India News - March 16-31, 2022

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

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In maiden emphatic win, AAP BJP now targets 2024 Lok Sabha elections following impressive show in Assembly polls crushes traditional parties New Delhi, March 11: “Holi has come early this time”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his victory speech at the BJP headquarters. The election slogan -- “Ayenge toh Yogi hi” became a reality as the BJP scored a resounding victory in Uttar Pradesh (UP). The party also decimated the Opposition in Uttarakhand, Manipur and after a neck and neck fight with Congress, retained Goa for the third consecutive time. Also for the time in Uttarakhand, an incumbent government managed to return with a renewed mandate. On the other side, it was an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wave that wiped out the ruling

Congress in Punjab.

Of the 403 seats in UP, BJP leading in 274 seats was far ahead of the simple majority mark and of the

70 seats in Uttarakhand the BJP leading in at least 48 seats was set to form the government.

elections. I assure all possible support from the Centre for Punjab’s welfare,” he said.

In another tweet, Modi said, “The people of UP, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur have showered @ BJP4India with great affection. My gratitude to the people of these states. Our party cherishes these blessings and will keep working for the development of these states.”

Lauding the hard work put in

by BJP workers in the five states that went to the polls, Modi said, “Our party ‘karyakartas’ worked tirelessly among the people. They spoke about our good governance

agenda and highlighted our propeople efforts. I salute each and every party ‘karyakarta’ for their exceptional efforts.”

Continued on Page 3

Modi congratulates AAP for Punjab sweep, assures Centre’s help New Delhi, March 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 10 congratulated the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for its clean sweep in the Punjab Assembly elections, and assured the party of all possible help from the Centre.

In a series of tweets, Modi expressed his gratitude to the voters and party workers and congratulated AAP for winning Punjab.

The Prime Minister also assured AAP of all possible support from the Centre for the welfare of Punjab.

“I would like to congratulate AAP for their victory in the Punjab

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Chandigarh, March 10: Rising from the ashes like the phoenix, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on March 10, in a maiden emphatic win, crushed the traditional players that ruled the border state of Punjab for over seven decades with a stunning victory largely by its greenhorns on 92 of the 117 seats of the legislative assembly.

Bhagwant Mann, the party’s pick for the top post, is all set to become the next Chief Minister.

The ruling Congress, which won

77 seats in 2017, managed to win only 18 seats with most of its stalwart faces like Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu faced humiliating defeat from their respective strongholds.

Interestingly, the BJP, which largely banked on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charisma, and its previous alliance partner the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) failed in securing even a double-digit tally.

Continued on Page 3

Melbourne, March 9: The iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the stadium where Shane Warne picked up his 700th Test wicket, will now also be the venue for the Australian spinner’s state memorial on March 30.

Victorian premier Daniel Andrews on March 9 confirmed the MCG as the venue for a state memorial service on March 30 to honour the legendary leg-spinner, who died

due to heart attack in Koh Samui, Thailand.

Shane Warne’s state memorial to be held at MCG on March 30

Continued on Page 3

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

EDITORIAL BOARD Professor Prasad Yarlagadda, Queensland University of Technology Dr Uttam Kumar Sinha, Senior Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, India Mr Shaun Star, Director, Centre for Australia India Studies, Jindal Global University, India

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

COVER STORIES

BJP now targets 2024 Lok Sabha elections Fiji High Commission holds following impressive show in Assembly polls investiture ceremony Continued from Page 3

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he High Commissioner of Fiji to Australia, Luke Daunivalu, had the honour to represent the President of the Republic of Fiji and Chancellor of the Order of Fiji at an investiture ceremony held recently at the Fiji High Commission premises in Canberra, Australia.

During the ceremony, the 50th Anniversary commemorative medals were awarded to Mr Atma Maharaj, Mr Bhavesh Kumar, and Mrs Nicolette Yoshida.

The medal recipients were grate-

ful to the High Commission in Canberra for organising the occasion, which was witnessed by their families, and were honoured to receive their medals from High Commissioner Daunivalu on behalf of the President and Chancellor of the Order of Fiji.

High Commissioner Daunivalu commended all three recipients of the commemorative medals on their distinguished service to Fiji over the years and for their commitment and contributions to the development of the nation.

In maiden emphatic win, AAP crushes traditional parties Continued from Page 3

While the Narendra Modi magic was clearly visible in the Assembly elections, particularly in UP and Uttarakhand, Yogi Adityanath, armed with his mantra “Ration aur Sashon (Free ration and good governance)” created history by becoming the first Chief Minister to return to power for the second time with an absolute majority in UP. Also, it was for the first time since 1985 that a party came to power in two consecutive elections. If the elections in UP were being regarded as a bellwether of the national mood, the 2024 general elections might witness the return of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the third consecutive time. The Prime Minister announced the “outcome of 2022 has indicated the outcome of 2024”. Modi pointed out BJP created “history” in both UP and Uttarakhand. He pointed out, “the double-engine government has provided double safety for the people.”

What worked in BJP’s favour in UP was the free ration delivery along with the cash transfer scheme.

A senior BJP leader said that this twin scheme not merely cut across the caste and community but also countered the antiincumbency factor against the Yogi government. The other factor which found the mark was the law and order plank and raising the bogey that BJP’s defeat would bring back the “mafia-raj”.

As far as the Muslim-dominated pockets were concerned in UP, the constituencies apparently witnessed a counter polarisation in BJP’s favour, a party functionary said. The other factor that worked in the party’s favour was the charisma of the Prime

Minister, Modi, who relentlessly criss-crossed UP. “The results are a clear indication that “Modiji’s popularity continues to grow every day”, the BJP functionary said.

If western UP was being viewed as BJP’s Waterloo, the party proved the detractors wrong by bagging the majority of the vote share in the region. In western UP, BJP got nearly 46 per cent of the vote share as compared to Samajwadi Party’s (SP) 38 percent. Similarly in Bundelkhand, the OBC-Dalit dominated region, BJP polled nearly 46 percent of votes while the Samajwadi Party managed only 29 per cent. BJP again marched ahead with 44 percent of vote share in the Awadh region and 42 per cent in Purvanchal.

AAP’s victory in Punjab also fulfilled Kejriwal’s ambition to expand beyond Delhi. In 2024, it could possibly be a race between Trinamool Congress Chief, Mamata Banerjee and Kejriwal to emerge as the face of the opposition. As the AAP chariot rolled across Punjab, the political giants ranging from the powerful Badal clan, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, high-profile Navjot Singh Sidhu and former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh fell by the wayside. The satirist-turnedpolitician, Bhagwant Maan, AAP’s chief ministerial face won by a huge margin of more than 45,000 votes. Making his national ambition amply clear, Kejriwal in his victory speech exhorted everyone across the nation to join AAP and declared, “the ‘inqualab’ which had come to Delhi has now spread to Punjab. It’s time to spread this inqualab all across

India.”

As for Congress and the Gandhis, the nightmare continues.

Despite the Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi holding a maximum number of 209 rallies and roadshows across UP, the party struggled even to open its account. In Uttarakhand, the party failed to take advantage of the anti-incumbency and was completely decimated by the BJP. Congress’ chief ministerial face, Harish Rawat lost by a margin of nearly 14,000 votes to BJP from Lalkuan Assembly seat. After a neck and neck race in Goa, BJP inched closer to the majority while Congress kept sliding down the ladder. Repeated electoral debacles yet again put a question mark on the leadership of the Gandhi clan in the organisation.

Questions are being raised on whether this was the end of the road for the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader Mayawati. BSP which had won 19 seats in 2017 is struggling to win one seat. As the party got routed it could now be an existential crisis for the first woman Dalit Chief Minister.

Even though the Akhilesh Yadavled SP gained more than 80 seats taking its tally from 52 in 2017 to over 130 seats, it failed to stop the BJP from creating history. It was learnt that failure to get the votes transferred from its ally hit the SP yet again. In 2017, while the SP votes got transferred to BSP, the reverse did not happen.

This time too, while the SP votes got transferred to Rashtriya Lok Dal, it did not get the Jat votes. In western UP, while the Jats voted for RLD, they went for the BJP instead of the SP candidates.

Shane Warne’s state memorial to be held at MCG on March 30 Continued from Page 3

“There’s nowhere in the world more appropriate to farewell Warnie than the ‘G’. Victorians will be able to pay tribute to Shane and his contribution to our state, and his sport, at a memorial service at the MCG on the evening of March 30th,” said Andrews in a tweet.

“Info and tickets will be available

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soon,” he added.

Notably, the MCG was the stage of the legspinner’s famous Ashes hat-trick in 1994 and the 700th Test wicket on Boxing Day in 2006, his final series before he retired from international cricket.

Earlier, autopsy results confirmed that Warne died due to a suspected heart attack, confirming the death was due to natural causes

with no signs of foul play. Following his death on the Thai resort island of Koh Samui, Warne’s body was taken by ferry to the mainland city of Surat Thani on March 6. It was transported to Bangkok on March 7 night and was being prepared to fly home to Melbourne, according to media reports.

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Chandigarh, March 10: Rising from the ashes like the phoenix, the Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on March 10, in a maiden emphatic win, crushed the traditional players that ruled the border state of Punjab for over seven decades with a stunning victory largely by its greenhorns on 92 of the 117 seats of the legislative assembly.

Bhagwant Mann, the party’s pick for the top post, is all set to become the next Chief Minister.

The ruling Congress, which won 77 seats in 2017, managed to win only 18 seats with most of its stalwart faces like Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu faced humiliating defeat from their respective strongholds.

Interestingly, the BJP, which largely banked on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s charisma, and its previous alliance partner the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) failed in securing even a double-digit tally.

The BJP, which had won three seats in the 2017 when it had contested in alliance with the SAD, secured only two seats, while SAD won four seats. The other won one seat.

Accepting the verdict with all humility, Congress rebel and twotime chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, whose newly floated Punjab Lok Congress (PLC) fought the elections in alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), lost his Patiala Urban stronghold to AAP’s Ajit Pal Singh Kohli.

He said that people of Punjab had also rejected communal and divisive politics of the Congress by first rejecting one leader as the chief minister for being a Hindu and then for trying to play down the caste factor.

Capt Amarinder Singh was purportedly referring to the appointment of Charanjit Channi, state’s first Dalit Chief Minister, overlooking former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, after his own unceremonious exit from the party.

The halfway mark in the assembly is 59 and AAP firmly achieved this target after dealing a big blow to all the political parties.

All the Badals, led by five-time

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the eldest candidate at 94 in the fray, as well as their kin lost to AAP’s greenhorns.

The eldest Badal, who won the seat five times in a row since 1997, lost to Gurmeet Khuddian from Lambi by 11,357 votes, while his son and SAD chief and Member of Parliament Sukhbir Badal faced humiliating defeat from Jalalabad, and his son-in-law Adesh Partap Singh Kairon faced defeat from Patti in Tarn Taran district from AAP’s Laljit Singh Bhullar.

Sukhbir Badal’s brother-in-law Bikram Majithia and his estranged cousin Manpreet Badal, who was in the fray on a Congress ticket, also lost the poll from their respective seats.

As per the Election Commission, AAP’s Khuddian, a Congress rebel, was polled 65,717 votes and the elderly Badal got 54,360.

The junior Badal has lost the elections by a margin of 23,310 votes from Jalalabad to AAP’s Jagdeep Kamboj.

Majithia, who was in the fray from Amritsar (East) seat, took the third spot, with 25,112 votes.

His arch-rival and state Congress President Navjot Singh Sidhu also suffered a loss in his seat, garnering only 32,807 votes.

Both senior leaders were defeated

by AAP’s novice Jeevan Jyot Kaur, who received 39,520 votes.

A five-time MLA and two-time Finance Minister, Manpreet Badal, who is the son of Gurdas Badal, the younger brother of Parkash Singh Badal, lost the elections from Bathinda Urban.

“We whole-heartedly and with total humility accept the mandate given by Punjabis. I am grateful to lakhs of Punjabis who placed their trust in us and to SAD-BSP workers for their selfless toil. We will continue to serve them with humility in the role they have assigned to us,” Sukhbir Badal tweeted.

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Nov 1-15, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 9

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Thaai Tamil School in Springfield sees influx of students An increase in young families of Tamil background moving to the Greater Springfield region has seen an influx of student enrolment numbers at a Brisbane-based Tamil language learning school.

Thaai Tamil School is run by volunteers at three locations including Woodcrest State College at Springfield, Sunnybank State High School at Sunnybank, and St Paul’s School at Bald Hills.

Founder and president Mugunth Subramanian said about 50 volunteers were involved in teaching and assisting teachers across the three campuses.

“At the Springfield campus alone, there are around 20 volunteers,”

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Mr Subramanian said.

“Volunteers are parents of the students in the school. They have various occupations ranging from IT professionals, childcare workers, medical professionals, university researchers, and main stream school teachers.

“They get involved in teaching if they are interested and know Tamil language skills. Also, we provide training required for them.”

He said within the Greater Springfield region the need to start a campus was necessary as many young Tamil families continued to move to the fastest growing region in south-east Queensland.

“We have 50 students learning Tamil at our Springfield campus,” he said.

Tamil roots by giving them the opportunity to learn the Tamil language and culture.”

“We hope the student numbers in the Greater Springfield area will increase in coming years.”

He said while most students who attended the Springfield campus were from the Springfield area, some travelled from neighbouring suburbs including Collingwood Park, Goodna, and Ipswich.

Mr Subramanian said having a Tamil school available to students in Greater Springfield was beneficial for many reasons.

“It helps students to learn the Tamil language, which is one of the oldest languages in the world and still very much actively used by more than 80 million people,” he said.

“For students of Tamil background, this school helps them to connect with their

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Thaai Tamil school was started in 2011.

Mr Subramanian said the school was started to provide an opportunity for Tamil community children to learn their language and to connect to their culture.

“Our objective is to start more campuses around Brisbane, so that travel time to get to the

classes is less,” he said.

He said when the school first started in 2011 at Mount Ommaney library, only two students attended.

“Now we have more than 150 students learning Tamil language at three different campuses,” Mr Subramanian said.

“We take students from the Prep until Year 12. We have students ranging from four-and- halfyears to 17.”

He said most students were from families with Indian, Sri Lankan and Malaysia backgrounds.

For more information visit thaaitamilschool.com

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HOLI 2022

Nov 1-15, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 9

THE HON ALEX HAWKE MP

MINISTER FOR IMMIGRATION, CITIZENSHIP, MIGRANT SERVICES AND MULTICULTURAL AFFAIRS MESSAGE FOR HOLI 2022 Happy Holi to all Indian Australians, joining with people around the world in celebrating the Festival of Colours.

Our cultural calendar has be blessed with the vibrancy and joy of Holi festivities, with so many Australians from many backgrounds coming together to celebrate the message of harmony and the triumph of good over evil.

Holi is also a celebration of love and the healing of relationships. It is truly reflective of the unity and strength of our harmonious multicultural communities, as it is through our ability to embrace our diversity that we have built such a successful and cohesive Australia.

As Australians continue to overcome the challenges of the last two years, and we have much to celebrate this Holi. As we continue to come together as a community to face challenges in solidarity, I extend my thanks for the important role you have all played in Australia’s united response to the pandemic and other disasters.

Whether you are celebrating at home, or at one of the many community Holi festivals, I hope you are able to take the time to connect with family and friends.

I hope this Holi is filled with joy and colour, and for good health, happiness and prosperity in the year ahead.

ALEX HAWKE

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INDIA NEWS

Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

IMAQ celebrates International Women’s Day As part of the International Women’s Day marked annually on 8th March, a high tea was organised by the Indian Medical Association of Queensland (IMAQ) recently under the auspices of Dr Neeraj Khanna.

Representatives from White Ribbon Queensland committee were also a part of the event for an important discussion on prevention of domestic violence.

Australian spin master Shane Warne dies at 52 Tributes came pouring in as the sporting world mourned the death of Australian cricket legend Shane Warne in Thailand on March 4 evening. Former England footballer and sports broadcaster Gary Lineker led the tributes on Twitter, writing, “Terribly saddened and shocked to hear the news that Shane Warne has died. The greatest spin bowler of all time. Can’t quite believe it. RIP Shane.”

Fellow footballer Stan Collymore

followed Lineker as he tweeted, “My goodness, Shane Warne has died. 52 years old, this is truly awful news. Rest in peace Ledge.”

The news has clearly affected the entire sporting world and the loss will undoubtedly be felt by the cricketing community, particularly the Australian cricket community.

As per a statement given to Fox News by Warne’s management firm, the leg-spinner passed away in Thailand of a suspected heart

attack.

Graeme Fowler, who played in 21 Test matches for England, wrote: “RIP Shane Warne. The greatest spinner ever, and fantastic company.

“The brightest lights burn out faster.”

Indian Cricket team opener Shikhar Dhawan echoed Fowler’s sentiment, “Sad, speechless, and completely shocked. An incredible loss to cricket. I have no words.

Thank you for everything you’ve

done for the sport.

“Rest in Peace, Shane Warne.

Sending my condolences to his loved ones.”

Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer too expressed his sorrow at the news, writing, “Whenever

he came to the wicket, change came over the game of Cricket.

My mind just cannot accept that Shane Warne is no more. Gone too soon. Thoughts and prayers with his family and friends...RIP Warnie.”

Defence Industry Seminar conducted by Indian High Commission High Commission of India, Canberra in association with Australia India Business Council (AIBC) organised a Defence Industry Seminar to promote Defence Industry cooperation between India and Australia recently.

The event was a curtain raiser for DEFEXPO 22 to be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in March.

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

Indian High Commission holds virtual meet on organic products

500-year-old stolen statue to be repatriated to India

The High Commission of India along with Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Govt. of India organised a “Virtual Networking Meet on

Organic Products” on Wednesday, 02 March 2022.

The event highlighted the vast opportunities that exist in the Australian market and how Indian exporters can meet this demand.

Australia commemorates Indian National Science Day On the occasion of India’s National Science Day, marked every year on February 28, the Indian diaspora in Australia this year celebrated a few of the many Indian-origin people making outstanding contributions to Australia’s science, technology and innovation sectors.

Among those who were celebrated included, Prof.

Chennupati Jagadish, a leading nanotechnology and physics researcher who is acknowledged for his research in semiconductor optoelectronics at The Australian National University’s Department of Electronic Materials Engineering, currently serving as the president of the Australian Academy of Science; Professor Veena Sahajwalla, engineer and

Prof. Chennupati Jagadish

COMMUNITY NEWS

innovator whose pioneering research is transforming waste into a new generation of green material and products, and Dr Nisha Rakhesh from Western Sydney University, who is helping develop collaborative research programs to support the farming industry as it grapples with climate change & food security challenges.

The Chargé d’Affaires Michael Goldman in Canberra recently returned a 500-year old stolen Indian statue to Indian High Commissioner Manpreet Vohra. U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Indian law enforcement agents worked together to recover the statue, which had been looted from a temple in Southern India, sold to Christie’s Auction House in New York, and acquired by a buyer in Australia.

Christie’s Auction House and the buyer in Australia were originally unaware of the statue’s

stolen origins, but after being alerted by law enforcement agents, cooperated fully with the U.S.-India law enforcement investigation to recover the stolen artifact.

In remarks during the handover ceremony, Chargé d’Affaires Goldman said, “The recovery of this statue represents the breadth and depth of the U.S.-India law enforcement partnership,” adding that “the successful investigation shows the importance the United States places on preserving and protecting cultural heritage.”

The Chargé d’Affaires expressed

his appreciation to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Indian law enforcement agents for their recovery of the looted statue and cooperation to fight illegal trade in cultural artifacts.

The statue represents Hanuman, a beloved monkey deity renowned for his courage, power, and faithful, selfless service. After being returned to the Indian High Commission, the statue of Hanuman will be repatriated to India.

Dr Nisha Rakhesh

Professor Veena Sahajwalla

Fiji senior citizens celebrate holi Fiji Senior Citizens Association of Queensland Inc (FSCAQ) celebrated holi recently.

The vibrant Festival of Colours event included lots of fun

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and frolic along with dance performances on blockbuster songs of the late Bollywood actor Sridevi.

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

Prince of Wales visits Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral, shows support for Ukraine The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall exhibited their support to members of the Ukrainian community during a visit to the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in London.

Alongside Ukrainian Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko, The Prince and The Duchess met guests including leaders within the Ukrainian community and volunteers helping the humanitarian effort.

At the altar, Their Royal Highnesses lit a candle and laid sunflowers, the national flower of Ukraine.

The Prince of Wales remarked, “Our thoughts and prayers, however inadequate they may be, are with all of you at this most critical of times.”

Rotary Club of Goodna donates essentials to local charity group

SKED marks Shivratri with Rudra Abhishekam event Sri Kamakshi Ekambareswara Dhaam (SKED) recently celebrated the sacred Shivratri event by organising the Rudra Abhishekam ceremony.

Despite much uncertainty brought on by floods and road closure, the event was immensely successful. The divine and blissful pooja ceremony was carried out with Manasarovar water and

The Rotary Club of Goodna Inc. recently donated food and other essentials to Goodna Street Life, a 100% tax deductible, not for profit charity setup to help the homeless and those in need.

Governor of Queensland Jeannette Young graced the official food unloading event with her presence and was joined by Deputy Mayor Nicole Jonic, Ipswich City Council, as she caught up with the locals to discuss the flood recovery efforts.

Rotary Club of Goodna thanked Bunnings Bundamba on their official social media account for their welcome donation of $1600 worth of gas cookers, gas refills, torches, batteries etc to assist residents of Goodna who are still in their flooded homes but

without power or gas. With these necessities the residents will be able to cook the food which was donated earlier by the club.

The product will be delivered by Goodna Street Life directly to the locals. Rotary Club of Goodna Thanks Local Firms for Donated Flood Relief Supplies The Rotary Club of Goodna also thanked Woolworths for their welcome donation of $100 to assist the club in its efforts to purchase urgent food supplies for the Goodna Street Life homeless shelter. The shelter has been inundated with locals who have lost housing due to the floods and are in need of emergency accommodation and food supplies to feed their families.

mixed panchamruta abhishekams by the devotees.

Bharat Solanki Guruji led the entire pooja ceremony and also delineated the importance and auspiciousness of Manasarovar water, enlightening the devotees how it was a great blessing to offer abhishekam and prayers to Mahadev on Shivratri.

GOPIO’s high tea event marks IWD 2022 celebrations

To celebrate the International Women’s Day 2022, GOPIO Gold Coast organised a high tea event on Sunday, March 6 at Greendays Restaurant and Bar in Bundall, Gold Coast.

During the event, the participants celebrated women’s achievements and raised awareness towards bias against women.

Veena Goverdhan, newly appointed Southport magistrate, talked about her personal journey and the positive impact this journey has had on her personal development and achievements.

The event’s presenter Pallavi Mandke gave insights on what is bias and how to identify and overcome it.

The event also helped raise $1247 to support people impacted by the devastating floods. This amount will be donated to GIVIT.

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

Bicycle rally held by High Commission of India

T

he High Commission of India in Canberra held a bicycle rally last month as part of the 75th anniversary celebrations of Indian independence and as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav

activities.

The rally was a success for the participants thanks to pleasant weather and good company from fellow Canberrans.

Musical event organised in Canberra

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rakash and Lalita Deo organised the musical event Ek Rangeen Sham Labasa Ke Naam with their family and friends in Canberra last month.

Saraswati puja held in Melbourne

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he Shree Shakti Association Victoria held a Saraswati puja in Melbourne's Melton Community Hall in the last week

The occasion drew proud Labasans from all over the state as well as Fiji. Jitend Reddy, who travelled from Fiji, was the chief guest, and the MC was Pt Rohit MP from Fiji.

of February, and it was a huge success. The following are a few images from the event.

$1000 was donated to bush fire assistance and $1000 to the Labasa Golden Age Home during the event.

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INDIA NEWS

Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

IWD 2022: High Commission organises board room session H igh Commission of India in Canberra, in collaboration with Australia India Business Council’s (AIBC) Women in Business Chapter, organised a board room session “Unlocking Australia – India business opportunities in 2022” with eminent participants on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

H.E. Shri Manpreet Vohra graced the event and participated in the fruitful and lively discussion.

The event had the support of Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Export Council of Australia, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Havan Yajna ceremony held in Queensland

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rya Pratinidhi Sabha of Queensland Inc members held a very rewarding Havan Yajna Satsang on March 6th, 2022 at Queensland Vedic Cultural Centre. Yajmaans for the ceremony were Mr.Yogesh Pathak and Mrs. Poonam Pathak’s family.

It was really pleasing to see a good turnout who participated in the Havan Satsang program.

Compliments and positive feedback were received from the participants who really enjoyed the enriching Havan Satsang

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program -Vedic Dharam prachaar with Ved mantras being chanted; heart touching, comforting Vedic bhajans being sung and thoughtprovoking ,motivating Vedic discourses/pravachans.There was also a very entertaining, captivating laughter yoga session dedicated to enhancing health and wellbeing, and relieving stress, which the audience really enjoyed. The Yajmaan family made outstanding arrangements for the Havan Yajna,

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COMMUNITY NEWS

TACA celebrates Pongal at NSW Parliament

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n February 15, the Tamil Arts and Culture Association Inc (TACA) held its 7th annual Pongal in NSW Parliament, which was a huge success, as evidenced by the large number of community members and high-profile guests who attended.

Among the dignitaries, community leaders and representatives of various organisations who joined in the celebration were Dr Geoff Lee MP, Member for Parramatta, Minister for Corrections; Hon. Mark Coure MP, Member for Oatley, Minister for Multiculturalism; Hon. Jonathan O’Dea MP, Member for Davidson, Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly; Hon. Chris Minns MP, NSW Opposition Leader; Mr Steve Kamper MP, Member for Rockdale, Shadow Minister for Multiculturalism; Ms Julia Finn MP, Member for Granville; Dr Hugh McDermott MP, Member for Prospect; Mr Guy Zangari MP Member for Fairfield; Mr Edmond Atalla MP, Member for Mt Druitt; Ms Jenny Aitchison MP, Member for Maitland; Mr

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Kevin Conolly MP, Member for Riverstone; Ms Anna Watson MP, Member for Shell Harbour; Mr Jason Yat-sen Li, Member elect for Strathfield; Rev Hon Fred Nile MLC, Member of the Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group); Mr Anthony D'Adam MLC; Mr David Shoebridge MLC, Member of the Legislative Council Member of The Greens; Clr Lisa Lake, Mayor of Cumberland Council; Clr Sameer Pandey, Deputy Mayor - Parramatta Council; Clr Suman Saha, Councillor - Cumberland Council; Clr Karen Pensabene, Deputy Mayor – Strathfiled Council; Clr Sharangan Maheswaran, Councillor - Strathfield Council; Clr Livingston Chettipally, Councillor - Blacktown Council; Clr Usha Domairaju, Councillor - Camden Council; Clr Sreeni Pillmari, Councillor - Hornsby Council; Mr Manish Gupta, Consul General of India, Sydney; Mr Peter Doukas OAM, Chair, Ethnic Communities Council of NSW.

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INDIA NEWS

Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

COMMUNITY NEWS

Indian Dental firm bags award at EBA 2021

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n February 14, Healthy Smiles Dental Group won the Small Business category award at the 32nd edition of the Ethnic Business Awards (EBA).

