Indian Abroad October 1-15, 2021 Vol 1 Issue 16

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

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SC asks Centre for steps taken to clear roads blocked by farmers IANS

Mona Bhasin: A fashionista fostering Indian fashion and art -Page 5

Bharat Band -Page 4

Indian Cooking with Lata Modi -Page 7

Entrepreneurship: Stand out from the crowd -Page 16

How to be a tourist in India -Page 20

New Delhi, Sep 30: The Supreme Court on Thursday emphasised that roads cannot remain blocked perpetually and asked the Centre what steps has it taken to remove the road blockade by farmers, protesting against three agriculture laws at Delhi borders.

A bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul told the Centre's counsel: "We have already laid down the law and you have to implement it. If we encroach, then you may say that we have trespassed on your domain."

The bench further added, "How to

implement the law is your business.

The court has no means to implement it".

The top court said there are grievances, which need to be addressed and queried, "How can highways be blocked perpetually? Where does it end". The bench emphasised the problem could be solved through either judicial forum or parliamentary debates, but highways can't be blocked perpetually.

The bench asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj: What was the government doing in the

First Indian-origin judge assigned to NSW Supreme Court

O

n September 20, a prominent barrister from Sydney, Hament Dhanji took over from Honourable Justice Robert Beech-Jones who himself is all set to ascend to the post of Chief Justice for the Common Law Division of the Supreme Court and also as a Judge of Appeal. Dhanji has now become the first Indian-origin Australian to be assigned to the position of Justice for the NSW Supreme Court.

Barry O’Farrell , Australia’s High Commissioner to India posted his congratulatory greetings for Dhanji on Twitter and also remarked about Dhanji’s outstanding 30 years’ experience as a legal practitioner commencing his career in 1990. He was also praised by NCW Attorney

General and Australia's Minister for Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence, Mark Speakman who also took to the micro-blogging platform showering accolades on Dhanji.

Continued on page 9

Indian Ministry of Ayush and Western Sydney University have inked an agreement to assign Australia’s inaugural academic chair in ayurvedic medicine

A

Your celebrity festive fashion guide -Page 27

yurveda, an ancient medical practice has always courted controversy with regard to its efficacy in comparison to allopathy and other modern medical practices as the latter have always challenged the former on the grounds of lack of irrefutable evidence. Although the COVID-19 pandemic did reaffirm many people’s faith in this age-old healing practice, it is yet to gain

IANS

New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS): India has achieved the milestone of having over 1,000 individuals with net worth of Rs 1,000 crore, said Hurun India.

Accordingly, the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2021 revealed that 1,007 individuals across 119 cities have a net worth of Rs 1,000 crore.

The report cited that cumulative wealth was up 51 per cent, while average wealth increased by 25 per cent.

Besides, it showed that 894 individuals saw their wealth increase or stay the same, of which 229 are new faces, while 113 saw their wealth drop and there were 51 dropouts.

Currently, India has 237 billionaires, up 58 compared to last year.

"While 'Chemicals' and 'Software' sectors added the greatest number of new entrants to the list, Pharma is still at number one and has contributed 130 entrants to the list. The youngest in the list is aged 23, three years younger than the youngest last year."

Furthermore, the list report pointed out that Reliance Industries' Chairman and Managing Director

Mukesh Ambani continued to be the richest man in India for the 10th consecutive year with a wealth of Rs 7,18,000 crore.

"With INR 5,05,900 crore, Gautam Adani & family moved up two places to the second spot in the IIFL Wealth Hurun India Rich List 2021."

The Adani group has a combined market capitalisation of Rs 9 lakh crore, except Adani Power all listed companies are valued at more than a lakh crore.

"Gautam Adani is the only Indian to build not one, but five Rs 1 lakh crore companies," said Anas Rahman Junaid, MD and Chief Researcher, Hurun India.

In addition, Shiv Nadar of HCL, retained the third rank, as HCL's limited exposure to Covid affected segments such as travel, retail and hospitality resulted in a 67 per cent increase in his wealth to Rs 2,36,600 crore.

For the 12 months that ended in December 2020, HCL became only the third Indian IT company to break through the $10 billion revenue mark.

BAPS temple conducts Chief Justice of India invited to vaccination drive inaugural event of Statue of Equality urging community Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji, the current spiritual head participation of the Ramanuja sect, has invited Chief Justice of India, N.V. Ramanuja to the Ramanuja Millennium Celebration on the occasion of the 1000th birth anniversary of Shri Ramanujacharya Swami. Chinna Jeeyar Swami was accompanied by the chairman of My Home Group, Dr. Rameshwar Rao.

Research on Ayurveda medicines, yoga and medication to be carried out in Australia Satsang: Gathering of Spiritual Seekers -Page 25

matter?

Mehta, on his part, submitted that a high-level committee was formed where farmers were invited, but they refused to join. He added that certain farmers' representatives have to be made parties in the matter, so that they are informed about the government plans. However, the bench said the Centre will have to implead them as parties, as the petitioner may not know about the leaders representing the farmers.

The top court was hearing a plea filed by Monicca Agarwaal seeking directions to remove road blockades, which impedes free movement of traffic between Delhi and Noida.

The bench told the Centre's counsel to move an application, pointing out steps taken and how impleadment of some parties will help in resolution of dispute.

The top court has posted the matter for further hearing on October 4.

The top court on August 23 had asked the Centre to find a solution to the blockade of roads by farmers groups protesting against the three agriculture laws. Earlier, the top court had observed that protesters have a right to protest at a designated space, but can't block public roads.

The petitioner had alleged that instead of the normal 20 minutes, she ended up spending two hours for her travel from Noida to Delhi.

Over 1K Indians with Rs 1K cr net worth: Hurun India

wider recognition.

All India Institute of Ayurveda in New Delhi and NICM Health Research Institute in Sydney are going to join hands in a concerted effort to seek evidence cementing the effectiveness of Ayurveda, yoga and meditation as not only alternatives but also mainstream therapeutic avenues.

Continued on page 9

T

he vaccination clinic started booking appointments from September 3 onwards and within no time recorded more than 800 appointments. The pop-up clinic administered over 800 jabs to candidates who are 16 years and above.

This was a joint initiative by the Victorian Department of Health and the BAPS Temple with a view to launching mass vaccination programmes with the involvement of the CALD community members. In the run up to the vaccination camp, they had also conducted a webinar to disseminate information regarding COVID-19 vaccination. The BAPS Temple had also solicited the participation of the Hindu community to counter vaccine hesitancy stemming from widespread misinformation.

The clinic also had translators and medical staff during the course of the drive to aid the Indian community members in giving accurate information.

Continued on page 9

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n the occasion of the 1000th birth anniversary of Shri Ramanujacharya Swami, the Ramanuja Millennium Celebration will be held from 2nd February to 14th February, 2022 at a large ashram in Shamshabad near Hyderabad. A 216-foot tall statue of Shri Ramanujacharya Swami, which is the second tallest statue of the world, will also be inaugurated as part of the celebration. This statue known as the Statue of Equality will epitomize all the values of equality and justice that Swami

Ramanujacharya espoused.

A grand ceremony is being organised to commemorate his birth anniversary which will commence with the anointing of his image and unveiling of the Statue of Equality.

President Ramnath Kovind will unveil this colossal statue. Other prominent personalities to grace the occasion include Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Sarsanghchalak Mohan Bhagwat and Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.

Continued on page 9

Radhika Madan: When we see a love story it just feels like home -Page 30 www.indianabroad.news

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Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

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LEAD STORIES

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

India logs over 20K new 60 students of Bengaluru Covid cases again after 3 days school test Covid positive IANS

New Delhi, Sep 30 (IANS): India witnessed yet another surge in daily Covid cases on Thursday, pushing the daily tally over 20,000 cases after three days. According to Union Health Ministry's report on Thursday Morning, as many as 23,529 new Covid-19 cases were registered in the last 24 hours.

India had reported less than 20,000 Covid-19 cases for the last three days. On Wednesday, 18,870 cases

were registered, while on Tuesday and Monday, India registered 18,795 and 19,859 cases respectively.

In the same time span, India recorded 311 Covid related deaths against 378 fatalities reported on Wednesday. With this, the total Covid fatality in the country climbed to 4,48,062. The overall Covid fatality rate remained at 1.33 per cent for the last few weeks.

Out of total cases reported in the last

24 hours in the country, 12,161 have been registered in Kerala and 3,187 cases in Maharashtra. In the same time span, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have reported as many 1,624 and 1,084 cases respectively.

Mizoram recorded 1,380 cases, while West Bengal and Karnataka reported 748 and 539 new cases respectively.

According to the Union Health Ministry's data, the active cases in the country stand at 2,77,020, which is 0.82 per cent of the total positive cases so far in the country.

With the recovery of 28,718 Covid infected patients in the last 24 hours across the county, the cumulative recovery rose to 3,30,14,898, which is 97.85 per cent of the total cases reported since early last year.

The cumulative number of Covid vaccine doses administered in the country crossed 88.34 crore (88,34,70,578), out of which 65,34,306 were administered in the last 24 hours, according to the ministry's report.

Overall, 56.89 (56,89,56,439) crore Covid samples were tested so far in the country, out of which 15,06,254 were tested on Wednesday.

Alarm bells in Islamabad over anti-Pak bill in US Senate

IndiaTv News

New Delhi, Sep 30: A bill moved in the US Senate seeking to assess Pakistans alleged role in Afghanistan before and after the fall of Kabul to Afghan Taliban set alarm bells ringing in the upper house of Pakistan parliament, Dawn reported.

Raising the issue of the anti-Pakistan bill that aims to penalise and sanction different countries, Pakistan Peoples Party parliamentary leader in Senate and chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs Senator Sherry

Rehman said Pakistan was faced with a moment of serious peril after the hasty pullout of US forces from Afghanistan.

Referring to the Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight, and Accountability bill moved by 22 Republican senators, Senator Rehman regretted the US left Afghanistan under a deal that it had directly made with the Taliban yet it was pressing Pakistan to take responsibility for whatever was happening in Afghanistan.

"What is happening to Pakistan is actually worse than what has happened before," she remarked, the report said.

Mentioning that the bill directly targeted Pakistan, she said it was not the US administration's policy bill but it was important as it could gather critical mass. "It also points to a rise in toxic sentiments about Pakistan on the Hill, which many of us have worked very hard to reverse," she observed.

Noting that a smart policy was about anticipating challenges and tackling them with unity and rational response, she said that at least a beginning should be made to address the threats. Section 202 of the bill directly mentions Pakistan and calls for an "assessment of support by state and non-state actors, including the government of Pakistan, for the Taliban between 2001 and 2020."

"They are clearly saying that the government of Pakistan has supported the Taliban but it's disappointing to see that no one has actually put it to the parliament for shaping collective responses nor dispelled disinformation that is damaging and painful," she added.

US Marines told to clean graffiti insulting Taliban

IANS

IANS

Bengaluru, Sep 29: The district authorities have sealed Sri Chaitanya Girls' Residential School in Bengaluru following 60 of its students testing positive for Covid-19.

Of those who tested positive, only two are symptomatic.

The development has come as a big worry for the Karnataka Health and Education department as the B.S. Bommai government prepares to open primary classes soon.

Bengaluru Urban District Commissioner J. Manjunath said the students tested positive on September 26. The Covid-19 tests were conducted on 480 students as one of the students from Bellary developed Covid-like symptoms.

The girls who tested positive are from Classes 11 and 12. Forty-six students, who tested positive belong to different districts of Karnataka

and 14 students came from Tamil Nadu. There are also 22 teachers,

57 staff members working in the residential school.

DDMA allows Ramleela, Durga Puja, Dussehra celebrations in Delhi IANS

New Delhi, Sep 29: Ramleela, Durga Puja and Dussehra celebrations have been allowed in Delhi this year, the Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) decided after a meeting here on Wednesday.

After the meeting with Delhi Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, the DDMA has decided that festivals will be celebrated with restrictions on crowd gatherings, number of eateries, fairs and separate entry and exit points. Compliance with Covid-19 guidelines is mandatory.

The DDMA will soon issue a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) document about the other restrictions, if any, said a DDMA official.

Last year, while Durga Puja committees were prohibited from erecting pandals, Ramleela committees were asked to go for live streaming.

Restrictions were imposed on burning of effigies in Dussehra also.

Both Durga Puja and Dusshera festivities will take place in mid-October.

Meanwhile, the DDMA has also said that it will decide on reopening of

schools for nursery to Class 8 post the festival season.

According to an official, the schools might be reopened in a phased manner.

The national capital on Wednesday reported 41 new Covid cases in the last 24 hours, taking its total tally to 14,38,821, but there were no new fatalities, as per the Delhi Health Department bulletin.

Afghan banking system close to collapse IANS

New Delhi, Sep 28: Afghanistan's banking system is close to collapse.

Syed Moosa Kaleem Al-Falahi, the Chief Executive of the Islamic Bank of Afghanistan, said the country's financial industry is in the grip of an "existential crisis" as customers panic, BBC reported.

"There's huge withdrawals happening at the moment", he said, speaking from Dubai, where he is temporarily based because of the chaos in Kabul.

"Only withdrawals are happening, most of the banks are not functioning, and not providing full services,"

he added, the report said.

Afghanistan's economy was already on shaky ground even before the Taliban took control in August.

But since the Taliban takeover, the West has frozen international funds, including assets Afghanistan could have accessed with the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).

So accessing international funds and foreign assistance is key to Afghanistan's survival.

But countries like the US have said that while they are willing to consider working with the Taliban - it

will depend on some pre-conditions - including the regime's treatment of women and minorities.

Afghans set up government in exile IANS

New Delhi, Sep 30: Departing Marines from the Kabul airport gave a one-finger salute to the Taliban and ISIS, scrawling obscene messages on the facilitys walls -- but were told by commanders to erase the graffiti before they left, New York Post said.

The Marines were ordered to destroy equipment the military was leaving behind at Hamid Karzai International Airport as the withdrawal was winding down, the Wshington Post reported.

They smashed electronics with sledgehammers, shattered windows www.indianabroad.news

and stripped armoured vehicles to render them useless to the Taliban.

But many of the Marines, still seething over the deaths of 13 US service members outside the airport in an ISIS-K suicide bombing, left some choice words for the terrorists.

Pictures showed a group of Marines posing in front of a wall at the airport with the words "F–k isis, AFG 2021" scrawled across it in black paint.

In another picture, a serviceman stands before a tiled wall near a wash basin.

"F–k ISIS + Taliban" was written on the wall, along with a drawing of a penis.

A Marine told the Washington Post that they were ordered to wash the taunting messages away and clean up the debris before they left the airport.

"My boys had to go... pick up every last piece of... trash for who? The Taliban?" the Marine, who was not identified, told the newspaper.

"It was a slap in the face to us," the Marine said.

New Delhi, Sep 29: A number of former Afghan officials, who fled the country along with President Ashraf Ghani after the Taliban takeover last month, have announced the continuation of the Afghan government in exile.

A statement released by the Afghan Embassy in Switzerland read that

/IndianAbroadNews

the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the only legitimate government of Afghanistan that is elected by the votes of the people and no other government can replace a legitimate one, Khaama News reported.

The statement read that Afghanistan has been occupied by external factors and based on the historic

/indianabroadnews

responsibility of the Afghan government after consultations with the elders of the country, they decided to announce the government in exile.

"After the escape of Ashraf Ghani and his rupture with Afghan politics, his first vice-president (Amrullah Saleh) will be leading the country," the statement said.

The statement also said that the three powers of the government namely executive, judicial, and legislative will be activated soon and they have been busy consulting in this regard., as per the report.

The statement has also announced their support to the resistance front - the anti-Taliban front led by Ahmad Masoud - and has added that all the embassies and consulates of Afghanistan will be functional as normal.

The statement is written and released by leaders of the previous government, political leaders, and other politicians but the names of none of them has been disclosed.

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Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

BHARAT BANDH Harrowing time in Punjab, Haryana as buses, rails remain stranded IANS

Chandigarh, Sep 27: Hundreds of people across Punjab and Haryana on Monday faced a harrowing time as buses, taxis and rails did not ply due to the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)-called Bharat Bandh.

Commuters were left stranded at railway stations and bus stands in various towns and cities of both the states as public transport was stranded. People were forced to trudge with heavy luggage and office-goers too were hit hard.

State roadways, private buses and taxis did not ply, causing misery to thousands of passengers.

Buses remained parked at bus stands or bus depots, and passengers were left stranded.

Auto-rickshaws and cycle-rickshaws made a fast buck from people

wanting to reach their destination on time.

Most of the roads across the states, including in joint capital Chandigarh, wore a near-deserted look.

While most of the private schools were shut, the attendance at government offices was negligible.

"We have decided not to attend the office owing to the closure of all major road links that started early in the morning," said Nisha Singh, a government employee, who daily commutes from her hometown Kharar to Chandigarh.

The worst affected places were Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Patiala, Amritsar, Bathinda, Ferozepur and Moga.

In neighbouring Haryana, there

were reports of protesters blocking highways in Ambala, Karnal, Panipat, Sirsa, Fatehabad and Kurukshetra districts.

"Today I had to reach Delhi for some urgent work. The strike affects the common man," said Parkash Singh, a commuter from Karnal in Haryana.

Over 13 lakh people travel daily in nearly 4,200 Haryana Roadways buses, including luxury Volvo buses, on intra- and inter-state routes.

Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday appealed to the Central government to repeal the three farm legislations, but he asked farmers to raise their voice in a peaceful manner. "#IStandWithFarmers & appeal the Union Govt. to repeal the three anti-farmer laws," the Chief Minister tweeted.

"Our farmers have been struggling for their rights since more than a year & it is high time that their voice is heard. I request the farmers to raise their voice in a peaceful manner."

Punjab Congress President Navjot Sidhu said: "The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee firmly stands by farmer unionsIn the war of right and wrong you cannot afford to be neutral. We urge every Congress worker to fight with all their might against the three unconstitutional black laws."

Road, rail traffic disruption in Bihar IANS

Patna, Sep 27: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM)-called Bharat Bandh on Monday witnessed traffic disruptions at several places in Bihar as the opposition parties actively lent their support. Rail traffic was also stopped in Darbhanga by the protesters.

The farmers' nationwide protest call has got support from opposition parties in the state. Several opposition leaders and their supporters came on to the roads and disrupted traffic movement in a bid to make the shutdown successful.

The opposition leaders also added issues like caste-based census, unemployment, scams, price rise in

petroleum products and commodities in this Bandh.

Supporters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Congress and Left parties spilled over the roads from the morning hours. Patna, Darbhanga, Arwal, Arrah, Aurangabad, Jahanabad, Vaishali, Muzaffarpur and some other districts witnessed protests.

The supporters of the RJD burnt tyres on both the ends of Mahatma Gandhi Setu connecting Patna and Hajipur. Due to this, trucks, buses and other vehicles were stuck on both sides resulting in huge traffic built up.

In Darbhanga, the RJD and Congress supporters stopped the New Delhi-Jaynagar Bihar Sampark Kranti Express train.

In Nawada, the Bharatiya Kisan Sangharsh Samiti supporters blocked the Patna-Ranchi main road and disrupted the traffic.

In Arrah, the CPI-ML supporters blocked National Highway (NH)30 at Arrah bus stand. It has severely affected the traffic movement on the busy Patna-Arrah main road route.

In Gaya, the traffic movement got severely affected on the Gaya-Bodh Gaya-Dobhi and Dobhi-Chatra main roads and partially affected the NH 19 that is connecting New Delhi and Kolkata.

In Sheikhpura, the supporters of Mahagathbandhan were involved in forcibly closing the shops.

MLA Sudama Prasad, who took to the streets in Ara, said that inflation was sky high, which was the effect of the three agricultural laws. He said that food insecurity would be created if farming went into the hands of industrialists through the farmers' laws. He said the people have taken to the streets against this.

Kerala sees near total Bharat Bandh

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 27: Both the ruling Left and the opposition Congress came out together in Kerala to support the agitating farmers on Monday as the southern state witnessed a near total lockdown.

Markets, shops, establishments and offices were closed and all the public vehicles, barring private vehicles, were not seen off the road moving.

"Everything in the state has come to a complete standstill," said a member of the civil society.

In Kerala, the biggest advantage is any political party calling a statewide protest gets a thumps up from the civil society and people remain indoors.

On account of the state and the entire country coming under lockdown due to Covid protocols for almost past 18 months, Monday's protest is the first political shutdown that Kerala is witnessing.

However, like on any 'bandh' day, the ISRO units were all functioning

and its employees were taken to the respective units in the state capital on their buses amid armed security.

All university examinations scheduled for Monday have been postponed.

The only deterrent for Monday's shutdown is that it has come on World Tourism Day, when the entire state and tourism activities will also be closed, just when it was trying to revive.

Tractor-trolleys parked at Singhu, but very few occupants New Delhi, Sep 27: The visibility of farmers at the Singhu border (DelhiHaryana), where they have been sitting in protest since November 26 last year, was very low on Monday.

Around two and half km long stretch of the Delhi-Karnal highway (at Singhu village) where a large number of farmers used to be seen, but on Monday, the Bharat Bandh day, the numbers were less. The road, in fact, was almost empty.

Tractor-trolleys that had become homes for the protesting farmers for over eight months are at the place but the number of people seems to have gone down.

Also, the stages at Singhu (one www.indianabroad.news

towards the Delhi side and another towards the Haryana side) were almost empty.

Jagdish Singh, a farmer from Ludhiana (Punjab), said the trolleys were vacant because people went to block roads at Tikri and DelhiHaryana border.

"At present very few people are visible here because they are at Delhi-Haryana road and at Tikri. By evening the situation will be different and more and more people will be seen here, Jagdish Singh said, who was busy preparing food for the protesters.

The few, who were at the Singhu protest site, were seen busy either

preparing food or cleaning their tents.

Some of them attended the morning prayer held at the stages.

The security at outer premises of the Singhu protest site have been strengthened with multiple teams of the Delhi Police and central forces deployed.

Three police barricades put up after January 26, this (towards Delhi) were continued to be at the places.

People going towards Singhu from Delhi have to take a long route as entry on the Delhi-Karnal road (at Singhu village) has been prohibited.

Repeal farm laws: Punjab CM appeals to Centre Chandigarh, Sep 27 (IANS): Retreating his Congress government commitment with the protesting farmers, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday appealed to the Central government to repeal the three farm legislations.

But he asked farmers to raise their voice in a peaceful manner. "#IStandWithFarmers & appeal the Union Govt. to repeal the three anti-farmer laws," the Chief Minister tweeted.

"Our farmers have been struggling for their rights since more than a year & it is high time that their voice is heard. I request the farmers to raise their voice in a peaceful manner."

Punjab Congress president Navjot Sidhu said, "The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee firmly stands by farmer unionsIn the war of right and wrong you cannot afford to be neutral. We urge every Congress worker to fight with all their might against the three unconstitutional black laws."

Hundreds of farmers on Monday blocked major highways, including National Highway 1 linking Delhi with parts of Haryana and Punjab,

and railway tracks following a nationwide call by farmers' unions.

Traffic across Punjab and Haryana was hit badly and saw traffic disruptions as farmers, farm labourers, commission agents, shopkeepers, trade and employee unions and activists of political parties squatted on national highways till 4 p.m.

The protesting farmers parked their tractors on highways and major link roads in both Punjab and Haryana and squatted on the road.

Heavy police presence could be seen at various places in Haryana and Punjab to maintain law and other in view of the protest by farmers.

The police diverted traffic at several places as the farmers blocked the highways.

However, there was no report of any untoward incident from anywhere in the states. Emergency medical services were exempted from the blockade.

In view of the 'Bharat Bandh', Haryana Police has issued an advisory stating that people may face traffic blockages in the state.

The Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of over 32 farmer unions, announced to observe the

IANS

protest.

The agitated farmers are demanding the repeal of the three farm laws passed by Parliament last year and have expressed apprehension that they would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporate houses.

The government has maintained that the new laws will provide farmers with better opportunities.

It has also accused the opposition parties of misleading farmers.

Bharat Bandh will compel Centre to listen to farmers: Rakesh Tikait IndiaTv News

New Delhi, Sep 27: Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait, who has been leading the farmers' protest in the outskirts of the national capital for the past 10 months, said that he is certain that Monday's Bharat Bandh will compel the Centre to listen to the voices of farmers.

Tikait said, "We are hopeful that this time (Bharat Bandh) the government will listen to our demands."

Denying that farmers only from western Uttar Pradesh were participating in the protest, therefore, the farmers' protest will not be an issue in the 2022 Assembly elections, he said, "Farmers from all over India are with us", adding that this movement was not just restricted to any one region.

Tikait further said, "No matter how long we have to stretch this protest, we will not step back."

Farmers mainly from Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting against the three contentious farm laws introduced by the Centre almost a year ago.

Having borne the harsh cold, sultry heat, heavy rainfall, farmers, who have been camping outside of DelhiHaryana and Delhi-Uttar Pradesh borders, are ready to stay as long as

it is needed. "Ruk jayenge 10 mahine aur (will stay for 10 more months)," said Tikait.

This is the third Bharat Bandh since the three agricultural laws were passed by Parliament.

He also said that the success of Bharat Bandh depends on the media as well. "If they'll cover it properly and show everything that has been happening on the ground then this Bharat Bandh will be a success, otherwise not," Tikait said.

"As far as the government is concerned, they will say whatever suits their narrative and benefits them the

most," the farmer union leader said.

He further said that he did not think that this Bharat Bandh will affect people's daily life, "People are disturbed with the rising inflation and prices of petrol and diesel. That is bothering them the most. This one-day deal is nothing in comparison to what problems the masses have been facing in their daily lives."

Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee president Anil Chaudhary visited the protest site at Ghazipur border to show solidarity with the farmers. He and Rakesh Tikait had a small talk over snacks.

Bharat Bandh evokes contrasting response in Telugu states IANS

Vijayawada/Hyderabad, Sep 27: The day-long Bharat Bandh called

by Samyukta Kisan Morcha evoked contrasting response in the two Telugu states on Monday.

While normal life was affected in Andhra Pradesh with the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) supporting the shutdown call, the bandh had partial impact in Telangana where ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) distanced itself from the protest.

Government offices in Andhra Pradesh remained closed and buses of state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) went off roads. Shops were also closed in parts of the state in response to the bandh call demanding the repeal of new agricultural laws.

APSRTC has announced that bus will not ply till afternoon. The government offices will also reopen in the afternoon.

Leaders and workers of non-BJP parties, trade unions and people's organizations staged protests across Andhra Pradesh in support of the demand of farmers. They organised rail rook, road blockade and took out rallies protesting the anti-people policies of the BJP-led government at the Centre.

APSRTC buses were confined to depots in all 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh. Workers of various parties supporting the bandh staged sit-in in front of bus depots since early morning.

The bandh impact was also

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seen in Paderu agency area of Visakhapatnam district. Employees of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant also participated in the strike demanding the central government to drop its plans to privatise the public sector undertaking.

There was mild tension at Tirupati railway station as the protestors squatted on the tracks. Holding flags of their respective organizations, the protestors reached the railway station for rail rook. Police arrested them.

Despite rains, leaders and workers belonging to CPI, CPI-M, Congress, CPI (ML) New Democracy and other parties staged the protest in Amaravati. Workers of main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) also hit roads at various places in the state to participate in the protests.

The Bandh call evoked only a partial response. With TRS staying away from bandh, there was not much impact on normal life. Though a section of TSRTC employees supported the shutdown call, the transport

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body operated normal services.

Leaders of Congress, Left parties and other groups staged road blockades at various places in the state.

Raising slogans against the Centre's policies and hike in petrol and diesel prices, the protestors took out rallies and staged dharnas.

Congress legislators were detained by the police when they tried to reach Telangana Assembly on a horse carriage to lodge their protest over steep hike in fuel prices.

Police stopped them, leading to an argument. The police later detained Congress Legislature Party leader Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and legislators Sreedhar Babu, Jeevan Reddy and others.

Leaders of Left parties, Congress and others were participating in road blockade at Uppal crossroads in Hyderabad.

At Hayatnagar bus depot on Hyderabad outskirts , Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) leader Kodandaram led the protest. Police arrested him and other protestors.

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DESI ACHIEVERS

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

MONA BHASIN A fashionista fostering Indian fashion and art

F

reelance makeup and hairstyling artist and the founder of MAKEUP AND ME, Mona Bhasin migrated to Australia in 2003 and went on to complete a diploma in makeup and hair artistry from the National Academy of Beauty in 2014. She found her calling not only as a makeup artist but also as the trendsetter of a unique sartorial blend of western and Indian fashion incorporating tradition, elegance and comfort. Now she is all set to be a vital part of the Indian Cultural Expo which is going to be held on 10th October in Calamvale and will showcase exclusive Indian attire, home décor, jewellery, food, entertainment and much more.

