India News – October 16-31, 2021, Vol 2 Issue 8

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After AUKUS, India must bond with Asian Aus to reopen international border in November democracies & France to counter China IANS

New Delhi, September 27: China's rise and the anxieties that it has triggered in Asia and the West has finally begun to generate a coherent response in the IndoPacific region.

On September 16, a new trilateral military alliance, comprising Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States (AUKUS) was formally unveiled. Under the new arrangement, Australia would be a frontline maritime state facing off China. Consequently, it would host an ultra-powerful fleet of eight nuclear submarines.

By the time the new subs, armed with Tomahawk cruise missiles and advanced torpedoes are built, Washington is likely to lease out to Canberra, the Los Angeles Class subs. Australia is also likely to host a budding Washington backed military industrial complex, which, besides building either the Virginia class nuclear

subs of the US or the Astute class of the British.

The construction will most probably take place in Adelaide, where French submarines, whose $40 billion has now been cancelled. Australia would also manufacture Boeing's latest drones, Loyal Wingman, in Toowoomba city, Queensland state.

Continued on Page 3

Canberra, October 1 (IANS): Australia's international border will reopen in November after being closed for 18 months amid the coronavirus pandemic, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on October 1.

According to Morrison, international travel to and from Australia will resume as states and territories approach 80

Faf du Plessis and bowlers lead Chennai to fourth IPL title

Jhalak.com

ICC to investigate war crimes of Taliban New Delhi, September 27 (IANS): The international criminal court's new prosecutor has asked the court to relaunch an inquiry into alleged crimes against humanity committed by the Taliban and supporters of Islamic State in Afghanistan since 2003, The Guardian reported.

The move by Karim Khan shows a determination to use international law to investigate not only past but also contemporary crimes against humanity. The Hague-based ICC has notified the Taliban in Afghanistan's embassy in the Netherlands that it intends to

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percent of the adult population being fully vaccinated against Covid-19, reports Xinhua news agency.

Under the reopening plan, fully vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents will be able to quarantine at home for seven days on arrival in the country rather than for 14 days at hotels.

Continued on Page 3

First in four decades, world leaders to meet on curbing emissions IANS

resume an investigation, the report said.

A previous ICC inquiry was deferred in April 2020 following a request by the then Afghan government of Ashraf Ghani to be given time to gather evidence in cooperation with ICC lawyers.

Khan, a British QC who is three months into his nine-year tenure as ICC prosecutor, said, "odious and criminal acts should stop immediately and investigations commence to vindicate the principles that were established 75 years ago at Nuremberg and to honour humanity's basic responsibility to itself".

Continued on Page 3

Dubai, Oct 16 (IANS): Chennai Super Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs to clinch their fourth IPL title at the Dubai International Stadium here on Friday. Winning IPL 2021 completes a remarkable comeback for Chennai, who were placed seventh last season and have now won their fourth IPL trophy in a campaign that started with a loss but ended with a win.

The seeds of Chennai's

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commanding win were sown

by Faf du Plessis, who led the way with a magnificent 86 off 59 balls apart from other batters contributing as well in scoring 192/3. The bowlers, especially two double-wicket strikes from Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja, reduced Kolkata to 165/9. It was a memorable 300th T20 match for MS Dhoni as he added another silverware to his cupboard of trophies.

Continued on Page 29

New York, September 24 (IANS): First in 40 years, the High-level Dialogue on Energy, convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the summit level, on Friday will be an action-packed day. With over 100 member states to speak virtually, over 45 of whom will be represented at the level of heads of state and government.

Continued on Page 3

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Oct 16-31, 2021 - Vol 2, Issue 8

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After AUKUS, India must bond with Asian democracies & France to counter China Continued from Page 1

But AUKUS is essentially a white English-speaking club of democracies -- a feature that can arguably add greater coherence and punch because of the shared common history and culture of the trio.

But this core grouping facing off China's rise leaves out two geopolitically significant clusters -- Asian democracies in the IndoPacific, specifically India, Japan and South Korea East, as well as France and the European Union (EU) in the west.

In September another major coalition, with a clear role for itself took root. After flirting with the idea of establishing a security partnership for years, the IndoPacific Quad, comprising India, Japan, the United States and Australia decided that it would focus on geo-economics rather than geopolitics in its response to China. Consequently, the first face-to-face summit of the Quad leaders decided to clearly concentrate on four key areas, defined by a quartet of working groups. Fearing disruptions to the satellite-based navigation systems, primarily GPS and much more, the Quad decided to form a new working group on outer space. Three other working

groups on vaccines, climate, and critical and emerging technology had already been formed during the first virtual summit of the Quad in March.

Now that the two tracks -security and civilian along which the world's democracies in the Indo-Pacific will broadly mount their response, notwithstanding significant overlaps which will fine tune the groupings based on practical experience, is India, and the other Asian democracy, Japan and South Korea, lurking in the shadows, comfortable with the two-tacked arrangement?

The answer is probably not. So, what can they do, especially on the security side to confidently deter China?

Clearly there is a need for another layer of security partnership in the Indo-Pacific, confidently marshalled by those countries in the West, chiefly the EU and the Asian democracies to the East, who have been left out of AUKUS. Given its key location in the Indo-Pacific, India can naturally take the initiative to establish a security partnership of the have-nots. To the West, India needs to bond with France, as the gateway to an unprecedented and profound security relationship with the EU. Already, France

miffed and smarting on being left out by the AUKUS has already reached out to India. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Modi, precisely on reinforcing and adding more strategic cement to an already special military relationship between New Delhi and Paris.

The Indo-French special relationship, for geographical reasons, could be primarily confined to the Indian Ocean region, including the East Coast of Africa. France already has a naval base in the Reunion Islands, not far from Madagascar. It also has a naval facility at Mayotte.

But looking east and in the direction of the Pacific, India is ideally situated to construct a true multi-track strategic partnership, which is not shy of sharing and co-developing military and related technology, with two key Asian democracies -- Japan and South Korea.

Instead of competing, the new West-East security partnership bridged by India, and with France/EU, Japan and South Korea as the other pillars can autonomously and confidently collaborate with AUKUS on equal terms, to establish a coherent and formidable institutional response to China.

COVER STORIES

ICC to investigate war crimes of Taliban

Continued from Page 1

IANS

His submission states there is no longer the prospect of a genuine and effective domestic investigation into crimes within Afghanistan.

"The current de facto control of the territory of Afghanistan by the Taliban, and its implications (including for law enforcement and judicial activity in Afghanistan), represents a fundamental change in circumstances necessitating the present application," the submission states, The Guardian reported.

He points out that credible reports suggest that the Taliban have released thousands of prisoners allegedly linked to al-Qaida and IS terror groups, from Bagram air base detention facilities. This action does not

support the notion that the Taliban will genuinely investigate article 5 crimes, now, or in the future."

The Coalition for Genocide Response welcomed the announcement, saying that recent months have seen serious risks of atrocity crimes, including of genocide against the Hazara community.

It added: "The ICC's mandate to prosecute high-level perpetrators where states remain unable or unwilling is one that should be applied consistently, and without fear or favour, as such it must not neglect the crimes of other alleged perpetrators in the region including nationals of non-state parties in Afghanistan at the relevant time."

First in four decades, world leaders to meet on curbing emissions Aus to reopen international Continued from Page 1

Joining them will be over 40 leaders from business, UN and international organisations, foundations, NGOs, and youth.

As per the programme, over 30 "Energy Compact" commitments will be announced, comprising a major step forward on energy access and transition that will mobilise even more of the large-scale partnerships and commitments needed in years ahead.

The dialogue will also result in a global roadmap setting out recommendations for actions needed to achieve clean, affordable energy for all by 2030 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will open the dialogue at 9.30 a.m. (New York Time).

He will be introduced by former BBC anchor Nisha Pillai, who serves as moderator for several segments. The opening segment will also feature General Assembly President Abdulla Shahid, young entrepreneur Chebet Lesan, CEO of BrightGreen, Kenya, and Francesco Starace, CEO of the Enel Group.

Four leadership dialogues, led

by Co-Chairs Achim Steiner and Damilola Ogunbiyi, will feature remarks and Energy Compact announcements by government, business, and other leaders.

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Faced with the rapidly accelerating impacts of climate change and urgent need to reduce carbon emissions from the energy sector -- while ensuring that all people have access to electricity and clean energy -- the UN is aiming to mobilise commitments and actions.

The High-level Dialogue on Energy is an historic opportunity to close this gap, as the first gathering of leaders in more than 40 years at the UN solely devoted to energy issues.

It will produce a roadmap toward net-zero emissions and universal energy access and provide an opportunity for governments, as well as businesses and civil society organisations, to present plans and commitments in the form of "Energy Compacts", that will help achieve Sustainable Development Goal 7 and the Paris Agreement.

The recent IPCC report showed that urgent action is needed to keep the 1.5 degrees Celsius goal in reach, in order to limit the impacts of climate change.

At the same time, this goal will not be reached unless all people have access to clean, affordable and reliable energy, as agreed to by all countries as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals -- Goal 7.

Globally there are 759 million people without access to

electricity. A further 800 million or more people have unreliable or intermittent access to the essential electricity that is needed at home, work, school, health facilities and community services for people to live healthy and productive lives.

border in November IANS

Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines have previously been approved by the TGA.

Nearly three billion people do not have access to clean cooking fuels and technologies.

The energy sector currently accounts for almost threequarters of greenhouse gas emissions. While energy accessdeficit countries may contribute little today to the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, achieving access for everyone to sufficient energy for productive use, industrialisation and economic growth would cause their emissions to increase significantly if that energy comes from fossil fuels, such as coalfired power and continued use of diesel-powered generators.

It is reliant on states and territories reaching the 80 percent vaccination milestone for their over-16s and agreeing to implement home quarantine, trials of which are currently underway in South Australia (SA) and New South Wales (NSW).

Taking place less than two months before the critical Climate Conference in Glasgow this November, COP 26, the Energy Dialogue is also an important step towards mobilising commitments and defining the actions that will enable countries to reduce their emissions by 45 per cent by 2030 and reach net zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement.

The changes mean that fully vaccinated Australians will be able to freely leave and enter the country for the first time since March 2020.

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Continued from Page 1

Covishield will be considered "recognised vaccines", paving the way for the return of international students to the country.

"It's time to give Australians their lives back," Morrison told reporters.

"We must work together to ensure that Australians can reclaim the lives that they once had in this country."

It marks an end to international arrival caps that have left tens of thousands of Australians stranded overseas unable to secure flights home.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has advised that China's Sinovac and India's

Morrison said the federal government would provide support to states that follow SA and NSW in implementing home quarantine.

"To maximise the number of Australians who can return, our government is also offering facilitated flights into any state or territory that agrees to commence seven day home quarantine trials for returning Australians," he said.

In a media release on October 1, Australian Airports Association (AAA) Chief Executive James Goodwin said airports would be ready to welcome back increasing numbers of Australians from overseas when quarantine arrangements begin to ease and passenger caps are lifted from November.

"This is just the first step to reopen Australia with work needed now on the next phase of the framework where we can welcome back international tourists and other important cohorts such as business people, students and skilled workers," he said.

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Oct 16-31, 2021 - Vol 2, Issue 8

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Bowen Rail on track for first coal delivery

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n case you missed it - last week the locomotives arrived for our sister company Bowen Rail Company. Bravus Mining & Resources CEO David Boshoff was at the Port of Townsville when the locomotives were unveiled.

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term economic benefits for the Whitsundays community, while also enabling BRC to draw on the highly-skilled rail and resources sector expertise that resides in this region.

Minister and Mayors tour the Carmichael Mine As we edge closer to first coal export, we were delighted to welcome Queensland Resources Minister the Hon. Scott Stewart MP and local Mayors including Mayor Hill, Mayor Willcox and Mayor Beveridge to the Carmichael mine and rail Project earlier this week.

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Oct 16-31, 2021 - Vol 2, Issue 8

NEWS FROM INDIA

Home minister meets power and Power Ministry denies coal ministers, reviews situation any energy crisis in Delhi IANS

Home Minister Amit Shah

New Delhi, October 11 (IANS): Amid reports of shortage of coal supplies, Home Minister Amit Shah on October 11 met Union Power Minister R.K. Singh and Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi to review the situation.

In the meeting, senior officials of ministries and NTPC were also present. Sources said that the meeting lasted for an hour and Shah reviewed the situation and asked everyone present in the meeting to ensure adequate supplies of coal to thermal power plants across the country.

The coal ministry reassured that ample coal is available in the country to meet the demand of power plants.

"Any fear of disruption in power supply is entirely misplaced. The coal stock at the power plant end is about 72 lakh tonnes, sufficient for 4 days requirement, and that the Coal India Limited (CIL) end is more than 400 lakh tonnes, which is being supplied to the power plants," in a statement the coal ministry had said on October 10.

consumption was 1.87 million tonnes. Thus, the coal despatch has exceeded the consumption, thereby indicating a shift to gradual building up of coal stock," the power ministry had said in a statement.

The Power Ministry had further stated that the coal ministry and Coal India have assured that there is ample coal available in the country to meet the demand of power plants.

On October 10, Union Power Minister Singh also reviewed the coal stock position in all thermal power plants including those plants which are supplying power to distribution companies of Delhi.

"Any fear of disruption in power supply is entirely misplaced.

The coal stock at power plant is sufficient for more than 4 days' requirement and as the coal supply is being ramped up by CIL, the coal stock at power plant would gradually improve," the power ministry had added.

"Yesterday on October 9, the total despatch of coal from all sources (Coal India Limited, Singareni Collieries Company, Captive Coal Mines and imported coal) was 1.92 million tonnes while the total

Previously, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned about a possible power crisis due to short supplies of coal to plants.

Manish Sisodia blames Centre for Delhi's coal crisis IANS

production.

Referring to the oxygen crisis during the peak of the second wave of Covid-19, the Deputy Chief Minister alleged that the Central government always neglects real issues.

"The coal situation is similar to the Oxygen crisis. However, the Centre won't accept it," he said.

Criticising Union Power Minister R.K. Singh Sisodia said he is sad about the 'irresponsible approach' of the Minister.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia

New Delhi, October 10 (IANS): Blaming the Centre over the ongoing coal crisis row, Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on October 10 said the Centre is running away from the issue of shortage of power

Several states, including Rajasthan, Delhi and Andhra Pradesh, have been raising concerns over the power shortage, Sisodia said.

He said that Chief Ministers including Arvind Kejriwal of Delhi and Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of Andhra Pradesh have already written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue.

With the country running

low on coal, power plants in Uttar Pradesh have stopped functioning, but the Central government is turning a blind eye towards it, he slammed.

Notably, Kejriwal on October 9 wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the prevailing coal shortage situation that has struck the national capital for the third month in a row, affecting power generation in the city.

The problem that has been continuing since August "has affected the power generation from the major Central Generating Plants supplying power to NCT of Delhi", the chief minister wrote.

However, R.K. Singh had stated on October 10 that Delhi will not face any energy crisis as sufficient fuel is being provided to power plants supplying the national capital, after reviewing the coal stock position in all thermal power plants.

Ashish Misra sent to three days police remand Lakhimpur Kheri (UP), October 11 (IANS): A local court in Lakhimpur Kheri on October 11 sent Ashish Misra, son of Union Minister Ajay Misra Teni, to three days police custody in connection with the October 3 violence.

He will, however, have access to his legal team during the period of police remand.

The Special Investigation Team, set up by the Yogi Adityanath government to probe the incident, had sought 14 days police remand of Ashish Misra from the Chief Judicial Magistrate in order to

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carry out further investigations and recreate the crime scene.

The public prosecutor said the custody can be demanded within 15 days of the arrest. "It was pure non-cooperation. During the 12 hours, he did not reply," the public prosecutor said.

Misra's counsel Avadesh Singh said, "They interrogated him for 12 hours. How much do they need to interrogate? Do they want to apply third degree to the accused?

You can't beat him and take his statement. They have not given any reason why they need to

remand him."

The hearing in Ashish Misra's remand case concluded with his lawyer denying all the allegations levelled against his client by the Uttar Pradesh Police.

Some technical issues in video conferencing were reported when the court was to start the hearing in the case. The judge left the courtroom as there was a delay in connecting the video.

Misra was arrested late on October 9 night and produced the same night before a magistrate who sent him to judicial custody.

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New Delhi, Oct0ber 10 (IANS): Delhi will not face any energy crisis as sufficient fuel is being provided to power plants supplying the national capital, Union Power Minister R.K. Singh said on October 10 after reviewing the coal stock position in all thermal power plants including those supplying power to Delhi distribution companies.

The Central assurance came a day after Delhi Power Minister Satyendra Jain had said that if the coal supply didn't improve, there will be a blackout in Delhi in two days.

On October 9, the total despatch of coal from all sources (Coal India Ltd (CIL), Singareni Collieries, captive coal mines, and imported coal) was 1.92 million tonnes while the total consumption was 1.87 million tonnes, officials said. Thus, the coal dispatches have exceeded the consumption, thereby indicating shift to gradual building up of coal stock.

The Coal Ministry and CIL have

assured that there is ample coal available in the country to meet the demand of power plants, and any fear of disruption in power supply is entirely misplaced.

The coal stock at power plants is sufficient for more than four days' requirement and as the coal supply is being ramped up by CIL, the coal stock at power plant would gradually improve, they said.

Singh has directed that distribution companies of Delhi will get as much power as requisitioned by them as per their demand. The NTPC and DVC have been directed to give full availability as per the requirement of discoms.

GAIL India Ltd has been advised to make gas available from all sources viz., APM, SPOT, LTRLNG sources to gas-based power plants in Delhi. NTPC has also been advised to offer normative declared capacity to the Delhi discoms, as per their allocations from gas-based power plants under respective PPAs.

Six killed in violence at farmers' protest in UP's Lakhimpur-Kheri Lucknow, October 3 (IANS): At least six people were killed in violence in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri on October 3, while 15 others are injured, according to official sources.

IANS

Protests on farm laws in the UP district took a violent turn as unidentified persons opened fire at the farmers.

Infuriated farmers set three jeeps on fire after some of the protestors were run over by the vehicles. One of the vehicles is said to belong to Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay Mishra Teni.

Farmers have refused to allow post-mortem examinations of the deceased. They have said that they will decide the future course of action only after talking to their leaders Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath cut short his programme in Gorakhpur and returned to the state capital.

ADG, Law and Order, Prashant Kumar has been sent to Lakhimpur Kheri to take stock of the situation.

Additional forces have been deployed in the area to prevent any fallout of the situation.

Tension, meanwhile, continued to prevail in the region even as opposition leaders were making a beeline for Lakhimpur Kheri.

Bhartiya Kisan Union spokesman Rakesh Tikait and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra were trying to reach the spot when last heard.

Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav, while strongly condemning the incident, has demanded that a case of murder

be lodged against the Union Minister's son Ashish Mishra who allegedly ran over the farmers with his car. He has demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister.

Meanwhile, Mishra said that his son was attacked by miscreants who had entered the farmers' group.

Earlier in the day, thousands of farmers had marched to Tikuniya on October 3 and staged protests against the Uttar Pradesh government. They came from adjoining villages like Palia, Bhira, Bijua, Khajuria and Sampurna Nagar with black flags in their hands.

Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya was scheduled to reach Banvir village to attend a programme organised by the Union Minister. However, farmers occupied the helipad site at Maharaja Agrasen Sports Ground, where his helicopter was to land.

Following this, his programme was changed and he reached Lakhimpur by road from Lucknow.

Angry farmers in Tikuniya protested by uprooting the hoardings welcoming him.

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NEWS FROM INDIA

No vaccine for climate Gurugram implements measures to curb air pollution change: Gautam Adani IANS

The Hans India

wood and coal in hotels. Teams of both departments will ensure this by patrolling. The police have been given the responsibility not to allow illegal parking and traffic jams.

Areas like Udyog Vihar, Sector-37, Sector-18, Begumpur Khataula and IMT Manesar have been included in the hotspots.

Gurugram, October 2 (IANS): An Action plan has been initiated to control air pollution in Gurugram. For this, deputy commissioner, Yash Garg has fixed responsibilities of concerned departments including Municipal Corporation Gurugram (MCG), Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) and the Police Department.

The officers of these departments will keep vigil in their concerned areas on a daily basis and ensure action against the violators. Apart from this, all the responsible officers will have to prepare an action taken report every evening and send it to the nodal officer.

Under the plan, all the underconstruction projects, red and orange category companies in the district will have to inform the State Pollution Control Board (HPCB) about the measures taken to curb pollution within 15 days.

Apart from this, to reduce air pollution, it has been asked to provide uninterrupted electricity to the industries to reduce use of generators. Similarly, hotspots have also been identified in the district, from where maximum pollution emanates.

The MCG will spray water on the dust flying on the roads with sprinklers. Along with this, the civic body and HSVP have been asked to keep an eye on burning of garbage, plastic and clothes,

Apart from this, for the prevention of vehicular pollution, IFFCO Chowk, Ambience Mall, Rajiv Chowk, Subhash Chowk, Vatika Chowk, Hero Honda Chowk, Captain Umang Bhardwaj Chowk, Sector-10, Sohna Chowk, Kherkidaula Toll Plaza, Bandhwari Toll Plaza, Dwarka Expressway, HUDA City Centre, Hamilton Court DLF Phase-4, Bus Stand, Pataudi Road, Dwarka Expressway, Rampura Flyover, Bilaspur Chowk are some of the hotspots which have been identified. Garbage dumping sites have also been included in hotspots, including places like Bandhawari and Manesar.

"As per the plan, the Agriculture Department has been given the responsibility to pay more attention to the farmers, to make them aware not to burn stubble.

Along with this, the team of the department will also do daily patrolling," Garg said.

Gujarat, Bihar, Ladakh set to become carbon neutral

ETEnergy.com

New Delhi, September 24 (IANS): Progressive climate actions being undertaken by many Indian states as they strategically shift towards increased use of renewable energy.

This came to light on September 24 at a discussion organised

by The Climate Group on the sidelines of the annual New York Climate Week, and at a time when the UN calls for no further build of coal across the world and countries, companies, states and regions world over are committing to bringing down emissions to net zero by mid century.

The plans of states are well placed to achieve long-term energy transition and net zero targets.

For instance, Gujarat is on the path to significantly reducing emissions as they choose to rely on renewable energy alone to meet all future power needs.

New analysis from GERMI shows

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that the share of coal power generation in the state will come down to 16 per cent by 2030, from the current 63 per cent as it aligns with the 450GW revised national renewable energy target.

The state is also setting up the world's largest grid-scale battery storage in the Kutch region and is one of India's largest markets for electric two-wheelers.

The analysis shows that not only will Gujarat not need to build any further thermal coal assets, but it will also have to consider retirement of plants which are either old or polluting.

Developing a retirement package for these coal plants will hold the key. This will make economic sense given that the cost of renewable energy is less than new coal power.

Electricity sector in India contributes to 40 percent of emissions.

Ladakh is working towards an enormous 10 GW of renewable energy capacity with solar and wind power, and it is setting up a 50MWh battery storage capacity --India's largest so far.

Additionally, NITI Aayog has appointed TERI to facilitate an action plan and embed carbon

neutrality in every department of the state as part of its Vision 2050 development plan.

Ladakh's Power Development Secretary, Ravinder Kumar, said: "We have begun the exercise to convert Ladakh to carbon neutral territory in the next few years with every department working on five year exit plans. We have begun installing solar and geothermal projects to replace the polluting DG sets. Electric and hydrogen vehicles are being given a push to reduce emissions from transport."

On developing the low carbon pathway for Bihar, state's Principal Secretary, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Dipak Kumar, said: "The state has begun work on developing a low carbon pathway by 2040. Over the next two years, we will study the level of our emissions and give policy suggestions to bring down emissions to a minimum by 2040."

The event was hosted ahead of COP26, the annual climate conference to be held in Glasgow from November 1-14, and the findings come at a time when the recent IPCC report has warned of unprecedented climate impacts if nations do not rein in their emissions.

