NOV 2021
w w w. g d a y i n d i a . c o m . a u
VOL 15 ISSUE 175
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Love Letter to Melbourne - Dheepa Awtani
An Aromatic Conversation Kishwar Chowdhury MasterChef 2021 finalist and her delicious plate of sweets celebrating Diwali
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G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
Victoria reaches 80% vaccination rate
MELBOURNE, Oct 31: Victoria on Sunday officially passed the milestone of 80 per cent of the population above 16 years having been fully vaccinated, as daily case numbers in the state continued to drop. Victoria reported 1,036 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 and 12 deaths in the 24 hours to midnight Saturday, an encouraging drop from 1,355 new cases reported on Saturday and 1,656 on Friday. Currently 702 Covid-19 patients in the state are in hospital, with 128 in intensive care and 80 requiring ventilation. The state's death toll in its latest outbreak is 305. Meanwhile, the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) recorded 177 new locally acquired cases and one death in the 24 hours to 8:00 p.m. Saturday night. Authorities have expressed optimism that the state's high vaccination rate has effectively kept case numbers and hospitalizations low.
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"Our vaccination rate has been the key to our freedom. We've opened up and as we've opened up, we have been able to do so safely," said NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, adding that the cases and hospitalization numbers are both below expectations. The latest data showed that 93.5 per cent of NSW's above16 years' population have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and 87.5 per cent have been fully vaccinated. (IANS)
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Victorian TAFE Students to Return to Onsite Learning
MELBOURNE, Nov 1: Victorian TAFE and adult education providers will begin welcoming back tens of thousands of students to onsite learning today, after the state hit its 80 per cent double dose target. Fully vaccinated Victorians can now take full advantage of the high-quality skills and training opportunities offered on campus, as providers start to reopen in line with health advice. The return of onsite learning will also allow students to complete assessments to progress their training and reach their career goals. Even more Victorians studied in the TAFE and training system during the pandemic, with enrolment growth of up to 25 per cent among unemployed people, Indigenous and CALD Victorians, people with disability, women and young people. While the pandemic has posed significant disruptions to onsite learning, it has also highlighted the resilience and agility of the Victorian skills and training sector which has continued to provide world-class learning opportunities and support around 55,700 students to graduate from their course this year. Melbourne Polytechnic upskilled its 1,400
staff to deliver remote and flexible learning and provide significant online resources to ensure all its 9,000 students could continue their studies throughout 2021. South West TAFE designed extra materials to help VCAL students develop practical skills normally obtained in the classroom and partnered with Australian beauty product suppliers to provide online workshops for hair, beauty and massage students. Throughout the pandemic, the Andrews Labor Government has supported TAFEs with
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$123.1 million in Business Continuity Grants and $62.7 million in Crisis Funding, as well as $786.8 million to create 80,000 new training places over four years and increase access to Victorians disproportionately affected by the pandemic. Since 2014, the Labor Government has made a record $3.2 billion investment to rebuild TAFE and support universities and higher education so Victorians have access to high quality education and rewarding career pathways.
(MEDIA RELEASE)
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NEWS VICTORIA
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Stronger Protections Against Discrimination Introduced
MELBOURNE, Oct 27: The Andrews Labor Government is continuing to protect LGBTIQ+ Victorians against discrimination, with landmark reforms now in effect and further new laws introduced to Parliament today. The Government introduced the Equal Opportunity (Religious Exceptions) Amendment Bill 2021 which will better protect LGBTIQ+ Victorians working within religious organisations and schools. The Bill will narrow current exceptions so that discrimination on the basis of sexuality, marital status, gender identity or other protected attributes will not be permitted. Religious organisations and schools will only be able to make employment decisions based on an employee’s religious beliefs where these are inherent to the job. Religious bodies and schools will still be able to practice their faith, teach their beliefs and set the religious ethos within their organisation. The reforms will also mean religious bodies that receive government funding to provide services will also not be able to refuse to provide those services to people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. The Government has undertaken extensive consultations with LGBTIQ+
groups, education peak bodies and faith based groups to ensure that the new laws give fair recognition to those involved. For the very first time, intersex Victorians are now also explicitly protected against discrimination under the Equal Opportunity Act 2010, with sex characteristics now included as a protected attribute under the Act. Previously, intersex Victorians were only given limited protection under the Act under the definition of gender identity. These new measures follow Intersex Awareness Day – a day observed across the globe to highlight human rights issues faced by people with an intersex variation. Adding sex characteristics – defined as a person’s physical features relating to sex such as chromosomes, hormones and anatomy – alongside race, disability, religious belief or
activity and other protected attributes makes it clearer than ever that discrimination on this basis is unlawful and will not be tolerated. Amendments updating outdated definitions of gender identity and sexual orientation under the Act have also commenced – reflecting a growing understanding and awareness of our diverse community and ensuring greater protection for trans and gender diverse Victorians against discrimination.
(MEDIA RELEASE)
Outdoor Economy Cash Vouchers Open for Business
MELBOURNE, Oct 27: Victorian businesses from 11am today can apply for vouchers to help them take advantage of open-air trading opportunities as the state prepares for the next major stage of reopening on Friday. More than 7,000 vouchers valued at $2,000 are available to help pay for the hire and purchase of furniture and equipment and other costs as part of the Victorian Government’s new $54.5 million Outdoor Economy Package. Public health settings for regional and metropolitan Victoria come together at 6pm on Friday as we enter Phase C of the Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan and significant new freedoms are shared across the state – some 20 per cent of the vouchers will be reserved for regional businesses. The COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Voucher Program is open to businesses, community organisations, not-for-profits, charities and trader associations to set up street trading and invigorate local areas. Successful businesses will be able to use their voucher for expenses including purchasing and hiring marquees, screens and umbrellas, obtaining insurance and promoting outdoor operations, to a limit of $2,000.
Restaurants, cafes, hotels and bars are eligible to apply for vouchers, as are hairdressers, beauty services, dance studios, gyms and retail shops – including Brunswick fashion label Kindling which has created a welcoming space for customers to browse and try on clothes in its courtyard. The courtyard had previously been used for staff breaks. Applicants to the program must provide a plan detailing how they will move their business activities outdoors and provide proof that the voucher payment has been spent on eligible items within three months. The Outdoor Economy Package also includes the $40 million COVIDSafe Outdoor
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Activation Fund which is helping councils transform outdoor areas with new street furniture, landscaping and public art as well as entertainment. For more information on the COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Voucher Program – and to apply – go to vic.gov.au/covidsafe-outdooractivation-voucher-program. The City of Melbourne will continue to be supported separately through the $200 million Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund – the Government is working with the City of Melbourne to bring visitors back to the city and provide support for businesses, including to establish and enhance outdoor operations.
(MEDIA RELEASE)
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Victoria’s Gold Rush Continues with New Exploration
MELBOURNE, Oct 29: Victoria’s prospects of unearthing more precious metal are brighter with a major mineral exploration tender given the green light as the state enjoys a modern-day gold rush. The Andrews Labor Government is supporting regional jobs through the growth of minerals exploration, with Fosterville Gold Mine and Southern Star Exploration set to invest $100 million searching for gold on the doorstep of the state’s most productive mine at Fosterville, pending the issuing of exploration licences. Fosterville Gold Mine would spend more than $90 million across its three allocated blocks from the land release, while Southern Star would spend more than $10 million on its single allotment. The blocks range from 327 square kilometres to 512 sq km. The companies were chosen following an extensive evaluation of North Central Victorian Goldfields Ground Release tender submissions which included input from a Traditional Owner panel. The companies’ minerals exploration licence applications will now be assessed. Minister for Resources Jaala Pulford today visited On Site Laboratory Services
in Bendigo, which uses cutting-edge technology to analyse precious metal content. The lab is the only ISO registered commercial mineral facility in Victoria, and one of many regional businesses that has benefited from Victoria’s new gold rush. The Geological Survey of Victoria predicts there may be as much as 75 million ounces of undiscovered gold in northern Victoria – almost as much gold as has been discovered across the entire state since 1851. In 2019-20, Victoria produced 22,460 kilograms – or 792,267 ounces – of gold and ABS data shows Victoria minerals exploration expenditure increased to $183.8 million in 2020-21, up by more than 35 per cent. Since 2016, the average quarterly growth rate has been more than double the national average.
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Exploration activities – including sampling, mapping and analysis – could start next year. If commercially viable deposits exist, further development can take place if the licensee successfully applies for a mining licence. This ground release is designed to attract high-calibre minerals companies committed to working closely with landholders and will provide great jobs for those looking to join the 850-person strong local minerals workforce. Details on the North Central Victorian Goldfields Ground Release are available at earthresources.vic.gov.au
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Saving Renters Money and Creating More Comfortable Homes
MELBOURNE, Nov 1: Rental providers are now eligible for a rebate to upgrade inefficient heating and cooling systems to make homes more comfortable, drive down power bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Minister for Solar Homes Lily D’Ambrosio today announced $1,000 rebates from Solar Victoria to install energy-efficient reversecycle air conditioners in rental properties. This rebate could help renters save up to $300 on their annual power bills. More than 3,300 Victorians have already taken advantage of the rebate – funded by the Andrews Labor Government − since it opened to community housing organisations in May, and owner-occupiers in August 2021. The eligibility expansion means even more low-income and vulnerable Victorian households can have their homes made warmer in winter and cooler in summer. To be eligible for the rebate the rental property must be either earning $500 or less in weekly rent, occupied by renters holding
a valid concession card or with a combined household income below $90,000, or unoccupied with a potential to earn $500 or less in weekly rent. A further $200 rebate is available to cap old gas heaters, along with $500 to upgrade an electrical switchboard, if needed. About 30 per cent of Victorians rent their homes and just under 80 per cent earn under $90,000. We also know around 45 per cent of this cohort struggle to pay their energy bills. With new regulations requiring energyefficient heating in all rental properties from March this year this rebate will support rental providers to install effective and efficient system for the home. To ensure as many renters benefit from these upgrades as soon as possible, rental providers can apply for two rebates each financial year, with one rebate available per property. For more information, including eligibility criteria and instructions on how to apply visit heatingupgrades.vic.gov.au
More Homes and More Support for Homeless After Hotels
MELBOURNE, Oct 29: The Andrews Labor Government is extending the transition out of emergency hotel accommodation for Victorians who have experienced homelessness during lockdowns and ensuring more families move into the security of a home. New funding of up to $66 million will help up to 250 eligible families with children currently in emergency accommodation to secure stable housing and have the support they need to keep it. This funding ensures that up to 400 children doing it tough are provided with better opportunities in a more stable home. These families will continue to be supported in hotel accommodation while the Government works closely with community housing organisations to acquire more homes to match family-size and needs. All singles and couples currently in emergency hotel accommodation will be offered assistance by homelessness support agencies to identify housing exit pathways over the next few months. The emergency hotel accommodation program was set up in March 2020 to ensure people experiencing homelessness or rough sleeping remained safe and could comply with public health directions, with significant
public health benefits for homeless Victorians and the wider community. This investment builds on the $150 million From Homelessness to a Home Program to transition 1,845 households out of emergency hotels and into stable housing with multidisciplinary support through the pandemic. Nearly 1,600 Victorians experiencing homelessness have already been provided with a stable home and support through Homeless to a Home, with work to identify additional housing continuing every day. Significant effort has already gone into vaccinating people in emergency accommodation and this effort will intensify over the next few weeks. A COVID-19 Isolation and Recovery Facility in inner Melbourne is also available to help anyone experiencing homelessness with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis by providing them with accommodation and medical support. The Government is delivering 12,000 new homes as part of the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build - Australia’s biggest ever investment in public and community housing – with work underway at ten sites across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
(MEDIA RELEASE)
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Aboriginal Filmmaker Documentary Wins
MELBOURNE, Oct 29: A documentary shining a light on the first Aboriginal filmmaker has won the top prize at the Victorian Community History Awards this week. Tiriki Onus, Alec Morgan and Tom Zubrycki received the prestigious Victorian Premier’s History Award for their documentary Ablaze, which tells the story of Indigenous cultural leader and Aboriginal filmmaker William Bill Onus. Described by judges as “history at its best,” the feature length documentary traces the origins of 1940s footage found within the National Film and Sound Archive. Paul Paffen and Richard Broinowski were also recognised at the Awards, sharing the Judges’ Special Prize for their respective books For the Fallen and Under the Rainbow. Other winning entries included a history of LGBTQI+ in Victoria, an oral history on a Gippsland Lakes Fishermen and a documentary theatre production on prominent Goldfields businesswoman Fanny Finch. The Victorian Community History Awards are presented by Public Record Office Victoria and the Royal Historical Society of Victoria, to recognise the work of individuals and organisations that preserve and share Victoria’s history. The awards are supported by the Andrews Labor Government through the Community Support Fund. The full list of winners is available at prov. vic.gov.au.
ADVERTORIAL
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Working together to vaccinate building, construction and development industry
I
ndustry bodies and unions from Victoria’s building, construction and development sector have today launched a new website - www. constructionvaccinehub.com.au - to provide clear and concise COVID-19 vaccination information for their members. The website provides details about vaccinations, links to where workers can get vaccinated, and multilingual resources for members to promote vaccinations in 16 languages. Master Builders Victoria CEO Rebecca Casson said the collaborative group of industry bodies and unions were supportive of vaccinations and were committed to members being able to access vaccination information conveniently. “This website reflects the way in which workers in our industry access information online and on their mobile. We have focused on vaccine information that is most important to our sector in a way that is easy to access and to find further government information where applicable,” Ms Casson said. “Importantly, we are ensuring information is available in multiple languages. As we have done throughout the pandemic, our site posters and COVIDSafe information is available in 16 languages, and we have commissioned specialist communications advice to help us promote the importance of vaccines - and being safe on building and construction sites - in communities across Melbourne and regional Victoria. “This campaign and website complement the work that our collaborative group of industry bodies and unions are doing to promote vaccine uptake. We will continue
to support each other and encourage vaccination so that we can keep our worksites COVIDSafe and open.” Victorian State Secretary of the CFMEU John Setka said this was another example of unions and industry bodies working together to keep the building and construction sector open and keep workers in jobs. “It’s important that members have access to clear and concise information. We’ve collaborated with industry bodies to create a website that highlights important vaccine information and contains links for where our members might have more questions. Importantly, if members have other questions, they are encouraged to talk to their GP,” Mr Setka said. “Unions have been promoting the importance of vaccines. It is the only way to keep our industry open and to return to full capacity on site. This website, combined with the ongoing campaign to promote vaccines, is just one of the many ways unions and industry bodies are promoting vaccinations. “Many people in our industry are doing the right thing and, whilst we haven’t been perfect, we are proud of the way many workers have followed the rules. Getting vaccinated is the next step, and we know our members and industry will do the right thing.” Background The construction vaccination hub website is supported by the Building Industry Group of Unions and Industry Associations (known as the “BIG1”), which comprises: • CFMEU • Master Builders Victoria • Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union
• Master Plumbers • Electrical Trades Union • National Electrical and Communications Association • Australian Manufacturers Workers Union • Property Council of Australia • Civil Contractors Association • Urban Development Institute Australia.
Arts And Culture Set to Thrive as Venues Reopen
MELBOURNE, Nov 1: Melbourne’s top public galleries, museums and performance venues are gearing up for a big summer as they re-open their doors to the public. Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson was on hand today to announce that the National Gallery of Victoria will welcome visitors back on Wednesday. When doors reopen, guests will be able to see an important addition to the
gallery's collection – an artwork by Berthe Morisot, one of the leading women of French Impressionism who was at the forefront of the movement in Paris in the late nineteenth century. The NGV Foundation raised more than $3 million for the acquisition of Morisot’s 1889 work La Broderie (Embroidery), which is the first of her paintings to enter an Australian public collection.
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Other upcoming exhibitions include ‘Fashion Manifesto’ – an exploration into the significant contribution to twentieth century fashion by renowned French couturière Gabrielle Chanel, which will open 4 December. From 6 December, visitors can wet their toes in the latest NGV Architecture Commission, pond[er] – a pink pond in the Grollo Equiset garden. In addition to the National Gallery of Victoria’s two sites, on the other side of the city State Library Victoria will also reopen its doors to the public on Wednesday. It follows a busy weekend of cultural offerings with science works, the Immigration Museum, the Melbourne Museum and ACMI all welcoming their first visitors and live music make a roaring return to the stage at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl. For music fans, the Australian Music Vault at Arts Centre Melbourne reopens from 8 November, Melbourne Recital Centre kicks off its performance program on 12 November and Hamer Hall will host the Melbourne International Jazz Festival opening night gala on 26 November.
(MEDIA RELEASE)
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NEWS AUSTRALIA
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
Aussie scientists deliver new way to administer vaccines SYDNEY, Oct 31: Scientists from the University of Queensland (UQ) successfully developed a method that can deliver vaccines using a pain-free "patch" without needles. The discovery, published in the Science Advances journal on Saturday, uses a "highdensity microarray patch" (HD-MAP) that, after being applied to the recipient's skin, applies thousands of microscopic projections. Lead researcher, David Muller from UQ's School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences said initial testing in mice using an American-made Covid-19 vaccine has shown a "better and faster immune responses." It also neutralizes multiple variants, including the variants first detected in Britain and South Africa, Muller added. However, the main promise of the technology lies in its ability to be selfadministered, vaccinate an individual in a single dose, and be stored at a range of temperatures. "We've shown this vaccine, when drycoated on a patch, is stable for at least 30 days at 25 degrees Celsius and one week at 40 degrees. So it doesn't have the cold chain requirements of some of the current options,"
said Muller. This could present a major boon in the global vaccination rollout, especially in developing countries where the availability of doctors and vaccine cooling facilities are scarce. Beyond vaccinations for coronavirus, the patch technology could also be applied to vaccines for polio, dengue fever and influenza, he added. "So basically, the patch is a platform technology, which you can pair with the vaccine you want to work on," Muller said. He said once the technology comes out of trials and its production is scaled up, it is expected to have a cost comparable to a prefilled needle and syringe. Muller has had no shortage of enthusiasm for the technology, especially among
Australians who have a phobia of needles, otherwise known as Trypanophobia, which has presented a very real barrier for those wanting to get vaccinated against Covid-19. "I get emails weekly, asking 'when will it be available,' 'can we participate in the trials.' The only thing they don't realize is that any clinical trial will involve blood draw." "It's very innocuous. So, I think for the end user, the experience wouldn't cause a lot of anxiety."
(IANS)
Australian cyberbullies facing bans under strict laws
CANBERRA, Nov 1: Australian cyberbullies could have their online accounts banned under strict world-first laws. According to new regulatory guidance released by the eSafety Commissioner, Australia's world-first cyberbullying scheme is set to be significantly expanded to provide protection to children being bullied in online games and on private messaging platforms. Under an expansion of the Online Safety Act that will come into effect in January 2022, children will be able to report serious threats,
intimidation, harassment or humiliation to eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant if social media giants fail to take action. Previously social media companies had 48 hours to take action on a complaint before it could be escalated to the Commissioner but that will be reduced to 24 hours. "We know that around one in five kids have experienced bullying when playing online games and the more social media and gaming profiles they have, the greater the risk they face of being bullied," Inman Grant
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said. Cyberbullying reports made to the agency increased 30 per cent over the last 12 months with people spending more time online due to the coronavirus pandemic, she added. "Kids are now spending a large proportion of their lives online, whether it's watching TV, gaming, or chatting with friends through popular messaging platforms like WhatsApp and Discord," she said. "These new updates allow us to help children in more places where they are spending their online time." The update to Australia's cyberbullying scheme is the first in a series of new regulatory guidance to be released by eSafety between now and the end of the year. Recently, Prime Minister Scott Morrison asked fellow G20 leaders to tackle online safety. "We need to ensure that the rules that we all apply differently in our own countries in the real world apply in the digital world and that we don't allow those digital platforms to be used as tools, weapons for others to oppress and coerce and harass people," he said in Rome.