In an exclusive interview with Indian Abroad, Mona Bhasin gives us a glimpse of her personal and professional life. She also wishes to express her gratitude to Mr Ramana Panda and Vahini Panda for all their ongoing support.

Were you always interested in becoming a makeup and hairstyling artist?

I moved to Australia in 2003 after getting married, worked at a call centre to learn and understand the Aussie accent and in 2004, while pregnant, I decided to change career from tourism to childcare as I wanted to understand how to raise my children in Australia. So I enrolled for a Diploma in Early Childhood from Swinburne University in Melbourne. I got a job at the daycare where I was doing my placement, and worked as a room leader for 2 years, and then came back as assistant director after having my second baby. After getting diagnosed with a chronic condition, I had to resign from my role at the daycare in Melbourne. My biggest strength and support system has always been my husband and kids. I enrolled for a diploma in makeup and hair artistry from the National Academy of Beauty in 2014 after my second

“

The challenges included booking, catching up etc. due to everyone living at different places. Some of them are 100 kilometres away from each other so having zoom meetings etc. organizing photo shoots was challenging.

“

lung surgery. Upon completion of my Diploma, my family and I moved to Gold Coast for a fresh start. I started my freelance makeup and hairstyling business, MAKEUP AND ME by MONA. Who inspired you to venture into the apparel business and what unique fashion statement have you adopted?

My 16-year-old daughter inspired me to get into the clothing business with my sole purpose being to have a creative blend of style of both Indian and Western cultures, where comfort and traditional fashion are not compromised. This led me to source comfortable and elegant sarees, gowns, kurtis, palazzo pants, and much more, from India and style them with accessories so that our coming generations won’t forget www.indianabroad.news

Indian fashion, and that is when my second baby business BLING N ME

by MONA was born.

How did you find yourself a part of the Indian Cultural Expo to be held on October 10?

We are a group of independent women with exclusive brands who have got together as a team to give you the best shopping experience under one roof. Bridal Corture Ashyo offers the most stunning bridal wear where the beautiful Ash herself models. Then there will be Mantra Australia having the best collections for any occasion. There will be no compromise on quality as tremendous efforts are made in tailor making your wishful outfit.

Apart from this, another activity worth waiting for is ARTivity with Ash which will feature our professional artist Ashmeet who is one of the best teachers in this field. Of course, even BLING N ME by MONA will be a part of this event. Besides, Desire Indian Boutique by Ruchi Indian Boutique will showcase collections for those desiring to look beautiful even in daily wear. Event decorations are going to be done

by Varsha and Ambika from @the wedding trends.

Who came up with the idea about this Indian Cultural Expo and how did it eventually materialise?

It was Chitra Ahuja's idea who discussed with me once we met and we contacted all other amazing ladies in business. We are a group of 10 business women holding this exhibition for the first time ever in Queensland.

All exclusive brands from Brisbane and Gold Coast have joined together for this first-of-its-kind experience.

Businesses and community are being brought together to celebrate and experience festive shopping in Brisbane, Queensland. The Expo is being organised by a group of innovative women entrepreneurs who will be exhibiting and selling elegant Indian attires, sweets and savoury snacks, jewellery, home décor and accessories. It is a FREE ENTRY event and there will be different activities representing our beautiful culture, some surprises and gift hampers to be won. There will be stalls at amazing Calamvale Hotel in Brisbane that recreates the quintessential bazaar experience of India, right here in Australia. It’s a celebration of Indian heritage through traditional clothing, jewellery, home décor, mithai with a luxurious touch, Bollywood music and much more. For people living away from India, we bring them the ultimate street shopping experience right in their neighbourhood with more than 10 stallholders at this time, selling their favourite Indian attires, jewellery, home décor, accessories and so much more. It will be a family friendly market that has FREE ENTRY for everyone to attend and enjoy shopping, music, performances and many more surprises.

What is the main motto behind this Expo? I mean, why is it being organized and how do you think it will influence the Indian community?

The motto behind this Expo is to bring our Indian Cultural shopping at one doorstep for our community; people can't travel to India for their Karwachauth and Diwali shopping so we all decided to bring that experience under one roof. We have organised a fashion walk by our talented models, we have an amazing singer representing beautiful classical music, lots of kids’ activities and diya lighting ceremony

by Councillor Angela Owen and Councillor Kim Marx from Brisbane city council.

What challenges did you face in organizing this Expo?

There were a few challenges as we all are new into this but together we made it happen. The challenges included booking, catching up etc. due to everyone living at different places. Some of them are 100 kilometres away from each other so having zoom meetings etc. organizing photo shoots was challenging.

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Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

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FOOD & CUISINE

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Indian Cooking with Lata Modi

PUNJABI PAKORA KADHI PUNJABI PAKORA KADHI

MRS. LATA MODI

Y

ou know when we were growing up, my mum did not have a fancy kitchen.

It was just a small charcoal stove, which my dad built for my mum in the kitchen by digging a whole in the ground. So we used to sit around on a blanket and peel peas, or grate carrots, I mean everything had to be done sitting down.

As a child, we never used a chopping board, so I could never use it for years even after coming to Australia.

Once I was teaching year 11 and year 12 students about Indian culture and cuisine.

While cooking I was chopping an onion, garlic ginger and even chillies in my hands.

So in lunch hour kids were playing in the playground and one boy was telling his friend that this Indian lady is very clever, she can chop all vegetables in her hands.

Suddenly I realised that this is a skill. And now cutting vegetables in my hand has become a skilful addition to my cooking skills.

SEMOLINA UPMA

N

amaste to all Today we are making two dishes. One from South of India and the other one from North of India. It is fascinating how in India every region has its own special cuisine.

PUNJABI PAKORA KADHI (for 4-6 people) STEP ONE INGREDIENTS: First of all we need to make a mixtures with the following ingredients.

Two cup butter milk One cup Besan (chic pea flour) Three cups water One tea spoon turmeric powder.

Two tea spoon coriander powder One tea spoon chilli powder Salt to taste Pinch of aesfotida(hing) STEP TWO INGREDIENTS: Two table spoon virgin oil One tea spoon mustard seeds One tea spoon cumin powder Curry leaves 7-8 METHOD: Take a big saucepan Heat oil add mustard seeds and let it splatter Add aesfotida(Hing), Add cumin

seeds, Add curry leaves. Now add the buttermilk mixture we prepared.

Keep stirring . Bring it to boil and then simmer for 10 minutes.

STEP THREE INGREDIENTS: Make a batter(a little thicker than pan cake batter) two cup besan, two table spoon self raising flour, one bunch english spinach washed and chopped fine one or two fresh chopped chillies, salt to taste. One tea spoon cumin seeds and one tea spoon coriander seeds. Make a mixture by adding little water at a time. Now with the help of spoon pick up little mixture and fry little fritters in the hot oil . Once your curry (buttermilk mixture) is still boiling, add your fritters and cook further 5-6 minutes.

Garnishing: Transfer curry in a serving dish. And to make it more presentable you can make a garnish.

In a little frying pan heat one table spoon oil Add little mustard seeds, let it crackle, add little cumin seeds and 3-4 dry red chillies and pour this hot garnish on top of the curry. Garnish some fresh chopped coriander leaves too. Ready to impress your family or guests. Serve with Basmati rice.

SEMOLINA UPMA INGREDIENTS (for 4-6 people) • Two cups semolina • Two table spoon ghee • One tea spoon mustard oil • 6-7 fresh curry leaves • One tea spoon chana dal • One tea spoon urad dal • Two table spoon peanuts • One table spoon cashew 6 cup water • Salt to taste • One table spoon lemon juice METHOD

Take a big wok and dry roast the semolina, Take it out of wok and keep it aside in a bowl. In the same wok heat ghee, Fry peanuts and cashews.

Put them aside to be used later on.

Now in the same Ghee, put chana dal and urad dal and stir. Add mustard seeds, let it crackle Add curry leaves.

Lower the heat, add water and bring to boil, add salt. Once it’s boiling slowly gradually start adding the roasted semolina and keep stirring, so that it will not have any lumps.

The mixture will start getting thicker.

Lower the heat. Add lemon juice and nuts. Transfer in a serving bowl.

Garnish with fresh chopped coriander leaves. Serve hot.

All you need to know about Gluten Free Grains The crunch in your

G

luten is a family of proteins mainly found in wheat, barley, rye and triticale (a cross between wheat and rye). It contains gliadin and glutenin. The elasticity of dough is because of its gluten content. Gluten gives a chewy texture and desired shape to the product. In some people, gluten causes inflammatory and autoimmune reactions, where it mainly destroys the tissue of the small intestine and gut lining. In human body absorption of nutrients takes place in the small intestine, so in such cases, it is very important to follow a gluten-free diet for good gut health and nutritional status.

Now let’s know about the two grains which are naturally gluten-free and have many health benefits too: Millet (Bajra): Millet is one such ancient superfood that gives many health benefits due to its nutritional content. It helps to strengthen the immune system, promote good bone health and aids in weight loss. It contains all potential antioxidants which prevent ageing and metabolic disorders like, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia etc. We know that many diseases occur due to our body’s acidic pH. Where a diet rich in alkaline foods are required. So this grain is alkaline in nature, preventing acidity and heartburn issues.

Health Benefits of Millet: It’s a good source of B vitamins like niacin, folate and pantothenic acid.

These nutrients help to perform many enzymatic reactions in our body and are also necessary for the normal functioning of the organs.

Millet contains an insoluble fibre known as prebiotics. It supports

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good bacteria in the gut. Insoluble fibre helps to relieve symptoms like constipation, bloating, gas and cramps etc.

It can be a healthier grain to include in your diet if you want to protect your heart. It contains a good amount of magnesium which helps to control blood pressure. Millets are rich in dietary fibre too (both soluble and insoluble fibre). Which makes it a good choice for people who are suffering from high cholesterol levels.

It’s low in simple carbs and high in complex carbs (a low GI food) and hence its consumption is good to control sugar levels and aids in weight loss.

Millets are rich in antioxidants and phenols especially ferulic acid and catechins. Antioxidants help in reducing oxidative stress in the body and boost immune functioning. The darker millets contain more antioxidants compared to the lighter ones.

It is one of the nutrient-rich grains for pregnant women as it is rich in iron, protein, antioxidants, dietary fibre, calcium, magnesium, potassium and folate. All those nutrients which required more during pregnancy. Its high iron content improves haemoglobin levels. Dietary fibre prevents constipation and helps to lower blood sugar levels in gestational diabetes. Calcium and folate help in fetus development. Magnesium and potassium manage blood pressure.

And other information for those who are trying to conceive, that this grain can help you. The science behind that is, grains that are high in complex carbs and low in refined carbs prevent a surge in insulin resistance and preserve ovulation. Also,

women suffering from PCOD should add this grain to their daily diet. As it helps to cut down the visceral fat, thus regulates the menstrual cycle.

Buckwheat (kuttu): Buckwheat is not a type of wheat, it’s a gluten-free grain that comes under the group of cereals commonly called pseudocereals. As it doesn’t grow in grass, it’s a plant just like quinoa and amaranth. Basically, it is a seed that needs grinding to make its flour. We all include this grain in our diet during fasting days.

But do we know its amazing health benefits?

Health Benefits of Buckwheat: It is more satiating than any other grain due to its power loaded nutrient and complex carbohydrate content. And this helps to reduce weight as it keeps you full for a longer time and prevent you from binge eating.

Iron is very important for our body’s normal functioning. Deficiency of this mineral leads to anaemia, weakness and fatigue. Buckwheat is a good source of iron. So make this grain a part of your diet on non-fasting days too.

It is rich in magnesium and calcium, minerals that are required for healthy and stronger bones and teeth, promotes growth and development.

Among the other pseudocereals, buckwheat is a rich source of rutin antioxidants. It contains other antioxidants too like quercetin.

Rutin has anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antioxidant properties.

Antioxidants help to remove potentially harmful substances called “free radicals” from our bodies. And thus it boosts immunity.

It’s a rich source of plant-based protein, especially contains a good amount of aspartic acid, arginine and lysine amino acids. These amino acids help in the regularization of hormones in the body.

Studies show that intake of lysine may reduce anxiety also improves calcium absorption.

Because of its miraculous nutritional content, it can be a superfood for pregnant women. And it’s totally safe to have during pregnancy as it has a good amount of folate, iron, magnesium, calcium, dietary fibre and essential amino acids. Folate supplementation is needed during pregnancy or before conception. A diet rich in folate helps to prevent neural birth defects. Also, it contains a higher amount of dietary fibre, including all three fibre- soluble, insoluble or resistant starch. The role of fibre in our body is to delays the metabolism of sugar and to keep the digestive system healthy. So consumption of this seed will keep you at bay from general problems that occur during pregnancy such as constipation, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. Research says that intake of lysine with iron and vitamin supplements helps to improve hemoglobin levels in pregnant women’s.

It will be a great choice for women who are planning to conceive, as buckwheat is a good source of folic acid which helps in releasing eggs during ovulation. Also, it contains a rutin antioxidant that promotes the circulatory system in women. Its high fibre content will help to lose weight in PCOD. It has been found in studies that it lower the testosterone levels by which regulates the ovulation process.

/IndianAbroadNews

burger ...

... is Iceberg Lettuce, locally produced in Manali and Lahaul districts thanks to McDonald’s

W

hen it comes to burgers, its not just the patty that makes it all worthwhile... one can't forget the cheese or the crunchy lettuce either.

In India, McDonald’s ensures their burgers use the freshest produce, which means that don't use any ordinary lettuce. The iceberg variety was first introduced in India by McDonald’s, as early as the 90s, at a time when not many people were familiar with lettuce and used cabbage instead. Lettuce is a key ingredient known for its crunch, its odourless and is ideal for salads, sandwiches and burgers.

The fast food giant collaborated with local Indian suppliers and pioneered the local production of iceberg lettuce in the country. Their lettuce undergoes 30 quality and food safety checks. After harvesting, the lettuce is pre-cooled to a temperate of below 40C at the farm gate to maintain its freshness. It is then transported in refrigerated vehicles to the world-class processing plant where it is shredded to a measured length and width and then washed and cleaned thoroughly before being vacuum-packed.

Today, the lettuce that goes into your favourite burger is produced at a pristine height of 10,000 feet under the rain shadow areas of the Himalayas in the Manali and Lahaul districts. Over the last 15 years, the farm base that produces lettuce for McDonald’s menu items has grown

/indianabroadnews

IANS

from 5 acres to more than 100 acres.

The process for growing lettuce is very rigorous and thoroughly monitored starting with the selection of seed variety, nursery production, fertigation, integrated pest management and post-harvest technology. Over the years, the company has continued to engage with local suppliers in good agricultural practices, meeting the Gold Standards of food safety and hygiene. It has transferred global best practices in irrigation, pest control, seed selection benefitting nearly 250 small and marginal farmers across the country. These practices ensure the right conditions for the iceberg lettuce to grow.

With over 60 years of experience in developing the best quality standards for the industry to follow, it continues to build and strengthen the foundation of good food practices and knowledge transfer, while serving great-tasting menu items at a value to its customers.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Bulawood 2021 organised in Brisbane

R

otary Club of Brisbane organised their fundraiser of the year at the Unidus Community Centre in Willawong, Brisbane, on 4 September, which turned out to be a huge success with over 320 people attending.

Team at Rotary Club Of Brisbane International led by President Subhashni Prasad were behind the concept, vision and planning.

Decoration and design were provided by Surekha and Rajnish Padarath, and DJ music, lighting and sound came from Praneel Sinha DJ Desi.

Zain Chams was the event MC and host with co-host being Sinu Niko.

Official photographer was RD Photography Australia, catering was done by Dawats Catering, with special menu provided by Soko Niko and Surekha Rajnish Padarath.

MAQ celebrates Onam 2021

M

alayalee Association of Queensland celebrated Onam festival with mega pookalam at Coorparoo Secondary College, Coorparoo, on 12 September.

The mega pookalam and sadhya were well organised by the coordinator team led by Sachee, Dr. Boben, Agisha and Shyama. Also, the help from the 70+ volunteers from all the age groups went a long way in making the event a success.

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8

COMMUNITY NEWS

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Chief Justice of India invited to inaugural event of Statue of Equality Continued from page 1

Sahasrahundatmaka Lakshmi Narayan Yajna will be performed for public welfare. This would entail the usage of about two lakh kg of cow ghee in the 1,035 home tanks constructed for this magnificent event.

The vast spiritual facility “Divya Saket” at Muchintal will soon gain prominence as a globally acclaimed spiritual place. An investment of Rs 1000 crores has been made in this mega project and around 1800 tons of iron has been used in the construction of the statue.

Born in 1017 in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu to Kantimati and Kesavacharyulu, Ramanujacharya underwent education in Vedanta under the guidance of Kanchi Advaita Pandit. Legend has it that his incarnation took place at the

behest of God himself. He offered a lucid explanation for the specific dualistic ideology and made temples the epicenter of religion. Ramanuja was encouraged to join Vaishnava initiation by Yamunacharya.

His grandfather Alavandru was the Dharmaguru of Srirangam Vaishnava Math. ‘Nambi’ Narayana preached mantra initiation to Ramanuja. Tirukoshtiyaru explained the significance of ‘Dvaya Mantra’ and made Ramanujam take a vow to keep the mantra secret. However, Ramanuja reckoned that ‘salvation’ should not be confined to a handful number of people. So he climbed the Srirangam temple gopuram to proclaim the same sacred mantra to men and women alike.

Ramanujacharya Swami treated the Dalits as equals. He did away with untouchability and other vices that gripped the society. They gave everyone the same privilege of worshiping God. He called the socalled untouchables “Tirukulathar”.

It means “born God” and took them inside the temple. He led the devotional movement and advocated philosophy.

First Indian-origin judge assigned to NSW Supreme Court The New South Wales (NSW) Supreme Court has nominated Indian-origin barrister Hament Dhanji as the Justice.

Continued from page 1 He posted, "Hament Dhanji SC has been appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW. His immense knowledge of criminal law will be a valuable asset to the bench."

Dhanji was born in Sydney in 1964; his father had moved to Australia from Fiji in the 1950s and although the Indian community was not so prominent back then, the celebration of Indian hospitals especially those originating from Gujarat were

an inextricable part of his childhood.

An alumnus of Meadowbank Boys High School, Dhanji went on to complete his Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts degrees at the University of Sydney. He commenced his career as a solicitor for Legal Aid NSW. After having been called to the Bar in 1997, he subsequently became the Queen’s Counsel in 2010.He has so far appeared in more than 300 cases in the Court of Criminal Appeal.

Research on Ayurveda medicines, yoga and medication to be carried out in Australia Continued from page 1

BAPS temple conducts vaccination drive urging community participation

M

ahant Swami Maharaj, the spiritual leader of BAPS also appealed everyone to get vaccinated at the earliest and in accordance to the government protocol. Other BAPS spiritual leaders also poured blessings on the initiative and urged people to not get swayed by misinformation.

P

rofessor Dennis Chang, the NICM Health Research Institute Director said the results of the research will provide ample proof to debunk the myths surrounding Ayurveda and ultimately, help to streamline its incorporation into the Australian healthcare system.

The research will be carried out in the Westmead campus of Western Sydney University for three years in order to formulate policies to incorporate ayurvedic medicine with conventional healthcare system.

Professor Barney Glover, the Vice Chancellor and President of Western Sydney Australia remarked that the new academic chair will have a crucial impact on the scientific analysis and globalization of ayurvedic medicine.

Ganesh festival celebrated in Perth

M

aharashtra Mandal Perth celebrated Ganesh Festival in Perth on September 18

and 19.

This annual event commemorates Maharashtrian culture in Perth and celebrates Ganesh Festival, a popular festival in the state of Maharashtra. Entry was free but by registration only.

This event was supported by Office of Multicultural Interests, Western Australia.

Multicultural Program

Procession & Dhol

Bhajan Program

Dr Jags

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Procession & Dhol

Uttar Pooja Aarati

Atharvashirsh Pathan

Dignitaries & Awards

/IndianAbroadNews

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9

INDIA

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

If Sidhu does not relent, hunt on Swedish contingent meets K'taka CM, for new chief of Punjab Congress Indian cos CEOs to boost investment IANS

Ommcom News

New Delhi, Sep 29: While the Congress leadership is reaching out to Navjot Singh Sidhu who resigned from the Punjab chief's post and is trying to pacify him to take back his resignation, sources have said that the Congress is also looking for likely replacement in case he does not relent.

The sources said, General Secretary and Congress in-charge of Punjab, Harish Rawat is talking to all the senior leaders and has placed himself in an undisclosed location in Delhi. A meeting with former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is also not ruled out as he has vacated Kapurthala House in Delhi on

Tuesday night.

The Congress is mulling on some names for immediate replacement and one of them is Manish Tewari, the MP from Anandpur Sahib.

Names of Ravneet Singh Bittu, Ludhiana MP and from Amarinder Singh's camp and Pratap Singh Bajwa, who is opposed to Amarinder Singh, are also doing the rounds.

Former PCC President Sunil Jakhar who missed the Chief Minister's post during the recent process of change of guard is also likely to be considered.

The Congress also wants to pacify former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, so Bittu can be considered as

he has political lineage (grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh) and has good rapport with the party's central leadership.

Though Rawat office says that he will speak when it is necessary.

Navjot Singh Sidhu on Wednesday said he will fight for the truth till his last breath as the fight is for principles that he won't compromise with.

"I will fight for truth until my last breath," Sidhu said in a video message posted on his Twitter handle.

"It is not a personal battle but a fight for principles. I won't compromise on principles," Sidhu said categorically.

Without mincing words, he said he would not accept tainted ministers being brought back into the newly constituted state cabinet led by Charanjit Singh Channi, a first-timer Scheduled Caste Chief Minister in the state.

In the video message in Punjabi, the cricketer-turned-politician, who said his only religion is to make people's lives better, said he had fought for justice and for Punjab's agenda.

"What I witness is a compromise with issues, agenda in Punjab. I can't disguise high command nor can I let them be disguised," he said.

Gang of 5 who took video of couple and tried to extort money held

IANS

Bengaluru, Sep 29: Karnataka Police on Wednesday arrested five persons for trying to extort a young couple after taking their private video while they were sitting in their car on the outskirts of Bengaluru.

The accused are identified as Ashif (29), Nawaz Pasha (22), Liyakhat Pasha (30), Salman Khan (28) and Roohid (26). All of them are drivers and residents of Handenahalli village near Hosakote on the outskirts

of Bengaluru.

According to police, the incident took place on September 25. The young couple had gone to a private place in their car where they wanted to spend some time together. At about 12 noon, the accused persons came as a gang and told the couple that they have taken video of their private moments.

The miscreants demanded Rs 5 lakh and threatened the couple that if

they failed to pay the money, their video will be made viral on the social media, the police said.

By that time, the miscreants noticed few local people approaching them and escaped from the spot on bikes. The woman has stated in the complaint that miscreants had held her hand and tried to drag her out of the vehicle. She also mentioned that miscreants used vulgar words, police say.

The Anugondanahalli police in Bengaluru Rural district have registered a case under IPC sections 354 (A) (sexual harassment), 354 (D) (stalking), 354 (B) (assault or using criminal force), 354 (C) (voyeurism), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 149 (unlawful assembly) and 384 (extortion).

After getting details from the victims the police launched a hunt for the accused persons and arrested them.

Akhilesh calls Yogi's achievement: Media blitzkrieg

IANS

Lucknow, Sep 29 (IANS): Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday mounted a scathing attack on the Bhartiya Janata Party and said that the biggest achievement of the Yogi Adityanath government in UP was the media blitzkrieg it was creating at government expense.

"This government has mastered the art of making false propaganda through posters and hoardings.

They spend money on creating a blitzkrieg so that attention is diverted form ground realities. They will show you a building form USA and a flyover from Kolkata and pass it off as their own," he said.

Speaking at a news conclave here, Akhilesh said that their hoardings

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term their leaders as 'dumdaar' but they never talk about those 'dumdaar' (animals with tail) that destroy a farmer's crop.

"Do they ever talk about Gorakhpur where a trader is beaten to death by the police? Or about potholes on the roads? How much money has been spent on cleaning the Ganga and why is it not clean as yet?" he asked.

Akhilesh said that the BJP had killed the truth. "Kamal ka phool has become jhoot ka phool. Their claims are 100 per cent but reality is zero," he stated.

Replying to a question, he said that when he returned to power, he would provide cheap power to farmers, weavers and the people.

"They accuse me of developing

Sefai but what prevents them from developing the whole of UP like Sefai. Why does the chief minister not develop Gorakhpur where people were using boats due to water logging earlier this month?" he asked.

Akhilesh also objected to the Prime Minister's photograph on the Covid vaccine certificate and said, "Where else do you find the photograph of leaders? The US, Europe and all other countries have their national flag on the certificate but here we have the photograph of the Prime Minister If the government puts the picture of our national flag, I will take the vaccine too."

Talking about the upcoming assembly elections, Akhilesh reiterated that there would be no alliance with big parties like Congress and BSP. "We will enter into an alliance with smaller parties and get a comfortable majority on our own. People have made up their mind to vote out BJP because they remember the Corona deaths, mass cremations, lack of oxygen, migration, joblessness and farmers' problems," he stated.

He said that a change in the air was already palpable. "This year on my birthday, several officers sent me messages with their wishes," he said.

The SP president said that the people's anger was visible from the fact that BJP MLAs were not being allowed to enter villages, their MPs were being beaten up and their leaders were also being forced by the people to walk through water-logged roads.

Bengaluru, Sep 29: A Swedish delegation met Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai in Bengaluru and interacted with several major Swedish and Indian companies for fostering investment in the state. The foreign delegation was on a two-day visit to Karnataka from September 27-28, according to a press note released on Wednesday by the Swedish Embassy in New Delhi.

The Swedish delegation led by Ambassador Klas Molin, the new Trade Commissioner Cecilia Oskarsson along with new counsellors for science, innovation and trade, among others, met Bommai.

They attended an investment facilitation seminar with Karnataka Industries Minister and senior state government officials, as also the 'Invest in Karnataka' programme.

On Monday, the delegation along with the heads of several Swedish companies attended an investment facilitation seminar with the Karnataka Industries department where company leaders operating in the state highlighted their presence, and discussed investment and future plans that will help them realise their full potential in the state.

Bommai said both Sweden and India are time-tested allies and the bilateral ties need to be further strengthened.

The Karnataka government has prioritised sustainable growth and investments and is willing to collaborate with Sweden on new technologies. Research and development (R&D) will be prioritised in the future and incentives for industries

to invest in R&D will be introduced.

The Chief Minister indicated that employment, investment and innovation are the three guiding principles for boosting partnership between India and Sweden.

At present, there are more than 200 Swedish companies in India employing two lakh people. As many as 96 Swedish companies have employed more than 42,000 people in Karnataka alone. Forty companies have their head office in Karnataka and 14 companies are manufacturing in the state.

Swedish Ambassador Klas Molin said, "I'm inspired by the very constructive and forward-looking

dialogue with Chief Minister Bommai. From Swedish brand names such as ABB and Volvo to H&M and IKEA -- and now Truecaller and several start-ups, Swedish companies continue to thrive in Karnataka. Helping support their communities during the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, they continue to invest, expand and believe in India."

The delegation met Wipro Chairman Rishad Premji and visited 'PlaySimple', which was recently acquired by Swedish gaming giant 'Modern Times Group'.

It also visited IIM Bangalore, CampX

by Volvo, ArtPark and ISRO.

Punjab waives pending electricity bills of 55 lakh defaulters IANS

Chandigarh, Sep 29: Amid the turmoil within the ruling Congress party and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal's visit to Punjab, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday announced to waive pending electricity bills of 55 lakh defaulters, covering 80 per cent of the total consumers.

It will put a burden of Rs 1,200 crore on the state exchequer.

Channi told the media after the Cabinet meeting that it decided to waive pending electricity bills of all defaulters having connection up to 2 KW. "It is a major relief for the common man," the Chief Minister, who reiterated the government won't indulge in corruption nor let anyone do it.

The decision will benefit consumers in rural and urban areas.

But the Chief Minister clarified that the arrears could be of one month or as old as 10 years, all outstanding will be cleared by the government.

"The policy will apply only to the previous electricity bills that are pending. From now onwards, the consumers would be liable for the

outstanding," he added.

Channi said committees at tehsil level would be formed to handle old bill waiver cases and verify the beneficiaries.

The Chief Minister announced a mechanism soon to end sand mafia by bringing a new policy on mining.

