IN June 16-30 2023

Blinken talks of ‘reducing strategic dependencies’ ahead of Modi visit

countries such as semiconductors and defense was "reducing strategic dependencies".

Washington, June 13 (IANS)

US Secretary of State Antony

Blinken on Monday preambled

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming "historic" state visit saying central to emerging cooperation in critical technologies between the two

Blinken has inserted a new phrase into the narrative around the India-US relationship whose limits have been defined by New Delhi's pursuit of strategic autonomy, which is a foreign policy construct deployed by India to choose friends without committing itself to anything serious.

"Central to all of this cooperation is diversifying and deepening our supply chains with trusted

countries, also reducing strategic dependencies," Blinken said in remarks to business leaders of the two countries at the start of an annual conference on the relationship of the US-India Business Council, an offshoot of the US Chamber of Commerce, the most powerful of American lobbyists.

Blinken was referring to a recent surge in cooperation between the two countries on emerging critical technologies, which is

Nine killed by militants in Manipur

militants attacked Khamelock village in Imphal East district and fired indiscriminately, police said on Wednesday.

Unofficial sources put the death toll at 11.

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to the US and Egypt from June 20 to 25. Modi's state visit to the US is at

the invitation of President Joseph Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The visit will commence in New York, where Modi will lead the celebrations of the International Day of Yoga at the UN headquarters on June 21.

In December 2014, the UN General Assembly had adopted a resolution proclaiming June 21 as

ED arrests TN Electricity Minister Senthil Balaji

injuring 25 others.

The victims were either sleeping or just finished their dinner when the extremists rained bullets from their sophisticated arms. The injured were immediately taken to various hospitals.

Imphal, June 14 (IANS) At least nine villagers were killed and 25 others injured when suspected

A police official said that heavily armed militants attacked the Khamelock village late on Tuesday night and fired on the villagers from automatic weapons killing nine people on the spot and

Death toll is likely to increase as the condition of several of the wounded is stated to be critical. Further details are awaited.

Australia’s population growth boosted by overseas migration

Canberra, June 15 (IANS)

Australia's population rose to about 26.3 million people at the end of December 2022, marking an increase of 496,800 people from a year earlier, official data revealed on Thursday.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data showed that the annual population growth rate of 1.9 per cent was the highest since 2008 as a result of migration, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to the ABS, the population grew by 387,000 people from net overseas migration, with 619,600 people arriving in the country from overseas and 232,600 people departing.

"Recovery of international student arrivals is driving net overseas migration to historic highs, while departures are lagging behind levels typically seen over the past decade," Beidar Cho, ABS head of demography, said in a

statement.

Natural increase, which is calculated by subtracting deaths from births, was 109,800 people in 2022, down almost a quarter from 2021, with deaths rising 11.1 percent.

"Covid-19 mortality was the main contributor to an increased number of deaths and lower natural increase in 2022," said the ABS.

Chennai, June 14 (IANS) After 18 hours of interrogation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED)

arrested Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Senthil Balaji on Wednesday.

But the Minister, according to sources, fell unconscious after his arrest and is currently admitted at a hospital in Omarandur Estate, Chennai.

The marathon interrogation took place at the Minister's official residence here on Tuesday, amid simultaneous raids at his home and office.

Although the central probe

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to place greater emphasis on preventative care.

Canberra, June 14 (IANS)

Australia's peak doctors' body on Wednesday called for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation's healthcare system

In a speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday, Australian Medical Association (AMA) president Steve Robson said that leaders must reconsider how they think about healthcare investment, reports Xinhua news agency.

He described the current system as one of "sick care" rather

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Blinken talks of ‘reducing strategic dependencies’ ahead of Modi visit

Continued from Page 1

a dialogue that was flagged off by Prime Minister Modi and President Joe Biden in 2022 and fast-tracked by the two sides in a meeting of National Security Advisers Ajit Doval and Jake Sullivan earlier this year. This engagement contains the promise of the next big outcome in the relationship, which could be announced during Modi's visit later in June: joint production of US giant General Electric's jet engines in India. India currently uses GE jet engines delivered ready for use.

Expanding on the theme of "reducing strategic dependencies", the top US diplomat spoke of cooperation between the two sides on semiconductors and solar power equipment, the two areas on which the United States has been cutting its dependence on China, specially after

disruption caused by Covid-19. "My friend and colleague Secretary of Commerce (Gina) Rimondo and her counterpart Minister (Piyush) Goyal, recently established a partnership to make our semiconductor supply chains more resilient." He went on to talk about US investment in a solar manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu.

"It will shift a key component of our clean energy supply chains to a close partner. That's what we mean when we say we are building more resilient, more diversified supply chains," he added.

Secretary Blinken did not say the US has expectations of India on "reducing strategic dependencies", but it could be an acknowledgement and acceptance of India's dependence on Russian oil, which it has been

ED arrests TN Electricity Minister Senthil Balaji

getting at heavily discounted rates for its own use and export, to circumvent US-led western sanctions, and arms.

The Secretary of State was extremely bullish on the bilateral relationship and pitched his own speech as a run up to Modi's upcoming visit. "I couldn't be more pleased to actually kick off tonight the upcoming state visit with all of you," he said, calling the visit "historic" earlier.

An Indian Prime Minister is coming to the US on a state visit including a state dinner after nearly 14 years, nine of which have been Modi's.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was the last Indian Prime Minister given a state dinner. It was in 2009. He was President Barack Obama's first state guest an event that will probably be remembered also for the couple that gatecrashed it, in flagrant breach of security arrangements.

PM Modi to visit US, Egypt from June 20-25

Continued from Page 1

the International Day of Yoga. Modi will thereafter travel to Washington D.C., where he will receive a ceremonial welcome at the White House on June 22, and meet President Biden to continue their high-level dialogue, according to a statement issued by the external affairs ministry said.

The Bidens will host a state dinner in honour of the Prime Minister the same evening.

At the invitation of Congressional leaders, including the Republican House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy and Democratic Senate Speaker Charles Schumer, Modi will address a joint sitting of the US Congress on June 22.

The next day, the Prime Minister

will be hosted at a luncheon jointly by Vice President Kamala Harris and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

In addition to the official engagements, Modi is scheduled to have several curated interactions with leading CEOs, professionals, and other stakeholders.

He will also meet members of the Indian diaspora.

After wrapping up the US trip, the Prime Minister will then head to Egypt for a state visit from June 24-25.

The visit is at invitation of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, which he extended to Modi in January 2023 when he had graced the Republic Day celebrations as the chief guest.

This will be Modi's first visit to Egypt.

Apart from his talks with President Sisi, the Prime Minister is likely to interact with senior dignitaries from the Egyptian government, some prominent personalities, as well as the Indian community in the African nation.

Relations between India and Egypt are based on ancient trade and economic linkages as well as cultural and deep-rooted people-to-people ties, according to the External Affairs Ministry statement.

During the state visit of President Sisi in January, it was agreed to elevate the relationship to a 'strategic partnership'.

2002 riots: Gujarat govt opposes bail plea of Teesta Setalvad

and RB Sreekumar, as part of a larger conspiracy to blame the Gujarat government for the riots. Setalvad was tasked to defame Gujarat, the then chief minister Narendra Modi and BJP workers, the state government said.

Continued from Page 1

agency is yet to issue an official release stating the reason of Balaji's arrest, it is believed that it was connection with a money laundering case related to a job racket when he was Minister in the former AIADMK government led by late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa during 2011-15.

Addressing the media here, DMK leader and Tamil Nadu Minister for Sports Development and Youth Welfare Udayanidhi Stalin said that the ruling party cannot be cowed down by the intimidation tactics of the Central government.

Udayanidhi and Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian met Balaji at the hospital.

Australia’s doctors call for overhaul of ‘sick care’ system

Continued from Page 1

than one focused on keeping Australians well, increasing pressure on hospitals. According to Robson, a significant boost in spending on preventative care would reap in benefits for the economy. The speech coincided with the release of a new AMA report showing that public hospital elective surgery waiting lists cost the Australian economy A$4.6 billion ($3.1 billion) annually. The report highlights the growing rate of chronic disease, with almost half the population in the country having one or more chronic diseases and an aging population that is putting the healthcare system under increasing pressure.

"As the AMA analysis uncovered, we currently have hundreds of thousands of people waiting too long for elective surgery, people waiting too long in emergency departments and general practices struggling to survive,"

Robson said in a statement.

"While it's true that investment is needed to tackle these issues, we can also improve efficiency, improve access to care and the quality of care."

The AMA report said that addressing hospital exit block could save A$2 billion per year, and modelling estimated that a tax on sugary drinks, which it has long campaigned for, would result in 16,000 fewer cases of type 2 diabetes, 4,400 fewer cases of heart disease, and 1,100 fewer cases of stroke.

"We need to reframe our thinking and focus more on how the money we invest in healthcare can improve health outcomes and support economic growth," Robson said.

"Because the evidence is clear -- keeping people healthy reduces the costs and burden on our healthcare system and drives economic growth and productivity."

Deepotsav 2023 in Ayodhya will be the grandest ever

Kund, Bharat Kund and every house will be lit up with diyas".

Ahmedabad, June 15 (IANS)

The Gujarat government has strongly opposed the bail plea of activist Teesta Setalvad in the Gujarat High Court and presented arguments highlighting her potential to tamper with evidence in the case related to the 2002 riots. The prosecution on Wednesday claimed that Congress leader Ahmed Patel had paid Rs 30 lakh to Setalvad, Sanjiv Bhatt

Setalvad's bail plea had already been opposed by the government last year in the sessions court on similar grounds.

During the court hearing, the state's prosecution labelled Setalvad as a "tool of a politician with the aim of defaming Gujarat". The public prosecutor emphasised that Setalvad, along with police officers Sreekumar and Bhatt, conspired to propagate the larger conspiracy aspect

and destabilise the Gujarat government after the Godhra riots in 2002. The prosecution further revealed that Setalvad had allegedly received financial assistance from a prominent leader of a rival political party. They cited witness testimonies, including that of Setalvad's former close aide Rais Khan, who described a meeting between Setalvad and Patel "where instructions were given to ensure punishment for certain individuals". The prosecution supported their claims by presenting recorded statements of witnesses who claimed to have made the payment to Setalvad on Patel's instructions.

Lucknow, June 16 (IANS) The Deepotsav celebration in Ayodhya this year will be the grandest ever with a target to light 21 lakh earthen diyas.

This year's Deepotsav comes just before Ram Lalla is enthroned at the sanctum-sanctorum of the Ram Temple.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said that this Deepotsav would set a new record as last year 15.76 lakh diyas illuminated Ayodhya.

According to a state government spokesman, "this year 21 lakh diyas (earthen lamps) will be lit. Each ghat, mutt, temple, Surya

The Yogi Adityanath government has been organising Deepotsav celebrations in Ayodhya on the eve of Diwali every year since it came to power in March 2017. Stressing on Ayodhya's importance for his government, the Chief Minister said: "At present, projects of around Rs 32,000 crore are underway in Ayodhya. In no city across the country are projects in such a large number underway."

He added that the entire world would be attracted to Ayodhya when Prime Minister Narendra Modi enthrones Ram Lalla at the sanctum-sanctorum of Ram Temple after 500 years.

The Chief Minister listed the ongoing development projects in Ayodhya. He mentioned upcoming international airport, railway station and other projects.

Risk to life and livelihoods as activist sets fires on Carmichael Mining Lease

with Queensland’s fire service commissioner after an activist started an illegal bushfire on the Carmichael Mining Lease in central Queensland, dangerously close to fuel stores, our airstrip, and an accommodation village housing 500 mine workers.

On June 8, activist Coedie McAvoy allegedly used a butane torch to light a fire in tinder-dry bushland near a dam north of the operational Carmichael mine. The fire came within three and a half kilometres of the mine’s airstrip where 43,000 litres of extremely flammable aviation gasoline is stored. Another few hundred metres away is the Labona accommodation village which 500 mine workers call home.

McAvoy did not seek a permit and had no firefighting controls such as water trucks, graders, or additional fire breaks in place.

The Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) has launched an investigation and Bravus is considering what civil action can be taken regarding any damage to mining infrastructure, as well as the loss of any fences, gates, or feed for cattle that are agisted on the land.

“A bushfire that gets out of control can have catastrophic consequences and only good luck prevented this illegal and grossly irresponsible fire becoming a tragedy,” the spokesperson said.

“This activist is lighting fires on our land without approval, without any of controls in place, and with no way to manage the fire should it get out of control.

“In our view, that is reckless and dangerous behaviour.

“The activists unlawfully camped on our Mining Lease have shown time and time again they have no respect for other people’s safety, property, or the law.

“Mr McAvoy is already before the courts for assaulting an Indigenous environmental ranger and a security guard as the pair went about their lawful work on the Mining Lease.

Bravus Mining and Resources has sought an urgent meeting

Mr McAvoy posted a video to social media of him in front of the fire and holding the butane torch, laughing "light it up, let’s go". Mr

A Bravus Mining and Resources spokesperson said the company had written to QFES Commissioner Greg Leach seeking a meeting and urgent intervention to stop Mr McAvoy's increasingly dangerous and antisocial behaviour before other illegal, uncontrolled, fires are lit and cost someone their life or livelihood.

“The reality is had the wind changed, this fire could have killed someone.

“This fire could have destroyed not only mine infrastructure but hundreds of hectares of pastoral land, livestock, fences, homesteads, and cattle yards, not to mention the flora and fauna we are conditioned to protect under our environmental authority.

“One of Mr McAvoy's associates, Noah Busiko, has also been charged with criminal offences for interfering with stock gates and disrupting cattle grazing in the region.

“Enough is enough. It's time the authorities used the powers readily available to them under the law and removed Mr McAvoy and his activist mates from our Mining Lease and the scene of these crimes.”

Adani Group, the emerging leader in ESG

New Delhi, June 7 (IANS) Adani Group, Indias largest critical infrastructure developer, has released a compendium of its ESG (environmental, social and governance) performance for FY23.

The compendium states how the portfolio of the companies are emerging as the leaders by setting higher standards in ESG across all its businesses.

Adani portfolio of companies are committed to sustainable growth, capitalising on unprecedented opportunities. This growth is being shaped and influenced by the highest standards of responsibility across various aspects of its operations. The complement of outperformance and responsibility has enhanced stakeholder respect, confidence, engagement, valuations, and business sustainability. The various recognitions by the top global ESG evaluators are the results of the group's commitment to environment, society and governance.

Business-wise key highlights: Adani Enterprises Ltd. (AEL)

* The group's incubating company focused on establishing diverse new businesses has pledged to grow 100 million trees by 2030 which is the largest 1t.org pledge in India so far and is among the most ambitious corporate pledges globally.

Graham Bell' award in the category for innovation in manufacturing.

* Achieved IGBC (Indian Green Building Council) Platinum certification for data centre facility in Chennai and solar business building in Mundra.

* MIAL (Mumbai International Airport Ltd) won the Best Sustainable Airport award at the ASSOCHAM 14th International Conference and Awards for Civil Aviation, 2023.

* Adani Airports have converted all company-owned vehicles from diesel to electric across all its operational sites.

* 44 per cent reduction in operational emissions in Adani Airports.

Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd (APSEZ)

* The largest port developer and operator in India has been accorded the first position in global rankings for 'Transport and Logistics' sector among the emerging markets by Moody's ESG solution.

* It has been ranked 10 out of 297 companies in 'Global Transportation and Transportation Infra sector' in S&P global corporate sustainability assessment.

* Kattupalli Port and Mormugao Port received the 'Platinum Award' for 'Sustainability' and

'Environment Excellence', respectively, from Apex India Foundation during the Apex India Green Leaf Awards 2022.

* By FY25, the company targets 100 per cent renewable energy mix in the electricity consumption, along with 50 per cent reduction in energy intensity and 60 per cent reduction in emission intensity.

Adani Green Energy Ltd (AGEL)

* The largest renewable energy portfolio company in India, got certified water positive' by DNV for FY23, way ahead of its FY25 target.

* Got conferred with 'Platinum Environment Award by Grow Care India' in recognition of highest level of commitment and concern in environment management.

* Won 'Leaders Award' at the Sustainability 4.0 Awards, conferred jointly by Frost and Sullivan and The Energy Research Institute (TERI) Adani Transmission Ltd. (ATL)

* The largest private transmission and distribution company in India achieved a 30.04 per cent renewable power mix in its subsidiary and leading distribution company Adani Electricity Mumbai Ltd (AEML).

* Targets 60 per cent share of renewable power procurement by FY27

* Already achieved 'Net Water

Positive' status for 30 substations and 7 TL clusters under UNSDG 6 Adani Power Ltd (APL)

* The largest private thermal power producer in India scored 3.5/5 in FTSE ESG rating, much higher than the world utilities average score of 2.7/5.

* The Water Intensity performance of APL is 2.31 m3/ MWh for FY 22-23 which is 34 per cent lower than Statuary limit for Hinterland plants (3.50 m3/ MWh) and 7.6 per cent lower than stretched internal target of 2.50 m3/MWh

* APL achieved ash utilisation of 94.1 per cent

* APL gets B Score for fulfilling climate change and water security commitments from CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) for 2022.

Adani Total Gas Ltd (ATGL)

* India's leading private player in developing City Gas Distribution (CGD) networks completed water audit completed in 58 sites of ATGL, on track to become water positive in the coming years with focus on water consumption, meters and rainwater harvesting.

* Rooftop solar capacity of 870 kW installed in 50 sites, captive solar plant is being explored in FY23-24.

* ATGL has set up Adani Total Energies E-Mobility Limited (ATEEL) for E-mobility initiative

to set up EV charging stations.

* ATGL has set up 104 charging points. On track to install 4000+ EV charging points by 2024. Ambuja Cements Ltd

* TSR (Thermal Substitution Rate) has been improved from 6.62 per cent during January '22 to March '22 to 7.34 per cent during January '23 to March '23 by maximising the usage of alternative fuels and launching of 'Geoclean'

* Commissioned 38.4 MW of WHRS (Bhattapara L1 and L2 - 13 MW, Rauri - 11.4 MW and Marwar - 14 MW), 22.2 MW under commissioning at Bhatapara L15.3 MW, Suli 9.8 MW

* Specific electrical energy has been reduced by 1.31 per cent QoQ by taking various energy efficiency measures

Adani Wilmar Ltd (AWL)

* The No. 1 edible oil company in India did successful solar power implementation at eight plants out of 23 units with plans to continue such installation across all plants in the coming years.

* Efforts towards reducing water waste with ZLD installed at 9 major plants (2900 KL per day) (ZLD ensures recovery and reuse of water)

* First edible oil company to introduce recyclable packaging where 98 per cent of packaging is recyclable.

Activist fire viewed from the air

The illegal fire Mr McAvoy lit on 8 June 2023 as viewed from the air

* Adani Solar won the 'Aegis

Expansion work on Mater Private Hospital Springfield begins

Construction works have begun on a project that will transform healthcare for Greater Springfield and the Western Corridor.

The Stage 2 expansion of Mater Private Hospital Springfield, on Health Care Drive, will deliver 174 public beds for the community – meeting its health needs for decades to come.

The new Mater Hospital Springfield, which will deliver both private and public services, will also include an emergency department, intensive care unit and Mater’s renowned maternity services – ensuring local women can give birth in their own

community.

A new access road has been built to the expansion site and workers from contractor John Holland Group are now on the ground preparing for the commencement of major construction works in the coming months.

The project is being delivered through a partnership between Mater – the state’s largest notfor-profit healthcare provider –and the Queensland Government.

Mater Private Hospital Springfield Executive Officer Suzanne Hawksley said the hospital’s existing services would remain operational throughout the

expansion project.

“It’s exciting for Mater, our patients and the community to see the progress that’s being made on Stage 2,” Ms Hawksley said.

“We’ve been serving the people of Springfield since 2015 and we know that this community wants, needs and deserves a full range of health and hospital services.

“A huge amount of work has already gone on behind the scenes to plan the new building and our services, including extensive consultation with medical specialists and stakeholders.

Springfield - A city for the future

The city of Springfield has been one of the greatest achievements in modern Australia. A city that welcomes people from every corner of the planet and boasts one of the most educated, youthful residents and workforces anywhere in the country. 50,000 people call Greater Springfield home today because they have a shared vision and passion for taking this city even further. The future will be achieved through three specific areas of focus.

Sustainability

The Greater Springfield Zero Net Energy Vision means that by 2038, the six suburbs that make up the city of Greater Springfield will be generating more energy than they consume.

Global energy and services group

ENGIE and Springfield City Group signed a historic 50-year strategic alliance to make Greater Springfield a net zero energy city.

It’s an exciting challenge but chasing the ultimate goal sees both companies exploring innovative ways to deal with energy and deliver better city ideas across Greater Springfield. The alliance engages the community, stakeholders, government and others to deliver innovative goals.

Under the alliance, investments are being planned in renewable energy generation and storage infrastructure, district energy schemes, green mobility solutions, digital technology, energy efficiency initiatives and a dedicated research and

innovation centre.

Innovation

Innovation is at the heart of thriving international cities and Greater Springfield is no different.

The whole city has been created to cater for the needs of local and global needs and provides support and environments that: Grows a knowledge-driven economy that facilitates business exchange Nurtures and attracts talent Invests in science and technology exchange Enables the fourth industrial revolution with transformative technologies connecting the physical world with the digital world

“My team are so proud to be part of a project that we know will deliver outstanding, compassionate services to Greater Springfield.”

The early construction works phase will include the relocation of inground services and utilities, relocation of loading and ambulance docks and doctors’ parking areas.

Creates a knowledge-based industries precinct for Greater Springfield Living and Visiting

Greater Springfield really is a city where you can live, learn, work, and play. Greater Springfield has been master-planned so its residents can have the best lifestyle possible.

Residents have access to advanced medical services through the Mater Private Hospital and world-class education and training from The University of Southern Queensland.

Greater Springfield is also home to the renowned Brookwater Golf Course and with a third of all land dedicated for open space including parks, gardens and recreational centres, residents have ample choice in maintaining

The Western Corridor is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, with an increasing demand for health services.

The Stage 2 project will create more than 700 jobs during construction and more than 1,000 new frontline health jobs once operational.

an active lifestyle. Visitors too can enjoy the Greater Springfield lifestyle – the Springfield Lakes Hotel offers fine dining and luxury accommodation. With a fantastic variety of shopping, education, healthcare, residential estates and modern public transport services, our city is constantly growing and the Greater Springfield lifestyle just keeps getting better.

The City of Greater Springfield is a remarkable story. Thirty years in the making, we have seen the transformation into today’s thriving, bustling city and suburbs that more than 50,000 people now call home. We hope you choose to be part of the next 30 years of our city.

Recovering from Karnataka debacle, BJP starts focusing on Telugu states

Hyderabad, June 11 (IANS) A month after the shock defeat in Karnataka, the BJP has started focusing on Telugu states with top guns of the party making a series of visits in preparation for the coming elections.

A day after BJP president J.P. Nadda's visit to Tirupati on Saturday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is arriving in Visakhapatnam on Sunday.

The visit by two top BJP leaders in as many days is likely to set off a flurry of political activity for realignment in the run-up to next year's elections.

Political analysts say the visit by the BJP leaders may be a beginning of the saffron party's efforts to test waters before getting into serious talks for alliance with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the main opposition party in the state.

After the humiliating defeat in 2019 elections, which they fought separately, TDP, BJP and Jana Sena Party (JSP) headed by actor politician Pawan Kalyan are keen to join hands to take on YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).

The visits by Nadda and Amit Shah are seen as part of BJP's efforts to reach out to masses and gain a foothold in the state.

This is their first visit to Andhra Pradesh after the recent meeting with TDP president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Naidu had met Amit Shah and Nadda on June 3 in Delhi. They reportedly discussed TDP-JSPBJP alliance for elections in both Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. This was Naidu's first meeting with Shah after TDP pulled out of the BJP-led NDA in 2018 over the issue of special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Political observers believe both the parties are keen to leave behind the bitterness of 2019 elections and work together.

BJP and TDP had an alliance in 2014 elections and though Pawan Kalyan did not contest the polls, he campaigned for the alliance and addressed public meetings along with Narendra Modi and Chandrababu Naidu.

The JSP had snapped ties with both TDP and BJP for going back on the promise to accord special category status to Andhra Pradesh. Interestingly, TDP later used the same issue to pull out of

the BJP-led NDA. BJP, which was sharing power with TDP in the state, also had to pull out of the coalition.

In 2014 polls, BJP had bagged four seats in the 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly. It has also won two out of 25 Lok Sabha seats. However, in 2019 polls, which saw TDP losing power to YSR Congress, BJP drew a blank while JSP could manage to win just one Assembly.

After the 2019 debacle, JSP was quick to mend fences with the BJP. Though Chandrababu Naidu too wanted to bury the hatchet, the BJP leadership was cold in its response as YSRCP was extending support to BJP on key Bills in the Parliament.

With less than a year to go for elections, Pawan Kalyan started exerting pressure on BJP to finalise the alliance to avoid a split of anti-YSRCP votes.

Nadda's speech at Tirupati public meeting on Saturday indicates that BJP is gearing up to take on YSRCP. He slammed the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led government on widespread corruption and lawlessness in the state.

"I am sorry to say YSRCP is one of the most corrupt governments I have ever seen. There is no end to scams. There is mining scam, sand scam, liquor scam, land scam and education scam. Which type of scam is not taking place?"

Nadda also lashed out at YSRCP for turning the state economy into an 'alcohol economy'.

The BJP president also alleged that lawlessness is at extreme. "There is no law and no law enforcing agency," he remarked.

The BJP chief also attacked the Jagan government over not building the state capital at Amaravati for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone in 2015.

BJP will have to be content with playing second fiddle to TDP in Andhra Pradesh, the saffron party is confident of its prospects in Telangana, where Assembly elections in Telangana are due in November-December 2023.

The debacle in Karnataka dealt a blow to the party's preparations in Telangana but it hopes that Amit Shah's visit on June 15 will infuse new enthusiasm among the party cadres. He is scheduled to address a public meeting at Khammam.

The BJP, which has been focusing on Telangana for the last 3-4 years, was confident that Telangana will prove its second gateway to the South after Karnataka. However, the party's failure to retain power in Karnataka dented its morale.

The BJP had been working aggressively with Mission 2023, but its confidence took a beating following defeat in Karnataka. The internal squabbles in the party have added to its problems.

MLA Eatala Rajender and some other BJP leaders, who joined the party in recent years, are said to be unhappy with state BJP president Bandi Sanjay and are demanding the central leadership to appoint a new leader.

A recent reported statement by a senior central leader of the BJP about the saffron party's real strength in the state has also dealt a blow to its rank and file. The leader reportedly admitted that BJP is trailing at third position in the state.

The BJP has been trying to project itself as the only viable alternative to BRS. Its top leaders including Narendra Modi and Amit Shah exuded confidence at many occasions that the party will storm to power in Telangana.