(IANS)
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Fully vaccinated Australians free to travel overseas from Nov CANBERRA, Oct 28: Australians who have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be able to travel overseas from November, the government said. The federal government on Tuesday night changed the Human Biosecurity Determination -- a law created in March 2020 to restrict international travel during the coronavirus pandemic to remove the need for fully vaccinated Australians to ask for permission to leave the country. It means that from November 1, fully vaccinated Australians will be able to freely leave the country for the first time since March 2020. Greg Hunt, Minister for Health and Aged Care, said it was the first stage in Australia's reopening to the world. "Australian citizens and permanent residents who want to travel overseas will need to provide proof that they are fully vaccinated with a Therapeutic Goods Administration -- approved or recognized vaccine, with the second dose occurring at least seven days prior to travel," he said. People who have not been vaccinated will
still have to apply with the Department of Home Affairs to leave the country and face stricter quarantine protocols on their return. In the last 24 hours, Australia reported more than 1,800 new locally acquired Covid-19 cases and 16 deaths as the country continues to battle the third wave of the pandemic. The new figures raised the overall infection tally and death toll to 165,904 and 1,696, respectively. The majority of new cases were in Victoria, the country's second-most populous state with Melbourne as the capital city, where 1,534 infections and 13 deaths were reported. Till date, more than 74 per cent of Australians aged 16 and over were fully vaccinated against Covid-19, according to the Department of Health. On Wednesday, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved booster
doses of the Pfizer vaccine for individuals 18 years and older, six months after their second dose. Subject to the final advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), it is expected that a general population booster program will commence no later than November 8 with original priority groups, including people in aged care and disability care settings, to be offered the option to receive a booster as a priority, according to Hunt.
(IANS)
Australia adds Covaxin to list of 'recognised' COVID-19 vaccines
CANBERRA, Nov 1: Australian government gave recognition to Bharat Biotech's Covaxin COVID-19 vaccine for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status in the country. " Therapeutic Goods Administration determined that Covaxin (manufactured by BharatBiotech) vaccine would be 'recognised' for the purpose of establishing a traveller's vaccination status," Australia's High Commissioner to India Barry O'Farrell informed in a tweet. "Importantly, recognition of Covaxin, along with the previously announced recognition of Covishield
(manufactured by AstraZeneca India, means many citizens, as well as other countries, will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia," the High Commissioner added in the tweet. COVID-19 vaccines are approved for use in Australia by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) after an assessment and approval process. "In recent weeks, the TGA has obtained additional information demonstrating these vaccines provide protection and potentially reduce the likelihood that an incoming traveller would transmit COVID-19 infection to others while in Australia or become acutely unwell due to COVID-19," a statement from Australia's Department of Health informed. Recognition of Covaxin, along with the previously announced recognition of Covishield (manufactured by AstraZeneca,
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India), means many citizens of India, as well as other countries where these vaccines have been widely deployed, will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia, the statement said. "This will have significant impacts for the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia," the statement added. From 1 November 2021, vaccinated Australians and permanent residents aged 12 and over may depart Australia without the need to seek a travel exemption, the Australian Health Department said. The UN health body -- World Health Organisation -- has sought additional clarifications from Bharat Biotech, which manufactures Covaxin and a decision on emergency use authorisation is expected early next month. WHO giving approval for Emergency Use Authorisation for India's indigenous COVID-19 vaccine 'Covaxin' would facilitate the process of assisting other countries, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said addressing a media briefing on the first day of G20 summit in Rome.
(ANI)
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G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
India commits for net zero by 2070
GLASGOW (UK), Nov 1: Offering a new mantra and raising a pledge for combating climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday told world leaders at the COP26 that India will target a net zero goal by 2070 and aim at increasing its non-fossil fuel energy to 500 GW in its energy mix by 2030. Terming it as 'Panchamrut Ki Saugat' India's contribution to climate action, Modi - on the first day of the High Level segment of the 'World Leaders' Summit' (WLS) at the COP26 - said that India will reduce its carbon intensity by 45 per cent by 2030, starting with reducing projected carbon emission from now till 2030 by 1 billion tonnes and committed to have renewable energy component of 50 per cent by 2030. He gave a new mantra for sustainable development through a sustainable lifestyle. Displaying his penchant for acronyms, Modi said: "'One Word One World' movement mantra LIFE, 'Lifestyle for Environment' can be a mass movement wherein instead of mindless and destructive consumption, there should be mindful and deliberate utilisation." India has 17 per cent of the world's population but is responsible only for 5 per cent of total emissions, he said. Calling out the rich nations by stating that the promises made till date have been hollow, he said: "Just like India has raised its ambition, the rich nations too need to raise their climate finance and technology transfer agreements cannot remain the same." He exhorted the rich nations to enhance to $1 trillion climate finance and low-cost technology transfers and said that tracking climate finance is necessary. Taking cudgels on behalf of the developing world, he appealed to the comity of nations to take bolder steps.
'Namami Gange' enters Guinness World Record
Modi joined 120 heads of states/ governments from around the world, including US President Joe Biden, at the high-level segment of the crucial negotiation platform for countries to work out their emission plans for collectively restricting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius at the COP26, the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that started on Sunday and will go on till November 12. Reminding people that India is the only growing economy to have delivered on Paris Agreement in letter and spirit, he listed out India's track record - how it is fourth in installed renewable energy capacity and how non-fossil fuel energy will touch 40 per cent of India's energy mix soon. He also said the Indian Railways, the largest such organisation in the world ferrying crores of passenger, will be net zero by 2030, reducing 60 million tonnes (MT) of emissions and LEDs have helped reduce emissions by 40 MT. Speaking in Hindi and sprinkling Sanskrit mantras and words, Modi made an emotional declaration how, for him, Paris (where the COP was held in 2015) was not only a Summit but a sentiment and a commitment and India was not making those promises to the world but it was the 130 crore Indians promising themselves. This COP26 is deemed critical because, as warned by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), every additional 0.5 degree of warming will increase heat extremes, extreme precipitation, and droughts and for coastal areas, sea level rise will be a threat to their very existence. (IANS)
Modi meets Pope, extends invitation to visit India ROME, Oct 30: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Pope Francis on Saturday at the Vatican and invited the head of the Catholic Church to visit India. Taking to Twitter after his first-ever meeting with the Pope, Modi said: "Had a very warm meeting with Pope Francis. I had the opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues with him and also invited him to visit India." According to officials, the meeting which was initially scheduled for only 20 minutes, continued for an hour during which they
discussed a wide range of topics, including the fight against climate change and removing poverty. The last Papal visit to India took place in 1999 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister. It was the Pope John Paul II who had come to India then. Modi is on a three day visit to Italy to attend the G20 Summit in Rome from where he will proceed to Glasgow for the UN COP26. (IANS)
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NEW DELHI, Nov 1: "Namami Gange", the flagship programme of the Modi government for ensuring a clean Ganga, on Monday created a Guinness World Record by uploading the most photos with handwritten notes on its Facebook page in an hour. Ahead of the three-day "Ganga Utsav 2021" beginning on Tuesday, "Namami Gange" had planned to set a world record for uploading the most photos by people from across the country between 11 a.m. and 12 noon. Earlier, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), an initiative of the Jal Shakti Ministry, had urged Ganga lovers, conservationists, activists and the general public to prepare a message with a handwritten poem or a memoir or an article in the name of "Maa Ganga", click a photo with it and share it on the "Namami Gange Facebook event" page. The Guinness World Records certificate said: "The most photos of handwritten notes uploaded to Facebook in one hour has been achieved by Namami Gange, India in Delhi, India on 1 November 2021" Adjudicator, Guinness World Records, Rishi Nath, presented the certificate at a ceremony to Minister for Jal Shakti, Gajendra Shekhawat. Nath said the provisional numbers show that the record has been achieved. However, the exact numbers of photos uploaded would be declared later. The event and the Utsav are part of the people connect, public outreach activities of the NMCG. "Namami Gange" is an integrated conservation mission, approved as a Flagship Programme' by the Centre in June 2014 with a budgetary outlay of Rs 20,000 crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of national River Ganga. "Ganga Utsav" is a three-day festival celebrating river Ganga starting this year on November 2. The NMCG has been celebrating the day of declaration of river Ganga as the 'National River' on November 4 every year to promote stakeholder engagement and ensure public participation under the aegis of the Ganga Knowledge Center. (IANS)
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
After Australia, 5 more countries recognise India's Covaxin NEW DELHI, Nov 1: After Australia recognised Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for allowing entry of travellers who had received the vaccine, five more countries on Monday recognised India's vaccine certificate. These five countries recognised both Covaxin and Covishield. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that five more countries have recognised India's vaccination certificate, including Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, State of Palestine, Mauritius and Mongolia. In a tweet in the evening, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "Mutual recognition of Covid-19 vaccination certificates continues! Five more recognitions for India's vaccination certificate, including from Estonia, Kyrgyzstan, State of Palestine, Mauritius and Mongolia." Earlier, in the day Australia recognised Bharat Biotech's Covaxin along with Covishield for allowing entry of travellers who had received the vaccine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), the Australian drug regulator, announced that it has recognised two more Covid-19 vaccines not registered in Australia but
used widely internationally, which includes Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and BBIBP-CorV (manufactured by Sinopharm, China). The TGA further stated that with recognition of Covaxin, and BBIBP-CorV, along with the previously announced recognition of Coronavac (manufactured by Sinovac, China) and Covishield (manufactured by AstraZeneca), means many citizens of India and China as well as other countries in the region where these vaccines have been widely deployed will now be considered fully vaccinated on entry to Australia. The TGA stated that this will have significant impact for the return of international students, and travel of skilled and unskilled workers to Australia. "This recognition is for travellers aged 12 and over who have been vaccinated with Covaxin, and those 18 to 60 who have been vaccinated with BBIBP-CorV," the TGA said in a statement. The TGA mentioned that in recent weeks it has obtained additional information demonstrating these vaccines provide protection and potentially reduce the
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likelihood that an incoming traveller would transmit Covid-19 infection to others while in Australia or become acutely unwell due to Covid-19. "The supporting information has been provided to the TGA from the vaccine sponsor and or the World Health Organisation (WHO)," it said. In addition, with input from the TGA, Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) (ATAGI) have determined that those who have received two doses of a TGA-approved or recognised vaccine at least 14 days apart are regarded as fully vaccinated from seven days after the second dose (with the exception of Janssen vaccine, where they are regarded as fully vaccinated seven days after the single dose). This includes homologous (two doses of the same vaccine) and heterologous (two doses of two different TGA-approved or recognised vaccines) schedules. "From 1 November 2021, vaccinated Australians and permanent residents aged 12 and over may depart Australia without the need to seek a travel exemption," the statement added. (IANS)
Big B's NFT collections reach $5.20k on Day 1 of auction MUMBAI, Nov 2: As Indian celebrities latching onto the craze of non-fungible tokens (NFTs), megastar Amitabh Bachchan's NFT collections reached highest ever bidding in India at $5,20,000 on Day 1 of the auction. The record is proving to be the most successful so far with his 'Madhushala' NFT collection receiving highest ever bidding in India at $4,20,000 on Day 1 with two more days to go as fans continue to have a bidding frenzy. Madhushala is his father's collection of poems recorded in the superstar's own voice. "In a world of metaverses and digitization, NFTs have opened the doors to a new realm of connectivity and an opportunity to engage with my fans in a new way," Bachchan said. "The NFTs will offer the audience a chance to own an original piece of rare and cherished moments of my life including stories from my films, recitation from Madhushala, some back stories and moments from my films and these moments remain with them forever," he added. In addition to this, the auction also has seven autographed posters from his iconic movies and half a dozen collectibles of "punks and NFTs art and Poster collection" which have received bids worth over $1,00,000 on Day 1.
A unique feature to the auction is the "Loot Box", worth $10 each. Every buyer of this box would get an assured art piece from the NFT collection. The Loot box goes live on November 2 at 7 pm offering 5000 collectibles for which over 300,000 crypto collectible fans have signed up globally. This exclusive NFT auction is being hosted on BeyondLife.club, powered by Guardian Link, one of India's biggest de-centralised branded marketplace for NFTs. The auction went live on November 1 and will close on November 4. Meanwhile, following in the footsteps of megastars Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth, actress Sunny Leone has also ventured into the NFT space. Sunny has gone on to mint her NFTs.
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Minting is a process through which digital art becomes a part of the Ethereum blockchain - a public ledger that is unchangeable and tamper-proof. The actress took the lead among Indian actors to secure their digital assets when she broke the news about her association with NFT, two months back. This made her the first Indian actress to roll out her own NFTs.
(IANS)
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NEWS WORLD
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
Indian, US armies hold joint exercises in Alaskan snow-bound mountain
NEW YORK, Nov 1: Indian and US armies held a joint exercise in the snow-bound Chugach Mountains in Alaska approximating the conditions Indian soldiers face in the Himalayas where they confront Chinese troops. During the two weeks of the 'Yudh Abhyas' joint military exercises that ended on Friday, the soldiers practised cold weather survival, medical evacuation by air, mountaineering and small-arms marksmanship, according to the US Army. The final part of the drill was the field training exercise thousands of metres above sea level in "the Chugach Mountains in deep snow, blowing winds, and sub-freezing temperatures", where combined Indian and US Army units carried out a simulated military operation assault, a US Army write-up said. The highest point in the Chugach Mountains is about 4,000 metres. Indian soldiers have faced Chinese
aggression in the snow-bound Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control leading to clashes with casualties on both sides. There was also a standoff in January this year in the Sikkim area. About 350 Indian soldiers from the 7th Battalion of the Madras Regiment known as "Shandaar Saath," and 400 US para-troopers from the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) of the 25th Infantry Division called the "Spartan Brigade" took part in the 17th edition of Yudh Abhyas. The exercises were "aimed at improving the combined interoperability of the Indian and US Army to increase partner capacity for conventional, complex, and future contingencies throughout the Indo-Pacific region", according to the US Army article. The troops from the two countries worked on evacuating casualties using UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and practiced sling loading artillery underneath CH-47 Chinook helicopters. They also took turns familiarising themselves with each other's weapon systems including the American M4 carbine, M240B, and the Indian Small Arms System. CH-47s and UH-60 helicopters are also in the Indian military's arsenal. "This exercise has achieved a high degree of interoperability and jointmanship at all levels," Indian Brigadier Parag Nangare, who was the exercise director.
"We have learned the best practices, techniques, and procedures which have evolved from operating in these conditions." "Two weeks ago, we met as strangers" but now "we share a bond of friendship and the knowledge that when needed, we will be there for each other", said US Army Colonel Jody Shouse. The soldiers from the two countries practised yoga and for building camaraderie played kabbadi and American football. With India deeply entrenched in the UN Peacekeeping operations as the largest contributor of troops, the exercises included a simulation of a UN mission with the US that does not contribute regular troops to the UN. They shared "their best practices in planning, coordinating and executing military missions as a combined staff", the US Army write-up said. This was the second Yudh Abhyas held this year as the 2020 edition of the exercise was postponed to February this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic and conducted in Rajasthan. By Arul Louis
'Space sector will turn into trillion-dollar industry, role of start-ups key'
DUBAI, Oct 19: The space sector will turn into a trillion-dollar industry and start-ups will play a key role, Dr Somanath S, Director, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), ISRO said. Somanath said this during a panel discussion on ‘Global Opportunities for Start-ups in Space Sector and Trends', at the ongoing India Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. "Space sector is on its way to becoming a trillion-dollar industry and the role of start-ups will be crucial in this journey. For start-ups to succeed, they must either reinvent existing technology to cause a disruption in the existing domain, generate new technologies and ideas into the sector, or use innovative ideas to put existing products or projects to new uses," Somanath said. He also urged established companies and start-ups that have graduated into full-fledged businesses to give back to the sector by mentoring the new generation of start-ups.
India is planning to boost the space sector in the global market. The country has recently revised its existing policies to involve the private sector and is also looking at international cooperation. With the aim to make the country an economic space hub in the future, it also recently launched a new industry body Indian Space Association (ISpA), that will bridge the gap between government and private players. The six-month-long Expo 2020 Dubai, which began on October 1, will run till March 31 next year. Among the 192 participating countries, India has the biggest pavilion at the expo. Fifteen states and nine central ministries from India are participating in this expo. The India Pavilion features an innovative kinetic facade made up of 600 individual colourful blocks. It is developed as a mosaic of rotating panels that will depict different
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themes as they rotate on their axis. It represents the theme of 'India on the move' and is a unique amalgam of the rich heritage and technological advances of the nation, according to an official statement.
(IANS)
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
Taliban warns of global problems if their govt isn't recognised KABUL, Oct 31: The Taliban have called on the US and other global powers not to waste time in recognising their government in Afghanistan, warning that failure to do so would have major problems and consequences not only for the country, but the world at large. "Our message to America is, if the unrecognition continues, Afghan problems continue, it is the problem of the region and could turn into a problem for the world," said Zabihullah Mujahid, the Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, during a press conference in Kabul. "The reason why the Taliban and US went to war last time was because the two did not have formal diplomatic ties. The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the September 11, 2001, attacks after the then-Taliban government refused to hand over chief the Al Qaeda, Osama Bin Laden. " Mujahid said that the issues that led to war in the past could be resolved through negotiations and political compromise. "Recognition was the right of the people of Afghanistan," he said, adding that the failure to do so would result in continues seizure of Afghan assets and funds at a time when the country is faced with severe economic and humanitarian crisis. Since the fall of Afghanistan in August, no
country has formally recognised the Taliban government. The global community is now being engaged through delegation level meeting by the Taliban, who are working towards assuring and establishing what they claim to be a changed image and outlook of the group as compared to the past. Taliban delegations are meeting dignitaries of various countries, including China, while senior foreign officials have visited Kabul recently with an aim to create mutual grounds of understanding towards a more inclusive government structure in Afghanistan. At the moment, due to non-recognition by the global community, foreign assets worth $10 billion, parked majorly in the US Federal Reserves, have been blocked. Afghanistan has been a country, which primarily banked on foreign aids to run at least 80 per cent of its operations, is now reeling into humanitarian crisis and an economic meltdown. "Granting recognition to the current system is the right of Afghans and no one can deprive us of this right nor will it benefit anyone," Mujahid further said at the press conference. On the other hand, the global community maintains that the Taliban need to live up to its public pledges of ensuring rights to Afghan women and minorities.