On the resignation of state Congress

chief Navjot Sidhu, Channi said he had talked to him. "I have invited him to talk so that we can resolve the issue."

He said that as sought by the party high command, the government is appointing a dedicated team of public prosecutors and lawyers to handle sensitive cases like sacrilege.

6 cops suspended after businessman dies during raid Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Sep 29: Six Gorakhpur policemen have been suspended after a businessman from Kanpur was found dead following a police raid at a city hotel, where he was staying with two friends from Gurugram.

The Gorakhpur police said the man, identified as 36-year-old Manish Gupta, slipped during the routine police checking and injured himself.

However, one of Gupta's friends, Hardeep Singh Chauhan, who was staying with him in the hotel, alleged that the police brutally thrashed Gupta.

Gupta's wife Meenakshi and his father Nand Kishore, have also accused police of beating him.

Gorakhpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Vipin Tada, said that six policemen, including a station house officer, a chowki in-charge and four constables, were suspended on Tuesday night in connection with the death of the Kanpur realtor.

"During a routine checking drive, police found that these three men

/IndianAbroadNews

IANS

were the only group who were from different places, but were staying together at the hotel. So, they were checked on the basis of suspicion.

In the chaos caused by the police checking, one of the men slipped and suffered injuries. He was rushed to Baba Raghav Das Medical College, where he died. It was an accident," Tada said.

Hardeep told reporters that he along with his brother Pradeep Singh Chauhan, 32, and Gupta came to Gorakhpur to meet their friend Chandan Saini.

Hardeep said the three of them were sleeping when five to six policemen led by SHO of Ramgarh Tal police station, Jai Narain Singh, and chowki in-charge of Phal Mandi, Akshay Mishra, knocked at their door and

/indianabroadnews

asked for their identity cards around midnight on Monday.

"I woke Manish up and asked him to give his card, but he objected to questioning at the odd hour. At this, the cops became aggressive and started searching our bags and belongings. I asked them why we were being treated like terrorists. At this, Jai Narain Singh and chowki incharge Akshay Mishra, who I believe were drunk, threatened to send us to jail and started slapping us. They pushed me out after beating me.

Then I saw them dragging Manish, who was in an unconscious state, with blood flowing from his head and face," Hardeep told reporters.

Gorakhpur is the home district of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

10

INDIA

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

'You shout, you demand, your right', CJI bats for 50% women in judiciary IANS

New Delhi, Sep 26: Chief Justice N.V. Ramana on Sunday batted for 50 per cent representation for women in the judiciary and also supported the demand for reservation for women in law colleges across the country.

Addressing women advocates of the Supreme Court, who had organised a felicitation function for him and the nine newly appointed judges to the top court, the Chief Justice said: "With your anger, you shout, you demand, we need 50 per cent representation. It is not a small issue; issue of thousands of years of suppression. You are entitled, it is a matter of right. Nobody is going

to give a charity". He added that it is very unfortunate that it has been realized very late.

"We may realize and reach this goal in the apex court and as well as other courts.I gathered some information about the system where we are working. In the entire country, our subordinate judiciary has less than 30 per cent (women representation). In high courts women judges are 11.5 per cent, in Supreme Court only 11-12 per cent are women", he said.

Justice Ramana added, out of 1.7 million advocates in the country, only 15 per cent are women and only

two per cent elected representatives in state bar councils are women.

He further pointed out why the Bar Council of India in national committee does not have even a single woman representative.

Justice Ramana remarked, this needs urgent attention and pointed at other major issues faced by women lawyers - clients' preference for male advocates, uncomfortable environment within Courtrooms, lack of infrastructure, crowded courtrooms, lack of washrooms for women etc - adding that all these deter women from entering the profession.

"In the survey I got conducted, it turned out that out of 6,000 trial courts, nearly 22 per cent have no toilet for women, we need to create a more welcoming environment", he said.

Justice Ramana emphasized, "An important focus area is to increase gender diversity in legal education.

I strongly advocate reservation of a significant percentage of seats in law schools and universities for women, as a first step".

Citing Karl Marx, he said Marx in different times and in a different context said: "Workers of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains". He added, "I am taking the liberty to modify it a bit to -Women of the world, unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains".

Justice Ramana's remarks were appreciated by Justice B.V. Nagarathna, who was among three women sworn-in as judges of the top court on August 31. Justice Nagarathna, who will be country's first woman Chief Justice of India in 2027, said "advancing women's participation in the judiciary, promotes gender equality in broader ways, female judicial appointments, particularly at senior levels, can shift gender stereotypes. Thereby changing attitudes and perceptions as to appropriate roles of men and women."

The chief justice also expressed hope about resuming physical hearings in Supreme Court after the Dussehra vacation.

CJI: If executive & legislature work in unison, judiciary need not play law-maker IANS

Cuttack, Sep 25 (IANS): Chief Justice N.V. Ramana on Saturday said the executive and the legislature should function in unison in realizing the constitutional aspirations, only then the judiciary would be spared from stepping in as law-maker and only then would it be left with the duty of applying and interpreting the law.

Speaking at the inauguration of a new building of the Odisha state legal services authority in Cuttack, CJI Ramana said the legislature needs to revisit the laws, and reform them to suit the needs of the time and people -- laws must match with our practical realities and the executive has to match these efforts by way of simplifying the corresponding rules.

He emphasized that the executive

and the legislature should function in unison in realising the constitutional aspirations.

"It is only then, that the judiciary would not be compelled to step in as a law-maker and would only be left with the duty of applying and interpreting the same. At the end of the day, it is the harmonious functioning of the three organs of the state that can remove the procedural barriers to justice," he said.

He pointed out that even after 74 years of independence, traditional and agrarian societies which have been following customary ways of life, still feel hesitant to approach the courts.

Justice Ramana said: "The practices, procedures, language and everything of our courts feels alien to them. Between the complex language of the acts and the process of justice delivery, the common man seems to lose control over the fate of his grievance. Often in this trajectory, the justice-seeker feels like an outsider to the system".

Elaborating on Indianisation of justice delivery system, as a primary challenge for the Indian judicial system, on which he had spoken earlier, Justice Raman said a harsh reality is that, often our legal system

fails to take into consideration the social realities and implications.

He said people might be bringing their problems to the courts, but what remains at the end of a day is yet another "case".

He said it is a general understanding of the people that it is the court's responsibility to make laws. "This notion has to be dispelled. This is where the role of other organs of the state, i.e. the legislature and the executive assumes great significance," said Justice Ramana.

Elaborating on the second challenge, enabling the people to "decode the justice delivery system by raising awareness", Justice Raman said the legal services have become an integral part of the judicial administration and lack of proper infrastructure and funds result in reduction of the activities carried out by these institutions.

"As a result, the number of beneficiaries who avail services of these institutions reduces. Ultimately the goal of access to justice for all gets hampered. If we want to retain the faith of our people, we need to strengthen not only the judicial infrastructure, but we also need to boost our outreach programs as well," he added.

2 gunned down in Bihar amid Panchayat hearing

Grand welcome to PM Modi at airport on return from US New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a grand welcome from BJP leaders and workers at Delhi airport on his return from an official visit of the United States of America (USA), here on Sunday.

BJP chief J.P. Nadda, national general secretary Arun Singh and Tarun Chugh, former union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Lok Sabha member Ramesh Bidhuri, party Delhi unit president Adesh Gupta and others received Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Airport.

Since morning thousands of Delhi BJP workers and people gathered at the Palam Airport technical area to receive the Prime Minister. A big stage was set up outside the airport for Prime Minister Modi to accept greetings from people.

Prime minister walked around two kilometres to meet party workers and common people standing on both sides of the roads with his cutouts and posters.

Praising the Prime Minister, BJP chief Nadda called him a global leader who has made the country a global player.

Sharing pictures of the Prime Minister meeting people waiting outside the airport to welcome him,

IANS

Nadda tweeted, "People were eagerly waiting since morning to see and greet their beloved Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji on his return from US visit. Huge cheering and enthusiasm. Some glimpses of Prime Minister Modi Ji meeting people and accepting their greetings."

Prime Minister Modi thanked the people who were there to welcome him.

Artists from different states were also invited to play musical

instruments from different parts of the country. "Musical instruments from different parts of the country are playing outside the airport and artists have been invited to play the instrument," Virendra Sachdeva, BJP Delhi vice president said.

During his recent visit, Prime Minister Modi held bilateral talks with US President Joe Biden, participated in Quad summit and also addressed the United Nations General Assembly.

After bribery charges, now 'Panchjanya' says Amazon is East India Co.2.0 New Delhi, Sep 27: After labelling bribery charges against Infosys, Panchjanya, a journal with RSS leanings, has now opened an attack on Jeff Bezos founded Amazon, with a cover story calling it the second generation of the East India Company that entered India with business interests but ended up colonising the country for 200 years.

The cover story with Bezos picture accuses Amazon of indulging in corrupt practices after allegations of bribery surfaced against it.

Panchjanya has also accused Amazon for insulting Hindu values through Prime Videos movies and content.

"Amazon too wants to have sole rights on the Indian market. For this it has started taking steps to encircle the political, economic and individual freedom of people here. It is accused of floating shell companies to capture the e-market platform, of bribing to have policies in its favour, and of airing programmes opposed to Indian culture through Prime Videos", the Panchjanya says in a gist of its cover story.

The cover refers to allegations Amazon's legal representatives

bribed Indian officials, and questions: "What did it (the company) do wrong it needed to bribe... Why do people consider this company a threat to indigenous entrepreneurship, economic freedom and culture?"

The cover story said Amazon invested in India with a promise to help small traders get a larger platform to sell products, it actually floated its own companies to do the same.

"The company floated supplier entities such as Cloudtail and Apiria in which it had significant stake and indirect control,".

Amazon, the world's largest online retailer, has initiated an investigation into the conduct of its legal representatives in India, The Morning Context reported.

This investigation comes on the back of a whistleblower complaint alleging that certain monies paid

by Amazon in legal fees have been funnelled into bribes by one or more of its legal representatives.

Two people who work closely with Amazon's in-house legal team confirmed that Rahul Sundaram, senior corporate counsel at Amazon, has been sent on leave. The Morning Context reached out to Sundaram

IANS

for comment. In a text message, he said, "Sorry I cannot speak with the press.' We could not independently ascertain whether the internal investigation has been completed or is in progress.

Responding to a detailed set of questions, an Amazon spokesperson said: "We have zero tolerance for corruption. We take allegations of improper actions seriously, investigate them fully, and take appropriate action. We are not commenting on specific allegations or the status of any investigation at this time."

Bluetooth slippers worth Rs 6L sold to cheat in Raj REET exam

IANS

IANS

Patna, Sep 27: Two persons were gunned down during a Panchayat hearing in Bihar's Khagaria district, an official said on Monday.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening in Rohiyama village, Beldaur police said when a Panchayat was organized to settle a matter related to the upcoming panchayat polls between two groups.

The deceased are identified as Kishundev Chaudhary who died on the spot while Haribol Yadav succumbed to his injury in the hospital. www.indianabroad.news

"During the hearing in Panchayat, the groups instead of resolving the issues, got into a quarrel. Suddenly, some people started indiscriminate firing that led to chaos.

"Kishundev Chaudhary was killed on the spot after he sustained gunshot injuries in the chest and stomach while Haribol Yadav was rushed to the Sadar hospital but he succumbed on the way," said Santosh Kumar, SHO of Baldaur police station.

"We have registered an FIR. The alleged attackers have been identified

and will be put behind the bars very soon," the SHO said.

Jaipur, Sep 26: Rajasthan Police on Sunday arrested five people who were accused of selling bluetooth-equipped 'chappals' (slippers) worth Rs 6 lakh to candidates to crack the much talked about REET (Rajasthan Eligibility Examination for Teachers) exam to become government teachers in the state.

The gang was busted in Bikaner district after police sensed foul play in Ajmer and arrested an accused for helping candidate crack exam with bluetooth device.

A thorough investigation brought in newer facts and more people were arrested from Bikaner too.

/IndianAbroadNews

Police officials said that the accused were helping candidates to solve the question paper via the Bluetooth device installed in their slippers' sole which was sold to them for Rs 6 lakh. The Bluetooth was connected with mini ear phone which was connected with the candidate's ear and someone else from outside was helping the candidates to cheat. It was skin coloured and quite small which are difficult to be seen with eyes.

Police officials confirmed that the accused designed these Bluetoothequipped slippers and sold them to candidates for Rs 6 lakh to cheat in

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the exam. It is being investigated as to who all were sold these slippers.

Mobile internet and SMS were snapped in several districts of Rajasthan for 12 hours to prevent cheating in the REET exam. But people devised new ways to cheat in the exam. Some 16 lakh students took the test for 31,000 posts in government schools, making it the biggest exam in the state.

The state government arranged free travel for candidates amid the Covid pandemic.

11

AUSTRALIA

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

No reason for Aus to remain closed if 80% adults fully vaccinated: PM

IANS

Canberra, Sep 26: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Sunday told state and territory leaders that they owe it to the citizens to reopen domestic borders by Christmas.

Morrison told local media that there was no reason for state borders to remain closed once 80 per cent of

adults are fully vaccinated against Covid-19, a milestone the country is expected to reach in the following months, reports Xinhua news agency.

"It's important that we move forward. We can't stay in second gear.

We've got to get to top gear in living

with the virus," he said.

"My message is more to Australians that what I'd like them to have for Christmas is their lives back."

However, some state premiers push back against the government's fourphase roadmap out of the pandemic as the country continues to battle the third wave of infections.

Under the plan, domestic borders will open when 80 per cent of over16s have had two vaccine doses.

On Sunday morning, Australia reported 1,765 new locally acquired Covid-19 infections amid lockdowns in some major cities.

With the new cases, the country's overall caseload has increased to 95,807, while the death toll stood at 1,220.

According to the latest data released by the Department of Health, 75.4 per cent of Australians aged 16 and older have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and 50.9 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Australia's Covid vaccination nearing milestone

Kalinga Tv

Canberra, Sep 24: Australia's Covid-19 vaccine rollout is about to hit a milestone with half of the adult population fully inoculated against

the virus, according to official data released on Friday.

According to the data released by

the Department of Health, 74.1 per cent of Australians aged 16 and older have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and 49.3 per cent are fully vaccinated, reports Xinhua news agency.

"We're now round about 75 per cent first dose and 50 per cent second dose," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.

"It's going to make a big difference as we continue to surge towards those necessary targets of 70 and 80 per cent, that will open Australia up."

On Friday morning, Australia reported more than 1,700 new locally-acquired Covid cases as the country continues to battle the third wave of the pandemic.

Since the onset of the pandemic early last year, Australia has registered 92,179 confirmed Covid-19 cases and 1,196 deaths.

Australians moving away from cities to rural living: Poll

IANS

Canberra, Sep 17: A survey released on Friday showed that an ever-growing number of Australians are moving away from the nation's biggest cities in favour of rural living.

The Regional Movers Index (RMI) showed a national 11 per cent increase in people leaving the "big smoke" to set up house in country areas, reports Xinhua news agency.

The data, collected by the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) and the Regional Australia Institute (RAI), compared figures

from the June quarter of 2021 to those of the same period in 2020.

The exodus was most notable in the nation's two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, both of which have endured the nation's longest Covid-19 lockdowns.

The only capital city to go against the trend was Perth in Western Australia which had a slight population increase from its regional areas.

Explaining the demographic switch, CBA senior executive and RAI council member Grant Cairns said regional areas were becoming a "more realistic option" due to the continued rise in house prices in capital cities along with the increase in flexible work options which often means people no longer must commute to their offices.

"The experience of lockdowns is front of mind for Victorians, so the desire to seek a tree change is rapidly growing," Cairns said.

"It is positive to see the development of infrastructure, particularly in regional areas, is growing to meet the increased demand."

Cairns noted large regional cities, such as Geelong in Victoria, were undergoing major building projects and industrial developments including new offices, hotels, and education facilities.

RAI chief economist Kim Houghton said the data identified "regional areas which are emerging as desirable destinations for capital city residents, enabling local leaders and business owners to prepare for a burst of population growth".

"We can also see that the number of regional residents choosing to stay put has increased, which is likely to be contributing to the housing squeeze in some areas," Houghton said.

Sydney, would be converted into a predator-free sanctuary for some 30 animals, that previously inhabited the area.

Among the species is the Australian eastern quoll, which has been listed as "endangered" since 2005.

Like many marsupial species, its primary threat comes from predation from introduced species.

"Visiting Shanes Park will be like stepping back in time to see the Australian bush alive with native animals as it was before foxes, cats and rabbits had such a devastating impact," said Kean.

Findings from a 2020 report from the Threatened Species Recovery Hub found that cats and foxes alone kill around 2 billion native animals in Australia every year, and

have previously driven a number of Australian birds and marsupial species to extinction.

To combat this, all predator species will be eradicated from the area and a 6-feet-high perimeter fence will be built to provide sanctuary.

Once established, the park's ecosystem health will be regularly monitored and evaluated.

NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the park would also be the latest addition to Sydney's growing list of attractions when it opens to the public by early 2023.

"This will become a must-see destination for visitors not only from the Greater Sydney and across the state, but also from interstate and around the world."

Aus state leading fight against extinction with new national park Sydney, Sep 27: The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) has announced the building of a new national park in Western Sydney that will become home to a number of locally extinct wildlife species.

NSW Minister for Energy and Environment Matt Kean said the project commencing construction in early 2022 "will be the first national park declared in Western Sydney in over one decade", Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

"We are turning it into a special conservation area, which will be home to some of our most threatened and endangered native animals," said Kean.

Over the next 18 months, over 500 hectares of bushland in Shanes Park, 50 km west of central www.indianabroad.news

NSW outlines roadmap out of Covid curbs

Sydney, Sep 27: Authorities in the Australia'd New South Wales (NSW) on Monday unveiled further details of a roadmap out of Covid-19 restrictions as the country's largest state is witnessing a stabilisation of local transmissions.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian told the media here that the state, also the epicentre of the ongoing outbreak, is expected to reach 70 per cent double dose on October 11 and 80 per cent about a fortnight after, reports Xinhua news agency.

From Monday, after NSW hits the 80per cent double doses vaccination target for people aged 16 and over, eased restrictions will allow those who are fully vaccinated to have up to 10 people visit their home, participate in community sport, and access hospitality venues.

All premises will operate at one person per 4 square metres indoors, and one person per 2 square meters outdoors, according to the roadmap unveiled by the state.

The roadmap also made some adjustments to previous policies based on updated health advice. Regional travel will not be allowed until the full vaccination rate reached 80 per cent, and a booking cap has been introduced for hospitality venues of 20 people.

IANS

"Vaccination remains our ticket to freedom so we need to work even harder to get jabs in arms, to help stop the spread, minimize outbreaks and ensure people are protected when we open up," Berejiklian said.

The premier said the double dose rate of the state is now at 60 per cent.

She also said the state would be a "Covid-19 normal state"

by December 1 which means further changes will be introduced including all venues moving to the 2 square metres rule, masks will not be required indoors at offices, indoor pools and nightclubs can reopen, and unvaccinated people

will have greater freedoms.

"We believe by December 1, we will be at that Covid-19 normal state where, hopefully, we will be booking our international travel once the prime minister gives that green light, we will be able to go overseas as well."

The roadmap came as NSW was seeing a stabilization of its local transmissions.

The state recorded 787 new locally acquired cases on Monday, the first time in about one month that the spike was below 800.

The state also recorded 12 deaths, half of which were not vaccinated.

Melbourne protests could accelerate Covid outbreak IANS

Melbourne, Sep 24: In Australia's Victoria, healthcare workers battling a rising number of Covid-19 cases believe that an ongoing series of violent protests in the state capital Melbourne could trigger an even worse outbreak.

On Friday morning, police riot squads, armed with tear gas and rubber bullets were bracing for further clashes with protesters who have rioted through the city's streets for the past four days, reports Xinhua news agency.

The demonstrations were sparked by vaccine mandates imposed on construction workers but have quickly devolved into a broader show of pent-up fury against the ongoing lockdowns imposed on the city as well as people opposed to vaccinations.

Since one of the demonstrators on Wednesday has been hospitalised with Covid-19, raising the prospect that the closely packed crowds will become "super-spreaders" for the highly transmissible Delta strain.

The protests have been widely

condemned throughout Victoria with healthcare workers, who are reeling from their caseloads, thus voicing their dismay.

An open letter from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation's Lisa Fitzpatrick eloquently expressed a common sentiment.

"Nurses, midwives and carers are

exhausted and frustrated as they watch protesters fight for their right to overwhelm our health system," Fitzpatrick wrote.

"Only respectful dialogue, not violence, can resolve the issues driving people apart."

The state recorded 733 new local cases and one death on Friday.

'Australian Covid-19 payments to end when 80% fully vaccinated' IANS

Canberra, Sep 29: The Australian government announced it will wind back Covid-19 financial support measures on Wednesday when the vaccination rate hit 80 per cent in its battle against the third wave of infections.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced on Wednesday that once a state or territory reaches 70 per cent full inoculation, the automatic renewal of the payment will end, meaning recipients will have to reapply every week to remain eligible, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Once those states and territories reach a double-dose vaccination rate of 80 per cent, the Covid disaster payment will come to an end," he said, adding that there will be a two-week transition period.

"Today we're backing Australia's plan to open up in a Covid-safe way, hoping to bring an end to the lockdowns and enable Australians to get their lives back," he told reporters.

The current disaster payment is worth 750 Australian dollars ($543.1) per week for people in Covid-affected states and territories who have lost more than 20 hours of work per week and 450 Australian dollars ($325.9) if they lost between eight and 20 hours.

The announcement came when Australia reported more than 1,800 new locally-acquired Covid-19 cases

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on Wednesday morning.

New South Wales (NSW), Australia's most populous state with Sydney as the capital city, reported 863 new cases and 15 deaths.

There have been 331 Covid-19 related deaths in NSW since June 16 this year, said the statement from NSW Health.

Victoria, the second-most populous state with Melbourne as the capital city, reported a further 950 new

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local cases and seven deaths.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) recorded 22 new cases, seven of which were infectious while in the community.

According to the latest data released by the Department of Health, 76.7 per cent of Australians aged 16 and older have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and 52.6 per cent are fully vaccinated.

12

WORLD

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

It is time to consider ban on AUKUS vs. Quad: A reality check dogs as food: S.Korean Prez IANS

IANS

Seoul, Sep 27: South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Monday raised the need for the government to consider imposing a formal ban on dog meat consumption in the country.

"Hasn't the time come to prudently consider prohibiting dog meat consumption?" Moon asked Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum during their weekly policy consultation session, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesperson Park Kyung-mee.

The President made the remarks while being briefed by the Prime Minister on the government's plan to improve the system to take care

of abandoned pets, Yonhap News Agency quoted Park as saying.

The spokesperson provided no further details on Moon's remarks in a brief press statement.

A growing number of South Koreans live with dogs at home, but there are dog farms still in operation, where some dog breeds are raised for food.

Moon is known to love his pet dogs, living with several of them at the presidential compound.

South Korea has the Animal Protection Law intended mainly to prevent the cruel slaughter of dogs and cats but not dog consumption itself.

N.Korean missile launches show serious threat: US official

IANS

Seoul, Sep 27: North Korea's recent missile launches show the "seriousness of threat" posed to the US and South Korea, a Pentagon official said on Monday, amid a conciliatory gesture from Pyongyang after a series of weapons tests.

Siddharth Mohandas, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, made the remark at the start of the biannual 20th Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) in Seoul to discuss regional security situations and pending alliance issues, reports Yonhap News Agency.

"North Korea's recent missile launches remind us of the

seriousness of the threat we face together," Mohandas said, calling the alliance the "linchpin" of peace and security in the region against such challenges.

The remarks came two days after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, said the North could declare a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War, as suggested

by South Korea, and even discuss an inter-Korean summit if Seoul drops what she called a "hostile policy" against Pyongyang.

Kim Yo-jong's statement came amid concerns over the North's recent cruise and ballistic missile launches, and signs of the reclusive regime reactivating a key nuclear reactor at its mainstay Yongbyon complex.

Earlier on Monday, US reconnaissance aircraft, including a Global Hawk, were spotted flying over the Korean Peninsula in an apparent move to track North Korea's activities following the missile launches.

Referring to the recent talks of

a formal end to the Korean War, Deputy Defense Minister Kim Man-ki said: "It is time a more close coordination between the South Korea-U.S. alliance is required."

During the two-day meeting, the two sides plan to discuss "major pending security issues", such as the assessment of the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and the policy coordination on North Korea, according to the Defense Ministry.

Also on the table during this week's meeting will be the conditions-based transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul and ways to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries, the Ministry said.

Launched in 2011, KIDD is a comprehensive defense forum between Seoul and Washington that usually meets twice a year.

The last session took place in Washington in May.

44 killed in heavy fighting in Yemen's Marib Sanaa, Sep 27: At least 44 people were killed as heavy fighting continued between Yemeni security forces and the Houthi militia in the oil-rich rovince of Marib amid intensified airstrikes, a military official said.

"Tweenty-eight members of the Houthi rebel group and 16 soldiers of the pro-government Yemeni forces were killed during the past 24 hours in Marib's fighting," the official told Xinhua news agency on Sunday.

The Houthi fighters carried out simultaneous attacks against several positions controlled by the pro-government forces in the southern and northwestern areas of Marib, he

said.

He clarified that the Houthis used explosive-laden drones and missile attacks to target the pro-government forces stationed in Marib.

"The Houthis succeeded in achieving limited on-ground progress after launching a number of multipronged attacks in the fighting with the pro-government forces," he added.

Warplanes of the Saudi Arabia-led coalition carried out a series of airstrikes targeting Houthicontrolled areas and reinforcements in Marib's western part, according to the official.

Impossible for us to recognise Taliban: Italian FM IANS

Kabul, Sep 27: Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio has said that it was impossible for his country to recognise the caretaker Taliban government in Afghanistan, adding that at least 17 of the appointed ministers were "terrorists", the media reported on Monday.

In a statement on Sunday, Di Maio said that the Taliban are accused of human rights violations which will not be recognised by Italy, reports Khaama News.

He added that the people of Afghanistan should be provided financial support by the international community and the world must get together to prevent an influx

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of refugees that will destabilse the regional nations.

Di Maio's statement came after Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that the caretaker government in the war-torn nation will soon be recognised as they are in contact with the UN. Respect for women and human rights, establishing inclusive government, not allowing Afghanistan to become safe haven of terrorism are the preconditions for the recognition set by the international community.

The Taliban, since they took over the country in mid-August, are yet to implement these measures

The Houthis began in February a major offensive on Marib in an attempt to seize control of the oil-rich Yemeni province, the government's last northern stronghold.

Yemen's civil war flared up in late 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthi group seized control of much of the country's north and forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa.

The Saudi-led Arab coalition intervened in the Yemeni conflict in March 2015 to support Hadi's government.

By Asad Mirza The past week saw the US's hard push to contain China in its own backyard, by the formation of a new defence agreement known as AUKUS, with no precedent in diplomatic world, as the regional might of the new alliance is already covered by an old alliance named Quad.

AUKUS-named after Australia, the UK and the US proclaims to bring hard military power to support the order built by Washington in Asia, and "sustain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region", as per a statement by the White House.

Observers are quite perplexed by this new American action, as it has no parallel in the modern day diplomatic history. Some describe it as Anglophonic camaraderie.

Through AUKUS, for the first time in history the US will share its nuclear technology with any country. The new agreement will deliver 60 attack submarines, including six nuclear attack submarines to be built by the UK and technology provided by the US. In fact, AUKUS demonstrates the seriousness with which the US views the Chinese activities in the South China Sea and adjoining islands, China has claimed most of the territories in the South China Sea, defying a 2016 decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague declaring it as without legal basis.

It has also built artificial islands in the South China Sea and constructed massive runways and shipping docks, while also reportedly installing missile systems on the Spratly Islands. It has rejected competing claims from Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam in the South China Sea. Chinese reaction Chinese President Xi Jinping has warned against "interference from external forces" in the region, as Australia shrugged off Beijing's growing anger about AUKUS. In an address before the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), Xi urged heads of state to "absolutely resist external forces to interfere (in) countries in our region at any excuse, and we hold the future of our countries' development and progress firmly in our own hands".

China's state-owned publication Global Times also described Australia as "a pawn of the US" and called it "naive" for financing "America's cold war gambit".

"Australia could face the most dangerous consequence of being cannon fodder in the event of a military showdown in the region."

French reaction AUKUS has caused much consternation and anger in France because Australia terminated an earlier deal

with Naval Group, a state-controlled French company, to build a dozen diesel-powered submarines.