In the 2018 Assembly elections in Telangana, BJP secured just one seat in 119-member House. However, in 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the saffron party came out with its best-ever performance to win four Lok Sabha seats. Since then, the party's fortunes have been on an upswing. It bolstered its position by winning two Assembly seats in by-elections and with an impressive show in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) polls.

The BJP is looking to rope in top leaders from across the country for the campaign in Telangana. As the elections draw nearer, the state will see a flurry of visits by BJP leaders.

When compared to Andhra Pradesh, Telangana is seen as a fertile ground for the BJP. The party has been raking up several contentious issues for polarisation of votes on communal lines.

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) Former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, in an exploratory remark, has claimed that India had put pressure on the micro-blogging platform, including giving threats of winding it down and conducting raids on employees' homes. During an interview with YouTube channel Breaking Points late on Monday, Dorsey said that the threats came as Twitter refused to comply with the government's demands to block accounts during the farmers' protests in early 2021.

"We would raid the homes of your employees', which they did; We will shut down your offices if you don't follow suit. And this is India, a democratic country," Dorsey said on the channel when asked to share some examples of pressure from foreign governments during his tenure, before Elon Musk took over.

"India is a country that had many requests of us around the farmers' protest, around particular journalists that were critical of the government, and it manifested in ways such as 'we will shut Twitter down in India', which is a very large market for

us," Dorsey further said. The government was yet to respond to Dorsey's allegation.

Last year, Twitter told the Karnataka High Court that it was asked to completely block numerous multiple accounts during the farmers' agitation on the borders of Delhi in 2021. Twitter, in its petition before the High Court, maintained that blocking orders by the Union government violate the rights of users under the Constitution. The petition also described the move of the government as arbitrary and in violation of Section 69 A of the IT Act.

The Central government maintained that the blocking orders were issued in the national and public interest, and action was taken to prevent lynching and mob violence.

Raids on Senthil Balaji BJP’s ploy for back door entry in TN: Stalin

Chennai, June 13 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday lashed out against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) raids at the official residence and office of state Electricity Minister Senthil Balaji, terming them a ploy by the BJP-led Central government to get a backdoor entry in the state.

Stalin, who also heads the state's ruling DMK, said that such actions would not yield any results and called upon the Central government to understand the folly of such moves.

He said that the searches in the minister's office at the secretariat were nothing but political

vendetta.

Meanwhile, DMK state Organising Secretary and former MP R.S. Bharathi said that the raids conducted at the office and residence of Senthil Balaji were to create a smoke screen to cover up the spat between the AIADMK and the BJP in Tamil Nadu. He also said that no prior permission from the Chief Secretary was taken for conducting raids at the office of the minister in the Secretariat.

The Enforcement Directorate had conducted raids at the official residence of Senthil Balaji on Tuesday morning, and later, conducted raids at the office of the minister in the Secretariat.

‘We’ll shut you down, raid homes’: Ex-Twitter CEO Dorsey on pressure from India

Outright lie, no one was raided or sent to jail: Rajeev Chandrasekhar to Dorsey

us," Dorsey added. In a reply, Chandrasekhar said that India as a sovereign nation has the right to ensure that its laws are followed by all companies operating in India.

The AAP further stated that the "arrest was a part of the continued attack on India's opposition, undermining the very foundations of our democracy, which thrives on the principles of justice, fairness, and the right to dissent".

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) The Centre on Tuesday lashed out at former Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey for claiming that the Indian government threatened to wind it down and conducted raids on employees' homes, saying it is an attempt to "brush out that very dubious period of Twitter's history".

Reacting to Dorsey who alleged in an interview with YouTube channel Breaking Points that the threats came as Twitter refused to comply with the government's demands to block accounts during the farmers' protests in early 2021, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said that no one went to jail nor was Twitter shut down in the country.

"This is an outright lie by @jack -- perhaps an attempt to brush out that very dubious period of Twitter's history. Twitter under Dorsey and his team were in repeated and continuous violations of the India law," Chandrasekhar said in a tweet. The Minister said that as a matter of fact, Twitter was in noncompliance with law repeatedly from 2020 to 2022 "and it was

only June 2022 when they finally complied".

"To set the record straight, no one was raided or sent to jail. Our focus was only on ensuring the compliance of Indian laws. Dorsey's Twitter regime had a problem accepting the sovereignty of Indian law. It behaved as if the laws of India did not apply to it," Chandrasekhar noted.

In the interview, Dorsey said that India put pressure on the platform.

"We would raid the homes of your employees', which they did; We will shut down your offices if you don't follow suit. And this is India, a democratic country," Dorsey said on the channel when asked to share some examples of pressure from foreign governments during his tenure, before Elon Musk took over.

"India is a country that had many requests of us around the farmers' protest, around particular journalists that were critical of the government, and it manifested in ways such as 'we will shut Twitter down in India', which is a very large market for

"During the protests in January 2021, there was a lot of misinformation and even reports of genocide which were definitely fake. The government was obligated to remove misinformation from the platform because it had the potential to further inflame the situation based on fake news," explained the Minister.

"Such was the level of partisan behaviour on Twitter under Jack regime, that they had a problem removing misinformation from the platform in India, when they did it themselves when similar events took place in the US," he said.

According to the Minister, there is ample evidence now in public domain about Jack's Twitter's "arbitrary, blatantly partisan and discriminatory conduct and misuse of its power on its platform during that period".

"Twitter under Dorsey was not just violating Indian law, but was partisan in how it was using 'de-amplify' and deplatforming of some arbitrarily in violation of Articles 14,19 of our constitution and also assisting in weaponising of misinformation," he further said.

"All social media intermediaries operating in India have to comply with laws to ensure that the internet is safe, trusted and accountable," said the Minister.

Slowdown continues for India Inc as big-ticket deals disappear

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deal activity experienced a significant decline, with a 45 per cent decrease in deal volumes and a notable 98 per cent decrease in values compared to May 2022, recording only 22 deals valued at $675 million.

"In addition, the government's emphasis on regulatory reforms to enhance the ease of doing business, combined with the country's robust fundamentals, create a strong foundation for deal-making in India," Vijetha added.

New Delhi, June 14 (IANS) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Wednesday condemned the arrest of Tamil Nadu's Electricity Minister, V. Senthil Balaji, and termed the action as 'political vendetta'.

"We strongly condemn the latenight arrest of Tamil Nadu's Electricity Minister, V Senthil Balaji, by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The manner in which Balaji was arrested despite his health condition is inhumane and raises serious concerns about the working methods of the ED. "Our country is still grieving a devastating railway accident, demanding accountability. Amidst issues such as unemployment, inflation, and alarming data breaches from Co-Win jeopardizing our citizens' privacy and security, it is disconcerting that the government's priorities are misplaced.

"Instead of focusing on resolving these challenges facing the nation, the BJP appears intent on diverting attention through its relentless pursuit of political vendetta," AAP said in a statement.

It said, "The use of false allegations and politically motivated arrests undermines the democratic fabric of our nation and erodes public trust in the impartiality of law enforcement agencies."

AAP further stated, "Such actions weaken the very foundation of our democratic institutions and jeopardize India's image internationally. It is essential to protect the integrity of our democratic processes and institutions and ensure that the rule of law prevails over political expediency.

"We stand in solidarity with Mr. Balaji and all those opposition leaders who have been victims of the BJP's undemocratic targeting. The Aam Aadmi Party remains committed to upholding the values that define us as a democratic nation and will continue to monitor the situation closely," it added.

After 18 hours of interrogation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Tamil Nadu Electricity Minister Senthil Balaji on Wednesday.

Wrestlers case: Delhi Police to soon submit report in court

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) India

Inc recorded 106 deals valuing $4.6 billion last month -- a 45 per cent decline in deal volumes and a steep 87 per cent decline in deal values compared to May last year, a report showed on Monday.

The month of May saw only one IPO raising $390 million, compared to eight issues raising $4 billion witnessed in May last year.

Unlike May last year, which saw four multi-billion-dollar deals worth $31.5 billion, the month gone by witnessed an absence of big-ticket transactions, according to Grant Thornton Bharat's aDealtracker May 2023' report.

Domestic volumes reached a three-year low with 20 deals, while cross-border activity hit its lowest monthly volumes and values to date.

"We are currently seeing persistent global macro-concerns center around inflationary pressures in the US and eurozone.

India is also experiencing a downturn in deal activity compared to past year," said Shanthi Vijetha, Partner-Growth at Grant Thornton Bharat.

While there has been an overall decline in the deal activity compared to past years, both M&A and PE volumes have witnessed a gradual month-onmonth increase since February.

Despite a 44 per cent decrease in investment volumes and a 45 per cent decline in values, compared to May 2022, private equity (PE) landscape recorded 84 deals raising $3.9 billion in May 2023. The startup sector continued to dominate deal activity, accounting for 55 per cent of total PE deal volumes.

Among startups, the enterprise application and infrastructure segment saw increased activity, followed by the fintech and retail segments, collectively contributing to 67 per cent of the start-up sector's volumes, the report noted.

New Delhi, June 14 (IANS)

Investigators in the wrestlers' case will soon submit chats, videos and statements of over 150 witnesses in court, a Delhi Police source said on Wednesday. According to the source, police have collected several videos, including the CCTV footage of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) office.

Earlier, the police had reached out to five foreign wrestling federations, seeking information, as several wrestlers have alleged harassment during tournaments abroad. They are currently awaiting responses from these federations.

As for the charge sheet filed by police, officials said that Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora has

reviewed the progress of the investigation and given approval to proceed.

"The investigating officer will now conclude the necessary procedures and submit the reports to the Rouse Avenue Court," said the official.

In April, Delhi Police registered two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) against the WFI chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, based on sexual harassment allegations. The first FIR pertains to the accusations made by a minor and has been filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code concerning the act of outraging modesty.

AAP condemns TN minister’s arrest, calls it ‘political vendetta’

AIBC WA leadership delivers an illuminating Australia-India education dialogue

Perth, 14 June (Australia India

News bureau): The fast growing #bilateral strength of #Australia and #India received another boost when the #Australia India Business Council(#AIBC) of Western Australia and The Consulate General of India, Perth came together to celebrate Australia-India bilateral spirit by hosting our international education ambassadors.

‘The India Economic Strategy to 2035’ states that a strong and productive Australia-India education relationship should be seen as the flagship of the bilateral relationship. This was abundantly evident in the views shared by highly accomplished educationists including Mr Jake Garman Deputy Vice Chancellor International Edith Cowan University, whose comment, “Bring on India” resonated with the delegates and guests; Mr Kelly Smith Pro Vice Chancellor International Murdoch

University, Ms Derryn Belford CEO StudyPerth, Prof Jennifer Howell Pro Vice Chancellor Global Engagement The University of Western Australia, Mr Justin de Sousa Director International The University of Notre Dame Australia and Prof Jaya Dantas Dean International Faculty of Health Sciences Curtin University.

As per The India Economic Strategy to 2035, India's tertiaryage (18–22) population is the largest in the world and is projected to peak at 126 million in 2026 before stabilising at 118 million by 2035. An illustrious panel of industry leaders, spearheading bilateral engagement on the ground, laid emphasis on some of the following key ideas:

> There is a need to focus on offshore expansion strategy to augment the international market share and the wholistic student experience and quality of delivery.

> The quality of engagement of our future students market has to be more direct and personalised.

> We need to leverage our strong and rich indigenous culture of the two nations as a glue to drive transnational equitable engagement.

> The merits of our online technology ecosystem needs to offer blended distributed academic years for easier access.

> Quality of our Australian education and research framework needs to capitalise on our bilateral strengths and recognition.

> The onshore student orientation and welfare should be a priority during their academic lifecycle.

> The various current study and work visas categories and processes need to be closely reviewed and overhauled. AIBC was grateful to Amarjeet

Singh Takhi, Consul General of India Perth, for lending a stellar support on behalf of the Government of India. Similarly, the event churned out some pathbreaking ideas and recommendations during the deliberations, thanks to AIBC committee member and an amazing moderator Dr Parwinder Kaur, MAICD. Dr Kaur observed, “One million Indians turn 18 every month, so there is a huge and growing demand for a high quality education. Getting education right is also critical for India to maximise the potential of its demographic dividend. As a world-class education provider, Australia is well placed to partner with India across secondary, university and vocational sectors. Australia's vocational system is highly regarded in India and providers can benefit from this reputation if our system can cater the needs of India's low-cost, high-volume environment”.

The event was kickstarted by the welcome remarks of Mr Michael Carter, President AIBC WA whose leadership has delivered highly impressive and productive outcomes over the years between WA and India underpinned by engagements across a range of sectors in business and trade. He has also accompanied high level delegations to India in recent years.

The event concluded with an engaging vote of thanks by Mr Paritosh Misra, Vice President AIBC WA who worked tirelessly to bring together such an impressive lineup of leaders from the education industry of WA. Mr Misra has spearheaded engagement with the higher education institutions in the state for over a decade on behalf of several leading corporate giants. The event was proudly supported by StudyPerth, Spinifex Breweries and dickinson Estate Wineries.

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).

In a sea of turbulence, India stands out for its stability, softening inflation

US recession, commodities cooling off, China plus one theme, coupled with Europe plus one, make in India, PLI schemes and incentives, all these factors have consolidated together and now are taking Indian markets at new levels.

April-May, road shows in Mumbai (on May 29), Dhaka (Bangladesh) (on June 13), Hyderabad (on June 23) and Kolkata (on July 10).

took part.

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS)

Indian markets have surged in the financial year 2023-24 while global markets have underperformed.

DSP Asset Managers said in a report that while the global data seems grim and the market conditions shaky, Indian economic conditions seem reasonably stable.

Some indicators include healthy GST collections, robust sale volume of petroleum products, promising electronic toll collections, and robust business activity and sentiments.

Despite interest rate hikes to multi-year highs, most countries are still grappling with inflation, striving to bring it within the target bands. Not India. India stands out with softening inflation. The downward trajectory of inflation is evident from the inflation models and the RBI's pause of the rate hike cycle, the report said.

Vikram Kasat, Head Advisory at Prabhudas Lilladher, said Nifty has surged over 5 per cent in financial year 2023-24. While if we look at global markets then they have tanked. There are multiple factors driving this exceptional growth in Indian markets -- end to RBI's modest rate hikes, FIIs coming back to India, manufacturing industry showing strong growth, exports touching new highs, on-going

Nowadays Europe plus one is a new China plus one -- because of poor gas supply which led to shortages and blackouts and shutdowns in Europe. This made India again an attractive investment destination, Kasat said.

The global economy has been hit by two huge shocks in three years. It might be about to suffer a third in the shape of a US debt crisis, CNN reported.

After the Covid pandemic, and the first major war in Europe since 1945, the specter of the American government being unable to pay its bills is now stalking financial markets.

For most, it's unthinkable, perhaps because the consequences are so terrifying. And it may never happen -there were signs on Friday that negotiations in Washington to increase the amount the US government can borrow were gaining momentum. But if it does, it could make the 2008 global financial crisis feel like a walk in the park.

The fallout from a default would be "a million" times worse, said Danny Blanchflower, an economics professor at Dartmouth University and former interest rate-setter at the Bank of England.

"What happens if the greatest economic monolith in the world can't pay its bills? The

consequences are frightful."

The belief that America's government will pay its creditors on time underpins the smooth functioning of the global financial system. It makes the dollar the world's reserve currency and US Treasury securities the bedrock of bond markets worldwide.

"If the credibility of the Treasury's commitment to pay comes into question, it can wreak havoc across a range of global markets," said Maurice Obstfeld, non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a think tank in Washington.

As per earlier reports, stocks of Chinese companies around the world have lost about $540 billion in value, CNN reported.

Investors trimmed their exposure to China amid economic uncertainty in the country, rising geopolitical tensions and Beijing's crackdown on international consulting firms.

"Investors remain skeptical (about China) for two primary reasons.

First, the recovery has not been robust," said Brock Silvers, chief investment officer for Hong Kong-based Kaiyuan Capital. Another concern for global investors is the country's "fundamental investability", he said, referring to geopolitical and Chinese policy risks, CNN reported.

"Unfortunately after two decades of mutual benefit, global tensions have risen between China and the US," said Michael Kelly, global head of multi-asset at PineBridge Investments, a New York-based asset management firm.

Delhi to host Northeast Global Investor Summit-2023 in August

Investor Summit-2023" would be held in the national capital this August, officials said here on Tuesday.

The outline of the roadshows would include structured B2B and B2G meetings, roundtable conferences, and panel discussions focusing on the investment opportunities in the eight northeastern states of India. To finalise strategies, deliberate, ideate and explore trade and investment opportunities in the northeast region, a roundtable interaction with bilateral chambers and trade associations in India was recently held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, the official said.

He said that DoNER (Development of Northeast Region) Ministry

Joint Secretary Harpreet Singh chaired the roundtable interaction meet, where diplomats and envoys from the US, SAARC, EU, ASEAN, Canada, UAE, Dubai, Japan and Finland

Invest India and FICCI have been onboarded as investment facilitation partner and industry partner respectively. Singh apprised that the event would provide a platform for an immersive collaboration between select foreign embassies, the business communities, financial institutions, and relevant government stakeholders for forging mutually beneficial partnerships towards improving the business and trading ecosystem in the northeastern region.

The DoNER Joint Secretary emphasised that the focus is not solely on the summit but concrete outcomes that would materialise post the Summit. He further urged the delegates to participate proactively in forging mutually beneficial partnership to make the Summit a great success.

Industrial production for April rises 4.2%

for March, when it had touched a five-month low of 1.1 per cent. That number has now been revised to 1.7 per cent.

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) India's index of industrial production (IIP) rose by 4.2 per cent in April, significantly higher than that

According to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Monday, the IIP growth was 6.7 per cent in April 2022. Retail inflation for May 2023 fell to a 25-month low of 4.25 per cent as food prices fell.

India a case study for nations to create digital public infrastructure: MoS IT

ecosystems, was essentially a government use case of seamlessly transferring subsidies to citizens.

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS)

New Delhi/Agartala, April 25

(IANS) To woo investment in the resource rich northeastern region, a mega "Northeast Global

A senior official of Tripura Industries and Commerce Department said that the focus sectors of the summit include tourism and hospitality, agro-

food processing, textiles, handloom and handicrafts, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, education and skill development, Information Technology and Services, entertainment, sports, tea, energy among others. Before the summit, a series of activities including state roundtables would be organised in the northeastern states in

India which has created a significant and robust innovation ecosystem, like the unified payments interface (UPI) and Aadhaar to benefit millions of its people, will help other nations build and expand their digital infrastructure, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said on Monday.

Speaking at the Global Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Summit in Pune, the minister said that UPI, which is one of the world's fastest growing fintech

"As the governments around the world implement DPIs, they will see the catalytic benefit of India's startup and innovation ecosystem in their local economies with partnerships. They should make India a case study on DPI," Chandrasekhar told the gathering. On the first day of the summit, the Centre signed the memorandum of understandings (MoUs) with three countries on sharing India Stack -- the successful digital solutions implemented at population scale. At the event, the government floated the concept of 'One Future Alliance' -- a voluntary initiative that aims to bring together all stakeholders to shape, architect and design the future of DPIs that can be used by all countries and all people.

Record $8.2 billion to help ease cost of living pressures for Queenslanders

Brisbane, 13 June: The Palaszczuk State Budget 2023-24 will deliver an unprecedented $8.2 billion in concessions funding for all Queenslanders to ease cost of living pressures, with more than $1.6 billion in new or expanded measures.

The 2023-24 Budget delivers $1.48 billion for additional electricity bill support for Queensland households and small businesses in 2023-24.

This is the most significant electricity bill support package announced by any state or territory, more than doubling the size of the Federally agreed support package for Queensland under the National Energy Bill Relief Fund.

As part of the package, all Queensland households will automatically receive a $550 Cost of Living Rebate on their electricity bill in 2023-24, while around 600,000 vulnerable households will benefit from a higher $700 Cost of Living Rebate. This is in addition to the existing $372 rebate for electricity bills for vulnerable households under the Queensland Electricity Rebate Scheme, bringing total rebates for this group to $1,072.

Around 205,000 eligible

Queensland small businesses will also receive an automatic rebate of $650 on their electricity bill in 2023-24, cutting the cost of doing business in Queensland.

The Palaszczuk Government will also provide 15 hours of free kindergarten per week from January 2024 for all 4-year-old Queensland children, easing the burden of early childhood costs for Queensland families.

On average, a family attending a sessional kindy for 15 hours per week that charges $46 per day will save $4,600 a year in fees.

The Budget will also allocate $4.8 million over 2 years to expand the availability of FairPlay vouchers, providing up to $150 for eligible children aged up to 4 years to learn to swim.

Increased funding of $2.7 million over two years will be provided to extend and expand school breakfast programs in areas experiencing hardship across Queensland.

The Budget will also deliver increased funding of more than $70 million over four years to increase accommodation and fuel subsidies under the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme, helping rural and regional Queenslanders travel to access essential

healthcare services. Other measures to tackle cost of living:

• Additional funding of $22 million over four years will be provided to support the Nursing and Midwifery Student Regional Placements Allowance of $5,000 per student.

• The Government Managed Housing Rental Rebate continues to target low-income families and individuals, with assistance to be provided to approximately 55,000 Queensland households.

• Vehicle and Boat Registration concessions will continue to be made available to eligible Queenslanders, as part of a $206.8 million concessions package in 2023-24.

• Textbook and Resource Allowance is available for all parents and caregivers of secondary school age students to assist with the cost of textbooks and learning resources, providing support of either $146 per student or $317 per student in 2023 (depending on year level).

• From 1 July 2023, the cost of replacing Queensland Driver Licences, photo identification cards and industry authority cards will reduce to just $35 at an estimated cost of $23.1 million over four years

Budget boost to deliver 500 more social homes for Queenslanders in need

Brisbane, 13 June: Queensland’s record investment in social and affordable housing will be bolstered in this year’s state Budget, with additional funding to build 500 more homes.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined the Treasurer and Housing Minister today to announce $322 million in funding in the 202324 State Budget – honouring the government’s commitment to deliver more housing for Queenslanders in need.

The funding is in addition on the record $3.9 billion already invested in social and affordable housing, which will deliver 13,000 homes across the state.

The government continues to tackle national housing pressures through a range of initiatives including the Built to Rent program, investing in community

housing organisations, headleasing and building social, affordable and government employee housing.

Support is also provided to private renters who are experiencing rental stress.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuksaid:

“Our government is pulling every lever possible to ensure Queenslanders have a roof over their head.

“This investment builds on the biggest investment in social and affordable housing this state has ever seen, but we won’t stop there.

“We will work hand in hand with Queensland’s wonderful community housing organisations and the private sector to build, buy and lease more social housing

of the older person. Today, Brisbane will join other cities around the world turning the spotlight on elder abuse with a community event featuring Q&A sessions, panel discussions and social and wellbeing activities,

such as tai chi and line dancing. Hosted by Caxton Legal Centre, ‘It’s all about respect’ is free to attend and will be held at Flowstate Outdoor Pavilion, The Arbour, Turbine Street, South Brisbane, from 8.30am to 2pm.

State Budget 2023-24 delivers vital supports for children and young people with disability

Brisbane, 15 June: The 2023-24 State Budget will ensure children and young people with disability in Queensland are connected with life-changing supports through the NDIS.

The Assessment and Referral Team, known as ART, will continue supporting at-risk children and young people aged seven to 25 to access the NDIS, and the supports they need early in life, until December 2024. Beyond then, the Palaszczuk Government is investing ongoing

funding for a specialist team to support eligible people with complex needs navigating multiple mainstream systems to access the NDIS.

The Budget also includes $2.9 million over four years to continue and strengthen the Human Services Quality Framework (HSQF), which ensures best practice service delivery across the more than 380 organisations funded to provide over $1.2 billion in human services to Queenslanders.

Budget continues transformation of resources sector

Brisbane, 13 June: An injection of more than $50 million from the State Budget will boost exploration initiatives in Queensland’s resources sector while also helping make the state’s landscapes more resilient. The $21 million Frontier Gas Exploration grants program is a new initiative that will help drive exploration for new gas reserves in the Bowen and Galilee Basins over the next two years.

Nearly $10 million of additional funds will be invested over the next four years under Queensland’s vegetation

management framework with a focus on working with landholders on the government’s commitment to achieve emission reductions targets.

The Government will continue to implement the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan, a 30-year vision to grow and transform the sector.

The Natural Resources Recovery Program (NRRP) will continue to be supported, providing $10 million in grants in the next financial year to help improve the resilience of Queensland’s natural landscapes and support jobs.

Budget supports tourism, sport and innovation

stock for the people who need it.”

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dicksaid:

“Housing pressures have had an impact across the country, and Queensland hasn’t been immune.

“That’s why we continue to take action to address this critical issue.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s Budget is investing in a range of housing initiatives to address housing supply shortages across the state.

“We are working with the private sector, community housing, companies and financial institutions like superannuation funds to build, buy or lease more homes for Queenslanders.” government focussed on housing in Queensland.”

Queenslanders urged to help end elder abuse

Brisbane, 15 June: More older Queenslanders are seeking support for elder abuse as community awareness grows about a statefunded helpline.

Research shows nearly one in six Australian seniors are mistreated, and elder abuse is still vastly underreported in Queensland.

On World Elder Abuse Awareness

Day (15 June), the Palaszczuk Government has partnered with lead agencies to call for an end to elder abuse in Queensland communities.

It has launched a six-week statewide campaign urging Queenslanders who experience, witness or suspect elder abuse to call the Elder Abuse Helpline on

1300 651 192 or visit qld.gov.au/ stopelderabuse.

The most common forms of elder abuse are psychological abuse, neglect and financial abuse. Services supporting older Queenslanders report that these forms of abuse are often linked. Sadly, perpetrators of elder abuse are frequently the adult children

Brisbane, 13 June: The ongoing transformation of Queensland’s rebounding visitor economy is again a key focus of the 2023-24 State Budget.

The Palaszczuk Government has committed to increasing Tourism and Events Queensland’s base funding to $125 million-a-year for the next four years as it works towards ambitious goals for the state’s tourism and events industry.

An aspirational industry goal of achieving $44 billion in overnight visitor expenditure was set in November and the Palaszczuk Government is backing its lead marketing agency to drive demand.

Other Tourism highlights in the 2023-24 Budget include:

• $20 million in 2023-24 to progress Towards Tourism 2032, including the Tourism Experience and Infrastructure Grants program, designed to support tourism experience development in priority areas over two rounds.

It will focus on First Nations, sustainability, eco/nature, accessibility and paleo.

• $12 million over 2 years to support the 2023 Year of Accessible Tourism activities, increasing awareness and capability and for visitor experience development.

The Budget includes tourism

business development and continues to support tourism infrastructure and attraction investment.

Meanwhile, the Palaszczuk Government will continue to lead Queensland’s sport and active recreation industry and support pathways to assist Queenslanders to reach their full sporting potential. The Budget will deliver $10 million for female facilities and inclusive infrastructure for clubs, sporting organisations and councils including wider pathways, ramps, upgraded toilets and change rooms.