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On the issue of the female education, Mujahid claimed that "young girls in many Afghan provinces have returned to school and the issue is gradually being resolved across the country". While the Afghanistan crisis continues to swell and worsen, it seems that the Taliban are still not ready to consider demands of the global community and are not ready to be, what they call "directed" by any foreign country. "We will not give this right to foreigners to direct us about how our girls should undertake educational activities. This is an internal Afghan matter," Mujahid added. By Hamza Ameer
Indian-origin kid wins top prize in US science contest for middle schoolers
NEW YORK, Oct 30: Indian-origin Akilan Sankaran has won the top prize in the nation's leading science competition with a computer programme using "antiprime numbers" that can accelerate everyday processes. While the 14-year-old won the $25,000 prize in the Broadcom Masters science and engineering competition on Thursday, three of the four winners of the next level prizes of $10,000 were also of Indian-origin, as were 15 of the 30 finalists from around the country. Maya Ajmera, the president of the Society for Science (SfS), which runs the competition with Broadcom Foundation, said: "The young people we are celebrating today are working to solve the world's most intractable problems. The Broadcom Masters finalists serve as an inspiration to us all, and I know they will all go on to find immense success on their STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) journey." Akilan's winning entry was the computer program that can calculate "highly divisible numbers" that are called antiprime numbers and are over 1,000 digits long, SfS said. "He created a new class of functions ‘the smooth class’ to measure a number's divisibility" and his programme has the potential capacity to speed up and optimize
the performance of software and apps," it said. "By analysing and developing 'smooth highly divisible numbers', Akilan's goal was to make calculations run more quickly, in turn accelerating countless everyday processes and tasks," it added. Sankaran "hopes to become an astrophysicist so that he can merge three of his favourite topics: physics, mathematics and space science", according to the SfS. Camellia Sharma, 14, built a 3D-printed aerial drone/boat that can fly to a spot, land on the water and take underwater photos while its software can then count the fish living there, winning a $10,000 award. Another winner of a similar award, Prisha Shroff, 14, developed an artificial intelligencebased wildfire prevention system that uses satellite and meteorological data to identify
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fire-prone locations and deploy drones there. For her study of the many social factors that affect the health of communities, Ryka C. Chopra, 13, geocoded the locations of fast-food restaurants to see if they are built near populations of obese people, perhaps contributing to the obesity cycle, winning another $10,000 award. More than 1,800 middle school students from across the US entered the Broadcom Masters competition. (IANS)
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
G’Day Mate
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G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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Getting married in Australia Ceremonies in Melbourne with Coronavirus Restrictions We are in Phase B at the moment since mid-night of 21st October 2021 which is based upon the completion of 70% double dose. At this stage, lockdown has ended in Melbourne along with the night curfew. More social and recreation activities open up for fully vaccinated Victorians. Religious gatherings, weddings and funerals can go ahead in metropolitan Melbourne with a cap of 50 people outdoors or 20 people indoors if everyone present is fully vaccinated with a density limit of 1 person per 4 sqm. If vaccination status isn’t being checked, attendance is limited to 10 people and density limits of 1 person per 4 sqm apply. Attendance at weddings include the couple, a celebrant and a photographer in addition to the attendance cap. Dancefloors are closed. If a wedding is held at a private residence, private gathering restrictions apply. Attendance limits at funerals don’t include the people required to conduct the funeral. If a funeral is held at a private residence,
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private gathering restrictions apply Phase C will be 80% double dose and the indicative date is 5th November 2021. Once this is achieved, regional Victoria and Metro Melbourne will come together under the same rules. Weddings, funerals, and religious services return for 150 fully vaccinated people indoors, and 500 outdoors. Please note that the minimum notice period for submitting your notice of intended marriage form to your marriage celebrant is still one month. Kindly contact me if you any questions related to ceremonies.
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FEATURE
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
An Aromatic Conversation
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Kishwar Chowdhury MasterChef 2021 finalist and her delicious plate of sweets celebrating Diwali.
e all sensed the warmth that Kishwar Chowdhury portrayed in MasterChef but in reality, she beams humility tenfold. For us, at G’day India and The Indian Weekly it has been long overdue to meet Kishwar in person, so when the moment came we had to cease it over a cup of tea, coming out of lockdown. She did a bit of fresh baking for us, dressing up
her beautiful tray laden with shooji (semolina) halwa infused with saffron and pista, her signature nankhatai (parsi biscuits), and jalebis. “We're so close to the end of the year and the festive season (Diwali) and everything that's coming up. I guess leading to the end of the year it’s something that you can share with family and friends, especially if you're in a picnic outdoors,” says Kishwar. When we first spoke to her earlier this year, Kishwar was on a journey, giving MasterChef viewers a run for their money with a nailbiting finish. Introducing panta bhaat (fermented rice with dash of
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smoked dry red chillies and onions) to Australia did it for us. Can you share how you started your MasterChef journey? The MasterChef journey started about this time last year. My son led me to it. [Cooking] is something that we do together as a family, even with my daughter who's five now. It’s because my son said ‘Mom, you should really apply for MasterChef’. I really never thought of putting myself on such a public arena and doing that. What was the best thing you learned as a MasterChef contestant? I went in there thinking I've already had a really good life; I know where I am with my family, my career and my kids. MasterChef stripped a little of that away and made me revisit who I am without all of that. It makes you very vulnerable. You really have to know yourself, your strengths and your weaknesses. I think MasterChef definitely made me stronger and taught me a lot about myself that I didn't expect to find out at this age. What went through your mind during the MasterChef journey? It's very long days. We get up very early. We shoot late at night. My greatest hurdle [was being] away from my family. I learned that my kids are okay and how capable my husband, mom, dad, sisters, and friends are – how much they love me to let me do this for myself and take care of my ecosystem without me. What was going through your mind during the MasterChef finals? No one really thinks that they're going to get in, so being a part of that in itself is surreal. It just felt larger than myself; for me, putting on the chef's jacket and being there it was a huge honour. And I felt like I had to really carry myself and step into these big shoes. It was a very big turning point in my life. How was the experience introducing Bengali food to Australia? It was an amazing, emotional experience. I think one of the very early conversations I had with the judges that didn't come on air is that you don't see people like me on television, cooking this food. It's not that people don't celebrate and love
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
South Asian cuisine or Indian regional cuisine. It's just that we don't see variety, and we don't see a lot of female South Asian Chefs on Australian television live. Then you have someone like me doing this for the first time and saying this is authentically what we eat at home and sharing that. How has life changed, post-MasterChef? What sort of opportunities are knocking on your door? I really wanted to get into a kitchen and be trained by the greats. And I think that was the biggest thing MasterChef gave me: that platform into Michelin Chef Yomoda’s kitchen. Chef Yomoda was an incredible mentor. I’m also collaborating with restaurants like Tonka, and brands like Cargo Crew and Dilma. I just finished a campaign with the UN World Food Program. For them to reach out to me – It's amazing to be a part of that. What does cooking mean to Kishwar? I think now I can categorise the different types of cooking I do. Some of it is research. Some of it is recipe development. Some of it is to scale up or in a restaurant. It's very different. [Restaurant cooking] has to be homogenous and you have to be able to scale it and repeat it night after night. And then when I'm making produce, that needs to be scaled to a greater quantity that you need to sell. Could you name one of your most beloved ingredients? I’ve been tinkering with many Japanese ingredients like Miso that put in a punch of a flavour. But I think before that, I'd say tamarind adds a really great flavour profile. It can be used in a lot of things. Aside from that, I really love working with nigella seeds. They always have that very earthy flavour that we use in savoury food. Where can we find Kishwar’s menu? Hopefully throughout November, you'll be able to find my menu in Tonka; I'll be going back there. After that I've got some flavours that we'll be releasing with Boca in Ivanhoe. I have a few more goods that will be released in 2022. I'll be sharing all of that on my social media and I think that's the best place to keep track of where I'm doing and where I'm cooking.
How do you keep your family life and commitments balanced? I think we've all really had to dig deep and juggle during the lockdown. I think it’s just finding routine and balance, saying no to things, not scheduling things when my children need my time and attention. I can't say I always succeeded or epically failed, but somehow, we stumbled through it to find a good balance to do all of that. I'm still figuring out what works. I think something that the pandemic has taught me to do is just be very open. Be ready for everything and take a few more knocks and punches there. What is the next five years for Kishwar looking like? I'm still in the whirlwind of post-MasterChef. So, I have a lot of exciting projects where I’ll get to cook on TV or come and do interviews like this and have collaborations. I think something I want is to take that time and write my book. That's something that is very
important to me. How do you handle the newfound fame? In Melbourne, we've been locked down for a very long time. When I do interviews in the UAE, India or Bangladesh, and in Asia as well, that's when I hear how big and popular MasterChef really is, and people following my food is incredible. I'm still a mom; I still cook and I go about my regular day. If we're to travel to Asia and India, or even the UK and North America, that's where I think I'll notice a greater difference, but here at home, it's still just … home. Has being on MasterChef changed your goals in life? I think my core goals are still exactly the same. In one of the conversations we had in the wine room, I said to the judges it's like ‘coming on MasterChef feels like you have got the golden ticket’. I get to do what I love, but I get to do it
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on such an amazing platform. [My goals] have very little to do with the fame that comes off the back of MasterChef or the recognition. It is the happiness that I get through cooking, through my family – and I guess that ambition of writing my book. Those very core things are still completely integral to me. How would you say that fame and cooking will always be together? I know one thing: I didn't come into this to try to attain any fame. I feel like that's something that's fleeting. I’m very grateful that people feel connected to me and want to know what I'm cooking, or what I'm writing or saying. But cooking is always going to be my life, whether someone's watching or not. How do you keep yourself fit? It’s long hours. Last week it was International Chef’s Day and I addressed the Chef's Federation in Bangladesh. I think generally when you're around food, it is a lot of hours that you're on your feet. We're always eating and tasting things, and I eat a lot more sugar now than I would like to – but we are also burning it off. I guess it cancels itself out a little bit. Any message to the aspiring chefs, housewives and young girls who are not dreaming big? I think I'd like to say it is very true that as a South Asian we do expect the role of cooking to be passed down through the women in the family. Not to let the weight of responsibility of cooking fall just on your daughters. As we sit to conclude the interview, Kishwar talks about growing up in a house full of home cooks, inheriting her skills from her parents and passing them down to her children, who cherish this gift. Cooking is not a special talent or a hobby. It's a life skill. Her words are eloquent and her cooking is a stroke of passion and flavour. We not only wish her and her family a very happy Diwali, but we can’t help quoting the famous Madhur Jaffrey: “It’s a life I wanted, I chose it.” By Nandita Chakraborty
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FEATURE
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
Love Letter to Melbourne A decade in Melbourne, a woman decides to celebrate her love not only with her husband but also with the city
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hen someone decides to renew ten years of their marriage vows not just with their husband but also with Melbourne; undoubtedly, it’s a milestone worth celebrating -with your family. But what happens when your family is stuck overseas due to Covid? Meet celebrity interviewer, filmmaker & Mental Health Ambassador, Dheepa Awtani founder of babydelaw who not only creatively wrote a love letter to herself but also with Melbourne in this process. ‘A century is about events; a decade is about people’ and that’s what makes the existence absolutely bittersweet.” said Dheepa. It has been ten years since she called Melbourne her home and 2021 also marked her 10th wedding anniversary. She had plans to celebrate by renewing her wedding vows in the presence of her parents, in-laws and their elder daughter Deleena. But there was another reason to make this extra special as they welcomed their youngest daughter Deanna this year. But lockdown meant saying goodbye to all social plans, just like many Melbournian Dheepa’s parents were supposed to come to Australia in March 2020 from America and her in-laws from India in June 2021. But Australia closed its international borders to other countries causing major disruptions and delays; despite them having visas and double vaccinations they couldn’t visit Melbourne. Dheepa, said that while it was extremely tough to keep a straight face during the lockdown she didn’t want COVID to dampen her plans either. Taking matters into her own hands, she started designing her wedding anniversary with her family and Melbourne in mind, to be more precise, a party with her
husband, her pregnant self and with the city, visiting some of Melbourne’s iconic points. A heavily pregnant Dheepa began to plan meticulously all the details and places she wanted to take her parents and in-laws when they would have visited, specially the things she loves doing in the city. The tenth year also termed as the ‘Tin’ anniversary as metal represents flexibility, strength & protection; and it is also for parents as they stand as pillars to their kids since their birth. “This 10th year the world, parents and newborn babies definitely needed the same I felt. It was extremely heartbreaking to be by ourselves pre-and postnatal, it’s physical and mental impacts are just beyond repair.” says Dheepa. These endearing moments are a testament to the city and to its people as everything is at a standstill. So, earlier this year in April, Dheepa saw a window of opportunity to do a photoshoot for their 10th anniversary in August. Each photoshoot had a concept behind making the ultimate picture-perfect photo album. Firstly, a photoshoot at the famous Doveton Myuna Farm was something she wanted to feel closer to home. With nature wild and free, it reminded her of her free spirit. “Myuna farm photoshoot was a tribute to all the birthday celebrations kids have missed especially with grandparent’s due to pandemic”. The second concept was definitely a love letter to Melbourne where she and her husband Dixit Awtani decided to show their love for Melbourne which is not only the home for artists, students, writers and a melting pot for cultures but it is also her home. She and her family being a big Harry Potter fan, she wanted to take her parents to one of the Harry Potter show at the Princess
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Theatre, she also wanted to capture the iconic Melbourne sounds from Flinders Street Station to Hosier Lane to its trams and the heartbeat of Melbourne, Federation square. Dheepa wanted to capture all this in her lens and share it with her loved ones overseas. Her special tribute had to be her adorning red bridal gown at the Parliament to mark her special anniversary and also a tribute to all the newlyweds who shoot their wedding photos there. Now that parents of Australian citizens and residents are regarded as Immediate family by the Department of Home Affairs Australia, Dheepa is beyond ecstatic for this positive change starting 4th November and is certain the feeling is mutual amongst the Expat diaspora in Australia who are waiting to be united with their families. Hopefully the time comes when the world is soon lockdown free. In her own words “Love, Lost, and LockedLife- an absolutely creative way of capturing Melbourne & maternity time.” We wish creative Dheepa all the best for her love, life and cherishing letters to Melbourne. By Nandita Chakraborty
FEATURE
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
HOWZZAT!
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Brett Lee adds another feather to his cap becoming Jacob’s Creek Brand Ambassador
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ustralian wine brand Jacob’s Creek couldn’t have found a better fit; announcing former Australian international cricketer and fast bowler Brett Lee as the brand’s latest ambassador. Jacob’s Creek was also announced earlier this year as the Official Wine Partner for the International Cricket Council (ICC) until the end of 2023, with the first major tournament, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021, currently taking place in UAE & Oman. Brett Lee has led an illustrious cricketing career, becoming a cult legend in all three formats of cricket. He is also regarded as one of the best pace bowlers to have ever played the sport, finishing his test cricket career in 2015 with three hundred and ten wickets, and his One Day International career with three hundred and eighty wickets. Lee not only plays a major role in cricket media around the world but is also an avid family man. The last eighteen months had been extremely tough, and recognising this partnership is an exciting opportunity to encourage people to now reconnect with families and share some memorable moments. His love for wine sparked when he used to play Test series and following the Adelaide test, if the team won, then the whole team would go to Barossa Valley and enjoy some wine. “I love to share a glass of wine with family and friends whether it be to celebrate a milestone, the end of a hard week or to simply stop and enjoy the moment with loved ones,” says the Jacob’s Creek Ambassador. As the exclusive wine partner, Jacob’s Creek has pouring rights for all ICC events, branding at in-stadia bars, stadium and digital broadcast advertising, and use of brand marks for the partnership period. The brand will roll out branded activations in key markets including Australia and New Zealand, India, UAE and UK. Lee says that as Jacob’s Creek has had a long-standing connection to sport, he admired the brand’s ethos to connect cricket fans and wine lovers, bringing people together through the celebration of sport. The ICC announced Australia as the host country for the Men’s T20 World Cup in twelve months’ time. It will be the first time Australia has hosted the global event, following on from a record-breaking women’s event in 2020 held at the MCG on International Women’s Day. We at G’day India and The Indian Weekly not only got excited with Australia being the host but also with Lee’s latest venture. His long-standing love for India and now the winning mix of Lee and Jacob’s Creek, we decided to celebrate the man, his cricket, and his wine and get to know him personally. So, naturally we had to ask this ‘Ambassador’ who calls India his second home as he shares a unique Love affair with India
which is only possible because of the warmth of the Indian culture that keeps drawing him back for more. “The people, the culture, the food. What’s not to love about it!” says Lee. When asked, what’s his slice of life with India, including the million followers he has endorsed and his first film coincidentally named Unindian? He simply puts it down to his humility; humbled and feels immensely lucky to secure such awesome connection to India over the last twenty years. Lee jets his life between India and the rest of the world, spending roughly three months a year in India. He feels vastly fortunate enough to work in two industries that he loves. The synergy between film and sport has always attracted Lee and hence this had attracted him to pocket the perks of a sportsman. Life after cricket had him endorsing many brands in India, modelling for a chocolate advertisement to be on the cover of a pay TV magazine here in Oz, Lee says acting in both Australia and India, is the best of both worlds for him. “I always felt like an actor when I walked out onto the cricket field.” Lee adds that one almost morph into someone different to one’s personality in real life. That way one can separate relationships and keep cricket separate. Even now, as he speaks about him being the brand Ambassador for Jacob’s creek, the idea of taking Australian wine to India along with cricket is just like something on many occasions the world associates India with Bollywood. Similarly, when one thinks about names to define Australia - wine from Jacobs Creek springs to mind. Winemaking is an Incredible Australian story that goes back to one hundred and seventy-five years in the making. Lee adds that every time he sees a bottle of Jacob’s Creek in India it makes him feel proud to be an Australian and he is elated with joy.