French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who laid out his own vision for the Indo-Pacific in a July visit to Washington, called the announcement a "stab in the back" and ordered a recall of the French Ambassadors from Washington and Canberra.

In their responses, French officials and some commentators have cast the announcement as an indication of a major strategic shift, particularly on the part of Washington.

The move, they assert, represents a kind of geopolitical infidelity by the United States that demonstrates it does not take France (and by extension, they hasten to add, Europe as a whole) seriously as a partner.

The announcement has also fuelled fears that Europe is being cut out

by Washington, with EU nations still smarting over the way the US handled the withdrawal from Afghanistan The EU has complained that it was kept out of the loop on a new military partnership between the US, UK and Australia, as Brussels was planning to lay down its own strategy for the Indo-Pacific on September 17.

"We regret not having being informed, not having been part of these talks," EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.

The 27-nation bloc is looking to strengthen ties in the vast region where it says it is "already the top investor, the leading development cooperation partner and one of the biggest trading partners".

But Borrell insisted the strategy was "one of cooperation, not confrontation" with China.

Australian defence In a series of media interviews, Morrison said his government was reacting to changing dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region, where territory is increasingly contested and competition is rising.

Morrison said Australia is "very aware" of China's nuclear submarine capabilities and growing military investment, he told Channel Seven television. "We are interested in ensuring that international waters are always international waters and international skies are international skies, and that the rule of law applies equally in all of these places," he said.

Morrison told Australian media that the defence alliance had been "well-received" in his discussions so far with leaders in Japan, India, Singapore, New Zealand, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.

India's predicament For New Delhi, AUKUS isn't good news, either. The new accord raises

China in the newly formed Australia, United Kingdom, United States (AUKUS) military alliance, Canberra is showing all signs of developing its own Military Industrial Complex.

The first signal that Australia could become a formidable military hardware manufacturer came, when the AUKUS trio decided to manufacture eight nuclear submarines at Adelaide.

Full details have not been revealed, but the Financial Review, an Australian publication is reporting citing a former Defence Department official that the Royal Australian Navy (RAN)is likely to build versions of the latest US or British submarines. These nuclear-powered subs will have better weapons and sensors than their Chinese counterparts, including torpedoes, mines and cruise missiles that can target rival ships and buildings.

Specifically, the Australian version of an American Virginia class or British Astute class is on the radar, the official said. But the brand-new subs might not be ready within a decade. Consequently, the RAN could lease a less potent Los Angeles class submarines from the US as stopgap.

An Astute class submarine costs an estimated $2.6 billion when constructed in Britain. It can carry 38 torpedoes and Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can strike buildings

from the US arsenal are costlier, with a price tag of $3.2 billion. But they also have a more lethal punch on account of the 65 missiles they can carry, besides torpedoes.

The US decision to manufacture a new version of drones in Australia is also adding to Canberra's emerging Military Industrial Complex. As reported by India Narrative earlier, the US aerospace giant Boeing announced on Wednesday that it will assemble its unmanned Loyal Wingman planes in Toowoomba city, Queensland state. It has already completed the first test flights earlier this year.

News agency AP quotes Scott Carpendale, MD of Boeing Defence Australia, as saying that the new aircraft uses artificial intelligence to operate in tandem with manned aircraft and was conceived, designed, and developed in Australia.

Importantly, this will be the first military combat aircraft to be designed and manufactured in Australia in half a century. Boeing Australia is currently developing six of the aircraft in partnership with the Royal Australian Air Force.

Carpendale said the Australian government seems happy about the Loyal Wingman's capabilities.

"There's a significant interest from other countries," Carpendale added.

The drone is being built in a facility at Wellcamp Airport, owned by

questions about the importance of the Quad -- the four-nation alliance of the US, Australia, Japan and India.

In particular, New Delhi will worry that the US is concerned only with pushing back against China, leaving its concerns about Pakistan and the western Indian Ocean unaddressed.

India also felt left out of the regional political dynamics when it was not invited to join the Doha talks with Taliban alongside the US, Pakistan and Qatar.

Indian PM in the US Meanwhile the Indian Prime Minister Modi met the US President Joe Biden and his Japanese and Australian counterparts at the White House in Washington for the first Quad summit on 23rd face to face and discussed the priority areas for Quad.

Biden said this is a grouping of "democratic partners who share a world view and have a common vision for the future" and are "coming together to take on key challenges". Evolving a common approach to emerging technologies, cyber security and addressing the challenge of climate change and space cooperation, and Covid vaccination. This means that Quad will act as a socio-economic organisation and the region's defence will be led by AUKUS, which leaves India in the cold regarding its concerns of Chinese aggression in the North China Sea and Indian Ocean.

Before the Quad meeting Biden and Modi met separately to discuss bilateral issues, the latter laid stress on issues such as trade, technology, climate challenge and Covid management.

However, Modi's bilateral meetings with the POTUS and the Vice President regarding AUKUS and Quad didn't resulted in any benefit for India. Instead he got lessons on maintaining democracy, democratic traditions and democratic institutions by both the American leaders, whatever little the US media reported revealed and that might have forced him to change his address at the UNGA on the theme of democracy in the region.

(Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi. He writes on Muslims, educational, international affairs, interfaith and current affairs.)

Kabul airport now ready for After AUKUS, is Australia developing a int'l flights: US-backed Military Industrial Complex?

Delhi, Sep 24: After emerging and ships 1,700 km away. The Wagner Corp. Wagner chairman Taliban official asNewa frontline state for countering Virginia class submarines, the latest John Wagner said he hopes a deKabul, Sep 27 (IANS): The Kabul airport is now fully operational for international flights and all airliners can resume services, a spokesman of the Taliban's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

"As the problems at Kabul International Airport have been resolved and the airport is fully operational for domestic and international flights, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan assures all airlines of its full cooperation and expects all airlines and countries that had previously flown to Kabul to resume their flights as before," spokesman Abdul Qahar Balkhi said in a statement on Sunday.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs once again assures full cooperation on its part in conducting flights more than 40 days after Taliban takeover, Xinhua news agency quoted Balkhi as further saying.

The Kabul airport was damaged with its many facilities destroyed during the withdrawal of US-led forces and American nationals on Aug. 31.

Airport authorities confirmed that the airport has received planes carrying humanitarian assistance from Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Pakistan as well as a number of commercial flights from Pakistan, Iran and Qatar in recent weeks despite long suspension in the flights since the Taliban takeover.

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fence and aerospace precinct at the airport will attract more companies in similar fields.

This venture is believed to be the first of its kind by Boeing outside North America.

Last year Australia had increased its defence budget owing to tensions with China. A Reuter's report said that the country will increase defence spending by 40 per cent over the next 10 years. The increased budget will go into buying anti-ship missiles as well as developing hypersonic missiles.

Speaking at the launch of the 2020 Defence Strategic Update in Canberra, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said: "We want a IndoPacific free from coercion and hegemony. We want a region where all countries, large and small, can engage freely with each other and be guided by international rules and norms".

In yet another announcement, Australia had earlier this year announced that it would upgrade its ports in the Northern Territories with US help.

Australia plans to spend $580 million to upgrade four northern military bases and hold war games with the United States as well as military exercises with countries in the region.

(With inputs by Rahul Kumar)

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Punjab done, now all eyes on New Punjab 'Captain' has Rahul's visit to Chhattisgarh six new faces in Cabinet BBC

New Delhi, Sep 26: Amid talks of rotational chief minister in Chhattisgarh, the visit of Rahul Gandhi will decide the future of the Congress politics in the state as of now there is suspense in both the camps -- one lead by Chief Minister Baghel and the other lead by state Health Minister T.S. Singhdeo.

Mohan Markam, the state Congress President said the party is busy in the preparation of Rahul Gandhi's visit to Sarguja and Bastar, both tribal belts and Sarguja is also the stronghold of T.S. Singhdeo.

Markam said that he is head of the organisation in the state and does not belong to any camp.

However, dates of the visit of the former Congress President have not been not finalised yet, but he may go on the onset of second week of October and get a sense of state politics.

While Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is on overdrive on the issue of development. He has been taking some decisions and highlighting the people-friendly policies of the government.

Sources say Baghel has got some reprieve till the Uttar Pradesh elections on the interference of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra as his team is involved in the election management of the party in UP. The supporters of the Singhdeo camp have alleged harassment. In this week only police registered a case against Pankaj Singh in Bilaspur, who is a former secretary of the party and close to Singh Deo, for allegedly assaulting an employee of a government hospital. Following the FIR Congress MLA Shailesh Pandey, a known Singh Deo supporter went to the police station with his supporters and lodged a protest

against the action, while the District Congress has recommended Pankaj Singh's expulsion, which could spark another round of faceoff.

T.S. Singh Deo had said, "All the issues are in the purview of the Congress leadership."

The supporters of Singhdeo have been pushing for a change of guard since incumbent Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel completed 2.5 years in office, suspense still looms on the issue of rotational chief minister as there is no clarity from the top leadership of the party.

Singhdeo, who is pushing on the formula of rotational chief minister, is maintaining a line that everything is in the purview of the party leadership and whatever decision will be taken by them will be accepted.

After the Punjab operation, all eyes are now on Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh, which have also been facing similar problems and issues.

In Rajasthan, Congress leader Sachin Pilot wants his position to be restored and given the top post in the state. He has met Rahul Gandhi twice in the week and his supporters say that fingers are crossed in Chhattisgarh. T.S. Singhdeo wants the formula of rotational Chief Minister to be honoured.

The supporters of T.S. Singh Deo are hopeful and assured of change since the meeting of Pilot, who in his meeting has also said that he wants to lead the state as the Chief Minister, sources said.

'All Cong breakaway groups must follow 'Mamata formula' to defeat Modi' Panaji, Sep 27: Former Goa Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro, who was being expected to join the Trinamool Congress, on Monday urged all breakaway Congress groups including the West Bengal-based party to come together as part of a "larger picture" to fight the BJP juggernaut with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and by using the "Mamata formula".

"I met certain people, who said yes you are a Congressman. I am a Congressman of 40 years. And I will continue to be a Congressman of the Congress family. This family has to come together if we have to fight Modi. Among all the four

Congresses, it is Mamata who has given a tough fight to Narendra Modi and their juggernaut," Faleiro told his supporters at his private residence in South Goa. Faleiro is expected to make a major political announcement later on Monday, with party sources suggesting that he may resign as a Congress legislator.

Faleiro also praised the "Mamata formula" had worked despite the organisation apparatus of the BJP and the haraunging by central agencies.

"Narendra Modi had 200 meetings in Bengal. Amit Shah maybe 250 meetings. And then there was

the Enforcement Directorate, CBI (Central bureau of Investigation)... everybody. But Mamata formula has won. She has been able to stand. She is a street fighter. We in Goa are also going through difficult times. We need such fighters, which are in the same wavelength, party ideology, policies, principles, programmes," Faleiro said.

"I am a Congressman and I would like the larger picture, all the Congress parties come together and fight at the next Parliamentary elections. I will do everything possible within me to achieve this dream of yours and dream of mine," he also said.

IANS

Chandigarh, Sep 26: Ahead of Assembly elections slated in February-March 2022, new Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, expanded his council of ministers on Sunday with induction of 15 ministers, including six first-timers.

Several ministers from the previous Amarinder Singh government were retained including both women ministers Aruna Chaudhary, who is related to Channi, and Razia Sultana, a prominent Muslim face.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath of office to the new ministers at a simple ceremony held in the lawns of Raj Bhavan.

Two-time MLAs Pargat Singh (Jalandhar Cantonment), Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, 43, (Gidderbaha) and Gurkirat Singh Kotli, 48, (Khanna), four-time MLA Kaka Randeep Singh Nabha, 54, (Amloh) and three-time MLAs Raj Kumar Verka, 58, (Amritsar-West) and Sangat Singh Gilzian, 68 (Urmar) were the new faces in the Cabinet.

Verka is a Valmiki community leader, while Gilzian represents the other backward classes. The others are Jat Sikhs.

Two-time MLA Kuljit Nagra (Fatehgarh Sahib) was a frontrunner for a Cabinet berth. His name was dropped at the last moment despite his proximity with Rahul Gandhi.

However, Nagra and Gilzian were recently picked as Working Presidents of the state unit.

Pargat Singh, an Akali Dal rebel, is the hockey Olympian-turnedbureaucrat-turned-politician. He was appointed as the state General Secretary.

Kotli and Warring began their political career by working as a student union leaders.

Kotli's grandfather, the late Beant Singh, was the Chief Minister from 1992 to 1995. His father Tej Parkash Singh served as the state Transport Minister.

Handpicked by Rahul Gandhi, young leader Warring made his debut in the Assembly by defeating then People's Party of Punjab chief Manpreet Singh Badal, who is now in the Congress, from Gidderbaha in 2012. He was the Indian Youth Congress president in 2014.

BJP, SP are B & C teams of each other: Satish Chandra Mishra

IANS

Lucknow, Sep 25: All political parties are gearing up for the upcoming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which has been in power in the state four times, has already kicked off its election campaign by holding "Prabuddh Samaaj Goshthis" or the enlightened class conferences to woo three upper caste communities -- Brahmins, Tyagis and Bhumihars.

BSP General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra, who is heading the enlightened class conference, is confident that in 2022 his party will form the government in Uttar Pradesh.

Mishra in an exclusive interview to IANS alleged that the BJP and the SP are each other's B and C teams.

He said both these parties deliberate together on the issues which need to be raised.

Asked about other opposition parties calling BSP the 'B team' of the BJP, Mishra said, "Such parties must worry about their own future.

They don't need to worry about the BSP. While we have organised 74 enlightened class conferences till now, other parties too are imitating us." He claimed that all opposition parties are politically competing with the BSP. The BSP leader said, "When we had lent outside support to the Congress,

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we were accused of being the B-team of Congress. Parties making such claims have no concrete issues to raise before the people. I ask that SP is the B team of which party?

Who had helped the SP to form the government in Uttar Pradesh during 2003? They did not have a majority at that time. They took 37 MLAs from the BSP and still did not have the majority. At that time both the Congress and the BJP helped to form the SP government in Uttar Pradesh which lasted for nearly 3.5 years. So who is the B team of the SP? At that time the Speaker of the UP Assembly had justified this decision. We challenged this decision in the Supreme court to which the latter termed the decision as unconstitutional. So in reality everyone knows who is the B team."

Asked what will be the issues on which the BSP will fight the 2022 UP elections, Mishra said that this time the BSP will fight the elections on issues such as ensuring better law and order and development. He said party Chief Mayawati's name is synonymous with development and law and order. There was no area in Uttar Pradesh where development did not take place during her tenure.

The BJP is known as a party of Brahmins-Banias, how are you confident that Brahmins will vote for the BSP. Mishra replied that Congress too considered Brahmins as their traditional vote bank but they eventually drifted away from them. Brahmins are the most 'Budhijeevi' (intelligent) community and need respect which they rightfully deserve. When the BSP created a peaceful co-existing society of Dalits and Brahmins, then only they have got their desired rights.

The BSP gave proper representation to the Brahmin community by having 45 MLAs, 15 cabinet ministers,

12 MLCs, one Advocate General and 5,000 government lawyers from the community. We have worked for the welfare of all sections of the society and given due respect to every community, Mishra added.

The BSP leader said the SP considered the Brahmin community as their enemy. Even during the present BJP government in the state, Brahmins are facing a lot of oppression. The BJP government has not done anything for the upliftment of the Brahmins in the last four-and-a half-years. The Brahmins are being forced to flee their homes.

Nearly two dozen priests have been murdered in the state, he added.

The Brahmins had come with a lot of hope before the BJP government to protect their religion. But the people from the community have been cheated in the name of Lord Ram at Ayodhya, so the Brahmins stand united with the BSP. The pride and self-respect of Brahmins is safe only with the BSP coming back to power in the state. This is why the Brahmins stand firmly with the BSP, Mishra said.

Asked if the BSP cadre is upset as the party is wooing the Brahmins, the BSP General Secretary said we not only speak about the welfare of Brahmins but all sections of society.

Party cadre meetings are being held at the booth level in Uttar Pradesh.

Brahmins, Dalits and minorities, including people from each and every section of society, attend these meetings. These people are constantly engaged in strengthening the party cadre base.

Asked whether the BSP which has been considered an expert in social engineering during elections, has not taken the support of the Muslim community aggressively, he said the Muslim community is standing firmly with the BSP. Party meetings

are being held keeping in view the welfare of the Backward Castes and the Muslim community in every district. Together people from these communities will help the BSP form the government in Uttar Pradesh.

Mishra said the BSP has never had an alliance with AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi. The BSP had formed an alliance with former RLSP Chief Upendra Kushwaha during the 2020 Bihar Assembly polls. THe BSP did not have any alliance with Owaisi in the past and will not do so in the future.

The BSP leader said the party has formed an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in Punjab.

We had a pleasant experience of alliance with the SAD in Punjab in the past. Therefore, the BSP formed an alliance again with the SAD which remains strong. However, he clarified that the BSP will fight elections on its own in UP. Mishra said there is only one face in the BSP which is that of party Chief Mayawati. Other leaders can keep entering and exiting the party. The entire UP election will be fought in the name of Mayawati. The rest of the party leaders are appointed only by Mayawati. Those who quit the party are never discussed again.

This has been the political history of the BSP, he added.

Asked whether the SP-led Opposition Grand Alliance will politically benefit from the farmers' protest in the 2022 UP elections, the BSP leader said the SP is misinformed about the farmers' agitation.

Mayawati provided security to the farmers. The farmers have not forgotten the riots in Uttar Pradesh.

The farmers' agitation will not benefit the SP. The BSP supports the farmers protest. From the Assembly to the Parliament, the BSP is fighting for the farmers' rights.

/IndianAbroadNews

Five ministers from the previous Amarinder Singh Cabinet were dropped. They were Balbir Sidhu, Gurpreet Kangar, Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, and Sundar Sham Arora.

However, Brahm Mohindra (six-time MLA), Manpreet Badal (five-time MLA), Tript Rajinder Bajwa (fourtime MLA), as well as Chaudhary, Razia Sultana, and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria (all three-time MLAs), Bharat Bhushan Ashu (twotime MLA), and Vijay Inder Singla (first time MLA) were retained.

Mohindra, Singla and Ashu, the prominent Hindu faces, are known for their proximity to Amarinder Singh.

Shiromani Akali Dal rebel Badal, who was the Finance Minister in the previous Amarinder Singh government and in the previous SAD government led by Prakash Singh Badal, played a crucial role for getting Channi at the helm owing to his proximity with Rahul Gandhi. He is likely to retain the same portfolio.

Former Irrigation Minister Rana Gurjeet Singh made a surprise comeback after four years despite objections raised by at least six legislators. He was inducted after at the expense of Nagra.

A minister in Amarinder Singh's Cabinet, he had stepped down after an alleged scam regarding allotment of sand mines.

Channi, 58, was sworn in as Chief Minister on September 20 along with his two deputies -- Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and O.P. Soni, both ministers in previous Council of Ministers.

Amarinder Singh resigned as Chief Minister on September 18 after months of political tussle with state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, saying he stepped down as he felt "humiliated".

Indicating that he is still keeping his political options open, he said he was talking to his friends before deciding on his future course of action.

Centre stopping Mamata's visit to Rome triggers controversy Times of India

Kolkata, Sep 25: Hours after the union ministry of external affairs disallowed Mamata Banerjee to go to Rome to attend a programme organised by a non-governmental organisation, the chief minister came down heavily on the central government saying that she was stopped only out of 'jealousy'.

The controversy cropped up after the state government received a letter from the ministry of external affairs mentioning that the chief minister has been invited to an event in Rome which, the letter said was, "not conducive of participation for a state chief minister". The event is scheduled to take place in Rome on October 6 and 7.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was invited to Rome by the Community of Sant' Egidio - a Catholic association dedicated to social service - to participate in the international event in Rome, the World Meeting for Peace "Peoples as Brothers, Future Earth", on 6 and 7 October this year where Pope Francis, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are likely to be present.

Mamata accepted the invitation.

It was decided that she would visit Rome after the by-election in Bhabanipur. Mamata was also preparing to go to Rome but this sudden

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letter from the central government has changed everything.

Speaking at a public rally in Bhabanipur, the chief minister didn't conceal her anger. "The Prime Minister can go abroad. Why I shall be disallowed to attend a function abroad? I was stopped only out of jealousy," a furious Banerjee said.

Previously the chief minster was also disallowed to go to Chicago where she was supposed to address a gathering at Belur Math, the global headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, to mark 125 years of Swami Vivekananda's historic speech at the Parliament of Religion, Chicago. At that time also the chief minister had termed it as an 'unholy conspiracy'.

"No one can go to America or Britain with covaxin. The World Health Organization has not given it recognition yet but the Prime Minister went with special permission. There are many people who cannot go abroad because they have taken covaxin. The Prime Minister went and I don't have any problem with that but why was I not allowed to represent? I used to go there and represent Hinduism. He speaks much about Hindutva but disallows me. This is nothing but jealousy," she added.

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15

HEALTH

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Children to experience 2-to-7 times more climate extremes than grandparents IANS

New Delhi, Sep 27: During his or her lifetime, a child born in 2021 will experience on an average twice as many wildfires, between two and three times more droughts, almost three times more river floods and crop failures, and seven times more heatwaves compared to a person who's for instance 60 years old today, researchers have said.

This will be the situation worldwide climatically under the current greenhouse gas emission reduction pledges by governments across the world, a topic for negotiation at the upcoming world climate summit COP26 at Glasgow in the UK. World leaders will be discussing mitigation and adaptation measures to be taken to keep the global temperature rise to less than 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the pre-industrial era.

Based on data from the Inter-sectoral Impact Model Intercomparison Project (ISIMIP), researchers have shown in the journal 'Science' how today's children

will be hit much harder by climate extremes than today's adults. The study 'Intergenerational inequities in exposure to climate extremes' was published on Sunday, according to a release by Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany.

"Our results highlight a severe threat to the safety of young generations and call for drastic emission reductions to safeguard their future," said lead author Wim Thiery from Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

"We even have strong reasons to think that our calculations underestimate the actual increases that young people will face."

Regarding droughts, heatwaves, river floods and crop failures, people under the age of 40 today will live what the researchers call "an unprecedented life".

"The good news: we can indeed take much of the climate burden from our children's shoulders if we limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by

phasing out fossil fuel use," says Katja Frieler who is coordinating ISIMIP. She's a leading scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and co-author of the study.

"If we increase climate protection from current emission reduction pledges and get in line with a 1.5-degree target, we will reduce young people's potential exposure to extreme events on average by 24 per cent globally. For North America it's minus 26 per cent, for Europe and Central Asia minus 28 per cent, and in the Middle East and North Africa even minus 39 per cent. This is a huge opportunity."

For instance, under a scenario of current insufficient climate policies, dangerous heatwaves that affect 15 per cent of global land area today could increase to 46 per cent, hence triple by the end of the century. Yet limiting warming to 1.5 degrees, which is the ambition of the Paris Climate Agreement signed by almost all countries worldwide, would reduce the affected land area to 22 per cent. "This is more than today but significantly less than with unmitigated warming," she said.

The analysis is the first of its kind.

To assess age-dependent extreme event exposure, the researchers took a collection of multi-model climate impact projections from the ISIMIP project building on the work of dozens of research groups worldwide. The researchers combined this with country-scale life-expectancy data, population data and temperature trajectories from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the release added.

Over 42% S.Koreans in their 30s unmarried in 2020: Census IANS

Seoul, Sep 27: More than 42 per cent of 30-somethings in South Korea remained unmarried last year, census data revealed on Monday, underscoring the trend in which many young people delay or give up on marriage amid a prolonged economic slowdown.

Out of 13.7 million singles aged 15 and older, 2.82 million people in their 30s were single last year, up from 2.68 million five years earlier, according to the 2020 census by Statistics Korea.

The percentage of unmarried people in their 30s reached 42.5 per cent last year, up 6.2 percentage points from 36.3 per cent in 2015, Yonhap

News Agency reported.

It marked the first time for the number to top 40 per cent for the age group.

By gender, 50.8 per cent of men in their 30s remained unmarried, while single women accounted for 33.6 per cent.

Many young South Koreans are opting to distance themselves from life's three major milestones -- dating, marriage and having children -- because they cannot find decent jobs amid a protracted economic slowdown and skyrocketing home prices.

Accordingly, the country is

struggling with a sustained fall in childbirths.

Last year, South Korea's total fertility rate, the average number of children a woman bears in her lifetime, hit a record low of 0.84, much lower than the replacement level of 2.1 that would keep the country's population stable at 51 million.

The statistics agency said on top of the underlying trend of a delay in marriage, the Covid-19 pandemic may also have affected marriage data.

The census showed women with higher education backgrounds got married less than others, with 22.1 per cent of women with master's degrees being single last year.

The percentage of single people made up 31.1 per cent of people aged 15 or over last year, down from 31.3 per cent five years earlier as the number of teens sharply declined amid a sustained fall in childbirths.

The proportion of married people accounted for the largest share of 55.9 per cent, and that of divorced people made up 5.8 per cent, up 0.7 percentage point from five years earlier.

Meanwhile, the number of households that raised pets reached 3.13 million last year, accounting for 15 per cent of the total.

The data showed 2.4 million households raised dogs, followed by 717,000 households with cats.

World Heart Day: Bommai takes pledge to walk briskly for 30 minutes Bengaluru, Sep 29: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on the occasion of World Heart Day on Wednesday took a pledge to make it a point to walk for 30 minutes daily.

"If it is not possible due to work pressure, I will ensure that I will complete the walk on the treadmill," he said.

Speaking after inaugurating brisk walk programme organized from the main entrance of Vidhana Soudha to Kanteerava stadium as part of the World Heart Day, Bommai said, he was irregular with his exercise.

"From today onwards I will take up brisk walk regularly. If there is a pressure I will do it on the walker.

I request the people also to take care of their health. Individual and

www.indianabroad.news

community health are important," he noted.

People should be enlightened about first aid treatment in case of heart attack and they should also be told about the importance of the golden hour. About 26 per cent of deaths are due to heart attack in the state and this has to be brought down, he said.

IANS

HEALTH BLOG

Entrepreneurship: Stand out from the crowd W

By Vahini Panda e had students ask us what can be done to stand out from the crowd to do things differently as there are many like them who are doing similar courses and they want to do things differently, so they stand out and carve a niche for themselves.

Entrepreneurship is simply defined as starting a business, taking a financial risk in the hope of profit.

Many Entrepreneurs have visions of transforming the world with their ideas. An entrepreneur needs to either have or develop few qualities which will help them become successful.

Below are few of them: Strategic planning Empathy Collaboration Management Inquisitiveness Strong Ethics Marketing So let us elaborate on the above points.

Strategic Planning – A business should always have a plan in place, A strategy for success. The plan should have your vision for your business, financial forecasts and planning, organisational structure, policies and procedures, marketing plan, risk analysis, mitigating risk and implementation plan. This will help you follow a structure and also will clearly define your aims and goals which makes it more structured for you to work towards.

Empathy – Many entrepreneurs miss this very important point.

A business owner should be empathetic towards their customers, employees and partners. Wondering why? Because only when you have the capacity to put yourselves in their shoes will you ever be able to relate and understand their needs. Once you have that empathy towards them working with them or working for them will become easier. Only when you fully understand what their needs are can you fully support them or provide to them successfully. So If you are not naturally empathetic it is a good

skill to develop both in business and personal life.

Collaboration – Always look for opportunities to collaborate. It could be referrals, outsourcing, partnerships or affiliations. Collaborations contribute towards the growth of the business and provide you with additional intellectual property, resources or manpower which normally might be out of your reach.

Ensure the collaboration works within your business strategy. You should not change any of your major business operations for a collaboration, you should be able to integrate them within your operations.

Management – Efficient management of a business is an art in itself. Good organisational skills are essential for a good manager.

Some might have these naturally and some might not. It is good to develop them or there are tools like reminders and calendars which can be used to ensure you are organised.

An efficiently run business is like a well-oiled machinery which runs smoothly with minimal interruptions. For this to happen the business owner or the CEO should ensure there are systems and procedures in place which are adhered to strictly. If this is something you struggle with it is a good idea to hire someone with these skills.

Inquisitiveness – An entrepreneur should always be curious about what else is out there in the marketplace. You should never be satisfied with what you have and should always try to make it better and more competitive. The only way you will know that your product or service needs improvement is when you are inquisitive about what else is out there, is that offering better than yours in value, quality and usefulness? What can you do to improve what you offer? Once you see this make those changes. Never stagnate your product or service.

Continuous improvement should be part of your business.

