera House and the Old Quarter. The hotel's Capella Culturists are always available to explain the nuances of Vietnam's rich culture, helping you have the ideal visit. In a significant milestone, it has also cemented itself as the #1 Dining Destination Hotel in Vietnam recently, with its first Michelin Star. Koki Restaurant’s Hibana by Koki earned the Coveted Michelin Star; Izakaya by Koki and Backstage Restaurant also won prestigious Michelin Placement recognition in Vietnam’s very first Michelin Guide announced in June.

Make your way to Rumtek Monastery, also known as Dharma Chakra Centre

Premier Village Phu Quoc

If you love adventure, quality time by the beach, trying new foods, and understanding local culture, Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam is the destination for you. Named as the "Pearl Island", Phu Quoc is the largest island of Vietnam. With a coastline of more than 150km, with a combination of beautiful, white-cut beaches and marvelous small bays, Phu Quoc is considered an island with abundant marine resources. Located on the southern tip of Phu Quoc Island, Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort (managed by Accor) is a hidden tropical retreat. Uniquely embraced on both sides by the sea, the resort boasts two pristine beaches and stunning ocean views from dawn until dusk.

Relax in one of the spacious 215 villas, each with a private swimming pool. Varying in location and size, the villas are ensconced in nature with an equally stunning yet unique view. Villas are equipped with a private infinity pool, multiple bedrooms, large, luxurious living rooms, a dining room and a kitchenette. Enjoy the multi-layer swimming pool, which connects the peninsula’s two beaches. Indulge in the resort’s hill-top Plumeria Spa and Fitness Centre. Diverse culinary options range from Vietnamese delights at The Market and fusion cuisine at Corallo Restaurant to sweet treats at Deli Café.

By IANSlife

July 24, 2023 (IANSlife) Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas in the northeastern region, Sikkim beckons travelers with its serene tranquility and breathtaking beauty. For those seeking solace and rejuvenation, this place offers a unique blend of natural wonders, vibrant culture, delightful amenities, and mesmerizing activities.

Notably, Sikkim has recently made remarkable strides by becoming the world's first organic state, setting an example for other cities. With its expertise in adopting 100% organic farming techniques and sustainable living, travelers can take pride in supporting such an eco-friendly destination. Additionally, the region's stunning glaciers and frozen lakes add an irresistible charm to the seven sisters. Meanwhile, Gangtok, the capital city, is renowned for its picturesque views and pleasant climate all year round. Here, you can immerse yourself in the local way of life, with a plethora of dining, shopping, and entertainment options.

If you've been contemplating a vacation that combines both conventional and offbeat experiences, Sikkim serves as an ideal destination to unwind and bask in the awe-inspiring beauty of nature.

Embarking on an Exploration of Sikkim's Upmarket Street

It is essential to pre-book a taxi for your road journey to Gangtok once you reach Siliguri or Bagdogra airport in West Bengal. Making this arrangement in advance ensures a hassle-free experience as you travel from the airport to Gangtok. With decent road conditions, you can relax and enjoy the journey.

Upon reaching Gangtok, check into your pre-booked hotel or accommodation. Head to the main market in Gangtok, known as MG Marg get spoiled for choice with a variety of cafes, restaurants, and shopping spots once you drop off your luggage and freshen up.

Embrace Spiritual Retreats

Make your way to Rumtek Monastery, also known as Dharma Chakra Centre, which

happens to be the largest monastery in Sikkim. It features a beautiful shrine temple and a monastery where monks spread the teachings of Lord Buddha worldwide. Surrounded by lush green mountains, this spiritual haven offers a serene sanctuary for travelers seeking tranquility. For a sumptuous holiday experience, consider booking a private car charter from the range of luxury vehicles available in the city. This will allow you to indulge in comfort, luxury, and a customizable route to explore the city's finest offerings. Immerse yourself in the local life, culture, and heritage of Sikkim, making your journey truly worthwhile. Embark on a series of Fun Escapades

Dedicate an entire day to a road trip to Tsogmo and Nathu la Pass, which marks the border between India and Tibet-occupied China. The journey to Nathu la Pass treats you to a mesmerizing view of Chumbi Valley. Situated at an altitude of 4302 meters, it boasts one of the highest motorable roads in the world, adding a thrilling element to your trip.

The calmness and tranquil beauty of Tsogmo, with its glacial lake, add an adventurous touch to your day. The snow-capped mountains provide a panoramic view of Gangtok, immersing you in a hypnotic charm. Take a trek along the lake's shores and savor local cuisine at the small kiosks.

Enjoy a Mix of Nature, Heritage, and Adventure in Pelling

Surrounded by lush greenery and alpine vegetation, Pelling is a haven of natural beauty. Its scenic landscapes and pleasant weather make sightseeing even more enchanting. Marvel at the beautiful waterfalls, especially during the end of the monsoon season, when they showcase their spectacular beauty.

Venture to Kanchenjunga National Park, located approximately 40 kilometers from Pelling. This park offers a fantastic day trip, where you can witness the blooming rhododendrons.

Immersive art exhibit Van Gogh 360° heads south to Bengaluru

Attendees will be immersed in stunning projections - achieved through dozens of projectors and high-powered computer servers that deliver crisp and compelling images - animating the masters’ oeuvre and illuminating the mind of the genius. Wandering through giant projections that highlight brushstroke, detail, and colour, the multimedia exhibit takes the attendee into a three-dimensional world that exhilarates the senses.

neighbouring regions in India, this unique blend of technology and art dedicated to the iconic artist, Vincent van Gogh, has been exceptionally well received during its successful run in Mumbai and Delhi. Now, as Van Gogh 360° journeys to Bengaluru, we are excited to share this fantastic experience with the city’s art enthusiasts."