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So, we couldn’t help but ask him about his favourite glass of wine on a hot summer’s day, be it India or Australia and Lee not only announces he’s’ been enjoying Le Petit Rosè but also gives us a crash course on its taste. He explains it’s a beautiful crisp rose that is easy to drink in many ways; this wine emulates a good French rose with a crisp dry taste and a hint of mild Berries. He also adds Jacob’s Creek Double Barrel Shiraz an absolute one of his favourites. The amazing flavours when one gets cracking it open is simply exquisite. He further adds, “I believe it’s all down to the way this hearty Shiraz has been finished off in aged scotch whisky barrels made from American white oak. Stunning!” Who knew we would be talking to the genius about his expertise on a delicate glass of rosette or even find him run a commentary on a glass of Shiraz rather than an off swing? We say that’s a googly. Speaking to him on who he thought would win the T20 world cup series title, Lee still believes India would be the firm favourites. Although from an Australian perspective Lee feels the present team is probably the best T-20 squad that Australia has ever had. Lee the Jacob’s creek Ambassador, Lee the cricketer, Lee the family man or Lee the actor, call him what you may, but he is the gifted human being who masters any craft he’s thrown into. We at G’day India and The Indian Weekly not only wish him all the very best for all his future engagements but also for his new role as Jacob’s Creek Ambassador, talking all things wine. We cannot help quoting the man himself on the spirit of cricket, “It’s very challenging. The most important thing you need as a sportsman is to be clear on what you’re actually doing.” Brett Lee. (By G’day India and Media Release)
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FESTIVALS
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
DIWALI Bringing people together BY ARCHITA BAWEJA
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t's that time of the year again when the streets are beaming with joy, lights glowing in every house back in India and the weather is nearly perfect. The month of October brings Diwali and with it exuberance, and the festive mood is in full swing. The origin of the word 'Diwali' is from the Sanskrit word 'Deepavali' where 'Deepa' means 'light' and 'vali' means 'row;' thus, a row of lights, which is exactly what is seen in homes during this time -rows of light in celebration of the festival. Diwali is a five-day festival that celebrates the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. The First Day (Dhanteras) Dhanteras is the worship of Lord Dhanvantari. Hindus consider this an extremely auspicious day for making new purchases, especially of gold or silver articles and new utensils. The Second Day (Narak Chaturdasi) celebrates Lord Krishna's defeat of a demon named Narakasura. The demon asks Lord Krishna for forgiveness and Krishna grants it. The Third Day (Lakshimi Puja) is the main celebration day of Diwali. On this day, the Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the ocean bringing with her wealth and prosperity for the world. People responded by honouring and praising Lakshmi, and this practice continues to date. The Fourth Day (Goverdhan Puja) is a day for the prayer known as Goverdhan Puja (pooja) – a large offering of food. Some celebrate this day in honour of Lord Krishna's protection of the villagers of Vrindavan from torrential rain caused by Indra. The Fifth Day (Bhai Duj) celebrates the love and affection between brothers and
sisters. It reinstates the bother's duty to protect and value his sister, and the sister's reciprocated affection. During the five-day period, people's homes are lit up by 'diyas' and the exteriors are often decorated with electric lights. Inside the home, one will find intricate rangoli art, which are patterns on the floor created by either rice or coloured powder. Neighbours exchange gifts, and the emphasis is often on sweets, dried fruit, and other gifts. It is also a time to share with those in need and give freely to members of the community who have little. The air is rich with the smell of incense, the acrid smell of burning crackers, and
the aromas coming from the kitchen. The celebration features various rich savoury and sweet dishes, and while eating out is popular, families will mostly prepare food at home for when guests arrive to exchange gifts and watch fireworks. This festival is an occasion of joy, merrymaking, and togetherness for Indians around the world. While the festival is celebrated on a grand scale throughout the country, it is also celebrated in other countries with large Hindu populations that include Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Singapore, Myanmar, Indonesia, Britain, Malaysia, Thailand, Guyana, Japan, Fiji, Trinidad and Tobago, Africa, and Australia. In Melbourne, Australia, every year the Fed square is lit up during Diwali. There are various food stalls, folk and traditional dances and Indians in huge number turn up to celebrate their favourite festival. There is also a huge celebration in Knox which is organised by Shree Swami Narayan temple. The fair includes Rangoli competitions, cooking workshops, music night, cultural performances and a lot more. In the end I sincerely hope that this Diwali will bring you peace, prosperity, success, health and great happiness. I hope the festival of light brings with it the power to ward away evil and brighten the path for the future. Happy Diwali!
Archita Baweja of Melbourne is an engineer by profession but a writer at heart
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FEATURE
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
The Laidback Storyteller
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Meet Melbourne-based writer Nishant Kaushik, author of seven published novels
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t’s almost two years of living within lockdown and everyone is craving some sort of normality, but does the creative process stall for an artist? No! Stories don’t take a back seat, even for laidback writer Nishant Kaushik (38), author of seven novels including Romance with Chaos, My Father is a Hero, Chaos Down Under, The Chaos Project and the upcoming Good Boy Joe. By day, he is a telecom consultant in a telecom firm and by night, he is churning up stories in his Melbourne home. As he sits with G’day India and The Indian Weekly chief editor Mr Sethi and me, he talks about his struggles, success, aspirations, dreams, and upcoming novel. “I moonlight as a writer,” says Kaushik, explaining that he has taken writing full-time intermittently but writing has always been his first love. He is a versatile writer, saying that he has tried everything so far other than romance and horror, but he still likes to diversify. “I am working towards a journey where I can eventually quit my day job and focus purely on writing because that’s where my passion lies.” His first desire to write dates back to nearly twenty-one years ago, when he was an engineering student. His mind wandered to anything except his engineering curriculum. Going back further, when Kaushik was seventeen, he was lured by the concepts of friendship, teenage romance and films, which prompted him to write his first book about friends. Kaushik’s first manuscript was rejected fifteen times before a Delhi-based publisher signed his first contract as an author. His debut novel was published in 2007. In 2012, he wrote Good Boy Joe; he was three books old in the market, thinking it would be easy for him to publish with his existing associations in India, one of them
being Rupa Publications. The book is a dark comedy centred on Joe de Costa, a jobless twenty-year-old youth in Bombay who comes face-to-face with his favourite but failing actor seeking his own redemption on a comeback film – fate brings them together in a comical adventure. It was inspired by Kaushik walking past ‘Mannat’, which is Shahrukh Khan’s bungalow, and thinking, “What if I were able to open the door of his house and greet him?” He was confident it was diverse and fresh enough to be picked up, but to his shock Rupa rejected the manuscript, saying, “It’s not something that our readers will appreciate. So how about we extend your contract for two more books, but not Good Boy Joe.” So, the book took a backseat until 2014; by this time, he had approached several other publishers, literally all leading names in the Indian market, and they had all rejected the manuscript. A confessed lazy writer, he was not up for self-publishing as it involved a lot of hard work on the author’s part and he did not understand book distribution – but he still did it, because he so badly wanted the story to come out. He did not understand how his book reached the UK market, and it was only during the 2020 lockdown that Emmy award-winning radio journalist Kate Delaney got her hands on this book. One thing led to another. In September 2020, Kate’s interview with Kaushik was broadcast to about 110 stations across the USA. It landed on the ears of a literary agent, who then took a leap of faith and passed the word on to UK-based publishers Austin Macauley. The publishers declared they wanted to publish the book and released Good Boy Joe under their imprint. Speaking about the success of his novel My Father is a Hero, Kaushik reveals he drew the
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character Vaibhav Kulkarni from the shadow of his own father, who always believed, from the Bhagavad Gita, “Never get let down by failure and never get too arrogant because of your success, always create the middle path. And there is an element of that middle path in this book as well.” This book had a journey of its own as well. At that time, he was interning as a film script consultant for a company in Mumbai in 2011. One of the projects asked him to write a film script for the technician – and critics were looking for new and diverse film strips. He wrote this as a film script and screenplay that was never picked up, so he turned it into a book. Commercially, his second novel, a corporate satire named Romance with Chaos, has done the most business; it has sold more than 100,000 copies since its release in 2009. But on a personal level, My Father’s a Hero is the dearest to Kaushik. He is also known for kicking up a storm with his tweet with writer-director Siddharth P Malhotra. In March 2015, Kaushik was given a one-liner brief about what Malhotra was trying to direct, and based on that he had to come up with a synopsis. Kaushik’s immediate question was about a contract, but he was told that it would all be signed once he brought up a good synopsis. Like most writers, Kaushik did not want to miss this opportunity and rub the director the wrong way, so he submitted a synopsis. In December 2017, he had gone on a vacation to India and the day he landed, he saw on Twitter the trailer of a film called Hichki, directed by Siddharth Malhotra, which immediately made him sit up in his seat. While having lunch he started tweeting about the film’s similarity to his synopsis, and his tweets went viral with about 600 retweets and thousands of likes, and celebrities like Anurag Kashyap and Saurabh Shukla endorsing Kaushik’s opinion. All Kaushik wanted to say was that he was robbed of his dignity. He didn’t intend to take legal recourse to this, because it was pointless. “I’d be fighting against a magnet,” says Kaushik, noting that it is high time that the Indian film industry starts recognising and compensating the effort made by writers and stop hiding behind big flashy banners. As a message to budding writers, Kaushik says not to take advice from established writers, and to write beautiful or ugly, whatever format it takes. Wait for it to be out and then worry about how it will get read; getting read is the second part of the story, the first part is actually writing it. So, baby steps, emerging writers! We thank him for sharing his remarkable journey with us and wish this passionate writer the very best for his upcoming novel and future storytelling. I can’t help quoting JK Rowling: “It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
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LEGAL
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
Inheritance and division of matrimonial assets BY GURPAL SINGH
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he question as to whether property received as a part of inheritance shall be divided between the warring spouse/partner at the time off separating and settling the financial matters is of greater importance. There are different stages in which someone can say to have received the inheritance from the family e.g., prior to the commencement of the relationship, during the subsistence of the relationship; or after the break down of the relationship. The timing of receiving the inheritance is important. The inheritance received by a partner prior to the relationship or at about the time of the relationship is generally treated as initial financial contribution to the relationship or the marriage. Such a contribution shall be initial contribution, part of the pool and may weigh in favour of the partner who brings in such contribution. The inheritance received during the marriage, or the relationship requires to be distributed as per the intentions of the benefactor. In the absence of the benefactor’s intentions, the property shall be treated as a financial contribution by the partner who received it. If the benefactor’s intention was for the use of the property to the benefit of the entire family, it would most likely be regarded as a part of the joint asset pool. However, if the property was intended to be for the benefit of the named beneficiary and if the party kept it separate from other
assets without mixing up, the said inheritance shall be treated as separate from the joint asset pool. The size of the inheritance can also influence the way property interest is dealt with in the process of financial settlement. In case it is found that the size of the asset pool compared to the size of the inheritance is smaller than the inheritance and the division of asset pool in the absence of inheritance creates an inequitable division, such inheritance can be included in the asset pool and distributed amongst the parties. The inheritance received after the culmination of the relationship shall not be viewed as a financial contribution to the asset pool. Interestingly the matrimonial property pool does not straighten up at the time of separation. The court can take different approaches to work out the issue of inheritance. The inheritance can either be
quarantined or it can be included in the matrimonial property pool to be divided between the parties to the marriage or relationship. In the first approach, the court can order the partner who received the inheritance to retain it while the other assets of the parties would then be divided in accordance with the parties’ contributions and future needs. In the second approach the court may include the inheritance to be a contribution made by a partner who received it however shall not reimburse that partner equivalent to the amount of inheritance; however, receive a larger percentage of the pool to reflect the contribution of inheritance in the settlement. It is important to work out and protect the inheritance from being messed up at a later stage. The parties to the marriage can enter into a legally binding agreement in the share of a financial agreement or the consent orders. Such an agreement of consent order shall protect the inheritance of the party to the marriage or relationship to the extent of exclusivity. Also, the reflection of the benefactor’s intention at the time of drawing a good estate planning in the shape of a family trust may provide support to the asset protection and ultimate usage of the inheritance. Finally, the principles of a just and equitable division shall be considered by the court to determine if the inheritance be included in the matrimonial financial pool. There was no requirement for a nexus between any specific asset owned by one of the parties to the marriage or relationship and to the marriage. The court retains discretion as to the approach in respect of the treatment of the property flew from inheritance.
Gurpal Singh is the principal lawyer of Melbourne law firm, Saundh Singh & Smith Lawyers | W: www.sssl.com.au
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OPINION
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
Diwali – The Festival which brings out the light in us!
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BY KARTHIK ARASU President of “Australia India Sports Council
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t is that time of the year again, and thankfully the restrictions have eased off just in time for us to celebrate one of the most celebrated festivals of the world -Diwali! Sweets and savouries from friends have started substituting my meals, not a good time if you want to control the diet. I see Diwali as one occasion that is not just a festival celebration; it is not just about sweets and gifts. It is that time of the year we come together and continue our many millennia-old traditions and culture and, most importantly, share the joy with loved ones, not just with gifts and sweets but the reassurance of the bond and value we hold for them. Diwali is not just a celebration; it is also an opportunity for us to be the best ambassador of our culture, religion and tradition to the broader community in Australia. Our lights, both outside the door and inside ourselves, will make us an integral part of this great community, and we should be consciously taking along everyone around us in this journey. A few years ago, we started pleas for an optional public holiday which would have allowed us to celebrate festivals like Diwali with our family and friends without losing the same fervour we had in India. The calls for this have consistently increased, and it is good to see it coming from other communities as well. Many multinational companies across Australia have started adopting this, and I am very confident in the near future, we will see the optional public holiday – a day of your choice to take a
holiday will be a reality in Australia. Why do we need a holiday for festivals like Diwali? If you are one of them who is asking this question, then the answer is simple. You don’t have to take a holiday on Diwali or any other festival; you can simply take it when it is important for you. At the same time, it will give me an option to take on Diwali, Pongal, Ganesh Chaturthi, Eid, etc. It will allow someone to take it on their cultural new year or a traditional festival. An optional public holiday is essential for celebrating and continuing our culture and tradition and passing it on to future generations. If not, our children will be the weekend festival community in the future and soon have a danger of losing our culture and tradition forever. Diwali is also a festival that’s fast becoming a platform for some to propagate their agendas in the name of social responsibility. Three hundred sixty-four other days and hundreds of other festivals in a year will not make the cut for these people. If you see they value our festival more, that’s why they target it to promote their agendas. But it is also our cultural and social responsibility to call them out and show them the door by teaching a valuable lesson - “My festival and I are not for sale”. “It’s our festival. We inherited it from our
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ancestors, and we know best how to celebrate it and care for it.” In the coming decade, Diwali will be celebrated as one of the main festivals in Australia. For Diwali, we will have a holiday (optional, of course). Our neighbours will know what it is. Our children will have special events at their schools, workplaces will have Diwali dinners, Myers to McDonald’s will have special promotions. This is not my dream, it is bound to happen, and it is on track to become a reality soon. And it will be because of our wonderful and vibrant community. We celebrate and bring everyone along during our festivals; we cherish others as much we do for our own; we enjoy giving joy and spreading positivity. Yes, this is our community, which is why our culture and festivals are soon taking shape as mainstream celebrations. Indian diaspora’s growing influence in Australian politics, business and society will undoubtedly bring our culture and festivals to the centre stage. The cultural identity and social positioning of Indian Australians are very visible, and there is no industry to which we don’t contribute. We are the second-highest taxpaying diaspora, making it clear we as a community make significant contributions to Australia. We are becoming visible like never before; we are in the supermarket market aisles, television ads, policy decisions, and soon policymakers. Diwali being celebrated and greeted by every politician and business should serve as the impetus for some collective self-reflection for our community, as this moment will decide our progress to the higher levels and break those barriers laid in front of us either by others or by ourselves. All we have to do is come together as one. “Our culture, religion, language and tradition is everything to us. For those who don’t understand why we show such importance, I will tell you one of the reasons why we steadfastly continue them. We cherish, celebrate and hold it dear, because our grandfathers and grandmothers paid for it with their lives.” “Happy Deepavali”
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FEATURE
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
EFFECTIVE MEASURES TO MANAGE DIGITAL EYE STRAIN The COVID-19 pandemic has brought in its wake a burgeoning epidemic of digital eye strain. Digital eye strain can affect anyone with prolonged exposure to screens like smartphones, computers, TV, tablets and video games. Increased screen time has always been a cause for concern among parents and this worry has been intensified of late due to online schooling. Although parents were relieved that classes could continue online, their relief was short-lived as children started to complain of headaches, eye pain and discomfort due to increased screen time. Apart from the usage of devices for online classes, homework and assignments, children increasingly have no choice but to turn to the online platform for socialising with friends and entertainment. This results in screen time of more than 7-8 hours every day and its consequence4 Use colour settings: The blue light emitted digital eye strain. by the screen can hamper your child’s sleep especially when the device is used close to The commonly reported symptoms among bedtime. Decreasing evening screen time and children who suffer from digital eye strain are setting devices to night mode may help prevent eye fatigue, eye discomfort, headaches, dry sleep disruption. eyes, blurred vision and watering. Prolonged near work and reduced time spent outdoors has 4 Bigger screens are better-: For online also resulted in the new onset of myopia (shortclasses, use laptops or desktops instead sightedness) and faster progression of myopia in of smartphones as much as possible. For young children. entertainment, watching on a TV screen or casting from the smartphone onto the TV is a With schools opting to adopt a hybrid model better option to prevent eye strain. for the safety of children, prolonged screen time will continue to affect the eye health of students. Practising good eye habits and eye exercises Therefore, to minimise the adverse effects of can also prevent eye strain. increased screen time, it is important to take measures to manage eye strain at home. As 4 Do not look at the screen continuously; a first step, evaluate your child’s virtual study Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Our eye muscles environment and make adjustments if needed. relax when we look at objects far away and work hard to focus at a near distance when 4 Distance between the eyes and the screen: we are continuously working on a screen. So, Make sure the computer screen is about 1.5 to reminding your child to take a 20-second break 2 feet or an arm’s length away from where your every 20 minutes while using screens will help. child is seated. Adjust the device so that the top They can close their eyes for 20 seconds or of the screen is at or slightly below eye level. look outside their window for a distance of 20 This will ensure that your child is not tilting his/ feet or more. Short frequent breaks will help her neck to view the screen. prevent eye strain. 4 Adjust the light of the surroundings: The 4 Remember to blink while using devices: room should be well lit. There should not be Blinking keeps the eye surface lubricated with too much difference between screen brightness tears. However, we tend to blink less than half and room lighting. Advise your child to avoid as often while using screens. This can make using electronic gadgets in the dark. Ensure eyes feel dry, heavy, tired, itchy or irritated. there is no glare from the screen due to the Consciously remembering to blink can prevent reflection of light from a window or a light dryness and eye irritation. Lubricating eye source in the room. drops can provide relief and can be used when needed as advised by your eye doctor. 4 Adjust screen brightness: Parents should ensure that the brightness of the screen 4 Ensure off-screen activity: Spend time is optimal (not lighter or darker than the away from the screen after online classes to surroundings) and increase the contrast for give enough rest to the eyes. Engage kids in better viewing. This will also avoid unnecessary activities like gardening, cycling, indoor games strain. etc. 4 Increase font size: Instead of straining to focus when the font size or the object is not visible, it is advisable to zoom the page and read.
4 Regular eye checks are a must to detect if there is an eye number and need for glasses. Wearing the correct prescription glasses helps in preventing eye strain.
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Practising good eye habits and eye exercises can also prevent eye strain. 4 Do not look at the screen continuously; Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Our eye muscles relax when we look at objects far away and work hard to focus at a near distance when we are continuously working on a screen. So, reminding your child to take a 20-second break every 20 minutes while using screens will help. They can close their eyes for 20 seconds or look outside their window for a distance of 20 feet or more. Short frequent breaks will help prevent eye strain. 4 Remember to blink while using devices: Blinking keeps the eye surface lubricated with tears. However, we tend to blink less than half as often while using screens. This can make eyes feel dry, heavy, tired, itchy or irritated. Consciously remembering to blink can prevent dryness and eye irritation. Lubricating eye drops can provide relief and can be used when needed as advised by your eye doctor. 4 Ensure off-screen activity: Spend time away from the screen after online classes to give enough rest to the eyes. Engage kids in activities like gardening, cycling, indoor games etc. 4 Regular eye checks are a must to detect if there is an eye number and need for glasses. Wearing the correct prescription glasses helps in preventing eye strain. Though it is recommended to avoid prolonged exposure of eyes to screens, however, when it becomes unavoidable the next best thing is to fix the surroundings and make smart use of your devices to minimize the stress and ill effects of screen time. Following the above steps may help to minimise eye strain in children while using screens. Healthy diet, hydration and getting adequate rest are a must to ensure overall good health including eye health.