The awards honour migrant and indigenous entrepreneurs who have excelled in their fields.

Dr. Ved Berani generously donated the entire $10,000 award to the charity Sikh Volunteers Australia, which gives free meals to the less fortunate. Dr. Berani also spoke about his journey from student to multi-award winning

entrepreneur in a video message.

"Dr Ved Berani and Priyanka Sethi Berani have always strived to deliver the best for their customers and winning this award means a lot to all of us at Healthy Smiles," said a statement by the dental firm. "Healthy Smiles has been actively present to provide dental services during the pandemic and will continue to support the Melbourne community with its outstanding customer service in the near future too."

Perth event honours Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

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aharashtra Mandal Perth, in collaboration with the Indian Society of Western Australia (ISWA) and the Consulate General of India in Perth, held a Shiv-Jayanti celebration to honour renowned warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

Shri Naresh Sharma, Acting Consul General in Perth, presided over the occasion and took part in it.

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

Upset Cong workers from UP reach Delhi to meet Sonia Lucknow, March 14: The Congress workers from across Uttar Pradesh marched to Delhi on March 14 and reached the party headquarters where they planned to meet Sonia Gandhi, former president Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

The Congressmen want to tell their leaders that the party’s miserable performance in the Uttar Pradesh polls was due to the conspiracy of ‘betrayers within the party who sold tickets for a price’.

“We want to tell our leaders that all is not lost and if the right

people are asked to lead UP, we have hopes for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Priyanka ji has been misled by a coterie that does not have the Congress DNA and is working for vested interests,” said expelled Congress leader Konark Dixit, who is leading the campaign.

He said that party workers who are committed to the ideology, are worried that the Congress has forfeited deposits on 385 seats in the elections.

“If we want to resurrect the party before the general elections, we need to change the system of working. We are not rising in

Imphal, March 10: In the northeastern region, after Assam, the BJP, securing absolute majority on its own, retained power in Manipur for the second consecutive term by winning 32 seats in the 60-member assembly.

According to the Election Commission’s announcement, the ruling BJP managed 37.83 per cent votes this time against 21 seats and 36.3 per cent votes in 2017, when the party came to power in the northeastern state first time in alliance with the four National People’s Party (NPP) MLAs, four Naga People’s Front (NPF) members, the lone Trinamool Congress MLA and an Independent member.

The Bharatiya Janata Party’s estranged ally Naga People’s Front (NPF), which won five seats, has indicated its support to the saffron party led government.

As per the Election Commission’s results, BJP’s another estranged ally NPP got seven seats, and Janata Dal (United) secured six, three independent candidates won their seats and the Kuki People’s Alliance, a local party, won two seats.

The main opposition Congress, which had become the single largest party in the 2017 assembly polls by securing 28 seats, won only five seats.

The Congress had secured 35.5

percent votes in 2017 polls, but managed only 16.83 percent votes this time.

Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, who won from his traditional seat Heingang for the record 5th time, told the media that the BJP would form the government with the support of the smaller parties.

“In consultation with the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi), Home Minister (Amit Shah) and national party president ( J.P. Nadda), the strategies and decision to make a coalition government would be decided,” the Chief Minister told the media after offering puja to Shri Shri Govindaji Temple accompanied by BJP’s spokesperson Sambit Patra.

BJP’s estranged ally NPP, which had won four seats five years ago, won seven seats this time emerging as the second largest party in Manipur.

Headed by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, the NPP is the dominating party in the Meghalaya Democratic Alliance government. BJP with two MLAs

is also the partner of the MDA government.

This time, the BJP, NPP and NPF had contested the polls separately and had fielded candidates against each other.

Among the notable candidates, former ministers and BJP nominees Thokchom Radheshyam Singh (Heirok), Nemcha Kipgen (Kangpokpi) won their seats.

Former three time Chief Minister (2002-2017) and Congress veteran Okram Ibobi Singh (Thoubal), former speaker of the Manipur assembly Thokchom Lokeshwar Singh (Khundrakpam) and top Janata Dal (United) leader Khumukcham Joykisan Singh (Thangmeiband) also won their seats.

Besides several senior Congress leaders, Ibobi’s son Okram Joy Singh lost his Langthabal seat to BJP candidate Karam Shyam.

Deputy Chief Minister and senior NPP leader Yumnam Joykumar Singh lost his Uripok seat to BJP candidate Khwairakpam Raghumani Singh by a margin of 909 votes.

New Delhi, March 10: Luxury motorcycle brand Ducati on Thursday launched its new motorcycle Scrambler 1100 Tribute PRO at Rs 12,89,000 in the Indian market.

The Ducati Scrambler 1100 Tribute PRO is a special motorcycle that was created to pay homage to the history of the air-cooled twincylinder engine, fifty years after it was first introduced on a Ducati, in 1971 with the Ducati 750 GT.

It also features a unique “Giallo Ocra” livery with a black frame and sub frame along with a brown seat, the company said.

“The Scrambler 1100 Tribute PRO stays true to the Scrambler DNA while also paying homage to the history of the Borgo Panigale through the unique ‘Giallo Ocra’ livery. Our first launch this year, the Scrambler 1100 Tribute PRO is a distinctive offering celebrating the iconic air cooled

L-Twin engine and it’s great that Ducatisti from India can also get their hands on this exclusive edition,” Bipul Chandra, Managing Director, Ducati India said in a statement.

The engine is the 1079 cc L-twin with desmodromic distribution and air cooling that produces 86 hp at 7,500 rpm and 9.2 kgm of torque at 4,750 rpm.

BJP alliance partners outshine Cong and BSP in UP polls

revolt but we need to discuss certain issues with the party leadership,” he said.

The Congress workers are also demanding the resignation of Ajay Kumar Lallu, who has not only lost his own elections but has also ranked at the third position.

BJP retains power in Manipur for 2nd consecutive term

Ducati Scrambler Tribute 1100 PRO launched in India

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New Delhi, March 10: BJP alliance partners Apna Dal and Nishad party outperformed the Congress and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) in Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls.

When the counting began, both the BJP’s alliance partners were together either leading or winning in 19 seats while Congress only won two and BSP was leading in one seat.

Union Minister Anupriya Patel’s Apna Dal (Soneylal) contested on 17 seats and won eight and was leading in four seats. Nirbal Indian Shoshit Hamara Aam Dal (Nishad) party won five and was leading in two.

BJP top leaders supported alliance partners by seeking votes for them during campaigning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared the stage with Patel in election rallies.

Grand old party Congress has recorded its worst performance and was able to win only two seats with 2.35 per cent votes shares.

People have rejected the Congress party led by the general secretary Priyanka Gandhi.

BSP has also registered its worst

ever performance as the party leading in only one seat with 12.82 vote shares. Jatavs, the sub-caste to which BSP chief Mayawati belongs, hold a 14 per cent share in the scheduled caste category in the state.

The BSP, till now, has managed to secure only 12.7 percent vote share which clearly shows that even Jatavs have moved away from the BSP. Commenting on the alliance partners’ “stunning” performance, a BJP leader said that performance of alliance partners shows that the BJP’s votes transferred to them on the seats they contested.

“Results show that people have faith in BJP and its alliance partners and voters whole-heartedly supported them on the seats they contested by blessing with the votes,” he said.

An Apna Dal insider said, “In alliance with BJP, Apna Dal performance has improved in comparison to the last Assembly polls. In 2017, we contested 11 and won nine, this time we won 12 out of the 17 contested seats.”

Lucknow, March 11: The BJP attributes its stupendous win in Uttar Pradesh to the law-and-order factor but five out of eight mafias in the fray have managed to win elections.

It is their ‘Robinhood’ image that has helped them win their seat.

The most prominent of them is Raghuraj Pratap Singh a.k.a. ‘Raja Bhaiyya’, who has won the Kunda seat for the seventh consecutive time.

He contested from Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik), a party he floated in 2018 and faced a bitter battle from his rival -- Gulshan Yadav of Samajwadi Party -- during the campaign.

Though Raja Bhaiyya lost his margin, he won his seat.

Another mafia candidate, who won his Saiyadraja seat in Chandauli, is Sushil Singh of the BJP. Sushil is the nephew of donturned-politician Brijesh Singh.

Samajwadi Party’s Abhay Singh

won from the Gosainganj seat in Ayodhya, defeating Arti Tiwari, wife of jailed don Khabbu Tiwari.

Samajwadi Party candidate Prabhu Narain Singh Yadav, also considered a muscleman, managed to win from Sakaldiha seat in Chandauli.

In Azamgarh’s Phoolpur Pawai seat, former MP and don Ramakant Yadav also won.

Jailed don Mukhtar Ansari did not contest the polls but his son Abbas Ansari won from Mau and nephew Mannu Ansari won from Mohammadabad in Ghazipur.

Among the losers are Vijay Mishra who contested from jail and lost his Gyanpur seat in Bhadohi.

Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) candidate Madan Bhaiyya lost from Loni seat of Ghaziabad. Monu Singh lost from Sultanpur.

Another prominent muscleman who lost from Malhani seat in Jaunpur is Dhananjay Singh who contested a fiercely fought battle

Yogi’s ‘bulldozer’ could not dislodge these ‘Robinhoods’

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Modi has transformed culture of elections in India: BJP chief Nadda New Delhi, March 10: Addressing the boisterous party workers after landslide victory in four of the five Assembly elections, BJP National President J.P. Nadda on March 10 said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has altered the culture of elections in India.

“PM Modi has changed the culture of politics. For decades, the politics was dominated by dynasties, by regionalism, sanskritikvaad (cultural dominance) etc., but today, it is the politics of development, of empowerment, empowerment of youth, women and farmers,” Nadda said while addressing the party workers.

Referring to the coalition of parties against the BJP, Nadda said, “I have always maintained that the voter knows how to safeguard his interest even if different leaders or parties join hands. Elections are not mathematics or arithmetic but it is chemistry.”

“And when I say chemistry, we should all remember that the poor people of India have been exploited over the years, our mothers, our sisters, our youth, and our farmers. They all have a bond with Narendra Modi, just as a chemical bond. It is Modi’s chemistry that prompted him to empower the poor masses

and benefit the masses with his chemistry of development.”

He went on to list the multiple schemes that the Centre is running for “empowering the common masses” that then have resulted in votes at the time of elections.

Following victory in Punjab, AAP may emerge as alternative to Cong New Delhi, March 10: The first regional party that has won outside its state of origin, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) is set to foray into national politics.

The landslide win in Punjab has positioned AAP in direct competition to the nation’s grand old party, the Congress.

In the five-state Assembly polls, which were regarded as a kind of semi-final, the Congress has been decimated. After the loss in Punjab, Congress is left with only two states -- Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.

Arvind Kejriwal, while addressing the party workers at the party office in Delhi on March 10 after the results, said that this was a stamp on honest politics and “Bhagat Singh said that the system has to be changed and the people of Punjab have changed the system.”

The party has often made a mention of its national ambition, and has fielded candidates in several states. With the Punjab

win, the ambition finally seems to be taking shape.

The elated party workers say that Kejriwal will be the Prime Ministerial candidate in future as an alternative to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Kejriwal shares a good rapport with non-BJP leaders, including Mamata Banerjee, Sharad Pawar and Akhilesh Yadav. He may become a joint opposition candidate at the cost of Congress in view of the latter’s continued downslide since 2014.

AAP’s Punjab in-charge Raghav Chaddha said that the BJP took 10 years to form its government in a state, but AAP has expanded its base to second state in Punjab and in both the states the AAP has got landslide victory.

Apart from Punjab, AAP has performed well in Goa where it secured around 4 per cent votes. In Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh, the party has contested and though it has not won, they have tried to make their organisation alive in each district

of the state.

AAP’s Bhagwant Mann, who is the Chief Ministerial candidate, won Dhuri seat with a margin of 58,206 votes. The party is heading for a landslide win in the 117-member legislative Assembly.

In his first public address in his home town Sangrur after winning the seat and seeing the meteoric rise of the party, Mann promised to fix unemployment as his first task in office.

“No government office in the state will have the photo of the Punjab CM, but will carry a portrait of B.R. Ambedkar. We will ensure that the youth do not have to go abroad. Within a month, you will observe changes,” he added Mann said he will take oath as the Chief Minister in Bhagat Singh’s ancestral village Khatkar Kalan and not in Raj Bhawan. Taking a dig at the opposition leaders, he said, “The elder Badal has lost.

Captain (Amarinder Singh) Sahab has also lost. Majithia is also losing. Channi has also lost from both seats.”

Why SP-RLD could not paint a picture perfect Lucknow, March 10: It seemed to be a picture perfect till the results started tumbling out on March 10.

The Samajwadi Party-Rashtriya Lok Dal alliance came a cropper in western UP, upsetting all calculations.

According to sources, one of the main reasons for the below expectation performance of the alliance in an area that was the focal point of the farmers’ agitation against the ruling BJP, was faulty candidate selection and swapping of candidates.

“The Samajwadi Party made RLD ‘adopt’ some of its candidates and gave its own party symbol to some RLD followers.

“This created confusion in the minds of voters who did not like SP’s conduct. Jats voted for RLD only on seats where it had candidates on its own symbol but did not go for SP candidates. They also did not vote for RLD leaders

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who contested on the SP symbol. We thought that the voters would not realise this but we were wrong,” said an RLD leader who spoke to IANS on condition of anonymity.

Moreover, another factor that made Jats hostile to SP were the memories of Muzaffarnagar riots that were repeatedly raked up by BJP campaigners.

For Jayant Chaudhary, the stakes were high in these elections because it was his first election after the death of his father Ajit Singh. He had the onus of proving himself by bringing the party back into reckoning by winning as many seats as possible and this is why he had left no stone unturned in the polls.

However, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav made it a point to convey to voters in every election meeting that he was visibly a junior partner and this did not go

down well with those who were rooting for the RLD. The RLD’s electoral history shows that its best ever performance in terms of number of seats won in the UP Assembly elections, was in 2002 when it won 14 of the 38 seats when it contested in alliance with the BJP. Its vote share in the seats contested was also the highest at 26.82 per cent in 2002 though the vote share against the total valid votes polled was only 2.48 per cent, which was lower than the vote share of 3.70 per cent the party had got in 2007 elections when it won 10 of the 254 seats on its own.

The party went solo in 2017 Assembly polls and could manage to win only one seat, that is, Chaprauli in Baghpat but lone MLA Sahendra Singh Ramala later joined the BJP in 2018.

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PM Modi slams those dragging caste, religion into every issue New Delhi, March 10: Hours after the results for the Assembly elections were announced on March 10, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged concerns over dynastic politics and also slammed those who raise questions on India’s abilities and those who bring in religion and caste in every issue.

The Prime Minister, while addressing the party cadre at the BJP headquarters here, came down heavily on people, who try to stop action against the corrupt.

“There has been a conspiracy to stop action against corruption.

Some people have the uncanny tendency of filling up their own treasure/chests. People of India are expecting from us (BJP) that our honest government will punish the corrupt. Should we not rise up to this expectation of the common people,” Prime Minister Modi asked a loud cheering party workers, who were assembled to celebrate the party’s victory in four out of five Assembly elections.

“If we take any actions against the corrupt, these people, their ecosystem raise doubts about the institutions that are investigating cases of corruption and find out ways and means to demean the institutions for investigations.

They even raise questions on the judicial institutions,” he added.

The Prime Minister also drew attention towards “those people who bring religion, region and caste just when any action is taken against the corrupt, when the judiciary gives out a decision.”

“I want to appeal to the honest people to think if such corrupt people, such mafia can be and should be outcasted from their society, their caste and thus, strengthen the society as a

whole,” he said.

Prime Minister Modi asserted that “one of the reasons of BJP’s massive win in Uttar Pradesh was a result of the development politics that has ensured corruption free reign.”

Earlier, the Prime Minister said, at a time when the common man is engaged in constructive work, “there are some who are busy downgrading that positive work.”

Without naming anyone, he said, “These people raised questions on our vaccination programme, largest in the world. Similarly, when there were hundreds of citizens stuck in Ukraine with their families anxiously waiting for their return, these very people tried to pin down the ‘Operation Ganga’ by colouring it with regionalism.”

In an opaque reference to Congress’ leadership of Gandhi family, Prime Minister Modi reminded the party workers that he has often cautioned people about dynastic politics (parivarvaad).

“I told the people how I am not against a particular family but it is the dynastic politics that have hindered the progress of our nation and people have reciprocated positively on the issue.”

“People of India will ensure the end of dynastic politics one day.

And the results today are an indication towards the same,” he asserted.

AIMIM fails to make any headway in Uttar Pradesh Lucknow, March 10: The All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) that contested the Uttar Pradesh assembly elections with much fanfare, has come a cropper. The party has ended up with a miniscule 0.4 per cent vote share and zero seats.

AIMIM chief Asadudddin Owaisi, who created a flutter in state politics with his controversial speeches and claims, has failed to ‘move even a fly’ even though he had an opportunity to polarize minorities in his favour during the high-octane ‘bulldozer’ campaign being run by the BJP. In 2017, the AIMIM, which had fielded candidates on 38 seats in Uttar Pradesh, had failed to open its account in the Hindi heartland though it received around 2 lakh votes. This time, it has got 22.3 lakh votes and increased its vote share marginally.

The AIMIM was confident of winning the Mubarakpur seat in Azamgarh where it had fielded former BSP leader Guddu Jamali.

However, Jamali lost the seat that

has a large population of communities of weavers, migrant workers and people from different schools of Islam.

“Muslims in Uttar Pradesh are not prepared for the brand of politics that Owaisi practices. He may be an attention grabber but is not a vote catcher. He first needs to understand the politics of Uttar Pradesh which is different from Hyderabad,” said Mohd Ishaq, an elderly Muslim.

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

WA prepares for hospital peak Perth, March 10: As Covid-19 cases continued to increase sharply in the state of Western Australia (WA), health authorities on March 10 warned that a peak of hospital cases is expected later this month.

On March 10, the state recorded 4,535 new cases in 24 hours, the first time for the daily infections to exceed 4,000, and an increase of more than 25 per cent compared to 3,594 cases on March 9, reports Xinhua news agency.

The state has recorded 34,250 cases since the Covid-19 pandemic began, with more than half of those being recorded in the last seven days after the state opened its border on March 3.

The number of hospitalisations and cases needing intensive care is increasing as well. There are 80 people infected with Covid-19 in hospital, up from 67 on Wednesday. There are also three people in ICU after a long streak of days with no cases in intensive care.

WA Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the state was at

the beginning of its curve upwards of hospitalisations, and the peak in hospital cases is expected to come later this month.

“This is going to get difficult. We will see more people in hospital and more people in ICU,” she said.

WA was expected to reach the peak number of daily infections on March 14, with modelling suggesting about 10,000 people

would test positive then, according to national broadcaster ABC. Sanderson also revealed that about half of the cases in hospitals were unvaccinated, and urged people to get vaccinated.

According to the latest figure from the state’s health department, more than 95 percent of WA residents aged over 12 have been double vaccinated.

Australian floods to be declared national emergency Canberra, March 9: Prime Minister Scott Morrison on March 9 announced his intention to declare floods in the country’s north-east as a national emergency.

Morrison visited communities affected by catastrophic flooding in the northern state of New South Wales where he made the announcement, Xinhua news agency reported.

The declaration will give the federal government greater power to deploy the Australian Defence Force and financial support to affected areas.

It is the first time a national emergency is declared after the power was legislated in the wake of the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfire crisis.

“I have made this decision on March 9, in consultation with the premiers,” he said in a statement.

“It will ensure our Ministers and agencies don’t face any unnecessary bureaucracy as they roll out what communities need,” he added in a statement.

“The feedback we’ve had from communities, state governments and my own Ministers who have visited the impacted areas has helped us identify where the gaps are right now, and how we can get support out the door quickly to where it’s needed.”

At least 20 people have died and thousands of buildings have been destroyed or damaged in flooding that began in late February after the north-east coast received a year’s rainfall in one week.

The Australian Prime Minister announced 25 million Australian dollars ($18.2 million) in funding for emergency relief, food relief and counseling services for

victims and 31.2 million Australian dollars ($22.7 million) for longerterm mental health services.

“We can’t underestimate the longterm mental health toll that so many communities will be facing.

As well as the new mental health support we’re announcing, my government will closely monitor the situation to understand what else people need as they recover from these disasters,” Morrison said

Australian Defence Force apologises for slow response to catastrophic floods Canberra, March 8 (IANS): The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has apologised for its slow response to the catastrophic flooding across the country’s east coast.

Major General David Thomae, national commander of the joint task force in charge of the response to floods in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, acknowledged that some people felt abandoned by the ADF but said the army had “done all that we can”, reports Xinhua news agency.

The ADF has been criticised for failing to respond to calls for help from communities left isolated by the floods.

“I am very sorry for all those people who have felt that they haven’t been supported and I

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empathize completely with their plight,” Thomae told reporters.

At least 17 people have died and thousands of buildings have been damaged in the floods, which began late in February after parts of Queensland and New South Wales received record rainfall in a matter of days.

Damages in Queensland alone are expected to surpass A$2.5 billion ($1.8 billion).

Thomae said the ADF has rescued 113 people from flood waters and

another 79 from roofs via helicopter.

He defended the ADF response, saying personnel were on the ground in Queensland on day one providing assistance “as soon as weather and conditions allowed”.

“We have to operate safely. If our aircraft cannot safely operate to get into those locations because of the previous conditions, then that explains part of what you are asking.”

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Covid spike expected in NSW as Omicron subvariant emerges

Sydney, March 11: Covid-19 cases are expected to double in the state of New South Wales (NSW) within weeks as the new Omicron BA.2 variant spreads, health authorities warned on March 11.

The state health department reported 14,034 new cases of Covid-19 and seven deaths on March 11. There were 998 people in hospitals, slightly up from 991 on March 10, with 39 in intensive care, reports Xinhua news agency.

While the Omicron variant is still the dominant virus strain in NSW, the new BA.2 sub-variant could quickly overtake and cases could double within the next four to six weeks, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on March 10.

Paul Griffin, infectious diseases physician and microbiologist from the University of Queensland (UQ), explained that the Omicron BA.2 variant seems to spread more rapidly than the original variant, and the actual number of cases in the state could

be higher than the testing results.

“Certainly, (the variant BA.2) is increasing. One of the challenges we’re facing in Australia at the moment is we’ve pivoted to using rapid antigen tests more than PCR, so our tracking of the different variants and sub-variants is a little bit limited, compared to what it was previously,” Griffin told Xinhua on March 11.

Griffin said although there is no evidence so far showing whether the BA.2 variant is more or less severe, the likely coming back flu in winter could together pose a significant challenge to Australia.

“We are expecting the flu to return certainly greater than it has in recent years, because the travel reductions are less now.”

Griffin suggests since people are more likely to close windows during winter, the ventilation might be less. Getting fully vaccinated and using masks are still the best precaution measures.

Covid spike expected in NSW as Omicron subvariant emerges Sydney, March 11: Covid-19 cases are expected to double in the state of New South Wales (NSW) within weeks as the new Omicron BA.2 variant spreads, health authorities warned on March 11.

The state health department reported 14,034 new cases of Covid-19 and seven deaths on March 11. There were 998 people in hospitals, slightly up from 991 on March 10, with 39 in intensive care, reports Xinhua news agency.

While the Omicron variant is still the dominant virus strain in NSW, the new BA.2 sub-variant could quickly overtake and cases could double within the next four to six weeks, NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said on March 10.

Paul Griffin, infectious diseases physician and microbiologist from the University of Queensland (UQ), explained that the Omicron BA.2 variant seems to spread more rapidly than the original variant, and the actual number of cases in the state could

be higher than the testing results.

“Certainly, (the variant BA.2) is increasing. One of the challenges we’re facing in Australia at the moment is we’ve pivoted to using rapid antigen tests more than PCR, so our tracking of the different variants and sub-variants is a little bit limited, compared to what it was previously,” Griffin told Xinhua on March 11.

Griffin said although there is no evidence so far showing whether the BA.2 variant is more or less severe, the likely coming back flu in winter could together pose a significant challenge to Australia.

“We are expecting the flu to return certainly greater than it has in recent years, because the travel reductions are less now.”

Griffin suggests since people are more likely to close windows during winter, the ventilation might be less. Getting fully vaccinated and using masks are still the best precaution measures.

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

A benchmark event by FICCI, Study Queensland to highlight essence of partnering for success New Delhi, March 11: India and Australia are going through exciting times with a possibility of a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries in the next few months. Education being one of the key sectors, the governments on both sides have recently announced many education and funding-related initiatives to support internationalisation between the two countries.

Against this backdrop, FICCI, and Queensland government (Australia) realise the importance of meaningful collaborations between Indian and Queensland institutions.

Facilitating these partnerships, Study Queensland -- the specialist international education and training unit of Trade and Investment Queensland jointly with FICCI organized IndiaQueensland Education Partnership Event 2022 (IQEPE) on March 11.

Elaborating the purpose behind such an initiative, Abhinav Bhatia, Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner - South Asia, Trade & Investment Queensland said, “Education is a key priority sector for both India and Queensland, Australia. The governments on both sides are committed and supportive of the internationalization of education. With students looking for holistic and global exposure, meaningful cross-border collaborations are no longer good-to-have but a must-have for educational institutions. Moreover, such partnerships (mutual recognition of qualifications, research in areas like green hydrogen, clinical trials, critical minerals, and student exchanges) will further deepen the already strong relationship between the two regions.”

FICCI’s higher education committee is the voice of the Indian education industry focusing on key policy reforms, knowledge sharing and promoting transnational academic collaboration and other forms of exchanges.

At the event, a panel discussion focusing on the topic ‘Crossborder Collaborations: Partnering for Success’ was addressed by key dignitaries. The session was moderated and led by Abhinav Bhatia, Senior Trade & Investment Commissioner - South Asia, Trade & Investment Queensland.

The panelists - Prof. Sarah Todd, Vice President (Global), Griffith University, Prof. Ren Yi, Pro-Vice Chancellor (International), University of Southern Queensland, Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Pro-Chancellor, Symbiosis International University and Prof. N. V. Varghese, Vice Chancellor, National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration; vouched for the urging need of such collaborations during the discussion.

Dr. Vidya Yeravdekar, Chair FICCI Higher Education committee & Pro-Chancellor, Symbiosis International University shared her vision on this collaboration

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between FICCI and Queensland Government. She said, “Internationalisation is beyond student mobility and the pandemic has brought in new facets of internationalisation. There is a desire from institutions from both India and Australia to collaborate and create a win-win situation. There has to be a symbiotic relationship between partnering institutions and with FICCI being the facilitating platform, institutions from Queensland and India can come and offer diverse opportunities as NEP also endorses international collaborations, joint degrees, joint research, etc. Partnerships between Queensland and Indian universities will not only promote joint research, but also provide rich Indian industry experience to the foreign students from Australia.”

Reinforcing the potential for increased collaboration between Queensland and Indian universities, Griffith University’s Vice President (Global), Professor Sarah Todd noted the emphasis the National Research Foundation has placed on the importance of higher education institutions, the need for research with societal impact and the role that the Indian diaspora plays in developing research partnerships.

“Collaborative research activities can range from co-authored research publications at the individual level, through to arrangements for joint PhD supervision and working together to access research grant funding at the national and international level.