A $2 million investment over 2 years will produce a state-wide audit of facilities for scouts and girl guides and start work on the refurbishments and upgrades that are most needed including modernising huts and dens and improving disability access.

A further $4.8 million over 2 years is allocated for SwimStart, which is an extension of FairPlay, making more than 30,000 vouchers available to eligible families for children up to the age of four to learn to swim. The Palaszczuk Government is committed to innovation and will work with venture capital funds to provide start-ups with greater access to early-stage capital, which will support them to scale up and accelerate growth.

Queensland delivers surplus budget with electricity rebates & infrastructural boost

Brisbane, June 13 (Australia India News News Desk)

The Palaszczuk Government’s 2023–24 Budget announced todayhas allocated money on the things that matter to all Queenslanders such asdealing effectively with the cost of living, and delivering improved services in health, housing and community safety.The 2023–24 Budget is being said to be focused on investing in the state’s future and also dealing with the immediate challenges.

This became apparent when Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick announced a budget with a surplus of more than $12 billion,offering $1.6 billion in new and expanded concessions to effectively deal with such issues as cost-of-living woesin his 202324 budget, according to media reports.

The budget surplus is owing tothe higher coal prices and a $1.7 billion increase in tax revenue in 2022-23.But the next 2023-24 budget is likely to seea deficit, and the subsequent two budgets have been forecast to see surplusesfor 2024-25 and 2026-27, say media reports.

While presenting his in the parliament, treasurer Cameron Dicksaid the surplus would pave the way for the state to fulfil its promises related to the biggest cost-of-living program, as well as its biggest building program,though the state will

also repay its debt, media reports suggest.

According to media reports, highlighting the budget’s priority, Dick said,"That priority is to deliver cost-of-living relief, but to do so in a way that does not add to inflationary pressures.This budget delivers the strongest direct costof-living support package of any Australian state government."

One of the implications of this budget are that all Queensland households will receive a $550 rebate on their electricity bills.If the household comes in the category of vulnerable households, this rebate increases to to $700, in addition to the existing $372 rebate under the Queensland Electricity Rebate Scheme. Besides, eligible small businesses will benefit from receiving a $650 electricity rebate, suggest media reports.

The Queensland government has always been concerned about children’s welfare in the state. And in keeping with that sentiment, the budget makes provisions so that nearly 50,000 four-year-olds will now be able to attend kindergarten for free across the state, say media reports.

According to media reports, the budget has allocated funds for 15 hours of kindergarten per week, for 40 weeks of the year, to benefit children in the year before they commence school costing $645 million over four years.

Care has been taken for the benefit of rural and regional patients, who will now see a $70.3 million boost to the Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme, a step that will assist them to travel to access essential health care services, media reports suggest.

According to media reports, school breakfast programs in areas which are full of hardship, will now be expanded to the tune of $2.7 million over two years and Foodbank will receive $315,000 in grant funding.

Replacing a driver's licence, photo ID or industry authority card will now be cheaper with the fee reduced to $35.

Addressing health, housing &safety

Significantly, the Palaszczuk government has increased the state's health budget by 9.6 per cent to a record $25.8 billion, media reports suggest.

Investments comprise the continuation of the health and hospitals plan with the opening of all seven satellite hospitals at Caboolture, Kallangur, Ripley, Eight Mile Plains, Tugun, Bribie Island, and Redlands. There will also be redevelopments at Caboolture and Logan Hospitals.

Acknowledging the need to address mental health issues, Redland Hospital will be the recipient of a new $150 million mental health facility, a step that will be instrumental in doubling

its facility.

Moreover, the budget promises $764 million to deal with ambulance ramping and emergency department wait time woes.

Addressing the parliament while presenting the budget, the treasurer saidthe government is aware of the state's housing shortage, caused by supply chain and labour force issues which worsenedduring the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore an additional $1.1 billion would be allocated for the housing portfolio to meet the rise in construction costs, said the treasurer, reports the media.

Caring for the doctors & health workers

The budget has been wise enough to pay attention to provide for the doctors and health workers. Doctors and healthcare workers will now get up to $70,000 and $20,000 respectively to relocate to Queensland. For relocating to regional, rural and remote parts of the statenursing and midwifery students will get a $5000 cost-ofliving allowance.

The government is also conscientious of youth-related problems. Therefore, to tackle youth crime, the government will allocate $96 million for Youth Co-Responder Teams to engage with young people, $50 million for infrastructure developments at PCYCs and up to $30 million of

funding for seniors to secure their homes.Besides, a sum of $58.3 million will be invested over four years to implement the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence review.

The infrastructural boost

According to media reports, the treasurer also spoke about his government's capital program for the next four years, which is expected to cost $89 billion. A slew of steps will therefore be needed. So, a sum of $1.9 billion will be spent over four years on infrastructure for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Then there is also the global issue of making transition to renewable energy. Under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, Queensland will receive $19 billion total investment over four years. Also close to a billion dollars will be spent on land for new school sites with state schools receiving $358 million for new learning spaces and $259 million for expansion of the school halls program.

Also, the budget has provided for a $6.9 billion investment in transport infrastructure, which includes $420 billion towards Stage 1 of the Coomera Connector and $260 million towards Stage 3 of the Gold Coast Light Rail, media reports suggest.

Australia must seize opportunities to endure economic headwinds: PM

the Committee for Economic Development of Australia's State of the Nation conference in Canberra,

The Prime Minister added that he remained optimistic that Australia can emerge from the period of global economic challenges in a stronger position.

Australia’s business conditions slump 7 points in May

have to seize these opportunities," he said.

The retail industry remained solid despite a small setback seen in May.

Canberra, June 13 (IANS)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Tuesday that the country needs to seize development opportunities to weather the global economic headwinds.

"Advanced economies around the world are dealing with the very difficult combination of high inflation and rising interest rates," he said in a speech to

He emphasised that breaking new ground was critical to maintain economic growth, and identified clean energy transition, new technologies, and the growing care and support sector as major opportunities.

"We know Australia can't afford to just wait and watch and react to the clean energy transformation, the growth of the care and support economy, or breakthroughs in technology. We

National accounts data released earlier in June revealed Australia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 0.2 per cent in the first three months of 2023 and was up 2.3 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March, the slowest quarterly growth since September 2021.

The data has prompted concerns that the country is headed for a recession following 12 interest rate rises in 13 months. Despite slower than forecast GDP growth, a Guardian poll published on Tuesday found that more voters trust Albanese's governing Labor Party to manage the cost of living, rising interest rates and soaring debt than the Coalition.

Wedding bus crash in Australia kills 10

travelling to Singleton "presumably for their accommodation".

The number of fatalities could increase, with 25 passengers taken to hospital -- two of them airlifted from the crash, Chapman said.

Canberra, June 13 (IANS)

Business conditions in Australia posted a sharp fall of seven points to eight points in May driven by declines in trade, employment, and profitability, according to a survey released by the National Australia Bank Ltd. (NAB) on Tuesday.

The fall in conditions appears to be accelerating but still remains above the long-run average, Xinhua news agency quoted the survey as saying.

The business confidence across industries weakened in May with the index declining four points to minus four points.

The weakest confidence was seen in the retail industry while mining, manufacturing and transport, and utilities saw modest improvements.

Forward orders declined six points to minus five points.

"Confidence fell back into negative territory though has bounced around within the zero to minus four index point range in recent month," said Alan Oster, chief economist of NAB.

"Our bigger worry is the sharp decline in forward orders in the month."

Canberra, June 12 (IANS) At least 10 people were killed and 25 others injured when a wedding bus crashed in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state, police said on Monday.

The accident occurred at around 11.30 p.m. on Sunday night near Greta in Hunter Valley when the passengers were returning from a wedding at a winery, the BBC reported.

The driver of the bus has been arrested, according to NSW Police Acting Assistant Commissioner Tracy Chapman She said the guests were

She added that the bus is still on its side and people could be trapped underneath, and a crane will be brought to the scene "at some stage" to lift the bus.

Chapman said there was "sufficient information" for police to charge the coach driver, who was also sent to hospital and treated for minor injuries.

"He's under arrest. He's been the driver of a motor vehicle collision where there have been fatal injuries and there will be charges pending," the BBC quoted the top police official as saying, adding that there had been heavy fog in the area around the time of the

crash.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it is "so cruel, so sad and so unfair" for a "joyous day in a beautiful place like that to end with such terrible loss of life".

"People hire a bus for weddings in order to keep their guests safe, and that just adds to the unimaginable nature of this tragedy," he said at a press conference in Canberra.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the loss of so many lives was "nothing short of heartbreaking", adding: "For this horrific crash to have occurred on a day that should have been filled with love and happiness only adds to the heartbreak.

"For a day of joy to end in such devastating loss is cruel indeed. Our thoughts are also with those who have been injured."

Qantas eases gender-based uniform rules

to date," the BBC reported. Under the relaxed rules, which will also apply to employees of Qantas' budget airline Jetstar, both women and men will also be allowed to wear the same sort of jewellery, including large watches. All employees, including pilots and flight attendants, will be allowed to have long hair, if it is worn in a ponytail or bun.

All the three sub-components of the business conditions fell in May, of which trading dropped eight points to 14 points, employment down seven points to four points and profitability slid five points to seven points, it said. Conditions in all the industries saw declines with the biggest pullback seen in transport and utilities, wholesales, and mining industries.

The forward orders measure typically leads business conditions and historically has been the best measure of economic activity, said Oster.

"If orders persist at these levels we could well see ongoing sharp falls in business conditions, highlighting the risks around economic growth through the middle of this year," he noted.

Australia’s most-decorated soldier won’t apologise for alleged war crimes

in his civil case ruling. The case is the first time an Australian court has assessed accusations of war crimes by the country's forces.

Speaking to Nine News on Wednesday, Roberts-Smith said he will consider filing an appeal, adding that "it's a terrible outcome and it's the incorrect outcome".

Canberra, June 9 (IANS)

Australian flag carrier Qantas announced on Friday that it has relaxed its gender-based uniform rules, allowing male employees to put make-up while female staffers will no longer require to wear heels while on duty.

In a statement, the airline said: "Fashions change, and so have our style guidelines over the years. We're proud of our diversity as well as bringing our guidelines up

But Qantas worker will still have to keep their tattoos covered up and the rules also specify which items of uniform can be worn together, including requiring tights or stockings to be worn with skirts.

Meanwhile, Imogen Sturni from the Australian Services Union (ASU), which had campaigned for Qantas to change its uniform policy, said the move was a "big win for workers".

"Some of the dress code requirements were bordering on ridiculous, such as makeup style guides and a requirement for women to wear smaller watches than men," Sturni told the BBC. The flag carrier's move comes after some other airlines also relaxed their uniform policies.

In September 2022, UK-based carrier Virgin Atlantic said it would take a "fluid approach" to uniforms, which allowed staff to choose what they wore to work "no matter their gender".

In 2019, Air New Zealand ended a ban on staff having visible tattoos, to allow "employees to express their individuality and cultural heritage".

Canberra, June 15 (IANS) In an alleged war crimes case, Ben Roberts-Smith, a former soldier who is Australia's mostdecorated, on Wednesday said he will not apologise, adding that he was innocent and is proud of his actions in Afghanistan.

These were the former soldier's first remarks after he lost a defamation case on June 1 against three newspapers -- The Age, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Canberra Times -- which reported claims that he had murdered unarmed prisoners and civilians while serving in Afghanistan between 2009-2012, reports the BBC.

The newspapers' allegations that Roberts-Smith was actually a war criminal, a liar and a bully were "substantially true", Federal Court Judge Anthony Besanko had said

Speaking as he returned to Australia for the first time since the judgement was delivered, he also said he would not apologise to those affected by his alleged crimes.

"We haven't done anything wrong, so we won't be making any apologies," the BBC quoted the 44-year-old as saying to Nine News.

Roberts-Smith, who left the defence force in 2013, has not been charged over any of the claims in a criminal court.

He had spent the days leading up to the civil court ruling in Bali. Before Kabul's fall to the Taliban in August 2021, Australia maintained an operation of around 400 soldiers in Afghanistan

Australia has 50% chance of sliding into recession this yr: Bank

cent is "still too high".

In light of the RBA's new decision, Aird expected a further 25-basispoint increase for the cash rate to reach 4.35 per cent.

Australian govt to crackdown on migrant worker exploitation

Weaker growth may also bring about higher unemployment, as the unemployment rate is estimated to jump to 4.4 per cent by end-2023 and touch 4.7 per cent by mid-2024.

current situation as a "crisis of exploitation".

"When migrant workers are being underpaid - it hurts all of us, driving wages and conditions down for everyone," he said in a statement.

Canberra, June 9 (IANS) The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) on Friday downgraded its economic forecasts following a recent cash rate increase, saying the country has a 50 per cent chance of sliding into recession this year.

"We put the odds of a recession in 2023 at 50 per cent as the lagged impact of the RBA's rate increases continues to drain the cash flow of households that carry debt," Gareth Aird, CBA's head of Australian economics, wrote in the newly issued Economic Insights.

On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised the cash rate target by 25 basis points to 4.10 per cent, with Governor Philip Lowe noting that the annual inflation sitting at 7 per

"The risk is a 25bp (basis point) rate hike earlier in July. There is also a risk of 25bp rate rises in both July and August, which would take the cash rate to 4.6 per cent," Aird said, forecasting the timing of the start of rate cuts will be from the fourth quarter of 2023 to first quarter of 2024.

As Australia is having a "deeply restrictive" monetary policy, the CBA expert held a gloomy view of the future economic growth.

According to the new analysis, the annual gross domestic product (GDP) growth is expected to slow to 0.7 per cent in the fourth quarter.

With annual population growth likely to reach 2 per cent in 2023, Australia is forecast to be in a per-capita recession for the remainder of this year.

Aird also mentioned that monetary policy works with a lag. "As the lagged impact of rate rises continues to hit home borrowers, mortgage repayments will rise to a record high as a share of household income. This will have a negative impact on household consumption," Aird noted. However, Aird also spoke of some "light at the end of the tunnel", as he predicted a 125-basis-point easing in interest rates to arrive in early 2024.

"As interest rates are cut, it will free up cash for those borrowers that have a mortgage. And the demand for credit will begin to lift. Momentum will start to pick up and the upward trend in the unemployment rate will wane. Consumer sentiment and spending will lift," said the expert.

Australia’s economic growth slows amid inflation, cost-of-living pressures

Canberra, June 7 (IANS) The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Wednesday published national accounts data for the first quarter of 2023, revealing that economic growth has slowed amid headwinds from high interest rates and inflation.

The data revealed that the gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.2 per cent between January and March and by 2.3 per cent in the 12 months to the end of March, marking a slowdown from the 0.6 per cent growth in the final quarter last year and lower than the quarterly growth forecast by some economists, reports Xinhua news agency.

"This is the sixth straight rise in quarterly GDP but the slowest growth since the Covid-19 Delta lockdowns in September quarter 2021," Katherine Keenan, ABS head of National Accounts, said in

a media release.

The household saving ratio fell from 4.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2022 to 3.7 per cent, the lowest figure since 2008.

"The household saving ratio fell to its lowest level in nearly 15 years," Keenan said.

"This was driven by higher income tax payable and interest payable on dwellings, and increased spending due to the rising cost of living pressures."

Treasurer Jim Chalmers said that these figures "are not surprising" given the significant headwinds from higher interest rates, high inflation, and a slowing global economy.

He said the numbers confirm what Australians already know, that household budgets are under pressure from rising interest rates and higher cost of living.

According to ABS, household consumption grew by just 0.2 per cent in quarter, contributing just 0.1 percentage points to growth.

"We understand that inflation, higher interest rates and costof-living pressures are not only straining household budgets but slowing growth as well," Chalmers said in a media release.

"We're providing responsible costof-living relief without making the inflation challenge worse. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) Governor has already made it clear that the budget is addressing inflation, not adding to it."

The accounts were released one day after the RBA lifted the official interest rate to 4.1 per cent, the 12th rise in about 13 months as it seeks to bring inflation under control.

Australian govt to outlaw Nazi hate symbols

Canberra, June 8 (IANS)

Australia's Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus on Thursday announced the government will introduce legislation next week to criminalise public displays of the Nazi hate symbols and ban the trade of items with the symbols imprinted.

Under Australia's CounterTerrorism Legislation

Amendment Bill, anyone caught breaching the new laws could face up to 12 months in jail, reports Xinhua news agency.

The ban includes, but is not limited to, the trade and public display of flags, armbands, t-shirts, insignia and the publication of symbols online promoting Nazi ideology.

Dreyfus said there was been a

Canberra, June 5 (IANS) The Australian government on Monday announced a crackdown to better protect temporary visa holders from exploitation and employers who are caught violating the new federal laws could face criminal penalties.

According to a report published by thinktank the Grattan Institute in May, one in six recent migrants to Australia is paid less than the minimum wage, reports Xinhua news agency.

Under the changes, which will be introduced to parliament within weeks, coercing someone into breaching their visa condition will be made a criminal offence. Employers who are found to have exploited migrants will be prohibited from further hiring workers on temporary visas. Minister for Immigration Andrew Giles described the

"These reforms will help workers speak up and target those employers who do the wrong thing."

A section of the Migration Act will also be scrapped to make it easier for visa holders to report exploitative behaviour.

The Australian Border Force (ABF) will receive an extra A$50 million ($32 million) in funding for enforcement activities.

"Over the last 10 years our migration system has drifted deeper and deeper into reliance on low-paid temporary migrant workers who we know are routinely exploited," Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said.

"We are in consultation on systemic changes to our migration system which will ensure it works in the interests of Australian workers and businesses, and we are also doing the work necessary to ensure that no one who comes to this country is exploited or abused."

Pet cats killing 323 mn native Australian animals annually: Report

"The jump in wildlife kills reflects the pandemic pet boom that saw pet cat numbers reach 5.3 million and is an alarm bell for governments to enact responsible pet ownership laws, including 24/7 cat curfews," Sarah Legge, an ecologist from Charles Darwin University and spokesperson for the Biodiversity Council, said in a statement on Friday.

rise in the public display of these symbols and tackling far-right violent extremism is a priority for the Australian government.

Canberra, June 9 (IANS)

Domesticated cats kill 323 million native Australian animals every year, a new research report has revealed.

According to the new report from the Biodiversity Council, Invasive Species Council, and Birdlife Australia, the figure represents an increase of 34 per cent from 241 million in 2020 after a surge in pet ownership during the coronavirus pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

About one-third of Australian households have a pet cat and half of those have two or more.

Authors of the report called for Australians to take greater responsibility for their pets, with 71 per cent of cat owners still allowing them to roam freely.

Residents of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) are required by law to contain their cats at all times while in Victoria approximately half of local councils have containment rules. However, in other states, legislative barriers have prevented similar rules from being introduced.

The Invasive Species Council claims that a 24/7 cat curfew in the greater Sydney area alone would save 66 million native animals every year.

The 110 native animals killed on average by each roaming and hunting pet cat every year include about 40 reptiles, 38 birds and 32 mammals.

"We can't change the behaviour of cats, but we can support better choices by cat owners," Holly Parsons from Birdlife Australia said.

World Bank Prez calls for greater role for private sector in climate fight

markets to help them transition from fossil fuel to clean fuel.

"The only way forward is to find a way to get the private sector to believe that this is part of their future," said Banga, who took charge on June 2 as the 14th President of the World Bank, to CBS news.

Retail inflation falls to 4.25% in May as food prices slide

Washington, June 12 (IANS) Ajay Banga, the World Bank's new President, called for the private sector to play a larger role to help emerging countries in their battle against climate change in his first interviews on Sunday.

He argued that countries -essentially of the developed world, the World Bank, philanthropies and multilateral development banks (MDBs) will not be enough to meet the requirements of the emerging

He spoke also to CNN and made a similar pitch for scaling up private sector participation.

"What I think we have to do is... to find ways in the MDB system to think of a different playbook -- to take on the risks that they cannot take on," he added.

Banga is the first IndianAmerican to hold this position and called himself "Made in India" in the CNN interview, when he asked about the need for someone other than an American

should lead the World Bank, which has always been headed by an American in an unwritten agreement with Europe, which, in return, gets to name the head of the International Monetary Fund. Banga said he was born and raised in India and worked in both the developed and developing world and, thus, embodies the kind of diversity people may want to see at the leadership level. Developing and less developed countries have long argued that in order to transition to clean energy they need help in resources and technology from the developed countries who caused most of the global warming with large-scale and unregulated industrialisation. And a climate fund set up to that effect has fallen way short of the committed targets.

DGCA streamlines approval process for Indian airlines to new int’l destinations

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) In a move aimed at facilitating the expansion of Indian airlines' international operations, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has announced the streamlining of the approval process for Indian carriers to start flying to new foreign destinations.

The DGCA in a statement said that it has conducted a comprehensive review of the existing regulatory requirements in consultation with stakeholders, resulting in a significant reduction in the checklist that the airlines must comply with. Previously, Indian airline operators were subject to a

33-point checklist that assessed their preparedness for operations in a new foreign destination.

"However, in an effort to simplify and expedite the process, the DGCA has now rationalized the checklist to a concise 10-point assessment that specifically focuses on an airline's readiness for the intended operations. This revision eliminates generic and redundant provisions from the previous checklist, aiming to reduce the documentation and compliance burden on the operators," as per DGCA. The revised checklist covers essential aspects related to an airline's preparedness for launching services to a new

international destination. It is expected to significantly streamline the approval process, allowing Indian carriers to expand their global footprint more efficiently.

"The objective of this rationalization is to simplify and facilitate the process for Indian carriers to start a new international destination and would significantly reduce the documentation/compliances required to be submitted by the operators. This systemic reform comes at a time when the Indian carriers are poised to expand their international footprint," the DGCA added.

Mumbai Airport’s 2nd runway gets a new ‘carpet’ for safety, efficiency

and safe landing/take-off of aircraft.

portions by laying some 72,500 tonnes of asphalt.

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) India's retail inflation, which is measured by consumer price index (CPI), fell to 4.25 per cent in May as food prices came down.

In April, it was 4.70 per cent. Food inflation too slid to 2.91 per cent in May from 3.84 per cent in April.

According to data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation,

retail inflation was at a high of 7.04 per cent in May 2022, while food inflation was 7.97 per cent during the period.

This is the third consecutive month when CPI-based inflation has remained below the RBI's tolerance level, which is between 2 per cent to 6 per cent.

Prices of cereals, oil and fats, fruits, beverages as well as clothings and footwear came down in May compared to April.

Asia leads as nanometer chips redefine semiconductor industry

Mumbai, June 12 (IANS) The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here has completed the six-month long 're-carpeting' project of its secondary runway 14/32, enhancing the operational efficiency and maintaining higher safety standards for air travel, an official said here on Monday.

The CSMIA operates one of the busiest single-crossover runways in the world -- secondary runway 14/32 and the main runway 09/27 -- handling an average of 950 flights daily and it is imperative for the runways to be kept in optimal conditions for continuous

Accordingly, the re-carpeting project was taken up on December 9, 2022, and completed as per scheduled on June 10, just as the monsoon sets in, giving a meticulously structured approach to ensure smooth and efficient operations for the secondary runway.

Around 200 personnel comprising engineers and workers toiled daily for the project and the runway was closed for up to 12 hours daily, following a comprehensive schedule to complete the recarpeting within the deadline, said the official.

The work involved a runway length of 2,210 metres excluding the intersection portion, and a breadth of 75 metres, and the upgradation of all the stressed

The Adani Group-owned CSMIA adopted the widely-acclaimed 'Mill & Fill' technique for Runway 14/32 comprising carefully orchestrated steps that include precise removal of existing Airfield Ground Lighting fittings by core cutting, core filling with quick-set concrete, etc.

Finally, the comprehensive testing and commissioning were conducted after the installation of all necessary fittings, according to the official.

The newly re-carpeted runway has increased the overall safety and efficiency, the overlay process has enhanced the cross slopes to drain off surface water during the monsoon and improves the runway's friction value.

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) Nanometer chips, particularly those under 10nm, are revolutionizing the semiconductor industry and as the semiconductor landscape continues to evolve, there is a shift in the industry's center of gravity towards Asia, a report said on Monday.

TSMC, the world's largest semiconductor foundry, has unveiled advancements in 2nm technology and new additions to its 3nm family. Its 2nm technology is slated for production in 2025.

"The nanometer chip revolution is here to rewrite the rules of technology. Unleashing a power surge in the AI realm, 5nm chips, for instance, are redefining speed and efficiency across industries," said Kiran Raj, Practice Head of Disruptive Tech at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. "They are turbocharging generative AI, making edge computing nimbler, fuelling smarter consumer devices, driving autonomous vehicles into the future besides influencing healthcare and quantum computing," Raj added. Samsung aims to mass-produce 2nm chips by 2025 and 1.4nm

chips by 2027, leveraging its success with 3nm technology ahead of TSMC.

To support this, Samsung plans to triple its sub-10nm chip production capacity by 2027, which includes a new manufacturing line in Texas, the US.

Intel's 4 process, equivalent to 7nm, is production-ready, while Intel 3, analogous to 5nm, is anticipated for high-volume manufacturing in late 2023. IBM's 2nm chip packs 50 billion transistors into a fingernail-sized space.

"TSMC firmly dominates the semiconductor industry, having already transitioned to groundbreaking 5nm and 4nm processes, and is poised to usher in a new era of 3nm volume production by late 2023," said Raj. Meanwhile, Samsung grapples with significant production hurdles, yielding less than 50 per cent on its 5nm node, a stark contrast to TSMC's progress. Intel trails further behind, underscoring the fiercely competitive landscape, the report noted.

Indian Business Roundtable with Senator Penny Wong in Perth

Perth, 9 June (Australia India News News Bureau): The Indian Business Roundtable with the Hon. Penny Wong, Senator and Minister for Foreign Affairs, organised by Centre for Australia India Relations (CAIR) was held on June 9 in Perth, Western Australia. An invitation only event included guests from across the business, trade, state government and education sectors of the state. Kickstarting the Roundtable, the guests were welcomed by Mr. Tim Thomas, CEO- CAIR who thanked them for their participation and invited them to share their experiences, responsibilities and contributions towards AIECTA

led bilateral engagement. He highlighted the importance of building relationships across the two countries at the bilateral level and emphasised the need to work towards delivering tangible outcome on all the key sectors identified in the AIECTA agreement.Hon. Senator Wong emphasised on the changing geopolitical dynamics around Australia especially in the Indo-Pacific region. She also emphasised on building a strong broad-based relationship and understanding with India. She said that there was a need to work towards making India

and Australia the driving force in the region. She highlighted that we all need to be aware of our neighbours and friends in order tomake the right choices and make a stable rule-based ecosystem.