The exhibit will also make stops in Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, Kochi, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Lucknow, Nagpur, Pune, Indore, Goa and Surat later in the year.

New Delhi, July 22 (IANSlife) Van Gogh 360°, an immersive event that brought the eye-popping colours of Vincent van Gogh’s most iconic works to life in Mumbai and Delhi, now heads down to Bengaluru.

Immersive experiences that turn the walls and floors of an exhibition space into a kind of van Gogh dream world have popped up around the world from New York to London to Tokyo to Toronto, and Van Gogh 360° India

is the first such exhibition to debut in the country.

Using cutting-edge projection technology crafted by worldrenowned audio-visual designers, Van Gogh 360° Bengaluru will create an engaging journey into the world of the legendary post-Impressionist painter accompanied by an original classical instrumental score composed by a Canadian composer.

Kunal Khambhati, head live events and IP, BookMyShow said, “India's audience, known for its rich appreciation of culture and love for entertainment, constantly seeks high-quality experiences in various domains like art, history, music and more," adding, “Among these, the Van Gogh 360° experience has emerged as an intriguing and widely embraced Intellectual Property, captivating the interest of a diverse demographic. From various age groups within the cities to

Decorating an Indian home with an International flair

New Delhi, July 24 IANSlife)

When it comes to home decor, the fusion of different cultural influences can create a unique and captivating aesthetic. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of blending Indian charm with American style, resulting in a harmonious fusion that adds a touch of diversity and elegance to Indian homes. This blend allows homeowners to embrace their Indian heritage while incorporating elements of Western design, creating a beautiful and contemporary space that reflects their personal style.

Incorporate Rich Indian Palette with Neutral Tones

One of the key aspects of blending Indian and Western styles is the incorporation of vibrant colours. Indian culture is known for its rich and bold colour palette, with hues such as deep reds, fiery oranges, and lush greens.

By combining these traditional Indian colours with more neutral tones commonly found in Western design, such as whites, grays, and beiges, homeowners can create a balanced and visually appealing atmosphere. Homeowners should consider painting their walls in a soft neutral shade and then adding pops of vibrant Indian colours through accent pieces like throw pillows, rugs, and artwork.

Combine Intricate Carvings with Minimalist Forms

Another way to infuse American style into an Indian home is through the use of furniture and furnishings. Indian furniture often features intricate carvings and ornate designs, which can be beautifully complemented

by clean lines and minimalist forms commonly found in American furniture. Homeowners should incorporate a mix of both styles by choosing classic Indian furniture pieces like a hand-carved wooden coffee table or an intricately designed headboard, and pair them with modern American pieces like a sleek leather sofa or a minimalist dining table.

This juxtaposition of styles will create an interesting and visually dynamic space. For a touch of cultural infusion, opt for minimalist furniture with tops covered in traditional designs and vibrant fabrics.

Merge Ornate Indian Lighting with Modern Western Fixtures

Lighting plays a crucial role in any home decor, and it is no different when blending Indian and Western styles.

Indian homes often feature ornate and decorative lighting fixtures, such as intricately designed chandeliers and pendant lamps. To add a touch of Western flair, incorporating contemporary lighting options like sleek floor lamps or industrial-style pendant lights can be considered. For further embracing the vintage allure of Indian candle stands and lanterns look for design options with the clean lines and modern aesthetics of Western lighting - this way you can create a captivating ambiance that showcases the best of both worlds.

Celebrate Diversity through Accessories and Artwork

Home decor accents and paintings provide the perfect opportunity to merge Indian and American aesthetics. Owners should think about adorning walls with a mix of Indian tapestries and traditional American artwork. Further, they can hang a

beautifully embroidered Indian textile next to a modern abstract painting to create an eyecatching display. They should also display Indian pottery or statues alongside contemporary sculptures or decorative items. The blending of these different cultural elements will add depth and intrigue to the home, showcasing the owner’s appreciation for both Indian charm and American style.

Experiment with Textiles and Patterns

Finally, people should not forget about the importance of textiles and patterns. Indian textiles are renowned for their intricate designs and vibrant patterns. They should consider incorporating Indian-inspired patterns like paisley, ikat, or block print into their upholstery, curtains, and bedding. They can also mix these patterns with solid-coloured Western fabrics for a balanced look that brings together the best of both worlds.

Blending Indian charm with American style in home decor allows homeowners to create a space that reflects their multicultural identity and personal taste. By carefully integrating elements from both cultures, such as colours, furniture, lighting, accessories, and textiles, one can achieve a harmonious fusion that celebrates the beauty of diversity.

So, they must embrace the opportunity to blend these two captivating styles and create a home that is truly a reflection of their unique cultural background and style.

(Niraj Johri, Founder & CEO at Casa Decor)

“We are excited to bring Van Gogh 360°, a one-of-a-kind immersive art exhibit to the people of Bengaluru. This innovative showcase, with state-of-the-art projection technology, will truly provide a profound and unique experience for our customers.

Bhartiya Mall of Bengaluru is a one stop shopping destination with a perfect combination of international and Indian lifestyle and F&B brands, and by adding this exhibit we intend to provide shoppers with more experiential activities,” shares Shashidhara S, head leasing, Bhartiya Group.