While many research collaborations are driven from the bottom up, based on personal connections and networks, there is also a need for institutions to look strategically at their partnerships and determine how they can better leverage those connections and diaspora to deepen and broaden relationships between Queensland and Indian universities. While there is a lot of activity already underway, there is significant potential for increased collaboration in a range of discipline areas, for mutual benefit.”

Addressing the audience on mutual recognition qualification and the credit system, Prof.

N.V. Varghese rightly mentioned, “Students often confuse credit transfer with mutual recognition and partnerships between institutions can overcome the same. This is important because credit transfer is a flexible pathway to higher learning which is supported by the Academic Bank

of Credit introduced by UGC, National Higher Education Qualification Framework and Mutual Recognition of degrees. I second that internationalization is not equal to student mobility and this higher education framework supported by NEP will facilitate and enrich higher education as well as partnerships.”

Emphasizing on the need of India-Queensland partnerships via education and research, Prof.

Ren Yi said, “Even though the scale of population and number of higher education institutions in India and Australia hugely differ, Australia is an honest partner to India and will deliver quality projects through collaboration that would have actual impact on the ground. To perform better research, it is important to study the subject in a joint format at an international level.

“University of Southern Queensland have already partnered on areas of common interest with India, such as space related research programs with ISRO, agriculture engineering and climate change with Agricultural Research Institutes in India, and aviation management programs with IndiGo airlines, etc. for better industrial experience. We are also excited about India’s NEP for joint collaborations for internships that can level up the internationalization of education.”

With the growing demand for international education, 9 worldclass institutions of Queensland and 17 top Indian universities participated at the event for strong cross-border partnerships. Indian institutes like IITRoorkee, IIT-ISM Dhanbad, BITS Pilani, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Symbiosis International University, Vellore Institute of Technology, SRM Institute of Science & Technology, Sathyabhama Institute of Science & Technology, The University of Petroleum & Energy studies, Pearl Academy, etc., took the opportunity to discuss potential partnerships with several top-ranked institutions of Queensland like The University of Queensland, Griffith University, James Cook University, Bond University, University of Southern Queensland, University of the Sunshine Coast, Torrens University, Australian Catholic University and The Outsource Institute and discussed areas of mutual interest to strengthen the education ecosystem between the two regions.

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NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

Aus leaders urged to acknowledge climate change as major factor in floods

Canberra, March 7: Australian leaders have been urged to acknowledge the role of climate change in the catastrophic floods across the country’s east coast.

The Climate Council, Australia’s leading climate change advocacy group, said in a statement on March 7 that “too many leaders are silent” on the cause of floods, reports Xinhua news agency.

At least 17 people have died and tens of thousands of buildings were damaged after southern Queensland and northern New South Wales (NSW) experienced a year’s worth of rainfall in a week, causing widespread flooding, according to media reports.

Ahead of the general election, which is due to be held in May, the council called for all political parties and candidates to reveal their plans to reduce Australia’s emissions, prepare for future disasters, rebuild affected communities and acknowledge the role of climate change in “worsening disasters”.

“Unless we rapidly and drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions this decade, extreme weather will get much, much worse,” it said.

“Climate change isn’t a footnote to the story of these floods. It is the story.”

Some politicians claim the flooding disaster was something no

one could have predicted, it said, noting that “the truth is, scientists have been warning us for decades that climate change will worsen all extreme weather in Australia. Deadlier heatwaves.

Devastating droughts. Megafires like Black Summer. Rainbombs such as this’’.

Earlier the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published its latest report on the impacts of climate change, warning that Australia was facing more severe floods and droughts.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on March 4 acknowledged advice from the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) that climate change has been a factor in causing the east coast floods in the country.

“There’s obviously a lot of change that’s occurring, and that’s why we’ve got the policies that we have,” he told Nine Entertainment radio.

“But we’ve also got to deal with the practical issues of the here and now, and these impacts will continue,” he said.

Morrison’s coalition government has set an emissions reduction target of up to 28 percent from 2005 levels by 2030 while the opposition Labor Party has promised a 43 percent reduction if elected in May.

1mn Australians live in severe poverty amid rising cost of living Canberra, March 3: A new report has revealed that up to 1 million Australians live in “severe poverty” as welfare support struggles to keep pace with the nation’s rising cost of living.

The report, “Behind the Line: Poverty and Disadvantage in Australia 2022”, published by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre, an independent economic and social research organisation located within the Curtin Business School at Curtin University, showed that some of Australia’s poorest families had less than A$150 ($109) per week after housing costs, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Housing costs have risen quite sharply in Australia recently for those people at the bottom of the income distribution, that’s actually causing quite a lot of strain,” author of the report Alan Duncan told Xinhua.

The report looked at poverty in Australia at two depths, “poverty”,

defined as having a total income at 50 per cent of median wages, and “severe poverty”, 30 percent of median wage.

According to national median wage data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), this meant people living in poverty would have under A$500 a week, and those living in severe poverty, under A$300.

The report highlighted that nearly 12 per cent of Australia’s population lived in some level of poverty, including nearly 750,000 children.

Duncan said any further increases in rent would likely be “financially catastrophic” for up to 1 million Australians living below these poverty lines.

He called for the increase of federal low-income assistance, Commonwealth Rent Assistance (CRA) and Jobseeker, which amount to a total of A$386 a week, while rent in major cities is often in excess of A$250.

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND

Full timetable resumes: SEQ New mandate for bus driver safety barriers rail services back on track Brisbane, March 16: The South East Queensland train network was restored to a full timetable from 16 March except for Ipswich to Rosewood.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said this was fantastic news for commuters, and an incredible achievement by Queensland Rail staff.

“The entire Queensland Rail network was hard hit by extreme weather and flooding, with multiple washouts, landslides and damage to overhead lines that affected every line,” Mr Bailey said.

“For the last two weeks, more than 700 workers have been working hard both on track and behind the scenes to safely complete these repairs, with significant work also from facilities management, planners and rostering in the clean-up efforts and preparations to achieve this goal of returning to a full timetable.

“When you consider the extent of damage to the network – with 26 sites and 34 stations damaged, plus 16 facilities in Mayne Yard requiring repairs, it is an extraordinary feat to have these repair

works completed.

“The full South East Queensland rail network has now been restored to a full timetable, with the exception of services west of Ipswich, where repairs are continuing on a severe landslip.

“Teams are still there working tirelessly to restore services on the Rosewood line. In the meantime, buses will continue to replace trains between Rosewood and Ipswich.”

Mr Bailey thanked commuters for their patience in recent weeks.

“I understand it has been a challenging time for commuters with

Brisbane, March 9: The Palaszczuk Government has moved rapidly to implement a range of measures in response to the current housing challenges and homelessness following recent severe rainfall and flooding.

Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch said these efforts included establishing a $600,000 Rapid Response Fund to deliver enhanced housing and homelessness services in impacted areas.

There are currently 1,035 people from 461 households that have already received emergency housing as a result of the severe weather event.

“Flood waters are subsiding across the south-east but in the aftermath of such a significant disaster we know there are Queenslanders who need help to find safe and stable housing,” she said.

“We know there was unprecedented demand on Queensland’s housing market prior to this most recent flooding event.

“Record interstate migration, rising house prices, very low vacancy rates, COVID-19 and severe weather has created a perfect storm.

“Every Queenslander deserves a roof over their head, and I have

been looking at all available options to assist people who might require short-term accommodation and longer-term housing.

“We are doing this in a way that considers the individual and the diverse needs of households.

“This includes providing accommodation solutions with appropriate support for people with disability, and people experiencing homelessness or domestic and family violence.”

Minister Enoch said there were several options being considered to increase housing supply, particularly in the short-term.

“This includes working with local hotel and motel partners to book appropriate hotel accommodation for short term accommodation needs and exploring capacity of previous quarantine accommodation,” she said.

“We are also exploring offers from the private sector, including commercial, holiday, mobile or other short-term rentals.

“These are options that could assist a number of individuals and families who might not be able to live in their own homes due to flood damage.”

Minister Enoch said the Palaszczuk Government would continue to work closely with Specialist Homelessness Services and

just about every public transport service impacted in some way, so I thank people for their understanding,” he said.

“Having trains and buses back to normal should also help ease traffic on our roads.

“We encourage customers to plan their journey in advance by using the TransLink journey planner or visiting the flood damage service updates page on the TransLink website.”

Brisbane River CityCats and ferries remain suspended due to unsafe conditions and damage to terminals and vessels.

Rapid housing response to roll out in flood-affected Queensland communities Community Housing providers in activated disaster areas to provide essential responses to people needing housing support.

“These are valued partners delivering services that are more important than ever right now,” she said.

“In response to community need, we have temporarily expanded use of and eligibility for products such as Bond Loans, Bond Loan Plus and Rental Grants for Queensland residents within the activated disaster areas, who are displaced from their property due to the weather events.

Minister Enoch said the funding package builds on the work already underway to respond to flood related housing and homelessness needs, through the Queensland Government’s community recovery hubs and Housing Service Centres.

“Our officers have been on the ground in evacuation centres across affected areas to provide housing assistance and support and this work is continuing in community recovery hubs that are opening up across the southeast,” she said.

If you need housing help, call 13 QGOV (13 74 68) or visit your nearest Housing Service Centre.

Flood victims beware of insurance claim farmers Brisbane, March 9: Flood affected Queenslanders are being warned to be aware of ‘claims farmers’ who often crop up in the wake of

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disasters to offer assistance with their insurance claim.

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman

said these firms are sometimes also known as ‘claims management services’ and will act as a go-between for a person or busi-

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Brisbane, March 10: All new urban buses in Queensland will have driver safety barriers following the outcomes from Queensland’s Bus Driver Safety Review and a subsequent independent review of bus driver barriers.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the barriers would help to protect drivers from unacceptable behaviour, including impolite behaviour, personal abuse, verbal aggression and physical violence.

“Safety of drivers is paramount, and mandatory driver barriers on new urban buses consolidates a best practice approach and supports improved safety standards across the fleet,” Mr Bailey said.

This approach follows extensive engagement with bus industry stakeholders to understand different operating environments and perspectives on driver barriers.

“From this engagement we know there is no one-size-fits-all solution for barrier design. The recent Bus Driver Safety Barriers Roundtable was focussed on a discussion with industry on the best way to implement the new mandate,” Mr Bailey said.

“It’s important that introducing this mandate still provides individual bus operators with the flexibility to implement a solution that is best suited to their network.”

In determining the most appropriate solution, bus operators will be required to undertake a comprehensive risk assessment, including consultation with their workforce.

Following a bus driver safety plan released in 2018, a bus driver safety scheme allocated grants to fund retrofitting driver barriers for eligible bus operators.

“With much of the Queensland urban fleet now fitted with a partial barrier, the recent review is an important step forward in the continuing efforts to ensure the safety of drivers, passengers and other frontline staff on the public transport network,” he said.

“In addition to installation of driver barriers, the review recognised that complementary measures such as de-escalation training and incident reporting are also an important part of the solution.

“Education and increased safety awareness are a key component in driver safety, and an online training program for Queensland bus drivers aimed at reducing the incidence, intensity and of passenger hostility was developed and implemented in 2021.

“This course provides drivers with ways to help anticipate, handle and cope during and after incidents involving customers.”

The bus driver de-escalation training program developed by Griffith University, in collaboration with TransLink and the Queensland Bus Industry Council, is aimed at helping bus drivers feel safer and be safer in their work.

The Bus Safety Forum is an ongoing discussion between the bus industry, unions and government, working on a raft of measures to bolster safety on Queensland buses.

ness and their insurance company, offering to do the leg work on their insurance claim for a fee.

“We want Queenslanders to be protected, understand the risks and not fall victim to agreements they signed during what is a stressful time,” Minister Fentiman said.

“Many of these claims farmers entice customers to use their services by offering a free inspection, promising your claim will go to the front of the queue or promising a guaranteed cash settlement.

“Sadly, we have also heard of cases where Queenslanders have been given the impression the person is from the government or acting on a law firm’s behalf.”

The Attorney-General said it’s important for Queenslanders to

know that they don’t need to use a third party to assist with an insurance claim and they can deal directly with their insurer.

“If you are thinking about signing up to a claims management service, it’s so important you understand the risks,” she said.

“And importantly, you should not sign anything which prevents you from dealing directly with your insurer, broker, financial adviser or your own lawyer.”

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Nov 1-15, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 9

Now Australian-First Sick Pay Guarantee for casual workers Melbourne, March 14: Victorians who work in casual or other insecure jobs will no longer be forced to choose between a day’s pay and looking after their health, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government’s Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee.

An Australian-first, the $245.6 million scheme will transform casual and contract work in Victoria by providing vulnerable workers the safety net they need to take time off when they‘re sick or need to care for loved ones.

Before the pandemic, many casual and contract workers were forced to choose between a day‘s pay or their health.

Around one in five casual and contract workers work more than

one job to earn a living – many without access to sick and carer’s pay. Workers are now able to register for the two-year pilot program, and it is anticipated that more than 150,000 workers will be eligible in this first phase.

Eligible casual and contract workers in certain occupations will receive up to five days a year of sick or carer’s pay at the national minimum wage. Occupations included in the first phase include hospitality workers, food trades workers and preparation assistants such as chefs and kitchen hands, supermarket and supply chain workers, retail and sales assistants, aged and disability care workers, cleaners and laundry workers and security guards.

The Labor Government is fully funding the scheme over the first two years, which is expected to demonstrate a reduction in workplace injuries and illness, general productivity improvements from healthier workers, and lower staff turnover rates. The Government will also administer the program directly to workers, minimising the impost on businesses so they can focus on economic recovery.

The Victorian Sick Pay Guarantee builds on the temporary measures implemented during the pandemic, including the COVID-19 Worker Support Payment (now the Australian Government’s Pandemic Leave Disaster Payment) and the COVID-19 Test Isolation Payment.

Melbourne, March 12: The Andrews Labor Government has formalised collaboration with Korea on mRNA research and development, clinical trials and manufacturing under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

Signed at the Korea Medical Discovery 2022 conference in Seoul, the MoU is between mRNA Victoria and the Korean Health, Industry Development Institute (KHIDI). It will bring together Victoria’s biotech research expertise with Korea’s biomanufacturing specialisation, to boost the development of the RNA ecosystems of both jurisdictions.

Under the partnership, Victoria and Korea have committed to exchange information and facilitate linkages between industry, research and government organisations on opportunities for joint early-stage RNA research, clinical

trials and investment into the development and manufacture of new RNA-based therapies and vaccines.

The MoU also envisages government to government collaboration on policy approaches for fostering innovation and supporting local industry development, including direct cooperation on capability building initiatives in Victoria and Korea.

As an organisation overseen by Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare (MoHW), KHIDI works to strengthen Korea’s national health industry and drive Korea’s innovation agenda on pharmaceuticals, medical devices and medical services. It currently supports Korea’s pledge to invest 2.2 trillion won ($2.4 billion) to become one of the world’s five largest COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing bases by 2025 – a

commitment that will see the establishment of a global biomanufacturing training hub in Seoul to provide training for workforces from around the world, via a partnership with the World Health Organisation.

Korea’s efforts are well aligned with Victoria’s agenda to establish itself as an Asia-Pacific hub for the development of mRNA and RNA technologies. Through mRNA Victoria, the Government is delivering on this commitment by supporting pre and clinical medical research, commercialisation, clinical trials, supply chain development, clinical and commercial manufacturing.

The MoU signals a positive partnership that benefits Victoria’s growing RNA ecosystem and was facilitated with the assistance and support of DFAT and Austrade.

Victoria secures partnership with Korea on vaccine research

Strathfieldsaye resident is Victoria’s 2022 Rural Women’s Award winner Melbourne, March 8: A Central Victorian entrepreneur has taken home the 2022 Victorian AgriFutures Rural Women’s award for her innovative work to connect regional and rural women through her print magazine publication. Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Victoria Danielle Green announced the winner at last night’s ceremony in Melbourne, with Strathfieldsaye resident Kimberley Furness winning a $15,000 bursary to bring her project to life.

The AgriFutures Rural Women’s award acknowledges and celebrates the essential role women play in rural and regional businesses, industries and communities. Kimberley was selected from a group of three finalists from across the state. She was acknowledged for her efforts in

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creating OAK Magazine, a proudly independent print publication dedicated to female entrepreneurs and women in business across regional and rural Australia.

The magazine combines Kimberley’s passion for telling regional stories and her experience as a regional journalist to enhance community and collaboration between female business leaders. Kimberley looks forward to using the $15,000 bursary to grow her publication to span print, digital and audio by working with dedicated digital specialists, editors, writers and photographers to amplify the voices of rural Australia.

Kimberley will now compete for a further $20,000 bursary and the National Award, which will be announced at a Gala event in Can-

berra in September. In addition to the Victorian AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award, the Andrews Labor Government is supporting Victorian women in agriculture with the Rural Women’s Network, working with rural women’s groups and individuals to encourage women to have a more active voice in government and community decision-making.

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NEWS FROM VICTORIA

New travel vouchers to boost Victorian tourism Melbourne, March 13: Victorians have the chance to snap up one of 150,000 travel vouchers, with the popular scheme returning as part of a $200 million business stimulus package to support local businesses and jobs. Acting Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Mary-Anne Thomas confirmed an initial 10,000 vouchers will be available exclusively to seniors from tomorrow.

A further 140,000 vouchers will open to everyone else on Wednesday 23 March. The Seniors Travel Voucher Scheme will provide a $200 reimbursement to eligible seniors who spend $400 or more on paid accommodation, tours and experiences.

Registrations will open at 11:00am tomorrow, with successful recipients chosen by random ballot. To be eligible, residents must hold a valid Victorian Seniors Card or Seniors Business Discount Card.

The Victorian Travel Voucher Scheme will open eight days later on Wednesday 23 March.

The 140,000 vouchers will be offered on a first-come-firstserved basis and will close once the allocation has been exhausted. Successful applicants must spend a minimum of $400 and stay for at least two-nights in paid accommodation such as hotels and motels, serviced apartments, caravan parks, camping sites, farm stays and private holiday rentals.

Vouchers will be valid for travel between 8 April and 27 May. The Victorian and Seniors Travel Voucher Schemes expand on previous rounds of Melbourne and regional travel vouchers.

More than $159 million has been spent on accommodation, tours and experiences across the state to date.

Vaccination pop-ups coming to a Bunnings near you

Melbourne, March 11: COVID-19 vaccines are coming to Bunnings stores across Victoria from next week as part of a partnership with the hardware chain to make vaccination more convenient for families. The pop-ups will focus on a range of outer metropolitan and regional locations, increasing points of access to the vaccine in key Local Government Areas.

Starting Wednesday 16 March, the first vaccination pop-ups will open at the following Bunnings locations in Melbourne and regional Victoria, with each operating between 8:00am and 12:00pm: Anzac Parade, Wodonga (16 to 19 March) Cnr Cheltenham Rd and Springvale Rd, Keysborough (16 to 20 March) High St, Melton East (16 to 20 March) Approximately 53 per cent of residents aged 16 and over in the City of Melton, 52.3 per cent of residents in the City of Greater Dandenong, and 65.6 per cent of residents in the City of Wodonga

have had three doses of the vaccine. In subsequent weeks, further pop-ups are planned to open in a number of other locations around Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Victorians 12 and older will be able to attend without a booking to receive their first, second or third dose. The rollout of Bunnings vaccine pop-ups will build on Victoria’s success at the former Bunnings Warehouse in Melton, which has delivered more than 150,000 doses in arms.

Over the next week, Victoria’s health services will also continue delivering vaccinations at popups for support outer-suburban, regional and culturally and linguistically diverse populations, including: shopping areas such as Queen Victoria Market, Highpoint and The Mall in West Heidelberg regional events such as the Cohuna Show the Elmore Tractor Pull community houses, centres and sporting facilities in Moreland, Melton, Mildura and more.

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Nov 1-15, 2020 - Vol 1, Issue 9

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

WORLD THIS WEEK

WORLD THIS WEEK A publication of the National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bengaluru

Compiled by D Suba Chandran, Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan, Padmashree Anandhan, Angkuran Dey and Meghna Manoj

Sanctions against Russia: Effects and Divides

What happened?

On 26 February, the European Commission released a joint statement with France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States rebuking the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Out of the four commitments, one focussed on following up with the sanctions: “we commit to launching this coming week a transatlantic task force that will ensure the effective implementation of our financial sanctions by identifying and freezing the assets of sanctioned individuals and companies that exist within our jurisdictions.”

On 28 February, the UK, the US, and the EU announced sanctions on Russia’s top financial institutions. It barred business entities in the UK from transacting with Russia’s central bank, Finance Ministry, and wealth fund. With this, the Russian entities will no longer transfer security or financial instruments into the UK. On the same day, the US sanctioned the central bank of Russia in the US, thereby denying them access to billion-dollar assets held by Russia. Along with this, the US Treasury Department provided a license allowing “energyrelated transactions.” Likewise, the EU banned Russian banks from SWIFT and excluded energy payments. It comes due to a few from the Eurozone urging the region’s dependency on Russian energy.

What does this mean?

First, rush amongst the West to impose sanctions. With new escalations and development every day, there is a rush in imposing sanctions, without consideration of the sanctions’ retrospective effects on Europe and the rest of the world. Second, a defensive Russia. When it comes to handling the sanctions, Russia has not been reactive but is taking the hits with a good defence. Till now, Russia has only condemned the West and has not responded with countersanctions. This means it has strategized well, taking lessons from conflict in Crimea. Third, a divided EU. Due to economic dependency and historical links, some EU countries seem to have a different position against Russia.

While some have gone pro-US in imposing sanctions, others have restrained. It is the game of power for the US, but for Europe, the sanction can cost its economy.

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Biden’s State of the Union Address: Focus on building back better

What happened?

On 1 March 2022, President Biden delivered his first “State of the Union” (SOTU) address to the US Congress. The SOTU address of the American Presidents focuses on the domestic and external priorities for the US and outlines a strategy to deal with them.

Biden’s address started with the war in Ukraine, President Putin’s aggression, sanctions against Russia, and domestic challenges, including inflation.

Biden’s address started with Putin’s Ukraine aggression. He said: “Russia’s Vladimir Putin sought to shake the very foundations of the free world, thinking he could make it bend to his menacing ways. But he badly miscalculated.

Putin’s latest attack on Ukraine was premeditated and totally unprovoked. He rejected repeated efforts at diplomacy. He thought the West and NATO wouldn’t respond. He thought he could divide us at home, in this chamber, in this nation. He thought he could divide us in Europe as well. But Putin was wrong. We are ready. We are united. And that’s what we did: We stayed united.”

Biden’s address also looked into measures the US has taken. He said: “Together, along with our Allies, we are right now enforcing powerful economic sanctions.

We’re cutting off Russia’s largest banks from the international financial system; preventing Russia’s Central Bank from defending the Russian ruble, making Putin’s $630 billion war fund worthless.

We’re choking Russia’s access to technology that will sap its economic strength and weaken its military for years to come.

Tonight, I say to the Russian oligarchs and the corrupt leaders who’ve bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime: No more.”

Third, Biden’s address also underlined, whether the US would get into a war directly with Russia over Ukraine. He said: “But let me be clear: Our forces are not engaged and will not engage in the conflict with Russian forces in Ukraine. Our forces are not going to Europe to fight [in] Ukraine but to defend our NATO Allies in the event that Putin decides to keep moving west. For that purpose, we have mobilized American ground forces, air squadrons, and ship deployments to protect NATO countries, including Poland, Romania, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. And as I’ve made crystal clear, the United States

and our Allies will defend every inch of territory that is NATO territory with the full force of our collective power — every single inch.”

Besides Ukraine and Russia, the rest of Biden’s address looked at internal challenges facing the US. He looked at the state of affairs and nailed the problem when he said: “We meet tonight in an America that has lived through two of the hardest years this nation has ever faced. The pandemic has been punishing. And so many families are living paycheck to paycheck, struggling to keep up with the rising cost of food, gas, housing, and so much more.” In response to the above problem within, Biden self-congratulated his “Rescue Plan” helping the working people and leaving no one behind. He said: “It worked and created jobs — lots of jobs. In fact, our economy created over 6.5 million new jobs just last year, more jobs in one year than ever before in the history of the United States of America.”

His address also focussed on the other major American challenge – the infrastructure. He said: “America used to have the best roads, bridges, and airports on Earth. And now our infrastructure is ranked 13th in the world.

We won’t be able to compete for the jobs of the 21st century if we don’t fix it. That’s why it was so important to pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. And I thank my Republican friends who joined to invest and rebuild America — the single biggest investment in history.”

His address also focussed on the need to focus on innovation, and provide a level playing field vis-àvis China. He said: “…to compete for the jobs of the future, we also need to level the playing field with China and other competitors.

That’s why it’s so important to pass the bipartisan Innovation Act sitting in Congress that will make record investments in emerging technologies and American manufacturing. We used to invest almost 2 percent of our GDP in research and development.”

What does it mean?

The primary challenge for the Biden administration is domestic – addressing inflation, reducing the costs without reducing the wages, rebuilding infrastructure, and building back better. The second challenge for Biden is to get bipartisan support to address the first; unfortunately, he does not have much support even within his party. The third challenge for Biden is China, and a more significant challenge in this context is how to avoid other challenges that would pull his attention away.

With Putin’s aggression, he would have to face China and a resurgent Russia.

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ALSO IN NEWS

Indonesia: India requests an increase in palm oil supply On 2 March, the Indian government asked Indonesia to increase its palm oil supply to compensate for the loss of sunflower oil supplies from the Black Sea region due to the Ukraine crisis. The halt in supply of sunflower oil from the Black Sea region has resulted in global record high prices of vegetable oils. Ukrainian and Russian exporters of edible oil to India accounted for 1.6 million tonnes. India has also requested Indonesia to lower its biodiesel bending rules as Jakarta had reserved 30 percent of its palm oil for biodiesel.

India: New Delhi abstains from the UNHRC vote On 4 March, India refrained from voting in the UN Human Rights Council to establish a commission of inquiry to look into Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. The 47 member council had voted on a draft resolution that would look at the human rights situation in Ukraine. Apart from India, 13 other countries, including China, Pakistan, Sudan, and Venezuela, abstained from voting, while 32 votes favoured the resolution and two against it.

Pakistan: Islamabad continues to be on the grey list of FATF On 5 March, the Financial Action Task Force mentioned Pakistan would continue to remain on the grey list. However, the watchdog noted that Pakistan had progressed in its commitments to fight against financial crimes and had implemented 26 of 27 action items from its 2018 plan. The FATF cited: “Pakistan should continue to work to address the one remaining item in its 2021 action plan by demonstrating a positive and sustained trend of pursuing complex [money laundering] investigations and prosecutions.”

Pakistan has assured that it will comply with the 2021 action plan by the end of January 2023.

Ukraine: Zelenskyy upset over NATO’s rejection of no-fly zone On 05 March, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky slammed NATO and the West for not

implementing a no-fly zone over Ukraine. NATO’s Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, argued that this would result in a confrontation with Russian forces and lead to a full-fledged war. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that implementing such a decree would be seen “as participation in an armed conflict by that country.” Zelenskyy refuted NATO’s claims and said: “All the people who will die starting from this day will also die because of you. Because of your weakness, because of your disunity.”