By Dr. Mohsina Mekhri
FASHION
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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7 Festive Styling Inspirations
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BY DEBASREE DAS
he longest lockdown in the world is finally over and while we get ourselves ready for the festive season, we have more reasons to celebrate now. Isn’t it? How amazing is that feeling. While I am getting ready with my festive wardrobe, I thought to list down some unique ways you can style your festive looks that are trending in 2021. Spring/Summer 22 Trends are Exaggerated Sleeves, Dopamine Dressing, Sheer and Netted Styles and colour blocking. From bright colours that energise you to pastels hues, the Spring summer staples are here to stay longer. This season finds inspiration from smartly tailored styles that add glam yet elegance to your style statement. Statement collars, ruffles sleeves, off shoulder trends will surely make head turn. This year, emerald green is the spring 2021 colour trend making an appearance everywhere from Fashion Week. I would highly recommend taking this colour to the next level with your festive styling too. Go minimalistic on accessories to keep the festive look royal. So, here are top picks to the festive styling’21:
1) Six yards of elegance: Nothing matches the elegance of the six yards, going traditional is the call for the season and this would always be my first choice from the festive wardrobe. 2) Saree with a twist: The six yards of elegance does not have to be always traditional, of course we love it to keep it that way most of the time. Spring/Summer trends are ruffles, frills and statement sleeves that speaks volumes My pick would be to style it with a belt or experiment with a cropped top. Add some drama by wearing it over pants or styling it with accessories differently. Style it with a belt or a blazer to add a corporate look or wear the saree over your favourite denim and you will be ready to rock an evening. 3) Indo-western Fusion: Style your favourite lehenga skirt with a crisp white shirt and style it with a statement neckpiece to stand out. Personally, this is one of my favourite styles other than a saree. Running out of ideas? Why not style your existing ethnic wears differently? Add an Indo vibe, accessories can be used differently to make the outfits stand out too. 4) Classic Anarkali’s: Add exuberance to your ethnic wardrobe by going with the flamboyant. I love to style it with high heels and some classic jewellery to add vibrancy to my ethnic wear. 5)Embroidered Jackets: They work well on a casual mornings or
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afternoons, where you wish to go minimalist yet look trendy. Flaunt a long or short Ethnic Jacket and add your own unique style. This works great if you want to add some western blend to your otherwise ethnic look. 6)Jumpsuit Saree: Taking your fusion game higher and adding an extra dose of glam to your ethnic fusion with a Jumpsuit Saree. This is a unique style and I have not found anyone styling this way. So be the cynosure of all eyes in any event you attend. 7) Elegant matching suits: They are classic yet saves all the headache of what to wear. My pick to festive colours would be black and pink styled with gold heels that steals the show. Add some grandeur with some dopamine colour scarfs or dupatta to create a new look. Spring is all about new beginnings and colours and Indian festivals cannot be complete without them. If you ask me, my favourite colour for the season would be Green, any form of green which has been one of this year’s Spring’s dominating colour. While I am all glued to the colour Green this year, I would love to see what you are flaunting this Festive season? Do give me a follow-on Instagram www. instagram.com/traveinstylewithdebs to see how I am styling the seasons. Till then, keep reading and happy celebrating our newly found freedom. Happy Deepawali from me to all my readers!
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FEATURE
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
NEGATIVE CALORIE FOOD Negative calorie food refers to those items that consume more energy during their digestion, in comparison to the amount of energy they gives to the body. We can say that the calorie cost of digesting the food would be greater than its energy content. These foods are typically high in fibre and have a low glycaemic index. Calories are an important component of food and everything we eat has calories. Calories are of two types. One is empty calories which don’t have much nutritive value but just has calories and promotes weight gain. Foods with high fibre and water content usually have fewer calories and we need more energy to digest them, these are called negative calorie foods. These foods help to lose weight as they are not only low in calories but also help to burn out more calories than others. Most negative calorie foods are plant-based. Soumita Biswas, Chief Nutritionist, Aster RV Hospital, shares the following 10 negative calorie foods: 4Celery: It contains 16 kcal/100g. It is rich in fibre, vitamin A, C and Folate. It is one of the most popular negative food items as most of its calorie value is stored in cellulose. Our body receives very few calories from celery as it is full of undigested fibre. 4Berries: Colourful berries such as blueberries, strawberries, raspberries typically contain just 32 kcal for a half-cup quantity. Berries are called negative calorie foods because of their low glycaemic index and their protein content. It also contains antioxidants, which protects us from various cancers. 4Tomatoes: It has 19kcal/100g. Apart from boosting food. its water content, it is an excellent source of fibre, potassium and vitamin C. Tomatoes also 4Apple: It provides 52 kcal/100g. Apple contain lycopene, an antioxidant known to contains a good amount of antioxidants, protect us from skin cancer. vitamin C and fibres. Apple’s high fibre content helps in weight loss, and it also helps 4Carrots: They contain 41 kcal/100g. Its vitamin A content is good for the eyes. Carrot to boost cognitive performance. Quercetin, an antioxidant present in apples, is also fibre content keeps the stomach full for a associated with lowering the risk of type 2 longer time thus helps in weight loss. Diabetes. 4Cucumber: It contains 15 kcal/100g. This 4Broccoli: It contains 34 kcal/100g. Its vegetable has high water content which is vitamin A content improves vision. Calcium, great to satisfy thirst along with providing all Phosphorus, vitamin K content is essential the necessary vitamins and minerals. The for healthy bone development. Iron and folic water content present in cucumbers is great acid help to prevent anaemia. Kaempferol, for hydration. Along with quenching thirst, this fruit provides dietary fibre and is good for a flavonoid present in broccoli, has antiirritable bowel syndrome and diabetic patients. inflammatory properties. Broccoli is also rich in Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) which is crucial for brain growth and development. 4Watermelon: It has 30 kcal/100g. Some of the benefits of watermelon rind include a healthy heart, provide hydration and regulation 4Zucchini: It contains about 17 kcal/100g. It is packed with many important vitamins, of blood pressure. Additionally, watermelon seeds also have many health benefits starting minerals and antioxidants. This has a high fibre content and a low-calorie count. from the prevention of anaemia to immuneFibre plays an important role in digestion. boosting properties. The water content Zeaxanthin, present in Zucchini, plays an present in watermelon and vitamins A, B6, important role in preventing oxidative stress C along with lycopene act as an immune-
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and improves eye health. 4Lettuce: It provides about 15 kcal/100g. Its vitamin C, Calcium, vitamin K, vitamin A content helps in boosting immunity. The fibre content of lettuce helps in weight loss. It is also associated with a healthy heart and maintaining eye health. Are there any side effects? There is no evidence that eating negative calorie foods leads to side effects. However, directly eating low amounts of calories is not advised if you are not under the supervision of a dietician. The calorie requirement to reduce weight is individualised. The requirement varies depending on the person’s height, weight, BMI, BMR, and physical activity. These foods can be added to our daily diet as snacks or cooking ingredients. Cucumber, tomatoes, carrots and lettuce can be used in various salads. Berries, apple or watermelon fruit can be used as a mid-morning or evening snack. Broccoli, zucchini or lettuce can be used in various preparations during cooking. (IANSlife)
FEATURE
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
DIWALI DEEP-CLEANING - A QUICK CHECKLIST With Diwali comes the yearly ritual of disinfecting and deep cleaning our homes. However, your basic cleaning ritual might not be sufficient to the changing needs of the environment we live in. If the deadly viruses around us have taught anything, disinfection should be as much a goal in our regular cleaning, rather than just the basic visible cleanliness. Therefore, it becomes necessary to know the right way of cleaning and disinfecting homes that lends itself to a responsible celebration. While we plan to welcome Goddess Lakshmi by cleaning and decorating our living spaces inside out, we should be aware of those corners that are prone to infections, diseases and require our special attention. The R&D team at ITC Savlon, shares some tips to maximize hygiene and ensure germfree cleaning this Diwali: Clean your Kitchen As the excitement builds for us to be able to open our houses to guests and have the kitchen work overtime to put out scrumptious meals, do spend a moment on considering thorough kitchen disinfection. Bear in mind that the multiple ways in which we use our home kitchen carry with it the burden of microbes that can cause infections. A disinfection ritual will ensure that any chances of microbial contamination to your person or to the food being cooked gets eliminated. Be it organizing shelves and arranging jars, wiping the crockery cabinet, or cleaning the refrigerator, all you need is a multipurpose disinfectant and cleaner by your side. A Spray & Wipe Multipurpose disinfectant cleaner that is readily available makes the task of cleaning convenient with its dual action of cleaning and disinfection together. The added feature of a citrus fragrance also helps keep the space smelling fresh. Refresh your Bathroom When we spruce up our homes around Diwali, we often forget to place our bathroom hygiene on the priority list. Bathrooms are breeding corners for germs and harmful microorganisms. As we accommodate our guests for a gettogether or a game of cards, let’s also keep in mind that bathrooms are the second most used space by guests. It becomes crucial, therefore, to effectively clean our restrooms and keep them dry. Make sure you buy a multipurpose disinfectant to clean the floor, wipe the washbasin, and faucets, or other frequently touched areas. Add a scented candle of a fragrance diffuser with some essential oil
poured in to uplift the space and leave it smelling fragrant. Style your Living room We often indulge in renovating your living areas just before Diwali, but there are other comparatively smaller purchases that might help you bypass an overhaul. One can brighten up living spaces with new drapes and bright-coloured cushions giving a cozy look to your favourite couch. At times, buying new furniture, sofas, etc. gets beyond budget, so indulge in fabric covers instead. They give your existing furniture a great face-lift. You could also look at rearranging the furniture placement and adding new wall art. Simple additions like this often give the entire space a new look. While you move around the furniture or add new drapes, make sure you spray them down with a surface disinfectant spray regularly since they are not washed as frequently. Spray Surface Disinfectant Spray post dusting to kill 99.9 per cent of germs. This helps you, welcome guests, to a safe environment and a quick spray after the party winds down, ensures you and your family also stay protected. Other tips According to WHO -- if hand hygiene is done properly this can be over 90 per cent effective in preventing the spread of harmful germs and HCAIs. So, let’s ensure to keep our hand hygiene at par by washing hands regularly and wiping down doorknobs, spraying playing cards, or serviette holders with a disinfectant from time to time. As we get excited to meet our friends, families this festive season we must be cautious while doing handshakes, exchanging high-fives etc. to control the germ transmission. This can be done by replacing towels with tissue papers in the guest bathroom so that no two people use the same towel. Another way is by placing hand sanitizer bottles that could be accessible for guests enabling them to use it as and when required. (IANSlife)
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FEATURE
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
PLANNING TO SEND YOUR CHILD ABROAD TO STUDY, HERE’S THE CHECKLIST The best gift we can give our kids is education. The house, the farm, the car and the jewellery, they will buy on their own. While Indian education is wonderful, abroad education has its own advantages. If an education abroad is what is right for your child, please send them. But there are lots of things to keep in mind before that. The first one is the maturity level of your child. Going abroad means your child has to live totally on his/ her own. Trust me, at times the fact that they have to do their own laundry can lead to a disastrous situation. So can sudden and complete freedom that they are not used to and cannot handle. Know how mature and responsible your child is and be realistic about it. It’s not a bad idea, at times, to keep the kid close to home, let him finish a certain level of education, work a bit and then go abroad. Take a wise decision.
What stream/course your child wants to study is equally important. This is where the Councellor will help with the ‘Aptitude Test’ etc. But no matter what the advice is, give importance to what the child wants to study. Again, decide wisely. I personally feel it has to be the right mix of practicality and passion. I tell my kids to follow their dreams and their passion but work around it in a way that they can afford the lifestyle they desire. The stream that your child chooses will decide the countries he should apply to. Another aspect that will help you choose the country is that all countries do not give work permits after studies and even if they do, it’s for a limited time. If the child desires to work abroad after his studies, the countries being applied to have to be chosen accordingly.
Do not apply to too many universities. It costs money (approximately $75 each) and is a very tedious process. Sit with the councillor and The cost of an abroad education is high shortlist a few (15 to and every family might not be prepared 20 max), based for it. There are limited scholarships on the course, available (part and full), which are a bit rating of the tough to get (not impossible). Besides course in that that, the only options available are university, student loans or parents financing. In the child’s my view, this shouldn’t be an overnight academic decision. Prepare for it from the time your child is in ninth grade. It’s good if he/she gets a scholarship, if not, you are ready.
capability, etc. Focus on the quality of courses at the university and not just the university name. Look at the faculty and the job placement records. Every country has a different set of tests that are required. Start the application process by the beginning of 11th grade. Also, the applying process is elaborate, so being early gives you a head start. In the end, ask yourself- Are you ready to let your child go? If not, get yourself ready! Remember, the kid will be back only for holidays, that too in the first year. After that, it’s going to be internships and summer jobs and training and the breaks will get shorter. You might do facetime/video-chat or visit them very often, but the nest will be empty. Your emotional state shouldn’t come in the way of a child’s future. Get a good set of friends, travel, revive the hobby you forgot about, learn something new. Now you have the time. These kids are a part of us. We raised them. The bond between us can never break or weaken but will get stronger. In the end, trust your child and more than anything, trust your upbringing! . By Divya Singh Vishwanath
Get a good counsellor who understands what the child needs and is ready to work, both, with the parent and the child. The best source of finding one is the school network. Honestly, if you are in one of the schools-what-app-groups, you can get any information you want! Meet a few and then decide. It has to be the right fit.
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FEATURE
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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RETURNING TO WORK POST PANDEMIC? TAKE IT AS ONE DAY AT A TIME One day at a time should be the mantra to keep stress at bay, as people return to their in-person offices after nearly two years of working from home, said experts. World Mental Health Day is observed on October 10 every year to spread awareness about the condition faced by millions globally. During the Covid-induced lockdowns and even after that people managed to learn the art of balancing office work at home together with other household chores, many a times even without the aid of a house help. For such people, returning to offices, getting into a new routine, and managing both family time and office can turn stressful. This is particular in the case of women, who could spend more time being at home with family, kids as well as work. But, significant drop in Covid cases and a successful vaccination programme has prompted many employers to reopen their offices again. “The transition to work from office has been marked by stress and hesitation for many. Anxiety around being infected with Covid, differential risk perception and continuing caregiving roles for children and the elderly at home have made the return to physical offices complicated, especially for women,” Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director Population Foundation of India, said. “By forcing women back into the workplace, companies run the risk of losing them entirely. Instead, employers need to put in place policies to allow women to return to physical offices in a flexible manner that promotes work-life balance and safeguards both women and men from stress and anxiety,” she added. Not all will feel stressed, experts said. For some it may be a relief to be back to the routine and to restart their social life and activities. The anticipation of months coupled with the promise of social gatherings and familiarity of a workplace, which is disconnected from several distractions at home, is strong. However, employers also need to be considerate, and allow them time to settle instead of imposing tight controls, use empathetic approaches to help relieve anxieties of resuming work in offices. This can not only protect employees’ mental health but also promote productivity, the
experts suggested. “Returning to offices can be stressful or comforting. depending on personal attitudes and office environment. A socially engaging person will be happy to return to the company of colleagues, while an introvert may feel challenged by the need to mingle and mix after a long time away,” K. Srinath Reddy is the president of the Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, said. At the same time “the office environment should also be made pleasant and congenial, to help people resettle rather than imposing strict routines and tight controls. A flexible routine, of work from home for part of the week, will be ideal if the nature of work permits that. This will help the employee to productively use time without becoming imprisoned by a restrictive routine”, he added. But can altering office spaces make any difference to mental health, especially now when people are returning from the comfort of their homes? Yes, deploying design strategies that ensure a seamless and rewarding experience may help employees, said Jayesh Ganesh, Regional Head of Edifice Consultants - a Bengaluru-based architectural design firm. “Elevating the experience of the office from a workplace to a hospitality setting, creating quiet zones and quiet rooms to help those with anxieties or those on the
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spectrum cope up better with re-entry and ensuring that no one is left behind’ can all help,” Ganesh said. Office spaces must now move into the realm of understanding and addressing challenges as mental and emotional needs in the workplace through care and compassion, he added. According to Dr Samir Parikh, Director, Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences, at Fortis Healthcare, people must trust their ability to adapt. “When we started with our Covid experience, shifted to work from home, the lockdowns, isolation and quarantine, we took time to adapt to it. But we were able to do it. Similarly, going back to work, we have to understand that we will take a little bit of time,” Parikh said. The mantea is “take one step at a time, that is one day at a time”, he said. Further, to cope with the office stresses, one must try and maintain a rhythm and routine of life, make sure to be as productive as you can be, utilise your connections, and stay in touch with your support systems. “Keep talking to people and you’ll realise we are all in the same boat. Maintain a sense of optimism, positivity and understand that it will take a little bit of time for us to get back on track,” he suggested.
By Rachel V Thomas
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TECH
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
APPLE AIRPODS MAY SOON TRACK BODY TEMPERATURE, MONITOR POSTURE After Apple Watch, the tech giant is now exploring to put health-focused tools in its AirPods for improved hearing, reading body temperature and monitoring posture. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the plans “further demonstrate Apple’s ambition to add health and wellness features to devices beyond the Apple Watch”. According to the report, these functions “aren’t expected by next year and might never be rolled out to consumers or the timing could change.” Apple is also working on technology that aims to use iPhones to help diagnose depression and cognitive decline. Reports last month suggested that the iPhone maker was exploring ways to add various sensors to Watch, including monitoring blood pressure, temperature, sleep quality, blood oxygen, and blood sugar. The Apple Watch Series 7 features a new Mindfulness app, sleep respiratory rate tracking and Tai Chi and Pilates workout types that can help improve overall wellness.
It continues to offer tools for health and wellness, including an electrical heart sensor and ECG app and a blood oxygen sensor app. The Apple Watch Series 7 is the first Apple
Watch to have an IP6X certification for resistance to dust, and maintains a WR50 water resistance rating, the company claimed. (IANS)
APPLE WATCH SERIES 8 MAY COME WITH BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING FEATURE Apple’s suppliers are reportedly developing components for next-generation sensors in the Apple Watch Series 8 that will allow users to measure their blood glucose level. According to Digitimes, Apple and its suppliers have already begun working on short-wavelength infrared sensors - a commonly-used sensor type for health devices. The new sensor will likely be installed on the back of the watch, allowing it to measure the sugar and glucose content in its wearer’s blood. This would be a great addition to the current features in the current Apple Watch models. Recently, Apple Watch Series 6 added a blood oxygen sensor. Compared to the first Apple Watch capable of measuring mainly daily activity, the Apple Watch is now capable of taking an ECG, detecting falls, high and low heart rates, blood oxygen levels, and more. The Cupertino based tech giat recently launched Apple Watch Series 7. In India, Apple Watch Series 7 (41 mm) starts at Rs 41,900 but can be purchased for Rs 38,900 after cashback and Apple Watch Series 7 (45 mm) comes at Rs 44,900 but can be purchased for Rs 41,900 after cashback.
The new Series 7 has been launched in all-new green, blue, midnight, starlight, and (PRODUCT) red colours. In addition, the stainless-steel models will be available in silver, graphite, and gold stainless steel. The Apple Watch Series 7 features a reengineered Always-On retina display with significantly more screen area and thinner borders. The new Mindfulness app, sleep respiratory
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rate tracking and Tai Chi and Pilates workout types can help improve overall wellness. It also continues to offer tools for health and wellness, including an electrical heart sensor and ECG app and a blood oxygen sensor app. The Apple Watch Series 7 is the first Apple Watch to have an IP6X certification for resistance to dust, and maintains a WR50 water resistance rating, the company claimed.