The multimedia exhibit, which is produced and promoted by BookMyShow Live - the live entertainment experiential division of BookMyShow - will be hosted at leisure and retail destination, Bhartiya Mall for a limited run of a few weeks August 8 onwards. Tickets for the Bengaluru exhibition are available for sale on bookmyshow.com for the general public July 22 noon onwards priced at Rs 1099 for Monday to Friday, and Rs 1499 for Saturday and Sunday. For those who had registered, special prices – Rs 999 and Rs 1399 for the two categories – will be valid from noon on July 20 till 11.59 a.m. on July 22.

Exploring the Fusion of Pop Culture and Art

New Delhi, July 17 (IANSlife) The symbiotic relationship between popular culture and art has long served as a wellspring of inspiration and influence for artists worldwide. By seamlessly weaving together famous iconic symbols, renowned celebrities, and mass media references, artists are able to captivate a broader audience while offering insightful commentary on contemporary issues. This profound connection not only provides a shared language and visual vocabulary, but also fosters a deeper understanding of the artwork. In celebration of the enduring influence of popular culture on art, the upcoming 'Masterpieces & Editions' auction showcases a curated selection of works by international artists. These remarkable pieces reflect the multifaceted ways in which popular culture has inspired and shaped artistic expression across different mediums.

THE SPRING AT EVIAN (Perrier) by Salvador Dali´ Salvador Dalí, renowned for his thought-provoking and surreal art, was also a pioneer in understanding the impact of mass media after the war. He embraced the changing role of artists and ventured into commercial endeavors, crafting captivating advertisements, posters, and visual designs. Collaborating with various brands, Dalí's innovative thinking and artistic talent produced visually stunning works infused with unconventional

symbolism and intricate details. One such creation is 'The Spring At Evian' (Perrier), a 1968 model for a Perrier water advertisement. Executed with ink and collage on gilt paper, the composition features strategically placed, vividly colored figurative cutouts that capture attention. The use of vibrant hues like purple, blue, red, and black further heightens the surreal ambiance of the piece.

LINCOLN CENTER TICKET (Ed : 500) by Andy Warhol

Andy Warhol, an iconic figure of the Retro Era, lives on through his unique, quirky art. He revolutionised the art world by exploring consumerism, mass production, and celebrity culture, pushing the boundaries of traditional art. The 'Masterpieces & Editions' Auction will feature four of Warhol's works, including a poster he made for the Fifth New York Film Festival in 1967. This vibrant piece showcases colourful floral designs and black text, created through a screen printing process.

JACQUELINE KENNEDY III (JACKIE III) 15 (Ed :19/200) by Andy Warhol

The captivating artworks of Andy Warhol, commonly referred to as his Death and Disaster pieces, garnered immense recognition. Among them, this particular piece draws its essence from the mournful occasion of Jackie Kennedy's presence at her husband's presidential funeral. Warhol found inspiration for these screenprints in press photographs he collected during the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

(Sneha Gautam, Senior Vice President, Client Relations, AstaGuru Auction House)

Suneet Varma’s romance with fashion

Suneet shares, "India has had a century-old love affair with couture, which is made-tomeasure for pure pleasure. There is no denying the luxurious indulgence of precious finery, the magical beauty of one-off embellished wedding attire, and the sparkle of personalised jewels that are designed to match.”

An evening of stardom at Manish Malhotra’s Bridal Couture show

Celebrities arrive in style for the trendsetter’s show

New Delhi, July 27 (IANSlife) Its no surprise that Suneet Varma is a bridal favourite, and his latest collection at FDCI Hyundai India Couture Week in association with Reliance Brands very much plays to his strength.

Feminine, flirtatious, sexy and everything you'd want to be during the run up to your wedding, was on his runway. 'Mogra' draws inspiration from the incredible traditional motifs and embroideries found in the

decorative arts of India. Varma revisits the traditional techniques and crafts that have made Indian embroideries a worldwide celebration, while infusing a modern and fresh twist.

Varma's sari blouses and cholis have always made headlines for their daring necklines, sexy styles and burlesque silhouettes. Team them with his sequin saris or elegant lehengas and you have a winning fashion moment.

Speaking about the collection,

The collection featured large abstract-shaped mirrors adorned with multi-coloured thread embroidery, offering a contemporary take on bridal wear. The glamorous lehengas, with off-shoulder blouses, exaggerated shoulders and short jackets, showcase dark shades of midnight blue and burgundy, complemented by silver accents. Draped skirts worn with capes and ruffled organza shirts paired with high-waisted palazzo pants complete the ensemble.

( IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

It doesn’t get better than Ritu Kumar at FDCI Hyundai India Couture Week

repertoire. The country owes much of its design ethos to the revival work done by the first ‘barefoot doctor’ of Indian fashion.

By IANSlife

July 21, 2023 (IANSlife) An outstanding evening of fashion designer Manish Malhotra's Bridal Couture show was held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on Thursday. The star-studded evening saw celebrities arrive in style for the trendsetter and Bollywood's go-to designer’s show, making the evening even more remarkable.