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New Delhi, October 4 (IANS): The way we have led our lives and done business over the past 50 years cannot continue. At least, pandemic like Covid-19 can be countered by vaccines. The Director-General of the World Health Organization summarized it well when he said there is no vaccine for climate change!

Gautam Adani, Adani Group Chairman said at TiE 2021 event.

Adani said the annual rate of increase in atmospheric CO2 emissions since 1970 is up almost 100 times. The search for sustainable solutions starts with admitting that the current situation is unsustainable. An even bigger concern is the impact climate change will have on the poorest segment of the population. Studies show that the social impact of climate change is irreversible, he added.

"We are tripling our solar power generation capacity over the next four years. This is a rate of growth currently unmatched by any other company anywhere on the planet. Our Renewables Portfolio has reached the initial target of 25GW a full four years ahead of schedule. Today, we are already the world's largest solar power player. This puts us well on track to be the world's largest renewable power generating company by 2030", Adani added.

"Also, over the next decade, we will invest over 20 billion dollars in renewable energy generation. Our overall organic and inorganic investments across the entire green energy value chain will range between 50 and 70 billion dollars. This will include investments with potential partners for electrolyzer manufacturing, backward integrations to secure the supply chain for our solar and wind generation businesses, and AIbased industrial cloud platforms", Adani said.

"We are confident that our integrated value chain, our scale, and experience puts us on the road to be the producer of the least expensive green electron anywhere in the world. This advantage opens several new pathways for us including setting us up to be one of the largest green hydrogen producers in the world, thereby opening up additional possibilities to be a partner of choice for several other industrial businesses", Adani added.

"I would even go as far as to state that the revolution in alternative energy technologies throws open the possibility that someday India can become a net green energy exporter! Hydrogen and its derivatives can replace a significant amount of our imports of crude oil, natural gas, and coal. This was impossible to even contemplate just 5 years back", Adani added.

Adani said for India, decentralized power generation can be a massive game changer - especially for the rural population. Decentralized power allows us to improve grid resiliency and micro size "everything". It enables micro-manufacturing, microagriculture, micro-healthcare, micro-education - everything that India's rural population today needs for empowerment and job creation. "While there are many challenges still to be addressed, I am confident that we are on the cusp of a hydrogen-driven revolution that can transform India, green India, and energize India. This is nation-building at its best", Adani added.

3 terrorists killed in encounter in J&K's Shopian Srinagar, October 12 (IANS): Three LeT terrorists were killed in an encounter that started between the terrorists and the security forces at Tulran Imamsahab area in South Kashmir's Shopian district on October 11 evening, officials said.

Earlier the firefight between terrorists and security forces took place after a joint team of the police and the army cordoned off the area and launched a search operation on the basis of specific information about the presence of terrorists.

"Three terrorists of LeT (TRF) killed. Identification being ascertained. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered. Search going on," police said.

As the security forces zeroed in on the spot where terrorists were hiding they came under a heavy volume of fire that triggered the encounter.

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NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

Aus plans to bring Groups urge Australia to donate more Covid vaccines to disadvantaged nations international healthcare

IANS

income countries that it said at the current rate will not fully vaccinate 70 per cent of their adult populations until after 2030.

"The emergence of the Delta variant shows that Australia can not close its eyes to the impacts of the pandemic in other parts of the world," it said, according to the Guardian Australia.

Canberra, October 11 (IANS): Nearly a dozen Australian groups have urged the government to donate millions of Covid-19 vaccine doses to help inoculate other countries against the deadly virus.

In a report published on October 11, a coalition of 11 health, business and society groups called on Australia to become a vaccine factory for the region, Xinhua news agency reported.

It said the government should donate another 20 million vaccines through the COVAX Facility, an international initiative co-led by the World Health Organization and partners to ensure equitable global access to Covid-19 vaccines, to help low income countries fight the pandemic and spend 250 million Australian dollars ($182.6 million) on the initiative.

"First, because that is morally wrong. But also because, sooner or later, the consequences will be felt here. That is why we must play a leading role in aggressively responding to this pandemic on a global scale."

The report also said that while third shots for the elderly and vulnerable in rich countries may be a part of an effective vaccination program, valuable manufacturing capacity should not be prioritised for populationwide booster vaccinations while much of the world remains off track to meet the 2022 goal.

The report identified 19 low

workers to fight Covid battle Canberra, October 9 (IANS): The Australian government on October 9 revealed a plan to bring thousands of international healthcare workers into the country to relieve pressure on the healthcare system amid the ongoing battle against the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under the plan, which was announced by Health Minister Greg Hunt, about 2,000 doctors and nurses mainly from Britain and Ireland will be exempted from strict travel restrictions to take up jobs in Australia as the country's international border is expected to re-open in November, reports Xinhua news agency.

Hunt described it as a "one-off boost" for the health system after he rejected a plea from state and territory governments for more hospital funding to cope with a surge in coronavirus cases.

"This will be a one-off boost to provide additional support. The Commonwealth is committed

to it and the states are working constructively with us on it," he told the local media.

"These are people coming from all around the world. That free flow of people is very important. Some may be joining families, some may be moving for a new life. That is an ordinary part of life and it is up to individuals to be able to choose, subject to a nation's needs."

On October 9 morning, Australia reported a new record 2,570 new locally-acquired Covid-19 cases, a second day in a row with more than 2,500 new infections recorded nationwide.

The new cases increased the overall tally to 125,080, while the death toll stood at 1,421.

According to the latest data released by the Department of Health, 81.5 per cent of Australians aged 16 and older have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and 60.2 percent are fully vaccinated.

Australian state's Covid outbreak Australians 'getting shows signs of slowing down lives back' as vaccine rate rises: PM Sydney, October 12 (IANS): The Australian state of Victoria saw a reduction of new Covid-19 infections by reporting 1,466 new locally acquired cases on October 12.

continues."

The number brought the overall number of active cases to 19,627 when the state is battling the nation's largest outbreak of Covid-19, Xinhua news agency reported.

The situation is particularly dire in the state capital of Melbourne, the epicenter for the outbreak.

On October 9, Victoria recorded 1,965 new cases, the highest number ever recorded since the pandemic arrived in Australia in early 2020.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the fall in numbers was a good sign, telling reporters that "we obviously hope that trend

Any reduction in cases would be most surely welcomed by the state's medical system which is struggling to cope with the unprecedented workload.

Despite lockdowns, isolation restrictions and steadily growing vaccination numbers, the hospitals are still struggling.

The Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) has increased its intensive care unit (ICU) capacity, creating another 14 ICU beds for nonCovid patients, in addition to 20 beds for Covid-19 patients in an air-sealed environment.

There are about 700 patients battling Covid-19 in the state's hospitals, with the number of severe cases more than doubling recently.

RMH director of emergency medicine Mark Putland told local newspaper Herald Sun that his department was getting up to 50 Covid-19 patients a day.

Meanwhile, Covid-19 statistics in the state of New South Wales (NSW) continue to trend downwards with 360 new cases recorded in the 24 hours up to October 11.

Overall, there have been 63,686 cases since the first one was detected in the NSW capital of Sydney on June 16.

Right-wing extremism in Australia fastest-growing threat: Federal police Canberra, October 8 (IANS): Australia's national police agency on October 8 revealed that the number of investigations it is conducting into far-right extremism has increased 750 per cent in the past 18 months.

cent of the unit's investigations compared to 2 per cent in 2019.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee warned that far-right extremism is the country's fastest-growing threat, reports Xinhua news agency.

"We expect it to increase further than what we are seeing at the moment, but how much further it will increase is difficult to ascertain at the moment."

He told broadcaster SBS that the number of nationalist and racist violent extremism cases before the AFP's Joint Counter Terrorism Team ( JCCT) has grown by 750 per cent since the start of 2020 and now accounts for 15 per

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"There was certainly an increase in the JCCT's nationalist and racist violent extremism caseload from 2019 and into early 2020," Lee said.

He said the rise could be partly attributed to the coronavirus pandemic, with Australians in lockdown spending more time online, expanding the rapid spread of extremist ideologies.

"We are seeing the impact of Covid-19 more broadly on some

IANS

of the ideological drivers as well, so we are expecting it will increase particularly in terms of racist views, where people are anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim or anti-Indigenous. We are seeing this affect people, particularly young people who are vulnerable to these ideologies," Lee said.

The rise in AFP cases reflects a trend in the wider Australian law enforcement community.

Australia's domestic spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), revealed earlier this year that right-wing extremism now accounts for 50 percent of its caseload compared to 10 percent before 2019.

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Canberra, October 7 (IANS): Australians are "beginning to get their lives back" after extended coronavirus lockdowns as the rate of vaccination against the virus is increasing, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on October 7.

Morrison said that 81 per cent of Australians aged 16 and over have had at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and 59.3 percent are fully inoculated, reports Xinhua news agency.

New South Wales (NSW), Australia's most populous state with Sydney as the capital city, came out of a month-long lockdown on October 11 after becoming the first jurisdiction to fully vaccinate 70 per cent of the over-16s, with the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Victoria set to hit the mark this month.

On October 7, Australia reported more than 2,200 new locally acquired coronavirus cases, all of which were from the three jurisdictions, as the country continues to battle the third wave of infections.

"Now Australians are beginning to get their lives back," Morrison told reporters in Canberra.

"That's what the National Plan is about. When you hit those vaccination rates, you can open with certainty again, and you can open safely with certainty again, and you can stay open."

Morrison also issued a warning to states that have not had outbreaks of the Delta variant, urging them to boost inoculation rates to avoid strict lockdowns.

Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory have Australia's lowest vaccination rates.

"In many states around the country, they are not living under the harsh and strict conditions that we've seen in New South Wales and Victoria and the ACT," Morrison said.

"But when that day comes, when your vaccination rates are at those 70 and particularly 80 per cent levels, that means you'll be able to withstand it."

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Sydney announces 'Freedom Day' after 106 days in lockdown Sydney, October 11 (IANS): As Sydney, capital of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW), exited its 106-day lockdown, residents on October 11 reemerged to celebrate the longawaited "Freedom Day".

As some lockdown restrictions officially ended on October 10 midnight and non-essential retail re-opened their doors, locals have lined up to get haircuts, visited 24-hour retail stores, and headed to the gym since the early hours of October 11 morning, reports Xinhua news agency.

Speaking at a press conference

held at a bar on October 11, newly-instated Premier of NSW Dominic Perrottet referred to the easing of restrictions as the state's "Freedom Day".

lockdowns a thing of the past.

"I see it as a day of freedom. It is a Freedom Day, it is. Businesses are opening up. But that means it needs to be done in a measured and safe way," he said.

At present NSW's vaccination rate sits at 73.5 percent of the over-16 population having received both doses, and 90.3 per cent having received at least one dose.

"There are going to be challenges, we know that. I ask again everybody right across our state to treat everybody with kindness and respect, and take personal responsibility," said Perrottet.

He said vaccinations would make

Canberra, October 8 (IANS): Australia's national police agency on October 8 revealed that the number of investigations it is conducting into far-right extremism has increased 750 per cent in the past 18 months.

Australian Federal Police (AFP) Assistant Commissioner Scott Lee warned that far-right extremism is the country's fastest-growing threat, reports Xinhua news agency.

He told broadcaster SBS that the number of nationalist and racist

violent extremism cases before the AFP's Joint Counter Terrorism Team ( JCCT) has grown by 750 per cent since the start of 2020 and now accounts for 15 per cent of the unit's investigations compared to 2 per cent in 2019.

"There was certainly an increase in the JCCT's nationalist and racist violent extremism caseload from 2019 and into early 2020," Lee said.

"We expect it to increase further than what we are seeing at the moment, but how much further it will increase is difficult to ascertain at the moment."

He said the rise could be partly attributed to the coronavirus pandemic, with Australians in lockdown spending more time online, expanding the rapid spread of extremist ideologies.

The state boasts considerable ground on the national average, which as of October 11 stood at 61.9 percent fully vaccinated, and 82.2 percent with at least their first dose.

"We are seeing the impact of Covid-19 more broadly on some of the ideological drivers as well, so we are expecting it will increase particularly in terms of racist views, where people are anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim or anti-Indigenous. We are seeing this affect people, particularly young people who are vulnerable to these ideologies," Lee said.

The rise in AFP cases reflects a trend in the wider Australian law enforcement community.

Australia's domestic spy agency, the Australian Security Intelligence Organization (ASIO), revealed earlier this year that right-wing extremism now accounts for 50 percent of its caseload compared to 10 percent before 2019.

Macron meets Blinken for first talks after submarine row

Paris, October 5 (IANS): French President Emmanuel Macron held talks here with visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on October 5, three weeks after an unprecedented crisis between the two countries sparked by Australia's decision to scrap a submarine deal with France.

The "at length, face-to-face meeting" between Macron and Blinken, which lasted about 40 minutes according to French media, should "help restore confidence" between the two countries, the Elysee said in a statement, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Earlier on October 5, Blinken also met with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian.

They chose not to hold a joint press conference. The objective of their "in-depth exchange" was to "identify the steps that may allow a return of confidence between our two countries," the

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French President Emmanuel Macron

French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

France is "still angry" and "reserved," its reception for Blinken has been "distant," while Washington, "which publicly made amends after the Australian submarine crisis, said nothing more and promised to seek 'concrete action' to seal reconciliation," Agence-France Presse reported.

France was infuriated when Australia, the US and Britain announced a security partnership known as AUKUS on September 15, whose first initiative is the delivery of a nuclear-powered submarine fleet to Australia by the latter two countries despite

AIBC Victoria hosts webinar 'Women in Business'

"We need to learn to live alongside the virus, vaccination rates are the key, we've been doing that in New South Wales," he said.

Right-wing extremism in Australia fastest-growing threat: Federal police IANS

NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

the Australian government's multibillion-dollar 2016 contract to buy diesel-electric submarines from France.

Le Drian condemned the trilateral move with harsh words, such as "lying," "betrayal" and "backstabbing." Macron recalled France's ambassadors from Washington and Canberra.

France has never been consulted or notified in advance of the AUKUS deal, Le Drian told a Senate hearing previously. The crisis "has not ended only because the dialogue has resumed," he said. "It will continue. And in order to get out of it, serious actions will be needed, not words."

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T

he Victoria Women in Business Chapter (WIB) Chapter of Australia India Business Council (AIBC), the peak body for promoting and enhancing bilateral business and trade between the two countries, recently hosted a webinar on ‘Australia-India Relationship Women in Business Opportunities & Challenges during COVID-19’.

Governor of Victoria, Her Excellency the Honorable Linda Dessau AC who, in her opening address, reiterated the Victorian Government’s support for Women in Business, highlighted bilateral Victoria-India opportunities during COVID-19 and launched the AIBC WIB Victoria Chapter, which had been dormant for a few years.

Ms Sheba Nandkeolyar, National Chair of AIBC WIB; AIBC Immediate Past National Chair; CEO of Multi Connexions Group, and moderator of the event said: “Amidst the pandemic, many of us are now homeschooling, adapting to changes, perhaps experiencing mental health issues, or struggling to maintain stamina. Ms Reet Phulwani, who was recently appointed as the Women in Business Chair Victoria Chapter and Director of Medsurge Pharmaceuticals, delivered a Vote of Thanks to the Governor of Victoria and stated “As the first Female Governor in the state of Victoria and a role model for women’s political representation, resilience and achievement we are deeply honoured that you are here to help launch the Australia India Business council Women in Business Victoria Chapter."

Ravneet Pawha AIBC Victoria President, Deputy Vice President - Global CEO - South Asia, Deakin University delivered a Vote of Thanks & concluded the webinar by stating “The Victorian Management Committee was instrumental in the successful delivery of the webinar which launched the Women in Business Chapter in Victoria. AIBC Victoria came together to celebrate International Women’s Day 2021 by recognizing the achievements of 50 professional women from the Indian Community of Victoria."

Reet Phulwani, AIBC Victoria Committee member & representative of the Women

in Business chapter, said that "Today at AIBC we are together to celebrate the diverse strengths, achievements and success of outstanding women across various industries. The campaign theme for International Women's Day 2021 is 'Choose To Challenge'.

Ravneet Pawha, AIBC Victoria President said: “There is no greater pillar of stability than a strong, free and educated woman.

There is no more inspiring role model than a man who respects and cherishes women and champions their leadership and we at AIBC believe in supporting and encouraging women."

Mrs Sheba Nandkeolyar, AIBC WIB National Chair also representing Jim Varghese AIBC National Chair said: "AIBC WIB has a very clear focus and vision, where half of the leaders are women. The AIBC is keen to promote women as business leaders and entrepreneurs in India and in Australia, thus contributing to our “50-50” vision.

The AIBC is proud to say that its National leadership is reflective of a 50-50 vision, whereby the board composition is represented by fifty percent women. Empowering women contributes to GDP growth of a country and we are proud to be contributing to the bilateral business economy. I am really happy to be addressing the event and celebrating all women achievements."

The AIBC WIB chapter also signed a memorandum of understanding with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Ladies Organisation (FICCI FLO) aiming to boost bilateral trade and business amongst their members.

Mr Vasan Srinivasan, AIBC Victoria Patron, added his "congratulations to all women here celebrating their achievements and contributions in their relevant fields and the community. You have made us stronger and better and wish you all to continue your contributions to uplift the community." The event was followed by the presentation of certificates of recognition to women for their exemplary contributions to Women in Business, to the community and their relevant industries.

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NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND

One of the world’s largest hydrogen equipment manufacturing hubs set for Gladstone Brisbane, October 10: One of the world’s largest hydrogenequipment manufacturing facilities is planned for Gladstone as part of a new partnership between the Palaszczuk Government and leading renewable energy and hydrogen company Fortescue Future Industries (FFI).

Jobs numbers are expected to exceed 300 over the life of the project. The partnership announced on October 10 is expected to create thousands of jobs in years to come.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said as a result of the partnership, Gladstone would become a world leading hub for the manufacture of electrolysers – vital to the production of renewable hydrogen.

“We’re seeing growing interest globally in renewable hydrogen,” the Premier said.

“We don’t just want to export our resources – we want to develop a manufacturing industry capable of making the electrolysers in Queensland as well.

“Andrew Forrest and I both see Queensland’s great potential as a renewables exporter and manufacturer of hydrogen equipment.

“This partnership will create local jobs, support our economic recovery and create an advanced manufacturing industry in Gladstone that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the country.”

In its initial stage, this $114 million investment from Fortescue Future Industries will create 120 construction jobs and 53 operational jobs.

Jobs numbers are expected to exceed 300 over the life of the project.

“We have a strategy to partner with the private sector to make Queensland a world leader in advanced manufacturing and hydrogen generation,” the

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Premier said.

“This is a great boost to Queensland’s growing credentials as an emerging superpower in renewable hydrogen.”

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said the deal was a boost for Queensland’s growing credentials as an emerging superpower in renewable hydrogen.

“We will create more jobs in Queensland by capturing industrial and manufacturing opportunities from the global decarbonisation momentum,” Mr Miles said.

“The Palaszczuk Government and FFI are both demonstrating global leadership to develop renewable hydrogen.

“FFI will now progress plans to build a facility on land developed by the Queensland Government at Aldoga within the Gladstone State Development Area.

“FFI will construct a facility with an initial capacity to manufacture up to two gigawatts (GW) of electrolysers annually.

“Future plans are to expand both electrolyser manufacturing and other renewable energy components, which is expected to support other regional investment including in hydrogen production.

“This project will put Gladstone on the map as a world leader in the renewable-hydrogen supply chain.”

Hydrogen electrolysers use power to split hydrogen from water.

When produced using renewable power the hydrogen is emission free.

Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that can be used for energy storage, as a feedstock for industrial processes, to produce heat and for a wide range of transport applications.

Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick

said developing a renewable hydrogen industry was a vital next step in maintaining Queensland’s dominance as a global energy superpower.

“Our economic recovery plan is all about creating more jobs and creating more opportunities for traditional and emerging industries, particularly in manufacturing,” the Treasurer said.

“FFI could have built this facility anywhere in Australia.

“The fact they chose Queensland says volumes about our state’s advanced plan to use our sun, wind and water to create new jobs and new businesses in regional Queensland.

“We are harnessing the momentum of the massive revolution that is underway in global energy production, and we are doing it for the benefit of all Queenslanders.

“I want to congratulate the Queensland Government officials who have put so much time and effort into securing this agreement with FFI. “Whether it’s FFI, Boeing or Rheinmetall, the Palaszczuk Government is focused on bringing new industries with secure, highly skilled jobs to Queensland, with targeted investments driving the next wave of economic growth.”

FFI Chairman and Founder, Dr Andrew Forrest AO, said, “As GEM develops according to FFI’s own requirements and other customer needs, manufacturing will come roaring back to regional Australia, creating many thousands of jobs.

“Fortescue is again ahead of the curve and we are immensely proud to be pioneering a Green Energy Manufacturing Centre in Gladstone.

“This initiative is a critical step in Fortescue’s transition from a highly successful pure play iron ore producer to an even more

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successful green renewables and resources powerhouse.”

Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said manufacturing hydrogen and the equipment needed to produce it would mean Queensland would export its renewable energy as well as its technological knowhow.

“The world is rapidly decarbonising and that presents new opportunities for more jobs here in Queensland,” Mr de Brenni said “Onshoring manufacture of hydrogen industry components means enduring benefits for Queenslanders all the way through the value chain, as part of the global industrial transformation.

“As well as exports, the products Queensland tradies will make will open up new industrial activity across the state, fuelling domestic industrial hubs and enabling the decarbonisation of sectors like heavy transport.”

Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said the announcement cemented Gladstone’s place as the Australian capital of the rapidly developing hydrogen industry.

“This is another huge vote of confidence in Gladstone’s ability to grow new industries and export the products to the world,” Mr Butcher said.

“We’ve already seen it with the

LNG industry and the growing renewable hydrogen industry will further enhance Gladstone’s – and the region’s – reputation.”

The proposal is subject to land use planning and development approvals.

Queensland’s other recent hydrogen industry initiatives include the formation of a consortium, which includes generator Stanwell and Japan’s largest hydrogen supplier Iwatani, proposing to export $4.2 billion in renewable hydrogen from Gladstone, supporting 5000 jobs.

Sumitomo Corporation has also formalised its partnership with Gladstone Ports Corporation, Gladstone Regional Council, CQUniversity Australia and Australian Gas Infrastructure Group to develop Australia’s first hydrogen ecosystem in Central Queensland.

In Townsville, the Queensland Government is working with Sun Metals on their immediate plans to use hydrogen in their refinery operations and trucking fleet and their ambitions to move zinc refinery operations to 100% renewable energy by 2040.

In addition to a diverse range of domestic projects that are progressing, hydrogen export facilities are also being investigated at a large number of Queensland’s ports including the Port of Gladstone, Port of Townsville and Port of Hay Point, south of Mackay.

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Queenslanders encouraged to Get Ready Brisbane, October 11: Queenslanders are being urged to start preparing for disaster season and the wide range of extreme weather events that can impact our state including bushfires, storms, floods and cyclones.

Get Ready Queensland Week (10-16 October) was launched at Milton State School on October 11 in conjunction with the Bureau of Meteorology’s Severe Weather Outlook.

Minister for Fire and Emergency Services Mark Ryan said Queenslanders have shown in the past 18 months how well we can work together responding to COVID-19 and we should do the same ahead of disaster season.

“The global pandemic has challenged us like never before, but I believe it’s because of the Queensland spirit that frequently shines brightest in times of emergency that has helped us through these tough times,” Mr Ryan said.

“Queensland has been hit by almost 90 significant natural disasters and weather events in the past decade leaving a recovery and reconstruction bill of more than $16.8 billion.

“But we always get through them, digging deep and working shoulder to shoulder as communities recover from these events.”

Minister Ryan said today’s launch at Milton State School, which was severely damaged in the 2011 floods, is a great reminder of the extreme weather we need to prepare for.