(ANI)
VIRTUAL THIS SMARTPHONE APP CAN HELP TRACK ADHD SYMPTOMS IN PEOPLE
A smartphone-based app can help improve the accuracy of data in some clinical trials involving individuals with intellectual disability, report researchers. The most common genetic causes of intellectual disability are Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome. The goal, said the researchers at University of California-Davis Health in the US, is to track symptoms related to executive function, often associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), using the new smartphone app called ‘iBehavior’. “It’s a really smart use of a ubiquitous technology and it could make a huge difference in the accuracy of measurement in clinical trials,” said David Hessl, a professor in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UC Davis MIND Institute. Hessl was awarded a two-year, $431,000 grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the project. The study will focus on children and young adults with intellectual disability. “The majority of clinical trials focused on people with intellectual disability have relied on parent or caregiver questionnaires, much like traditional paper and pencil rating scales,” said Hessl. That means families have to remember over a fairly long period of time -- sometimes weeks -- what their child’s behaviour was like. “The app uses what we call an ecological momentary assessment, where a parent or teacher observes the child or young adult and provides ratings of behaviour much closer to the time the behaviour occurred,” Hessl added. Families will be trained in how to use the app and what behaviour to look for. The app will send a text when it’s time for them to start observing their child or young adult, they’ll observe for two hours, then they’ll get another text that it’s time to record what they observed. They’ll record information about aggression and irritability, hyperactivity and impulsivity, attention problems, anxiety-related behaviour and avoidance and more, likely daily. Classroom teachers may also be asked to take part. There is currently no treatment for fragile X syndrome; there are only treatments for symptoms. The researchers are hopeful that this app will improve the assessment of a child’s behaviour before, during and after treatment as well improve the assessment of potential targeted treatments. (IANS)
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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TIKTOK TESTING NEW TIPPING FEATURE FOR SOME CREATORS Short video platform TikTok is experimenting with a new tool that allows its users to tip some creators directly on their profiles. According to a video of the tips feature shared this week by TikTok creator Jera Bean, who noticed the feature in-app and applied for approval, any money tipped to creators will go directly to that individual. A screenshot of the application screen stated that to qualify for the feature, accounts must be in good standing on the platform, have at least 1,00,000 followers, meet an age requirement and agree to TikTok’s tips terms. If creators meet these criteria, they can then apply for the tool -- though it’s unclear whether everyone who applies will be approved, the report said. Based on a followup video from the same creator shared, the application process seems to move fairly quickly. Bean’s account now displays a “tips” button that directs users to a page where they can tip the creator $5, $10, $15, or a custom amount of their choosing (minimum $1). Additionally, the platform allows tips to be sent anonymously. “We’re always thinking about new ways to bring value to our community and enrich the TikTok experience,” a spokesperson for the company said.
Users must be 18 years or older to send tips to creators, but it doesn’t appear that users have to be following the account they are tipping to use the feature. It is, however, being tested on a limited basis for the time being. TikTok declined to comment on how widely available the feature is to creators on its platform at this time. Last year, the Indian government said it was banning 59 apps developed by Chinese firms, including Byte Dance’s TikTok over concerns that these apps were engaging in activities that threatened national security. (AGENCIES)
GOOGLE PHOTOS’ LOCKED FOLDER FEATURE COMING TO IOS Google Photos users on iPhone and iPad will soon be able to lock their sensitive and private images in a special passcodeprotected folder with the help of a new feature coming to iOS. The feature, which currently lets Pixel owners hide sensitive photos and videos in a passcode- or biometric-protected folder, is coming to iOS early next year. The feature launched for the Pixel 3 and later in June, and in late September, Google said it would be releasing for all Android phones soon. Now we have a timeframe for when Google Photos users on iOS will be able to protect sensitive images. Media saved in the folder remains hidden, meaning the sensitive photos don’t show up as users scroll through their Google Photos or any other apps on their device. Google One’s VPN service is expanding to 10 new countries this week: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. The service is already included at no extra cost with 2TB and up Google One cloud storage plans in Canada, France,
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Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Finally, Google has confirmed that it plans to release the Security Hub that debuted on its new Pixel 6 phones on all Android phones. The hub is designed to offer a simple overview of the security of your device and give warnings if settings like Find My Device or a Screen lock aren’t enabled. 9to5Google previously reported that the feature has been appearing on older Pixel devices running Android 12, and now Google says it has “plans to roll this out to [its] entire ecosystem in the future. (IANS)
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RELATIONSHIPS
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
FREQUENT CHALLENGES FACED BY SINGLE PARENTS Single parenting refers to a parent who brings up children without the assistance of a partner. There are a variety of reasons why a single parent may raise a child without the assistance of a partner. It’s possible that they were formerly involved in a relationship that ended, other parents may choose to raise their children, and in certain situations, a partner may have died. Children raised by single parents can be just as happy and emotionally healthy as children living with two biological parents. Whether a child has one parent or more, children do well when they have parenting that’s nurturing, warm, sensitive, responsive and flexible. Being a single parent can come with its own set of challenges, depending on whether it’s by separation or by choice of adoption. Children can be frightened by the strong emotions that go along with separation. If you’re a single parent experiencing separation, it’s good to tell your child that both parents love them and that the separation isn’t your child’s fault. Frequent Single Parent Challenges 4Negotiating custody and visitation 4Navigating financial issues 4Obtaining health care 4Finding additional role models 4Helping children deal with loss 4 Helping children understand their family dynamics 4Acquiring support in child care These challenges can further get complicated by the way the child is responding to his/her unique family experiences. However, these challenges can be navigated through being mindful of some aspects of single parenting: Don’t be too hard on yourself: You might not be able to prepare every meal or keep everything in the house spotless. Being a parent requires you to readjust your priorities. Spending time with your children and taking care of yourself should outweigh other details that might have caused you to stress in the past. Focus instead on what you have and can do to keep your kid happy and healthy. The value of spending time with your child cannot be replaced by toys, clothes, or technology. Don’t focus on the negative: If your child does have contact with his or her other parent, you shouldn’t use them to deliver
messages. You also should not criticize or complain about your ex-spouse or partner in front of them. Don’t focus on what “could have been”, the past relationship with your ex, or mistakes that you may have made along the way. Bitterness and anger will only distract you and possibly model unhealthy reactions for your child. And rather than sharing negative stereotypes, find positive role models for your child for the gender of the missing or absent parent. Communicate and be Consistent: Routines will provide stability for your child and traditions will give you both tasks and events to look forward to throughout the year. If your child has lost the other parent to death, or if the other parent chose not to be involved in your child’s life, they may fear abandonment. Allow them to feel comfortable expressing their own thoughts and feelings about family issues and non-family issues. It might be challenging to answer difficult questions, but open communications will strengthen your relationship. To demonstrate to your child that you won’t hide from tough questions or sweep them under the rug. Take care of yourself: Pay careful
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attention to how you care for and neglect your mental, physical, and emotional health. Whether it’s finding time for a hobby or continuing your education, finding even just a few minutes a day to work on your own dreams and wants will improve your life which keeps you motivated, as motivated people are happier people, and in turn better parents. Seek out enough reliable help: The most effective single parents make use of their support networks. If you isolate yourself and try to do everything on your own, you might feel overwhelmed. Involve friends, family members, and other members of the community in your life and your child’s life. Encourage your child to form strong bonds with the other members of his or her family, peers, teachers, coaches and mentors. Single parenthood may have its unique challenges, but with an open mind and open arms to let others love you and your child, amazing things can happen. What steps can you take today to support your child and build a thriving single-parent family? By Asha Vaghasia
LIFESTYLE
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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FOCUSING ON PRESENT IN LIFE MIGHT HELP SINGLE MOTHERS FEEL MORE ‘IN CONTROL’
A
ccording to a new study headed by Virginia Tech researchers, working single mothers who have a present-time mindset, in contrast to the tendency to focus on the past or future, when facing high demands from family life, might feel more ‘in control’ of their leisure time. This National Science Foundationsupported study was recently published in ‘Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being’, a publication of the International Association of Applied Psychology. Spearheading the study was Charles Calderwood, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, part of the Virginia Tech College of Science. These feelings of control overtime away from work may support these single mothers in fitting healthy habits such as exercise into their busy schedules. The effect of control on exercise time was unique, in that this perceived control did not affect consumption of unhealthy food or excess alcohol, the researchers wrote. Exercise, of course, has been linked to better, long-term physical and mental health in scores of studies. “Although evening family demands can present a barrier to leisure-time exercise for working sole mothers, this health-impairing relationship is not inevitable,” Calderwood said. “Instead, focusing more on the present / living in the moment helps these working parents feel that they have greater control over their time, even in the face of elevated family demands. In turn, they can harness this control to support their engagement in exercise from day-to-day.”
was mothers feeling more in control of their choices and capable of choosing to prioritize their needs.” What comes next for this study? Calderwood posits the design of interventions that can improve health-behaviour engagement for working sole mothers and other individuals facing elevated family demands, such as individuals caring for a dependent adult relative. Secondly, Calderwood said it is possible that other healthy behaviours such as increasing hours of sleep could be enhanced through a similar process to what was observed for exercise in the current study. Numerous past and current studies on working single mothers have tended to focus on demonstrating the potential for occupational health disparities, such as lower levels of occupational health, relative to partnered parents, with less focus on the day-to-day lived experiences and health behaviours of members of this population. A looming question that remains is whether similar processes would apply in other populations that face elevated family demands,
such as working single fathers. “Although there have been studies to compare the experiences of working sole mothers and working sole fathers, to my knowledge, there has not yet been an investigation of the process through which family demands influence recovery experiences or health behaviours from day-to-day in working sole fathers,” Calderwood added. “We chose to focus our initial investigation of these processes on working sole mothers because the occupational health disparities they face may be particularly acute relative to a number of other comparison groups in the broader workforce.” Minnen, the graduate student working in Calderwood’s Work Stress and Recovery Lab, focused part of her efforts on theoretical model building for the study. Her hope for the study’s impact: “I hope this study helps bring unique populations that may be left out by traditional sampling strategies into the spotlight for work and well-being research,” Minnen said. “Hopefully, the community of work and well-being researchers will continue to consider the unique characteristics of life as a single mother and work towards tangible recommendations and solutions to improve their well-being.
(ANI)
Working with Calderwood were Molly Minnen, a graduate student in psychology, and researchers from Rice University and Georgia Institute of Technology. The team followed 102 single, working mothers during a seven-day period. The study focused on how the mindset of these women while balancing work and family tasks, impacted their pursuit of healthy behaviours during their downtime. Unsurprisingly, the researchers found that a working mom’s evening family demands make exercise less likely. Yet, it was specifically one’s sense of control over how to spend their evening that was diminished by high family demands, and that made all the difference in whether they made time for themselves - and their health - amid hectic schedules. And individuals who typically focused on living in the moment saw a reduced impact of evening family demands on the perceptions of control central to exercising. “Present-focused mothers who chose to prioritize their health weren’t necessarily more or less busy than mothers who did not exercise as much,” said Danielle King, an assistant professor of psychological science at Rice and one of the study’s co-authors. “A key difference
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HEALTH
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
BREASTFEEDING MAY HELP PREVENT COGNITIVE DECLINE
Women who had breastfed their babies performed better on cognitive tests after the age of 50 compared to women who had not breastfed, finds a new study.
The findings, published in Evolution, Medicine and Public Health, suggest that breastfeeding may have a positive impact on postmenopausal women’s cognitive performance and could have long-term benefits for the mother’s brain. “While many studies have found that breastfeeding improves a child’s long-term health and well-being, our study is one of very few that has looked at the long-term health effects for women who had breastfed their babies,” said lead author Molly Fox from the University Of California-Los Angeles. “Our findings, which show superior cognitive performance among women over 50 who had breastfed, suggest that breastfeeding may be a neuroprotective’ later in life,” Fox added. Cognitive health is critical for wellbeing in aging adults. Yet, when cognition becomes impaired after the age of 50, it can be a strong predictor of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD), the leading form of dementia and cause of disability among the elderly. For the study, the team analysed data collected from women participating in two cross-sectional randomised controlled 12-week clinical trials. Among the two trials, 115 women chose to participate, with 64 identified as depressed and
51 non-depressed. All participants completed a comprehensive battery of psychological tests measuring learning, delayed recall, executive functioning and processing speed. Key findings from the researchers’ analysis of the data collected from questionnaires on the women’s reproductive history revealed that about 65 per cent of non-depressed women reported having breastfed, compared to 44 per cent of the depressed women.
All non-depressed participants reported at least one completed pregnancy compared to 57.8 per cent of the depressed participants. Results from the cognitive tests also revealed that those who had breastfed, regardless of whether they were depressed or not, performed better in all four of the cognitive tests measuring for learning, delayed recall, executive functioning and processing compared to women who had not breastfed. (IANS)
Benefits of eating nuts for breast cancer survivors Is eating nuts beneficial for breast cancer survivors? A new study suggests it is. According to the study, nut consumption is linked with lower risks of breast cancer recurrence or death. The findings of the study were published in the ‘International Journal of Cancer’. Among 3,449 breast cancer survivors from the Shanghai Breast Cancer Survival Study, who completed a dietary assessment 5 years after diagnosis, there were 374 deaths during a median follow-up of 8.27 years after the dietary assessment.
dietary assessment, 209 developed breast cancer-specific events, including recurrence, metastasis, or breast cancer mortality. There was a dose-response pattern in the relationship between nut consumption and risk of breast cancer recurrence or death, with those consuming the highest amounts having the lowest risks.
Among 3,274 survivors without a previous recurrence at the time of their
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Also, the association was stronger for survivors who had earlier stages of breast cancer than for those who had later stages. (IANS)
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
ASK DR. RAJ… Dear readers of G’Day India, in this edition of Ask Dr.Raj, lets us look at a few questions and doubts raised by some of our readers with regards to the health of themselves and their loved ones. I have tried to answer your questions from different modality view points. Please remember that these answers may provide an insight into the ailment and to always seek individualized medical practitioner consultation and advise for medicines and treatment. QUESTION 1: Dr Raj, I’ve been on your website. I’ve been having trouble with recurring colds.... Any advise?
Health tip:
important to strengthen this immune system to empower it to keep these infections at bay. Even allergic reactions to certain foods, materials, everyday household substances could cause recurrent colds. During the episodes avoid dairy products, banana and cold items for faster recovery. The best defence is to not to overuse too much of cleaning products, fragrances, processed foods, oily substances, artificial colours, continuous air conditioning etc. Lots of fresh fruits and vegies are important and a indicated Homeopathic remedy can do a magic providing long term results.
Also the other factors which need be considered are your previous Mr. X, when you say recurring colds, health history, any allergies or it is very important to establish the intolerances form the past, history frequency of the attacks, nature of of tonsils, sinusitis, bronchitis etc the attack, triggers etc. Much more which can create lowered resistance to clearly establish the cause of in the respiratory sphere. your recurring ailment, and offer you Family history of respiratory conconstitutional remedies to correct ditions can also give a hint of what your problem from the root level. Homeopathic remedies can be used This details will be evaluated when for longer term benefit. you visit a Homeopath. For general information, it is important to note that recurrent colds, possibly occurring every 2 months or even once By Raj Kothuru Please send any of your health related questions to a fortnight simply mean a weak drraj@aurahealth.com.au with Ask Dr Raj as the subject and targeted immune system trying line or ph: 94788649 / 0425761826. The questions will be published with your identity protected. hard to wade of infections. So it is
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Flavanols, compounds in chocolate, are thought to improve circulation, including blood flow to the brain
The Pros and Cons of Using General Anaesthesia for Sleep Dentistry
S
leep dentistry answers the need for anxious patients to help them stay calm during dental procedures. A widely used form of sedation for the same is general anaesthesia. Many patients have benefited by using it for getting dental problems solved. Are you planning to go for it too? Well, this article has found you at the right time then. It might be beneficial to weigh all your options before you go under the knife. Let us quickly have a look at the pros and cons of using general anaesthesia for sleep dentistry. PROS 1. Easy to operate General anaesthesia makes the patient completely unconscious. They cannot move by will. This gives dentists the room they much required to operate on patients’ teeth, which must have been difficult had the patient being conscious. Some patients such as children, people with nervous system issues, and anxious people cannot lay still on the dentist’s chair. General anaesthesia makes it an easy experience for both patient and dentist. 2. Amnesia A person under the effect of general anaesthesia may experience amnesia, that is a complete loss of memory for the duration of their dental procedure. Many patients who suffer from past bad experience memories and dental anxiety or phobia might prefer this feature. As the general anaesthesia is the deepest form of sedation, the patients do not have any painful memories of the dental treatment they undergo. 3. Rapid onset General anaesthesia is also preferred for its rapid onset. The time taken for the effects to show is less compared to other sedatives. This is helpful in cases where a quick dental work is required. It is also helpful when a person has met with an accident and has other injuries to be treated too. A lot of time can be saved. 4. Suitable for the majority of patients Sedation dentistry using general anaesthesia is largely suitable for patients with special needs. For example, people who cannot stop involuntary movements due to central nervous system condition, children who find it difficult to keep their mouths open or to stay steady for long durations, wisdom teeth removals, major dental treatments, etc. General anaesthesia sets all these issues aside and helps the patient have the dental care they need. CONS 1. Advanced training is
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required Not every medical professional can administer anaesthesia. A physician or dentist who wishes to administer general anaesthesia must have to complete a professional full-time training in anesthesiology. It requires absolute precision and knowledge to be able to administer general anaesthesia to patients. 2. A trained team is required Along with the training for the anaesthetist, a competent team of anaesthesia assistant and a circulating nurse is required for the administration of anaesthesia at a hospital or dental clinic. If you are planning to undergo sleep dentistry, check if the dentist has the required personnel in his team. 3. Need for proper equipment and facilities When sedated with general anaesthesia, monitoring the unconscious patient becomes necessary. A hospital or dental clinic must have all the equipment needed to perform dental surgery along with monitoring the state of the patient. It takes time to wear off. Patients also require a recovery room wherein to recover after the dental surgery for a short while. 4. Limiting conditions Although being best for many patients, general anaesthesia is not meant for many others. The state and reaction to sedation may vary from person to person. You need to make sure you are the right candidate before proceeding with sleep dentistry by sharing your medical history with the dentist. At Healthy Smiles, we treat each patient carefully and ascertain their candidature for sedation dentistry by carrying out extensive research on their medical history. Also, we have the most advanced and efficient equipment, qualified and practising anaesthetist, and a whole team of experienced professionals to help carry out a general anaesthetic sleep dentistry procedure. Feel free to ask us about your dental care queries, we would be delighted to help. Drop by at our clinic in Blackburn or call us on 03 9877 2035 for more information. Dr Ved Berani BDS(Mum), ADEC(Aust), MBA(Melb), FIADFE, MFGDP(UK) Principal Dentist & Clinical Advisor Healthy Smiles Dental Group 150-152 Canterbury Rd, Blackburn South VIC 3130 Call us: (03) 9877 2035 www.healthysmiles.com.au
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HEALTH
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
Green tea compounds can treat Covid, diabetes, ageing A team of scientists at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal have in a review identified the biomolecular relationships between Covid-19, ageing, and diabetes.
blood sugar.