New Delhi, July 27 (IANSlife) The grande dame of Indian fashion, Ritu Kumar, showcased her collection on Day two of FDCI Hyundai India Couture Week in association with Reliance Brands. The lexicon of the Ritu Kumar design aesthetic is so entrenched in Indian fashion, that it has become ubiquitous and synonymous with Indian Couture. The OG of Indian design and the first revivalist of Indian craftsmanship and textiles,

received a standing ovation for her collection which featured India's rich textile tradition woven into modern silhouettes replete with intricate embroidery. An amalgamation of vintage patina, burnished hues, metallic tones, a balance of motifs like paisleys, boots and flowers, were tastefully added to lehengas, dhoti pants teamed with jackets, saris, embroidery corsets under Maharaja coats stood testament to Kumar's heritage and fashion

Bollywood beauty Adi Rao Hydari walked the runway as showstopper for the designer dressed in an ivory chikankari lehenga worn with a short jacket. The collection encapsulates a new feminine aesthetic through heritage textiles and nuanced classicism on dresses, jackets, capes, and anarkalis. The complexity of the glittering kasab and floral kashidakari are laid out with couture tailoring which makes the collection timeless and familiar while paving the way for what’s to come.

This season, Kumar's legacy stays intact while the mood mirrors the style of today’s India.

(IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in)

India Couture Week has a grand opening; Kiara turns showstopper

drive home the message.

Mumbai-based designers Falguni Shane Peacock opened India Couture Week with a presentation of dazzling bridal couture. Not only did they show present heavily embellished ensembles perfect for the upcoming wedding season, but also featured newly wed Kiara Advani as their show stopper, to

The collection titled ‘Renaissance Reverie’ is a reflection the designer duo's love for art and the treasures, encountered during their travels. Drawing inspiration from the renaissance era, the silhouettes were grand and rich with intricate embroidery.

The ensembles showcased the techniques and and meticulous workmanship of India's skilled artisans, who have brought the designer duo's vision to life by marrying Western ethos with the

richness of Indian heritage. The designers believe "Each garment in the collection is a testament to cultural exchange and celebrates the invaluable lessons they have learned from the past." The colour palette feature pink in its soft and brighter hues, pastel blues and a series of whites and ivories.

An off shoulder gown featuring feathers

Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor, Arjun and Anshula Kapoor, Mukesh Ambani, Kajol, Isha Ambani, Nora Fatehi, Sonali Bendre, Rakul Preet Singh, and Deepika Padukone were among those in attendance.

Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh, who are not only smashing the internet with their upcoming film trailer, 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani,' also appeared as the evening show stopper, captivating the crowd with their presence and connecting with the audience.

Alia can be seen alongside Manish Malhotra in a beautiful silver lehenga with a lovely veil on her head flowing down, while Ranveer is decked out in an exquisite beige-and-ivory sherwani.

Dive into the Color Spectrum of Oppenheimer vs Barbie

Embrace the moods with Colorbar

a crazy journey. Whether you're itching for a day packed with vivid fun and exciting experiences, eager to let loose your inner boss chick, radiating atomic energy that might light up the sky, or all of the above, Colorbar's remarkable selection of make-up, helps you morph effortlessly into the real incarnation of whichever personality you decide to adopt for the day.

OPPENHEIMER DAYS - BOLD AND INTENSE:

Unlock the secret to healthy hair

Minimize the use of hot tools such as straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers

By IANSlife

July 22, 2023 (IANSlife) We're taking life by storm, smoothly flitting between two mind-

blowing spheres of personality: the unstoppable force of Oppenheimer and the alluring appeal of Barbie. Get ready for

During our Oppenheimer days, we channel the fierce and intense energy within us, exuding confidence and strength.

By IANSlife

Protect from UV Rays:

Ultimate Stunner Kajal: With this powerful kajal, the eyes become the focal point of our bold look. The sharp and intense definition of Colorbar’s Ultimate Thick Kajal let you command attention wherever you go.

Bewitching Eyeshadow Palette: This palette adds drama and depth to the eyes, allowing us to experiment with vibrant, velvetyrich shades that captivate and mesmerize.

Starry Drops Highlighter: The enchanting glow of Colorbar’s newly launched Starry Drops Highlighter complements the fierce energy, reflecting the luminous charm while protecting the skin.

July 24, 2023 (IANSlife) Having luscious, healthy hair is a desire shared by many. We all yearn for those shiny, vibrant locks that exude confidence and vitality. However, maintaining healthy hair requires more than just good genes or expensive products. It involves adopting a holistic approach to hair care and making mindful choices in our daily routines. In this article, Dr. Saru Singh, Aesthetic Physician specialising in hair health, shares her expert insights and practical tips on how to achieve and maintain healthy hair.

Nourish from Within:

Beautiful hair starts with a healthy body. Dr. Singh emphasizes the importance of a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids. Incorporate foods like salmon, eggs, avocados, spinach, and nuts into your meals as they provide essential nutrients that promote hair growth and strength. Additionally, stay hydrated by drinking an adequate amount of water daily.

Just like our skin, our hair can also suffer from sun damage. Wear a hat or using a UVprotective hair spray or serum when exposed to the sun for prolonged periods. This helps prevent hair color fading and keeps the strands from becoming dry and brittle.

Be Gentle with Wet Hair:

Wet hair is more susceptible to damage, so handle it with care. Use a wide-toothed comb or a detangling brush to gently remove tangles, starting from the ends and working your way up. Avoid vigorous towel-drying, as it can cause breakage and frizz. Instead, use a soft, microfiber towel or an old t-shirt to gently blot excess moisture.

Regular Trims:

Regular trims are essential to maintain healthy hair. Schedule a trim every 6-8 weeks to remove split ends and prevent them from traveling up the hair shaft. This practice helps maintain hair length while promoting overall hair health.