Strong Ethics – While a business or enterprise is about profit, it should never be just about that. Generally, I believe that all entrepreneurs have good hearts, they start with the idea of providing something better than what is out there. Operate your

business with solid ethics. Don’t compromise the quality of your product or service even if it affects the bottom dollar in the short term.

Think of the long-term benefits and the business value.

Marketing – Last but the most important of all is a terrific marketing strategy. Your marketing strategy is what makes you stand out. Many businesses fail because their product or service does not reach the consumers. You might have the most outstanding product or service but, if not enough people know about it success will be a struggle. In this world of online and digital media, digital marketing is the only way forward. We spend more than 50% of our time online.

So it makes more sense for you to market online. There are many tools like social media, search engines, industry portals etc for this. Check out my article on ‘Social Media and Digital Marketing for Small Businesses’ for more information on this.

Hope this has given you some ideas.

Wish you all the success!

About the Author: Vahini is the CEO and Founder of Health Academy Australia and Health Courses Australia. She is multi faceted in her skills and expertise which is backed by 20 years experience in the areas of education, health, ecommerce and Information Technology. She is a CEO, Passionate business owner, Author, Blogger, Nutritionist, Digital marketing expert and a Mum.

Flossing teeth may be good for your cognitive health

IANS

New Delhi, Sep 27: Dentists from all across the world have been recommending flossing teeth at least once a day. Turns out, it not only helps in preventing bad breath, avoiding cavities and gum disease but also boosts cognitive health.

While poor oral health has previously been linked to higher risk of heart disease, a recent meta-analysis of studies, published in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association, showed that flossing may help against cognitive decline.

The team analysed 14 studies, which included 34,074 participants and 4,689 cases with diminished cognitive function.

People with more tooth loss had 1.48 times higher risk of cognitive impairment and 1.28 times higher risk of dementia than the others. And with each additional missing tooth, the risk of cognitive impairment grows, the study showed. Moreover, adults with tooth loss were more likely to have cognitive decline if they did not have dentures.

"Given the staggering number of people diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and dementia each year, and the opportunity to improve oral health across the lifespan, it's important to gain a deeper understanding of the connection between poor oral health and cognitive decline," said Bei Wu, a professor in global health at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and the senior study author, in a statement.

How does poor dental health affect brain cells?

"The bacteria that cause gingivitis (irritation, redness and swelling) also may be connected to Alzheimer's disease. This species

/IndianAbroadNews

of bacteria, called Porphyromonas gingivalis, can move from the mouth to the brain. Once in the brain, the bacteria release enzymes called gingipains that can destroy nerve cells, which in turn can lead to memory loss and compromised cognitive health," Sageer Azaz, HOD, Dental, Paras Hospitals, Gurugram told IANS. According to a survey by the American Dental Association (ADA), only 16 per cent of adults floss their teeth. This percentage is much worse in the Indian context. Most people are not aware of the importance of oral hygiene and flossing.

"Most people in India are not aware that our teeth have five sides.

Moreover, with brushing, we can only cover three sides. If the teeth

/indianabroadnews

are not flossed properly, then the food particles and bacteria may remain trapped between our teeth.

It's a simple step that not only helps in preventing bad breath but also avoiding cavities and gum disease," explains Mohendar Narula, Founder and Chairman, MyDentalPlan Healthcare.

While brushing teeth after each meal may not be convenient, flossing after a meal is easy and can be done anywhere.

"Besides being a good oral hygiene practice, flossing can also help one maintain a healthy diet and lifestyle, as flossing after eating will make you less tempted to snack," said Shuchin Bajaj, Founder Director, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals.

16

TECHNOLOGY

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

iPhone 13 Pro Max reinvents Self-proclaimed 'Elon fanboy' builds camera, filmmaking via smartphone Tesla position worth over $4.6 bn IANS

IANS

New Delhi, Sep 25: When Apple launched iPhone 13 series earlier this month, murmurs surfaced that the new devices have striking similarities with the earlier 12 series.

Well, seeing is believing and experiencing iPhone 13 Pro Max certainly brings the murmurs to stop.

The simple fact is: iPhone 13 Pro Max that is now available in India -- in a fastest ever release with global markets -- introduces all-new camera hardware, an intelligent display with 'ProMotion' technology, the best graphics performance on an iPhone and an enhanced battery life.

The camera has come out outstanding with several industry-leading pro photography capabilities like improved telephoto zoom, macro photography, photographic styles, Cinematic Mode, as well as ProRes and Dolby Vision video features.

Notably, the Cinematic Mode functionality has captured all eyes, for reasons best known to filmmakers, both professionals and amateurish.

Let us take a deep dive with the 6.7inch iPhone 13 Pro Max that claims to push the boundaries of what's possible in a smartphone.

Since the Cinematic Mode is being talked about the most, let us spend some more time with this huge leap in smartphone video-making. The company says that the Cinematic Mode on iPhone records videos of people, pets and objects with a beautiful depth effect with automatic focus changes, so anyone can capture cinema-style moments, even if they aren't a professional filmmaker.

For creative control, the focus can be changed during and after capture, and users can also adjust the level of bokeh (it is the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in out-of-focus parts of an image) in the Photos app and iMovie for iOS. Enabled by A15 Bionic and advanced machine learning (ML) algorithms, Cinematic Mode records in Dolby

Vision HDR. The Mode will give you an ability to add beautiful focus transitions and background bokeh in video, for more dynamic storytelling in creative projects and treasured memories.

The A15 Bionic chip is more advanced, offering impressive power and efficiency, and driving the incredible new display, camera, and video features never before possible on iPhone.

With 5-nanometer (nm) technology, A15 Bionic features a new 5-core GPU in the Pro lineup that brings the fastest graphics performance in any smartphone, up to 50 per cent faster than the leading competition, ideal for video apps, high-performance gaming, and the slate of new camera features.

On the design front, the device features a premium flat-edge look, crafted with materials including the surgical-grade stainless steel band, a durable finish that is resistant to abrasion and corrosion, and a textured matte glass back. iPhone 13 Pro Max is protected by the Ceramic Shield front cover, offering more viewing area on the display, while still packing in innovative technologies like Face ID. The rear camera system introduces a new design with beautiful stainless steel trim surrounding each sapphire crystal lens, The device is designed to protect against spills from common liquids with an industry-leading IP68 rating for water resistance. iPhone 13 Pro Max offers the longest battery life ever in an iPhone, claiming to last up to two and a half hours longer in a day than iPhone 12 Pro Max. In our test, it did last nearly two hours longer than the previous version during moderate use like occasional video streaming, social media, checking emails and FaceTime calling (video included).

The pro camera system has also received its biggest advancement

ever with new Ultra Wide, Wide and Telephoto sensors, enabling new photo capabilities never before possible on iPhone like macro photography on the new Ultra Wide camera and up to 2.2x improved low-light performance on the new Wide camera.

Sensor-shift optical image stabilisation (OIS) -- unique to iPhone -- helps stabilise the sensor instead of the lens, so images are smooth and video is steady, even when the user is not. iPhone 13 Pro Max introduces the most advanced display ever on iPhone, Super Retina XDR with ProMotion, supporting an adaptive refresh rate from 10Hz to 120Hz, for fast frame rates when users need it and preserving battery life when they don't.

For smartphone gamers, the new display leverages a more efficient OLED panel, new display engine of A15 Bionic, faster GPU performance, always-on touch coprocessor, and is custom designed to operate with iOS 15, making gameplay feel faster and more responsive.

With a new 5-core GPU, A15 Bionic enables the best graphics performance ever on an iPhone.

The display offers up to 25 percent higher max outdoor brightness, at 1,000 nits, so users will experience amazing resolution, colour and contrast whether casually scrolling through the web or watching HDR videos.

FaceTime calls feel more natural with spatial audio and a new Portrait mode, new Focus features help users reduce distraction, notifications have been redesigned and Live Text uses on-device intelligence to recognise text in a photo and allows users to take action. iPhone 13 Pro Max is available in graphite, gold, silver, and all-new sierra blue finishes in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options, starting from Rs 129,900 on Apple Store Online, authorised resellers and select carriers. The Apple iPhone 13 series has already received a record response like last year from fans across the country.

Conclusion: By now, you must have realised that iPhone 13 Pro Max offers much more than its last avatar -- most advanced pro camera system ever on iPhone, Super-Retina XDR display with ProMotion technology, a huge leap in battery life, A15 Bionic and other novel features.

Opting for iPhone 13 Pro Max will empower you on all fronts -- work, innovation and entertainment.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is decent, affordable tablet

IANS

New Delhi, Sep 26 (IANS): With the rise of work from home culture or online classes, tablets are back in action again. Keeping that in mind, Samsung has recently unveiled a new tab -- Galaxy Tab A7 Lite -- for Indian users.

Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is available in a 3GB+32GB storage variant priced at Rs 14,999 for LTE and Rs 11,999 for the WIFI model. It is available in two stylish colours of gray and silver.

Being an affordable tablet, it doesn't come with a stylus.

We used the LTE variant in silver colour for a while and here's how it fared.

In terms of looks, the tablet is sleek with slim bezels and weighs around 366 grams. It is light to hold, has a compact form factor and is 8 mm thin.

Though, I found it a little heavy

www.indianabroad.news

when I used it with its cover but is the tablet is portable and easy to carry. The silver colour adds a rustic look to it.

The Galaxy Tab A7 Lite comes with an 8.7-inch display along with a resolution of 1340x800 pixels.

The display is bigger than that of regular smartphones, so, therefore, it can be good for online classes, binge-watching your favourite shows or movies.

The screen is bright enough to be used in broad daylight.

As far as the cameras are concerned, the Galaxy Tab A7 Lite packs an 8MP rear camera and a 2MP camera for selfies.

We found the camera department to be decent as the front camera is enough to get you through video calls and the rear camera too produced better results.

The good part is that the front camera supports login smoothly via facial recognition.

Galaxy Tab A7 Lite also comes with powerful dual speakers with Dolby Atmos surround sound to bring you closer to the stories when watching your favourite movies and shows.

The tablet is powered by a 1.8GHz octa-core MediaTek Helio P22T (MT8768T) processor to ensure smooth and fast gaming performance as the chipset is designed for highly mobile and capable tablet devices with global cellular connectivity.

The MT8768T embeds a connectivity system that includes a 4G LTE Cat-7 modem, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GNSS. On our usage, we found that it did not lag while multitasking and it could handle not-so-heavy games perfectly.

In terms of storage, the tablet comes with up to 32GB of internal storage and that is expandable up to 1TB with a microSD card.

The tablet features a long-lasting battery of 5100mAh, 15W Adaptive fast charging, which lasted around a day on a single charge.

Galaxy Tab A7 Lite works seamlessly with your ecosystem of Galaxy devices -- from your phone to your wearable devices. You can take calls and send and receive text messages through your Samsung account on your tablet, even when your smartphone is out of reach.

Conclusion: At this price point, Galaxy Tab A7 Lite is a decent device that is meant to fulfill the entertainment needs of young Indian consumers.

San Francisco, Sep 24: A self-proclaimed Elon Musk 'fanboy' has managed to accumulate a Tesla position worth over $4 billion.

According to Electrek, despite his

incredible wealth, Koguan Leo has been keeping a relatively low profile, until now.

A Google search won't bring up a lot other than that he is a graduate

from Columbia University and New York Law School and he founded the SHI International Corp, a large IT company.

More recently, he made news for buying the $54 million Singapore penthouse of James Dyson -- famous for his vacuums, the report said.

The Chinese-American billionaire has become active on Twitter of late, and he comments a lot on Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk.

He even described himself as an 'Elon fanboy'.

On his Twitter account, he claimed to be the third-largest individual Tesla shareholder.

As per the report, no public record could confirm this and Leo claimed that it is due to him holding the shares in several accounts, but he sited Tesla's head of investor relations, Martin Viecha, who confirmed the fact.

Leo apparently owns over 6.2 million shares of Tesla, which are currently worth $4.6 billion.

That would indeed make him the third-largest Tesla shareholder behind Musk and Larry Ellison.

Amazon's 'Great Indian Festival' to begin from Oct 3 IANS

Bengaluru, Sep 26: Continuing with its commitment to support Small Medium Businesses (SMBs), Amazon India on Sunday announced that it is all set to begin its 'Great Indian Festival' (GIF) 2021 from October 3.

The company said that Amazon GIF 2021 is dedicated to lakhs of small sellers, including over 75,000 local shops from 450 cities, offering their unique selection of products to customers across the country.

"Our top priority remains customer trust and the interest of our sellers, especially the lakhs of small sellers and the tens of thousands of local shop owners across India," the company said in a statement.

"The Amazon Great Indian Festival will now start from October 3, 2021 and as always, Prime members will have early access," it added.

The shopping festival will also showcase products from Amazon sellers under various other programs such as Amazon Launchpad, Amazon Saheli, Amazon Karigar, as well as top Indian and global brands across categories.

The festival would include over

1,000 new product launches from top brands such as Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Sony, Apple, Boat, Lenovo, HP, Asus, Fossil, Levi's, BIBA, Allen Solly, Adidas, etc.

Amazon Business customers in

India will be able to avail exclusive offers, bulk discounts, lower festive price offers, cashback, rewards and more, for their regular business buying or corporate gifting for clients or employees.

China likely to send female astronaut to new space station IANS

Beijing, Sep 25 (IANS): China is expected to send a woman astronaut for the upcoming Shenzhou 13 mission, media reports said.

The crew is expected to launch on Shenzhou 13 around October 3 from Jiuquan in the Gobi Desert to its new space station, Space.com reported.

The crew has not been officially announced. But according to Chinese media, Wang Yaping is likely to be the first woman on China's new space station, the report said.

Just two of 12 Chinese astronauts to have flown to space so far have been women. Yaping was the second Chinese woman to be in space in 2013 on Shenzhou 10, after Liu Yang on Shenzhou 9 in 2012.

Yaping visited Tiangong 1, a space lab which was designed as a test bed for the much larger Tianhe module. During the mission, Wang also delivered a lecture to school children from orbit.

Wang is also known to have been in training earlier this year for space station missions, the report said.

The country has recently concluded its Shenzhou 12 mission, with the three-member crew returning to Earth following 90 days aboard the Tianhe module of the Tiangong space station.

Shenzhou 13 will be the last mission this year to build the space station.

When completed, the T-shaped Tiangong ("Heavenly Palace") space station will be China's first multi-module space station. In

/IndianAbroadNews

addition to hosting Chinese crews and research, China plans to invite international partners to visit and work aboard the orbiting outpost.

In all, the Tiangong will have a mass of about 100 tonnes, about a quarter of the size of the International Space Station, which was built by a coalition of 16 countries, the South

/indianabroadnews

China Morning Post reported.

The Tiangong is likely to be the only space station operating in near-Earth orbit by the end of the decade, because the 15-year-old ISS is ageing, especially its Russian segment, the Zvezda service module, it added.

17

SPORTS

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Virat faces mutiny in the A feisty Indian approach pays ranks; Ashwin leads the revolt? dividends against Australia

IANS

New Delhi, Sep 26: For quite some time Virat Kohli's captaincy has been the subject of much speculation among cricket fans across the country. He may have shut out the rumours after announcing, citing workload burdens, his resignation as Indias T20 captain. But now it seems there's more to his resignation than Virat would have us believe.

Since the tour of England, speculation had started that Virat would be removed from white ball captaincy.

It was said that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) was 'unhappy' with the skipper, but when the IANS spoke to BCCI treasurer Arun Dhumal, he flatly denied the news. The very next day, the 32-year-old stylish batsman came forward and announced his decision to leave India's T20 captaincy. He said that he would step down after the ICC T20 World Cup next month.

The decision caused many eyebrows to be raised. Why just T20?

Meanwhile, it also transpired that something was actually not right between Virat and the BCCI! According to sources, such talk had been going on for the last six months and gathered pace after the World Test Championship debacle.

Even the BCCI secretary Jay Shah, after Virat's announcement, stated that he had been discussing this matter with him for the last few months.

Cricket experts, however, questioned the timing of his announcement. 'Why did Virat take such a decision just a month before the mega sporting spectacle?

More queries, more mystery!

Did Virat come to know that the BCCI was thinking of removing him from the top post? Was the workload really a factor? Why did the poster boy of the team suddenly lose his aura of invincibility? If sources are to be believed, the revolt against Virat had started within the team a few months ago. It has come to light that several senior players in the dressing room were miffed at the attitude of the ace cricketer.

His lack of form further didn't help the cause, especially because Kohli had not scored a century in the past several innings across format -- Test, ODI or T20s.

His failing form has affected his decision-making, which has taken a toll on his relationship with the players. A senior player had complained to the BCCI secretary against Virat

for making him feel �insecure'.

Virat had reportedly accused the senior cricketer of showing 'no intent' during the World Test Championship final against New Zealand in Southampton, UK. If sources are to be believed, the name of R. Ashwin is now doing the rounds as one of the mutineers, but it has not been confirmed yet.

But if one recalls how Ashwin was treated during the England series and Virat's insistence on not including him in the playing XI, despite the advice of experts, indicated something was brewing.

Even chief coach Ravi Shastri had talked about playing Ashwin before the fourth Test. Virat apparently ignored this advice.

Interestingly, another issue to come up was that Virat was not even consulted before the appointment of MS Dhoni as a mentor of the T20 side for the World Cup. The inclusion of Ashwin in the T20 team also ignited fireworks between selectors and Virat. Sources said that Virat wanted young spinner Yuzvendra Chahal in the team instead of the veteran.

Recently another news doing the rounds was that Shastri had asked Virat to step down from the ODI and T20 captaincy as well, but Virat only relieved himself of leading the T20 side.

It is also being speculated that in the coming months, after the World T20, Virat could also be removed from the ODI captaincy too and Rohit Sharma may be brought in his place.

The performance of the team in the T20 World Cup will be critical.

Recently, Virat also announced that he would step down from the Royal Challengers Bangalore captaincy after IPL 2021.

Fortune, it seems, is not favoring Virat!

I

IANS

ndia loves to play against Australia. It can be fair to say that India vs Australia series is among the top world cricket rivalries (both men and women). It certainly gets the best out of the Indian women team. Inside that dressing room when an Indian team is preparing to come out against the green and gold outfit, there is a different feisty feeling. You know as a player that things will be competitive out there and the contest will be hard fought.

Nothing will come easy.

That is an Australian team for you.

They play their cricket hard and are very competitive. They have been world champions and are a top cricketing nation. 6 times ODI world cup winners, 5 times T20 world champions - they have a phenomenal record in the women's game.

The Aussie women's team has been a top-notch side and hence, you know if you do well against them, it contains value.

Australian women made history by reaching a world record winning streak of 26 ODI matches continuously. The winning streak came close to being broken in the 2nd ODI vs India before an outstanding run chase by Australia showed their Aussie mettle. India had to quickly turn around in a day and half to regather themselves and come out with the same venom to disturb the winning cart. It needed a special effort by India to pull off their highest-ever run chase victory.

The ICC women's cricket world cup is in New Zealand in March-April, 2022. The Australian team looks in stupendous form to target their 7th title. They have a very good bench strength that has been given an opportunity and are delivering well. The present world champions England are not too far behind either. Their recent success against India followed up by a convincing series win vs New Zealand (both at

home) indicate that they are serious contenders too. A few new players are in the mix for England too and there is brewing a healthy contest to make it to the playing eleven.

This Indian women's team wants to make things happen. With youth being infused quite regularly, there is no comfort zone for anyone. They realise that only a strong performance will hold them in good stead.

Sneh Rana, who made a comeback into the Indian team recently, reminded yet again with her match winning contribution that she is a player that needs to be persisted with in the eleven.

Jhulan Goswami might be an old war horse but she is still continuously showcasing her match winning abilities. Knowing her, she would not have taken the loss in the 2nd match vs Australia lightly. She would have blamed herself long enough for that loss and thinking all day about that no ball. (Only if, if that ball had not slipped out of my hand, we would have levelled the series) would have been her thought. I feel happy for her - that she got to hit the winning runs in the last over to get

India the win in 3rd ODI. India women team have their own challenges. They have been short of match practice. They got into the South Africa series in February at home, played in England in June and now an ongoing series with Australia. The gap between the international series has been wide.

It comes back to bite more when you realise that there is a newish look to this Indian team. Practicing skills is very important but testing them repeatedly is crucial too.

I was there in the Indian dressing room when we lost in 2005 to Australia. A chasable target in Centurion. In 2017 again, India missed out Lords. In the T20 world cup, poor implementation destroyed their chances of making it to 2018 final. In 2020, when they got to the final in T20 world cup, they could not handle the stage in a packed Melbourne Cricket Ground.

These players need more game time. A strong preparation and more game time like this are likely to make them more familiar with situations. That feisty approach will propel the team further.

India finish ODI series on a high, Mandhana, Deepti signed up by snatch 2-wicket win vs Australia WBBL champions Sydney Thunder

IANS

IANS

Mackay, Sep 26: India finished the ODI leg of the multi-format series on a high with a brilliant two-wicket win -- fashioned by a collective team effort -- which ended Australia's unbeaten ODI streak of 26 matches on Sunday. However, Australia won the ODI series 2-1, with the multi-format series' scoreline reading 4-2.

The third and final ODI in Mackay went down to the wire but this time India held their nerves as they sealed a thrilling two-wicket win with just three balls to spare. Tall India pacer Jhulan Goswami hit the winning runs, lofting it straight for a four.

Chasing a target of 265, India showed poise and power in their response, with the opening pair of Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana putting on 59 for the first wicket. Negotiating the new-ball partnership of Perry and McGrath, Mandhana fell to the off-spin of Gardner for 22 (25), with Annabel Sutherland taking a catch running back from mid-off.

Young Yastika Bhatia continued her fine start to international cricket, ticking things along with Verma, bringing up a 100-run stand in just 19 overs.

At 160/1 after 29 overs and needing just 105, India looked in prime position, before a double blow swung the pendulum back once again. Verma fell to the left-arm orthodox spin of Sophie Molineux for 56, while wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh was dismissed an over later, with Sutherland taking her first wicket.

Bhatia continued her press with captain Mithali Raj, with only a piece of inspired fielder ending her stay at the crease. Top-edging a short ball, Bhatia became Stella Campbell's first victim in international cricket, only after a diving catch from substitute fielder Molly Strano.

Sutherland doubled her tally by rattling Vastrakar's (3) stumps, leaving Mithali and No.7 Deepti Sharma needing a run a ball from the last 10 overs. Sutherland struck

once again, in her next over, snaring the India skipper, who was bowled for 16.

Rana got a lifeline when she was dropped by Nicola Carey on 11 on the last ball of the 44th over. The equation came down to India requiring 33 runs from the last five overs, with four wickets in hand.

The luck was on Rana's side as she got another life in the next over.

Once again it was Carey, who completed a caught and bowled dismissal, but the delivery was called a no-ball as Carey had overstepped.

McGrath broke the 33-run seventh-wicket stand by snaring Deepti's wicket for 31. Riding on a lucky run, the onus was on Rana to take her side across the line but she eventually became Carey's victim in the penultimate over.

Goswami and Meghna Singh made sure there weren't any more hiccups, as they guided India to a memorable win, that will help boost their confidence for next year's ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in New Zealand.

Earlier, Meg Lanning won the third consecutive toss for the Australians in the series and elected to bat.

Australia's opening pair of Rachael Haynes and Alyssa Healy looked to keep the heat on in the middle, racing to 40 inside the first eight overs, only for the pressure to be released through the work of veteran quick Jhulan Goswami.

Brief scores: Australia Women 264/9 in 50 overs (A Healy 35, B Mooney 52, A Gardner 67; T McGrath 47; J Goswami 3/37, P Vastrakar 3/46) lost to India Women 266/8 in 49.3 overs (S Verma 56, Y Bhatia 64; A Sutherland 3/30) by 2 wickets.

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Mackay (Australia), Sep 26 (IANS): Defending Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) champions Sydney Thunder on Sunday signed up India batter Smriti Mandhana and leading all-rounder Deepti Sharma as they look to start their title defence next month.

The pair will replace the English duo of Heather Knight and Tammy Beaumont who have declared their inability to participate in the tournament.

Sydney Thunder coach, Trevor Griffin, said his team's title defence "had received an extra edge with Indian superstars Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma signing on for the club's WBBL-7 campaign".

"The pair, who are in Queensland with India's national team for the ODI series and Test match against Australia, were identified by Thunder as quality players with the ability to make an explosive impact on the T20 competition," a Sydney Thunder statement said on Sunday.

Mandhana starred for India in Friday night's (September 24) nail-biting, final-ball loss to Australia in Mackay. Her innings of 86 from 94 balls was highlighted by 11 boundaries, and it helped set up India's competitive total of 274 runs.

Sharma made her presence felt in the ODI match described as one of the most thrilling played in Australia, with a knock of 23 runs and by capturing Tahlia McGrath's wicket.

Griffin, who has worked with Mandhana in England, was excited by the thought of the left-handed opener adding her firepower to the side. "She's world class," said Griffin, of the player named the 2018 ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year.

"Smriti is an opening batter who has the tremendous ability to take everything in her stride.

"I like that she keeps her game really simple; she just wants to score runs.

I'm delighted to have her on board, and I have no doubt that she'll prove to be a great addition to Thunder."

Mandhana, who broke through to be ranked among the world's top three T2OI batters last July, said she would embrace the pressure on her to perform as one of Thunder's

/IndianAbroadNews

overseas players.

"I like it, it always helps," said the 25-year-old of the demands. "Playing in overseas leagues gives you a lot of experience, especially in the T20 format. Then, of course, you exchange so much experience with each other... with all the players from over the world... so you get to learn a lot.

"Rather than pressure, I always look at it as an opportunity to learn, and to get used to that pressure because it only builds when you play international cricket."

Griffin described Deepti Sharma as one that not only allowed Thunder to "usher a genuine talent" into the WBBL, but it also helped to fill the void left by England skipper, Heather Knight.

"While it's disappointing not to be able to have Heather back, if you could choose any replacement for her it would be Deepti - she's also a star," said Griffin. "She offers a

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lot with the bat - Deepti is a match winner - and she also has the talent to bowl in the powerplay, during the middle of a match, or at the death.

Deepti is a great addition to the Thunder, and I have no doubt she'll go a long way to helping us in this year's competition."

The 24-year-old said she was thrilled to sign with Thunder, because after starring in England's Super League and The Hundred, it was her goal to play in the WBBL. "This is my first time [in the WBBL], so I'm excited," she said. "I've had offers before, but I couldn't play at the time because at the time we had [an international] series. It's a big thing for Indian women's cricket that we have the opportunity to play in the WBBL. We have to express ourselves in the competition."

Sydney Thunder begin their WBBL07 campaign against the Adelaide Strikers on October 16 in Hobart.

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Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Hamilton triumphs at Sochi for 100th Grand Prix win

IANS

Sochi (Russia), Sep 26: Lewis Hamilton made a late switch to intermediate tyres in a Russian Grand Prix that started in dry conditions but ended under rain and the Mercedes he surged to his 100th Grand Prix victory on Sunday.

The late switch in tyres helped Hamilton take lead when pole-sitter Lando Norris slid out of the lead with just two laps left. Max Verstappen vroomed ahead from the 20th position on the grid to finish second while Ferrari's Carlos Sainz took third position having started second.

The day started with Valtteri Bottas becoming the latest to get a grid penalty take the hit as Mercedes decided to put a new power unit into

his car to see him start 16th with the knowledge that Max Verstappen would start 20th (having taken a new Honda engine earlier in the weekend) and Charles Leclerc 19th with a new Ferrari unit.

With the race starting in dry conditions, there a mix of medium compound and hard tyres on the grid with the first five drivers - Norris on pole, Sainz second, Russell third, Hamilton fourth and Ricciardo in fifth - on mediums, and only Fernando Alonso starting sixth, Sergio Perez (P8), Pierre Gasly (P11), Bottas, Antonio Giovinazzi (P17), Leclerc and Verstappen starting on the hard compounds.

Although he fell to seventh at the start, Hamilton's pace was competitive on his medium tyres and he pitted on Lap 27 for hard compound tyres, before Norris - who had scored a sensational first pole on Saturday and duelled with Sainz early in the race - and once the pitstop sequences had finished by Lap 38 it was Norris leading a rapid Hamilton.

The pair were just one second part in the closing stages. And then the rain hit.

Lead pair Hamilton and Norris stayed out after others pitted for intermediate compounds and it was the Mercedes driver who made the decision to pit first, switching with

three laps left - as Norris stayed out, a first ever F1 victory almost within touching distance.

The McLaren driver did his best to keep the lead but, with the rain getting heavier by the second, he eventually slid off the track and Hamilton passed him for the first position, according to a report on F1's official website.

Norris eventually finished seventh having pitted at the very end, but will find himself at the mercy of the stewards after crossing the pit entry line twice on his way in.

Verstappen, from 20th on the grid, finished an incredible second after switching from hards to mediums midway through the race and cruising through the field. And it was Ferrari's Sainz who took the final podium place - having briefly led over Norris - with an early switch to hards from mediums.

Valtteri Bottas started 16th but took fifth having pitted for mediums just after Verstappen, while Fernando Alonso started sixth and finished there with a long first stint on hard tyres.

Kimi Raikkonen kept his cool to make up places in the late wet conditions and finished eighth - leaving Sergio Perez and George Russell to take the final points for Red Bull and Williams, respectively.

Shafali Verma and Radha Yadav sign up for Sydney Sixers in WBBL IANS

Sydney, Sep 27: Two-time Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) champions Sydney Sixers have signed up Indian youngsters Shafali Verma and Radha Yadav ahead of seventh season of the tournament. The announcement of Shafali and Radha signing up with the Sixers comes a day after the duo of Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma were announced to join defending champions Sydney Thunder.

On Sunday, Shafali scored 56, her maiden half-century in ODIs as

India ended Australia's 26-match winning streak. She is expected to open the batting alongside Australia's Alyssa Healy. Radha, the left-arm spinner, is a part of India's squad for the T20I series against Australia in October.

Shafali and Radha will join Healy, Ellyse Perry, Ashleigh Gardner, Stella Campbell, Erin Burns and former Australia batter Nicole Bolton.

"This is a very good opportunity for me and my goal is to just enjoy myself, to make some new friends and have fun. I want to play WBBL and back myself and just believe in myself," said Shafali in a statement by the club on Monday.

Shafali will reunite with Ben Sawyer, the coach at Sixers who also served as head coach at Birmingham Pheonix in the Hundred. "Shafali is very impressive. She's such a talent and she's fearless. She hits to different areas of the field and plays shots that are different to the other three girls in that top four. The experience I had with her in Birmingham was that she wants to learn, she wants to get better and she wants to grow as a player and a person."

Radha, who sits at eleventh place

in the women's T20I rankings, was excited about her maiden stint in the WBBL. "Lots of young Indian girls want to play in the WBBL. It is a very good standard and I am so happy to be able to play for the Sixers this year."

Sawyer was welcoming of Radha becoming a part of Sixers squad.

"Radha brings a skillset that we have never had at the Sixers and that's very exciting. I think a left-arm ortho bowler is so important in the WBBL and having one who is world class is such a great opportunity for this team. She has also batted in the middle of the order for India so she is handy with the bat too."

The seventh season of WBBL will start on October 14 with Sydney Sixers taking on Melbourne Stars on October 14 at Blundstone Arena in Hobart.

Sydney Sixers Squad: Ellyse Perry (C), Jade Allen, Nicole Bolton, Maitlan Brown, Erin Burns, Stella Campbell, Lauren Cheatle, Ashleigh Gardner, Alyssa Healy, Emma Hughes, Matilda Lugg, Angela Reakes, Hayley Silver-Holmes, Shafali Verma (India) and Radha Yadav (India)

Harmanpreet, Jemimah sign up for WBBL side Melbourne Renegades IANS

Melbourne, Sep 29 (IANS): Indian women's cricket team's T20 skipper Harmanpreet Kaur and team-mate Jemimah Rodrigues were on Wednesday signed up by Women's Big Bash League (WBBL) side Melbourne Renegades for the upcoming season.

The 32-year-old Harmanpreet is currently touring Australia with the Indian team for a multi-format series. She is one of the game's most destructive players, as showcased in her unbeaten 171 off 115 deliveries, which sunk Australia in the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup semifinals.

Harmanpreet, who has an experience of 227 international games, said she was excited to be returning to the WBBL, after a previous stint with the Sydney Thunder. "It means www.indianabroad.news

a lot (to be back). The WBBL has given me a lot of experience and a great platform where I can perform and execute," she said.

"Coming back with a new team, the Renegades… I hope this season will be really great for us. It's my first season with them and I definitely want to make an impact. Whenever I've played WBBL, I've seen many fans around and their excitement.

Even lots of Indian fans are coming and watching -- it's a great experience for me. I'm glad that I'm part of this great tournament."

Rising Indian star Jemimah Rodrigues, who was also signed up

by Melbourne Renegades for WBBL7 on Wednesday, has already built an impressive resume. The 21-year-old is fresh from a productive campaign

in The Hundred, where she was the second-leading run scorer with 249 runs at a strike rate above 150.

Rodrigues is already the 13th-ranked T20 batter in the world and has represented India on 68 occasions.

This will be her maiden WBBL stint.

"I'm very excited to be here now and to be part of the Renegades," Rodrigues said. "I think for me, the main goal over here will be just to pull back and play cricket, play some good cricket and enjoy what I'm doing. I know when I do that and when I'm in that headspace, I'm able to give it my best.

"The goal is whatever happens, I want to give it my 100 per cent each and every time I'm on the field… and hopefully (we can win) the cup for the Renegades! I'm super excited, I'm really looking forward to it and there's so much that I'm going to learn, I'm sure about that."

WBBL head coach, Simon Helmot, said Rodrigues can have a big impact for the Renegades. "Jemimah is an immensely talented young player, who is already making her mark on the world stage at 21. She was superb recently in The Hundred over in the UK. Jemimah is a dynamic player who can score quickly and to all parts of the ground," said Helmot.

Breather for online skill games after TN, K'taka, now Kerala HC quashes notification banning online rummy IANS

New Delhi, Sep 27: The bill passed by the Karnataka legislature prohibiting online games of skill in the state, has come under a cloud, as the Kerala High Court on Monday quashed a Kerala government notification banning online rummy. This comes on the heels of the Madras High Court judgement that struck down the Tamil Nadu government's blanket ban on online skill games.

In February, 2021, the Kerala Government through a notification issued under the Kerala Gaming Act prohibited online rummy. A petition was filed by several gaming companies, challenging this amendment.

The judgement pronounced today

by Justice TR Ravi of Kerala High Court, said the notification was arbitrary and violative of the right to trade and commerce and the right to equality guaranteed under the Indian Constitution.

In the Madras High Court judgement, the court observed that rummy and poker were games of skill. The court also noted that there was no difference between physical and online formats for games such as scrabble and chess. It is therefore

wrong to assume that a game played online loses its element of skill.

The two consecutive High Court judgements further put the Karnataka bill under a huge amount of scrutiny. The Karnataka bill banning online games of skill had evoked a wide range of opposition from several industry and trade bodies. The powerful trade organization CAIT said that the bill threatens the thriving Indian gaming startup sector and will end up encouraging illegal offshore gambling and betting apps which operate in the online grey market.

IAMAI, the leading internet industry body, said that the bill may hurt Karnataka's position as the country's startup hub and lead to job and revenue losses. The Federation of Indian Fantasy Sports (FIFS) said the Bill appears to be misguided since it penalises legitimate businesses by treating them at par with illegal online gambling, betting, and wagering platforms. The All-India Gaming Federation (AIGF) said that the bill is highly regressive and will be a huge setback to Karnataka's reputation as a startup and tech hub.

The bill was sharply criticized in the Karnataka Legislative council where members said the bill does not distinguish between games of skill and games of chance. Former IT Minister of Karnataka, Priyank Kharge, tweeted that the bill has not been thought out by the government and that the State hasn't bothered looking at the recent judgement which struck down TN Govt's Police & Gaming Amendment, which is on the same line.

The bill has also evoked sharp condemnation from the gaming and esports community in India and Karnataka who have said that the bill will greatly affect the budding gaming community of the country.

I think it's fair to say the next frontier is an IPL: Ellyse Perry IANS

Mackay, Sep 19 (IANS): Australia all-rounder Ellyse Perry believes that the women's Indian Premier League (IPL) is the next frontier in competitions for women's cricket all around the world. She has called upon the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to pull the trigger for organising a womens IPL after the success of the women's Big Bash League (WBBL) and The Hundred.

The second leg of IPL 2021 resumes in the UAE on Sunday. Since its inception in 2008, the IPL has become the most extravagant T20 league in the world. But the women's version of the league has been confined to three editions of an exhibition tournament named "Women's T20 Challenge" since 2018. This year's edition has been postponed due to Covid-19 with no decision on re-scheduled dates though BCCI President Sourav Ganguly once mentioned about having seven to eight teams in the women's league.

"I know there's been a lot of dabbling with it in terms of exhibition IPL matches for women. So, at some point it's about pulling the trigger and putting together a full competition and hopefully that's not too far off. I'm sure the Indian girls would absolutely love that to be the case," Ellyse was quoted as saying by The Sydney Morning Herald on Sunday.

"It's been wonderful having a number of them playing in the WBBL over the last few years. At this stage it's looking like they'll be involved again this year, so reciprocally it'd be wonderful to be involved in a competition over there. The IPL takes precedence in men's cricket

and I think it's got the capacity to be just as big in many ways in the women's game," added Ellyse.

Australian players participated in women's T20 Challenge in 2018, before missing out on the 2019 and 2020 editions. Indian players have been present in the WBBL and took part in the The Hundred this year when many Australians pulled out.

The 30-year-old Ellyse mentioned that starting cricket leagues for women brings wonderful opportunities in terms of business, entertainment and growing the sport in the world.

"I actually think it is even more so an encouragement for other boards to seriously look at introducing professional women's T20 competitions, particularly the BCCI and a full IPL for women. Because there is

a wonderful opportunity there and it's increasingly becoming a great commercial opportunity for cricket boards to bring in a women's side of the competition," she said.

"Not just from a spectacle or entertainment point of view, but also because growing the game in their country and getting more young girls playing cricket and being involved is so important to the viability of the sport in the future.

So, to me that's the role that those competitions play and it's really wonderful to see how much time and support and investment Cricket Australia have put into the WBBL and also the ECB with The Hundred and before that the Super League.

The more we can have these competitions spring up around the world, I think it's fair to say the next frontier is an IPL," concluded Ellyse.

Pacquiao quits boxing to focus on Philippine presidential race IANS

Manila, Sep 29: Filipino world boxing icon and Senator Manny Pacquiao said on Wednesday that he is retiring from boxing to focus on next year's presidential race.

"It is difficult for me to accept that my time as a boxer is over. Today, I am announcing my retirement," Pacquiao, 42, said in an emotional video posted on his Facebook page.

The announcement came two weeks after he announced that he will run for president in the 2022 election, Xinhua news agency reported.

"I never thought that this day would come. As I hang up my boxing gloves, I would like to thank the whole world, especially the Filipino people, for supporting Manny Pacquiao. Goodbye, boxing."

"Who would have thought that Manny Pacquiao will end up with 12 major world titles in eight different weight divisions? Even me, I'm amazed at what I have done," Pacquiao said.

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Pacquiao's last fight was on August 21 with a Cuban boxer. He lost.

On September 19, Pacquiao said he officially accepted the nomination to be the standard-bearer of the PDPLaban faction that he co-leads with Senator Aquilino Pimentel.

Pacquiao and Pimentel challenged the other PDP-Laban faction, which took over the party and

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endorsed Senator Christopher Go and Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte as their presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively.

Duterte has accepted the nomination, while Go declined.

Candidates for the 2022 elections will officially file their certificate of candidacy on October 1-8.

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Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

How to be a tourist in India L

ocal travel has risen to the forefront as it remains an easier, safer, and often more sustainable travel option as a result of the pandemic. Staying closer to home continues to retain its importance on the travel agenda as research by Booking.com reveals that more than half (59 percent) of Indian travelers are planning to travel within their own country, with 43 percent want to visit places of interest they normally overlook and 50 percent look to take the time to appreciate the natural beauty of India.

The travel platform shares some tips on how to be a tourist, as travelers demonstrate enthusiasm to explore and experience incredible India with a fresh outlook.

Book a Unique Place to Stay Boutique stays continue to trend with Indians, as 74 percent of travelers plan to stay in a unique accommodation for their next trip.

Alternative accommodation listings (homes, holiday homes, villas, beach homes, boathouses, etc.) have seen growth in demand last year in the pandemic. While travelling domestically, you can experience the destination uniquely by booking alternative accommodations (for example tree houses) that will complement the destination and enhance the experience it has to offer.

Indulge in a wellness destination Escapism has always been crucial for travelers. Close to half (47 percent) of Indian travelers are seeking simple, relaxing trips to get away from it all. If you are looking to get pampered for the day or stay for a wellness weekend and experience pure bliss on your next trip, you should head to Varkala. Varkala is one of the top 3 most endorsed destinations for wellness by Indian travelers on Booking.com. This town located along the coast of Kerala, with palm-covered red cliffs and golden beaches, instills a sense of calmness for you to unwind. You will find several wellness studios, and ashrams throughout the destination, including on the beach, where you can spot several impromptu classes being organized. The destination’s hot springs are believed to provide mineral water that has medicinal properties, which add to its wellness appeal. Varkala has also become popular for the growing ‘Naturopathy’ practised in several of its Ayurvedic centres. So you can add ayurvedic massages to your to-do list to de-stress your mind and body.

Visit Lesser-Known Markets India is full of charming markets you should visit at least once. Skip the beaten track and discover the hidden gems and authenticity of India by travelling to not-so-known

markets often overlooked by tourists and coveted by locals. West Bengal is home to several lesser-explored wonders. But one of the unexplored gems you could consider is Mandarmani, a seaside village offering captivating views of rural Bengal. Along the way, you will find plenty of local markets that trade in fish, cashew nuts, vegetables and oils. Some of these markets include Digha Mohana, Radhamoni and Ramnagar fish market. While in Mandarmani you can also make your way to Mandarmani beach and indulge in authentic seaside Bengali cuisine and photography. And if you are looking for some adventure, you can also explore jet ski rides, banana boat rides and parachute rides along the beach.

Travel Through Time and Shop Vintage Step back in time with a visit to this vintage shopping district in India and get a glimpse of its fashion and style through the decades.

With its great value, rare finds and the possibility to uncover the hidden tales of the past, you never know what you may discover. Jew Town in Kerala is a narrow street between Mattancherry Palace and the Paradesi Synagogue famous for its antiques. If vintage interests you, then you will find abundance in the antique shops on this popular street.

The artefacts you will come across

date back to the colonial period in the relic shops. Even the houses in the area are inspired by medieval Portuguese-style architecture.

Discover Secret Gardens Embrace yourself in the tranquility of India’s hidden gardens and green spaces. Have a picnic in the park or simply uncover its lesser-known beauty with a stroll to indulge in the most enchanting pathways in this oasis. Aaraku Valley in Andhra Pradesh is an unexplored cove of biodiversity, full of captivating flora and fauna. Padmapuram Gardens, located 2.5kms from Aaraku Valley is 26 acres of natural beauty that dates back to World War II. The rose gardens and jackfruit trees in this place are among the most visited spots. The entire garden can be explored in a special train operated by the place. And if you wish to spend a night among all the plants, you can book a stay in the hanging cottages in this botanical garden. and finally, act like a tourist Visit the local Welcome/Information Center, take a city pamphlet from the hotel lobby, embrace a bit of history and culture and join a museum tour, take silly photos of yourself in front of tourist spots, eat at a popular restaurant, and visit the most well-known attractions that people travel the world to see.

Hosted travel is key across If business travel doesn't resume, generations and demographic groups 40% concerned about earnings

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nique and more flexible stays are increasingly sought after, hosted travel sees a boost across demographics - the rise of millennial & senior hosts and sustainable and restorative travel emerge as key travel trends in India as per Airbnb. In celebration of World tourism Day, the travel platform rounds up what Indian travelers are seeking the most.

As Indian continue to enjoy travel to domestic destinations, more people are exploring newer destinations adjacent to metros, in the hills, and in off the beaten path destinations that offer local experiences. Searches for international locales are also rising as more places start to lift restrictions.

Homestay hosts have benefited from renting their spaces, with both millennials and senior Hosts looking forward to high earnings and growth. Planning trips around unique places to stay like treehouses to castles got a whole lot easier with the global release of Flexible Destinations. This feature joins

www.indianabroad.news

a suite of new flexible product innovations designed to completely transform the browsing and booking experience.

Clicking on ‘I’m Flexible’ will reveal unique listing categories - from houseboats to domes to A-frames and even private islands - with the nearest to the guest’s location at the top of the list. Guests can also see the search results displayed on a map, and simply enter the dates they want to travel or search with flexible dates (i.e. a weekend, week or month) to easily book a trip to a one-of-a-kind property.

According to Airbnb India data, travelers are uncovering new stay experiences when they travel. Goa remains a key domestic destination and continues to be the most searched-for destination for homestays followed by Delhi, Lonavala and Bengaluru.

Hosting is a great way to ensure that the economic benefits of travel are distributed within the communities in which our Hosts are present. Hosted travel has also

seen a resurgence with over 50 percent of new Airbnb Hosts in the first half of 2021 being millennials aged between 25-40 years. The top five states where these new Hosts were based are Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, collectively earning over INR 2.6 crore in H1 2021 (January 2021 - June 2021).

The Rise of Digital Nomads and a need to stay connected at all times has resulted thanks to the growing flexibility to live and work from anywhere. Being able to determine a listing’s WiFi speed before booking is a must-have for digital nomads.

The WiFi speed listing feature on Airbnb is helping travelers book their perfect accommodation.

Commenting on these trends, Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager - Airbnb India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan, said, “Demand for travel is picking up, and the sector is showing positive signs of being able to meet the challenge of recovery.

Indian travelers are ever-eager to identify unique accommodations they may not have experienced before. Travelers are also becoming increasingly aware of sustainable travel and of making environment friendly choices when travelling.

With a firm focus on cultivating responsible tourism practices, Airbnb is committed to working with our Hosts to ensure that travel is restorative for the communities in which we are based. We have always supported travel that empowers local communities and benefits them economically. Our aim is also to cultivate micro entrepreneurship and we are glad to see Hosts across demographics benefit from the recent uptick in travel.”

new study commisioned by SAP Concur shows increasing willingness among 99 percent of Indian business travelers to resume work trips within the next 12 months. Over 78 percent are ‘very willing’ to get back on work trips. This is higher than the global average.

Respondents to the survey carried out in India, Singapore, Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand believe that the current travel hiatus is hurting their careers − by impeding their business goals and personal lives. While professionals are eager to restart in-person meetings soon − they also want greater control over how they will travel, so that their safety and health can be better safeguarded amidst the pandemic.

“Covid-19 has upended business travel in the past year and a half.

Yet, it has also reaffirmed business travel’s importance in forging business and personal connections, and enabling career advancement,” said Dr Carl Jones, Vice President and Head of Strategy for SAP Concur Asia Pacific.

“While uncertainty continues to linger around travel curbs, firms can support business travellers by updating travel policies to provide more flexibility in flight and accommodation selection, better-protecting employees’ health and safety. Then as vaccinations progress and travel bubbles form in the coming months, they will be better positioned to enable safe travel, facilitating business growth and talent retention.”

Key findings from the study of Indian business travelers include: Travellers believe the inability to travel will hurt them both professionally as well as personally Like their global counterparts, over 84 percent of Indian business persons worry that the inability to increase travel will affect them personally. These concerns include: The difficulty in developing and maintaining business connections (59 percent in India compared to 45 percent globally) Not advancing in their career (43 percent compared to 33 percent globally) Making less money (40 percent compared to 38 percent globally) On the business front, Indian respondents worry that if their organization does not increase business travel, it will be difficult to sign new deals (47 percent ), build new relationships (41 percent ) and renew contracts with existing clients (43 percent ).

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Overall, in the APAC region, 9 percent are afraid their business will shut down, and 14 percent worry that they will lose their jobs. These grave concerns reveal respondents’ perceptions that business travel is a vital vehicle to strengthen business relationships for career success and experience new places to broaden personal horizons.

Flexibility crucial for employee safety Flexibility is now the most pressing need for business travelers. Indian business travelers cite the ability to select their preferred mode of travel (64 percent vs.43 percent globally) and to book their travel directly on supplier websites, such as airlines or hotels (58 percent vs. 39 percent globally) as essential for protecting their health and safety.

Indian travelers are keen on staying in larger hotels (54 percent ), using their personal vehicle instead of public transportation (49 percent ) and prioritizing trips with shorter distances (42 percent ).

2 in 3 (66 percent ) Indian business travelers state that they want to return to business travel on their own terms.

With growing awareness about social distancing, sanitizing, and adhering to all Covid-related protocols, there's a sense of personal responsibility and not letting their guard down among business travelers. About 2 in 5 (41 percent ) Indian business travelers hold themselves most responsible for their health and safety on a trip. A significant section of respondents has also learned to live with the pandemic, taking all necessary precautions. 58 percent of Indian business travelers want to loosen travel policy restrictions or return to the pre-COVID 19 policy.

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“Employees are ready to return to business travel, but on their own terms,” said Dr Jones. “The actions that businesses take in the next 12 months to protect traveler safety and health could make or break their ability to acquire and retain valuable employees amid a competitive market for talent.”

"As restrictions lift and normalcy resumes, there would be an uptick in demand for business travel, albeit with fresh modifications and impetus on flexibility, convenience and choice. Even though businesses have successfully adapted and are strategizing well to navigate in a post-pandemic world, the importance of business travel to developing connections, ideate and network remain undiminished", says Mankiran Chowhan, Managing Director – India, SAP Concur.

"Going forward companies will have to rejig their travel policies and put employee safety and well-being first for a more productive and wholesome travel experience", she adds.

The SAP Concur Survey – Business Travelers was conducted by Wakefield Research (www. wakefieldresearch.com) between 15 April and 10 May 2021, among 3,850 Business Travelers in 25 Markets: US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, LAC (Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Argentina), UK, France, Germany, ANZ region (Australia and New Zealand), SEA region (Singapore and Malaysia), China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, India, Korea, Italy, Spain, Dubai, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), South Africa, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland. There were 1,050 respondents from the APAC markets. The data has been weighted to ensure a reliable representation of the business traveller population in each market.

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Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

A sustainable luxury travel & hospitality company launches

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scaping into greener environs has been interesting in people for many years but has piqued thanks to the pandemic. Add to that the emerging desire to be truly transported to own a holiday home at a comfortable driving distance from your city home, usually nestled in some exotic location, and you have in place the plot on which rests The Venya, a symphony of experiences, architecture and cultures that harmoniously blends social responsibility with technology-driven living.

Simply put, The Venya answers your desire to recess in peace and also fractionally own a second home in a verdant region, all while helping you make profits from your dream home. It has handpicked an array of beautiful locations with homes designed to complement the natural beauty of its surroundings supported by intelligent technology to redefine the standards of experiences.

Ensuring each home is perfection personified in its design, exclusivity, location, views and transformational experience, the project has laid the foundation stone with Jalna, a cosy hamlet in the Almora district of Kumaon in Uttarakhand.

With its brand philosophy of care, creation and collaboration, it aims to deliver the promise of sustainable, refined living. An amalgamation of environment-friendly design and world-class services they hold the promise of an intimate, luxurious experience. Privy to the most beautiful Himalayan views, The Venya at Jalna is envisaged as an estate development with luxury residential homes that goes beyond one’s imagination and provides the finest epicurean hospitality experiences.

Nestled amidst deodar trees and a lush natural landscape, this boutique property is like a home-stay meets boutique escape for those who prefer a simple, hassle-free but luxuriously comfortable escape.

From panoramic Himalayan views to energetic life-transforming activities, Uttarakhand has plenty to offer to all types of travellers and

sun-seekers.

Research shows that luxury consumption has shifted away from goods and towards experiences such as travel and gastronomy, which grew faster than luxury goods. In tandem with less ostentation, trends also show that luxury consumers seek higher spiritual and emotional motives such as the need for inner fulfilment, creativity, self-esteem, belonging and contentedness, thus driving the desire to travel.

Consequently, an increasingly important aspect of luxury travel is wellness as travellers accompany their traditional holidays with meditation, yoga, fitness and spa services. Catering for such needs it shares a vision of creating a community of like-minded people who link travel to ecology and want to go

IANS

for escapes that feel Zen-like.

Personalisation is at the heart of the brand, which seeks to offer customised experiences for consumers, particularly appreciated by luxury travellers. Committed to the ecology, the eight well-heeled villas at Jalna will be solar powered for operations while the management proposes to give live updates to guests for each property on how much their stay is helping the environment.

The creative team blends local produce with global flavours inviting celebrated chefs to create a venerable gastronomic experience. Their intent is also to relook at wellness luxury from a 6th sense that digs deeper into your mind, body and soul.

Chhattisgarh set to launch Sania Mirza inspires people to start traveling again a new tourism circuit W B IANS

uilding upon the Chief Minister's new development plans for 2021, Chhattisgarh is all set to celebrate the launch of the state government’s ambitious ‘Ram Van Gaman Path Tourist Circuit’ project on the auspicious occasion of Navaratri on October 7, 2021.

The state abounds with stories of Ram, Laxman and Sita living in exile in the forests of Chhattisgarh.

Stories and songs inspired by Lord Ram have been narrated and sung in communities here and passed on through generations.

In addition, the state is the nanihal (mother’s birth home) of Ram. It is the place where Prince Ram became Maryada Purushotam, carefully nurtured by his mother’s love.

“Lord Ram spent most of his time here during his exile from Ayodhya.

To preserve the memories linked to Lord Ram and Mata Kaushalya, the government has envisioned this project where devotees and tourists will be able to feel the essence of divinity with every step they take on Ram Van Path Gaman Tourism Circuit”, said Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.

The event venue this year is the ancient Kaushalya Mata Mandir, located in Chandkhuri village which is approximately 25 km away from Raipur. The celebrations will be a visual spectacle combining music, dance, a laser show and LED mapping highlighting the story of Lord Ram and his exile in Chhattisgarh.

This is intended to become an annual occurrence with fiesta and festivities and is aimed at giving Chhattisgarh its place as an exciting destination for international as well as domestic tourists.

www.indianabroad.news

The State Tourism Board is using the auspicious occasion of Navratri to introduce their new tourism circuit that follows the path travelled

by Lord Ram in the region of Chhattisgarh during his exile from Ayodhya: The Ram Van Gaman Path.

In the first phase of this project, the plan is to develop the nine spots that fall on the forested route that Shri Ram traversed. These sites include Sitamarhi- Harchowka, Ramgarh, Shivrinarayan, Turturiya, Chandkhuri, Rajim, Sihawa, Jagdalpur and Ramaram.

“Our main priority is to develop

the identified sites of the Ram Van Gaman Path into prime tourist spots. Keeping in mind the ongoing pandemic, special efforts are being made to motivate tourists towards domestic tourism and the Ram Van Gaman Path will be an immersive experience for tourists”, said Yashwant Kumar, Managing Director, Chhattisgarh Tourism Board.

The state aims to develop and beautify the selected sites and create world-class tourism infrastructure to generate high footfalls which will give a boost to state tourism.

IANS

ith border restrictions easing and vaccination programmes slowly gaining momentum, Booking.com launches the Booking Explorers campaign to celebrate the spirit of travel through the lens of renowned adventures, leaders and trailblazers across Asia Pacific.

As part of this campaign, the travel platform has announced Grand Slam Champion Sania Mirza as its India Explorer. Sania along with other leading personalities from Asia Pacific will be sharing their most treasured travel memories to re-ignite travel inspiration and remind us of the transformational impact travel has on our lives, as we dream of our own return to travel.

Commenting on the campaign and her association with Booking.com, Sania Mirza said “I am thrilled to come onboard as an explorer for Booking.com’s Explorers campaign, through which I got to reminisce my travel memories. My love for travel only came into existence because of my love for tennis. Travel has played a fundamental role in my life and my career since my childhood and will continue to do so in the years to come. While the way we travel now has definitely changed, the urge to explore the world continues to exist even more today.”

This campaign is built on the sentiment where travel remains fundamental to people’s lives, and to explore and experience our world is an innate human need. It deep dives into Sania’s storied career which took her to new heights, giving her the opportunity to travel across the world and pursue a successful career in tennis. Previously ranked as double’s world number 1, winning

/IndianAbroadNews

six Grand Slam titles, Sania’s life is filled with activity, adventure and competition. When the pandemic hit, borders closed and the world came to a halt, Sania took this time to rediscover India and explore the incredible destinations closer to home. It was during this time she explored her passion for adventure, travelling with her son and reimagining the world through his eyes.

The campaign also showcases stories of Amazing Race Australia winners, Tim and Rod, who have travelled the world proudly representing the freedom to love and who advocate making travel more inclusive for the LGBTQ+ community. Korean alternative pop band, Leenalchi, connected people through the power of their music, travelling the world to find inspiration for new songs and interacting with global fans. Rising style icon and global fashion model, Chau Bui, calls Vietnam home but has travelled from Seoul to Paris, New York and Milan to find inspiration for her unique style. In Paris, famed Japanese illustrator Kaori Watanabe expanded her mental comfort zones through travel and used this new perspective to create art that transports us to faraway lands.

The Explorers campaign is a celebration of their mindset & spirit of travel - embodying a relentless desire to experience and explore, in spite of the challenges brought about by the pandemic. Whether it’s their journey, their stories or the impact travel has made on them - be it hard-earned wisdom, hilarious insights or an empowering message of transformation and hope - these powerful experiences shed light on why travel has continued to remain

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so fundamental to our identities, and also what a return to travel could mean to us personally.

“As we begin thinking about a return to travel, this campaign is a heartfelt reminder of its transformational impact and celebrates the spirit of travel through the voices of our Explorers,” said Ritu Mehrotra, Regional Manager, South Asia at Booking.com. “Like many of us, they were forced to look inwards during this time and found new inspiration in travel where it was possible, while advocating for their greatest passions from home. With travel slowly resuming, it is my hope that these stories will bring a message of hope to our travellers; and continue to broaden our horizons on how we can still experience our world responsibly, when it’s safe to do so.”

21

ART & CULTURE

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Latest excavations unearth glimpses of rich Tamil culture in 6th century BC IANS

Fusion dissolves all barriers: Classical singer Nadeem Khan IANS

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he archeological excavations being carried out at Keeladi and Thamiraibaranai in Tamil Nadu have given inputs to the archeologists and historians that there was a rich Tamil culture that thrived in 6th century BC in these parts of the world.

The archeological evidence unearthed show that those living during that period possessed good graffiti skills in Tamil, which they might have used for communication.

The presence of certain Roman materials and coins with Roman engravings as also some other materials similar to the Gangetic and Indus valley artifacts support the theory that the community that lived in these areas had entered into trade with people in North India as well as Western Europe.

The carbon dating report provided by the Miami-based Beta Analytic Testing Laboratory on August 27 has thrown up some startling findings about the Thamirabarani Civilisation that dates back to 3,200 years.

The Beta Analytic had done carbon dating analysis of rice with soil found in a burial urn at Sivakasi in Thoothukudi district of Tamil Nadu.

Immediately after the resulte were obtained, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin announced in the Assembly that a 'Pourunai Museum' would be set up in Tirunelveli at a cost of Rs 15 crore.

The findings also emboldened the Chief Minister to state on the floor of the House that the task of the state government is to scientifically prove that the history of the Indian subcontinent must begin from the Tamil landscape.

The state government also announced the carrying out of excavations in other states and countries in search of Tamil roots and Tamil culture.

The Chief Minister announced that as a first step, research will be done with Kerala archeologists to establish the ancientness and culture of the Chera empire. The joint excavations are scheduled to be conducted at Pattanaam in Kerala, which was the ancient port of Muziris.

Stalin is keen that similar studies

are undertaken at Vengi in Andhra Pradesh, Thalaikadu in Karnataka, and Palur in Odisha.

The state archeology department would also undertake joint studies and research at Quseir al-Quadim and Pernica Anekka in Egypt. These were part of the Roman Empire.

Stalin has also ordered to conduct excavation and research work at Khor Rori in Oman. These, according to the experts in Tamil archeological studies, is to establish that the state had trade relations with the Roman Empire as well as with Oman.

Interestingly, potsherds with Tamil scripts have been found in Egypt and Oman and the Tamil Nadu government wants to establish that there was a rich Tamil culture with proper scripts as well as highly sophisticated utensils with artworks and that the Tamil landscape had a major role in the civilization of the Indian subcontinent.

According to Tamil historical and naval studies, King Rajendra Chola had established supremacy in Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia, and the state government would conduct studies and research in these countries to find a Tamil connection.

Other than the Thamaraibarani Civilisation, the six-phase excavations in Keeladi or Keezhadi have also thrown up several information that a rich and vibrant culture was present in ancient time and Tamil was a supreme culture with rich knowledge of artifacts, literature and science.

The Chief Minister had said, "The Keezhadi excavations have proved that the Tamil society had achieved rich literacy even in 6th century BC, and Keezhadi had united Tamils across the world."

The seventh phase of the excavations in Keezhadi commenced on February 13, 2021, when AIADMK leader E.K Palaniswami was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

It may be noted that during the sixth phase of excavations, the archeologists had found human skeletons, precious stones, weighing measures, and ring well structures.

The materials obtained from the site have revealed that people who had lived in the region 3,200 years ago had advanced knowledge and skills.

Interestingly, the excavations and archeological evidence during the first six phases of Keezhadi excavations have shown that the Tamil culture can be traced back to 6th century BC, as against the earlier held view that it dates back to 5th century BC. This shows that the second urbanisation that had taken place in the Gangetic valley did occur in Tamil Nadu in 6th century BC against the popular view that the second urbanisation had not taken place in the southern state.

Interestingly, the recovery of graffiti from several vessels found during the Keeladi excavations has given the impression that the civilisation that existed in these areas had the knowledge of script and had used this for communication.

The presence of skeletons of large animals like cow/ox and small animals like goats reveal that the society was predominantly agrarian.

Archeologists also deciphered that the presence of graffiti pointed at the high level of literacy that existed in this part of the world during the 6th century BC. The six rounds of excavations that were conducted in Keeladi, the seventh is in progress, have so far yielded 5,820 antiquities with cultural traits in the form of structural activities, ornaments, popular ceramic ware utensils, graffiti shreds of both pre and post-firing nature.

This clearly indicates the cultural richness of the ancient civilisation of the Tamils of this region and proves beyond doubt that the people who lived in those days communicatied between themselves and used graffitis to express themselves.

With the state government announcing a museum at Thamaribarani, and the seventh round of excavations underway in Keeladi, the Tamil Nadu government is keen to establish the rich cultural heritage of the Tamils.

New Delhi, Sep 25 (IANS): Believing that musicians should expose themselves to all forms of music, irrespective of language, techniques and borders, he feels that doing so ascertains a broader approach towards the art form and of course, wider knowledge.

Hindustani Classical vocalist Nadeem Khan, hailing from the reputed Rampur-Sehaswan Gharana, who collaborated with London-based flautist Katrina Fountain for the album 'Aghaaz' remembers, "It was a milestone in my musical journey. I will always be grateful to her for the project as it gave me exposure to western music and its techniques. I learnt a lot from this collaboration, it was an unforgettable experience," he tells IANS. Born in a family of Indian classical vocalists, this exponent of Khayal gayaki, who was introduced to music by his maternal grandfather, Ustad Sarfaraz Husain Khan and received guidance from his older cousin Ustad Rashid Khan, says he was lucky to be in an environment surrounded by music.

"Though this helped develop a deep interest and fascination for music, I must stress that one needs to have natural talent too. I always believe that any legacy is not someone's paternal property without having the ability and determination to inherit it deservingly."

Khan says that there are multiple reasons for his fascination with Khayal gayaki -- the emotions with which one elaborates a handful of notes into a rendition along with expressions and certain embellishments that justify the literal sense of a composition. "This is just like painting a beautiful portrait on canvas. Besides this, it has a very strong technical element that can help enhance and hone their tonal quality and voice production."

Among the forms like Tarana, Thumri, Bhajan, Ghazal and Sufi -- which he commands, Khan refuses to point out his favourite. "I am someone who believes in being versatile and all these forms boast of beauty, attraction and grace in their respective styles. It will not be fair to compare them too. I feel it is a blessing to be able to present every form with equal ease and

command," he smiles.

Interestingly, the classical singer also has a band 'Aayat', which he started with his younger brother Rizwan Khan. Back in 2012, after working on the 'Aghaaz' album, he started jamming with several western musicians and even gave vocals for a record label Misbah Records for a fusion number 'Mast Qalandar', from the album Sufi Jhoom that featured A. Hariharan and Ustad Raees Khan. "This is where I started liking the whole concept of fusing Indian Classical vocals with western music progression, and the idea got transformed into practicality in the form of the band."

Ask him about the reaction from purists when it comes to fusion, and the classical vocalist asserts that since fusion music has been influencing people for quite a few years now including major artists like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Zakir

Hussain, the Indian classical music scenario has accepted it to much extent. "Purists and critics now expect fusion to be more musical and sensible, and not confusing."

Khan, who was recently part of HCL Concerts' 'Baithak' feels that it is high time that more corporates step forward to support the arts. "I really wish that other foundations and corporates too come forward to promote our rich cultural heritage."

Though he has been missing live performances, the artist says that digital concerts have helped the artist fraternity to keep sharing and has even given much exposure to many artists. "But of course, we all are looking forward to performing live and experiences that come from travelling to different places, meeting new people and encountering new cultures. Not to forget the warmth of a live audience."

Hindi not competing with any other regional languages: Shah

IANS

K'taka gears up for Mysuru Dasara, elephants accorded grand welcome

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arnataka began its preparations for the celebration of Mysuru Dasara, regarded as 'Nada Habba' (state festival), with eight elephants, which will figure in the festivities, accorded a 'Poornakumbha' (traditional welcome) into the Mysuru Palace on Thursday.

The team of elephants will be led by 55-year-old Abhimanyu, who will be carrying the 750 kg golden howdah in which a statue of goddess Chamundeshwari will be placed on Vijaydashmi day.

The bedecked elephants, also including Ashwathama, Dhananjaya, Vikrama, Kaveri, Chaitra, Lakshmi, and Gopalaswamy, made a grand entry through Jayamarthanda Gate to music from saxophonists, the mounted police, and the police band, while district-in-charge minister S.T. Somashekar and other dignitaries showered flowers on them.

Abhimanyu, flanked by Chaitra and Kaveri, was in the first line, Gopalaswamy, Dhananjaya, and Lakshmi came next, followed by Ashwathama. Vikrama came last.

However, Ashwathama, groomed to be the future howdah-elephant, panicked during the guard of honour, and broke the line, causing

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a commotion, and the policemen and others ran away. However, the mahout and kavadi managed to rein it.

The mahouts and kavadis were given welcome kits as a token of happiness and they will stay in the Mysuru Palace premises in makeshift tents.

Authorities have announced the simple itinerary of Dasara festivities amid the Covid crisis. It has been decided to illuminate the 100 kilometre length of Mysuru streets, spanning 150 roads and 77 junctions and roundabouts.

The Mysuru Palace will be illuminated from 7 p.m. to 9.30 pm on all days between October 7 and October 15, and it has also been decided to hold cultural activities in the evenings for six days.

The festivities began with the launch of 'Gajapayana' (the journey of elephants selected for Dasara from forest camps to Mysuru Palace) on September 13 at Veeranahosalli in Mysuru district.

The Dasara festivities will be inaugurated after performing puja of the presiding deity Chamundeshwari atop Chamundi hill on October 7, and then it will brought in a procession from Chamundi hill to

Mysuru Palace to enable people to have 'darshan'.

The famous 'Jumbo Savari' will be held on October 15 with Abhimanyu carrying the golden howdah and he will be accompanied by seven other elephants.

The 10-day Mysuru Dasara, which spans the nine days of Navaratri and then Vijayadashmi, observed on the tenth day in the Hindu calendar month of Ashvin, which typically falls in September/October.

Celebrating the victory of good over evil, the Vijayadashmi is the day when Goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) killed the demon Mahishasura, after whom Mysuru is named.

The Mysuru tradition celebrates the warriors and the state fighting for the good during this festival, ritually worshipping and displaying the state sword, weapons, elephants, horses along with the goddess in her warrior form. The ceremonies and a major procession is traditionally presided by the Maharaja of Mysuru.

The city of Mysuru has a long tradition of celebrating the Dasara festival with grandeur and pomp to mark the festival, and it marked its 409th anniversary in 2019.

New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS): Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said that the Hindi language is not competing with any other regional languages and it complements other regional languages.

Speaking at a function held here on the Hindi Diwas, he said, "Hindi is the Sakhi (friend) of all Indian languages and all the regional languages must be promoted and encouraged".

He also emphasised that Hindi was not competing with any regional language. "Hindi has only complemented and strengthened other regional languages. It has never competed with any local language.

/IndianAbroadNews

Pushing for greater use of Hindi by officials and the youths to understand India's culture and value systems which remained protected primarily because of the language, Shah further said that from 2014 onwards, more and more Members of the Parliament have been speaking in their own regional languages.

Referring to PM Modi's call for Atmanirbhar (Self -reliant) Bharat, the Home Minister also said that the country needs to be atmanirbhar even with languages and urged the people of the country to take a pledge to use Hindi along with their mother tongue.

"Being Atmanirbhar is not just about the commercial production of goods within the country, we need to be

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atmanirbhar even with languages and only then our imagination of Atmanirbhar India will be fulfilled."

Addressing the gathering Shah also said that one should not hesitate speaking in their own language, it was not a matter of embarrassment.

Many of our freedom fighters including Gandhi ji advocated to promote Hindi. "If the Prime Minister can speak Hindi on international forums, what are we embarrassed about? Gone are the days when speaking in Hindi was a matter of embarrassment," he said.

The Home Minister also distributed awards and prizes to the various persons, organizations for promoting Hindi and Rajbhasha.

22

LITERATURE

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Publisher apologises for objectionable photo in Telangana text book IANS

Hyderabad, Sep 26 (IANS): Following demand from the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) to delete 'Islamophobic' content in a school book in Telangana, the state authorities on Sunday assured appropriate action while the publisher has apologised and decided to delete the objectionable photograph.

The director of school education clarified that the objectionable photograph was not published in the government prescribed text book of 8th class but in the Question Bank prepared and published by VGS Brilliant Series publication, a

private firm.

The director said in a statement that appropriate action will be initiated against the publishers responsible for this.

SIO's Telangana chapter had strong exception to the picture of a 'terrorist' showing him holding a rocket launcher in his right hand and carrying holy Quran in his left hand.

It was published in the chapter 'National movement - the last phase 1919 -1947'.

Dr Talha Faiyazuddin, president, SIO Telangana condemned the publication of 'Islamophobic' content and urged the state's education minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy to initiate action against the publisher.

He said such content will prejudice students' minds. "It is creating and propagating stereotypical, hateful and Islamophobic view towards Muslim community, by showing a person holding a gun in his right hand and the holy Quran in left hand. It is a discriminatory and hateful content which destroys the harmony, unity and integrity of the society," he said.

Meanwhile, VGS Publishers has apologized for carrying the picture.

It announced that it will delete the picture and reprint the books. It also

promised to withdraw unsold books from the market.

The Vijayawada-based publisher in a statement expressed regrets. "It was not at all intentional. We do not intend to hurt anybody's sentiments.

However, we have decided to delete the picture and reprint the books," it said.

"We are also in the process of collecting back unsold copies from the market to avoid any further inconvenience to anyone," it added.

Earlier in the day, Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) legislator Ahmed Balala called upon the education minister to demand criminal case against the publisher. He also urged the government to seize the books carrying the objectionable and blasphemous photograph.

The MIM leader said the photograph promotes hate and incorrect information about Islam and the glorious Quran. "This is blasphemous and hurting the feelings of Muslims.

Islam neither endorses/promotes terrorism nor the people who use the Glorious Quran to justify terrorism. This is highly objectionable and will not be tolerated and may spread hate in the community," the MIM leader wrote in his letter to the minister.

Anuk Arudpragasam's 'A Passage North' shortlisted for Booker Prize 2021

IANS

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ri Lankan author Anuk Arudpragasam's novel "A Passage North" (Penguin India) that transports the reader from Colombo to the war-torn Northern Province and lays bare the imprints of an islands past and the

unattainable distances between who we are and what we seek, has moved to the shortlist for The Booker Prize 2021.

It's a searing novel of longing, loss and the legacy of war, from the author of "The Story of a Brief Marriage".

"A Passage North" begins with a message from out of the blue: a telephone call informing the protagonist, Krishan, that his grandmother's caretaker, Rani, has died under unexpected circumstances - found at the bottom of a well in her village in the north, her neck broken by the fall.

The news arrives on the heels of an email from Anjum, an impassioned yet aloof activist Krishnan fell in love with years before while living in Delhi, stirring old memories and desires from a world he left behind.

As Krishan makes the long journey by train from Colombo into the devastated Northern Province for Rani's funeral, so begins an astonishing passage into the innermost

reaches of a country.

At once a powerful meditation on absence and longing, as well as an unsparing account of the legacy of Sri Lanka's 30-year civil war, this procession to a pyre "at the end of the earth" lays bare the imprints of an island's past and the unattainable distances between who we are and what we seek.

Written with precision and grace, the masterful novel is an attempt to come to terms with life in the wake of devastation, and a poignant memorial for those lost and those still alive.

Anuk Arudpragasam was born in Colombo and moved to the United States at the age of 18, where he attended Stanford and Columbia Universities. His first novel, "The Story of a Brief Marriage", was translated into six languages, won the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature and was shortlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. He currently divides his time between Sri Lanka and India.

JLF Soneva Fushi to debut in Maldives in May 2022 IANS

New Delhi, Sep 21: With the gradual easing of global travel restrictions and lockdowns, the JLF Soneva Fushi, the latest international venture of the iconic Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF), is set to debut in the Maldives in a 10-day event spread over two weekends -May 13-22, 2022 -- at a luxury resort located within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve with themes as varied as travel, fiction, food, art, wellness, climate change and the environment.

In keeping with JLF's international programming vision, the Festival will reinforce South Asia's unique literary heritage with a caravan of globally celebrated authors and thinkers taking part in a range of stimulating panels, workshops, music, poetry readings and film screenings.

The JLF Soneva Fushi will be a study in Slow Life, with morning yoga sessions, stimulating workshops, delectable international food and sunsets against a languorous blue sea.

"The JLF Soneva Fushi will be an inspirational journey where we will explore new horizons, celebrating the elements and sharing the power of words and ideas, of poetry and music," Namita Gokhale, author and Festival Co-director, said.

"This is JLF's most exotic and pleasurable adventure yet. I can't wait," said William Dalrymple, writer, historian and Festival Co-director.

"We are delighted to partner with Soneva Fushi, which represents excellence in the world of experiential hospitality, in bringing JLF to the Maldives � with the best writers, thinkers, filmmakers and thought leaders from across the world and India," said Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director of Teamwork Arts, producer of the Jaipur Literature Festival.

With the annual Jaipur Literature Festival in Jaipur and yearly iterations of JLF in London, Belfast, New York, Colorado, Houston, Adelaide, Toronto and Doha, Teamwork Arts believes in the spirit of community and the hope, strength and vitality that literature and knowledge give to the people.

JLF's international series, held across the world, has showcased the multilingual literary heritage of South Asia with the distinct flavour of its host regions, bringing together a diverse and engaged community of booklovers, thought leaders and influencers, Roy added.

"We believe JLF will provide an exceptional platform for a global audience to engage with India, its cultural and literary heritage as well as strengthen cultural and bilateral ties between India and the Maldives.

Maldives will be the first country in India's neighbourhood to find a place in JLF's global footprint," said Indian High Commissioner to Maldives, Sunjay Sudhir.

Harkening back to the turbulent times leading to Independence IANS

Book portrays 20 years of Kareena Kapoor in Bollywood IANS

Chandigarh, Sep 22: 'From Nazneen to Naina', a book on 20 years of actress Kareena Kapoor Khan in Bollywood, was officially launched here.

Authored by Canadian journalist Gurpreet Singh, the book is based on her film career.

Kareena has been under constant backlash for marrying a Muslim man, adopting Khan as her last name, and naming two of her sons -- Taimur and Jeh, which have been interpreted as an affront by the self-styled defenders of religion.

"This is a reflection of the growing intolerance in a toxic political environment created by those in power both within and outside the Indian film industry," said the author

virtually in the book launch on Tuesday.

The book talks about Kareena's work and goes into the details of her performance as an actor, and as an activist and philanthropist, trying to make connections between the present political situation and its impact on the cinema.

It looks deeply into the challenges before her for being a flag bearer of secularism which is despised by the religious bigots.

Her significant screen roles, as someone who stands up against hate, have been underlined in the book, which also attempts to make a critical assessment of her position on issues, such as racism, feminism, environment and state violence.

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Book on PNB scam accused Nirav Modi to be made into web series

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roduction banner Abundantia Entertainment have acquired the rights of journalist, Pavan C. Lall's book based on scam-accused Nirav Modi titled 'Flawed: The Rise and Fall of India's Diamond Mogul Nirav Modi' will be adapted into a dramatised, multi-season series for streaming.

Scripting is presently underway. The book, "Flawed: The Rise and Fall of India's Diamond Mogul Nirav Modi" depicts the story of high-profile tycoon Nirav Modi, one of the biggest diamond merchants in India.

It is based on personal encounters, www.indianabroad.news

interviews, and research conducted by the author, investigative journalist, Pavan C. Lall, who will also serve as a consultant writer for the series adaptation.

Author Pavan C. Lall said: "It is an extremely exciting opportunity, and I am thrilled to be a part of this book-to-screen adaptation journey."

The book narrates detailed and fascinating aspects of Nirav Modi's rise to power and his subsequent fall, unravelling the persona of the man behind one of the biggest financial scandals in India that amounted to around Rs 13,500 crore-worth of

illegal transaction leaving the PNB account holders at severe dismay.

Lall added: "Capturing the sensibility of a book in a cinematic way is not a simple task but I have full faith in Abundantia Entertainment and believe that they will do complete justice to this endeavour and give 'Flawed' the appropriate visual mounting."

The author also shared that the book is his effort to bring to the audience "the tale of a larger-than-life entrepreneur -- his spectacular rise and equally dramatic fall which brought an entire industry to its knees".

n the months leading up to Independence, in Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhbhai Patel are engaged in deliberations with British Viceroy Louis Mountbatten over the fate of the country.

In Lahore, Sepoy Malik returns home from the Great War hoping to win his sweetheart Tara's hand in marriage, only to find divideand-rule holding sway, and love, friendships and familial bonds being tested.

Set in parallel threads across these two cities, "Lahore" (HarperCollins), part 1 of Manreet Sodhi Someshwar's "The Partition Trilogy" is a behind-the-scenes look into the negotiations and the political skulduggery that gave India its freedom, the price for which was 'batwara'.

As the men make the decisions and wield the swords, the women bear the brunt of the carnage that tears through India in the sticky hot months of its cruellest summer ever.

Backed by astute research, "The Partition Trilogy" captures the frenzy of the times and takes readers back to an era of great upheaval and churn. It's an exploration of the events, exigencies and decisions that led to the Independence of India, its concomitant partition, and the accession of princely states

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alongside.

A literary political thriller that captures the frenzy of the time, the series is set in Delhi, Lahore, Hyderabad and Kashmir. Covering a vast canvas, Jawaharlal Nehru, Vallabhbhai Patel and Louis Mountbatten share space in the trilogy with the ordinary people from the cities that were affected by the partition and the reorganization of the states.

In its fresh, incisive and insightful portrayal of a cataclysm that haunts us to this day, "The Partition Trilogy" is both spellbinding and believable a remarkable feat.

The trilogy, said Someshwar, "is the culmination of a two-decade quest to research and write about an event that is concomitant with independence, that has been pushed to the margins of our collective memory, yet one that is wholly resonant with our times. Set in the months leading up to independence, Lahore, Book 1 of the trilogy, will hurtle you towards 15 August - fasten your seatbelts"!

Udayan Mitra, Executive Publisher, HarperCollins India, said 1947 is "a year India will never forget: not only because it was the year that the nation attained freedom, but because it was a year that would change the individual lives and destinies of

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millions of people. As the country stumbles towards Independence and Partition, gripping personal stories take shape alongside the unfolding political drama. 'Lahore' is a joy to read and a wonderful book with which to revisit the most important year in India's history".

Prema Govindan, Senior Commissioning Editor, Literary, HarperCollins India, said: "Manreet's writing has a special place in my heart, for she places the individual and the woman above all the politics and the violence. 'The Partition Trilogy', while being true to history, is a voicing of 'her story' too, and I am glad that we at HarperCollins India are the medium to tell it."

Manreet Sodhi Someshwar is a bestselling writer of six books, including the award-winning "The Radiance of a Thousand Suns" and the critically acclaimed "The Long Walk Home". Hailed as "a star on the literary horizon" by Khushwant Singh and garnering endorsement from Gulzar for two of her books, Someshwar and her work have featured at literary festivals. Her articles have appeared in The New York Times, the South China Morning Post and several Indian publications. She lives in New York City with her husband, daughter and a cat.

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24

SPIRITUALITY & DEVOTION

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Satsang: Gathering of Spiritual Seekers A

BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

di Sankara in his Sadhana Panchakam states the importance of attending Satsangs (spiritual discourses or gatherings) for spiritual seekers. So what is a Satsang? The word Satsang means association with the highest truth and is derived from Sat (the highest truth) and Sang (association). Traditionally, Satsang was a gathering in the presence of an enlightened teacher called Satguru.

A Satguru was a guru who could show the path towards Moksha or enlightenment. The aim of a Satsang was for the Satguru to help people maintain focus on their spiritual journey. At least for the duration of the Satsang, one was supposed to be engaged only in spiritually-centred activities. Attending Satsangs helped one build friendship with “pure beings”. The aim was for the gathering to inquire into one’s true nature under the guidance of the Satguru.

Such gatherings were informal.

That is, a Satsang was not a formal school (e.g., a Gurukula) where the attendees were studying philosophy.

Satsang was the primary way in which teachers interacted with groups of people who were not their students. The focus was a discourse where the Guru spoke and answered questions. This became more popular in Buddhist monasteries. The monks, who lived in groups, often contemplated on the teachings of the Buddha. The centre of monastic life was the purification of minds and bodies under the guidance of a Satguru called a Satpurusha (meaning pure being). Such gatherings were expanded to include non-monks so that everyone could come together to participate in spiritual activities.

Satpurushas, who were allowed to lead Satsangs, were those who had acquired the truth (attained

Moksha). Anyone who has attained Moksha (or has realised Sat or one’s true Self) is also regarded as Sat as they are now one with the Divine.

Therefore, associating with such people will help one become Sat. Sankara states that Satsang is an important path towards avoiding Samsara (the cycle of birth and death) and heading towards Moksha.

In reality, the number of people who had attained Moksha and who could lead such gatherings was quite limited. Therefore, the strict definition of a Satpurusha was relaxed to include people who were striving to achieve Moksha and had the following attributes. They had truly renounced egoism, lust, greed, led a simple life, had a balanced mind (i.e., a Sthithapragya), focussed on the Divine. They had demonstrated this by their simple living, being humble, but also fearless. Such Satpurushas were to demonstrate the importance of following a path towards Moksha.

It was also suggested that those who were leading Satsangs needed a powerful voice to deliver the sermon to a large audience.

Satsang is also associated with the inner quality (Gunas) of Sattva or purity. People who are Sattvic (i.e., have Sattva as their predominant quality) are deemed to possess superior wisdom and knowledge and are naturally spiritual in their living. Such people always think about God, have deep Bhakti and work towards Moksha. People who participate regularly in Satsangs become more reflective and thus increase their Sattva Guna. Those who are totally focussed on Satsangs are called Satsangis.

Adi Sankara’s Bhajagovindam also emphasises the importance of Satsang. The following verse satsamgatve nihsamgatvam nihsamgatve nirmohatvam

nirmohatve niscalatattvam niscalatatve jivanmuktih means by keeping the company of the good, one’s non-attachment increases; through non-attachment one gets freedom from delusion; through freedom from delusion one becomes more steadfast; and via steadfastness, one becomes a Jivanmukta (or liberated in this life).

The Narada Bhakti Sutras also discusses the importance of Satsang.

It states that wisdom and the power of discrimination (between what is transient and what is permanent) is only achievable with Satsang. It is not possible to get this wisdom by oneself. It goes further to state that one can find a suitable Satsang only with Lord Rama’s grace.

Thiruvalluvar, the Tamil poet, also states the importance of Satsang. In his Tirukkural he says that one must associate with and seek help from men who can remove present ills and guard you from future ills (i.e., overcome suffering). The Tirukkural continues and states that one is truly blessed if one can please great spiritual men and make them one’s own.

These days Satsang has evolved to mean any gathering where one could have a discussion on spirituality, meditation sessions, singing Bhajans, a formal sermon or teaching takes place. Bhajans, via music, singing, and chanting, strengthens one’s bond with God. The process of teaching in Satsangs can take many forms. It may be by sitting in the presence of a spiritual master where the audience asks questions and receives guidance, or may involve a sermon followed by some time for clarifications.

Generally, a Satsang has a shared intention between the members of the group. They may focus on

a specific context or theme that is relevant to their spiritual journey.

They will also have an agreement about ground rules, e.g., starting the session with a specific prayer, when one can ask questions, which Bhajans to chant, and which Aarti to sing at the end of the session.

Satsang is now linked very closely to Bhakti. It is said, that Bhakti is explicitly demonstrated in Satsangs.

By singing, chanting Bhajans in a Satsang one is showing devotion to God. The bhajans could be specific Gods like Shiva, Krishna, Shakti etc. But ultimately all this is for the Supreme. Devotees are also encouraged to write, sing and perhaps dance to their own songs thereby having a personal connection to God. The aim of the Satsang is develop love for the Divine. Thus participating in a Satsang is way for a devotee to express one’s Divine love.

Satsang can be viewed as a workshop on spirituality where the invited speakers (the enlightened persons) give a talk and answer questions. All the other “good” companions discuss and debate various topics related to spirituality and enlightenment. Like modern workshops, modern Satsangs could be open (i.e., no registration fees), be on-line where anyone from around the world could participate, or it could be closed (i.e., have registration fees and also require presenting a paper) at a specific venue and thus restricted to those who can be present at the venue. Such workshops may have no predefined expectation as the topics discussed will depend on who is present and what they are presenting. A Satsang could also be viewed as a training course to help connect one’s mind with the Divine. Here it is led by a Satguru or a Satpurusha and has

specific aims.

Overall, any activity that leads towards spiritual progress could be considered a Satsang. After all the way to realise Brahman is to reflect on one’s true self which may or may not require anyone else.

The Ashtavakra Gita talks about Asangatvam (non-attachment) with everything in the universe (including people) as a way to attain Moksha. Thus the core aspect of a Satsang is to realise that Moksha can be attained by anyone at any moment. While a Satguru might help, one does not require a Satguru,

especially at the later stages of one’s journey. These days one could read books, watch audio/video recordings of chanting, philosophical debate and talks on Moksha to learn how to be more spiritual. The only thing needed is to let go of one’s ego, realise that one’s true self is not the body or the mind and that the Divine is present in everything. Once one has fully realised that there is no separateness between all entities and the Divine, one is associated with Sat and thus involved in Satsang.

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25

BEAUTY

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Radiant skin at a young age

T

he ongoing coronavirus pandemic brought about many disruptions in our lives, changing the way we conduct our daily business. This major shift has also brought with it longer working hours, reduction in physical activity, increasing mental stress and unhealthy diets.

These lifestyle changes have also caused negative consequences on our skin health alongside our bodies. Similarly, with the use of digital devices increasing manifold, blue light exposure has significantly increased, with harmful effects on the skin as well as on the body’s circadian rhythms. From masked to lockdown skin, skincare experts coined new terms to define the skincare conditions faced by people.

If you are one of those looking to guard that natural glow, try these treatments: Laser Toning This is a proven treatment to stimulate the skin’s natural production of new skin cells and collagen. The treatment also helps individuals in reducing age spots, hyperpigmentation, and fine lines besides increasing the production of skin cells and collagen. In this process,

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the outer layer of the damaged or aged skin is removed by directing an intense wavelength of light.

Laser refreshes the underlying skin, resulting in collagen promotion.

After laser resurfacing, the new skin is tighter and smoother. Your skin care specialist will be able to guide you on how many sittings you’ll need to achieve the best possible results.

Use high SPF sunscreen If you’re thinking that you shouldn’t apply sunscreen as you’re working from home, then you’re not taking care of the skin properly. A mineral-based, high SPF sunscreen should be applied throughout the year. Ultraviolet rays are harmful to our skin and if you’re not taking care of this fact then your skin will have a rough texture and will eventually lose its sheen.

Skin bio remodelling Profhilo is a new hyaluronic acid-based procedure that offers a new approach to skin bio-remodelling for anti-ageing benefits. In this procedure, a highly pure form of hyaluronic acid is administered into different strategic points of the skin to unleash rejuvenation of the skin’s ability to generate collagen and

elastin – the two scaffolding proteins critical to skin’s firmness and elasticity. A lunchtime procedure, Profhilo results in more youthful, firm and radiant skin.

Gut Health is essential Our gut health plays a crucial role in controlling the various skin issues right from blemishes to flourishing.

Just keep one thing in mind that anything which is not good for your gut can cause oxidative stress and inflammation not only in the gut but in other parts of the body. Over time, left unchecked, these imbalances can also manifest as skin issues.

Include loads of vegetables and fruits in your diet.

Hydradermabrasion facial Exfoliation procedures help remove the dead cells from the skin and result in a clearer smoother texture.

Hydradermabrasion is one such water and serum-based facial cleansing cum rejuvenation procedure. It exfoliates, cleanses and deeply hydrates the skin unleashing a number of benefits such as reduced pore size, reduction in fine lines and improved skin texture and tone. It also brings a natural glow.

Stay Hydrated Drinking fluids is essential for your

skin health. It helps to keep your skin moisturized, healthy. This in turn makes your skin glowing. Drink at least 8 glasses of water in a day.

Water intake depends upon the weight of the body. So, pay attention to your body needs.

ClearLift skin laser treatment Another lunchtime procedure, ClearLift uses laser energy to create heat points or micro-injuries in various depths of the epidermis.

This process triggers the skin’s natural healing response and

induces the growth of young and healthy collagen and elastin fibres.

The procedure helps improve the appearance, texture and tone of the skin.

(Dr. Monisha Kapoor, Director – Dr. Monisha Kapoor Aesthetic)

5 steps to soft & happy skin Kriti Sanon and Shanaya

IANS

Kapoor talk clean beauty C Pexel

A

chieving soft, beautiful and happy skin is a dream for most of us or at least a long-pending item on our wish list.

While there are lot of suggestions, a laundry list of do's and don’ts to follow, there are some basics that don't change. We have to understand that happy skin is a holistic process that requires one to work on building healthy habits combined with good skincare.

Here's a ready reckoner by ITC Fiama of tried and tested skincare habits that will serve as a reminder that skincare doesn't need to be complicated, it just needs to be consistent.

Cleanse & Moisturise - The first and the simplest step towards healthy skin is regular cleansing and moisturising, it is advisable to use a moisturizing body soap that ensures your skin gets the right nutrients and remains supple and nourished. A great product suited

to this requirement is Fiama Gel Bathing Bar, which is enriched with nature’s goodness. Fiama's bathing bars come in 5 variants and they help moisturize the skin making it appear soft, happy and bouncy.

Balanced Diet - Healthy skin is an outcome of a balanced diet. The food we eat provides the building blocks for healthy functioning of our bodies. Our diet has everything to do with the health of our skin. The nutrients, minerals, and proteins found in food support collagen production and healthy cell membranes, and protect skin from harmful stressors, such as UV exposure.

Smile – While most of us hate the idea of having crow’s eyes and lines while we smile. We rarely realize the benefits of a simple smile. When we smile the blood flow gets better, and the skin receives more oxygen and nutrients. This can help you develop a healthier complexion alternately it also leaves you stress free making

you look happy and radiant.

Drink Enough H20 – With our bodies comprising of 70 percent water, drinking sufficient amount of water is the easiest way to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. Drinking adequate water helps flush out toxins from our bodies, preventing pimples and acne and boosting the skin's elasticity. No wonder, water is called the elixir of life.

Move Your Body – Along with cleansing and proper nutrition, another aspect which is important for happy skin is movement. When we move or burn calories, the body produces chemicals called endorphins. These endorphins interact with the receptors in the brain and trigger positive feelings and happy thoughts. This feeling of pure happiness and joy reflects on the skin, thus having the power to completely change your mood and keep you and your skin beaming.

Top Delhi hotel ordered to pay 2 crore compensation for bad haircut

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n a first, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has asked leading hotel, ITC Maurya, to pay a sizable compensation of Rs 2 crore for a bad haircut.

The client, a model and communication professional approached the forum for compensation due to the negligence of the five-star hotel's salon which resulted in mental trauma, loss of confidence and www.indianabroad.news

income thanks to a bad haircut and a burnt scalp.

The bench comprising of President Justice RK Agrawal and member S M Kantikar noted, "There is no doubt that women are very cautious and careful with regards to their hair.

They spend a handsome amount on keeping the hair in good condition.

They are also emotionally attached to their hair".

In her plea, Complainant Aashna Roy stated, she was a regular at the hotels salon since 2004. On April 12, 2018 she visited the salon for hairstyling services "to have a clean and groomed appearance before the interview panel." But far from her expectations or her instructions, Roy ended up receiving a cut which left her with barely shoulder length hair, 4 inches from the top and a burnt scalp leading to rashes, allergies and itchiness.

The bench noted Roy, “is a communication professional and required to be involved in meeting and interactive sessions. But she lost her self-confidence due to little hair.

She has also suffered loss of income due to mental breakdown after the shoddy haircut and thereafter the torturous hair treatment. She left her job also." It also observed that thanks to Roy's long hair she been a model for hair products of leading brands, “But due to hair cutting against her instructions… she lost her expected assignments and suffered a huge loss which completely changed her lifestyle and shattered her dream to be a top model.”

The bench found the hotel guilty of medical negligence in hair treatment and has ordered the party to pay the amount within eight weeks for deficiency in service under the Consumer Protection Act.

lean beauty products are making inroads and have gained a significant share of the beauty market, with more more people becoming aware of the their benefits. With each passing year thanks to technology, research and development natural ingredients have finally regained their place in the spotlight.

Don't take our word for it, beauty icons Kriti Sanon and Shanaya Kapoor also believe in natural and clean beauty products, and associate with the ‘Naturali’ range launched

by RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group. The new age nature-inspired personal care brand aims to provide a one-of-a kind experience to their customer infused with trendy natural ingredients delivering quick visible results.

Hair care ambassador Kriti Sanon said, ‘I am extremely thrilled to be associating with Naturali haircare range that is infused with modern, trendy natural ingredients which are free from harmful chemicals. I have always been an ardent supporter of the ‘no nasties’ proposition when it comes to my hair care needs, hence this association came very naturally to me. Everyone knows that natural products are supposed to be good for you, but they are often believed to be slow in giving results. Naturali changes this, as the range has a unique SuperBlend™ of complementary natural ingredients, that are optimized to give you quick visible results. As a woman myself, I strongly believe that no woman should ever have to compromise especially with respect to her beauty choices. So, it is extremely fulfilling to see a brand that is not only good for you being free from harmful chemicals but also makes you look good.’

Bollywood debutante and skincare ambassador Shanaya Kapoor said, ‘It is exhilarating to be associated with Naturali Skincare range. It’s a brand that I feel complements my personality and I’m sure, just like me, a lot of young women are going to instantly connect with it. It’s trendy, unapologetic, true to its claims, and most importantly takes charge.

What resonated with me the most was the fresh take Naturali offers on nature-based skincare, the exciting ingredients - Avocado, Tea Tree, Red Raspberry coupled with the free from harmful chemicals promise.

As someone who’s had to deal with her fair share of skin problems like pimples while growing up, I am certain this range is going to be very useful for girls out there and I can’t wait for them to try it out!’

Shashwat Goenka, Sector Head, Retail & FMCG said, ‘There has been a paradigm shift in how Indian consumers, especially the younger, more conscious generation, engage

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with beauty products today. They are looking for a holistic and transparent approach towards beauty and wellness that is result-oriented.

However, despite there being a burgeoning rise in the demand for natural beauty products, the personal care ‘free from nasties’ segment is still underpenetrated in terms of mass, affordable players. And that’s where we come in - Naturali, a personal care brand infused with natural ingredients that are efficacious and free from harmful chemicals. The range is also available at pocket-friendly price points to the masses, a first for the segment.”

He further added, ‘We are very glad

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to announce Kriti Sanon as the face of the Naturali haircare range while Shanaya Kapoor represents the skincare offerings. We are a new, bold, and trendy brand and we wanted to associate with individuals who could help bring out and advocate these values. Kriti and Shanaya are a perfect choice as both are young, vivacious, and personally, resonates with our natural first proposition.’

The brand backed by a SuperBlend™ technology that offers a combination of two modern, efficacious, natural ingredients like Avocado and Charcoal, Moringa and Avocado, Red Onion and Bhringaraj, Tea Tree & Avocado amongst others.

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FASHION

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Your celebrity festive fashion guide W

hile we might have given festive fashion a miss in 2020, this year things are looking brighter. With the wedding season around the corner, it’s only befitting to update our wardrobes with all things fresh and fabulous. As far as fashion choices are concerned, the sari continues to be a staple pick for many Bollywood celebrities - from traditional designs to it’s contemporary versions and everything else in between. Here’s a round-up of all the sari trends you can bookmark: IANS

All-White Everything Actress Jacqueline Fernandez was recently spotted in an all-white embroidered sari. Trends come and go but white reigns supreme. When in doubt, an all-white sari does the magic - pair it up striking jewels or opt for a statement blouse.

V for Versatility Over the years, the classic drape has seen many avatars. Part saris-part dresses, dhoti style saris, zip-up versions and so much more to choose from. Recently, Shilpa Shetty was spotted in a jumpsuit sari from Qbik. The colour, silhouette and styling - everything on point.

All That Glitters Take cue from fashionista Malaika Arora on how to go bold with gold! Shiny and dramatic, sequin saris are great for making a statement. We’re loving the the addition of emeralds and diamonds.

Hearty Handlooms Now, more than ever, Indian Handlooms have taken centre stage with so many design houses championing Indian crafts. From zari and hand block to bandhani and chanderi, there are so many options. Take cue from Konkana Sen Sharma and Vidya Balan’s style files to pick your favourite textile.

Monotones You can’t go wrong with this trend. It’s simple, minimal and effective.

Recently, actress Kiara Advani opted for a peppy green number from Torani.

Also, her floral blouse is perfect to add that extra zing to a monotone look.

Colour Block With a mix of colours in focus, this trend has been around for a while.

Recently, style icon Deepika Padukone was spotted in a fun Payal Khandwala pleated sari. She finished her look with aqua earrings and hair tied in a bun.

Power Dressing Tips A

s ironic as it may sound, dressing up for work is a subtle combination of 'fitting in' while 'standing out'.

Power dressing at the workplace creates an everlasting impression and helps cut through the clutter.

Moreover, the outfit you wear also provides a way of freely expressing your personal style and being your expressive best at work.

A certain level of refinement is always expected at the workplace that neither makes you look pedestrian nor avant-garde.

So be it baseline casuals or boardroom attire, here is your guide to power dressing with just the right ingredients: Attention to Detail Is Paramount: Right to the very last detail, the more attention you pay to your workwear outfit, the more it becomes your own. So go on, pick the one that goes www.indianabroad.news

best with your personality and suits your body just right from a variety of stylish shirts for women, and complement it with the right formal blazer for women, stylish trousers for women & fashion accessories.

Dress to Express: A key purpose of power dressing is to ensure that you get to be your expressive best.

If that means breaking away from the status quo for workwear apparel, then why not? Because at the end of the day, your workwear must get you to be your bold and confident best above anything else.

Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment with Colours: Gone are the days where workwear had to be mundane, dull and boring. Workwear today is all about experimenting and trying on different colours.

Keep Playing Around With Styles: Regardless of you having an easy or a strict dress code, always aim

at adding variety and personality to your outfit. Try mixing and matching different tops and bottoms that suit your body just right and overcome the old fashion staple.

Accessorise Your Look: The right accessories go a long way to amp up your everyday workwear look.

Another important tip is to go for multipurpose accessories over functional ones since their versatility opens up a variety of styling options for your workwear look.

Develop a Routine That Inspires: One thing about power dressing at work is that it's inspiringly infectious. Meaning when you decide to go the extra mile by paying greater attention to detail to your office work clothes, it’s very likely that your co-workers will do the same too eventually, if not immediately.

In conclusion, power dressing is nothing short of an art form, which

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when practised diligently can get you to be the boldest, confident & expressive version of yourself.

(Purvi Rohit Pugalia, Co-Founder-Not So Pink)

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WHAT’S ON

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

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WHAT’S ON

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

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29

ENTERTAINMENT

Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Bhumi: Hindi cinema should start Kanika Kapoor's Sukriti, Prakriti showing sustainable way of living new song Kakar all set 'Jhanjhar' out to drop latest track 'Majnu' Instagram

Instagram

Instagram

Priyanka Chopra's Global Citizen Live look makes her trend

Instagram

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ctress and climate activist Bhumi Pednekar feels that it is time for Hindi cinema to start showing a sustainable way of living in their films.

Bhumi, in a chat with IANS, said: "I definitely feel that it's high time that Hindi cinema starts showing a sustainable way of living in their films. I feel like as a fraternity we are woke and I personally would like to believe that we are more conscious

than other industries, but I still feel like we aren't doing enough."

The actress, who has three films lined up 'Mr. Lele', 'Raksha Bandhan' and 'Badhaai Do', feels that there is a need for narratives in films that provide communication.

"I do feel that we need narratives in films/ movies that provide the communication as it's the most powerful medium to get the message across to the masses," she added.

Shefali Jariwala enrolls in 'Class of 2020' Season 2 Instagram

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ctress Shefali Jariwala has joined the cast of the upcoming second season of web series 'Class of 2020'.

Shefali will be seen playing a character named Jannat in the show which is currently on the floors.

Talking about the same, the actress said: "It was a great opportunity to play a character that is so beautifully written. Jannat's character is so endearing and her zest for life is so exaggerated that playing this role has been a delight for me."

"Vikas (Gupta), Rohan (Mehra) and

the entire team are exemplary. We will soon finish the shoot and I'm excited for the release of the project," she added.

Her character Jannat will have a romantic angle with Rohan Mehra (Ibrahim) on the show.

Popularly known as the 'Kaanta Laga Girl', Shefali last appeared on the controversial reality show 'Bigg Boss 13'.

The upcoming web series 'Class of 2020' season 2 will be releasing on ALTBalaji.

Mumbai, Sep 24: Bollywood playback singer Kanika Kapoor is very excited as her self composed, Punjabi love song 'Jhanjhar' releases on Friday.

Kanika is known for delivering some superhit Bollywood numbers like 'Baby Doll', 'Chittiyaan Kalaiyaan', 'Desi Look' - among many others.

Talking about the song, Kanika said, "You can't outsmart the heart.

Romantic love isn't a general state of being, it is pulled out of us by a special, unforgettable person. I wanted to share my sincerity and authenticity about this specific love. On an intuitive level, people will always feel it if it is real. I am romantic by nature. I know this, the rest the song speaks for itself."

The song 'Jhanjhar' has been written, composed and sung by Kanika Kapoor. The authentic, specific and inspired song has her collaborating with Deep Money on the music and Nitin Gupta on the lyrics. The song is presented by Zee Music Company.

Pratik Gandhistarrer 'Bhavai' gets new release date Mumbai, Sep 27: Actor Pratik Gandhi's film 'Bhavai', which was scheduled to hit the screens on October 1, has got a new release date. The movie will now be released on October 22.

The move comes after Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray announced that all cinema halls and drama theatres in the state will reopen from October 22.

Director-producer Hardik Gajjar said: "We are a renowned and law-abiding production house and are interested in creating and showcasing good cinema for the audience and our stakeholders, we will never flout any rules and guidelines. We have submitted all the required documents to the board and have acknowledged all the procedures.

"Our movie has also been given a 'U' censor certificate under the name of 'Bhavai' on 12-11-2020. Therefore we would like to go ahead and proceed with the release of our film on the new release date, 22nd October."

Elated about the reopening of theatres, Jayantilal Gada said: "We welcome the decision given by the Maharashtra Government and Shri Uddhav Thackeray. Theatres are the soul of the entertainment business and the mode of income for thousands of families in Maharashtra.

We are extremely delighted with this decision and therefore have decided to postpone the release of our movie 'Bhavai' to 22nd of October".

The movie stars Pratik as Raja Ram Joshi and actress Aindrita Ray as Rani as lead characters.

The movie narrative revolves around the love tale of two actors working in a drama company and how their reel life affects their real life off stage.

The film is presented by Jayantilal Gada (Pen Studios), produced by Dhaval Jayantilal Gada, Aksshay Jayantilal Gada, Parth Gajjar, and Hardik Gajjar films in association with Backbencher Pictures.

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S

ingers Sukriti and Prakriti Kakar are coming up with their new track titled 'Majnu'.

Speaking on the new song, Sukriti Kakar says: "'Majnu' is going to take you music lovers down memory lane with a classic love story of boy woos girl and a tune which is what ruled the '90s. It was super fun shooting and singing this song because firstly it was with my sister and secondly, the storyline."

The twin sisters are known for their videos like 'Sudhar Ja', 'Mafiyaan', 'Hum Tum' and 'Sona Lagda'.

This song is peppy, foot tapping and vibrant. The video of the song will feature the singing sisters with television actor Siddharth Nigam and his brother Abhishek Nigam.

Prakriti Kakar also adds more details about it. She quips: "The story of the song and the video is pure entertainment and will really resonate with the younger generation.

The innocent feeling of first love and the most exciting process of courtship, is definitely something that we women always remember and thus 'Majnu' was inspired. I can't wait for the song to drop and for our fans to see the fun video which Sukriti, Siddharth, Abhishek and I have shot for."

'Majnu', produced by the music label Vyrl and sung by Sukriti and Prakriti Kakar, is all set to release on September 30.

Ayushmannstarrer 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' to release on Dec 10

A

ctress Priyanka Chopra Jonas took the internet by storm on Saturday when she hosted the Global Citizen Live concert in Paris.

Her dress, with an Earth theme got a fantastic response from fans, which made her trend on Twitter.

Priyanka wore a beautiful ensemble by designer Prabal Gurung as she hosted the concert on Saturday, which will be streaming live for 24 hours from different parts of the

world.

Not only did Twitter users point out her beautiful dress, but also the fact that she made India proud by hosting the global concert in Paris.

Meanwhile, the actress gave fans a glimpse into her trip on social media. She uploaded a picture with the popular Eiffel Tower in the backdrop and captioned in on Instagram as: "An Evening in Paris"

Radhika Madan: When we see a love story it just feels like home Instagram

Instagram

A

ctor Ayushmann Khurrana's upcoming film 'Chandigarh Kare Aashiqui' is all set to hit the big screens on December 10.

Ayushmann posted two pictures on Instagram. In one image, he is seen holding a clapboard and flaunting his washboard abs. The second picture has his co-star Vaani Kapoor and director Abhishek Kapoor posing for the camera with him.

"Body dekh lo, Shakal baad mein dikhaayenge. Theatre khul gaye hain, dilon pe phir se chaa jaayenge (See the body, will show face later. Theatres are reopening, we will takeover the hearts once again.) #ChandigarhKareAashiqui, releasing on 10th December, 2021," Ayushmann wrote as the caption.

Ayushmann will be seen playing a cross-functional athlete in the film directed by Kapoor. It is pitched as a progressive love story and is set in north India

/IndianAbroadNews

R

adhika Madan is gearing up for the release of her upcoming romantic film 'Shiddat'.

The actress has talked about what makes a love story a popular genre universally.

"Somewhere down the lane we love Love and that is something we all connect to and we all want in our life. The reason we do our job is because we are finding love in that," Radhika in a candid chat told IANS.

/indianabroadnews

The 26-year-old actress added: "Every aspect has love and I think that's what hits the chord in our hearts. So when we see a love story it just feels home and that's the reason maybe people are attracted to it."

'Shiddat' also stars Sunny Kaushal, Radhika Madan, Mohit Raina and Diana Penty.

It will stream on Disney+ Hotstar from October 1.

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Vol 1, Issue 16 Oct 1 -15, 2021

Singer-actress Amika Shail gears up for 'Intention'

Rasika Dugal, Akshay Oberoi honoured at Iconic Achievers Awards

IANS

S

IANS

inger-turned-actress Amika Shail has completed shooting for the first schedule of the web film titled 'Intention'. As the actress is finding her space on OTT, she says such platforms are giving a chance to tell stories that are otherwise non-conventional and do not get visibility in mainstream feature films.

Talking about the film Amika said, "This film is an edge of the seat thriller that will keep the viewers hooked as to what may happen at the very next moment. The story is very fresh, and it's about three friends who have been contracted for theft - but end up getting trapped in the house they entered to rob, and get murdered one by one. I am sure that the viewers are going to enjoy every moment of it."

The actress who was last seen in Alt Balaji's show 'Hai Taubba: Chapter 3' essaying a pivotal role said, "The best part of the OTT boom is that non-conventional stories are getting a great platform to be showcased.

The audiences are also getting to see something different from the run of the mill stories which were often seen in Bollywood. I hope that this new age of cinema will be here to stay even after the pandemic gets over," said Amika as she signed off for the moment."

The web film 'Intention' also features Ali Asgar, Rahul Dev, Brahma Mishra, and Ruslaan Mumtaa, among others.

A

ctors Rasika Dugal and Akshay Oberoi have been honoured at the Iconic Achievers Awards this year.

While Rasika has bagged the award

of the 'Most Versatile Actor Of The Year', Akshay won the honour of 'The Most Enterprising Actor Of The Year'.

Talking about the same Rasika said:

Rashmika Mandanna's first look from 'Pushpa' unveiled IANS

Hyderabad, Sep 29: The first look of actress Rashmika Mandanna from multi-lingual film 'Pushpa: The Rise' was revealed on Wednesday.

The actress is seen sitting on the ground with an intense expression as she gets ready in front of the mirror.

This is the first time, that Rashmika will he paired with actor Allu Arjun for a project.

The actress unveiled the look as she introduced the name of her character: "Srivalli".

Producers Navin Yerneni and Y. Ravi Shankar of Mythri Movie Makers say in a joint statement: "Rashmika will be seen in a never-seen-before avatar in Pushpa. She has left no stone unturned to get into the skin of the character. Pushpa's unconventional love life revolves around Srivalli and it is going to be interesting for the audience to watch her create magic on screen with this character."

International festivals beckon Malayalam film 'Sunny'

IANS

M

alayalam actor Jayasurya's 100th film 'Sunny' has been selected at two international film festivals - Calella Film Festival 2021, Spain, and Dhaka International Film Festival.

While the Calella Film Festival 2021 will take place from October 1 to October 9, the Dhaka International Film Festival will be held from January 15, 2022 till January 23.

'Sunny' will be the only Indian

film to be screened at Calella Film Festival. The movie has also made it to the competition section in both the festivals.

Sharing his excitement on the film's selection, writer and director Ranjith Sankar says: "It's very exciting that our film is being screened at film festivals, especially in a European festival like Calella.

When we made 'Sunny', we showed it to a few people in the festival circuit in India and they felt that the film has a universal appeal and suggested we give it a shot. That's how we applied at Calella...The festival has been screening very good films for the past five-six years and it's a very proud moment for Team Sunny that we have got an opportunity to showcase it in front of an international audience."

He adds: "'Sunny' is also going to be screened at the Dhaka International Film Festival. It has been selected for screening at the Asian Competition section. We are very happy and really looking forward to the experiences."

'Sunny' is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Katrina Kaif lookalike Alina Rai storms the Internet IANS

"I'm honoured to be recognised as the Most Versatile Actor at Iconic Achievers Award. Every new role is an experience and an experiment.

It is very heartening when that is acknowledged and applauded. I'm grateful to the jury and the audience who have appreciated me in the different roles I have had an opportunity to take on."

"I feel honoured and happy to receive this award. I thank viewers for showing me love and appreciating my performance in every project. There is nothing more satisfying than to see the audience enjoying my work and connecting to the characters I've played," shared Akshay.

On the work front, Rasika will next be seen in projects like 'Lord Curzon Ki Haveli' and 'Dehli Crime Season 2'.

Akshay's upcoming projects include 'Inside Edge Season 3' and 'Those Pricey Thakur Girls' among others.

'Pushpa' revolves around the red sanders heist in the hills of Andhra Pradesh.

The film will be releasing in two parts and the makers recently announced that the first part will be released on Christmas.

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atrina Kaif has a doppleganger and her name is Alina Rai, who has taken over the Internet courtesy her uncanny resemblance to the Bollywood star.

Alina gained fame with her videos on social media and became popular for her striking resemblance to Katrina. She currently has 2,09,000 followers on her Instagram.

Her most recent video on the

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photo-sharing website is captioned "famous hoon", which currently has 2,785 likes. In the clip, she is seen wearing a lacy black strappy dress as she mouths some dialogues.

She even shared a behind-thescenes clip of her shoot from a film, which is reportedly titled 'Lucknow Junction'. The film was scheduled to release last year but the pandemic hit the pause button.

She in an interview in 2020 to a media portal revealed that she will be seen playing a journalist in the upcoming film.

"Unstoppable," she wrote as the caption for the behind-the-scenes clip.

She was also seen in a music video with popular rapper Badshah in December 2019 which was titled 'Kamaal'.

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