Ukraine: Protests in Kherson against Russia’s invasion On 05 March, protests broke out in the recently occupied region of Kherson by Russian forces.

About 2,000 demonstrators marched through the city, waving the Ukrainian flag and singing the national anthem. Kherson is a crucial port on the Black Sea and is strategically located near the Dnieper River. Russian troops fired in the air to disperse the protestors in response to the protests. However, Russian President Putin mentioned that he would not impose martial law.

Ukraine: BBC suspends its work in Russia On 05 March, BBC said it would suspend its journalists’ work in Russia as a response to the implementation of the law on fake news. However, the BBC would continue producing news on Russia from outside the country.

Similarly, Zara, Paypal, and Samsung announced to suspend their businesses and trade in Russia in response to Russia invading Ukraine. The businesses cited violent military aggression and geopolitical developments to shut down their services in Russia.

About the authors D Suba Chandran is a Professor and Dean at the School of Conflict and Security Studies at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan and Padmashree Anandhan are Research Assistants at the National Institute of Advanced Studies. Angkuran Dey and Meghna Manoj are Postgraduate scholars at the Center for South Asian Studies at Pondicherry University.

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WORLD NEWS

India-Japan annual Russia bombs nuke defence exercise concludes facility in Kharkiv Bengaluru, March 10: The annual exercise ‘Dharma Guardian’ between the Indian Army and the Japanese Ground Self Defence Force ended on March 10 at Belgaum in Karnataka, officials said.

The 12-day exercise that involved intense joint military training, provides an unique opportunity of achieving synergy between armed forces of both the nations which is focused towards strengthening the timeless bonds of India-Japan friendship, a release said.

The exercise, held at the Foreign Training Node, covered a vast spectrum from cross training and combat conditioning in field conditions, to sports and cultural exchanges.

From February 27 onwards, the two armies rubbed shoulders attending various demonstrations, at firing ranges and during various tactical exercises.

Both the contingents shared

their expertise on contemporary subjects of counter terrorism operations, and also utilised this opportunity to share their experiences on exploiting disruptive technologies like drone and antidrone weapons.

“Exercise Dharma Guardian”

will enhance the level of defence cooperation between the Indian Army and Japanese Ground Self Defence Forces and will act as a catalyst for many such joint programs in future to further consolidate on the gains achieved, a defence release stated.

Kiev, March 11: Ukrainian authorities said on March 11 said Russian troops have bombed a nuclear research facility in the country’s second largest city of Kharkiv.

In a Facebook post, Ukraine’s State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate said the bombing of the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology on March 10 night has caused a power outage at the Source of Neutron Nuclear Research Subcritical Unit.

According to the state regulator, the unit has completely lost power and the exterior of the building has also been damaged.

It added that authorities were still assessing further damages at the site.

The regulator said the Source of Neutron is designed to conduct scientific and practical studies in the fields of nuclear physics, radiation material science, biology, chemistry and for the production of medical radioisotopes.

Russia has been targeting nuclear sites in Ukraine since it started the war on February 24.

On the first day itself, the Cher-

nobyl nuclear power plant, site of the world’s worst nuclear accident, fell to Russian troops.

On March 10, the International Atomic Energy Agency said that Ukrainian authorities had informed it that they had lost all communications with the radioactive waste facility at Chernobyl after the plant suffered a power outage.

On March 3, another facility, the International Atomic Energy Agency in south-eastern Ukraine, was damaged by artillery fire and captured by Russian forces.

Opinion divided as Russians close on Kyiv EU leaders to focus on London, March 11: Opinion is divided among western military experts as to whether Kyiv, capital of Ukraine, will fall to Russian forces over the next few days.

Retired American Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, now a security analyst, who visited the city in February, speaking from Frankfurt in Germany, expressed doubts to BBC about Russia’s ability to capture Kyiv. Most others though are apprehensive that this was inevitable.

A 40-mile convoy of Russian armoured vehicles rumbling towards the capital from its north was stationary for over a week.

Satellite images obtained from Maxar Technologies released by the United States’ defence department known as the Pentagon indicated the vehicles with heavy artillery and thousands of soldiers had moved since March 10; and some of them were within five kilometres of the city.

The US officials claimed the Russians have “largely dispersed and redeployed”. Kyiv’s mayor Vitali Klitschko told BBC: “Every street, every building, every checkpoint has been fortified.”

The British defence ministry said the Kremlin could be close to encircling if not entering a metropolis of three million people, although half its population have left for safer areas within the country or neighbouring countries. “Russia is likely seeking to reset and re-posture its forces for renewed offensive activity in the coming days,” Reuters quoted the British defence ministry as saying.

The lightning strike reportedly launched at first by the Russians

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Russia-Ukraine crisis at informal summit

was, according to western assessment, neutralised by a strong fightback by the Ukrainians. After more than two weeks of warfare, while the Russians surrounded several cities, they controlled only one, which is Kherson in southern Ukraine close to Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014.

However, TASS reported that the Russian defence ministry spokesman Major General Igor Konashenkov in Moscow stated Russia’s air defence forces downed three Ukrainian Mil Mi-25 helicopters and eight unmanned aerial vehicles. He also said the Russian air force destroyed 107 Ukrainian military facilities in the same period. These are said to include military airfields in Lutsk and Ivano-Frankovsk.

“Since the start of the operation, a total of 3,213 Ukrainian military infrastructure facilities were disabled,” Konashenkov claimed. He added: “As many as 98 aircraft, 118 unmanned aerial

vehicles, 1,041 tanks and other combat armoured vehicles, 113 multiple rocket launchers, 389 field artillery pieces and mortars, 843 military motor vehicles were destroyed.”

There was no independent verification of the claim. But both Ukrainian and western sources admitted the Russians inflicted heavy losses on Ukraine’s conventional defence capability. Ukraine has, therefore, adopted guerrilla tactics, with armed citizens involved in the resistance.

Reuters also reported social media platform Facebook “will temporarily allow some posts that call for the death of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin or Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in countries, including Russia, Ukraine and Poland, according to internal emails to its content moderators.” The Russian embassy in Washington demanded that the US stop the “extremist activities” of Facebook.

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Paris, March 11: Discussions at the informal European Council meeting in Versailles, France, will focus on Europe’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine crisis, French President Emmanuel Macron said.

The goal of the two-day summit, the first during France’s six-month presidency of the European Union (EU), is to “show, and continue to construct and reinforce the unity of Europe”, Xinhua news agency quoted the President as saying.

“We need to prepare ourselves with all the scenarios,” he emphasized, referring to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

Faced with rising fuel prices, Europe should not be dependent on Russia for gas, he said, adding that it should also be able to sup-

ply its own markets, and defend itself independently.

“France depends less than others on gas but Europe depends on gas, and 40 per cent is Russian gas,” Macron added.

Meanwhile, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said that “this is a defining moment for Europe”.

At the summit, heads of state and government will discuss how to boost European defence capacities, she said.

Europe also needs massive investment in renewables in order to remove its energy dependency, von der Leyen added.

During the talks, leaders are also expected to tackle issues related to the accession of Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova to the European Union.

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WORLD NEWS

evacuated from Modi urges Putin to hold Students Sumy return to India direct talks with Zelensky New Delhi, March 7: In a phone call that lasted for about 50 minutes, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 7 urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold direct talks with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky amid the ongoing Moscow-Kiev war, according to sources.

During the conversation, which is the second between Modi and Putin since Russia began its war on February 24, the President briefed the Prime Minister on the status of negotiations between the Ukrainian and Russian teams.

Modi also appreciated the Russian military’s announcement earlier in the day to hold fire and open humanitarian corridors in the four Ukrainian cities of Kiev, Kharkov, Sumy and Mariupol.

The Prime Minister further stressed on the importance of the safe evacuation of Indian citizens from Sumy at the earliest, to

which Putin assured of all possible cooperation.

Also on March 7, the Prime Minister spoke to Zelensky and expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflict and resultant humanitarian crisis, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. “(The) Prime Minister reiterated his call for immediate cessation of violence and noted that India has always stood for peaceful resolution of issues and direct dialogue between the two parties,” it said.

According to the statement, Modi “thanked Ukrainian authorities for their facilitation in evacuating more than 20,000 Indian citizens from Ukraine”, but also expressed deep concern for the safety and security of Indian students still remaining in the war-torn nation and emphasised the need for their quick and safe evacuation.

The first time Modi and Zelensky spoke was on February 26, just two days after Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine.

Sheikh Hasina thanks PM Modi for evacuating 9 Bangladeshi nationals from Ukraine New Delhi, March 9: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on March 9 thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for evacuating her nine citizens from Ukraine’s Sumy under ‘Operation Ganga’, government sources said here.

The nine Bangladeshi nationals, who were stuck in northeastern city Sumy, were evacuated along with 694 Indians and brought to Poltava city in Ukraine.

They were later brought back to India along with the other Indian nationals from Poland.

On March 8, the Indian authorities started evacuating its stranded students from Sumy to Poltava after Russia announced a temporary ceasefire from 10 a.m. providing humanitarian corridors in Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv and Mariupol.

The human corridor in Sumy was announced after Prime Minister

Modi spoke to the Presidents of Ukraine and Russia to provide a safe passage to evacuate remaining Indian students who were stuck in North Eastern city Sumy.

On March 7, Prime Minister Modi spoke to the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and requested them to provide safe passage to evacuate remaining Indian nationals stuck in the war-torn country.

Meanwhile, the Indian Embassy in Kyiv on March 8 asked the remaining Indian nationals to leave Ukraine’s capital city using the ‘Humanitarian Corridor’ by any available means of transport.

The advisory issued by the Indian Embassy on March 9 said that considering the security situation, the next ‘Humanitarian Corridor’ is uncertain, therefore, they should move out of the city

New Delhi, March 7: In his second conversation with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky since Moscow began its war on Kiev 12 days ago, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 7 expressed deep concern about the ongoing conflict and resultant humanitarian crisis, an official statement said.

The statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said that Zelensky briefed Modi in detail about the conflict situation and the ongoing negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. “(The) Prime Minister reiterated his call for immediate cessation of violence and noted that India has

always stood for peaceful resolution of issues and direct dialogue between the two parties,” it said.

According to the statement, Modi “thanked Ukrainian authorities for their facilitation in evacuating more than 20,000 Indian citizens from Ukraine”, but also expressed deep concern for the safety and

immediately.

Considering the security situation, establishment of the next humanitarian corridor is uncertain, the advisory further said.

The officials also informed that, while the two Union Ministers and Special Envoy Hardeep Singh Puri and Gen V.K. Singh returned to New Delhi, the other two Union Ministers ziren Rijiju and Jyotiraditya Scindia were still in Slovakia and Romania to oversee the evacuations of remaining Indian nationals.

Modi speaks to Zelensky, expresses deep concern over Ukraine conflict

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security of Indian students still remaining in the war-torn nation and emphasised the need for their quick and safe evacuation.

The first time Modi and Zelensky spoke was on February 26, just two days after Russia launched its military invasion of Ukraine.

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New Delhi, March 11: Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said stranded Indian students who were evacuated from the besieged Ukrainian city of Sumy were returning to India on March 12.

Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said the evacuation of the students from Sumy “was particularly challenging”.

“Operation Ganga, undertaken at the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has delivered due to both leadership and commitment.

“We are thankful to all those who facilitated its objectives. Our particular gratitude to the authorities in Ukraine and Russia as well as the Red Cross for the evacuation assistance,” the Minister said.

The neighbouring countries of Ukraine -- Romania, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Moldova -- “gave us exceptional support” during the evacuation, Jaishankar said, conveying his “sincerest thanks” to the nations.

“We are grateful to NGOs, individual volunteers, corporates, our airlines and the Indian Air Force who worked so tirelessly in this exercise.”

Referring to the “contributions of his four ministerial colleagues, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Kiren Rijiju,

Hardeep Singh Puri, and General (Retd.) V.K. Singh”, Jaishankar said that their “presence on the ground made a big difference”.

The Minister also lauded the “efforts of the Indian Embassy in Ukraine and Team MEA (Ministry of External Affairs) for their dedicated efforts in a difficult conflict situation”.

On March 8, the Indian students from Sumy were evacuated and transported to Poltava via a humanitarian corridor. The following day, they were sent to Lviv and from there they crossed into Poland on March 9 and 10.

They will arrive in India aboard three flights, including the Indian Air Force’s C-17 Globemaster.

Sumy, a city in northeastern Ukraine, has come under heavy shelling and bombing by Russia which began its military invasion of Kiev on February 24.

Nearly 700 hundred Indian students were stuck in the city amidst the Russian attacks.

On March 8, Russia and Ukraine announced a ceasefire and provided a humanitarian corridor.

The previous day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine and requested them to provide a safe passage to evacuate the remaining Indian nationals.

Andhra doctor vows to stay on in Ukraine with his big cats Hyderabad, March 10: Though hundreds of Indians have battled all odds to return home from war-torn Ukraine, a doctor is not ready to leave without his pet big cats -- a black panther and a jaguar!

Giri Kumar Patil, a physician, has been holed up in a basement at his home in Donbas region with not just ‘Yagwar’ and ‘Sabrina’, but also Italian dogs.

Hailing from Tanuku in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh, Kumar has been living in Severodonetsk, a small town located in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, for over six years now.

It was in 2020 that he adopted a sick jaguar and christened it ‘Yagwar’, which is now 20-month-old.

Only a couple of months ago, he adopted ‘Sabrina’, a female black panther. He bought both the big cats from Kyiv Zoo for $35,000.

According to Kumar, ‘Yagwar’ is a cross breed between a male Amur

leopard and a female black jaguar and is a most endangered species.

Caught in the midst of war, Kumar, a practicing orthopedic doctor, is more bothered about the safety of his pets. He has been regularly posting videos on his YouTube channel about the condition of the pets and the efforts he is putting in to take care of them.

Kumar went to Ukraine in 2007 to study medicine, and has been there since 2014. He works with a government hospital in Severodonetsk, which was shut after the war began.

Though his relatives and friends in India are concerned about his safety, for Kumar, the safety of his pets is equally important. ”I treat them as my own kids. I bought them when they were little and orphaned. How can I leave them behind,” asked Kumar, who lives alone at his home.

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

EDITORIAL

What India can learn from A black wall for Ukraine, the Russia-Ukraine crisis and a black umbrella

A

s the US-EU combine came out with a slew of sanctions against Russia and big tech companies followed suit enthusiastically, the stark reality hit home. The West can use financial and social media platforms as weapons against any country that falls foul of it.

The steps taken by most big-tech platforms, such as Meta, Twitter, Google and Microsoft, and the financial institutions against Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine exposes the vulnerability of non-western countries.

The question that looms over us is: What if the West feels that something is not going as per its calculations, and then, can it simply switch off the platforms and create mayhem? This can be as devastating as a physical war.

The fact is that financial and social media platforms can be used as weapons by the West, which has created them and made, all except for a few nations, completely dependent on them.

Third World countries such as India have seen an explosive growth in the reach and business of these big-tech blocs. The dependency on these of a majority of individuals living in these countries, whether for information, entertainment, financial transactions, or for other reasons, has reached a level where even a minor glitch in the services can lead to chaos.

The owners and managers of these companies, which are entirely private entities, know this fully. But when it comes to taking sides, they do not hesitate to follow the lead of the western nations, as has been evident in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Several global tech companies have decided to stop the sales of their products and services in Russia. These include Intel, Apple, Microsoft, Google (though users in Russia can still use its search engine, the company has suspended its advertising business in that country). Snapchat and Samsung too have stopped services for Russia.

Visa and Mastercard have also announced to suspend all operations and so has other payment company PayPal. Big entertainment companies such as Disney, Sony, Warner Bros, Paramount and Universal have decided to suspend releases in Russia. Netflix too has paused its services in Vladimir Putin’s country. Providers of gaming software such as Nintendo and Electronic Arts have also stopped their services for Russia.

Several automakers -- BMW, Ford, GM and Honda -- have scaled back their operations in Russia. Even Airbnb has suspended its activities in Russia and Belarus.

The Russian media has not been spared either. The EU last week declared a ban on several Russian-funded media outlets, including Russia Today and Sputnik. “They will no longer be able

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over Finland, Sweden

by Robinder Sachdev

T

he last 15 days have been intense in view of the Russia-Ukraine war, and related happenings. As an analyst, I have been a panelist on a few TV channels in India to discuss these developments. Sometimes even 10-12 hours every day. There is so much that could be discussed, analyzed, and speculated.

It seems that there will be a conventional conflict between NATO and Russia -- not possible to say when, but probably within the near to medium future in our lifetimes of present folks to spread their lies to justify Puliving on planet earth. And there tin’s war and sow divisions in our is a probability, presently in the Union,” European Commission low teens, that this conventional conflict will spiral into a nuclear President Ursula von der Leyen conflict. said after announcing the ban.

However, there might arise Online discussion forum Reddit another scenario wherein nuclear has also banned its users globweapons may be rattled within ally from posting links to Russian 3-6 months, in a different region state-sponsored media outlets, of European theatre, as discussed including RT and Sputnik, as well below. As of today there are about 6-7 big picture scenarios of the as Russian advertisements on its future that are emerging from platform. Apple, Google, Meta, this conflict. I shall restrict to 2 of Microsoft, Twitter, YouTube and these probable scenarios in the several other tech platforms have short term, 3-6 months. also banned RT and Sputnik.

1. The Black Wall -- Some things In retaliation, Russian President have been clear from day 1 of the invasion. One of the Vladimir Putin on Friday (March 4) blocked access to Facebook and things that is clear, and that makes eminent sense from the restricted that to Twitter. Russia passed a law that criminalises the Russian point of view, is to create a Black Wall for the Ukraine of dissemination of what Moscow tomorrow, which will deny it deems to be “fake” news. access to the Black Sea (and Sea of Azov) -- forever.

As the big tech and financial private companies take politiThis Black Wall will be the boundary of a land corridor along cal sides in the ongoing Russiathe sea coasts of Ukraine. This Ukraine War, some lessons need zig-zag land corridor along the to be learnt. And central to the Black Sea coast, starting with learning is the mantra of selfRussia on the east of Ukraine, sufficiency and self-reliance or along the entire sea-coast of Ukraine till the south-west end Atmanirbhar Bharat / Make in of Ukraine, may range from 50 India. miles to 100-300 miles at places, India has been entirely dependent and will stretch till Odessa and on foreign nations for its arms beyond, till the tail-end borders of Ukraine with Moldova and supplies. The chief supplier has Romania. been Russia, followed by the US, France and Israel. Though in line Forget the fate of the rest of with the philosophy of Atmanirb- Ukraine, this corridor would be converted into Russian har Bharat, the Narendra Modi territory. This will ensure that government has placed emphasis irrespective of the internal chaos on improving the country’s selfand whatsoever happens inside a landlocked Ukraine, the Ukraine reliance and defence preparedof tomorrow will be forever ness. blocked from access to Black Sea The Russian invasion of Ukraine (and Sea of Azov) -- at the mercy has made it clear that India canof Russia. not be dependent on any country Plus this region is rich in for defence supplies. India has to minerals, base metals and augment its own arsenal, whether industrial infrastructure (Ukraine provides 70 per cent of global tanks, missiles, fighter jets and supply of neon gas -- critical to now drones, with its own rethe making of semiconductor sources and talent. chips), logistics linkages of Along with military needs, India railroads, and ports, including Odessa, the giant hub of shipping has to have very active and and ship-making. This rich vibrant indigenous social media region overall, will contribute platforms with in-country headto the Russian economy, and quarters. also create global leverage and In comparison to West-owned supply-chain choke-points for social media platforms, the Indian neon gas, palladium (also to make semiconductor chips), wheat, and ones are few and not as popusunflower oil, among others. lar as their other counterparts.

It may be worth deploying Russian Homegrown micro-blogging forces to own this region. platform Koo is in direct compeWhat happens inside the tition with Twitter. Founded in remaining territory of a land2019, Koo’s user base is growing locked Ukraine is a very different steadily. Other local platforms matter. In this region, there include shareChat, Chingari and may be urban civil war, political chaos, puppet regimes of Russia, Josh. or Russia-hating elements that hold power in the next years or

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decades -- but Russia would have created a Black Wall for Ukraine for all times to come.

2. Black Umbrella over Finland and Sweden -- One of the last remaining non-NATO countries that shares its border with Russia is Finland. Plus Sweden is one step removed from Finland, and is a non-NATO country, thus far.

Both these countries now desire, and public opinion is growing inside both of them, to join NATO. In past months and weeks, some NATO countries have already expressed their support for Finland and Sweden to join NATO. Now, if Russia thinks that NATO, US expansionism is threatening Russia (and that is the primary reason why it has gone to war with Ukraine), then of course the moves and statements from Finland and Sweden should be cause of great worry in the Kremlin.

In the background of dark enmity and a proxy war in Ukraine with US and NATO that is radically fracturing and redefining the European security structure and global geo-politics, logic indicates that Russia will want to deny NATO expansionism in Finland and Sweden.

What could Russia do to ensure that Finland and Sweden do not join NATO? Will it warn both of them to not go down this path? Or, will Russia standby passively and in the next few years Finland and Sweden both become NATO members?

The “Black Umbrella” scenario posits that in view of signals emanating from Finland, and Sweden, Russia may first warn both these countries to remain neutral, and to drop any of their NATO aspirations immediately.

Russia may demand a written treaty from both these nations, to this effect. Essentially the same terms as were dictated to Ukraine are NATO membership.

Finland, a small country of about 6 million people, and a defence budget of about $ 6 billion, is puny compared to Russian conventional forces. So is Sweden, though it is buffered by Finland in between. Thus, a Russian warning could make them both halt, change their track.

The question is -- what happens if Finland and Sweden ignore Russian warnings, and persist in their NATO admission process?

Will Russia assemble forces on the Finland border, and threaten brinkmanship? Or, will it march to Helsinki with a drumbeat rolling in the background about reports from Russia, about nukes pointed at Helsinki and Stockholm?

Prime Minister Sanna Marin of Finland will have to make some choices. Soon.

Finland and Sweden do not have NATO cover yet, so it can be assumed that NATO will not put its soldiers on the ground to defend them. (Note: well, NATO could move an emergency resolution, and come to the aid of Finland, Sweden, and then it becomes a NATO-Russia war.

Or, NATO could accomplish a fait

accompli in next few days, weeks, with secret activity under a special fast-track process, and one fine morning very soon surprise the world, by announcing that Finland and Sweden are full-fledged members of NATO alliance, from that moment on.)

Barring the surprise announcement of Finland and Sweden as NATO member countries, Russia may not need to marshal too large a force at the Finnish border to pose a dire and real threat to Finland. Sure, Russian forces will be stretched in Ukraine, but at the same time it could deploy some small, reasonable numbers on the Finnish border, and inform that its threat must be taken seriously.

Combine it with some military and strategic nuclear exercises in North-West Russia, or in the Baltic Sea. Then give a 48 hour notice to both countries to sign a treaty of neutrality. Or face war. Will Finland and Sweden acquiesce to Russian demands, and live under the “Black Umbrella” of a Russia dictated foreign policy, or will Finland fight back? Finland may have no choice.

The US and NATO will certainly be upset, but what can or will it do? Will it tip-over and go to war with Russia, in support of a nonNATO country? And risk a nuclear conflagration with Russia?

Thus in the next 3-6 months, a Black Umbrella scenario may cover Finland and Sweden. Or, otherwise it will be a war that could suck in NATO along with a rapid spiral to nuclear sabre rattling. Given the stretch of Russia’s conventional forces in Ukraine, it may not be out of place to speculate that Russia will resort to a nuclear threat to halt Finland and Sweden from joining NATO. This has become a dog-eat-dog world in Europe, and will define the security architecture of Europe in this century. Russia has put Europe to notice, all gloves are off, and Russian red lines are now being linked -- with a bluff, bluster, or reality of nuclear Armageddon.

Oh, a minor addendum to the above scenario. There will be still one more last remaining country on the Russian border that is contemplating joining NATO, i.e., Georgia.

Georgia is a poor, former Soviet Republic, many miles and minds away from Europe as compared to Finland, Sweden which are globally seen as pureblooded European nations, and an integral part of the ‘West’. Russia will gain more heft and revenge against NATO when it delivers a counter-punch to the West by targeting Finland, Sweden, rather than targeting Georgia. Georgia can be tamed later.

Robinder Sachdev is president, The Imagindia Institute. The views expressed are personal

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

SPECIAL FEATURE

India must work for direct dialogue between Biden and Putin to end the Ukraine war New Delhi, March 9: The Ukraine war brings into light once again the irrelevance of the UN charter and all the noble principles and values that powerful states swear by in their conduct of international and state-to-state relations and how they are sacrificed at the altar of their self-perceived national interests and security.

Right or wrong, powerful states can present their narratives in a manner that can justify their invasion of a weaker country and can get away. The US has done it in Iraq in the past, and now the Russians are doing it in Ukraine.

The US called Saddam Hussein an abominable dictator with his WMD posing a threat to the regional security and the Russians calling the regime in Kyiv neo-Nazis and drug addicts who must be overthrown even at the cost of pulverizing the country with rockets and missile carpet bombing.

The victims are always innocent people including women and children. When two elephants fight with each other, it is the grass that suffers, so the saying goes. Behind the intensification of the conflict and the cause of war lies Western obsession with Russia trying to expand its empire and restore the past glory of the Soviet Union, on the one hand, and President Putin’s determined mission to retain its dignity as a major super power in the face of the Western design to reduce it to an insignificant country by incorporating one after another the old Warsaw Pact countries into the fold of NATO, on the other. Russians feel betrayed by the West in reneging on their assurance not to expand NATO to its borders and wants Ukraine to be a buffer state between it and NATO. By the same logic, however, Russians can also be blamed for reneging its own assurances to Ukraine in 1994 to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity when the latter surrendered its nuclear weapons. Surely, if Ukraine had retained its nuclear weapons, Russians would not have dared to invade the country as it is doing today. Incidentally, the plight of Ukraine in the face of Russian invasion might impress upon some of the aspiring countries the importance of nuclear weapons for their security and hasten the process of further proliferation.

Based on their own perception of

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its national security, Russia has also harassed Ukraine by encouraging the Donbass region in Eastern Ukraine to become first separatists and later declared as independent states (Donetsk People’s Republic and the Luhansk People’s Republic). Crimea was taken away from them by the Russians. Ukraine itself also bears certain responsibilities in provoking the Russians. Knowing fully well that Russia was overwhelmingly powerful compared to it, Ukrainians should have exercised restraint in their dealings with Moscow. Possibly, Ukraine was also acting under the assumption that the West will come to their rescue if Russia invades the country.

The West did assure Ukraine with weapons and other material support and encouraged President Zelensky to be belligerent towards Moscow. But when the invasion did take place, the expected support did not arrive in time for Ukraine to be able to carry out greater resistance. This is evident from Zelensky’s current outburst against the West and NATO for ditching him. He had asked the West to impose a ‘no fly zone’ on the skies of Ukraine which was flatly rejected, for that would have forced them to shoot down Russian planes coming over the Ukrainian sky, which in turn, would have converted the war into a war between Russia and NATO. With Putin’s order to keep nuclear weapons on alert and his talk of a World War III to be a nuclear one, the West has also become cautious not to provoke Russia and engage in a direct conflict between NATO and Russia. The West’s priority now is to secure the Baltic States and therefore focussing on it.