Sinful Matte Lip Color: This luxurious matte lipstick in a bold shade that perfectly completes the Oppenheimer look. The lipstick is so sinful in the finish, your pout will speak volumes without ever whispering a word!

Wink with Love Eyeliner: The high-shine and intense matte finish of this eyeliner create an eye-catching look that lasts for hours, adding a playful touch to the appearance just like that of a Barbie!

Sinful Lip n Cheek Tint: This newly launched Lip and Cheek Mousse Tint gives a naturally flushed look, resembling a just-kissed radiance that brightens up the face.

Gentle Cleansing and Conditioning: When it comes to hair care products, the doctor advises choosing those specifically formulated for your hair type. Use a mild shampoo and conditioner that cleanse without stripping the hair of its natural oils. Massage the scalp gently during shampooing to stimulate blood circulation and promote healthy hair growth.

Avoid Heat Damage: Excessive heat styling can lead to brittle and damaged hair. Minimize the use of hot tools such as straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers. When necessary, apply a heat protectant spray before styling and use the lowest heat setting possible. Embrace natural hairstyles and give your hair a break from heat regularly.

Reduce Stress:

Stress can contribute to hair loss and other hair-related issues. Dr. Saru Singh emphasizes the importance of managing stress through relaxation techniques, exercise, and selfcare. Incorporating activities like meditation, yoga, or regular exercise can help maintain a healthy mind and body, positively impacting hair health.

Achieving and maintaining healthy hair requires a holistic approach that encompasses proper nutrition, gentle hair care practices, and overall well-being. By following these expert recommendations, you can unlock the secrets to healthy, beautiful hair that radiates confidence and boosts your overall self-esteem.

Sexy Twosome Highlighter: For a soft, luminous glow, Colorbar’s multi-dimensional highlighter duo blends seamlessly with the skin tone, enhancing its vibrant charm.

Power Kiss Vegan Matte Lipstick:

As our superpower for the day, this transfer-proof liquid lipstick adds a burst of pink to the pout, completing the Barbie ensemble in just the right way.

So, whether you feel like Oppenheimer or Barbie, effortlessly switch between these moods and express yourself in vibrant, bold, and intense glory!

China to send zebrafish to space to study bone loss in astronauts

Manned Space Engineering Space Application System, was quoted as saying by Global Times.

OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman launches crypto project

‘Worldcoin’

Beijing, July 24 (IANS) China is all set to send zebrafish to its Tiangong space station to understand how astronauts face bone loss in microgravity, the media reported.

The small fish species will be sent into orbit on Tiangong as part of research into the interaction between fish and microorganisms in a small closed ecosystem, Zhang Wei, assistant to the commander-in-chief of the China

Previously, many other organisms include space rice "Xiaowei," arabidopsis thaliana "Xiaonan," and multiple groups of nematodes have already visited the Chinese space station.

Zebrafish share high homology with human genes, up to 87 per cent.

They were also sent to the Soviet Union's Salyut 5 space station in 1976 aboard the Soyuz 21 mission. Soviet cosmonauts conducting experiments with the fish found that the Zebrafish appeared to modify some of their behaviours in response to living in microgravity.

Tiangong has prepared a space home for them - the life ecological science experiment system located in the Wentian lab module. It is a closed "aquarium" with about one litre of water that can breed four to five zebrafish, as well as some algae and microorganisms. An automatic feeding device has been developed. An intelligent system that monitors fish growth and automatically feeds them was developed and entered space with the launch of the Wentian lab module in 2022, the report said. Further information regarding the timeline of the experiment and its aquatic apparatus was not disclosed.

WhatsApp widely rolling out interface improvements aligned with Material Design 3

alerts and redesigned toggles. Redesigned chats tab and the floating action button are also rolling out to represent an incoming message bubble.

San Francisco, July 24 (IANS)

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Monday launched its audacious eyeball-scanning cryptocurrency startup 'Worldcoin' to help build a reliable solution for distinguishing humans from AI online, enable global democratic processes and drastically increase economic opportunity.

simply for being human. According to the company, where the rules are less clear, such as in the US, steps will be taken so more people can benefit from both.

Users can now download World App, the first protocol-compatible wallet, and reserve their share. After visiting an Orb, a biometric verification device, they will receive a World ID. This lets them prove they are a real and unique person online while remaining completely private.

As the global distribution of Orbs is ramping up, users can find the closest one and book time to be verified with World App and at Worldcoin's official website.

San Francisco, July 24 (IANS)

Meta-owned messaging platform

WhatsApp is widely rolling out enhancements to the interface of the app, aligned with Material Design 3, on Android beta. The rounded menus are now available to more users, along with the bottom navigation bar and the new floating action button, reports WABetaInfo. Moreover, further enhancements to the interface are available with the release of the new rounded

"Thanks to this update, many more users will be able to experiment with the latest improvements to the interface that align with the Material Design 3 guidelines," the report said.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the messaging platform was working on an animated avatar feature for Android beta, to help improve the users' interactions.

The animated avatars will likely bring more life and personality to stickers, allowing for a more expressive communication

experience.

Last month, it was reported that the messaging platform was rolling out a feature on Android beta, which allows users to send high-quality videos.

While this feature preserves video dimensions, minor compression will still be applied to the video, thus sending videos in their original quality is not possible. The default option will always be 'Standard quality' for all videos, therefore, users have to select the high-quality option every time they want to send a video with better quality.Moreover, a tag will be added to the message bubble when sending a video with the high-quality option to inform the recipient that the video is sent using this feature.

