India News – May 16-31, 2021, Vol 1 Issue 22

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

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Australia dispatches medical supplies to India Canberra, May 6: Australia delivered essential medical supplies to India on May 6 as part of its initial package of support to the Indian Government’s programme for combating the country’s current COVID-19 outbreak.

A chartered Qantas flight departed Sydney carrying

supplies to meet the needs identified by the Government of India including 1056 ventilators and 43 oxygen concentrators.

This will allow Indian frontline workers to provide life-saving medical interventions.

These Australian donated supplies will be distributed by the Indian Red Cross and local authorities to

Federal Court of Australia upholds India travel ban Photo Courtesy: IANS

ensure support reaches those in greatest need.

The Morrison Government is working closely with state and territory governments and the private sector on the urgent deployment of further emergency supplies to India.

Continued on Page 3

New Cambridge tracker shows Covid cases in India will subside by May 23 Red Cross welcomes Queensland government donation for Indian Student Visas I Skilled Visas I Tourist Visas COVID-19 aid Canberra, May 11 (IANS): The Federal Court of Australia has rejected a legal challenge to the

government's India travel ban, as Justice Tom Thawley dismissed

Brisbane, 11 May: The Temporary Graduate Visas I Business Migration Palaszczuk Government will donate $2 million to the Family stream Visas I Partner Visa I Sponsored Visas CasesSpecialist will continue to increase Australian Red Cross on behalf over the next two weeks in Assam, of all Queenslanders to aid the Job Ready I Skill Assessments AATJammu representation HimachalIPradesh, and response to the COVID-19 crisis

the state’s Indian community to pledge Queensland’s support in the wake of a deadly second wave of COVID-19.

Continued on Page 3

Photo Courtesy: IANS

New Delhi, May 13 (IANS): A new tracker by Cambridge Judge Business School forecasts that the number of new Covid cases in India has peaked, and will see a declining trend over the twoweek forecast period to 23 May. The tracker said but there is substantial variation among States and Union Territories in their trajectories.

Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Tamil Nadu and Tripura.

Continued on Page 3

in India.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on May 11 announced the funding while meeting with leaders of

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“More than 74,000 Queenslanders were born in India or have Indian heritage, and these people make a huge contribution to our community,” the Premier said.

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INDIA NEWS

May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22 Mamata dedicates victory to people, says Nandigram defeat small sacrifice

EDITORIAL TEAM Dr Ram Mohan, Chairman Dr Ashutosh Misra, Editor-in-Chief Dr Priyabrata Behra, Bureau Chief, New South Wales Ms Priyadarshini Rana, Bureau Chief, Victoria Ms Apoorva Raghubanshi, Bureau Chief, ACT Ms. Garima Sangar, Associate Editor EDITORIAL BOARD Professor Prasad Yarlagadda, Queensland University of Technology Ms Audrey Courty, Griffith University Dr Uttam Kumar Sinha, Senior Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, India Mr Shaun Star, Director, Centre for Australia India Studies, Jindal Global University, India INDIA NEWS TV Mr Karthik Pratap Singh, News Director Mr. Agastya Yeturi, Cinematographer Mr Nishit Chandan, Special Correspondent WRITERS Mr Devashish Chakraborty Ms Deepika Banerjee Mr Rabindra Mukherji INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS Institute for Australia India Engagement Australia India Business Council

WORLD THIS WEEK

News from India

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IABCA Awards 2021 held in Sydney

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Queensland needs longterm India strategy as Premier provides timely assistance

Aus FM meets Afghan President to discuss troops withdrawal

World News

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IABCA Awards 2021

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Invest India Business Immunity Platform (BIP) launched to help businesses withstand COVID-19

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Make In India

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Sports

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INDIA NEWS

May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

COVER STORIES

Red Cross welcomes Queensland Federal Court of Australia government donation for Indian upholds India travel ban COVID-19 aid Continued from Page 1 the first two arguments of the four-pronged bid to overturn the decision.

Continued from Page 1

“India Red Cross has increased its number of COVID-19 equipped ambulances, blood donation centres, 24/7 helplines and increased its communication and community engagement activities to address misinformation on COVID-19 and vaccinations.

“They are also procuring and distributing hygiene kits, masks, sanitisers and soap, to those most vulnerable.

“It is critical that everyone, especially people who are poorer and more isolated, have access to vaccines, masks, clean water and hygiene supplies so they can take action to keep themselves and their loved ones healthy and safe.”

“I’m proud to have met with a number of leaders of the Indian community here in Queensland to offer the support of my government, including Honorary Consul Archana Singh.”

“This community needs our love and support more than ever right now, and I would like to offer my sympathies and those of our Government to everyone affected,” she said.

“Whether it’s on the cricket field, over a meal or at the boardroom table – Queensland shares strong ties with the Indian community.”

“I’m proud to stand with the Premier in offering our Indian community the backing of the Palaszczuk Government during these extremely tough times.”

“We’ll do everything we can to support the Indian people during these incredibly difficult times.”

Funding will be used for a range of measures to fight the pandemic in India including PPE and vital oxygen supplies for COVID-19 patients.

“I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives as a result of COVID-19 and those who continue to be directly affected by the pandemic in India,” the Premier said.

Minister for Multicultural Affairs Leanne Linard acknowledged the significant impact COVID-19 was having on the Indian community in Queensland and overseas.

Red Cross Queensland Acting Director Collin Sivalingum said the funds will go towards the Red Cross Red Crescent’s global appeal for Indian Red Cross’ work to address the worsening coronavirus crisis.

“This is an incredible gesture which will go a long way towards supporting Indian Red Cross’ vital work,” Mr Sivalingum said.

“In India, more than 46,000 Red Cross staff and volunteers are responding to the pandemic.

They’re doing an outstanding job, providing oxygen cylinders, oxygen concentrators and COVID prevention kits to health centres,” he said.

“People wanting to help can donate to Australian Red Cross Global COVID Appeal which is raising funds to support people worst hit by the worsening pandemic crisis in our region, including India.”

“The funds provide support for our local partners across Asia Pacific and beyond to scale up their emergency activities in response to COVID-19 surges and sustain their essential services such as health, water, sanitation and hygiene services to people and communities in the long term. It also allows us to continue our vital services for people in high-risk groups in Australia,” Mr Sivalingum said.

The ban has made it a criminal offence under the Biosecurity Act to try and enter Australia within 14 days of being in India, which is battling a devastating second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

Lawyers for Gary Newman, a 73-year-old Melbourne man who has been stuck in India amid the pandemic since March 2020, told the court that the controversial ban contravened his common law right to return home.

But the court agreed with government lawyers that the Biosecurity Act prevailed over such rights if it was needed to protect the national interest.

The Biosecurity Act gives the Minister for Health Greg Hunt the power to introduce emergency

powers that are "appropriate and adapted to achieve the purpose" for which they are intended.

It includes the power to "prevent or control" entry or exit of a human disease from the country.

"The most obvious method of achieving either result is to prevent entry or departure from Australia," Thawley said on May 10.

Hunt announced the travel ban on April 30 as the Covid-19 situation in India worsened.

It has been described as "immoral", "racist" and "inhumane", a criticism that has been rejected by the government.

A poll published by Guardian Australia on May 11 revealed that voters are divided over the issue with 56 per cent of 1,092 respondents saying Australians in India should be allowed to return home.

New Cambridge tracker shows Covid cases in India will subside by May 23

Continued from Page 1 A new CJBS COVID-19 Tracker for India, developed by Cambridge Judge Business School and the National Institute of Economic and Social Research in India working with Health Systems Transformation Platform in India, provides forecasts of the pandemic's trajectory based on a recently developed model.

These forecasts are based on a structural time series model that uses historical data in estimation,

but adapts to the trend emerging in the most recent period. The model is described in a paper in Harvard Data Science Review

by Andrew Harvey, Emeritus Professor of Econometrics at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Cambridge, and Paul Kattuman, Reader in Economics at Cambridge Judge Business School, entitled "Time series models based on growth curves with applications to forecasting coronavirus".

“The unfolding events in India are a tragic reminder we can’t leave anyone behind,” he further said.

“It is critical that everyone, especially people from nations where health care systems are overwhelmed, have access to vaccines, masks, clean water, and basic hygiene supplies like soap.”

“This contribution and support from the Queensland Government will help save countless lives.”

Australia dispatches medical supplies to India

Continued from Page 1

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator Marise Payne said that as close friends and strategic partners, Australia and India will stand together during this challenging time.

Minister Payne said.

“India has shown great leadership and generosity to the world in exporting vaccines globally. It is time for the world to repay that generosity and Australia as a close friend of the Indian people is playing its part,”

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, said the Government had offered a significant package of support to the Indian Government.

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“We express our solidarity and deepest support with India as it responds to this ongoing crisis and recognise how difficult this time is for Indians and Australians in India and their loved ones.”

“We are deeply passionate about

supporting people in India, which is why we have reached out to support with medical supplies such as oxygen, ventilators and PPE,” Minister Hunt said.

“At the same time we are working on plans to resume travel from India to support Australians to get home.”

Australia’s High Commission and Consulates in India continue to provide consular assistance to Australians in need.

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INDIA NEWS

May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

ADEVRTORIAL

Springfield City Group launches Knowledge Precinct, a strategic initiative to accelerate growth

K

nowledge Precinct – expected to bring investment opportunities, economic growth, job creation & digital innovation Highlights Seeking partner to assist in building Australia’s first master planned city since Canberra Opportunity for developers and capital providers to create a legacy through the creation of a digital smart city A nation building project, driving economic growth and job creation Springfield City Group (SCG), the master developer of Greater Springfield (Springfield or the Project), has launched a major strategic initiative to accelerate completion of the Springfield Central Business District (CBD) through a global partner tender.

The development, known as the Knowledge Precinct (the Precinct), will have an expected future value of more than $15 billion.

The Precinct will become the key commercial area of the Springfield CBD and is an opportunity of national significance. The Precinct has approval of 1.22 million square metres of commercial space, 5,340 apartments, on 119 hectares of developable land. Proposed plans for the Precinct are anchored

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around Springfield’s three key pillars for future economic success and future employment growth: health, education and technology.

The global tender is expected to attract interest from Australia’s major developers and capital providers, and the world’s largest development and most forwardthinking firms.

Maha Sinnathamby, Chairman of SCG, said: “This initiative will turbo charge the development of the Springfield CBD. This project represents a unique opportunity to join us in creating a legacy.

Completion of a futuristic digital city, harnessing innovative thinking, will make a real, positive impact on economic growth and job creation in South East Queensland. We have a 29-year track record as the master developer of Springfield City and have successfully partnered with some of Australia’s leading property groups in the past, including Lendlease, Mirvac, and AVEO, now owned by Brookfield.”

Bob Sharpless, Deputy Chairman of SCG, said: “Springfield is a truly unique project which is currently only 25 per cent developed. With considerable established infrastructure, eleven schools, residential developments, a hospital, existing

local and regional transport links such as highways and two rail stations, and much more, we are already well on our way to becoming an economic centre for South East Queensland. With the right partnership in place, we will usher in the next chapter for our city.”

and Deputy Chairman, Bob Sharpless.

SCG has commenced initial discussions with interested

parties and an outcome and preferred partner is expected to be announced in the coming months.

A nation building project Springfield is the first and only master planned city in Australia since Canberra and has been recognised as a unique project on the world scale. Sharing a common boundary with Brisbane, Springfield is on track to become Brisbane’s second CBD. With more than $18 billion invested in the city to date, Springfield is expected to have an end value of $88 billion when complete.

The Knowledge Precinct will contribute to the city’s expected job generation target of 52,000 through the development of Health City, Education City and IDEA City, each of which are directly aligned to Springfield’s three key pillars for future economic success.

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The process will be led by SCG Chairman, Maha Sinnathamby

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

NEWS FROM INDIA

Mamata dedicates victory to people, Stalin calls for strict lockdown in Tamil Nadu says Nandigram defeat small sacrifice Photo Courtesy: IANS

Photo Courtesy: The Economic Times

Kolkata, May 2 (IANS): With the Trinamool Congress poised to cruise to a landslide victory in the Assembly elections to return to power for third time in a row, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on May 2 dedicated the win to the people of West Bengal, besides taking a dig at both the Election Commission and the BJP.

However, there seemed to be a setback for the Trinamool supremo in Nandigram, where after several twist-and-turns, her one-time aide Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP reportedly defeated her by a narrow margin.

Speaking at the state secretariat Nabanna, Banerjee didn't spare the EC besides hinting that something wrong is going on in Nandigram.

"The Election Commission worked as a spokesperson of the BJP and now see what they are doing. Three hours back, it said something and now it is saying something else. Let Nadigram give its verdict, I shall accept that.

I shall go to the court," she said.

There was a tweet from Banerjee that read "For winning a greater battle you must sacrifice something."

She was hinting at the confusion that prevailed in Nandigram. Initially there was an announcement that Banerjee has won from Nandigram. Even BJP spokesperson Jay Prakash Mamjumdar congratulated

Banerjee on her victory, but after that there were reports that Suvendu Adhikari has won.

Making it obvious that fighting Covid is her priority; the Trinamool supremo vowed to work for the people all through her life.

"This is a victory for the people of Bengal. This is a victory of the people of the country. This is a victory of democracy. The people of Bengal have saved democracy," Banerjee said.

The Chief Minister also made it clear that her fight against the BJP will continue.

"I announce that all the people of the state will get free vaccine.

I would also like to request the Central government to arrange for free vaccination for all the

people of the country. This is our demand and if it is not met, I shall go for a non-violent movement at the foot of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. It will need only Rs 3,000 crore for vaccinating the whole country and that is not a huge amount," the Banerjee said.

"BJP has used everything -money power, muscle power and everything possible -- but the people of Bengal have voted for development. The people of Bengal have saved democracy. I congratulate all my mothers and sisters and minority brothers and sisters," she added.

Banerjee also announced that there will be no victory procession right now because of the Covid situation.

Sonia to form committee to analyse Congress' poll disaster New Delhi, May 10 (IANS): Interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi has decided to constitute a fact finding committee to find reasons for the party’s defeat in the four Indian states which went to the polls recently.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

After the Congress Working Committee meeting on May 10, party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said, "The committee will be constituted within 48 hours."

Stalin advised his cabinet colleagues to camp in the districts allotted to them and to ensure execution of strict lockdown. The cabinet resolved that unless strict lockdown is not implemented in the state from May 10 to May 24, the spread of the virus cannot be contained.

The Chief Minister also called upon the ministers to ensure that all patients arriving at district hospitals are treated without any delay. It was also decided to provide adequate food to healthcare workers and patients.

The cabinet also resolved to settle the shortage of oxygen which was plaguing the state government, ensure proper supply and to

our serious setbacks. To say that we are deeply disappointed is to make an understatement," she said.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

the party's West Bengal incharge Jitin Prasada saying the alliance with the Indian Secular Front (ISF), formed by preacherturned-politician Pirzada Abbas Siddiqui, ruined Congress' prospects in the state, sources said.

"This CWC meeting has been convened to discuss the results of the recently-held Assembly polls. We have to take note of

During the meeting, all the state in-charges presented their views on the recent poll debacle, with

"These will yield uncomfortable lessons, but if we do not face up to the reality, if we do not look the facts in the face, we will not draw the right lessons." she added.

The party's in-charge for Kerala, Tariq Anwar, told the CWC that Congress became overconfident which led to its defeat in the state, and by the time it realised the same, it was too late, sources said.

The party's Assam in-charge Jitendra Singh informed that after the late Tarun Gogoi, Congress did not have a big face in the state, while smaller parties like Raijor Dal also dented the party's vote share.

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strictly monitor distribution so that there is no wastage of the gas. It also appealed to people to get vaccinated as early as possible and also resolved to spread awareness on vaccination.

To implement all Covid-related measures, the cabinet resolved to have a proper coordination of the departments concerned including health, revenue, police, urban and rural development. Stalin also directed all the ministers to ensure coordination between various departments and to conduct review meetings for proper implementation of the government initiatives.

With the state government starting to sell Remdisivir to patients getting treated in private hospitals in Trichy, Salem, Madurai and Coimbatore, the cabinet resolved to monitor its sale as well as prevention of any black market sale of the drug.

Himanta Biswa Sarma takes oath as 15th Assam CM Besides the Chief Minister, 13 newly-elected MLAs of the BJP and its allies, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and United People Party Liberal (UPPL), were also sworn in.

The 13 Ministers comprised Ranjeet Kumar Dass, Atul Bora, U.G. Brahma, Parimal Suklabaidya, Chandra Mohan Patowary, Keshb Mahanta, Ranoj Pegu, Sanjay Kishan, Jogen Mohan, Ajanta Neog, Ashok Singhal, Pijush Hazarika and Bimal Bora.

Congress leader Digvijay Singh asserted that the alliance with the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) in Assam was wrong, while Ghulam Nabi Azad said that the party should have committee at the All India Congress level to deal with the alliances, sources said.

"I intend to set up a small panel to look at every aspect that caused such reverses (in the elections) and report back very quickly.

We need to candidly understand why we failed to dislodge the incumbent governments in Kerala and Assam, and we drew a complete blank in West Bengal," Sonia Gandhi said in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting, in which Rahul Gandhi was not present as he is still recovering from Covid-19.

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Chennai, May 9 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, in his first cabinet meeting on May 9, called upon ministers and officials to implement a strict lockdown in the state to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus.

Guwahati, May 10 (IANS): Himanta Biswa Sarma was on May 10 sworn-in as the 15th Chief Minister of Assam, a day after he was named as the leader of the newly-elected BJP legislators in the state.

Sarma was administered the oath of office by Governor Jagdish Mukhi at the famous Srimanta Sankardeva Kalakshetra in Guwahati.

Neog, who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party weeks before the recently-held Assembly polls, was a Congress Minister in the previous Tarun Gogoi-led governments.

State BJP President Dass, Pegu and Singhal have been inducted as Ministers for the first time.

BJP President J.P. Nadda, former Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Chief Ministers from other northeastern states and a host of top dignitaries were present in the hour-long swearing-in-ceremony.

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

NEWS FROM INDIA

India beats US, China in fastest Covid Indian Railways lost inoculation: 170 million in 114 days 1,950 employees in Covid crisis, say officials New Delhi, May 10 (IANS): India has achieved the landmark of being the fastest country globally to administer 17 crore Covid-19 vaccines in the least number of days, defeating the US and China, the second and the third runnersup respectively.

India achieved the goal in 114 days, while the US touched the figure in 115 days and China took 119 days for reaching the same landmark.

A total of 170,176,603 vaccine doses have been administered through 2,470,799 sessions, as per the provisional report till 7

a.m. on May 10. These include 9,547,102 Healthcare Workers (HCWs) who have taken the first dose and 6,471,385 HCWs who have taken the second dose. A total of 13,972,612 Frontline Workers (FLWs) have also received the first dose while 7,755,283 have got the second dose of the vaccine.

A total of 2,031,854 beneficiaries under 18-45 age group have so far received the first dose of vaccine.

The people aged between 45 and 60 years included 55,179,217 first dose beneficiaries and 6,561,851 who got their second dose. A total of 53,674,082 first dose

beneficiaries are in the age group more than 60 years and 14,983,217 of them who have received the second dose.

A total of 246,269 beneficiaries of the age group 18-44 years received their first dose of Covid vaccine on May 9.

As on Day-114 of the vaccination drive (9th May, 2021), 689,652 vaccine doses were given.

Across 5,685 sessions, 405,325 beneficiaries were vaccinated for first dose and 284,327 beneficiaries received their second dose of vaccine.

Indian minister praises BARC, DAE role in combating pandemic New Delhi, May 7 (IANS): Indian Union Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh on May 7 said that the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) are supplementing the country's fight against the pandemic by providing COVID related equipment and technology.

In an online review meeting with senior officials of the Department, the Minister lauded the initiatives for public welfare during COVID-19. Jitendra Singh said that the development of a protocol for sterilization of PPE kits using cobalt has the potential for re-use of PPE kits.

Singh was informed by the officials that 25 percent of beds numbering about 600 have been reserved for cancer patients infected by COVID in all Tata

Memorial Hospitals. Around 5,000 Oxygen Concentrators of 6 LPM are being received by the Tata Memorial Centre as donation from abroad and most of it will be diverted to other cancer hospitals of the country.

Similar is the development of N-99 masks using HEPA filter technology. The Minister said this mask is better than N-95 and the N-99 masks have already been certified by three independent laboratories. He said the technology has been transferred for mass scale production as it is both durable and cheaper than N-95 masks.

Singh said that the DAE also successfully developed reagents for RT-PCR testing, besides powered respirators, Reefer, Portable Plasma sterilization and plasma incineration technology for medical waste.

He informed that a "Surveillance Study for COVID-19" is presently underway in collaboration with Tata Memorial Hospital to determine the genetic susceptibility for the severity of COVID-19. The Minister described this as a unique and one of the rarest studies happening in the world, the results of which will be shared with the global scientific community very soon. Moreover, a study is also underway to find out about the oral signs which can predict the severity of COVID-19.

Recalling the launch of COVID BEEP in June last year, Jitendra Singh said the system developed

by DAE in collaboration with IIT Hyderabad and ESIC Medical College Hyderabad was India's first indigenous, cost effective, wireless physiological parameters monitoring system for COVID-19 patients.

Delhi to stay shut till May 17, Metro services suspended New Delhi, May 9 (IANS): Amid crisis for medical services and oxygen supply in Delhi's hospitals, the city will remain under lockdown till May 17 as part of measures to break the chain of coronavirus infections.

Lockdown was imposed in the national capital on April 20 with some restrictions and the extended lockdown was supposed to end on May 10, but the state government decided to extend it for further one more week.

Announcing 'lockdown extension' through a digital press conference on May 9, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "Delhi had imposed lockdown on April 20 and has been extended again. With the support from people of Delhi cases have started to come down in the last few days and the positivity rate is also down to 23 per cent. However, we are not in a situation to give any relaxation

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in restrictions. I will request people of Delhi to continue to follow lockdown rules, otherwise, we will lose what we have gained (medical facilities) in the last few days."

The Chief Minister said that the fresh round of lockdown will be more stringent than before. "To combat the spread of Covid we have decided to take some more stringent measures including shutting down metro services from May 10 morning," he added.

The Chief Minister urged the people of Delhi not to let down their guard in the fight against Covid. "The positivity rate has gone down but still we can't afford leniency. We need to extend the lockdown," Kejriwal said.

While the positivity rate, which stood at 35 per cent in mid-April, has dropped to 23 per cent, doctors say even this is very high and there is a need to break the

Photo Courtesy: Fresherslive

chain of transmission.

This would be the fourth week of the lockdown imposed as the Covid numbers in the national capital skyrocketed, bringing hospitals to their knees and pushing patients and doctors to look to social media for help amid a huge crisis of oxygen, beds and drugs.

New Delhi, May 10 (IANS): Since the Covid pandemic hit the country last year, more than 1,950 personnel of the Indian Railways have succumbed to the virus and around 1,000 are getting infected on a daily basis, officials said here on May 10.

The Railways is one of the largest employers not just in India but in the world with around 13 lakh employees.

Addressing a press conference, Indian Railway Board Chairman and CEO Suneet Sharma said, "Railway is not different from any other state or territory and we are also getting Covid cases. We are in the business of transport. We have to move freight and people.

Around 1000 cases are reported daily. We have our hospitals. We have augmented the number of beds; we have built oxygen plants in rail hospitals. We take care of our staff."

"As of now we have 4,000 beds currently occupied by staff and their families. Our effort is to see that they recover quickly. As of May 9, 1,952 rail employees have died due to Covid 19 since March last year," he said.

Sharma said that the Railways was concerned about the safety of all railway men and took all necessary steps to minimise their exposure.

Commenting on the Oxygen Express, Sharma said that the Railways had delivered nearly 4l700 Tonne of liquid medical oxygen in more than 295 tankers

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He said that on May 9, the 'Oxygen Express' delivered 831 Tonne of LMO, a record for one single day.

So far, 75 'Oxygen Express' trains have completed their journey.

Till now, 293 M Tonne of LMO has been offloaded in Maharashtra, 1334 Tonne in Uttar Pradesh, 306 Tonne in Madhya Pradesh, 598 Tonne in Haryana, 123 Tonne in Telangana, 40 Tonne in Rajasthan and 2011 Tonne in Delhi.

The first Oxygen Express to Karnataka has also started its journey from Tatanagar in Jharkhand and is on the way to Bengaluru with 120 Tonne of oxygen.

A few days ago, the All India Railwaymen Federation, a rail union, had written to Indian Railway Minister Piyush Goyal demanding compensation at par with frontline workers for railway men who lost their lives while working during the Covid crisis.

In the letter they said that these men deserved Rs 50 lakh as compensation, the same as announced for frontline workers and not Rs 25 lakh which is paid to them.

In the letter Shiva Gopal Mishra, General Secretary of the All India Railwaymen Federation said that while more than one lakh have been infected by the virus, 65,000 have recovered and joined their duties while 1,500 have lost their lives due to coronavirus.

Two lionesses at UP's Etawah Lion Safari contract Covid Photo Courtesy: OrissaPost

"During the lockdown we utilised the time to enhance our healthcare infrastructure. The main issue in Delhi was oxygen shortage. With Centre's help, the condition is better now," the Chief Minister said.

Amid a bitter fight with the Centre over oxygen availability in the Delhi High Court, the Supreme Court, which had taken up the issue, ordered the formation of a 12-member National Task Force to assess availability and distribution of medicines.

to various states across the country since April 19.

Lucknow, May 8 (IANS): After eight Asiatic lions had tested positive for Covid-19 at Hyderabad zoo, two lionesses have tested positive at Etawah Lion Safari in Uttar Pradesh.

Both the big cats Gauri and

Jennifer have been placed in isolation. According to the safari administration, the condition of both lionesses is reportedly stable. Etawah Lion Safari Director K.K Singh said both the lionesses had been suffering from fever since April 30.

Blood and faeces' samples of both the lionesses were sent for examination to the Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Bareilly on May 3. On May 6 evening, both lionesses were confirmed to have contracted Covid-19.

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

India remains hugely concerning: WHO Photo Courtesy: IANS

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Heavy rain lash Kerala, coastal areas badly affected Photo Courtesy: IANS

Geneva/New Delhi, May 15 (IANS): India remains hugely concerning, with several states continuing to see a worrying number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General said in a briefing that WHO is responding and has shipped thousands of oxygen concentrators, tents for mobile field hospitals, masks and other medical supplies. "And we thank all the stakeholders who are supporting India," he said.

"COVID-19 has already cost more than 3.3 million lives and we're on track for the second year of this pandemic to be far more deadly than the first," Tedros said.

However, it's not only India that has emergency needs, he added.

Nepal, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Egypt are just some of the countries that are dealing with spikes in cases and hospitalizations.

He added that the fact that so many are still not protected is

a sad reflection on the gross distortion in access to vaccines across the globe.

"In January, I spoke about the potential unfolding of a moral catastrophe. Unfortunately, we are now witnessing this play out.

In a handful of rich countries, which bought up the majority of the vaccine supply, lower risk groups are now being vaccinated," he said.

"I understand why some countries want to vaccinate their children

and adolescents, but right now I urge them to reconsider and to instead donate vaccines to COVAX," WHO said.

"Because in low and lowermiddle income countries, vaccine supply has not been enough to even immunize health and care workers, and hospitals are being inundated with people that need lifesaving care urgently.

At present, only 0.3 per cent of vaccine supply is going to lowincome countries," he added.

BSB, BGB exchange sweets on Eid-ul-Fitr Photo Courtesy: IANS

Agartala/Silchar/Shillong, May 14 (IANS): On the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr, the Border Security Force (BSF) and the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Friday exchanged sweets at various frontier posts along the 4,096-km-long India-Bangladesh border, officials said.

The gesture was appreciated by both the border guarding forces and the senior officials of both the BSF and BGB are optimistic that such cordiality would further promote mutual understanding, goodwill and shared trust.

BSF officials said that the exchange of sweets between the two para-military forces was done at many places of the six BSF frontier zones in the eastern region.

Shurbir Singh is chief nodal officer for Covid 19 management in Puducherry Puducherry, May 14 (IANS): Shurbir Singh, the chief election officer of the Union Territory of Puducherry, has been appointed as the Chief nodal officer for Covid-19 management in the territory.

He is to coordinate the activities of all nodal officers and departments to contain the spread of the infection in the Union territory.

Singh is also the secretary to the government of Puducherry at present.

Under Secretary of Government of Puducherry, V Jayashankar said that all the nodal officers appointed should report to the chief nodal officer.

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Photo Courtesy: IANS

Meanwhile the Union territory of Puducherry has invited applications from people who want to work as civil defence force volunteers in the fight against Covid-19.

The last date to apply for joining the force is May 20 and those interested and above 18 years can download the application form from the websites https:// collectorate.py.gov.in and https:// puducherry-dt-gov.in and submit them before the last date.

District collector Purva Garga said that ex-servicemen are also invited to join the force.

The administration will provide a nominal remuneration to the people who join the force.

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Thiruvananthapuram, May 15 (IANS): The after effects of the deep depression formed over Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea that intensified into a cyclonic storm (Tauktae) over the archipelago and adjoining southeast east central Arabian Sea moving northwards during the past six hours, has caused huge damage to the coastal areas in Kerala.

Even though the depression is approximately around 290 km away from Kannur, on account of the heavy rains across the state, and with the sea turning rough, the state government has been forced to open numerous camps across the state to move people to safety.

According to the India Meteorological Department Tauktae is very likely to intensify further into a severe cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours and expected to move northnorth-westwards and reach near the Gujarat coast by May 18 morning.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has informed the preparedness of the state in facing any calamity arising out of the cyclonic storm.

"Even though, Kerala is not in the predicted path of the cyclone,

heavy rains, strong winds and strong sea gusts are expected in the State till May 16. We should exercise utmost caution in districts and adjoining districts where the Meteorological Department has issued a Red and Orange Alert," said Vijayan and appealed to all to cooperate with the authorities and move out to camps whenever told.

Even though so far there has been no casualties reported, the rain and the rough sea has caused innumerable hardships to the people, who are already battling the Covid pandemic.

The worst affected on account of the rough sea include the coastal hamlets in the state capital, parts of Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargode.

Starting Friday night, huge number of trees were uprooted and power supply disrupted for long hours on account of the high speed winds and heavy rain.

In many places the supply was restored on Saturday, while in few places it's yet to be restored.

With the state under a total lockdown from May 8, the only saving grace was the police did not have much work to man people on the roads.

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

Aus border reopening confusion devastating: TTF Canberra, May 11 (IANS): Australia's tourism industry on May 11 warned the government that it is being crippled by uncertainty over when international borders will reopen.

Peak industry body the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) recently said the government's failure to set a date for reopening the country's international borders was "devastating" its recovery from the pandemic, reports Xinhua news agency.

The TTF has proposed a $1.8 billion (USD 1.4 billion) package to help tourism survive the next 12 months.

"It's not helpful to have a whole lot of different comments with

different time frames and dates and different priorities around them in terms of when we'll reopen to the rest of the world," said TTF chief executive Margy Osmond, according to the report from News Corp Australia on May 11.

"It's devastating from a lack of certainty point of view. We understand health must be the number one priority but what we need is some certainty around dates as far as possible.”

"National cabinet needs to come up with a set series of dates so restrictions and border requirements can be lifted against the vaccination process."

It comes after the government

the moment," he said.

"I think what we're seeing at the moment is the appreciation of the people that the pandemic isn't going anywhere.

"All I know is once you let it (Covid-19) back in again, you cannot get it out. You've crossed that threshold," the Prime Minister added.

Canberra, May 9 (IANS): Prime Minister Scott Morrison on May 10 said that the country's borders will remain closed indefinitely amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Morrison said in a media interview that there is no "appetite" among Australians to re-open the country's borders to international travellers as Covid-19 continues to spread throughout the world, reports Xinhua news agency.

"I don't see an appetite for that at

The government had previously said that the borders will re-open once the adult population has been vaccinated against the virus.

However, Morrison said that he could not guarantee that would be the case.

He said there was not yet "considerable clinical evidence that tells us transmission is preventable".

"I think Australians want to ensure that the way we're living at the moment is maintained."

As of May 9 morning, 2.63 million

vaccines had been administered in Australia, while the overall Covid-19 caseload and death toll stood at 29,906 and 910, respectively.

The government initially planned to vaccinate the entire population

by October but hopes were dashed after the early stages of the rollout were plagued by supply issues.

In the meantime, Morrison said the government was continuing to work on how vaccinated people could be given greater freedoms.

"The next big step that can be taken is that Australians who are vaccinated, based on clear evidence that this prevents transmissibility, are able to travel and return to Australia without having to hotel quarantine, and ideally we only have to engage in some sort of home quarantine of a less restrictive nature," he said.

'Aus universities left to bleed by federal budget' Photo Courtesy: IANS

Canberra, May 14 (IANS) A top official at one of Australia's most prestigious universities warned on Friday that the sector has been "left to bleed" by the federal budget.

Brian Schmidt, Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University (ANU) here, said that many universities in the country would experience "budget woes" in 2021, reports Xinhua news agency.

The federal budget for the financial year 2021-22 was unveiled by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg on Tuesday night.

The ANU in April revealed a budget deficit of A$162.4 million for 2020, its worst since 2008.

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"What is harder to understand is why the university sector has been left to bleed, given what most might expect to be its pivotal role in the health of the economy," Schmidt was quoted as saying by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday.

"The cumulative effect of border closures on international student numbers will lead to other universities catching up with my university's budget woes this year."

Peak body Universities Australia in February revealed that 17,300 jobs had been lost at universities in 2020 as operating revenue

Photo Courtesy: IANS

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said recently that there was no "appetite" among Australians for the resumption of international travel, pledging that borders would re-open "when it is safe to do so".

Australia's borders to stay closed indefinitely amid pandemic: PM

Photo Courtesy: IANS

Slater escapes to Maldives, lashes out at PM Morrison

confirmed recently that the borders would not re-open until 2022.

Following up on the Morrison's comments, Finance Minister Simon Birmingham, who served as minister for tourism from August 2018 until December 2020, said Australians should not expect significant movement on borders "until into next year and probably some distance into next year".

fell by about 4.9 per cent, or an estimated A$1.8 billion lost in revenue.

It predicted that the sector, one of the industries hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic, would lose a further A$2 billion in 2021.

In response to Schmidt's assessment, Education Minister Alan Tudge told the ABC that funding for higher education was already at an all-time high of A$20.4 billion.

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9,000 Australians stranded in India. These include current Australian players and former players serving as support staff and commentators of which Slater was one.

Slater lashed out at Prime Minister Scott Morrison for not allowing players to return home.

New Delhi, May 3 (IANS): Former Australia cricketer Michael Slater, who was here commentating in the Indian Premier League (IPL), escaped to Maldives amid rising cases of Covid-19 in India.

The former opening batsman also lashed out at the Australian government for not allowing Aussies stranded in India to return to their country.

According to a report in The Australian, Slater tried escaping home for a week before eventually flying off to the Maldives where he will wait before he is allowed to fly in to Australia.

The Australian government has banned the arrival of around

"If our Government cared for the safety of Aussies they would allow us to get home. It's a disgrace!!

Blood on your hands PM. How dare you treat us like this. How about you sort out quarantine system. I had government permission to work on the IPL but I now have government neglect," he tweeted.

He then directed his ire to those questioning him for going to India for IPL despite the country reeling under Covid-19 pandemic.

"And for those who think this is a money exercise. Well forget it.

This is what I do for a living and I have not made a penny having left early. So please stop the abuse and think of the thousands dying in India each day. It's called empathy. If only our government had some!"

Travel arrangements to be strengthened for people who have been in India Canberra, 30 April: The Government has implemented a temporary pause on travellers from India entering Australian territory if the passenger has been in India within 14 days of the person’s intended arrival date in Australia.

The temporary pause follows the April 30 meeting of National Cabinet and was based on advice about the worsening COVID-19 situation in India. The pause came into effect at 12.01am on 3 May 2021. This has affected two passenger services from India into Sydney and two repatriation flights from India into Darwin (impacting around 500 arrivals).

Passengers on all future flights would require a negative PCR tests and a negative Rapid Antigen Test prior to uplift.

The risk assessment that informed the decision was based on the proportion of overseas travellers in quarantine in Australia who have acquired a COVID-19 infection in India.

Failure to comply with an emergency determination under the Biosecurity Act 2015 may incur a civil penalty of 300 penalty units, five years’ imprisonment, or both.

The temporary pause would be remain in place till 15 May. The CMO will consider the epidemiology in India and likely impacts on Australia’s quarantine capacity, and provide a further expert assessment of the public health risk to Australia to inform

a proportionate response.

The Government does not make these decisions lightly. However, it is critical the integrity of the Australian public health and quarantine systems is protected and the number of COVID-19 cases in quarantine facilities is reduced to a manageable level.

India has been reporting more than 300,000 new cases of COVID-19 every day for the past few days. The total number of cases in India is now close to 19 million and more than 200,000 people have died.

Our hearts go out to the people of India – and our Indian-Australian community. The friends and family of those in Australia are in extreme risk. Tragically, many are contracting COVID19 and many, sadly, are dying every day.

Following consultation with the Indian Government, Australia has agreed to provide emergency medical supplies.

The initial package of support includes more than 1,000 noninvasive ventilators, with capacity to deploy up to a total of 3,000 ventilators. The Government has also offered to supply a significant package of personal protective equipment (PPE), including one million surgical masks, 500,000 P2/N95 masks, 100,000 surgical gowns, 100,000 goggles, 100,000 pairs of gloves and 20,000 face shields.

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

Second Coronavirus vaccines Aus secures 25mn doses delayed for Aus Olympic swimmers of Moderna Covid vax Canberra, May 14 (IANS): Australia's Olympic swimmers have been granted special permission to delay their second coronavirus vaccine after suffering side effects from the first injection.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

Canberra, May 13 (IANS): Australia has secured 25 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine produced by US pharmaceuticals manufacturer Moderna, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Thursday.

The government acquired the doses "to further diversify our vaccine portfolio as well as provide access to a booster or variant vaccine should this be required in the future," dpa news agency quoted Morrison as saying.

The Australian swim team -- the Dolphins -- were due to receive their second COVID-19 vaccine jabs from May 31 to June 4 as part of the priority rollout for Olympians, Paralympians and support staff headed to Tokyo for the delayed games, report Xinhua.

However, with the Australian Olympic swimming trials set to run from June 12-19, the vaccines have been delayed to ensure that swimmers can compete without adverse reactions.

"We understand there's not a

lot of implications with that second jab, but there's still kind of the possibility of some flu-like symptoms," Alex Baumann, the

chief executive of Swimming Australia, told News Corp Australia on Thursday.

Aus govt can detain refugees indefinitely under new laws Photo Courtesy: IANS

of Australia's human rights obligations.

"This is cruel and unnecessary.

The legislation must be revised to remove the government's power to keep people locked up indefinitely with no plan for their future."

The laws apply to 21 refugees already in immigration detention.

Tabling the legislation in March, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said it was an "important change" to "ensure that we uphold Australia's non-refoulement obligations."

Canberra, May 14 (IANS): The Australian parliament has passed laws that give the government the power to detain refugees indefinitely.

there.

The governing coalition and opposition Labor Party on Thursday joined forces to vote the Migration Amendment Bill into law, reports Xinhua news agency.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA) said the laws would cause serious harm.

The laws give the government the power to detain indefinitely refugees who have had their visas cancelled but cannot be returned to their country of origin because they would face persecution

Legal experts and the parliament's human rights committee have raised serious concerns about the legislation.

"Locking up people indefinitely will clearly lead to a high risk of self-harm or suicide," spokesperson Greg Barns said.

"It amounts to detention without trial and is a gross breach

"It is essential that Australia sends a strong message that we are committed to upholding human rights, and that we remain steadfast in our commitment to these treaties and their underlying principles," he said.

However, the governmentcontrolled joint parliamentary committee on human rights said the laws "may have implications for Australia's obligation not to subject any person to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment".

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Domestic manufacturing would ensure a secure, long-term supply of Moderna's mRNAbased vaccines against Covid-19, including variants, and for potential future pandemics, Morrison said.

The agreement includes 10 million doses in 2021 and 15 million doses of Moderna's updated variant booster vaccine in 2022.

Use of the Moderna vaccine still needs to be approved as

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An application by Moderna to the TGA is expected shortly, according to the Prime Minister.

People aged under 50 are set to receive the Moderna vaccine, Australian news wire AAP reported.

A complete course of Moderna's vaccination is likely to be two doses given 28 days apart.

The country of around 25 million people fell far short of its initial target to administer 4 million Covid-19 jabs by the end of March, and last month scrapped its original pledge to vaccinate its entire adult population by October.

As of May 11, just over 2.8 million jabs were administered.

So far, Australia has been using the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

Canberra, May 13 (IANS): The Australian government has declared two new massive marine parks in the Indian Ocean in a bid to conserve the area.

Sussan Ley, the Minister for the Environment, announced on Wednesday that the marine parks will cover up to 740,000 square km, an area bigger than France and twice the size of the Great Barrier Reef marine park, around Cocos and Christmas Islands off the coast of Western Australia (WA), reports Xinhua news agency.

Ley said the move will deliver greater protection from illegal fishing operations.

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safe and effective by Australia's regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

Australia declares 2 new marine parks

It will increase the proportion of Australia's waters under marine park protection from 37 to 45 per cent.

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Morrison said the Australian government also remains in discussions with Moderna in relation to establishing a manufacturing facility in Australia for mRNA vaccines.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

"This is an international marine treasure on Australia's doorstep, one that is from a scientific perspective relatively undisturbed and undiscovered," she said in a statement.

"The Christmas and Cocos

Islands boast some of the most fascinating and unique ecosystems on earth and this is about extending that protection to the surrounding waters of the Indian Ocean."

Marine parks are declared as either green, yellow, dark blue or light blue zones with each designation offering a different level of protection.

Jessica Meeuwig, the director of the Marine Futures Lab at the University of WA, welcomed the announcement, saying the areas were rich in biodiversity "because they're stepping stones across the wider ocean".

However, there are concerns that existing marine parks haven't had enough protection measures to prevent extractive industries from harming the environment.

According to a study published on the Aquatic Conservation journal in 2015, failure in zoning for commercial activities meant there were "business as usual" for extractive industry, in spite of establishment of marine parks.

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INDIA NEWS

May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

ECCQ calls on federal government Anti-Euthanasia: Listening to the voice of First Nations to reconsider India travel ban is the use of a punishment threat against its own citizens which can include prison sentences and sizable fines as the chief deterrent.

Mr Budd says that the heavy threats which have never been applied to Australian citizens set a dangerous precedent for many Australian citizens, particularly those who may have family in their respective countries of origin.

M

r Alton Budd, Chair of the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland, joined with other concerned Australian citizens by calling on the Australian Government to seriously reconsider the travel ban it has imposed on Australian citizens returning home from India.

The ban applies to any travellers, including Australian citizens, who have been in India in the 14 days preceding May 3 this year. The most troubling aspect of the ban

The COVID Pandemic's new waves have created a terrible and heartbreaking impact on India and its people with the great loss of lives in the recent period. Many of the Australian citizens travelled to India to visit ailing families with a normal expectation that they would be able to return to Australia.

Queensland and the ECCQ has a large cohort of Australian citizens who have families in India and the sub-continent. The pandemic has created much fear and anxiety

in this country and many would expect a greater sense of empathy toward its citizens in this most difficult period. Adding to the citizens’ fear by imposing a threat is a great mis-step in public policy and must be reconsidered as a mistake.

Mr Budd wishes all of the Indian citizens in Queensland and Australia great empathy and condolences to those who may have lost loved ones to the pandemic in India and elsewhere.

It is hoped that all are fully supported, treated with greater empathy and understanding by the Government in Australia.

ECCQ is the peak body in Queensland which advocates to Government for all Queenslanders from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds in our State. Its primary role is to advocate and promote issues on their behalf to government, business and the wider community.

FICQ is deeply concerned about the stranded Australian citizens in India European countries are in the same category.

The Australian Indian community has responded to the travel ban and penalty of jail terms and fines on citizens returning home from India with concern and outrage.

Brisbane, 5 May: The Federation of Indian Communities in Queensland Inc (FICQ), the peak body of Indian Associations and Indian Diaspora in Queensland, expressed serious concerns with the timing and the announcement of such enforcement of the travel ban from India. It sets a dangerous precedent as thousands of Australians are working overseas. India is the only country to have been singled out whereas UK, USA and other

Dr Andrew Miller, AMA (WA) President said: “It is not Australian to trap people overseas and to suggest that a particular segment of the community should get fined for this is absolutely unacceptable and outrageous”.

It is the moral obligation of the Australian Government to the Australian citizens in danger as the health crisis in India escalates. Any Australian death in India due to a travel ban is not acceptable.

FICQ and its member organisation request the Australian Government to take a pragmatic approach.

Furthermore, it accelerates repatriation of the stranded Australians back in India and other parts of the world.

FICQ and its member organisations as well as the communities are working closely to raise funds to send the urgent requirements back to India in such a crisis like oxygen concentrators, personal equipment protection, face mask and other necessities.

"We are in touch with the High Commission of India in Australia, Governments from different levels and other concerned authorities.

The Indian Government is dealing with this crisis and at the same time many countries have started supporting it in different ways in such a difficult time.

onscience vote - black lives do matter

The Queensland Premier has an obligation to ensure that there is a conscience vote on any euthanasia bill. A conscience vote or free vote is a type of vote in a legislative body where legislators can vote according to their own conscience rather than according to an official line set down by their political party.

The Public Interest Test This conscience vote should be accompanied by the public interest test of the euthanasia bill that underpins the introduction of this proposed legislation. The public interest includes three concepts - the common good, human dignity and autonomy (ironically) – all of which come under assault with assisted suicide. We need to value these foundational moral concepts in sharing understanding of the good life and human flourishing.

While autonomy is prized about all else (or a certain concept of it), when it comes to people with disability, the aged and others with some life-limiting diagnoses, there are many pressures to reduce their autonomy by encouraging or facilitating assisted suicide which results in death.

Understanding the public interest also requires us to engage with our First Nations Peoples with this conversation.

For First Nations Peoples, death is a community matter, not just an individual decision.

First Nations communities must understand who is responsible for

the death of the person.

Government-sponsored death is anathema to First Nations Peoples and their community-based culture.

The public interest demands that in the end, we all must champion human dignity, the common good and an understanding of autonomy that is consistent with both.

The public interest demands an ethic of compassionate care and the championing of a compassionate society.

We who are opposed to voluntary assisted dying strongly support a ‘care first’ approach of highquality palliative care for all Queenslanders Nobody is morally compelled to suffer unbearable pain or other distressing symptoms. Every Queenslander has the human right to have equal access to good quality palliative care before a policy default to euthanasia. First Nations peoples in Queensland, particularly remote communities, require urgent boosting of funding for palliative care.

Rushing to introduce euthanasia when rising suicide rates are a national problem is inexplicable and against the public interest, especially for First Nation Peoples.

Pro Euthanasia legislation is disrespectful to the customs and practices of death around community ownership and not just individual decisions - black lives do indeed matter.

Munganbana Norman Miller Convenor Voice of First Nations Peoples Against Euthanasia munganbana@bigpond.com Support Life! ────

"FICQ appreciates the support of The Federal Government to India with the immediate requirements like non-invasive ventilators, personal protective equipment and oxygen concentrators. Let us show our solidarity with India and concern about the wellbeing of the stranded Australian in India and other parts of the world," said Mr Shyam Das, President, FICQ.

Photo of artist Munganbana Norman Miller ──── First Nations Peoples Speak Out ──── A conscience vote

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is needed

ANTI EUTHANASIA: Listening to the voice of First Nations Peoples Pro Euthanasia legislation is disrespectful to the customs of First Nations Peoples around death which is a community matter not just an individual decision- black lives do indeed matter.

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Peoples C

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Rushing to introduce euthanasia when rising suicide rates are a national problem is inexplicable and against the public interest, especially for First Nations Peoples. Nobody is morally compelled to suffer unbearable pain. Every Queenslander has the human right to have equal access to good quality palliative care before a policy default to euthanasia and Indigenous communities need a funding boost for palliative care. This conscience vote should be accompanied by the public interest test which includes the common good, human dignity and autonomy. We need compassion.

──── Respect cultural issues around dying

Munganbana Norman Miller, Convenor, Voice of First Nations Peoples Against Euthanasia munganbana@big pond.com Ph 0407128199

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INDIA NEWS

May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

NEWS FROM THE ACT

Enrolments open for ACT public Big Canberra Battery project charges ahead schools Photo Courtesy: IANS

Canberra, April 27: ACT public school enrolments for the 2022 school year are now open. Every ACT public school is a great school, and there’s a place for every child in their local school to learn, grow and reach their potential. People can go online to find their local school and discover what makes it great.

Many schools are holding information sessions in the coming weeks, so one must go along to see what one’s local school has to offer or get in contact with them to find out more information. A series of information sessions are also being held on enrolment options and transition support for students with disability. Every four-year-old is guaranteed 15 hours of preschool per week in the ACT. Children are eligible for preschool in 2022 if they turn four on or before 30 April 2022. Canberra is a growing city, so there are some changes to Priority Enrolment Areas for 2022.

This includes the establishment of new Priority Enrolment

Area ‘Shared Zones’ to support enrolment at schools in the high growth areas of the Inner North and Gungahlin. There is a new primary school opening in the Gungahlin suburb of Throsby in 2022, bringing high-quality education from kindergarten through to year six students and to children at the adjoining preschool. The ACT government is committed to building, expanding and upgrading schools across Canberra. Upgrades are currently happening at a number

of schools across the ACT. Many of these will improve facilities and ensure students with disability can take full advantage of education opportunities. Other works include new small learning spaces and wet areas, bike sheds, outdoor shade areas and improvements to playgrounds.

Enrolments for all students from Preschool to Year 12 for the 2022 school year are now open. Enrol by 4 June to get an offer from 26 July.

we like about it is, it’s not just now but it’s for the future. For example, when the donor’s greatgrandchildren look at their family history in 50-100 years’ time, future generations will know someone in their family was an organ donor.” Michael’s advice for those who are considering registering on the Australian Organ Donor Register is to “communicate with your family” and make any wishes about organ donation known. “It’s never too early to do that,” he said. “I was only 13 at the time [of Annette’s death], and she mentioned not long before she died that if anything happened to her, this is what she wanted.” Annette’s donation helped save two lives.

For Mike Broom, organ donation provided a “legacy” for his son Jeremy, who died in 2019. “It allowed us to make some sense of a tragic event and allowed a significant chapter to be added to Jeremy’s sense of purpose in helping others to improve their lives, so the effects have been positive in terms of closure,” Mike said.

Chris Fonda, whose partner Quinn died and donated his organs in 2018, said the acknowledgment by the Chief Minister is “special” and will help him continue to heal.

“Even though the grief is still with me, knowing part of Quinn lives on in others feels like he still exists and gives transplant recipients life to cherish as much as I cherished Quinn,” Chris said. “Quinn gave the gift of life to complete strangers, which reinforces his selflessness and altruistic nature in his life on earth. I know Quinn would have wanted his organ donation acknowledged and included on his death certificate, and these changes make me feel like I have fulfilled his wishes.” Applications can be made at the time of or after an organ or tissue donor’s death has been registered, and the acknowledgement and letter can also be provided for donations that were made prior to this initiative commencing. To be eligible for an acknowledgment, the donor must have died in the ACT.

Canberra, April 30: Work on a Big Canberra Battery which will aim to reduce household electricity prices, increase network reliability, and generate new revenue opportunities for the ACT, is underway. The Big Canberra Battery will provide at least 250MW of power across the ACT once complete. The government kicked off the first stage of the project in April 2021 by asking industry and key stakeholders for input on how they think the Big Canberra Battery would work in the ACT. This advice will be used to shape the expression of interest and procurement processes for the battery Big battery storage is being used more and more in cities as a sustainable option to store energy in off-peak times

Qantas launches CanberraDarwin flights www.indianews.com.au

Photo Courtesy: IANS

Canberra, May 7: Qantas will begin flying between Darwin and

Canberra using E190 aircraft from 21 June. The new routes by Qantas and Jetstar have been announced since the start of the pandemic to 38, responding to the fact more Australians are holidaying domestically. The use of E190s will also free up Qantas’ Boeing 737 aircraft to be redeployed across the domestic network.

All Qantas domestic crew have returned to flying.

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The Big Canberra Battery will aim to: increase network reliability as more houses and businesses move to electricity and electric vehicles allow the ACT to better integrate increased renewable energy supply into the network put downward pressure on electricity prices for households and businesses generate new revenue opportunities for the ACT. The Big Canberra Battery project will be complete in 2023-24 and is part of a zero net emissions future for the ACT.

Vaccinations now available for people 50 years and over Photo Courtesy: IANS

‘Lifechanging’ generosity of organ donors acknowledged Canberra, May 6: At just 11 years old, Annette Taylor was the ACT’s first organ donor in 1975. Since that time, many lives have been transformed and saved each year through the generosity of organ and tissue donors and their families. Each organ donor typically saves four to five lives.

Last year, 13 organ donors in the ACT gave the ultimate gift of life.

Now the importance of organ and tissue donors in our community will be formally recognised in a new reform announced by the ACT Government. As of 6 May, a donor’s next of kin can apply to have the statement “The deceased gave a gift of life, generously donating organs/tissue” added to the death register and the donor’s death certificate. A letter from the Chief Minister to the donor’s family, acknowledging the precious donation, can be requested at the same time as the request for acknowledgment on the death certificate. Annette’s brother Michael welcomed the ACT Government’s donor acknowledgement. “It means a fair bit to acknowledge the individual,” Michael said. “What

and release energy across the city at peak times, helping to avoid blackouts during periods of high demand.

Canberra, May 5: The next phase of Australia's COVID-19 vaccination rollout has commenced. People living in Australia who are aged 50 years and over can now receive the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

It is available through general practice respiratory clinics, and state and territory vaccination clinics. These sites will be expanded from 17 May, 2021 to participating general practices.

Labor motion calling for more help to Aussies in India passes senate A

Labor motion calling for greater help to stranded Australians trying to return home for India has passed the Senate by 28-22 votes.

9,500 Aussies are stranded in India and want to come home.

950 of those are considered vulnerable and tragically 173 are unaccompanied children.

Labor’s Urgency Motion called for: “helping Aussies in India return, not jailing them; and fixing our quarantine system rather than leaving our fellow Australians stranded.”

Sadly, only two Senators from the Liberal National Party voted in support of the motion.

Banning Australian citizens trying to return home from India and threatening them with jail and fines is unprecedented.

But it didn’t have to be this way.

If the Morrison Government had not failed in its responsibility for quarantine then more stranded Australians would have been able to get home safely. This must be fixed.

We need to be doing all we can to help these vulnerable Australians in COVID-ravaged India get home

safely.

Senator Kristina Keneally said: “The Liberals and Nationals voted overwhelmingly against this motion calling for help to Aussies in India trying to return home – what a disgrace.

“We need to be finding ways of getting stranded Australians home safely, not threatening them with jail.

“The best way of protecting Australians is through a proper national quarantine system and by getting on with the vaccine rollout.

“In India, more than 22 million have had the virus and more than 240,000 have lost their lives – this is a terrible tragedy.

“My heart goes out to Australia’s Indian community."

Michelle Rowland MP said: “The Indian-Australian community contributes so much to Australia.

“I know this is a very difficult time for people who have family and loved ones trapped in India.

“We should be doing what we can to help India – including by getting stranded Aussies home – as safely as possible.”

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

New package ensuring security for Australian women announced Photo Courtesy: IANS

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he Morrison Government has announced a landmark package of around $3.4 billion as a part of new measures to improve outcomes for women’s safety, economic security, health and wellbeing in the 2021–22 budget.

This includes the Government investing $1.1 billion in funding for women’s safety; $1.9 billion to support women’s economic security including $1.7 billion to improve the affordability of childcare for Australian families and $351.6 million in women’s health and wellbeing measures.

The package builds on the Government’s investment for women in Australia, including under the National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and their Children 2010-22 (the National Plan) and the 2018 and 2020 Women’s Economic Security Statements. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, said the package covered three key pillars —women’s safety, economic security: and women’s health and wellbeing. To ensure that Australian women have

access to life-saving medicines and access to essential services, the Government is investing in new and amended PBS listings to treat a range of conditions, including breast cancer. The Government is also investing $148.0 million in women’s preventive health measures to further reduce the personal and financial costs of ill‑health.

This budget demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to creating more opportunities for women to fulfil their potential. To ensure Australia achieves the greatest and most enduring gains for women and girls, everyone needs to play a part — government, business, community, and individuals. In this way, all Australians gain, and we are a better nation for it.

New online learners’ test rolling out state wide May 12, 2021: Thousands more young Victorians can now take their learner permit tests without waiting for an appointment date or travelling to a VicRoads Service Centre, as the roll-out of the Andrews Labor Government’s new online test scales up. As the online test rolls out across the state, 1,000 extra prospective learners each week with existing test appointments will be invited to sign up and complete the test – with people booked at Mooroolbark, Sunbury and Colac invited recently, and Kyneton, Dromana and Sunshine coming online after the program started in Gippsland last month.

The forthcoming days will see the test roll out to people who have booked testing appointments at

the VicRoads hub@exhibition in Melbourne’s CBD, Ballarat, and Hoppers Crossing – before all prospective learners across Victoria are able to sign up online by the end of June. The new test takes learners through a course that includes a mix of theory, interactive videos and visual graphics before the final assessment, reinforcing key road safety messages with mini-quizzes to progressively test learners’ knowledge in modules like speed, drink and drug driving, seatbelts, fatigue, distractions and road rules. To access the test, customers will need to create a myVicRoads personal account on a compatible device. The entire course and test will take between four and six hours to complete, with

prospective learners having 12 months to sit and pass the online test once they have registered.

When the online course and assessment has been successfully completed, learner drivers need to attend a VicRoads Customer Service Centre to confirm their identity, have their photo taken and complete an eyesight check – but this process does not require an appointment, and can be done at a time that suits the learner.

While the new test is being rolled out, people can still sit the Learner Permit Test in person at VicRoads Customer Service Centres if they prefer – and those requiring interpreter services support will still be supported to take the test in person at a Customer Service Centre.

Government for Melbourne to host five major Wallabies Test matches over five years, including the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour. The package will deliver the best action for fans, boosts jobs in the visitor economy and reaffirm Melbourne’s status as the sporting and events capital of Australia. Rugby Australia will work with the Government on its COVIDSafe event plan in accordance with the Public Events Framework – to ensure the event can be enjoyed by as many people as possible in a safe way.

Sparked by the Australian Open in February and continuing with the resumption of Harry Potter and

the Cursed Child at the Princess Theatre, the successful running of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and AFL, NRL, Super League, A-League and NBL matches drawing growing crowds, the efforts of Victorians to combat coronavirus has meant that people are getting to enjoy big-ticket events more like they used to.

International sporting events return to AAMI Park May 7, 2021: The Andrews Labor Government is bringing the best of world rugby to Victoria with the Wallabies to take on France at AAMI Park on 13 July – continuing Melbourne’s major events resurgence. The match is part of a three-Test series between the two national teams, which is set to delight local rugby fans and Melburnians eager to enjoy the thrill of a live international sporting contest. “Les Bleus” last toured Australia in 2014, when the Wallabies were victorious in Melbourne and went on to claim the Test series 3-0. The match marks the first game in a package secured by the Labor

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Rugby league’s blockbuster State of Origin returns to the MCG on 9 June when Queensland takes on New South Wales in the first match of the 2021 series, in a further boost to the state’s major events momentum.

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NEWS FROM VICTORIA

More Qantas jobs to land In Victoria May 6, 2021: The Andrews Labor Government has signed a landmark agreement with the Qantas Group that will create hundreds of jobs for Victorians, and secure hundreds more existing jobs in the aviation and related industries. Under the agreement announced on May 6, Qantas will establish its principal engineering line maintenance hub and a new Jetstar engineering heavy maintenance facility at Melbourne Airport. In addition, Qantas confirmed that Jetstar’s headquarters would remain in Victoria. Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula said the deal reflected the confidence that businesses had in Victoria’s recovery and economic future, and would make the state an even more attractive place to invest for the aviation industry. The major expansion of Qantas Group’s engineering facilities at Melbourne Airport boosts Victoria’s reputation for world-class R&D, engineering, supply chain management and logistics. The engineering hubs will create at least 300 direct jobs and an estimated 400 indirect jobs, as well as increased training and apprenticeship opportunities, providing an estimated $140 million boost to gross state product. The expanded engineering facilities are also expected to lead to

Photo Courtesy: Freepik

the creation of additional job opportunities for pilots and cabin crew as the number of aircraft being based in Melbourne overnight for maintenance increases. The agreement secures the retention of all 750 jobs at Jetstar’s headquarters, currently in Collingwood, as well as the estimated 950 indirect jobs supported by the company’s corporate activities in the state.

Jetstar contributes more than $300 million to the Victorian economy each year with the prospect of future growth. With Jetstar already seeing a surge in demand for domestic travel across Australia, the new deal will position Victoria to harness those growth opportunities, build the state’s standing as a leading international aviation centre and boost our credentials as a location of choice for other high-value global businesses.

Government announces rebates to install energy efficient ACs May 10, 2021: Victoria’s most vulnerable residents will be warmer in winter and cooler in summer thanks to rebates of $1,000 from the Andrews Labor Government to replace old heaters with energyefficient reverse-cycle air conditioners (ACs) in homes managed by community housing organisations. Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced that the Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades Program is now open for community housing organisations to apply for rebates for their residents.

This is an important step in the Labor Government’s $335 million investment over four years to provide efficient, lower-cost heating and cooling for 250,000 low-income and vulnerable Victorian households. The Labor Government also announced that any owner-occupied household with a concession card, or with a combined household income of less than $90,000 can apply for their $1,000 rebate directly from Solar Homes Victoria, from July this year. As well as the rebate to install efficient reverse-cycle air conditioners, an additional $200 is available to cap old gas heaters to ensure they are safe when

they are no longer being used, and $500 for households that need to upgrade their outdated electrical switchboard, so that this can work safely with these new appliances. By replacing outdated, unsafe or inefficient electric, gas and wood-fired heaters with energy-efficient systems that provide heating and cooling, the Labor Government is increasing liveability and comfort levels in the homes of disadvantaged Victorians and helping them save money. By replacing inefficient heating, participating community housing organisations are expected to save their tenants up to $680 a year on energy bills while delivering major emissions reductions and contributing to Victoria’s transition to a renewable energy future. The Home Heating and Cooling Upgrades Program is a key initiative of the Victorian Budget 2020/21 and has been developed in consultation with organisations including the Community Housing Industry Association, Victorian Council of Social Services, St Vincent de Paul, Uniting Church and the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

The rebates are open to eligible community housing providers from May 10.

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INDIA NEWS

Palaszczuk Government fosters innovation for more Queensland jobs Brisbane, May 7: More manufacturing jobs are on their way for a Queensland business, thanks to Palaszczuk Government funding to help market a very clever Brisbane innovation.

Innovation Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said Brisbane firm Scott Airway Management had received $100,000 in Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas funding to scale up its SAM Safety Shield medical device and support 15 new jobs.

“For medical staff, men with beards in need of lifesaving ventilation can present a challenge,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“When patients can’t breathe, first responders usually fit sealed Bag Mask Ventilation (BMV) to a patient’s face to push oxygen into their lungs.

“BMV relies on a tight face seal and having a beard or a misshaped face makes that difficult.

“The Brisbane-developed SAM Safety Shield solves the problem quickly, and we know in an emergency every single second counts.

“Supporting local innovation and manufacturing is a key part of the Palaszczuk Government’s plan for Queensland’s economic recovery and that’s exactly what this Ignite Ideas grant has done.

“SAM Safety Shield has just been launched and with orders coming in, Scott Airway is exploring partnerships with local makers for the device to create Queensland manufacturing jobs.”

Photo Courtesy: IANS

“Given that many men have beards these days we estimate the potential global market to be about 80 million units per year.

“Our aim is to achieve sales of 40 million units with the next five years, equating to about $50 million.

Dr Paul Scott from Scott Airway Management has 17 years’ experience in anaesthesia and critical care and came up with the device out of personal frustration.

“The SAM Safety Shield provides a flexible and contoured surface to seal a BMV,” Dr Scott said.

“Medical staff currently use wound dressing or cling film to attempt to improve the seal, but the application is time consuming, costly, complex and often ineffective.”

Dr Scott said the company tested the device with clinicians at Ramsay Health Care Australia and Healthscope hospitals in Brisbane.

“This has resulted in requests to stock the device in these hospitals,” Dr Scott said.

“With the Ignite Ideas funding, we’ll look to go out more broadly to market.

“Globally, there are about 350 million surgical procedures performed each year requiring patients to become unconscious and for clinicians to use BMV to breathe for them.

“In terms of jobs, we believe that we’ll need to put on 15 people, working across all aspects of the business, from marketing and sales to manufacturing.”

Mr Hinchliffe said Scott Airway Management was one of 31 Queensland small businesses to share in almost $3.8 million from the latest round of the Advance Queensland Ignite Ideas Fund.

“The fund is designed to support small-to-medium Queensland businesses to scale up marketready, innovative products or services to national and global markets to support local jobs,” he said.

“Since the Ignite Ideas Fund launched four years ago, the Palaszczuk Government has invested more than $46.3 million to support 365 businesses.

“Ignite Ideas is supporting over 3,800 jobs across Queensland’s key industries including tourism, agriculture, advanced manufacturing, engineering, renewable engineering and construction.

“The SAM Safety Shield is just one example of local innovation and entrepreneurship supported by the Palaszczuk Government to drive the Queensland industries and jobs of the future.”

NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND

Queensland calls out government on working women Brisbane, 11 May: Queensland has called on the Morrison Government to restore financial support for services to help women with workplace issues, including sexual harassment.

Industrial Relations Minister Grace Grace committed almost another $800,000 over three years for Working Women Queensland, a free advisory and support service, and asked Federal Industrial Relations Minister Michaelia Cash to reinstate their funding.

“It’s time for the Morrison Government to walk the talk on supporting women,” Ms Grace said.

“The Coalition cut funding to Working Women Queensland five years ago and has not paid a cent towards this vital service since this time.

“The Respect@Work report recommends that the Commonwealth work with the states and territories on funding for working women’s centres.

“The Morrison Government’s glossy roadmap says they are going to do that, but still the phone hasn’t rung, and the money hasn’t shown.

“The Morrison Government must immediately reinstate funding to Working Women Queensland in its forthcoming Budget so this service can continue to provide information, advice and assistance to vulnerable workers who experience sexual harassment and other

discrimination at work.”

Working Women Queensland is a not-for-profit employment advisory service that has offered practical, workplace-focused advice and information to Queensland women since 1995.

The Palaszczuk Labor Government and previous Labor Governments have strongly supported services for women, including providing almost $6 million for this service.

It was jointly funded by State and Commonwealth until 2016, when the Commonwealth pulled funding. The Newman LNP Government also pulled support during its term.

Ms Grace said the Morrison Government had a record of failing Queensland working women on workplace support.

“The overwhelming majority of Queensland women who seek help from Working Women Queensland are subject to Federal industrial laws, but Queensland has no Federally-funded local employment and advice service,” she said.

“Instead, Queenslanders have to rely on a Melbournebased service, which told a Parliamentary inquiry that they don’t have the resources to help all of the Queensland clients who seek it.

“It’s not fair, it’s not right and Minister Cash has to step up for Queensland women in next week’s Budget.”

Indigenous partnerships help keep kids at school Education Minister advises students to stay calm ahead of NAPLAN tests Brisbane, May 7: Hundreds of young Indigenous Queenslanders will continue to be supported to re-engage with school, thanks to a $17 million investment by the Palaszczuk Government.

Education Minister Grace Grace today announced continuing partnerships with the Clontarf Foundation, Stars Foundation, Brisbane Broncos and Netball Queensland to support their work in 42 schools from Far North Queensland to the south-east corner.

“Partnerships like these are successfully mentoring and coaching Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to support them to attend school and participate actively in learning,” Ms Grace said.

“This in turn expands the options for our young Indigenous Queenslanders in finding work and progressing to further training and education.

“Investing in these programs is a no-brainer because they are making a big difference to the lives and futures of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.”

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The Government is providing a total of $16.9 million to the four organisations.

Clontarf programs started in Queensland with eight academies in the Darling Downs region in 2015 and now operate in 24 academies across the state, supporting more than 2400 young men, including 220 Year 12 students.

Clontarf Foundation’s CEO Gerard Neesham said the announcement was fantastic news for the young men currently enrolled in the program.

“Additionally, it will allow the Foundation to explore potential new schools and communities who may benefit from hosting a Clontarf academy,” he said.

“The program provides young men with access to full-time, locally based Clontarf mentors who run highly engaging programs of activity which focus on education, leadership, wellbeing, employment and sport.”

Netball Queensland was equally pleased, with CEO Catherine Clark commending the Palaszczuk Government for the commitment to the Diamond

Spirit program.

“Through the support of Education Queensland and our partner schools, Diamond Spirit has already made a tangible difference to the lives of students within the program,” Ms Clark said.

“Since 2017, more than 600 students have received direct support, ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students across some of our most remote communities are afforded every possible opportunity on their learning journey.”

CEO and Stars Founder Andrea Goddard said the organisation was grateful for the opportunity to continue providing intensive support to First Nations girls and young women.

“We use a strengths-based model, specifically tailored to meet the needs of First Nations girls and young women, with the aim of promoting positive education, employment and life outcomes,” she said.

Brisbane Bronco’s Chairman Karl Morris said the big winners from the announcement were young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in the program.

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Brisbane, 10 May: “Stay calm” is the tip from Education Minister Grace Grace as thousands of Queensland students start to take part in NAPLAN this week.

“Relax and do your best is the best advice - from me and from parents and carers,” Ms Grace said as schools across Australia head into online or written nationally-required tests up to May 21.

“I send my best wishes to the Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students in all of our 1700 state and nongovernment schools who will sit the tests this year.

“Everyone needs to remember that this is just one of the ways we can monitor students’ progress and work out how to channel resources and provide more targeted support.

“We know from parents and teachers there are shortcomings with how it currently operates and we will continue to advocate

for improvements, noting that any future changes need to be agreed by all education ministers across the country.

“Some form of standardised national testing is required, and for now that is NAPLAN. “It remains a national requirement and our hardworking teachers will ensure Queensland students are familiar with the test formats and provide appropriate support and guidance.”

NAPLAN testing encompasses reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy and started across Australia from 11 May. The Education Council of all state, territory and Commonwealth education ministers cancelled NAPLAN last year nationally because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ministers also extended the national timeline for transitioning to NAPLAN Online until 2022.

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INDIA NEWS

IABCA AWARDS

IABCA Awards 2021 held in Sydney

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he 8th India Australia Business and Community Awards (IABCA) concluded at the International Convention Centre, Sydney, on May 14.

The winners were awarded for their contribution to the India-Australia business and community engagement. Shaun Star of Centre for India and Australia Studies won in the Australia India Impact Award

(Individual) category; Simon Taufel, former cricket umpire won the Spirit of the Sports Award; Dr. Tanya Unni, Director, Amtan Medical Centres, won in the Businesswoman of the Year Award category.

IABCA recognised these bilateral leaders in the presence of the Hon. Julian Leeser MP, Member for Berowra and Chair, Parliamentary Friends of India, representing The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minster of Australia, His Excellency Shri Manpreet Vohra, High Commissioner of India to Australia and Senator the Hon Kristina Keneally, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate representing the Hon Anthony Albanese MP Leader of the Opposition.

The IABCA Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 was conferred to Ashok Jacob, Executive Chairman, Ellerston Capital.

All IABCA 2021 winners can be viewed here: https://www.iabca. com.au/alumni.

Dr. Tanya Unni won the Businesswoman of the Year Award

Dr Indrani Ganguly (left), noted writer-novelist from Queensland

Shaun Star (left) won the Australia India Impact Award; seen here with Dr Ram Mohan, publisher, India News media group

Mr Jawed Khan, owner of Delhi O Delhi, which was adjudged the best restaurant in the Tourism, Hospitality and Catering category

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

IABCA AWARDS

IABCA WINNERS 2021 Community Services Excellence Award - Individual 2021 Vidhu Sharma Ayurveda for Wellness Centre

IABCA Australian Exporter or Service Provider of the Year 2021 The George Institute for Global Health

Business Leader of the Year - Male 2021 Abbas Kudrati Chief Cybersecurity Advisor Microsoft

Community Services Excellence Award Organisation 2021 India Vision Institute

Micro Business of the Year 2021 Chai Walli Pty Ltd

IABCA Australia India Impact Award - Individual 2021 Shaun Star Centre for India and Australia Studies

Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 Ashok Jacob Executive Chairman Ellerston Capital

Spirit of Sport Award 2021 Simon Taufel Integrity Values Leadership Pty Ltd/ International Cricket Council

Young Professional of the Year 2021 Jehan Kanga Ag Clean and Deep Tech Lead KPMG Australia

Australia India Science, Research & Development Award 2021 Professor Asha Rao RMIT University

Young Community Achiever of the Year 2021 Elvis Martin National Youth Chairperson Australian Red Cross

Businesswoman of the Year 2021 Dr. Tanya Unni Director Amtan Medical Services

IABCA Tourism, Hospitality and Catering Award Year 2021 Delhi 'O' Delhi

Micro Business of the Year 2021 Scribble Ink

IABCA Australia India Impact Award - Organisation 2021 State Bank of India Australia

Business Leader of the Year - Female 2021 Sadhana Smiles CEO Harcourt Moves

Excellence in Innovation Award 2021 iOmniscient

SME of the Year 2021 Pharmako Biotechnologies Pty Ltd

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

WORLD NEWS

Covid-19 caseload Aus FM meets Afghan President Global crosses 158.6mn to discuss troops withdrawal Photo Courtesy: IANS

Photo Courtesy: Facebook

killed or wounded, including those Australians who made the ultimate sacrifice and the many who still bear the impacts of their service in Afghanistan both physical and mental," Payne said.

The Minister said that with the departure of Australian troops from the country, the AustraliaAfghanistan relationship is "beginning a new chapter," pledging to "continue our close friendship, and support our shared aspiration of peace, stability and prosperity".

Kabul, May 10 (IANS): Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne on May 10 met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in Kabul to discuss the withdrawal of troops from the war-torn country.

The Foreign Minister said in a statement that in meetings in the Afghan capital she also discussed the handling of alleged war crimes committed by Australian troops, reports dpa news agency.

Minister for Women, said she met Afghanistan's Minister for Women's Affairs Hasina Safi, the head of the country's National Reconciliation Council, Abdullah Abdullah, and the commander of the US and NATO forces in the country, US General Austin Scott Miller.

Payne's visit to Kabul, which according to Australian media was unannounced, followed explosions near a school in the Afghan capital recently which killed more than 50 people, many of them teenage girls leaving class.

"I expressed our deepest condolences for the cowardly terrorist attack on teenage girls at school," Payne said in a tweet after meeting Ghani.

"During these meetings, we discussed the sacrifices made by the Afghan people, as well as those international military forces

The Taliban were quick to reject their involvement in the attack, however the government has blamed the militant group.

the reason why other countries need to chip in to be able to get either supplies for the Indians to make their own vaccines or to get vaccines donated," he told a TV interviewer on May 9.

of "breaking the transmission", but others "like shutting down the government" should be undertaken, Fauci said.

Washington, May 11 (IANS): The overall global Covid-19 caseload has topped 158.6 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 3.29 million, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on May 11 morning, the University's Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and death toll stood at 158,616,506 and 3,299,447 respectively.

In terms of infections, India follows in the second place with 22,662,575 cases.

The other worst countries with over 3 million case are Brazil (15,209,990), France (5,841,593), Turkey (5,044,936), Russia (4,832,959), the UK (4,452,956), Italy (4,116,287), Spain (3,581,392), Germany (3,538,208)), Argentina (3,165,121) and Colombia (3,015,301), the CSSE figures showed.

The US continues to be the worsthit country with the world's highest number of cases and deaths at 32,743,117 and 582,140, respectively, according to the CSSE.

In terms of deaths, Brazil comes second with 422,229 fatalities.

New Delhi, May 8 (IANS): In its first ever meeting with India in the EU+27 format, European Council on May 8 agreed to strengthen the "India-EU Strategic Partnership" based on a shared commitment to democracy, fundamental freedoms, rule of law and multilateralism.

and maritime cooperation.

The leaders acknowledged the importance of a free, open, inclusive and rules-based IndoPacific and agreed to closely engage in the region, including in the context of India's Indo-Pacific Ocean's Initiative and the EU's new strategy on the Indo-Pacific.

Nations with a death toll of over 100,000 are India (246,116), Mexico (219,089), the UK (127,870).

India-EU agree to India must be given resources fortify strategic, bilateral cooperation to make vaccines: Fauci Payne, who is also Australia's

Photo Courtesy: IANS

New York, May 11 (IANS): Anthony Fauci, the top US expert on Covid-19, has called on countries to provide India with resources to make its own vaccines or donate vaccines.

"India is the largest vaccineproducing country in the world.

They've got to get their resources -- not only from within but also from without and that's

"One of the ways to do that is to have the big companies that have the capability of making vaccines to really scale up in a great way to get literally hundreds of millions of doses to be able to get to them," he said.

"I have advised them in the past that you really need to do that.

You've got to shut down. I believe several of the Indian states have already done that but you need to break the chain of transmission," he said.

He said that the "endgame" in fighting the pandemic is vaccinating everyone.

Fauci made the observations in an interview on ABC TV with George Stephanopoulos, who was former President Bill Clinton's spokesperson.

At the same time, he said that all of India should "shut down", as some states have done.

Fauci said that a priority for India should be to set up field hospitals like China had done.

Vaccines are one of the ways

International cooperation only way to end pandemic: Tedros Geneva, May 11 (IANS): Global cooperation, instead of competition and confrontation, is the only choice to end the Covid-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said while addressing the disparity in access to vaccines worldwide.

high- and upper-middle income countries, with 53 percent of the world's population, have received 83 per cent of the world's vaccines, while low- and lowermiddle income countries, with 47 per cent of the world's population, have received just 17 per cent of the jabs, Xinhua news agency reported.

"The shocking global disparity in access to vaccines remains one of the biggest risks to ending the pandemic," Tedros said at a press briefing here on May 10.

Tedros expressed his belief that cooperation is the "only choice" to end this pandemic.

According to the WHO's data,

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"We cannot defeat this pandemic through competition, we can't.

If you compete for resources, or

if you compete for geopolitical advantages, then the virus gets advantage," the Director-General said, stressing a "very basic principle of identifying the virus as a common enemy".

Despite declines in numbers of new Covid-19 cases in most regions including the Americas and Europe, the two worstaffected regions, the world has been witnessing an "unacceptably high plateau", with more than 5.4 million cases and almost 90,000 deaths reported recently, Tedros said.

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India and the EU also agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation on digital and emerging technologies such as "5G, AI, Quantum and High-Performance Computing including through the early operationalization of the Joint Task Force on AI and the Digital Investment Forum".

At the invitation of President of the European Council Charles Michel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated in the IndiaEU Leaders' Meeting that was virtually held in a hybrid format with the participation of leaders of all the 27 EU Member States as well as the President of the European Council and the European Commission.

A statement issued from Prime Minister's Office mentioned that it was the first time that the EU hosted a meeting with India in the EU+27 format. The meeting was the initiative of the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The leaders noted with satisfaction the growing convergences on regional and global issues, including counterterrorism, cyber-security

India and the EU leaders reiterated their commitment to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and agreed to strengthen joint efforts for mitigation, adaptation and resilience to the impacts of climate change, as well as providing means of implementation including finance in the context of COP26. India welcomed the EU's decision to join Central Drug Research Institute.

Coinciding with the Leaders' Meeting, an India-EU Business Roundtable was organised to highlight the avenues for cooperation in climate, digital and healthcare.

A finance contract of Euro 150 million for the Pune Metro Rail Project was signed by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and European Investment Bank.

India-EU Leaders meeting has set a significant milestone by providing a new direction to the Strategic Partnership and giving a fresh impetus for implementing the ambitious India-EU Roadmap 2025 adopted at the 15th India-EU Summit held in July 2020.

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

EU reaches out to India for mega trade deal

Photo Courtesy: IANS

New Delhi, May 10: With an eye on China, India and the European Union (EU) have decided to restart negotiations on a new trade deal, which could massively expand commerce between the two big economies and untap a surge in European investments into India.

Washington, May 10 (IANS): The US has undercounted the number of deaths caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, currently the highest in the world, Anthony Fauci, the country’s top infectious disease expert, said.

"You know, the model says that it's a significant amount, as you mentioned correctly, 900,000.

That's a bit more than I would have thought the undercounting

was, but, you know, sometimes the models are right on line, sometimes they're a bit off," he said.

"But I think there's no doubt that we are and have been undercounting. What that tells us is something that we've known.

"You know, we're living through a historic pandemic, the likes of which we haven't seen in over a hundred years," Fauci added.

As of May 10, the US' coronavirus death toll has increased to 581,752, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

The country's caseload stood at 32,707,359, also the largest in the world.

Taiwan residents urged to download app amid Covid resurgence China is trying to muscle in.

The decision to revive the trade dialogue, push connectivity and bolster investments was taken on May 8 during a virtual summit of the 27 EU nations with India, led

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"We've just concluded a historic and successful India-EU Leaders' meeting. It was an unprecedented occasion where the PM of India was a special invitee" said Vikas Swarup, secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Russian Orthodox leader urges fewer abortions to increase population Photo Courtesy: IANS

shrank by half a million to 146.2 million, partly because of the many deaths during the coronavirus pandemic.

The numbers have been falling for years because of the difficult economic situation of many families.

Parallel to this, the number of registered abortions also declined.

Moscow, May 14 (IANS): The Orthodox Church in Russia has called on women to refrain from abortions in an effort to help alleviate the demographic problem of the country.

need to become more," said the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia.

"Give birth to the child and hand it over to us, the Church, and we will do everything we can to raise it and get it on its feet," the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill, said in a video address on Thursday.

Recently, President Vladimir Putin called for more help for families.

"We are a big country and we

US Covid death toll under-reported: Fauci

He made the remarks on May 9 during a TV programme while responding to a question as to whether he believes the true death toll is as high as suggested by a new study from the University of Washington, reports Xinhua news agency.

The talks, in case they succeed, can turn Europe into a powerful engine to bolster the Aatmanirbhar Bharat strategy.

The carefully timed initiative is meant to turn India into a global manufacturing hub, at a time when production costs in China are rising, and geopolitical tensions between Beijing and the West, as well as with its neighbouring countries, including India, continue to surge. India aspires to emerge as a $ 5 trillion in the next few years.

The EU's outreach to India comes at a time when many European countries including France, Germany and Britain are entering the turbulent geopolitical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, which is fast becoming the globe's geo-economic center, but where

WORLD NEWS

One way to do this, he said, is to have fewer abortions, reports dpa news agency.

He sees low incomes as an obstacle to more children being born.

Last year, Russia's population

Taipei, May 14 (IANS): Taiwan residents were urged on Friday to download a social-distancing app after the island reported 29 locally-transmitted Covid-19 cases, a record increase in singleday infections since the beginning of the pandemic.

Health and Welfare Minister Chen Shih-chung, who heads the Central Epidemic Control Centre (CECC), told a news conference on Friday that these new locally transmitted cases include seven with unknown sources of infection, reports dpa news agency.

The remaining ones are linked to known infection clusters in northern Taiwan, he said.

Chen said the government had been working on tracing possible sources of coronavirus infection,

encouraging residents to download an app to help contain the virus.

According to the Central Epidemic Control Centre (CECC), the app has been downloaded by about 800,000 mobile users.

Using information-gathering and -sharing, the app will help inform users if they have ever been closer than 2 metres to a Covid-19 patient for more than two minutes in the past 14 days.

On Friday, Taiwan also reported five imported coronavirus cases.

As of Friday, Taiwan, with a population of 23.6 million, has only reported 1,290 cases of the coronavirus, including 164 which were locally transmitted.

There have been 12 deaths since the pandemic began.

Whereas after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992 about 3.5 million abortions were performed, the number dropped to about half a million in 2020.

This development is not least related to better access to contraceptives.

Patriarch Kirill assured women who decide against abortion: "We accept everyone, regardless of religion and citizenship."

He said the church had set up 77 crisis centres between Kaliningrad and Kamchatka for pregnant women in difficulty.

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

WORLD THIS WEEK Contributed by the National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bengaluru

Compiled by Joeana Cera Matthews, Sourina Bej, Dincy Adlakha, Harini Madhusudan, Sukanya Bali and Avishka Ashok

Vaccine patent waiver: The new debate stands divided

Photo Courtesy: BBC

Photo Courtesy: IANS

What happened?

On 5 May, Katherine Tai, the United States Trade Representative, announced the Biden administration's position on the proposal that India and South Africa submitted at the WTO: "The administration believes strongly in intellectual property protections, but in service of ending this pandemic, supports the waiver of those protections for Covid-19 vaccines."

On 6 May, Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission President, said she was considering the proposal. She said: "The European Union is also ready to discuss any proposal that addresses the crisis in an effective and pragmatic manner… ready to discuss how the US proposal for a waiver on intellectual property protection for COVID-19 vaccines could help achieve that objective."

On 7 May, Albert Bourla, Pfizer's CEO, warned that the move "threatens to disrupt the flow of raw materials… will unleash a scramble for the critical inputs we require in order to make a safe and effective vaccine."

What does this mean?

English Channel island Jersey.

The French fishermen have steamed into Jersey waters to demonstrate against new rules requiring them to submit their past fishing activities in order to receive a license to continue fishing in the island's waters. On 5 May, Britain directed two Royal Navy vessels, HMS Severn and HMS Tamar, to patrol the waters around the Jersey port, which is a self-governing British Crown Dependency near northern France.

What does it mean?

Both the UK and EU are stuck with wider disputes for the long haul. From Northern Ireland to Jersey island, the EU-UK relation will have to accommodate the deeper nuances and economic needs of those impacted in the divorce. The French fishers ended their protest, but the row remains unresolved. The workable solution would be to form a consultation body with various fishermen communities and chart a policy accommodating the grassroots voices.

China: Canceling the Strategic Economic Dialogue with Australia Photo Courtesy: IANS

What happened?

On 6 May, France dispatched two naval policing boats as French fishermen, angry over the loss of access to fishing off their coast, protested off the

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What happened?

On 6 May, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), state economic planner of China, announced that it is indefinitely suspending the Strategic Economic Dialogue with Australia, which was launched in 2014 to strengthen the bilateral economic and investment ties.

On 8 May, the Philippines recorded the highest number of new cases in Southeast Asia. It registered 6979 new infections and 10,94,849 active cases. A nationwide travel ban and a total lockdown has been announced in Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia to stop the spread of the virus.

Southeast Asian countries are witnessing a 19 per cent spike in cases and a 48 per cent spike in deaths.

New Zealand: Parliament shows concern about human rights abuses in Xinjiang

Photo Courtesy: IANS

What does it mean?

First, the impact on the economy.

The co-dependence between China and Australia in numerous sectors will keep the effect on their economies within check but, Australia will lose more since China remains its largest trading partner despite tensions.

Second, Australia's alternative partners of economic cooperation are also dependent on China which leaves it with little scope to squirm its way out from the sanctioned existence.

ALSO IN NEWS China: Long March 5B rocket debris lands in the Indian ocean On 8 May, France24 reported that a large part of the Chinese rocket Long March 5B which was launched in the previous week, would re-enter the earth's atmosphere and was capable of harming the civilian population.

The location and timing of re-entry were unclear. On 9 May, the rocket re-entered the earth's atmosphere and landed in the Indian Ocean, close to the Maldives. However, as predicted by the Chinese officials, most of the components belonging to the rocket were destroyed upon entering the earth atmosphere Myanmar: Violent crackdown continues against protestors

The crisis is enormous. The focus should be on steps making an immediate difference to the demand-supply imbalance countries face. As the immediate measures to meet vaccine requirements need to be prioritized. This needs to be addressed with the argument that the waiver would disincentivize anyone from taking big risks in the face of future global health threats. A via-media is required.

UK and France: BREXIT pangs deepen as a new rule restricts fishing rights

The statement on the NDRC website has accused Australia of disrupting "the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia out of Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin called it a "necessary and legitimate" response to Australia.

He mentioned that Australia is "abusing" national security concept to pressure cooperation from China.

Southeast Asia: Uncontrollable spike in Coronavirus cases

On 8 May, the military government declared several lawmakers from the parallel government as "terrorists'' and held them responsible for the numerous bomb attacks, arson, and killings. On 7 May, a military council spokesperson announced that the country would not welcome a visit by the ASEAN envoy until the stability in the State is restored.

On the same day, a pre-dawn strike was conducted in the Natmouk district of Magway. As Myanmar marked three months of protests since the coup, a total of 765 people have lost their lives, and thousands have been reprimanded unlawfully by the military government. On 5 May, the parallel government also announced the establishment of a "people's defense force" to protect the protestors from the brutal crackdown.

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WORLD THIS WEEK Photo Courtesy: IANS

Narendra Modi and Boris Johnson agreed to adopt the "Road Map 2030" to raise the bilateral ties to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Leaders also unveiled a plan to conclude an interim trade deal by 2022.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs press release, both emphasized their commitment in areas like peopleto-people relationships, trade and prosperity, defense and security, climate action, and healthcare.

Afghanistan: 55 killed in a targeted attack in Kabul

On 5 May, the Parliament in New Zealand declared serious human rights abuses taking place in the Xinjiang region. The members of the Parliament supported the motion but insisted on removing the word "genocide" from the statement. The declaration was made soon after Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta expressed discomfort in being included in statements being made by the Five Eyes collectively. The Chinese embassy reacted to the statement and condemned New Zealand's interference in its internal affairs.

India: 5G trials begin, China expresses 'concern and regret' Photo Courtesy: IANS

On 8 May, three explosions occurred near girls' school in Dasht-e Barchi, west Kabul which led to the killing of at least 55. No group has claimed responsibility.

President Ashraf Ghani condemned the attack. He said: "the Taliban, by intensifying their illegitimate war and violence, showed that they have no interest in a peaceful solution to the current crisis."

Spain: People's Party wins Madrid regional elections On 4 May, the People's Party managed to win the elections but fell short of a complete majority in the Madrid regional elections.

The People's Party won 65 seats out of 136 seats in the regional assembly, while the Socialist Party lost a few seats and was only able to hold 24 seats. The vox also won 13 seats in the assembly and is now considered to be a critical player in Madrid politics.

The UK: Three-day long G7 meeting in London

On 4 May, the Department of Telecommunication granted Telecom Service Provider (TSPs) permission to conduct trials for 5G technology for six months.

The Department excluded Chinese companies from its trials. The trial aims at testing 5G spectrum propagation, model tuning, evaluation of chosen equipment and vendors, testing of indigenous technology, applications, and 5G phones and devices. Ministry of Communication said: "The applicant TSPs include Bharti Airtel Ltd., Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd., Vodafone Idea Ltd., and MTNL. These TSPs have tied up with original equipment manufacturers and technology providers which are Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung, and C-DOT." The Chinese embassy in New Delhi, "express concern and regret that Chinese telecommunications companies have not been permitted to conduct 5G trials with Indian telecom Service Providers in India."

India: PM Boris JohnsonNarendra Modi hold virtual summit

On 3 May, the United Kingdom hosted the G7 meeting in London.

It is the first in-person meeting held by the G7 and included the Foreign and Development Ministers of the seven-member countries. Australia, India, South Korea, South Africa and the Chair of ASEAN also joined the meeting as guests. The ministers discussed tackling global threats, upholding democracy and human rights, climate change and the pandemic. Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula were also discussed at the summit.

About the Authors Joeana Cera Matthews is a Masters student at the University of Mysore, Sourina Bej is a PhD scholar at the University of Bonn.

Dincy Adlakha is a Masters student at Christ University.

Harini Madhusudan is a PhD Scholar at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Sukanya Bali and Avishka Ashok are Research Associates at NIAS. The report has been modified

by India News due to space considerations

On 4 May, Prime Minister

18

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

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INDIA NEWS

May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

Queensland needs long-term India strategy as Premier provides timely assistance

My heart goes to India and its people

Photo Courtesy: IANS

By Matthew Hayden AM

I

ndia is in the middle of an unprecedented Covid-19 second wave battering, not seen before.

A

s India grapples with the relentless battering from the double mutant covid-19 virus, the global community has been deeply moved by the sufferings that have made headlines in the international press. India’s federal and state response to deal with over 400,000 daily cases has been impeded by shortage of hospital beds, oxygen cylinders and critical oxygen supply needed for the covid patients.

To ensure these services the Indian government has been working at a war footing to boost oxygen availability by train, air and road. The Indian Air Force C-17 aircrafts have undertaken non-stop sorties carrying cryogenic containers in collaboration with India Inc. from Europe and Asia. Over 450 cylinders, oxygen plants, ventilators and concentrators have been flown in from the UK, France, Germany, Singapore, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Germany. Even the Czech firefighters have donated 500 oxygen cylinders to India. The United States has now approved of the supply of raw materials used in developing corona vaccine in India, after the initial dilly dallying. India’s PMCARES fund has made budget allocation for 551 dedicated Pressure Swing Absorption medical oxygen generation plants inside public health facilities to boost oxygen availability.

The India Inc. and the Confederation of Indian Industries has recommended to the government to enforce nation-wide lockdown, based on an online survey in which 67.5% favoured a nation-wide lockdown while nearly 80% rated the situation as uncontrollable.

India has announced vaccination for over 600 million people aged between 18 and 44, in addition to over 180 million vaccinated so for.

Besides, over 1.7 million tests are being conducted in India daily as well.

In response to the India’s covidcrisis and to lend a helping hand, the Queensland State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk invited key Indian community leaders, including India’s honorary Consul Mrs Archana Singh, India News Editor in Chief and Institute for Australia India Engagement CEO Dr Ashutosh Misra, GOPIO Gold Coast President Mr Pradeep Gorasia, Australia India Business

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Council Treasurer Mrs Amritha Zachariah, Islamic College of Brisbane CEO Mr Ali Kadri and Federation of Indian Community of Queensland Mr Shyam Das among others.

The Premier was accompanied

by Deputy Chief Minister Steven Miles, Treasurer Cameron Dick, Multicultural Minister Leanne Linard, Tourism and Sport Minster Stirling Hinchcliffe, Assistant Minister for Hydrogen Development and the 50% Renewable Energy Target by 2030 Lance McCallum, Assistant Minister for Treasury Charis Mullen and Member of Parliament Jessica Pugh.

At the end of the meeting the Queensland Premier announced a $2 million help to the Australian Red Cross Regional Coordinator Mr Collin Sivalingam to be used in India to fight Covid.

This timely assistance has been widely welcomed by the Indian community.

From here on the Queensland government needs to engage with India on a short- and longterm basis. In the short term of course, it needs to provide all the necessary financial and medical assistance to India, strongly oppose the federal government’s decision to penalise returning Indian Australians with imprisonment and fine and provide emotional support to the Indian community.

In the long run, the government needs to enrich its India engagement strategies by drawing diverse perspectives at the following levels: Local Consulate and Indian High Commission at the governmentto-government level; Australia India Business Council, local Indian businesses and leaders at the business and trade level; FICQ, GOPIO and other community organisations at the community level; and Institute for Australia India Engagement, Indian Medical Association, professional associations, academic institutions, and media houses such as India News, at the strategic and policy level.

As India battles the alarming spread of the virus, the world media has spared no time in lambasting a country of a whooping 1.4 billion where the sheer numbers make the implementation and success of any public scheme a challenge.

I have been visiting India for over decade now and have travelled all across the country, specially Tamil Nadu, which I consider my “spiritual home”.

I have always had the highest of respect for the leaders and public officials who are entrusted with the task of running such a diverse and vast country.

Wherever I went, the love and affection of the people greeted me, for which I remain in their debt.

I can proudly claim that I have seen India up close over the years and that is why my heart bleeds to see it not only in agony at the moment, but also for the bad press that has been hurled at it by those who I am not sure spend any time here to understand India, Indian people and its myriad challenges.

As a cricketer and lover of the game, I have maintained my association with the sport, which has allowed me to come to India to cover the Indian Premier League.

Many of my fellow countrymen have also been playing in the League for many years. In this context, at a time when the world has been shutting doors on India and lambasting the government, I thought of sharing my thoughts while based in India, to give a perspective, not available to those sitting thousands of miles away in a faraway land.

I am not a data person, but some of the figures that I gathered from some of the media reports are astonishing. India has already vaccinated over 160 million people (five times the size of Australia), and has been reportedly conducting 1.3 million tests daily.

The point I am making is not to overlook the sheer vast numbers and the challenges associated with it.

When one conjures up thoughts of India, a singular thought Photo Courtesy: Twitter

EDITORIAL

comes to mind. Incredible; a word popularised by the Indian Tourism slogan, ‘Incredible India’.

Even being now caught in the political crossfire between the Morrison Government's decision to temporarily impose a ban on travel to Australia, nothing has changed my mind about this ancient civilization.

As of now this heaving mass of humanity reels in the wake of the COVID pandemic. The new normal replacing various religious festivals, exotic wedding celebrations, bustling streets jam packed with street vendors, livestock, tutu’s, all sadly like the Morrison Government’s travel policy temporarily put on hold.

Looking out of the window of my room overlooking the majestic ‘Garden City’ of India, Bengaluru, a truss has been established, as if a siesta has been called in respect to health authorities’ call to action for our new global anthem.

I can proudly claim that I have seen India up close over the years and that is why my heart bleeds to see it not only in agony at the moment, but also for the bad press that has been hurled at it by those who I am not sure spend any time here to understand India, Indian people and its myriad challenges.

“Isolate, stay at home, sanitize your hands, wear your mask, socially distance”. A race busily running in the background in many cases for life itself as national resources like oxygen and critical medical supplies are being re-routed from manufacturing plants to hospitals and care facilities.

The simple truth, demand for basic medical facilities making supply, look more like one of Usain Bolt's competitors, over his legendary hundred metre Olympic final dashes.

In short, hectic has been replaced

with nervous and one can truly sense fear and anxiety as India face off against the challenges of this horrific pandemic.

Begging the question, why is an ex-Aussie Cricketer travelling to India away from his beloved country and family at such a critical, even dangerous time?

On the surface is the commercial value for my family, having played and worked on every Indian Premier League since its conception in 2008.

It’s true, my remuneration is significant and yes it pays my family's bills. More broadly however, I have a deep connection to Mother India which docks into my life’s mission to connect people and organisations on purpose and strategy.

My purpose in supporting the IPL this season is to provide a welcome relief to the monotony of extended periods of partial or hard communal lockdown due to COVID. Every night for 2 months from 6.30pm, cricket lovers, and let me tell you there are a few, can get online or turn on the television to watch their favourite franchise do battle.

As a genuine lover of the game since I was 4 years old, my voice, full of excitement helps narrate our great game by bringing an authentic positive view to the cricket community. Cricket, as it so often has been throughout history, has been and is now the silver lining to our COVID cloud.

The cricketers, especially in the IPL have been the soft targets of the media, and because of their contractual obligations, players cannot defend themselves and share their perspectives.

It makes all the more important for people such as me, who have once been in a similar situation, but can now from the outside not only share a “player’s perspective”, but also speak-up for them.

India is a rich civilisation which has very few parallels in the world, and in its hour of need, the least we can do is to appreciate its cultural, regional, linguistic, human development and other complexities before passing any judgment on it.

Matthew Hayden is a former Australian cricketer, Board Member, Australia India Council (DFAT), and Goodwill Ambassador for India, Institute for Australia India Engagement.

This will help the government develop a robust and wellinformed long-term India strategy.

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

SPECIAL FEATURE

COVID–19 second wave in India and devolution of news media into voyeurism Professor Divya Sharma

T

he news about COVID–19 should be covered in as much detail and as critically as possible. The center & state governments, agencies, and individuals that failed to plan for and respond to the crisis should be held accountable. Given India’s healthcare system and the large population, the challenges during the second wave and beyond would be harsher. That’s a nobrainer and is incontrovertible.

But can the media resist using a dead body for the dramatic effect or live-telecasting the dying?

In 2020, during the first wave, New York in particular and the US, in general, was reeling under record-setting COVID–19 cases, hospitals were running out of beds and oxygen, dead bodies were being stored in trucks, mass graves on Hart Island became a pragmatic option to bury the piling bodies, funeral homes were overwhelmed, nursing homes deaths were ignored, doctors and nurses were begging for N95 masks and PPE kits on social media – similar tragedies were unfolding in Italy and England – yet largely, the news media did not start fear-mongering, invade funeral homes or shove recorders in the faces of grieving

families, pose in front of caskets as props, or generally sell human grief as a commodity for mass consumption. It reported on the grave situation while using the language of caution, compassion, dignity, and hope. It also amplified what average citizens could do to help.

In contrast, as the second wave hit India much harder, the western media and the Indian media that sees India through a western lens (the term media/western media in this article include both these groups), couldn’t wait to get a piece of the tragedy. Within hours multiple pieces were published with images of burning pyres, corpses, and grieving families, and certainty of an impending apocalypse or an Armageddon.

Yes, the situation on the ground is challenging, but treating Hindu and Sikh funerals as some bizarre or exotic entity for western consumption is repulsive. There's always a certain gloat and sadism in the western media about any deaths in India & since last year, it's well-nigh been craving for it!

Top journos got the light right for the funeral wood behind them, framing the shots so the wailing kin could provide the background noise albeit not too close to risk drowning their

own, asking grieving family members ‘how they feel,’ etc.

At the British-American media company’s Getty Images website, photos of cremations are priced at Rs. 23,000 (approx. $311). No, it’s not a case where a picture can change the course of history; it’s plain ghoulishness. Yes, there’s a market for everything – will the media next show/sell videos of beheadings by terrorist groups?

Videos of rape victims? After the 9/11 attacks, the media voluntarily decided to refrain from showing images of people jumping off the twin towers; why is a man in India gasping for air not given the same dignity? Ceteris paribus, the poor are afforded the least privacy & sensitivity.

While thousands in India and the Indian community abroad have stepped up to help, it is ignored as no stories of hope, compassion, and solidarity can ever be accorded to India even during a crisis. For the most part, the media is not even making any effort to squash misinformation about vaccines or inform the public about resources in the community.

When called out for voyeurism, the typical response is to label it trolling by the right-wing/ nationalists. It’s the laziest

counter to any criticism and keeps folks endorsed in echo chambers. Such ignorance is second only to the comfort in that ignorance. Many journalists as ‘micro-celebrities,’ feel validated based on the numbers of ‘likes’ and ‘retweets.’

Call it misery-porn, pandemicporn, or anything else, banally, media will cash in on tragedies and then make a documentary about saving a girl child in some corner of South Asia or Africa and pat itself on the back. Even pre-COVID, umpteen western tourists routinely intrude on families performing last rites in Varanasi or toss coins up in the air for the poor to catch, and take pictures. It takes an unparalleled level of emotional vacuity and moral hypocrisy to treat death, grief, and misery as exotic entities as they happen in other cultures.

If this is how folks feel better about themselves or gain some relevance, it’s tough to imagine what deep dark abyss defines their core. Indeed, there’s a long history of such unbridled social voyeurism and little emphasis on humanizing the harm especially about victims in ‘other’ settings and cultures. One could set guidelines to protect victims in India, but it won’t work as there’s

no lucrative reason for media to be civil and humane about life and death in India.

On the COVID front, things are bad and may get worse, before they get better. I wish I could have the same confidence about the eventual improvement in news media when covering stories about India. For now, I don’t, because a typical journalist seems to have taken the place of the vulture in the infamous Kevin Carter photograph.

Professor Divya Sharma is based at the Justice and Law Administration department in the Ancell School of Business, Western Connecticut State University

Why did Indians in Australia get offended?

Dr. Yadu Singh

T

hey had a much valid reason to do so, the cause of this issue is the inhumanitarian response to the Indian Covid Crisis by the Morrison led government.

Allegations As per the Indian population in Australia, the Federal government has unfairly targeted them.

Indians in Australia say that the government holds a moral obligation, a basic law of conduct towards them and they should protect their rights as they did for the Australians struck in India a few months ago.

This surely is a racist attack and Indians are being targeted in the name of the Coronavirus’ The Medical Association of Australia in its response says Photo Courtesy: IANS

that such a harsh decision was taken after the majority of the Covid positive cases among the people quarantined turned out to be travellers from the Indian subcontinent.

Even if they were Indian, they are Australian citizens and they can not deny this, they should stand by their rights and not impose such cruel laws in testing times.

Indians are reacting quite adversely to the centre’s decision because it has resulted in many Indian Australians becoming stranded in India; the figures being around eight thousand.

57% of the people coming from India have tested positive which poses a big threat to the Australian government but the government. should also think parallel about the people stranded

in India and how their welfare comes under the moral obligation of the government.

Demands

People stranded in India should be given all the help they need from Australia because they are Australian citizens and they are in need of help.

People in India should at least be vaccinated so that their risk of transmitting the virus reduces and both countries are safe; talks are being held for the same.

Many other countries too have applied similar travel bans on the people coming from India but the Australian government went a little further by turning it into a criminal offense along with a hefty fine, which gives Indians a valid enough reason to feel offended.

Not only are they suffering but also they have a valid reason to feel how they are feeling as the responsibility of its citizens lies in the hands of the government who in Australia's case has abandoned this significant segment of the population because of threats they could pose to the healthy population.

Minister Greg Hunt takes this decision at a time when India and Indians both are already suffering so much under the Coronavirus

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outbreak. Indians have been denied entry into Australia from either part of the world. The language and the timings for such an announcement have together made the Indians in Australia offended.

Australian Govt. is abandoning Indian citizens struck throughout the world.

Australian Govt. should think of better alternatives and try to get their citizens to come back to Australia; maybe install new facilities for the travellers from India and make different places for them to quarantine which can help reduce the risk of contamination of the virus into the air so that nobody is infected.

Eight thousand people are facing problems because of a huge number of flights being cancelled and many even complained of not getting seats as there were no seats for Indians. People struck are constantly trying because they are not being allowed to enter Australia due to the ban imposed.

680 people have been identified as vulnerable and are at a higher risk of getting infected due to the prolonged and forceful stay in India, the health of the Indian Australian citizens, a community that holds a majority in the population is at risk and most importantly, efforts are not being

made to help the vulnerable ones .

And if present conditions suggest that the govt. can not bring them back, they should at least be vaccinated on a priority basis.

In fact, this should have already been Australian government’s plan of action.

Indians in Australia are already suffering because of the news of the loss of their loved ones with the death toll rising every day in India. They being so far away from their families is another problem and many could not go to India even for the last rites and to pay homage to their family members.

All these people are the government’s responsibility and a plan in action is what Indians are awaiting.

Dr. Yadu Singh, President, Federation of Indian Associations NSW

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

MAKE IN INDIA

Invest India Business Immunity Platform (BIP) launched to help businesses withstand COVID-19 Western India. Goa is accessible through sea-route and has a presence of one of the 12 major ports in India at Mormugao.

The state is also well-connected through rail and road routes. The National Highway-17 connects Goa with Mumbai in Maharashtra and other major cities in Karnataka.

Deepak Bagla, MD &CEO, Invest India New Delhi, May 10: The platform, hosted on the Invest India website, is designed as a comprehensive resource to help businesses and investors get real-time updates on India’s active response to COVID-19 (Coronavirus). This dynamic and constantly updating platform keeps a regular track on developments with respect to the virus, provides latest information on various central and state government initiatives, gives access to special provisions, and answers and resolves queries through emails and on WhatsApp. The BIP is the active platform for business issue redressal, operating 24/7, with a team of dedicated sector experts and responding to queries at the earliest. Invest India has also announced a partnership with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) for responding and resolving queries for Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises. While COVID-19 continues to disrupt normal life, the impact of this crisis on businesses across the country is being continuously assessed.

The government, for its part, has issued timely guidelines for businesses. Business owners have been trying to grasp what these guidelines mean for their businesses. Realizing the uncertainty that the Corona crisis has caused among businesses, the platform was launched on 21st March,2020. The platform also includes frequently asked questions on important aspects like locations of COVID-19 testing, special permissions and other location-specific information. The portal also maps and highlights the response mechanism put in place by leading Indian companies such as sanitation of staff vehicles, placing orders in alternate markets, disabling biometric

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attendance systems, setting up of medical task force, requesting trainees to go home, business continuity plan, barring entry of visitors, suspension of air travel, usage of video-conferencing and tele-conferencing, developing online solutions and other unique initiatives. This BIP shall help people get access to all the information they require while staying in the comfort of their homes. With this platform, Invest India aims to bring facilitation at your doorstep!

Mr. Deepak Bagla, MD &CEO, Invest India has said “This is a platform for all of us to get together in the face of this unprecedented challenge of COVID-19. The team is working towards finding clarifications and solutions in a rapidly evolving scenario, especially from the perspective of business continuity for the business community.

This platform also provides the ability to join the dots to find matching suppliers with required supplies and for innovators, startups and MSMEs to showcase their solutions. During the past 48 hours we’ve had over 30,000 visitors across 40 countries and 50,000 plus hits on our website.

The platform is seeing an average time spent of nearly 5 minutes.

Since yesterday the team has been working actively on over 200 business requests for business continuity and immunity. It is also a platform to hear from the experts on business strategies to be adopted during such times.”

Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

The state is richly endowed with minerals such as iron ore, manganese, ferro-manganese, bauxite and silica sand. It has about 23 industrial estates established by Goa Industrial Development Corporation. Goa has installed power capacity to produce 581 MW. Goa is the most urbanized state in India with one of the highest per capita Net State Domestic Product in the country.

Gujarat 2nd largest producer of crude oil (onshore) and natural gas Gujarat ranked #1 in Logistics in the country according to the National Logistics Index 2019.

Gujarat ranked #1 in Export Preparedness Index 2020.

Moreover, it ranked #3 in National Council of Applied Economic Research’s State Investment Potential Index (N-SIPI) in 2018.

The State has 49 ports, including 1 major port and 48 non-major ports. The State also has 17 airports, including 1 international airport.

There are currently 20 operational Special Economic Zones (SEZs), 8 notified Special Investment Regions (SIR) and 202 Industrial Estates in Gujarat.

Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) provides further impetus for industrial growth in Gujarat as 38% of the corridor lies in the state.

Gujarat International Financial Tec-City (GIFT City) in Ahmedabad is the country’s first International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) that caters to customers outside the jurisdiction of the domestic economy.

Haryana

the North-East, semi-desert sandy plain to the South-West, the Aravalli Range in the South and Yamuna-Ghaggar plain forming the largest part. Haryana is extremely well-connected with access to two international airports, five civil airports, 1,630 km of rail network, 26,131 km of road network including 24 national highways (NH). The state has a total installed power capacity of 11,268 MW. The entire state falls in the influence zone of two industrial corridors, namely, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and Amritsar Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC). Thirteen districts of Haryana are in the National Capital Region (NCR), which is a prominent trade and consumption center.

Himachal Pradesh 100% electricity generated from green energy sources With five perennial rivers flowing through the state, Himachal Pradesh has the potential to contribute 26% to India's hydropower potential. The State has an estimated hydropower potential of over 27,000 MW. The Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh industrial belt has emerged as a key manufacturing hub for various sectors and the region is known to be Asia’s largest bulk drug manufacturing area.

Moreover, Himachal Pradesh ranks #3 in Export Preparedness Index 2020 under Himalayan states category.

Located in the western Himalayas, Himachal Pradesh is known for its scenic beauty. The state attracted around 19.6 mn tourists in 2017, which is about 3 times the size of its population.

The State Government has also developed appropriate infrastructure for tourism development which includes a provision of public utility services, roads, communication network, airports, transport facilities, water supply and civic amenities, among others.

Jammu and Kashmir

Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

and Kashmir is also one of the prominent locations for handloom and handicrafts products.

J&K is home to world's finest Biovoltine silk and Pashmina wool with the Handloom sector employing about 43,000 weavers across the UT. Major handicraft items include carpets, paper mache and shawls. Handloom sector has contributed towards J&K’s GDP with exports of $ 28.57 Mn in 2018-19 and the exports of handicraft goods standing at $ 131.09 Mn. Jammu and Kashmir shares its international border with Pakistan. The UT lies in the Greater-Himalayan ranges and is enclosed with mountains and valleys. Chenab, Jhelum and Ravi are the major rivers that flow through it. It is well-connected with an international airport in Srinagar and a domestic airport in Jammu. The UT is home to about 57 industrial estates.

Jharkhand Home to 40% of India's mineral wealth Jharkhand is home to one of India's largest commercial manufacturing units by Tata Motors.

The country's oldest and one of the largest steel plants, operated by the world's 10th largest steel manufacturer - Tata steel, is located in Jamshedpur. Due to the high availability of metals and minerals such as steel and coal, the state is an ideal destination for setting up autocomponent industries, power projects, cement plants, among others. Jharkhand has an installed production capacity of nearly 1800 MW. Jharkhand has a high yield in the production of food crops such as paddy and pulses and offers opportunities to exploit the market for agro-forestry products, cashew processing, medicinal plants processing, honey production and production of milk and meat products. The state ranked fifth in top FDI destinations amongst all Indian

Largest producer of passenger vehicles and motorcycles in India

OPPORTUNITIES IN INDIA Goa 8 mn tourist arrivals in 2018, five times the population of Goa Goa attracts a large number of tourists from across the globe and is accessible through an international airport.

International carriers operate around 500 air charter flights between Goa and countries such as Germany, Russia, the UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland and Norway.

Goa is a coastal state located in

Haryana is one of India’s largest automobile hubs and has also emerged as a base for the knowledge industry, including IT and biotechnology.

Haryana ranks #3 in Export Preparedness Index 2020 under Landlocked states category.

Haryana’s electronics and IT exports stood at $7.2 bn during 2016-17, which is 6.2% of the total electronics and IT exports from India. Haryana's business capital Gurugram is home to over 250 of the Fortune 500 companies.

Largest producer of apples, walnuts and cherry in India

Located in northern India, Haryana has four key geographical features: the Shivalik Hills to

Renowned for its strong horticulture and vibrant floriculture sectors, Jammu

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states in 2016 and currently ranks fourth in Ease of Doing Business ranking by the World Bank.

Source: Invest India, Government of India

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

HEALTH

Kamini, an opioid with grave, Bharat Biotech commences supplying Covaxin to 14 Indian states long-term consequences

By Dr Hesitha Abeysundera

Hyderabad, May 11 (IANS): Bharat Biotech has started direct supplies of its Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin to 14 states.

The company, however, has not come out with details of the supplies like the number of doses supplied to the states.

The states are Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

Bharat Biotech on April 24 announced pricing for Covaxin.

It fixed the price of Covaxin at Rs 600 per dose for state governments.

The Hyderabad-based company said it started the supplies based on the allocations received by the Government of India.

"Requests have been received from other states, & will be processed for distribution based on availability of stocks 24x7," tweeted Bharat Biotech co-founder and Joint Managing Director Suchitra Ella.

However, it later slashed the price to Rs 400. This came after Serum Institute of India (SII) cut the price of Covishield to Rs 300 from Rs 400 earlier.

The two vaccine makers slashed the prices after the central government reportedly made a request to them amid the row over different pricing for the central and state governments.

For private hospitals, Bharat

Biotech fixed the price at Rs 1,200 per dose. This is twice the cost fixed for Covishield.

For exports, Bharat Biotech has priced India's first indigenous Covid vaccine at $15-$20 (Rs 1,1251,500).

Ever since the launch of Covid vaccination programme in India, Bharat Biotech and SII have been supplying their vaccines to the Centre at Rs.150 per dose.

The national capital's Covid positivity rate has come down to 19.10 per cent on May 9, the lowest since April 16 when it stood at 19.7 per cent, according to the data shared by the Delhi government on May 10.

The rate has been dipping since May 3. On May 8, it was at 21.67 per cent, on May 7 at 23.34 per cent, on May 6 at 24.92 per cent, on May 5 at 24.29 per cent, on May

4 at 26.37 per cent, and 26.73 per cent on last May 3.

The highest-ever daily Covid positivity rate -- 36.2 per on April 22 -- had brought the entire health management system of the national capital near collapse stage, with 25 Covid patients deaths due to oxygen shortage reported from the leading private Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

From May 3-May 9, Delhi had reported 123,229 new Covid cases, including 12,651 reported in the last 24 hours, taking its tally to 1,336,218.

With 13,306 people recovering since May 9, a total of 125,313 patients have recovered since May 3, taking the cumulative recoveries to 1,231,297.

With 309 new deaths reported in the last 24 hours, 2,249 people

amini tablets are opiate-based herbal medications imported from India and it is also known as Ayurvedant Kamini Vidrawan Ras or Ayurvedant Kamini Vidravan Ras tablets. In Australia, Kamini tablets are routinely sold over the counter, in Asian grocery stores. These tablets are mainly sold under disguise as a treatment for

successful along with psychological intervention.

With continued use, one develops tolerance to these tablets and develops dependence as the person needs an increased amount of the tablets to have the same effect with long term use.

If a person is unable to access Kamini tablets, they

While Bharat Biotech is likely to continue the supplies to the Centre at the same price, SII is seeking to revise this to Rs 400.

men’s sexual health for example impotency, premature ejaculation, nocturnal enuresis and

Both Bharat Biotech and SII have announced that they are reserving 50 per cent of their production capacities for supplies to the central government.

as an aphrodisiac. It is also sold for the treatment of common cold, hay fever and as

include sweating, headaches, teary eyes, runny nose, yawning, tiredness,

an analgesic.

severe leg and abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Delhi cautiously optimistic as Covid rate dips consistently New Delhi, May 10 (IANS): Amid desperate searches for beds, medicines and life-saving oxygen in the unprecedented surge of Covid cases for nearly last one month and the administration struggling to manage with limited resources, Delhi residents can hope for some respite with the city's daily Covid positivity rate reported to be declining continuously.

K

replacement therapy to come off this dependence and the treatment has been very

have succumbed due to Covid infection since May 3, and the cumulative death toll, stands at 19,963.

Health Minister Satyendar Jain said: "We can see some ray of hope in Delhi as the positivity rate has declined and even the daily numbers are also reducing.

The number of cases has almost halved as the city recorded around 13,000 daily cases on May 9 against the 28,000 cases which was the highest number recorded till date. Even the positivity rate has come down from 36 per cent to around 20 per cent. But we still need to stay cautious and prepared."

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on May 10 said that his government is boosting the infrastructure to prepare the national capital for the next wave.

Testing on Kamini tablets

by Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) revealed they

would go into withdrawals which at times can be severe.

Withdrawal symptoms

As Kamini is a dangerous drug, it is important to seek help as early as possible to

contained codeine, morphine, papaverine and mercury. Codeine and Morphine are

prevent serious risks to oneself.

One Kamini bottle costs around AUD 100 and one

Opioids that have extreme addictive properties and consuming too many opioid

bottle contains about 100 tablets.

Usually one starts with taking one tablet per day

tablets can lead to accidental overdose and death. The estimated proportion of

which quickly escalates to taking 100 tablets per day. This has a huge financial risk

opium in a typical tablet varies between 2mg to 20 mg per tablet.

Also, these tablets

to the person and has an impact on relationships and employment.

It is also

have not been assessed for quality, safety, or efficacy.

dangerous for a person to take these tablets and drive, especially for jobs

We have seen an increase in Kamini use among the migrants of the North Indian

like those of bus drivers, taxi drivers and truck drivers.

community in Australia in recent years. This may be due to its easy accessibility from

Kamini dependence (opioid dependence) is very easy to treat and this can be done

Indian grocery stores as they are being sold as herbal or Ayurvedic medicine.

in a very safe environment.

Therefore, it is very important for the person to present himself to

There have been more and more cases of dependence on Kamini reported

local alcohol and other drug services to seek appropriate treatment at the earliest.

to the health services in Australia and New Zealand. These patients require

Dr Hesitha Abeysundera is an Addiction Psychiatrist and Addiction Medicine Specialist

Japan, UNDP come together to boost O2 supply in northeast India Naval ship carries oxygen to

New Delhi, May 11 (IANS): As the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to spread virulently in India, the government of Japan and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have partnered to provide oxygen generation plants to northeastern states.

shortage of medical oxygen.

A statement issued by the UNDP India said that since June 2020, the Japanese government and the agency have been jointly supporting the Centre's battle against the pandemic by strengthening health and social protection systems and reviving livelihoods of the most vulnerable population.

The hospitals, with a capacity of approximately 1,300 beds, have been identified in the region for the oxygen generation plants.

In the ongoing pandemic, which is overwhelming health systems across the country, one of the key challenges has been acute

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To ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply, the support from the people of Japan has enabled UNDP in procuring and installing eight Pressure Swing Absorption (PSA) oxygen generation plants in the northeastern states of Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura.

Excess oxygen will be distributed among other health facilities in the hospitals' vicinity.

The installation sites are being prepared so that the oxygen production can start at the earliest possible, the UNDP India said.

In addition, the UNDP has also been supporting the Indian

Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare with digitisation of supply chain of vaccines and tracking beneficiaries across states to ensure better access and coverage.

It has also helped build capacities of 820,500 frontline workers across the country to support the 'world's largest vaccination drive', the statement said.

The government of Japan has also committed a sizable commitment of providing critical items to India, including ventilators and oxygen concentrators.

In a statement, Satoshi Suzuki, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to India, said: "Japan stands with India, our friend and partner in her efforts to fight against Covid-19 pandemic in this critical time.

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Mangaluru port from Kuwait Mangaluru (Karnataka), May 10 (IANS): Indian Navy's INS Kolkata sailed into the new Mangaluru port on Karnataka's west coast with medical oxygen from Qatar and Kuwait, a defence official said on May 10.

"As part of operation 'Samudra Setu II' to support the nation's fight against Covid, the naval ship brought in 400 bottles of oxygen and 2 containers of 30 tonnes liquid medical oxygen from Shuwaikh port in Kuwait," said the official in a statement here.

Mangaluru port is about 375km west of Bengaluru in the southern state.

The ship sailed from Doha in Qatar and Shuwaikh in Kuwait on

May 5.

"The shipment has been delivered to the state-run oil marketing firm Indian Oil Corporation for supplying the gas to the state," said the statement.

Similarly, another naval ship INS Airavat reached Visakhapatnam on the east coast of Andhra Pradesh earlier in the day, with cryogenic oxygen tanks and cylinders from Singapore.

"The ship, which sailed from Singapore on May 5, brought 8 cryogenic oxygen tanks and 3,898 oxygen cylinders that were sourced from various agencies in coordination with the Indian High Commission in the island nation," added the statement.

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

AI rollout at Indian firms accelerates amid Covid: IBM New Delhi, May 11 (IANS): More than 1 in 2 (53 per cent) of Indian IT professionals say that their company has accelerated the rollout of artificial intelligence (AI) based technologies due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an IBM survey revealed on May 11.

While 43 per cent of Indian IT professionals say that the pandemic has increased their focus on security and threats, more than 1 in 2 feel limited expertise or knowledge and increasing data complexity and data silos as barriers to AI adoption.

"Nearly all (95 per cent) IT professionals in India believe that it is critical or very important to their business that they can trust the AI's output is fair, safe and reliable," according to

IBM's ‘Global AI Adoption Index 2021' survey released during the company's IBM Think 2021' virtual conference.

"Trusted AI, the rise of virtual agents using NLP, automation, and anywhere Hybrid are the top areas that have emerged as key business enablers in the last year owing to the acceleration of technology adoption," said Viswanath Ramaswamy, Vice President, Technology, IBM Technology Sales, India/South Asia.

Over 3 in 4 (78 per cent) Indian IT professionals said it is very important to their company that they can build and run their AI projects wherever the data resides.

During the virtual event, IBM

unveiled new competencies, skills training, and benefits to ensure its partners succeed in an increasingly competitive market, as part of its $1 billion investment to support its partner ecosystem.

"We will look back on this year and last as the moment the world entered the digital century in full force," said IBM Chairman and CEO, Arvind Krishna.

"In the same way that we electrified factories and machines in the past century, we will use hybrid cloud to infuse AI into software and systems in the 21st century," he added.

IBM announced several advances in artificial intelligence (AI), hybrid cloud, and quantum computing at the Think conference.

Second wave of Covid poses threat economic growth: Crisil Mumbai, May 10 (IANS): The second wave of novel coronavirus threatens the economic growth of India, said a Crisil report.

It said that base GDP growth forecast for fiscal 2022 is at 11 per cent, with risk firmly tilted

downwards.

As per the report, the GDP growth rate may drop to 9.8 per cent, if the second wave peaks by Mayend and if the peak is reached by June-end, the GDP growth rate is likely to fall to 8.2 per cent.

It further said that India Inc's revenue growth is projected at 15 per cent for fiscal 2022 on a low base of two years in base case and moderate scenario and in alternate severe scenario, the growth is pegged at 10-12 per cent.

BUSINESS & TRADE

Vehicle registrations plummet over 31% in April YoY: FADA New Delhi, May 10 (IANS): India's vehicle registrations declined by 31.83 per cent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in April 2021.

The data released by the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA) showed a sequential decline of 28.15 per cent during the month under review.

Vehicle registration stood at 1,185,374 units in April 2021, compared to 1,738,802 units reported for the corresponding period of last year and 1,649,678 units in March 2021.

However, tractor registration during last month rose by 3.52 per cent on a Year-on-Year (YoY) basis to 38,285 units.

Similarly, two-wheeler registration fell by 35.35 per cent to 8,65,134 units.

"India is currently facing one of its toughest times with 2nd wave of covid creating a havoc in everyone's life. This time, the spread is not only limited to urban markets but has also taken rural India in its grasp," FADA President Vinkesh Gulati said.

"Unlike last year, the lockdown this time around has been imposed by the state governments and not the Centre. Due to this, there has been no relief announcements which has come out till now either by the Centre or the RBI and Auto OEMs," he added.

In contrast, registration of passenger vehicles declined by 11.56 per cent on a YoY basis to 208,883 units.

Besides, on a YoY basis, the overall vehicle registration for FY21 was lower by 29.85 per cent at 15,271,519 units compared to FY20.

"Rising costs could pose headwinds to companies as they recover in specific sectors," it said.

be supported by a base effect but it would be clouded by the pandemic's spread. The recent surge in Covid-19 cases has led to high-frequency indicators showing some softening.

Restrictions, in terms of number of days, are less compared with fiscal 2021 so far, though is still evolving. Lockdowns are less restrictive for economic activity and are concentrated in the most-hit states.

The Crisil report noted that the first half of fiscal year 2022 would

However, the second half would be led by better-spread economic growth, owing to increased inoculations and better adaptability to the pandemic, which would support sectors that are lagging.

Reliance among biggest donors in India Inc Covid relief response New Delhi, May 9 (IANS): Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) and Reliance Foundation are among the largest donors as India Inc steps up relief efforts in the second wave of Covid hitting India.

RIL set up 1,875 hospital beds for free treatment of Covid patients in Jamnagar and Mumbai.

The 100-bed facility at Seven Hills, Mumbai, was India's first dedicated Covid treatment facility set up in April 2020.

In addition, RIL created several quarantine and isolation facilities across Mumbai, Surat, Lodhivali and other sites. RFH set up an exclusive 10-bed dialysis centre at the Hindu Hriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Care Hospital, Mumbai.

RIL is producing and supplying 1,000 MT of oxygen free of cost, accounting for nearly 11 per cent of India's medical oxygen needs.

Nearly one in 10 ICU patients in India are getting oxygen from Reliance.

RIL also converted facilities at Alok Inds to produce 1 lakh plus affordable PPE kits plus face masks per day to overcome import dependency.

The company has donated Rs 556 crore to PM Cares and other Funds.

Its Mission Anna Seva provided 5.5 crore plus meals -- cooked meals,

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ready-to-eat food packets, food coupons, dry ration kits -- across 80 districts, 18 states and one UT, and is set to supply additional 2 crore plus meals in May/June 2021.

RIL also distributed 81 lakh plus masks to frontline warriors and communities across 19 states and two UTs. Small multi-lingual booklets were also distributed to create awareness.

Reliance Foundation provided 5.5 lakh plus litres of free fuel to 14,000 plus notified ambulances and vehicles engaged in Covid-19 services across 249 districts in 18 states.

It also operates nine MMUs in Shahdol, Nagothane, Dahanu, Jhajjar and Ghazipur providing medical services.

Several other leading corporates have made significant contributions as part of India Inc's relief response. Wipro and Azim Premji Foundation committed Rs 1,125 crore, converted an IT Facility in Pune into a 450-bed intermediary care Covid Hospital and have given food support to 32 crore so far.

Infosys committed Rs 200 crore, 2.4 million meals to around 1 million people, mostly poor and migrant labour and distributed millions of masks and sanitisers for police, medical professionals, and volunteers.

Cipla committed Rs 25 crore, including Rs 9 crore to PM Cares Fund, supplied essentials, ration kits and meals to migrant workers. They served 1,44,000 meals to migrant workers and 1,32,700 masks, gloves etc distributed to more than 10,000 doctors and thousands of paramedical staff.

Mankind Pharma donated Rs 100 crore to support families of Covid warriors. This is in addition to already donated Rs 130 crore to PM Cares Fund.

Vedanta committed Rs 201 crore, with Rs 101 crore to PM Cares Fund, and remaining for welfare of frontline workers, daily wage earners, and employees of business partners. They launched 'Meals for All' scheme, distributing free meals to lakhs of daily wage workers, while dry ration kits were given to thousands of daily wage workers, marginalised poor.

Tata Group committed Rs 1,500 crore and free distribution of 3.5 million masks and gloves. JSW Group committed Rs 500 crore to combat coronavirus.

Mahindra Group set up 17 kitchens at all its plants and distributed over 4.2 lakh meals across its plants to migrant labour. The Group started producing face masks, face shields and aerosol boxes, for

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the first time, and distributed 4,00,000 face shields across the country by December 2020.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

ITC created a Covid Contigency Fund of Rs 215 crore, Adani Group pledged Rs 100 crore to PM Cares Fund, ONGC committed Rs 300 crore to PM Cares Fund as of April 1, 2020 plus, about Rs 16 crore contributed by its 31,100-strong workforce.

BPCL earmarked Rs 100.10 crore budget for Covid-19 relief efforts, the SBI pledged Rs 100 crore to PM Cares Fund contributed by its employees. In addition, it committed Rs 71 crore for tackling second wave of Covid crisis.

ICICI Foundation committed Rs 100 crore to fight Covid-19 pandemic -Rs 80 crore to PM Cares Fund, and Rs 20 crore to state governments, hospitals, and police forces and also distributed 2.13 lakh surgical masks, over 40,000 N95 masks, 20,000 litres of sanitisers, and 16,000 gloves.

L&T donated Rs 150 crore to PM Cares Fund, HDFC Bank donated Rs 150 crore to PM Cares Fund, and Paytm committed a total of Rs 500 crore to PM Cares Fund by paying up to Rs 10 on every transactions made.

Walmart Foundation committed Rs 61 crore to support various NGOs involved in Covid relief activities. Supplied 6,00,000 N95 masks and Walmart,

Flipkart, PhonePe set up on-site vaccination clinics for associates and their households – covering more than two lakh people.

HUL earmarked Rs 100 crore in March 2020 and contributed 1 crore soaps, sanitisers etc to vulnerable communities.

Citigroup committed Rs 200 crore (for next three Fys), and Rs 75 crore for immediate Covid relief like oxygen supplies, protective equipment supplies, and testing equipments etc. Google donated relief fund of Rs 135 crore.

Employees too pooled in Rs 3.7 cr for supporting high-risk, marginalised communities.

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INDIA NEWS

May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

ENERGY & RESOURCES

India, UK agree on urgent action Guterres reiterates to combat climate change zero emissions call New Delhi, May 4 (IANS): India and the UK on May 4 agreed on urgent action to tackle climate change through new, shared commitments during leader-level call.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his British counterpart Boris Johnson signed off on a new shared roadmap during their virtual meeting that includes measures to help limit global temperature rises and support the communities most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

They also reaffirmed their personal commitment to work together for an ambitious outcome at the COP26 climate summit in November and sustained action beyond.

Responding to the meeting, COP26 President-Designate Alok Sharma said: "The UK and India share a longstanding partnership and I am greatly encouraged by the steps we have taken today to bolster our joint efforts on tackling climate change.

"If the world is to become net zero by the middle of the century and keep 1.5 degrees in reach, everyone must work together to make real change for a cleaner, greener planet.”

"I am proud of the close collaboration on this crucial issue

which our two countries have forged, especially during this very difficult time for India as it battles against Covid."

The roadmap sets out an ambitious agenda for UKIndia collaboration on fighting climate change, including a new partnership on clean energy transition, which will drive progress on development of renewables like offshore wind, improved energy efficiency and storage, and advances in electric mobility.

Both the countries also committed to collaborating on green hydrogen.

Both agreed to jointly launch a new global Green Grids Initiative at COP26 for countries to work together on interconnected grids for renewable energy, to help deliver India's vision of One Sun One World One Grid.

Joint action through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), which the UK and India co-chair. This will support Small Island Developing States to prepare for the impacts of climate change by bolstering their infrastructure.

Also positioning the UK and India as global leaders on biodiversity through strengthening collaboration to protect and

restore nature, including through a new joint partnership on forests.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

All countries, especially in the G20, need to close the mitigation gap further by COP26, he insisted, highlighting the threat already faced by developing countries, where "people are dying, farms are failing (and) millions face displacement".

This will strengthen how both the nations share expertise and information and accelerate a global transition to more sustainable supply chains by bringing together producer and consumer countries of forest risk commodities to share ideas and take action.

The two sides will explore the possibility of enhanced partnerships with major private finance leaders, including with the Climate Finance Leadership Initiative, to mobilise both public and private finance for green development.

India and the UK have also welcomed climate action by businesses and encouraged other companies to do the same.

Businesses who have recently made Net Zero commitments through the UN's 'Race to Zero' campaign include the Neev Fund, Engineering Export Promotion Council of India, Gayam Motor Works, M/s Claro Energy Ltd, Commonwealth Inclusive Growth Services Ltd, Evolve India, Suryadesh, Rolls Royce, Diageo and Grundfos Pumps India Pvt. Ltd.

emissions by mid-century.

United Nations, May 7 (IANS): All countries should commit to zero carbon emissions by 2050 if the world is to avoid a disastrous temperature rise of 2.4 degrees Celsius by the end of this century, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

In his keynote speech at a highlevel climate gathering on May 6 in Petersberg, Germany, six months before world leaders convene in Glasgow, Scotland, for the COP26 Climate Summit, the UN chief also offered a message of hope, insisting that it is still possible to avert the worst impacts of emissions-fueled environmental shocks, reports Xinhua news agency.

"I see encouraging signs from some major economies," he said, referring to countries that represent 73 per cent of emissions having committed to net zero

"The bottom line is that, by 2030, we must cut global emissions by 45 per cent compared to 2010 levels to get to net zero emissions by 2050. That is how we will keep the hope of 1.5 degrees alive," he said.

The world's top priority should be to dispense with polluting coalfired power stations altogether and replace them with renewable energy, the top UN official noted.

"I reiterate my call to donors and multilateral development banks to ensure that at least 50 percent of climate finance is for adaption and resilience," Guterres said, noting that "adaptation finance" to developing countries represents only 21 per cent of climate finance today.

The Petersberg Climate Dialogue is an annual event that has been convened by Germany since 2010.

It brings together ministers from over 30 countries, top executives, civil society and sub-national leaders in preparation for the annual climate COP, which will be held in Glasgow from November 1 to 12.

Law required to make CRM recycling mandatory: UN-backed report JSW Hydro raises $707

New Delhi, May 11 (IANS): Endof-life circuit boards, certain magnets in disc drives and electric vehicles and other special battery types, also fluorescent lamps are among several electrical and electronic products containing critical raw materials (CRMs), the recycling of which should be made mandatory by law, says a new UN-backed report funded by the EU.

commercially viable, with low and volatile CRM prices undermining efforts to improve European CRM recycling rates, which today are close to zero in most cases.

recommendations, the EU can be more self-sustaining, help drive the world's green agenda and create new business opportunities at home."

A mandatory, legal requirement to recycle and reuse CRMs in select e-waste categories is needed to safeguard from supply disruptions elements essential to manufacturers of important electrical and electronic and other products, says a European consortium behind the report, led by the Switzerland-based World Resources Forum.

The report identifies gaps in standards and proposes an improved, fully tested certification scheme to collect, transport, process and recycle this waste, including tools to audit compliance.

The project says the equipment categories that contain CRMs in concentrations high enough to facilitate recycling include printed circuit boards from IT equipment, hard disc drives and optical disc drives.

"A European Union legal framework and certification scheme, coupled with broad financial measures will foster the investments needed to make recycling critical raw materials more commercially viable and Europe less reliant on outside supply sources," says the consortium.

Batteries from WEEE and endof-life vehicles, neodymium iron boron magnets from hard disc drives, and electrical engines of e-bikes, fluorescent powders from cathode ray tubes (CRTs; in TVs and monitors) and fluorescent lamps and recovery technologies and processes are well established for some CRMs, such as palladium from printed circuit boards or cobalt from lithium-ion batteries.

The CEWASTE consortium warns that access to the CRMs in these products is vulnerable to geopolitical tides. Recycling and reusing them is "crucial" to secure ongoing supplies for regional manufacturing of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) essential for defence, renewable energy generation, LEDs and other green technologies, and to the competitiveness of European firms.

Today, recycling most of the products rich in CRMs is not

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"Acceptance by the manufacturing and recycling industry is also needed, as the standards will only work when there is widespread adoption."

The report follows the 2020 EU action plan to make Europe less dependent on third countries for CRMs by, for example, diversifying supply from both primary and secondary sources while improving resource efficiency and circularity.

Adds the consortium: "By adopting this report's

For other CRMs, ongoing recycling technology development will soon make industrial scale operations possible but needs financial support and sufficient volumes to achieve cost-efficient operations.

Of 60 plus requirements in European e-waste-related legislation and standards, few address the collection of CRMs in the key product categories, the consortium found.

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million through debut Green Bond issue Mumbai, May 11 (IANS): JSW Hydro Energy Limited has successfully priced a $ 707 million Fixed Rate Senior Secured Green 144A/Reg S Bond for a 10-year tenor at 4.125 per cent.

The proceeds from the issuance will be used towards repayment of existing green projectrelated Rupee-denominated indebtedness. The Green Bond Framework for the company's debut bond transaction has been reviewed by Sustainalytics, who has issued a Second Party Opinion.

The Company engaged with several investors on a global deal roadshow across Hong Kong, Singapore, London, New York and Los Angeles. Backed by a strong investor feedback, the transaction was launched with an initial price guidance of 4.500% area and tightened by 37.5 bps to 4.125 per cent as Final pricing.

The final order book was in excess of $2.6 billion with oversubscription of >3.7x. The transaction witnessed 64 per cent participation from Asia, 14 per cent from the US and 22

per cent from EMEA with 82 per cent investment from long haul funds, 17 per cent from financial institutions (including Sovereign Wealth Funds), and 1 per cent from private banks. There was strong demand from some of the largest marquee fixed income investors globally, a company statement said.

Prashant Jain, Chairman of JSW Hydro, and Joint Managing Director and CEO of JSW Energy Limited said: "This fundraise will enable us to further strengthen and diversify our sources of funding and we look forward to strengthening our partnership with global investors as we continue to build and grow our renewable energy business. From a total installed capacity of about 4.6 GW today, where about 30 per cent is from renewable sources, we currently have visibility on a pipeline of about 2.6 GW of renewable projects comprising of wind, solar and hydro which are likely to get commissioned over the next 24 - 30 months.

On completion of these projects, the share of renewables in our portfolio will be over 55 per cent."

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

Babar Azam voted ICC player of the month for April Photo Courtesy: IANS

SPORTS

2022 World Cup: FIFA conducts meeting on workers' welfare Photo Courtesy: IANS

Dubai, May 11 (IANS): International Cricket Council's (ICC) Voting Academy member, Mpumelelo Mbangwa called Pakistan's prolific run-getter Babar Azam a 'sight to behold'.

On May 11, Azam was voted ICC's Player of the Month for April.

"So stylish is he that anytime he scores runs, and it seems to be always, the compilation of his innings and collection of those runs is a sight to behold," said Mbangwa.

"That he has got to the top of the ICC ODI batting rankings serves as a reminder that even though being one so young, he is amongst the best there is in the current game. He surely is a master craftsman and a joy to watch," added the former Zimbabwe fast bowler.

The 26-year-old Azam's disdain for South African bowlers was for all to see as he led Pakistan to only their second ODI series win in the country in April.

He averages 65.37 across his 10 ODIs against the Proteas. The only team he fares better against in the format is the West Indies (89.33).

The Pakistan skipper was the series' second highest run-scorer, making 228 at 76.00 as he took the 'Player of the Match' honours in both victories in the 2-1 series win.

In the series opener, he scored a 104-ball 103 in a chase of 274, setting the innings up perfectly in a 177-run second-wicket stand.

He then stepped up in the series decider, making 94 off 82 before falling on the final ball of the innings.

The right-hander's performance in South Africa was enough to lift him to top spot on the ICC ODI men's batting rankings for the first time in his career.

With that he ended India skipper Virat Kohli's reign atop the men's ODI batting rankings, a spot he had held since October 2017.

Delhi Police issue lookout notice for Olympic medallist wrestler Sushil New Delhi, May 10 (IANS): Delhi Police have issued a "lookout notice" for well-known wrestler Sushil Kumar, a double Olympic medallist, connected to the murder of a former junior international wrestler at Chhatrasal Stadium in north-west Delhi. According to Delhi Police, Sushil is absconding.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

Singh Sidhu, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (NorthWest Delhi), told IANS. He said he is currently on leave, and that he cannot say anything more on the issue.

Recently, during a brawl at Chhattrasal Stadium, former international Greco Roman wrestler Sagar Dhankar, 23, died after being beaten by a group of wrestlers. A couple of people sustained injuries and were admitted to a hospital.

Delhi Police are looking for Sushil, employed with the India Railways, as he is posted as an Officer on Special Duty at Chhattrasal Stadium, with the sports wing of the Delhi Education sports department.

Delhi Police have recorded the statements of some people who have made certain allegations against Sushil.

"A lookout notice has been issued for Sushil Kumar," Dr Guripal

Lausanne, May 11 (IANS): Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) held a virtual meeting with several member associations and confederations on May 11 to discuss workers' welfare reforms and broader human rights in Qatar in connection with the country’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The virtual event was organised in collaboration with the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) and FIFA's local partner in Qatar.

The meeting provided an opportunity to clarify a number of facts related to the country's labour reforms programme, look at the important progress achieved since Qatar was awarded the tournament in 2010 and discuss the challenges that still remain, while stressing the role that FIFA and football can

England's director of cricket Ashley Giles had earlier said that players from the country won't be playing in the remainder of IPL, which was postponed indefinitely due to the emergence of Covid-19 cases within the tournament biobubble.

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"It is unlikely that the players will risk a showdown with their principal employer over this, despite the potential loss of income," Atherton wrote in his column for The Times.

rescheduled IPL," he said.

"There will be little appetite for returning to IPL this year, given the workload in front of the players in the English summer and the following winter. No one would want to jeopardise a chance of playing in the T20 World Cup or the Ashes, both of which would come swiftly on the back of a

"We're planning on the involvement of England players in England matches. We've got a full FTP schedule. So if those tours to Pakistan and Bangladesh [in September and October] are going ahead, I'd expect the players to be there," Giles told British media here.

Giles earlier said that the England and Wales Cricket Board expects full participation of England players in their upcoming international matches.

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"I very much welcome the constructive engagement with our member associations on this important topic," said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

"We all want to ensure the protection of everyone engaged in the delivery of the FIFA World Cup, and we are confident the event can serve as a catalyst for broader positive social change."

"We know there is still work to be done, but we need to recognise the significant progress achieved in a very short time, thanks to the commitment of the highest authorities in the country, and to ensure that any debate on this complex matter should be based on verified facts," he added.

India's tour to Sri Lanka: Rising Covid cases in island a worry Photo Courtesy: IANS

38 overseas returnees.

On May 10, the island recorded 2,624 cases and on May 9 the number was 2,672.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Sourav Ganguly had earlier said that India are set to travel to Sri Lanka in July for three ODIs and as many T20Is. Colombo's R. Premadasa Stadium is likely to host all six games of the series.

Eng players less likely to play in rescheduled IPL: Atherton London, May 11 (IANS): England players are unlikely to be eager to go back to their Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises later in the year if a rescheduled 2021 season is held, said former captain Mike Atherton.

continue to play in promoting a lasting legacy of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in the field of workers' welfare and human rights in the host country.

Colombo, May 12 (IANS): Indian cricket team is to tour Sri Lanka for a short cricket series in July, but increasing Covid-19 cases in that country could worry Indian cricket board. The island nation recorded 2,568 cases on May 11.

According to official numbers announced in Colombo, the 2,568 cases recorded on May 11 included

"We plan to host the entire series at one venue. As of now, it has been decided that the Premadasa Stadium will host the fixtures.

Obviously, it depends on how the situation is around that time," Arjuna de Silva, Sri Lanka Cricket's (SLC) Administrative Committee chairman, told Sportstar on May 10.

"With the Covid situation fluid, we cannot allow fans yet, so all the matches will be closed-door affairs," De Silva said.

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

SPORTS

IOC to 'work with full engagement' IPL: Practice options to ensure safe Olympics in Delhi, Ahmedabad Photo Courtesy: Tokyo Olympics Games

possibly led to breach New Delhi, May 10 (IANS): The Indian cricket board's decision to host the second phase of the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches in cities with no alternate T20-specific practice facilities may have caused the breach in Covid protocols, it has emerged.

Beijing, May 11 (IANS): The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will continue to "work with full engagement" towards a safe Olympics, an IOC spokesperson told Xinhua.

Japanese partners and friends, we continue to work with full engagement to ensure the safe organisation of the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

Japan Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had said on May 10 that he had never put Olympics first when asked whether the Tokyo Olympics will go forward if the Covid-19 situation worsens, adding that the IOC has the final say on the matter.

The spokesperson also highlighted the vaccination of delegations, which has been in place to ensure a “safe Games”.

"My priority has been to protect the lives and health of the Japanese population. We must first prevent the spread of the virus," said Suga, whose government is under fierce criticism over its handling of the pandemic.

When asked about Suga's comments, the IOC spokesperson responded: "The Olympic community from all over the world is thinking of the Japanese people who are affected by the pandemic and who are facing this crisis with solidarity and resilience. Together with our

"In addition to the already strict science and experience-based Covid-19 countermeasures, the IOC has initiated an already very successful vaccination program for the national delegations coming to Japan. This will ensure that the vast majority of the residents of the Olympic Village will arrive in Japan vaccinated," the spokesperson said.

"It is happening in solidarity with the Japanese people, and to protect the Japanese people as well as the participants of the Olympic and Paralympic Games," he added.

Thus far, Japan has only managed to vaccinate 240,000 of those aged 65 or older with the second

of their two jabs, in stark contrast to the pace of other advanced countries.

The Japanese central government has reportedly begun to speed up the national vaccination drive from May 10. In the following days, the government said it would deliver enough vaccines to the local municipalities to inoculate nine million seniors, with all 36 million of this demographic having the requisite amount of vaccine doses administered by the end of June.

The host city of Tokyo is currently under an extended state of emergency until the end of May, and the Games organisers announced on May 10 that IOC president Thomas Bach's scheduled visit to Japan on May 17 and 18 has been postponed.

A recent opinion poll by the Yomiuri Shimbun daily showed nearly 60 per cent of the people in Japan want the Games cancelled.

Tokyo 2020, postponed by one year due to the pandemic, is scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 8.

IPL postponement points towards cricket's vulnerability: Chappell New Delhi, May 9 (IANS): The postponement of the Indian Premier League (IPL) due to Covid-19 was a reminder of the game's vulnerability, former Australia skipper Ian Chappell said on May 9, pointing at the weak underbelly of the game.

the suspension of the IPL could also produce a precedent. It may lead to the World T20 event, programmed for India later in the year, either being postponed or moved," wrote the 77-year-old player who captained Australia between 1971 and 1975.

Day Test between Australia and England was abandoned without a ball being bowled after heavy rain ruined any chance of a competitive match. That led to the first ever ODI being played in lieu of the Test in an effort to recoup some of the lost revenue," he said.

Chappell said that given the current crisis India was passing through, it wouldn't be surprising if the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in October-November in India, is either moved out of the country or postponed.

Citing examples when cricket tours had to be abandoned midway -- or postponed -- the cricket legend recalled that in 1969 "England toured a bitterly divided Pakistan where the series was haunted by protests from the beginning. When a riot brought the third Test in Karachi to a premature halt, the England team flew home immediately".

Chappell also mentioned an ugly incident in Headingley in 2006, when Pakistan forfeited the fourth Test to England.

"The suspension of the 2021 IPL tournament because of surging Covid infections and deaths among the public, and a number of participants testing positive, was a reminder of the game's vulnerability," Chappell said in a column on espncricinfo website.

"In the current disastrous climate,

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Chappell said that nature too had played spoilsport on a number of occasions, leaving the spectators high and dry.

"In 1970-71, the MCG Boxing

"Pakistan forfeited the match after refusing to take the field when the team was accused of ball-tampering and penalised five runs. Despite cricket employing more sheriffs than you'd find in the old American Wild West, the Pakistan captain, Inzamam-ulHaq, could not be coaxed into taking his team back onto the field. After a lengthy delay the match was awarded to England on a forfeit," he wrote.

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Delhi and Ahmedabad -- cities with rapidly increasing Covid cases -- hosted the second phase and the positive cases among players and staff that led to the postponement of the tournament emerged during matches in those cities. Besides, the two cities struggled for alternate practice facilities for teams.

"There is a belief within many Board of Control for Cricket of India (BCCI) and state officials that the decision to take the second phase to Delhi and Ahmedabad was wrong. There were four teams in each city and except for the main ground, which is an international-level facility and hosted matches, the alternate facilities meant for practice were open to exposure to Covid-19," an official in the know of things told IANS. While in Delhi, teams like the Chennai Super Kings used the Roshanara Club grounds for practice, those in Ahmedabad were forced to use Gujarat College ground.

Both venues are in congested or old parts of the city. The practice facility at the Motera ground in Ahmedabad has another problem.

Since the construction of annexe grounds and full facilities isn't complete, the available facility is not suited to practice big shots needed in T20 cricket.

"The problem with the newlybuilt Narendra Modi Stadium in Motera is that the adjoining grounds and facilities are still under construction. While it will be a state-of-the-art facility with multiple grounds, it is not yet completed. The teams can't use

the current practice nets as it is not suitable for big hitting needed during T20 practice. It is okay for Test matches or first-class cricket practice," said the official.

"So, taking players to Gujarat College ground was fraught with risk as there are so many people like the maalis [gardeners], security guard and others. It was easy to get infected," he pointed out. As many as three teams, including the worst-affected Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), practiced there. Four KKR players tested positive.

Delhi's Roshanara Club, where the BCCI was founded over 90 years ago, is in the middle of a thickly populated area, and one has to make way through crowded streets to reach there.

"The Roshanara Club in Delhi is also a club which is not suited for practice for IPL franchise.

Besides, you have local staff that can easily infect the players or staff," said the official.

Delhi has two Palam grounds which are spacious and secure, away from the city as well. There might have been issues with some aspects of the facilities there, although it has hosted international teams' practice in the past. Closer to the IPL teams' hotels is Jamia Milla Islamia ground, which is secure and has excellent dressing rooms, though the pitches could be an issue there.

"Shifting the tournament to Delhi and Ahmedabad opened the tournament to Covid-19 exposure," the official said.

The third IPL phase was to be held in Kolkata and Bengaluru.

Even though Bangalore is facing a huge Covid-19 threat, it has some good facilities for practice.

Besides the Chinnaswamy Stadium, where the matches were to be hosted, it has multiple grounds in Alur on the city's outskirts.

Indian hockey wizard Dhyan Chand's eldest son passes away Photo Courtesy: IANS

New Delhi, May 10 (IANS): Birjmohan Singh, the eldest of the seven sons of hockey wizard Dhayan Chand, passed away on May 10, said his younger brother and former India hockey captain Ashok Kumar.

Birjmohan was 82, and is survived

by his wife and two sons and a daughter. He had retired as Regional Sports Officer with the Rajasthan Sports Council. His family is based in Kota, Rajasthan.

"Bhai saheb had recovered from Covid about a month ago and was absolutely hale and hearty.

He was fond of English movies and watched one last night. He went for his regular morning walk today and had a glass of juice on return. He then went to the bathroom and passed away there," Olympian Ashok Kumar, who scored the title-winning goal at the 1975 World Cup, told IANS..

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

ART & CULTURE

Art works reveal role of women in A rare Leonardo da Vinci historic Punnapra-Vayalar revolt drawing heads to auction

Photo Courtesy: IANS

Photo Courtesy: IANS

women, who worked on low wages, as the world looked for cheaper floor coverings, said Bhaskaran.

Bullet-ridden trunks of coconut trees in Punnapra and Vayalar stand as both victims and silent witnesses to the tumultuous events of October 1946.

In the works of Bhaskaran, bright flowers sprout from bullet holes of uprooted coconut trees.

Port Museum, Alappuzha, one of the venues of the art show curated by Bose Krishnamachari.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

May 1, Alappuzha (Kerala), (IANS): A series of seven works by a participating artist in 'Lokame Tharavadu', a large scale contemporary art exhibition organised by the Kochi Biennale Foundation, revealed the role played by women in the historic Punnapra-Vayalar revolt, a movement predominantly of coir workers.

The art works are on display at

"When the martyred men were celebrated as immortal, the role of women who were widowed and had an equal stake in the process of the struggle was never properly acknowledged," said Bara Bhaskaran, an artist who loves to explore subaltern histories.

Coir exports began from Travancore in the latter half of the 19th century. They surged after the first decade of the 20th century and as per a census of 1941, the coir industry had 1,33,000 cottage workers, apart from 32,000 'coir workers'.

A bulk of these workers were

The Punnapra-Vayalar revolt, shaped by multiple factors including literacy and a labour movement in the region was a struggle met with force.

Pitched battles were fought in many places but the areca nut staves and choppers of workers were no match for the guns of the military and many lost their lives.

Though the agitation was primarily against the Dewan of Travancore and the ruler of the princely state, who did not want to join the Indian Union, workers had a prominent role in it.

"The series is an attempt to document a historical event and pay tribute to the spirit of workers," Bhaskaran said.

Bhaskaran has participated in several national and international exhibitions including the Kochi Muziris Biennale.

1,000-yr-old Buddhist statues restored in China

Photo Courtesy: IANS

undergone their first renovation in 39 years.

The coloured clay statues are at the Lingyan Temple in Jinan, the provincial capital of Shandong, which was built over 1,600 years ago during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday.

Beijing, May 13 (IANS) Twelve Buddhist statues in China's Shandong province dating back nearly 1,000 years have

last renovation in 1982.

During the restoration in 1982, one clay statue was found to have a human-like abdomen, with the viscera made of silk, said Wang Tingqi, deputy director of the Shandong provincial bureau of culture and tourism.

At the temple, there are 40 well-preserved 'arhat' (one who has gained insight into the true nature of existence and has achieved nirvana) statues renowned at home and abroad, most of which were built during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

"The results of protection and restoration this time were beyond expectation," said Su Bomin, deputy director of Dunhuang Research Academy. Workers used safe techniques for the restoration, including repairing some cracked paint and cleaning the dust on the statues, Su said.

The Buddhist statues in different colours, shapes and with varied expressions have been renovated several times in history, with the

Much of the damage took place due to changing temperature and humidity over a long time, Su said.

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May 8, New Delhi : Titled 'Head of a Bear', a rare drawing by Italian polymath and 'Mona Lisa' creator Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519) will be on auction in London on July 8. This penetrating study of a bears head is one of less than eight surviving drawings by Leonardo da Vinci known to be in private hands outside the Royal Collection and the Devonshire Collections at Chatsworth.

It is estimated to fetch between 8,000,000-12,000,000 pound, which converts to approximately Rs 82 crores - Rs 122 crores.

This drawing in the Christie's London sale is executed in silverpoint on a pale pink-beige prepared paper, a technique which Leonardo was taught by his master Andrea del Verrocchio, said Christie's.

According to the auction house, the drawing's history can be traced back to Sir Thomas Lawrence the renowned British painter whose collection of old master drawings is considered among the greatest ever

assembled. After Lawrence's death in 1830, the drawing passed to his dealer Samuel Woodburn, who sold it at Christie's in 1860 for 2.50 pound.

In the first half of the twentieth century, the drawing was in the collection of another great British collector, Captain Norman Robert Colville, sold at Christie's in 2009, it said.

Since its first public exhibition in 1937, it has also been shown at museums around the world.

Ben Hall, Chairman, Old Master Paintings, Christie's New York says that this masterpiece is one of the most important works from the Renaissance still in private hands. "The work has been owned by some of the most distinguished collectors in the field of Old Masters across many centuries, not least the present owner who has owned it since 2008. It has been admired around the world whilst shown by prestigious museums and Christie's is honoured to bring this Leonardo to the market this season."

Curbs of poet Satchidanandan's FB page for violating 'community standards' Thiruvananthapuram, May 8 (IANS): Curbs have been imposed on the Facebook page of popular poet and critic K. Satchidanandan for a day, the former secretary of Sahitya Akademi himself said on Saturday.

that comments of mine were disappearing," said the former English professor who quit his job to take up the editorship of Indian Literature, the English journal of the Indian National Academy, in Delhi in 1992.

"This came last night and the reason is for posting a hilarious video about Amit Shah (Union Home Minister) and the loss of the Kerala unit of the BJP in the recent Assembly polls. I had also posted another advertisement about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I had received both these on my WhatsApp," said the poet.

He also added that he cannot do any Facebook live for 30 days because he has violated their 'community standards'.

"Due to this, I was unable to post or share or write a comment and it should be over on Saturday night. On April 21, I received a warning and that was for a comment which had humour in it. Before that I started to notice

"I feel such things can be expected time and again from now on. When I tried to post an article against suppression of criticism that appeared in the medical journal Lancet, I got the message that 'you are trying to post something other people on Facebook have found abusive'. So I feel that there are preying eyes behind critics like me," added the poet.

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INDIA NEWS

May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

BOOKS & LITERATURE

Of a declining mind trying to make 'Harry Potter - A sense of ever-changing world Magical Year' brings Photo Courtesy: IANS

wife to her husband and a mother to her two daughters, and the other a life of desires and sharp observations that only her mind is privy to.

When Mrs Pankajam starts losing her memory, her doctor recommends she keep a diary to maintain a semblance of continuity in life events. At first, she is reluctant. What is so spectacular about her life that warrants its story being recorded, she wonders.

New Delhi, April 29 (IANS): Fated to do and to die/only to remember/then forget/why try?

Mrs S. Pankajam has always lived two lives: one of ordinary fulfilment in her experiences as a

But, as she sets pen to paper, meticulously documenting the revelations that her daughters (well past their teens now) continue to subject her to, the discovery of her husband's eccentricities and her own guilty admissions to indulgences that may have caused his cardiac arrest, she finds her childhood

persistently wrestling with the present as a marked reminder of a past she cannot run away from.

A witty and touching tale about a declining mind trying to make sense of an ever-changing world, Meera Rajagopalan's finely crafted novel, "The Eminently Forgettable Life of Mrs Pankajam" (Hachette) is one that challenges the reader to confront long-held beliefs and make amends while it is still possible.

Meera Rajagopalan is a writer based in Chennai.

She �sunlights' as a communications consultant for the development sector. Her fiction tends to veer around issues of identity and has appeared in several anthologies, including "Dissent: The Helter Skelter Anthology of New Writing Vol. 6" and "Have a Safe Journey".

'Time to abolish the entire sum of morality' New Delhi, May 4 (IANS): From Chris Paley, author of the "extraordinary", "startling" and "thought-provoking" book "Unthink" on harnessing ones unconscious, comes "Beyond Bad" (Hachette), which contends that morals hinder us from achieving what we want to achieve in life.

Morality is the driving force in every story worth your time: Cinderella to Crime and Punishment; Macbeth to Breaking Bad. Morality's what we're doing when we shout at the telly, gossip about our boss or leave comments online. It's held empires together, kept soldiers marching under fire, fed the hungry, passed laws, built walls, welcomed immigrants, destroyed careers and governed our sex lives.

But what if morality's all meaningless rubbish, a malfunctioning relic of our evolutionary past?

This is the provocative argument that Paley makes. This isn't an attack on one set of moral codes or one way of thinking about

Photo Courtesy: IANS

warming, nuclear proliferation or the rise of the robots, are panhuman.

These challenges are beyond what our moral minds were designed to cope with. You can't build smartphones with stone-age axes, and you can't solve modern humanity's problems with tools that are designed to create primitive, competitive groups.

ethics: it's a call for abolishing the whole caboodle (the entire sum).

He uses evolutionary psychology to show how and why morality emerged: to help tribes and other small groups survive and prosper.

Our morals, he says, constrain us, bias us, and push us in the wrong direction because we fail to understand their limited aims. The biggest challenges our species face, whether global

Chris Paley holds an MSc and a PhD from the University of Cambridge. Whilst at Cambridge, the student newspaper listed him as one of the twelve "movers and shakers' of the year. He has written articles for The Times and the Guardian, and has 19,000 Facebook followers.

His first book was published in six languages. FHM, the lifestyle magazine wrote that it would leave you "happier than a rabbit on a carrot farm". The late Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor, archbishop emeritus of Westminster, described it as "an extraordinary thought-provoking book... quite startling".

alive the Hogwarts' world

Photo Courtesy: IANS

New Delhi, April 30 (IANS): Here's a unique and beautiful gift book for every day of the year, celebrating the astonishing art of Jim Kay paired with magical quotations from the original Harry Potter novels by J.K. Rowling.

"Harry Potter e A Magical Year: The Illustrations of Jim May" (Bloomsbury) combines Kay's stunning colour illustrations with his previously unseen pencil sketches and preparatory pieces, offering a unique and fascinating insight into his sketchbook - an unforgettable journey through the seasons at Hogwarts.

Each day features a favourite anniversary or meaningful memory from the Harry Potter novels with 366 short quotations e one for every day of the year, including the leap year. All of the seven stories are represented in the book, from "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" through to "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".

All around, Kay's scenic artwork and decorative painter's marks bring that moment to life in breathtaking detail. His unique interpretation is both captivating and transporting - picture frozen icicles glinting on the

New Delhi, May 6 (IANS): Billionaire investors. If we think of them, it's with a mixture of awe and suspicion. Clearly, they possess a kind of genius -- the proverbial Midas Touch.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

But are the skills they possess transferable? And would we really want to be them? Do they have anything to teach us besides making money?

Green ushers us into the lives of more than 40 of the world's super-investors, visiting them in their offices, vacation homes, and even their places of worship -- all to share what they have to teach us.

Green brings together the thinking of some of the best investors, from Warren Buffet to Howard Marks to John Templeton, and provides gems of insight that will enrich you not only financially but also professionally

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Jim Kay won the Kate Greenaway Medal in 2012 for his illustrations in "A Monster Calls" by Patrick Ness. He studied illustration at the University of Westminster, and worked in the Library & Archives of Tate Britain and then as an assistant curator of botanical illustrations at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew before returning to producing art fulltime.

Exploring the minds of world's greatest investors

In writing "Richer, Wiser, Happier" (Profile Books), awardwinning journalist William Green has spent nearly 25 years interviewing these investing wizards and discovered that their talents expand well beyond the financial realm and into practical philosophy.

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snowy towers of Hogwarts, the dancing eyes of Professor Albus Dumbledore, or the infectious hustle and bustle of Diagon Alley. Inside, a selection of the illustrator's most iconic images are complemented by previously unseen character studies, pencil drawings and preparatory pieces from the Jim Kay archive.

and personally.

Green has written for Time, Fortune, Forbes, Fast Company, The New Yorker, The Spectator, and The Economist.

As an editor and co-author, he has collaborated on books such as "The Great Minds of Investing" as also "The Education of a Value Investor", the memoir of Zurichbased investor Guy Spier wellknown for bidding $650,100 with Indian-American businessman and philanthropist Monish Pabrai for a charity lunch with Warren Buffet on June 25, 2008.

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INDIA NEWS

TRAVEL

Seven inspiring sustainable stays in India Photo Courtesy: Booking.com

saving substitutes that have been placed in the property gives a great message to the travellers about sustainability and how one can go environmentally friendly without burning any holes in the pocket.

Mela Kothi- The Chambal Safari Lodge (Agra, Uttar Pradesh)

E

arth Day 2021 was celebrated yesterday and instead of reminiscing about the trips you have taken in the past twelve months, for many it is a time to reflect on how future travels can have a more positive impact, both on the environment and on local communities.

After a year, the pandemic has amped people’s desire to travel more sustainably in the future and travellers have been reevaluating what steps to take to ensure they are playing their part in helping to protect the planet. As per a research from Booking.com, over 53 percent of global travellers admitted that because of Coronavirus they want to travel more sustainably, with travellers in India (70 percent), Brazil (71 percent) and Colombia (74 percent) being especially committed to this.

This eco-conscious determination is impacting traveller behaviors even once they arrive at their destination, as they pledge to continue to act with sustainability in mind. The ravel platform's research also shows that 98 percent of Indian travellers are vying to stay in an eco-accommodation at least once. It has curated a list of seven eco-friendly stays in India to help inspire travellers in making more sustainable travel choices, when it becomes safe to do so.

Photo Courtesy: Trip.com

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The Kumaon (Binsar, Uttarakhand) Surrounded by undulating hills and imbued with simple elegance, The Kumaon is spread across 10 luxurious suites, nestled in pairs across five structures with private overlapping terraces offering views to the Great Himalayan range. This eco-property is built on the principle of environmental consciousness by sourcing local materials such as pinewood for construction. This principle reflects on the design and the furniture as well, imbibing the local tradition of weaving woollen fabrics for beddings and furnishings. Travellers can enjoy organic seasonal vegetables that are harvested at property terraces and open spaces, making the property truly sustainable in its approach. Furthermore, the property incorporates an effective rainwater harvesting system and a drainage system that channels the water to a large holding tank at the bottom of the site.

Blackberry Hills (Munnar, Kerala) Located amid the lush valleys of Munnar, Blackberry Hills is one of the most aesthetically alluring resorts that has been built. Spread across 15 acres of land which comprises of 16 cottages, this eco-friendly resort promotes co-existence and responsible tourism amongst travellers.

As a part of its sustainability initiatives, Blackberry Hills drives

awareness amongst travellers with regards to the conservation of life to protect the native flora and fauna. The accommodation was also recognised by the International Vetiver Network for their efforts in soil conservation through the use of an indigenous Vetiver system. When it is safe to travel, one can book a stay at the peaceful property that has wooden floors and furnishing which gives it an earthy feel, be closer to nature and also be a part of their efforts to maintain an ecological balance.

Anuraag Villa ( Jaipur, Rajasthan) Nestled within a beautiful garden, Anuraag Villa in Jaipur offers a blend of traditional touch with a hint of contemporary vibe, while incorporating sustainable practices. The villa emphasizes on creating awareness through various initiatives such as energy management, water management and waste management and aims to signify the use of eco-friendly, recycled and environmentalfriendly cleaning products which are increasingly efficient and sustainable. The staff at the villa is also devoted to reducing any harmful practices that will lead to an environmental imbalance in the long run.

Mela Kothi in Agra is an ecofriendly, self-sustaining, family owned property where luxury meets the wild. Built on a 500year heritage, Mela Kothi is known for many reasons apart from its graceful interiors and beautiful gardens. The property promotes tree plantations to protect the rich wildlife in and around the area. This nature lovers paradise is home to around 198 species of birds, reptiles and small mammals. During 20062015, 6 acres of the property’s land was dedicated to develop a Forest nursery to supply reforestation drives. Travellers can add this property to their checklist to witness the coexistence of nature and luxury, and contribute to Mela Kothi’s sustainability efforts.

Heritage Resort (Hampi, Karnataka) Heritage Resort is a luxury resort close to the famed ruins of Hampi. The decor of the resort is rustic chic with walls painted with murals that reflect local art and architecture. With a negative carbon footprint, this beautiful resort has a special focus on

being sustainable, eco friendly and offering a helping hand to the local economy. The art here has been procured from local artisans to help the local community and the resort also tries to encourage and preserve the local traditional art forms by organizing a local art form performance for the guest almost everyday. Heritage Resort also has four acres of organic plantation to grow their own vegetables and fruits. All the excess vegetables are used to create value added products such as pickles, jellies, juices and so on. Travellers can enjoy a feeling of space close to nature in this environment friendly-sustainable resort.

Bhakti Kutir (Goa) Designed by a couple with a vision for eco-friendly life, Bhakti Kutir is located amidst the coconut grooves of Palolem and Patnem. The resort has 22 back-to-nature cabanas that are crafted using local materials such as rice straw, coconut wood, and bamboo. The resort has incorporated several initiatives to reduce power consumption to preserve the environment. In a truly sustainable approach, Bhakti Kutir has linked the toilets to a robust compost system where the wastewater is reused to maintain the surrounding gardens. The property is ideal for yoga retreats and hosts regular workshops for travellers’ wellbeing.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

Elephant Valley, Eco Friendly Farm (Kodaikanal, Tamil Nadu) The Elephant Valley Eco Farm Hotel is a nature reserve, organic farm and plantation located across 100 acres in the Palni Hills, Kodaikanal. Once an abandoned coffee plantation farm, the property has now been revived not only to offer a beautiful retreat, but also to minimise the impact of the retreat on the environment. Offering 20 uniquely designed bungalows, the Valley restaurant serves gourmet cuisine using organically farmed vegetables. The property consists of sustainable alternatives like solar lights, low consumption bulbs, and firewood-fuelled hot water showers. These energy

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Photo Courtesy: Yatra.com

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INDIA NEWS

TRAVEL

Kubbra Sait reveals her idea of perfect old age Photo Courtesy: Instagram

Answering a question on what her 60s or 70s should look like, she adds:

Photo Courtesy: Instagram

"So, some clean air to breathe, a book to read and probably my fingers in twined with someone I love. I think that would be an ideal 60-70s to me. We're not chasing every day.

"I don't think I'm chasing today either I'm thinking of the opportunities that come to me at the moment but there isn't a chase anymore, and I think if you stop chasing things you automatically reach a point of calmness and that's very different from being numb from the chase," she told IANSlife.

On the work front, Kubbra shared her excitement about 'Foundation' that's about to release this year.

S

acred Games' actor Kubbra Sait says that in her sixties or seventies, she would like a tiny home with a little garden probably growing cabbage. "Oh yeah, if it faces the beach, then that will be

amazing," quips Kubbra.

"It's I think one sole project that I have put in about a year and a half of mine, and that feels extremely valuable."

The performer, who left behind a successful corporate career for a career in acting, recently featured on the 'My 3 Secrets To Success' audio series on Audible Suno.

She adds: "I don't think today your currency is money. Your currency is time. So if I have been able to break out of that mental block and invest time in a project that

conscious consumers.

is characterized by persistent symptoms that that may include mental fog, cough, loss of taste and smell, fatigue, occasional difficulty breathing, muscle and joint pains as well as digestive issues, according to Dr Lim.

I believe in, I think it's going to pay off pretty well and I'm quite excited about it. Apart from that, I've got three work projects in process and when they come to realisation, I'll share them with you. But otherwise I can say that, I've got a book coming, I've got a show coming out, I’ve been on this Audible podcast."

Finally, speaking about her Zen mode: "I’m being in a state of

solitude in a state of Zen. I am being that person. And it's just allowing you to recognise the past, the present and the future as it's going to be. I think it's very important to be in a state of Zen so that you can allow the future to unfold. It's exciting. So, what's keeping me busy, my Zen is keeping me busy."

Will wellness tourism grow due to COVID-19?

T

he roller coaster ride that was 2020 brought the biggest dip in modern history, forcing individuals to adapt to major lifestyle changes while the world shifts focus to taking preventive measures so that people will not get infected by COVID-19.

People have started to look for ways to help improve their physical health and pay attention to their mental health, leading to the rise of wellness tourism and health-centered vacations, says Dr Homer Lim, Medical Director of The Farm at San Benito.

As more and more people turn towards nature-inspired and wellness-focussed stays away from urban buzz, especially as many countries begin to cautiously reopen borders, Dr Lim foresees medical wellness resorts like The Farm contributing to the national tourism industry in terms of medical travel and wellness tourism – bringing in new stream of travelers such as wellness enthusiasts, health seekers and

Photo Courtesy: IANS

"Aside from being an ecosustainable business and green destination, The Farm also offers various medically-supervised health promotion, disease prevention, immune support programs, and healthcare insurance accredited medical services. The Farm secured the necessary permits and managed to reopen its doors since May of last year to continue its services as a medical wellness facility," says Dr Lim. The property, surrounded by a green forest, is part of CG Hospitality – the hospitality arm of Nepal-based conglomerate CG Corp Global. It has also become a favorite for celebrities and entrepreneurs who have adopted the concept of wellness workation, where they combine wellness, work, and holiday.

A certain population of people who developed COVID-19 infections may suffer from “PostCovid Syndrome” that can last up to six months from infection. This

To address this, the wellness resort’s team of medical experts came up with a post-Covid recovery program inclusive of daily nutrient-rich organic vegan meals and detox juice, holistic consultation, brain biofeedback, live blood analysis, colon cleansing, acupuncture, vitamin infusion, liver compress, energy healing, immuno cell renewal, steam therapy, ozone therapy, with daily complimentary mindful and functional fitness activities such as yoga, mandala flower meditation, sound healing, power walk, wellness talks and more, says Dr Lim. Requiring a swab test upon arrival to maintain its COVID-free status, The Farm in the Philippines is an example of how the booming wellness industry might change in coming years, with it offering programs for the immune system.

Like other holistic programs, it includes psycho-emotional sessions that attend to the guests’ mental health and emotional state – two things that can be severely affected as people feel isolated while following quarantine protocols, says Dr Lim. It also has programs to manage work-related chronic pain issues, as well mental health for workrelated depression, stress, and anxiety. Programs are planned and conducted by internationally trained integrative medical

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Photo Courtesy: IANS

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doctors and mental health experts..

“Now that vaccines are being distributed to the public, one must not forget the importance of the immune system for these to work, as well as other preventive measures like wearing masks in public, avoiding crowds, and handwashing. The pandemic still poses a threat at this point,

and using all the tools available is the only way to ensure victory.

Through proper planning and observing the right precautions, people can triumph without having to put their life at a standstill. In time, the world will be sure to overcome this global issue that is COVID-19,” concludes the medical expert.

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INDIA NEWS

www.indianews.com.au

May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

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WHAT’S ON

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

INDIA NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

Parvati Sehgal says fans want Raima Sen: OTT has so much to us as her rude, negative avatar back given actors and audience on 'Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2' Photo Courtesy: Instagram

Photo Courtesy: IANS

Mumbai, May 14 (IANS): Actress Parvati Sehgal says the personality of her character Komal in the show "Mann Ki Awaaz Pratigya 2" has changed over two seasons, but fans want the old Komal back.

While Komal was rude and abusive in the first, she has become sensible and loving in the second after the loss of her husband and child.

"My character in season one and two are very different because in the first one Komal was very rude, abusive and uneducated.

In season two, she has lost her husband Aadarsh and her daughter, so she has become sensible, kind and loving, especially towards Garv. She considers him her own child, and she is very close to him," she told IANS. She adds: "My character is of a widow, and she has got all these emotions somehow because of the things that happened to her in the last nine years. That's how she has changed," she added.

Parvati says fans keep asking her when Komal would revert to her original personality.

Mac Mohan's daughters' film 'Skater Girl' to premiere on June 11 Photo Courtesy: IANS

Mumbai, May 14 (IANS): Late actor Mac Mohan's daughters Manjari and Vinati Makijany will be releasing their film "Skater Girl" on June 11. The sisters have written the film, with Vinati producing and Manjari directing it.

Mumbai, May 14 (IANS): Actress Pooja Bisht has opened up about her role in the upcoming webseries "Flawed".

She added: "OTT has given so much to us as actors and audience. We can experiment now and people have a lot to choose from. So, the advent has been really great."

"The Last Hour" also features Sanjay Kapoor, Shahana Goswami, Karma Takapa, Robin Tamang and Shaylee Krishen. The series releases on Amazon Prime Video on Friday.

Photo Courtesy: Instagram

"I play the character of Soumya.

She is a strong, independent girl in everyone's eyes, but at the same time she bears the scar of her father's absence after he abandoned her, along with her younger sister and mother, for another woman, putting responsibilities on her shoulders," says Pooja.

Talking about "Skater Girl", Manjari says: "'Skater Girl' is about Prerna, who fights through all obstacles -- both societal and her inner fears -- to embrace her true talent and chase her dreams. It's also a story about women across different strata of society and how they connect with each other and relate to each other's struggle.

Across generations, these women have a story to tell," she says.

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"I can't really tell you much about the character. It's a supernatural crime thriller but I can say one thing that it's extremely intriguing. The series will keep people on the edge and it is wholesome entertainment. One would not be able to skip a scene,"

Raima promised.

Pooja Bisht opens up on her role in 'Flawed'

Manjari has earlier directed short films and has also assisted on films such as "Dunkirk", "The Dark Knight Rises", "Wonder Woman" and "Mission Impossible 4". She has also assisted on Bollywood films such as "Saat Khoon Maaf", "Wake Up Sid" and "Gandhi Of The Month".

The film's story is set in a remote village in Rajasthan and follows Prerna, essayed by Rachel Saanchita Gupta, a teenager living a life bound by tradition and duty to her parents. Through the course of the story, she finds herself torn between conforming to society's expectations of

Mumbai, May 14 (IANS): Actress Raima Sen, who will be seen in the supernatural crime thriller web series "The Last Hour", feels the OTT space has given a lot to actors as well as audiences.

her and living out her dream of competing in the National

Skateboarding Championships.

The film will stream on Netflix.

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"Just the idea of love itself nauseated her and because of this she is unable to have a healthy relationship with anyone, and she doesn't want to open herself to anybody. Yet a little part of her wants a father figure in her life because she is tired of the responsibilities. An internal search for broken people like herself leads her from time to time towards the greater

unknown," she added.

The series also stars Rajniesh Duggall, Sumit Manak, Ashok Pathak and Sammratt Kapoor.

It is directed by Dheeraj Singh Padiyar.

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

Anushka-Virat start Covid fundraiser, contribute Rs 2cr Photo Courtesy: IANS

save as many people as possible.

Anushka and I have been shocked to see humans suffering since last year. We have been working towards helping as many people as possible all through the pandemic and now, India wants our support more than ever.

ENTERTAINMENT

Sunny Leone, PETA India to donate 10,000 meals to Delhi migrant workers Photo Courtesy: Instagram

"We are starting this fundraiser with the confidence that we will be able to raise substantial funds to aid those in dire need.

We are confident that people will come forward to support fellow countrymen in crisis. We are in this together and we shall overcome this."

Mumbai, May 7 (IANS): Celebrity couple Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli have started a fundraiser campaign to help people deal with the Covid crises at hand.

The couple has collaborated with crowd-funding platform Ketto for the campaign #InThisTogether and has donated Rs 2 crore for this initiative. They aim to raise 7 crore for Covid relief in India Talking about the same, Anushka said: "India is going through an extremely difficult time and the second wave of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic has pushed our country to a state of crisis.

It is time for all of us to come

together and do our bit for our fellow countrymen who are in serious need of support.

"Virat and I have been hugely pained looking at the inexplicable suffering that people are going through and we hope that this fund will aid in our fight against the virus that we are all helplessly witnessing. We are praying for everyone's safety. We hope that you join us in our prayers to save as many lives as possible because we are all in this together."

Virat said: "We are going through an unprecedented time in the history of our country and our nation needs all of us to unite and

#InThisTogether will run for seven days and the proceeds raised will be directed to ACT Grants, the implementation partner for this campaign.

"Having strong voices like Anushka and Virat help drive fundraising efforts will go a long way towards helping us realise this goal. On behalf of India's startup ecosystem, ACT Grants is truly grateful to have them join this mission," said Gayatri Yadav, spokesperson ACT Grants.

"We are delighted to collaborate with Virat Kholi and Anuskha Sharma for their philanthropic endeavour to support our Covid relief programme," said Varun Sheth, CEO & co-founder, Ketto. org.

Jacqueline Fernandez helps feed people, interacts with Covid warriors Photo Courtesy: IANS

Mr. D Sivanandan. Roti Bank has prepared and distributed meals to millions of hungry people till date, even during the pandemic.

They are the perfect example of what #kindnessbrigade aspires to do and I am honored to be of help to them during these times. We only live once! Let's make this life worth it by helping others in need and sharing the #storiesofkindness of those around us!" she wrote.

New Delhi, May 6 (IANS): Sunny Leone has joined hands with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to feed 10,000 migrant workers in the city.

“We are facing a crisis, but together with compassion and solidarity we will come out ahead.

I’m delighted to join hands with PETA India again -- this time to get protein-packed vegan meals to thousands in need,” Sunny

said.

The meals consist of daal and rice or ‘khichdi’ and often fruit.

Sunny was named PETA India’s Person of the Year in 2016 and previously starred in the organisation’s campaigns in support of vegan fashion, vegetarian eating, and dog and cat adoption and sterilisation.

PETA and Sunny will donate food through Uday Foundation.

Huma Qureshi's 'Maharani' to premiere on May 28 Photo Courtesy: IANS

Jacqueline is also going to distribute masks and sanitisers to Mumbai Police Force and help feed stray animals.

Photo Courtesy: IANS

trying to help others cope with the pandemic.

Jacqueline's initiatives are a part of her foundation You Only Live Once (YOLO), which she had launched on Tuesday.

Mumbai, May 6 (IANS): Actress Jacqueline Fernandez on Thursday pitched in to serve food amidst the Covid crisis, and later in the day posted a video where she is seen interacting with people from across India who are

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Posting pictures on Instagram that show her serving food, the actress said she was "honoured" to help. She carried out her act of charity at the Roti Bank Foundation.

"Mother Teresa once said, 'Peace begins when the hungry are fed'.

I was truly humbled and inspired to visit Mumbai @rotibankfdn today, which is run by former Mumbai police commissioner

Later in the day, the actress posted a video where she can be seen interacting with people who are trying others cope with the Covid situation in the country.

Sharing snippets from the interaction, she wrote: "Yolo's ‘sharing stories of kindness' Had an amazing chat with these 100 inspiring Covid Warriors who set out to help in their own unique ways! There is no such thing as a small act of kindness, each act adds up to something much greater! Thank you for taking the time out to talk to Yolo Foundation and motivating us to do more in our own ways. Pls tag us in your stories of kindness and help spread the love!!"

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Mumbai, May 9 (IANS): Actress Huma Qureshi took to social media to share the trailer of her upcoming web series Maharani.

The series will start streaming from May 28.

The actress says that the character is special to her as it helped her explore herself as an artist.

"It's not often that one gets to play a character where you traverse in extremes as an artist. Rani Bharti, has been one such role that got me to explore things that I have never done before and yet made her look extremely grounded and relatable," she says.

The actress is confident that the audience will like the series.

"Her's is a journey of rarity and grit which will surely strike a chord with the audience. I'm super excited and can't wait for the show to launch soon."

The show's story revolves around how the current Chief Minister disrupts the state's political machinery.

It has been directed by Karan Sharma and also features features Sohum Shah, Amit Sial and Vineet Kumar.

The series will stream on SonyLIV.

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May 16-31, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 22

Teaser launch of Vijay Deverakonda starrer 'Liger' postponed Mumbai, May 9 (IANS): The teaser launch of 'Liger' starring Telugu star Vijay Deverakonda has been postponed amid the raging Photo Courtesy: IANS

second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic across the country.

Announcing the decision, the makers of the film said in a

Aastha Gill on 'Khatron Ke Khiladi': Never thought I'd be part of a reality TV show Photo Courtesy: IANS

statement on Sunday, "During these testing times, we hope you all are staying indoors and taking care of yourself and your loved ones.

"We were all geared up to reveal a power-packed teaser for 'Liger' on 9th May. However, due to the current scenario and environment that our country is facing, we have decided to postpone the same in the hope to share it with the world at a better time for us all.

"Having said that, we assure and guarantee that you will witness Vijay Deverakonda in a never seen before avatar and you will not be disappointed.

"Sit tight and until then we request all of you to stay safe, take care of all your dear ones, help each other and get vaccinated at the earliest. Take all the precautionary measures as prescribed by the medical fraternity and be sure that we are all in this together.

"See you soon at the theatres when we are healthy and strong as a country."

ENTERTAINMENT

part of a reality TV show and then this happened. When I got the call to be part of this show, the first thought was how would I face my fears of insects and animals.

But then that's what kicked me to be part of it and overcome those fears. Of course, it won't be easy, but I'm kicked to challenge myself once again," she says.

The contestants will fly down to Cape Town on May 6 for the shoot, and Aastha says she is looking forward to the show.

Mumbai, May 5 (IANS): Singer Aastha Gill, says she never thought she would take part in a reality TV show as "Khatron Ke Khiladi". Aastha will soon be seen on season 11 of the stunt-based show.

"I never thought that I would be a

"I'm quite overwhelmed and excited as it will be a new journey for me and I have never experienced something like this ever. Trying something different always excites me and that's what made me take up the show and I am totally looking forward to winning," she says.

Aastha is known for her songs such as "Dj waley babu", "Buzz" and "Proper Patola".

'Dilbaro' singer Vibha Saraf opens up on new track 'I really like you' Photo Courtesy: IANS

The film, also starring Ananya Panday, is set to release in five languages -- Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam. It is expected to release on September 9. Vijay will be seen playing a boxer in the film directed by Puri Jagannadh.

Kangana tests Covid positive, says it's 'small time flu which got too much press' Mumbai, May 8 (IANS): Kangana Ranaut on Saturday shared the news that she has tested positive for Covid-19 and has quarantined herself. The actress posted the health update on Instagram, along with a picture that shows her performing Sukhasana.

Photo Courtesy: Google

Mumbai, May 6 (IANS): Singer Vibha Saraf is out with her new song "I really like you". The singer, who shot to fame singing "Dilbaro" in the Alia Bhatt-starrer "Raazi", says her latest track has all the qualities of a college romance number.

"I was feeling tired and weak with slight burning sensation in my eyes for past few days, was hoping to go to Himachal so got my test done yesterday and today the result came I am covid positive," she wrote in the post.

"I really like you" has been composed by Ayaz Ismail, and Vibha says this is different from the work she has done before.

The actress urged everyone not to be scared, calling the disease "nothing but a small time flu".

"I have quarantined myself, I had no idea this virus is having a party in my body, now that I know I will demolish it, people please don't give anything any power over you, if you are scared it will scare you more, come let's destroy this Covid-19 it is nothing but a small time flu which got too much press and now psyching few people. Har Har Mahadev," she wrote.

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"I think it's a simplistic composition plus I hadn't attempted this genre before. I also had an additional role to play here, giving Ayaz's composition a lyrical direction," says Vibha, about penning the number.

The news comes days after her Twitter account was suspended,

after she posted a series of tweets perceived to be controversial.

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She adds: "I think it has the elements of a no-nonsensecollege song which is brimming with the excitement about newfound love, crush, love

interest."

Ayaz, who is based in Dallas, the US, says that the song has come out at the right time and will cheer people in India in these times of distress.

"As an artiste, creativity flows at all times. Being an Indian overseas one can completely understand the situation back home. It's devastating – rather, depressing -- for everyone. The song was ready in March, and we were scheduled to release it in April. We did discuss with the team on whether we should release it or not, and they gave us the green signal. The prime reason was positivit, and something to cheer about in this chaotic situation," he claims.

The song was released recently across all music streaming platforms.

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Be part of Australia’s largest integrated health and wellness precinct.

Purchase or lease your own medical suite in the heart of Health City in Springeld Central at the new Greater Springeld Specialist and Office Suites.

Now open, this brand new facility is directly adjacent to the Mater Private Hospital Springeld, AVEO Springeld, Quest Apartments and childcare.

With areas from 34m2 to whole oors of 474m2 over ve levels (above ground oor retail and car parking), don’t miss this unique opportunity to grow your patient base in the heart of South East Queensland’s growth corridor.

To book an inspection or to request further information contact Praveen Mallesh on 0434 285 521 or scan the QR code below.

www.gssuites.com.au

www.indianews.com.au

facebook.com/indianewsaustralia

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