The key guests in the Roundtable included Senator Penny WongMinister for Foreign Affairs; Ms. Dimity Paul- Advisor to the Minister for Foreign Affairs; Hon. Matt Keogh MP- Minister for Veterans Affairs; Ms. Tania Lawrence MP- Member for Hasluck; Ms. Florence Drummond- Co-Founder and CEO, Indigenous Women in

Mining and Resources Australia, CAIR Advisory Board Member; Mr. Adam Gilchrist- University of Wollongong Global Brand Ambassador, CAIR Advisory Board Member; Mr.YazMubarakai MLA- Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education, Aboriginal Affairs, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests; Mr. Michael Carter- President, AIBC Western Australia; Ms. Tamara Thorpe- Senior Business Development Manager, Western Australia, Tata Consulting Services; Mr. Fedele CamardaDeputy Chair, Western Rock Lobster Council; Ms. Gia Parish- Director, UWA Defence

and Security Institute; Mr. Faz Pollard- Director, Adarsh Australia; Mr. Ram KuppusamyCEO, Space Angel; Ms.Neema Premji- Board member, AustraliaIndia Council; Dr. Parwinder Kaur- University of Western Australia School of Agriculture and Environment; Mr.Paritosh (Pari) Misra- Fuji Film / Vice President AIBC; Ms. Linda Dawson- DefenceWest; Mr. Vikas Rambal- Perdaman; Ms. Noelene Murray- CEO, Perdaman Global Services; Mr. Tim Thomas- CEO, CAIR; Mr. Ari Nagar- Director, CAIR; and Ms. Erin Maher- DFAT WA State Office Deputy Director.

New Delhi, June 14 (IANS) A new analysis which applies sustainability limits and minimises the need for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) finds new wind and solar needs to be installed five times faster by 2030 at a rate of 1.5 TW a year to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Global wind and solar capacity needs to increase to around 10 TW by the end of this decade, up from 2 TW in 2022. This is achievable if the recent acceleration in capacity additions is maintained.

"Everyone from the EU to the

COP Presidency is calling for a global renewables target, but this must be based on the safest route to net zero. We've shown that if the world accelerates new wind and solar fivefold to at least 1.5 TW a year by 2030 while cutting fossil use by 40 per cent, we won't have to rely on potentially unsustainable amounts of carbon dioxide removal in the future," says Claire Fyson, Head of Policy at Climate Analytics.

The study distils key milestones the international community needs to meet by 2030 to keep warming below 1.5 degrees, including rapidly scaling up renewables this decade to 70 per cent of the global power mix, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 8 per cent a year to halve global emissions by 2030, and a 34 per cent cut to global methane emissions over this critical decade for climate action.

Methane emissions in the energy

Village in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada gets electricity after 75 yrs

sector would need to fall even faster, by 66 per cent.

"Our method takes only the latest global pathways with the most up-to-date information on technologies and costs. We know wind and solar can scale quickly and undercut fossil fuels on price. Our analysis shows they can do much of the heavy lifting so urgently needed this decade, so let's fast-track their rollout," says Neil Grant, Energy and Climate Analyst at Climate Analytics. Not all pathways in the IPCC AR6 database are fully compatible with the Paris Agreement. The study's method focuses on the latest 1.5-aligned pathways that integrate sustainability constraints, filtering out older analyses and those that rely too heavily on risky assumptions. As a result, the study finds just 0.1 per cent of global power would come from CCS by 2030.

World not on track to achieve SDG 7 for energy: Report

The report will be presented to top decision-makers at a special launch event on July 11 at the High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development, ahead of the second SDG Summit in September in New York.

What is SDG?

Raipur, June 14 (IANS) After living in the dark for the last 75 years, finally electricity has reached the Parcheli village in Chhattisgarh.

The village falls under the Maoistaffected district of Dantewada.

The irony of the locals living in this village was that they were forced to live in darkness for years because of its remote geographical location and also being a highly security sensitive area.

The condition of the Parcheli village has now been transformed with the houses of 4,000 families getting electricity.

The locals said they used to shut

themselves in their homes after completing all their work till the sun was up, and had to use lanterns for moving in the night. Some of the electricity woes were resolved by the arrangement of solar energy lighting under the alternative arrangement by Chhattisgarh State Renewable Energy Development Agency. But now the whole area has got relief due to 100 per cent electrification of the village.

It may be noted that 100 per cent electrification of the villages of the district has been done by the District Electricity Distribution Company, Maryadit under the guidance of Collector Vineet Nandanwar.

For the locals of Parcheli village, who seemed to be living in the old era of lanterns and diyas, the total electrification has brought a new way of living. The locals are hoping that electricity will bring development now.

Wind power once again Germany’s most important electricity source

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS)

A report compiled by the International Energy Agency (IEA), International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), United Nations Statistics Division (UNSD), World Bank, and World Health Organization (WHO) on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) was released on Tuesday.

As per the report, the world is not on track to achieve the SDG 7 targets for energy by 2030.

The report titled 'The 2023 edition of Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report' warns that current efforts are not enough to achieve the SDG 7 on time.

"There has been some progress on specific elements of the SDG 7 agenda for example, the increased rate of using renewables in the power sector but progress is insufficient to reach the targets set forth in the SDGs," the report read.

The global energy crisis is expected to stimulate the deployment of renewables and improve energy efficiency with several government policies

pointing to increasing investment. However, IRENA estimates show that international public financial flows in support of clean energy in low and middle-income countries have been decreasing since before the Covid-19 pandemic and funding is limited to a small number of countries.

"To meet SDG 7 targets and to ensure that people fully benefit from the socio-economic gains of the shift to sustainable energy, it is necessary to structurally reform international public finance and defines new opportunities to unlock investments," read the report.

The report also found that mounting debt and rising energy prices are worsening the outlook for reaching universal access to clean cooking and electricity. The authors urged the international community and policymakers to safeguard the gains made toward achieving SDG 7, to advance structural reforms, and to maintain a strategic focus on the vulnerable countries needing the most support.

This year marks the halfway point for achieving SDGs by 2030. SDG 7 is to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy. The goal includes reaching universal access to electricity and clean cooking, doubling historic levels of efficiency improvements, and substantially increasing the share of renewables in the global energy mix.

Attaining this goal will have a deep impact on people's health and well-being, helping to protect them from environmental and social risks such as air pollution, and expanding access to primary healthcare and services.

Current projections estimate that 1.9 billion people will be without clean cooking and 660 million without electricity access in 2030 if we do not take further action and continue with current efforts. These gaps will negatively impact the health of the most vulnerable populations and accelerate climate change.

According to WHO, 3.2 million people die each year from illness caused by the use of polluting fuels and technologies, which increase exposure to toxic levels of household air pollution.

Berlin, June 8 (IANS) Wind energy has once again replaced coal as Germany's most important source of electricity, according to preliminary figures published by the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis).

Despite a slight decrease in electricity generation compared to the same quarter of last year, wind power reached a share of 32.2 per cent in Europe's largest economy in the first quarter of 2023, Xinhua news agency quoted Destatis as saying.

"The clearly defined expansion targets, the clear priority of renewables will accelerate the trend already visible in the last four years," Wolfram Axthelm, managing director of the German Wind Energy Association (BWE), told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Germany aims to reach a renewable share of 80 per cent in the electricity supply by 2030, five years ahead of the European Union (EU) target.

The government has repeatedly emphasized that onshore wind energy is to play a key role in achieving this goal.

Robert Habeck, minister for economic affairs and climate action, presented a broad-based strategy for onshore wind energy

in late May to put the transition on track.

"We need more than a fourfold increase in the current rate of expansion," he said.

Conventional energy sources, such as coal, natural gas and nuclear energy, still accounted for more than half of Germany's electricity production in the first three months of the year, according to Destatis.

1.5 TW of wind, solar capacity needed each year by 2030 to meet 1.5 degrees limit

WORLD THIS WEEK

In collaboration with National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bengaluru

Authored by Harini Madhusudan, Rashmi Ramesh, Akriti Sharma and Ankit Singh, Padmashree Anandhan, Anu Maria Joseph, Femy Francis, Rishika Yadav, Jerry Franklin, Sreeja J S, Immaculine, R B Nithyashree, Lakshmi Parimala, Taffy Tonia, Subkish S and Melvin George

North Korea: Nuclear, Missile and now Space

Femy Francis

What happened?

On 31 May, North Korea’s first military reconnaissance satellite rocket Chollima- 1 witnessed a short ride, owing to the malfunctioning of the engine and fuel system. The debris of the satellite fell into the yellow sea after it flew for mere 10 minutes.

North Korean official media outlet

KCNA said:” The new satellite vehicle rocket, Chollima-1, crashed into the West Sea as it lost propulsion due to an abnormal startup of the engine on the 2nd stage after the 1st stage was separated during normal flight.” This was North Korea's sixth attempt at launching a satellite, and the first espionage satellite mission into the orbit.

The failed launch led to a panic in South Korea and Japan where they issued an emergency, which was swiftly overhauled as the government's apologized for causing confusion and panic. The launch garnered a wave of criticism where Japanese PM Fumio Kishida said: “Any missile launches by North Korea, even if called a satellite, is a significant issue that affects the safety of Japanese citizens.”

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres “strongly condemning that launch on 30 May — called

on Pyongyang to refrain from conducting further satellite launches using such technology and swiftly resume dialogue to achieve the goal of sustainable peace as well as the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” issued UN’s official briefing. White House issued a statement: “The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its provocative actions and instead choose engagement.”

North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un’s sister Kim Yo Jong stated that Pyongyang would soon be successful in placing their military satellite into orbit. She further expressed that the international criticism of their test was “contradictory in nature", she believes: “The US is a group of gangsters who would claim that even if the DPRK launches a satellite... it is illegal and threatening.” The debris collect by the South Korean government found proof that ICBM technology was used to aid the launch and therefore violating the UNSC sanctions.

What does it mean?

The question arises as to why North Korea’s space ambition is threatening. Soon after the failure to launch they issued their conviction to re-launch

and put the spy satellite on the orbit. Pyongyang observes the development of reconnaissance satellites is vital to deter US backed alliance of South Korea and Japan. They express that the US giant has established contradictory stance as they believe that they too face a looming threat in the region.

North Korea never ratified to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and therefore is not obliged to the same rules of disarmament. Therefore, the unilateral sanctions were imposed, but for North Korea, a usual defector of international law, it does not feel the need to comply with international law/ sanctions.

The threat from North Korea’s satellite and space ambitions are omnipresent as the larger ambition of reconnaissance technology is to aid the military and nuclear capability of the country. While the region and international community can deem the launch as a threat, North Korea will aim to develop its capacity to deter aggression.

North Korean espionage satellites would lead to breach of sensitive information and that sooner or later, the Korean peninsula and its allies will face a larger threat not limited to nuclear and missile.

The US: Debt Ceiling Notches up higher

Ankit Singh

What happened?

On 1 June, the US Senate approved Fiscal Responsibility Act by a 314/117 margin, allowing the US treasury department to issue T-bills, bonds and notes. There was no new limit set, rather the debt ceiling has been suspended till 2025. President Biden said:

“The agreement represents a compromise, which means not everyone gets what they want. That’s the responsibility of governing.” House of representative speaker McCarthy said: “It has historic reductions in spending, consequential reforms will lift people out of poverty into the workforce, rein in government overreach – there are no new taxes, no new government

programs.”

An assessment by Congressional Budget Office projected that the budget deficit would be reduced by roughly USD 1.5 trillion from 2023-2033, and reductions in discretionary outlays would amount to USD 1.3 trillion from 2024-2033.

What does it mean?

The US treasury securities are held in maximum number by Japan, followed by China and UK. Total treasury securities stands bought by other countries stands at USD 7.655 trillion and there is likely to be less buying from now onwards as the US looks within to funds to excessive debt. Reduced economic engagement in buying T-bills by developing countries will stagnate their progressive

Regional Roundups

Singapore: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visits for Annual Leaders' Meeting and Shangri-La Dialogue

On 01 June, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese embarked on a three-day official visit to Singapore for the 8th Singapore-Australia Annual

discussing bilateral cooperation and exchanging views on regional and global developments. Due to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's positive Covid-19 test, Mr. Wong will stand in as the host. Mr. Albanese will also deliver a keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue and receive an orchid hybrid named in his honor.

India: External Affairs Minister at BRICS foreign ministers meeting

welfare policies. The debt regime will transition from lenient to stricter conditions across the world as the US shies away from its role due to internal and external political conditions. At the writing of this note, the NY Taxpayer and International Debt Crises Protection Act is making its way to the assembly in New York. The bill would constrain the New York State to invest in foreign entities and would entail corporate wisdom on restructuring loans and sharing losses. Inward-looking US federal government will likely dilute its financial clout in the global economy as China should emerge as another balancer. This might as well be the reason why the US will shy away from defaulting on its debt this once.

Leaders' Meeting. During his stay, he will meet with Singaporean President Halimah Yacob and Acting Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who will host an official lunch. The Annual Leaders' Meeting serves as a platform for

On 01 June, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar urged BRICS nations to demonstrate sincerity in reforming the UNSC while he delivered his opening remarks at the BRICS Foreign Ministers meeting in Capetown, South Africa. India has been at the forefront of pressing the long-pending reform of the Security Council. He also said that the most important problem countries face is the “economic concentration that left too many nations at the mercy of too few.” He added that BRICS should give particular consideration and promote economic decentralization, essential for political democratization.

India: Akhand Bharat mural raises concerns in the immediate neighbourhood

On 02 June, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, at a media briefing, said that the Akhand Bharat mural depicts the spread of the Ashokan empire and Ashoka’s principles of ruling and governance. The mural has triggered controversies in India’s immediate neighbourhood as it comprises parts of their territories. Several Nepalese politicians reacted severely, and some even urged Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda,' to raise the issue with New Delhi. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra commented that the mural issue was not discussed between the two Prime Ministers since Prachanda is currently visiting India. Former Nepalese Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai said that the mural depicting ancient India’s influence in the immediate neighbourhood could spark unnecessary diplomatic disputes.

Nepal: PM Dahal’s visit to India

On 31 May, PM Dahal embarked on his visit to India. Upon his arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, he was welcomed by India’s Minister of State of External Affairs, Meenakshi Lekhi. He later met India’s National Security Adviser, Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, at Hotel Maurya, where a few of the crucial issues agendas were discussed, which included boundary disputes, the EPG report and opening of new air routes. On 1 June, PM Dahal, on the 2nd day of his visit to India, met his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi. This most awaited meeting resulted in seven agreements and the launching of six projects. PM Modi reminisced about his first visit to Nepal in 2014, where he put forth a HIT formula, proposing Highways, I-ways, and Transways. He further stated that the two leaders had taken important decisions to make the friendship a ‘super hit’ in the future.

UAE: Withdrawal from a US-led coalition

On 31 May, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs withdrew from a US-led maritime coalition called Combined Maritime Forces. The UAE highlighted its commitment to dialogue and diplomatic engagement to develop regional security and maintain stability. The withdrawal is crucial in regional geopolitics as the region poses some of the most important shipping routes. However, UAE has been an active participant in the US-led coalition. The Wall Street Journal reported that the UAE’s decision was taken as the United States failed to address the Iranian threats.

About the Authors

Harini Madhusudan, Rashmi Ramesh, 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, and Femy Francis are Research Associates at NIAS. Rishika Yadav, Jerry Franklin, Sreeja J S, Immaculine, R B Nithyashree, Lakshmi Parimala, Taffy Tonia, Subkish S and Melvin George are Research Interns at NIAS.

majority

world’s

companies made almost no progress on limiting global warming since 2018

London, June 8 (IANS) The vast majority of the worlds biggest companies have done almost nothing in the past five years to cut their planet-heating pollution enough to avoid catastrophic climate change, according to a media report.

Large companies are either more likely to contribute to extreme levels of warming or are not disclosing their greenhouse gas emissions at all, according to a new report from ESG Book, CNN reported.

The leading sustainability data provider found that the efforts of just 22 per cent of the world's

500 biggest public companies by market value are aligned with the Paris Agreement, aimed at limiting global warming to 1.5-degree Celsius above preindustrial levels. That's a measly gain from 18 per cent of firms in 2018, CNN reported.

Climate scientists consider a 1.5-degree rise in the average global temperature a key tipping point, beyond which the chances of extreme flooding, drought, wildfires and food shortage could increase dramatically.

Almost half, or 45 per cent, of companies are aligned with warming of at least 2.7-degree

New Zealand sees strong migration numbers

Celsius - a disastrous level of warming that could expose billions of people to dangerously hot conditions. That's down from 61 per cent in 2018.

"Our data presents a clear message: We need to do more, and we need to do it quickly," ESG Book CEO Daniel Klier said, CNN reported.

"Without a fundamental change in the way the global economy operates, it's not obvious how we see a significant shift."

The report is the latest in a string of evidence that the world is way off track to meet its climate goals, CNN reported.

Wellington, June 13 (IANS)

New Zealand witnessed a net migration gain of 72,300 in the year ending in April, marking six months of continued growth, the statistics department said on Tuesday. There was a net gain of 98,400 non-New Zealand citizens in the cited period, Xinhua news agency quoted Stats NZ as saying.

"We know many industries have been calling out for workers as the global labour shortage bites, and we want our immigration settings to be responsive to that, while still helping to deliver a more productive, high wage economy," Wood said.

The government's immigration rebalance has lifted pay requirements for migrant workers to ensure they are treated fairly, and requires advertising for New Zealand workers before a migrant worker is sought, he said.

"Ultimately we want to train as many New Zealanders to fill labour shortages as possible, but in the short term it has been necessary to rely more on migrant workers than we otherwise would to plug workforce gaps," said the Minister.

Sunak’s personal ratings tumble to lowest since becoming UK PM

Rishi

London, June 13 (IANS) Rishi Sunaks personal ratings have slipped to the lowest of his premiership in terms of being the best person to lead the UK, as he tries to hold a fractured Conservative Party together, a media report said.

Sunak is 10 points being Labour's Keir Starmer in terms of who is seen as the better leader, after a brutal week in Westminster, Daily Mail reported.

He was backed by just 33 per cent of those polled by Redfield

and Wilton Strategies after Boris Johnson announced he was quitting Parliament and his controversial resignation honours list was published, Daily Mail reported.

Keir was on 43 per cent, and his personal approval rating has also risen by 4 per cent ahead of three key by-elections Labour needs to win to show they are on course for power at the next general election.

However, the battle for Boris Johnson's former Uxbridge and South Ruislip could be tighter than expected.

While Boris' 2019 majority of 7,210 should be well within the sights of candidate Danny Beales, the imminent expansion of Labour mayor Sadiq Khan's Ulez vehicle tax scheme to the outer London

borough could yet cause a backlash.

However, there is the additional complicating factor of an insurgent campaign of rightwing Reclaim party leader Laurence Fox, which could claim some Tory votes.

Constituency-level polling by Tory peer Lord Ashcroft earlier this month found voters were quite evenly divided as to whether they would prefer a Conservative government with Rishi Sunak as prime minister (29 per cent) or a Labour government led by Sir Keir (27 per cent) - while 30 per cent wanted neither, Daily Mail reported.

The Tory civil war that has helped the party plummet int he polls is unlikely to die down any time soon.

Indian child rights advocate wins US Dept of Labor’s top award

The continued growth in net migration shows the government's immigration rebalance is working as it tackles labour shortages, Immigration Minister Michael Wood said.

This is a positive sign that New Zealand is getting the workers that its economy needs to thrive and grow, Wood said.

Imran Khan still chasing talks with Pak Army

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS)

Chennai-based lawyer and activist Lalitha Natarajan has won US Department of Labor's 2023 Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labour.

Natarajan was presented the award by Consul General Judith Ravin at a ceremony in the US Consulate General in Chennai on May 30.

As a leader in the fight to end exploitative child labor in southern India, Natarajan identifies child victims of trafficking, specifically bonded labor, assisting in their reintegration into society, the US consulate in Chennai said in a statement. In her role as a member of the Child Welfare Committee (North Zone), under the Department of Social Defence, Tamil Nadu, Natarajan ensures victims receive compensation under the Child Labor Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act .

Besides working on child labour issues, Lalitha also provides legal and counseling support to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. "This award will further motivate me to work for the cause of children. As a member of the

Child Welfare Committee, I work closely with various State and Central government departments, judiciary, and police to ensure child rights offenders are convicted," Natarajan said at the awards ceremony in Chennai.

"I especially want to recognise the child survivors of trafficking and bonded labor that I have fought for over many years and wish them peace," she added.

"Her courageous efforts have contributed to obtaining social justice for India's young people and most vulnerable populations. For over two decades, she has rescued children from forced labor in various industrial sectors across the state of Tamil Nadu, ranging from stone quarries to food processing factories to handloom mills," Consul General Ravin said.

Islamabad, June 13 (IANS) Former

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran

Khan has ruled out talks with the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calling it an exercise in futility, but appeared to be keen on initiating a dialogue with the military establishmentthe 'real decision makers', a media report said.

The PTI chairman said that he did not believe in "vengeance and will strive for the rule of law" if he came to power again.

Khan said that politicians, including the incumbent rulers, were "powerless and they have no authority to conclude the dialogues". The establishment is the "real decision maker and power is concentrated" within the military, he was quoted as saying by Dawn.

Khan made the remarks in response to a question whether he was ready to hold talks with politicians on the charter of economy.

Khan accused former Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa of "backstabbing" and said that he (Khan) could have sacked Bajwa on at least three different occasions, but he exercised restraint. The PTI chief dispelled the impression of being under pressure and said that he was more concerned for the economy, the media outlet reported.

Expressing apprehensions about his military trial in connection with the May 9 violence, he said that the authorities were turning "approvers to charge him" under the Army Act. He termed trials of civilians in military courts as the end of democracy and justice. He said that the incumbent government was responsible for the poor economy and the only solution for this problem was to explore venues of income generation, mega reforms, and taking drastic measures.

Vast

of

biggest

India too big to ‘take a pass’ on RussiaUkraine, say bipartisan US senators

blessings of the administration of the day -- Secretary of State Antony Blinken kicked off the summit with a speech on Monday and Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo address the summit on Tuesday.

103 people killed in Nigeria boat mishap

Washington, June 14 (IANS)

Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming state visit later this month, a bipartisan duo of senior US Senators known to be longtime friends of India have expressed disappointment that India "took a pass" on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and did not take a position behoving a major power.

One of them, took issue with internal political developments in India and said on Tuesday that he would like to hear from Modi, when he addressed a joint session of US Congress, a "commitment, a recommitment" to democracy.

Senators Mark Warner, a Democrat, and John Cornyn, a Republican, are co-chairs of the Senate India Caucus, the later, in fact, is a co-founder of the group, which has become the largest country-specific caucus in the upper chamber.

And their public remarks came at the US-India Business Council's annual India Ideas summit, which celebrates growing economic and strategic partnership between the two countries and has the

The two Senators sounded generally bullish about ties with India and though their remarks did not have the endorsement of the administration or the US Congress or even the US Chamber they reflected a persisting sense of disquiet with India's relative silence on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and internal political developments in India.

"It was a little bit disappointing that when Russia invaded Ukraine, India took a pass," said Senator Cornyn, who, though went on to add that he understood why India did that -- because of "dependency on Russian weaponry". Also, he acknowledged that India "cannot hit the reset button and undo 50 years of history overnight".

Senator Warner, who heads the Senate Intelligence Committee, was less patient.

"The fact that India has arrived as a truly great -- one the most important nations in the world, they can no longer take a pass on some of these things like this moral ... (backsliding on the part of Russian President Vladimir) Putin."

The US has been unhappy with India's reluctance to criticise Putin forcefully. While the Biden administration has remained largely non-committal -- with the exception of an outburst by a senior official during a visit to India -- lawmakers have been less retrained.

Senator Warner went further. "I say this with appropriate respect, not trying to stick my nose in internal Indian Affairs," he started, acknowledging how his remarks could be perceived.

"But as a great nation, as a great democracy, I hope we will hear will hear from the Prime Minister -- because he is so popular -are we committed to rule of law, are we committed to a political process that (remains open)."

"I have been troubled by some of the actions that are a bit over the top. I've heard privately concerns, in terms of making sure that (the) very vibrant, free press (remains) vibrant (and strong)," the Senator said further, and added, "So I hope ... we will get a commitment, a recommitment."

Warner was responding to a question from the moderator of the panel discussion on expectations from the Prime Minister's upcoming state visit and an address to the joint session of the US Congress.

Lords inquiry finds British Indian peer ‘bullied’, ‘harassed’ woman journo

impact on her and her family, as well as on her professional life and livelihood".

While Ranger regretted his decision to engage with Joshi on social media, he emphasised that he had responded due to significant provocation by the London-based journalist, who he said had lied about, and defamed, him and his daughter on social media.

London, June 14 (IANS) An Indian-origin House of Lords peer was asked to apologise after an investigation found that he breached the parliamentary code of conduct by running a campaign of harassment and bullying against a female journalist.

Conservative peer Rami Ranger, 76, faced an investigation by the House of Lords Standards Commissioner following a complaint filed by Journalist Poonam Joshi.

Joshi accused Ranger of shouting at her during a Diwali event in the House of Lords in October 2022, which led to an exchange of insults and abuses on Twitter and WhatsApp.

In her complaint, she described his behaviour as "unethical" and "unhinged", adding that his "behaviour had had a significant

"Regarding the possible breach of the rules relating to bullying and harassment, following my consideration of all the evidence, I concluded that Lord Ranger's behaviour did meet the criteria for bullying and harassment and therefore breached the Code of Conduct," the report by Akbar Khan, Commissioner for Standards for the House of Lords, stated.

"In the light of the findings, I recommended that Lord Ranger apologise to Ms Poonam Joshi about his conduct and undertake bespoke training and behaviour change coaching. Lord Ranger agreed to the remedial action and has issued a written apology to Ms Joshi. Ms Joshi also chose to issue a written apology to Lord Ranger regarding her actions." However, regarding the possible

Abuja, June 14 (IANS) At least 103 people were killed and about 100 others were rescued after a boat capsized in the country's central state of Kwara, police said. The accident occurred on Monday morning in a river in the Patigi local government area of the state, as the passengers were returning home from the neighbouring Niger state in the central region, Ajayi Okasanmi, the spokesman for the police in Kwara, told Xinhua on Tuesday on the phone.

Okasanmi said some others remained missing, confirming that rescue operation was going on in the Kpada community of Patigi local government area,

Xinhua news agency reported.

"I can confirm to you that well over 200 people were involved in the sad incident. We will continue to collaborate with rescuers and other agencies of government to rescue the remaining victims and recover other bodies," the police officer added.

In an earlier statement, Kwara state governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq said the victims of the incident were returning from a wedding in the neighbouring Niger state when the incident occurred.

Boat accidents in the West African country are frequently reported due to overloading, bad weather, and faulty operations.

Mass shooting in US city injures 9

breach of the rules on the use of facilities," Khan concluded that Lord Ranger had not breached the Code of Conduct.

During the Diwali event, Joshi had raised questions about the presence of representatives of a controversial godman Nithyananda, currently sought by authorities in India on multiple charges.Ranger's apology, included as an appendix with the Commissioner's report, said that the investigation process has had a profound and lasting effect on him.

"The Commissioner has found my behaviour fell short of the high standards I expect of myself, and which others expect of me as a sitting member of the House of Lords. I have expressed my remorse and I apologise to Ms Joshi," he wrote.

"The investigation process and reading and reflecting on the report has had a profound and lasting effect on me. I will continue to self-reflect and learn from this experiences."

Joshi in response said she was "grateful" to Ranger for his apology.

Washington, June 14 (IANS) At least nine people were injured during a mass shooting in the US city of Denver as crowds gathered to celebrate the Denver Nuggets' first NBA championship win, police said, adding two men have been taken into custody. The incident took place on Tuesday night n the 2000 block of Market Street near the intersection with 20th Street as hundreds of fans had packed the area and surrounding streets to celebrate the NBA title, CNN quoted the police as saying.

According to the police, shots were fired from "multiple firearms" during an altercation involving several people.

"Our strong belief is that this is completely unassociated to the celebration," Police Chief Ron Thomas said.

Instead, police said the shooting may have been drug related. Large amounts of cash and "a significant quantity of fentanyl

pills" were found in the area, according to Denver Police Major Crimes Division Commander Matt Clark.

While Ricardo Vasquez (22) is being held on charges of possession of a weapon by a previous offender and possession of a controlled substance, Raoul Jones (33) is being held on a charge of possession of a weapon by a previous offender, Clark said. Additional charges may be added as the investigation continues, he said.

Meanwhile, of the nine people shot, five remain hospitalised, CNN quoted Denver Health Medical Center trauma surgeon Eric Campion as saying, adding that all are currently in fair condition.

Tuesday's incident is among at least 291 mass shootings in the US so far this year in which four or more people were shot, according to the Gun Violence Archive.

From the editor’s desk

Ashes 2023- a spectacle waiting to unfold

Modi’s US visit – an opportunity for forging strong multidimensional ties

to be shared between both the democracies, and the meeting of their leaders is a hope for the whole world that democracy will ultimately triumph over any other system of government. The more the world embraces democracy, emulating the strong democracies like the US and India, the better it is for the future of this planet.

With the World Test Championship (WTC) under their belt, the Australian team is raring to take on the might of the English team for the historic Ashes 2023. This contest will also begin the next cycle of Test championship for both Australia and England sides. As of now experts are saying that chances for the series victory are equal for both the teams.

While Australia has perhaps a more balanced team in terms of both batting and bowling, England will have the home advantage. And if history is anything to go by, Australia has not won a test series in England for the last 22 years. This is a record which might tumble this time, as the Australian team is all geared up after defeating a strong Indian side in the WTC final recently. The spectacular performance of the Australian team, led by a determined Pat Cummins, and a resilient Steve Smith may well be replicated against the English side as well. But the World Test Championship was played in a different spirit. Ashes has always been a different kind of test of endurance and power; the team that shows perseverance has always had the better chance of winning. And the Australian side is all buoyed up and will take on any side in world cricket as its confidence is skyrocketing being the champion side that it has now become.

However, defeating England on English soil won’t be a cake walk by any stretch of imagination. Ben Stokes has always been highly competitive when it comes to his personal cricket and that of his team. He will obviously leave no stone unturned to defeat the Aussie side.

The English side is quite exciting, with Stokes at the helm, and Joe Root bringing the balance and stability to batting with his experience and skills. Harris Brook is an exciting player to watch, and under head coach Brendon McCullum, the English side is known to play fearless cricket. It is McCullum’s philosophy to play to win, and play without any fear of losing the game. This makes the English side difficult to tame, and can upset the plans of the world

champions. The Australian side must therefore leave aside any room for complacency. On paper they may be the world champions, but it is now a fresh start to the next round of Test championship contest, and therefore it calls for another kind of mindset and a fresh challenge.

The Australian side will look towards Steve Smith to provide solidity in the middle order. David Warner may have problems against Anderson and Stuart Broad’s attack. Anderson on his day can swing the ball prodigiously unleashing unplayable balls at times, and sometimes with uncanny frequency. But Travis Head will be all pumped up after his century in the WTC final match against India. He can devastate any attack in a Test match and has now won that reputation for Australia. Scott Boland has done his reputation no harm in the WTC final and might find himself in the final eleven against England. The duo of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc can rattle any opposition.

All in all, a fascinating contest on the cards and the crowd will get the entertainment worth the money it will have spent on the tickets. This is the contest that the cricket fans wait for and it has always produced history-making records one way or the other. As the teams struggle for supremacy, cricket will be the winner all along. It is, therefore as much a battle on the field, as it is off the field. The team which will have a better control over its nerves will prevail. The cricket fans in England, unlike soccer fans, are very knowledgeable and gentle. They understand the game better than any other crowd in the world, and know how to appreciate the game of cricket no matter which side is on the top. The real entertainment of Test cricket lies in perseverance will a skillful performance.

All departments of the gamebatting, bowling, fielding and wicket keeping are a spectacle to watch. An outstanding catch will get the adrenalin going, and the crowd feels the vibrations raising among them, as much as it does on the field where the spectacle unfolds. And this is what cricket is all about, go and express yourself and in the process enjoy the game and the setting it is played in.

By Rabindra Mukherji

Indian Prime Minister Narendra

Modi will be in the United States for an official state visit on June 22. Modi’s scheduled visit to the US starts from June 21-24 after receiving an invitation from President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. This visit is being looked upon as a significant one in the light of the fact that India and America's ties have strengthened considerably and this is happening in the midst of a growing concern about China's aggression. Besides, there is an ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine which has already had a serious global impact, especially considering the economic fallout. Significantly, since the coming to power of the Modi government in India, the Indo-US relations have reached a new dimension. Modi’s astute leadership and his ability to forge strong relations with international leaders has seen Indo-US relations thrive under three US Presidents -Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Joe Biden, all being of different characteristics. But Modi’s growing stature internationally and his ability to work with leaders with diverse ideologies and approaches to international issues have seen Indo-US relations getting stronger than it ever was in the past. Among many of the important jobs Modi is expected to accomplish during his upcoming US visit, he is going to make history by becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to address the US Congress twice. Internationally speaking, as a Head of Government, Modi will be second only to Benjamin Netanyahu, PM of Israel, who has addressed the US Congress thrice. Just like in Australia, Modi gets bipartisan respect and support in the US, a rarity in modern international political scenarios. But the significance of Modi’s US visit is not just about addressing the US Congress twice as the Head of the government. There

are several other parameters to judge the importance of the visit. As to how much the present government in the US accords importance to India and Modi as the leader of the world’s largest democracy with a strong Indian Diaspora can be gauzed from the fact that during the G7 summit held recently in Japan, US President Biden walked up to PM Modi and the two leaders hugged each other warmly. The gesture is a sign of the growing strength of Indo-US relations, with the world’s oldest democracy coming together with the world’s largest democracy. In Quad also, both the countries share understanding of mutual positions on a host of international issues. In fact, the success of Quad and India’s active role in international matters led the US to invite India to join the NATO alliance. Of course, it is a different matter that India has had to balance its relations with both the US and Russia, and India’s domestic interests lie in not joining the alliance as of now. The equations may change as they do in international politics, more so in recent times in a highly volatile international environment.

Then there is the looming China threat. This has necessitated the US to shift its stance, moving more towards Indo-Pacific from its previous stance focusing on Asia-Pacific. This reveals the shift in US policy that is according greater importance to India vis-à-vis China. From an Indian perspective, a strong alliance with the US is the need of the hour given the fact that China’s aggressive border stance is a threat to India’s unity, integrity and sovereign authority within its territory. It is, therefore, important to rein in China by pressuring it, and for that the alliance with the US is of great significance. The US also perceives India as an ally that can assist in reducing the immense threat posed by China.

Then there are rich dividends

Modi’s visit to the US will in all likelihood usher in an era of strong Indo-US trade relations. Currently, there is a lot of scope for the Indo-US trade relations to grow and become stronger benefiting both the countries. It now stands at USD 190 billion, while leaders of both nations are keen to take it to USD 500 billion annually. Besides defense, there are trade possibilities in the fields of e-commerce, supply chain manufacturing, digital economy, FinTech, energy and aerospace. There is a big defense deal on the cards during the Indian Prime Minister’s US visit. The deal comprises the domestic manufacturing of American jet engines used in the Indian fighter aircraft. It is likely to be signed between General Electric (GE) of the US and Hindustan Aeronautics of India. Moreover, there is a possibility of a deal worth Rs 22,000 crores between India and the US to buy 30 MQ-9 B armed drones.

Besides the Indo-US relations catapulting to new heights with Modi’s visit, leaders in the US are looking forward to taking this relation to new heights making it more meaningful than it was in the past.

Then, Prime Minister Modi is also likely to address the Indian Diaspora in the US who will gather in Washington on June 23. Modi has always made it a point to address the Indian Diaspora wherever he goes. He did it in Australia during his recent visit. Prime Minister Modi is likely to address the Indian Diaspora and emphasize their role in giving India the strength to grow economically and have the confidence to take its independent position in foreign policy matters.

Since elections are going to take place next year in both the countries, Prime Minister Modi and President Biden would like to project to their voters a strong and prudent foreign policy initiative. In that context, Modi’s visit to the US assumes significance. This visit is also significant from an international perspective, as both China and Pakistan will be watching it closely. The international power structure is fast changing with India taking on an important role and asserting itself like never before. With Indo-US relations becoming stronger, there will be a better balance of power in the world.

Ukraine-Russia conflict: World accept India rather than China, as a mediator

these were the prerequisites for the negotiators before they could broach the subject of withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.

Prime Minister Modi continues to receive endorsement universally of the idea of India taking the initiative for bringing about a peace settlement - the US, Europe, Ukraine and Russia are all in line with this propositionand it would be quite appropriate for India not to let go of this strategic advantage over China.

West while projecting himself as a wel'-wisher of Ukraine, criticising India's membership of Quad, stepping up PLA's buildup on LAC and attempting a new outreach in West Asia, the Gulf and Eurasia.

The Sino-Pak axis is more active against India following the abrogation of Article 370 relating to Kashmir and the two adversaries in our neighbourhood are now also indulging in covert attempts to creat' internal destabilisation here.

formula.

The success of such a move will rest on the world community accepting the fact that the concerns of both sides would have to be understood and addressed. There is no reason why Russia and Ukraine could not live as peaceful neighbours post-Cold War if they had been left alone for a while.

Soon after the launch of military operations by Russia in Ukraine in February 2022, which resulted in an escalating armed confrontation between the two countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first world leader to call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and recourse to peace negotiations.

Modi reached out to bothRussian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as a universally acceptabe 'wise coun'el' - the US-led West had by then already become involved in support of the Ukrainian fight against Russia.

India took the stand from the very beginning of the conflict that concerns of both the warring countries had to be taken note of. Those who loudly advocated for NATO support to Ukraine implicitly upheld the Cold War approach in a situation where the dismemberment of USSR had already reduced that superpower to a much shrunken Russia.

As the prolonged war entered the second year, the emergence of China as an active stakeholder in the Ukraine-Russia conflict has drawn the attention of the world and led to intense speculation among strategic analysts about China's President Xi 'inping's moves in regard to this ongoing military confrontation.

China first talked of 'principled n'utrality' but as the conflict got prolonged and showed signs of escalation, it started putting emphasis on a 'political'solution' of the Ukraine crisis while standing firmly with Russia.

Xi Jinping's meeting with President Putin in Moscow on

March 21, 2023, underscored the Chiness stance of 'facilitating tal's for peace' - China at the same time made moves to check the adverse geopolitical fallout of the deepening Cold War kind of polarization between the US and Russia, on its own interests.

Interestingly, China's proclaimed 12-point stand on 'The 'kraine crisis' made public on the completion of one year of the conflict, ech'ed what India's strategic analysts had already been spelling out by way of a framework for negotiations for pea'e.

In China's presentation 'respect for the sovereignty 'f all countries' is meant to uphold the cause of Ukraine while criticism of 'unil'teral sanctions' is designed to express support for Russia. The call for ceasing hostilities to resume peace talks is directed more at Russia but the advice to 'abandon 'old War mentality' was clearly meant for the US-led West. Like India, China was totally opposed to any use of nuclear weapons. Favouring the movement of grains and maintenance of industrial supply chains is aimed at containing the geopolitical repercussions of the conflict from the Chinese viewpoint.

'P'st-war reconstruction' favoured by India, was an important element of the Chinese framework for peace talks too - India on its part would even expect Russia to contribute to that exercise in Ukraine as a goodwill gesture. India would like Ukraine to reaffirm its democratic polity based on the principle of 'one man one vote' to assuage its Russian-speaking minority and also to make it clear that it was not seeking NATO membership -

A track-II initiative under the aegis of NSAs of India, Russia and Ukraine could be a good starting point in this regard.

China's world strategy including its stand on the Ukraine-Russia military confrontation is not difficult to fathom. Xi Jinping is still pursuing the economic path to making China a superpower an' while building the country's military strength, he would like geopolitical stability to continue to enable China to push ahead with'economic expansion.

China's Belt & Roads Initiative (BRI) is in full swing as its strategic extension to Afghanistan and Iran proves. China continues to follow the Maoist doctrine of 'two ste's forward, one step backwards' as was evident on the Sino-Indian border on one hand and the Indo-Pacific on the other - all t'is being in line with Sun Tzu's dictum of 'winning a war without fighting'.

China's ambition of becoming the second superpower after the US matches the rise of Xi Jinping to the status of Mao Zedong with the Communist Party Congress last year voting for enshrining Xi's thoughts on 'Socialism with Chinese'characteristi's for the new era' in the party's constitution'

Earlier, the National People's Congress lifted the two-term embargo on Presidentship making way for Xi Jinping to remain President of China for life.

Xi Jinping has also been an advocate of the 'Sinicization' of Marxism and ta'ked of the 'civilisational strength' of China in that context.

All this makes China a formidable adversary to watch. In the context of the Ukraine-Russia military conflict, Xi Jinping has adopted the shrewd strategy of keeping the axis with Russia strong as ever, deprecating the US-led

India's approach of building its military to handle any aggressiveness of China on the border and strengthening multilateral forums to counter Chinese designs elsewhere is a sound strategy.

In these 15 months of UkraineRussia conflict, two things stand out - the willingness of the US-led West to pump in more armament for Ukraine to enable President Zelensky to step up Ukrainian response to military moves of Putin and a stronger US-backed campaign to isolate Russi' geopolitically.

Joe Biden Administration's calculation seems to be that a prolonged war in Ukraine would weaken Russia in the same way as the USSR was subjected to in Afghanistan in the latter '80s' - it wants to continue backing Ukraine in a 'proxy war' mode with that objective in view.

The US also seems to be attaching new importance to opening its communication with China obviously to keep the RussiaChina axis from growing too strong.

The factor of human misery in Ukraine was still not weighing enough in many camps and Prime Minister Modi has appropriately highlighted this facet of the Ukraine-Russia military conflict. India seems to be well placed at this point of time to take the initiative for facilitating a possible peace negotiation between the two warring sides. India is assured of the support of 'he international community for such a move.

India's G20 Presidency is going well so far and it would be no surprise if the G20 summit appeals to India to make a constructive effort to bring Ukraine and Russia together for exploring the possibilities of stopping hostilities and discussing a possible peace

Unlike former US P'esident Donald Trump, who did not find Putin 'problematic', President Biden put a premium on the revival of US-Europe bonds as also the NATO and took on Russia as a declared adversary - this apparently brought back the memory of Cold War and created the impression that the neighbours of Russia includ'ng Ukraine were joining the US camp.

For US, Xi Jinping's China which had drawn all the lessons from the demise of the USSR, was the emerging superpower to be taken on and a good American strategy would be not to set off a process that would precipitate the shift of Russia into the Chinese camp. In any case going by what is happening in the present, cessation of hostilities between Ukraine and Russia is in the best interests of the world at large. It is hence never too late for launching the peace effort. India would be on the high moral ground in taking the initiative to start the process even if its progress appeared uncertain.

Working for a humane cause is rewarding in itself. India has nothing to lose even if talks get prolonged and move in an uncertain direction for its standing as an advocate of world peace will remain undiminished. The biggest geopolitical advantage for India in all of this is that the Indo-U' strategic friendship is growing unhindered notwithstanding India's independent stand on the Ukraine-Russia con'lict and our deep bonds with Russia; and that Prime Minister Modi's influence as a world leader on various international platforms has constantly risen in recent years.

(The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views expressed are personal)

D.C. PATHAK

Indian study finds nutrient key to delay ageing, boost long & healthy life

Overall, people with higher taurine levels were healthier, with fewer cases of Type-2 diabetes, lower obesity levels, reduced hypertension, and lower levels of inflammation.

New wound-healing ink repairs cuts with a 3D-printing pen

or the extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted from them play important roles in promoting blood vessel formation and reducing inflammation during healing.

New Delhi, June 11 (IANS) A deficiency of taurine -- a nutrient produced in the body and found in many foods -- is a driver of ageing in mammals, according to a study led by Indian researchers, suggesting that the nutrient could be an elixir of life.

The study, published in the journal Science, also found that taurine supplements can slow down the ageing process in worms, mice, and monkeys.

Large experiment with mice showed that taurine increased average lifespan by 12 per cent in female mice and 10 per cent in males. For the mice, that meant three to four extra months, equivalent to about seven or eight human years.

"For the last 25 years, scientists have been trying to find factors that not only let us live longer, but also increase healthspan, the

time we remain healthy in our old age," said lead researcher Vijay Yadav, from Metabolic Research Laboratories at National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi.

"This study suggests that taurine could be an elixir of life within us that helps us live longer and healthier lives," added Yadav, who is also Assistant Professor of genetics & development at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

While clinical trials are needed to confirm benefits of taurine in humans, the researchers said two experiments suggest taurine has potential.

In the first, Yadav and his team looked at the relationship between taurine levels and approximately 50 health parameters in 12,000 European adults aged 60 and over.

"These are associations, which do not establish causation," Yadav said, "but the results are consistent with the possibility that taurine deficiency contributes to human ageing."

The second study showed taurine levels increases with exercise in athletes (sprinters, endurance runners, and natural bodybuilders).

"No matter the individual, all had increased taurine levels after exercise, which suggests that some of the health benefits of exercise may come from an increase in taurine," Yadav said. "Taurine is naturally produced in our bodies, it can be obtained naturally in the diet, it has no known toxic effects (although it's rarely used in concentrations), and it can be boosted by exercise. "Taurine abundance goes down with age, so restoring taurine to a youthful level in old age may be a promising anti-ageing strategy," Yadav said.

New stem cell-based therapy can repair damaged heart, improve function

grow into heart muscle precursor cells, which can develop into various types of heart cells. This is done through cell differentiation, a process by which dividing cells gain specialised functions.

During preclinical trials, the precursor cells were injected into the area of the heart damaged by myocardial infarction, where they were able to grow into new heart muscle cells, restoring damaged tissue and improving heart function.

-- abnormal heart beats that can limit or stop the heart from supplying blood to the body.

The new procedure developed by Duke-NUS researchers involves transplanting non-beating heart cells into the damaged heart. After the transplantation, the cells expanded and acquired the rhythm of the rest of the heart. With this procedure, the incidence of arrhythmia was cut by half. Even when the condition was detected, most episodes were temporary and self-resolved in around 30 days.

Beijing, June 12 (IANS)

Researchers have developed a wound-healing ink that can actively encourage the body to heal by exposing the cut to immune-system vesicles.

The ink can be spread into a cut of any shape using a 3D-printing pen, and in mice, the technology nearly completely repaired wounds in just 12 days, according to the study published in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

When the skin is cut or torn, the body's natural "construction crew" kicks in to fix it back up -- clearing out any bacterial invaders, regrowing broken blood vessels and eventually forming a scar. Many techniques used to heal wounds can't do much beyond helping the body do its job better.

Bandages or stitches are used to prevent further bleeding, while antibiotics work to prevent complications from infections. But by adding members of the construction crew to a woundhealing treatment or bandage, it could actually accelerate the natural healing process.

Specifically, white blood cells

Dan Li, and other researchers from Nanjing University in China wanted to incorporate these EVs into a hydrogel-based wound healing ink that could be painted into cuts of any shape.

The team developed a system called PAINT, or "portable bioactive ink for tissue healing", using EVs secreted from macrophages combined with sodium alginate. These components were combined in a 3D-printing pen, where they mixed at the pen's tip and formed a sturdy gel at the site of injury within three minutes.

The EVs promoted blood vessel formation and reduced inflammatory markers in human epithelial cells, shifting them into the "proliferative," or growth, phase of healing. PAINT was also tested on injured mice, where it promoted collagen fibre formation.

Mice treated with PAINT had almost healed completely from a large wound after 12 days, compared to mice that didn't receive the treatment, who were not nearly as far along in the healing process at this time point. This work could help heal a wide variety of cuts quickly and easily, without the need for complex procedures, the researchers said.

Indian-origin US entrepreneur’s AI algorithm can spot healthiest sperm

lower costs, as couples will need fewer rounds of the treatment.

Singapore, June 9 (IANS) A breakthrough stem cell therapy, has shown that these stem cells, when transplanted into an injured heart, have the ability to repair damaged tissue and improve heart function, as per results of preclinical trials.

The most common cause of death worldwide is ischemic heart disease, which is caused by diminished blood flow to the heart.

When blood flow to the heart is blocked, the heart muscle cells die -- a condition termed myocardial infarction or heart attack.

In this study, published in the journal npj Regenerative Medicine, a unique new protocol was used where pluripotent, or immature, stem cells were cultivated in the laboratory to

"As early as four weeks after the injection, there was rapid engraftment, which means the body is accepting the transplanted stem cells," said Dr. Lynn Yap, who led the research while as Assistant Professor at Duke-NUS' University, Singapore.

"We also observed the growth of new heart tissue and an increase in functional development, suggesting that our protocol has the potential to be developed into an effective and safe means for cell therapy," added Yap, who is now an Assistant Professor at Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

In previous studies, the transplantation of heart muscle cells that were already beating, brought about fatal side effects -- namely, ventricular arrhythmia

In addition, the transplanted cells did not trigger tumour formation -- another common concern when it comes to stem cell therapies.

"Our technology brings us a step closer to offering a new treatment for heart failure patients, who would otherwise live with diseased hearts and have slim chances of recovery," said Professor Karl Tryggvason from Duke-NUS.

"It will also have a major impact in the field of regenerative cardiology, by offering a triedand-tested protocol that can restore damaged heart muscles while reducing the risk of adverse side effects," he added.

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) An Indian-origin US entrepreneur's company is working on a novel Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based algorithm that can identify the healthiest sperm, an advance that can reduce the time and costs of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) pregnancies.

To develop the sperm health test algorithm, the team from California-based Oma Fertility Clinic scanned sperm from the ejaculates of more than 1,000 men, Daily Mail reported.

The AI algorithm scans sperms for their shape and how rapidly they move to pick out the best ones for fertilising an egg -- a process the company believes will boost success rates with IVF and

"As it stands right now, couples have to go through three cycles of IVF on average," Dr Kiran Joshi, co-founder at Oma Robotics, was quoted as saying to DailyMail. "We want to reduce that number as that will reduce the pain and reduce the financial burden and lead to more success," he said. According to studies, about 40 per cent of infertility cases are because of the male partner having low sperm counts -- majorly on the rise due to increase in unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles.

The sperm samples for the algorithm were mostly from men in their 30s and 40s, from across the US and other countries. Some also ranged up to the age of 75 years.

Dr Joshi's team extracted and analysed a subset of sperm from each sample -- which contained up to 20,000 sperms, based on their shape and how well they swim -- an exercise which Dr Joshi called as "like searching for a needle in a haystack", the report said.

Holding events and festivals in Brisbane just got cheaper and easier

From Lord Mayor Newsdesk: Hundreds of events and festivals across Brisbane will have their permit fees radically reduced or cut altogether.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the landmark reforms to reduce fees and streamline the approval process will benefit existing organizers and help create more events and festivals for residents and visitors.

“Our city is Australia’s lifestyle capital and we’re committed to delivering free and affordable activities, events, and festivals right across Brisbane,” Cr

Schrinner said.

“Whether it’s a major festival that’s attended by tens of thousands of people or a school fete with a few hundred locals, our reforms to event fees are a huge win for organizers as well as residents.

“These changes are squarely aimed at helping ensure muchloved existing events and new ones continue to be staged throughout Brisbane for our residents despite rising living costs.”

Event organizers currently pay between $1656.60 and $3392.50,

depending on the size of the event.

Under the changes unveiled ahead of the 2023-24 Council Budget: Venues such as cinemas, schools, gyms, and churches will no longer have to pay event permit fees at all. This is an annual saving of $2145.

Events attended by more than 2000 people that will have little or no community impact will be able to self-assess and pay just $75, saving more than $1500. Self-assessable events will need to be held between 7 am and 10

pm over five days or less. Events that require assessment, which include those with outdoor music, alcohol, or road closures, will pay between $1650 and $3502. Well-established assessable events will be eligible to apply for permits for up to three years, saving them thousands of dollars.

“We want to make it cheaper and easier for community events to be held across our suburbs,” Cr Schrinner said.

“Events are integral for a thriving and vibrant community as they bring people together and deliver

more to see and do for residents.

“This change will streamline the event permit process, reduce red tape and deliver substantial savings.

“This change is set to deliver savings for events of all sizes, from farmers markets and fitness groups to pop-up cinemas and community hall events.”

The changes to the Events Local Law 2022 will go to full Council for support on Tuesday 6 June, with the new fees and charges to then be published in the upcoming 2023/24 Budget.

President Murmu announces relaxation in norms for Indian diaspora in Suriname to get OCI card

New Delhi, June 6 (IANS)

President Droupadi Murmu announced that India has decided to extend the eligibility criteria for Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card up from the fourth to the sixth generation of the original Indian immigrants who had arrived in Suriname from Indian territories.

She made this announcement on Monday after witnessing a cultural festival in capital Paramaribo on the occasion of the commemoration of 150 years of the arrival of Indians in Suriname.

She said that the OCI card can be seen as an important link in their

150 year old relationship with India.

The President urged members of the Indian diaspora to continue to make efforts to maintain their connections with India.

President Murmu said that at a time when Suriname is celebrating the legacy of its

ancestors and its links with India, India stands with Suriname in solidarity and reverence.

Murmu further noted that both Suriname and India have made efforts to rebuild their economies and social systems after a long period of colonial rule.

"This experience has created a feeling of solidarity between the two countries," she said.

The first ship -- Lalla Rookh -- carrying 452 Indian laborers, arrived in Suriname's capital Paramaribo on June 5, 1873. Most of the laborers hailed from eastern Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed an FIR against a woman named Jeeva Santosh for presenting a fake order from an Australian court before the Kerala High Court in order to obtain custody of her daughter from her divorced husband.

When the court discovered that the Australian court order was

forged, it ordered the registration of an FIR against here.

A senior CBI official said that a complaint regarding this matter was initially filed with the police in Kochi city. Later, the complaint was forwarded to the Central Police station for further legal action.

"The allegation states that Jeeva Santosh, the former wife of

Joppen George, fraudulently forged a court order from The Federal Circuit Court and Family Court of Australia (Division II) to gain legal guardianship of their daughter. She presented this forged court order as genuine in a habeas corpus petition before the High Court of Kerala," read the FIR.

The official said that Santosh, who

legally separated from George, forged the Australian court order. During the inquiry, it was revealed that the document/order was fake, leading the court to order action against her.

He said that the CBI filed the FIR in accordance with the high court order and are investigating.

Indian child rights advocate wins US Dept of Labor’s top award

identifies child victims of trafficking, specifically bonded labor, assisting in their reintegration into society, the US consulate in Chennai said in a statement.

In her role as a member of the Child Welfare Committee (North Zone), under the Department of Social Defence, Tamil Nadu, Natarajan ensures victims receive compensation under the Child Labor Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act .

Besides working on child labour issues, Lalitha also provides legal and counseling support to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

awards ceremony in Chennai.

"I especially want to recognise the child survivors of trafficking and bonded labor that I have fought for over many years and wish them peace," she added.

"Her courageous efforts have contributed to obtaining social justice for India's young people and most vulnerable populations. For over two decades, she has rescued children from forced

labor in various industrial sectors across the state of Tamil Nadu, ranging from stone quarries to food processing factories to handloom mills," Consul General Ravin said.

She added that the award recognises the life work of Natarajan that has brought real change to the lives of hundreds of Indian children.

Yoga Day at the Allan Border Field brought cricket closer to Yoga!

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS)

Chennai-based lawyer and activist Lalitha Natarajan has won US Department of Labor's 2023 Iqbal Masih Award for the Elimination of Child Labour.

Natarajan was presented the

award by Consul General Judith Ravin at a ceremony in the US Consulate General in Chennai on May 30.

As a leader in the fight to end exploitative child labor in southern India, Natarajan

"This award will further motivate me to work for the cause of children. As a member of the Child Welfare Committee, I work closely with various State and Central government departments, judiciary, and police to ensure child rights offenders are convicted," Natarajan said at the

Queensland Cricket organised the Yoga day today at the Allan Border Field. Community members from various Indian associations were present to support and celebrate the Yoga Day. Hon. Consulate Mrs Archana Singh, participated in yoga session, she says “ it is a pleasure to see the community embracing yoga and coming together to celebrate it here in

Brisbane.” Mr. Liam Hibbert GAICD CPA- Chief Operating Officer for Queensland Cricket was the chief guest. He said “ I am no good at Yoga but I am here to support it alongg with my family,”

Dr. Ashutosh Mishra and Adam Dale of Queensland Cricket put this entire event together for the Indian community of Brisbane.

www.goldcoasthindu.org

Genuine students victimized by fraud won’t face deportation: Canada minister

The Canadian minister said there have been recent reports of international students and graduates facing removal from Canada, after letters of acceptance submitted as part of their study permit application were determined to be fraudulent.

Chandigarh, June 14 (IANS)

Recognising the contribution of international students, especially students from Punjab who have been facing deportation from Canada over a case of fake documents, Canada's immigration minister Sean Fraser on Wednesday said the focus is on identifying those who are responsible for the fraudulent activity and not on penalizing those who may have been affected by fraud.

Going humanitarian, he announced that the genuine students would be issued a Temporary Resident Permit. "We recognise the immense contributions that international students make to our country, and we are committed to providing a path to Canada that is honest and transparent," Fraser said in a statement.

Asking the future students to be alert and not to become the victims of fraud, he said all applicants must continue to ensure that, before applying for a study permit, they do their research, have an acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institutions (DLI), and refer to the official website to get information about our programmes.

"If you believe you have been deceived by an unscrupulous consultant, we urge you to come forward and report fraud."

Many of these international students, he said, sincerely came to Canada to pursue their studies at some of "our world-class institutions and were duped by bad actors who claimed to be helping them in their immigration application process".

Other foreign nationals had no intent of pursuing higher education, and used fraudulent acceptance letters to take advantage of Canada's immigration system. Within this cohort of individuals, some have been involved in organised crime.

"I understand that this situation is distressing for those affected by unscrupulous actors, and I want to assure them that their well-being is of paramount importance. As a result, I have already struck a taskforce of my officials and have asked them to work closely with the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to identify the victims of fraud; that is, those students who came to study here in Canada and did exactly that.

"I want to make it clear that international students who are not found to be involved in fraud will not face deportation," Fraser clarified in a statement in Ottawa.

"The Immigration Refugee Protection Act offers me discretionary authority which I believe should be exercised in the

present context.

"Therefore, if the facts of an individual case are clear that an international student came to Canada with a genuine intent to study, and without knowledge of the use of fraudulent documentation, I have provided instructions for officers to issue a Temporary Resident Permit to that individual.

"This will ensure that these well-intentioned students and graduates can remain in Canada, and ensure that they are not subject to the five-year ban from re-entering Canada that normally follows in cases of misrepresentation.

"While this process runs its course, preliminary Temporary Resident Permits will be issued if they are required in order to prevent an imminent deportation for anyone under review."

Also the immigration minister asked officials of the Immigration,

Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which has been working even closer with Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs), provinces and territories, and organizations representing Canada's colleges and universities to better detect and combat fraud, and uphold the integrity of the immigration programmes.

"We are taking every opportunity to crack down on dishonest and fraudulent consultants who seek to abuse Canada's immigration system and take advantage of those seeking to visit, work, study or settle here in Canada.

"The government of Canada's focus is on identifying those who are responsible for the fraudulent activity and not on penalising those who may have been affected by fraud.

Earlier, the CBSA (Canada Border

Services Agency) has issued deportation notices to students whose admission offer letters to educational institutions were found to be fake.

They filed visa applications 2018 onwards till 2022 through Jalandhar-based Education Migration Services headed by one Brijesh Mishra, who is on the run and has shut all his operations operating from Jalandhar.

He is also accused of cheating students of tens of thousands of dollars.

The students had gone to Canada on a study visa but the fraud came to light after they applied for permanent residency (PR) recently.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)

Iconic Luminous Lantern Parade illuminates Queensland as it welcomes new inhabitants

Brisbane, June 9 (MCNA Newsdesk)

Queenslanders were all decked up to get back to the celebratory mood as the Luminous Lantern Parade showcased the very best of all it had. This was the 16th year of Luminous Parade celebrations, and is being recognized as one of Queensland’s largest welcome events mesmerizing Queenslanders with its use of light in a manner which symbolizes hope and creates an ambience that welcomes new Queenslanders in a glorious way. It all began with a modest candlelight gathering 16 years ago. Now this annual event has

developed into a movement of solidarity and support by the public at large for refugees, migrants, and people coming from outside the state. The annual Luminous Lantern Parade sees tens of thousands of people flocking to the event from across the state in a spirit of warmth and friendship, showing the outstanding zeal of the Queenslanders who are always in readiness to welcome others to the state.

This Parade has now assumed an iconic status among the various events which are organized according to the annual Queensland events calendar.

The Parade also coincides with Queensland Day, a day that celebrates Queensland’s birthday and its unique culture, heritage, people, places, and its industrial network.

According to the schedule, the spectacular lantern procession began at Flowstate, South Bank, taking a short and symbolic walk down the promenade, and moving in the sites of the city skyline. Finally, the Parade concluded at the South Bank Piazza, where a vibrant World music concert was organized. Meanwhile, the lanterns were full of luminous light in a symbolic gesture

welcoming a large number of people from all over the world, particularly the newest Queenslanders.

The Luminous Parade is an occasion that attracts its supporters from across the community, which comprises besides the people in general, all levels of government, corporate, and community organizations also. It is an occasion that sees the intermingling of communities and is a welcome occasion for all, including indigenous elders, migrant and refugee communities, service providers, education and training providers, church organizations, schools,

various stakeholder groups and the wider community. All of them in large numbers walk in the Parade or take part in a range of Luminous satellite events.

This year Multicultural Australia has taken the Luminous Parade to the neighbourhood across Brisbane and in Toowoomba and Rockhampton, aiming to propagate the message of welcome across Queensland. Luminous Lantern Parade was organized on June 9 from Little Stanley Street, with the World Music Concert featuring diverse musicians and dancers commencing in the South Bank Piazza after the Parade.

The first paan and ice gola joint in Brisbane

Shreeji Ice Gola also has a range of snacks and street food including vada paav, pav bhaji, sev usual, dabeli, chole puri, paani puri, paneer fried rice, chilli paneer, Szechuan fried rice, hakka noodles, bhelpuri and fixed thali among other delicacies. So, it is a complete restaurant than a paan shop and one can have a full dine in experience ending with a apaan/ice gola treat.

two sons — Umang Vaghela who is pursuing a Biomedical degree and Karan Vaghela is in year 12 in a high school.

Dr. Ashutosh Misra, Australia India News, Editor-in-Chief

Brisbane, 14 June (IANS Bureau): I have been a BanarasiChora Ganga Kinarewalafor 25 years and have been desperately looking for a paan shop in Brisbane ever since we moved 15 years ago.

Every time I visited Sydney and Melbourne, I would first visit a

paan shop than any place else. So, one can imagine my excitement a couple of weeks ago, when a good friend Abhishek Sharma - another paan lover - told me about this new shop which now makes fresh paan for customers. I could not wait to visit the place.

Shreeji Ice Gola located at Shop 2/117 Orange Grove Rd, Coopers

Plains QLD 4108 is a two years old business about which many in the community do not know. When I visited the place, I found it a perfect joint for young children who can relish the mouthwatering ice golas in many flavours, while the adults can munch and enjoy fresh paan.

During my visit I tried the “Kalkattapaan leaves” which I was told, come fresh from India along with other leaves from time to time. How good is that?

The owners of Shree ji Gola— Nitesh and Jaishree Vahgela serve one and all with loads of warmth and a disarming smile.

The Vaghela’s moved to Australia three years ago after living in New Zealand for ten years, with their

While Nitesh works tirelessly to serve the long queue of Paan lovers every evening, Jaishree runs busy in the kitchen taking orders for snacks and meals for the customers. They work very hard between 12.00 - 9.00 pm to run this exclusive joint on their own and would love to have greater support from the community. Sohere’s a shout out to all the Paan Lovers! Please pay a visit at the earliest and have a Banarasi/Kalkattiyapaan experience right here in Brisbane. And kids? Ice gola is simply sensational!

Punjab to provide free legal assistance to students facing deportation from Canada

immigration laws in Canada. Besides, Dhaliwal has written a letter to all MPs of Punjab origin in Canada to solve the issues of these students so that the future of the children can be secured.

immigration agencies illegally.

Chandigarh, June 8 (IANS) Punjab

NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Thursday said the state government will provide free legal assistance to 700

students facing deportation from Canada.

Most of these students belong to Punjab and they will be assisted by lawyers who are experts in

Presiding over a meeting with civil and police officers associated with the NRI Department here, Dhaliwal issued instructions to all Deputy Commissioners and the SSPs to scrutinise the documents of travel agents and immigration agencies and send a report by July 10.

He expressed concern that many travel agents are running

Dhaliwal said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has already given clear instructions to improve the system. He said if the system would be transparent and clean, then there will be less scope for human trafficking by illegal travel and immigration agencies. He said a special campaign against fake travel agents and immigration agencies would soon be launched in Punjab.

The minister said in the past 10 years, if any immigrant Punjabi has been deliberately implicated in a wrong case, it should be

brought to their attention. Such cases will be investigated and justice will be given to the victim. Taking an exclusive initiative, this time NRI meetings will be held for the first time in those villages whose immigrants have done good work in their villages or earned the name at the national or international level. Dhaliwal said the NRI meetings to be held at the district level from July 15 to August 30. He invited all nonresident Punjabis to bring their problems during NRI meetings and efforts will be made to solve every problem on the spot.

India denounces attacks on all religions, calls for inclusive dialogue to fight bigotry

deep concern on the growing increase in attacks on religious places, including churches, gurudwaras, monasteries, mosques, temples, synagogues, and other religious sites.

attacks on minority Christian communities".

United Nations, June 15 (IANS)

India has denounced attacks on all religions and called for interreligious dialogue encompassing all faiths to counter the rising climate of bigotry.

India's Permanent Representative Ruchira Kamboj said on Wednesday that India was deeply concerned over "the growing increase in attacks on religious places, including churches, gurdwaras, monasteries, mosques, temples, synagogues and other religious sites".

"This is the time for us to work together to strengthen human fraternity and to intensify our efforts in building a culture of peace," she said speaking on a resolution on the 'Culture of Peace'. Kamboj suggested that to counter

the rise of religious phobias, "inter-religious dialogue should be inclusive, broader and encompass all religions and all faiths".

The Permanent Representative spelt out a non-exclusionary approach to religions quoting Swami Vivekananda's maxim, "we believe not only in universal toleration but we accept all religions as true".

"We are deeply concerned with growing manifestations of intolerance, discrimination or violence against followers of both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic religionsa," she said.

"We strongly condemn acts of discrimination or violence motivated by anti-semitism, Christianophobia, and Islamophobia. We also expressed

"This principle of equal respect and treatment for all faiths has been a part of India's ethos for thousands of years (and) this principle is also integral to the Constitution of India.

"'Sarva dharma sama bhava' is a unique concept of Indian secularism, which maintains that all religions are inherently good and worthy of respect," she added. India's approach of embracing religions and denouncing attacks was in contrast to the focus at the UN in statements and resolutions on the three religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam that trace their roots to the Jewish Prophet Abraham.

Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, for example, told the Security Council earlier on Wednesday that "around the world, we are witnessing a groundswell of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, violent misogyny, anti-Muslim hatred, virulent anti-Semitism, and

And denouncing the poison of hate spreading radicalisation through social media, he said: "The perpetrators of the heinous attacks on a mosque in Christchurch, a synagogue in Pittsburgh, and a church in Charleston all were radicalised online."

His spokesperson Stephane Dujarric was asked about Guterres mentioning only three religions when there has been a spate of attacks on Hindu temples in the US, Canada and Australia. Dujarric said Guterres "is concerned about the attacks that we've seen around the world on various religions and especially on places of worship".

"When religious groups have are living in a community where they're a minority, and where they're vulnerable. It is incumbent on people to lower (the rhetoric), to increase the dialogue, increase tolerance, and on host communities to ensure that minorities are protected."

While speaking on the resolution on the Culture of Peace Declaration, Kamboj said: "We

firmly believe that the exercise of the right to freedom of opinion and expression and full respect for the freedom to seek, receive and impart information play an important role in promoting pluralism and combating religious intolerance."

She also called attention to the dangers of terrorism "which is a manifestation of intolerance and violence" and "is the anti-thesis of all religions and cultures".

"The world should be concerned by terrorists who use religion to justify these acts and those who support them in this quest and we must adopt zero tolerance against terrorism and violent extremism."

Wednesday's resolution introduced by Bangladesh and cosponsored by India was the annual follow-up to the Declaration on the Culture of Peace adopted in 1999.

The resolution that was adopted unanimously urged setting up programmes to wean youth away from terrorism, violence and xenophobia.

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

Why Indigenous Voice in the Constitution? A forum for all community leaders was organised by the African Communities Council for the African at Marooka today. Community leaders from the Chinese community, Indian community, African Community, and the Muslim community were present at the event. The Keynote speaker Noel Pearson; respected Indigenous lawyer, leader and architect of the voice to parliament gave an insightful speech to the audience present. A few messages he disseminated resonated with the leaders in the room, who applauded and

said “yeah, yeah” as he spoke. He highlighted the fact that every community big or small in numbers must be included in the constitution and have a voice in the parliament. The Aboriginal voice is much needed for the policy development and implementation to safeguard and secure the community from abuse, violations, and violent behaviours. The Voice to parliament will be a way to express the true emotional sentiments around government policies and decisions, shaping the community in a positive Dome. The voice will bring forth many issues such as the youth,

the African youth who need a good education system to keep them away from the judiciary trials. He said that “90% of the time, a youth ends up in jail because the youth did not receive good education support from his or her educational Institution, he, she enrolled in.” Indigenous and African youth are looking forward to this change to come about. Good education, Good educational system that does not deprive and discourage them from being educated. He also highlighted that the racial policy actually did not come about because of aboriginal people, it was implemented to stop migration from China. The voice hence is an important

first step to make the youth, and adults voice heard. In October the referendum will be presented to the public to vote on where the community will play a vital role.

The moderator of the forum was Benny Aterdit Bol, President of the Queensland African Communities Council and senior manager for youth engagement and community partnership of QPASTT.

Other speakers were Janet Jane, Brad Chilcott, and Habib Jamal who highlighted why the voice ? Why it must be included, raising awareness for the voice to parliament campaign.

Written by Amrita Deshpande (Community News Editor).

Fundraiser for cancer services

Simply Human’s fundraiser event of the year is happening on 14 October 2023; where we will witness the journey of SuperHeroes without capes who have fought against all odds, won their battles and are inspiring others in an incredible

way.

We are honored to have Hollywood/Bollywood actress, writer, entrepreneur and performer Lisa Ray as our keynote speaker. Join us to make a noble impact

and ignite your hero within!

For all enquiries and sponsorship contact Prerna Pahwa, Ujwal Poudel, Sam and Romit Shah!

Info@SimplyHuman.org.au

ऑस्लिया मेें, इस साि होन वािरे Voice जनमेत-संग्रह करे

मेें बातचीत की जा रही ह।

It’s about whether we should change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.

The Constitution outlines the rules by which Australia is governed, and can only be changed through a referendum.

Why is the Voice referendum

How would the Voice work?

The Voice would be an independent and permanent advisory body.

It would give advice to the Australian Parliament and Government on matters that affect the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Australia is having a conversation about the Voice referendum being held later this year.

Yoga Day Celebration, Yoga Sessions for the community

Yoga Sessions: Yoga sessions led by instructors from Revive Yoga & Wellness and Vedanta Centre Yoga are specially tailored to you. From Vinyasa flow, Hatha Yoga, and Pranayama to calming Yoga Nidra practice, a wide range of classes are delivered that are suitable for all levels.

Workshop: Expand your knowledge of Ayurveda, the ancient ‘Science of Life’ and

improve your health and wellbeing through the Session by Dr. Madhavi, a proud member of the Australian Natural Therapies Association and the Australasian Association of Ayurveda.

Laughter Yoga: Discover your inner joy and transcend boundaries with Po Mei Kwong, a passionate Joy Coach, and Laughter Yoga Leader.

Kirtan (devotional singing):

Experience the bliss of singing in a session of kirtan, where the group repeats lines sung by leader Jagbir Singhji of Namdhari Sikh Society Australia Wellness Exhibitors: Explore a variety of market stalls showcasing wellness products, clothing, sustainable goods, and refreshments.

Lunch: Enjoy a delicious meal of traditional Indian food cooked

by volunteers of Maa Sarada’s Kitchen

Plus, we have a special treat for parents! We understand that attending a yoga class can sometimes be challenging when you have young children to care for. That's why we've organized a special program just for them!

While you join a yoga class, your children can enjoy a range of activities under the supervision

of our experienced volunteers Shashi, Vrushali, and Stacey (all free).

Mark your calendars, invite your friends, and join us in creating a memorable International Yoga Day Festival.

Please RSVP for yoga classes to secure your spot, as spaces are limited. To register please visit: https://yogadayfestivalspringfield. eventbrite.com.au

Unique ways to appreciate the mighty oceans of the world

Spend some time in the ocean and promise to celebrate its uniqueness this World Ocean Day

By IANSlife

June 01, 2023 (IANSlife) Dive deep to find corals, swim with dolphins, save endangered

Hawksbill turtles, and learn about the conservation of their habitat. As we approach World Ocean Day, which is observed annually on

June 8, and to commemorate its uniqueness, IANSlife has curated some of the coolest oceans you can visit around the world.

Swim with butterflyfish in Koh Tao, Thailand

From heavenly beaches and lush palm trees to turquoise waters and diverse marine life, the Islands of Maldives embody everything perfect for a leisurely escapade. Designed in harmony with the natural environment, The Residence Maldives offers myriad activities catering to every traveller’s interest, including the world’s largest and deepest coral atolls.

The waters of the resort’s GaafuAlifu atoll are home to

Discover vibrant corals in the deepest atolls of Maldives

over 1,200 species of corals, fish, sharks, green turtles, manta rays, and eagle rays. You can witness them by snorkelling and deep-sea diving. The resort also largely contributes to marine conservation by being part of the Maldives Underwater Initiative promoted by the Maldivian Ministry of Tourism and the Protect Maldives Seagrass, an initiative launched by the Blue Marine Foundation.

Save the endangered turtles in Oman

Koh Tao Island is no less than a tropical haven, thanks to the profusion of spectacular beaches, dive sites, and a wealth of different activities to enjoy.

Tanote Bay, located on the island’s east coast, is perfect for travellers who wish to witness the

Kingdom’s marine life teeming with various species, such as butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish, rabbitfish, and groupers.

The island encourages ethical and sustainable tourism by organising Spotlight Koh Tao, an annual event comprising workshops and

Witness the largest aggregation of whale sharks in Qatar

exhibitions which inspire tourists to participate in activities such as coral reef rehabilitation, sea glass jewellery making, coco tie-dye making, and fish aggregation with locals, among other initiatives that contribute towards marine conservation.

Nestled between the majestic mountains and glittering waters of the Gulf, Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah, Muscat, reflects the beauty of this Middle Eastern country. The sea around the resort is replete with rich marine life, such as turtles, rays, eels, fish, coral reefs, and shipwrecks that make beautiful underwater sights. A fully equipped and professionally staffed Dive Centre arranges daily excursions and guided diving tours. A nighttime expedition and three daily dives are available too. Marine experts guarantee that everyone

makes the most of their aquatic adventure. Oman is home to five different species of turtles, and one of the nesting sites is Shangri-La Muscat’s private beach. The Turtle Care Project aims to protect the endangered hawksbill and green turtle species as a ranger looks after nests and protects them from potential threats. Between March and September, when hundreds of turtles return to the resort’s beach to lay eggs, guests are invited to witness hatchings, help to protect their nests and attend Turtle Talks at the hotel’s Eco Centre.

As a peninsula surrounded by the Arabian Sea and blessed with year-round sunny weather, Qatar is famous for crystal-clear beaches, waterparks, and marinas that invite everyone to try out activities and experiences. The country also serves as the perfect habitat for many aquatic

species that thrive in warmer temperatures, such as the Hawksbill Turtles that feed on marine delicacies at Al Ghariyah Beach. In addition, Qatar is home to the largest aggregation of whale sharks that prefer the warm and shallow sea waters of the country’s northeast coast,

located about 145 km from Doha and reached by yacht. Qatar also accommodates the world’s second-largest population of Dugongs at the Al Thakira mangrove forest. One can witness these underwater creatures in full glory from April to September by kayaking.

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) In the run-up to the 2023 World Test Championship final between Australia and India at The Oval, many former players like Ricky Ponting and Wasim Akram had given a slight edge to the Pat Cummins-led side to lift the coveted mace.

On June 11, just a little after noon in London, they were indeed proved right as Cummins & Co beat India by 209 runs to be the WTC winners for the very first time and complete their set of ICC trophies, making them the first side in men's international cricket to do so.

For India, it was the second straight time they came runnersup in the WTC final after 2021, with the art of winning knockout games slowly becoming a lost heritage. But for its huge number of fans, it was back to familiar feelings as the 2023 WTC final entered the list of tournaments from which India came without an ICC title.

IANS looks at reasons behind India's crushing finale loss at The Oval and with the new WTC cycle starting next month, what they need as a transition era looms over the team.

Ashwin selection call

One of the wise pieces of advice cricket has ever got is to go on the field with your best cricketers, barring injuries coming into play. That advice also means that you got to pick your best batters and bowlers. At The Oval, India chose to leave out ace offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin, the top-ranked Test bowler with 474 scalps, who had previously picked a six-fer at the venue while playing for Surrey in 2021.

When the match was on, one sensed that India missed the trick by not playing him on seeing the bit of assistance the pitch provided to Ravindra Jadeja and Nathan Lyon. Irrespective of whether conditions could have been, not playing your best spinner in a prestigious clash for the title is a big mystery which has left many, including the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, baffled.

Though Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj were excellent with the ball, the efforts of Umesh

tour of England by falling to the wide ball trap in second innings. Apart from Kohli dismissal shot in second innings, the shot selection in both innings left many legends of the game baffled.

Co-incidentally, the top-order from the WTC 2021 final was also featuring in the 2023 finale, which shows that nothing has changed in the lack of runs from top-order despite the personnel being the same.

Yadav and Shardul Thakur as third and fourth pacers were less than desired of what the team would have liked them to be.

With India already missing Jasprit Bumrah, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer due to injuries, leaving out Ashwin didn't make any sense, especially with Australia having five left-handed batters.

No response to being pushed on backfoot from day one

To be very honest, the result of the WTC final was decided on day one of the game itself. India elected to bowl first and were playing catch up throughout the match despite batting fightback from Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur in first innings.

India were excellent in the first hour, keeping Australia in check at 29/1 in 12 overs and taking out David Warner. But after that, as the bowlers changed, so did the game. From there, there was no stopping Australia as they reached 327/3 at stumps and eventually made 469.

Not being tight in tactics also played a part in India being pushed on backfoot right on day one. India bowled in strong areas of Travis Head, giving him the room to take boundaries quickly apart from rotating strike easily and bowling just one short ball to him in his first 29 balls. By the time the short-ball ploy to cramp him for room came, Head was already past 90 and got his hundred in no time.

Top-order failures come to the fore

Just like many times in the past, the batting problem of India's top-order came back to hit them hard on a big stage, yet again, unable to even touch 300 in both innings. Rohit Sharma couldn't replicate his stunning run in the 2021 tour of England in both innings. Shubman Gill is yet to look comfortable in playing Tests in England.

Cheteshwar Pujara, despite two months of county cricket for Sussex, couldn't thrive in what was to be familiar conditions for him. Virat Kohli gave the feeling of going for a long stay at the crease, but flattered to deceive in his fifth

Maybe it's the right time for introducing some freshness in the top-order (like Yashasvi Jaiswal) as well as in middle-order, and look beyond the highlyexperienced folks by rewarding performers of Ranji Trophy and India A tours.

Fast bowlers with more depth and control

In the last few years, a big part of India's overseas success came from the fast-bowling unit, making Bumrah, Shami, Siraj, and Umesh Ishant Sharma the envy of the cricketing world.

But with Bumrah injured due to recurring back injury and doubts over whether he would be playing consistent Test cricket in future as well as Ishant being phased out, India's fast-bowling unit suddenly looks thin on depth.

Shami and Siraj are certainties, but are people like Umesh, Thakur and Jaydev Unadkat seen as sure starters, especially when India take the field in their next WTC cycle assignment in West Indies? Umesh and Thakur lacked penetration and control with the ball, allowing Australia to run away with the game.

On-field things aside, India have also been unlucky on the fitness part too. Apart from Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna has been out for long due to back injury.

There's no word on development of Navdeep Saini, Kamlesh Nagarkoti (he's down with back injury too), Ishan Porel, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Shivam Mavi and Kartik Tyagi in longer format, who can also provide some runs with the bat.

Overall, all these factors show that there are a lot of problems in the Indian Test team which need urgent attention to solve. There is a lack of vision for the future for developing lethal and consistent fast bowlers as well as batters, which the opposition will fear too.

That also includes organising A tours regularly and appointing a chief of selectors, which also plays a role in teams winning big titles consistently. Otherwise, the mistakes from 2023 will continue to repeat endlessly, leading to more heartbreak for the Indian team and its ever-loyal fans in ICC tournaments.

New Delhi, June 13 (IANS) Former Australian spinner, Brad Hogg has expressed his agreement with Rohit Sharma's call for a threematch World Test Championship (WTC) final and also suggested International Cricket Council (ICC) a new format for the next cycle.

After suffering a crushing defeat in the WTC final, India skipper had called for the WTC Final to be played as a three-game series.

"You work hard for two years and then you have only one shot at it. Test cricket is all about finding that rhythm, finding that momentum as well. So, I think, if in the next cycle, if it is possible, a three-match series would be ideal," Rohit had said.

Echoing the Indian skipper's sentiments, Hogg agreed with his thoughts on the WTC final and proposed an intriguing new format to determine the winner of the mace by dividing the teams into two divisions, each consisting of four teams.

"I agree with Rohit Sharma that

the WTC Final should be a threematch series, but this time it was a one-match final and Australia won that, and I am not taking away from that. It is about the game moving forward. I think there should be two divisions with four teams each -- the top four teams in division one and the rest in division two. The associates can be in division three and work their way up," Hogg said in his YouTube channel.

Hogg further elaborated on the details of his proposed format changes for the WTC.

"The top two teams in division one play a three-match final on the home soil of the top team in the table. Then the teams ranked three and four in division one play against teams that finished top two in division two," the former spinner said.

"Team three of division one will play at home against team two of division two, and then team one of division two will play team three of division one," Hogg added.

Canberra, June 14 (IANS)

Australian women's football captain Sam Kerr has declared winning the World Cup at home is the biggest goal of her career.

Kerr, 29, will on July 20 lead the Matildas onto the pitch for their opening game at the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup against Ireland in Sydney, reports Xinhua.

The tournament, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand, shapes the biggest event in the history of Australian football and Kerr's career.

Currently ranked 10th in the world, the Matildas are widely considered contenders to become the first Australian team to win the World Cup following recent victories over fellow top-ranked teams England, Spain and Sweden.

"It would be the ultimate dream. That's why I play football. That's why I do what I do every day. That's why I sacrifice so much, to win a World Cup," Kerr

was quoted by the Australian Associated Press (AAP) on Tuesday.

Kerr is the all-time leading scorer in Australian history but missed a crucial penalty as Australia were knocked out of the 2019 World Cup by Norway in a round-of-16 shootout.

Despite the added pressure of hosting the tournament, Kerr said she and her teammates were solely focused on their preparation with 36 days to go until the tournament starts.

"The most important thing is we focus on ourselves and focus on performing to the best of our ability and enjoying it too, because this is a once-in-alifetime experience," she said.

"You don't want it to become a bad experience by getting overawed by the crowd or whatever it may be, you want to enjoy this experience."

Selection calls, giving too many runs, top-order failures emerge as reasons behind India’s loss in WTC Final

I agree with Rohit Sharma, WTC final should be a threematch series: Brad Hogg

Australia’s captain Kerr solely focused on home FIFA World Cup glory

CLOSE-IN: IPL 2023 was a Perfect 10 India vs Pakistan on Oct 15 in draft schedule of ODI World Cup: Reports

A last-ball finish in the IPL'23 was, as one can term it, a perfect 10. The tournament was without a doubt an unimaginable success. The cricket was scintillating and the hordes of spectators at every venue were quite remarkable.

The final between Gujarat Titans (GT) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the enormous Ahmedabad stadium got delayed by a day due to rain and to have a full house the next day showed the dedicated love of the IPL followers. The digital world of live streaming of the matches had millions of eyeballs as well. This truly augmented the fact that T20 cricket is here to stay and one that will rule cricket in the future.

The IPL'23 has brought about a completely different dimension to the game. The Impact Player substitution has made a huge IMPACT. The possibility of getting an additional bowler or batsman, if needed, was a boon for many a side. It led to a dynamic change in the way the playing eleven of the teams were structured and the IPL benefitted enormously. Totals that looked out of reach became possible through the inclusion of an extra batter as well as defending via an extra bowler.

The umpteen number of close finishes with many of them off the last few deliveries, made viewing nail-biting and extremely interesting. Seeing cricketers perform and successfully implement their capabilities in such an intensive high-pressure situation was astounding. How can one describe the mental calmness of the two shots played by Ravindra Jadeja, a six and a four, to clinch the victory for his

side, CSK, off the last two balls of an IPL final? One needs nerves of steel to do so, similar to a Rinku Singh performance of hitting 5 sixes off the last 5 deliveries to clinch victory for his side, Kolkata Knight Riders. These are remarkable feats, along with many others that made the IPL'23 so enjoyable to watch.

One did feel sorry for Gujarat Titans led by Hardik Pandya, to lose the final match which seemed to be in their favour for most of the game. A total of 215 runs that they notched up was a huge task for CSK to chase. The rain gods and luck came to CSK's advantage and with the reduction in overs and runs due to the match being affected by rain and the breaks that they got, gave them time to regroup and reignite mentally.

Hardik Pandya, the man in-line most likely to lead India in the T20 format, tried to look calm and unflustered during CSK's chase and gave an impression that he had things under control. However, due to the reduction in overs, assessing which of his bowlers would be the most effective to exploit the situation the best, is where he unfortunately faltered. However, when it finally came down for CSK to get 10 runs off the last 2 deliveries, it looked like GT were on the road to victory.

Mohit Sharma, the astute Gujarat Titan bowler, brought a ray of hope when he delivered four outstanding balls. This is when Hardik faltered unknowingly.

Mohit Sharma had his tail-up having bowled four superb yorkers showcasing that his rhythm and muscle memory were well in tune.

Hardik, in trying to calm Sharma down, stopped play to boost his bowler and have a light-hearted chat over a cold drink with him. This action by the GT captain resulted in two huge mistakes. One where he gave the cool and experienced Ravindra Jadeja time to get his thought process in place, especially as both he and Shivam Dube had struggled to hit a boundary on four earlier occasions. The second and most important failure was that Hardik in his attempt to play cool, lost the bowling rhythm and flow that Mohit Sharma had captured in his deliveries previously. Thereafter, he did the unthinkable of following the same ritual on the last and final ball of the match. This incident takes one back to the earlier days when coaches were against either a bowler or a batter taking refreshments in between the stipulated time of a drinks interval. Their profound theory was that it broke one's concentration and momentum. Players in the past went even further when they refused to change a pad or a wet glove or even an item of torn clothing as it may deter their mindset and mental concentration. A good example of this was when Sunil Gavaskar, during his magnificent century at Manchester against England in 1974, in cold dreary and bowling-friendly conditions, refused to change his torn trouser, lest he lose his concentration. He rates that innings as his finest.

This brings one to the men who control the game at the centre, the umpires. One felt that on many occasions in the IPL, they were very lax in their approach. Long chats between overs, extra time for captains to adjust their field, drinks coming in at every stoppage, and at times when the batter had barely played a few deliveries, were some things that needed to be monitored far more strictly.

There was a famous incident of Mahendra Singh Dhoni taking those four extra precious minutes by interacting with the umpires to ensure that one of his bowlers would be able to bowl because he was off the field earlier. This may have been a very good ploy by Dhoni, but one in which the umpires came through as being very lenient. The DRS somehow seems to have softened them, especially in controlling tricky situations out in the middle.

Dhoni is at present the biggest icon in Indian cricket. He has captured the heart of every Indian and has a fan following that he truly deserves. For his side to win the IPL'1yu23 under his able captaincy was the icing on the cake.

A perfect 10!

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

New Delhi, June 12 (IANS) The highly anticipated match between India and Pakistan during the upcoming ODI World Cup is set to take place on October 15 in Ahmedabad, as per the draft schedule of the marquee event.

According to an ESPNcricinfo report, the BCCI shared the draft schedule with the ICC, which then sent it to the participating countries for feedback before a final schedule is put out early next week.

As per the initial draft schedule of the 2023 ODI World Cup, prepared by the BCCI., England and New Zealand are set to meet in the tournament-opener on October 5 while India are set to open their campaign against Australia on October 8 in Chennai.

The report further said India are scheduled to play their league matches across nine venues while Pakistan are slated to play across five venues during the league phase.

While the draft schedule does not provide specific details about the semifinal venues, it is expected that they will be held on November 15 and 16. The final match of the tournament is set to take place on November 19 in Ahmedabad.

India's itinerary in draft schedule: India vs Australia, Oct 8 in Chennai

India vs Afghanistan, Oct 11 in Delhi

India vs Pakistan, Oct 15 in Ahmedabad

India vs Bangladesh, Oct 19, in Pune

India vs New Zealand, Oct 22, in Dharamsala

India vs England, Oct 29, in Lucknow

India vs qualifier, Nov 2, Mumbai India vs SA, Nov 5, Kolkata

India vs qualifier, Nov 11, Bengaluru

JioCinema resumes digital innings with India’s tour of West Indies 2023

cycle. The 3-match ODI series begins July 27 and will be played in Barbados and Trinidad. The five-match T20I competition tips off in Trinidad on August 3, followed by two matches in Guyana and the last two fixtures in Florida, USA.

Mumbai, June 14 (IANS)

JioCinema on Wednesday announced the acquisition of digital rights to India's Tour of West Indies 2023 to live-stream the month-long series that includes two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is. The all-format bilateral tour starts July 12 with the first Test in Dominica followed by the second in Trinidad. The Test series will mark the beginning of India's World Test Championship 2023-25

"JioCinema offered a seamless streaming experience that resulted in astonishing benchmarks never heard of. We pushed the boundaries of technological capability to affirm that sports is best experienced digitally," said Viacom18 - Sports Head of Strategy, Partnership & Acquisitions Hursh Shrivastava.

"With the India Tour of West Indies 2023, we will forge ahead and offer our viewers a worldclass presentation."

YAJURVINDRA SINGH

A unique amalgamation of sport and fashion A unique collaboration

Maison Shantnu, Nikhil presents “Shantnu Nikhil Cricket Club”

Ready-to-Wear brand Dash & Dot and couturier Seema Gujral team up

By IANSlife

June 02, 2023 (IANSlife) For the first time, designers Maison Shantnu & Nikhil present "Shantnu Nikhil Cricket Club," a new concept under the "S & N by Shantnu Nikhil" brand, that embraces the spirit of cricket in a unique amalgamation of sport with the designers' signature fashion forms, featuring Harmanpreet Kaur.

“Shantnu Nikhil Cricket Club stemmed from a long-awaited dream, inspired by our love for cricket and a vision to connect the sport to lifestyle promise. It’s truly exhilarating to see the

club branch out into its second edition- with a new twist. To celebrate the new edition, we are ecstatic to have Harmanpreet Kaur representing the campaign, in her true sportsperson spirit. We feel so proud that SNCC is growing phenomenally as a lifestyle conversation, as well as harmonising fashion and cricket like never before!” say designers

Shantnu & Nikhil

This luxe, youthful label carries forward the bridge to the luxury design philosophy while offering regal looks to those who want to take their connection with the sport as well as their

fashion game, a notch higher! In keeping with the ethos of brands from Maison Shantnu Nikhil, SNCC introduces the batsman logo with a fresh perspective to the signature brand crest, which symbolizes the spirit of achievement that portrays a will to strive forward and a sense of unity: a culture that the club stands for. The campaign is shot at the iconic Maidens Hotel by The Oberoi Group. The nostalgia of space met by the regalia of sport, intertwine itself into the grand imagery- as presented in SNCC.

To represent the latest drop from

By IANSlife

“Shantnu Nikhil Cricket Club”, the Maison has Harmanpreet Kaurthe captain of the Indian women’s cricket team. She represents the grit, sheer passion, and humility a great sportsperson exhibits. With SNCC, the brand applauds the pathbreaking cricketer and unveils her glamorous side like never seen before.

“I have always expressed myself through cricket and have only strived for excellence. I am very glad to see acclaimed designers Shantnu & Nikhil understand the significance of cricket in our

country and amalgamate their aesthetics with the sport. It’s a proud feeling to feature in the second edition of Shantnu Nikhil Cricket Club, which feels like my own style come alive.” says Harmanpreet Kaur

The contemporary lineup of the range is dedicated to preserving the game’s nostalgic and yet stylistic hallmarks on a canvas of season-friendly fabrics like flat knit and premium silks. The second drop of SNCC includes lineup of gingham prints which can be seen across categories,

whilst the colour Orange- brings a whole new outburst of energy to the collection.

From essential sartorial pieces like the genteel retrodoused varsity jackets, suave power suits, and classic and yet elevated cropped polos to classic pick-me-up accessories –neckerchiefs, bucket hats, belts; SNCC infiltrates the modernday wardrobe with a vision of easygoing everyday dressing injected with a jolt of much needed youthful swagger!

May 30, 2023 (IANSlife)

A limited edition collection that is perfect for the summer as it combines the prettiness of pret and the sensual drama of couture. Dash & Dot, a

ready-to-wear clothing company and couturier Seema Gujral seamlessly merge contemporary sensibilities with decades of expertise, and technical knowledge.

The result of a cooperation that looked odd yet made perfect sense is 20 ensembles, each of which stands alone as a standalone work. The collection features Gujral's classic couture elements, meticulous embroideries and embellishments, and other signature work, whether it be gota from her ‘Lakeer’ collection

or the typical blue on blue ‘Aari’ lehenga with a lot of cut work, appliqué mirror work, as well as her very unique approach to Indian couture. Dash and Dot has taken these and translated them into ready to wear pieces with a reach that covers a wider spectrum and a larger audience.

From pant suits to co-ord sets to dresses, this collection features it all. The collection also represents the depth the brand caters to, different people of different sizes and a larger age group, which made it important that every customer should be able to find a piece they can wear. The silhouettes are clean, linear with trendy embellishments and embroideries that border on traditional but still come out chic and neat. The dresses are in neutral stark colours with playful styling, the co-ord sets boast of capes, jackets, bandeaus and elegant bodices, all enhanced with signature Seema Gujral elements. On the launch of this collection,

Ashray Gujral said, “One of the most key learnings through this whole process has been to just watch Seema Gujral - how deeply involved and passionate she is, and at the same time how temperamentally even she remains at every point of time. The sense of calm has translated into the clothes to create a collection that is wholesome, complete and exquisite. This collection is the best of Dash and Dot with the grounded uniqueness of Seema Gujral, it is a means for a younger, more modern generation to own a piece of heritage couture.”

How you can have a sustainable beauty routine

Reduce Water Consumption -

The Sunscreen Debate

By Dr. Blossom Kochhar

June 06, 2023 (IANSlife) In recent years, the world has witnessed a growing awareness of environmental issues, urging individuals to adopt sustainable practices in all aspects of life. The beauty industry too has been working towards making the industry work towards sustainable options and are making beauty routines, too, transformed into eco-friendly endeavors. By making conscious choices and embracing sustainable alternatives, we can minimise our ecological footprint while still looking and feeling our best.

Here are some practical steps and sustainable solutions that can be incorporated into your beauty routine, promoting a harmonious balance between self-care and environmental consciousness. Streamline Your Products - The first step towards a sustainable beauty routine is decluttering your collection of beauty products. Take stock of what you have and determine which ones are truly essential. By streamlining your products, you reduce waste and limit the consumption of unnecessary packaging. Look for multipurpose products that serve multiple functions, such as tinted moisturizers with SPF or lip and cheek stains, a body wash that works as a face wash as well. Opt for refillable packaging or products sold in recyclable or biodegradable containers to

minimize the amount of plastic waste generated.

Choose Natural and Organic Ingredients - When selecting beauty products, prioritize those made with natural and organic ingredients. Many conventional beauty products contain harmful chemicals that are not only detrimental to your health but also pollute water sources and harm ecosystems. Look for certified organic and natural labels, which ensure that the ingredients used are sustainably sourced and free from harmful additives. Embrace the power of nature by incorporating ingredients like coconut oil, shea butter, and essential oils into your routine. Not only are these ingredients kinder to the environment, but they also offer nourishment, rejuvenation, and holistic solutions for your skin and hair concerns.

DIY Beauty Recipes - Another fantastic way to promote sustainability in your beauty routine is by creating your own products using simple, natural ingredients found in your kitchen. Experiment with homemade face masks, body scrubs, and hair treatments, using ingredients like oatmeal, honey, and avocado. DIY beauty recipes not only reduce waste, but they also allow you to tailor products to your specific needs and preferences. You can find a multitude of recipes and tutorials online that offer creative and effective solutions for all your beauty needs.

Conserving water is an essential aspect of a sustainable beauty routine. While it may be tempting to indulge in long, hot showers or leave the tap running while performing your skincare routine, it's important to be mindful of your water usage. Consider taking shorter showers, turning off the tap while you're brushing your teeth or lathering your face, and collecting rainwater to use for watering your plants or rinsing your hair. These small adjustments can go a long way in conserving water, a precious resource that must be protected.

Mindful Packaging and Recycling - When purchasing beauty products, pay attention to the packaging. Opt for brands that use minimal packaging or choose products that come in recyclable or biodegradable materials. Look for beauty brands that offer refillable options or take-back programs to reduce waste. Additionally, make a habit of recycling empty product containers instead of throwing them in the trash. Many communities have recycling programs or drop-off locations for beauty packaging, so be sure to explore the options available in your area.

Embracing a sustainable beauty routine is a powerful way to contribute to the preservation of our planet while still enjoying the benefits of self-care. By streamlining our products, choosing natural and organic ingredients, exploring DIY options, reducing water consumption, and being mindful of packaging and recycling, we can significantly minimize our environmental impact. Remember, sustainable beauty is not about sacrificing our personal care but rather making conscious choices that support a healthier and safer beauty routine.

(Dr. Blossom Kochhar, Chairperson Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies)

By IANSlife

June 02, 2023 (IANSlife) Over the past couple of years, the importance of Sunscreen as a skincare essential has gained immense popularity. The sudden hype around Sunscreen is attributed to the growing awareness of the effects of UV rays on the skin through the emergence of scientific research and increasing cases of skin cancer. As we approach the summer season, when the UV rays get more robust, we must protect our skin from sunburns, premature ageing, and other skin damage.

Sunscreen is a product that helps protect your skin from the sun's damaging rays which are imperceptible to the naked eye. Doctor Aparna Santhanam, Dermafique Skin Expert said, "Sunscreen is a must-have product for everyone, regardless of skin type or tone. It is critical to use a full-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to guard against UVA,UVB rays, infrared rays and visible light. Sunscreen must be a part of your daily skincare routine, even when it is cloudy outside." UVA rays penetrate deeper into the skin's layers than UVB rays, leading to premature skin ageing, including the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and age spots. This occurs because UV rays attack collagen and elastin, two proteins required for skin elasticity and firmness. Since UVA, UVB, infrared rays can

cause skin damage, applying a sunscreen that offers fullspectrum protection is necessary. Doctor Aparna Santhanam adds, "it is equally necessary to remember to reapply Sunscreen regularly throughout the day, especially if you're outdoors for swimming, hiking, playing, etc. You should apply Sunscreen 20 minutes before sun exposure and reapply every two to three hours".

Moreover, the beauty industry has also recognized the importance of Sunscreen and incorporated it into their products. Many makeup products, including foundations, BB creams, and tinted moisturizers, now contain SPF, making it easier for people to protect their skin from the sun while applying makeup.

Given the variety of available options, choosing the right Sunscreen can be overwhelming. When selecting a sunscreen, it is essential to look at the Sun Protection Factor (or SPF), which measures a sunscreen's ability to protect against UVB rays. A sunscreen that has an SPF of atleats 30 blocks about 97% of UVB rays, while an SPF of 50 blocks back 98%. Ultimately, consider the texture and feel of the Sunscreen, and choose the one that works well with your skin type. Sunscreens are now available in various textures, formulas, and SPF levels, making it easier for everyone to pick.Opt for sunscreens which are lightweight and non-sticky, to suit the hot & humid Indian summers..

Natural herbs for youthful, glowing skin

Ayurvedic beauty secrets for ageing skin

out. Ayurveda offers a timetested treatment for aged skin that values authenticity and sustainability by utilising natural treatments and antiquated traditions.

By Dr. Kriti Soni

May 28, 2023 (IANSlife) The ancient knowledge of Ayurveda has reemerged, offering a revitalising and holistic approach to skincare in a world dominated by modern beauty products and invasive surgeries. The traditional Indian medical system known as Ayurveda understands that true beauty comes from taking care of the body from the inside

Ageing skin requires care, especially natural solutions that don't let your skin give away your age. Let's explore the various herbs that help achieve a youthful glow, better known as the age-old

Nani ke nuskhe:

Turmeric: A Golden Treasure for Skin Enhancement

This radiant spice has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Create a golden paste by mixing turmeric

powder with honey or milk, and gently apply it to your face. Let the transformative magic unfold as the paste reduces inflammation and reveals a newfound radiance. Simply apply the turmeric-infused paste on your face and leave it on for 15–20 minutes. Rinse off the mask with warm water and unveil an improved complexion that beams with natural beauty.

Aloe Vera: Nature's Soothing Elixir for Skin

Known for its soothing and healing properties, aloe vera replenishes lost hydration and leaves your skin soft, supple, and glowing with vitality. Simply apply fresh aloe vera gel directly

to your skin and experience its refreshing and nourishing effects. Gently massage the cool gel onto your face. Regular use of aloe vera gel can even help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, giving you a youthful and radiant complexion.

Neem: Nature's Shield for Clear and Healthy Skin

Neem, within the realm of skincare, is known for its potent antibacterial and antifungal properties, making it a remarkable guardian for your skin. This extraordinary plant offers a natural solution for treating acne and combating various skin infections. Harnessing its power is as simple

as creating a paste by grinding neem leaves with water and gently applying it to the affected area. Allow the paste to work its magic, leaving it on for 15–20 minutes before rinsing it off. Experience the transformative effects of neem as it revitalises your skin, providing a natural solution for clearer and healthier skin.

Sandalwood: A Fragrant Marvel for Rejuvenating Skin

Sandalwood is versatile, catering to different skin types. For dry skin, create a paste with sandalwood powder, honey, and olive oil. It soothes and moisturises skin, revealing a refreshed complexion. fuller's earth, and lemon juice.

A Treasure Trove of Modern Indian Art

AstaGuru's upcoming 'Collectors Choice’ features over 200 works

executed with acrylic on canvas in 2022 is a brilliant example of the artist’s vibrant and captivating colour and his mastery over figurative subjects.

The auction will also present several renditions by Krishen Khanna depicting his famous Bandwallah figure. Lot no. 72 is a large-scale monochrome work executed with acrylic and charcoal. This work is estimated to be acquired atINR 25,00,000 –30,00,000. Lot no. 179 showcases a group of Bandwallahs through the medium of a bronze sculpture. Executed in 2016, this work is appearing in an auction for the first time and is estimated to be sold at INR 10,00,000 –15,00,000.

The first Natya Kumbh Theatre Festival

The festival is being organized at Little Theatre Group Auditorium, from 4th – 11th June 2023

By IANSlife

June 09, 2023 (IANSlife) Bidders have the rare opportunity to acquire exquisite masterpieces and rare compositions spanning different periods of Modern Indian Art at AstaGuru's upcoming 'Collector's Choice' Modern Indian Art auction.

Commenting on the auction, Sunny Chandiramani, Senior Vice President- Client Relations, AstaGuru, said, "The overwhelming response to 'Collectors Choice' affirms its success in creating a platform that appeals to a broad range of collectors, fostering a vibrant and dynamic art community. The ability to acquire artworks at different price points presents a chance for both seasoned and new art connoisseurs to expand their collections with diverse pieces. It encourages exploration and discovery, enabling them to uncover hidden gems and lesser-known artists that might otherwise go unnoticed."

Leading the auction lineup is lot no. 15, which features on the catalogue cover. The work appearing in an auction for the first time belongs to the oeuvre of revered Bengal School artist Nandalal Bose. Executed in 1941 with tempera on paper, it depicts the immortal imagery of Radha and Krishna churning butter. Through vibrant colours and intricate details, as well as the serene expressions and graceful postures of the figures, the work evokes a sense of harmony and embodies the spirit of divine love. This lot is estimated to be acquired at INR 15,00,000 –20,00,000.

Lot no. 47, an untitled work by artist K. Laxma Goud is estimated to be sold at INR 20,00,000 – 25,00,000. Appearing in an auction for the first, the work

Lot no. 95 is a work from F. N. Souza’s iconic head imagery. The mixed media on paper creation was executed in 1956 when the artist was staying in London. It was during this period that Souza first achieved critical and commercial success. The work originally belonged to the collection of Ragnar Zedell, who met the artist in Stockholm in the early 1960s and became one of his earliest patrons in the city. This work is estimated to be acquired at INR 40,00,000 – 60,00,000.

Titled ‘Prakriti,’ lot no. 113 is an illustrious example of S.H. Raza’s exploration of the ‘Bindu,’ which became an iconic element and a unifying motif of his oeuvre. Executed in 1994 with acrylic on canvas, this work also embodies the artist's renowned and groundbreaking approach to geometric abstraction. This work is appearing in an auction for the first time and is estimated to be sold at INR 80,00,000 –1,00,00,000.

Lot no. 133 is a monochrome abstract landscape work by Ram Kumar titled ‘Autumn Landscape.’ Executed Circa 1950, this work was created after the artist moved to Paris to study under famed artist and writer Andre Lhote. The oil on canvas work is estimated to be acquired at INR 60,00,000 –80,00,000.

An important bronze sculpture by artist Himmat Shah, lot no. 145, is also offered in the auction. The work ‘Untitled - Goddess Durga (Ed. 5/5),’ was also exhibited at the artist’s retrospective at Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi, in 2016. It was also published in the book ‘Himmat in London: 36 Bronze Sculptures’ by Aleph Book Company in 2021. It is estimated to be sold at INR 25,00,000 –30,00,000.

Lot no. 155 is a large-scale figurative work, executed in signature style by artist Jogen Chowdhury. Executed with pastel & acrylic on canvas in 2019, it is estimated to be sold at INR 30,00,000 – 40,00,000.

Lot no. 200 is an untitled work by artist Anjolie Ela Menon, executed

in her signature medium of oil on masonite board. Executed in 2022, it was showcased in the exhibition titled ‘Anjolie Ela Menon: Nostalgia 2022' at Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi. It was also published in the book ‘AnjolieInner Vision: A Selection of Works from 1956 – 2022’ by The Arts Trust, Mumbai, in 2023. This work is estimated to be acquired at INR 30,00,000 – 40,00,000.

The auction will also present works by several more eminent artists of India, including M.V. Dhurandhar, Jamini Roy, Rabindranath Tagore, M. F. Husain, Akbar Padamsee, K. H. Ara, Sakti Burman, K. K. Hebbar, Bikash Bhattacharjee, Ganesh Pyne, Satish Gujaral, K.G. Subramanyan, Manu Parekh, Biren De, Thota Vaikuntam, Bhupen Khakhar, V.S. Gaitonde, and ManitBawa among others.

By IANSlife

June 07, 2023 (IANSlife) Natya

Kumbh aims to foster a vibrant and inclusive theatre community, where artists can thrive and audiences can immerse themselves in the magic of live performances. Through the festival the organisers aim to provide a platform for talented playwrights, actors, and theatre enthusiasts to showcase their art and connect with audiences who appreciate the power of storytelling.

Vibgyor launches its first intellectual property in the space of theatre - Natya Kumbh, a notfor-profit initiative, reaffirming its commitment to the growth and development of the theatre industry in India.

Natya Kumbh is a festival of theatre, celebrating the drama and dramatist spanning across various genres – from comedy, drama, satire to patriotism. It consists of 9 plays written by celebrated Playwright Mrinal Mathur which will be performed during this week-long festival. Each of the plays are directed and performed by leading theatre troupes and directors from all across the country. All the plays are insightful and not one-sided to provide a meeting ground for different ideas and ideologies.

The festival is being organized at Little Theatre Group Auditorium, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi from 4th – 11th June 2023.

Natya Kumbh represents a contemporary experience so that audience sees relevance.

Convenient to stage and travel with so that more and more people across the country see plays more often. It is insightful and not one-sided, so it provides a meeting ground for different ideas and ideologies. The vision is to travel all over the country and make this mission. Over time, the plan is to involve more theatre people in the movement as long as they bring to the table plays that have an independent playwright's originality, insight and ambivalence at their core. Some of the subjects that plays of Natya Kumbh touch upon are Kashmir, The Farm laws and farmer’s movement. India’s History and suit political narratives. The hypocrisy of the middle class. The #MeToo movement. Gender, power and Feminism. The INA trials and contemporary protest movements. India’s soul numbing bureaucracy. In these plays, there are several issues; issues that would normally trigger hyperbole, but are dealt with compassion. Sometimes with biting satire, often with humorous wordplay. Sometimes by taking recourse to myth, sometimes to history. By wearing a sardonic lens at times and at times, with geniality; but always with drama and emotional power. These plays will be performed and read by some of the leading theatre groups of India.

(This article is website exclusive and cannot be reproduced without the permission of IANSlife)

JKAACL organises ‘Meet the Author’ event with poet Pritpal Betab

writer and the audience.

"These interactions shall aid the exploration of various life aspects and works which act as creative inspiration for the writers,"

JKAACL said.

skill," Singh said in his address. He said that JKAACL has started this initiative to promote direct interaction with the authors whom we have read in books.

Jammu, June 7 (IANS) The Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages (JKAACL) organised a 'Meet-the-Author' programme at its premises in Jammu on Wednesday.

JKAACL said that it hosted Urdu ghazal writer and poet Pritpal Singh Betab, who "shared his journey of literature with the audience".

The initiative intends to have a direct interaction between a

It said that under the initiative, the JKAACL shall host and meet authors of seven different languages: Urdu, Hindi, Kashmiri, Dogri, Punjabi, Gojri, and Pahari.

"The event will be held every weekend," JKAACL said.

The 'Meet-the-Author' initiative was launched under JKAACL Secretary Bharat Singh.

"Authors are the face of society. They represent the inner thoughts of the social fabric through their ink, and it is indeed a special

"This would enable the audience to know about their life, literary intellect, and the struggle they faced. It shall be a source of inspiration for all," he said.

Singh said that it is a priceless opportunity to interact with these authors/writers and learn from their literary journeys.

The dignitaries and writers at the event included Padamshree Jitender Udhampuri, Ahmed Shanas, besides renowned poets and authors of other languages.

12th edition of Drukyul Literature Festival scheduled for August 4-6

Bhutan Echoes, the literary festival in Bhutan

venue and several pop-up art exhibitions, music performances, interactive workshops, spokenword open mic nights, poetry readings, and film screenings will be organised.

('Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom'), French artist Benjamin Flouw known for his children's books on nature, Geetanjali Shree, author of the first novel translated from an Indian language to win the International Booker Prize, Binod Chaudhary.

By IANSlife

June 09, 2023 (IANSlife) Bhutan

Echoes, the literary festival in Bhutan has announced the return of Drukyul's Literature Festival (DLF) for its 12th edition with the theme 'Reconnecting and Reviving'.

From August 4 to 6, festival-goers can expect a lineup of over 35 inperson sessions and programmes celebrating the rich tapestry of literature, art, and culture.

The Royal University of Bhutan auditorium will be the festival

This year's festival aims not only to provide an escape into the realm of stories but also to explore the pressing issues we all confront in this new reality. From redefining travel and rebuilding human connections post-pandemic to addressing environmental concerns, the economy, and holistic well-being, DLF 2023 offers something for everyone.

The author line-up includes Vikas Swarup, Pawo Choyning Dorji (writer, and director of Bhutan's first Oscar-nominated film

Previous festival directors and producer Namita Gokhale, writer, publisher, and director of Jaipur Literature Festival, Mita Kapur, writer and CEO of Siyahi, and Pramod Kumar KG, Managing Director of Eka Archiving Services, will also attend the festival.

(This article is website exclusive and cannot be reproduced without the permission of IANSlife)

A Kargil War memoir of a wounded war hero’s wife

India owes its victory in the Kargil War of 1999 to the brave soldiers of its Army as well as the fighter pilots of the Air Force and the barely-acknowledged Navy.

And as the soldiers fought on the frontiers -- uncertain about their unimaginable fates -- they left behind their families, particularly their wives, who fought just as hard in their private war of nerves.

Shikha Akhilesh Saxena, wife of Capt Akhilesh Saxena, a Kargil war veteran, launched her book 'Nation First' (Hachette) on Sunday, June 4, at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi. This book is an account of the tumult and agony, as well as of grit and resilience, of an Army wife fighting her worst fears while her husband serves the nation in uniform, not knowing if she will ever get to see him again, or what

the next phone call might convey.

Capt Akhilesh Saxena and Shikha were a newly wedded couple when he left for the war. They had been married for only two months and the Captain had not told his family that he would be headed for Kargil.

The artillery officer distinguished himself in the battles of Tololing, the Hump and Three Pimples, but the injuries he sustained in the line of duty had him hospitalised for a year, where he repeatedly underwent surgeries until he was well enough to go back home, but never again to the Army.

Coming from a civilian background, the author drew strength from fellow army wives, and said that although "without the stars on her shoulders, the Army wife stands equally in responsibility with her husband."

Gracing the occasion were General (Retd) Ved Prakash

Malik, Chief of Army Staff during the Kargil War who has written the book's foreword, his wife Dr Ranjana Malik who was the then president of the Army Wife Welfare Association, and Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Birender Singh Dhanoa, who led his fighter squadron to carry out daring night-time raids on the enemy which eventually tilted the war in India's favour.

Gen Malik called the book "unique", explaining that "this is a story of a young Captain who narrates exactly what happened. Most books are written on those who never returned. But this is an authentic, first-hand account."

Dr Ranjana Malik's comments on the role of Army wives were insightful and presented a glimpse of their resilience that kept the entire community of soldiers, both on the war front and away in their homes, going.

Breaking the caste barrier, ex-Canadian Premier

Chandigarh, May 22 (IANS)

A hard critic of the Khalistan movement and the survivor of a brutal attack in Vancouver in 1985, this 76-year-old former Canada's British Columbia premier of Punjab origin, who first emigrated to Britain at the age of 18 and then to Canada, has pain for a Dalit, the curse of the caste system. For Ujjal Dosanjh, born to a Jat Sikh family of landowners, racism and casteism, both man's inhumanity to man, still exist unabated in the 21st century. In his debut 256-page novel, 'The Past is Never Dead', published by Speaking Tiger, Dosanjh told IANS on Monday that casteism is still a reality among the diaspora. The fiction is the escape of father and son to Britain in 1940s and 1950s to escape the shadow of caste discrimination which clings to their compatriots and bruises the family lives.

"The novel is a glimpse of racism with focus on caste. The castebased discrimination is not only prevalent among the first generation of Indian diaspora but also persists in the hearts and minds of the second or third generation," he told IANS, adding: "You can leave India behind, but not your caste."

It's about how caste is inseparable from an Indian life in many cases. "It does not matter what faith you are, what region you have come from, the caste follows."

Although progressive-minded, both Hindus and Sikhs, claim they are free of this social evil, it is still practiced covertly or overtly, not only in India but across the globe.

It is a critique of the distorted reality of Sikh immigrants who revere their sacred text but conveniently forget the tenets of Bhagat Ravidas enshrined therein. The novel is the life story of a young untouchable child whose father leaves India in 1942 for

style

Britain, and then returns in 1952 to take his son and wife with him. Currently touring India, Dosanjh says the fiction, the first of the five series, is based on his personal experiences with settings in Bedford in Britain. "A Dalit man was slapped and insulted by the self-proclaimed upper caste people. At that time I had just migrated to England and was left traumatized."

Recalling his childhood days of Dosanjh Kalhan in Jalandhar where he spent a lot of time with a Dalit friend, Dosanjh, who believes in the inspiring quote of B.R. Ambedkar 'Caste is a notion, it is a state of mind', said he was rather shocked to see how caste discrimination was more prevalent in England when he moved there.

"Indians are hypocrites. They talk about equal rights in distant lands like Canada, but they do not want to treat Dalits as equal."

Dosanjh, who was born in Dosanjh Kalhan in Jalandhar in 1946 and narrowly escaped becoming a victim of the bombing of an Air India flight in 1985, the worst terrorist attack in Canadian history, was Premier of British Columbia from 2000 to 2001 and a Liberal Party of Canada MP from 2004 to 2011.

In 2003 he was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, the highest honour conferred by the government to overseas Indians.

His autobiography 'Journey After Midnight' is the story of a life of rich and varied experience and rare conviction. He writes about life in rural Punjab in the 1950s and early 60's, the Indian immigrant experience -- from the late 19th century to the present day, post-Independence politics in Punjab and the Punjabi diaspora, including the period of Sikh militancy, and the inner workings of the democratic process in Canada, one of the world's more egalitarian nations. He also writes with unusual candour about his dual identity as a first-generation immigrant. And he describes how he has felt compelled to campaign against discriminatory policies of his adopted country, even as he has opposed regressive and extremist tendencies within the Punjabi community.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)

VISHAL GULATI

KAVYA DUBEY

Robots may help AI gain human-like cognition: Study

London, June 13 (IANS)

Embodying Artificial Intelligence (AI) in robots so they can interact with the world around them and evolve like the human brain is the most likely way AI systems will develop human-like cognition, according to research.

Researchers from the University of Sheffield, UK, argued that AI systems are unlikely to resemble real brain processing no matter how large their neural networks or the datasets used to train them might become, if they remain disembodied.

Current AI systems, such as ChatGPT, use large neural networks to solve difficult problems, such as generating intelligible written text. These networks teach AI to process data in a way that is inspired by the human brain and also learn from their mistakes in order to improve and become more accurate.

However, the researchers said there are also important differences.

Human brain directly senses and

acts in the world. Disembodied AIs, on the other hand, learn to recognise and generate complex patterns in data but lack a direct connection to the physical world. Therefore such AIs have no understanding or awareness of the world around them. Further, the human brains are made up of multiple subsystems, which are organised in a specific configuration -- known as architecture -- that is similar in all vertebrate animals from fish to humans, but not in AI. The team said that the biological intelligence -- like in the human brain -- has developed because of this specific architecture and how it has used its connections to the real world to overcome challenges, learn and improve throughout evolution.

This interaction between evolution and development is rarely factored into the design of AI, according to the study, published in the journal Science Robotics.

"ChatGPT, and other large neural network models, are exciting developments in AI which show that really hard challenges like learning the structure of human language can be solved. However, these types of AI systems are unlikely to advance to the point where they can fully think like a human brain if they continue

Meta releases AI-powered music generator ‘MusicGen’

to be designed using the same methods," said Tony Prescott, Professor of Cognitive Robotics at the varsity.

"It is much more likely that AI systems will develop humanlike cognition if they are built with architectures that learn and improve in similar ways to how the human brain does, using its connections to the real world. Robotics can provide AI systems with these connections -- for example, via sensors such as cameras and microphones and actuators such as wheels and grippers. AI systems would then be able to sense the world around them and learn like the human brain," he added.

The experts noted that some recent progress in developing AIs for controlling robots has been made. For example, a powerful approach is the use of recurrent neural network models -- models composed of multiple feedback loops -- that are trained to make better predictions about what might happen next. These models are making important progress in making robots more adaptable. However, robot AIs are still a long way from resembling real brains in terms of capturing how different brain subsystems work together as part of a broader cognitive architecture, the study suggested.

Indian space startup’s Azista BST’s satellite orbited by SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket

"In the next two/three years, there will be three/four missions to demonstrate our satellite payloads," Bharath Simha Reddy had told IANS recently.

An engineering graduate from the famed College of Engineering, Guindy in Chennai Indurti got into the space sector after founding and exiting an ice cream parlour chain in Hyderabad.

"My ambition during the college days was to build a national brand," Indurti said.

San Francisco, June 13 (IANS)

Meta (formerly Facebook) has released its AI-powered music generator called 'MusicGen', which will turn text description and melody into audio.

The company also released the code and models for open research, reproducibility, and the music community.

"We present MusicGen: A simple and controllable music generation model. MusicGen can be prompted by both text and melody. We release code (MIT) and models (CC-BY NC) for open research, reproducibility, and for the music community," tweeted Felix Kreuk, Research Engineer at Meta AI research.

"MusicGen is built on top of the

EnCodec audio tokenizer. Unlike prior work, MusicGen is a singlestage transformerLM which uses an efficient token interleaving patterns, hence eliminates the need for cascading several models (e.g., hierarchically or upsampling)," he added.

Moreover, the company said that MusicGen was trained on 20,000 hours of music, including 10,000 "high-quality" licenced music tracks and 3,90,000 instrumentonly tracks from the ShutterStock and Pond5 stock media libraries. However, Meta isn't the first to offer an AI-powered music generator tool.

In May, Google released 'MusicLM' -- a new experimental AI tool that can generate high-fidelity music in any genre given a text description.

The tool was first announced in January this year and is now available to the public.

The text-to-music AI tool is available in the AI Test Kitchen app on the web, Android or iOS.

Webb telescope finds over 700 galaxies of early universe

before.

Chennai, June 13 (IANS) Indian space sector startup Azista BST Aerospace Pvt Ltd's first remote sensing satellite ABA First Runner (AFR) was successfully orbited by SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket.

According to SpaceX, the rocket on a dedicated rideshare mission carried 72 spacecraft that includes CubeSats, MicroSats and others and one of them was the Ahmedabad-based Azista BST Aerospace's 80 kg satellite AFR.

Azista BST Aerospace is an IndoGerman satellite manufacturing joint venture floated by India's Azista Industries Pvt. Ltd (holding 70 per cent stake) and Berlin Space Technologies GmbH (holding 30 per cent stake).

"Currently the company is funded by Azista Industries. We are not for venture capital funding. We have a long term outlook in business," Sunil Indurti, Director had told IANS.

The AFR will provide a panchromatic image with five metre resolution with a Swath of 70km.

According to Bharath Simha Reddy P., Business Development Manager, the company has potential customers -- in strategic and agriculture sectors -- for the data to be acquired from the first satellite and as well as analytics. Most of the customers are located in SouthEast Asia and other parts, including India.

Soon after exiting the ice cream venture, Indurti met Srinivas Reddy Male, Managing Director and a Director with pharma company Hetero and both decided to get into satellite manufacturing.

"We initially started as a vendor for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and set up a factory in Ahmedabad in Gujarat. We have also set up weather stations for DRDO and others," Indurti said.

According to Bharath Simha Reddy, the company's target is to make about 100 satellites per year that would weigh between 50-200 kg.

Washington, June 9 (IANS)

The James Webb Telescope has discovered that the early universe had more than 700 galaxies, a finding not known before. Scientists led an investigation into galaxies that existed millions of years after the big bang. This was a crucial time known as the Epoch of Reionization. For hundreds of millions of years after the big bang, the universe was filled with a gaseous fog that made it opaque to energetic light. By one billion years after the big bang, the fog had cleared and the universe became transparent, a process known as reionization.

Kevin Hainline of the University of Arizona in Tucson and his team used Webb's NIRCam (NearInfrared Camera) instrument and identified more than 700 candidate galaxies that existed when the universe was between 370 million and 650 million years old.

The sheer number of these galaxies was far beyond predictions from observations made before Webb's launch. The observatory's exquisite resolution and sensitivity are allowing astronomers to get a better view of these distant galaxies than ever

"Previously, the earliest galaxies we could see just looked like little smudges. And yet those smudges represent millions or even billions of stars at the beginning of the universe," said Hainline. "Now, we can see that some of them are actually extended objects with visible structure. We can see groupings of stars being born only a few hundred million years after the beginning of time."

The study is part of an international collaboration called the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES), which gathered observations from two tiny patches in the sky: One in the Ursa Minor constellation and another in the direction of the Fornax cluster.

These new findings shed light on how the first galaxies and stars formed, creating the rich catalogue of elements observed in the universe today.

However, the researchers stated that 93 per cent of the newfound galaxies had never been seen before.

"We're finding star formation in the early universe is much more complicated than we thought,"

Marcia Rieke of the University of Arizona in Tucson, co-lead of the JADES programme.

The findings were reported at the 242nd meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Albuquerque in New Mexico

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

Jessica Alba calls Priyanka ‘stunning’ as she shares pictures from Rome

Actress Jessica Alba was in awe of actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas' pictures from Rome and called her "stunning".

Priyanka was attending the opening of the Bulgari Hotel in Rome.

The actress took to Instagram, where she dropped pictures from the event.

In the photos, the actress was seen wearing an all-white thighhigh slit gown with a plunging neckline and white heels. She tied her hair into two pigtails and completed her look with a necklace.

Along with the pictures, Priyanka wrote: "Congratulations to my @bulgari family on the inauguration of @bulgarihotels in Rome BulgariHotelRoma #BulgariHotels."

Taking to the comment section, Jessica Alba wrote: "Stunning."

On the work front, Priyanka was seen in 'Love Again' and spy series 'Citadel'.

The actress will next be seen in 'Jee Le Zara', by Farhan Akhtar.

Why ‘The White Lotus’ is a very hard act to follow for Jennifer Coolidge

for me, but it's kind of nice to be 'pencils down'," he said, adding: "I hope, obviously, the strike gets resolved quickly and that everyone's happy."

White did not exclude the possibility of a prequel featuring a story line with Coolidge's character Tanya McQuoid, who was killed off in Season 2, or using Australia as a future location.

"I would like to get to every continent for this show," he said.

Coolidge confessed to being "in a very weird position" since her on-screen death. She said: "I was getting calls from actress friends who were wondering if a third season happened, could I get them in on it. "But, I would like to see some of the characters return who we haven't seen quite finish their story."

Sherlyn Chopra says her rap songs speaks about double standards of society

For Jennifer Coolidge, the huge success of two seasons of "The White Lotus" represents both a major career revival and a hard act to follow, says 'Variety'.

"I have to move on," Coolidge told fans in Sydney this weekend. "Offers have come in and I would love to do a film next, but 'The White Lotus' holds this very high bar, so it will be hard to choose."

Coolidge and the show's creator, writer and director Mike White were in Australia's biggest city for Vivid Talks, part of the 23-day Vivid Sydney, the largest festival in Australia, notes 'Variety'. Their 90-minute "Conversation" was attended by a sold-out crowd of

9,000 at Sydney's Aware Super Theatre stadium.

White, whose only previous visit to Sydney was as a contestant with his father Mel White on "The Amazing Race: Unfinished Business" in 2011, was stunned, according to 'Variety', by the scale of their audience. "Backstage I was thinking 'What is going on?

How is it possible that all these people are here to see us'," he said.

White flew in from Thailand where he was developing a third season of "The White Lotus", but which is now stalled due to the screenwriters' strike. "Not to turn this industry-wide, tragic situation into a personal plus

Coolidge, 'Variety' reports, was greeted in Sydney by fans dressed as Tanya McQuoid and she opened up to them about her sudden career revival.

"I want everyone to know all my depressing stories. Because I think it will help people," she said.

"I know there's a bunch of positive people in the audience that don't need any. But I do feel like I am a good story. I had a very hard time functioning for many years, because I just didn't think I had a shot in hell."

Actress Sherlyn Chopra says her rap song 'Yeh Karte Hain Judge' speaks volumes about the double standards that society has become used to.

The song is said to be based on the constant and consistent harsh judgment that the actress has been subjected to due to her unconventional career moves and life choices.

Asked whether her rap song will make any shocking revelations, the feisty 34-year-old actress replied, "It's for you to find out!

My upcoming rap song speaks volumes about the double standards that our society has become used to. It's not easy to believe in oneself. It takes years and years of effort, struggle,

hard work, rejections, judgment, betrayals, heartbreaks to discover one's self worth and to hold on to it no matter what!

"The crux of my rap music video is based on the quintessential need to live life with faith and belief in oneself."

Sharing details about the rap song, Sherlyn says, "The rap song which has been shot on the outskirts of Mumbai is a fast paced song with speed and swag and I'm sure it's going to be loved immensely especially by the youth!"

"I have poured my heart and soul in the rap song and its music video! I have been following a strict workout routine to stay in great shape for this rap song."

Ranbir Kapoor unleashes animalistic wrath in new video from ‘Animal’

with the axe in his hand as he single-handedly hacks the other gang members and overpowers them before they're seen running away from him.

The film has been directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, who is known for directing 'Kabir Singh' and 'Arjun Reddy'. It also stars Anil Kapoor, Rashmika Mandana, Bobby Deol, and Tripti Dimri.

The pre-teaser of the upcoming Ranbir Kapoor-starrer film

'Animal' was unveiled on Sunday. It gives a glimpse into the film's captivating world and intense narrative. It starts off with what seem to be two rival gangs - one

whose members wear a golden skull headgear and the other is a group of sardars.

The first gang calls Ranbir for a bloody face-off. Although the actor's face hasn't been fully revealed, he unleashes his wrath

Produced by Bhushan Kumar & Krishan Kumar's T-Series, Murad Khetani's Cine1 Studios, and Pranay Reddy Vanga's Bhadrakali Pictures, 'Animal' will debut in theatres on August 11, 2023 in 5 languages - Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam where it will clash with two other big films, 'Gadar 2' and 'OMG 2'.

Big Bollywood turnout at Madhu Mantena-Ira Trivedi wedding

Acclaimed British rap artist

Stephanie Allen, aka Stefflon

Don, on Sunday paid tributes to famed Punjabi singer late Sidhu Moosewala on his birthday by visiting his family home in a village in Punjab's Mansa. Hundreds of fans and followers of Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu, widely known by his stage name Sidhu Moosewala with a huge fan base running into millions, who was shot dead in Mansa district on May 29, 2022, had started gathering at the late singer's palatial house in Moosa village since morning.

Accompanying the late rapper's father Balkaur Singh Sidhu and mother Charan Kaur Singh, Stefflon Don mingled freely with the crowd of Moosewala's followers.

Moosewala's mother Charan Kaur penned an emotional note on his birthday in which she said her son was born to guide the world to follow the path of truth.

The note reads: "Happy birthday son, on this day, my wishes and prayers came true when I held you for the first time, felt in the warmth of the bosom.

"And I came to know that Akal Purakh gave me a son. Blessings, I hope you know there was a slight redness on the small feet, who did not know that these small steps had travelled the whole world while sitting in the village, and thick eyes with which you would see and recognize the truth. They did not know that you were giving the generation of Punjab a different view of the world."

Film producer Madhu Mantena and author and yoga teacher Ira Trivedi officially tied the knot on Sunday night and the who's who of Bollywood came to bless the newly-wedded couple. Mantena, who was previously married to fashion designer Masaba Gupta, and Trivedi kickstarted their wedding festivities with the mehndi on

Saturday night. Their marriage ceremony was followed by a grand reception for their industry friends and colleagues.

The celebrities who came to bless the couple spanned generations.

They included Aamir Khan, who was the lead star in Mantena's 'Ghajini', Hrithik Roshan (with Saba Azad), Allu Arjun, Kartik Aaryan, Rajkummar Rao and

Patralekha, Vivek Oberoi, Sara Ali Khan, Huma Qureshi, Sonakshi Sinha and Rakul Preet Singh. The seniors were also there in full force: Anil Kapoor, Jackie Shroff, Anupam Kher, Rakesh and Pashmina Roshan, Subhash Ghai, Boney Kapoor, Sonali Bendre, Chunky Pandey and Goldie Behl. Madhur Bhandarkar and his wife were present too, as were Ashutosh and Sunita Gowarikar. Also seen in this star gathering: Pulkit Samrat and Kirti Kharbanda, Genelia Deshmukh, Gaurie Pandit and Nikhil Dwivedi. Madhu Mantena, after a relationship with Nandana Sen, was earlier married to Masaba Gupta. They got married in 2015, but in late 2018 the couple announced that they were on a trial separation. They got divorced in September 2019.

Masaba later married Satyadeep Mishra, who played her exhusband in the 'Masaba Masaba' show, in January this year.

Mantena, incidentally, is Ram Gopal Varma's cousin and,

In a set of videos surfacing online, Stefflon Don was seen moving through streets of the Moosa village along with Punjabi producer Sandy Joia. Besides "Invisible", Stefflon Don has worked with Moosewala on "47".

On May 29 this year, the world mourned Moosewala's first death anniversary.

Ahead of that day, Tion Wayne and MIST remembered him on hard-hitting UK rap records "Healing" and "Double Duppy", respectively.

The upcoming action-thriller film 'Kandahar' which stars Gerard Butler and Ali Fazal is set to release on OTT platform Prime Video on June 16.

The film is directed by Ric Roman Waugh and features Navid Negahban, Bahador Foladi, Nina Toussaint-White, Vassilis Koukalani, Mark Arnold, Corey Johnson, and Abdullah Alnaji in main roles.

The film follows the story of an undercover CIA operative, Tom Harris (Gerard Butler), taking viewers on an adrenaline-fueled

journey deep into a hostile territory in Afghanistan. When an intelligence leak exposes his identity and mission, he must navigate through the perilous obstacles alongside his Afghan translator Mo (Navid Negahban), to an extraction point in Kandahar, all whilst avoiding the elite special forces unit tasked with hunting them down.

Ali Fazal plays the role of Kahil in the movie who goes up against Tom Harris in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. The movie draws inspiration from true events from the life of a former military intelligence officer.

"Release of 'Kandahar' on Prime Video in India is a homecoming of sorts for me," shared Actor Ali Fazal.

British rap artist Stefflon Don visits Sidhu Moosewala’s village, pays tributes

Gerard Butler, Ali Fazal starrer ‘Kandahar’ to drop on Prime Video on June 16