The review showed that at the molecular level, there are intersecting pathways that are common to diabetes, ageing, and Covid-19. All three conditions are associated with oxidative stress and lowering of the immune response and complications arising from them lead to the onset of numerous other diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, eye diseases, neuropathy (nerve diseases), and nephropathy (kidney problems).
The review, published in the journal Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, presented that existing drug used to treat diabetes, obesity and ageing can potentially be used to treat Covid-19. Similar naturally existing biomolecules were also explored in combination for the Covid treatment. “There are classes of compounds such as polyphenols found in plant-based food, curcumin (found in turmeric), and resveratrol (found in grapes), have been shown to not only slow down the ageing process, but also possess anti-viral properties,” said Dr. Amjad Husain, Principal Scientist, and CEO of Innovation and Incubation Center for Entrepreneurship (IICE), IISER Bhopal, in a statement. Some other polyphenols that the researchers have identified as being useful for both Covid-19 treatment and comorbidity conditions such as diabetes and ageing may
include catechins (present in green tea, cocoa and berries), procyanidins (found in apples, cinnamon and grape skin), and theaflavin (found in black tea). The researchers also present evidence of some existing potential anti-ageing drugs such as Rapamycin that can be explored for the Covid-19 treatment because of the common biochemical pathways associated with these diseases. Another such example is a drug Metformin , which is usually used to control
The researchers believe that an ideal therapeutic candidate for Covid-19 should be able to target the pathways that are common to diabetes, ageing and the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further, computational studies showed that lipids present in cell membranes play an important role in coronavirus infectivity. Natural compounds such as polyphenols may affect the binding of the virus to host receptors and the molecular interactions required for virus replication and release, thereby stopping the infection in its early stages, the team explained. (IANS)
Stiffness of arteries could indicate severe Covid risk Assessing the stiffness of the arteries could help identify patients most at risk of dying from Covid-19, new research has revealed. Estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV) -- a readily available marker of aortic stiffening -has been shown to be an effective addition in identifying patients at risk of death in hospital due to the virus. Accurate risk stratification at hospital admission of these patients is of utmost clinical importance as it is needed to guide therapeutic strategies, suggest researchers in the paper published in the journal Scientific Reports. A team led by Newcastle University researchers demonstrated that ePWV provides an additional clinical tool to refine risk stratification of hospitalised patients beyond established risk factors and scores. The study included 1,671 people from the UK, Italy and Greece. It was found that the addition of ePWV to clinical predictive markers or a validated mortality score improved the prognostic value for in-hospital mortality and therefore, could facilitate therapeutic decisions in acute Covid-19 disease.
“Our findings suggest that increased aortic stiffening may serve as a predictor of mortality in Covid-19 infection reflecting a cumulative surrogate of ageing and high-risk cardiovascular profile,” said Konstantinos Stellos, Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at Newcastle. The findings showed that ePWV was significantly higher in Covid-19 patients as
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compared to their non-Covid-19 counterparts. Pulse-wave velocity (ePWV) is a measurement of arterial stiffness that is an independent predictor of cardiovascular risk. It can be measured simply and noninvasively by measuring the carotid and femoral pulse pressures, with sensors on the ankles and neck, and the time delay between the two or by other methods relying on pulse-wave analysis. (IANS)
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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Obesity, diabetes driving hidden pandemic of fatty liver disease
People with advanced liver scarring caused by obesity, diabetes and related disorders are dying of liver disease, finds a study.
where excess fat is stored in the liver and is more closely linked to obesity and diabetes than alcohol consumption. Most people don’t know they have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or are at high risk for it.
The study by Virginia Commonwealth University followed more than 1,700 patients for a median of four years, including some for as many as 10 years, to assess their outcomes.
Left untreated, the disease can progress to an advanced form, where the build-up of fat in the liver can cause inflammation, scarring (known as fibrosis) and full-blown cirrhosis that leaves the liver permanently damaged. Patients typically are diagnosed when the disease is advanced and a transplant is the only option.
The team found that patients with advanced fibrosis are more likely to die, especially after gastrointestinal haemorrhaging or fluid accumulation in the abdomen and progressive deterioration of brain function due to the liver disease. The results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, confirmed that people who have very scarred livers are the most at risk for death. “This is the first clear picture of the true rates of outcomes in those with (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease),” said Arun Sanyal, a liver disease specialist at VCU Health.
“And the study provides teeth to the recent American Diabetes Association guidelines to start screening for liver disease to make the screening more mainstream,” he added. Many people believe that only excess alcohol consumption causes liver diseases. However, a quarter of adults worldwide have non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, a condition
“Historically, many primary care physicians and diabetes specialists have felt that, because the roots of the disease lie in insulin resistance, then if we treat the diabetes we’ve already taken care of the problem,” Sanyal said. “And what this shows is that, even within an especially obese, diabetic population, those who have advanced fibrosis are dying of liver disease. Just treating diabetes doesn’t get the job done,” he added.” (AGENCIES)
Horse hyperimmune antibody may help fight Covid-19 A team of Brazilian researchers has found that antibody fragments produced in horses may be an efficient approach to combat Covid-19. Researchers from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro immunised horses using the recombinant trimeric spike (S) glycoprotein for the production of hyperimmune serum, consisting of purified antibody fragments, against SARS-CoV-2. After developing the horse hyperimmune F(ab’)2 concentrate, the group carried out challenge tests in hamsters, injecting the substance into the animals. The results, published in the journal iScience, showed the ability of the treatment to reduce viral load in pulmonary tissues, and to improve the animal clinical conditions, as reflected by weight gain. All intervention schemes protected the animals against weight the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. loss in the acute phase of the disease. Nontreated animals showed an increased weight The neutralising activity of the sera loss, whereas pre-treatment resulted in no body developed by the scientists has also been weight reduction. proved to be high against the P.1 (Gamma) and P.2 Covid variants, said researchers. “By using the trimeric spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 to immunise horses, a cocktail Meanwhile, iSera Biologicals, a Kolhapurof purified IgG fragments (F(ab’)2) showing based company, is also using a similar very high neutralising activity was developed. technology for its Covid vaccine, according to This might be a useful countermeasure against media reports. Covid-19, with the added advantages of being an affordable alternative that can be produced The company, which claims to cure Covid in horse serum production facilities available patients in just 90 hours, is developing the drug worldwide,” said Professor Leda Castilho, from
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made from horse antibodies. Phase 1 clinical trials of the injectable drug against Covid-19 are underway in Maharashtra, and could be India’s first indigenously developed injectable drug that would be used to treat the viral infection. The Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII) has provided technology, antigens and chemicals that induce the production of antibodies. The antigens provided by SII were injected into horses, to develop antibodies, which were then extracted and purified using advanced chromatography technology. (IANS)
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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BEING AN ATHLETE PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN SHAPING MY PERSONALITY: DEEPIKA Deepika Padukone pridefully announces to the world her recent association with the 3-stripes family. She exultantly feels that this alliance helps her connect back with the athlete and fitness enthusiast in her. Adidas joined forces with the global star as her modern and fierce feminist spirit, grit, resilience and active lifestyle choices resonates closely with the brand’s core message - ‘Impossible is Nothing’. This high-watt partnership between the icon and iconic aims to break down barriers, set new standards, explore limitless possibilities, and empower women all across the globe, both physically and emotionally. Sports has always been an integral part of Padukone’s life, who took to social media to share, “Being an athlete and playing sport has played a tremendous role in shaping my personality and helping me become the person I am today. It has taught me values that no other life experience could have. “Today, fitness, both physical and emotional, are an integral part of my lifestyle. I am absolutely honoured and delighted to be partnering with one of the world’s most iconic brands - Adidas,” she added. With this, Padukone joins the league of exemplary women athletes and personalities from around the globe, who have always made an effort to voice women’s hopes, aspirations and passions, backing their free spirit and rebellious streak. For Adidas, Deepika made
the most fitting choice because she embodies vitality, resilience, and compassion. Besides, the brand admired her zeal and positive energy, which anchored her during her incredulously transformational personal journey. It makes her one of the most accessible and relatable icons across the globe, sharing how inner strength and fitness helped her to cope with life’s tough moments. Expressing her excitement over this recent partnership, she commented on her Instagram post, “When I was planning my wedding about three years ago, we kept it a secret for a while. Even that wasn’t as difficult as keeping this announcement a secret! Now, I feel relieved that this news is finally out!” Taking forward the brand’s message, Padukone’s presence takes it forward, which is strongly focused on democratising and diversifying sports for women through inspiring personalities. With these shared values, the star-brand duo is set to create a synergy that inspires both current and future generations to follow their passion uninhibitedly. “As a global youth icon and someone who champions mental well-being and personal betterment, Deepika fits in beautifully with the brand’s ambition of creating positive change through sports and movement. We are thrilled to have Deepika join the Adidas family and together, we hope to inspire more women to see and realise their possibilities,” said Sunil Gupta, Senior Director, Brand Adidas, India . (IANS)
I WANT TO ENTERTAIN PEOPLE WITH POSITIVE MESSAGE: AYUSHMANN Bollywood actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who has a stellar line-up, including Abhishek Kapoor’s ‘Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui’, Anubhav Sinha’s ‘Anek’, Anubhuti Kashyap’s ‘Doctor G’ and ‘Action Hero’ helmed by debutant Anirudh Iyer, says as an artiste, he wants to be able to entertain people with a positive message. Ayushmann says: “It is hugely exciting for me to collaborate with some master storytellers who have some disruptive stories to tell and inspire audiences with. I want to tell audiences to expect the unexpected from my next four films. The actor, who has delivered eight back-to-back
wanting to make a difference to society. The storytellers of these films have some brilliant concepts that people haven’t seen on screen before and that’s what makes them really special for me.” The 37-year-old actor considers himself an entertainer who is looking to deliver a positive message to society through his films.
theatrical hits in a row, added: “I have been fortunate enough to get some remarkable scripts ever since my debut and be part of incredible visions of powerful filmmakers
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“As an artiste, you only want to entertain and I want to be able to entertain people with a positive message that will hopefully affect some social change,” he said. (IANS)
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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DIVYA KHOSLA KUMAR SHARES NEW POSTER FROM ‘SATYAMEVA JAYATE 2’ ‘Satyameva Jayate 2’ is one film that the audience is eagerly waiting for. The John Abraham-starrer is now all set to hit the theatres worldwide. The film’s female lead Divya Khosla Kumar has shared a poster of hers from the film on her Instagram. She captioned the image, “Jo Tirange pe jaan deti hai woh bharat maa ki beti hai! (The one who pledges supreme sacrifice for the tricolour, is the daughter of India) #SatyamevaJayate2 trailer out tomorrow. In cinemas, Thursday, 25th November.” The poster shows Divya leading a group of workers and farmers as she holds a pickaxe with burning rage in her eyes, amidst a struggle with the cops. Recently, John had also shared an action-packed poster of him from the film on his Instagram where he first divulged the details about the film’s release and the trailer launch. After running into production and release delays for almost a year and a half, the film seems to be finally releasing and it promises to serve a mix of patriotism and vigilantism.
‘Satyameva Jayate 2’ is the sequel to the highly successful 2018 action film which starred John as the vigilante who kills corrupt police officers in order to
cleanse the system. Directed by Milap Zaveri and produced by T-series, the film is slated for a theatrical release on November 5.
WOMEN SHOULD NOT TAKE PRESSURE OF LATE PREGNANCY: KAREENA KAPOOR KHAN Kareena Kapoor Khan, the mother of two children, has urged people to not make a taboo of late pregnancy. “I never planned having a baby because you know I was like in 36 or Oh my biological clock is ticking so I need to speed it up or whatever. That was not even a thought or discussion because I was like I married Saif for love. I did that. I wanted to have a child, so I did it. It so happened. I didn’t give much thought because my thought was always on my work, and you know being happy and content with myself. So, I don’t think late mothers should have this pressure,” Kareena said. Kareena was 36 when she welcomed her first child Taimur with Saif Ali Khan in 2016. After five years, in February 2021, she turned mother again as she gave birth to her son Jeh. During the latest episode of the ‘Raising Parents with Mansi Zaveri’ podcast, Kareena also opened up
about how she balances her time between the two kids. “I think that the fact is that I am a very calm person, I am very composed. I divide my time well. Like I know Taimur needs me at this point in time. You know I am lucky that he now wakes up later than Jeh’s, so I know I have to be with Jeh for that hour while he has his breakfast and then once Jeh’s breakfast is done I know Taimur’s time is you know coming in. So, I just balance it out. The idea is to not have too much pressure on like doing things. The idea is to involve children to take part in your daily life. It’s not like we have to do this, and we have to do that. We are not those kind of parents,” she added. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kareena will be seen sharing screen space with Aamir Khan in ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’, which is scheduled to release in 2022. (ANI)
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(IANS)
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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KATRINA KAIF’S ETHNIC LOOK IS A TREAT FOR SORE EYES As the audience prepares for the Rohit Shetty directorial ‘Sooryavanshi’, Katrina Kaif has been running pillar to post with regards to the promotions of the film. However, the fans have no complaints as the string of promotions continues to bring us Katrina’s most dazzling looks.
attire were the emerald and stone adorned drop earrings and, her open and tresses. She kept the accessories to a bare minimum in order to draw the attention towards her clothing. Katrina’s sartorial choices have always caught the attention of both her fans and the fashion enthusiasts, it’s safe to say that the actress is an absolute head turner.
The actress recently took to Instagram to share a few pictures of herself from the promotion streak where she attended Colors’ show ‘The Big Picture’ with her ‘Sooryavanshi’ director Rohit Shetty. ‘The Big Picture’ host Ranveer Singh was quick to react with a comment on the actress’s post. He wrote, “What a blast k! ?? ???? thank you for coming and making it such a special episode ! (sic)”. Katrina embraced a Sabyasachi Mukherjee creation, a burnt orange coloured saree with an embellished blouse
having a heavy sequin embroidered torso and floral sleeves. Complementing her
STAND-UP COMEDY SCARIER: SUNNY LEONE
T
he last thing you’d expect Sunny Leone to do well is tickle your funny bone, but she does it (and how!) on ‘One Mic Stand Season 2’, whose trailer is out. Leone, in fact, is the star performer in the trailer. By the looks of it, the second season of the funny show is going to be even bigger, with some of the biggest names across the board trying their hand at stand-up comedy. The show features a slew of well-known comedians who have acted as mentors to talented people from various walks of life. They’ve honed their skills and punchlines and made sure that the jokes land perfectly. Sunny Leone is one such prominent name from the show. On the surface, it may seem like all fun and games, but deep down, Sunny was quite nervous to say the least when it came to delivering impeccable punchlines in front of a live audience.
so when I got the chance to be on One Mic Stand 2, I grabbed it like a hawk.”
Talking about her experience, the actress said: “I have loved stand-up comedy and I have watched several shows here and internationally as well. Seeing a comedian perform on stage looks so simple and natural, but the reality of how difficult it is to actually connect with audiences and make them crack up on every joke is something I have learnt very closely now.”
On how it has changed her own view of herself, the actress added: “I’ve got to say, I learnt to take a joke or two on myself and saw the world around me in a lighter perspective. I’m glad to have collaborated with Neeti [Palta], she has such a fresh take on everything, and she is a natural. Working with women is always fun because you understand each other’s perspectives and experiences like nobody else and that’s what made my set work so well.‘One Mic Stand’ is one of Amazon India’s flagship shows.
She added: “As an artiste I am always looking to try new things and showcase my skills to the audience in more ways than one,
The actress shared that she always tries to up the ante by portraying different sides of herself. She said: “I am always trying to showcase different sides of myself to my fans and my audience, which is why I was attracted to this show in the first place. I thoroughly enjoyed the last season of ‘One Mic Stand’. I thought it was hilarious, the sets that the celebrity guests produced were excellent, so the pressure was on to match that level of finesse. Continuing with her serious take on the business of humour, Leone said: “I am used to remembering long dialogues and delivering them but performing live has its own thrill. Stand-up comedy is scarier than falling on a ramp during a fashion show. Imagine cracking a joke and nobody laughs, that was my biggest fear.”
By Akshay Acharya
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Talking of ‘Sooryavanshi’, the film is now set for a massive theatrical release after its run-ins with delays and uncertainties. The film which also stars Akshay Kumar, Jackie Shroff and Jaaved Jaaferi with Ajav Devgn and Ranveer Singh in extended cameo appearances, will hit the screens on November 5 and will quell the audience’s hunger for a true-blue Bollywood potboiler, this Diwali. ”
(IANS)
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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PARINEETI CHOPRA TALKS ABOUT HER DECADE-LONG JOURNEY IN BOLLYWOOD
Parineeti Chopra made her debut in Bollywood in 2011 with ‘Ladies vs Ricky Bahl’. The actress has completed a decade in the Hindi film industry and says she did not want it to be any other way. “I had a dream launch. I have had an amazing career. It’s the same as an amazing life. You have to have high highs and low lows. You have to have successes
and failures. Joys and pain. You have to make a life and it is the same thing in your career,” Parineeti said.
from the times I have started. It has been amazing. I wouldn’t have been the actor that I am today if it wasn’t like that.”
“To have a full career, you should see all aspects of it. In front of the camera, behind the camera, you should see hit films, flop films, you should see failure...all sorts of experiences should be there,” added the actress.
Now, Parineeti is looking forward to ‘Animal’, which stars Ranbir Kapoor and is busy shooting in Nepal for Sooraj Barjatya’s ‘Uunchaai’, which also features Amitabh Bachchan and Anupam Kher.
Parineeti, who had three back-to-back hit releases such as ‘The Girl On The Train’, ‘Saina’ and ‘Sandeep aur Pinky Faraar’, ] agrees that she has had her shares of hits and misses but that has what has made her the actress she is today.
(IANS)
Have never been in support of vulgar comedy: Paresh Rawal
She said: “From that point of view, I have had so many different experiences
TAMANNAAH
AMONG TOP 10 MOST INFLUENTIAL SOCIAL MEDIA STARS IN SOUTH Tamannah Bhatia is one of the most famous actresses of the South. With her alluring personality and mesmerising presence, Tamannah has gained a vast section of fandom. Her social media profiles indicate the kind of followers the actress has gained over the years.
Paresh Rawal has always upped his own game when it comes to the genre of comedy. But there is one thing he is not in support of and that is vulgar comedy or running down someone for making others chuckle.
In a recent survey by Forbes India, Tamannah stands in the tenth position in the list of the most influential social media stars (South India). Forbes India has released the results of their recent survey, by calculating the Instagram influence using various metrics. They released the list of Top 30 Most Influential South Actors on social media.
While having a chat, the 66-year-old star also talked about the changed definition of comedy in Hindi cinema.
Tamannah, who topped as the tenth most influential social media star, expressed her happiness overachieving the feat. The actress also shares the credit with her fans and followers, who she thinks is the main reason behind her success. Forbes India considered the Instagram activity of celebrities from Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, and Malayalam film industries over the most recent 25 posts. The influence is represented through Qoruz Score, using a digital tool which calculates the score based on the likes, number of followers, video views, and other social media activity”.