As global race for moon heats up, India eyes lunar natural resources

resources, such as water and oxygen (extracted from rocks), precious metals, rocks and rare earths, and Helium-3 (to create fuel suitable for fusion energy generation).

mission. The mission was called the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), also known as Danuri. The mission was managed by the Korean Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

"If successful, we believe Worldcoin could drastically increase economic opportunity, scale a reliable solution for distinguishing humans from AI online while preserving privacy, enable global democratic processes, and eventually show a potential path to AI-funded UBI," Alex Blania and Sam Altman, Founders of Worldcoin, said in a blogpost.

Worldcoin consists of a privacypreserving digital identity (World ID) and, where laws allow, a digital currency (WLD) received

Microsoft

In addition, the startup has begun the rollout of 1,500 Orbs to meet global demand for World ID. "The project will increase the number of available Orbs to 1,500 throughout the summer and fall in more than 35 cities around the world," Worldcoin said in a blogpost.

The new Orbs will be available in 35+ cities in over 20 countries, including India, across five continents between now and the end of 2023.

The availability of 1,500 Orbs will more than 5x sign-up capacity globally and enable millions of additional people to join the two million who have already signed up for World ID.

Mail app.

New Delhi, July 23 (IANS) In 1969, a defining moment in human history occurred when American astronaut Neil Armstrong took his historic steps on the moon, becoming the first person ever to do so. This remarkable achievement not only opened the door of possibilities for other nations to explore the moon but also ignited a global "race for the moon".

Later many countries tried to land on the moon in which some succeeded and some failed.

According to Statista, the longterm goal for nations is to create a permanent base on the moon in order to exploit its natural

The race for the moon is also starting anew as several more countries and even private companies have announced lunar missions.

Last week, India’s ‘Bahubali’ rocket successfully put the moon spacecraft -- Chandrayaan-3 -into orbit in a copy book style.

The LVM-3, the country’s heavy rocket, nicknamed ‘Bahubali’ carried the 3.8-tonne Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft like the hero in the film of the same name lifts a heavy lingam, and slung the moon-bound craft in its intended earth orbit.

In August last year, South Korea launched its first-ever lunar

The goal of Danuri was to test South Korea’s lunar spacecraft technology.

The US space agency NASA plans to launch its next moon mission in 2024 -- called Artemis II, which will take astronauts to orbit the moon.

The US space agency plans to launch the Artemis III mission in 2025 or 2026, bringing the first woman and person of colour to the moon.

It will be the first time that humans will walk on the moon since the Apollo missions ended in 1972. NASA has stated that the mission will be carried out using Elon Musk's SpaceX Starship.

San Francisco, July 23 (IANS)

Microsoft has begun informing consumers and enterprise clients that the Windows Mail and Calendar apps will be retired in 2024, and they should begin testing the new Outlook app.

"Beginning in 2024, new Windows 11 devices will be shipped with the new Outlook for Windows as the default mailbox application free for all to use. The Mail and Calendar applications will continue to be available via download in the Microsoft Store through the end of 2024," Microsoft said in a blogpost. Originally developed for Windows 10, Windows Mail and Calendar are built-in Windows applications that provide an easy-to-use interface for retrieving email and scheduling events, tasks, and appointments.

To test the new Outlook app, click the toggle in the upper righthand corner of Windows Mail to have it automatically install and import your settings from the

Moreover, the company said users will get to write better emails with advanced AI built into the new Outlook for Windows, helping them write impactful, clearer, mistake-free messages. Users will get the new Outlook app for free as no subscription will be needed, according to the company.

The new app will also help remind users to follow up on important conversations.

Meanwhile, Microsoft has announced the pricing for its AIinfused Copilot for Microsoft 365, which will cost $30 per user per month for business accounts.

"Microsoft 365 Copilot will be available for commercial customers for $30 per user per month for Microsoft 365 E3, E5, Business Standard and Business Premium customers when broadly available," Microsoft said in a blogpost.

According to the company, the Microsoft 365 Copilot is built on the company's trusted and comprehensive approach to enterprise-grade security, privacy, identity, compliance and responsible AI, making it enterprise-ready.

TIGER 3

RELEASE DATE: Diwali 2023

LANGUAGE: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu (With English Subtitles)

PRODUCER: Yash Raj Films

DIRECTOR: Maneesh Sharma

CAST: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi

DUNKI

RELEASE DATE: 22 December 2023

LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles)

DIRECTOR: Rajkumar Hirani

CAST: Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu

PIPPA

RELEASE DATE: TBA

LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles)

PRODUCER: RSVP, Roy Kapur

Films

DIRECTOR: Raja Krishna Menon

SYNOPSIS: About Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta of the 45th Cavalry tank squadron who fought on the eastern front during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 along with his siblings.

JAWAN

7 September 2023 | Hindi, Tamil, Telugu

LANGUAGE: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada (With English Subtitles)

DIRECTOR: Atlee Kumar

CAST: Shah Rukh Khan, Nayanthara, Sanya Malhotra, Priyamani, Yogi Babu

Trailer of Actress Ganga Mamgai’s film Vash- Possessed by the Obsessed out, set to release on 21st July

Horror and suspense films have always been the audience's favourite in Bollywood. Many films based on supernatural and ghost stories have received love from the audience before. Now, actress Ganga Mamgai is ready with her film Vash- Possessed by the Obsessed, in which she plays

the lead role. The film's Trailer has been released on social media, showing fear and tension on Ganga Mamgai's face.