“Our emergency services staff do an amazing job helping us out in our times of need so it’s important we show them they can count on us,” Mr Ryan said.

“We also know a lot of people have moved to Queensland from interstate this year and we welcome these new residents to our great state with open arms, but we also want them to be aware that in Queensland, disaster can strike anywhere and at any time.

“Research shows 57 per cent of Queenslanders have an emergency plan, which is up from around 18 per cent eight years ago but there is plenty of room for improvement.

“Just last season alone, Queensland was hit by 11 natural disaster events across 50 local government areas including a hailstorm, bushfires, floods and cyclones.

“Unfortunately, it’s not a matter of if but when severe weather strikes somewhere in Queensland and that’s exactly why we all need to be prepared.

“Get Ready Queensland Week is the ideal time to prepare

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ourselves and our households for the upcoming storm and cyclone season.”

“Get Ready Queensland Week is about raising awareness to start preparing your families, pets, households and even your neighbours for severe weather and the Get Ready Queensland website has all the information to guide you.”

Get Ready Queensland Ambassador Johnathan Thurston said Queenslanders can get ready in three simple steps.

“All we need to do is prepare an emergency plan, pack an emergency kit and make sure our insurance is up to date,” Mr Thurston said.

“By taking these simple steps now we can make sure we protect what’s most important to us.

“If everyone can take some time to be prepared for disaster season, it means that our emergency services can focus on the people who really need help in a disaster.

“The only predictable thing about Queensland’s weather is its unpredictability so let’s not leave anything to chance this summer,” he said.

Bureau of Meteorology Senior Meteorologist Laura Boekel said Queenslanders should keep up to date with the latest warnings and forecasts on the Bureau's website and the BOM Weather smartphone app.

“We want people to ‘know your weather, know your risk’ – and that means understanding not just what kind of severe weather can impact the area you live in, but the hazards associated with it and what you need to do to avoid getting hurt,” Ms Boekel said.

“The 2021-2022 Severe Weather Outlook released by the Bureau today indicates that climate drivers including the current La Niña Watch, warm waters in the north, the sea surface temperature pattern across the tropical Pacific Ocean, along with a negative Indian Ocean Dipole, point towards more rainfall and an average to slightly above average cyclone season.

continuing wet conditions during spring may further increase grass growth, which could increase fire danger as it dries during summer.

“The Bureau is Australia's most trusted source of weather information with a national network of expertise, technology – including radars, automatic weather stations, satellites and computer modelling – and robust partnerships with emergency services, organisations such as the QRA, and all local councils to help keep all communities safer.”

Suncorp CEO Steve Johnston said the insurer was partnering with Get Ready Queensland once again in 2021 in a bid to help communities prepare for natural disasters.

“Suncorp is incredibly proud of its Queensland heritage, and we’re committed to working with the QRA, SES and JT to encourage Queensland households, businesses and communities to be weather-ready,” Mr Johnston said.

“Each summer, we see homes and communities destroyed by natural disasters, with much of this damage avoidable.

“Our research shows even small-scale events can have a big impact, financially, emotionally and even physically, so it is critical Queenslanders undertake home preparation and maintenance now, as waiting until a storm is bearing down is just too late.”

Get Ready Queensland’s advertising campaign featuring Johnathan Thurston as well as representatives from Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Lifeline started yesterday and runs for six weeks.

Get Ready Queensland is a yearround, all-hazards, resilience building initiative to help communities prepare for natural disasters. For more information on Get Ready Queensland visit: www.getready.qld.gov.au

NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND

Beekeeping permitted to continue in Queensland national parks Brisbane, October 11: The Queensland Government has approved the preparation of legislative amendments to grant a 20-year extension to allow beekeeping to continue in national parks until 2044.

The move to amend the Nature Conservation Act early next year delivers on a promise of a reprieve Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk gave beekeepers during last year’s election campaign.

The decision will formally extend beekeeping permits for a further 20 years in certain national parks that were created as part of the SEQ Forest Agreement in 1999.

Under the current Act, apiarists were required to transition out of national parks by the end of 2024, however successive Queensland Governments and the industry have been unable to find suitable alternative honey sites for beekeeping.

Beekeeping had traditionally been conducted uninterrupted on State Forests and forest reserves until the introduction of the SEQ Forestry Agreement consigned some state forests and forest reserves, containing 1088 apiary sites into 49 national parks.

Queensland beekeepers have consistently warned their industry could be severely impacted if alternative sites for their hives could not be located between now and 2024.

Beekeeping services are a lynchpin for Queensland’s multibillion-dollar fruit and vegetable growing industry, with pollination services playing a critical role in each season’s crop.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development Mark Furner said this is an important decision as the ability of the industry may be impacted if alternative sites could not be located between now and the end of next year.

“Amending the act will support the continuation of beekeeping in certain national parks while the Government works with industry

and other key stakeholders to identify alternative sites for the future relocation of beekeeping off national parks.

“Nor will beekeeping be allowed in national parks where it was not already authorised immediately before the land became a national park,” Mr Furner said.

Around 75% of the beekeeping industry clusters around Wide Bay Burnett, Gympie, and the Lockyer Valley, Toowoomba, and Scenic Rim areas.

The Queensland Beekeepers Association welcomed the 20-year reprieve it has long advocated for.

State Secretary Jo Martin says it gives the industry confidence to invest in the future.

“On-going climate change and increasing isolated rainfall events are impacting the capacity of our beekeeping industry.

“Over the past 100 years and after prolonged droughts and bushfires, beekeepers’ access to National Park apiary sites has been the key to the industry’s survival.

“These sites in Queensland’s National Parks produce world class honey and are a shortstay, safe haven for honey bee colonies to be strengthened and conditioned ahead of them providing critical pollination services for the state’s growing horticultural sector,” Ms Martin said.

“Extending the permit period for National Parks ensures beekeepers can access the nutritional resources needed to nourish their honey bee colonies.”

“On current trend, Queensland’s beekeeping industry will need to increase in size by over one-third in the next decade, such is the demand from berry fruit, nut growers and horticulturalists for pollinating bees.”

Published figures have estimated the honey bee industry contributes approximately $2.4b to the Queensland economy each year.

“There are on average four cyclones every season in the Eastern cyclone zone of Australia – but all Queenslanders must remember that it takes just one to cause devastation from damaging winds, heavy rainfall and tidal surges.

“Localised major flooding can occur in any northern wet season, but in 2021-22, there is an increased risk of widespread and prolonged riverine flooding across eastern and northern Queensland.

“While long-running large bushfires are less likely than during dry years such as 2019-20,

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NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND

Olympic growth plan for Central Queensland’s Indigenous businesses Brisbane, October 8: Indigenous business owners and operators will be given the opportunity to have their say on what they need to grow and shine in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said this was the focus of a series of yarns and other events being held throughout Queensland during October as the nation celebrates Indigenous Business Month.

On 22 October, Rockhampton will host a Meet the Buyers event at Walter Reid Auditorium. It will offer advice on how to improve and sustain working relationships between mainstream suppliers and Deadly Directory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses. The event is partnered between DESBT and Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships (DSDSATSIP).

“The Palaszczuk Government has set a 10-year goal to foster and encourage Indigenous business across the state in the lead up to 2032 Olympics,” Minister Farmer said.

“We want to ensure Indigenous businesses are best positioned to take advantage of this once in a lifetime event and can tap into opportunities to supply their goods and services pre and post the Games.

“Collectively Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses contribute more than $1 billion a year to the national economy, with revenues growing on average at 12.5 per cent annually,” Ms Lauga said

“It is our intention that Indigenous businesses in Queensland, particularly potential government suppliers, will be given every opportunity to thrive in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.”

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford said the Queensland Government was delivering a number of events during Indigenous Business Month to get the conversation started.

Member for Rockhampton, Barry O’Rourke, said that Indigenous Business Month is a great way for Indigenous business owners and intenders to talk about their business, source information and most importantly, collaborate so they can make plans to grow.

“Indigenous Business Month is a golden opportunity for Indigenous businesses to find out how to secure additional contracts, achieve greater representation in supply chains, and to encourage more Indigenous businesses to consider providing services to the government,” Minister Crawford said.

“Indigenous Business Month is a great chance to highlight the important role Indigenous businesses play in the Queensland economy,” Mr O’Rourke said Member for Keppel, Brittany Lauga, said the backing of small business is at the heart of the Palaszczuk Government’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan, and indigenous businesses play a vital role in that.

“We are taking every opportunity to provide all the support required so they can grow in capability, capacity and in number.

“The 2032 Olympics will be a very special opportunity to showcase our state’s smartest, most

creative and talented Indigenous businesses to the world.

“This strategic focus will ensure that beyond 2032, Indigenous businesses have a solid impact on the local economy and have created a positive impression globally.”

Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation Stirling Hinchliffe said during Indigenous Business Month, ‘yarns’ or Indigenous business forums will be held throughout the state.

“Yarning2032 events are important face to face engagement opportunities for Indigenous business owners who currently are or wish to supply to Government, to learn more about the Queensland Indigenous Procurement Policy,” Minister Hinchliffe said.

“Discussions from Yarning2032 will inform activities over the coming years to support Indigenous businesses to grow in readiness for the Games.

“The yarns will be co-developed with members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Business and Innovation

Reference Group who are outstanding entrepreneurs, business leaders and researchers who provide strategic advice to government on matters that impact First Nations communities.”

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Business and Innovation Reference Group (BIRG) member Leann Wilson welcomed the collaboration.

“It is great to be co-developing and co-delivering important information with the Government to ensure Indigenous businesses are bringing their unique leadership, skills and attributes to the table,” Ms Wilson said.

October marks the 7th annual National Indigenous Business Month.

The initiative was co-founded and is run each year by Dr Michelle Evans of Melbourne Business School, Ms Mayrah Sonter of 33 Creative and Ms Leesa Watego of Iscariot Media.

For more information about Indigenous Business Months events being held in Queensland visit www.business.qld.gov.au/ indigenous-business-month

GOPIO Gold Coast hosts Diwali event

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OPIO Gold Coast hosted Gold Coast’s first outdoor Diwali fair event on Sunday 10 October. The celebration was a huge success with over 2000 attendees, including many invited dignitaries.

Broadwater Parklands was buzzing with a multitude of stalls, food trucks and activities for the families to enjoy. Attendees browsed stalls displaying Indian jewellery, ethnic costumes and home décor, while children enjoyed free unlimited access to jumping castles, henna tattoos and face painting. One of the unique highlights was the LED Bollywood stilting dolls.

The crowd were thoroughly entertained throughout the evening with a mix of Bollywood beats, cultural stage performances, live musicians, vocal singing artists and DJ Desi – Praneel Sinha. The Gold Coast skyline was lit up in the true spirit of Diwali with a phenomenal

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display of fireworks to conclude the evening festivities.

"GOPIO GC takes this opportunity to give a BIG thank you to all of their wonderful sponsors: Study Gold Coast, Multicultural Communities Council Gold Coast, Thiel Partners, LJ Hooker – Mr Sanjay Agarwal," read a statement by the organisation.

"The GOPIO GC Diwali Fair was a wonderful opportunity for the people of Indian origin and multicultural communities to come together to celebrate the auspicious occasion of Diwali.

GOPIO GC would like to express their gratitude to everyone who attended the event and wholeheartedly supported it to make it a huge success.

"A special thanks to all of the community volunteers and performers in working with the GOPIO GC Executive committee to bring this memorable event together," it further read.

GOPIO GC Executive Committee President: Mr Pradip Gorasia Vice President: Mr Mokhtiar Singh 2nd Vice President: Mr Pushpinder Oberoi Secretary: Ms Madhuri Soni Treasurer: Dr Rajendra Nayak Joint Secretary: Mr Manish Saini Assistant Treasurer: Ms Priyanka Daga Youth Ambassador: Shrey Baluja

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NEWS FROM VICTORIA

New settings for safe, successful VCE exams Crown Royal Commission's final report to be delivered Melbourne, October 14: The public health team is making important changes to the management of school exposures and students who become primary close contacts – ensuring Year 12s can sit their VCE exams with confidence, while keeping the broader community safe.

These changes have been made possible by the efforts of every single Victorian who has stepped up to get vaccinated – particularly final year students themselves, with more than 80 per cent of 17-18 year-olds already at least single-dosed, giving the public health team the confidence to enable students to complete their exams.

VCE students who become primary close contacts will now have permission to attend

their exams, while otherwise complying with the isolation orders that apply – which will be 14 days for unvaccinated students, or 7 days for those who are fully vaccinated. These students will be able to sit exams in dedicated rooms with separate entrances either by themselves or safely distanced from other students who are also primary close contacts, depending on capacity. They will be supervised by staff wearing face shields and enhanced PPE in safely ventilated rooms that are cleaned between each use.

Each student who is a primary close contact will need to be tested every 48 hours in their first week after exposure, then again on day 13 – with regular testing the key to ensuring any

potential virus is picked up early and contact tracing can begin to prevent further spread at exam sites or in the community.

The process for students who test positive for coronavirus will not change – they cannot attend school or their VCE exams, and they will receive a Derived Examination Score for any assessments they are forced to miss, with the Consideration of Educational Disadvantage process also taking their situation into account. All VCE exam rooms will keep a registration of students and a seating plan that can be accessed for easy contact tracing, helping to keep the number of students and staff forced to isolate minimal.

Victoria sets plan to welcome back international students Melbourne, October 8: International students will start returning to Victoria by the end of the year under the Victorian Government’s Student Arrivals Plan, which has been submitted to the Commonwealth for approval.

The Plan provides a graduated, safe return to study in Victoria for international students, and a pipeline for continued arrivals through 2022.

need to undertake practical work to continue or complete their degrees, such as health and medical degree students, as well as postgraduate research students.

Students arriving under the plan will be in addition to Victoria’s existing international arrivals cap, which means they will not displace returning Australians.

Under the first stage of the plan, 120 places will be available each week for Victorian university students, prioritising those who

Students will be quarantined in dedicated accommodation managed by COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria. The second stage will enable more places with larger-scale international student arrivals from across the sector, including those enrolled in

Universities will provide funding towards the extra quarantine places for student visa holders, with students required to cover the cost of their flight to Melbourne.

TAFEs, English-language courses, private education providers and secondary schools.

International students are a vital part of Victoria’s academic and broader community. While over 75,000 international students from 100 countries are currently studying in Victoria, around 47,000 more are enrolled with Victorian education providers but remain offshore while Australia’s international borders are closed.

International education is a critical services export and jobs provider for Victoria, contributing a peak of $13.7 billion to the state’s economy and supporting around 79,000 Victorian jobs prior to the pandemic.

Growing team helps Victorian job seekers find work Melbourne, October 5: Victorians looking for a new job or a career change can now access free advice and support from a 600-strong force of advocates, mentors and career counsellors, ensuring no Victorian is left behind in the search for work. The $260 million employment service is being established as part of the $619 million Jobs Victoria initiative, which supports people looking for work and connects employers with the staff they need.

More than 420 Jobs Victoria employment service staff have now come on board, with a further 180 mentors, advocates and counsellors to be added to the burgeoning program. Mentors help people find a job that suits them and support them in their role for the first six months. The mentors will assist people who have been unemployed for six months or more or are without a job and at risk of long-term unemployment and can also

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connect employers with suitable local candidates.

The career counsellor service helps people understand their career options and goals and give them the tools to explore different interests, identify transferable skills and create a pathway for change. Advocates will be out in communities throughout Victoria connecting people with the services that are right for them, whether it be help with their resume or help connecting them to or directing them to an employment service.

One early beneficiary of the new employment services has been Ethiopian refugee Obitsu Yusef, who was struggling to find work in her dream role working as an in-home support worker, despite applying for dozens of jobs. With the help of her Jobs Victoria mentor Esther, Obitsu was able to get three job interviews and two job offers after Esther helped her find job opportunities and

prepare for interviews – which has led to Obitsu securing a regular paycheck for the first time in her life.

Jobs Victoria employment services are delivered by a network of 75 partners across the state – local people who provide specialist employment support and advice.

The services are accessible online and over the phone while restrictions are in place. Jobs Victoria also supports employers and small businesses by helping them find staff and apply for wage subsidies to grow their businesses.

The $250 million Jobs Victoria Fund pays subsidies of up to $20,000 per eligible employee to businesses that employ people hardest hit by the pandemic, including women aged over 45.

The Fund also supports industries facing workforce shortages by working with employers to recruit and train workers to fill roles.

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Melbourne, October 14: The Royal Commission into the Casino Operator Licence will hand its final report to the Governor of Victoria tomorrow after months of public hearings examining whether Crown Melbourne is suitable to hold a casino licence. The Victorian Government looks forward to receiving the final report and will closely consider its findings and recommendations.

The final report and the Government’s response will be released prior to the end of this

month. This approach is like that taken by the NSW Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority to the final report of the Bergin Inquiry earlier this year. The Government is working to combat illegal and unethical behaviour in the gambling industry and already taking action to overhaul the regulation of gambling in Victoria.

Work is underway to set up the Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission, which will include a dedicated casino regulation division focused solely on oversight of the casino.

Infrastructure Victoria CEO Michel Masson resigns Melbourne, October 8: Michel Masson has given notice to the Board of Infrastructure Victoria, the State’s independent advisory body on infrastructure development, of his resignation as Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Masson was appointed as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure Victoria in 2016 and has developed the organisation into an important and independent voice on a wide range of infrastructure issues.

During Mr Masson‘s time as chief executive officer, Infrastructure Victoria has outlined ways in which Victoria can make the most of existing infrastructure, while also ensuring new infrastructure delivers maximum value.

In August this year, Infrastructure

The Mandarin

Michel Masson

Victoria completed the 20212051 Infrastructure Strategy, the second of two 30-year strategies completed under Mr Masson‘s stewardship. The strategy presents a vision for a thriving, inclusive and sustainable Victoria across the next 30 years, informed by innovative land use and transport modelling.

Covidsafe reopening for Victorian construction Melbourne, October 5: Restrictions on the Victorian construction industry were eased from 11.59pm on Monday, 4 October, with a Construction Sector Roadmap setting a way forward for the sector to stay open and keep our community safe. The Victorian Government has worked closely with the industry on a plan for reopening based on the recommendations of the public health team.

In order to work onsite, all workers will need to continue to carry an Authorised Worker Permit and have had at least one vaccine dose. Every construction site in Victoria must also have a designated fully trained COVID Marshal to ensure compliance with the Chief Health Officer‘s directions. Prior to reopening, operators will be required to attest that they have implemented the CHO directions and every site will need to have an up-todate vaccination always register available for compliance checks.

In order to make this process as easy as possible, an online portal will soon be available on the Service Victoria website so these documents are accessible for both

Infrastructure Magzine

the operator and compliance teams.

Crib facilities may be used for the consumption of food and drink with strict density requirements and additional ventilation. Up to five workers and a supervisor will be able to work onsite for small scale construction projects, and large scale sites can have up to 25 per cent of workers onsite. If crib rooms meet best practice and the entire workforce is fully vaccinated, large scale construction sites can have up to 50 per cent of workers onsite.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

MOSAIC Multicultural Festival held in Brisbane

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ulticultural Australia organised at MOSAIC Multicultural Festival on Sunday, 10 October at Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane.

The MOSAIC Multicultural Festival celebrates the rich cultural contributions the various cultures from all over the world bring to multicultural Queensland through dance, music, poetry and storytelling, visual arts and crafts, children’s and family activities and delectable foods and cooking demonstrations.

The MOSAIC 2021 featured world music and dance by some of South East Queensland's best performers; opening ceremony

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featuring a 'Welcome to Country Performance' at 12.00pm on the stage; International Drumming Workshop and Performance Program; Rock Around the Wok cooking demonstration by refugee and migrant community cooks who shared their settlement stories while creating a traditional dish; youth space with interactive games and performances; kids and family activities; and cultural marketplace featuring food, craft and activity stalls.

MOSAIC 2021 was sponsored and supported by Suncorp, the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Bengali Society of Queensland organises Durga Puja in Brisbane

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he Bengali Society of Queensland (BSQ), a nonprofit organisation, organised their annual Durga Puja on October 15, and the puja will again take place on October 17.

The Bengali Society of Queensland is one of the major Indian communities, committed to promoting Bengali tradition and culture among the Bengalis in Brisbane and the community at large. Throughout the year, the society organises several cultural, sporting events and social get together where members from other communities, government dignitaries also participate.

A non-profit, membership-based organisation based in Brisbane, the association's main objective is to promote Indian and Bengali culture and tradition.

"We aim to provide opportunities to all members regardless of age, gender and area of origin, to promote both traditional and modern aspects of Indian and Bengali culture. Our activities are open to both members and nonmembers," says a statement by the association.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

Gandhi Jayanti celebrated in Brisbane

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embers of the Indian community in Queensland celebrated Gandhi Jayanti on Mahatma Gandhi's 152nd birthday on October 2 at Roma Street Parklands in Brisbane.

Officials from GOPIO Queensland as well as Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland (FICQ) were present at the event.

Gandhi Jayanti is celebrated by Indians to mark the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi and it is one of the three national holidays of India. The UN General Assembly announced on 15 June 2007 that it adopted a resolution which declared that 2 October will be celebrated as the International Day of Non-Violence.

Celebrating the contribution of Simply HumanSuperheroes without capes

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ndian community gathered at Sunnybank on October 9, 2021 to support Simply Human Superheroes without Capes, a Not For Profit organisation raising awareness of cancer.

Among the supporters of this event who made it a success were Senator Paul Scarr who sponsored the Celebrating Superheroes Without Capes 2021 event.

The Simply Human team expressed their gratitude to all the attendees, event partners and sponsors thus, “We are grateful to all our speakers: Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM, Prof Ajay Rane OAM, Ms Rita Prasad-Ildes & Ms Akashika Mohla for sharing their inspiring journeys and giving us the much needed dosage of motivation to keep us going.

Thanks to all the incredible humans who came to experience the event, your presence definitely boosted our morale.

made it a huge success.

"Thank you Senator Paul Scarr for sponsoring the Celebrating Superheroes Without Capes 2021 event and for supporting our vision and mission. Thanks to all our amazing sponsors, without their generosity and kindness this event wouldn’t have been possible.

"Thank you to our Rockstar Emcee, Allan John for his remarkable work. You kept the audience engaged and amused and how. Thank you to the Stage Manager Seerat and supporters Aileen & PK. Thanks to the volunteers Mukesh Dubey Anna, Tanvi Goel and Irene for being such a great help. To the A team of Simply Human, congratulations once again for completing successfully and impacting 5 years. Let's continue our momentum and keep making a difference one life at a time."

"Thank you James Martin MP for gracing the event. It was a pleasure to have you last night, we look forward to your continued support. We hope that you all will continue to help us positively impact people's lives. A heartfelt thank you to each and everyone who supported the event and

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WORLD NEWS

Chemistry Nobel awarded for developing N.Korea continues to develop nuclear, missile new category of 'green' catalysts programs despite sanctions IANS

But, in 2000, List and MacMillan, independent of each other, developed a third type of catalysis called asymmetric organocatalysis, building upon small organic molecules.

"This concept for catalysis is as simple as it is ingenious, and the fact is that many people have wondered why we didn't think of it earlier," said Johan Aqvist, who is chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry.

Stockholm, October 6 (IANS): Scientists at German and US institutes were on October 6 awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2021 for developing an ingenious tool that revolutionised construction of molecules.

Many research areas and industries are dependent on chemists' ability to construct molecules that can form elastic and durable materials, store energy in batteries or inhibit the progression of diseases.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences awarded Benjamin List from Max-Planck-Institut fur Kohlenforschung (Max Planck Institute for Coal Research), Mulheim an der Ruhr, Germany and British-born David W C MacMillan of Princeton University, "for the development of asymmetric organocatalysis", said a statement.

This work requires catalysts, which are substances that control and accelerate chemical reactions, without participating in the reaction.

List and MacMillan developed a precise new tool for molecular construction called organocatalysis.