(IANS)
“Yes, definitely (it has changed). The buffoonery which was there was also a variety but the kind of comedy which is coming in now is high and good comedy, which I enjoy doing,” Paresh said. The actor, who is gearing up for the release of his next ‘Hum Do Humare Do’, added: “There has definitely been a change. I have anyway never been in support of vulgar comedy or run down someone and make fun of physical deformity. That is disgusting. I think the first high comedy I did was ‘Andaz Apna Apna’.” The family entertainer ‘Hum Do Hamare Do’ tells the story of a man forced to “arrange” a set of parents to impress the love of his life. It also stars Ratna Pathak Shah, Kriti Sanon and Aparshakti Khurana .
(IANS)
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FOOD
bon appétit
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
Did you know:
Beetroots are a great source of folate, the B-vitamin known for its role in preventing birth defects in foetuses
Cuisine is deeply rooted in culture: Chef Anurudh Khanna
I
t is important to respect the sanctity of any cuisine, as it is deeply rooted in culture, says Chef Anurudh Khanna, Multi Property Executive Chef at Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi. Having curated a food festival that brings to town culinary treasures from the Tamil city of Tiruchirapalli, Chef Khanna highlights that there are many misconceptions relating to cuisine from Southern Indian states, which make for a rich culinary bouquet in themselves. Chef Khanna speaks in an interview: to IANSlife on the sidelines of 'Treaures of Trichy' food festival which is going on at Westin Gurgaon, New Delhi till September 15. Excerpts: Could you tell me about the inspiration behind 'Treasures of Trichy'? Khanna: While planning a food festival, we were just thinking which cuisine and Indian
state to tap into. We looked at the resources in our culinary team at Westin - here someone is from Uttarakhand, from Nepal, southern states, Rajasthan, Bengal - so it's quite varied. Our resident South Indian chef, Chef Vijaykumar is from Tiruchirapalli, who is with us from 2019. That's where we thought of putting this cuisine in the front and making him the main chef for food festival. There are many variations in what is singularly thought of as 'South Indian cuisine'. As a chef, what do you have to say about this? Khanna: I also discovered this, during my last assignment in Bangalore where I travelled to Mangalore, Kerala, and to Andhra. As I travelled, I realised that the cuisine is changing. Dishes even 'sambhar' and 'rasam change. Andhra-style 'sambhar' is very spicy in some places and a little sweetish in others. Not just the palate changes from state to state, but breakfast 'sambhar' is different from all-day 'sambhar'. The Spice level matters a lot. For example, Kannada cuisine is not that spicy, Mangalore cuisine is rich with spices, Andhra cuisine is heavy on chillies but Kerala cuisine is very fragrant. About the stereotype, yes there are a lot of misconceptions about food among people who are not native to south Indian states or who haven't travelled much. They think South Indian cuisine is mostly just 'idli, sambhar, dosa, vada', and there are a lot of varieties of dosa. But in reality, South Indian cuisine is immense. Chefs are experimenting with fusion
styles, for instance, something like a dosaflavoured burger. Any opinions? Khanna: As a chef, I'd say it should not be done. A little twist to the recipe is acceptable but changing the recipe upside-down is not. Food is an element very rooted in culture. You can be just a little bit around culture, adapt but complete 180-degree changes and fusions, are not my food philosophy. Let's keep the sanctity of the cuisine as it is. It is different from doing multi-grain dosa or ragi dosa, even variations in stuffing is possible. What's next, when it comes to food festivals at the Westin? Khanna: Next would be regional as well. I'd discover some more regional talent from my team first. Maybe I could do a travel flow within Uttar Pradesh and bring out regional variations among UP dishes." By Siddhi Jain
Foods to help induce labor naturally 37 or 38 weeks pregnant, the finishing line seems so close yet so far. As one inches closer to their due date, often patience runs out and you may be ready to try everything possible to help induce labour naturally. most women choose to speed things up naturally with food choices. Some look at these food groups as old wives' tales since there is limited evidence to prove these are hundred per cent successful in aiding labour. Red Raspberry Leaf Red raspberry leaf is known to help strengthen the uterus muscles and tone the pelvic floor- both of which can help prepare for the process of birth. Studies have revealed that red raspberry leaves can help shorten labour and decrease the likelihood of a C-section or chances of an assisted birth using forceps/vacuum. These leaves are commonly consumed in the form of tea by brewing the leaves in boiling water and then consuming the same. Since raspberry leaves can increase the frequency of Braxton hick's contractions, it is recommended to consume these past 34 weeks
Unripe Papaya The orange and ripe papaya although thought to be prohibited in pregnancy can actually be consumed occasionally in moderation and is no longer considered harmful for pregnant women. However, it is the green unripe and raw papaya that contains latex, which is believed to have properties similar to that of the hormone oxytocin (released during labour for uterine contractions) For this reason, unripe papaya is often a food choice amongst pregnant women who are naturally trying to induce labour during their last couple of days of gestation. Pineapple Pineapple is yet another fruit that is generally avoided by most pregnant women during pregnancy. Unfortunately, not many seem to know why this norm is popular. Pineapple contains an enzyme known as bromelain which is believed to cause cervical ripening. Cervical ripening is the first step towards cervical dilation which could eventually lead to labour.
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It is believed that the highest concentration of bromelain is present in the core of the pineapple. Pineapple is therefore consumed by pregnant women often in the last weeks of pregnancy in a bid to aid cervical ripening. Date Fruit It is believed that dates can help with the process of cervical ripening while also improving the spontaneity of labour & reducing the chances of postpartum haemorrhage. Studies have revealed that those who consume dates in their third trimester have a shorter first stage of labour and a quicker rate of cervical dilation. It must also be kept in mind that although dates are high in fibre, they do contain high levels of sugar and are therefore to be avoided in cases of gestational diabetes or for those who have a yeast infection in pregnancy (yeast feeds of sugar). By Dr. Vanshika Gupta Adukia
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
CRAVING A BURGER?
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BITE INTO A PLANT-BASED MEAT PATTY Burgrill India, becomes the first homegrown QSR Chain to introduce plant-based meat burgers for their patrons in India. The offering is set to revolutionize the consumption pattern of the non-veg fast-food industry overall.
T
he Green Meat Pounder cocreated by Burgrill India, and Greenest Foods will be at par with animal-based meat on the nutritional level and holistically even better for our environment. The plant-based patty ingredients consist of isolated soy protein, chickpea protein and a blend of plant-based fibres, and much more to replicate its aroma and taste of chicken. Shreh Madan, Co-Founder and Head of Marketing, Burgrill India, says, "We are thrilled to finally introduce the Green Meat Pounder for our patrons. We are extremely confident about our latest offering; we have been dedicatedly working on this launch for over a year now. From finding the right ingredients to the perfect tenderness and juiciness to our patty that can be grilled to perfection for our audiences. We have tried various versions of the plant-based meat patty before we finalized this one specially curated according to our needs and demands by Greenest Foods. Since our inception, we have been working towards introducing a signature pounder for our vegetarian consumers, and today I feel immensely proud to announce the launch of The Green Meat Pounder. Healthy, scrumptious, and at par with any non-veg burgers in terms of taste and flavours i.e. in sync with our signature dishes. In keeping with our core
philosophy of serving fresh, wholesome, and most importantly healthy options the green meat patty will be grilled to perfection for each order. With the launch of The Green Meat Pounder, we wanted to cater to an audience i.e. fast-growing and ecoconscious. We are taking the dine-in and delivery experience of enjoying gourmet like healthy burgers a notch higher. Needless to say, the price points will be economical and the taste will be at par with other signature pounders on the menu." Gaurav Sharma, CEO, Greenest Foods, expresses his views, "We are excited to bring the plant-based meat experience to patrons of Burgrill. The Green Meat Pounder is India's first plant-based chicken burger which vegetarians and non-vegetarians can enjoy alike. Not only does it perfectly replicate the taste, juiciness, and texture of a chicken burger but is also significantly healthier for our planet and its people in comparison to conventional meat burgers. Besides, The Green Meat Pounder is priced on par with its chicken counterpart so as to help people make the switch from a meat-heavy to a plant-based diet easier." Varun Deshpande, Managing Director, Good Food Institute India, says, "Plant-based meats are at the forefront of a smart protein transformation globally, and this launch
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by Burgrill and GREENEST is an exciting indication of the category's potential in India. Providing delicious, innovative options for meat-craving consumers will usher in a new era of 'eating for the planet' by making a simple switch -- an urgent imperative as we race to push back on climate change and public health crises. That influential food brands like Burgrill are leading the charge in bringing plant-based meats to Indian consumers is a further sign of confidence in the sector, and that's a major win for people and planet." (IANSlife)
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DIET
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
How to make this Diwali healthy BY DEEVYA GUPTA
D
iwali is a time we all get together and celebrate with close ones, with so many lights, diyas and of course a variety of foods available. This festive season is full of delicious sweets that may end up taking up more space in our diets than usual. Is there any way we can have sweets AND enjoy keeping a healthy lifestyle? The answer is YES! With a few little changes compared to other years you can still eat enjoys your laddoos and barfis. Practice mindful eating It can be very easy to get carried away by the variety of sweets when they are in front of you. Why not enjoy a little bit of all of them? To be included as part of a balanced lifestyle, take your favourite sweet but really pay close attention to it. Engage all of your senses like smell, touch and visual to really enjoy the sweet you are about to eat. By eating mindfully, you also reduce your feelings of guilt that may be associated with eating sweets so that you can have a positive relationship with foods. Tips on making the most of your sweets • Take small bites and eat these foods slowly You will find when you start eating mindfully with your attention on the food, just one piece gives you the same feeling as eating many pieces • Take only one piece of sweet into a plate and keep the rest of the box away This will reduce your desire to keep picking
from the box. • Try to avoid eating sweets on an empty stomach as you may be more likely to try and make up for a meal with sweets alone • Find someone to share the joy with. If there is anyone else at home or even if it’s just yourself, you can cut the sweets in half and keep the other half for later or share with family Remember that just because it comes in a particular size does not mean you need to eat it whole. Also, on the bright side you will have more to last you for a longer time! • Many sweets can also be frozen to be enjoyed later If you have many in excess, you can consider this as an option rather than forcibly
eating the sweets to finish them • If you are making your own sweets, consider trying to make them with less sugar. You might be surprised at how tasty and sweet they still are even if you have reduced the sugar by ¼ Eating dinner out during the festive month With the lockdowns now ended in the whole country, many people may be wanting to have dinners at home or out more frequently to celebrate Diwali and the festive season. • Mindful eating can be applied to your meals also, where you take the time to enjoy your meals by eating slowly and using your eyes, nose and touch to enjoy your meals. By eating slowly, you will feel more satisfied and fuller • Having a smaller plate or bowl is one way to visually reduce your overall intake without compromising on the foods you love • Fill up your plate with as much vegetables (such as sabji or salads) to keep up your fibre intake to help you feel full Continue to keep up an active lifestyle • Wherever possible keep up your regular exercises. Even without trying you can do small things such as parking the car further away, enjoying some dancing or taking the stairs when possible • Stay well hydrated as it is very easy to confuse hunger with thirst • Most importantly, enjoy this special time with your loved ones Please note this advice is of a general nature. If you have any concerns or queries you should get tailored advice from an Accredited Practicing Dietitian and always consult with your General Practitioner before making any changes. Feel free to contact us if you require any specific Dietitian advice.
Deevya Gupta is an Accredited Practicing Dietitian in Melbourne | W: www.abcofnutrition.com.au
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RECIPE
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
Bhuna Saagwala Ghost Lamb cooked with Greens This tasty, nutritious and healthy Lamb dish is best cooked with fresh Spinach or Mustard greens. The Quality of meat too plays an important role, use meat on the bone or boneless as you may prefer. The more you sauté the meat, the better it tastes. Spinach and the Greens also enhances the nutritive value of the dish. This dish is just Delicious and finger licking good. Try it for yourself
Tip:
Fresh spinach can be replaced for frozen spinach and Mustard leaves can also be used as a great substitute.
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Ingredients:
600 g lamb diced 500 g spinach chopped 2-3 tbsp olive oil or ghee 1 cup onions sliced 440 g tomatoes finely chopped 1 inch ginger chopped 4-5 garlic cloves chopped 3-4 green or red chillies chopped 2 bay leaves 3-4 cloves 1 inch cinnamon stick 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp ground red chilli 1/4 tsp ground turmeric 1 tsp ground coriander salt to taste
Method:
Clean, wash and cut lamb into 1 1/2 inch size inches. Place tomatoes in the grinder and blend the tomatoes until smooth. In a pot, boil the spinach in salted water for 2 minutes, drain and grind with chillies. Set aside. Heat oil in heavy-based pot, fry ginger and garlic for a few minutes. Add bay leaves, cloves, cinnamon and cumin seeds. When cumin seeds sizzle, add onions and cook until translucent. Stir in the lamb and mix well. Add the remaining spices and cook 5 mins or more. Cover and cook for about 40 mins or more with a little water, until almost tender, stirring occasionally. Pour in the blended tomatoes and stir until mixed well. Cook for about 5 minutes then add the pureed spinach. Stir and cook the meat and spinach until fully blended and tender. - Serve hot.
Garnish:
strips of fresh ginger and dollop of cream
Serve:
With Basmati rice, Roti, Naan, Parartha.
recipe
BY MANJIT SETHI
from the private collection
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ASTROLOGY
G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
By D. Narayan (Tantracharya) Mesha (Aries)
Those in the overseas trade would also do extremely well. It is ot only a beneficial month but also one that will give you much cause for satisfaction. Professionals would have an extremely satisfying time in terms of their creative output. Traders of all descriptions would also fare well, and what is more realize their full profits. Be confident that these would succeed. Best days: 3, 12, 30 Lucky Colour: Red, Orange, Cream
Simha (Leo)
Vrishabh (Taurus)
This month you have a favourable combination of stars, which is out to help in your career advancement. With little or no travel, and with the work-load lighter than usual, you would successfully carry out your pursuits and realize the expected gains. Those renowned in writing, painting, music, and the other fine arts would do exceedingly well. Some of you would go on to make a mark with your contribution in social or religious work. Best days: 9, 18, 27 Lucky Colour: Green, Blue
Kanya (Virgo)
Mithuna (Gemini)
You must work hard to get the decision deferred on any such dispute to a later and more favourable period. There is every chance that any pending loan applications or a new proposal for fresh advances from a bank would not be approved or delayed on one count or the other. Artists of all descriptions are unlikely to fare very well, and it would be a wise policy for them to make provisions for a lean period. Best days: 2, 7, 9 Lucky Colour: Red, White, Yellow
Tula (Libra)
M: 0425 660 220
Karkat (Cancer)
You must work hard to get the decision deferred on any such dispute to a later and more favourable period. There is every chance that any pending loan applications or a new proposal for fresh advances from a bank would be delayed on one count or the other. There could easily get struck. Artists of all descriptions are unlikely to fare very well, and it would be a wise policy for them to make provisions for a lean period. Best days: 9, 18 Lucky Colour: Red, Blue
Vrishchik (Scorpio)
A fairly beneficial month during which you could do very well career wise. In an atmosphere completely free of tension and internal politics you should go ahead and pursue your objectives and realize the expected gains. This would not give you the rewards for your efforts but also fill you with a sense of achievement. Some of you would make a mark with your contributions in social or religious work.
Writers, painters, and artists would do well to store up for the rainy day, for they are going to face an extremely lean period this month. This would also apply to traders of various descriptions, who would also not fare well, or at least not do as well as anticipated. Further, any pending loan application or a proposal for a fresh advance to banks or financial institutions is unlikely to be cleared in a hurry, if at all.
There are grounds however, to be careful in treating any sudden illness of the acute type without any loss of tonic. If treatment is administered expeditiously you have nothing to worry about, since such an affliction, if at all it troubles you, would in any case be brief. A good month, during which you have nothing much to worry about on health grounds, except just this little bit of care.
Most of you, may have to struggle quite a bit to realize your anticipated objectives and even then achieve little success. Financial prospect doesn’t seems to be encouraging. Professionals would do well to make allowances for a lean period, because that is a distinct possibility. Further, the climate would remain far from congenial for investment and the launching of new ventures.
Best days: 9, 18 Lucky Colour: Red, Blue
Best days: 1, 3, 4 Lucky Colour: Red, Orange
Dhanu (Sagittarius)
Makara (Capricorn)
Kumbha (Aquarius)
Best days: 5,3 Lucky Colour: White & Orange
This month your financial prospects would be extremely encouraging. There is every possibility of good Fortune coming to your door-step, through some service done to you by some elderly gentleman, which would prove to be extremely beneficial. Some of you would also have a way of handling your workers and subordinates, in a manner that will enable you to derive the maximum benefit from their services. Best days: 9, 18 Lucky Colour: Red, Blue
Best days: 3, 12 Lucky Colour: Orange, Green
Your financial prospects look good this month. Those of you who go in for speculative activity or even gambling may look forward to, making handsome profits. Further, for some of you there is a distinct possibility of an unexpected windfall. Most of you would be able to achieve success in realizing your objectives in fairly quick time. Finally, it is also very likely that some of you would generate a sizeable chunk of unaccounted money. Best days: 1, 3, 4 Lucky Colour: White, Green, Blue
You can look forward to several profitable opportunities for financial advancement during this coming month. There is a legitimate reason to expect a sudden windfall. Further there are good chances for those of you who go in for speculation activity or even gambling, to fare quite well, in your pursuits. Some of you would also have many an occasion to generate and encounter – black money. Best days: 5, 3, 6 Lucky Colour: White, Green
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Meen (Pisces)
You have many opportunities for advancing your financial prospects this month. You would helped by a favourable set of circumstances that would promote your good fortune. Any speculation is likely to succeed. In fact, some of you can look forward to an unexpected windfall. Your own self-confidence and drive along with favourable circumstances, should give you remarkable success in your financial operation. Best days: 2, 7, 9 Lucky Colour: Red, Yellow, White
Have a laug h
HAVE A LAUGH
Please enjoy the literary sense of humour How does an attorney sleep? First, he lies on one side, then he lies on the other side…. I have a few jokes about unemployed people, but none of them work…. ****** How do you make holy water? You boil the hell out of it…. Will glass coffins be a success? Remains to be seen…. What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo? One is really heavy and the other is a little lighter….
A cross-eyed teacher couldn’t control his pupils…. She had a photographic memory but never developed it…. Is it ignorance or apathy that's destroying the world today? I don't know and don't really care…. I wasn’t originally going to get a brain transplant, but then I changed my mind…. Which country’s capital has the fastest-growing population? Ireland. Every day it’s Dublin…. My ex-wife still misses me. But her aim is starting to improve….
Two windmills are standing in a wind farm. One asks, The guy who invented the “What’s your favorite kind of door knocker got a no-bell music?” The other says, “I’m prize…. a big metal fan.” I saw an ad for burial plots, Hear about the new and I thought: “That’s the restaurant called Karma? last thing I need!” There’s no menu - you get what you deserve…. Need an ark? I Noah guy…. I went to buy some camouflage trousers yesterday but couldn't find any….
I used to be indecisive; now I'm not so sure….
Sleeping comes so naturally to me, I could do it with my What do you call a bee that eyes closed…. can’t make up its mind? A maybe…. What did the grape say when it got stepped on? I tried to sue the airline Nothing - but it let out a for losing my luggage. I lost little whine…. my case…. What do you call a super When everything is coming articulate dinosaur? A your way, you're in the wrong Thesaurus…. lane….
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G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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G’DAY INDIA | NOV 2021
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