The film's story is filled with mystery and romance. Rakshit and Aanchal love each other deeply, but a third person wants

to make Aanchal a part of his world at any cost. Who was he? What were his intentions? If an enemy is revealed, it is possible for Rakshit to fight against him. However, his enemy was an unknown evil force that was neither alive nor dead. Terrifying events from Aanchal's life start to

Robert Downey Jr. in awe of Cillian Murphy’s ‘greater sacrifice’ to play ‘Oppenheimer’

People: "I have never witnessed a greater sacrifice by a lead actor in my career. He knew it was going to be a behemoth ask when Chris called him. But I think he also had the humility that is required to survive playing a role like this."

"We'd be like, 'Hey, we got a three-day weekend. Maybe we'll go antiquing in Santa Fe. What are you going to do?' 'Oh, I have to learn 30,000 words of Dutch. Have a nice time.' But that's the nature of the ask."

unfold, and suspense increases. What was the cause of this unsolved mystery? Will Rakshit and Aanchal's true love triumph, or will they be crushed by the unknown evil's intentions?

Actress Ganga Mamgai says the film 'Vash- Possessed by the Obsessed' will keep the audience engaged from the beginning to the end. It is a battle against a force that is neither alive nor dead. The story of the film is very unpredictable, and it will bring suspense and horror to the cinema halls.

Trailer : https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=SQPYAgvyNB8

Produced under the banner of Twin Flame Productions, the film Vash- Possessed by the Obsessed

features Ganga Mamgai and Vivek Jaitly in the lead roles. Other prominent roles are played by Rituraj Singh, Kaveri Priyam, Preeti Kochhar, and Vishal Sudarshanwar. The film's music, released by Zee Music, features songs sung by Shalmali Khogade, Mohammad Irfan, Yasir Desai, Palak Muchhal, and Sanhita Majumdar. Ganga Mamgai is the producer of the film, and it is directed and written by Jagmeet Singh Samundari. The horror, suspense, and romance-filled film Vash- Possessed by the Obsessed will be released nationwide in cinema halls on 21st July by Jay Viratra Entertainment Limited.

U.S.S. Discovery embarks on final journey in new ‘Star Trek Discovery’ Season 5 trailer

Los Angeles, July 23 (IANS) The 'Star Trek' universe is reaching its end as 'Star Trek Discovery', which is set to launch its fifth and final season in 2024, has released its trailer, and it is filled to the brim with action and space travel as the U.S.S Discovery faces off against an ancient evil. The clip was first unveiled at the San Diego Comic Con and was also officially released at Star Trek's website.

octane sequence, with Burnham getting just enough time to get out before her warp protection disintegrates.

Los Angeles, July 23 (IANS)

Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr. has praised Cillian Murphy's "sacrifice" to play J. Robert Oppenheimer.

The 47-year-old actor plays the theoretical physicist, who is known as the 'father of the atomic

bomb', in Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer' and co-star Downey Jr was impressed with Murphy's dedication to the role, reports aceshowbiz.com.

Robert, 58, who plays Atomic Energy Commission chairman Lewis Strauss in the film, told

Florence Pugh, who plays Jean Tatlock, one of the major loves of Oppenheimer's life in the movie, was also impressed with the actor, calling working with him "one of the best experiences that I've had."

Travelling at warp speed, the new clip features Captain Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) pursuing Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) by holding onto their starship. She then gets aided by Captain Rayner, who locks in a tractor beam, in the intense high-

The spacefarers and explorers have to become fighters now, particularly as the ancient evil has risen once again which was hidden for several centuries for sinister purposes not yet known. But there are others on the hunt as well, dangerous new foes who are ruthless and without mercy. Motivated by desperation and their own ugly motivations, they want to claim the prize for themselves and will stop at nothing to get it, no matter how much blood they have to spill.

Anurag Kashyap’s ‘Kennedy’ to be showcased at South Asian film fest in Canada

Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFAN), Neuchatel International Fantastic Film (NIFFF) and Cannes Film Festival. Fans and film enthusiasts attending IFFSA Canada are eagerly looking forward to the honoring ceremony of Sunny apart from the screening of the film.

Her admirers will have the opportunity to witness Sunny’s mesmerising portrayal of “Charlie” firsthand. As anticipation builds, "Kennedy" is set to leave an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of the audience.

number

New Delhi, July 24 (IANS) Actress Sunny Leone’s ‘Kennedy’ is all set to take the International Film Festival of South Asia (IFFSA) in Canada, her home turf by storm. The film is one of the earliest films announced to be screened at the festival as the submissions are still underway as per the IFFSA website.

The 12th edition of the festival is taking place from October 12 to 22.

‘Kennedy’ has been gathering appreciation across the globe since its premiere at the Midnight Screening at Cannes.

The film had three successful screenings including the Sydney Film Festival, South Korea's

Post the screening, two master classes have been scheduled that will be led by Sunny herself with director Anurag Kashyap. The storyline follows a sleepdeprived police officer on a pursuit for redemption amidst diverse situations. Written and directed by Anurag, starring Rahul Bhat and Sunny Leone. The film has been produced by Zee Studios and Ranjan Singh & Kabir Ahuja of Good Bad Films.

CBFC wants Mamata reference in ‘Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani’ to be removed

in the film. The word has instead been replaced by 'behan di'.

The CBFC asked to remove the mention of Lok Sabha from a dialogue and not even replace it with any other term, according to a Bollywood Hungama report.

