South Asia Times - August / September 2019

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EDITORIAL

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

IFFM 2019: A decade worth it

By Neeraj Nanda

F

rom 8 to 17 August it was a journey of cinematic experience never to be forgotten. The Indian Film Festival of Melbourne 2019, completing its tenth year, a window to the world’s biggest film industry engulfed the most liveable city in the world.

Yes, it indeed, brought into focus India’s soft power in full strength.

From the awards night followed by the opening night to the closing night it was sheer excellence in action. Indian cinema’s one of the biggest super star Shah Rukh Khan was around on the stage to receive the ‘Excellence in Cinema’ award and shake legs with La Trobe University students despite biting cold and rain.

No doubt, he was honoured with an Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) and the announcement of the Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship, providing a life-changing opportunity for an aspiring female researcher from India to make a meaningful impact in the world, was an expression of high importance Australia gives to India and its film industry.

I enjoyed the Rajeev Masand’s chat events with Karan Johar (KuchKuchHota Hai-20 years Later), The Future of Cinema, Stories of Women We Love and The Super Team of Super Deluxe.

The flag hoisting

by Karan Johar at the Federation Square and the

later Telstra Bollywood Dance Competition were the gems of the festival.

The mixed weather with occasional drizzle and sunshine laced with the music and dances gave the perfect atmosphere of open air entertainment.

The line-up of the film industry was incredible with SRK (Chief Guest) ,Tabu, Arjun Kapoor, Amaal Mallik, Gayathrie Shankar, Malaika Arora, Onir, ThaiagarajanKumararaja, ZoyaAkthar, Sanjay Routray, Rima Das, Vijay Sethupathi, SriramRaghavan and many more.

There were so many good movies to see but the one that moved me included Super Deluxe, Raman Raghav, Gully Boy

and Blinded By The Light.

The Premier of Victoria Hon. Daniel Andrews, rightly said, “It’s just another way we’re backing our state’s proud multiculturalism, and the proud contributions of our Indian communities.”

The IFFM 2019 CEO,Mitu Bhowmick Lange, and her team needs to be commended for the successful festival which brought glittering shine to the Indian film industry and Victoria’s multicultural ethos. The state government and the various sponsors laced with the team’s hard work and sleepless nights brought the IFFM 2019 to its present quality heights.

One wonders what is in store for the IFFM 2020?

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DISCLAIMER South Asia Times (SAT) is a monthly newspaper published in English (2 pages in Hindi) from Melbourne, Australia. Contributors supply material to SAT at their own risk and any errors will be corrected as quickly as possible. SAT does not accept responsibility for the authenticity of any advertisement, text content or a picture in the publication. No material, including text or advertisements designed by the SAT or pictures may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the editor/publisher. Opinions/stories/ reports or any text content are those of the writers/contributors and not necessarily endorsed by the SAT.

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The IFFM 2019 CEO,Mitu Bhowmick Lange, and her team needs to be commended for the successful festival which brought glittering shine to the Indian film industry and Victoria’s multicultural ethos.

IFFM 2019

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

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Melbourne’s tryst with the King of Hindi Cinema

By Sanghmitra Kumar

M

ELBOURNE: As it enters its tenth year, the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne truly celebrated “king” size.

The press conference room at one of Melbourne’s luxury hotels was buzzing with excitement. Almost every media person could be heard narrating anecdotes of either their first meeting with King Khan, as he is fondly called, or the first time they fell in love with him when they saw him on screen.

Cameramen making sure their apparatus functioning perfectly – this was an opportunity not to be missed. Ladies constantly fixing their hair and makeup and men looking their dapper best. Such is his aura. Such is the magic called Shah Rukh Khan as he spellbound Melbourne with his charm, wits and élan.

Running behind schedule, Shah delighted a slightly disappointed media by personally getting every guest to speak a few a words.

Concurring to IFFM’s theme of Courage this year, a recipient of four honorary doctorates, Shah Rukh Khan was awarded a fifth, the Doctorate of Letters (honoris causa) by the La Trobe University in Melbourne on Friday, 9 th August, 2019. Apart from his legendary contributions to the Indian Entertainment

SRK addressing Industry, the actor, producer and philanthropist was honoured in recognition of his dedicated hard work to empower under privileged children and acid attack victims through his MEER foundation.

Humbly accepting the degree, Shah Rukh explains where he found the inspiration to support acid attack victims, “I feel a little like a cheat though because our work at Meer Foundation isn’t

intended to be rewarded except by the meaning that it brings to all our lives… I work with women for whom beauty is professional demand. I see how the demand impacts their lives even when they are physically the most beautiful women in the country, or perhaps even in the world.

I experienced firsthand the superficiality of social values that place a woman’s appearance before her inner worth. I wanted to subvert

SRK snake that idea – to create a space where a woman can be freed of these archaic notions and the true source of her beauty could be celebrated.”

Named after Shah Rukh’s father, Meer Taj Mohammad Khan, the foundation provides medical, legal, rehabilitation and livelihood assistance to acid attack

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victims. Apart from this, the foundation also provides medical assistance for underprivileged women and children, organise health camps and other events for the disadvantaged. “I have received much more than I deserve,” he was heard saying.

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IFFM 2019

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

Melbourne’s tryst with...

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La Trobe University, in honour, has also announced a special “Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University (PhD) Research Scholarship” for female Indian student to investigate and research in the fields of health, sports, cyber security, information technology or engineering. The recipient of the scholarship will receive $200,000 worth scholarship as well as overseas student health cover.

Even though the Australian media’s coverage of a global icon, the richest actor in the world and their own university’s honourable deeds remains disappointing

and questionable, fans from all communities roaring “we love you SRK” continue to echo in our hearts, minds and the streets of Melbourne.

Shah Rukh Khan Scholarship at La Trobe

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ELBOURNE, August 9 :La Trobe University announced the Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship, providing a life-changing opportunity for an aspiring female researcher from India to make a meaningful impact in the world.

Aligned to Shah Rukh Khan’s leadership on humanitarian and social justice causes, this prestigious four-year PhD scholarship aims to inspire a female researcher from India to undertake research to help find solutions to the growing challenges of our time. The scholarship is being introduced in recognition of Mr Khan’s dedication to women’s empowerment, through his Meer Foundation.

Registrations opened today for research candidates to submit their interest for the scholarship by 30 August 2019. The successful candidate will be a female Indian national who has completed a Masters by Research degree (or equivalent) within the past 10 years.

The candidate will be supported with a four-year research scholarship valued in excess of $200,000 (AUD) to be completed at La Trobe’s state-of-the-art facilities in Melbourne, Australia.

They will undertake research supervised by the University’s leading experts in either health, sport, information technology, cyber security or engineering.

The announcement was made during Shah Rukh

Khan’s visit to La Trobe University as chief guest of the 2019 Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. La Trobe is the first Australian University to award Shah Rukh Khan with an Honorary Degree, Doctor of Letters (honoris causa), in recognition of his wideranging humanitarian work, including establishing

the Meer Foundation to support and empower women who have survived acid attacks in India.

La Trobe Vice-Chancellor, Professor John Dewar, said Mr Khan’s philanthropic leadership drove the decision to create a PhD scholarship in his name.

“The Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD

Scholarship recognises Mr Khan’s extraordinary altruism, demonstrated in his work to advocate for women’s empowerment,” Professor Dewar said.

“Reflecting La Trobe’s values of inclusivity, equity and social justice, this scholarship will offer a unique and potentially lifechanging opportunity for an

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Indian woman to conduct research in a critical area affecting the world such a cyber security, health or engineering.”

Shah Rukh Khan welcomed the announcement of a scholarship in his name.

“As a passionate advocate for women’s equality and empowerment, I am delighted that this scholarship will give an Indian woman a chance to pursue research in a field which is likely to lead her towards an exciting and successful career. I thank La Trobe University wholeheartedly for giving someone this wonderful opportunity,” Mr Khan said.

The Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship recipient will receive benefits including: 4A four-year La Trobe University Full-Fee Research Scholarship 4A La Trobe Graduate Research Scholarship for three and a half years, with a value of $27,596 (AUD) per annum (2019 rate) to support living costs 4Visa length Overseas Student Health Cover for a single candidate 4Access to La Trobe’s world-class research facilities, suite of professional development programs and supervision by award-winning researchers 4Interested candidates must submit their eligibility for the Shah Rukh Khan La Trobe University PhD Scholarship by 30 August 2019.

Source: La Trobe University

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

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IFFM 2019

IFFM 2019 AWARDS

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

Baba Home Entertainment: Melbourne’s Bollywood icon takes a bow

By Kishore Navani

M

ELBOURNE: It was 19 years ago, when the young Baba, gave up his day job and decided to pursue his passion of Bollywood music and films.

He was already

establishing himself, as a Bollywood DJ, when he decided to set up a boutique Bollywood music and film store near the far end of foster street in the quaint little quarter called ‘Little India’in Foster Street, Dandenong.

With his passion, for

all things Bollywood, he slowly built up his music store and stacked all the classics, latest movies and music from Bollywood. The uniqueness of his store and stocking a wide variety of titles, established his reputation, as numerouno in the Bollywood music and film scene. This led to people, from all corners of Australia making a point, to visit his store, when they were in Melbourne.

His reputation spread across the oceans and Bollywood luminaries like BappiLahri, RahatFateh Ali Khan, Pankaj Udhas and others, making it a point to visit his store, when they visited Australia!

But, as is often the case, with the advent of technology and streaming services sales of DVDs and CDs began to suffer and to compound this problem, in 2013, the Dandenong Council decide to redo the traffic on Foster Street and this precinct.

This disruption to traffic lasted several years and customers started to dwindle with the result, it is no longer viable to maintain this one and the only dedicated Bollywood film and music store. So soon Melbourne will be bereft of this iconic store, depriving all Bollywood affection adios.

Alas, as Bob Dylan said, the times they are changin...

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

Vietnamese & Australian Prime Ministers talk education, trade and economy

By SAT News Desk

P

rime Ministers Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Honourable Scott Morrison met with leading Australian businesses operating in Vietnam this week, with discussions focused on strengthening relationships, regional trade and investment.

As Australia's largest services investment in Vietnam, RMIT has supported the country's economic priorities and the development of the region for more than 19 years.

Speaking at an event with the Australian Prime Minister and businesses on Thursday night, RMIT ViceChancellor and President Martin Bean CBE said he was proud that RMIT's continued positive presence and impact was being recognised by such an important audience.

"As the leading foreign university, RMIT has supported Vietnam's economic priorities and the positive development of the region for nearly two decades," he said.

"At RMIT we know the skills and fundamentals that will equip today's students to thrive in the future world of work - and preparing them for an unknown tomorrow must be seen as a regional priority.

"It is certainly RMIT's highest priority and deepest expertise - and we're proud to bring this to bear in Vietnam. We're also privileged to play a part in the country's digital journey."

Morrison said Australia and the world faced uncertain times and global economic headwinds.

"Our engagement with our family, neighbours and international partners is more important than ever.

"The visit reflects my Government's commitment to deepening Australia's relations with Southeast Asia."

The University has established itself as an emerging authority on blockchain in Vietnam and its Centre of Digital Excellence has continued

About RMIT Vietnam * As Australia's largest services investment in Vietnam, RMIT provides students with full access to an Australian higher education degree. * With a commitment to strengthen and build its presence and impact in Asia, RMIT continues to contribute socially and economically to Vietnam and the region and brings particular strengths in the areas of sustainable urban development, supply chain and logistics, advanced manufacturing, creative industries and agriculture. * RMIT Vietnam has grown over time to include more than 40,000m2 of facilities. The Hanoi campus opened in 2004, the Saigon South (Ho Chi Minh City) campus opened in 2005 and a Foreign Language Training Centre in Danang opened in 2018. * RMIT Vietnam has more than 6,000 current students, 13,500 alumni and 600 staff.

RMIT Vice-Chancellor Martin Bean CBE and Australian Prime Minister The Honourable Scott Morrison to work at various levels of government and across businesses to fill digital innovation gaps.

RMIT has also continued to work with the Vietnamese Government on law enforcement and border security issues.

Thanks to these productive collaborations, the Vice-Chancellor was invited to speak with Vietnam Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam while he was in-country.

This week RMIT also announced a new partnership with VietJet - Vietnam's largest airline - as well as an education partnership with the Vietnam Grand Prix from 2020.

2020 is shaping up as a significant year, with Vietnam hosting its first Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in a decade and RMIT Vietnam also celebrating its 20th anniversary.

Australia and Vietnam are free trade partners through the ASEAN Australia New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and the TransPacific Partnership, and they are having ongoing negotiations on a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.

Morrison said the twoway trade was growing strongly, having grown by nearly 11 per cent per annum over the last five

years to reach $14.5 billion in 2018.

The Vice-Chancellor said RMIT looked forward to continuing its work with the Vietnamese Government and in collaboration with the Australian Government on domestic and regional policy challenges.

"It's an honour to be woven into the fabric of today's Vietnam. The country's energy, diversity, challenge and change is so very RMIT," he said.

"We're committed to playing a meaningful role in its bright future, to producing graduates of the highest calibre and creating lasting partnerships that make a difference."

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About RMIT * RMIT is a global University of technology, design and enterprise and where teaching, research and engagement are central to achieving positive impact and creating life-changing student experiences. * Founded in 1887, RMIT is a multi-sector university with more than 91,000 students and 11,000 staff globally. The University enjoys an international reputation for excellence in professional and vocational education, applied and innovative research, and engagement with industry and the community. * With three campuses and two sites in Australia, two campuses in Vietnam and a research and industry collaboration centre in Barcelona, Spain, RMIT is a truly global university.

RMIT also offers programs through partners in Singapore, China and Indonesia, and has research and industry partnerships on every continent.

Source: medianet/ RMIT Vietnam.

community

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

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ATO watching for foreign income this Tax Time

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ELBOURNE, 15 August: The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is urging taxpayers who receive any foreign income from investments, family members or working overseas to make sure they report it this tax time. New international data sharing agreements allow the ATO to track money across borders and identify individuals not meeting their obligations.

“This year, the ATO has received records relating to more than 1.6 million off-shore accounts holding over $100 billion and is now using data-matching and sophisticated analytics to identify foreign income that has not been reported,” Assistant Commissioner Karen Foat said.

Under the new Common Reporting Standard (CRS), The ATO has shared data on financial account information of foreign tax residents with over 65 foreign tax jurisdictions across the globe. This includes information on

account holders, balances, interest and dividend payments, proceeds from the sale of assets, and other income.

“Australians that deliberately move cash overseas in an attempt to hide it should be concerned. Hiding your assets and income offshore is pointless. ‘Tax havens’ are becoming a less effective model as international agreements improve transparency. You can no longer hide money behind borders.”

In addition to a small number of individuals deliberately engaging in tax avoidance, the ATO is concerned about a large

number that are unsure of how to meet their obligations.

“If you're an Australian resident for tax purposes, you are taxed on your worldwide income, so you must declare all of your foreign income no matter how small the amount may be. This may include income from offshore investments, employment, pensions, business and consulting, or capital gains on overseas assets,” Ms Foat said.

The data available to the ATO shows that many Australians have financial dealings in countries like China, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Singapore and the United States, to name just a few. “Whether it is rental income from your old family home, an untouched bank account earning interest, or salary from working offshore, it must be reported. Even if you have paid tax on the overseas income it must be reported to the ATO, however you may be able to claim a foreign income

tax offset to account for any foreign tax paid.”

The CRS data, plus existing datasets already obtained via exchange of information agreements with foreign tax authorities and from the Australian Transaction Reporting and Analysis Centre, are helping the ATO to engage with taxpayers who are struggling to report their foreign income correctly.

The ATO is committed to providing advice and guidance to help taxpayers fully comply with their Australian tax obligations. This includes contacting taxpayers who have omitted foreign income, publishing new information to make foreign income and residency easier to understand, and advising Australians with more complex foreign dealings to consult a registered tax agent and make sure they are compliant with Australia’s tax laws.

Taxpayers that are concerned they have not included income from

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assets held offshore in their tax return are encouraged to make a voluntary disclosure as soon as possible.

The CRS is part of a range of measures that address multinational tax avoidance which includes the Tax Avoidance Taskforce. The information collected by the CRS will be invaluable in informing the taskforce’s work in identifying, investigating and disrupting the most aggressive tax avoidance arrangements.

For more information: To understand your tax situation, you first need to work out if you are an Australian or foreign resident for tax purposes: Work out your tax residency If you are an Australian resident for tax purposes, you are taxed on your worldwide income, so you must declare any foreign income in your income tax return.

Source: medianet

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

Traders fear business losses as Vic govt. announces to incorporate Little India in the New Central Dandenong development starting 2023

By Neeraj Nanda

M

ELBOURNE, 6 July: The land, next to the Dandenong Railway Station, including the Little India (Indian prescient) on Foster Street is likely to be part of a Victoria Government plan announced on 4 July, to redevelop as the ‘New Central Dandenong’ with construction starting 2023.

“Redevelopment of the 1.9-hectare site, bordered

by Halpin Way, Cheltenham Road and Dandenong Railway Station,is expected to attract up to $100 million private sector investment in central Dandenong,” says a media release from the office of The Hon. Gavin Jennibgs MLC, Minister for Priority

Precincts.

Minister Gavin Jennings says, “From the centre of Dandenong, the benefits of renewal will resonate throughout this vibrant and fast-developingcommunity and we’re proud to be leading such an important initiative.”

Talking to SAT, Foster Street Traders Association (Little India Prescient) President Mr. Shahid Syed says, ‘this decision will hurt business and to discuss the issue the traders are holding a meeting on 9 July to give their response.”

It media release further says, “Subject to a developer being appointed in 2020, construction would start in 2023. The Revitalising Central Dandenong project

represents a $290 million investment by the Victorian Governmentwhich has enabled close to $700 million in private investment, creating and supporting jobs across the widerDandenong region.”

Member for Dandenong Gabrielle Williams says, “The Revitalising Central Dandenong project is transforming Dandenong, enabling the city to continue to grow and meet the needs of the community.”

“We will work with local businesses and the community every step of the way as we deliver the next phase of this exciting project.”

The Little India prescient issue in Dandenong has been a hot potato with Little

India traders opposing redevelopment plans many years back when the state was ruled by the Coalition led by Premier Ted Baillieu and the now Premier Hon. Daniel Andrews being the opposition leader.

An agitation by Little India traders supported by the Indian/South Asian communities to save Little India culminated into a rally in front of the Victorian Parliament. Subsequently, Hon. Daniel Andrews became the Premier and pledged to help Little India and its traders with many announcements.

It now remains to be seen what stand the Little India traders take and how the Andrews Labour government responds to it.

From the centre of Dandenong, the benefits of renewal will resonate throughout this vibrant and fast-developingcommunity and we’re proud to be leading such an important initiative.

Domino’s Australia faces class action lawsuit for underpayment of franchisee workers

By Neeraj Nanda

T

he Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd. (DPE), more commonly known as Domino’s Australia, is in hot water, as it faces a class action lawsuit over allegations of underpayment of wages to thousands of workers employed by its franchisees. The class action lawsuit was filed by the law firm Phi Finney McDonald on behalf of workers hired between June 24, 2013 and January 28, 2018. The lawsuit, filed on June 25, alleged that the DPE misled its franchisees by telling them that they did not have to pay delivery and in-store workers according to the minimum wage standards in Australia.

Phi Finney McDonald in their lawsuit claimed that the workers were made to toil under “zombie agreements”, which is a name used by Australian trade unions to refer to the contracts that are continued from before the Fair Work Act of 2009 was passed.

This allowed employers to underpay workers under various pretences, including

treating them as “trainees” for years together and at times, even cancelling several other benefits they are entitled to.

The lawsuit cited a recent investigation conducted

by the Retail and Fast Food Workers’ Union (RAFFWU) into the matter. According to the Australian Fair Work Commission, a worker employed within the fast food industry is supposed

to receive nearly AUD 814 (USD 570), which almost all franchisees in Australia have often fallen short of paying.

Over and above the minimum wages stipulated in the industry, a fast food

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worker is also entitled to Fast Food Industry Award 2010. This makes workers eligible for various benefits for such things as working late hours and weekends.

According to the lawsuit, all of these were systematically avoided by Domino’s.

The lawsuit does not name any of the franchisees.

With the lawsuit, Phi Finney McDonald becomes the third of its kind to file a class action lawsuit against a multinational fast food corporation.

DPE is the largest foreign franchisee of the US-based pizza chain Domino’s Pizza, operating over 2,000 stores in seven countries, including nearly 700 in Australia alone.

It is the largest fast-food franchising brand operating within Australia.

According to the RAFFWU Secretary Josh Cullinan, over 10,000 employees have been underpaid to the tune of “tens of thousands of dollars”. In a statement that was circulated by RAFFWU from the report, Cullinan said that “the scale of the Domino’s misconduct is unprecedented.”

Source: People’s Dispatch, July 2 2019.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

community

$ 20 million worth 55 kg cocaine haul from Indian container in Sydney, three men charged

By SAT News Desk

M

ELBOURNE, 26 July: Three Sydney men have been charged today and 55kg of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $20 million has been seized following a joint Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) operation in Sydney.

On 12 June 2019, a container was targeted by ABF officers at the Sydney Container Examination facility after arriving from India. It was X-rayed, and anomalies were noted in the X-ray image.

Inside the container, ABF officers located a 2300kg plasma cutting machine, traditionally used to cut through electrically conductive materials.

Deconstruction of the plasma cutting machine revealed an enclosed metal cavity which contained a white powder.

Presumptive testing, returned a positive result for cocaine.

AFP investigators conducted further examination and located 110 blocks of white powder hidden within four panels. A total of 55kg of cocaine was seized with an estimated street value of over $20 million.

On 2 July 2019, the AFP commenced a controlled delivery with support from ABF. On 25 July 2019, search warrants were conducted at addresses in Arcadia and Toongabbie in north western Sydney. A number of encrypted devices, drug paraphernalia, ammunition, power tools (used to access the consignment) and a Radio Frequency Tracer were seized and three men were arrested.

A 52-year-old Arcadia man, 45-year-old Rouse Hill man and 48-year-old Castle Hill man have each been charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border controlled drugs (cocaine), contrary to Section 307.5 by virtue

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of Section 11.1 of the Criminal Code 1995.

The maximum penalty for this offence is imprisonment for life.

AFP Detective Superintendent Ben McQuillan, Coordinator Organised Crime said today’s seizure was a significant win for law enforcement and the community.

“This seizure is equivalent to 5,500 street deals which we have successfully stopped reaching the community. The AFP’s key goal is to protect the safety of the community, and today’s seizure shows that we are achieving this,” Superintendent McQuillan said.

“People who plan to engage in this sort of crime should be warned – the AFP and its partner agencies are successfully combatting drug crime and we will continue to work with our local and international partners to achieve these outcomes.”

ABF Regional Investigations Superintendent Garry Low said the detection, which was made due to intelligence-based targeting activity, was an example of the ABF’s multi-layered approach to border protection.

“This is obviously an unusual concealment, and it’s a very innovative one. To the untrained eye this looked like an ordinary piece of machinery.

But we obviously have the intelligence capability and the technology to find sophisticated concealments like this, no matter how professional they look,” Superintendent Low said.

“Through our close working relationships with our law enforcement partners both here and overseas, we continue to achieve significant operational outcomes, smashing illicit drug smuggling syndicates and tackling the growing demand for harmful substances such as cocaine in Australia.”

Investigations are continuing and further charges have not been ruled out. www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9884 8096, 0421 677 082

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

Australia to combat online terror content, criminal cyber-bullying and online harassment, ISPs agree to work with govt. on effective content blocking arrangements on terrorist content

By SAT News Desk

M

ELBOURNE, 30 June: In the light of the global concern over the spread of terror related content online, Australia wants social media companies “…to take further steps to stop the publication of violent terror content in response to the Morrison Government’s social media taskforce to keep Australians safe online.”

A joint media release by the Australian PM Hon Scott

Morrison MP and the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts says, “The commitments from the Australian Taskforce to Combat Terrorist and Extreme Violent Material Online the Government set up following the Christchurch terrorist attacks will see tighter monitoring and controls on live streaming and a simulation exercise to further test social media companies’ capabilities.”

The action comes following the G20 Summit

and world leaders’ strong message to technology companies to take action to prevent the exploitation of the internet for terrorism and violent extremism.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says his priority was to keep Australians safe.

“Social media companies need to step up and recognise their responsibilities to ensure their platforms are not being weaponised by violent terrorists and extremists,” the Prime Minister said.

“We’re doing everything we can with new laws and

tighter controls at home and with our international partners to stop social media platforms being abused.

“Social media companies are on notice. If they don’t deliver on their commitments, we will move to legislate and do so quickly.

“To keep all Australians safe we must prevent the use of online platforms by extremists, like what was filmed and shared in Christchurch.”

The Taskforce was formed following a Summit

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on March 26 convened by the Prime Minister, with members from Facebook, YouTube, Amazon, Microsoft and Twitter, along with Telstra, Vodafone, TPG and Optus.

The report identifies nine areas of agreement, including prevention; detection and removal; transparency; deterrence; and capacity building.

These areas build on and extend the commitments already made by industry and Government following the attacks, including to; CONTD. ON PG 15

community

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

southSouth asia times 15 Asia Times

Australia to combat online terror content, criminal...

CONTD. FROM PG 14 • Develop and report to Government on technical measures to proactively stop terrorist and extreme violent material from being disseminated on their platforms; • Identify, fast-track and report to Government on appropriate checks on livestreaming to reduce the risk of users spreading terrorist and extreme violent material online; • Implement visible and intuitive user reporting mechanisms and introduce accelerated review for livestreamed content flagged as terrorist or extreme violent material; • Improve transparency of the platforms’ ongoing efforts to combat terrorist and extreme violent material on their platforms through regular public reporting at least twice yearly; • Ensure that account management practices and policies can be enforced against those who exploit platforms to disseminate terrorist and extreme

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says his priority was to keep Australians safe. violent content; • In consultation with other members, work to strengthen the work of the industry-led Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT), including the creation of an online toolbox for smaller online services to access support to effectively prevent, detect and respond to online terrorist and extreme violent and actively make these solutions accessible to smaller online services • Run a ‘testing event’ in 2019-20 managed by the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee that simulates

a scenario to gauge the capability of the industry and government.

This action also advances the principles and actions stipulated in the Christchurch Call to Action, which was developed by the New Zealand Government and has the support of some 18 countries, including Australia, as well as the major digital platforms.

Australian internet service providers (ISPs) have also committed to continue to work with Government on effective content blocking arrangements on terrorist content Minister for Communications Paul Fletcher said the members of the Taskforce worked collaboratively over the last three months to deliver this report to Government.

“We are grateful for the spirit of cooperation and goodwill displayed by industry and commend them for reaching a consensus on actions,” Minister Fletcher said.

“This work is only part of the Government’s broader

Social media companies are on notice.

If they don’t deliver on their commitments, we will move to legislate and do so quickly. online safety agenda.

“This Government has placed Australia at the forefront of international efforts to keep our citizens safe online.

“In 2015, we established the world’s first Children’s eSafety Commissioner and legislated a take-

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down regime for cyberbullying material targeted at Australian children. In 2017, the Government expanded the eSafety Commissioner’s remit to include all Australians, and introduced a civil penalty regime for image-based abuse.

“Since then, the Government has provided additional funding for programs to support online safety for vulnerable Australians, teachers and carers of children under five, and for nongovernment operators providing online safety and training projects, bringing our investment in eSafety to over $100 million over the next four years.

“We have committed to introducing a new fitfor-purpose Online Safety Act, and will strengthen the penalties for online harassment and abuse,” Minister Fletcher said.

“We will also work with states and territories to develop a nationally consistent approach to combatting criminal cyber-bullying and online harassment.”

south asia 16 South Asia Timestimes

community

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

Holistic reforms needed to address dominance of digital platforms: ACCC

By SAT News Desk

M

ELBOURNE, 29 July: Australia needs dynamic reforms to take care of the dominance of digital platforms, says the recently released report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The ACCC’s ‘Digital platforms inquiry – final report’ (June 2019) considered the impact of online search engines, social media and digital content aggregators (digital platforms) on competition in the media and advertising services markets. In accordance with the Terms of Reference, the ACCC has examined the implications of these impacts for media content creators, advertisers, and consumers, focussing, in particular, on the impact on news and journalism.

The report contains 23 recommendations, spanning competition law, consumer protection, media regulation, and privacy law, reflecting the intersection of issues arising from the growth of digital platforms.

A media release from the ACCC says: “During the course of its Inquiry, the ACCC identified many adverse effects associated with digital platforms, many of which flow from the dominance of Google and

Facebook.

These include: The market power of Google and Facebook has distorted the ability of businesses to compete on their merits in advertising, media and a range of other markets The digital advertising markets are opaque with highly uncertain money flows, particularly for automated and programmatic advertising Consumers are not adequately informed about how their data is collected and used and have little control over the huge range of data collected News content creators are reliant on the dominant digital platforms, yet face difficulties in monetizing their content Australian society, like others around the world, has been impacted by disinformation and a rising mistrust of news.

“The dominant digital platforms’ response to the issues we have raised might best be described as ‘trust us’,” Mr Sims said.

“There is nothing wrong with being highly focused on revenue growth and providing increasing value to shareholders; indeed, it can be admired. But we believe the issues we have uncovered during this Inquiry are too important to be left to the companies themselves.”

“Action on consumer law and privacy issues, as well as on consumers’ data,” Mr.

Sims said.”

The ACCC recommendations include: - Requiring designated digital platforms to each provides the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) with codes to address the imbalance in the bargaining relationship between these platforms and news media businesses and recognize the need for value sharing and monetization of content - Addressing the regulatory imbalance that exists between news media businesses and digital platforms, by harmonizing the media regulatory framework - Targeted grants to support local journalism of about AU$50 million a year Introducing measures to encourage philanthropic funding of public interest journalism in Australia - ACMA monitoring the digital platforms’ efforts to identify reliable and trustworthy news - Requiring the digital platforms to draft and implement an industry code for handling complaints about deliberately misleading and harmful news stories - Introducing a mandatory take-down ACMA code to assist copyright enforcement on digital platforms.

The report also recommends about digital platforms’ impact on Australian media

businesses and how Australians access news, empowering consumers, protecting privacy, continued scrutiny of digital platforms and expert regulators and agencies to play complementary roles.

A BBC report says: “A 12week consultation process on the proposals is now under way, after which the Australian government can act on it.

ACCC chairman Rod Sims said the regulator was currently running five separate investigations into Facebook and Google.

He called for “a lot more transparency and oversight” of the two companies and added that breaking them up remained a possibility.

Both firms said they would engage with regulators.”

“The Morrison government labeled the world-first findings “groundbreaking” and said Facebook and Google needed to be held to account for their activities,” reports the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH).

The SMH further says: “The DIGI, the industry body representing Google, Facebook, and other tech companies operating in Australia, called on the government to assess the ACCC’s recommendations against an “innovation test”, warning about impacts on Australia’s “global standing as a place

During the course of its Inquiry, the ACCC identified many adverse effects associated with digital platforms, many of which flow from the dominance of Google and Facebook. to invest in technology”.

DIGI managing director Sunita Bose said the sector was closely examining the recommendations to “ensure they don’t bring unintended consequences to all digital businesses and the choice of digital products available to Australian consumers”.

The full ACCC report can be accessed at – https://www.accc.gov.au/ media-release/holisticdynamic-reforms-neededto-address-dominance-ofdigital-platforms The report has been prepared using the ACCC media release, BBC report and Sydney Morning Herald report as sources.

Andrews Labor Government announces $200,000 for celebrating Guru Nanak’s 550th birthday

By SAT News Desk

M

ELBOURNE, 5 August: The Andrews Labor Government has decided to support this year the 550th birthday celebrations of Guru Nanak, the first Sikh Guru with $200,000 grants for organisations and community

groups through the Sikh Celebrations and Events Fund.

A media release from Mr.RichardWaynne MP, Minister for Multicultural Affairs says the Sikh community has contributed immensely to Victoria’s multiculturalism.

Mr.Richard Wynne says, “Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary is a huge moment

Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary is a huge moment of celebration for Sikhs around the world and here inVictoria – we want our celebrations to be among the best.

of celebration for Sikhs around the world and here inVictoria – we want our celebrations to be among the best.”

“Multiculturalism is one of Victoria’s greatest strengths – we celebrate it, we embrace it, because we are all Victorian.”

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Applications will close 25 August. For more information or to apply, one should visit multicultural.vic.gov.au/grants.

MUSINGS

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

southSouth asia times 17 Asia Times

Article 370 abrogation & after?

By Rashid Sultan

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ELBOURNE: It did not come as a complete surprise when on the 5th of August, the President signed an ordinance abrogating Article 370 (including 35A) related to the autonomous status of Kashmir,active, since the accession of the state to India in October 1947. This article allowed Kashmir to have its own constitution, its own flag and its own Prime Minister and its authority to make laws in areas except defense, currency and communications.

The agreement was signed by Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of JammuKashmir, Shaikh Abdullah, the President of the National Conference of Kashmir, Pundit Jawaharlal Lal Nehru, the Prime Minister of India and Sardar Patel, the Home Minister of India. This article allowed India to protect Jammu-Kashmir against the onslaught of Pakistaninspired tribals.

The majority of Muslims did not want to go to Pakistan and wanted to protect their traditions and culture by relying on the secular India. This brief background is necessary as generations Y, Z and Millennials do not know the importance of this article in the life of both India and Kashmir and who have been misguided by the embedded Indian media.

This Article was to uphold India’s secular ideology where Hyderabad princely state was merged in India, despite the Nizam’s disapproval because the majority population was Hindu while in Kashmir, it was just the opposite- the ruler was Hindu and the majority in the Valley was Muslim.

It is a fact that in the last 70 years, this article has been watered down so much that it became only a shell of what it was in 1947. No more a Prime Minister and no more their own flag. A governor of India’s choice became a reality. Yes,35A remained which did not allow nonKashmiris to own land etc. But, so are Nagaland, Mizoram etc. where outsiders are still not allowed to own property.

Even Uttarakhand enjoys

the same pleasure.

No government since Independence bothered to tinker this article because it did not interfere in the over-all Indian march to democracy except the RSS, the religious nationalists.

Mind you this is the same organization which not only did not participate in the country’s freedom struggle but its chief ideologue Veer Sarvarkar apologized to the British government to be released, earlier than scheduled, from the Kala Pani imprisonment.

The BJP had the abrogation of this article in its election manifesto of 2019, ostensibly, at the behest of the RSS. The timing of the Presidential ordinance is important and seems it was planned just after BJP withdrew from the coalition with the PDP bringing the stateunder governor’s rule. According to this Article, the abrogation cannot be executed without the consent of the Kashmir Assembly which is suspended, being governed by the governor.

It is interesting to note that in this case the Governor, a staunch BJP politician, and answerable to the President, gave the green signal to go ahead as if he was the Assembly. Let us see what the Supreme Court has to say about this.

This very court has given verdict under Justice

Nariman in the past that the Article 370 is permanent and not temporary as interpreted by the government.

Though, the opposition has protested against this “undemocratic” action but their voice is muted and has echoed the humiliation of the last general electionminiscule minority.

Former Congress minister Chidambaram, though, has lambasted the BJP government by accusing that BJP would not have acted the way they have if it had been a Hindu majority state.

The conduct of the central government needs to be looked before and afterthis abrogation: more than 10,000 extra paramilitary personnel were sent before the ordinance; according to one estimate the total number of military and paramilitary forces in the valley now stands at half a million for a population of 8 million which makes it the worst militarised area in the world; two former chief ministers were housearrested; all legislators and political activistswere jailed; the number of total arrests has gone upto 1500, including boys aged 14 and 15 (some have been taken outside the state as Kashmiri jails are now overflowing); total curfew was imposed all over the Valley; the curfew is now

20days old, with a few exceptions when citizens are allowed on the lanes and side streets of Srinagar where stone throwing happens and police responds with tear gas and pallet guns; there are daily casualties but the Indian media does not report these incidents except the scant reports from the BBC which has established a bureau there.

There has been a blanket ban on digital communication- no mobiles, no internet or other social media platforms. The UNO’s Human Rights Commission has called this closure of digital and telephonic communications as nothing but a collective punishment of the whole valley. And the government’s response all the while is that the situation is ‘normal’. The last Friday, three days ago, Jama Masjid of Srinagar could not hold prayers as in the past 3 weeks under orders of the governor.

Meanwhile, jubilation among the BJP supporters is on the rise. Vikram Saini, the BJP MLA of Muzaffarnagar, said, “we should celebrate the event because we can now go there, buy land and marry fair- complexioned Kashmiri women.” The Chief Minister of Haryana and the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar have

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teased the Indians to go to Kashmir to wed “beautiful Kashmiri women”.

The industrialists have offered to establish big industries in the Valley; one has even suggested tobuild a golf course in Ladakh.

One wonders if this aggressionis the same as when fleets of ships laden with refugees from Europe landed in the new-found America and built colonies there, dispossessing the native Americans.

Critics are scratching their heads to find out the logic behind this action. Was this action taken on the whims, as was demonetization and introduction of the GST or coming elections inMaharashtra had a role as well. As was expected, Pakistan has internationalized the issue by going to the Security Council and prompted Donald Trump to offer mediation which India has always resisted by emphasizing that the Kashmir issue is bilateral.

One thing is certain that the issue will escalate the across- the- border hostilities between the two nations and increase violence by both local population and terrorists from the other side of the border. Have we decided to create another Palestine?

These are author’s personal views.

south asia 18 South Asia Timestimes

LETTER FROM SYDNEY

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

DOSA Plaza another jewel in Harris Park “Eat Street’ crown

S

ydney 19 August, 2019 (The I S Times News): Harris Park is known for Indians and Indian food. What was missing has now been fulfilled– The Gujarati flavour. Dosa Plaza, a chain managed by Mr. PremGanapathy his franchisee JeetendraNaik, who had been hither to running a ‘paobhaji’ joint transformed the place and together with Ganapathy rechristened the Honest restaurant as Dosa Plaza.

The restaurant was opened amid fanfare by The Hon. Dr. Geoff Lee, NSW Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education and Member for Parramatta in the presence of Member for Granville The Hon. Julia Finn and Indian media personalities, Harris Park business community led by Little India Business Forum President Mr. GurmeetTuli.

Mr. Tuli first introduced Mr. Ganapathy and JeetenderNaik to the guests and said these two had worked very hard to set up this venture. Mr. Ganapathy had specially flown from India to help set up this joint venture.

Harris Park falls under the

constituency of Geoff Lee and he said he was happy to see Harris Park growing and this place has come up after a long wait and hard work by “Jeetu Bhai” as JeetendraNaik is fondly called in the Harris Park fraternity. He said Harris Park is popular not only for Indians but for other communities as well. Geoff was very impressed by the Bar area. Julia said she is a

vegetarian and was looking forward to the sumptuous food. She was later seen enjoying the dosas.

It is not very well known that “Jeetubhai” is knowledgeable and very proficient with the art of making ‘paan’ and he can lecture for hours on the benefits of paan. This we came to know a bit accidentally when we met

at a shopping centre in Parramatta.

Though the Dosa Plaza boasts of different varieties of dosa but at the inauguration, there was a mix of south Indian and Gujarati varieties served and guests could be seen trying everything from north Indian ‘daalmakhani’ and ‘mater paneer’ with touch of Gujarati flavour and

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the famous ‘dhokla’ along with ‘gobi’ pakoras’. The specialty of the restaurantDosa was exotic with the sambar having a Gujarati flavour in it.. The moment dosas were ready, people could be seen grabbing them. Dosas were so delicious that people didn’t mind going for an extra bite.

Source: The Indian SubContinent Times

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

SOUTH ASIA

southSouth asia times 19 Asia Times

Horrific violence against women is unabated and rising in South Asia

By Farhana Haque Rahman and Raghav Gaiha*

R

OME and NEW DELHI, Aug 6 2019 (IPS) - On a cold night in December 2012, a ghastly crime was committed in New Delhi which stunned the world.

Six men dragged helpless Nirbhaya-a 23-year-old female physiotherapy intern- to the back of the bus and raped her one by one. As she kept fighting off her assailants by biting them, one of the attackers inserted a rusted rod in her private part, ripping her genital organs and insides apart. She died a few days later. One of the accused died in police custody in the Tihar Jail. The juvenile was convicted of rape and murder and given the maximum sentence of three years’ imprisonment in a reform facility, and subsequently released. The Supreme Court awarded the death penalty but legal complications have prevented its execution.

A gruesome case occurred in Rohtak, a town in the northern state of Haryana (India). In 2017, a 23-yearold woman was gang raped by seven men, killed and smashed in the face with stones to conceal her identity. Her mangled body was found with stray dogs picking at the remains.

In January, 2019, a 16-yearold girl had simply decided to go to her boyfriend’s birthday party. A week later, her body was found along a highway, her head and one of her arms chopped off. Her face may have been burned with acid. In her small town in eastern India, it is forbidden for a teenage girl to date, and the police believe the girl’s father arranged for her to be killed — supposedly to protect the family’s honour.

Just as gruesome is the story of the 30-yearold Fatima who reported to UNFPA in Cox’s Bazar in southeast coast of Bangladesh in 2017, “My sister was killed after gang rape in front of me, and they threw hot water on my body. I can’t sleep, my life is a nightmare, I can’t bear the pain of losing my sister.”

CONTD. ON PG 20

How governments and business silence land and environmental defenders: Global Witness

A

new report, “Enemies of the State? How governments and businesses silence land and environmental defenders”, published by Global Witness, a human rights organization based in London, has said that India saw the third highest number of activists killed, 23, in 2018 following Philippines 30 and Columbia 24.

The 52-page report says, the “biggest massacre we documented in 2018” is that of 13 persons killed in Tamil Nadu in May last year when “residents had been protesting against

a copper smelting plant owned by the Sterlite Copper subsidiary of Vedanta Resources, which they said was polluting the air and threatening the local fishing industry.”

Pointing out that in a second massacre gunmen shot dead nine sugarcane farmers and burned their tents on the Philippine island of Negros, the report said, “More than three people were murdered each week in 2018, with countless more criminalised, for defending their land and our environment.”

The report regrets, “Calls to protect

the planet are growing louder – but around the world, those defending their land and our environment are being silenced.” It adds, “Countless more people were threatened, arrested or thrown in jail for daring to oppose the governments or companies seeking to profit from their land.”

Source: Counterview, 17 August, 2019. www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9884 8096, 0421 677 082

south asia 20 South Asia Timestimes

SOUTH ASIA

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

Horrific violence against women is unabated and rising in South Asia

CONTD. FROM PG 19

Worse, minor girls remain highly vulnerable to brutal rapes and murder. In May, the same year, a ten-monthold baby girl was allegedly raped by a family member in Jamnagar district of the western state of Gujarat.

Cases of brutal rapes of minor girls abound in Bangladesh too. The rape and murder of 13-year-old Ayesha Siddiqua Sumaiya, living in Rangpur, is a case in point. A student of Class VII, she was alone in her home – her parents were at a religious function – when a gang swooped on the minor, raping and then strangling her to death.

Rapes reported to the police as sexual violence surged from 39 per day to 93 per day in India in

2013. In Uttar Pradesh alone, five rapes occurred in 36 hours. Even these are underestimations, for two reasons. One is the exclusion of marital rapes, which are not a prosecutable crime. No less important is the fact that barely 1 per cent of victims of sexual violence report the crime to the police.

Report on Violence Against Women (VAW) Survey 2015, Bangladesh, paints in vivid detail high incidence of different forms of violence against women.

During 2014, the most common form of partner violence was controlling behaviour, experienced by more than one third (38.8%) of ever-married women, followed by emotional violence (24.2%), physical violence (20.8%), sexual

violence (13.3%) and economic violence (6.7%).

Rates of lifetime partner violence (any form) were highest in rural areas (74.8% of ever-married women) and lowest in city corporation areas (54.4%). Rates in urban areas outside of city corporation areas were 71.1%, slightly lower than in rural areas.

More than one quarter (27.8%) of women reported lifetime physical violence by someone other than the husband (non-partner) and 6.2% reported experiencing such violence during the last 12 months. Rates were highest among adolescents for both lifetime (30.9%) and last 12 months (11.2%) nonpartner physical violence.

Most sexual violence in India occurs in marriage; 10 percent of married women report sexual violence from husbands. The reporting percentage is low in part because marital rape is not a crime in India. Adolescent wives (13–19 years) are most vulnerable, reporting the highest rates of marital sexual violence of any age group. Adolescent girls also account for 24 percent of rape cases in the country, although they represent only 9 percent of the total female population.

Barely 1 percent of victims of sexual violence report the crime to the police in India.

Similar evidence is found for Bangladesh. Notions of honour are central to the discourse on rape.

The rape of a daughter, sister or wife is a source of dishonour to males within the family structure. This

deters the reporting of rape to the police, reinforced by a belief in the impunity of perpetrators, the fear of retaliation, and humiliation by the police through physical and verbal abuse.

The consequences of domestic violence are grave and intergenerational: physical trauma, repeated physical assaults result in chronic disease (e.g. chronic pain); acute neurological (e.g. fainting) and cardiopulmonary (hypertension) symptoms; life-style risk behaviours (substance misuse); psychiatric disorders (depression); and children and adolescents adversely affected by witnessing domestic violence (posttraumatic stress disorder).

Besides, domestic violence also results in malnutrition among women and children.

One major problem with anti-rape laws is that their enforcement is feeble and painfully slow, and thus largely inconsequential as a deterrent to sexual violence.

Dominance and control over women are set in male attributes and behaviour (“masculinity”), regarded as a shared social ideal.

Violence is not necessarily a part of masculinity, but the two are often closely linked, mediated by class, caste and region.

Interventions that address masculinity seem to be more effective than those that ignore the powerful influence of gender norms and systems of inequality.

Effective women-focused initiatives strengthen resilience against violence

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Rapes reported to the police as sexual violence surged from 39 per day to 93 per day in India in 2013. In Uttar Pradesh alone, five rapes occurred in 36 hours.

Even these are underestimations, for two reasons. by combining economic empowerment with greater awareness of rights and women’s relationship skills. Behavioural changes are, however, slower than changes in male attitudes.

In conclusion, although rise in sexual violence against women and girls is scary and abhorrent, there are grounds for optimism. *Farhana Haque Rahman is Director General of IPS Inter Press Service; she is a communications expert and former senior United Nations official. Raghav Gaiha is (Hon.) Professorial Research Fellow, Global Development Institute, University of Manchester, England, and Visiting Scholar, Population Studies Centre, University of Pennsylvania, USA).

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

southSouth asia times 21 Asia Times

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south asia 22 South Asia Timestimes

science

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

ROBOTIC FISH HELPS PROTECT NATIVE SPECIES FROM INVASIVE PESTS

A

robotic fish capable of combatting invasive pest species in Australian fresh waterways has been developed by researchers at UWA. This article was provided by the University of Western Australia. Dr Giovanni Polverino is a Forrest Foundation fellow.

Researchers at The University of Western Australia have developed a robotic fish that behaves like a bodyguard for native species and safeguards them against the aggressive attitudes of invasive pests.

Lead researcher Dr Giovanni Polverino, from UWA’s Centre for Evolutionary Biology, was awarded one of the inaugural Forrest Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in 2017.

Dr Polverino’s research is focused on evolutionary mechanisms behind the ecological success of invasive fish over native ones to predict different species’ response to humaninduced changes in the environment.

His research team has developed a new generation of bio-inspired robots capable of combatting invasive and pest species in Australian fresh waterways while also protecting the local fauna.

“Originally introduced by humans in many environments to control mosquito larvae, mosquitofish are now one of the biggest threats in freshwater ecosystems worldwide, including Australia,” Dr Polverino said.

“Current solutions to stop, or at least slow down, the invasion of mosquitofish are largely failing and tadpoles of most frog

Researchers at The University of Western Australia have developed a robotic fish that behaves like a bodyguard for native species and safeguards them against the aggressive attitudes of invasive pests.

species are paying the costs of this forced cohabitation.

Is robotic fish the silver bullet against mosquitofish?

“We’ve studied the appearance and swimming patterns of native predators of the invasive mosquitofish from North America and integrated these features into a robotic predator fish that looks and moves like a real mosquitofish predator.

“We have developed a computer vision system to

allow the robot to recognise in real time the invasive mosquitofish from the native tadpoles based on their movement, shape and behaviour so that robot could act differently towards the two species.

“It protects the native tadpoles as a robotic bodyguard by performing real time attacks towards the invasive mosquitofish when they threaten the tadpoles.

“We want to demonstrate that the most advanced technology using an engineered robotic fish can help protect Australia’s biodiversity and combat the spread of invasive species.”

Dr Polverino said the study built on a long-term research collaboration with Professor Maurizio Porfiri and his research group from New York University’s Tandon School of Engineering.

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“This study builds on a series of previous studies in which my collaborators and I have found that bioinspired robotic fish can simultaneously repel the invasive mosquitofish and attract native species, with stressed mosquitofish that lose most of their energy reserves and likely compromise their survival and fertility in the long term.

“This study was performed at the Centre for Evolutionary Biology at UWA under my supervision and with the collaboration of researchers at UWA and a visiting engineering student from NYU supported by the National Science Foundation and the Forrest Research Foundation.”

Source: Minderoo Foundation - This article was provided by the University of Western Australia. Dr Giovanni Polverino is a Forrest Foundation fellow.

science

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

southSouth asia times 23 Asia Times

3D facial photography offers quick way to predict sleep apnoea

T

hree-dimensional facial photography can provide a simple and highly accurate method of predicting the presence of obstructive sleep apnoea, according to a study led by The University of Western Australia.

The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine, builds on previous work identifying that the structure of the face, head and neck played a key role in diagnosing sleep apnoea.

Professor Peter Eastwood, director of the Centre for Sleep Science, and his research team ran overnight sleep studies while Dr Syed Zulqarnain Gilani, from UWA’s School of Computer Science and Software Engineering, analysed the 3D faces.

“What we found was that we could predict the presence of obstructive sleep apnoea with 91 per cent accuracy when craniofacial measurements from 3D photography were combined into a single predictive algorithm,” Dr Gilani said.

Sleep disorders are estimated to cost the Australian health system more than $5 billion annually. More than half the cost is associated with sleep apnoea which is associated

with snoring and repeated periods of ‘choking’ during sleep.

Sleep apnoea causes daytime sleepiness and is strongly linked to sleepiness related accidents, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and depression. Despite sleep apnoea being treatable, the vast majority – up to75 per cent – of individuals remain undiagnosed.

This is largely because current methods of assessing sleep apnoea are expensive and access to them is limited.

The study recruited 400 middle-aged men and women who took part in sleep studies at UWA’s Centre for Sleep Science and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital while their faces were analysed from 3D photographs. Participants were also recruited from Western Australia’s Raine Study.

The study suggested that it might also be possible to predict the severity of a person’s sleep apnoea from these photographs.

“This breakthrough has the potential to reduce the burden on hospitals and sleep clinics that currently run sleep studies for everyone,” Dr Gilani said.

“It can flag people at risk of sleep apnoea who can then be referred for diagnosis

and treatment.”

What is the Raine Study?

The Raine Study is one of the largest prospective cohorts of pregnancy, childhood, adolescence and now early adulthood to be carried out anywhere in the world. The Raine Study’s purpose is to improve human health and well-being, through the study of a cohort of Western Australians from

before birth onwards. 2900 pregnant women entered the study between 1989 and 1991 and 2868 live births were recruited into the cohort. These children born into the study, their parents, their grandparents and now their own children are part of one of the world’s most successful multigenerational pregnancy cohort studies.

The Raine Study is a joint venture between The University of Western

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Australia, Curtin University of Technology, Telethon Kids Institute, Women and Infants Research Foundation, Edith Cowan University, Murdoch University and The University of Notre Dame Australia and receives additional funding support from the Raine Medical Research Foundation and National Health and Medical Research Council.

Source: University News, The University of Western Australia, 15 August 2019.

south asia 24 South Asia Timestimes

focus

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

India has it right: nations either aim for the Moon or get left behind in the space economy

By Nicholas Borroz*

I

ndia’s Chandrayaan-2 spacecraft has settled into lunar orbit, ahead of its scheduled Moon landing on September 7. If it succeeds India will join a very select club, now comprising the former Soviet Union, the United States and China.

As with all previous Moon missions, national prestige is a big part of India’s Moon shot. But there are some colder calculations behind it as well. Space is poised to become a much bigger business, and both companies and countries are investing in the technological capability to ensure they reap the earthly rewards.

Last year private investment in space-related technology skyrocketed to US$3.25 billion, according to the London-based Seraphim Capital – a 29% increase on the previous year.

The list of interested governments is also growing. Along with China and India joining the lunar A-list, in the past decade eight countries have founded space agencies – Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

China’s Chang'e 4 spacecraft landed on the far side of the Moon on 11 January 2019. This image taken with the lander’s camera shows the mission’s lunar rover Yutu-2, or Jade Rabbit 2. China National Space Administration/EPA Of prime interest is carving out a piece of the market for making and launching commercial payloads. As much as we already depend on satellites now, this dependence will only grow.

In 2018 382 objects were launched into space. By 2040 it might easily be double that, with companies like Amazon planning “constellations”, composed of thousands of satellites, to provide telecommunication services.

The satellite business is just a start. The next big prize will be technology for “in-situ resource utilisation” – using materials from space for space operations. One example is extracting water from the Moon (which could also be split to provide oxygen and hydrogenbased rocket fuel).

NASA’s administrator, Jim

First picture of the Moon taken by Chandrayaan2. Photo: ISRO Bridenstine, has suggested Australian agencies and companies could play a key role in this.

All up, the potential gains from a slice of the space economy are huge.

It is estimated the space economy could grow from about US$350 billion now to more than US$1 trillion (and as possibly as much US$2,700 billion) in 2040.

Launch affordability At the height of its Apollo program to land on the Moon, NASA got more than 4% of the US federal budget.

As NASA gears up to return to the Moon and then go to Mars, its budget share is about 0.5%.

In space money has most definitely become an object. But it’s a constraint that’s spurring innovation and opening up economic opportunities.

NASA pulled the pin on its space shuttle program in 2011 when the expected efficiencies of a resusable launch vehicle failed to pan out. Since then it has bought seats on Russian Soyuz rockets to get its astronauts into space. It is now paying SpaceX, the company founded by electric car king Elon Musk, to deliver space cargo.

SpaceX’s Crew Dragon spacecraft just moments after undocking from the International Space Station on 8 March 2019. NASA/EPA SpaceX’s stellar trajectory, having entered the business a little more than a decade ago, demonstrates the possibilities for new players.

To get something into orbit using the space shuttle cost about US$54,500 a kilogram. SpaceX says the cost of its Falcon 9 rocket and reuseable Dragon spacecraft is about US$2,700 a kilogram. With costs falling, the space economy is poised to boom.

Choosing a niche As the space economy grows, it’s likely different countries will come to occupy different niches.

Specialisation will be the key to success, as happens for all industries.

In the hydrocarbon industry, for instance, some countries extract while others process. In the computer industry, some countries design while others manufacture.

There will be similar niches in space. Governments’ policies will play a big part in determining which nation fills which niche.

There are three ways to think about niches.

First, function. A country could focus on space mining, for instance, or space observation.

It could act as a space communication hub, or specialise in developing space-based weapons.

Luxembourg is an example of functional specialisation. Despite its small size, it punches above its weight in the satellite industry. Another example is Russia, which for now has the monopoly on transporting astronauts to the International Space Station.

Russian cosmonaut Alexey Ovchinin flanked by NASA astronauts Christina Koch and Nick Hague at the Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center in Star City, Russia, as they prepare for their launch aboard the Soyuz MS-12 in March 2019. Sergei Ilnitsky/EPA Second, value-adding.

A national economy can focus on lower or higher value-add processes. In telecommunications, for example, much of the design work is done in the United States, while much of the manufacturing happens in China. Both roles have

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benefits and drawbacks.

Third, blocs. Global production networks sometimes fragment.

One can already see the potential for this happening between the United States and China. If it occurs, other countries must either align with one bloc or remain neutral.

Aligning with a large power ensures patronage, but also dependence.

Being between blocs has its risks, but also provides opportunities to gain from each bloc and act as an intermediary.

The first space race, between the Soviet Union and the United States, was singularly driven by political will and government policy.

The new space race is more complex, with private players taking the lead in many ways, but government priorities and policy are still crucial. They will determine which countries reach the heights, and which get left behind. * PhD candidate in international business and comparative political economy, University of Auckland.

Source: The Conversation, 22 August, 2019.(Under Creative Commons Licence)

COUNTERVIEW

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

southSouth asia times 25 Asia Times

Manifesto against democratic 'deficit's and capitalist Westphalian nation state

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak*

W

hat is happening to democracies across the globe?

Democratic deficit, neoliberalism and rise of authoritarianism moving together by dismantling social harmonies and states… The rise of Donald Trump in USA, Narendra Modi in India, Boris Johnson in United Kingdom, Erdoğan in Turkey, Jair Messias Bolsonaro in Brazil and many others are not only examples of the symptoms but also the results of democratic deficits in the world today.

The local, national and international politics is driven by ethnic, racial and religious conflicts in Asia, Africa Americas, Europe and Middle East. These populist upheavals did not change the old-world order rather reinforcing it more vigorously.

God, national glory, lawlessness, vulgar wealth and huge inequalities are five common features between old and modern world. It creates the foundation for reactionary nationalism and authoritarian capitalism across the globe. Democracy and states have become tools of such a dangerous worldwide process.

The pioneers of globalisation and lovers of free market argued that it will bring peace and prosperity by ending war and conflicts. They also argued that it will help in the growth and establishment of vibrant and multicultural democracies.

But in reality, globalisation has expanded the conflicts and old world inequalities. Rich became

richer and poor became poorer. The class, gender, race, caste and regional fault lines continue to grow under capitalism.

The neoliberal capitalist project outmanoeuvred the ideal alternatives of October revolution, French revolution and promises of anti-colonial struggles. And all idealisms are in downward spiral now.

How do we analyse these upheavals? Is it a sign of end of Westphalian nation state?

It is impossible to offer alternatives for a better tomorrow without understanding present predicaments and its history.

The lineages and transformations The democratic deficit of the state is embedded with history of capitalist Westphalian nation state. The peace Treaty of Westphalia in 1648 consolidated capitalism by establishing nation states based on the idea of territorial sovereignty. It helped to end thirty years of savagely war in Europe.

It also helped Europe to plunder the world with colonial rule in different parts of the world.

The resources of the colonies were used to establish different institutions of economic development and democratic governance in Europe. Therefore, Westphalian states are innately colonial, capitalist and authoritarian by nature but dressed up as democracy. The referendum results and debates over Britain leaving European Union (EU) is a classic example of democratic deficit and its relationship with European capitalism led

by EU.

The post-colonial states emerged after the success of anticolonial struggles.

The post-colonial states promised democratic governance based on ideals of liberty, equality, justice and welfare of all its citizens.

The anticolonial struggles had positive influence on European states.

It transformed the nature of state in Europe by making them more democratic, secular and multicultural in terms of citizenship rights with welfare orientations.

But the neoliberal Washington consensus led to the universalisation of neoliberal welfare state by ending ideals of democratic, and welfare state.

VoxPopuli and Vox Dei are replaced by capitalist order, market and money dominate every social, economic, political, cultural and religious sphere The centralisation and securitisation of state became order of the day to uphold the interests of the private capital which grown enormously after the implementation of neoliberal policies of liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation.

We live in a world today where VoxPopuli, Vox Dei (the voice of the people is the voice of God) is replaced by the order of the capitalism where market and money dominates every social, economic, political, cultural and religious sphere. It is within this context; democracy and state face challenges from capitalist world system accelerated by Westphalian ideals.

Neoliberal authoritarianism emanates from such a political and economic project that creates a culture of

democratic deficit and unreliable state. The legitimacy crisis of state creates the vacuums where ruling and non-ruling elites control the masses and all resources with the help of securitised, centralised and authoritarian state.

The ideological narrative of neoliberalism was based on individual freedom but in reality, we live in a society today where people are in free prisons of market where prices are independent and free. It means the dead capital is free and lively labour in captives.

The quest for alternatives manifesto The crisis created by democratic deficit, neoliberal authoritarianism and rise of reactionary right wing politics is a global phenomenon. Local and national contexts are important in search of alternatives but the current political and economic crisis needs international solutions. It is imperative to develop pluriversal praxis that is applicable to the world today.

The first step is to dismantle the structures of Westphalian capitalist state system and all its affiliated supranational and international organisations.

This is only possible by creating solidarity of all grassroot movements for alternative democracy for peace, environment, development and prosperity as inalienable citizenship rights. It is important to have continuous solidarity of struggles to develop conditions for non-discriminatory and pluriversal and inalienable rights based on progressive and scientific thoughts.

The second step is to

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“VoxPopuli and Vox Dei are replaced by capitalist order, market and money dominate every social, economic, political, cultural and religious sphere”. develop conditions where local communities can control and manage their local resources based on their needs and desires with egalitarian distributive mechanisms.

The third step is to develop local, national and international struggles against all conflicts, wars and industries affiliated with it including nuclear weapons. Defence industry creates wars to expand its profits.

The fourth one is continuous struggle against all forms of authoritarianism and all forms of discrimination in every sphere of life.

The fifth one is about creating a decentralised, democratic, progressive and egalitarian state where individual rights and right to self-determination is inalienable. *With Coventry University, UK Source: Counterview.net

south asia 26 South Asia Timestimes

SPORTS

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

More than a million likely to attend 2 World Cups in 2020; Ticket prices for ICC men’s T20 World Cup 2020 announced

By SAT Sports Desk

M

ELBOURNE, 23 July: More than one million fans are expected to attend the global showpiece event for cricket’s fastestgrowing format, to be played in Australia for the first time.

In another first, ICC T20 World Cup 2020 will be played as two standalone events in the same country, in the same year.

The event is fast approaching, with ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 less than seven months away. The 10 best teams will compete from 21 February – 8 March 2020. Later in the year, 16 teams will contest the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2020 from 18 October – 15 November 2020.

Both the women’s and men’s finals will be played at the biggest cricket stadium in the world, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). This presents an opportunity to set a new world record for attendance at a women’s sporting fixture on Sunday 8 March 2020, International Women’s Day. Tickets are now on sale

for the women’s event and go on general sale for the men’s event on 18 October 2019. All fans who buy tickets to the women’s event will automatically qualify for a presale opportunity for the men’s event, as will fans who register for men’s event tickets at t20worldcup.com.

The Australian women’s team are the defending champions, and have won the event four out of the six times it has been contested, the last time being in the West Indies in 2018. The hosts will start ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 with a blockbuster clash with India at Sydney Showground Stadium on

Friday 21 February.

In contrast, the Australian men’s team have never won the ICC T20 World Cup. They will play the opening match of the Super 12 stage of the men’s tournament on Saturday 24 October under lights at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), against the world’s top-ranked team, Pakistan. Later that evening, India will take on South Africa at the state-of-the-art Perth Stadium, rounding out a spectacular opening night for the men’s Super 12 stage.

The seventh edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will feature semi-finals at Adelaide Oval and the SCG,

followed by the final at the MCG on Sunday 15 November.

Brisbane (Gabba), Geelong (Kardinia Park) and Hobart (Bellerive Oval) will also host men’s matches as part of a suite of seven world-class venues for the men’s event.

ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Local Organising Committee CEO, Nick Hockley, said: “Passionate fans from around the world were a highlight of the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 and it is such an exciting prospect that both the women’s and men’s T20 World Cups are coming to Australia next year.

“2020 is a year when fans across Australia and around the world can be part of not just one, but two World Cups, and now fans have the opportunity to plan their full year. We encourage everyone to get in early.

“We have made sure that tickets to all matches are accessibly priced, so that families, friends and communities can come together to support their teams and celebrate these major world events.

“Fans can buy any combination of tickets and with hospitality and travel

packages also launched today, fans across the world have the options and flexibility to build their own T20 World Cup experience.

“With its world-class venues, wonderful host cities, its passionate, knowledgeable and diverse fans, having two T20 World Cups in 2020 is an opportunity for Australia to give the warmest of welcomes to fans from around the world and inspire the next generation.”

The remaining places for both the women’s and men’s tournaments will be decided at the following upcoming qualifying events: - ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier: 31 August – 7 September 2019, Scotland - ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier: 11 October – 3 November 2019, UAE A media release from the ICC says adult tickets will be from $ 20, two-thirds of total tickets $50 or less and 5 million tickets will be available across both the events. Women’s event tickets are on sale now at t20worldcup.com and Men’s event tickets will be on general sale from 18 October 2019.

200 days-to-go until ICC Woman’s T20 World Cup 2020 as prominent figures show their support

By SAT News Desk

M

ELBOURNE, 5 August: The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020 is fast approaching, with 200 days-togo until the opening match, in which hosts Australia take on India at Sydney Showground Stadium on Friday 21 February.

In 2020, Australia will host two ICC T20 World Cups, with the women’s (21 February – 8 March) and men’s (18 October – 5 November) tournaments to be played as standalone events across the country.

Both events will culminate in finals at the world’s largest cricket stadium, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, presenting an opportunity to set a new world record for the highest attendance at a women’s sporting fixture on Sunday 8 March 2020, International Women’s Day. The ICC T20 World Cup 2020 Local Organising Committee is delighted to announce that leaders from across Australia have pledged their support as ‘2020 Champions’, each helping to inspire people to take part and continue the positive momentum in sport for women and girls.

The first wave of ‘2020

Champions’ represents a broad cross-section of the Australian community, all of whom share a passion for the power of sport to inspire positive change.

Speaking about the ‘2020 Champions’ program, ICC T20 World Cup Local Organising Committee CEO, Nick Hockley said; “The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is an opportunity to showcase equality through sport on the global stage.

“We’ve seen at the recent FIFA Women’s World Cup and ICC Cricket World Cup what a powerful and uniting force major sporting events can be and we are humbled to have such inspirational leaders join together to help maximise the positive impact of Australia 2020.

“We look forward to welcoming our 2020 Champions and the broader community at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in just 200 days’ time.”

‘2020 Champions’ who have pledged their support so far: Alex Blackwell: ICC T20 World Cup winning Captain Ann Sherry AO: Chair, UNICEF Australia Bronwyn Klei: CEO, Netball South Australia Carol Fox: President, Women Sport Australia Christina Matthews: CEO, Western Australian Cricket Association Christine McLoughlin: Chair and Co-Founder Minerva Network Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO: Former GovernorGeneral of Australia

Diana Chan: Former winner, Masterchef Dipen Rughani: CEO, Newland Global Group Dr Bridie O'Donnell: Director, Victorian Office for Women in Sport and Recreation General Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC: Former GovernorGeneral of Australia Giles Gunesekera: Founder and CEO of Global Impact Initiative Gönül Serbest: CEO, Global Victoria Gus Worland: Founder of Gotcha4Life Jodie Fields: ICC T20 World Cup winning Captain Jodie Hawkins: General Manager, Sydney Sixers Justin Langer AM: Head Coach, Australian Men's Cricket Team Kate Jenkins: Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Palmer AM: CEO, Sport Australia Kath Koschel: Former cricketer, Founder, The Kindness Factory Kerrie Mather: CEO, Sydney Cricket and Sports Grounds Lisa Sthalekar: Former Australian player and T20 World Cup winner; cricket commentator Liz Broderick AO: UN

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Special Rapporteur and Independent Expert on discrimination against women, Founder Male Champions of Change Marne Fechner: CEO, Netball Australia Mary Konstantopoulos: Founder, Ladies Who Leg Spin Mel Jones OAM: Former Australian player and cricket commentator Patrick Delany: CEO, Foxtel Preeti Daga: Vice President Victoria, Australia India Business Council Sheba Nandkeolyar: CoFounder, CEO MultiConnexions Group Sonia Sadiq Gandhi: Director, Gandhi Creations Suzy Nicoletti: Managing Director, Twitter Australia ICC T20 World Cup 2020 links: Official website: t20worldcup.com Buy women’s tickets and register for men’s tickets: tickets.t20worldcup.com Women’s fixtures: https:// www.icc-cricket.com/t20world-cup/womens-fixtures Men’s fixtures: https://www. icc-cricket.com/t20-world-cup/ mens-fixtures Source: ICCT20 WORLDCUP AUSTRALIA 2020.

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

southSouth asia times 27 Asia Times

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SIKH BLACKBURN Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha 127 Whitehorse Road, Blackburn VICTORIA 3130, Ph: (03) 9894 1800 CRAIGIEBURN Sri Guru Singh Sabha 344 Hume Highway, Craigieburn VICTORIA 3164 (see map), Ph: (03) 9305 6511 KEYSBOROUGH Gurdwara Sri Guru Granth Sahib 198 -206 Perry Road, Keysborough VICTORIA 3073 (see map) LYNBROOK Nanaksar Taath, 430 Evans Road,

Lynbrook VICTORIA 3975, (03) 9799 1081 HOPPERS CROSSING Sri Guru Nanak Satsang Sabha 417 Sayers Road, Hoppers Crossing VICTORIA 3029, Ph: (03) 9749 2639 WERRIBEE Gurdwara Sahib Werribee 560 Davis Road, Tarneit VICTORIA 3029 PH: (03) 8015 4707 SHEPPARTON Gurdwara Sahib Shepparton 240 Doyles Road, Shepparton VICTORIA 3603 PH: (03) 5821 9309

JAIN Melbourne Shwetambar Jain Sangh Inc 3 Rice Street, Moorabbin, Vic - 3189, Australia. Phone: +61 3 9555 2439 info@melbournejainsangh.org http://www.melbournejainsangh.org

MUSLIM Melbourne West Mosque 66-68 Jeffcott Street, Melbourne Ph: 03 9328 2067 Broadmeadows Mosque 45-55 King Street, Broadmeadows Ph 03 9359 0054 Islamic Call Society 19 Michael Street, Brunswick Ph: 03 9387 7100 Islamic Centre of Australia 660 Sydney Road, Brunswick Ph 03 9385 8423 Australian Islamic Cultural Centre 46-48 Mason Street, Campbellfield Ph: 03 9309 7605 Coburg ISNA Mosque 995 Sydney Road, Coburg North Coburg Mosque (Fatih Mosque) 31 Nicholson Street, Coburg Ph 03 9386 5324 Deer Park Mosque 283 Station Road, Deer Park Ph 03 9310 8811 United Migrant Muslim Assn.

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AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

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quick community guide

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019

contd from previous page Suite 536, No 1 Queens Road,

Sri Lanka Consulate Melbourne VIC 3004 Telephone: +61 3 9290 4200 Fax: +61 3 9867 4873 Email:mail@slcgmel.org Web: http://www.slcgmel.org

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south asia 32 South Asia Timestimes

www.southasiatimes.com.au - (03) 9884 8096, 0421 677 082

AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2019