The laureates findings "had a great impact on pharmaceutical research, and has made chemistry greener," the statement said.

While catalysts are fundamental tools for chemists, researchers long believed that there were, in principle, just two types of catalysts available: metals and enzymes.

Organic catalysts have a stable framework of carbon atoms, to which more active chemical groups can attach. These often contain common elements such as oxygen, nitrogen, sulphur, or phosphorus. This means that these catalysts are both environmentally friendly and cheap to produce.

"Organocatalysis has developed at an astounding speed since 2000. List and MacMillan remain leaders in the field, and have shown that organic catalysts can be used to drive multitudes of chemical reactions," the statement said.

"Using these reactions, researchers can now more efficiently construct anything from new pharmaceuticals to molecules that can capture light in solar cells," it added.

Seoul, October 5 (IANS): North Korea continues to advance its nuclear and ballistic missile programs despite worsening economic conditions exacerbated

by UN Security Council (UNSC) sanctions, a report released by the world body said.

The report issued on October 4 by a panel of experts on North Korean sanctions also said the North continues to evade sanctions by ever more sophisticated means, reports Yonhap News Agency.

"During the reporting period, despite the country's focus on its worsening economic travails, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea continued to maintain and develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs," said the report, referring to North Korea by its official name.

The semestral report noted the North did not conduct any intercontinental ballistic missiles or nuclear tests over the reporting period, but that it staged a short-range ballistic missile test "combining ballistic and guidance technologies".

Pyongyang launched two shortrange ballistic missiles into the East Sea in late March.

North Korea is prohibited from developing or testing any ballistic

missiles under UNSC resolutions.

The panel of experts said the North also continued to seek materials and technologies for its nuclear and ballistic missile programs from overseas.

The latest report comes after a series of North Korean missile launches in recent days that North Korea says included the test launch of a new "hypersonic missile".

Pyongyang also test launched a short-range ballistic missile in mid-September.

The report noted the North's exports of prohibited items, such as coal, continued at a "much reduced level", while its imports of oil products, which are also subject to strict limits under UNSC sanctions, fell substantially in the first half of the year.

The North, however, continued to evade sanctions by sophisticating the management and ownership structures of its vessels used in illicit dealings, according to the report.

"Access by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to international financial institutions continued, as did the presence overseas of its workers earning revenue for use in State programs," it said.

Germany set for transformation as blackouts now rolled Merkel generation sees its time end Power out in Beijing and Shanghai

IANS

Angela Merkel

Berlin, September 27 (IANS): For a generation of Germans, Angela Merkel was the only Chancellor they knew but in the first election after she announced her decision to quit, her Christian Democratic Union party seems to be on verge of losing its decade and a half year’s grip on power with the Socialist Democrat Party (SPD) taking a slender edge in the September 26 elections.

Though the new contours of the new government are still unclear - and set to emerge after several rounds of negotiations between the top four-five parties, several combinations like "Traffic Light", "Kenya", "Jamaica" or "Germany" based on the main parties' colours - are possible.

SDP leader Olaf Scholz, who led his left-leaning party to a revitalised performance, has claimed that the mandate is for a SPD-led coalition with the pro-

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the far-right AfD with 83, the Left with 39, while one small party has got in with one seat.

environmental Greens and the FDP, and dismissed continuing the present coalition with the CDU, where it was a junior partner and he served as Merkel's Finance Minister.

However, Merkel's hand picked successor, Armin Laschet, who led the party to its worst performance in years and failed to get elected on his own in his home state, and will enter the Bundestag (the Federal Parliament) on the party list, is not conceding defeat yet and says the race is still open.

The claims and counter-claims signal a protracted sense of negotiations before the eventual winner is decided.

At a whopping 735 seats, this Bundestag is the largest ever, and will have the SPD with 206 seats, the CDU, with its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union, at 196, the Greens at 118, the liberal, pro-business FDP with 92,

The Bundestag's burgeoning numbers are due to Germany's unique electoral arrangements, where the top candidate in 299 constituencies gets a seat, while another 299 seats are filled by party lists in the 16 federal states, with voters ranking the candidates in order of preference.

An extra 137 seats come from second-preference votes, based on the population in each state and how many votes go to the second-placed party.

Adding to the confusion, parties need to clear the 5 per cent minimum vote share, or win three constituency seats, in order to enter parliament.

The rules lead to fragmentation and make necessary for both the big parties - the CDU and the SPD - having to depend on a smaller ally, or even each other (the two are presently in a coalition) to get a parliamentary majority.

That is where the possible permutations and combinations come in - with the Greens, who have made their strongest showing so far despite not fulfilling the expectation of a better performance, and the FDP, or both, as the kingmakers. The right-wing AfD is off-limits as a coalition partner for both parties.

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New Delhi, September 29 (IANS): China has now started rolling blackouts in Beijing and Shanghai, metropolises home to 48 million people, as the country struggles with crippling power shortages that have hit key factories in a further threat to the economy, Nikkei reported.

The Beijing office of State Grid Corp. of China said it would soon begin scheduled power outages in select areas. Electricity will mainly be cut for a few daytime hours at a time.

The rolling blackouts will affect at least four districts in the capital. They include Xicheng and Dongcheng, which house government agencies and residences of top officials; Chaoyang, where many foreigners live; and Haidan, where several tech companies are located, the report said.

"The main purpose is to carry out regular equipment maintenance and upgrades to the power grid," State Grid said in a social media post on September 27 . "At present, the power grid in the capital has sufficient, stable and orderly supply."

The exact number of homes and businesses affected has not been disclosed. Some media outlets have reported that the blackouts cut through about 60 grid

sections, which would translate to more than 10,000 people being without power. Beijing has a population of 22 million people.

The scheduled blackouts mainly target private residences, largely sparing factories.

Shanghai, home to 26 million people, conducted rolling blackouts through October 3 as well. The national power shortage has caused suppliers of Apple and Tesla to suspend operations in Jiangsu Province, adjacent to Shanghai.

Factories run by Japanese manufacturers in Guangdong Province have been affected, Nikkei said.

Taking the brunt of the power shortage is China's Rust Belt region in the northeast. In Shenyang, a city in Liaoning Province, traffic signals have ceased to work, leading to congestion, according to media reports. In Jilin Province, Jilin City's water supply has been unstable and officials have called on citizens to stock up on water.

The biggest reason for the electricity shortfall is the waning operations at coal plants. The price of coal has risen by more than 30% from a year earlier, forcing coal-fired plants to reduce power output.

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WORLD NEWS

Pakistan rushes helicopter gunships Five conditions that Taliban in brutal attack against Baloch fighter must fulfil to gain legitimacy Modern Diplomacy

IANS

Karachi".

Pakistani newspaper, The News quotes intelligence agencies as saying: "Nearly 200 activists of different Baloch militant organisations and Daesh/ISK-P cells have been reported in and around Nago hills of Mastung and in Margat in the outskirts of Quetta".

New Delhi, September 30 (IANS): Even as the world is busy trying to make sense of the strange situation in Afghanistan - where militants are trying to form a government - Pakistan has quietly unleashed its helicopter gunships in Balochistan.

The local media in Balochistan - an impoverished region of Pakistan - has reported that Pakistani ground forces are "backed by gunship helicopters that continue to pound the civilian population. Several areas of Bolan have been cordoned off making it difficult for the media to report any immediate casualties".

The Baloch Warna report added: "Pakistan army helicopters have been shelling in Bazgar, Surgaad, Bohak and surrounding areas since morning. The active offensives began in the early hours of September 29 whereas on September 28 even fresh contingents of the Pakistan army were seen advancing toward Bolan".

Reports say that "special commandos" are being airlifted to the region. "The military forces have landed in Bohk, Bakhel, Injir, Halksar and started encircling the entire area", says the newspaper.

Another local newspaper, The

Balochistan Post corroborates the news.

It says: "a large-scale military operation is in progress in Bolan and its environs. A thousandsstrong contingency of security forces has been deployed in the region and they are rapidly advancing inwards towards main areas. Eight gunship helicopters have been sighted circulating the area and bombarding several houses in Soorgaarh, Chalri and Bok".

The newspaper adds that the Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF), a Baloch pro-independence group has intensified its attacks on Pakistani forces erecting border fences in the region.

Geo-political analyst Mark Kinra says: "Attacks by various Baloch organizations and Tehrik-iTaliban Pakistan (TTP) on Chinese nationals and their infrastructure has resulted in friction between China and Pakistan. This has led to the Pakistani Army again intensifying operations in South Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa and the same has been happening in Balochistan as well. Recently, Pakistani news reports stated that Shikarpur Police claimed to have killed the Sindh leader of Daesh in Sibi Balochistan and have arrested Daesh members from

This makes it clear that many terror groups from Afghanistan are assembling in Balochistan.

They are also planning attacks in "Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad and Quetta through active and sleeper cells".

Strategically located Balochistan touches Afghanistan and Iran, making it easy for militants, drug cartels and gun runners to move across the porous borders.

The province also has an active independence movement as the Baloch people claim sovereign status since British times. They say that Pakistan has occupied Balochistan by force, denying them their independence.

Recently, Baloch nationalists had blown up the statue of Pakistan's founder Mohammad Ali Jinnah in the port city of Gwadar by placing explosives under it. A couple of days earlier, four Pakistani army soldiers had been killed by Baloch groups.

The Baloch groups have also targeted Chinese personnel, and even Beijing's ambassador to Islamabad, for what they call the exploitative China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is sucking out the region's riches without uplifting the local people.

The $62 billion CPEC seeks to link the port city of Gwadar in Balochistan to China's northwestern Xinjiang through a maze of highways and railways. The project also envisages energy and power projects to meet Pakistan's energy needs.

China bans cryptocurrencies, mining projects New Delhi, September 24 (IANS): The Chinese authorities said on September 24 that all cryptocurrency-related businesses are illegal and called for the exit of cryptocurrency mining projects.

Up to three-quarters of the world's supply of bitcoin has reportedly been produced in China, but the process consumes vast amounts of electricity, and energy produced by coal-burning plants is a massive contributor to air pollution, Global Times reported.

Over the past several months, several large virtual currency mining centres in China, including in southwest China's Sichuan Province and north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region have announced to shut down cryptocurrency mining projects

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partly out of consideration for energy consumption.

Virtual currencies have no legal tender status, the People's Bank of China (PBC), the country's central bank, said in a notice on September 24. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum and Tether are not issued by the monetary authorities and have no legal tender power, and therefore should not and cannot circulate as a legitimate currency, it said.

"All the illegal financial activities are strictly banned and will be eliminated in line with laws," said the PBC, noting that those who committed crimes by engaging in relevant illegal financial activities shall be prosecuted for liabilities.

The statement is an extension of the country's intensifying regulation on cryptocurrencies beginning from a meeting of the State Council's Financial Stability

and Development Committee in May. The meeting signalled that a further crackdown on virtual currency trading and mining activities is part of efforts to fend off financial risks from the root, Global Times said.

On September 24, ten other government agencies, including the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Public Security listed cryptocurrency mining as a sector to be eliminated.

In addition, the statement said that government agencies will step up enforcement and firmly stop electricity generation firms, especially smaller ones, to provide electricity for cryptocurrency mining activities, while it's strictly banned for mining firms to selfsupply electricity.

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New Delhi, September 24: Insisting that the world remains united in its expectations from the Taliban, the United States has listed five key conditions that the regime in Kabul must fulfil, if it wants to gain legitimacy from the international community.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on September 22 night detailed in a virtual G20 meeting on Afghanistan what Washington needs to see from the Taliban and from any future government in Kabul.

Senior US State Department officials later said that there was a broad consensus on the points from the other members of the G20 that had participated in the meeting.

First, Blinken said that the international community must hold the Taliban to their commitment to allow foreign nationals and Afghans to travel outside the country if they wish.

He said it should be a prerequisite to any meaningful engagement with the Taliban.

Second, Blinken affirmed that the Taliban should be held accountable to their commitment to prevent terrorist groups from using Afghanistan as a base for external operations that threaten other countries.

Third, the US Secretary of State said that collectively, the international community must be fierce advocates for the human rights of all the Afghan people, including women, girls, and members of minority communities. He affirmed that the Taliban must make good on their commitment not to carry out reprisal violence and to grant amnesty to all who worked for the former government or coalition forces.

Fourth, Blinken went on to say that the Taliban should be pressed on unimpeded humanitarian access. Quoting the dire assessments from the UN that nearly half of Afghanistan's population needed humanitarian protection assistance, he said that the US remains committed to humanitarian leadership when it comes to Afghanistan.

Finally, Blinken said, the US has urged the Taliban to form

an inclusive government that can meet the needs and reflect the aspirations of the Afghan people. He pointed out that the government is overwhelmingly dominated by one ethnic group, is exclusively male, and includes people who are notorious for attacks on US and coalition forces as well as civilians.

The US State Department officials have said that there's "quite a lot of convergence" about what Washington needs to see from the Taliban.

"I don't think anybody is satisfied with the composition of this interim government, including the Chinese. So, there was quite a bit of convergence in the room," the official said while briefing media on the US engagements at the United Nations.

Afghanistan remains a "hot topic" in New York which, according to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin, will be discussed extensively during all contacts of the Russian delegation on the side-lines of the UN General Assembly.

"We expressed our consistent approaches to the situation in Afghanistan - normalization of the situation, the need to coordinate the international community's approaches, the need for resolution of humanitarian problems through coordination among the international community," Vershinin was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency Tass today.

The developments in Afghanistan, and the need to prevent the proliferation of the terrorist and drug threats throughout the region, also dominated the proceedings during the traditional meeting of the ministers for foreign affairs of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York.

Focusing on the Afghan issue, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted that the permanent members of the UN Security Council bear special responsibility to the international community as a whole.

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INDIA NEWS

WORLD THIS WEEK

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

Compiled by Sukanya Bali, Avishka Ashok and Vaishnavi Iyer

Europe: The impending energy crisis Voice of America

Second, promotion of Nord Stream 2. Russia has intervened in the EU natural gas crisis. It has assured the EU of a consistent supply of natural gas, but there remains an undercurrent of pressure to start formal preparations for Nord Stream 2.

The EU may have to hasten the approval of Nord Stream 2 for continued cooperation. Given the economic nature of the problem, there is no quick fix.

ALSO IN NEWS What happened?

On 6 October, European gas prices saw a record increase.

The Spanish Prime Minister Sanchez said: "We are facing an unprecedented crisis that requires extraordinary, innovative, serious measures from the EU in order to control this price hike." Addressing the EU Slovenia Summit, he called for the European Council and the European Commission to help resolve the crisis.

The EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said: "The bloc should provide targeted support to citizens and small businesses that were hardest hit." She called for a shift in taxation which is facilitated under EU directives.

With the economic nature of the crisis, Simson notes no quick fixes could help the situation.

An energy expert, Theirry Bros said: "You're finding yourself in an area where demand has rebounded and on the other side, supply is more constrained.

On 7 October, Russia pledged to increase its gas supplies to Europe. Dmitry Peskov said: "existing gas transit routes allow for bolstering supplies before the new Nord Stream 2 pipeline that is intended to bring Russian gas to Germany begins operating.

It all depends on demand, contractual obligations and commercial agreements." Russia's deputy Prime Minister Novak promoted launching Nord Stream 2 to facilitate easier gas transit.

What does this mean?

First, the global hike in gas prices.

This is not limited to Europe. A primary reason for the supply shortage has been the pandemic along with colder winters this year. Industrialists and suppliers have profited from limiting gas supplies causing a consequent hike in prices. Government intervention seems to be the most favourable solution. France and other few countries began price capping and scheduled a planned increase in electricity tariffs for its consumers. The EU has also begun the process of changing its taxation mechanisms to facilitate a smoother winter.

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Taiwan: Defence Minister says military tension worst in last 40 years On 6 October, Reuters reported: Taiwan's Defence Minister Chui Kuo-cheng said: "military tensions with China are at the worst in 40 years." He also added, "there was a risk of a misfire across the sensitive Taiwan Strait." Since 01 October, more than 150 Chinese Air Force planes were involved in incursions in Taiwan's air defence identification zone.

China: Xi Jinping vows peaceful reunification with Taiwan

On 9 October, Chinese President Xi Jinping at a meeting commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution vowed to achieve a "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan. According to Reuters, Xi said: "Taiwan independence separatism is the biggest obstacle to achieving the reunification of the motherland, and the most serious hidden danger to national rejuvenation." He added: "The historical task of the complete reunification of the motherland must be fulfilled, and will definitely be fulfilled."

North Korea: Pyongyang continues nuclear programme amid sanctions, says UN report On 5 October, a report by the United Nations noted that North Korea had continued its nuclear and ballistic missile programs despite international sanctions.

The report highlighted, the North continues to "seek material and technology" for such programs.

According to The Korea Herald, the UN report also stated: "the regime staged a new shortrange ballistic missile test combining ballistic and guidance technologies."

Japan: Prime Minister held the first talk with the US President Biden; mentions need of

dialogue with Chinese President Xi Jinping

Dmitry Muratov

On 6 October, Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held his first talk with US President Joe Biden. The Asahi Shimbun reported, Kishida said: Biden provided "a strong statement about US commitment for the defense of Japan, including Senkaku." He added, the two leaders reaffirm to tackle the "challenges facing neighbouring regions such as China and North Korea." Later, Kishida also held online talks with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Japan's Foreign Ministry stated, both agreed to "strengthen their security and economic ties bilaterally and as part of the Quad alliance to promote regional peace and stability."

On 9 October, Japan's Prime Minister held a telephonic conversation with the Chinese President Xi Jinping. The Asahi Shimbun reported, Kishida raised issues on "the disputed islands, as well as Hong Kong and Beijing's treatment of Uighurs in the Xinjiang province." He stated, "Xi and I agreed to work together on various shared issues, including North Korea."

Pakistan: US Deputy Secretary of State at a two-day visit to Islamabad On 8 October, the US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

Dawn reported: Quershi stated, "Pakistan wants broad-ranging, long-term and stable relations with the United States to promote economic cooperation and establish peace in the region."

He also called for a regular and structured bilateral dialogue process for promoting common interests and advancing regional objectives. Further, Pakistan General Qamar Javed Bajwa also emphasized on maintaining meaningful bilateral engagement for an enduring multi-domain relationship between Pakistan and the USA.

of the US to engage with Iran to resume the negotiations on the nuclear issues. While stressing that the diplomatic communication option was still open, he explained that Iran had to make the decision. He said: "We have made very clear that we are prepared, willing and able to return to Vienna as soon as we have a partner to negotiate with."

Tolo news reported: Deputy Minister Zabihullah Mujahid, said the delegation will meet with "Qatari officials and the envoys of a number of countries on Afghanistan's situation."

On 5 October, Deputy Prime Ministers Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar and Abdul Salam Hanafi met UK's special envoy Simon Gass. According to Tolo news: Baradar and Hanifi in the meeting said, "the Islamic Emirate wants good relations with the world's countries, and they will not allow anyone to threaten any country from Afghanistan." They also added, the Islamic Emirate will "facilitate conditions for international humanitarian organizations to deliver aid to vulnerable Afghans." In response Gass said: "UK will continue its humanitarian aid to Afghanistan via the United Nations and international humanitarian organizations." He reiterated the importance of girls' education as well.

India: Pandora Papers identify many Indians secretly stashing wealth overseas

Afghanistan: Taliban delegation leave for Doha to hold talks with officials; UK Prime Minister's special envoy meets with Taliban leaders in Kabul

On 5 October, the leak of financial documents dubbed Pandora Papers showed that over 300 Indians have set up offshore structures to stash wealth, launder money and evade tax.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists uncovered details after accessing over 12 million documents of offshore companies from 14 sources. The leaked documents named many including MPs, film stars and sports stars. The Indian express identified that businessmen who have declared themselves bankrupt hold billions through such overseas entities.

On the same day, in response to the findings, India's Central Board of District taxes launched an investigation into these cases.

On 8 October, a delegation of the Islamic Emirate led by acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi left for Doha to discuss Afghanistan's political situation with foreign officials.

On 7 October, the US State Department spokesperson Ned Price announced the willingness

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Iran: The US State Department pushes for re-engagement on nuclear talks

Russia: Government labels more journalists as foreign agent after Russian journalist wins Nobel Prize On 8 October, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded Dmitry Muratov of Russia the Nobel Peace Prize for their unfiltered and courageous work in authoritarian situations. The Chair of the Nobel Committee said: "Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda."

Although the Russian government congratulated Dmitry and called him "talented and brave", the Justice Ministry added nine more journalists and three media organizations to the list of foreign agents.

Europe: World leaders come closer to an agreement on Global Corporate Tax On 8 October, over 136 countries ratified an agreement on a new global corporate tax which will be put into effect by 2023. On 7 October, Ireland and Estonia agreed to join the initiative, while Hungary chose to gradually reach the agreed tax rate over a period of ten years. The US President Joe Biden referred to the agreement and said: "Establishing, for the first time in history, a strong global minimum tax will finally even the playing field for American workers and taxpayers, along with the rest of the world."

Through the global corporate tax, a minimum income tax rate of 15 percent will be levied to restrict tax competitions to appeal to big companies. As of now, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are the only countries in the OECD group that have not ratified the agreement.

About the Authors Sukanya Bali is a PhD Scholar at OP Jindal University. Vaishnavi Iyer and Avishka Ashok are Research Associates in the School of Conflict and Peace Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies.

The report has been modified

by India News due to space considerations.

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INDIA NEWS

India vs Australia: International Women’s Cricket Series ends on a high

T

he 2021 tour of the Indian women’s cricket team to Australia ended on a high and deepened bilateral ties further.

The series kick-started in an impressive manner in Mackay on the 21st of September after Queensland embraced the opportunity for hosting the series, following Victoria and New South Wales being ruled out as the venues for the series, due to the Covid-outbreak and extended lockdowns in the states. The three one-day internationals in Mackay were all sold out events which demonstrated how eager the fans were to go out and have some fun, especially in regional Queensland, amidst continued Covid-19 battering in other states.

Aiming to make the matches in Mackay a grand spectacle, the Mackay Cricket Association, the Great Barrier Reef Arena and Queensland Cricket deserve a special appreciation for making the ground ready for matches and that too, at such a short notice. The facilities and ground conditions would make any top cricketing venues in the world proud, for which the ground staff, Queensland Cricket and Cricket Australia deserve our commendations. Then the two teams came to Gold Coast for the one-off test match and three T20s at the Metricon Stadium.

Unfortunately, the test match and the first T20 were washed out by rain without a result. The remaining two T20s were hardfought and both sides put up a strong show, much to the delight of the fans on the ground. In the end, Australia emerged better of the two teams. In the words of former Australian cricketer and current commentator Lisa Sthalekar, “Both teams played tough cricket, and India challenged Australia to the fullest.

But Australia was able to win key moments and that separated a quality team from a good one”.

Thanks to our women in Blue, and in Green and Gold, for enduring the pains of the Covid bubble and ensuring a safe and uninterrupted entertainment for all.

India News in conjunction with Queensland Cricket, Cricket Australia, Australia India Business Council and the Indian Community of Gold Coast covered the series to publicize it widely for the local, national and 1.3 billion fans in India. The excitement continues as the Indian fans will now be able to see some of the Indian players in action in the Women Big Bash League (WBBL).

These include Harmanpreet Kaur and Jemimah Rodrigues (Melbourne Renegades), Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma (Sydney Thunder), Shefali Verma and Radha Yadav (Sydney Sixers), Richa Ghosh (Hobart Hurricanes) and Poonam Yadav (Brisbane Heat).

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Oct 16-31, 2021 - Vol 2, Issue 8

EDITORIAL

AUKUS, Quad, China in Sri Lanka, and India's security concerns

By Asanga Abeyagoonasekera

A

lliance gives new meaning to political boundaries on physical maps empowering coalitions with political preferences to work together.

President Biden does "not seek a new Cold War", clearly expressing at the UNGA and many other leaders are with Biden, including Indian Prime Minister Modi, where the world divided into two rigid blocks will only limit progress and prosperity to many nations. In reality, Cold War structures will resurrect when the rules-based order is threatened, and robust partnerships are required to maintain the security balance.

President Biden established a more structured alliance, the AUKUS, a week before the firstever in-person Quad Summit in Washington DC on September 24. AUKUS, the security alliance, will enhance the capability of the US, the UK and Australia on deterrence, an expansion of underwater warfare capabilities of the nuclear-powered submarine fleet to Australia for extended patrols. With more military capacity in Indo-Pacific and substantial naval presence, the like-minded nations in the new security alliance will deter China's aggressiveness in the South China Sea and the surrounding waters. Many likeminded nations with democratic values which subscribe to Free and Open Indo-pacific (FOIP) norms will be part of the AUKUS security structure in the future.

While the security alliances are usually heavily structured, the primary informal structure with a non-militaristic space will be the Quad which is more informal.

Michael J. Green from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) argues, "It's like a dimmer, not an off-on switch.

It's a flexible tool, including who joins. It's flexible for Korea, New Zealand or the UK. If they decide they're upset with China, they can send a frigate to the next exercise." The flexibility of the Quad made it easier for nations like Singapore to join military exercises a few years ago with the Quad and many other nations, to follow bilateral or trilateral naval exercises to enhance the value of a critical Quad goal and to maintain a free and open Indo Pacific (FOIP).

In the Western diplomatic toolkit, Quad is at the forefront due to the assertiveness of China in the Indo-Pacific from military expansion and stealth economic takeover, 'strategic trap' to shackling nations under Chinese 'BRI' orbit. "The Quad has come together due to China's assertive behaviour and economic dependence on some countries", explains ORF scholar Druva Jaishankar. The Quad is a non-security arrangement due to India's appeal to leave

security out of its core agenda.

The alliance focused more on securing supply-chain security and thus, semiconductors and vaccine diplomacy were the primary focus. China was not mentioned during the summit due to the Biden administration's idea of Quad to project a positive vision towards a vaccine, climate change, critical technologies and not a grouping to contain China.

However, Raja C. Mohan from ISAS Singapore observed, "China's peaceful rise has not been peaceful, a concern to many nations; having bitten once [by China] people are finding alternatives." China's assertiveness with military expansion, the concern of human rights and coercive economic practices with stealth takeover of strategic assets promoting alternative governance structures with more militaristic regimes such as in Sri Lanka would alter the core agenda of the Quad.

India, which preferred a nonmilitary configuration for the Quad, would perhaps be forced to bring in security to the Quad agenda in the future to defend and protect the regional balance due to China in its immediate neighborhood.

Quad, initiated in post-Asian Tsunami in 2004, has been at the forefront during the pandemic to "play the role of a force for global good". Explains Prime Minister Modi, "I'm confident that our cooperation under Quad will ensure prosperity and peace in the Indo-Pacific and in the world."

Quad's informal arrangement will allow other non-Quad nations to join and support the norms and values of democracy and international law in the future. The countries that have been direct victims of China's aggressiveness will join the Quad to deter China in the future. The informal structure of Quad is to protect and bring democratic nations together and to give protection to nations that have become victims of China's "debt trap", such as Sri Lanka. It will also be a balancing counterweight to Chinese expansion. The "strategic trap" is visible in Sri Lanka from its long term 99 years leased out strategic infrastructure. The Hambantota port and Colombo Port City were the best examples of strategic expansion. While accepting and expanding the Chinese loans, Sri Lanka rejected substantial grants such as the US MCC. Recently at Carnegie Endowment, the Sri Lankan Foreign Secretary explained that the rejection of the US MCC grant of $480m by the government was due to "democracy and people's power" that scrapped the project, defending that there was no Chinese hand behind it. The foreign secretary has forgotten the concocted Presidential expert commission report projecting a

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national security threat.

Chinese sphere of influence has now enlarged into Sri Lanka's democratic space, where the Sri Lankan regime defends Chinese human rights in Xinjiang, clear signs of reciprocal arrangements to receive assistance from China to defend the grave human rights concerns in Sri Lanka raised by the UN High Commissioner at the 48th UNHRC session a few weeks ago. The recent expression of Foreign Secretary Jayanath Colombage was "we wish to remain neutral in our foreign policy", which contravenes with the Chinese bandwagoning foreign policy posture taken by the same regime. Colombage further explained that Chinese warship arrivals are far less than Indian and Japanese warship arrivals to Sri Lanka, where 563 warships have visited since 2009 hinting a less significance of Chinese presence and interest from the volume of warship arrivals. Unfortunately, the illogical view does not capture the broader strategic danger to the Island nation and its neighbour India.

India will have two concerns with Chinese aggression and the strategic takeover of its neighbouring nations. First, to strengthen its external alliance structure, such as from Quad to bring in nations like Sri Lanka towards the norms and values of the international system rather than allowing drifting from a Quasi-democracy to military control autocratic regime. This drift towards China will pose a direct threat to India's security.

While economic practices and standards are also part of Quad dialogue, supply chain security shows groups’ intention to work together in the economic arena where China's place in the world economy would limit how far the Quad could achieve success in bringing standards to economic practices. The Biden administration's focus on the B3W (Build Back Better World) initiative will complement the economic infrastructure standards and supply chain security in the coming years.

The Biden administration will focus more on Quad and the G-7, the two core organizing bodies that will centre on the global international system to achieve tangible results. India has a stronger position and voice in both of these platforms than any South Asian nation. As mentioned

by PM Modi, India is a "natural ally for the G7 countries in the fight against authoritarianism, terrorism and violent extremism, disinformation, and economic coercion, among other threats".

Second, to partner and support security alliances, a more formal structure such as AUKUS will be of India's interest since the mini-lateral complements India's

vision towards achieving a rulesbased Indo-Pacific. ORF scholar Rajeswari Pillai Rajagopalan aptly captures "AUKUS is an important development because it signifies the capability augmentation of one of India's closest strategic partners, with whom it has just started a 2+2 ministerial dialogue.

A strong and capable Australia is in India's interests, that of the Quad and the broader IndoPacific region".

These mini-lateral platforms will crisscross the Indian Ocean, where Sri Lanka, an important maritime nation located geo-strategically in the Indian Ocean, will be a crucial maritime partner to consider which is unfortunately, in the present context, drifting towards the Chinese orbit. Nations like Sri Lanka are essential due to their open access to the Indian ocean, where naval exercises and maritime security will be primary drivers for sustaining the minilateral military arrangements. Sri Lanka's security trilateral signed by the Gotabaya Rajapaksa regime with India and Maldives is a minilateral in the right direction and will benefit Sri Lanka. India would require a two-pronged strategy to its northern borders and its South, the Indian Ocean. India, the only nation among the Quad nations that shares a physical geographical border with China, is more vulnerable than the other Quad partners for confrontation, just like in the past. India's challenges from its western flank, from Af-Pak, will grow with the Chinese footprint expanding in Afghanistan. From India's South, the security balance of the Indian Ocean will be of primary interest where Sri Lanka, Maldives and other literals cannot be ignored.

The efforts of mini-lateral democratic alliances such as Quad should focus more on targeted nations like Sri Lanka by the Chinese "debt and strategic trap". Sri Lankan regime seeping away from democratic norms to a militarized rule has drifted from the Indo-Pacific configuration, a geographical flashpoint in India's vicinity. The Quad should actively engage and seek commitment from nations like Sri Lanka, pulling towards the norms and values of a rules-based order.

The country-specific strategic push from the Quad will assist Sri Lanka to recalibrate its foreign policy towards a more balanced and progressive path with international norms and values.

(Asanga Abeyagoonasekera is a geopolitical analyst, strategic advisor on security from Sri Lanka)

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FB launches new mental health resources, tools across apps IANS

San Francisco, October 8 (IANS): Social networking giant Facebook has announced new mental health resources, tools and programming across its apps, ahead of the World Mental Health Day on October 10.

"Facebook is working with mental health experts and organisations around the world to connect people with the support they need, and we're launching new content and tools to encourage people to start conversations about mental health," the tech giant said in a blogpost on October 7.

Amid concerns of the social

networking giant's effect on children's mental well-being, it opened a new 'Emotional Health' resource center on Facebook.

The centre includes resource cards on tips for creating positive mental health, and guides to provide equitable access to mental health support to vulnerable communities such as Black, Latino and Asian among others.

Recently, Facebook was criticised by a former employee in the US Congress about the negative effects of its platforms on children's mental health.

On WhatsApp, UNICEF launched a new global mental health chatbot to offer tips for communicating what's on a person's mind, breaking down stigmas and starting a conversation with someone you are concerned about.

Further, the World Health Organization's (WHO) health alert chatbot on WhatsApp will provide for mental health and

wellbeing resources like exercises to help reduce stress. Regional helplines, including a Loneliness Advice chatbot developed by the Connection Coalition in the UK, are also available.

On Messenger, the tech giant worked with WHO and acclaimed illustrator Caleb Boyles to develop the "I Care For You" sticker pack to help kick start conversations when the words are hard to find, the blogpost said.

"On World Mental Health Day and beyond, WHO is working with partners to raise awareness about the importance of mental health care, as well as to encourage people to open up, seek help, or offer support to those loved ones who may need it" added Gabriella Stern, WHO Director of Communications, in the post.

The tech giant has also recently introduced new suicide prevention toolkit, which has resources for parents, educators, youth and media on how to safely discuss suicide challenges.

Australian Covid-19 vaccine rate reaches 80% amid battle against 3rd wave Canberra, October 6 (IANS): Australia's coronavirus vaccine rollout has hit a major milestone, with 80 percent of adults having received at least one dose.

According to the latest data released by the Department of Health, 80.5 per cent of Australians aged 16 and older have received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 58.4 percent are fully vaccinated, Xinhua news agency reported.

Lieutenant General John Frewen, the head of the Covid Vaccination Taskforce, on October 6 said authorities were working to

address "pockets" with low rates, urging some states and territories relatively unaffected by the Delta variant to "make the assumption" that they will experience outbreaks of the variant.

"We are working with the state and territory authorities to try to figure out the best way to keep people coming forward," he told Nine Network television.

"There's certainly an element of complacency because they haven't had the major outbreaks."

Australia on October 6 reported more than 2,000 new locallyacquired cases and 22 deaths as

the country continues to battle the third wave of infections.

New South Wales (NSW), Australia's most populous state with Sydney as the capital city, registered 594 new local cases and 10 deaths.

Victoria, the second-most populous state with Melbourne as the capital city, reported a further 1,420 new local cases and 11 deaths.

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) recorded 28 new cases, 11 of which were in quarantine for their entire infectious period, and one more death.

Indians prioritised wellness & mental health during Covid: Survey New Delhi, October 10 (IANS): Nearly 85 per cent Indians spent more on wellness items during Covid-19 pandemic compared to previous years, according to a survey.

Titled 'Amex Trendex', the trend report from American Express, surveyed a sample of 2,000 general population travellers in the United States and 1,000 in Japan, Australia, Mexico, the UK, Canada and India.

It showed that more than twothirds (73 per cent) of Indian consumers feel their mental health has been impacted by the pandemic -- either by isolation restrictions or concerns for wellbeing.

Therefore, to combat the toll Covid-19 pandemic has taken on their well-being, Indians are

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investing more time and money for their physical and mental health, the survey revealed.

A whopping 93 per cent would rather choose to have a stronger mental health than a new car and 89 per cent agreed they would give up their favourite TV show for it.

More than 80 per cent Indian consumers said they have taken advantage of new mental health resources during the pandemic.

They are also spending more on natural vitamins and supplements (59 per cent), in-home fitness equipment (56 per cent) and organic food (58 per cent) and exercise (43 per cent).

Indian consumers also prioritised doing activities for mental well-being with family such as journaling or using meditation

apps (32 per cent), and organising a wellness activity for family and friends and/or colleagues (32 per cent).

Exercise (43 per cent), listening to music (34 per cent), taking mental breaks during the day (going on a walk or drive, coffee break, etc.)

(32 per cent) and meditation (32 per cent) had the greatest positive impact on their mental health, the survey showed.

Nearly 92 per cent of respondents said they want to spend more on travel to improve their wellbeing, while 66 per cent expect to spend much more on travel in the next 12 months than they did in 2020. While on vacation, Indians want to explore (34 per cent), practice yoga (29 per cent), meditate (27 per cent) and walk (23 per cent).

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HEALTH

Australian govt rejects demand for more hospital funding Canberra, October 7 (IANS): The Australian government on October 7 ruled out additional funding to help hospitals cope with the ongoing Covid-19 outbreaks.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt has rejected a plea from state and territory governments for more money to help the health system survive strains imposed

by Australia's severe wave of coronavirus infections, reports Xinhua news agency.

In a letter to state and territory health ministers, Hunt said the federal government has already increased healthcare funding

by A$30 billion ($21 billion) in response to the pandemic.

"The Australian government would warmly welcome it if states and territories were to match the increase in Australian government funding since 20122013," he wrote, according to local media The Age. "The Australian government has committed more than A$30 billion in additional health expenditure in the response to Covid-19."

All eight state and territory health ministers wrote to Hunt on September 30 calling for an

Minister for Health Greg Hunt

immediate injection of "crisis funding", warning that hospitals were facing "unrelenting strain due to the current Covid-19 demands".

"We are entering the most critical phase of the Covid-19 pandemic response for our hospital systems," they wrote.

On October 7, Australia reported more than 2,200 new locallyacquired coronavirus cases as the country continues to battle the third wave of infections.

India records 18,166 new Covid cases, 214 deaths New Delhi, October 10 (IANS): India registered 18,166 new Covid-19 cases recently pushing the country's infection caseload to 3,39,53,475, while the death toll reached 4,50,589 with 214 more fatalities, the Union Health Ministry said in an update on October 10.

The active cases declined by 5,672 to stand at 2,30,971, the lowest in 208 days, which is now 0.68 per cent of the total caseload.

In the span of 24 hours, 23,624 people recovered from the highly contagious virus, taking the total recovery count to 3,32,71,915, accounting for 97.99 per cent of the case tally. The death rate

stood at 1.33 per cent.

The daily positivity rate was recorded at 1.42 per cent, which has been below three per cent for the last 41 days. The weekly positivity rate, too, at 1.57 per cent was less than 3 per cent for the last 107 days.

Meanwhile, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said that till now 58.25 crore (58,25,95,693) samples have been tested for the coronavirus. Of this, 12,83,212 were tested on October 9.

The country has so far vaccinated 94,70,10,175 people with 66,85,415 being given a jab in the past day.

This has been achieved through 92,12,314 sessions.

40% of UP becomes Covid free Lucknow, October 4 (IANS): Nearly 40 per cent of Uttar Pradesh is now Covid-19 free and the state government has declared that out of the total 75 districts, the active caseload in 31 of them has come down to zero.

The total active caseload in the entire state was also recorded at a further low of just 159 active cases as of October 3.

Kanpur, Kasganj, Lakhimpur Kheri, Lalitpur, Mahoba, Mainpuri, Mau, Moradabad, Muzaffarnagar, Rampur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Shravasti, Varanasi, Sitapur and Unnao.

In the past 24 hours, the state reported 13 fresh Covid cases with seven patients recovering from the disease.

About 21 districts of the state are now left with a single active case each.

The overall positivity rate in Uttar Pradesh now stands at 2.16 per cent, while the recovery rate is at 98.8 percent.

The districts with zero active Covid cases include Amethi, Amroha, Baghpat, Ballia, Balrampur, Etah, Farrukhabad, Fatehpur, Ghazipur, Gonda, Hamirpur, Hapur, Hardoi, Hathras, Jalaun, Kanpur Dehat,

"The fresh cases have declined by more than 38,000 from its peak which was 38,055 on April 24. The state has also been able to restrict the daily Covid case-count below 50 for over 50 days in a row," said an official release.

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Oct 16-31, 2021 - Vol 2, Issue 8

MAKE IN INDIA

MAKE IN INDIA

Innovations and Advancement in AgriTech AGNIi has successfully engaged with numerous startups and innovators in the agriculture and rural livelihood space.

By AGNIi

A

griculture has been one of the strongest drivers of innovation throughout human history. The onset of agriculture has been responsible for human civilization and remains a cornerstone for humanity’s continued survival and prosperity.

With a massive increase in the human population and environmental changes, innovations in the AgriTech space will be crucial for sustainable agricultural growth.

India has a storied history of pioneering innovations in agriculture, having spearheaded its own Green Revolution under M.S Swaminathan, dramatically impacting crop yields and resilience.

The AGNIi Mission is committed to scouting and nurturing promising AgriTech innovators, who can have a positive impact on the agriculture industry.

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The Indian agriculture sector has its own challenges. The gaps in the ecosystem hinder local produce from going global. Kalgudi, a startup, has created a model to reduce these gaps and connect farmers, traders, input dealers, logistics providers, academia, institutional purchasers, POs, government departments, and consumers.

Information, aid, advice, buy, sell, and service interactions occur between them as they solve one other's problems and benefit together. With AGNIi’s help, Kalgudi got opportunities to pitch their innovation to organisations such Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Digital Green and Common Service Centre amongst many other partners. This gave the startup an opportunity to scale its solutions through new partnership opportunities.

UNDP’s Secure Himalaya project team reached out to the AGNIi Mission team with a problem statement based on Humanwildlife conflict. The Humanwildlife conflict due to shrinking natural habitats is a key area of concern, resulting not only in human and animal mortality, but

damage to agricultural crops, which is also forcing many people in rural areas to give up farming thereby impacting livelihoods in remote regions where the opportunities for employment are already limited. Hence, the AGNIi mission team started scouting solutions which are harmless to animals, can prevent conflicts, are workable at higher altitudes and low cost as well as applicable for agricultural lands. ANIDERS (Animal Intrusion Detection and Repellent System) is a device that detects animal intrusion in farmlands and turns them away by using the combination of Active and Passive Infrared sensors. These sensors detect the animal movements and use light and alarm systems to repel them.

As per a WWF India report, the innovation successfully repulsed the animals 86% of the times, which in turn resulted in 60% surge in crop produce. Since this innovation perfectly matched with the problem statements mentioned by the UNDP team, the solution got selected for its deployment in Uttarkashi and Sikkim district at higher ranges of Himalayas.

The AGNIi team remains committed to the objective of tackling the challenges in the agriculture sector with the help of emerging Indian technologies.

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Textile machinery industry in India

By Strategic Investment Research Unit (SIRU) Textile Machinery Industry Overview

A

$2.5 bn textile machine industry which is growing at 5% currently reflects on the growing strength of this subsegment in the textiles value chain in India.

A strong textile engineering industry that can grow, compete, and export would be able to provide support to the rising Indian textile industry, adding vibrancy and competitiveness.

There are about 3,250 companies involved in the manufacturing of textile machineries, accessories, and trading of equipment in India. The industry not only caters to rising domestic demand but also has the potential to establish India as an export hub for textile machinery with spinning machines representing the largest export opportunity.

A major component of the textile machinery industry in India thrives on the global partnerships that companies in India have forged with their global

counterparts be it in Germany, Italy, or Japan.

As per the 60th Annual Report by the Textile Machinery Manufacturing Association (TMMA), the Asian region will account for more than 90% of the total textile machinery market share, and in order to expand its technical horizons, many textile machine companies in the country are joining hands with their western counterparts to produce technologically advanced machines.

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MAKE IN INDIA

Blockchain: Powering India’s technological transformation

By Vivek Sigchi, Strategic Investment Research Unit (SIRU)

I

f you are reading this article, chances are that you’ve already heard about the widely popular ‘blockchain technology’. The term has gained massive traction since Satoshi Nakamoto (father of Bitcoin), published his famous white paper on a cryptography mailing list describing a digital currency that would allow secure, peer-to-peer transactions without the involvement of any middleman, whether that be the government, financial system or a company. Although Satoshi disappeared soon after he gave the world its first cryptocurrency, the technology has only scaled up with new innovations and better use cases. In 2020 itself, the global blockchain market size was estimated at $3 bn and is expected to reach $39.7 bn by 2025, growing at an impressive CAGR of 67.3% during the said period.

That said, the technology is also being received well in India. Many enterprises are trying to explore the technology by incorporating it in their daily business processes and a number of new start-ups are becoming a part of the big picture. In India, blockchain solutions have found the most takers in banking, financial services and insurance industry.

The public sector has also been actively using this technology for cases such as land title registry, vehicle lifecycle management, farm insurance and electronic health record management.

Furthermore, India ranks second in terms of crypto adoption

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worldwide behind Vietnam, but ahead of countries such as the US, UK, and China, according to the 2021 Global Crypto Adoption Index by blockchain data platform Chainalysis. So, the rising adoption of this technology is evident but the main question that remains for us to answer is - how long before we fully exploit the power of this disruptor and can India position itself as the biggest technology hub adopting this technology?

As per a report released by NASSCOM, titled ‘NASSCOM Avasant India Blockchain Report 2019’, majority of the mid and large service providers have less than 5% of blockchain projects in India, which is low when compared to their projects in other geographies such as North America and Europe. Even among blockchain start-ups, while venture capital investments worldwide were as high as $5.6 bn, India was able to attract only 0.2% of them. Furthermore, India accounted only for about 2% of all the blockchain startups, globally. This shows that while the technology is being well received, it is still at a very nascent stage. There are many industries for which this concept is yet to be understood. Lack of knowledge and understanding are the primary challenges hindering the adoption and growth of blockchain technology. There are also misconceptions that blockchain will be replacing the current systems, which is not true. Unlike other technologies, which have the potential to

deliver completely new services to citizens and other stakeholders alike, blockchain has the potential to revamp currently existing processes to unlock new sources of efficiency and value. Thus, the nascency of this idea presents India with huge opportunities to expand this market if it is able to tackle the bottlenecks well.

Now at this stage, many of us might be wondering why we should even expand and explore this idea. There are other sectors and challenges that require addressal. The current pandemic has also brought in dozens of other problems making it more difficult to implement this technology. So why should we?

There are several factors driving blockchain adoption in India, one of them being digitisation.

Over the past decade, India has successfully created foundational digital infrastructure envisaged to enable private sector applications running on top of it such as Aadhaar, UPI, e-Sign and Digilocker along with digitally enabled tax governance networks like GSTN or digitally enabled health coverage such as Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY).

These already lay a good base for us to experiment with the adoption of this technology in different sectors. Moreover, governance in India faces several challenges given the scale, diversity and complexity of processes involved in the delivery of varied public services.

Blockchain offers unique

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possibilities for addressing issues relating to improving governance.

In business, by allowing ‘selfregulation’, India can considerably move towards improving the ‘Ease of Doing Business’ by allowing entities to interact through a trusted medium with a reduced dependency on cumbersome regulatory oversight and compliance. By empowering citizens through features of transparency, decentralization and accountability, blockchain would help in improving ease of living as well. There are also several benefits that would directly affect the economy such as better contract management and procurement, greater accountability and quality control across supply chains and decentralization of authority in decision making. For example, blockchain can radically transform the agricultural sector in India by revamping the utility of eNAM, creating an audit trail of all farmer produce and removing the mistrust between farmers and arhatiyas (mandi intermediaries).

Blockchain applications can also be used to explore certification of the provenance of organic produce, thus increasing marketability to foreign markets.

Some more use cases for the Indian context are illustrated through the charts below.

Blockchain has extensive practical applicability. It can introduce a completely new way of dealing with business problems with improved efficiency. There are several businesses adopting the idea and given how India

wishes to position itself in the technology space in the coming years, this trend is only to continue. Moreover, technology efforts in India are being supported by players abroad as well. Foreign direct investment (FDI) in computer software and hardware jumped over threefold to $26.14 bn during 2020-21 on account of significant growth in the country's technology space, according to data from the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

The sector received $7.67 bn FDI in 2019-20 and $6.41 bn in 2018-19. The computer software and hardware sector accounted for about 43% of the total $59.63 bn foreign inflows that India attracted in 2020-21.

The technology space in India is growing significantly on the back of the rapid end-to-end digitisation of businesses. This has especially accelerated during the lockdowns over the last year that has forced businesses to automate processes across the value chain and this is likely to further accelerate this year and in the next 2-3 years. Thus, we can see how India is set to become one of the most important technological hubs of the world.

And, while we have witnessed how the ‘Internet of Information’ has changed our society over the past two decades, we are now entering a phase where Blockchain may do the same by ushering in a new paradigm comprising ‘Internet of Trust’ and ‘Internet of Value’.

Source: Invest India, Government of India

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INDIA NEWS

India Inc revenue likely grew 18-20% on-year in 2nd quarter Mumbai, October 10 (IANS): Higher commodity prices and continued revival in demand for consumer discretionary products likely lifted corporate revenue 18-20 per cent on-year to Rs 8.2 lakh crore in the second quarter of this fiscal, indicates a CRISIL Research study of 300 companies (excluding from the financial services and oil sectors) that account for 55-60 per cent of the market capitalisation of the National Stock Exchange.

Revenue from consumer discretionary products such as automobiles likely spurted 19-21 per cent on-year, aided by higher realisations and volume.

Construction-linked sectors are estimated to have grown 22-25 per cent on-year, benefiting from the low-base effect of last fiscal.

Overall revenue growth would be primarily supported by price hikes driven by costlier commodities. On-year volume growth would be mostly in single digit across key segments except commercial vehicles. To be sure, growth momentum would have slowed compared with the 47 percent on-year increase seen in

the first quarter.

On a sequential basis, overall revenue is likely to have grown 8-10 per cent.

Revenue from consumer discretionary products is expected to have risen 23-25 percent sequentially after demand was hit by the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the first quarter.

Construction-linked sectors are estimated to have grown a moderate 3-5 per cent as seasonal weakness slowed down execution and volume growth.

Revenue in the automobiles sector is estimated to have grown 27-30 percent sequentially, led by an increase in realisations.

That, in turn, is expected to steer growth for ancillary segments such as auto components and tyres, which have likely grown a robust 12-14 per cent and 6-10 percent on-quarter, respectively.

Overall revenue of the sample set is expected to have risen to Rs 15.8 lakh crore in the first half of this fiscal, up 30- 32 per cent on-year.

The moderation in revenue growth is expected to have

trickled down to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda), which is estimated to be up an average 5-7 per cent sequentially. From an on-year perspective, that would be 24-27 per cent higher because of the low-base effect.

During the pandemic, Australians have demonstrated growing trust in the delivery services, with online grocery sales expected to increase by 46.2 per cent this year, Xinhua news agency reported on October 2 citing the company IBISWorld as saying.

Panda Fresh, a new offshoot business of food delivery platform Hungry Panda, was created after Sydney, Australia's biggest city, became the epicentre of the nation's latest outbreak and went into lockdown in late June.

Panda Fresh now serves up fast home deliveries to Sydney residents in almost every suburb.

"So far we have roughly 30 staff in Sydney. Basically, if you place an order in the morning, you can

get your delivery in the afternoon.

And if the order is placed in CBD areas, you can receive it in two hours," Panda Fresh's marketing manager Adam Liu told Xinhua.

Liu said the systematic management of goods, warehousing and distribution ensured the team could handle around 500 orders a day, 400 more than the company's humble beginnings.

Australia's supermarket giant Woolworths Group is also ending its 2021 fiscal year on a high thanks to the online sales boom.

In a full-year profit and dividend statement, Woolworths said its Australian Food's eCommerce sales soared by 74.7 per cent compared to the previous year and its online sales jumped 58 per cent to A$5.6 billion ($4 billion).

However, the surging demand in online shopping is bringing challenges to some sections of the industry struggling with the workload.

Mumbai, October 5 (IANS): India's key equity indices rose during the October 5 lateafternoon trade session on the back of positive economic data and hopes of healthy Q3 results.

Nearly half of the 40 sectors are expected to log a sequential drop in Ebitda margin amid rising input prices. While overall margins may have continued to improve on-year to 100120 bps, excluding companies in the aluminium and steel products segments, it would have contracted 30-70 bps.

Sector wise, Oil & Gas, Power and Telecom indices gained the most, whereas Realty and Healthcare indices fell the most.

expert from the Queensland University of Technology, told Xinhua that the decentralised picking system used by most Australian supermarkets and increasing demand were the main difficulties.

In response, Woolworths and its supermarket rival Coles are introducing automated fulfilment centres, which means goods will be simply distributed after arriving at centers, and mostly relying on robots to do the grocery picking.

Meanwhile, Mortimer believes the shopping habits developed throughout the past 18 months of regular lockdowns will continue even when the pandemic has ended.

"If you've set up an online account for your favorite supermarket brands, you've entered your credit card details, your delivery address, you've created a shopping list, so over a period of time habits form."

Professor Gary Mortimer, a retail

IANS

Prior to the rise, the two key indices had a gap down opening and remained subdued for the better part of the day's trade.

Globally, Asian shares followed a broad sell-off on Wall Street to weaken for a third straight session on October 5, as investors feared oil prices hitting multi-year highs would add to inflationary pressures caused by supply chain disruptions.

Australia's online grocery industry sees boom despite Covid Canberra, October 2 (IANS): The harsh reality of millions of Australians being in lockdown for months due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic has proven to be a boon for the nation's online grocery industry, according to a research company.

Positive data, hopes of healthy Q3 results lift markets

Consequently, operating profitability, as represented by the Ebitda margin, would have narrowed by 40-80 bps on- quarter as a complete passthrough of the sharp increase in raw material cost would not have been possible.

For the first half of this fiscal, overall Ebitda margin (for 300 companies) is estimated at 22-24 per cent, marking an expansion of 200-250 bps year-on-year, and driven by a 380 bps expansion in the first quarter.

BUSINESS & TRADE

Consequently, the 30-scrip sensitive index traded at 59,692.66 points around 2.40 p.m., up 393.34 points or 0.66 per cent.

Besides, the NSE Nifty50 traded at 17,816 points, up by 124.75 points or 0.71 per cent.

"Nifty opened lower on October 5 and remained in a range for the better part of the morning.

After 12.40 p.m., it started to rise.

Volumes on the NSE are a bit on the higher side, while the advance decline ratio was sharply in the positive," said Deepak Jasani, Head of Retail Research, HDFC Securities.

"Services sector activity in India

continued to remain strong in September despite a small fall from August. According to the monthly IHS Markit India Services Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) survey, services PMI stood at 55.2 in September, down from 56.7 in August."

According to Gaurav Garg, Head of Research, CapitalVia Global Research: "NSE Nifty is bouncing back after testing its immediate support of 17,452 and this time the 50 stocks index may go beyond 18,000 levels by the end of October 2021."

"India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) in its latest report has said that short-term power prices are likely to remain elevated in the near term on account of a continued increase in imported coal prices."

Aus central bank forecasts economic, employment rebound Canberra, October 5 (IANS): As the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) reckons with rising unemployment indicators, the central bank's Governor Philip Lowe on October 5 expressed optimism for an end-of-year rebound.

In his monthly statement, Lowe said the bank would continue its "highly supportive monetary conditions to achieve a return to full employment in Australia and inflation consistent with the target", reports Xinhua news agency.

Interest rates were held at their record low of 0.10 per cent, and the bank has stuck to its A$4 billion ($2 billion) weekly bond buying program.

Australian banking group ANZ forecasted on October 5 that Australia's unemployment rate,

currently measured at 4.5 per cent, would rise above 5 per cent later this year based on data from job advertisements, which showed a decline in job vacancies for the third consecutive month.

Lowe expected this trend to begin turning around as hours worked pick up in October and November as cities begin to lift restrictions.

"In our central scenario, the economy will be growing again in the December quarter and is expected to be back around its pre-Delta path in the second half of next year."

He dispelled fears that inflation would begin to impact goods prices across Australia.

"While disruptions to global supply chains are affecting the prices of some goods, the impact of this on the overall rate of inflation remains limited."

Adani Ports not to handle container cargo from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan New Delhi, October 11 (IANS): In national interest, Adani Ports will not handle containerised cargo originating from Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

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Adani Ports issued a trade advisory that effective from November 15, Adani Ports will not EXIM (export-import) containerised cargo originating from these countries.

The trade advisory will apply to all the terminals operated by APSEZ, including third party terminals at any APSEZ port until further notice.

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Oct 16-31, 2021 - Vol 2, Issue 8

INDIA NEWS

India aims to be advanced but not at the cost of environment: Hardeep Puri

IANS

transformation as India's urban areas are expected to contribute to as much as 70 per cent of the national GDP by 2030. We have to achieve both our economic aspirations and realise our environmental responsibilities," he said, as he called for promoting new and innovative low-carbon technologies under "Accelerating Urban Action for a Carbon-free World" on the United Nations World Habitat Day 2021.

New Delhi, October 11 (IANS): India aims to achieve economic growth like advanced countries, but it will not copy their path of development as it is aware of the environmental cost, Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said recently.

According to a statement by the Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry, the ministry is aiming to develop technologies that ensure housing, service delivery, and better mobility for all, and place people at the forefront of sustainable urban development, without producing much carbon footprint.

"India recognises the importance of its cities in the country's

"'Accelerating Urban Action for a Carbon-free World' is not

New Delhi, October 8 (IANS): Power generation from zerocarbon sources avoided a gas bill of 33 billion euros across the European Union (EU) in the first three months of the gas shortage ( July-September), as well as 2.3 billion euros in Britain, a new Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) analysis said on October 8.

all-time highs -- coal delivered to Europe traded at $233 per tonne, while fossil gas reached euro 92/ MWh and CO2 emissions priced at nearly 65 euro per tonne.

only appropriate but also very relevant from India's context. The increasing global urban footprint makes more energy demands in cities which are already responsible for 78 percent of global energy consumption and 70 percent of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions," Puri said, adding that the climate change makes human settlements vulnerable, especially for the marginalised and urban poor, who are exposed to extreme weather events.

India was the seventh mostaffected country by climate change in 2019, with most of the impact being felt by its cities.

India's cumulative CO2 emissions from 1870-2017 is very less - at only 3 per cent, as compared to the 25 per cent by the US, 22 per cent by the EU and UK, and 13 percent by China, the minister added.

Europe's decarbonization 'reaches' 66%, says analysis

The share of zero-carbon generation in the region reached an all-time high of 66 per cent in the third quarter of the year, helping keep the lights on and cut fossil fuel import bills.

Power prices in Europe and the UK have skyrocketed in recent months as a result of rallying wholesale prices of coal, gas and carbon in tandem with power demand rebounding to pre-pandemic levels, and against a background of low fuel reserves in Europe and delays in commodity exports from producing countries.

The last week of September saw these commodities trading at

The price volatility in EU and UK power markets are a timely reminder that reliance on fossil imports is risky and expensive.

During this time, renewables in most European countries covered a significant portion of demand, despite reports of lower generation output, shielding some part of the mix from the effects of fuel costs that would have likely required more gas.

In the EU, wind and solar capacity generated an average output of 50 GW in the July-September period, a record high, delivering 28 per cent of all power generation.

With nuclear generating an additional 76 GW (21 percent of power generation), their combined output effectively covered the equivalent of 126 large coal or gas power plants running full steam, leaving 26 per cent of power generation from gas and

another 13 per cent from coal.

If this zero-carbon power had to be generated from gas, at the average of the record high prices seen over these months, it would have added approximately 26 billion euros to the gas import bill, with hydropower avoiding another 7 billion euros.

This is assuming no increase in fuel prices due to the additional demand and therefore represents a very conservative lower bound.

Similarly, zero-carbon technologies in Britain accounted for half of the power generated from July to September.

Wind and solar had an average output of 5.4 GW, while nuclear generated 4.6 GW over the same period. This is the total output from 10 large coal or gas power plants running full steam.

If this power had to be generated from gas, at the average prices each month, the additional gas import bill would have been about 2.2 billion euros, with hydro bringing the total up to 2.3 billion euros.

Indian 'Warrior Moms' demand clean air for their children IANS

New Delhi, October 9 (IANS): The days of severe air pollution have started in northwest India.

The annual climate change negotiations are just a few weeks away and the issue of continued use of coal for thermal power plants is on the boil yet again with climate leaders, think tanks and researchers and activists demanding ambitious action from the governments.

But a bunch of mothers from across India have no such grand agenda.

Their simple demand is to draw the attention of the Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC)

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Bhupender Yadav towards the rising health impacts caused due to air pollution because of Thermal Power Plants (TPP), especially on their children's health.

This group of mothers - calling themselves 'Warrior Moms' - from all over India stood peacefully holding placards urging an end to polluting coal at the main gate of the Ministry's headquarters at Indira Paryavaran Bhavan in Jorbagh here and asking the MoEF&CC to ensure that TPPs implement the 2015 emission control norms, among others.

Earlier, in August, the group had initiated an online petition

- #NoExtensionsToPolluters in August.

The petition addressed to the Environment Ministry has so far been signed by over 1,000 women including several celebrities as part of a campaign with the same demand.

These norms have been mandated by the Ministry itself to tighten emission norms, but these continue to be given extension year after year.

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ENERGY & RESOURCES

Global cues push up energy crisis in India, govt looks to increase generation New Delhi, October 10 (IANS): The build up power crisis in the country has worsened this month as acute fuel shortages at power plants threaten outages in coming days stalling the revival wheels of world's fastest growing major economy.

As per official data, the country's 135 odd thermal plants on an average are sitting on just four days of coal stocks at the end of September, down from 13 days of coal stocks at the beginning of August. Regulations mandate 22 days of stock at thermal plants.

Several plants in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu are on alert for outages. In Delhi, state power minister Satyendar Jain has said that if coal supply doesn't improve, there will be a blackout in Delhi in two days.

The coal shortages at power plants had come at a time when production from Coal India, which meets almost 80 percent of fuel needs of the country, had fallen owing to the long monsoon this year. Though Coal India Limited maintains, its supplies are nowhere at a lower level this year compared to the last year, power sector sources said that the problem is also compounding due to lower interest shown by debt ridden state utilities to buy more coal to run power plants at optimal levels.

"Surging electricity demand due to economic recovery, seasonal low coal supply months, state Gencos not having financial ability to store 22 days of coal

stock before monsoon and high spot prices of coal and LNG in the international market - all are factors creating this stressful situation," said Debasish Mishra, a Mumbai-based partner at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu.

To meet the domestic shortages, an option is available to buy coal from abroad, but the post Covid surge in electricity demand worldwide has created added interest securing fuel sources that had shot up global coal prices.

Imported coal price of Indonesian coal has jumped from $60/tonne in March-2021 to $160/tonne (in September/October, 2021) of 5,000 GAR (Gross as received) coal. The import of coal has decreased in comparison to 201920 due to import substitution and rising prices of imported coal.

Australian non-coking coal is touching a price of over $200 per tonne.

Moreover, extreme weather events are also playing spoilsport.

China's top coal-producing province suspended output at 27 mines because of heavy rain and flooding, adding more pressure to an energy crisis gripping the nation. China is one of the largest producers as well as consumers of coal. Lack of adequate growth in renewables and skyrocketing prices of natural gas is also contributing to brimming global energy crisis. So is China's decision to secure all available sources of fuel available globally at any cost creating a shortage in the world market and prices jumping up sharply.

India enters High Ambition Coalition for protecting land, ocean New Delhi, October 7 (IANS): India on October 7 officially joined the High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People, a group of more than 70 countries encouraging the adoption of the global goal to protect 30x30.

The 30x30 is the aim of the coalition to promote an international agreement to protect at least 30 percent of the world's land and ocean by 2030.

India's announcement came in the lead up to a high-level biodiversity meeting, hosted

by China, held virtually from October 11 to 15. It tackled key aspects of the biodiversity treaty to be finalised in 2022 and the global 30x30 goal is currently a centrepiece of the treaty.

Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Rameshwar Prasad Gupta, handed over the signed HAC agreement to Ambassador of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain in a ceremony here, a release from the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) said.

HAC members currently include a mix of countries in the global

north and south (south refers to the countries in Asia and African continent along with those in south/middle American continent), Europe, Latin America. India is the first of the BRICS bloc of major emerging economies (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) to join the HAC.

Expressing delight on India joining member countries of HAC, Gupta said that resource mobilisation will always be the cornerstone for implementation of policies and programmes for conserving biodiversity and said India would ensure all support in meeting the global biodiversity targets.

Welcoming India's decision to join the HAC, which was initiated at the "One Planet Summit" in Paris in January 2021, Lenain said that on the eve of the opening of COP15, India joining the High Ambition Coalition is a real game changer and will boost our multilateral efforts.

"India is a major player for biodiversity protection," the French ambassador said.

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INDIA NEWS

TRAVEL

Six Senses arrives in India with the opening of Six Senses Fort Barwara From the responsible restoration of the palace to the wider Barwara community, lake and landscape, the resort takes good care of its surroundings

S

ix Senses Fort Barwara is a beautiful 14th-century fort that has been sensitively converted to become a destination for history lovers, adventure seekers and wellness enthusiasts. Thirty minutes from the Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, it celebrates its highly anticipated arrival on October 15.

Originally owned by a Rajasthani Royal Family, the fort offers sensational views of the Chauth ka Barwara Mandir (temple) and the Barwara lake. The significant conservation effort has taken more than a decade to complete and incorporates two original palaces and two temples within the walled fort. The property is designed to reinterpret the gracious and regal ambiance of a bygone era dating back 700 years.

A Brief History The original Barwara Fort was constructed in the 14th century by the Chauhans (Indian Rajput caste) and was conquered by the Rajawat Dynasty from the Hadas in 1734. During World War II, Raja Man Singh from the noble family of Barwara along with Jaipur State Armed Forces fought alongside the British. In appreciation of his services, he was bestowed with the title of Rao Bahadur. Panika, under the leadership of late Nimish Patel and Parul Zaveri, led the architectural design with a team of conservation experts including landscape designer Savita Punde and horticulturist Pradeep Kishen.

Reinterpreted Experience of Royal, Ancient India There are 48 newly designed onebedroom suites, including five specialty suites, housed within the historic fort’s walls. Sizes range from 753 square feet (70 square meters) to 3,014 square feet (280 square meters). Suites in the East Wing overlook the countryside and those in the West Wing offer views to Barwara village and beyond. Each suite is designed in a contemporary Rajasthani style to complement the historic backdrop of the fort while subtly incorporating state-of-the-art inroom technology along with the groundbreaking Sleep With Six

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Senses standards. These include handmade mattresses, cotton bedding, and additional sleep amenities to promote a good night’s sleep.

For example, guests can request a sleep tracker, the results of which are interpreted during a short consultation with a wellness expert, who may recommend a personalized program of lifestyle changes and treatments.

A Sanctuary of Well-Being Fort Barwara has now been transformed into a 48-suite resort while retaining its medieval features. The resort has three restaurants that serve modern and traditional cuisine using locally sourced ingredients, together with a bar and lounge. The 30,000 square foot (2,800 square meters) Six Senses Spa and fitness center are located within the original women’s palace and will feature Ayurvedic and personalized wellness programs. There are two swimming pools, banqueting areas, a lifestyle boutique and a children’s club. Daily safari drives to the Ranthambore National Park will also be on offer.

The brand’s Six Senses Integrated Wellness plays a pivotal role at all resorts and spas. At Barwara, guests will discover a menu of signature massages, Ayurvedic treatments, nurturing facials, mindfulness practices, and personalized wellness programs based on the preventative principles of Eastern medicine and result-oriented Western influences. The aim is to enhance every aspect of each wellness experience so guests feel immediate, real benefits however long they stay.

Indigenous essential oils, muds, clays, gels, and vegetable oils are blended to create an energy-boosting signature range of scrubs and spa potions at the Alchemy Bar. Using fresh, seasonal and organic ingredients from the garden, the concept behind this offering is to turn ordinary ingredients into something extraordinary as part of a highly personalized experience to address the guests’

needs in the present moment.

Locally Sourced and Inspired Culinary Journeys Six Senses chooses a cleaner and simpler approach to food preparation, focusing on quality, balance, and fresh whole food made from scratch. The Eat With Six Senses pillar of the Six Senses Integrated Wellness philosophy is based on the guiding principles of natural ingredients, local and sustainable menus and less is more.

It is essential to know what’s in food and where it’s from, and each resort reinforces its relationships with local farmers, producers, and suppliers, who are committed to responsible sourcing and seasonality. By working closely with local producers, it assures that ethical practices in raising animals and avoiding at-risk species are adhered to.

Led by Matthew Cropp, the resort’s flagship dining destination, Roohani, showcases the power of local produce from the resort’s organic garden and farms in the nearby village in innovative ways. The overarching theme is Rajasthani-inspired fresh, sustainable cuisine highlighting Indian elements and flavors while embracing the Eat With Six Senses approach.

Known for private and intimate dining spaces, the all-day dining destination, The Cortile, will cater to a wide range of palettes.

Seasonal menus from freshly picked produce will be created while using local techniques and methods that have been handed down as best-kept secrets for generations.

The Viewing Gallery and The Rajawat Room are perfect options to enjoy signature cocktails after a safari or before dinner. Guests can savor flame-to-table cooking using seasonal ingredients by the poolside at Rani Bagh, which will serve innovative finger food and light menus.

Fort Barwara allows their guests’ imagination to run wild with offering of Destination Dining.

Guests can climb to the highest

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terrace for a panoramic bird’s eye view or choose their spot to create their own recipe for romance under a blanket of stars.

Suitable for any special occasion and mindful of the palace’s original beauty, The Barwara State Room can be transformed to suit guests’ requirements for both formal and informal events. From weddings and family celebrations to cultural gatherings and product launches, the resort’s experienced chefs add a touch of showmanship to the service to make any big day a truly memorable one. Situated next to the fort’s original step well, Zenana Bagh lawns offer spectacular views of The Zenana Mahal (Ladies Palace) in the backdrop. This venue is perfect for larger gatherings to mark milestone celebrations.

A Royal Base for Exploring Regional Delights The resort offers activities to suit energetic guests and those who prefer to simply sit back and relax, taking in all that the dazzling destination has to offer.

Guests can join heritage walks to discover Fort Barwara and nearby Rajasthan attractions and villages.

Inquisitive and enthusiastic guests can learn about healthy cuisine by touring the resort’s organic garden, water bottling plant, and local markets. There are also daily fitness classes and group activities on offer.

Sustainability From the responsible restoration of the palace to the wider Barwara community, lake and landscape, the resort akes good care of its surroundings .

It’s not just about minimizing negative impacts, but also about pioneering positive ones. The Six Senses Environmental and Social Sustainability Policy focuses on energy efficiency, water and waste management, social commitment, protecting natural surroundings, air quality, and noise control.

At the property the energy footprint of importing branded drinking water has been eliminated with the resort having its own reverse osmosis plant

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to produce top quality still and sparkling mineralized water, which is provided to guests in re-usable glass bottles. The key focus of the landscape concept by Savita Punde of Design Cell and horticulturist Pradeep Kishen is to reinterpret the regal setting experienced at Rajasthan’s royal forts and palaces. Rooted in the rich history of the fort, the design has retained traditional gardens and water features, local native flora, and fauna. Age- old water harvesting techniques have also been modernized in a way to not only celebrate rain in this area but also make the observer acutely aware of this precious resource through spiral structures across the resort. Shekhavati art curated

by Natasha Jeyasingh of Carpe Art will be used to depict the rich history of the fort in the landscape.

The landscaping team is also working on Barwara Lake’s restoration project, which will remove invasive species of plants that lower the water table and re-introduce endemic plant species to bring back balance.

This alongside working hand in hand with the community on water management will allow the water table to rise again and the village will have easy access to fresh water.

Introductory Booking Offers To celebrate the first Six Senses Resort in India is available at INR 65,000 plus applicable taxes per night. This rate includes breakfast, lunch and dinner for two and a special Six Senses activity designed to engage guests and their loved ones. Bookable on sixsenses.com.

How to Get There Jaipur: 2.5 hours from Jaipur Airport by car Delhi: 6 to 7 hours from Delhi by car or 3.5 hours by train to Sawai Madhopur and then 30 minutes by car to Six Senses Fort Barwara.

The drive from Delhi is expected to be halved once the Delhi Mumbai expressway is completed later this year.

Ranthambore National Park: A 30-minute drive from the resort.

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TRAVEL

Craving an international vacation?

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hile travellers are looking ahead to booking trips to stunning locations around the globe, as the festive season approaches, their desire is still a dream far from reality. Travel from India to certain countries is still restricted, and there are still strong safety concerns for international trips. But here's what you didn't know India has many stunning tourist spots which have a heritage, beauty and feel of International hot spots.

Andaman and Nicobar Island

Right from the picturesque hill stations, stunning beaches to peaceful getaways among nature and culture, there is an interesting choice of destinations across the country that can give stiff competition to international counterparts. So, for your next vacation, visit one of these unique gems that can give you an essence of an international destination curated by EaseMyTrip.com:

The striking beaches and turquoise waters of Andaman make it one of the most sought after holiday destinations. The unique island provides a scenic view, secluded beaches, and a range of activities, which give tough competition to their counterparts in Thailand. The island also provides travellers with an opportunity to explore totally untouched sites and experience an amazing culture like no other. The heavenly beaches in this region provide the opportunity to try exciting water sports such as sea walking, jetskiing and snorkelling. The region is also one of the most prominent destinations in the country for underwater diving. Apart from exotic beaches, the territory also has rich flora and fauna, vibrant corals, and scenic landscapes with an intriguing colonial past.

Pondicherry

Auli, Uttarakhand

Known as the French capital of India, Pondicherry has an IndoFrench culture and has a lot to offer travellers. With beautiful beaches, enticing food, colonial architecture and historical monuments, Pondicherry has been long known as the Paris of the East. The French colony in Pondicherry has a row of vintage old houses and colourful walls which remind travellers of Italy and France. The White Town area of the city is known as the French Quarter, you will have a hard time distinguishing it from an actual street in France. Many of the structures were built by the French during their rule, and are deemed as heritage sites today.

Pondicherry is also known for its authentic French cuisine, jazzy nightlife and lively marketplaces.

Auli, known as the mini Switzerland of India is one of the rare skiing destinations in India. Located at an elevation of 2,500 meters, Auli is known for its vast stretches of clean, snow-clad mountain slopes, and is surrounded by coniferous and oak forests, which provides its striking resemblance to the Swiss Alps. The slopes in the region are suited for both professional and amateur skiers, and there are several centres in the city that offer training to prospective skiers at affordable rates. The quaint hill station provides an exquisite view of the mighty Himalayas along with its peaks including Nanda Devi, Kamet and Dunagiri. In the summer season, hikers can enjoy walks around the picturesque roads or even explore

World Ghumo

mountain bike trails.

Thrillophilia

Malana, Himachal Pradesh Popularly known as 'Little Greece in Himachal Pradesh', Malana is a charming and serene village in the state. The topography, unique hilly terrains and pleasant weather in this pristine village will remind youof the beautiful landscapes in Greece. Malana village has unique characteristics which make it different from other cities in the country. The village follows a local system that is more Greek than Indian in both style and system. It has an overwhelming sense of seclusion from the rest of the country, because of which it looks absolutely different from any other city. It is a perfect location for tourists to enjoy hiking, surrounded by green lush and snow-clad mountains. It is also a perfect destination to camp and

spends a night under the bright stars.

Shillong, Meghalaya Shillong is known for its tranquility and natural beauty and is popularly called the Scotland of the East due to its striking similarity to the country.

This nickname was given by the British as its green mountains, pine timberlands and beautiful lakes reminded them of Scotland.

Visitors can immerse into the

lap of nature and explore nearby vibrant spots and stunning landscapes that have a striking resemblance to Scotland. The charming hill station has a very westernized culture and numerous heritage buildings that reflect British architecture.

The rich flora and fauna, unique attractions, friendly people, and enjoyable weather, makes Shillong an ideal destination throughout the year.

With 22 new signings in 18 months, Marriott International expands footprint In South Asia O n the heels of the 16th Hotel Investment Conference South Asia (HICSA 2021), Marriott International announced it has signed 22 new hotel agreements in South Asia – comprising India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Nepal – in the past 18 months, expecting to add more than 2,700 rooms to its fast-growing portfolio. It is currently the hotel chain with the largest number of rooms in the South Asia region and expects to continue its solid growth with these new signings.

“In a highly unpredictable year, these signings are a testament to Marriott International’s resilience and agility in driving strong growth within a hospitality landscape that continues to evolve,” commented Rajeev Menon – President Asia Pacific (excluding Greater China), Marriott International. “It is a sign of confidence from our owners and franchisees who

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have been an integral part of our growth journey. We are grateful for their continued support and trust in the power of our brands as we continue to welcome back travellers.”

“These signings reinforce our commitment to South Asia as a high potential region where we continue to grow and engage with an expanding customer base by introducing more of Marriott’s brands and unique experiences in exciting destinations,” emphasized Kiran Andicot - Regional Vice President Development, South Asia, Marriott International. “We look forward to the opening of these new hotels in the future and to exploring future development opportunities throughout the region.”

Owner Desire for Luxury Brands More than a third of the newly signed projects in South Asia in the last 18 months include

hotels and resorts in the luxury tier, comprised of brands such as JW Marriott and W Hotels.

This reflects travellers’ growing demand for bespoke and superb amenities and services.

Travellers can anticipate the debut of the W Hotels brand in Jaipur with W Jaipur in 2024. Once opened, the hotel expects to disrupt the norms of traditional luxury with its iconic service, infectious energy, and innovative experiences.

Rooted in holistic well-being, JW Marriott properties offer a haven designed to allow guests to focus on feeling whole – present in mind, nourished in body, and revitalized in spirit. Expecting to debut across several distinctive locations within South Asia over the next five years, travellers can look forward to JW Marriott Ranthambore Resort & Spa located at one of India’s most prominent wildlife sanctuaries, The Ranthambore National Park; JW Marriott Chennai ECR

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Resort & Spa on India’s beautiful Southern coastline; JW Marriott Agra Resort & Spa in the land of the TAJ MAHAL; and the debut of the JW Marriott brand in Goa and Shimla -- two of India’s most famous resort destinations -- with JW Marriott Goa and JW Marriott Shimla Resort & Spa. JW Marriott Hotel Bhutan, Thimphu is expected to mark the debut of the JW Marriott brand in Bhutan, is anticipated to open in 2025 and offer curated

IANS

experiences that celebrate the peaceful spirit of the land.

Maldives anticipates its second JW Marriott hotel in 2025, when the JW Marriott Resort & Spa, Embhoodhoo Finolhu - South Male Atoll featuring 80 pool villas is expected to open. The signing follows the newly opened The Ritz-Carlton Maldives, Fari Islands, strengthening Marriott’s footprint on the famed leisure destination.

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SPORTS

Queensland Olympic and Paralympic athletes welcomed back in Brisbane

Q

ueensland Olympic and Paralympic athletes were given a welcome home parade through Brisbane’s Queen Street Mall on October 8, after a successful medal haul from the 2021 Olympics and Paralympics in Tokyo.

Queensland’s athletes brought home 22 gold medals, 12 silver and 22 bronze over the two major events.

All returning Queensland athletes have now had enough time to return to the country and complete their quarantine.

The parade started at 2:30pm, making its way down Warwick Street and into Herbert Street, stopping at the Allora Regional Sports Museum before heading to the Allora Sports Club.

The event feature “a good oldfashioned street parade replete with banners, streamers and an open-top car“.

There was a reception at City Hall, and there also were BBQ and drinks.

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SPORTS

India News, IAIE and AIBC organize sports networking event at the Metricon Stadium

By Dr Ashutosh Misra National Sports Chair, AIBC 9th October 2021: It was a very fulfilling and memorable day when cricket brought two countries and generations together at the Metricon Stadium in Gold coast. The Australia India Business Council (AIBC) Sports Chair organised a very successful and impactful networking event in conjunction with the Queensland Cricket, Cricket Australia, Institute for Australia Engagement, India News and the Indian Community of Gold Coast (ICGC).

The event was attended by over 75 people (due to Covid restrictions) and featured a traditional welcome of the guests, showcasing India’s soft power.

Amongst the chief guests were Mrs Archana Singh, Honorary Consul Queensland, Ms Kirsten Pike, former Australian cricketer and deputy chair of Queensland Cricket Board, Mr Ryan Harris, former Australian cricketer, Mr John Buchanan, former Australian cricket team coach, Ms Angie Bell, Federal MP for Moncrieff, Mr Nik Senapati, President AIBC Queensland, Dr Ashutosh Misra, National Sports Chair, Mr Muthuraj Guruswamy and Dr Ram Mohan, members of executive committee, AIBC Queensland, Mr Ankit Taneja,Country Head, Mahindras, Mr Matt Smith,Home Solutions Metricon, and Mr Pushpinder Oberoi, Mr Manish Saini and Ms Ree Ali representing the ICGC.

The event was instrumental in creating a buzz around the ongoing series and also connecting our younger generation with the cricketing legends, for gathering some tips and lessons in cricket and leadership. The three cricketer panellists - Ms Kirsten Pike, Mr Ryan Harris and Mr John Buchanan shared their reflections on cricket, their professional experiences in general and against India, and the significance of the ongoing series. Mrs Archana Singh took note of the importance of sport and cricket in strengthening bilateral ties and Ms Angie Bell thanked the Indian community for their continued role in strengthening bilateral relations and multicultural ethos. The panellists were very impressed with the quality of the questions from the audience, especially the young ones and thanked the AIBC for inviting them to the event.

Mr Nik Senapati also shared his remarks on behalf of the AIBC and underlined the significance of sport in building stronger relations.

Mr Ankit Taneja and Mr Matt Smith profiled their businesses before the audience and dignitaries, and expressed their happiness in providing sponsorship to the event. Dr Ashutosh Misra ended the proceedings with a vote of thanks on behalf of AIBC. After the event, the guests proceeded to the stadium to watch the match.

Mr Ryan Harris addressing the guests

Mr Ankit Taneja delivering his comments

Ms Kirsten Pike addressing the guests

Mr John Buchanan sharing his observations

Mrs Archana Singh addressing the gathering

Ms Angie Bell sharing her observations

Interaction of two generations

Interaction of two generations

Mr Ryan Harris being welcomed

Mr Ankit Taneja being welcomed

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Interaction of two generations

Ms Angie Bell MP being welcomed

Mr John Buchanan being welcomed

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Sharing a lighter moment

The panellists

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SPORTS

Mooney and McGrath set up Australia's 14-run win over India in final T20I Gold Coast, Oct 10: An unbeaten 44 off 31 balls by Tahlia McGrath apart from 61 of 43 balls by Beth Mooney followed by consistent strikes from the bowlers helped Australia to a 14-run win over India in the third and final T20I at the Metricon Stadium here on Sunday. The victory also meant that Australia finished the multiformat series on a high, winning by 11-5.

Chasing 150, Smriti Mandhana smashed 52 off 49 balls after starting slow in the power-play and losing Shafali Verma cheaply.

She also shared a stand of 57 runs with Jemimah Rodrigues (23 off 26 balls) for the second wicket to keep India in the hunt.

Smriti's dismissal off Nicola Carey in the 15th over triggered a slide for India, losing Harmanpreet Kaur (13), Pooja Vastrakar (5) and Harleen Deol (2) in three successive overs for just 10 runs.

Richa Ghosh remained unbeaten on 23 off 11 balls in a late cameo with four boundaries. But at the end, 150 proved to be too much for India to hunt down.

Mooney, who geared up with a hat-trick of boundaries against Harmanpreet Kaur in the eighth over, reached her half-century with a creamy cover drive off Renuka Singh.

Though Beth fell in the 18th over when Harmanpreet pulled off a brilliant diving forward one-handed catch off Rajeshwari, Tahlia along with Georgia Wareham ensured that Rajeshwari's over costed 16 runs.

Shikha Pandey and Deepti Sharma leaked 10 runs each in the final two overs Tahlia's late onslaught pushed the target out of India's reach.

Brief scores: Australia 149/5 in 20 overs (Beth Mooney 61, Tahlia McGrath 44 not out, Rajeshwari Gayakwad 2/37, Renuka Singh 1/23) beat India 135/6 in 20 overs (Smriti Mandhana 52, Richa Ghosh 23 not out, Nicola Carey 2/42, Annabel Sutherland 1/13) by 14 runs.

Earlier, Beth and Tahlia scored critical knocks to post a respectable total for Australia, who were 73/4 in 11.1 overs. In desperate need of a fightback, Beth and and Tahlia joined forces for a 44-run partnership in 6.1 overs. Tahlia started off with a slog-sweep off Rajeshwari Gayakwad through square leg.

India controls world cricket now, says Imran Khan Islamabad, Oct 12 (IANS): Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that money has become a "big player" in cricket and that countries like New Zealand and England wouldn't have dared to cancel their tours of India because "India controls" the sport.

The former Pakistan skipper added that "England let itself down" by deciding to cancel the men's and women's teams' short tour of Pakistan recently, days after the New Zealand cricket team decided to abandon their while-ball series and fly out of Pakistan citing "security fears".

In an interview to Middle East Eye, Imran said, "Money is a big player now. For the players, as well as for the cricket boards. The money lies in India, so basically, India controls world cricket now.

I mean, they do, whatever they say goes. No one would dare do that to India because they know that the sums involved, India can sort of produce much more money."

In the wake of the New Zealand and England cricket teams cancelling their tours of Pakistan, some Pakistan ministers and former cricketers have started dragging India's name in their statements. They are also

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allegedly blaming the Indian cricket board (BCCI) for the cancellation of their tours.

In fact, a senior BCCI official had told IANS recently that Pakistan has an old habit of 'using' India's name in all their 'big or small news' that too without any proof.

"We wish Ramiz Raja (PCB chief) good luck…Pakistan cricket reaches new heights under him. We want to clear one thing that the BCCI has no role in the cancellation of England and New Zealand tours to Pakistan," a BCCI official had told IANS. Imran said in his interview that England think they do Pakistan a great favour by touring the country.

"England let itself down (by cancelling the series). I think that there is still this feeling in England that they do a great favour to play with countries like Pakistan. One of the reasons is that, obviously, the money," the Pakistan PM said.

In fact PCB chief Raja too has spoken on similar lines, saying that, "The ICC is a politicised body divided between the Asian and Western blocs and 90 per cent of its revenues are generated from India.

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SPORTS

Faf du Plessis and bowlers lead After winning IPL title, Dhoni praises KKR for Chennai to fourth IPL title Continued from Page 1

Chasing 193, Shubman Gill pulled the first ball of the innings over mid-on off Deepak Chahar.

Venkatesh Iyer dropped on zero, swatted Josh Hazlewood over backward square leg for a powerful six. The run-fest continued as Gill and Iyer crunched seven fours between themselves to give Kolkata an emphatic start with 55/0 in power-play.

Iyer tore into Ravindra Jadeja with two sixes before reaching his half-century in 31 balls. Gill, who survived a caught dismissal as the ball touched the Spidercam wire, hammered Jadeja for backto-back boundaries. The 91-run opening partnership was ended

by Shardul Thakur in the 11th over as Iyer holed out to long-on.

After Iyer fell, Kolkata's batting nosedived as they lost the next five wickets in the next 26 balls and scored only 29 runs.

Thakur forced Nitish Rana to chip a cross-seam delivery to midoff. Sunil Narine's promotion to four ended in pulling straight to deep mid-wicket off Hazlewood.

Gill reached his half-century by smacking Jadeja over cover. But in the next over, Chahar took him out with a dipping slower full toss which hit him in front of the stumps while going for the ramp shot.

Dinesh Karthik opened his

account by pulling Chahar over a long leg. In the next over, Karthik tried to repeat the shot against Jadeja but found a deep backward square leg. One brought two for Jadeja as Shakib Al Hasan was trapped plumb in front of the wicket.

From 120/6 in 15 overs, the result was a foregone conclusion. Rahul Tripathi (2) and Eoin Morgan (4) were dismissed cheaply in successive overs. Shivam Mavi and Lockie Ferguson struck well-timed boundaries but in the end, it was too little too late for Kolkata.

Earlier, Chennai had a flying start with 50/0 in the powerplay. Ruturaj Gaikwad got off the mark by taking three boundaries off Shakib Al Hasan's first two overs. Lockie Ferguson came under the attack as Gaikwad and du Plessis took 12 runs off him.

Du Plessis then took a boundary against Shivam Mavi and Varun Chakravarthy to match with Gaikwad's pace.

Post timeout, the opening stand of 61 runs was broken by Narine as Gaikwad (32), who also became the Orange cap holder, holed out to long-off. Du Plessis broke the spell of 17 singles by carting Al Hasan over long-off before Robin Uthappa slammed him over deep mid-wicket for the second six of the over.

Du Plessis, who survived a stumping chance at two, slammed Ferguson for back-to-back fours before ending the over with a six over long-off to reach his half-century in 35 balls. Uthappa (31) made full use of a reprieve from Sunil Narine to slam Chakravarthy followed by Narine for sixes. But Narine had the last laugh as Uthappa's attempt to reverse sweep ended in a plumb lbw decision.

Moeen Ali took Mavi for two sixes over cow corner and down the ground to bring the 150 up for Chennai. Ferguson's horror match continued as Ali went insideout for a four before du Plessis smacked him for a six and four to complete 19 runs off his final over.

Ali creamed Chakravarthy for a four and a six.

But Shivam Mavi conceded seven in the final over, including du Plessis holing out to long-off on the final ball, to keep Chennai 'nder 200. But Chennai's bowling ensured that the total was enough to clinch the trophy.

their superb comeback

Dubai, Oct 16 (IANS): Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni praised the Kolkata Knight Riders, the vanquished finalists of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 edition, for their grand comeback in the UAE leg as they reached the summit clash despite a poor first part of the tournament. The former India captain said if any team deserved to win the IPL 2021 title it was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Dhoni's CSK defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 27 runs in the final on Friday to clinch their fourth title, restricting KKR to 165/9 in 20 overs after putting up a mammoth 192/3 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite KKR making a brilliant start in their chase of the stiff target, Dhoni's men kept their nerves and claimed wickets at regular intervals to win the title.

KKR were languishing at the seventh spot in the table with just two wins in seven matches when IPL 2021 was halted in April due to a Covid-19 outbreak among the players.

Brief scores: Chennai Super Kings 192/3 in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 86, Moeen Ali 37 not out, Sunil Narine 2/26, Shivam Mavi 1/32) against Kolkata Knight Riders 165/9 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 51, Venkatesh Iyer 50, Shardul Thakur 3/38, Josh Hazlewood 2/29) by 27 runs

So, for them to reach the final was a great achievement and they came in for praise from Dhoni during the presentation ceremony after the match.

more one-on-one, our practice sessions are meeting sessions.

The moment you get into a team room, it brings about different pressure. Our practice sessions have been good," Dhoni said after the final, adding that the chat sessions don't last more than 20 minutes as that's the attention span for a normal person.

rather believe in developing relationships with players.

"Before I start talking about CSK, need to talk about KKR. Difficult to come back and do what they have, if any team deserved to win

the IPL, it's KKR. Huge credit to the coaches, team, and support staff. The break really helped them," Dhoni said on Friday night.

In the UAE leg of IPL 2021, Kolkata won seven of their 10 matches, losing twice to Chennai Super Kings and once to Delhi Capitals, qualifying for the playoffs as the fourth-placed team.

Chasing 193, the way KKR openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer started the chase, it looked like the target would not be that difficult to achieve. But once both of them were out, Kolkata's chase fell through as they lost wickets at regular intervals to end up with 165/9 in their 20 overs.

They were also hampered by the injury to their top middle-order batsman Rahul Tripathi, who was forced to leave the ground midway during the contest.

The incident happened on the first delivery of the seventh over of CSK innings, when Tripathi run in from the deep to prevent openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis from stealing a double. But before he could stop the ball, it hit him on his ankle and he was soon seen hobbling to the boundary line for the physio to attend to him.Tripathi was greatly hampered in his batting and thus could not step into his usual role after the departure of the openers.

No team meetings, lengthy chats; CSK just go out and do their job Dubai, Oct 16 (IANS): In 14 editions of the Indian Premier League (IPL) held so far, Chennai Super Kings have won the title four times, finished runner-up five times, were placed third once, and ended fourth once.

They were suspended for two seasons and it was only in the 2020 season that they failed to qualify for the playoffs, eventually finishing seventh.

That makes CSK one of the most successful franchises in the IPL and definitely the most consistent.

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Though the owners and support staff do their stuff to maintain this high level of consistency, it would also require lot of planning and strategizing, especially by the players so that they can execute the plans perfectly in the field.

However, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who has been CSK's captain since the league started in 2008, said they don't plan or strategize too much before the game and the nets are more of one-on-one sessions.

"Frankly no chats, we don't talk a lot {in team meetings}. It's

If a meeting goes beyond 20 minutes, players lose interest, he added.

CSK head coach Stephen Fleming too said they don't go too deep in analytics and numbers, but

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"We don't get too deep into analytics and numbers, we go with gut feel and developing relationships with players, it's old-school but it works for us. The years tick by, we've done work over the years gone by, we've got some great memories. Very proud to have been with one franchise and have success," Fleming, the former New Zealand captain said after the final on Friday.

In the final, CSK set up a big target of 193 and then defended

it successfully, keeping their nerves even when Kolkata Knight Riders' openers Shubman Gill and Venkatesh Iyer raised 91 runs for the first wicket. There was no panic in CSK ranks and the players went about performing their roles and things just fell in place.

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ART & CULTURE

To act or not to act? Ramlilas not- UP's first tribal museum so-healthy affair with big names to be ready in 2022 IANS

IANS

industry to please them and gain more traction in terms of audience. Usually, the artists rehearse for weeks for such a programme but when a star politician or actor steps in there is no coordination as they have hardly ever rehearsed together.

These big stars with controversial pasts fail to bring depth to the godly characters as their public perception is already formed."

Reacting to the question, BJP Secretary Kuldeep Singh Chahal jokingly said, "It all happens as per Lord Ram's will."

R

amlilas - a theatrical adaptation of Lord Ram's life that goes on for almost a week and concludes on the night of Vijayadashmi, are a major source of income for thousands of theatre artists during the festival season.

However, with popular actors and politicians like local MPs and MLAs being roped in to play roles, many artists who are already reeling under the ongoing pandemic-induced recession, are left with no choice but to look for other occupations.

Harshwardhan Kumar (name changed), a theatre student at the National School of Drama in Delhi said, "These popular faces are invited by big Ramlila committees, because smaller ones obviously cannot afford them.

Now, I will not say that they have a huge impact on the livelihoods of theatre artists or the community at large but they do affect quite a handful of them, especially after Covid-19 when we are not getting many such opportunities to perform and get paid for it. Other than this, such acts discourage struggling artists."

The Bharatiya Janata Party has several leaders who take to the stage to play prominent

characters from Hindu mythology in Ramlilas -- from famous actors-turned-politicians like Ravi Kishan and Manoj Tiwari to Leader of Opposition in the national capital Vijender Gupta, Delhi BJP General Secretary Kuljeet Chahal and former union ministers Vijay Sampala and Harsh Vardhan who essayed the role of Janak (Sita's father) in Lav Kush Ramlila at Red Fort in 2018 and 2019.

Recently, Delhi BJP treasurer Vishnu Mittal urged politicians and popular actors who perform annually in Ramlilas not to do so as it takes away the employment opportunities from those whose livelihood is dependent on this profession.

Talking to IANS, he said, "I believe that one should stick to one's job.

Artists play smaller roles, which are then taken over by these big names. If such stars start withdrawing their names on their own, more space will be created for those who actually need the part."

Praveen Shankar Kapoor, Delhi BJP spokesperson, who agreed with Mittal had some other concerns. "Ramlila committees invite these big names from politics and entertainment

However, actor-turned-politician and BJP MP from North East Delhi Manoj Tiwari who participates in Uttar Pradesh's biggest Ramlila in Ayodhya, says that even some politicians' households, including his own, is sustained by these plays only. "Hamara ghar bhi toh wahin se chalta hai. Politics toh sirf samaj seva hai (We also survive through such plays and performances. Politics is nothing but public service for us)."

BJP MLA Vijender Gupta, who has been performing since his college days, said, "I have represented University of Delhi and won over two dozen prizes then. It was only after three long decades that I went on stage. It seemed like a break because an artist never dies."

Sobha Deepak Singh, Vice President of the Bharatiya Kala Kendra in Delhi, told IANS that due to the economic slowdown, salaries of artists are being cut.

"We hire them on and off as and when there is an opportunity.

The community is out of money and we are not getting any kind of help from anyone."

When the Padma Shri awardee was asked what she thought about such an act of hijacking roles, she said, "I do not think this should happen. This is not right."

U

ttar Pradesh's first tribal museum, known as 'Tharu Janjati Museum, will come up at Imilia Koder village, a Tharu populated area in Balrampur district.

herbs, some would highlight their fashion, attires and jewellery while others will highlight their lifestyle including their clothing, utensils, recipes, food, furniture etc," he said.

The state will get this museum by March 2022 and it would largely concentrate on displaying the rich and diverse culture of the rare Tharu tribe, said officials.

He added that a team from the state museum directorate is visiting Tharu populated villages and is roping in individuals to make the museum authentic.

A.K. Singh, director state museum and director in-charge state archaeological department, said: "Tharu tribe is, perhaps, the most advanced tribe in Uttar Pradesh that has evolved with the changing times but are still well connected to their roots.

They have kept their traditions and culture intact. Our museum would highlight the same and much more about the people of the Tharu tribe."

Spread in around 5.5 acres of land, the construction work of the grand Tharu ethnic museum is in its last phase.

The first tribal museum is said to be among the pet projects of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Tharu tribe members have lauded the initiative.

While highlighting the salient features of the grand museum, Singh said the museum will have everything about the Tharu tribe -- starting from their evolution, their culture, religion, tradition, lifestyle, social life and the present life.

"There will be different sections for different topics and theme, highlighting the rare pictures, murals, their history and story of evolution, while some will feature their knowledge of medicinal

"We are done with most of the construction work that largely includes boundary walls and other infrastructure. We expect to complete the finishing in the next couple of months," said Nitin Kohli, the contractor who is carrying out the construction work.

"It is a good step. I believe that efforts should be made to preserve cultures of all such tribes as they are an important part of history," said Lakshmi Devi, a Tharu and the head of Bela Parsua, a Tharu dominated village in Lakhimpur Kheri district.

The project was inaugurated in January 2020 by the Chief Minister but got delayed due to the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak.

Officials hoped that the museum will boost tourism in the area.

Kabira Festival back in Varanasi IANS

M

ahindra Kabira Festival 2021 is all set to host a small and select audience of doublevaccinated people on the banks of the Ganga in Varanasi with music, literature and discourse.

The festival, to be held between November 26 and 28, will have a limited guest list of fully vaccinated delegates and crew, and will follow all Covid-19 protocols.

The programme will include a plethora of classical and folk music, talks, liveart demonstrations, the characteristic Kabira boat rides, a local food journey and the quintessential Ganga Arati experience.

Brainchild of the Mahindra Group

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and Teamwork Arts, the festival celebrates Kabir and the inherent wisdom of his verses through its varied programme offerings.

Talking about the festival, Jay Shah, Vice President, Head Cultural Outreach, Mahindra Group, said that the festival returns with the promise of hope and optimism and signifies new beginnings in a changed world.

"A world that values compassion and empathy - qualities that Kabir held dear. We are delighted to bring back the joy of live performances to Varanasi - a city that is known for its artistry and ancient wisdom - the customary home of Mahindra Kabira.

We welcome our delegates & performers and look towards a

great festival amidst all safety protocols."

The festival will showcase an exclusive line-up with eminent artists namely folk singer Malini Awasthi; Indian classical vocalist Kalapini Komkali; classical vocalist Nirali Kartik; sitar player Purbayan Chatterjee; Malayalam playback singer Gayatri Asokan; Carnatic vocal and violin duo Ranjani Gayatri; folk poet Jumma Khan; Dastango Askari Naqvi; Hindustani classical musician Pandit Anoop Misra. The festival will also feature a modern version of well-known theatre personality, actor and cultural activist M.K. Raina's all-time hit play 'Kabira Khada Bazaar Mein', written by Bhisham Sahni.

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INDIA NEWS

BOOKS & LITERATURE

Abdulrazak Gurnah The turbulent connection between religion and terrorism conferred Nobel Prize IANS

terrorism.

Reflecting on the telling of this story, Kala said: "Since I was writing about Punjab militancy, the worst largescale violence perpetrated on the people of Punjab since the Partition of India, I felt a sense of responsibility. I, along with friends, neighbours and many others, including my patients, lived through that dark decade and a half. The other main narrative of the novel is that of caste - one more unpleasant fact about Punjab that people outside know little of. What I attempted to write was truth in essence, but fiction in details."

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recently divorced doctor looking for seclusion relocates to an isolated house on a riverbank. The following summer, dead bodies start turning up in the river, on the roads, in trains and on city crossings. Everybody calls it the 'Punjab Problem', as if it was a stubborn crossword puzzle. The doctor is kidnapped and nearly killed, once by terrorists for helping the police and once by the police for helping the terrorists.

A young Dalit girl, with the dream of becoming a dancer in her eyes,

and her soul mate Bheem leave their caste-ridden existence behind and relocate to Bombay.

They have learnt the hard way that the preaching of oneness by their religion does not work in the real world.

Drawing its title, "Two and a half Rivers" (Niyogi Books), from the historicity of the Partition which has left in its wake only half the rivers to India from the land of the five rivers, Anirudh Kala's novel offers a poignant commentary on the turbulent connection between religion and

Anirudh Kala is a Ludhiana-based psychiatrist whose experience shows in how he sketches out his characters and their personality traits. This is his second book as a fiction writer, the first being "The Unsafe Asylum: Stories of Partition and Madness" (2018).

His focus is always to educate people about mental health and mental illness, focussing on eradicating stigma, labels, and prejudice. Besides his professional passions, Kala also likes reading Urdu poetry, hiking, and listening to Indian semiclassical music.

Anecdotal, thought-provoking memoir on India's banking system IANS

banking sector during his career.

Recounting his experiences about the aftermath of demonetization; challenges in YES Bank; the crisis in Jet Airways and NPAs, this book is anecdotal, engaging and thought- provoking, and will attract a wide spectrum of readers.

"I am pretty excited to share my journey of 40 years with State Bank of India and offer glimpses of my personal life," Rajnish Kumar said.

T

his is a highly anticipated account of some of the critical periods in the history of Indias financial sector by one of the countrys most talented and established banking professionals in the country, Rajnish Kumar, former Chairman of State Bank of India (SBI), Indias largest commercial bank.

"The Custodian of Trust" (Penguin) is the story of Rajnish Kumar's incredible journey as a banker. Debuting as a writer with his memoir, Kumar shares his stories - from being a probationary officer in SBI to becoming its chairman in 2017 - capturing the many changes he witnessed in India's

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"SBI is considered a proxy to the Indian Economy. In that sense, the book is also an account of the tremendous progress made by the country as well as the banking and financial system in the last four decades. The removal of poverty has been the biggest challenge and banks have played a critical role in the fight against poverty. There are many untold and unknown stories in the book, which I am sure readers will find interesting and inspirational," he added.

Even before its official launch, "The Custodian of Trust" has received generous praise and endorsements from the stalwarts of India Inc. and the banking industry. Ratan Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons, remarked that "this book is not just about the banking system of our country, but a chronicle of

contemporary economic history".

Uday Kotak, CEO, Kotak Mahindra Bank, said about the book: "It has the potential to be a Bollywood blockbuster."

Premanka Goswami, Executive Editor at Penguin Random House India, said: "Rajnish Kumar assumed the responsibility to lead the country's biggest commercial bank at a critical time when India's financial sector was going through a turmoil. 'The Custodian of Trust' opens a window to these times. We, at Penguin House Random House India, are excited to publish Kumar's memoir."

Rajnish Kumar joined SBI as a probationary officer in 1980.

He served the bank in various capacities across the country and overseas. Prior to his appointment as Chairman, he was Managing Director (National Banking Group) at the bank overseeing the Retail business and Digital Banking. He was Chairman of the Indian Banks Association and served on the boards of many other companies while serving SBI. Currently, he is a director on the boards of HSBC Asia Pacific, L&T Infotech Ltd and Lighthouse Communities Foundation. He is also an exclusive advisor to Kotak Investment Advisors Ltd and senior advisor to Baring Private Equity Asia Pvt Ltd.

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for Literature 2021

IANS

London, Oct 7 (IANS): Tanzaniaborn UK-based post-colonialist novelist Abdulrazak Gurnah, whose oeuvre mainly deals with the physical and mental disruptions faced by refugees, was on Thursday conferred the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2021.

Announcing the award - the first to a non-European writer since Japan-born Kazuo Ishiguro in 2017 - the Swedish Academy cited his "uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents".

and in colonial discourse, with focus on Africa, the Caribbean and India.

Born in the Indian Ocean island of Zanzibar in 1948, Gurnah reached the UK as a refugee at the end of the 1960s. After his PhD in 1982, he began his academic career with teaching at a Nigerian university and is currently a Professor and Director of Graduate studies at the UK's University of Kent. His focus is on postcolonial writing

Beginning with "Memory of Departure" (1987), his 10 novels include the Booker and Whitbread-nominated "Paradise" (1994), with the most recent being "Afterlives" (2020).

He has also a collection of shortstories titled "My Mother Lived on a Farm in Africa" (2006) to his credit.

New Delhi, Oct 2 (IANS): Penguin Random House India said on Saturday it has acquired three new titles by critically acclaimed Malayalam writer V.J. James, to be translated into English by Ministhy S. and with the first of the novels coming out in February, 2022.

folklore and myths, set amidst the waterways and reeds of Kerala's isles, and peopled with locals and outsiders with mysterious pasts, the novel has an ethereal quality to it.

Penguin to publish 3 novels by awardwinning Malayalam author V.J. James

More recently, the richest and one of the most distinguished awards for literary fiction, the JCB Prize for Literature, longlisted James' novel "Anti-Clock", also translated

by Ministhy and published by Penguin.

"Nireeswaran" is the most celebrated of James' works, for which he received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award, Vayalar Award, Kerala Bhasha Institute Award and the Basheer Puruskaram.

Originally published in 2014, the novel questions blind faith and ritualistic religion and provides an insight into what true spirituality is. Three rationalists, and pranksters, establish the idol of what they call an anti-god (Nireeswaran) to show people how hollow their religion is. When miracles start being attributed to Nireeswaran, and hordes turn up to worship the fake god, the trio is put in a quandary. Will they fight their own creation?

Using incisive humour and satire, the novel showcases how love and spirituality are deeply interconnected.

"The Book of Exodus" is James' impressive first novel, which won the DC Silver Jubilee Award.

Kunjootty is hospitalized the same day that Susanna goes missing.

There is a mystery surrounding this which unravels during the course of the novel. Filled with

The third book is a powerhouse of a novel.

Mahesh and his four friends - each named after a Pandava brother - and Panchali, or Meera, decide to look for their friend, guide, leader Freddie Robert, whom they had named Yudhisthira. Freddie had disappeared into the forest several months ago, in search of a rare new bird. Thus begins "Dattapaharam", a rumination on solitude, man's connection with nature, and the strings that attach us to this world.

Talking about his three novels, V.J. James said: "It is my pleasure to publish three more novels after 'Anti-Clock' through Penguin Random House India, brilliantly translated by Ministhy S. There is a saying that each book will find its true reader. I hope that these books, too, will find their readers."

Saying she considered it a "true privilege' to work with a "brilliant, visionary" author, Ministhy S., an IAS officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, added: "Translating the fantastic, multiple-award winning books of James has been a wonderful experience. Each has a totally different theme and is striking in its ambition and style.

Indeed, I am confident that the incisive humour, deep spirituality, iconoclastic perspectives and the all-pervasive humanity in the books will find fans across the world."

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WHAT’S ON

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INDIA NEWS

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WHAT’S ON

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Oct 16-31, 2021 - Vol 2, Issue 8

INDIA NEWS

Arjun Kapoor: My line-up is a mix of masala commercial, genre-bending films Instagram

for my career. It presented me in a radical way which audiences had never seen before and I'm deeply thankful that they loved my performance in the film."

He added: "The success of 'SAPF' has opened several doors for me with filmmakers wanting to cast me in their eclectic vision. 'The Ladykiller' and 'Kuttey' are prime examples of how the industry is looking at me today and as an actor, I couldn't be more fortunate!"

Speaking about his next releases, Arjun is "excited" about his lineup.

A

ctor Arjun Kapoor, who has three films - 'Ek Villain', 'Kuttey' and the recently announced 'The Lady Killer' lined up, is happy that filmmakers now are wanting to cast him in their "eclectic vision".

He says his upcoming work is a

great mix of masala commercials and genre bending entertainers.

Arjun is proud of his slate and credits the success of 'Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar' (SAPF) for changing the course of his career.

He said: "'Sandeep Aur Pinky Faraar' has been a game-changer

"As it's a great mix of masala commercial films like 'Ek Villain Returns' and also genre-bending entertainers like 'Kuttey' and 'The Lady Killer'. I have a few more announcements lined up and they are all equally diverse from a script point of view."

Arjun will be seen in Mohit Suri's 'Ek Villain Returns', Vishal Bhardwaj's son Aasmaan's debut directorial 'Kuttey' and Ajay Bahl's 'The Lady Killer'.

ENTERTAINMENT

Aparna Sen's 'The Rapist' wins top award at Busan film fest

IANS

Busan, Oct 15 (IANS): Aparna Sen's hard-hitting social drama, 'The Rapist', was declared the joint winner of the Kim Jiseok Award at the 26th Busan International Film Festival (BIFF), which concluded here on Friday. The film, starring Konkona Sen Sharma, had been premiered at the festival's 'A Window on Asian Cinema' section on October 7.

Describing it as one of the best works directed by the veteran filmmaker and actress, Variety. com says it is "a gripping Indian social drama" about a middleclass academic who wants her rapist, to whom she has fallen pregnant, and who has been sentenced to death, to tell her why he committed such a crime.

'The Rapist', whose highlight is a standout performance by Konkona, is "a deeply affecting portrait of personal trauma and an intelligent examination of social and cultural factors fueling the horrifying prevalence of sexual violence in India," according to Variety.com.

The film, incidentally, has been

produced by Sameer Nair for Applause Entertainment, which had earlier been behind the critically acclaimed web series, 'Scam 1992'. The rapist in the film is played by Tanmay Dhanania.

'The Rapist' shared the award with Filipino filmmaker Brilliante Mendoza's boxing drama, 'Gensan Punch'. The winners in the 'New Currents Section' were the Chinese film 'Farewell, My Home Town' (director Wang Er Zhuo) and the South Korean feature 'The Apartment With Two Women' (director Kim Se-in).

Bani J, Sayani Gupta share their SonyLIV launches in ideas of 'happily-ever-after' Canada with Indian A family saga 'Tabbar' Instagram

ctress Sayani Gupta and VJturned-actress Bani J, who believe that portrayals of love, romance and 'happily-ever-after' somewhere influence our minds in real life, shared their ideas of the same.

Asked about her idea of happilyever-after, Bani said, "The way I'm living my life right now is my happily ever after. I have people that I care about and who care about me, and we can express that love and appreciation for each other. I can travel, spend time with people that I really want to, create projects that I care about and be a part of projects that really fulfil me creatively, which I think is the best thing in the world. I also get to train whenever I want."

Sayani on the other hand said that in a relationship, she is the 'romantic' one.

She said, "I'm quite the romantic and I would love to believe that there's someone I could live happily ever after with. It's not like I'm waiting for the one but maybe someday I'll find someone.

My idea of 'happily ever after' is that it has to be a partnership, and that doesn't come without quarrels or differences or disagreements. Rather, you figure things out and there's enough love and humour in the relationship to take it forward."

Both of them were conversing as part of the chat show series titled 'Dating These Days 2.0', which is a part of the Bumble dating app.

'Dating These Days 2.0' releases on the YouTube channel of Bumble.

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ndian streaming service SonyLIV will be launched in Canada on October 15 with the web show 'Tabbar'.

IANS

According to Variety, the streamer had revealed wide rollout plans from October, backed by a 40-strong new originals slate.

Available at launch in Canada will be eight-episode series 'Tabbar', directed by Ajitpal Singh, whose debut feature 'Fire in the Mountains' had its world premiere at Sundance earlier this year.

Set in and around Jalandhar, Punjab, 'Tabbar' tells the journey of the Singh family and how their life takes a 360-degree turn after an unfortunate incident.

The cast includes Pavan Malhotra, Supriya Pathak, Gagan Arora, Paramvir Singh Cheema, Kanwaljeet Singh and Ranvir Shorey.

"I am always attracted to stories that provide me (with) possibilities and freedom to explore subtext and themes.

'Tabbar' is one such story," Singh tells Variety.

He added: "On the surface, it's a crime thriller, but once you dig deeper, it's a human drama and you will find themes like God vs no God, Evil vs Good, and drugs, along with spirituality and suffering. I was confident that if I was given freedom, I will be able to shape this story in a very refreshing way mainly because I also come from Punjab and I

understand that land very well."

Written by Harman Wadala and Sandeep Jain, the series is produced by Ajay G. Rai of JAR Pictures.

Ashish Golwalkar, head of content for Sony Entertainment Television, SonyLIV and Sony Pictures Networks India, said: "The story offers a great mix of talent and storytelling in a never-seen-before narrative. We are hopeful that like our previous offerings, 'Tabbar' will also reinstate our promise of bringing varied stories from the heartland of India alive." "'Tabbar' is set in the backdrop of Punjab and we're sure our viewers will be glued to their screens."

'Tabbar' will also be available in 28 global territories including the European Union, UK, the Middle East and North Africa, Singapore, Australia, India and New Zealand.

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Taapsee reveals how she prepped for athlete's role in 'Rashmi Rocket' Instagram

ENTERTAINMENT

Nov 5 release for 'Sooryavanshi' starring Akshay, Ajay, Ranveer, Katrina

Film Information

reference of athletes especially who are of my build and height.

Taapsee said she did that bit of the research.

"Of course, I have never seen my body in that kind of a shape, so you are in for a surprise when you are trying to get those muscles to pop out because you want to see how they look on you. I had no idea how they'll end up looking on me, if I'll look similar to those references that I had taken or no. So, it was a dive of trust that I did with my training and I am glad that it ended up looking very authentic."

A

ctress Taapsee Pannu has revealed that for her role in 'Rashmi Rocket', she had seen pictures and videos of a lot of Indian and international athletes' body language before, after and while running.

research at my level for 'Rashmi Rocket', apart from what was going on at the scripting level.

I had seen pictures and videos of a lot of athletes - Indian and international - to see the body language, before, after and while running, just to see their body types, because I had to take

Produced by Ronnie Screwvala, Neha Anand and Pranjal Khandhdiya, written by Nanda Periyasamy, Aniruddha Guha and Kanika Dhillon and directed

by Akarsh Khurana, 'Rashmi Rocket' also stars Supriya Pathak, Abhishek Banerjee, Priyanshu Painyuli and Supriya Pilgaonkar.

Mumbai, Oct 15 (IANS): Akshay Kumar, Ajay Devgn, Ranveer Singh and Katrina Kaif-starrer 'Sooryavanshi' is all set to release in theatres on November 5.

The movie will see Akshay as Anti-Terrorism Squad chief DCP 'Veer Sooryavanshi'. It also features Jackie Shroff, Gulshan Grover, Abhimanyu Singh, Niharica Raizada, Vivan Bhatena, Sikandar Kher, Nikitin Dheer and

Jaaved Jaaferi. Ajay and Ranveer will have cameo appearances.

The action film is directed by Rohit Shetty and produced

by Reliance Entertainment, Rohit Shetty Picturez, Dharma Productions and Cape of Good Films. It is based on a script by Yunus Sajawal, Farhad Samji, Sanchit Bendre and Vidhi Ghodgadnkar and an original story by Shetty.

Kriti, Rajkummar amp up 'Hum Do Hamare Mithila Palkar goes big on 'Little Do' track 'Bansuri' Taapsee said: "Yes, I did a lot of

The movie is set to premiere on ZEE5 on October 15.

Things' co-star Dhruv Sehgal Instagram

IANS

A

ctress Mithila Palkar has talked about her pure bond of friendship with her 'Little Things' co-actor Dhruv Sehgal.

She says she has an amazing friendship off-screen with him that translates onto the screen.

Mithila said: "I always laugh when I get this question, people always assume we're together or have been together in the past, and that's not true. The reason we're able to portray that so well on-screen is because Dhruv and I have an amazing friendship offscreen."

Directed by Ruchir Arun and Pranjal Dua, the series' fourth and final season is set to drop. 'Little Things' is a celebration of all the subtle things, the adulthood, the maturity and above all the little moments that truly make a relationship beautiful.

Talking more about her co-actor, she added: "We love to goof around and irritate each other and laugh a lot, and that's a lot of what Dhruv and Kavya do as well.

We've built a really strong bond over the years and have found our own explosive chemistry through playing Dhruv and Kavya and I'm so glad people love this relationship just as much as we do!"

Season 4 celebrates Dhruv and Kavya's individuality and relationship as they grow together amidst their highs and lows. While they make the tricky transition from young love to a mature relationship, audiences will witness Dhruv and Kavya navigate questions around commitment, health, their ambitions and family.

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fter creating an Internet sensation with the A.R. Rahman-composed track, 'Param Sundari', Kriti is back, this time with the consummate performer Rajkummar Rao, for the latest 'Hum Do Hamare Do' track, 'Bansuri'.

Composed by Sachin-Jigar, 'Bansuri' is a foot-tapping melody, and Rajkummar and Kriti show some stunning moves in the video. The duo's sizzling chemistry makes the number as much a visual as an audio treat.

The film narrates the story of a man who devises a hilariously whacky plan of "adopting" a set of parents so that he can get married to the love of his life. It also stars Paresh Rawal and Ratna Pathak

Shah in pivotal roles.

Talking about the composition, music composer duo Sachin-Jigar said: "'Bansuri' is a lively track that is sure to be an instant favourite among young people. We have blended the magic of the Indian flute with the funky charm of desi beats for this quirky, fresh and snazzy number."

Choreographed by Piyush-Shazia, the track has been penned by Shellee and crooned by Asees Kaur, IP Singh, Dev Negi as well as the composers SachinJigar. Produced by Dinesh Vijan and directed by Abhishek Jain, 'Hum Do Hamare Do' starts streaming from the October 29 on Disney+Hotstar.

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Luxury, lifestyle, location — welcome to Dress Circle

Oct 16-31, 2021 - Vol 2, Issue 8

Located in the heart of one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, Brookwater is Brisbane’s best kept secret for luxury living. Crafted around the Greg Norman designed golf course, Brookwater provides a rare combination of prestige golf-side living and natural bushland beauty.

With over 800 families already calling Brookwater home, we are pleased to introduce the next stage of this exclusive community — your own architecturally designed piece of paradise — Dress Circle.

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We welcome you to experience Brisbane’s best kept secret when it comes to luxury living, and choose from our leading architectural collaborators to design your dream home — with all architectural fees complimentary with your Dress Circle land purchase.

READY TO BUILD ON LARGE PREMIUM HOMESITES FROM $566,000

Life on Brookwater’s Dress Circle is within 10 minutes of everything you need — commuter rail to the city, private and public schools, childcare centres, a university, a private hospital, shopping centres and a thriving commercial precinct.

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