The makers have also been asked to make changes to the Rabindranath Tagore scene that became a massive talking point after the trailer of the upcoming Ranveer Singh film came out.

New Delhi, July 24 (IANS)

‘Pushpa: The Rise' star Allu Arjun has amassed one million followers on the recently launched ‘Threads’ platform, just within a few days, and by doing so becomes the first Indian star to hit the coveted number.

most anticipated movies list.

Allu Arjun also has a special following for his life choices and demeanor off screen with his sense of style, his care for the environment and sustainable living, as well as his natural humility at any forum.

Mumbai, July 24 (IANS) As the film 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' starring Alia Bhatt and Ranveer Singh has been given a U/A certificate from the Central Board of Film Certification (CFBC), the makers were still asked to remove some words, dialogues and references from the movie.

The makers have been asked to remove abusive words, the mention of the Lok Sabha and a reference to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee among other changes.

The makers have been asked to remove the abusive word 'b******d', used multiple times

Old Monk, the rum brand, has been rephrased to Bold Monk in the movie. A dialogue mentioning West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee was asked to do away with a dialogue in the lingerie shop scene was also removed. In the same scene, the word bra was replaced with item.

'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani', which also stars Dharmendra, Shabana Azmi has a run time of two hours and 48 minutes and is set to release in theatres on July 28.

Allu Arjun has always been known for the special relationship he shares with his fans around the world, and as a reflection of that has dominated all social media platforms where he engages with his fans regularly.

His fanbase continues to expand exponentially around the world, owing to his brilliant performance on screen and charismatic personality off it.

On 'Threads', Allu Arjun just has one post, which is a monochrome photo of the actor. His fandom reached new heights with his incredible and unbelievably versatile performance in ‘Pushpa: The Rise’ and the craze for ‘Pushpa: The Rule’ which continues to top the

Fans around the world are waiting with bated breath for his next appearance on the silver screen as they celebrate his every announcement and collaboration, each of which seems to only get bigger and better each time.

He will be soon seen in the upcoming film ‘Pushpa: The Rule’, which is the sequel to his 2021 blockbuster, the Telugulanguage action drama 'Pushpa: The Rise'. The film has been written and directed by Sukumar, produced by Mythri Movie Makers in association with Sukumar Writings.

It also stars Fahadh Faasil and Rashmika Mandanna in pivotal roles.

Ariana Grande is not dating ‘SpongeBob’ voice actor, says his wife

Los Angeles, July 24 (IANS) 'SpongeBob SquarePants' voice actor Tom Kenny's wife is clearing the air after the internet confused her husband with popstar Ariana Grande's new boyfriend, Ethan Slater.

The confusion came after an Instagram post on The Cut which posted a headline to their page that read: "Is Ariana Grande Dating SpongeBob Now?" leading some social media users to believe that Grande had moved

on from her marriage to Dalton Gomez with the longtime voice actor, reports etonline.

The SquarePants in question is actually Slater, Grande's 'Wicked' co-star, who has a SpongeBob link of his own. While he didn't play a part in the popular TV series, Slater did stay as SpongeBob in 'SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical' in 2016. Kenny's wife, Jill Talley, took to the comments of The Cut's post and set the record straight.

"Hi everyone, I'm married to Tom Kenny (who voices SpongeBob on the TV show)," Talley wrote, as per People.

She continued, "He is not dating Ariana Grande. I don't know if Ethan Slater (who played SpongeBob in the musical) is or isn't dating Ariana Grande. However, they're both adorable and I totally ship it. Just wanted to set the record straight."

Allu Arjun hits 1 million followers on ‘Threads’; first Indian star to reach the

Buyers Like What They See at Brookwater.

Your 5 minute neighbourhood:

Just 35 minutes away from Brisbane CBD, the interest among buyers has been at a record level, according to Narendran Sinnathamby, the General Manager of Brookwater Residential. Brookwater’s current land release, The Dress Circle, is situated around the first nine holes of the championship golf course designed by Greg Norman. It is the only integrated golf community near Brisbane. “Discerning buyers are recognising that Brookwater is a premium lifestyle destination,’’Mr Sinnathamby said.

“The Dress Circle, Brookwater is situated within Springfield City, one of Australia’s fastestgrowing regions. Springfield City sets the standard for world-class master-planned urban environments in the 21st century and has become a blueprint for nation-building,” he added. “The area boasts outstanding schools, and state-of-the-art health facilities, and is now home to the Brisbane Lions AFL Club. Everything you need is within reach.”

Within the Springfield City area, there are 12 schools, 22 childcare facilities, and the University of Southern Queensland providing a remarkable array of options for both private and public amenities, making it an ideal choice for growing families.

Springfield City is positioned as the gateway to the western corridor of Southeast Queensland. With an expansive area of 2,860 hectares, it is Australia’s largest master-planned city and the first of its kind since Canberra.

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The wider Springfield Growth Corridor including Springfield and Greater Springfield is currently home to 145,300 people.

- This is expected to grow rapidly to almost 200,000 people in 2026 and over 435,000 in 2041.

- Represents an annual growth rate of 5.6% over the 20 years to 2041.

LARGE REGISTERED HOMESITES FROM $615,000

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City Springfield Central – home to Mater Private Hospital Springfield, Aveo Springfield and Quest Apartment Hotel.

Springfield Central offering major retail shops, restaurants, a movie theatre and food court. SOURCE: