India News - Dec 16-31, 2020; Vol 1 Issue 12

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India cautions Canada of Indian farmers continue demand for damage to bilateral ties farm laws repeal, govt. cites benefits over Trudeau’s comments New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANS): With no sign of any agreement between the Indian government and the protesting farmers even after the fifth round of talks on December 5, farmers are sticking to their first and major point - that the three “anti-farmer� laws passed in September be repealed.

However, the government says these laws are in the interest of farmers to make them richer.

New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS): In a major diplomatic offensive, the Indian government on December 4 warned the Canadian government of serious damage to bilateral relations if it continued to interfere in India’s domestic matters.

The Indian ministry of external affairs on December 4summoned the Canadian High Commissioner and slammed the Justin Trudeau government over its recent support to farmers’ agitation in Punjab and Haryana.

An official statement said that the Canadian High Commissioner was summoned to the Ministry of External Affairs and informed that comments by the Canadian Prime Minister, some cabinet

Indian PM Narendra Modi (right) with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau ministers and members of parliament on issues relating to Indian farmers “constitute an unacceptable interference in our internal affairs.�

Continued on Page 3

The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price

Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 are the main issue behind farmers’ protest.

to prioritise PM Morrison urged Continued on Page 3

religious freedom laws

27, sources said. It is after a gap of

the implementation of a Religious

as a result of Australia’s bushfire

John Major was the last British Prime Minister to attend the Republic Day parade in New Delhi in 1993.

Continued on Page 3

Catholic, Anglican and Islamic communities said that work on religious freedom laws should be at the top of the government’s political agenda in 2021, reports

protect a person from being discriminated against because of their religious beliefs and make it so that statements of religious

Discrimination Act a priority.

Family stream Visas I Partner Specialist I Sponsored 27 years that a UK Prime Minister Visa crisis and theVisas coronavirus will be the chief guest at India’s In a joint statement on pandemic.

70th Republic Day in January.

Job Ready I Skill Assessments representation DecemberI 7,AAT the leaders from the The proposed laws would

The invitation was extended by Modi to Johnson during their phone conversation on November

The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020:

The farmers are demanding the scrapping of these laws which were passed in the Monsoon Session of Parliament. The government’s offer to amend these laws have been rejected by over 40 farmer union leaders who have been talking to the government on behalf of thousands of farmers sitting on five different borders with a set of five major demands since

Canberra, Dec 7 (IANS): Xinhua news agency.

Indian PM invites Boris Johnson leaders Student Visas I SkilledAustralian Visasreligious I Tourist Visas Morrison’s election promise to have joined forces to urge Prime legislate protections for faithas R-Day chief guest Graduate Visas Minister Scott Morrison to make Temporary I Business Migration based businesses has been stalled

New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has formally invited UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to be the chief guest for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2021.

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Attorney-General Christian Porter delayed the Australian Law Reform Commission’s review of the proposed legislation at the start of nationwide coronavirus restrictions in March.

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Make in India The new farm laws and the resultant confusion

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Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

COVER STORIES

India cautions Canada of Indian farmers continue demand for damage to bilateral ties farm laws repeal, govt. cites benefits over Trudeau’s comments Continued from Page 3 Benefits (as per the government)

Continued from Page 3 “Such actions, if continued, would have a seriously damaging impact on ties between India and Canada,” the statement warned.

The ministry said the comments by the Canadian leadership “have encouraged gatherings of extremist activities” in front of India’s High Commission and Consulates in Canada that raise issues of safety and security.

“We expect the Canadian Government to ensure the fullest security of Indian diplomatic personnel and its political leaders to refrain from pronouncements that legitimise extremist activism,” the government said.

The Canadian Prime Minister, recently while extending his

support to the farmers’ protest, had said, “I would be remiss if I didn’t start by recognising the news coming out of India about the protests by farmers.

The situation is concerning, and we are all very worried about family and friends. I know that’s the reality for many of you.” His political rhetoric drew widespread flak across India.

Incidentally, the Trudeau government has also been a supporter of Khalistanis in Canada. Not only did the Modi government register its protest against Trudeau’s mollycoddling of Khalistanis, but Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh also expressed his displeasure over the Canadian Prime Minister’s politics, during his visit to India.

Indian PM invites Boris Johnson as R-Day chief guest

1. Farmers have got a new option insofar they will have the freedom to sell their produce outside the APMC (agricultural produce market committee) market and there will be no tax on such trade which will give a higher price to the farmers.

2. Farmers can sell their produce within the state or anywhere else in the country and there will be no restriction on this type of trade. This will benefit the farmers that they will be able to sell their produce to the merchant wherever they get a higher price.

3. There will be no need for any kind of license for traders to purchase agricultural produce of farmers in the trade area outside the APMC mandi, but also those holding PAN card or any other document notified by the Central government can join this

trade. This will facilitate trade in agricultural products and will benefit the farmers.

4. In case of any dispute arising in such business, the matter will be settled within 30 days by the SubDivisional Magistrate.

5. There are also provisions of heavy penalty for violation of rules and regulations.

Drawbacks (as per the farmers) 1. With this law, mandis operated under the APMC law of the states will be abolished. After the end of the APMC mandis, the farmers will be forced to sell the crop to corporate companies at one-anda-half price.

2. Due to the abolition of the mandi system, there will be no purchase of crops on minimum support price.

3. Farmers’ products have been going from one state to another in

the past and the provisions of the new law are only for the benefit of the corporate and not for the benefit of the farmers.

4. Farmers will be exposed to the risk of fraud due to the entry of people without license or registration.

5. In case of any dispute in the business with the corporate buyer, there will be a danger of farmers’ interests being ignored.

Besides these, farmers fear losing their land and becoming “slaves” to the corporates as far as The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 is concerned.

According to the farmers, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 is also in favour of big buyers.

PM Morrison urged to prioritise religious freedom laws

Continued from Page 3

“A religious discrimination bill is long overdue, and the federal government should make this a priority as soon as the parliament returns to normal operations,” he told News Corp Australia.

The Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli, said that the pandemic has proved that governments around the country were “ignorant” in their approach to religious communities.

Indian PM Narendra Modi (right) with United Kingdom PM Boris Johnson ‘hard Brexit’ - a clean break from Continued from Page 3 Europe which will entail Britain The government is yet to confirm giving up membership of the EU’s Johnson’s visit. However, Prime single market, allowing it to trade Minister Modi hinted in a tweet freely with EU members without on November 27 that India and UK restrictions. are embarking on an ambitious The hard Brexit is likely to disrupt partnership. “We agreed to work UK’s economy, which even after towards a quantum leap in our four years of the Brexit vote, is cooperation in all areas - trade for most practical purposes still and investments, defence and functioning as part of the EU. security, climate change and To reduce the adverse effects fighting Covid-19,” Modi had of the economic disruption, the tweeted.

UK has been looking for trading The invitation from Modi opportunities elsewhere. Prime is tactical and timely as the Minister Johnson has offered a transition period for Brexit is free trade agreement with India, set to end soon and it’s almost given its huge market. certain that the UK will go for a

“I’m puzzled as to where this is going now. Matters of religious freedoms and protections are things that need to be grappled with by both major parties,” he said.

“The time of Covid has shown at the level of parliaments, the level of the public service, there is significant ignorance around religious life.

in a number of states are some examples of that growing

ignorance,” the Archbishop

Washington, Dec 13 (IANS): The overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 71.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.60 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

of cases and deaths at 16,045,596 and 297,789, respectively, according to the CSSE.

Poland (1,126,700) and Iran (1,100,818), the CSSE figures showed.

Brazil currently accounts for the second highest number of fatalities at 181,123.

In its latest update on Sunday, the University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 71,623,753 and 1,603,577, respectively.

India comes in second place in terms of cases at 9,826,775, while the country’s death toll soared to 142,628.

The other countries with more than a million confirmed cases are Brazil (6,880,127), Russia (2,602,048), France (2,405,255), the UK (1,835,949), Italy (1,825,775), Turkey (1,809,809), Spain (1,730,575), Argentina (1,494,602), Colombia (1,417,072), Germany (1,320,588), Mexico (1,229,379),

“A number of decisions made

Global Covid-19 cases top 71.6mn: Johns Hopkins

The US is the worst-hit country with the world’s highest number

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PM Scott Morrison

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The countries with a death toll above 20,000 are Mexico (113,019), the UK (64,123), Italy (64,036), France (57,671), Iran (51,949), Spain (47,624), Russia (45,923), Argentina (40,668), Colombia (38,866), Peru (36,544), South Africa (23,106), Poland (22,676) and Germany (21,651 ).

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Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

NEWS FROM INDIA

1.20 lakh Haryana Bhartiya Kisan Sangh distances farmers support itself from Bharat Bandh new farm laws New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANS): The Bhartiya Kisan Sangh (BKS) distanced itself from the Bharat Bandh on December 8 by the farmers’ unions.

The BKS in its statement has said that “Bhartiya Kisan Sangh has decided to remain aloof of the Bandh call and appeal to its members all over the country to be attentive and alert the fellow citizens so that any untoward incident may be avoided. We hope that the nation and the farming fraternity will sincerely cooperate with Bhartiya Kisan Sangh”.

The BKS, an RSS affiliate, said, “It is evident that some anti-

Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal (left) and Indian Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS): Around 1.20 lakh farmers from Haryana have written a letter to the Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Narendra Singh Tomar showing their support towards the farm laws and demanded that they shouldn’t be withdrawn.

The farmers associated with the farmers’ producer organisations (FPOs) of Haryana have written the letter supporting the farm laws amid protest on Delhi border by farmers of Punjab and Haryana.

The farmers in their letter to the Union Agriculture Minister said, “We, farmers associated with 70,000 FPOs of Haryana and more than 50,000 progressive farmers, support the three farm laws brought by the Government of India.”

However, they have asked to include the amendments suggested by the farmer organisations.

They said we also support the demands of the farmer

organisations of continuation of MSP and have asked the government to listen to the concerns of the farmer s’organisations protesting against the farm laws.

The farm laws enacted by the government are Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

Farmers associated with various farmers’ organisation of Punjab, Haryana and other parts of the country are protesting on the borders of the national capital since November 26 demanding withdrawal of these laws. Five rounds of meeting have been held between the government and the farmers’ organisations and the next round of meeting is scheduled for December 9.

Farmer leaders had also called for a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on December 8.

social elements ,external forces and some political parties are manoeuvering this demonstration towards acrimony.”

The BKS “feared” for a Mandsaurlike incident in 2017 in which six farmers were shot dead during protests, hoping nothing similar to that gets repeated.

“Bhartiya Kisan Sangh has already demanded that these three bills should not be repealed but be implemented with some amendments. Therefore, we cannot support the protest against repealing of these laws,” it said.

and Western Uttar Pradesh are protesting along the borders of national capital Delhi against recently brought three agricultural laws by the Indian government.

Even as the fifth round of talks could not bring any breakthrough, both the sides -farmers’ representatives and the government, agreed to continue the dialogue on December 9.

The BKS said though the farmer leaders agreed to continue the dialogue on December 9, they also announced Bharat Bandh on December 8 (All India Strike).

Farmers from Punjab, Haryana

Hundreds bid adieu to Manipur braveheart martyred in J&K Imphal, Dec 4 (IANS): The Border Security Force (BSF) on December 4 offered full force honours during the last rites of Sub-Inspector Paotinsat Guite, who was martyred in unprovoked ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir on December 1.

In a gloomy ceremony, the BSF paid homage to the gallant para-military officer on behalf of the nation as hundreds of villagers and administrative officials, senior BSF personnel, family members and friends bid tearful adieu to the braveheart of Manipur at his native village Maphou Kuki in Kangpokpi district.

Guite’s body had reached Imphal on December 3 afternoon and was taken to his village in northern Manipur on December 4.

officiating Deputy Inspector General Hidam Shubol Singh, officiating Commandant Vikash Kumar and senior officer Awadhesh Kumar of the 182 Battalion of BSF, along with local police and district officials.

59 Battalion of the BSF made the supreme sacrifice and got martyred while fighting against Pakistan trained militants during an attack on the BSF post along the LOC in Rajouri sector of Jammu and Kashmir on December 1.

UP makes 1st arrest under Why making MSP mandatory is problematic anti-conversion law Wreaths were placed on his tricolour-draped body by BSF’s

Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), Dec 3 (IANS): Three days after registering the first case under the newly-promulgated anticonversion law, the Bareilly police have made the first arrest in the case.

Uwaish Ahmad, 22, was booked on November 29, hours after the ordinance against “forced” religious conversion came into effect.

Ahmad was booked under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, for “threatening to kidnap” and convert a 20-yearold married woman in Deorania area of the Bareilly district.

The accused had been in hiding since. He said he “feared being shot in an encounter”.

“He may be under this impression, but police never intended to do any such thing

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as he is not a history sheeter,” Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural) Sansaar Singh said.

“We were only searching for him and several teams were deployed in neighbouring districts as well. He was produced before a magistrate on Wednesday who sent him to judicial custody for 14 days. We will now record the statement of the complainant and the witnesses and complete the investigation in this case,” said the Additional Superintendent of Police.

Ahmad and the woman were school friends. The girl’s family had registered a case against him last year also when she had gone missing. Later, it turned out that she had left the home at the instance of the youth. They later said they wanted to live together.

She was “recovered” from Bhopal while they were on their way to Mumbai.

New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS): The Narendra Modi government claims to give minimum support price (MSP)for crops to farmers at one and a half times the costs of production. On the other hand farmers are seeking a guarantee for procurement of crops on the MSP fixed by the government. But the toughest part about giving a guarantee on MSP is that a chunk of the government’s budget will go into it. Experts point out that the government will need about Rs 17 lakh crore to procure all crops at the existing MSP.

The central government announces MSP for 22 crops every year on the recommendation of the Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices( CACP). Of these, there are 14 kharif crops and six rabi ones. In addition, MSP is also fixed for jute and copra.

However, the government only procures paddy and wheat on

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BSF sources said that Guite of

a large scale at MSP since the National Food Security Act requires the procurement of both these grains for the Public Distribution System (PDS).

Though the procurement of pulses and oilseeds is also done in the major producing states, it takes place only when the concerned state sends a proposal to the central government in case the market price is less than the MSP. Officials say that the fixation of MSP means that the farmers must get as much for the crop at least. So when the market price of any pulse or oilseeds crop is lower than the MSP, the government agency procures it at MSP from the farmers.

But it is not possible that just the government should buy all the crops from farmers. So when the government buys about onethird of the total production, naturally, the market price

comes up. It helps the farmers get remunerative prices. In some states, the government also procures maize and other crops.

Making procurement mandatory at MSP means private traders will also be compelled to buy it at that price. Agricultural economist Vijay Sardana says that if procurement at MSP is made mandatory for the private sector, private business will start importing foodgrains in case they are cheaper in the international market and more expensive here.

If the government has to buy all the crops from the farmers, the government will have to spend Rs. 17 lakh crores at today’s MSP, which would be a substantial part of the government’s budget, says Sardana.

Apart from this, one lakh crore will be spent on fertiliser subsidy and one lakh crore on food subsidy.

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INDIA NEWS

Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

NEWS FROM INDIA

Modi govt committed to farmers’ MSP to continue as before, says PwC report welfare, says Indian Minister New Delhi, Dec 5 (IANS): After the 5th round of the Centre-farmers talks, India’s Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar reiterated the government’s assurance to farmers that minimum support price (MSP) will continue and there is no threat to it as the Narendra Modi government was fully committed to farmers and will remain so in the future.

However, the talks remained inconclusive once again and the next meeting has been scheduled for December 9.

Speaking to mediapersons after the meeting with farmers, Tomar said, “We have told the farmers that MSP will continue. There is no need to be doubtful about MSP, and there is no threat to it.” He insisted that the Centre is ready to address all issues of farmers on MSP. “APMC (agricultural produce market committee) belongs to the state government and the government has no intention to impact the state mandis nor are they affected legally. Government is willing to do whatever is required to strengthen the APMC. If anybody has an issue with APMC, then government is willing

to resolve it,” Tomar added.

After a marathon meeting of close to 5 hours, He said the government will consider all their aspects and is willing to consider suggestions from farmers to resolve all the issues in connection with the recently enacted farm laws. However, the government could not get any suggestions from the farmers and the next meeting is scheduled on December 9, Tomar added.

Earlier in the day, heated arguments and written placards in “Yes or No” were raised in the five-hour meeting that began at 2 p.m. at Vigyan Bhawan in Central Delhi. After multiple obstacles, the talks finally ended with no conclusion as the farmers stuck to their first and major demand to repeal the three farms laws enacted in September during the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

As the government could not put up a satisfactory solution to the demands of 40 farmer union leaders, who took part in the meeting, the delegation clearly communicated that the protest will continue if the government doesn’t repeal the three laws

which they said are “anti-farmer”.

While the government was agreeable to amendments to The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020, farmers were pushing for the scrapping of these laws.

India’s Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of State Som Prakash and Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal were also present in the meeting, like in the previous rounds of talks on December 1 and 3 which were also inconclusive.

The farmers had put out a fivepoint charter of demands that include framing of a specific law on MSP, no punishment for stubble-burning, repeal of the three farm laws, settlement of objections about proposed Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2020 and written assurance on MSP.

There should be zero tolerance towards terrorism: Amit Shah New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS): Speaking at the 55th Annual DGsP/IGsP Conference here, India’s Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted policy issues on national security, applauding the role of police as frontline warriors in crisis and disaster management and emphasised that there should be zero tolerance against terrorism.

This is the first such conference organised by Intelligence Bureau through virtual mode. Paying homage to the police martyrs, Shah also awarded Indian Police Medal to 50 awardees and congratulated them on their achievements.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi later joined the conference virtually and reviewed the action points.

A review of internal security situation was presented to the Prime Minister and Home Minister, and discussions were held to improve the overall security scenario with more

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The Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, 2020, as per the facts laid out in the PwC report released on November 18, will ensure that MSP will continue as earlier, marketplaces will not be abolished, e-marketplaces to be promoted and farmers and traders can choose to sell their produce outside the marketplaces. The report debunked the myth that MSP system will be terminated and marketplaces will be abolished.

The PwC has also debunked the myth that the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, 2020 will increase hoarding and black marketing by the private sector. The fact is that there will be free inter and intra-state trading without the burden of the APMC cess, and processors/ exporters can retain stock and the government will monitor the prices.

The PwC has dispelled the myth that the Farmers Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill, 2020 will limit the role of the farmers in price determination, small farmers will be neglected and tough dispute resolution will take place. Instead,

the fact is that it will give assured price, lesser risk and cost, direct selling option to farmers, limited liability, better economies of scale through farmer producer organisations (FPOs) and easy local-level dispute resolution.

The PwC said the recent bills passed by the Government of India (GoI) have been designed with a long-term vision to create a seamless ‘one India’ market for the stakeholders. The prime objective is to create freedom of choice for the farmers and traders for the sale and purchase of farmers’ produce.

“We think that the reforms will impact all the stakeholders of the agricultural value chain, thereby creating new opportunities for them. The impact will begin to be realised in the next 2-3 years,” it said.

The report said the GoI has laid the foundation for the development of farmer collectives known as the FPOs. The existing FPO network across the country is going to emerge stronger with the formation of 10,000 new FPOs in the next five years.

The FPO initiative, coupled by the recent agricultural reforms, will create the required facilitative framework for direct sourcing from farmers, along with the required investment in infrastructure by the stakeholders for providing value added services to the farmers at their doorsteps.

Time has come to change fate of TN: Rajinikanth

Actor-turned-politician Rajnikanth Chennai, Dec 3 (IANS): Time has come to change the fate of Tamil Nadu, while political and government change in the state is important and is compulsion of time, said actor Rajinikanth on December 3.

While emphasising on the need to ensure safety and dignity of the citizens, he underlined the importance of capacity building of police to deal with emergency situations and disasters.

He said that security agencies should have a coordinated approach in national security scenario and achieve the target of making India a developed and safe nation.

New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): A recent report by PwC has debunked the myth that MSP system will be terminated and marketplaces will be abolished under the farm laws introduced by the Centre.

The actor sounded his poll bugle against the ruling AIADMK government as well as against the major opposition party DMK. Indian Home Minister Amit Shah people-friendly initiatives.

to check the LWE menace.

A session on various initiatives of security forces on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) front was held where ways to improve security situation in LWE infested areas were discussed. During the discussion, the stress was on coordinated action with the states

Discussions on role of police during COVID-19 pandemic and implementation of safety protocol by the police was also held. Follow-up actions were also suggested to develop an SOP to manage various types of emergency situations.

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Rajinikanth said he would float his political party in January 2021 and an announcement in that regard will be made on December 31, 2020.

Speaking to reporters here, Rajinikanth said, “The time has come to change the fate of Tamil Nadu. Political and government change in the state is important.

It will surely change. The political change is important and is

compulsion of time. If not now, it is not possible ever. Everything has to be changed. We will change everything.”

He appealed all to support him to bring in the change.

“I am just a small instrument in the change. If I win then it is people’s victory,” he added.

He said that in 2017 he had announced his decision to enter politics and contest in all the 234 Assembly seats.

According to him, though doctors had advised against holding rallies, if his life goes for the benefit of people then he is not worried about it.

Rajinikanth also said 40 per cent shooting is pending for his movie Annaatthe which he will complete.

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Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

Australians satisfied Homebuilder success sees with govt’s Covid-19 programme extended measures: Study Canberra, Dec 8 (IANS): A new study revealed on December 8 that a vast majority of Australians were satisfied with the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic, with nine out of 10 people in major states saying they agreed with the actions taken.

The study, by researchers at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), surveyed roughly 5,000 people from the country’s eastern states, as well as Australians in New Zealand, Canada, the US and the UK in late November, reports Xinhua news agency.

Respondents in the states of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland reported higher levels of satisfaction than those in Victoria which was recently at the epicentre the country’s second wave of the pandemic.

Roughly 90 per cent of respondents in NSW and

Queensland agreed with the Australian government’s handling of Covid-19.

Australian residents in New Zealand (67 per cent) were less enthusiastic about their governments’ response, although fared better than Canada (64 per cent), the UK (51 per cent) and the US (39 per cent).

Australia recorded just seven new coronavirus cases on December 7, all of which were contracted overseas and tested positive after arriving in hotel quarantine.

The relatively low infection rate meant that Australia was able to reopen its domestic borders and significantly reduce Covid-19 restrictions on businesses and individuals in the lead up to Christmas, leaving residents free to mark the occasion however they chose alongside family and friends.

Koalas return to the wild after being rescued from bushfires

Sydney, Nov 29: The Morrison Government is extending the highly effective HomeBuilder programme which is driving demand in our vital construction sector and protecting jobs by supporting the construction on new homes and home renovations.

“The Homebuilder program has delivered the stimulus the housing sector needed.

HomeBuilder will remain demand driven and will be extended from 1 January 2021 to 31 March 2021 which is expected to support the construction or major rebuild of around 15,000 homes. This is in addition to the 27,000 homes the scheme is already expected to support, bringing it to a total of around 42,000 homes across Australia.

“The success of this program has not only meant an increase in work on the ground to keep the pipeline of construction flowing but it has also protected jobs in the construction sector as well as across the economy.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said HomeBuilder was driving demand for building work and helping protect the jobs of one million Australians employed in the construction sector.

“HomeBuilder is a key part of my government’s Economic Recovery Plan for Australia. We’re keeping people in jobs and putting Australians’ dream homes within reach,” the Prime Minister said.

“It’s critical we keep the momentum up for Australia’s economic recovery.”

“Extending HomeBuilder will mean a steady pipeline of construction activity to keep tradies on the tools.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said,

“The sector is worth $100 billion dollars a year to the Australian economy or around 5 per cent of GDP and more than a million people are employed in the sector across Australia.

Minister for Housing and Assistant Treasurer Michael Sukkar said HomeBuilder would also be adjusted for the building and housing market’s conditions, and after consultation with the construction sector.

For all new build contracts signed between 1 January 2021 and 31 March 2021: • Eligible owner-occupier purchasers will receive a $15,000 HomeBuilder; and • The property price caps for new builds in New South Wales and Victoria will be increased to $950,000 and $850,000 respectively.

In addition, the construction commencement deadline will be extended from three months to six months for all eligible contracts signed on or after 4 June 2020.

Minister Sukkar said the most recent data showed HomeBuilder had already had around 24,000 applications, on track to exceed expected take up levels.

“This has been a highly effective programme that’s delivering real results for home buyers and has kept tradies in work throughout the COVID pandemic,” Minister Sukkar said.

“There is no better proof of HomeBuilder’s success than the latest Housing Industry Association’s new home sales data, which shows sales are 31.6 per cent higher in the three months to October 2020 when compared with the same time last year.

“This is a temporary and targeted programme and we want to give buyers the confidence and support to enter the market right now at a time when the economy needs it most.”

This announcement also builds upon the extension of the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme announced in the Budget, which delivered 10,000 guaranteed loans to allow first home buyers to obtain a loan to build a new home, or purchase a newly built home, with a deposit of as little as five per cent.

Together this represents an unprecedented level of Federal Government assistance for home buyers and the construction industry alike.

Opposition calls for right-wing extremism inquiry Canberra, Dec 8 (IANS): Australia’s opposition Labor Party on December 8 called for the government to establish an inquiry into the threat posed by right-wing extremism.

Canberra, Dec 8 (IANS): After months of treatment and recoveries, koalas, who were severely injured in Australia’s devastating 2019-20 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires, have finally returned to the wild.

Fourteen koalas have been released into bushland at sites in Victoria’s East Gippsland region, close to where they were originally found in November, with the final group of eight released recently; Xinhua news agency quoted Zoo Victoria as saying in a statement on December 7.

The koalas, which were rescued after the blazes in January this year, underwent multiple surgeries for severe burns and many months of follow-up treatment.

Following extensive treatment, they had also been “rewilding” by building up their strength, fitness

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and climbing abilities at a large enclosure at Phillip Island Nature Parks and Healesville Sanctuary.

Zoos Victoria senior veterinarian Leanne Wicker said it was special to see the koalas that have been through so much finally return to the wild.

A report commissioned by the World Wide Fund for NatureAustralia revealed nearly 3 billion animals were impacted by last summer’s bushfire crisis, including more than 60,000 koalas.

Wicker said each koala has been fitted with a tracking device on the collar so that specialised animal health and science teams could monitor their progress over the coming months.

Researchers hope this could also provide valuable information on the health, welfare and long-term survival of recovered fire-affected koalas returning to the wild.

The party said it would seek a vote in parliament to refer right-wing extremism to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, reports Xinhua news agency.

Security agencies have repeatedly

warned that the threat from right-wing extremism in Australia is growing but the government has not listed any groups as terrorist organisations, which would allow agencies to deploy greater surveillance powers against them.

Kristina Keneally, Labor’s Home Affairs spokesperson, said that Australia had to re-assess how it responds to right-wing threats.

The Director-General of the

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), Mike Burgess, told a Senate hearing in October that right-wing extremists now account for 40 per cent of the agency’s caseload this year.

He had warned that the coronavirus pandemic had enabled the rapid spread of extremist ideologies with more Australians spending time online at home.

PM Scott Morrison hopeful of a happier new year Canberra, Dec 9: Prime Minister Scott Morrison has applauded the efforts made by multicultural communities across the country in hard times. In a 2020 recap and message, the Prime Minister said, “This year has asked a great deal of our multicultural communities.

You’ve all been called on to make some very big sacrifices, especially when it comes to the social networks that bind you.”

The Prime Minister highlighted the important contribution of multicultural communities in Australia saying, “And your community and cultural activities, that reach out and bring joy

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to so many Australians. You’ve all played a part, you’ve done whatever it takes, to keep each other safe. That’s also meant enduring enormous disruption to your all-important faith traditions. Your perseverance and sacrifices underscore why Australia is the most successful multicultural nation in the world, a place where we all buy in and draw strength from our shared values – such as mutual respect and individual responsibility. By your efforts, you have helped the country that you have adopted – and that we all love – to lead the world in our response to the pandemic.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison Acknowledging the great work done by the communities, the Prime Minister thanked them for everything they had done “to help get us through this difficult year”.

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NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND

$250 million elective surgery blitz $200 million Job helping Queensland patients Trainer fund to benefit Queensland job seekers Brisbane, Dec 9: The Palaszczuk Government’s $250 million elective surgery blitz has been a resounding success in managing waiting lists, the latest health data reveals.

Brisbane, Dec 9: Queensland job seekers are set to benefit from the new $200 million JobTrainer Fund to train people for high demand occupations.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said investing in skills was a key part of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery.

“Turbocharged training pathways will bring long term benefits for individuals, families, businesses, communities and our state.

“Lowering the cost barrier will see more skilled workers, boost businesses, and increase Queensland’s productivity.”

“We were re-elected to deliver that plan and that’s what we’re delivering,” the Premier said.

To qualify for the JobTrainer Fund students must enrol before September 2021 and complete their training by 30 June 2022.

“This is all about giving Queenslanders the opportunity to get qualifications which lead to jobs and drives our state’s economic recovery.

In addition to the fund, the $2 billion JobTrainer Skills Package also includes the extended and expanded Supporting Apprentices and Trainees wage subsidy.

“The fund will support young people launching or developing a career, and job seekers affected by the pandemic who want to pursue new opportunities with better employment prospects.

Fee-free training will be offered for a range of training pathways up to certificate III-level, including short courses - and a maximum cap of $400 that has been set for higher level qualifications.

“JobTrainer will fund thousands of extra training places and covers a range of short courses, certificate and diploma qualifications.

“We’re talking about jobs in health, plumbing, manufacturing, electro technology, cyber security and more.

“It will target specific industries which need more workers now, and into the future.”

The joint Federal and State Government fund provides free and low-fee training for more than 150 accredited qualifications and short courses over the next year.

Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer said additional priorities would be added throughout the year based on industry advice on employment opportunities, particularly in regional areas.

“JobTrainer will be in addition to the Palaszczuk Government’s recent expansion of its free apprenticeship and free tafe for Year 12 graduates, to anyone under 25 – which will provide 37,000 young Queenslanders with a training opportunity,” the Minister said.

The first JobTrainer places are now available with TAFE Queensland and CQUniversity.

Private training providers that have been approved as a Skills Assure Supplier can now apply to offer training places to eligible Queenslanders.

The biggest areas of demand are expected to be health, aged and disability care, manufacturing, logistics, primary industries and tourism with courses in these fields listed as follows: • Health - Certificate II in Health Support Services (Health support short course) • Cyber Security (Certificate IV) • Aged and disability care Certificate III in Individual Support (full qualification) • Manufacturing - Certificate II in Engineering Pathways (full qualification) • Tourism - Certificate II in Hospitality (Food service short course) The Minister said the JobTrainer courses currently available for Queenslanders are published at www.desbt.qld.gov.au/JobTrainer

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said hospital performance data for the July-September 2020 quarter shows the quarter billion dollar blitz is delivering strong elective surgery activity.

“In the July-September period, 37,884 people underwent elective surgery in Queensland public hospitals, including 13,907 Category One patients,” she said.

“This strong performance is particularly pleasing, given it came at the height of Victoria’s second wave when our public health response was overwhelmingly geared towards keeping Queenslanders save from coronavirus.

“While Category One surgeries continued as normal, less urgent procedures were suspended during this period, as agreed by National Cabinet.

“The data shows we’re continuing

“It’s been made possibly because we’ve delivered a strong public health response to COVID-19, and listened to the advice of health experts.”

The Health Minister said National Cabinet’s direction to suspend non-urgent surgery was designed to free up hospitals’ capacity to manage COIVID-19, preserve PPE for the most urgent use and to protect patients from infection.

“Our $250 million investment meant we could devote more clinicians and more resources for elective surgery procedures,” she said.

“I want to thank Queenslanders affected by the suspension for their patience and understanding.”

The Health Minister said the latest data also showed emergency departments continue to perform strongly.

“In September 2020, there were

590,197 emergency department presentations across Queensland, with an average wait time of 12 minutes,” she said.

“This is in contrast to September 2019, when there were almost 55,000 fewer ED presentations with an average wait of 16 minutes.

“All of the 4,339 Category One patients were seen within two minutes of arriving at hospital – these are people who need lifesaving medical care.

“The vast majority, 83 percent, of all of our ED patients are being seen within clinically recommended times.

“This is an astounding record, given we are in the midst of a pandemic, and it should give Queenslanders reassurance that if they need urgent medical care, we have an efficient frontline workforce and hospital network to provide it.

“I want to thank all our dedicated health workers for the tremendous work they do to protect the health of Queenslanders.”

Australia’s east coast on high alert for bushfire Canberra, Nov 30 (IANS): A high alert was issued on November 30 for the states of New South Wales and Queensland on Australia east coast for potential bushfires due to extreme heatwave that has hit the region.

A total fire ban is in place for NSW’s north western and northern slopes areas on November 30 with very high fire danger, Xinhua news agency quoted the state’s Rural Fire Service (RFS) as saying.

Over the weekend, most of Australia was hit by the extreme heatwave with temperatures reaching a high of at least 40 degrees Celsius.

Temperatures exceeded 40 degrees across NSW’s western areas and in the coast.

State capital Sydney recorded two consecutive days of a temperature over 40 degrees Celsius and its hottest November night on November 28.

The severe heat combined with hot winds created volatile conditions for the bushfire and a busy weekend for the firefighters and aircraft.

A property in Northmead to the west of Sydney was damaged without casualties.

Local media reported on Sunday that RFS crews have been battling more than 100 fires between the Victorian and Queensland borders in the last 48 hours.

“It’s certainly the worst day for fire risk since last fire season,” NSW RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers said in the interview with

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to clear the elective surgery backlog following the nationally agreed postponement of nonurgent procedures earlier this year.

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local media.

cultural impacts.

With temperature dropping on November 30, the bushfire incidents across NSW reduced to 50, none of which were more severe than advice level.

Water bombing aircraft will continue to support fire ground actions.

Travelling to the island remains restricted.

However, the authority still warned people of complacency.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) also warned of continued fire danger in the southern and eastern Australian states as the record-breaking heatwave will continue in the coming days.

“Although conditions are more favourable elsewhere, we are likely to see elevated fire danger across many parts of NSW return tomorrow,” RFS tweeted on November 30.

In the neighbouring state of Queensland, guests were evacuated from a popular resort on the morning of November 30 as bushfire continued in the world heritage Fraser Island and moved towards the resort.

The fire, reported to be sparked the month before by an illegal campfire, has been burning for six weeks and has destroyed more than 40 km of bushland.

Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said in a statement on November 30 that the fire is still burning in several locations.

Weather conditions continued to exacerbate fire and smoke conditions.

Smoke will affect visibility and air quality on the Fraser Island and adjacent mainland areas over the coming days.

QFES and Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service in conjunction with the Butchulla Aboriginal Corporation are working to limit the spread of the fire and minimize environmental and

“Severe to extreme heatwave conditions are expected across much of southern Queensland and northern NSW over the coming days.

“With the heat peaking in southern inland Queensland today, inland NSW on Tuesday and southeast Queensland and northeast NSW on Wednesday, severe fire dangers are forecasted across much of southern Queensland, inland NSW and northern Victoria on Tuesday as winds increase and maximum temperatures reach 10 to 18 degrees above average,” meteorologist Dean Narramore told a briefing on November 30.

Thirty-three people died, including nine firefighters, in the 2019-20 “Black Summer” bushfires, which burned from July 2019 to March 2020.

The smoke blanketed much of Australia, including capital cities, and contributed to hundreds of deaths.

Nearly 3 billion animals were killed or displaced, and the fires harmed many threatened species and ecological communities.

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Big Indian I-Day celebrations in Australia in 2021

Morrison government announces plan to boost tourism

Melbourne, Dec 2: Indian Counsel General in Melbourne Raj Kumar has said that Indian Government has decided to celebrate India’s 75th Independence Day in 2021 in Australia in a much significant way.

Many plans are being drafted and the community is being invited to send proposals to organize around 75 events on weekends throughout the next year beginning August 2021.

The Indian Counsel General said the programs should be in celebrations mode as cultural, social, or other and done by community individuals or organizations.

Indian Counsel General in Melbourne Raj Kumar These events should be to commemorate this big anniversary and should not be religious or political, he added.

Victorian government seeks to fly in international students Melbourne, Dec 12: The Victorian government is considering a proposal from the education sector to fly up to 23,000 international students into Victoria early next year and allow them to serve their quarantine period in student accommodation.

The Andrews Labour Government is backing international education, Victoria’s largest export sector, with an action plan of scholarships, research partnerships and new study hubs to be created in Asia, Latin America, and India. Devised after consultation with the sector and Victoria’s International Education Advisory Council, the $33.4 million International Education short-term recovery plan will build on the strengths – being home to Australia’s best student city and boasting globallyrenowned education institutions – to stand out in a competitive market. International education was the state’s single largest export sector in 2019, worth $13.7 billion and supporting around 79,000 Victorian jobs. More than 250,000 international students travelled here to study last year but the current number of international students in Victoria sits at 120,000 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The government continues to work with the Federal Government and the sector to welcome international students to Victoria in 2021. The new immediate action plan, funded in the Victorian Budget 2020/21, will drive demand from prospective students while continuing to support students that stayed in Victoria.

Initiatives include a Pathway to Victoria scholarship program and international research partnerships to encourage prospective students to make Victoria their first choice.

The Study Melbourne Student Centre’s online presence will also be bolstered, ensuring that potential students and students

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enrolled in regional Victoria have access to the resources and support they need to thrive.

The Victorian Global Education Network will be expanded into the emerging high-growth markets of Vietnam, Brazil and Africa, and five new international Study Melbourne Hubs will sit alongside the Government’s Trade and Investment Network, creating a pathway for students to study in Victoria and securing a greater share of overseas students studying online.

These hubs will showcase Victoria’s global leadership in digital training and education innovation by connecting EdTech companies, education providers, educators, researchers, and investors to grow Victoria’s education services sector. TAFEs will also be supported to meet growing global demand for online professional short courses. The Labor Government responded quickly to the impacts of the pandemic on the sector, providing support including the $350 million Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund, $110 million in payroll tax deferrals and a $260.8 million TAFE funding package.

International students in Victoria were supported through the $45 million International Student Emergency Relief Fund, the $50 million Emergency Hardship Support Payment program and a suite of free support programs.

Melbourne, Dec 1: The Morrison Government will provide a one-off payment to assist travel agents in recognition that many continue to work hard processing consumer refunds, while unable to trade due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham said most travel agents face the unique circumstance of having to refund existing bookings at the same time as they manage their operating models in the face of ongoing uncertainty about international travel.

“This one-off payment recognises that travel agents are operating in an exceptional set of circumstances where most are having to refund last year’s income while continuing to work with no additional income,” minister Birmingham said.

“Providing further assistance to travel agents in the current environment will help keep

NEWS FROM VICTORIA

them afloat at a time when they are continuing to hold travel credits for consumers who have previously cancelled travel. This one-off payment is in addition to our significant economic support for the tourism and travel industry during the COVID-19 pandemic which continues to assist hundreds of thousands of tourism businesses across Australia,” said the minister.

Australian Federation of Travel Agents Chief Executive Officer Darren Rudd welcomed the Morrison Government’s assistance payments for travel agents. “We are delighted that the Morrison Government has acknowledged the unique and challenging circumstances that travel agents have been confronted with,” Rudd said.

“This package will help to ensure the sectors sustainability to assist Australian travellers with the new world of COVID Safe travel,” he added.

Federal Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham Under the $128 million scheme, eligible travel agents with a turnover of between $50,000 and $20 million a year will be able to apply for the one-off payment.

Payments will be scaled, with a minimum payment of $1500 for a business with a turnover of $50 000 up to a maximum payment of $100,000 for a business with a turnover of $20 million.

Victoria’s Christmas celebrations amid COVID-19 restrictions

Melbourne, Nov 22: Three months ago, Victoria had 4293 active cases. On 21st November the Victorian Government announced that Victorians will be able to host up to 30 people in their homes for Christmas Day. Babies under 12 months will not count towards the cap. This change will come into effect from 11.59pm, 13 December, just in time for catch-ups, and Christmas barbies – and for the Jewish communities, the closing days of Hanukkah. Cinemas, galleries, and museums will also be able to host up to 150 people indoors.

And in good news for community clubs, contact and non-contact sports can begin for adults as well as kids – 150 people indoors with a group size of up to 20 and 500 outdoors with groups of up to 50.

Organisers will also be able to apply to host a public event.

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Different requirements and rules will need to apply, depending on whether it is a school fete or a major sporting match. As the government stated that since 11:59pm on Sunday 6 December 2020 in Victoria a face mask is mandatory when using public transport, taxis or ride share vehicles and going to some retail venues such as shopping centres, supermarkets, department stores.

It is strongly recommended that one should wear a face mask where it is difficult to maintain 1.5 metres distance from others in all other settings. A face mask is not required in some circumstances including for: • Infants and children under the age of 12 years.

• A person who is affected by a relevant medical condition, including problems with their breathing, a serious condition of

the face, a disability, or a mental health condition.

• Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing, where the ability to see the mouth is essential for communication.

• Persons for whom wearing a face mask would create a risk to that person’s health and safety related to their work, as determined through OH&S guidelines.

• Persons whose professions require clear enunciation or visibility of their mouth.

This includes teaching or live broadcasting.

• When directed to remove the face mask to ascertain identity.

• During emergencies.

One must still carry a face mask with you when leaving home, even if one does not need to wear it.

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Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

Courtesy_CGI Melbourne website

INDIA NEWS

INDIA NEWS

Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

AIBTF launched to promote India-Australia trade Sydney Dec 4: Australian Securities and Investment Commission has said there is an opportunity to launch 334 Indian organisations in Australia, claimed Rahul Jethi, founding member of the newly launched Australia India Business Trade Foundation (AIBTF) in his welcome address at the inaugural dinner. “Well, if we cannot get to Sir Donald Bradman’s highest Test runs in cricket, we can at least aspire for more Indian organisations,” Jethi said.

Some 150 leaders from Sydney’s business community joined Rahul Jethi and other founding members of AIBTF – Jas Khera, Amit Vyas, Vinay Arora, Gurudatt Shenoy, Mansi Bhatia, Shipra Bhatia, and Preeti D’Silva at the Madison Function Centre for networking at the launch.

Also invited were special guests Alex Hawke (Federal Minister for International Development and the Pacific and Assistant Minister for Defence), and David

Elliot (NSW Minister for Police and Emergency Services), Consul General of India Manish Gupta and Consul General of Malta Lawrence Buhagir. Welcoming the guests, Rahul Jethi spoke about the huge opportunities to address the growing demands of cross border trade.

AIBTF will do its best to add value to its members’ ambitions of growing their business here and also overseas,” he said.

And so, the question was raised to Jethi regarding the need for not only another Indian organisation but also another business organisation to promote trade and investments when the Australia India Business Council has been in operation for decades.

Jethi replied, “There has been much work done by many organisations over the years.

There is still a lot to be done and probably more organisations may join in too. There is a huge opportunity in areas like

premium wines and food, grains management, logistics to reduce post-harvest losses, water management, to name a few. The regulation minefield; fear of the unknown; legal systems in India etc. have been a roadblock thus far. Things are improving though, and there will be great openings in these areas. There are some great organisations working in NSW as well as other states. We are happy to collaborate with one and all. Our efforts are primarily for the benefit of our members to have more exposure.” Lending their support to the cause, both Ministers Alex Hawke and David Elliot spoke about the warm relationship between Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Narendra Modi.

“Both our countries believe in free and open trade and human values,” Hawke said while not addressing the elephant in the room that is, the breakdown in the Australia-China relationship and the need to develop new markets.

Capacity crowd at SCG a reminder of what sport has to give Sydney, Dec 9: It was as electric as sport gets. It was not a Wimbledon final between Nadal and Federer, nor was it a FIFA World Cup opener between Brazil and Argentina. It was in fact a dead rubber in a largely inconsequential series of T20 cricket in Sydney of all places.

Yet from the long, meandering queues before the game, the guttural roar of the swelling crowd, and the unmistakable way it made the hairs stand on the back of your neck, it may well have been one of the most important athletic contests of all time. For this was the first international sporting event with a capacity crowd since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In a year that has taken so much, this was a reminder of what sport has to give. Sport has occasionally found a way to co-exist with the insidious virus, but it has at times succumbed, often in a cruel dichotomy; look no further than the ODI series between

England and South Africa, which was called off the very day before Australia and India played in front of a packed Sydney Cricket Ground.

Until the third and final T20I though, sport had not yet triumphed over the virus.

COVID-19 remains a pervasive threat, but for just one night, it was unceremoniously forced to take a back seat as hordes of fans – more than 30,000 at that – flocked to a venue that has hosted some of the greatest cricket matches. But few matches have transcended the sport the way this one did.

While many other countries are reeling from devastating third and fourth waves of COVID-19, including the UK, the United States and India itself, Australia remains the envy of the world.

Even our failures have their silver linings; controlling the outbreak in Victoria was the best evidence yet that we are doing something right, not just getting

lucky through isolation and low population density.

Those following the third T20I from other countries may have wondered whether they were watching a replay of a match from 2019. There was no requirement that masks be worn, and no fans took up the option. Social distancing was, for all practical purposes, impossible. Indian cricket fans, not known for distancing from each other at the best of times, piled into the stadium in their thousands, grouped together with others, and did what they have always done.

They danced together in the aisles, rendering meaningless the current ban on nightclubs.

They sung in loud unison with the music, abandoning the need for karaoke rooms. They roared when their captain launched a stunning assault on the Australian bowlers in yet another limited overs batting master class, albeit this time an unsuccessful one.

Indian trainer bags $500,000 win in Melbourne Cup 2020 Melbourne, Dec 5: 2020 will go down as a memorable year for Cranbourne horse trainer Julius Sandhu, and not only because of COVID, but also because he scored his first major win in the Melbourne Cup Carnival with his horse Do You Reckon. It took out the $500,000 Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final on Oaks Day.

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“It was a very rewarding effort”, Julius told. “Not many people gave my horse a chance for that distance, 1600m – but he ran a great race. It was a big deal for us to see him win”. “My life’s passion is for horses”, he mused. “They’re magnificent animals. I’m happy to spend most of my day around them”.

Julius Sandhu has been drawn to horses since his teenage years in India, introduced to them by his brother who was a horse trainer.

Later he cut his teeth as a trainer under Aris David, one of India’s best-known trainers. It was in Dubai though that he decided that racing would be his life’s calling, after working under legendary names such as Sheikh Mohammed and his son Sheikh Hamdan, and American thoroughbred trainer Kiaran McLaughlin.

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NEWS FROM NEW SOUTH WALES

AISRF to fund six new projects, one on COVID-19 Sydney, Dec 10: Australian and Indian researchers will work together to advance COVID-19 screening and study the future health effects of the virus, after a $4 million investment by the Morrison Government. The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) has funded six new projects, including one to develop COVID-19 diagnostic technologies and another study of the longer-term effects on the hearts and lungs of patients who have recovered.

Other projects will develop risk management systems to protect farmers from disasters associated with climate change and demonstrate how food-drying technology using renewable energy can reduce pollution in the food-processing sector.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews said she was pleased that work in these important areas would be able to continue after the COVID-19 pandemic had caused significant delays this year. “This latest funding will enable Australian and Indian researchers to contribute to the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including in crucial screening and as a result of our shared commitment to finding answers through science and technology, India and Australia have tackled a number of shared challenges since the AISRF was established in 2006, with important progress made in areas including agriculture, energy and health.”

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews “The Australian Government remains committed to our strong, strategic relationship with India, which provides numerous economic benefits for both countries.” The Australian recipients are the University of South Australia, the University of Southern Queensland, the University of Technology Sydney, the Metro North Hospital and Health Service in Brisbane, the University of Adelaide, and the University of Western Australia.

In June 2020, the Australian Government announced it would commit a further $15 million to extend the AISRF for another four years to 2024, bringing Australia’s total funding for AISRF grants to nearly $100 million over 18 years.

This funding will begin to roll out from the next grant round in 2021.

The AISRF is Australia’s largest fund dedicated to bilateral science collaboration. It helps build links between Australia and India’s top universities, research institutions and the end users of scientific innovation.

Govt grants for community schools to foster dual language skills Sydney Nov 25: The Morrison Government has announced a $10 million community language grants program to increase opportunities for young Australians to learn another language.

With a base payment of $1,500 and a per capita payment of up to $60,000 in grant funding, a total of 356 community language schools across Australia are expected to benefit from the program. The grants can be used to support operational costs such as staff wages, teaching materials and resources, as well as professional development programs.

Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge said the grants will deliver a “stronger” Australia.

“Dual language skills give young Australians a competitive edge in an increasing globalised workforce, and build our capacity as a nation to engage openly and confidently with the rest of the world,” he said.

“It also strengthens social cohesion by connecting young Australians to other cultures,

which is so important given our diverse multicultural society.”

Community language schools across Australia provide language programs in 70 different languages, teaching more than 100,000 school-aged children (up to year 12) after school or on weekends. Applications for a second stream of funding, with up to $25,000 available for projects that support the community language school sector, are currently under assessment.

Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge

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WORLD NEWS

CCP wants world to acquiesce to Aus soldiers urged to rebuild public faith amid China’s global view: US Congress report war crime allegations Canberra, Dec 7 (IANS): Governor-General David Hurley told new members of the defence force that it was their duty to rebuild public trust following the Afghan war crimes inquiry.

“(The ADF has) an enormous task of protecting our country while reassuring and re-affirming its relationship with the Australian people following the findings of the Brereton inquiry,” he said.

Hurley, who served as Chief of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) between 2011 and 2014 and has been serving as GovernorGeneral since 2019, told graduates of the ADF Academy on the evening of December 6 that they will need to “reassure and reaffirm” the relationship with the public, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Bringing the Australian people along with the ADF will be an enormous part of your work in the future.”

Hurley’s speech came following the findings of Supreme Court Justice Paul Brereton’s war crimes inquiry, which uncovered “credible evidence,” that Australian soldiers committed 39 murders in Afghanistan between 2005 and 2016.

Army Chief Rick Burr has confirmed that 13 soldiers who were “accessories” or “witnesses” of alleged murders have been issued show cause notices; giving them 14 days to show why they should not be dismissed from the ADF.

Brereton’s four-year inquiry, the findings from which were released in November, recommended criminal proceedings against 19 soldiers for the alleged killings, but veterans have expressed frustration that no action has been taken against senior officers.

Hurley told graduate officers on December 6 that they were “extremely well equipped to make an important contribution to your country,” but as military leaders, they also needed to ensure “they listened to their troops”.

“Leadership is not easy, I think you’ve learnt that by now, you’ll have to make decisions that have consequences for people and often make those decisions under pressure,” he said.

Hong Kong to further tighten social distancing measures Hong Kong, Dec 8 (IANS): Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on December 8 announced that in view of the worsening Covid-19 pandemic situation, social distancing measures will be further tightened, including the banning of dine-in services in restaurants after 6 p.m.

“The situation is more complicated than the last wave as infections scattered across Hong Kong and a number of clusters were involved,” Lam said.

She added that the number of untraceable cases has been rising which indicated that there is a lot of silent transmission in the community.

The city government will adopt more stringent measures to reduce people flow in public places to contain the spread of the virus.

Dine-in services in restaurants will be banned after 6 p.m., and work from home arrangements among civil servants will be strengthened.

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Other popular apps that have been banned include WeWorkChina, CamCard and Snack. These apps have been banned by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) for engaging in activities which are “prejudicial to the sovereignty and integrity of the country, defence, security of the state and public order”.

The ministry banned these apps based on reports received from the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Indian government had on September 2 banned 118 apps

Chinese President Xi Jinping on national security concerns, including the immensely popular PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) Mobile, Baidu and couple

of virtual private networks (VPNs) that allowed access to TikTok that was banned earlier.

China, US must work together to resume dialogue: Chinese foreign minister Beijing, Dec 7 (IANS): Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on December 7 urged joint efforts between Beijing and the US to ensure “a stable transition” of bilateral relations against disruptions of all kinds, and striving to resume dialogue, bring ties back on track and rebuild mutual trust.

Wang made the remarks in Beijing at a meeting with a delegation of board of directors of the US-China Business Council held via video link, reports Xinhua news agency.

Addressing reporters, Lam said that the recent Covid-19 situation has been worrying, with 661 new cases reported recently, reports Xinhua news agency.

Patients in critical and serious conditions involved not only the elderly but also the younger people.

New Delhi, Nov 24 (IANS): Continuing with its ban orders on Chinese apps, the Indian government on November 24 blocked 43 new mobile apps, including shopping website AliExpress owned by e-commerce behemoth Alibaba.

Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Fitness centres, beauty parlours, massage establishments will remain closed, according to Lam. To prevent importation of cases, visitors who arrive in Hong Kong are subject to a 14day compulsory quarantine in designated hotels and they need to undergo another Covid-19 test five days after completing isolation, the Chief Executive said.

Hong Kong reported 78 new cases on December 7, taking its total tally to 6,975.

At least 1,122 infected patients are being treated in public hospitals and the community treatment facility at AsiaWorld-Expo, and a total of 36 patients are in critical condition.

The death toll stands at 122.

Noting that China and the US share broad common interests and room for cooperation, Wang said the countries, as the two biggest economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, should enhance dialogue and cooperation to contribute more to sustained peace and prosperity of mankind.

Saying the future of China-US relations hinges on the correct choices made by Washington and the joint efforts of the two sides, Wang put forward five proposals for promoting the sound and stable development of ties.

The proposals are to perceive China in a strategically correct way; strengthening communication and dialogue; expanding mutually beneficial cooperation; managing disputes and differences; and increasing public support for bilateral ties.

Wang’s remarks came months after Chinese and US trade negotiators held phone talks in August over implementing the phase one agreement between the

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Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi The Trump administration has two economic giants. levied tariffs on billions of dollars’ The call on August 25 between worth of Chinese goods, to which Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, Beijing has responded with duties US Trade Representative (USTR) of its own.

Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin came after a planned six-month review of the deal set for August 15 was delayed to an unspecified date, and US President Donald Trump subsequently claimed he postponed the talks, said a CNBC News report.

Tensions between the world’s two largest economies have escalated over the last two years.

In January, the countries reached a phase one agreement on trade that called for increased Chinese purchases of US goods and greater access to the Chinese financial market.

However, bilateral tensions have only increased in the months since, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

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Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

New Zealand unveils measures for better security

New Zealand’s population likely to reach 6mn by 2050

Wellington, Dec 8 (IANS): The New Zealand government on December 8 announced a series of initiatives in its response to the recommendations to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on two Christchurch mosques in 2019.

These actions will “promote inclusion for all New Zealanders while recognizing and responding to the value diversity brings to our communities”, Xinhua news agency quoted a joint statement as saying.

The government will support diverse communities by creating a Ministry for Ethnic Communities, establishing an Ethnic Communities Graduate Program, establishing a National Center of Excellence to focus on diversity, social cohesion, and preventing and countering violent extremism, and trialing support for young children to improve their self-regulation, resilience, and social skills, it said.

The government will tackle harmful behaviour and discrimination by establishing the New Zealand Police program to respond to hate crime and hate incidents, strengthening the capacity of the Human Rights Commission, implementing an early intervention to prevent terrorism and violent extremism through the Multi-Agency Coordination and Intervention

Program, among other initiatives, it said.

“Some groups within our communities are not able to access the same opportunities as others, and experience discrimination, racism and risks to their safety. This government is committed to ensuring that all people feel safe, that they belong, are valued and can contribute,” Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan said.

The government will also establish a Ministry for Ethnic Communities to replace the Office for Ethnic Communities to better support and respond to the needs of the diverse communities, the statement said.

“With these actions, we are laying the foundations for a better future, and a fairer more equitable New Zealand,” Radhakrishnan said.

Meanwhile, the Terrorism Suppression Act will be amended to strengthen Counter-Terrorism legislation.

“We will work with community and interest groups across New Zealand as we implement the Royal Commission. We all have a role to play in ensuring an event like March 15 never happens again,” said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

Palestine calls Israeli settlement activity ‘blatant challenge to peace’ Ramallah, Dec 8 (IANS): The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has said that escalating Israeli settlement activity in the occupied territories was “a blatant challenge to the international will for peace”.

The Israeli continuation of settlement expansion in the Palestinian territories “is a public disregard to the world’s states and their positions that condemn settlement,” the Ministry said in a statement sent to Xinhua news agency on December 7.

“Such a situation urges the international community to take a serious pause to force the occupying state to retreat from implementing its plans which contradict international law and resolutions,” it added.

The Ministry also warned of Israel’s settlement plans in Jerusalem, noting the plans aim at annexing the entire city and shutting the window of any opportunity of establishing a viable Palestinian state.

The Palestinians want the eastern part of Jerusalem, which was

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occupied by Israel in 1967, to be the capital of their future independent state, while Israelis insist that Jerusalem is the undivided eternal capital of Israel.

Earlier, the Israeli media reported that the District Planning and Building Committee announced a plan to build 9,000 housing units in the settlement of Atarot in East Jerusalem.

According to the Palestine Liberation Organization, about 124 Israeli settlement outposts have been built in the West Bank since the 1990s without any official Israeli approval.

Palestinian rights groups said about 700,000 settlers have been living in the West Bank and East Jerusalem since 1967.

The Israeli settlements built on the Palestinian territories are regarded as illegal by the international community.

However in 2019, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that Washington no longer considered Israeli settlements as inconsistent with international law.

Wellington, Dec 8 (IANS): New Zealand’s population could hit the 6-million milestone by 2050 depending on migration and birth rates in the country, the statistics department Stats NZ said on December 8.

as a base, reports Xinhua news agency.

The department has released projections of the population usually living in New Zealand over the period from 2020 to 2073, estimating a resident population of 5.1 million on June 30, 2020

The manager added that it took another 16 years to reach 5 million, but lower projected birth rates and an ageing population mean the population could hit 6 million in about 20-30 years.

“The New Zealand population hit 4 million people in 2003,” population insights senior manager Brooke Theyers said in a statement.

WORLD NEWS

The latest projections indicate the population is likely to be between 5.1 and 5.5 million by 2025, and between 5.2 and 5.9 million by 2030.

By 2073, the projections indicate a population of between 5.3 and 8.5 million, Theyers said.

One in five people will be aged over 65 by the 2030s, he said, and the percentage could increase to nearly one in four (23 per cent or 1.5 million people) by 2050.

NZ’s tourist hotspots face drop in employment amid Covid-19 Wellington, Dec 9 (IANS): New Zealand’s key tourism destinations -- Queenstown, Rotorua and Auckland had some of the largest drops in filled jobs in the September 2020 quarter in the wake of Covid-19, the statistics department Stats NZ said on December 9.

Tourism, as New Zealand’s biggest export industry contributing 20.4 per cent of total exports, directly employed 8.4 per cent of the New Zealand workforce before Covid-19, Xinhua reported.

Tourism generates a direct annual contribution to GDP of 16.2 billion New Zealand dollars (11.4 billion US dollars), or 5.8 per cent, and a further indirect contribution of 11.2 billion New Zealand dollars (7.9 billion US dollars), another 4 per cent of New Zealand’s total

GDP, according to Stats NZ. Queenstown-Lakes district had 1,155 fewer jobs in the September 2020 quarter than in the same period last year - a 5.3 per cent decrease.

Jobs filled in Rotorua district decreased by 1.1 per cent (329 jobs). Auckland experienced Level 3 lockdown restrictions in August and had a 0.4 per cent fall (3,186 jobs) in the September 2020 quarter.

Filled jobs also fell by 2.9 per cent (108 jobs) in Waitomo district and by 2.7 per cent (142 jobs) in Ruapehu district.

“The falls in these popular tourist destinations coincided with the wage subsidies finishing and COVID-19 border restrictions interrupting international

tourism,” Stats NZ’s business insights manager Sue Chapman said.

Stats NZ said earlier that border restrictions are cutting a swathe through international visitor arrivals which showed a record drop of 1.4 million from April to September 2020.

Overseas visitor arrivals were down by 253,200 to 8,600 in September 2020, compared with September 2019. The biggest changes were in arrivals from Australia (down 128,500) and China (down 27,300).

“These decreases are part of an overall weaker picture for both filled jobs and gross earnings across a number of industries, since the onset of Covid-19,” Chapman said.

UK woman 1st in world to receive Pfizer Covid vaccine London, Dec 8 (IANS): A 90-yearold woman named Margaret Keenan on December 8 became the first person in the world to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine as part of the mass vaccination programme being rolled out across the UK. She was given the injection at 6.31 GMT -- the first of 800,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine that will be given in the coming weeks. Up to four million more are expected by the end of the month.

Hubs in the UK will vaccinate over-80s and some health and care staff -- the programme aims to protect the most vulnerable and allow life to return to normal.

According to the BBC, Keenan, who turne 91 recently, said it was the “best early birthday present”.

“I feel so privileged to be the first person vaccinated against Covid-19, it’s the best early birthday present I could wish for because it means I can finally look forward to spending time with my family and friends in the new year

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after being on my own for most of the year,” she added.

Also, vaccination will not be compulsory in the UK.

The UK is the first country in the world to start using the Pfizer vaccine after regulators approved its use recently.

Based on current projections, Pfizer’s and BioNTech’s combined manufacturing network has the potential to supply globally up to 50 million vaccine doses in 2020 and up to 1.3 billion doses by the end of 2021 -- subject to manufacturing capacity and regulatory approval or authorisation.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock told BBC Breakfast there was a “long march ahead of us but this marks the way out”.

“This virus is deadly. We’ve got to stick by the rules,” he said.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson thanked the National Health Service (NHS) and said “all of the scientists who worked so hard to develop this vaccine”, the volunteers and “everyone who has been following the rules to protect others. We will beat this together.”

Pfizer said it has an established infrastructure to supply the vaccine worldwide, including distribution hubs that can store vaccine doses for up to six months, although the company does not expect that the product will need to be stored at any location for more than 30 days due to the high demand.

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Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

THE WORLD THIS WEEK Contributed by National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Bengaluru*

By Sourina Bej, Sukanya Bali, D Suba Chandran, Akriti Sharma and Lokendra Sharma

COVID-19: The UK government approves emergency vaccine rollout, sparking hope and questions What happened?

On 2 December, the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) granted emergency-use authorization to the COVID-19 vaccine jointly developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, seven months after clinical trials. The UK became the first country to grant vaccine approval to Pfizer and BioNTech. Marching ahead of the US and Germany, where both companies are based, the approval prompted international criticisms from both the EU and the US. Peter Liese, a member of the European Parliament’s public health committee, called the UK’s approval ‘hasty’; and the head of the US National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, Anthony Fauci, called the process a “kind of ran around the corner of the marathon and joined it in the last mile.” The UK defended its regulators and moved to order 40 million doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech jabs which can vaccinate 20 million people.

Additionally, 100 million doses have been ordered for the shot developed by AstraZeneca PLC and the University of Oxford.

What does it mean?

Quick approval by the UK has shown the world what is needed: a bureaucracy that will work for a health emergency.

Challenges remain for the UK to ease access for the low-income group. However, the vaccine authorization is an important moment for the UK because it shows that the country can work without delays and defeats that have distinctively marked its political history since the beginning of the BREXIT. The authorization of the vaccine being within the ambit of EU law is not an argument in favour of BREXIT, but an indication of what the UK wants to do in future.

Escalating tensions between Australia and China: A tweet raises diplomatic heat What happened?

On 30 November, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman tweeted with a doctored image of an Australian soldier holding a blood-stained knife to the throat of an Afghan child captioned

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“Don’t be afraid, we are coming to bring you peace”. He also posted, “Shocked by the murder of Afghan civilians & prisoners by Australian soldiers. We strongly condemn such acts & call for holding them accountable”.

On the same day, Scott Morrison, Australian Prime Minister, condemned the image and demanded an apology for the “repugnant tweet”. He said: “It is utterly outrageous and cannot be justified on any basis. The Chinese government should be utterly ashamed of this post. It diminishes them in the world’s eyes.”

On 1 December, New Zealand became the first country to voice its criticism over China’s tweet. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Arden said, “It was an unfactual post, and of course it concerns us. We have raised it directly, the way New Zealand does when we have such concerns.” Later the same day the Chinese Spokesperson said, “rather than demanding an apology for the post, Australia should be “ashamed”, as some of its soldiers on official duty in Afghanistan committed such cruelties”.

What does it mean?

Australia’s export to China constitutes 35 per cent of its total export, whereas imports from Australia account for 4 per cent of China’s total imports. This dispute would hurt Australia more than it would hurt China.

However, with the rising tensions, as exemplified by the dispute over a tweet, Australia might not reverse its policy against China.

An Afghan agreement in Doha: A breakthrough reported between the government and the Taliban

tweeted on the same day: “The current negotiations of both negotiation teams show that there is willingness among Afghans to reach a sustainable peace and both sides are committed to continue their sincere efforts to reach a sustainable peace in Afghanistan.”

On 5 December, Nadery tweeted again. He said: “The Committee discussed the issue related to the agenda of the negotiation. The working committee will meet again tomorrow.”

Earlier, according to Sediq Seddiqqi, the spokesperson of the Afghan President tweeted on the same issue in which the latter welcomed the “finalization of the negotiation procedures in Doha.”

What does it mean?

An agreement between the Afghan government and the Taliban is important at this juncture. Not only because of Trump’s decision to reduce the troops level further but also because of declining international support to Afghanistan. The Afghan donor conference in Geneva last month could manage only USD 12 billion for the next four years when compared to USD 16 billion and USD 15 billion during Tokyo (2012) and Brussels (2016) conferences respectively.

The troubling aspect is the continuing violence. As mentioned above, more than 1000 people have been killed during the last two months (October-November 2020). This is unacceptable. Dialogue and violence cannot continue side by side. Unfortunately, there is more pressure on the Afghan government to accept this, as the Taliban continues to engage in Doha politically, and perpetrate violence in Afghanistan.

ALSO IN THE NEWS

Hong Kong: Young trio jailed

What happened?

On 2 December, the New York Times reported an agreement between the negotiators of the Afghan government and the Taliban over “the principles and procedures that will guide the ongoing peace negotiations between them.” According to a tweet by Nader Nadery, on December 2, “the plenary meeting was held between two Intra-Afghan negotiation teams.

In this meeting, a joint working committee was tasked to prepare the draft topics for the agenda.” and “the procedure including its preamble of the negotiation has been finalized and from now on, the negotiation will begin on the agenda.” Nadery is a part of the negotiation team by the Afghan government; he also

was criticized by the US and the UK. Dominic Raab, UK’s Foreign Secretary, urged “the Hong Kong and Beijing authorities to bring an end to their campaign to stifle opposition.”

Thailand: PM Prayut not guilty, rules Constitutional Court On 2 December, Thailand’s Constitutional Court ruled unanimously that Prime Minister Prayut was not guilty of occupying the army residence.

Prayut, former chief of Thailand’s military, had seized power after the 2014 coup. However, he continues to stay in his army residence after assuming the post of prime minister. The Pheu Thai, Thailand’s largest opposition party, complained to the court regarding it in March this year. An adverse ruling would have made his continuation at the post of prime minister untenable.

New Zealand: Climate emergency declared On 2 December, New Zealand’s parliament passed a motion declaring a state of ‘Climate

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison bushfire season which burned 30 million acres of land and killed more than a billion animals.

Japan: Space capsule returns, with samples from an asteroid On 5 December, a capsule released by Japan’s Hayabusa2 spacecraft that was sent to collect asteroid samples, landed in a remote area of Southern Australia. Scientists believe that the samples, especially the ones taken from under the asteroid surface, contain valuable data unaffected by space radiation and other environmental factors.

India: Farmers protests against the agriculture laws

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Emergency’, joining 32 other countries which have declared it already. The government also committed to achieving carbon neutrality in the public sector by 2025. Addressing the legislators, Prime Minister Jacinda Arden called climate change “one of the greatest challenges of our time” and said that the country needed to “act with urgency”.

New Zealand: Visiting Pakistani cricket team barred from training On 4 December, New Zealand’s Ministry of Health said that the exemption provided to visiting sports teams to train after completing 14-days isolation has been denied to the Pakistani cricket team which is staying in a Christchurch hotel. This comes after 8 cricketers tested positive for COVID-19 in the 53-member Pakistani squad and breach of isolation rules by team members.

New Zealand’s Director General of Health said that there continue to be “concerns about the risk of cross-infection within the squad.”

Australia: Bushfires due to the heat wave

Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Joshua Wong On 2 December, a Hong Kong court sentenced pro-democracy leader Joshua Wong for 13 months in prison while fellow dissidents Ivan Lam and Agnes Chow were jailed for 10 and seven months respectively. The trio had pleaded guilty to the charges of inciting, organizing and participating in a rally near the Hong Kong Police Headquarter in 2019. The ruling

WORLD THIS WEEK

On 3 December, seventeen aircraft dumped water on the Fraser island that continues to burn due to the bushfires. Fires are raging for more than six weeks now and have engulfed an area of 187,800 acres. Fire bans have been imposed in the northern slopes and the northwestern districts. Bushfires though common in Australia, the intensity and occurrences have increased due to climate change.

2019-20 witnessed a devastating

On 5 December, the fifth round of talks between the Indian government and the farmers ended. Farmers are protesting against the three new agriculture laws: the Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, and The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act. Farmers have rejected the government’s offer to reform laws and demanded repealing of all three laws. On 1 December, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau extended support to the Indian farmers, following which India summoned Canadian High Commissioner as a mark of protest.

France: Crackdown on Mosques On 3 December, France’s Interior Minister said that the government had identified 76 mosques as “suspected” of “separatism” out of the 2600 Muslim places of worship in the country. These mosques would be closed down if found to be spreading separatism.

He also said that 66 radicalized undocumented migrants had been expelled from the country, while many others are being detained. These moves are part of the French government’s push for combating “Islamist separatism” after a string of recent terror attacks.

About the authors Sourina Bej is a Project Associate, Sukanya Bali is a Research Associate, D Suba Chandran is a Professor and Dean, Akriti Sharma and Lokendra Sharma are PhD Scholars, at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS. The report has been edited by India News due to space considerations.

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Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

MAKE IN INDIA

Make in India: Emerging Opportunities As world economies restart their engines in a bid to regain lost ground due to the Covid-19 pandemic, India too shows signs of economic buoyancy and promise. India’s Make in India initiative holds a key to the global economic revival, something that should interest Australian government ministries, corporate sector, entrepreneurs, institutions seeking R&D collaborations and Australia Inc in general, among others. India assumes greater importance as several major world economies including American, Japanese, German, British and South Korean look to move out and diversify their businesses from China. India has jumped to 63rd rank in the World Bank’s Ease of Development 2020 report, and has also been ranked as the 9th largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment destination in 2019 by the World Investment Report 2020 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

UN declares ‘Invest India’ winner of investment promotion award 2020

New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has declared ‘Invest India’ as winner of the 2020 United Nations Investment Promotion Award in a ceremony at its headquarters in Geneva.

The Award recognises and celebrates the outstanding achievements of the world’s bestpractice investment promotion agencies. The evaluation was based on UNCTAD’s assessment of work undertaken by 180 national investment promotion agencies across the world.

The Covid-19 pandemic had generated challenges for investment promotion agencies (IPAs), forcing them to shift focus from routine investment promotion and facilitation towards crisis management, notification of government emergency and economic relief measures, provision of crisis support services, and contribution to national Covid-19 business response efforts.

All this was being done while agencies had closed offices, moved functions online and asked staff to work from home.

In March, UNCTAD constituted a team to monitor IPAs response to the pandemic.

UNCTAD reported best practices from investment promotion agencies in the IPA Observer publications in April and July.

IPAs response to the pandemic became the basis for the evaluation of the 2020 United Nations Investment Promotion Award.

UNCTAD highlighted good practices followed by ‘Invest India’ such as the Business Immunity Platform, Exclusive Investment Forum webinar series, its social media engagement and focus Covid response teams (such as business reconstruction, stakeholder outreach and supplier outreach) created as a response to the pandemic in its publications.

Invest India has also shared longterm strategies and practices being followed for investment promotion, facilitation and retention at UNCTAD’s high-level brainstorming sessions.

UNCTAD is the central agency which monitors performance of investment promotion agencies and identifies global best practices. Germany, South Korea, and Singapore have been some of the past winners of the award.

UNDP and Invest India identify opportunities for www.indianews.com.au

SDGs in India

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS): UNDP and Invest India launched the SDG Investor Map for India recently, laying out 18 Investment Opportunities Areas (IOAs) in six critical sustainable development goals (SDG) enabling sectors that can help India push the needle forward on sustainable development.

“India occupies a key role in determining the success of the SDGs, globally. Invest India is pleased to have partnered with UNDP India to develop the firstever ‘SDG Investor Map for India’.

This initiative is an instrumental stride in India’s development trajectory, and I believe it couldn’t have come at a better time. We hope our data-backed research and insights serve as useful blueprints to understand how best the SDG financing gap can be narrowed in India”, Deepak Bagla, CEO & MD, Invest India, said on the occasion.

The development pathways that India chooses will set an example for other emerging nations and determine the achievement of global environmental and social targets. It is thus critical to ensure that these pathways are sustainable, resilient and equitable.

However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the SDG Financing Gap has widened by an estimated $ 400 billion in developing countries, adding to the preCovid shortfall of $ 2-2.5 trillion per annum.

While the government continues to show strong support for the SDGs and a sustainable recovery, mobilising this kind of capital and supporting the on-ground innovation needed to meet the SDG targets by 2030, requires the collective efforts of the public and private sector transition from short-term recovery to long-term sustainability.

This is where the SDG Investor Map for India comes in. By mapping the overlaps and gaps between public sector priorities and private sector interest, the SDG Investor Map lays out pathways that can bring together private-sector investment and public sector support for 6 SDG-enabling sectors including education, healthcare, agriculture and allied activities, financial services, renewable energy alternatives and sustainable environment.

These sectors and the IOAs within them were selected through a rigorous analytical process that included extensive consultations with a number of major domestic and international investors, government stakeholders and think-tanks. This ensured that the Map’s findings were truly reflective of market sentiment, a UNDP statement said.

Of the 18 IOAs identified, 10 are

already mature investable areas that have seen good Private Equity and Venture Capital activity, and feature companies that have been able to unlock scale and demonstrate profitability.

The remaining eight IOAs are emerging opportunities, which have seen traction from earlystage investors.

The map has also identified eight White Spaces, which have seen investor interest and have the potential to grow into IOAs within a 5-6-year horizon.

However, these require further policy support and private sector participation to mature into commercially attractive IOAs, UNDP said.

Nearly 50% of the shortlisted IOAs have historical investments that have yielded IRRs in excess of 20%. About 84% of the IOAs have investment timeframes ranging from the short term (less than 5 years) to the medium-term (between 5- 15 years).

The observations from the map present a strong case for investing in SDG enabling sectors and IOAs, bridging the gap between highlevel development targets and the need for commercially viable returns, a UNDP press release said.

Haryana CM invites Singapore investments in Haryana

Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar Chandigarh, Nov 20 (IANS): Haryana Chief Minister (CM) Manohar Lal Khattar recently offered support to companies of Singapore to expand their base in the state.

He said to facilitate the investors the Foreign Cooperation Department has been set up and it will provide assistance to the Singaporean companies to set up businesses in the state.

Khattar was speaking at the Haryana-Singapore Roundtable Virtual Conference organised by the state government, Invest India and Enterprise Singapore.

Singapore High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong, also attended the conference.

CEOs and top representatives of leading companies of Singapore like Durapower, YCH Group, Agrocorp International, Transworld Terminals, Skill SG Ventures, Legend Logistics,

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Surbana Jurong, etc., showed keen interest in expanding their units in the fields of logistics, warehousing, cold chain, transport hub, distribution facilities and manufacturing of electrical gadgets, a statement by the state government said.

The Chief Minister said “out of various models of business, we believe in the H2H model of working that is ‘heart-to-heart’ approach of collaboration”.

The Chief Minister said India and Singapore have a long-lasting relationship. The relationship between Haryana and Singapore has elevated in recent years with Singapore’s involvement in smart cities, solid waste treatment, wastewater treatment plants and healthcare in the state.

He said the state is considered an industrial powerhouse with more than 250 fortune 500 companies based in Haryana.

The Chief Minister said that to ensure a seamless investment process, a single-roof clearance system has been set up wherein any investor or enterprises can obtain all state related clearances through an online portal in a time-bound manner.

All clearances are granted to investors in a maximum timeframe of 45 days. Over, one lakh clearances from various departments have already been granted through this mechanism, he said.

He said the state is focusing on the creation of world-class infrastructure. The state is working on big projects like integrated Multi-Modal Logistics Hub in Narnaul, Global City in Gurugram and an integrated aviation hub in Hisar.

“We are in the process of developing three smart cities in Faridabad, Gurgaon and Karnal,” Khattar said.

High Commissioner Simon Wong said Singapore is looking for collaboration with Haryana in the fields of 5G and 6G technology, agro-tech industries, next generation textile, etc.

He said in the last three years Singapore has been the largest investor in Haryana. In India, Singapore has investments of $85 billion.

New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): After cementing its position in the Indian smart TV market, Xiaomi’s Mi brand is all set to enter the premium segment with launching a fully ‘make in India’ 55-inch QLED TV on December 16, a top company executive revealed on December 7. Mi Smart TVs continue to be the best-selling devices for the nine consecutive quarters in India, with a 22 per cent market share (Q2, 2020).

The company recently said it has sold over 50 lakh Mi TVs since its inception in 2018.

“We have seen that the aspirations of the consumers are everchanging. With the launch of new QLED TV, we are focusing on the improvement of the momentum of this segment as well as increase its adaptation rate,” Eshwar Nilakantan, Category Lead, Smart TV, Mi India, told IANS. “Mi QLED TV will combine great picture quality, incredible acoustic audio and a great lifestyle design. It will be a perfect amalgamation of technology and design, enhancing both the living space and entertainment experience for consumers,” Nilakantan elaborated.

QLED TVs are at the forefront of emerging TV technology.

They make up a large portion of the premium TV segment and amplify the aspirations of the TV viewing public. The QLED market has seen merit in proposing a combination of lifestyle and functional merit.

“In 2018, we successfully launched smart TVs in India with Mi TV 4 which was the world’s thinnest LED TV at 4.9mm. We have completed two years of our TV journey in India. Since Q2 2018, Mi India has remained the number one Smart TV brand in India,’’ Nilakantan added.

Mi TVs are powered by Patchwall technology that is designed specifically for Indian consumers.

According to the company, PatchWall is India’s most comprehensive content platform on TVs with deep integration of over 23 content partners including Netflix, Prime Video, Hotstar and more content from over 16 languages and with over 30 other unique features.

Xiaomi’s Mi to launch ‘make in India’ 55-inch QLED TV

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Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

Bharat Bandh: Little impact on business, transport, banking

Delhi-based chemical company booked in Rs 1,800 cr bank fraud case

New Delhi/Chennai, Dec 8 (IANS): The Bharat Bandh called by farmer organisations on December 8 had no visible impact on trade, transport or other commercial activities, industry insiders said.

The farmers from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, who have been agitating over the “black laws” since November 26 at several borders of the national Capital, called for the ‘Bharat Bandh’ on December 8.

Besides the bandh, there was also a call for no vehicular movement -- Chakka Jam -- across the nation from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

However, no impact was felt at markets, banks, stock exchange or even airports across the country.

Normal operations were reported from markets in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangaluru and other places.

Among sectors, state-run banks operated normally without major impact of the Bharat Bandh.

Bank unions, however, decided to put on black badges in support of farmers’ call of repealing the three laws.

In line with the public sector banks, state-run insurance companies were also operating normally on December 8.

Officials with major public and private sector banks said that they have sent advisories that although operations are meant to be normal, decisions by bank branches should be taken at the local level after gauging the situation.

In terms of transport, air and road sector operations remained normal.

An Airports Authority of India Spokesperson said that operations were not affected at any of the airport across the country.

Operations at the Delhi airport ran smoothly with flights being operated on schedule.

Airlines said that most of the

flights operated on schedule.

Despite smooth operations, on their part, airlines had provisioned to waive rescheduling, no-show, who could not report for their flights amid traffic disruption caused due to the strike.

Traders claimed that no effect was witnessed on commercial activities across the country.

The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) said: “As usual the markets in Delhi and across the country remained fully operative conducting smooth business activities, including Delhi.”

“Movement of goods all over the country also remained unaffected,” it added.

The CAIT claimed that more than seven crore business establishments were completely open throughout the country and business activities continued unabated.

CAIT and the All India Transport Welfare Association (AITWA), the largest organisation of the transport sector on December 7, gave a nationwide call to traders and transporters to keep their business establishments open on ‘Bharat Bandh’.

According to CAIT Secretary General, Praveen Khandelwal, business establishments and transport companies prominently in Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, among other states remained completely operative where both wholesale and retail markets remained operational in full force and transport services were also conducted smoothly.

In addition, AITWA claimed that the transport business in the country was fully operational despite the bandh.

As per AITWA furnished data, about 90 lakh trucks and other vehicles ply every day on India’s roads, out of which around 20 lakh ferry goods via inter-city transport, while the rest operate on an intra-state level.

BUSINESS & TRADE

New Delhi, Dec 4 (IANS): The Central Bureau of Investigation registered a case against Delhibased Jay Polychem India Ltd. (borrower company) and others for defrauding a consortium of banks led by the State Bank of India to the tune of Rs 1,800 crore and carried out searches at three locations in the national capital.

A CBI official said that the agency registered a case on a complaint from SBI against Jay Polychem based at Lajpat Nagar in New Delhi, its Managing Director Satinder Singh Madhok, director Sandeep Singh Madhok, corporate guarantor Jaspark Speciality Chemical Pvt Ltd and unknown public servants and unknown private persons on the allegations of causing an alleged

loss of Rs. 1800.72 crore to the SBI and other consortium banks.

cheating, forgery and criminal conspiracy.

According to CBI officials, it was alleged in the complaint that the accused had cheated the SBI-led consortium banks to the tune of Rs 1800.72 crore by way of diversion or siphoning off bank funds, fictitious transactions,

The agency sleuths carried out searches at three locations in Delhi at the office and residential premises of Jay Polychem and other accused.

yards.

government-run market yards, are apprehensive but are unable to register their protest due to lack of unity and strong leadership.

Despite nationwide protests, Telangana farmers silent over new farm laws Hyderabad, Dec 3 (IANS): At a time when farmers of Punjab, Haryana and other northern states are up in arms against the new farm legislations, the silence

by Telangana farmers has been surprising.

A variety of factors are keeping Telugu farmers away from the protests.

The difference in agricultural pattern and marketing mechanism compared to Punjab and Haryana, lack of leadership among farmers, various pro-farmer schemes being implemented by the state governments and the different viewpoints over the new legislations are believed to be the reasons for ryots not taking to streets.

Telangana saw no major protests when the All India Coordination Committee of Farmers Movements called a nationwide strike in September to protest the passage of three bills in Parliament.

The legislation allows the farmers to sell their produce outside the government-run Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) regulated marketing

States like Punjab and Haryana have strong government procurement infrastructure.

Since farmers in these states fear that the government may do away with APMC procurement process as well as the system of Minimum Support Price (MSP), they are on warpath.

However, unlike agriculturists in Punjab and Haryana who own 10-15 acres of land, their counterparts in Telangana are small farmers who own 1-2 acres of land.

Most of the farmers in Telangana directly sell their produce to traders or customers.

Food Corporation of India (FCI) data from 2015 to 2020 shows that nearly a quarter of farmers in Telangana did not access the marketplace for MSP fixed by the Centre.

While rice procurement by FCI averaged between 95 per cent and 79 per cent in Punjab, it averaged between 77 per cent and 51.8 per cent in Telangana.

The opinion is also divided among farmers over the legislations.

Farmers, who depend on

Another farmer Bandaru Srinivas pointed out that the imports of agriculture commodities by the government before every agriculture season is affecting the farmers. “Farmers are not getting the MSP because of this policy by the government,” he said.

Another reason why farmers are not agitating is various pro-farmer schemes being implemented by the government in Telangana.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) opposed the new farm bills and alleged that they were aimed at benefiting corporates.

Analysts say this stand by the TRS government reassured the farmers in the state.

Farmers are availing the benefits of ‘Rythu Bandhu’ under which the state government is providing Rs 10,000 every year as investment support per acre.

Farmers are also happy with the government for procuring entire paddy and maize in their villages during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Fitch hikes India’s FY21 GDP forecast to (-) 9.4% New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS): Global credit rating agency Fitch on December 8 raised its FY21 GDP growth forecast for India by predicting a narrower economic contraction of (-) 9.4 per cent from an earlier predicted fall of (-) 10.5 per cent.

“We now expect GDP to contract 9.4 per cent in fiscal year to end March 2021, followed by (+) 11 per cent and (+) 6.3 per cent in the following years,” Fitch Ratings said in its latest Global Economic Outlook (GEO) for December.

“The coronavirus recession has nevertheless inflicted severe economic scarring. The need to

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repair balance sheets, increased caution about long-term planning, and firm closures will limit investment demand.”

Furthermore, it pointed out that increased financial-sector weakness - amid deteriorating asset quality - will hold back credit provision.

“The failure of another bank in recent weeks - the third failure in the past 16 months - underlines the challenges in the financial sector,” the December GEO said.

Recently, India recorded a faster than anticipated economic recovery.

The country’s GDP contracted 7.5 per cent in the July-September period, as the economy rebounded from a record slump of 23.9 per cent in the previous quarter due to slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

reached its pre-pandemic level in 3Q20, and the manufacturing PMI hints at further gains.

Manufacturing is buoyed by strong demand for autos and pharmaceutical products, in particular.”

“The Indian economy staged a sharper rebound in 3Q20 from the coronavirus-induced recession than we expected in our September GEO. GDP fell 7.5 per cent year over year (September GEO: (-) 9.6 per cent), up from (-) 23.9 per cent in 2Q20.”

According to the rating agency, the rebound in the services sector was more muted amid continued social distancing, with containment measures scaled back only gradually.

“The rebound in activity was especially sharp in the manufacturing sector: output

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“The outlook is brighter owing to an expected rollout of various vaccines in 2021. India has preordered 1.6 billion doses including 500 million doses of the Oxford/

AstraZeneca vaccine.”

“Distribution should allow a faster-than-expected easing of social-distancing restrictions and boost sentiment.”

However, it pointed out the likelihood that the vaccine rollout over the next 12 months will not reach the majority of the people given the huge logistical and distribution challenges in a heavily populated country like India.

“Regional shutdowns are likely in the next few months while the virus is still spreading.”

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BUSINESS & TRADE

FM reviews implementation PLI scheme to provide major impetus of AatmaNirbhar Bharat to manufacturing sector: Amitabh Kant package with secys New Delhi, Dec 12 (IANS): The Centre’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme for key sectors has the potential to add $520 billion worth of manufacturing in the next five years, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said on Saturday.

Recently, the Centre had announced the PLI scheme with a budgetary support of $26 billion.

Addressing the virtual session, ‘PLI for Exponential Growth of Manufacturing’, organised during Ficci’s 93rd annual convention, Kant said that the PLI scheme in the 10 champion sectors will support Indian manufacturers.

Union Minister of State for Commerce _ Industry, Nirmala Sitharaman 31.12.2020. As of December 4, Rs. New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS): Banks 25,000 crore has been disbursed have sanctioned additional credit out of this special facility. Balance amounting to Rs 2,05,563 crore amount of Rs. 5,000 crore under to 80,93,491 borrowers under the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Special Liquidity Facility (SLF) allocated to NABARD by RBI for Scheme (ECLGS). smaller Non-Banking Financial The Rs 3 lakh crore ECLGS Companies (NBFCs) and Nonscheme was announced by the Banking Financial Companiesgovernment early this year as Micro Finance Institutions part of AatmaNirbhar Bharat (NBFCs-MFIs).

Package (ANBP) to provide Besides, NABARD had issued the liquidity support of medium and guidelines on October 6 to roll small sector in the time of the out disbursement out of SLF for pandemic. smaller NBFCs and NBFC-MFIs. As per the progress tracked by Further, proposals amounting to the Centre, as on December Rs. 690 crore has been sanctioned 4, top 23 Private Sector Banks to 6 NBFCs-MFIs out of the and 31 NBFCs, additional credit balance amount of Rs 5,000 crore. amounting to Rs. 2,05,563 crore Disbursement of Rs.130 crore has has been sanctioned, while an been done till December 4. amount of Rs. 1,58,626 crore has been disbursed to 40,49,489 The Central Board of Direct Taxes borrowers.

(CBDT) has issued refunds of over Rs 1,45,619 crore to more than The scheme was amended on 89.29 lakh taxpayers between November 26 and its duration has April 1, 2020 and December now been extended till December 8. Income Tax refunds of Rs. 31, 2021. Also, the turnover limit 43,274 crore have been issued in prescribed therein has been 87,29,626 cases and corporate tax removed. refunds of Rs. 1,02,345 crore have It is expected that 45 lakh units been issued in 1,99,554 cases. can resume business activity Under AatmaNirbhar Bharat and safeguard jobs through this Package, it was announced that scheme.

Special interest-free 50-year Finance Minister Nirmala loans will be given to states for Sitharaman on Friday concluded capital expenditure for Rs. 12,000 a comprehensive review of crore. As on December 7, so far, 27 ANBP with the secretaries of state governments have submitted various Ministries/Departments proposals under the scheme for concerned over three days. new and ongoing capital works/ The review focused on key projects. implementation issues to endure Projects amounting to Rs. 8455.61 that the package generated the crore under Part-I and Part-II of desired results. the Scheme have been approved As per the progress report presented during the review as on so far and an amount of Rs. 4,227.80 crore, as first instalment, December 4, Public Sector Banks has been released to the states.

(PSBs) have approved purchase Under the Rs. 90,000 crore of portfolio of Rs. 27,794 crore Liquidity Injection for DISCOMs, and are currently in process of as on December 10, Rs. 118,273 approval/negotiations for Rs. crore worth of loans have been 1,400 crore under the Rs 45,000 sanctioned and Rs. 31,136 crore crore Partial Credit Guarantee has already been disbursed/ Scheme 2.0 for NBFCs. The released. Another release of Rs timeline for purchase of bonds 30,000 crore to various states is or Commercial Papers (CPs) under process. has been further extended till

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He emphasised that this is the time for supply chains across the world to get relocated and India must leverage the opportunity to become the most preferred destination for manufacturing.

According to Kant, the PLI scheme is a game-changer for the manufacturing sector and the 10 sectors will attract investment in large scale, boost export potential and give rise to economic space which will ensure India’s integration in the global value chain.

“If we want size and scale of manufacturing, we should support manufacturing for the next five years so that companies become an integral part of the global value chains,” Kant said.

He further mentioned that the government has supported both labour intensive and cuttingedge technology areas with PLI that will help MSMEs in the value chain.

“We want India to become global champion in manufacturing in areas where we have announced

NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant PLI,” Kant said.

“Our 73-74 per cent exports were concentrated in items where global trade is only 30 per cent and with the PLI scheme, we are supporting areas where we can take lead in major globally traded items,” he added.

Gems, jewellery exports can now be couriered globally Processing) Regulations, 2010 places a restriction on imports of precious and semi-precious stones, gold or silver in any form, through courier.

The Regulation 2(2) (a) (iv) reads as “These regulations shall not apply to the following imported goods requiring testing of samples thereof or reference to the relevant statutory authorities or to experts before their clearance, namely precious and semi-precious stones, gold or silver in any form”.

New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS): Gems and jewellery exporters have been permitted to send their goods across the globe to their buyers using the convenience of cost effective and reliable courier services.

such restrictions only apply to imports.

The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has issued a circular clarifying that extant regulations do not restrict exports of gems and jewellery through the courier mode and

Doubts had arisen over use of courier services for exports as Regulation 2(2)(a)(iv) of the Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and

This would mean that gems and jewellery exports could be done through courier services following all other regulations in place for such exports.

Thus, the restriction imposed by Regulation 2(2)(a)(iv) on gems and jewellery is applicable only on their imports, CBIC has clarified.

Earlier, the Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council represented before CBIC seeking clarification on whether gems and jewellery is allowed to be exported through courier under the Courier Imports and Exports (Electronic Declaration and Processing) Regulations, 2010 as also the Courier Imports and Exports (Clearance) Regulations, 1998.

Depreciation risk rises for rupee, as oil prices soar

By Rohit Vaid Mumbai, Dec 13 (IANS): Rising crude oil prices along with widening trade deficit has elevated the depreciation risk level for the Indian rupee during the upcoming week.

Accordingly, other factors like failure of Brexit talks as well as changes in US Fed’s stand might the downside risks.

“We expect the rupee to trade strong till the time equity flows are robust,” said Sajal Gupta, Head, Forex and Rates, Edelweiss Securities.

Last week, foreign institutional investors pumped in over Rs 15,000 crore into the equity markets.

The inflow not just lifted equities

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but also swelled the Reserve Bank’s forex reserves.

“But, risks of depreciation are rising with crude oil prices rising above $50 a barrel and rising monthly trade deficit,” Gupta said.

“Brexit talks failure can also lead to some volatility in markets.”

The crude oil prices have been gaining during the week in anticipation of the FDA’s potential approval of Pfizer’s vaccine, as Asia’s economic recovery is making Chinese and Indian refiners acquire more oil, and on rising geopolitical risks in the Middle East after Iraq had two wells hit.

Besides, the preliminary trade data on November showed that

India became a net importer in November 2020, with a trade deficit of $9.96 billion.

“The dollar has been falling as we expected and now has reached near term support,” said Devarsh Vakil, Deputy Head of Research at HDFC Securities.

“We expect the rupee-dollar to correct after four weeks of appreciation and head towards 74 mark next week. The 73.4 mark remains strong support for the pair.”

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BUSINESS & TRADE

AIBC’s Queensland Chapter elects its new management committee Brisbane, Dec 3: The new Management Committee members of the Australia India Business Council’s Queensland Chapter were elected on 3 December. A large number of highly qualified candidates with rich experience and bilateral engagements in business, media, health, education and accountancy had applied, according to the AIBC National Chair Jim Varghese.

National Chair Jim Varghese and Queensland’s President Dr Nik Senapati were excited at the election of new members who bring varied and rich expertise and experience to the AIBC’s workings.

Dr Nik Senapati was re-elected the President and Tony Denholder the Vice President and Amritha Zachariah the treasurer by the new members. Sanushka

Seomangal (National Vice-Chair) and Wendy Farrell, National Secretariat through Skype and Kritika Bansal, Event Manager Queensland Secretariat also participated at the inaugural meeting.

The New Committee met on 7th December to finalise the composition of the Management Committee 2021-2023. After a long process of nomination and election the final list of the Queensland’s AIBC Management Committee are as follows: Dr Nik Senapati – President, Tony Denholder – Vice President, Amritha Zachariah – Treasurer, Dr Ashutosh Misra– Member, Dr Ram Mohan – Member, Dr Tanya Unni – Member, Shaun Star – Member, Muthuraj Guruswamy – Member, Sorabh Kataria – Member.

AIBC meeting underway on 7 Dec

Dr. Nik Senapati-President

Mr Tony Denholder – Vice President

Dr Ram Mohan-Member

Mr Muthuraj Guruswamy – Member

Mr Shaun Star – Member

Dr Ashutosh Misra– Member

Ms Amritha Zachariah – Treasurer

Mr Sorabh Kataria – Member

Dr Tanya Unni – Member

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INDIANS IN AUSTRALIA

Aayushi Khillan proclaimed youth champion at prestigious Melbourne Awards 2020

I

ndian-Australian youth icon, Aayushi Khillan has been bestowed with the coveted youth champion award at the Melbourne Awards 2020 for her invaluable efforts to help young school students whose education was disrupted due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Aayushi who, along with her family, migrated to Australia from her home country India at the age of three is currently a scholarship-holding Biomedicine student at the University of Melbourne. This award is not the first one that she has been honoured with, as prior to this achievement she was also recently one of the youngest award winners among the 40 under 40 Most Influential Australian Asians 2020 for her dedicated endeavours in the field of education. Last year, following a campaign by the Victorian Student Representative Council, she was selected as the first student representative on

the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), which advises on school texts, class content and assessments for every student in the state.

Aayushi feels that being the sole student representative on the VCAA board, she has always acknowledged her crucial role but during the pandemic, her responsibilities became even more significant as students braved many challenges and obstacles due to the drastic changes brought on by the shift to online learning as normal classroom learning was rendered impossible due to the lockdown and social distancing norms.

There were several requirements, specifically for Year 12 students not only in terms of learning on virtual platforms but also staying abreast of all the assignments and projects. Aayushi fulfilled her role by putting across the needs of the students to the board so that these are kept in mind while making changes to

the curriculum. She has also played an instrumental role in making the curriculum for Year 12 students more flexible and less stressful. Her recommendations to defer the examination and make the syllabus more streamlined will likely be an important factor in easing the struggles of the students, as the board has consented to consider these while making the final changes.

A trailblazer in the truest sense of the word, Aayushi has always been a strong advocate for inclusion of life skills in the school curriculum so that youngsters are armed with all the requisite expertise to carve a niche for themselves in the real world. She also feels that in the current scenario youngsters need to be aware of all the strategies to survive in a world reeling under the blow delivered by the coronavirus pandemic. Acting as a liaison between the students and the board, she has been

Aayushi Khillan interacting with the students to comprehend the issues that they are facing and conveying the same to the board.

and is also one of the members of a committee which has been planning to include a pandemic module in the school curriculum.

Apart from her work with VCAA, Aayushi has also been working as the executive officer for a not-for-profit organization, Bodyworks. In her role as the executive officer, she has been visiting primary schools to spread awareness about health

The youth icon who considers US Vice President-elect Kamala Harris as her role model, aspires to set an example for others and continue her good work of championing the struggles of youngsters and empower them.

the local community.

host of other events.

He talked about initiatives taken by the Indian community with the support of the local community in organizing events such as Holi celebrations, India’s Independence Day celebrations, Yoga, Diwali Mela, NAARI on International Women’s Day and a

He talked about how their initiatives are also helping job seekers among the Indian students in Australia. He also informed of an Indian Community Centre being launched in Western Australia, the first of its kind in Australia.

Virtual conference discusses Indian diaspora’s vital role abroad A

virtual conference related to the ‘Role of Diaspora in Promotion of Indian Culture Abroad,’ was organized on December 8. The event was organised by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and the Overseas Indian Affairs Division of the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with the Diaspora Research and Resource Centre, Antar Rashtriya Sahayog Parishad. The conference is an essential part of the annual flagship Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.

Speakers from various countries, including Australia, Mauritius, Kenya and many others, participated in the virtual conference.

In his address, Dr Vinay Prabhakar Sahasrabuddhean, Member of Parliament and National Vice President of Bharatiya Janata Party, who is also President of ICCR, said that members of Indian diaspora wherever they are, must engage with the local community there.

He said that Indian diaspora have an important role to play in promoting as well as in making people across the world understand Indian culture. For this he said that it is essential that Indian diaspora must engage with the local community, local media, academia and civil society.

Addressing the conference Minister of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Government of Mauritius, Avinash Teeluck, spoke elaborately about the cultural

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contributions of the Indian community in Mauritius, besides their other contributions.

In his address Minister of State for External Affairs, Government of India, V Muraleedharan said that the Indian diaspora is among the top and most successful expat communities globally.

Referring to the Indian diaspora the minister said that the Indian diaspora is the second-largest worldwide, and that Indians aced various roles in the field of politics, economy, industry, technology, and education in different countries of the world. Despite migration for opportunities, the heterogeneous non-resident Indians were identified and united by their deep-rooted cultural inclination for their country and the sentimental values and emotions, the minister said.

“I would like to recall the formations of Government under President Irfan Ali in Guyana and President Chandrikapersad Santokhi in Suriname,” Muraleedharan said. “Indian origin leaders have also done exceptionally well at the recentlyheld elections in the United States,” he said.

He added, “There are leaders of Indian origin in Congress, Senate and scores have won seats in the State legislatures in the USA. We are all proud of their victories, congratulate them and wish them all success.”

The minister highlighted important positions held by the Indians abroad, such as the mediators, bridges, facilitators, lobby and advocacy groups who supported India’s national security and economic interests, all the while maintaining their ethno-cultural roots. “We were also looking forward to sharing with you in person the various policy initiatives for shaping the idea of “New India”, including the concept of Atmanirbhar Bharat,” Muraleedharan said to the virtual conference.

Among the speakers representing Indian diaspora from various countries, one of them was Surya Ambati, who is a member of the Multicultural Advisory Board, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, Government of Western Australia.

He spoke on the topic ‘Role of Diaspora in Promotion of Indian Culture in Australia’.

He highlighted the two main objectives of the activities of the Indian Diaspora in Australia: how can the members of the Indian diaspora integrate with the local community and what is the impact of such integration on

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Australia-India poised for a leading role in soon to be normal world

EDITORIAL

The new farm laws and the resultant confusion

I

ndia’s External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar recently in an interview with a policy thinktank in Australia said that he takes great satisfaction in how the Australia-India bilateral relationship has deepened in the last year and a half. As two cricket playing Commonwealth members both share interests and values and their ties should be independent of their respective relationship with China, he said. However, it is important to point out that much of the intensity in their bilateral engagement in recent months has been driven by Australia’s growing tensions with China over the treatment of Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang, Hong Kong crackdown, alleged foreign interference in Australia’s internal political functioning, tariff wars and impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the one hand, and India’s military tensions with China in Doklam and Ladakh on the other.

Undeniably, the world hierarchy has been shaken and so has the capabilities of states relative to each other and their global influence in recent years, as Dr Jaishankar pointed out. The world today is transitioning through global geopolitical and economic restructuring, wherein both sides have championed a rule-based, accountable, transparent and peaceful order. Since 2014, India has seen historic transformations in its democratic, social, economic and cultural mosaic, which earned respect from global powers, including Australia, while disturbing some. Similarly, Australia too has openly resisted China’s overbearing influence in world affairs and criticised Beijing for its autarchic conduct, military muscle flexing in the IndoPacific and punitive business and trade policies, which is admired in India.

It will not be an exaggeration to submit that Australia-India ties elevated to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in June 2020 have reached a historical high and are poised to transform into a significant relationship in the Indo-Pacific.

Be it Australia choosing to divert

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Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar agricultural exports to India from China or the deepening maritime cooperation and the evolution of Quad, both sides have demonstrated a firm resolve to shape the post-Covid order. Australian Senator Simon Birmingham, who led a trade delegation to New Delhi in February, had said, “Australia must look into alternative markets in the European Union and India.”

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade observes that India’s youthful population and diversified growth trajectory present significant opportunity in education, agriculture energy, resource, tourism, healthcare, financial services and infrastructure among other areas. Both sides have formalised over 20 MoU last June covering some of these areas during the Modi-Morrison virtual summit. Their two-way trade has risen from $13.6 billion to $30.4 billion in 2018, but it is still below their full potential.

By 2035, both sides aim to double their bilateral trade and Australia seeks to bring India in its top 5 trading partners (currently 8th).

As the two sides deepen their business and trade engagements, they also keep a close eye on the Indo-Pacific.

They have spread their bets, quite rightly, and adopted a bilateral, quadrilateral (IndiaAustralia-US-Japan) and trilateral (India-AustraliaIndonesia; and India-AustraliaJapan) approach to shape the regional security architecture.

The entry of Australia in the Malabar exercise in November 2020 is testimony to freshthinking that has germinated in New Delhi, Canberra, Washington and Tokyo in recent months.

There is no denying that as world economies show some positive trends after months of bloodbath at the hands of the pandemic, and prospects of a vaccine earlier than previously anticipated gain currency, Australia-India must be seen to be leading the global fightback for an order based on mutual trust, transparency, rule and territorial respect. Both must be seated at the high table when world retains normalcy, and not be slack in arriving late.

Recently the Indian government brought in three laws that attempt to provide farmers with the economic freedom to be able to sell whatever they want in whichever part of the country. These laws essentially opened up the prospects of farmers to be able to access private markets outside the Agricultural Produce Management Committee (APMCs) and fetch for a better price. However, there is stiff resistance to these laws for various reasons.

To understand how Indian agriculture operates, we must recognise the existence of feudal production relations within Indian agriculture.

That is, the large landowner is often also the seller for the fertilizers and seeds, an agent for procurement in the APMCs Indian economist and Director, Global Young Action network Karan Bhasin and often a key political player in the local area. It and 2012. These reforms were interests that have managed to also tends to be the moneylender also championed by several prosper due to a monopsony thereby giving it virtual control farmer groups who incidentally created by the erstwhile policy over critical inputs such as are also protesting against them regime. Consider this, now a capital, seeds and fertilizers, and simply because these groups are farmer will have the right to sell it also plays an important role in affiliated with various political across the country without any determining the price that a small parties. The sheer hypocrisy restrictions – something that we farmer gets at the APMCs. This of these protests cannot be consider as trivial was denied to system results in a deadly cocktail the farmer for many years. Thus, unmissed by ardent watchers and whereby rich farmers have observers of Indian policy and a farmer could use the E-NAM gained, and this gain has come at political space. platform to see the prices across the expense of the small and poor the mandis in the country and Many have also claimed that farmers. decide to sell wherever he can farmers were not consulted maximise his profits.

So, the new laws are essentially before these reforms were trying to free the system from undertaken but they ignore the The economic freedom granted these feudal production relations parliamentary committee which by the Indian government to and attempt at establishing a recently submitted its reports farmers came three decades after more organised production advocating for the very same it granted the same to India’s system in the Indian agricultural laws which had representatives manufacturing and services sector. There have been many that sector. The resultant growth of for different political parties have conflated the issue leading including the Congress. both these sectors since 1991 is a many to believe that the bill testament to the critical role of The question thus is that why will do away with the Minimum economic reforms in improving are farmers protesting? Because Support Price (MSPs) but nothing economic prospects and incomes. they have been told that the could be farther from truth as the proposed laws will take away Most countries have granted their government will continue with MSPs and APMCs thereby leaving citizens economic freedom, yet the MSPs as it has stated several them at the mercy of the private every attempt at doing the same times. The new law simply creates sector. However, the law will for Indian farmers since the last an alternative mechanism that bring greater competition into three decades has been opposed will provide farmers with greater the market which will benefit the be special interest groups. This choice with regards to where to farmers and this is very intuitive, is the reason why these reforms sell their produce. yet there has been a deliberate did not happen when the original The issue now is essentially that MSPs-APMCs and private markets will co-exist and thus farmers will have the choice to either sell at APMCs or at private markets. Thus, farmers will pick the market, whether big or small that gives them a better price for their product. This is a reform that at its very core will bring a greater number of buyers into the market thereby enabling farmers to improve their price realisation.

The only people who will end up losing in the process are the middle-men and certain vested

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economic liberalisation was undertaken despite political parties, academics and leading experts on the subject being well aware of their need.

It is also important to remember that there was a consensus on these reforms as several opposition parties including the Indian National Congress had it in its manifesto to implement the same reforms – in fact, they even suggested repealing the APMCs in early 2019. The United Progress Alliance (UPA) government too held similar views in 2010, 2011

attempt to prevent such a critical economic reform from transforming Indian agriculture.

One hopes that everyone would see through the politically motivated protests and recognise the importance of these laws in liberating our farmers from the extracting shackles of the feudal production relations that have kept them poor for many decades.

Karan Bhasin is an Indian economist and Director, Global Young Action network

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Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

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By Karan Bhasin

INDIA NEWS

Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

ENERGY & RESOURCES

2nd year in row, India Energy transmission can be valuable revenue for Railways: Report among top 10 high climate performers New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): India remained in the top 10 for the second year in a row in this year’s Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2021, occupying rank 10, a report said on December 7. It received high ratings in all CCPI categories, except renewable energy, where it had a medium performance.

Under the renewable energy category, India performed medium and high for its current shares of renewable energy and development of renewable energy supply in the last year, respectively.

Country experts attribute these positive developments to India’s policy frameworks. They recognised the need, however, for long-term planning.

CCPI, published by Germanwatch in cooperation with NewClimate Institute and Climate Action Network (CAN), results show a similar need, as India’s renewable energy uptake and targets scored low and medium, respectively, for their compatibility with a well-below two degrees Celsius trajectory.

Unlike China and its BRICS partner South Africa, India has yet to announce its long-term mitigation strategy. This strategy, experts’ advice, should include a post-Covid green recovery plan, including reducing fossil fuel subsidies, phasing out coal, better coordination frameworks between the central and state governments, and raising self-sufficiency by promoting domestic manufacturing in the renewables sector.

On India’s engagement in international climate diplomacy, some experts indicated the country’s reluctance to update its NDC, owing to fears of a lack of reciprocity from developed countries.

The CCPI 2021 paints a mixed picture of progress by the European Union (EU) on climate action.

While the Scandinavian EU countries, Portugal and the EU as a whole rank high on the index with relatively good indicators, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic stand out as outliers on climate progress within the bloc.

In the overall ranking, the EU has improved from the 22nd place last year to the 16th place this year, almost exclusively thanks to a much better rated climate policy.

The CCPI analyses and compares climate protection across 57 Bengaluru, Dec 2 (IANS): Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on December 2 laid the foundation for a waste-toenergy plant jointly set up by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) and the Bruhat

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countries (plus EU as a whole) with the highest emissions, which together account for 90 per cent of global emissions.

The current index analyses emissions before the coronavirus crisis and does not reflect emissions reduction during this unusual situation.

“The latest Climate Change Performance Index clearly shows that the EU stands at a crossroads,” said Jan Burck, one of the authors of the Index, published by his organization Germanwatch.

This report comes a few days before the EU summit on the climate targets for 2030 and the UN Climate Ambition Summit to mark the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement on December 12.

“The EU can become a role model in climate protection with green recovery measures after the coronavirus crisis, by setting an ambitious climate target for 2030 in line with the 1.5 degrees Celsius-limit and a good implementation and further development of its Green Deal. But it can also stumble badly if it pursues greenwashing instead of green recovery and implements inadequate targets and instruments in the European Green Deal,” Burck added.

The G20 also presents a split picture. The UK (fifth), India (10th) and the EU score high on the index. The vast majority of G20 countries, however, are trailing in the rankings.

The US (61st), Saudi Arabia (60th), Canada (58th), Australia (54th), South Korea (53rd) and Russia (52nd) are all rated “very low”.

Once again, the performance of the US is disastrous: The final year under President Donald Trump is the second time in a row that the US is ranked last, below Saudi Arabia.

In all four categories except renewable energy (‘low’), the US ends up in the bottom of the table (‘very low’) and is the only country besides Australia and Algeria to receive the worst rating of ‘very low’ both in national and international climate policy.

The plans of US presidentelect Joe Biden present great opportunities for this assessment to improve significantly but only if the promises from the election campaign are actually delivered.

Given the still unclear majority in the Senate, it is uncertain how much of this will be implemented.

Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in Bidadi on the outskirts of the city.

Both BBMP and KPCL will be setting up this plant at an estimated cost of Rs 260 crore, which will be completed in next

New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS): The Indian Railways should explore the use of sections of its extensive network for electricity transmission infrastructure, according to a report.

This is a key recommendation in the report by the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) released on December 3 that outlines the opportunity for the Railways to participate in the nation’s energy transition beyond its solar power generation plans.

The report titled, ‘Indian Railways at the Junction’, urges the national transporter to consider the feasibility of locating high voltage direct current (HVDC) lines underground on suitable sections of its right of way.

“With its in-house solar project plans, Indian Railways is on track to becoming a major renewable energy generator. And it could further support India’s energy transition by evaluating options for HVDC transmission, which could reduce encroachment on forests and farmland, as well as planning delays,” says

author Charles Worringham, a researcher and guest contributor for the IEEFA.

for Indian Railways --starting with the priorities to deal with a highly congested network.

“Moving latent electricity in the form of coal is less efficient, less flexible, and increasingly less competitive compared to moving actual electricity on transmission lines.”

Prior to the pandemic, 40 per cent of lines and all of the important freight routes were operating at above 100 per cent of line capacity due to severe congestion on the network, but the suspension of passenger services during the pandemic has seen the movement of more freight and a greater diversity of cargoes, at twice the speed, bringing in new revenue and improved service.

Worringham points out that the abrupt changes to railway operations caused by the Covid-19 lockdown and the fall in energy demand growth have highlighted critical choices and opportunities

Gujarat: PM inaugurates 30K MW renewable energy park Gandhinagar, Dec 15 (IANS): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world’s largest renewable solar and wind energy park in Gujarat’s Kutch and another desalination plant, on December 15.

Informing about the development, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said, “PM arrived in Gujarat on 15th to inaugurate two works.

One was the inauguration of world’s largest renewable energy park with a capacity of 30,000 megawatts (MW) from solar and wind energy.

The second programme was the inauguration of desalination plant set up at Mandvi to provide drinking water to the public and industries.”

month ago the Indian PM had visited his home state Gujarat to inaugurate a host of programmes in celebrations of the 145th birth anniversary of the country’s Ironman Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, at Kevadiya Statue of Unity SoU site, including the Seaplane services from Sabarmati riverfront and Kevadiya colony.

It should be noted that just a

Karnataka CM lays foundation of waste-toenergy plant two years.

The plant will be generating 11.5 MW power, using 600 tonnes of waste per day and the plant will be jointly financed by these agencies.

Speaking at the virtual foundation laying ceremony of the waste-toenergy power plant, Yediyurappa said Bengaluru generates 5,000 metric tonnes of waste every day and needed such steps for disposal of scientific waste.

“This plant is taken up as part of - Swacch Bharat Mission - as well as - Atma Nirbhar mission.

Both of these missions are pet projects of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Almost all components used in the plant are indegenious,” he claimed.

While the BBMP Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad said that the plant will be run without any additional financial burden for the BBMP. “This will not only help the BBMP to dispose of waste

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scientifically but also save Rs 14 crore avoiding landfill cost,” he added.

The note released by the BBMP claimed that unscientific disposal of waste has resulted in several significant problems.

“Groundwater quality has deteriorated due to improper leachate management. Based on the technologies available at present, the BBMP felt that Waste to energy was the best as with this technology large quantities of waste could be disposed off through an incineration method which is most suitable for mixed waste/segregated waste. This is also financially viable method,” the BBMP note added.

It is worth noting here, the letter of award for construction of the WTE plant has been awarded to Noida-based ISGEC Heavy Engineering Ltd, along with its consortium partner Hitachi Zosen India Pvt Ltd.

Karnataka Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa “The same consortium is responsible for setting up a WTE plant in Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, which has been running successfully for the last four years,” KPCL managing director V. Ponnuraj said.

The KPCL clarified in its note that the plant will have indigenous products and equipment.

According to this note, the BBMP with an area of 709 square km and with a population of 1.2 crore generates 5,000 metric tonnes garbage per day.

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Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

Indian PM for boosting local tourism amid Covid crisis

India’s first wilderness park opened near Hyderabad

New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 7 gave a clarion call for being ‘vocal for local tourism’ while speaking on the inaugural event of the construction of Agra Metro project via video conferencing.

P. Raghuveer, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Telangana State Forest Development Corporation (TSFDC), opened the park to nature lovers and adventure-seeking walkers.

With the efforts of the government, India is now at 34th rank in Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, said the Indian Prime Minister, adding India was on 65th rank in the index in 2013.

The Prime Minister said that there is need to be “vocal for local tourism” during Covid-19 pandemic crisis, hoping “the charm of tourism sector will return again soon after Corona situation continues to improve”.

Modi said “it has always been my view that tourism is a sector in which there are means of earning for everyone”.

To promote the tourism sector, the Indian Prime Minister said the Central government not only has increased the number of countries covered under the e-Visa scheme but also reduced the tax on hotel room tariff significantly.

Speaking on the metro project, the Indian Prime Minister said this project is in addition to the earlier Rs 1,000 crore projects which are already going on in the city to make Agra equipped with smart infrastructure.

“This new project with the cost of Rs 8,000 crore will strengthen the earlier smart city project.”

Referring to his government’s last six-year steps to improve metro project, Modi said over 450 km metro lines were made operational since 2014 compared to 215 km lines operational before the specific period.

He said that his government is currently working on the direction to complete 1,000 metro line projects, and such projects have been completed, or are

Hyderabad, Nov 27 (IANS): India’s first wilderness park with focus on biodiversity conservation, rewilding and a stated objective to be focused on total inclusivity was opened near Hyderabad recently.

The TSFDC said that the total area will be protected with fencing.

The urban park is named after Konda Gorre or Chowsigha, a four-horned antelope.

Visakhapatnam, Dec 3 (IANS): Encouraged by a good public response, Visakhapatnam Zoo is continuing its ornithological assets display on Saturday and Sunday mornings through a series of bird walks.

entry costs Rs 200.

This metro project is spread across two corridors and will boost ‘Ease of Living’ for the people of Agra as well as benefit tourists who visit Agra, the Indian Prime Minister said.

“We have received very good response and people are happy,” Nandani Salaria, the curator of the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park, Visakhapatnam, (Vizag Zoo) told IANS.

They are allowed to carry their cameras and binoculars.

The Agra Metro project comprises two corridors with a total length of 29.4 km and connects major tourist attractions like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Sikandra with railway stations and bus stands.

The project will benefit the 26 lakh population of the city and will also cater to more than 60 lakh tourists who visit it every year.

As part of the bird walk, which has already completed four sessions, visitors will be treated to a guided tour of the birds living in the zoo, accompanied by a resource person and zoo education officer.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi under development in 27 cities of the country.

“Agra is the Uttar Pradesh’ seventh city where metro project is being started.”

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, along with other dignitaries took part in the event organised at 15 Battalion PAC parade ground in Agra.

It will provide an environmentfriendly Mass Rapid Transit System to the historic city of Agra.

The estimated cost of the project will be Rs 8,379.62 crore and it will be completed in 5 years.

On March 8 last year, the Indian Prime Minister inaugurated the Agra Metro project along with the commencement of commercial operations of Lucknow Metro on its entire 23 km long North-South corridor from CCS Airport to Munshipulia.

The wilderness park is part of the overall Konda Gorre rewilding project being undertaken by the TSFDC, under which cycling tracks, jogging paths, nature trails, green cafes, dormitories,

campsites, etc. are going to be developed in a phased manner.

The ‘Konda Gorre” brand identity was unveiled on the occasion.

The programme ended with a felicitation for Raghuveer, who is retiring this month.

The event was well attended by nature lovers, local villagers, members of some organizations interested in partnering with the project, and others.

More bird walks in Vizag zoo as initiative gets good response

Scheduled from 6 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, the

As many as 20 visitors will be allowed per session, all of whom should follow the Covid guidelines such as wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing.

Based on the interest exhibited by the enthusiasts, Salaria said a Whatsapp group has also been created for the participants to engage in the future so that information on birds could be shared.

Stated on a trial basis, the bird walk series attracted interest from people from all walks of life, including children, people as old as 70 years and women.

Similarly, the bird walk batches

are restricted to 20, aimed at avoiding larger crowds disturbing the birds.

“In every group in the morning we are allowing 20 maximum.

Sometimes it is 13, sometimes it is 15. Not going beyond 20 as the birds may get disturbed,” added the Indian Forest Service Officer.

Vizag Zoo boasts more than 100 species of birds in its free range.

Nagaland’s famous Hornbill Fest goes virtual Kohima, Dec 5 (IANS): The Naga Heritage Village, the epicenter of the world famous Hornbill Festival is quiet this year with the celebrations turning online due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Located about 12 km away from Nagaland capital Kohima the Naga Heritage Village in Kisama, has witnessed thousands of footfall of tourists every year to witness the rich and diverse culture of most tribes of Nagas, vividly and colourfully displayed in the form of folk music and traditional dance besides exposition and availability of exotic food, crafts and art and numerous life and customs.

Dubbed as the “Festival of Festivals” here, the 10-day Hornbill Festival is celebrated every year from December 1 to 10.

Thousands of tourists across the country and from abroad every year have witnessed the colourful festival.

According to a Tourism Department official, in 2019, the festival generated business worth Rs 100 crore over 10 days and

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park.

The TSFDC has developed ‘Konda Gorre’ wilderness park at Lalgadi Malakpet, near the Outer Ring Road on the Karimnagar highway, with an accent on sustainability and biodiversity conservation. It has already planted over 10,000 saplings, mostly of forest species.

The forest area here is about 2,635 acres, in which a small portion has developed as an urban forest

Modi said that the Central government is taking all measures to attract tourists through schemes like ‘Swadesh Darshan and Prasad’.

TRAVEL

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attracted footfall of over 2.70 lakh tourists, including 3,015 foreign visitors and guests, signifying the magnitude the authority and the people of the state attach to the festival, the biggest in the northeast region, comprising eight states.

“All 18 tribes of the state every year have been taking part in the mega festival and displaying their cultural and traditional extravaganza. Though we are painful for not being able to organise the carnival, we also cannot ignore the safety of our people. By turning the celebration in virtual mode, the government has kept the event lively even during the pandemic,” the official said.

The official of the Nagaland Tourism Department said recently that the state government had earlier decided to celebrate the “Hornbill Festival 2020” in a complete virtual mode only through various audio visual media channels and social media platforms.

The Tourism Department earlier

in a notification said that the “Hornbill Festival 2020” would be celebrated in completely virtual mode and would be telecasted through the Doordarshan and two other private television channels.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tweeted: “I wish the citizens of Nagaland, well-wishers and friends all around the world, a happy virtual Hornbill Festival 2020. When the world reopens, Nagaland will be ready with a tourism narrative in tune with a post Covid-19 scenario and to welcome you to our beautiful land.”

In his Statehood Day message, Nagaland Governor RN Ravi said, “We used to celebrate it in previous years with all the gaiety and cultural splendour of the people of the state during Hornbill Festival. This year, due to the global pandemic Covid-19, unfortunately we may not be able to do it at that scale. However, true to the indomitable Naga spirit, we will do so in our own households observing the needed Covid protocols.”

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INDIA NEWS

www.indianews.com.au

Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

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WHAT’S ON

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INDIA NEWS

Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

HEALTH

Canada warns allergic US states to start getting Covid-19 people against Pfizer vaccine from Monday Covid-19 vaccine Washington, Dec 13 (IANS): The first shipments of the PfizerBioNTech Covid-19 vaccine will begin arriving in US states from Monday, an official of President Donald Trump’s administration said.

Shipping companies UPS and FedEx will deliver the vaccine to nearly 150 state locations, Xinhua news agency quoted Gustave Perna, chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed, as saying on Saturday.

Ottawa, Dec 13 (IANS): Health Canada has warned people allergic to any of the ingredients in thr Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine not to receive it.

In a notification on Saturday, the federal health policy agency said it issued the warning after following up on the two reports of anaphylactoid reactions to the vaccine in the UK, Xinhua news agency reported.

The reactions occurred on December 8 and the two persons had a history of severe allergic reactions and carried adrenaline auto injectors.

They both were treated and have recovered.

“As vaccine roll-out begins in Canada, Canadians may be wondering about the risks of allergic reactions.

“In Canada, all vaccines carry a warning about the risk of serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, and immunization clinics are equipped to manage these rare events,” the agency said in the notification.

Health Canada listed the ingredients in the vaccine and it also urged individuals who have experienced a serious allergic reaction to another vaccine, drug, or food to speak with their healthcare professional before they receive the vaccine.

It said it has reviewed the available evidence related to the allergic reactions and has concluded the available public health guidance is appropriate and is not recommending any changes to the product’s use at this time.

It stressed that it will continue to

monitor this situation closely.

“If any new safety issues are confirmed, Health Canada will take appropriate action, which could include communicating any new risks to Canadians and healthcare providers or changing the recommended use of the product,” the notification further said.

It said it has identified no major safety concerns for the PfizerBioNTech vaccine and its benefits outweigh the risks.

“The side effects observed during clinical trials of Pfizer-BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine are similar to those experienced with other vaccines, including pain at the site of injection, body chills, feeling tired and feeling feverish,” Health Canada said.

“These side effects will resolve on their own and do not pose a risk to health.”

Last week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that up to 249,000 doses of the PfizerBioNTech vaccine would be on hand by the end of December to start the mass inoculation campaign in the country.

Pfizer was one of four vaccine candidates Health Canada has been evaluating, with assessment ongoing for the Moderna, AstraZeneca, and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.

In total, Canada has reportedly signed contracts guaranteeing access to 194 million doses of potential Covid-19 vaccines with the option to purchase 220 million more.

Canada has so far reported a total of 458,527 coronavirus cases and 13,367 deaths.

PM Morrison urged to acknowledge 2nd Covid-19 candidate vaccine Canberra, Dec 13 (IANS): The South Australian developer of a candidate vaccine for the novel coronavirus has urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to fund the “promising” project after research for the first one was halted.

On Saturday, Nikolai Petrovsky, the research director of biotechnology company Vaxine, said that the abandonment of the University of Queensland’s

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candidate vaccine presented an opportunity for funding to the South Australian firm, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Australian government announced on Friday morning that the University of Queensland’s research into a possible Covid-19 vaccine which has undergone phase one clinical trials will not be proceeding to phase three, as which has the potential to interfere with some

Perna said the vaccine was timed to arrive on Monday morning so that health workers would be available to receive the shots and then begin giving them.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday issued authorization for emergency use of the Covid-19 vaccine of American drugmaker Pfizer in partnership with German company BioNTech, the first vaccine against the disease in the country.

The emergency use authorization allows the vaccine to be distributed in the country.

The FDA said the totality of the available data provides clear evidence that Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may be effective in

preventing the virus.

The data also show that the known and potential benefits outweigh the known and potential risks, supporting the vaccine’s use in millions of people 16 years of age and older, said the FDA. Perna’s announcement comes as the US set yet another record for single-day Covid cases after more than 244,000 people tested positive for the virus.

In its latest update on Saturday, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 244,011 new cases and 3,013 fatalities, which increased

the overall infection tally and death toll to 16,045,596 and 297,789, respectively.

The new data brought the sevenday average daily case increase to a record-high of more than 209,000 cases, and the seven-day average daily death increase to nearly 2,400, highest since late April.

There are over 108,000 people currently hospitalized due to the disease across the US, a new all-time record since the onset of the pandemic, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

Covid-19 leading to cardiac issues in youngsters post recovery New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS): Recovery from Covid-19 may not be the end of the battle for people, including youngsters, who according to the public health experts are presenting cardiac symptoms post-recuperation from the deadly disease.

According to the doctors, hospitals are witnessing a rise in young people reporting cardiac issues post their recovery from the infection, the most common being the palpitations and in few cases as extreme as cardiac arrest or even heart attack.

Although lung injury and acute respiratory distress symptoms have been the most dreaded complications of Covid-19, it needs to be understood that the virus can also lead to heart injuries. It also poses a severe threat to patients with existing heart diseases.

The infection can trigger blood clots formation in the heart in severe cases and cause inflammation and scarring in others. Recently, a Delhi-based private hospital treated a 31-yearold man, who suffered a heart HIV screening tests, leading to a false positive test result.

In response, Prime Minister Morrison announced that the government would acquire an extra 31 million doses of the candidate vaccines developed by

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attack after testing positive. He had no prior history of cardiac ailments and lived a healthy lifestyle.

Sundeep Mishra, professor of cardiology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), said, “All kinds of people, including youngsters, are coming back to the hospital with cardiac symptoms post-Covid. The virus increases the inflammatory process. Even if the virus patient turns negative, the inflammation keeps happening.”

He further explained, “This leads to weakness of heart muscles and patients can suffer heart failure.

It also increases inflammation of the vessels and increases clot formation. One in 10 people are coming with different symptoms, including cardiac issues.”

The doctor suggested that those who have recovered from Covid-19 must get their echocardiography done to look at the heart function. During the Covid-19 infection, the focus is only on lungs. Later on, people find that they also had heart problems which were totally AstraZeneca and Novavax.

Human trials of Vaxine’s candidate, called COVAX-19, began in Adelaide, capital city of the state of South Australia, in July but have received limited support from the government.

missed,” Mishra rued.

Another Delhi-based doctor, Aparna Jaswal, Additional Director, cardiology department at the Fortis Escorts Heart Institute, resonated the views and said that 5-10 per cent recovered Covid-19 patients, including youngsters, are coming back with heart issues at the hospital.

“Many young patients are coming back with palpitations, which should not go disregarded. We have also seen many cases with slower heart rate. Some patients are presenting heart failure,” said Jaswal.

Another cardiologist, however, said that the incidences of cardiac issues in youngsters after recovering from Covid-19 signifies that this age group already had the underlying disease. “Covid-19 actually precipitates the undisclosed problem. Moreover, youngsters have poor lifestyle and eating habits, which are making them prone to ailments,” said Sanjeev Gupta, cardiologist at the Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals in Delhi.

“I would just love Prime Minister Scott Morrison to acknowledge that there is a second Australian vaccine candidate out there that has very promising data and could actually make a difference,” Petrovsky added.

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HEALTH

85% think farmers’ protest will add to Covid surge: Survey

125mn Moderna Covid-19 vaccine doses to be available globally New York Dec 4 (IANS): US-based drugmaker Moderna has said that it expects to have between 100 million and 125 million doses of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine available globally in the first quarter of 2021.

Out of these, about 85-100 million doses will be made available in the US and 15-25 million doses will be available outside of the US, the company said on December 3.

These expected first quarter doses are inclusive within the 500 million to up to one billion doses that the company expects to manufacture globally in 2021.

New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): As the Covid-19 daily caseload in Delhi finally saw a decline after a major festival-related surge since early November with number of daily cases coming down from 7,000 to an average of 3,500, the farmers agitation at the Delhi borders could turn out to be the next “superspreader” people worry, a survey shows.

The question received 8,837 responses, with 77 per cent citizens indicating that the shutdown is not the right approach to getting their voice heard. Shutdowns inconvenience common citizens in several ways and if history is referred to, causes and political parties have achieved little with such calls for shutdown in the past.

With over 3,00,000 farmers already protesting in Delhi, protests are also growing in other cities of India. Latest reports suggest that over 40 farmers at the protest site in Delhi are already showing symptoms of Covid, such as high fever, cough and fatigue and refuse to get tested or be admitted in hospitals nearby.

As the Covid-19 pandemic is still strong, with the number of new cases reported in the country rising between 30,000 and 45,000 each day, another question of the survey asked citizens, “Do you believe that the farmers’ protest will impact the spread of Covid-19?” To that the poll had about 85% citizens maintain that the protest would worsen the Covid-19 spread. 43 per cent said it will significantly worsen Covid-19 spread, while 42 per cent said it will worsen Covid-19 spread.

LocalCircles has conducted a survey to understand citizens’ opinion over the timing of the farmers’ movement in Delhi being a hotspot for Covid-19 cases, as well as what people think of the call for the nationwide shutdown on December 8.

The survey received more than 17,000 responses from people located in 211 districts of India.

As one of the programs to protest the implementation of the Farmer’s Bill, the farmers’ union called a Bharat Bandh on December 8, with many political fronts also supporting their movement.

Related to this program, one of the questions in the survey asked, “Do you believe farmers are doing the right thing by calling for an India-wide shutdown, and closure of all roads and toll plazas connecting Delhi on December 8?”.

Reports indicate that a sizable section of the protesting farmers believe that Covid cannot do much and the impact of the new farmer laws is far worse than what Covid can do. Citizens on the other hand believe that the farmers are totally within their rights to protest but given how all norms of social distancing, masks and hand hygiene are being violated at the protest sites concerns them greatly. Another big concern raised by citizens is the fact that as Covid spreads at the protest site in Delhi, many of the protesting farmers could take it back with them to Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and the various states of India leading to another spike there.

Australia adds 15 new coronavirus cases Canberra, Dec 8 (IANS): Australia registered 15 new coronavirus cases recently, taking its total caseload to 27,987, according to the latest data released on the Department of Health’s website on December 8.

The death toll in the country stood at 908, while active cases

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now reached 1,433 and total recoveries reached 25,646, Xinhua news agency reported citing figures from the Department.

Recently, Health Minister Greg Hunt had said that the country would start mass vaccination against the coronavirus in March 2021.

Moderna also re-affirmed its expectation of having approximately 20 million doses available in the US by the end of this year.

The development comes after the company’s November 30

announcement that the primary efficacy analysis of the Phase 3 study of the “mRNA-1273” vaccine showed efficacy of 94.1 per cent.

Also on November 30, Moderna submitted a request for an emergency use authorisation (EUA) from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and conditional approval from the European Medicines Agency

(EMA).

Apart from Moderna, drug makers Pfizer and BioNTech also applied for emergency authorisation of their Covid-19 vaccine from the US FDA. Britain on December 2 approved the emergency use of the PfizerBioNTech Covid-19 vaccine from next week.

Global Covid-19 cases cross 67.5mn: Johns Hopkins Washington, Dec 8 (IANS): The overall number of global coronavirus cases has topped 67.5 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 1.54 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on December 8, the University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 67,535,605 and 1,543,237, respectively.

The US is the worst-hit country

with the world’s highest number of cases and deaths at 14,933,847 and 283,631, respectively, according to the CSSE.

Germany (1,200,006), Mexico (1,175,850), Poland (1,067,870) and Iran (1,051,374), the CSSE figures showed.

India comes in second place in terms of cases at 9,677,203, while the country’s death toll soared to 140,573.

Brazil currently accounts for the second highest number of fatalities at 177,317.

The other countries with more than a million confirmed cases are Brazil (6,623,911), Russia (2,466,961), France (2,349,059), Italy (1,742,557), the UK (1,742,524), Spain (1,702,328), Argentina (1,466,309), Colombia (1,377,101),

The countries with a death toll above 20,000 are Mexico (109,717), the UK (61,531), Italy (60,606), France (55,613), Iran (50,594), Spain (46,646), Russia (43,122), Argentina (39,888), Colombia (37,995), Peru (36,274), South Africa (22,249) and Poland (20,181).

Social distancing given up in all public gatherings: SC New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS): The Supreme Court on December 3 said there have been large public gatherings -- political, religious, ceremonial -- where the social distancing has been given a gobye and there is no appropriate mechanism to check such social gatherings.

A bench headed by Justice Ashok Bhushan and comprising Justices R. Subhash Reddy and M.R. Shah said: “It has been pointed out that guidelines with regard to wearing of masks and keeping social distancing are not being followed in almost all of the states.”

Citing the swelling crowds in vegetable markets, where people do not maintain six feet social distancing, the bench noted that the state governments’ affidavits showing positive things cannot make it happy, and instead the court is concerned that how ground situation can be improved.

It said that even though there are stringent regulations including imposing of fine on non-wearing of masks, yet desired results have

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not been achieved.

The bench said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and other counsel appearing for different states have requested time to give appropriate suggestions in the above regard so that appropriate directions may be issued by this court to implement the guidelines and to ensure the compliance.

The observations were made by the top court in a suo moto case in the proper treatment of Covid-19 patients and dignified handling of dead bodies in the hospitals.

Mehta said Delhi has a similar surge and Maharashtra is also showing signs of concern and Punjab too has started night curfew. “We have shifted 75 doctors and paramedics from other places to Delhi,” he said.

Senior advocate K.V. Viswanathan, representing the Delhi government, said the state government has taken important steps, 450 Covid crematorium facilities are there and over 5,000 ICU beds.

At this, Justice Bhushan said:

“What is the mechanism to address all of this... you just collect the data from hospitals.”

Viswanathan replied that the Delhi Chief Secretary is working overtime and assured more information on measures taken will be provided to the top court.

The bench noted that senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal pointed out that in Himachal Pradesh, there are several issues like lack of oxygen, lack of beds etc.

“Issue notice to the state of Himachal Pradesh to file a status report regarding treatment of Covid patients in different hospitals, infrastructure and facilities available therein,” said the top court, as it fixed the matter for further hearing on December 9.

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A Joe Biden biography to warm the heart

An online exhibition on Indian folk and tribal art

New Delhi, Dec 3 (IANS): The timing couldn’t be more perfect.

“Joe Biden: American Dreamer” (Bloomsbury) is a concise, brilliant and incisive examination of the US President-elect and his lifelong quest for the White House

by National Book Award winner and New Yorker staff writer Evan Osnos.

Showcasing Gond paintings, Kalighat patuas, Kalamkari, Madhubani paintings, Matani-Pachedi paintings on cloth, Pichwai paintings, Theyyam masks and Warli paintings, the show promises to be a window into the rich artistic heritage of different regions of the country.

Former Vice President Biden has been called both the luckiest man and the unluckiest -- fortunate to have sustained a 50-year political career that reached the White House, but also marked by deep personal losses that he has suffered.

Yet, even as Biden’s life has been shaped by drama, it has also been powered by a willingness, rare at the top ranks of politics, to confront his shortcomings, errors and reversals of fortune. His trials have forged in him a deep empathy for others in hardship -- an essential quality as he addresses a nation at its most dire hour in decades.

Blending up-close journalism and broader context, Osnos illuminates Biden’s life and captures the characters and meaning of an extraordinary presidential election. He draws on lengthy interviews with Biden and on revealing conversations with more than a hundred others, including former President Barack Obama, Cory Booker, Amy Klobuchar, Pete Buttigieg, and a range of progressive activists,

The online show titled ‘Folk and Tribal Art of India’ is curated by Meena Varma, and organized by the India International Centre (IIC) in collaboration with Arts of the Earth.

It will feature artists lik Rajendra Kumar Shyam, Santosh Shyam Moti, Manoj Tekkam (Gond); Shanwar Chitrakar (Kalighat); and Gurappa Chetty, Harinath N. (Kalamkari).

Also exhibited will be the works

of Baua Devi, Ajit Kumar Jha, Chandrakala Devi, Avinash Karn, Shalini Karn (Madhubani); Sanjay Manubhai Chitara (Mata-niPachedi); Karan Pichwai, Manish Soni & group, Karan Singh Rajput (Pichwai); Prasanth A.V. (Theyyam mask); and Amit Mahadev Dombhare, Sunil Khadpada, Sarita Suresh Banjara (Warli).

The online exhibition is on view till December 20, on the website of IIC.

Book highlights ‘Pakistan’s Terror Conundrum’

advisers, opponents, and Biden’s family members.

In this nuanced portrait, Biden emerges as flawed, yet resolute, and tempered by the flame of tragedy -- a man who just may be uncannily suited for his moment in history.

Osnos has been a staff writer at the New Yorker since 2008.

His most recent book, “Age of Ambition: Chasing Fortune, Truth, and Faith in the New China”, won the National Book Award, among other honours.

Previously, he had reported from China, Iraq and elsewhere for the Chicago Tribune, where he shared a Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting. He lives with his wife and children in Washington DC.

Eminent India-born US scientist Kapany passes away Chandigarh, Dec 4 (IANS): Eminent Indiaborn US scientist and patron of Sikh arts and literature, Narinder Singh Kapany (94), passed away in California on December 4.

He is survived by his son and daughter.

In a condolence message, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said that he India-born US scientist Narinder Singh Kapany was saddened architectural heritage. to learn about the death of He also recalled Kapany’s Kapany, whom he termed as a contributions in the field of great philanthropist and the science and technology. Being the founder of the Sikh Foundation father of fibre optics, he would be who introduced various aspects ever remembered by one and all and facets of Sikhism globally for his pioneering research in this through several books, art works field, besides lasers, solar energy and exhibitions, besides working and pollution monitoring. tirelessly for preserving Sikh

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New Delhi, Dec 6 (IANSlife): An exhibition showcasing the diverse folk and tribal art form of India, is all set to open online from December 7.

ARTS & LITERATURE

New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): Pakistan was born amid communal violence and a collective consciousness of danger. Right from the outset, democracy was up for debate between the politicians nurtured by the British Raj and an orthodox clergy that advocated a utopia in which Islam was to be the ideological guide.

Today, the threat of religion as an extra-legal force is causing many Pakistanis to wonder if the state can move forward into the future with Islam as its credo.

In ‘Pakistan’s Terror Conundrum’ (Penguin), a carefully curated collection of his writings in several publications, senior journalist Khaled Ahmed examines the country’s policies regarding terrorism against the backdrop of increasing pressure from international organizations.

Despite joining the US in its war against terror after 9/11, the country has been perceived as a safe haven and breeding ground for terrorists. Ahmed looks at the origins and activities of the

various terrorist organizations, the role of the state and the ideology of its founding figures, some of whom seem to have been forgotten.

Khaled Ahmed is the consulting editor for Newsweek Pakistan and former consulting editor for the Daily Times and the Friday Times. Over the span of his 30year career in journalism, he has written widely on the ideology and politics of Pakistan.

Dalai Lama congratulates Maharashtra teacher who won global prize Dharamsala, Dec 4 (IANS): Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on December 4 congratulated Ranjitsinh Disale, a primary school teacher in Maharashtra, on winning this year’s Global Teacher Prize, saying educating the young children, especially the poor, is perhaps the best way to help them as individuals.

“I would like to congratulate you,” His Holiness wrote, “on being named the world’s most exceptional teacher and to express my admiration for your generosity in sharing half the prize money with runners-up in the competition”.

“Educating young children, especially from poor and needy backgrounds is perhaps the best

way to help them as individuals, and actively contributes to creating a better world.

“Your work to ensure that disadvantaged girls go to school, as well as your efforts to prepare study materials for them in their own language, the online science lessons you offer pupils in 83 countries and your project building connections between young people in conflict zones are all vivid examples of compassion in action.

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama

“When you say, ‘Together we can make a difference -- we can make this world a better place’, you are absolutely right. I am sure your exemplary service will encourage other brothers and sisters to follow in your footsteps.”

The 31-year-old Ranjitsingh Disale declared that he will split half of the prize money of $1 million with his top 10 fellow finalists.

letter with an offering of prayers and good wishes.

The spiritual leader ended his

Penguin to release ‘VAJPAYEE: The Years that Changed India’ on Dec 25 New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS): Former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was an understated and a singular politician of the kind rarely seen in contemporary times. His patriotism was uncompromising, forged out of the paradoxes of his life: The sensitive poet who summoned nerves of steel to conduct the Pokhran-II nuclear tests; the man from humble beginnings who envisioned a project as titanic as the Golden Quadrilateral highway network.

Devoid of any political pedigree or patronage, he harnessed his diplomatic acumen to transform India’s relations with the United States, which had long been mired

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in misunderstandings rooted in the Cold War. His calculated decisions led to key strategic and economic policy achievements.

In the book “VAJPAYEE: The Years that Changed India”, Shakti Sinha, a close associate of Vajpayee, helps us understand him as a decision-maker. The narrative focuses on the political challenges Vajpayee faced, and on his key initiatives in the strategic and economic fields during his first term as Prime Minister, which have had a lasting impact.

The book fleshes out not only Vajpayee’s political philosophy but also provides an insider’s account of how he thought and worked.

in 1980, and worked with him very closely for three-and-a-half years in the 1990s, as secretary to the Leader of Opposition (199697) and as his Private Secretary (1998-99). He was also the director of the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. He is a distinguished fellow at the India Foundation and is currently serving as the honorary director of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Policy Research and International Studies, MS University, Vadodara.

Published by Penguin, “VAJPAYEE: The Years that Changed India” will be released on Vajpayee’s 96th birth anniversary on December 25.

Sinha first got to know Vajpayee

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SPORTS

Aus vs Ind: David Warner Aussies will be tougher this time ruled out of Adelaide Test in Tests: Virat Kohli Sydney, Dec 8 (IANS): India skipper Virat Kohli admitted that the Australians will be tougher this time in the Test series than they were in 2018-19 and the Indian team will have to show the same competitiveness if not more than what they showed in the limited-overs series.

Australian cricketer David Warner Sydney, Dec 9 (IANS): Lefthanded Australian opener David Warner has been ruled out of the first Test of the upcoming four-match series against India beginning December 17 at the Adelaide Oval.

of being able to play at peak fitness and another 10 days will make a difference,” he added.

Warner had suffered a groin strain in the second ODI at the Sydney Cricket Ground and was subsequently ruled out of the final ODI and three-match T20I series, which India won 2-1.

“If there is one guy you know will go well above and beyond that’s Dave,” Langer said. “He has done an incredible job to get to where he is today and we hope to have a fully fit David Warner at his absolute best in Melbourne,” he added.

The 32-year-old will need “another 10 days” to achieve peak fitness and will now aim to return for the second Test which will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground from December 26.

“I feel I have made great progress in a short amount of time and it’s best for me to stay here in Sydney to continue working on getting back to full fitness,” Warner was quoted as saying in a statement by cricket.com.au.

“The injury feels a lot better, but I need to be able to satisfy in my own mind and to my team-mates that it is 100 per cent ready for Test match conditions. That includes running between the wickets and being agile in the field. Right now, I feel I am short

Australian head coach Justin Langer said he was looking forward to having a fully-fit Warner for the Boxing Day Test.

Right-handed batsman Will Pucovski will now be in line to make his Test debut in the pinkball match, provided the 22-yearold recovers well from the “mild concussion” he picked up in the three-day warm-up against India ‘A’ which ended in a draw.

Pucovski was hit on the helmet by a delivery from pacer Kartik Tyagi on Tuesday at the Drummoyne Oval. He immediately went down and stayed on the ground before he had to return to the dressing room as retired hurt.

Test incumbent Joe Burns is the only other specialist opener in the Australian Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

“We have to be competitive. They are a stronger side this time around. We will have to be more competitive and strong in our head and have the belief that we can build on the momentum and take it into the Test series,” said the India skipper after losing the third T20 International on December 8.

India had beaten Australia 2-1 in the Tests on their last visit during the 2018-19 season. Back then, the Aussies were missing David Warner and Steve Smith who were both serving suspensions for the ball-tampering scandal they were involved in early 2018 in South Africa.

Kohli added that while Australia is a tough place to bat, especially

against the quality home pace bowlers, the country also provides an opportunity for batsmen to score runs.

Kohli said that you just need to show more discipline in Tests than in limited-overs cricket.

“We need to take the same competitiveness into the Test series and I think as a batsman you need to be much more disciplined. But having played in Australia a few times before, you have to understand that this is a place where you can score runs and you have to put your team in front when you have the opportunity. So you have to buy your time against the quality bowling attack (at first) but then when it is time to capitalise, you make sure you take the momentum into a session and try and take that session away (from them),” the India skipper added.

The India Test specialists are already playing for India A against an Australia A that also comprises some of Australia’s Test regulars.

Indian cricketer Virat Kohli While India’s experienced Test specialists like Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane scored runs, the young openers failed.

Both Shubman Gill and Prithvi Shaw got ducks in the first innings and could make just 29 and 19 respectively in the second innings.

Kohli added that there is nothing to worry about on that front as players can’t be judged on one game.

“Don’t think we can judge the batsmen on one tour game.”

8th Awards Ceremony held at Brisbane Super Kings

By Mandeep Singh Lamba Brisbane Super Kings organised the awards ceremony of their 8th annual tournament, and winners of this year’s contest were Bricklay Boys and Runners-up were Skills Warriors. Arjun Veer Singh won Player of the season award.

that everyone was insured and was covered. The club went ahead with the tournament as scheduled, and executed the 12 week long tournament. The cup has been supported by Brisbane City Council for the last 8 years, especially Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner.

The club has been greatly supported by all the sections of the government, the Queensland Cricket, Cricket Australia and others. The Award’s ceremony on 13th December 2020 showcased the extensive reach the club has, and how the club’s event was fully supported by Cr. Angela Owen.

Brisbane Super Kings Cricket Club, a prestigious club in the Metro South West region of Brisbane, was launched 13 years ago and exemplifies commitment towards community development and support. During the dark year of Covid-19, Brisbane Super Kings Cricket Club helped the kids and parents stay on course with their sporting activities.

Delegates from Queensland Cricket were impressed by the club’s initiative and provided full support in taking the club forward. The club also got massive support from local government representative, Cr. Angela Owen, who herself is big fan of cricket and takes pride in helping the community. During the recent awards ceremony held on 13th December 2020, the club received the recognition from PM Scott Morrison, who was represented by the Senator Paul Scarr, himself a great supporter of cricket in Queensland.

The BSK Cricket club organises a T20 cup every year which involves more than 32 teams from Brisbane from all different communities, and this year was no different. In-spite of Covid-19, the club made sure that all the safety norms were taken into consideration, and

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SPORTS

Kerala businessman plans Daruvala records his first F2 race win museum in Maradona’s memory Bahrain, Dec 6 (IANS): India’s Jehan Daruvala on December 6 recorded his first Formula 2 victory after winning the Sakhir Grand Prix sprint race as Mick Schumacher won the 2020 championship despite finishing 18th.

Kochi, Dec 7 (IANS): Boby Chemmanur, an admirer and “good friend” of football icon Diego Maradona who passed away recently announced the building of a world-class museum which will house a gold sculpture of the football legend as the main attraction.

The life-size sculpture will represent ‘The Hand of God’, as the Argentinian forward described a crucial goal that he scored against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup which his team went on to win.

“The proposed museum is to come up in Kolkata or South India. It will showcase Maradona’s professional and personal life.

The museum will blend the aesthetics of art and technology,” said Chemmanur, who is the Managing Director of the Boby Chemmanur International Group here on December 7.

Recalling his “close friendship” with Maradona for a decade, Chemmanur said his bond with the football legend began at Dubai in 2011.

Later Maradona inaugurated a Chemmanur jewellery showroom in Dubai. “I gifted Maradona a miniature gold statue of his figure. Accepting it, the soccer star expressed the desire to see his life-size gold sculpture related to ‘The Hand of God’,” added the businessman.

Diego Maradona ‘The Hand of God’ goal was scored against England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 World Cup. The 157-year-old Boby Chemmanur Group, headquartered in Thrissur with 50-plus outlets across the globe, had Maradona as its ambassador after the Argentinian signed the deal in March 2018.

Maradona visited Kerala for in October 2012 to inaugurate a showroom of Chemmanur Jewellers in Kannur.

“The museum is my tribute to Maradona. It will be a storehouse of information related to the great player and his football.

It will function as a centre for entertainment of international standards,” added Chemmanur.

The curator of the museum will be artist-writer Bony Thomas, a founder-trustee of Kochi Biennale Foundation that conducts India’s biggest contemporary art festival.

Would love to have chat with AB: Carey responds to Border criticism Sydney, Dec 13 (IANS): Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who captained Australia A during their second warm-up match against India ahead of the Test series between Australia and India, said that he would “love” having a chat with former captain Allan Border, who tore into the team and Carey’s captaincy during the second day of the match.

“Absolutely, I love talking to the greats that have been in Australian cricket and picking their brain. One of Australia’s best captains and players, I would love to have a chat with AB,” Carey is quoted as saying by ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ after the third day’s play.

“I guess, personally being out there, the attitude wasn’t bad.

We were trying. We had difficult situations with our bowlers, as I mentioned, making sure they got the right overs in. It was difficult out there with two set batters, and Rishabh (Pant) slogging it the way he did. But I absolutely would love to sit down and chat with AB for all parts of my game.”

Border said while commentating

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on the match for Fox Cricket that the team’s performance in the last session of Day 2 was “one of the worst, lethargic performances” he has ever seen in the final session of any cricket.

“This is Australia A, they are representing Australia, they are young blokes trying to make their way. That fielding performance, bowling performance, captaincy performance -- an absolute disgrace. Not up to scratch at all,” said Border.

“If Alex Carey is in line to be an Australian captain, he has got a lot of work to do for me. He has gone down quite a few pegs. He is a good cricketer Alex Carey, he has got a bit of energy himself, but yesterday he should have reacted to the way the general feel around the team was,” he continued.

Border added that he would accept it if the players had an explanation for what happened in that session. “I’m happy for any of those guys to come talk to me about what was going on yesterday afternoon and stand corrected but very ordinary stuff,” said Border.

Daruvala, 22, had a good launch from second on the grid and was up alongside pole sitter Daniel Ticktum. Tictum squeezed Daruvala on the inside which allowed championship leader Schumacher to go around the outside of both of them.

Eventually, Ticktum emerged in the lead, followed by Schumacher and Daruvala in third. A few corners later, Daruvala made a good move to pass Schumacher and get into second.

The pair battled for a few laps

for the position with Daruvala going back to third and passed Schumacher again a few laps later to regain the position.

He eventually managed to put distance on the German, who will race in Formula 1 for Haas next season, and caught the race leader.

Daruvala kept the pressure on Tictum who defended well until finally losing the position for the first time to the Indian with 10 laps to go.

He kept out Tictum and eventually put distance between the two cars to take the chequered flag in the lead. His Red Bull Junior teammate Yuki Tsunoda was second, over 3.5 seconds behind Jehan, while Ticktum was third.

“Motorsport is pretty big in India.

We obviously have a lot of people, so I have a big fanbase back home.

My goal at the end of the day is to do myself proud but also do my country proud and to prove to people back home that even though we don’t have the same facilities and stuff that guys have in Europe, as long as you can work hard you can fight right at the sharp end of the grid,” said an elated Daruvala.

Schumacher had to drop out of the points contention due to a pit stop forced by damage on the tyres caused by an early lock up.

Luckily for him, he held on to his 14-point lead at the top of the championship table after main rival Callum Ilott also failed to score any points. Schumacher clinched the title with a total of 215 points, 14 ahead of Ilott.

India to support WADA in its efforts: Rijiju New Delhi, Dec 7 (IANS): Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Kiren Rijiju promised Witold Banka, the president of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), that India would support all the efforts to ensure that the field of sports remains clean.

“I am happy to hear from you (Banka) that India’s contribution to WADA will be utilised toward anti-doping research and strengthening the investigative capabilities of the anti-doping community. India stands firmly for fair play and clean sport, and we shall support all efforts to

ensure the integrity of sport,” the Sports Minister said while inaugurating a webinar on AntiDoping and Sports Science on December 7.

Rijiju also mentioned that the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) is committed in its efforts to get rid of the doping menace and is implementing all the antidoping rules made by the WADA. “I am happy to say that NADA India is committed to dopefree sports and continues its ongoing support to the sports fraternity to get rid of the doping menace. It has been adopting

and implementing anti-doping rules and policies, which conform to the latest World AntiDoping Code and international standards,” the sports minister added.

The Sports Minister also assured the WADA president that NDTL has taken corrective measures on various points suggested by WADA, and hoped that it would soon be allowed to resume dope analysis, as per WADA guidelines.

The event was jointly organised by the NADA, National Sports University (NSU) and National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL).

Last few months have been surreal, says Indian pacer Natarajan Sydney, Dec 9 (IANS): Left-arm fast bowler T Natarajan, who came out with an impressive performance during his maiden outing with Team India in the limited-overs series against Australia, believes “last few months have been surreal” for him.

On his first international tour, the left-arm pacer stepped up with his yorkers and slower variations, and in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah, helped India to a 2-1 T20I series win against Australia as he picked up six wickets in the three matches at an economy of just under seven.

Natarajan made an impact on his ODI debut as well, picking the wickets of Marnus Labuchange

and Ashton Agar in another match-winning spell in the third game of the series at the Manuka Oval.

“The last few months have been surreal. My maiden outing with Team India and we won the T20I series. A dream come true moment made special by the champion bunch,” Natarajan said in a tweet on December 9.

“I thank my teammates for their constant support and encouragement. Thank you everyone for your love and support,” he added.

Natarajan had first impressed the cricket fraternity with his yorkers during the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) played in the United Arab

Emirates. Playing for SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH), he picked 16 wickets in 16 matches and courtesy that he earned an India call-up.

The 29-year-old, however, wasn’t supposed to be in India’s T20I squad. He was originally picked as a net bowler, but an injury to spinner Varun Chakravarthy opened up an opportunity and that’s how Natarajan was added to the squad, an opportunity he seized with both hands.

The T20I leg of the tour, which ended on December 8, however saw Natarajan posing with both the series trophy and the Playerof-the-Series trophy, which Hardik Pandya had handed over to him, in the team photo.

Long jumper Anju says she reached dizzy heights with single kidney New Delhi, Dec 8 (IANS): Long jumper Anju Bobby George, winner of the historic bronze medal at the 2003 World Athletics Championship, on December 7 revealed that she reached the pinnacle of her career with a single kidney.

fortunate, among very few who reached the world top with a single KIDNEY, allergic with even a painkiller, with a dead takeoff leg.. Many limitations. still made it. Can we call, magic of a coach or his talent,” Anju, 43, tweeted on December 7.

“Believe it or not, I’m one of the

Anju made history when she won

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the bronze medal by clearing 6.70 metres at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics in Paris. Later, she won a gold medal in the IAAF World Athletics Finals in 2005 in Monaco.

She won a bronze at 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games and a gold at the Busan Asian Games the same year. Four years later she clinched a silver at the Doha Asian Games.

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BORDER-GAVASKAR TROPHY 2019-20

India in Australia: Fun concludes, now the real deal Hardik’s awesome batting display was India’s biggest gain. An aggregate of 210 mirrored the skilful hitting that marks his batting. Scores of 90, 28 and 92 not out saw Hardik towering at the top of the table. He was certainly denied the MOS honours by an equally imperious performer in Smith, who smashed 216 runs in three innings with knocks of 105 and 104 giving Australia distinct advantage of batting first in the first two encounters.

By Vijay Lokapally For Hardik Pandya and T Natarajan it has turned out to be a glorious summer in Australia as they emerged men of character against an opposition that fights hard for every inch on home territory. You win some, lose some, and so it was in the One Day and T20 series as India played some outstanding cricket to make an encouraging start to its cricket assignments Down Under. The 1-2 defeat in the ODI series was compensated by the 2-1 win in T20. The team management could not have asked for a better run up to the four-match Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Hardik celebrated his form to erase the bitter memories of his last visit to Australia in 2018-19 when he had to leave in `disgrace’ for having made some unpleasant comments in a TV interview. He was booed off at Sydney and the same venue saw Hardik being applauded by the spectators, who were a welcome part of the cricket after matches during the pandemic were played without audience in England and South Africa.

The performance by Natarajan was the biggest gain for India.

Part of the continent as a `nets’ bowler, Natarajan earned the opportunity when Navdeep Saini suffered an injury after figuring in the first two ODIS. For Saini it was a relief since he had conceded a whopping 153 runs in his two ODI appearances. The lucky break propelled Natarajan into the limelight as the Tamil Nadu leftarm medium-fast almost won the Man of the Series award for the T20 series.

In a splendid gesture, Hardik, the Man of the Series for the T20s, following his aggregate of 78, essentially match impacting performances, shared the honours with the Tamil Nadu bowler.

“Natarajan, you were outstanding this series. To perform brilliantly

in difficult conditions on your India debut speaks volumes of your talent and hard work.

You deserve Man of the Series from my side bhai!,” Hardik tweeted and won the hearts of his fans across the world.

Australia expectedly proved tough opponents in the ODI series. The batting strength came to the fore through Steve Smith, Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell as they put up strong totals to the benefit of the bowlers. Targets of 375 and 390 in the first two matches swung the series Australia’s way even though India made a brilliant effort by making 308 and 338. It was the spirited response from India that stood out. Two centuries by Smith and one by Finch highlighted Australia’s dominance in the first two matches.

David Warner, Finch and Smith exposed the limitations in the Indian camp as the visitors suffered being a bowler short.

With Hardik not in a position to bowl the team sorely missed the sixth bowler. The criticism was not really justified because India had not visualised the poor form of Saini, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal, key components of the team’s campaigns in limited overs cricket. True, an all-rounder may have provided the extra element but if there was none available there was no sense in brooding over it.

India earned praise by clinching the third ODI in a close finish and that gave the team the impetus to play to its potential in the T20 competitions. Again, the batsmen served India well with Hardik in glorious form along with skipper Virat Kohli. The concussion substitute rule helped India in the first match when Ravindra Jadeja, hit on the helmet, did not take the field after a 23-ball 44 which turned out to be critical as India recovered from 92 for five in 13.5 overs. India used Chahal as the substitute and the leg-spinner ended up with three wickets and the Man of the Match award.

The Australian coach, Justin Langer, was unhappy with Chahal being allowed as a replacement but then India went by the rule of like for like. Chahal the spinner was replacing Jadeja who would have bowled four overs of spin too.

The issue was best put to rest by former India captain and ICC Cricket Committee head Anil Kumble when he said, ““This rule has been in force for last couple of years after the tragic demise of Phil Hughes. There was a push for a substitute to come in when someone gets hit on the head and concussion is a big thing. I know Jadeja did pull his hamstring after he got hit on the head or before he got hit. Whenever he got hit I don’t think it has got anything to do with replacement. I don’t think it is Jadeja’s call to ask for a physio. It is for the umpires

to stop the game and call for a physio. That did not happen perhaps because Jadeja ran for the single and he continued to play. He was fine. And concussion doesn’t necessarily mean it has to happen on the field. You can come back to the dressing room and then you may feel headache or dizziness. That’s when the doctors will step in and stop. That’s what probably happened in this case”.

Brief scores of the 3 ODIs

Kumble’s explained, “Jadeja had done his part of the batting.

So, you look at the other skills he brings in. He is a spinner.

That’s why a spinner [Chahal] was brought in as like-to-like replacement. If the roles were to be replaced, for example, if he was concussed when on the field when India was bowling and if Jadeja had to bat and couldn’t bat then I am sure Chahal wouldn’t have been like-to-like replacement. You would have looked at a batsman to come in place of Jadeja. I am sure Chahal would have been listed in the 15. I don’t see any issue with the concussion replacement.”

India 338/9 (50)

Hardik made a mockery of the Australian target of 195 in the second T20 game. His 42 off 22 balls dealt the blow after being reduced to 149 for four in 16.1 overs. Australia found a winner in leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson, who claimed the wickets of Shikhar Dhawan, Sanju Samson and Shreyas Iyer to leave his mark on the contest. The strokeful 80 by opener Matthew Wade had laid the base for Australia from preventing a clean sweep by India.

As India and Australia gear up for the Test series, beginning with the pink-ball match at Adelaide, the spectators can look forward to some exciting stuff from the two best Test teams in world cricket.

India, of course, will miss Kohli after the first Test as he returns home on paternity leave.

First ODI Australia 374/6 (50) India 308/8 (50) Australia won by 66 runs Player of the match Steven Smith Second ODI Australia 389/4 (50) Australia won by 51 runs Player of the match Steven Smith Third ODI India 302/5 (50) Australia 289 (49.3) India won by 13 runs Player of the match Hardik Pandya Australia won the series 2-1 Brief scores of the three T20s: First T20 India 161/7 (20 overs) Australia 150/7 (20 overs) India won by 11 runs Player of the match Yuzvendra Chahal Second T20 Australia 194/5 (20 overs) India 195/4 (19.4 overs) India won by 6 wkts Player of the match Hardik Pandya Third T20 Australia 186/5 (20 overs) India 174/7 (20 overs) Australia won by 12 runs Player of the match Mitchell Swepson Player of the series Hardik Pandya India won the series 2-1 Mr Vijay Lokapally has been a sports journalist for four decades.

He writes for The Hindu and Sportstar.

We did well, hence we won: Kuldeep on 2018/19 series win over Aus Kuldeep Yadav.

Kuldeep, however, acknowledged that India have a difficult task ahead of them this time due to the return of Steve Smith and David Warner and the emergence of Marnus Labuschagne.

“You need to win Test matches to win a series. We won two of them, and could have one the fourth one too had there been no rain. The criticism holds no merit. Whenever you are playing against a team, your own team’s performance matters the most,” Kuldeep told the website of his Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders.

Sydney, Dec 13 (IANS): India’s victory in their previous Test

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series in Australia was more down to the fact that the visitors

performed well than Australia’s weaknesses, according to spinner

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“So instead of looking at the other team - who they have in their squad, and who they don’t - it makes more sense to talk about your own team. We did well, and

hence we won the Test series. If our fast bowling works well and we perform as prolifically with the bat as we did the last time, we will win this time too.”

Australia lost the previous Test series 2-1 but since then, they have gone on to retain the Ashes in England and record dominant wins over Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand at home.

“Yes, their team has now improved with the return of the experienced David Warner, Steve Smith and the likes of Marnus (Labuschagne), who has really done well for them in recent times. But last time too, their team was good but we played really some really good cricket to win. Looking forward to the challenge once again, it’s going to be a great contest,” said Kuldeep.

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Bollywood takes the OTT route to return to limelight

Sidharth Shukla accused of drunk driving, claims he was attacked with knife Mumbai, Dec 13 (IANS): A video that has gone viral on social media shows TV star Sidharth Shukla can be seen engaged in a heated argument with a man on the road on the night after his birthday.

While the man accuses the “Bigg Boss 13” winner of drunk driving, Sidharth, in turn, claims that he has been threatened by goons armed with knives.

In the video, a man, who is filming the actor seated in the driver’s seat of his car, can be heard saying: “This is Sidharth Shukla.

He is drunk driving.”

The person also accuses the actor of hitting someone with his car: “Aapne bewajah gareeb ko mara na sir? Abhi baat kyon palat rahe ho? Abhi baat mat palto (You hit a

Clockwise from top left-Chandrachur Singh and Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta, Karisma Kapoor, Bobby Deol and Abhishek Bachhan New Delhi, Dec 13 (IANS): The last few months have seen several comebacks in the Hindi screen.

Notably, all these have happened in the OTT space.

role of a fraud godman in the crime drama has been lauded by all. The web series has already had two seasons.

Here is a list of Bollywood actors who returned to the limelight thanks to sundry digital platforms this year:

The Bollywood star of the nineties made her digital debut with the web series “Mentalhood”, which explored the multitasking nature of mothers. This was her first project that had her in a starring role after the 2012 film “Dangerous Ishhq”, which flopped on release.

Sushmita Sen Sushmita’s is undoubtedly the most exciting Bollywood comeback this year. The former beauty queen had been a part of Bollywood hits such as “Biwi No.1”, “Aankhen” and “Main Hoon Na”, and her last Hindi outing was the 2010 film “No Problem”. In between, she did a Bengali film, “Nirbaak”. When she returned with a title role in the digital series “Aarya” earlier this year, she grabbed eyeballs again. She played Aarya Sareen, a happily married woman whose life takes a drastic turn when her husband is killed.

Abhishek Bachchan His last release on the big screen was “Manmarziyaan” in 2018. In 2020, he explored the streaming arena for a return, and it seems to be working. After making his web debut with the series “Breathe: Into The Shadows”, he looked impressive in Anurag Basu’s film “Ludo”. His upcoming OTT release is the film “The Big Bull”, based on the life of Harshad Mehta. This month, he also appeared in the sports docu-series “Sons Of Soils: Jaipur Pink Panthers”. The series is about his kabaddi team, Jaipur Pink Panthers.

Bobby Deol This year, the actor celebrated 25 years of his Bollywood debut film “Barsaat”, which had released in 1995. But his Bollywood career has more misses than hits. The actor got a second shot at acting, thanks to the digital domain. After starring as Dean Vijay Singh in the digital film “Class Of ‘83”, he was seen in the successful series “Aashram” by Prakash Jha. His

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Karisma Kapoor

Chandrachur Singh Bollywood buffs of the nineties and early 2000s will remember him for films such as “Maachis”, “Daag: The Fire”, “Josh” and “Kya Kehna”. After a glorious start, his film career somehow faded away.

He was last seen in an unheard-of film called “Yadvi: The Dignified Princess” in 2017. OTT brought him back to the public eye, when he returned in “Aarya” as Sushmita’s on-screen husband Tej Sareen.

Lara Dutta Lara starred in many successful Bollywood films such as “No Entry”, “Bhagam Bhag”, ‘Partner” and “Don 2”. She was last seen in the film “Welcome To New York” in 2018. Two years later, she revived her career with the action comedy web series “Hundred” that presented her as a cop.

Aftab Shivdasani He has been part of Bollywood since childhood. Many would recall him as the naughty kid in the Anil Kapoor-Sridevi starrer “Mr. India” back in the eighties.

Although he didn’t make much of an impact with “Mast”, his debut film as an adult, he managed to get noticed in hit multistarrers as “Hungama” and “Masti”. He went on to feature in more multistarrers, and then in 2020 Aftab finally made his digital debut with the show “Poison 2”.

Going by the response to the revenge thriller, he definitely made the right choice.

ENTERTAINMENT

poor person unnecessarily, isn’t it sir? Why are you changing the topic? Don’t change the topic now).”

To this, Sidharth takes out his right hand from the car’s window and replies: “Usne mujhe chaku dikhaya (he threatened me with a knife).”

The actor has reportedly complained to the police, who have nabbed the accused.

Meanwhile, Sidharth celebrated his 40th birthday on December 12. The actor took to his verified Twitter account to crack a joke on his age.

“To @TheRashamiDesai #ParasChabbra @MahiraSharma_ #VishalAdityaSingh ..... and who so ever it may concern .... I am now officially 40 saal ka ... but still

not a Buddha ..(joke plz take it like one),” Sidharth tweeted.

In another tweet, the actor thanked his friends, fans and well-wishers. “Hey guys thank you so much for making my birthday so memorable and special...really appreciate the effort and love... you guys mean the world to me ... you’ll make this the best birthday ever..... love you all,” he wrote.

Chiranjeevi, Mohanlal, Rahman shower wishes as Rajinikanth turns 70 Chennai, Dec 12 (IANS): Superstar Rajinikanth turned 70 on December 12, and film industry colleagues including Chiranjeevi, AR Rahman, Mohanlal and Mahesh Babu showered him with birthday wishes.

Many colleagues as well as fans also honoured him with a common display picture highlighting his popular onscreens avatars.

Here’s what celebrities tweeted: Chiranjeevi: “Dearest Friend @ rajinikanth Happy 70th Birthday & Wish you a wonderful life ahead. Wish you All Success in ur endeavor in politics. U have won millions of hearts through Ur unique style & I trust U will also tread Ur unique path in serving those millions! Stay Blessed! Lots of love!”

AR Rahman: “Extremely privileged to release superstar @ Rajinikanth’s 70th Birthday CDP on behalf of his fans. Wishing you a great birthday and good health! #HBDSuperstarRajinikanth.”

Mahesh Babu: “Happy birthday, @ rajinikanth sir! May you continue to inspire millions and redefine style in cinema. Wishing you

good health, happiness and peace always!”

Mohanlal: “Happy Birthday Dear @rajinikanth #HappyBirthdayRajinikanth.”

Dulquer Salmaan: “An inspiration and a personification of humility and generosity!

Extremely honored to release our beloved superstar @ Rajinikanth’s 70th birthday CDP #HBDSuperstarRajinikanth.”

Keerthy Suresh: “So excited and honoured to share the CDP of the living legend, @ rajinikanth sir. Wishing you an advance Happy Birthday. #HBDSuperstarRajinikanth.”

Shatrughan Sinha: “Warm & loving birthday wishes for a very dear old friend @rajinikanth... ‘birds of a feather flock together’.

It was a great gesture on his part to have called me his Guru, in my most popular and talked about biography ‘Anything but Khamosh’. I’m very touched, but on a lighter note, I will say if I am his Guru, then he has become the real ‘Guru Ghantal’.

God Bless! The most popular superstar especially down South in particular and in Indian cinema

in general has now taken the bold and beautiful decision to enter politics, better late than never.

Hope, wish and pray that he lives up to the expectations of the people with his earnest sincerity, fairness and strong will. Lots of love to his wife, the real backbone, Latha and his family. Heartiest Congrats to him. Long live Rajinikanth! Regards to his fans, followers & supporters.”

Ramya Krishnan: “Happy birthday to my ever favorite #Padayappa @rajinikanth from your one and only #nilambari #HBDRajiniKanth.”

Suniel Shetty: “He has surely been the biggest inspiration for me and many others. Happiest Birthday to Rajini Sir!”

Releasing ‘Durgamati’ on OTT is a boon, says Bhumi Pednekar Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS): Actress Bhumi Pednekar is back on screen with the horror flick, Durgamati: The Myth. The film had an OTT release, and Bhumi considers the move a boon amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“It’s a boon. Honestly, we are living in such difficult times.

Otherwise, we used to meet you (the media) on an everyday basis. As an actor, our job is to entertain people and in such a period, if my film is releasing in 200 countries and if it is able to entertain people in their homes, then there is nothing greater than that. So, I am thankful. I don’t think we would have got a better collaborator than Amazon Prime

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Video to release our film,” Bhumi told IANS. In Durgamati, Bhumi plays IAS officer Chanchal Chauhan, who is framed by a corrupt person of authority. The plot is woven with an element of horror, as Chanchal is possessed from time to time by the spirit of Durgamati.

Asked if she has ever turned into Durga in real life, she said: “There are a lot of instances when I turn into Durga but there is one thing that p*sses off every woman and that is casual sexism.”

Asked about female actresses being presented as the lead in Hindi films lately, she said: “I am thankful to God that such

kinds of films are being made. It is happening because of evolved people like Vikram (Malhotra) sir and Akshay (Kumar) sir who have produced this film. Earlier, too, many actresses have been a part of really good female-oriented films and actresses of my generation are carrying forward their legacy.”

Bollywood actress Bhumi Pednekar

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ENTERTAINMENT

Australian link to Bollywood’s depiction of new age Indian women

By Priyam Sinha Bollywood established its place as a dominant film industry in the 1990s. This period witnessed commercialisation of song and dance elements, a brewing fan-base amidst its diasporic audiences, improvised cinematographic techniques and grandiosity of settings while portraying the life of anon resident Indian (NRI). Thus, the display of these foreign destinations added to the popularisation of Bollywood cinema abroad ever since including in Australia. The 1990s also earmarked post-economic liberalisation, which influenced the socio–political environment of the Indian cinemas, advocated the ideologies of gendered dissent and led to the relaxation of censorship rules whilst portraying sexuality. Among the usual trends of showcasing foreign destinations Australia emerged as a space of sexual liberation, urban cultural milieu, and families in the 21st century.

The notion of a diaspora in Bollywood cinema evokes newer perceptions of gendered performativity and romance.

Through the extravaganza of exotic destinations, melodrama and action infused in enacting familial relations, the diaspora

plays an integral role in enticing its global spectators. It not only caters to the male fetishes and voyeuristic pleasures but also showcased women being flamboyant, promiscuous, and self–reliant. Salaam Namaste (2005), Heyy Baby (2007), Chak De! India (2007) and Bachna Ae Haseeno (2005) are some of the popular films whose narratives revolved around life of Indians in Australia. Thereafter, Australia established its place as a favoured destination for Indians to settle and set forth the narratives around retaining the Indian cultural values although being based abroad.

The strong connection between India–Australia were established in the display of its cultural, aesthetic and materialistic culture. The close association and transnational connection between the two set forth through its historical connections, common ideological frameworks and political climate and migratory ties also added to the popularity of Bollywood cinema amongst the diaspora in Australia. Sports being one such tie, set forth the cultural and diasporic connect between the two countries in the particular hockey world cup match in Melbourne in Chak De! The women’s hockey team was belittled and shunned for

pursuing a “manly” game over performing domestic chores. The match at Melbourne symbolised the dismantling of patriarchy and cultural stereotypes of women where years of ridicule and value judgment portraying woman predominantly as a wife, a daughter or a daughter–in–law was very effectively discarded in the portrayal of players coming from different parts of India.

On the other hand, the stigma related to live–in relationships and unmarried pregnancy was enacted in Salaam Namaste that introduced novelty in cinematic trends of Bollywood cinema.

The narrative of Heyy Baby too touched upon how Sydney could be a destination for three Casanovas, a notion stereotyped within the Indian masculinity.

On similar lines, Bachna Ae Haseeno too addressed how a casanova finally mended his ways after having betrayed the trust of Indian women who dreamt of “settling down” with him and starting a family. After years of running away from commitment the male protagonist realised his love for Deepika Padukone, playing the role of a part time management student and cab driver. Sydney thus became the harbinger of a realisation of a woman juggling multiple roles

and instilling a sense of guilt of breaching the trust of all those whom he left behind in India.

Although these films tried to ape the Indian cultural milieu even in Australia the degree of liberation from the traditional sanctions made Australia unique in its representation. Amidst the picturesque beaches, fetishisation of the woman’s body; the films also demonstrated that the Indian woman was no more gullible, docile, and subservient. Instead, she too gazed, objectified and fetishized the male body and pursued her goals independent of her familial expectations. The role of diaspora, in this case Australia becomes an interesting point of contestation for having set forth a broader debate on how diaspora is a liberating yet conservative.

Then diaspora tapped upon the Indian sentimentality of urban anxieties, fear and escapist fantasies. Further, the narratives in these movies exhibited the NRI culture, their alleged superiority and sexual agency and alienation yet attachment towards the melodrama of Indian households.

In other words, it reinforced the old adage, you can take an Indian out of India but never India out of an Indian. However, it must be emphasised that the movies championed narratives that were

Priyam Sinha offbeat, in a significant departure from the tradition stereotypical construct of Indian values, gender roles and gender parity.

Although acknowledgement for performing familial roles hold relevance within these narratives but it made the audience mindful of how women are more than just being fetishised or adhering to societal standards to being a chaste and a sacrificial mother.

The female protagonists eulogised the avenging woman discourse by eulogising the emerging “new age woman” of the 21st century who is now offering an alternative image of an Indian womendivorced from the stereotypical image that has been reinforced for centuries.

Ms Priyam Sinha is a doctoral student at the National University of Singapore.

Bollywood drugs probe: 2 NCB officials Kriti Sanon quarantined after testing Covid positive suspended Mumbai, Dec 9 (IANS): Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon on December 9 confirmed reports claiming that she has tested positive for Covid-19. The actress is currently quarantined.

Mumbai, Dec 3 (IANS): In a big embarrassment, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has suspended two officials of its Mumbai Zonal Unit for their alleged suspicious role which enabled two persons in the ongoing Bollywood-drugs mafia investigation get relief, official sources said here on December 3.

Kriti issued a statement on her verified Instagram account to share her health update and also asked fans not to worry as she is “feeling fine”.

The statement reads: “I would like to inform everyone that I have tested positive for Covid-19.

There is absolutely nothing to worry as I am feeling fine and have quarantined myself as per BMC and my doctor’s advice. So I am gonna ride this tide, rest it out and resume work soon. Till then, I am reading all the warm wishes and they seem to be working. Be safe guys, the pandemic hasn’t gone yet.”

Kriti has just returned from Chandigarh where she was

Bollywood actress Kriti Sanon shooting with actor Rajkummar Rao for Abhishek Jain’s upcoming comedy “Second Innings”. The film also stars Paresh Rawal and Dimple Kapadia, and is scheduled to release next year.

Kriti will also feature alongside Akshay Kumar in the action film “Bachchan Pandey”, and will be seen in Laxman Utekar’s “Mimi” where she plays the role of a surrogate mother.

Rahul Roy discharged from hospital, will undergo speech therapy Mumbai, Dec 9 (IANS): Bollywood actor Rahul Roy, who was undergoing treatment at Nanavati Hospital after suffering a brain stroke, has been discharged.

The news of the actor’s discharge was confirmed by filmmaker Nitin Kumar Gupta. Roy was shooting for Gupta’s film “LAC: Live The Battle” in Kargil when he suffered

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the stroke on November 26.

“The doctors were ready to release him on December 7, but paperwork took time. His sister took him home the following day,” Gupta told Mumbai Mirror.

The director further informed that the actor would be undergoing speech therapy in order to regain normal speech.

The role of the two investigating officials - whose identities were not disclosed - came under a cloud after accused Harsh Limbachiya and suspect Karishma Prakash got bail and interim bail, respectively, in November, an official requesting anonymity told IANS. Limbachiya is the husband of high-profile television comedian Bharti Singh while Karishma Prakash is the manager of leading Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone.

Some other officials are likely to be under the NCB scanner for their questionable lapses in

the matter that has shaken up the organisation which has been probing the high-profile cases for the past four months.

Both - Limbachiya and Karishma Prakash - had been raided by NCB teams in November and certain quantities of drugs recovered in the actions.

While Bharti Singh and Limbachiya were arrested and later got bail, Karishma Prakash had ignored the NCB summons to join the probe and later secured an interim bail - and in both the developments, the alleged role of the two IOs is now under the scanner.

The NCB move follows the preliminary report of an internal probe ordered by the Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, and the suspensions precede a full departmental enquiry in which the possible involvement of some others, including lawyers, could also come up, indicated the official.

In a serious transgression, the two officials, along with a lawyer,

did not appear during scheduled court hearings in the two cases which enabled them to get bail.

Following a tip-off from an arrested drug peddler, the NCB had raided Karishma Prakash when she was away from her home, and later a case was lodged along with summons issued to her.

While she ignored the summons, she also applied for an anticipatory bail which she got though the court directed her to appear before the NCB, which she complied with.

The NCB sought custodial interrogation for her as she was not cooperating in the probe and during the final hearing of her anticipatory bail plea, the official and lawyer did not appear in the court, after which the court granted her bail plea.

Bharti Singh and Limbachiya were arrested after raids at their homes and office on November 22 and sent to judicial custody for 13 days each.

TV actress found dead in Chennai hotel room Chennai, Dec 9 (IANS): Television actress and host VJ Chitra, best known for starring in the Tamil show Pandian Stores, was reportedly found dead at a hotel room in Chennai’s Nazrathpet hotel on December 9.

She was 29 and is suspected to have died by suicide.

According to the police, she had

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checked into her room around 1 am on December 9 after completing a shoot.

“The hotel manager called the police helpline number 100 about 3.30 a.m on December 9. We are currently investigating the cause of her death,” a police official from Nazrathpet station told TNM.

Just few hours before her death, Chitra had shared pictures of herself from a photo shoot on her Instagram page.

In addition to many fans, filmmaker Lokesh has left a heartbroken emoji in the comments section.

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Dec 16-31, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 12

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