On the day thirteen of the Russian invasion, most parts of Ukraine looked devastated, properties destroyed, many lives already lost, people fleeing their homes to save themselves from the bombing and missile attacks. More than a million Ukrainians have already taken shelter in neighbouring countries, the figure might reach even 2 million soon, creating a refugee and humanitarian crisis.

Some civilians have stayed back to fight against the advancing Russian army but their chances of survival against the Russian juggernaut are remote, even though they are fighting heroically in the midst of rising nationalism and

patriotism in the country. Most of the important Ukrainian cities are devastated beyond recognition.

The capital city Kyiv is still under the control of the Ukrainians but its outskirts have been reduced to rubble. And it is a question of time when the Russians will take control of the capital city though with much damage and destruction and heavy losses of life.

After phone calls from some world leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, to Putin the Russians have now reportedly declared a ceasefire in four cities, namely Kiev, Kharkiv, Mariupol and Sumy for allowing evacuation of civilians from those cities, but pounding of other areas is continuing. One doesn’t know whether the ceasefire will actually be followed or the operations in those cities will continue or not.

Most of the important infrastructures of the country have been destroyed. Despite all the destruction and imminent fall of Kiev, the Ukrainian leadership refuses to cave in and offers relentless resistance to the advancing Russian forces. The circumstances and the history that brought this catastrophe reminds one of life in the Hobbesian state of nature- nasty, brutish and short, the last one applicable more for the Ukrainians. The Russians have not hesitated even to bomb the nuclear plant. Fortunately fire has been extinguished in the plant and as of now there is no radiation from the smoke. Another path to catastrophe would have opened if there were radiation leaks which would have been disastrous not only for Europe but also for Russia.

For saving innocent people, women and children perishing under the Russian bombing and missile attacks, there is an immediate and urgent need to stop the war and take recourse to dialogue and negotiation, for the war will not lead to the ultimate victory of any of the conflicting parties. Even if the Russians succeed in demilitarizing and demolishing Ukraine

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for the time being, Moscow will be entangled in Ukraine for a prolonged and protracted conflict.

Even if their stated goal succeeds in overthrowing Zelensky and installing a pro-Russian government in Kyiv, it will not survive for long.

Keeping an occupation force in such a large country as Ukraine is not practical. Even if it is a question of territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine involved, Zelensky should also stop grandstanding and opt for a negotiated settlement. The West’s strategy to keep Russia bogged down over a long period of time and slowly bleed Moscow through a plethora of sanctions would also result in disaster not only for Russia and themselves but also for the rest of the world. The West has a major responsibility in this conflict and it must rise to the occasion to speak directly to Putin and come for a mutually amicable settlement whereby Russian security concerns and Ukraine’s sovereignty can be assured through declaring Ukraine as a neutral country. The West must give up its obsession with Russia and must absorb it as a major stakeholder in European security.

Ukraine’s security concerns visa-vis Russian attempts to nibble at its territory also have to be factored in any future negotiation and dialogue. Ultimately all will have to recognize that war does not help any, as all the conflicting parties will be affected by its collateral damage, particularly its economic fallout. The world has not come out from the economic fallout of Covid-19 as yet. On top of an already declining world economy, the war in Ukraine will further throw the world economy into a tailspin.

India has correctly taken a neutral stand in the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine keeping in mind its own national and security interests and is currently focussed more on the 18,000 Indian students from the warzones and

has received cooperation from both Russia and Ukraine in its efforts. That mission appears to have been largely accomplished.

Even while asking conflicting parties to respect the United Nations charter and sovereignty of countries, India has abstained from criticizing the Russians for the invasion of Ukraine. But as the war leads to destruction of Ukraine, loss of innocent lives of many Ukrainians, New Delhi will come under further pressure from the world community to abandon its neutrality. India itself will find it difficult to morally support its position of keeping mum on the Russian destruction of a sovereign country. India therefore strongly supported immediate cessation of hostilities and war and went for dialogue and diplomatic solution to the problem.

While New Delhi has a large stake in maintaining friendly relations with Russia for its dependence on Moscow for defence equipment and spares, it has also a large stake in maintaining close strategic relations with the United States and other Western countries for both security and economic reasons. Prime Minister Modi has kept himself in touch with both President Putin and President Zelensky and in his own way asking them to exercise restraint and go for dialogue and diplomatic solutions to their problems. Modi is also in touch with Washington and the other two Quad partners, namely Australia and Japan through virtual meetings. It will go a long way in India’s role as a major global power if Modi can use his personal relations to impress upon the West and Russia for direct talks between Presidents Biden and Putin in bringing the war to an end and go for a settlement that takes care of the security concerns of all the countries involved in the conflict.

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MAKE IN INDIA

MAKE IN INDIA

As world economies restart their engines in a bid to regain lost ground due to the Covid-19 pandemic, India too shows signs of economic buoyancy and promise. India’s Make in India initiative holds a key to the global economic revival, something that should interest Australian government ministries, corporate sector, entrepreneurs, institutions seeking R&D collaborations and Australia Inc in general, among others.

India assumes greater importance as several major world economies including American, Japanese, German, British and South Korean look to move out and diversify their businesses from China. India has jumped to 63rd rank in the World Bank’s Ease of Development 2020 report, and has also been ranked as the 9th largest recipient of Foreign Direct Investment destinations in 2019 by the World Investment Report 2020 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

Technology enabled development: The right way forward

By Ishita Sirsikar, Strategic Investment Research Unit As a part of the webinar series being organised by the government across various sectors to facilitate the efficient understanding and implementation of announcements made in the Union Budget, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed a webinar titled ‘Technology Enabled Development’. Through the same he made a strong plea for self-reliance in technology related sectors so as to harness the potential of technology to ensure last mile service delivery, as also to aid the process of employment generation. The Prime Minister stressed on the fact that the field of science and technology cannot be seen as an isolated sector, rather it complements other sectors like finance and the digital economy.

The PM’s words derive strength from the Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) which was unveiled in 2020. Science, technology and more crucially, innovation are all approached holistically and pragmatically in the policy. Its goal is to refocus science, technology, and innovation on well thought out objectives, sectors and strategies. The said policy calls on the government to develop a strong scientific, technology and innovation ecosystem with a focus on translational research. This “science-for-society” mindset is a prerequisite for achieving Atmanirbhar Bharat.

The important role played by technology becomes quintessential especially in the context of the last two years wherein the pandemic drastically affected not only our day to day functioning but also how we viewed different things. At a time when the world was already looking for efficient ways to use technology to minimise costs, time and efforts, the pandemic made it more of a necessity to find quicker alternatives to tasks that would otherwise be performed manually or would involve human contact.

There has been a sizeable contribution made by the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) in dealing with the current pandemic.

The said technology has proven to be a much preferred alternative for disease monitoring and management owing to its efficient

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collection, analysis and transmission of health related data to the responsible departments. Further, the use of drones has gained a newfound momentum during the pandemic as they changed the entire concept of how things are delivered. GPS and Bluetooth are now being deployed to look out for disease carriers in our surroundings.

According to Bhaskar Mandal, head of Digital Industries, Siemens India, the only way India can strive towards achieving its vision of Atmanirbharta is through technology and the key players here would be Industry 4.0 and the fundamental digital technologies that emerge as a result of the same. In his address at the said webinar, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the importance of rapidly moving forward with our vision of Atmanirbhrta as other developed nations such as the US have also looked at achieving similar milestones in self-reliance during their march towards development. He therefore emphasised that “given the emergence of new global systems, it’s important that we keep moving forward”. The same point was also reiterated by Mr. Mandal, according to whom, rapidly evolving technology and concepts must be embraced in the industrial world to assure speed, flexibility, quality, and efficiency of production or assembly, as well as to enable new business models. Above all, the world’s resources being finite are becoming increasingly scarce, and thus we must all make more with less. We need to become more efficient and flexible in order to generate long-term innovation for the world we want to live in, now and in the future.

Digitalization, and a complete and holistic digitalisation flow across all sectors, is the essential way forward.

The said webinar session also pointed out that based on the above understanding this year’s budget has placed special emphasis on sunrise sectors such as geo-spatial systems, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, 5G and clean technology. The Prime Minister also spoke about the need to not only being aware of the principles of science, but at the same time,

making maximum use of technology to ensure an enhanced standard of living. Interestingly and importantly, India is among the few countries in the world whose constitution expressly mentions building “scientific temper” as a fundamental duty. According to article 51A of our constitution “scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform is the fundamental duty of every citizen”.

In recent years, India has positioned itself as one of the world’s most rapidly developing science and technical economies.

The government has looked at regulating technology imports by establishing a National Register of International Cooperation and implementing programmes like the Technology of Trading and Technology (TAAS) and Technology Transfer Cell (TTC). Further, telecommunications, computer systems, electronics, optics, and optoelectronics, chemical and polymers, and other specific materials are among the technology and application sectors handled by many specialists and niche organisations one of them being the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It is important to note that technology transfer has displayed an exponential growth in the sectors handled by ISRO. India is well on its path of establishing itself as a global leader in various sectors. An example of this is seen in India’s efforts towards increasing its nuclear capacity through inventions and significant progress being made in the nuclear energy sector. Further evidence of the same is seen from the Agni-P which is India’s first shorter-range missile that uses upgraded rocket motors, propellants, avionics, and navigation systems similar to those found in the newer Agni-IV and Agni-V ballistic missiles.

To meet the aspirations of its people the government has rightly focused on critical sectors that are going to be the defining ones as we progress into the 21st century. The government’s focus on technology enabled development is another firm and focused step in this direction.

Source: Invest India, Government of India

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Startup ecosystem in India

Startup ecosystem in India India has emerged as the 3rd largest ecosystem for startups globally with over 63,100 DPIITrecognized startups across 638 districts of the country as of 07th February 2022. India ranks #2nd in innovation quality with top positions in the quality of scientific publications and the quality of its universities among middle-income economies. The innovation in India is not just limited to certain sectors. We have recognized startups solving problems in 57 diverse industrial sectors with 13% from IT services, 9% healthcare and life sciences, 7% education, 5% professional and commercial services, 5% agriculture and 5% food & beverages.

Indian Startup Ecosystem has seen exponential growth in past few years (2015-2021): • 9X increase in the number of investors.

• 7X increase in the total funding of startups.

• 7X increase in the number of incubators The Indian Unicorns are flourishing in the fast-paced and dynamic economy of today. These startups are not only developing innovative solutions and technologies but are generating large-scale employment. Till FY 2016-17, approximately one unicorn was being added every year. Over the past four years (since FY 2017-18), this number has been increasing exponentially, with a whopping 66% Year-on-Year growth in the number of additional unicorns being added every year. As of 09th February 2022, India is home to 88 unicorns with a total valuation of $ 295.99 Bn. Out of the total number of unicorns, 44 unicorns with a total valuation of $ 94.37 Bn were born in 2021 and 7 unicorns with a total valuation of $ 9.12 Bn were born in 2022.

Unicorn elements • What is a unicorn?

Unicorn is a term used in the venture capital industry to describe a privately held startup company with a value of over $1 billion.

• What triggered the unicorn rush during 2021?

While work from home during the pandemic fueled the growth of digital businesses in India, the incident also resulted in a long unicorn list. Mainly three factors, a thriving digital payments ecosys-

tem, large smartphone user base and digital-first business models, have come together to attract investors. Tech companies, which have become household brands, are contributing to the unicorn boom in India, as smartphone penetration and digitization of commerce in every aspect of life has increased manifold during the pandemic. Besides fintech, e-commerce grocery, SaaS and marketplace players are contributing the most to the unicorn universe.

Unicorns of India As of 9th February 2022, India is home to 88 unicorns with a total valuation of $ 295.99 Bn. The year 2021, 2020, and 2019 saw the birth of the maximum number of Indian unicorns with 44, 10, and 9 unicorns coming each year, respectively. COVID-19 has caused a great amount of socioeconomic suffering globally, but it is during this time when the resilient Indian Entrepreneurs have worked effortlessly to not only contribute to the economy but to also contribute toward COVID-19 relief efforts. In 2020, we witnessed the birth of more than 10 unicorns. ‘Its raining unicorn’ has been the motto of the year 2021 with 44 unicorns pumped in the ecosystem and many soonicorns waiting in line.

Geographically, the center of India’s high-tech industry, Bengaluru is India’s unicorn capital with the largest number of unicorns headquarters followed by Delhi (NCR) and Mumbai. While we see unicorns active in Tier I cities, this ecosystem is not restricted and is proliferating across the country till the last district. Traditional sectors such as Fin-tech, E-commerce, Supply Chain & Logistics, Internet Software & Services do dominate the arena but a strong wave of unconventional sectors such as Content, Gaming, Hospitality, Data management & analytics, etc are making their place on the list.

While every startup has its unique journey to becoming a unicorn, the minimum and maximum time taken by a startup to become a unicorn are 6 months and 37 years, respectively. Mensa Brands took only 6 months to become a unicorn in 2021, making it one of fastest unicorns in Asia.

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ENERGY & RESOURCES

Call to back protection of at least 30% of planet India to provide LPG stoves, that all conservation efforts must New Delhi, March 10: Led by gas cylinders to Nepal districts protect the rights of indigenous former US Senator Russ Feingold and comprised of eight former heads of state, two former Prime Ministers, six former ministers, and four environmental and indigenous and local experts, the Campaign for Nature’s Global Steering Committee (GSC) has said the success of an upcoming global biodiversity agreement hinges on the adoption of the global, science-backed 30x30 target.

In a statement to IANS on March 10, they urged governments that have not yet endorsed the global 30x30 goal to join the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC), a group of countries championing the target on a global scale.

Many GSC members hail from countries that have not yet signed on in support of the HAC, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, South Africa, Thailand, and Iceland.

Currently, the HAC members include over 85 countries in Africa, Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond.

In the statement, the GSC welcomed the endorsement of the 30x30 goal in the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. The UN study asserted that the protection of 30-50 per cent of the world’s land and ocean is required for maintaining the resilience of biodiversity and ecosystem services at a global scale.

The statement also underscored

peoples and local communities, “who know the land we seek to protect better than anyone”.

The Campaign for Nature emphasizes that indigenous peoples and local communities must be central partners in the development and implementation of the Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the global agreement must ensure free, prior and informed consent is a central element of the 30x30 target.

And the GSC urged countries worldwide to seek to close the current biodiversity funding gap of $700 billion through reduced harmful subsidies and increased global spending. They also endorsed a recent call by NGOs to developed countries to provide at least $60 billion annually in international finance for biodiversity that would support efforts to protect biodiversity in the developing world.

The GSC released their statement on the eve of the UN Convention on Biodiversity’s third and last round of negotiations -- set to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, March 13-27 -- before the final biodiversity agreement, known as the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, is signed by more than 190 countries later this summer at a summit in Kunming, China.

Established in 2020, the Campaign for Nature’s Global Steering Committee is one of the largest groups of independent global

leaders working together for the protection of biodiversity and the halting of climate change.

Russ Feingold, former US Senator and Special Envoy to the Great Lakes Region, said, “As former government leaders, ministers and experts, we understand that this is an ambitious commitment, but it is viable and absolutely necessary to ward off the extinction spiral and ultimately to preserve our planet and ourselves.

“It is also vital to acknowledge that indigenous people are inextricably linked to biodiversity and that expanding recognition of their rights is an effective, moral, and affordable solution for conserving nature.”

Christiana Figueres, Former Executive Secretary UNFCCC added, “Last year we saw climate change and the protection of nature take prominence like never before, but there is still much work to be done. We must not be sidelined by empty promises and greenwashing. Nature-based solutions such as 30x30 offer a tangible, practical, and achievable goal to pin our efforts upon and we should all be committing to it.”

Imposing sanctions on Russian oil and gas, a strategic blunder New Delhi, March 10: The Biden administration’s campaign to remove Russian oil and gas from the international market is a deeply flawed idea, which could face a simmering revolt, not only from its partners from the Atlantic alliance, but also from the emerging economies and the Global South.

Why is it that there is likely to be resistance to the US-led campaign to shut out Russia from the oil business on account of its invasion of Ukraine? There are three primary reasons that may drive a riposte from those who are not as ideologically committed against Moscow as the US. First, the Europeans, key members of the Atlantic Alliance, have already rejected Washington’s proposal. This is because EU heavyweights such as Germany rely on Russia for nearly 40 percent of its energy needs. According to the International Energy Agency, “about 60 percent of Russian oil exports go to European countries in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, with another 20 percent to China. In November, Russian oil accounted for 34 per cent of European OECD members’ oil imports.”

Second, the Global South will find

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it impossible to afford oil prices at the pump once oil climbs to $150 to $200 per barrel. Such a massive price surge is bound to spiral inflation endangering collapse of demand, triggering the onset of recession if not worse.

The adverse social costs of such a situation are not hard to predict.

The Financial Times quoted Scott Sheffield, CEO of US driller Pioneer Natural Resources, as saying that the “only way to stop Putin is to ban oil and gas exports”. He added: “(But) if the Western world announced that we’re going to ban Russian oil and gas, oil is going to go to $200 a barrel, probably -- $150 to $200.”

Third, there is a realisation in energy circles that no country in any geography can fill the supply gap that would be created if Russian oil and gas were to exit the international market. Neither the United Arab Emirates nor Saudi Arabia would be inclined to ramp up production, fearing the return of price collapse, in case, for some reason, Russia makes a full return to the energy market.

The West might be tempted to see the return of Iran into the supply mainstream with the revival of the Iran nuclear deal with caveats. But, even if politically

accommodated, Iran would be unable to elevate energy production, because fresh investments will take time to translate into a production surge.

In the US, shale gas producers are also unlikely to help fill the breach left by Russia. Shale gas drillers are finding it difficult to find the right kind of workers, who have moved to renewable energy projects, to step up production. Besides, they are also worried that their expanded production, at a later date, can trigger a glut, resulting in an unsustainable price collapse. Shale gas producers need a barrel price of above $ 50 to stay afloat.

In short, Russia’s forced exit from the oil market is bound to stifle the economic recovery of the global post-Covid economy, shovelling millions of people in the world into poverty.

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Kathmandu, March 9: India has decided to provide 3,000 LPG gas stoves, gas cylinders, and accessories to underprivileged households in three districts of Nepal bordering India, it was announced on March 9.

An MoU was signed on March 9 between the Embassy of India and the Nepal-India Women Friendship Society (NIWFS) under IndiaNepal Development Cooperation for distribution of LPG gas stoves, gas cylinders and accessories to underprivileged households in three districts viz. Sarlahi, Rautahat and Saptari of Madhesh Pradesh under the financial assistance of the Indian government.

The LPG gas stoves, gas cylinders and accessories are being given

through Society in these three districts with the grant assistance of Nepali Rs 20.49 million, the embassy stated.

This scheme is one of the 75 projects being inaugurated this year in Nepal as part of “India@75 Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” which celebrates 75 years of India’s independence.

The project is inspired by the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY), a flagship scheme with an objective to make clean cooking fuel such as LPG, available to the rural and deprived households which were otherwise using traditional cooking fuels such as firewood, coal, cow-dung cakes etc, according to the statement.

Water & Climate Coalition leaders call for action to ‘protect our people’ New Delhi, March 8: Water and Climate Coalition leaders have issued a call for more urgent and united action “to protect our people and future generations” in the face of alarming new scientific evidence from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of growing global threats to water availability and from water-related hazards.

Roughly half of the world’s population currently experiences severe water scarcity for at least some part of the year and this is expected to worsen as climate change alters precipitation patterns with consequences for the entire water cycle.

The impacts of hydrological changes from the retreat of glaciers and permafrost thaw are approaching the point of no-return.

“Only 0.5 per cent of water on Earth is usable and available as freshwater. But in the past 20 years, terrestrial water storage -- all water on the land surface and in the subsurface, including soil moisture, snow and ice -- has dropped at a rate higher than total human water consumption per year. This has huge ramifications for future water security, given population increase and environmental degradation,” the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said in a release.

“We lead the way in rethinking how our societies and economies best resist climate change.

Improving how we use water is a pathway to develop food security, protect health and livelihoods, promote the just transition to

clean energy, build water and climate smart cities, protect the environment, build resilient economies, help the world achieve the SDGs, and meet global climate commitments,” said the Water and Climate Coalition leaders in a ‘Call for Action’.

Recognising that “we cannot manage what we don’t measure”, the leaders also pledged to set up a Global Water Information System to fill the gaps in reliable data and actionable information.

“We need data to understand how climate change is affecting our water systems; to understand where, how much, and in what quality water is and will be available. We need information to know where and how our actions can best support our access to the precious resource and protect us from water hazards and disasters. Data is also key for smart decision-making,” said the Call for Action.

“Yet there are major gaps; data is scattered, inconsistent and incomplete,” it added.

The leaders include top representatives of countries which are vulnerable to glacier melt, flooding and drought, as well as United Nations and development agencies, business, civil society and youth groups.

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Countries like India with large forex reserves to closely view freeze on Russia’s $643 bn reserves New Delhi, March 11: The freezing of Russia’s $643 billion of foreign reserves has longer term ramifications on how other countries like India with large foreign exchange reserves will view the matter if, one day, they are suddenly deemed to be out of favour in Washington, Christopher Wood analyst at Jefferies said in a report.

There is an air of Western triumphalism in the air as regards the effectiveness of Western sanctions against Russia, most particularly the freezing of Russia’s $643 bn of foreign reserves, Wood said in his commentary, Greed and Fear.

Wood said there is, consequently, a growing possibility that foreign exchange reserves denominated in dollars may be making a long term peak as countries question the value of accumulating such “assets”, which at the end of the day are a claim on someone whereas ownership of gold bullion, or indeed Bitcoin, is an IOU nothing.

There is no doubt that the weaponisation of the US dollar is an extremely powerful tool for the US to employ. The latest American move follows a number of other similar measures in recent years with the first that Greed and Fear

can remember being the $8.9bn fine levied on French bank BNP Paribas back in 2014 for dealing with Iran.

Still Greed and Fear has to wonder about the longer term ramifications of this latest move, and how other countries with large foreign exchange reserves will view the matter if, one day, they are suddenly deemed to be out of favour in Washington.

“Greed and Fear is not just thinking of China ($3.2 tn of foreign exchange reserves) but also, for example, of Saudi Arabia ($447 bn of reserves) and India ($632 bn of reserves),” Wood said.

Interestingly, both China and India abstained from the UN vote last week demanding Russia immediately end its military opera-

tion in Ukraine. Yet all these three countries still have a substantial portion of their foreign exchange reserves in US Treasuries. China, India and Saudi’s holdings of US Treasuries totalled $1.07 tn, $199 bn and $119 bn, respectively at the end of December. They also have probably much larger exposure to the dollar, as a percentage of their reserves, than was the case with Russia.

For the record, global foreign exchange reserves rose to a record $12.83 tn at the end of 3Q21, the latest data available, while the US dollar’s share of world FX reserves declined to a 25-year low of 58.9 per cent at the end of 2020 and was 59.2 per cent at the end of 3Q21, according to the IMF.

Stakeholders urge Indian govt to declare tourism sector as ‘national priority’ New Delhi, March 11: The Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality, the policy federation of all the national associations representing the complete tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India, has recommended to the government to announce the tourism industry as a ‘national priority’ sector.

“Like agriculture has been a national priority of all successive governments and gets vital focus of the Prime Ministers & the Chief Ministers, tourism too can get its due national domestic priority if it is declared as such in the National Tourism Policy,” the federation said.

Impact of tourism and its footprint across the country is far reaching and in the geographical and cultural fabric across the length and breadth of the country, it said.

“If recognised as a national priority sector it will ensure tourism

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Indian e-health sector poised to reach $12 bn in GMV by 2025

New Delhi, March 11: The ehealth sector in India is poised to reach $9-12 billion in GMV (gross merchandise value) by 2025 and $40 billion in GMV by 2030, a new report showed on March 11.

India’s e-health sector witnessed a 47 per cent increase in 2021 in its Net Promoter Score (NPS), suggesting that customers are now more likely to recommend the e-health platforms to their friends and relatives.

According to Bengaluru-based market research firm RedSeer, same-day deliveries and crossselling further characterise the sector’s performance.

“India’s healthtech sector is on an exciting journey of disruption and continues to offer immense value proposition to consumers and businesses alike,” said Kushal Bhatnagar, engagement manager, Redseer.

E-pharma dominated the ehealth sector, even before Covid.

Soon enough, the Covid-induced pandemic worked as a catalyst to trigger growth within this sector, thereby paving the way for a booming e-health landscape that saw an annual growth rate of 51 per cent in 2021.

“It’s been two years since the Covid-induced pandemic, yet it looks like e-health is here to stay.

The e-health sector continues to create delights, indicating that it could be the new normal for our healthcare industry,” the report noted.

Infusing technology to India’s healthcare system has proven to be the need of the hour.

“Restricted access to healthcare, large burden of healthcare expenses, and quality concerns with medicines, diagnostic labs and overall infrastructure are the main issues that the Indian healthcare system is struggling with,” the findings showed.

Higher cost, supply side constraints hamper Feb auto sales

will focus on channelised domestic investments as such more so needed post this worst 24 months ever (of Covid).”

Further, the federation seeks the tourism sector to be included in the concurrent list of the Constitution.

“The constitution rightfully needs to recognise tourism as a joint and collectible responsibility of centre and states to ensure a shared national vision and devel-

opment, marketing and skilling synergies among all our individual tourism portfolios across states and segments.”

In addition, to address multiple issues across the central ministries and across states, it suggested that the policy must provide the instruments of multiple interministerial and intra state task forces headed by the secretary of tourism ministry.

which was already reeling under expensive commodities costs due to rise in their international demand and supply constraints.

Moreover, India is a major importer of these precious as well as industrial commodities.

“Due to higher crude prices, we may see higher freight charges, which will impact perishable and non-perishable commodities,”

IIFL Securities VP, Research, Anuj Gupta said.

“Services and the manufacturing sectors may be impacted badly due to higher prices. Higher commodity inflation is expected to impact India’s GDP growth rate.”

Besides, lower manufacturing growth will have a direct bearing on the country’s GDP growth as well as job creation.

India’s manufacturing sector to take a hit as costs of commodities soar New Delhi, March 10: India’s manufacturing sector is expected to take a hit as commodities’ costs have risen due to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian crisis.

At present, international prices of crude oil, natural gas, coal, nickel, copper, aluminium, titanium, palladium have risen to multiyear high levels. The raw material prices will impact the sector

BUSINESS & TRADE

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New Delhi, March 11: Higher cost along with supply side constraints, impacted India’s domestic auto sector sales in February 2022 on a year-on-year (YoY) basis.

Accordingly, the sector’s February off-take of passenger cars, twoand-three wheelers were lower on a YoY basis.

In terms of PVs, challenges pertaining to electronic components’ availability lowered production and pulled sales down.

The shortage has extended waiting periods and escalated prices.

The industry was only able to produce 1,70,428 units of passenger cars in February 2022 from

1,81,247 units made in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The data furnished by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) does not include figures from some key players such as Tata Motors.

Consequently, sales of passenger vehicles fell to 2,38,622 units in February as compared to 2,81,380 units sold during the corresponding month of 2021.

Segment-wise, a total of 1,48,541 passenger cars were sold in the domestic market in February, down from 1,55,128 units sold in the like period of 2021.

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Prior heart defect may up risk for severe Covid: Study New York, March 8: People with congenital heart defect hospitalised with Covid-19 infection could be at higher risk for severe illness or death than those without a heart defect, according to new research.

Congenital heart defects are the most common type of birth defect, and more than a dozen types result when the heart, or blood vessels near the heart dona¿t develop normally before birth.

Researchers fromA the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)found that people with a congenital heart defect who contracted Covid were also more likely to require treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) or need a ventilator.

The analysis found that the patients with a heart defect had at least one other health condition.

The risk was highest among men

above 50, revealed the study published in the peer-reviewed journal Circulation. aceData comparing Covid-19 outcomes among individuals with and without congenital heart defects has been limited,” said lead author Karrie Downing, epidemiologist at the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities and the Covid-19 Response Team at the US CDC. The team examined data on 235,638 people, aged 1 to 64 years old, hospitalised with Covid patients from March 2020 to January 2021.

Of the hospitalised patients, 421 had a congenital heart defect.

About 54 per cent of patients with a congenital heart defect were admitted to the ICU; 24 per cent required a ventilator to breathe; and 11 per cent died during hospitalisation.

New Delhi, March 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday chaired a highlevel meeting to review the Covid-19 situation in the country, particularly in the context of the Omicron wave and the status of the vaccination drive.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and NITI Aayog’s Member, Health, V.K. Paul, along with other senior officials, were also present in the meeting.

A detailed presentation on the global scenario and India’s status was presented in the meeting.

India’s consistent efforts towards the vaccination campaign and an analysis of vaccine effectiveness

to aid the lesser hospitalization and low severity and mortality during the recent surge was highlighted.

It emerged in the review that proactive and collaborative efforts led by the Central Government helped in effective management of the spread of infection. It was also noted that India’s pandemic response and vaccination efforts have been lauded globally

by WHO, United Nations, International Monetary Fund as well as in the reports of Harvard Business School and Institute for Competitiveness.

Prime Minister Modi appreciated the relentless efforts put in by vaccinators, healthcare workers,

acePeople with heart defects should be encouraged to receive the Covid-19 vaccines and boosters,” Downing said.

She recommended them to continue practicing additional preventive measures, such as mask-wearing and physical distancing.

According to the American Heart Association’s Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics-2022 Update, congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect worldwide, with a global prevalence of 157 per 100,000 in 2017.

PM Modi chairs high-level meeting to review Covid situation

and the Central and state governments. He underlined the significance of following Covid-related protocols and urged continued support from community and participation of the individuals to get vaccinated when due and follow the Covid appropriate behaviour.

Covid-19 pandemic ‘far from over’: WHO Geneva, March 10: The last two years of Covid-19 infection has seen more than 500 million cases and over six million deaths globally, yet the pandemic is “far from over”, warned the World Health Organisation even as several countries have eased restrictions and opened borders over declining cases.

“Although reported cases and deaths are declining globally, and several countries have lifted restrictions, the pandemic is far from over,” said WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus, during a media briefing.

“It will not be over anywhere until it’s over everywhere,” he added even as many countries in Asia and the Pacific are facing surges in Covid cases and deaths.

“The virus continues to evolve, and we continue to face major obstacles in distributing vaccines,

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tests and treatments everywhere they are needed,” the WHO chief said.

The global health body is also concerned that several countries are drastically reducing testing.

The WHO recommends countries to offer self-tests in addition to professionally-administered test-

ing services.

Meanwhile, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also supported the WHO chief’s assessment.

In a statement, he warned that it would be “a grave mistake” to think the virus was now in the rear-view mirror.

Guterres reiterated that the

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HEALTH

Prior heart defect may up risk for severe Covid: Study

London, March 8: A team of researchers in the UK has identified some 16 new genetic variants that can increase the severity of Covid-19 infection.

The genes include some related to blood clotting, immune response, and intensity of inflammation.

“Our latest findings point to specific molecular targets in critical Covid-19. These results explain why some people develop life-threatening Covid-19, while others get no symptoms at all,” said Professor Kenneth Baillie, Consultant in Critical Care Medicine at University of Edinburgh.

The study, published in the journal Nature, showed how a single gene variant that disrupts a key messenger molecule in immune system signalling -called interferon alpha-10 -- was enough to increase a patient’s risk of severe disease.

This highlights the gene’s key role in the immune system and suggests that treating patients with interferon -- proteins released by immune cells to defend against viruses -- may help manage disease in the early stages.

The study also found that variations in genes that control the levels of a central component of blood clotting -- known as Factor 8 -- were associated with critical illness in Covid-19.

This may explain some of the clotting abnormalities that are seen in severe cases of Covid-19.

Factor 8 is the gene underlying the most common type of haemophilia, the researchers said.

“It is now true to say that we understand the mechanisms of Covid better than the other syndromes we treat in intensive care in normal times -- sepsis, flu, and other forms of critical illness. Covid-19 is showing us the way to tackle those problems in the future,” Baillie said.

For the study, the team sequenced the genomes of 7,491 patients from 224 intensive care units in the UK. Their DNA was compared with 48,400 other people who had not had Covid-19, and that of a further 1,630 people who had experienced mild Covid.

Determining the whole genome sequence for all participants in the study allowed the team to create a precise map and identify genetic variation linked to severity of Covid-19.

The team found key differences in 16 genes in the ICU patients when compared with the DNA of the other groups.

They also confirmed the involvement of seven other genetic variations already associated with severe Covid-19 discovered in earlier studies from the same team.

The findings offer a route to new tests and treatments, to help protect the public from this virus, the team said.

distribution of vaccines remains “scandalously unequal”.

“Manufacturers are producing 1.5 billion doses per month, but nearly three billion people are still waiting for their first shot,” he highlighted.

The UN chief blamed this “failure” on policy and budgetary decisions that prioritise the health of people in wealthy countries, over the health of people in poor countries.

“This is a moral indictment of our world. It is also a recipe for more variants, more lockdowns and more sorrow and sacrifice in

every country. Our world cannot afford a two-tier recovery from Covid-19,” he said.

Guterres added that despite the numerous other global crises, the world must reach the goal of vaccinating 70 per cent of people in all countries by the middle of this year.

“Science and solidarity have proven to be an unbeatable combination. We must rededicate ourselves to ending this pandemic for all people and all countries, and closing this sad chapter in humanity’s history, once and for all,” he emphasised.

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Nageshwar Reddy awarded by American Gastroenterological Association Hyderabad, March 12: The American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) has conferred the distinguished educator award to eminent gastroenterologist D. Nageshwar Reddy, who is a chairman of AIG Hospitals.

He has now become the first clinician scientist from an Indian hospital to receive the award from the world’s topmost gastroenterology association.

Founded in 1897, AGA with more than 16,000 members from around the globe, involved in the advancement of gastroenterology, is the world’s most reputed scientific body for digestive diseases.

Every year, AGA acknowledges eminent scientists and clinicians across the world for their outstanding contributions and achievements in gastroenterology and hepatology as part of the annual recognition prizes.

This year they chose Nageshwar Reddy for the award, testament of his lifelong career in endoscopic education in India as well as in underserved communities throughout the world, said a statement.

Under Reddy’s leadership, the Asian Institute of Gastroenterol-

ogy and AIG Hospitals are now a global hub for endoscopy training and research in digestive diseases.

“Since the inception of the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, one of our primary objectives was to educate young doctors and enable them with proper training so that eventually patients benefit.

Over the last three decades, we have trained over 1,000 gastroenterologists coming from various parts of the world in advanced endoscopy procedures ensuring that they translate the knowledge gained into better patient care,” said Reddy.

“This award from AGA is hum-

bling and encourages me to take up more such educational and academic initiatives especially in developing, low-income countries, Reddy added.

This award is also an acknowledgment for the scientific education temperament in India as this is the first time a doctor from an Indian hospital has been selected for this esteemed award.

AGA, which publishes world’s highest rated digestive diseases journal “Gastroenterology,” will felicitate Reddy for the said award at the Digestive Disease Week conference to be held in California’s San Diego, from May 21-24.

India records 4,194 new Covid cases, 255 deaths New Delhi, March 11: India reported 4,194 fresh Covid cases and 255 deaths in a span of 24 hours, the Union health ministry said on March 11 morning.

The new addition of deaths took the toll to 5,15,714 in the country.

The active Covid case has further reduced to 42,219 which constitute 0.10 per cent of the country’s total positive cases, as per the ministry report.

The recovery of 6,208 patients in 24 hours has increased the cumulative tally to 4,24,26,328.

Consequently, India’s recovery rate stands at 98.70 per cent, said the Union Health Ministry on March 10.

Also in the same period, a total of 8,12,365 tests were conducted across the country. India has so far conducted over 77.68 crore cumulative tests.

Meanwhile, the weekly positivity rate has further come down to 0.55 percent while the daily posi-

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Covid now less deadly than flu, says expert

London, March 12: Covid-19 now could be less deadly than flu in the UK, infectious diseases expert Professor Paul Hunter said, although he warned another variant could still change this.

According to the Daily Mail, government figures indicate the virus had a mortality rate of around 0.2 per cent before the ultratransmissible strain erupted onto the scene.

But this has since plunged sevenfold to as little as 0.03 per cent, meaning it kills effectively just one in every 3,300 people who get infected.

For comparison, seasonal influenza’s infection-fatality rate (IFR) sits between 0.01 and 0.05 per cent, suggesting that the two viruses now pose a similar threat.

Hunter, from the University of

East Anglia, told MailOnline it meant that Covid could be even less deadly than the flu. Although, he warned another variant could reverse the progress.

Infections have been on the rise in the UK for a week straight, with the country now averaging 50,000 cases per day compared to around 35,000 on Freedom Day in late February.

Hospitalisations have also been rising and in the South West of England have now eclipsed levels at the height of the Omicron wave.

Professor Robert Dingwall, a former SAGE adviser and sociologist at Nottinham Trent University, said the UK was now seeing a “transition” to a world where Covid was just one more respiratory disease.

Mosquito-borne viruses may cause some types of arthritis

tivity rate has marginally risen to 0.52 per cent.

With the administration of over 16.73 lakhs Covid vaccine doses in 24 hours, India’s inoculation coverage reached 179.72 crore as of March 11 morning. This has been achieved through 2,09,78,959

sessions.

More than 16.70 crore balance and unutilised Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and union territories to be administered, according to the health ministry as of March 11 morning.

known cases of Japanese encephalitis in NSW. The other two cases that were announced previously were a man and a child currently being treated in hospitals.

NSW Health said several more people in the state are still undergoing further testing for the virus, and more cases are expected to be confirmed over the coming days.

Japanese encephalitis virus is

spread through the bite of an infected mosquito to people and animals. Most human infections of the virus cause no symptoms or mild symptoms such as headache or fever, while children aged below five years and senior citizens, who are infected are at a higher risk of developing more severe illness.

Australian states record death cases of Japanese encephalitis Sydney, March 9: Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) confirmed its first death of Japanese encephalitis on March 9 amid warning of a national spread of the virus.

The state Health department said the case was of a man in his 70s, who died in a Sydney hospital in February, Xinhua news agency reported.

The death was among the three

HEALTH

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Sydney, March 9: Some therapies that are successful in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may help improve treatment for people with debilitating mosquito-borne viral diseases, new research has found.

Infection caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) and Ross River virus (RRV) are transmitted by mosquitoes and cause severe arthritis, muscle pain and fever.

“The disease caused by these viral infections bears several similarities with a form of auto-immune arthritis known as Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA),” said lead author Ali Zaid from Menzies Health Institute Queensland at Griffith University in Australia.

“In severe RA, patients express high levels of an immune molecule called Interleukin-17 (IL-17), which is a target of new antiarthritis drugs,” Zaid added.

In two new studies, published in the journals PLoS Pathogens and mBio, the researchers found IL-17 was also elevated during RRV and CHIKV infections.

The team analysed serum samples from CHIKV-infected patients collected during the 2019 outbreak in northern Brazil.

They found that IL-17 levels were elevated in patients with acute disease, and more so in patients with chronic disease.

“When we looked at serum samples from Ross River virus

patients, levels of IL-17 were also elevated, which prompted us to ask whether this molecule was driving disease,” said Helen Mostafavi, from Griffith.

Using an experimental mouse model of viral arthritis, they found that targeting IL-17 in virus-infected mice improved disease and reduced inflammation.

“This suggests that some therapies successful in treating RA could be of potential benefit to treat people with alphavirus disease,” Mostafavi said.

However, the authors found that a complete lack of IL-17 was not necessarily ideal: genetically modified mice that lack IL-17 showed an increase in viral RNA in the post-acute phase of disease -- despite showing reduced inflammation.

In a separate study published in mBio, the authors investigated the role of a protein called TRIF, which cells use to “sense” viral RNA and start a strong antiviral response, which alerts neighbouring cells.

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TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDS

We have lost the greatest entertainer of the game: Warne’s demise shocks cricketing world Sydney, March 5: The cricketing world was on Saturday reeling under the shock of losing one of its greatest players after legendary spinner Shane Warne passed away following a suspected heartattack in Thailand at the age of 52.

The Australian Test team, currently playing the opening game against Pakistan at Rawalpindi, got two devastating news on Friday -- the passing away of legendary wicketkeeper-batter Rod Marsh at the age of 74 and hours later the demise of Warne.

Australian Test skipper Pat Cummins, who was critical of Warne targetting him over the inclusion of fast bowler Mitchell Starc ahead of Jhye Richardson in the first Ashes Test, could not believe the legend had passed away.

“Hard to fathom. We all idolised Warnie growing up for his showmanship, will to win from any position and his incredible skill.

Players all over the world owe him so much for what he has brought to cricket. He had a huge affect on all he met. He transcended cricket. RIP King,” tweeted Cummins along with a sepia-tinted image of the spinner doffing his floppy Test cap.

Fellow team-mate Adam Gilchrist, who kept wicket to Warne in several games around the world, said, the news had numbed him, “Numb. The highlight of my cricketing career was to keep wicket to

Warnie. Best seat in the house to watch the maestro at work. Have often felt a tad selfish, that Heals (Ian Healy) and I pretty much exclusively are the only ones who had that thrill and pleasure at Test level. Rip Warnie.”

Former Australian cricketer and ex-coach of the national team, Darren Lehmann, said Warne was the “most generous and funloving superstar” of the game of cricket.

“The last 24 hours we have lost 2 legends and I am devastated. My thoughts and condolences are with all the Warne family and we send our love to Simone, Brooke, Jackson and Summer (Warne’s family) at this time. Shane was the most generous, fun-loving superstar of our game and I was lucky enough to play and tour with him.

He was a charismatic, caring and true friend. Will miss ya King, Rip,” tweeted Lehmann.

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson tweeted, “I am numb!!! My hero, my mentor, my great friend, Shane Warne is no longer with us. Warnie, the impact you had on this great game and everyone around it is immeasurable. Thank you for being so bloody good to me. I am going to miss you so much. Rest In Peace SK.” Another of Warne’s former teammates Mark Waugh said, “This just unfathomable to lose another great of our cricket family. Warnie was the ultimate entertainer on and off the field, never a dull moment who lived life to the fullest.

Deepest condolences to his loved ones. RIP mate.”

Australian cricket legend Rod Marsh passes away at 74 Adelaide, March 4: The cricket world lost a legend as former Australia wicketkeeper Rod Marsh passed away on Friday aged 74.

Marsh had suffered a massive heart attack in Queensland last week and was in an induced coma at the Royal Adelaide Hospital until his death.

The Australia great played 96 Tests for his country, scoring three Test centuries and famously claiming a then world record of 355 dismissals for a wicketkeeper behind the stumps.

Marsh was a key part of a formidable combination with feared fast bowler Dennis Lillee and the ‘caught Marsh, bowled Lillee’ dismissal is still the most common way a batter has been dismissed in the history of Test cricket, ICC said.

Following a glittering 14-year international career as a player, Marsh played a major role in grooming young stars such as former Australian captain Ricky Ponting and pace bowler Brett Lee at the Australian Cricket Academy (ACA) in Adelaide.

Marsh was later chosen by England to lead their own academy in the lead-up to the 2005 Ashes series.

Marsh also served as a selector for England, before returning to

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Australia later in his career to replace John Inverarity as chairman of selectors from 2014 until he departed in 2016.

Marsh was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame in 2009 and ICC Chief Executive Geoff Allardice paid tribute to the legendary Australian.

“It is incredibly sad to hear of Rod’s passing,” Allardice told ICC. “He was a true legend of the game who has been part of international cricket for more than 50 years. His skill and talent with the gloves was exceptional, holding the world record for the number of dismissals at the time of his retirement.

“But his legacy has gone way beyond what he achieved on the field. An ICC Hall of Fame inductee in 2009, he played a significant role in developing young cricketers all around the world, including through his time as the inaugural director of coaching at the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai, a facility that future generations of players from all countries will continue to benefit from. He will be sorely missed and the thoughts of everyone at the ICC are with his family and friends.”

Australia captain Pat Cummins said ahead of the historic first Test against Pakistan in Rawal-

pindi on Friday that Marsh’s “incredible” 50 years of service to cricket will never be forgotten.

“Rod was a colossal figure in Australian cricket who gave close to 50 years of incredible service to Australian cricket, from his debut in the Ashes series of 1970/71, through to his time as national selector, when many of the current group of Australian men’s players came into close contact with him,” Cummins said.

“He was brilliant to deal with because he knew the game insideout, but also had a way of dealing with you to put you at your ease.

“I, along with countless other people in Australia, grew up hearing the stories of him as a fearless and tough cricketer, but his swashbuckling batting and his brilliance behind the stumps over more than a decade made him one of the all-time greats of our sport, not just in Australia, but globally.

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TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDS

Sports world mourns legendary Shane Warne’s death New Delhi, March 4: Tributes came pouring in as the sporting world mourned the death of Australian cricket legend Shane Warne in Thailand on Friday evening. Former England footballer and sports broadcaster Gary Lineker led the tributes on Twitter, writing, “Terribly saddened and shocked to hear the news that Shane Warne has died. The greatest spin bowler of all time. Can’t quite believe it. RIP Shane.”

Fellow footballer Stan Collymore followed Lineker as he tweeted, “My goodness, Shane Warne has died. 52 years old, this is truly awful news. Rest in peace Ledge.”

The news has clearly affected the entire sporting world and the loss will undoubtedly be felt by the cricketing community, particularly the Australian cricket community.

As per a statement given to Fox News by Warne’s management firm, the leg-spinner passed away in Thailand of a suspected heart attack.

Graeme Fowler, who played in 21 Test matches for England, wrote: “RIP Shane Warne. The greatest spinner ever, and fantastic company.

“The brightest lights burn out faster.”

Indian Cricket team opener Shikhar Dhawan echoed Fowler’s sentiment, “Sad, speechless, and completely shocked. An incredible loss to cricket. I have no words.

Thank you for everything you’ve done for the sport.

“Rest in Peace, Shane Warne.

Sending my condolences to his loved ones.”

Former Indian cricketer Wasim Jaffer too expressed his sorrow at the news, writing, “Whenever he came to the wicket, change came over the game of Cricket.

My mind just cannot accept that Shane Warne is no more. Gone too soon. Thoughts and prayers with his family and friends...RIP Warnie.”

Tributes pour in for Rod Marsh who passes away at 74 Adelaide, March 4: Tributes poured in for Australian great Rod Marsh who passed away in an Adelaide hospital on Friday aged 74 after suffering a massive heartattack last week.

Marsh had suffered a heart-attack in Queensland and was in an induced coma at the Royal Adelaide Hospital until his death.

Former Australian captain Ricky Ponting wrote, “Devastated, we have lost a legend. Rod Marsh was a great player, a great coach and one of the best people I have ever met. My thoughts are with Ros, Paul, Dan and Jamie (Marsh’s family).”

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson tweeted, “Rod Marsh not on this planet anymore, I am absolutely shattered.

I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it wasn’t for Rod and his amazing skill to know how to get the best out of every young cricketer. He just cared!! My love and thoughts go the Ros and the boys.

RIP mate.”

Following a glittering 14-year international career as a player, Marsh played a major role in grooming young stars such as Ponting and pace bowler Brett Lee, among others, at the Australian Cricket Academy (ACA) in Adelaide.

Cricket Australia (CA), the country’s governing body for the sport in its condolence message said, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Rod Marsh. A brilliant wicketkeeper and hard-hitting

batter, Rod’s contribution to Australian cricket was outstanding and he will be truly missed. Our thoughts are with his wife Ros, children Paul, Dan and Jamie and his many friends.”

Another former Australian great, pace bowler Damien Fleming, said he was shattered.

“Shattered to hear the passing of the legendary Rod Marsh. Growing up he was an idol hitting 6’s taking catches off DK Lillee. Sung the Aussie song. Coached a generation. Thoughts with Ros, Paul, Dan and Jamie and Marsh family,” wrote Fleming.

The Australian team’s white-ball captain, Araron Finch, tweeted, “Thoughts are with the Marsh family at an incredibly difficult time. Australia has lost a cricketing icon and legend today! Vale Rod Marsh.”

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Shane Warne, Rod Marsh’s death has left everyone ‘almost dumbfounded’: WA Cricket chief Perth, March 6: Western Australia Cricket chief Christina Matthews has said that the demise of two Australian legends -- Shane Warne and Rod Marsh -- in a span of just of few hours on Friday had left everyone “almost dumbfounded”, adding that one wished “that’s not true”.

Former wicketkeeper-batter Rod Marsh passed away at 74 at a hospital in Adelaide after suffering a massive heart-attack last week, while legendary spinner Warne, 52, died due to a suspected heartattack in Thailand hours later.

“It was a big enough shock to lose Rod, and then within 24 hours lose Shane Warne,” Matthews was quoted as saying by perthnow.

com.au on Sunday.

“Everyone is walking around almost dumbfounded about how can that happen. It is surreal. It is one of those things (hearing of Warne’s passing) that you think ‘that’s not true, they’ve made a mistake’. It kind of distracted you from everything. You just think ‘how has that happened?’” she said.

The WA Cricket CEO added that their passing had shocked the world.

“He (Warne) loved the people, and the people loved him. I remember once walking with him back to the dressing room and he just kept stopping as people asked him for autographs. He was just really warm to anyone who wanted to say hello to him,” she added.

Warne’s children release heart-breaking tributes after legendary leg-spinner’s death Melbourne, March 7: Shane Warne’s children, son Jackson and daughters Brooke and Summer, on Monday released heart-breaking tributes after the legendary leg-spinner died suddenly in Thailand on Friday. This is the first time that Warne’s children have spoken since the 52-year-old died in a villa at the Koh Samui Island of a suspected heart attack.

Jackson, who was seen in an Australian reality show ‘SAS: Who Dares Wins’ last year, spoke about the bond he had with his father.

“To my brother, my best friend, to my Dad, I love you so much. I don’t think anything is ever going to fill the void you have left in my heart. Sitting at the poker table, walking around the golf course, watching the Saints and eating pizza is never going to be the same. But I know all you ever wanted for me is to be happy, no matter what.”

Jackson further said Warne was ‘the best father’ one could have asked for. “You just wanted me to be happy, that’s it. So that’s what I’m going to do, try and be happy.

I am going to miss you so much Dad and you were truly the best father and mate anyone could’ve asked for. I love you so much Dad, see you soon.”

Warne’s eldest daughter Brooke said she was yet to believe that he was no more. “Dad, this doesn’t

feel real and doesn’t make sense that you are not here with us anymore. It doesn’t feel right, you were taken away too soon and life is so cruel. I will forever cherish our final memories together laughing and joking around with each other. We were happy.”

“We were so similar in so many ways and I always used to joke that I got your genes and bout how much that annoyed me! Well, now I couldn’t be happier and prouder that I have your genes.

I am lucky and will forever be so proud to call you my Dad forever.

I love you to infinity and back and I will miss you forever.”

Warne’s youngest daughter Summer said she wished she could have hugged him tighter and felt that she was robbed of her time with him. “Dad, I miss you so much already. I wish I could’ve hugged you tighter in what I didn’t know were my final moments with you. And your final

breaths were only moments away.

I wish I could’ve told you that everything was going to be okay and hold your hand.”

“You are the best Dad someone could ever ask for. Our time was robbed. I want more holidays with you, more laughs where your smile lights up the whole room, more ‘goodnight I love you SJ, I’ll see you in the morning’, more talks about how our days were and just to feel safe when you would hug me and you would let me know how proud you are of me and how much you love me.

You haven’t died Dad, you’ve just moved to a different place, and that is in our hearts. I love you forever, until we meet again.”

Warne’s ex-wife Simone Callahan signed off by saying a line that summed up Warne for her. “Who brings a light so great to the world that even after they have gone the light remains.”

Elizabeth Hurley, son Damian post heartfelt messages following Warne’s demise London, March 6: English model and actress Elizabeth Hurley has given a touching farewell to former fiance, legendary Australian cricketer Shane Warne, who passed away following a suspected heart-attack in a Thai island resort on Friday, saying he was her “beloved lionheart”.

Hurley and Warne were engaged in September 2011 until they split in December 2013, with their relationship attracting significant media glare.

Hurley, 56, posted several photos

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of them together on Instagram late on Saturday, saying, “I feel like the sun has gone behind a cloud forever. RIP my beloved Lionheart @shanewarne23.”

Hurley’s son Damian, who was nine when his mother was engaged to the cricketer, also wrote on Instagram that he was heartbroken.

“I’m still trying to wrap my head around this... SW (Shane Warne) was a father figure to me for most of my formative years and was truly one the best men I’ve

ever known. My heart is broken.

Thinking of and sending love to all SW’s family,” wrote Damien and posted a photo of him playing football with Warne.

Several of Warne’s celebrity friends too paid tributes to the legendary cricketer who passed away aged 52. Renowned singer Elton John said he was “a magical bowler and such fun”, calling it “a tragic day for Australian cricket” with former Australian wicketkeeper Rod Marsh dying the same day.

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TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDS

England PM Boris Johnson, singer Mick Jagger, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman lead tribute to Warne

London, March 5: England Prime Minister Boris Johnson, a keen follower of the game of cricket, said he was “shocked” and “saddened” to hear about the demise of Australian spin legend Shane Warne at the age of 52 after suffering a suspected heart-attack in Thailand in Friday.

The crisis in Ukraine notwithstanding, Johnson found time out from his busy schedule to pay his tributes to Warne on Saturday, saying, “Totally shocked and saddened to hear about Shane Warne -- a cricketing genius and one of the nicest guys you could meet, who also did a lot to help disadvantaged kids into sport.”

The PM also posted an image of him holding a cricket bat with Warne by his side and surrounded by young players.

Celebrated English singer, songwriter, actor and film producer, Mick Jagger, whose love for the gentleman’s game is well known, tweeted, “I’m so saddened by the sudden death of Shane Warne.

He brought such joy to the game and was the greatest spin bowler ever.”

Hollywood celebrity Russell Crowe tweeted Warne was great company and a loyal friend.

“S.K. Warne. Woke this morning to the devastating news. Having a hard time accepting it. Genius player. Grand company. Loyal friend,” tweeted Crowe.

Actor Hugh Jackman wrote, “I’m grateful to have known him, and to have witnessed his once in a generation talent.”

Singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran wrote, “Shane was the kindest heart, and always went above and beyond to make people feel welcome and special. Such a gentleman. He gave so many hours and years of his life to bring joy to others, and was such an amazing friend to me. I’ll bloody miss you mate. Absolutely gutted.”

Australian actor Magda Szubanski, who worked with Warne on the sitcom Kath & Kim, said she was in shock.

“Inconceivable that a life crammed with so much genius and larrikin charm could be snuffed out so suddenly and so soon,” she posted on Instagram.

“This is a shocking loss for our nation and for the cricketing world. And poor Sharon has lost her hero and the love of her life.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) too expressed its

condolences saying, “One of the greatest of all-time. A legend. A genius. You changed Cricket. RIP Shane Warne.”

Former England captain Michael Atherton, writing for skysports. com said, “I don’t think many people read the game better than he (Warne) did, and of course he had great character and a way of putting it across.

“All the intelligence you saw as a player came across in his commentary,” Atherton said of Warne, who was his fellow commentator in Sky Sports.

“Hearing the news, I was totally stunned. I don’t think I’ve ever been more shocked in my life. A man who had such vitality, full of energy and life and suddenly not to be there. He’s my age effectively -- he’s a year younger than I am -- so he’s somebody I played against a lot for a decade in Ashes cricket and I commentated alongside him for a long, long time so I know him pretty well,” added Atherton.

“But all the intelligence you saw as a player -- I think he’s the most intelligent bowler I played against -- came across in his commentary. And using the word intelligence, I’m not talking about A-Levels and that kind of thing, but raw cricketing intelligence which he had in spades. He was a fabulous bowler.”

Atherton said that leg spin was a dying art when Warne came on the big stage, with Australia dominated by pacers.

“Leg spin was a dying art when he was picked actually. With Australia, you think of the land of the wrist spinner, it’s where wrist spin flourished and really developed because of the hot sun and the hard pitches. But in the 70s it was pace bowling that dominated: Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson -and Lillee was Shane Warne’s hero when he was growing up.

“So wrist spinners had slightly withered away a little bit and it was almost this forgotten art, and then suddenly Allan Border picked him (Warne) in 1992. The early Tests were a bit in and out and then obviously that first Ashes Test match at Old Trafford in 1993, we hadn’t seen much of him until that point, and unlike today it wasn’t a time where you had a lot of footage of opposition players.

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INDIA NEWS

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SPORTS

Pink Ball Test: Karunaratne’s century goes in vain as Women are built different, strong and special, say footballers on India beat Sri Lanka by 238 runs to win series 2-0 Bengaluru, March 14: Dimuth Karunaratne scored his 14th Test century on a difficult pitch but it was not enough to deny India a win by 238 runs on Day three of the second Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium here on Monday.

With the huge win inside the first two sessions on Day three, the hosts have completed a 2-0 series sweep and pocketed 12 points as part of World Test Championship (WTC) tally.

Karunaratne put up a defiant show against a relentless India bowling attack as Sri Lanka began day three on a positive note. The visitors showed some fight in the start of day’s play as Karunaratne used his feet straightaway to take two boundaries off Ravindra Jadeja through the off-side. Runs began to flow for the visitors’ as Kusal Mendis glanced and lofted Ravichandran Ashwin for boundaries.

Sri Lanka’s aggressive and positive play continued as Mendis swept Jadeja through deep square leg while Karunaratne was lucky in surviving an inner edge off Ashwin. The positivity and decisive attitude in play resulted in Mendis reaching his 12th Test half-century off 57 balls.

The 97-run partnership, highest for Sri Lanka in this series, was broken by Ashwin as Mendis was foxed by drift and dip from round the wicket angle. Mendis danced down the pitch to counter the delivery but the ball went past the outer edge and was stumped from behind by Rishabh Pant.

One brought two for India as

International Women’s Day

Jadeja bowled a quicker delivery to hit Angelo Mathews stumps through the gate. Ashwin then claimed his second wicket of the session as Dhananjaya de Silva was caught at forward short leg, enabling the off-spinner to go past Dale Steyn in the list of leading wicket-takers in Test cricket.

Amidst the wheels coming off Sri Lanka’s resistance, Karunaratne stood tall and brought up his fifty in 92 balls. He then welcomed Mohammed Shami with a four whipped through mid-wicket and danced down the pitch to flick Axar Patel through the same region. Supporting him was Niroshan Dickwella, who has managed to hold fort against a relentless India bowling attack.

Karunaratne began the postlunch session by using the pace of Patel to lap over leg slip. But Patel bounced back to get Dickwella stumped as the left-hander came down the pitch for a swing across the line but the ball went past outside edge and Pant behind did the rest. Patel took his second wicket of the day as Charith Asalanka flicked straight to leg slip.

After a reverse sweep off Patel

took him into the 90s, Karunaratne then played a conventional sweep over square leg for four.

He then raised his century by flicking through backward square leg off Jasprit Bumrah, becoming only the third Sri Lanka captain to score a Test hundred in India.

Karunaratne followed it up by using Bumrah’s pace to steer a short ball over the slip cordon.

Karunaratne’s resistance ended at 107 as Bumrah got one to come back in and went through his gate to crash into the stumps.

In the next over, Ashwin beat Lasith Embuldeniya on the inside edge to trap him lbw in front of stumps.

Bumrah then clean bowled Suranga Lakmal and Vishwa Fernando holed out to mid-off off Ashwin to end Sri Lanka’s innings at 210, their highest total in the two-match series.

Brief scores: India 252 and 303/9 d in 68.5 overs (Shreyas Iyer 67; Praveen Jayawickrama 4/78) beat Sri Lanka 109 and 208 all out in 59.3 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 107; Kusal Mendis 54; Ravichandran Ashwin 4/55, Jasprit Bumrah 3/23) by 238 runs.

Women’s World Cup: Smriti shares ‘Player of the Match’ award with Harmanpreet after India beat West Indies Hamilton, March 12: In a heartwarming and classy gesture at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, opener Smriti Mandhana chose to share her ‘Player of the Match’ award with batter Harmanpreet Kaur after India won by 155 runs against the West Indies.

While Smriti hit 123 runs in 119 balls, Harmanpreet slammed 109 in 107 balls. The duo was also involved in a 184-run partnership, rescuing India from 78/3 to posting 317/8 in 50 overs, their best-ever total in the history of World Cup and highest total of the ongoing edition of the tournament.

In the post-match presentation ceremony, one was curious over Smriti and Harmanpreet standing together in front of the Player of the Match trophy. Smriti, adjudged by the commentators to be Player of the Match, then revealed about her decision to share the award with fellow centurion Harmanpreet in an excellent gesture.

“I think scoring a century and not being a Player of the Match is something I really wouldn’t want as a player. I think we both contributed equally for us to score 300. So, I think it’s good for us to share the trophy and I think both

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New Delhi, March 8: Last year, Indian sports had witnessed some of the greatest moments in the sporting fields which involved a lot of women athletes achieving greater heights. On the occasion of International Women’s Day 2022, the Indian Women’s football players spoke about women’s empowerment in-depth and stressed on why it is necessary for today’s generation.

They believe that sports is one of the most powerful platforms for promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls.

Indian Women’s football captain Ashalata Devi said, “We are no less than any men and from the bottom of my heart I would like to say that we are multi-talented. So anyone looks down upon you or says wrong, you just have to work hard. They can give you a good or bad opinion but you need to focus on your dream by putting in a lot of handwork and dedication and keep on moving forward.

“We, the women, are built differently, but we can very much achieve what men can, and maybe more. To move forward, we need to be one and respect each other.”

Goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan described how women in India go through several societal barriers, which make them tougher.

“Women in India have gone through so much trying to achieve something or excel at something.

They face society with all kinds of challenges, on different fronts.

Not just from society, but even within their sport as well and within their families which really makes them so strong mentally as well as physically,” Chauhan said during the panel discussion.

“I think mental toughness is something that we as Indian women are strong at and that is one of the reasons why I say that especially for India women if they really set their target, they don’t mind facing anything because we’ve been through everything, faced everything, and come out on the other side to excel, so there is nothing we can’t get through,” she said.

Bala Devi, the first Indian Woman footballer to sign a professional contract with a European club, when she was signed by Rangers Women FC in 2020, also believes that the younger generation should focus more on themselves rather than concentrating on people’s opinions.

“My family supported me throughout but pressure from society was always there. They used to ask, “why are girls playing?

What is the benefit of that?”

“My parents and I had to hear this a lot but we never answered back.

When I went to play in the U-19 National Championship in 2002, Manipur became the champions and I received the best scorer award, and that is when people stopped asking questions and started supporting me,” she said.

New Delhi, March 10: Two-time Olympic medal winner PV Sindhu and multilingual Indian actress Aditi Rao Hydari has batted for women to adopt a ‘constructive’ approach in calling out harassers and shutting them down, rather than merely blocking them online.

Sindhu said women should call it out, while tackling online harassment, and shouldn’t merely block harassers.

“You should go and complain to the authorities. You should confront it. As women, we can do anything and everything. At the same time, you have to be aware of your surroundings. You have to be in a situation where you have to take care of yourself. You have to understand the situation and act accordingly,” Sindhu told News18.

Echoing her thoughts, the Padmaavat actress said women

must document more diligently, and avoid an online battle with harassers.

“A lot of them (harassers) are just bots. We have to take that into account. There is a constructive way of calling them out and shutting them down rather than starting an online battle. Sometimes it leads to a lot more noise and bullying,” she said at the session, which was part of #ItsNotOk campaign by Network18 in partnership with Truecaller.

Hydari also urged women to ‘go out and rise above their fear,’ but advised them to be cautious. “We shouldn’t let harassers win over us. But be cautious, know what to do when you are in a sticky situation, have all your numbers ready. No woman should stop herself from living her dreams just because the city makes her afraid,” she said.

Women should call harassers out, rather merely blocking them online, says Sindhu

are good enough contenders to get it,” said Smriti.

Asked about the difference in approach from matches against New Zealand and West Indies, Harmanpreet explained, “The set batter was there today, and in last game against New Zealand that was missing to support me from the other end. I was very confident about my batting as I was getting back my rhythm. We knew once we are settled, we can get the boundary and we were able to do that.”

Smriti further said that the team is comfortable in chasing as well as setting the target. “As a batter we prefer both, if the toss does not go your way, in chasing it is very important to get the momen-

tum. Both in chasing and setting, this is very important.”

“We learnt from our mistakes and that’s something we thought we are not gonna repeat it. As batters, we both prefer chasing and setting the target both together.

Last game we didn’t get going and in chasing it’s very important to get the momentum.”

Asked about the reasoning behind their partnership going well, Harmanpreet put it down to understanding. “Left-right combination is always a great thing. When she was getting boundaries, I was there to help her in taking singles.

When I was getting boundaries, she was there to support me.

That’s what we were enjoying there.”

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INDIA NEWS

Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

SPORTS

Jhulan becomes leading wicket-taker in German Open 2022: PV history of Women’s Cricket World Cup Sindhu bows out after Hamilton, March 12: Veteran India pacer Jhulan Goswami on Saturday added another cap to her glittering career. In India’s third match of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup against the West Indies, Jhulan became the leading wicket-taker in the history of Women’s Cricket World Cup by dismissing West Indies spinner Anisa Mohammed.

Anisa flicked to mid-wicket fielder, becoming Jhulan’s 40th overall scalp in the tournament and was able to overtake Australia’s Lyn Fullston’s record since 1988 of 39 wickets at an average of 11.94.

Almost 17 years ago, Goswami took her first World Cup wicket, dismissing Inoka Galagedara of Sri Lanka on March 22, 2005.

Since then, she has dismissed 40 different batters, never getting the same batter out twice at a World Cup, with Anisa her seventh victim from the West Indies. That first wicket back in 2005 may have been the only scalp she took in her debut World Cup match, but it was the first and only time she would end with an economy lower than one.

“What an amazing achievement for @JhulanG10 to become the highest wicket taker in @cricketworldcup. Goes to 40 wickets and not done yet!! So happy for her,” former Australian cricketer Lisa Sthalekar tweeted.

Jhulan produced figures of eight overs, three maidens, five runs and one wicket, and she was just getting started, taking 13 wickets in the 2005 tournament in South Africa, her highest at a single World Cup. The 2009 World Cup was less fruitful, taking just four wickets but her best performance came against hosts Australia in the third-place play off, dismissing opener Leah Poulton and

losing to Zhang Yi Man

tailender Rene Farrell for figures of two for 21 as India won by three wickets.

After taking nine wickets on home soil in 2013, Jhulan was back in the double figures in 2017 as India lost out to England by nine runs in the final. The 39-year-old took three for 23, one of two times where she has taken three wickets in an innings to move to 10 for the tournament.

Her highest wicket haul came in 2005 as she produced figures of four for 16 against the West Indies only four days after delivering four for 27 against England.

Anisa’s dismissal on Saturday

takes Jhulan to 14 dismissals caught by fielders while seven have been caught by the wicketkeeper with five coming leg- before wicket.

Fortunately for India, usually if Jhulan is taking wickets, they will win the game with 27 of her previous 39 wickets coming in wins, 11 in losses and one in a no-result, that very first wicket.

Now with the win over West Indies at Seddon Park, India’s next match in the World Cup will be against defending champions England on Wednesday at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga.

Andy Murray donates prize money to Ukrainian children London, March 10: Three-time Grand Slam champion Andy Murray has pledged to donate his 2022 prize money to help children in Ukraine.

Earlier, women’s World number 18 Elina Svitolina announced she will donate all of her prize money directly to the Ukrainian war effort. Similarly, Ukrainian refugee and Lyon Open finalist Dayana Yastremska joined her compatriot and will do the same.

The British tennis star said he’s working with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to provide urgent medical supplies and early childhood development kits. Murray also highlighted how the war in Ukraine is disrupting children’s schooling.

“I’m going to be donating my earnings from my prize money for the rest of the year, but anyone in the UK can support UNICEF’s

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humanitarian response by donating to our appeal by following this link - https://unicef.uk/ am_ukraine.”

“Children in Ukraine need peace - now!”

“It’s vital education continues, so UNICEF is working to enable access to learning for displaced children, as well as supporting the rehabilitation of damaged schools, together with replacement equipment and furniture,” he said.

As the war between Russia and Ukraine rages into its second week, the tolls, displacement and damage done looks set to continue and even increase.

Murray revealed that he will donate the rest of the prize money he earns this year to help rebuild damaged schools, provide medical supplies and other broken equipment.

Mulheim (Germany), March 10: Ace Indian shuttler P.V Sindhu crashed out of the 2022 German Open Super 300 badminton tournament, losing to China’s Zhang Yi Man in the second round, here on Thursday.

Two-time Olympic medallist Sindhu lost to the 2021 World Championship bronze medallist Zhang Yi Man 14-21, 21-15, 14-21 in a match that lasted 55 minutes.

Former world champion Sindhu, who is currently ranked World No. 7, started the match on expected lines and dominated early exchanges. However, the Chinese shuttler, ranked 34 in the world, took eight consecutive points after trailing 3-5 and maintained her lead to clinch the first game.

The Indian mounted a comeback and took the next game to bring the contest on level terms.

The see-saw battle continued in

the deciding game but Sindhu’s younger opponent chipped in regularly with successive points to win the match, an olympics. com report said.

Later in the day, Saina Nehwal will take on the eighth seed Ratchanok Intanon from Thailand. Apart from Saina, top Indian men’s badminton players Kidambi Srikanth, Lakshya Sen and H.S Prannoy will also be in action in their secondround matches.

In doubles, the men’s pair of Ishaan Bhatnagar-Sai Pratheek will face Indian compatriots Krishna Prasad Garaga-Vishnuvardhan Goud Panjala for a place in the next round.

On the other hand, Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand will face top seeds from China Chen Qing Chen and Jia Yi Fan in the women’s doubles.

On a larger scale, all three of tennis’ major governing bodies, the ATP, WTA and ATP, as well as the organisers of the four Grand Slams have all donated $100,000 each for a total of $700,000 (£532,000) to aid humanitarian relief in Ukraine.

Murray announced his decision via his social media channels in a statement that read, “over 7.5 million children are at with the escalating conflict in Ukraine, so I’m working with UNICEF UK to help provide urgent medical supplies and early childhood development kits.

“It’s vital education continues, so UNICEF is working to enable access to learning for displaced children, as well as supporting the rehabilitation of damaged schools, together with replacement equipment and furniture.”

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INDIA NEWS

Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

A ‘New Life’ in Jaipur March 10, 2022: ‘Vita Nova’, a touring two-city exhibition, will open in Jaipur (March 9-22) and travel to Delhi post-April 20.

The exhibition has been produced by the Italian Embassy Cultural Centre and curated and conceived by Myna Mukherjee and Davide Quadrio.

In Jaipur, it arrives as a collateral event to the Jaipur Literature Festival and is spread across two sites. It is presented in collaboration with the Jawahar Kala Kendra, Rajasthan Department of Art and Culture and Gyan Museum, and is part of the ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ celebrations marking 75 years of India’s Independence.

Inspired by Dante’s literature, Vita Nova is a two-site exhibition exploring transformations, connections and departures in contemporary craft and art between Italy and India. Vita Nova is the title of the poems by Dante, composed in honour of his lover and muse, that shaped the history of poetry in Italy and worldwide.

The curation called six artists from India and Italy to be challenged by this literature hero’s extraordinary body of work and explore the territory of “new life” (vita nova) or the transformative life that Dante wrote about.

The resulting exhibition lets the

viewer enter a realm of mystery and metaphor; the arcane and the magical; nature and humanity; mythology and memory; transformation and preservation; and ultimately the manifestation of something new.

All six artists -- Andrea Anastasio, Francesco Simeti, Marta Roberti, Puneet Kaushik, Raghava KK, and Shilo Shiv Suleman -- blur several distinctions as they work with a range of ‘handmade’ techniques from woodcuts, block prints, embroidery, tapestry, metal forging, blue pottery, miniatures, bidri, ceramics, clay and even cardboard making.

Together, they create a hothouse of new works that expose the conjunctions and disjunctions inherent in these contemporary hybridised artworks. They gener-

ate questions about the role of craft in their evolutionary shift to the ‘dematerialised’ and conceptual while retaining their historical and cultural significance.

These works claim contemporary craft as a dynamic critical position for understanding the most immediate political and aesthetic issues of our time.

Encompassing tapestries, carpets, sculptures, miniatures, textiles & artisanal objects, moving from magic realism to metaphors of political protests, ‘Vita Nova’ is an eclectic immersion into the “conceptual craft futures” referenced and celebrated by artists promoting new ways of thinking about the role of craft in contemporary art and significance of the ‘handmade’ within conceptual art-making practices.

back since then. Based in Bhilwara, Rajasthan - a town where most clothing brands are for men - Pooja’s company has a 70% women workforce. Pooja aspires to expand this brand furthermore on her own and become a renowned name in the world of women’s fashion.

Kratika Jain, COO of Pataa navigations Pvt. Ltd Kratika Jain holds a master’s degree in Management Technology from the prestigious New York University. Currently, Kratika is working as the COO of Pataa navigations Pvt. Ltd. She is a fierce and dynamic entrepreneur who is breaking stereotypes with her strategic and organisational skills. Her ambition is to bring something new to the app’s development.

Supportive of her employees, Kratika is always reachable to all the people working with her.

She wears multiple hats at Pataa, building, Marketing, Sales, Product Development, etc. With her primary focus on operationalizing strategy, she also offers valuable inputs in conceptualizing the ads made for Pataa Marketing. She deftly focuses on all the business divisions. She has a keen eye for product placement and pays more attention to details. The Pataa app has garnered 7 million+ downloads with her profound efforts and team leadership.

Aarti Samant, CMO & Co-found-

er, Masala Tokri To help her mom follow her passion, the digital marketer Aarti Samant became an entrepreneur in 2019. They had a small beginning, but now Masala Tokri has become a big artisanal spices led by women. With her profound marketing skills and digital aptitude, Aarti has spread the wings of her brand in the cities like Mumbai, Pune, and Surat. She has worked with brands like Hotstar and Purplle to build social media presence. She has been honoured as India’s Top Digital Planners, in 2015 conferred by Digital Marketing Asia - Singapore and Business World. Also, Global Youth Marketing Forum recognized her as the Most Talented Social Media Professional In India - 2014 at their Social Media Summit & Awards.

Besides running Tokri, she is into consulting major D2C brands to build their niche on digital platforms. As the co-founder of the women-run company, Aarti feels that Masala Tokri is bringing its kind of change in debarring societal norms and empowering women.

Dishi Somani, Founding Director, DishiS Designer Jewellery Dishi started her entrepreneur journey in 2013 with DishiS Designer Jewellery after pursuing jewellery designing from the Indian Institute of Gems & Jewellery and Finance from IMT Dubai.

Coming from a strong business

Seven women entrepreneurs who turned their passion into a profession March 8, 2022: “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life,” said Confucius. Finding your voice is not an easy task, especially in the case of women; sometimes, this process becomes even more challenging as society often refrains them from speaking their minds.

But today, the scenario has changed. Today’s woman stands on her own feet with flying colours. Knocking off the society’s ask to shut their voice, women are more assertive and are willing to go for what their inner voice says, no matter how difficult it is.

Celebrating the voice and strength of such women on International Women’s Day, we have a list of 7 women who made a career out of their passion.

Pooja Choudhary, Founder, Lavanya The Label Hailing from a small town, Pooja dreamed of opening her venture.

She was very clear about what she wanted – a fashion label. Pursuing her BBA from Modi Laxmangarh and MBA in Finance from Tokyo, Pooja began her entrepreneurial journey in 2018. Being good in academics, her father wanted her to go for civil services, but Pooja had something else in her mind. She expressed her desire to open a venture to her father, who understood her passion and completely supported her. She then started her women-centric fashion brand and has not looked

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ARTS AND CULTURE

Prisoner of culture

March 10, 2022: A few years back, Pt. Birju Maharaj was invited to the festival. He was performing after 25 years in Lucknow. An evening everybody was waiting for and it rained. A complete washout.

“We requested the craftsmen to move the tables in the exhibition area, and that is where the performance finally happened. Rain and thunder, and Pt. Birju Maharaj dancing just a few feet away from the audiences... imagine,” remembers Madhavi Kuckreja, founder of the recently concluded Mahindra Sanatkada Festival in the city.

Starting 13 years back, the festival offers a unique them as a prism to look at the cultural landscape of the city. This time, it was food, ‘Lucknavi Bawarchi Khane’, a tribute to culinary traditions of the city, a theme that witnessed stalls from some of the bestknown eateries in the city besides a crafts bazaar, film screenings, lectures, theatre performance, ‘Qissa Goi’ and ‘Bait Baazi’.

“We started with a crafts bazaar in 2006, the festival in its present form took shape in 2010,” recalls Kuckreja.

For someone who had worked for years in the NGO sector in Chitrakoot, Lucknow was the natural choice to set up base, although her parents were settled in Delhi. “I would come here often for work. It is still one of the few small-big cities which still has a connect with the hinterland intact.”

Although known for its culture, there were not many platforms in which the diverse ethos of the city could be witnessed at one place in the 90s. Barring a few government festivals, the place did not offer much in terms of public performances.

“I had no other option but to go to people’s places to explore the different shades of this city -- food, crafts and heritage. Remember, that was not the era of social media.”

In the five-day festival which now has a footfall of around 30,000 people, it was important for the founder that it emerged rooted.

“A festival of culture makes little sense if people don’t own it if it does not touch their different levels. In fact, through Sanatkada, we have revived the age-old traditions of ‘bait-bazi’ and ‘Qissa Goi’.”

With diverse themes like ‘Pehnawa’, ‘Feminists’, ‘Bazaars’, ‘Filmi Duniya Mein Awadh’ among others in previous years, the founder says that work begins at least six months before the festival. “We thoroughly research the theme and do extensive documentation.

And that is just the start.”

Next on her agenda is an offline and online cultural history museum in Lucknow. “This is something that has been on my mind for quite some time now. A dynamic and interactive museum which is not monolithic, something that offers a glimpse of the culture of this region in an effective way,” she concludes.

family background, she was always clear that she wanted to start something of her own, and interest in ornaments drew her towards this field. Envisioning to design accessible and affordable jewellery for all women, Dishi became of the youngest self-made entrepreneurs of India.

DishiS Designer Jewellery is an online shop for all jewellery lovers who want to wear traditional or modern jewellery at an affordable

price.

Dr Nishi Singh is the Director HOD (Department of Infertility & IVF), Prime IVF After retiring as a Major from the Indian Army, Dr Nishi Singh began her journey as an entrepreneur. An acclaimed infertility specialist and recipient of the prestigious Presidential Award, Dr Nishi Singh heads the Department of Infertility & IVF at Prime IVF.

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INDIA NEWS

Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

Sahitya Kala Mandir, Kalinga Literary Festival to host annual International Literature Festival at Kathmandu New Delhi, March 7: At a meeting between the members of Lunkarandas Gangadevi Chaudhary Sahitya Kala Mandir, Kathmandu, and Kalinga Literary Festival (KLF), Bhubaneswar, it was decided that both the organisations will host an annual International Literature Festival at Kathmandu from 2022 onwards.

Sahitya Kala Mandir President, Basant Choudhary, Vice-President Harihar Sharma, Raman Ghimire, Rajendra Shalabh, Shweta Deepti, Ranjana Niraula and Rashmi Ranjan Parida, Managing Director and Founder of KLF, who went from India to Kathmandu had an elaborate meeting. KLF Coordinator Debashish Samantray was also present.

The members of both the organisations said the collaboration

between them will strengthen cultural dialogue, religious as well as literary perspectives between India and Nepal.

Lunkarandas Gangadevi Chaudhary Sahitya Kala Mandir in Nepal has been promoting and honouring eminent creators associated

with different regions of Nepal for 28 years, apart from various literary and cultural activities there.

Similarly, KLF is an institution known for honouring and promoting distinguished personalities from different regions of India.

March 7, 2022: The much-awaited 15th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival started today on its brand-new virtual platform.

Music led the way to the inaugural session of the literary extravaganza which was graced by the highly acclaimed artists namely B.C. Manjunath, Darshan Doshi, Nathulal Solanki, Pramath Kiran & Praveen D. Rao. The 2022 edition of the iconic Festival began with an inaugural address by Festival Co-directors Namita Gokhale and William Dalrymple and Festival Producer Sanjoy K. Roy. Welcoming the audience, Namita Gokhale, Festival Co-director, Jaipur Literature Festival, said, “The clouds of war are gathering around our planet; even as we struggle to recover from the pandemic, we are faced by chaos and disruption. Through all this, the inspirations of literature, music and poetry and the solace of our shared stories have continued to sustain us. This edition of the Festival is a celebration of heart, mind and intellect. It reflects the concerns of the world around us as well as the eternal questions and timeless answers that literature offers.”

In his welcome speech, Sanjoy K Roy emphasised the fact of understanding and making sense of our present. “We have to look at our history and be able to envision a better future for our planet and our children - what better way to express it than through literature and writing? We were able to pivot online and through our digital series JLF Brave New World, JLF Words are Bridges, and the 2021 Jaipur Literature Festival, which was entirely digital reaching over 27.5 million people across the world. Today you don’t need to be physically present in

Jaipur, you can be a part of this celebration, from the comfort of your home,” said Roy. “I hope the Jaipur Literature Festival will provide solace for many of us, particularly the booklovers who have missed the joy of live events with their favourite authors. It is a unique lineup; no other literary festival in the world has writers like these years after year and we are incredibly proud to present them to you at Clarks Hotel in Jaipur over the next few days,” said Festival Co-director William Dalrymple Concluding the inaugural address, Preeta Singh, President, Teamwork Arts, said “We are absolutely delighted to have put together the second 10-day virtual Festival for each one of you sitting in the comfort of your homes to sit there and enjoy authors from across the length and breadth of India, and more importantly, across the world.”

The ensuing session took audiences to a conversation between Nobel Literature Abdulrazak Gurnah and Alexander Pringle on people, communities and their lives. Pringle began the session by introducing Gurnah and quoted Nobel Academy while noting that his work examines the “uncompromising and compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents.” At the session, Gurnah described his relationship with language and how he grew up hearing various languages. “English was very much a learned language and not a spoken & learned language but kind of a studied language, in a way that people are taught French in a peculiar way. I think from around the age of 8 or 9, I just felt

so much at ease in English, and it didn’t seem strange or a peculiar talent,” Gurnah said.

At another exciting session, American writer and journalist Patrick Radeen Keefe discussed his book on the murky world of big pharma Empire of Pain: The Secret History of the Sackler Dynasty, with Managing Director of Teamwork Arts and Festival Producer Sanjoy K. Roy. During the session, Radeen Keefe stated, “Part of what I was trying to do in the book was to tell a story not just about the opioid crisis or the last few decades but really take a deeper look at the history of the big pharma industries in the United States and the ways in which that industry, I think, has compromised a lot of public institutions”.

At another session, award-winning British-Turkish novelist and activist Elif Shafak discussed her latest novel, The Island of Missing Trees - a delicate tribute to the agony of war, displacement and undying hope, with Nandini Nair.

Shafak talked about the duality of settling down versus living a more nomadic lifestyle, which has been very crucial for her because of the way she grew up, in different cities and with different cultures.

Irish novelist Colm Tóibín, in conversation with novelist and journalist Sandip Roy, talked about his book, The Magician, a tribute to Thomas Mann. Tóibín shared that Mann’s widow Katia Mann, wrote a memoir called Unwritten Memories, wherein she describes their visit to Venice and how her husband couldn’t stop staring at a Polish boy at the beach. Katia was amused but was tolerant of her husband’s homosexuality.

Jaipur Literature Festival 2022 returns in all its glory

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LITERATURE

Ukraine-Russia conflict, climate change to be part of JLF 2022

Jaipur, March 2: The 15th edition of Jaipur Literature Festival, to be held at Hotel Clarks Amber here from March 5 to 14, will focus on Ukraine-Russia conflict, climate change, new world order, along with art, travel and history, among others.

Addressing a press conference here, Sanjoy K. Roy, Managing Director at Teamwork Arts, said, “We are delighted to be back onground with the Jaipur Literature Festival weaving its magic again.

This year’s programme celebrates the diversity of literature and offers a wide range of topics, including the Ukraine-Russia conflict, climate change, new world order, art of fiction, poetic imagination, travel, science, history etc.”

The 15th edition will also feature 15 Indian languages and have specific sessions on Rajasthani heritage and culture, he added.

State Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh said, “I am delighted that the Jaipur Literature Festival is returning on-ground in the Pink City. I believe that the Festival will provide an exceptional platform for both Indian and global authors and thought leaders to engage and strengthen our literary heritage and culture.

“I look forward to warmly welcoming all the authors, speakers, artists, musicians and visitors to Jaipur and the state of Rajasthan for the Festival.”

Apurv Kumar, Managing Director, Clarks Group of Hotels, the venue for the offline event, said, “We are indeed privileged that the 15th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival is being held at Hotel Clarks Amer. It is quite wellknown that Clarks has always

been associated with this mega literary event.

“We used to host the evening music stages. This time both the literary sessions as well the Jaipur Music Stage in the evening will be held here. It is only appropriate to point out that this festival is one of the biggest events in the state and to my mind, it is a great tourism event. A large number of visitors from India as well as other countries come for this iconic festival.”

The Festival will showcase a variety of sessions exhibiting the dialects of Rajasthan-centric literature. At one session, poet and litterateur Chandra Prakash Deval will discuss languages, literature, poetry and music of the desert state with writer and poet Anukrti Upadhyay.

The rich oral, linguistic and literary traditions of Rajasthan find their voice in a variety of dialects, although Rajasthani still awaits official recognition in the schedule of Indian languages.

Rajasthan has long been a dynamic cultural centre and home to prestigious art forms.

At a session on the treasures at the Jaipur Court, author Vandana Bhandari and historian Giles Tillotson will be in conversation with historian Rima Hooja to discuss the magnificent treasures commissioned and collected over centuries by the Jaipur Court.

A panel discussion will be held with historians Yashaswini Chandra and Rima Hooja, discussing the powerful warrior king Maharana Pratap and his legendary horse Chetak. Together they will explore the legend of the resilient pair.

Prez receives first copy of compendium of Hazari Prasad Dwivedi’s writings New Delhi, March 9: President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday received the first copy of the compendium of writings and essays by Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi ‘Bharatiya Sanskriti Mein Manaveey Jijeevisha’ brought out by the Acharya Hazari Prasad Memorial Trust.

“An excellent philosopher seeking modernism in Indian tradition and traditionalism in modern

methods, Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi had explored newer avenues in linguistics, commentary, cultural discourse and essays.

He is credited with establishing Sant Kabeer as a great litterateur.

Dwivedi spent time with Gurudev Ravindranath Tagore and enriched India’s world of literary heritage by his contributions,” a communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said.

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INDIA NEWS

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

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WHAT’S ON

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INDIA NEWS

Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

TRAVEL

Discover New Zealand’s secret landscapes Hireavilla increases footprint February 22, 2022: New Zealand’s landscapes are breathtaking and are a true delight to the eyes.

One is certain to be astonished by beautiful landscapes at every bend. While the entire country is gorgeous, there are a few areas that stand out for being the most unique and untouched places in New Zealand.

Home to mountains like skyscrapers, waterfalls cascading like velvet and the quiet, stillness of a land before time, it’s a place to experience the true, raw beauty of nature. New Zealand is full of these marvels which is sure to awaken your inner explorer. We present to you 4 beautiful & untapped New Zealand landscapes that are sure to leave you in awe of the beauty of nature: Mt Cook/Mackenzie The Mackenzie region is tucked nicely halfway between Christchurch and Queenstown, but if feels like a world all of its own. It’s one of few International Dark Sky Reserves in the world, known for transforming into a crystal-clear blanket of stars by night. Gaze at the milky way from a hot pool at Tekapo Springs or if you want a closer look at the planets, the Dark Sky Reserve offers tours at Mt John Observatory, New Zealand’s premier astronomical research centre. By day, the region offers sights just as spectacular with remarkable glaciers set amongst towering mountains.

Southern Coastline (Catlins, Waitaki, Dunedin) Throwback to a time when nature felt raw, untouched and unchartered; the Southern end of the country wraps around a moody coastline and lends itself to panoramic views, endlessly stretched horizons and other worldly landscapes. Nugget Point offers striking ocean views dotted by rocky islets named by Captain Cook for looking like pieces of gold, and a pathway leading to the towering lighthouse perched on the edge of the cliff. With nature comes wildlife and this region is bursting with cute and furry animals. Whether it’s Oamaru’s Little Blue Penguins adorably running in from shore to find shelter or Dunedin’s Fur Seals and Yellow Eyed Penguins parading on the beach, there’s plenty to discover.

Auckland The largest city in the country is more commonly known for its urban centre, but just a short drive beyond the high-end stores and bustling city streets is a tale of nature from two diverse coasts.

The east coast lends itself to calm, turquoise waters and white sand beaches like Pakiri, perfect for horse riding. While the west attracts scenes of raw, moody nature with black sand beaches at Piha and Karekare, towering sand dunes at Bethell’s beach and dense forests filled with immersive walking tracks in the Hunua Ranges. Both attract wildlife, off the east coast islands in the Hauraki Gulf like Motuihe, Rotoroa and Rangitoto are sanctuaries for native birds, meaning you can

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with launch in Dubai

spot Kiwi, Takahe and Pāteke in their protected environments.

Hamilton Waikato Famous for its rolling, green hills and for its beautiful and entrancing entrance to the world of Hobbits, the mighty Waikato is also an opening to an undiscovered world of natural marvels. The blinking stars of glow worms light up the caves as one wander through the natural magic of Waitomo. Above

ground, Lake Arapuni is a lush, vividly green forest to immerse yourself in whether by foot or bike on the Waikato River Cycle Trail or head into the Hamilton Gardens. From an Indian Garden to Japanese to Modernist to a replica of Katherine Mansfield’s garden, the entire grounds are an immersion into another landscape.

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March 4, 2022: Taking on the world one expansion at a time is luxury rental brand and property management agency Hireavilla.

The homestay brand handpicks some of the most exclusive villas and curates interiors and services that leave guests returning to their specially designed abodes for vacationing, staycationing, or even business conferencing. Till now, they have vowed over 50,000 vacationers and crafted over 100 luxurious retreats.

The hospitality entrepreneurs have established a strong presence across various metropolitan hotspots in India – including Mumbai, Pune, Goa, and Kerala, among other national treasures.

Internationally, their reach extends to the stunning destinations of Bali, Indonesia and Srilanka.

Now, they have spread their wings even further and recently stepped into Dubai’s sandy terrains by launching an all-new product cum service.

Saagar Panchal, CEO and Founder of Hireavilla said, “The product called ‘Home 360’ will serve as an umbrella term for various services Hireavilla will offer to its target clientele. That said, the main target market for Home 360 are Dubai home or business owners owing a fleet of villas or apartments but not having the bandwidth, time, or assistance to monetize their resources. It is for those property owners whose spaces are sitting idle but know they want to tap into their property’s potential. Because Dubai is a country with an oversupply of property and high ownership and rent costs, a lot of buildings, office spaces, and villas lie around empty. The chronic oversupply of properties has already lowered the property prices in the last five years. But as Dubai is a multicultural country, it is home to almost 90% of ex-pats. There is a great opportunity here to make

use of the properties and make it rent-worthy for them and other tourists.”

All property owners need is the right guidance and end-to-end portfolio management. Under Home 360’s initiative, Hireavilla will take complete responsibility for transforming these properties, even if it is from scratch.

Right from designing the interiors to scouring reliable room service and prompt help personnel – the brand will take care of it all. All room services like in-room dining, timely cleaning, regular maintenance, provision of toiletries and disposables, and seamless Wi-Fi connectivity, among others will be looked into at ground level. Once a property is taken care of, property owners and guests alike will get to see fully furnished, rental ready, and ready-to-stay rooms, villas, and service apartments.

Hireavilla is aiming to cater to the renter’s and property owner’s demands for the short-term, mid-term, and long-term and all-year-round with Home 360.

It will personally ensure that the properties are given on rent and that owners receive returns between 8% to 10% each year. It will also create customized content for each villa or apartment, taking care of social media, influential posting, web design, marketing, and other aspects. The brand’s plan to launch an app alongside the product – also called Home 360 is also a revolutionary reveal.

The app aims to change the face of property management and make every little detail available and task doable at the touch of a button. The app will be like a digital diary and account for homeowners where they can review all types of data and carry transactions regarding their home transparently without falling into the trap of hidden or complicated terms and conditions.

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INDIA NEWS

Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

BEAUTY

Let’s embrace the skin we are in Tips for preventing

March 7, 2022: This Women’s Day, let’s embrace the skin we are in. Our skin protects us from the outside world, it is the body’s largest organ; and so it is important that we maintain good skin health to feel comfortable in our own skin. Many women experience conditions like dryness, flakiness, dark spots, stretch marks and some even have prominent scars from past experiences. This leads to uneasiness and feeling self-conscious, especially when signs appear on commonly visible areas like the face, neck and arms.

But we all have our flaws, and our scars have their own stories to tell; behind each mark, there is a journey that we might have mapped. For example, scraping your knees during your first-ever marathon run, the burns from learning how to cook as a teenager, marks from falling off the motorbike during your college trip to Goa, stretch marks from losing body fat after consistent workouts, abusive circumstances that you may have courageously walked out of, and so much more.

While some scars go away, some only heal with time.

As women, we are often guilty of trying to hide our flaws, our body size and what we believe is imperfect in our own eyes. Often scars can cause physical discomfort, itchiness and tenderness, but they also have distressing psychological effects that can affect our self-esteem and confidence.

Living in an image-conscious society, that is largely focused on appearances, it is natural for women to try to conceal anything that doesn’t seem acceptable. This might look like applying make-up on affected areas, wearing poloneck or full-sleeved clothing, signing up for expensive treatments, and what-not.

This places emphasis on learning to love your own truths and making positive choices for skin health. For the latter, we can choose no-fuss skincare regimens that help us address

common blemishes, acne scars, burns, stretch marks, age spots, discolouration, uneven skin tone, and more. There are a plethora of skincare products available in the market that claim to treat different types of concerns, but decoding this information can be overwhelming. Start by understanding key ingredients that are a must for efficacious skincare.

Vitamin A - Retinol is a naturally occurring form of vitamin A. To prevent oxidation, retinol goes through an esterification process with palmitic acid. The resulting ester is commonly referred to as vitamin A palmitate, which is diluted for appropriate skin absorption. It demonstrates skin renewing properties and increases the thickness of the epidermis, particularly in mature skin types, and promotes the formation of new collagen. Vitamin A palmitate improves the appearance of UV-damaged skin, by helping to increase elasticity and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Vitamin E - Vitamin E has been scientifically proven to have a number of benefits for the skin, primarily being an antioxidant.

Antioxidants are essential in helping to reduce free radicals, which attack healthy cells and cause skin damage and premature ageing. Vitamin E also increases the moisture content of the epidermis, making it feel softer and smoother. It mitigates against some of the effects of sunburn i.e. reduces the number of damaged cells found after the skin has been exposed to UV radiation. It has also been shown to have positive effects on the wound healing process.

Chamomile - Chamomile oil is an anti-inflammatory, providing soothing and calming benefits to the skin. It is effective when the skin is stressed by both internal and external physiological conditions.

Lavender - Lavender oil has multiple benefits for the skin. It is known to have skin-conditioning

properties, such as improved firmness, smoothness and complexion. It provides calming and soothing benefits coupled with a mild astringency, which cleans the skin by constricting the pores, resulting in a tingling sensation.

Rosemary - Rosemary oil is used as a skin-conditioning agent, because of its soothing properties and mild antiseptic capability.

Calendula - Calendula oil has cell regenerative effects and is suitable for the treatment of sensitive, damaged or sunburnt skin. Calendula extract has also been used to combat minor skin infections, rashes and superficial irritation.

When it comes to vitamins, we can separately ingest or apply extracts from their capsules externally. Similarly, each of the mentioned plant-based oils can be applied externally on wounds and marks. Many homegrown labels today source and distribute such natural oils for specific use cases. However, it remains a challenge to use multiple products to treat different skin concerns. Being pressed for time and already demotivated to take active steps for healing marks, which may need months to treat; following a multi-step skin, regimen seems an unachievable feat.

Some formulations may offer two or more of these ingredients, which are highly recommended.

For example, Bio-Oil Skincare Oil is one of the few products that contain all of the mentioned ingredients and being an oil, it is easily absorbed into the skin. It reduces the appearance of marks by nourishing and hydrating damaged skin. It is completely safe to use on both face and body for multiple skin needs, marks and scars. Thus reducing the number of products on our beauty shelves and making it possible to carry it along, when we are on the move.

With the advancement of sciencebased skincare, today we also have products like Bio-Oil that are vegan, toxin-free and animal cruelty-free. Most product labels highlight these attributes, allowing us to make positive choices for skin health. This Women’s Day commits to flaunting your flaws and embracing your scars with #OneSkinCare by choosing minimal skincare products with lasting benefits. When you give your skin the love it deserves, you are bound to feel comfortable in your own skin.

Uplift your personality with a twirl and a curl February 28, 2022: From shaggy to bob cut hairstyles, there’s something for everyone. With the snap of a finger, hair extensions can transform your appearance completely. But have you ever considered where these extensions originate?

Because of the increased demand for natural hair extensions, these

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extensions are selling at a high price in the market. But are the traders well-treated and wellcompensated?

Human hair extensions are made from real human hair donated by a donor sourced specially from India’s temples. Jitendra Sharma, Founder of Hair Originals speaks to IANSlife.

How and where do you get your hair extensions?

Jitendra: Our products are 100% made in India. We have established our manufacturing division in Gurgaon, Haryana. We primarily collect and source natural hair from the temples of South India where people donate hair as a devotional ritual. We process the

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premature hair graying March 7, 2022: When you are youthful from within, it shows from the outside as well, through your skin, body and hair. Hair that is healthy and shiny is a manifestation of good overall health as well as youthfulness. However, some of us often tend to battle premature graying. We are told it’s hormonal and all attempts to prevent it would be futile? Is it really so? The answer is definitely not. There are a lot many ways with which we can treat or nourish our strands and scalp so that premature graying is prevented.

Before we get into the ways to prevent such conditions, it is very important to understand the causes behind the same. When strands suffer premature graying, they often appear to lose growth speed, become brittle, lose their natural colour and get drier.

When we talk about premature graying we are essentially referring to the ageing of capillaries, which might occur anytime in the anagen or capillary growth phase, thereby shortening the period of the respective phase. With growing age, collagen-producing fibroblasts suffer a significant decrease. The double whammy at this point is the changes in the soft tissues like muscle, skin or fascia, referred to as trophic changes, which cause damage to the hair follicle cells. In a process called apoptosis, the cells that produce melanin die, causing graying prior to expected age.

Our hairs thrive on nutrients and moisture obtained from within the body, and scalp in particular, but they turn gray, there is no mechanism to prevent its loss owing to the open cuticles. hair in our factory to make it into different products while retaining the quality. The supply of original and unprocessed human hair from India has marked its identity in the hair extensions and wig industry. These human hair are in high demand because of their shinier, healthier and high quality. They also sustain multiple washes. India is one of the major sources of human hair used in the hair extensions and wigs industry. It contributes to about 33 percent of the total global hair market. Human hair has been one of our leading export items since independence.

What steps do you take to improve the lives of hair traders?

Jitendra: The intermediaries involved in the collection of mass hair for the hair extensions and wig industry belong to different social and economic spheres.

There are many social and financially backward households that are involved in hair trading. By getting involved in this trade, they are now earning their livelihoods. It is quickly attracting unemployed people, mainly from remote areas. We are connected with women who belong mainly

Therefore, it becomes imperative that added nutrients are ensured for the hair and the scalp. It is advisable that you maintain a healthy lifestyle and consume foods and vegetables rich in anti-oxidants. Also required is to protect the strands and scalp from excessive exposure to strong sunlight. If it is unavoidable, do so with protection in place. If these two are adhered to, the issue can be tackled to a great extent.

The other most important thing to do to avoid premature graying is to stop being aggressive on the hair. The need of the hour is to ensure gentle cleansing and hydration. When going for hair care products for the purpose, do remember to strictly avoid aggressive ingredients like sodium chloride, sulfates etc. Investing in ones with anti-oxidant action would further ease the task to prevent the early greying of strands.

Instead, herbs and extracts of plants or fruits must be banked on while checking the ingredient list of products. Amla, Malva and guarana like ingredients, which are rich in vitamin C, and babassu oil - rich in fatty acid essence aiding lipid replacement - ensure the required nutrition and restore natural elasticity, making the strands soft, strong and dry, without the fears of premature ageing.

from small cities. With their earnings, these women are capable of raising their livelihoods and supporting their families economically. They have gained financial independence while working with us. Also, we ensure fair market policy wherein we impart training regarding the segregation process of hair.

India is regarded as the most ethical hair source. Why? Jitendra: Globally, commercial hair is procured from countries like China, Peru, Russia, and Ukraine. India is among the largest hair exporters in the world.

Indian human hair is one of the most attractive materials in the global hair extensions and wig industry. This is because of its smooth appearance and ability to endure styling without any damage. In India, men and women of all ages offer their hair to the god as a part of a religious ceremony known as ‘Tonsure’. There is no applied force or pressure for them to do so. While in other countries, the commercial hair trade delves into the practice of forceful hair procurement, hair theft, and even dabbles in the lines of consent vs exploitation.

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week announce designers and partners for the upcoming edition

March 10, 2022: After two years of digital and phygital showcases due to the pandemic, the powerhouses of fashion and beauty in India - Lakmé Fashion Week (jointly organized by Lakmé & RISE Worldwide) and the Fashion Design Council of India (FDCI) together will be hosting a fully on-ground, season-fluid edition in New Delhi, from 23rd-27th March 2022.

Sumati Mattu, Head of Innovations at Lakmé said, “In line with the Lakmé Absolute Explore Eye Colours Range, a trend statement that invites everyone to go beyond the ordinary and the expected, we are looking to explore newer avenues this time around with this physical edition of FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week. We are excited with all that’s new including the location, integrations of technology, partnerships, and an army of new talent. The goal for Lakmé has always been to merge the latest innovations in beauty and fashion and provide the customer with an unforgettable experience.

This is what this seasonless fluid edition of FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week will bring to the table.”

“Energies are at an all-time high as we curate a diverse range of pathbreaking showcases and initiatives. This edition is extremely special as we are making a full physical come back after two years of adapting to the digital environment. Our audiences can expect the best of designers and talent at this edition of FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week with an extremely intense and powerpacked schedule.” said Sunil Sethi, Chairman FDCI. The line-up begins with the Opening Show jointly presented by the FDCI and Lakmé Fashion Week on the 22nd of March and culminates with the Lakmé Absolute Grand Finale on the 27th.

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Celebrated designers from across the country form part of the schedule with marquee showcases by Pankaj & Nidhi, Samant Chauhan, Ranna Gill, Vaishali S, Reynu Taandon, Pawan Sachdeva, Siddartha Tytler and Outhouse.

The Manish Malhotra brand will be launching a new category; DIFFUSE, an ease to couture.

Lakmé Lumi Cream presents Alpana Neeraj #LitWithLumi.

FDCI to showcase Ashish N Soni and present a Khadi curation comprising French-Malian designer, Mossi Traoré and leading Indian designers Abhishek Gupta Benares, Anavila, Anju Modi, Charu Parashar and Rina Dhaka.

Several longstanding partners will return to the platform to collaborate with leading designers including NEXA x Tarun Tahiliani, Bata x Suneet Varma, Lakmé Salon x Varun Bahl, TENCEL™ LUXE x JJ Valaya, boAt x HUEMN, Natural Diamond Council x Rimzim Dadu.

New brands realme and John Jacobs will be partnering with ace designers Shantnu and Nikhil as well as Shivan & Narresh respectively. Adidas Originals will partner with Khanijo and Antar Agni for their showcase Key showcases on Sustainable Fashion Day include R|Elan™ x Satya Paul by Rajesh Pratap Singh; Bemberg™ x Payal Pratap; FDCI KHADI Show; RISE Worldwide X Fashion For Good: Innovation for Circularity – Nitin Bal Chauhan, Divyam Mehta and Ka-Sha and the return of the coveted Circular Design Challenge – an initiative of R|Elan™ in partnership with FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week and UN in India & United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

Ajio Luxe continues as the preferred partner for showcasing and sales of all the exemplary collections showcased on the ramp.

In continuation with the collaboration with NBA (National Basketball Association), the winning designer Ananya Modi Jain, will be showcasing her NBA 75 collection. aLL – The Plus Size Store will return to the platform to host a plus size show and there will also be showcase by 6degree Prestigious talent discovery programs of the platform such as INIFD GenNext, NEXA presents The Spotlight, INIFD Launchpad, FDCI x Pearl Academy FirstCut will introduce new and emerging talent ReshaWeaves, by ReshaMandi, will be debuting at the Showroom to presentexclusive and sustainable natural fibre products.

Jaspreet Chandok, Head RISE Fashion and Lifestyle said, “As we move back towards a fully on-ground format we are looking forward to bringing a slew of fantastic collaborations with leading designer labels and brands at FDCI X Lakmé Fashion Week.

While we continue with some of our long-standing partners, we also welcome new ones. The edition will bring exciting new ideas and innovations and feature a strong curation of designers and talent which we hope is worthy of the newly unified fashion week of the country.”

The platform will offer two showcase areas for designers and will continue to champion sustainability through pathbreaking initiatives while further spreading messages of inclusivity and diversity. The Showroom will also be back in an on-ground format for buyers in addition to enhanced features in the virtual initiative. Shows will continue to be live-streamed across key OTT platforms to reach a far and wide audience.

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FASHION

JJ Valaya Launches His All New Bridge-to-luxury Brand ‘JJV’ March 8, 2022: Couturier JJ Valaya has been an integral part of people’s weddings and celebrations for over three decades. This year, as the luxury occasion wear brand celebrates its 30th year in fashion, it takes a step further by launching its all-new bridge-toluxury brand, JJV. The new brand debuts with an eco-conscious collection made from TENCEL™ LUXE filament yarn.

Derived from renewable wood sources in a closed-loop lyocell process, TENCEL™ LUXE filament yarn is set to define the landscape of luxury fashion with its silky smoothness, liquid-like drape, colour vibrancy and yarn strength.

Speaking on the partnership, Vineet Singhal, VP – Global, BU Noble Fibers, said “JJV symbolizes the values TENCEL™ LUXE stands for which is conscious luxury, durability, ability to stand the test of time along with a rich regal feel, very similar to silk.

Indeed, TENCEL™ LUXE is a sustainable, eco-friendly, and vegan alternative to silk. We are glad to collaborate with JJV for this landmark collection in their journey.”

JJV is an occasion wear brand that revolves around the spirit of travel. As a brand, its ethos stands inspired by the unique life & travels of Maharaja Jagatjit Singh of Kapurthala, also the land of JJ Valaya’s forefathers. JJV, therefore, sifts through never-seenbefore photographs and extracts from his personal diaries and travelogues, to interpret the story of a ruler who wanted to bring the world to his people - and indeed, takes his people to the world.

JJ Valaya said, “On its launch, JJV, our all-new bridge-to-luxury

range of fashion for Women & Men is an environment-friendly initiative using the finest fabrics from TENCEL™ LUXE in support of Lenzing Austria’s belief in conscious luxury. Designed for the luxury traveller, this debut collection is engineered with a sensitivity towards sustainability.

TENCEL™ LUXE is transforming the future of premium fashion, and we are delighted to integrate this beautiful material into our belief in sustainable luxury.”

He further added, “As a true royal nomad at heart, I have always felt that whilst we all prefer to travel light, there are so many instances during these journeys where we need to dress up to step out, be it for impromptu soirees, fine dining experiences or the opera. JJV acknowledges and embraces this need, where one can still maintain a unique sense of personal style sans the weight of heavy embroideries. It retains the distinct signature of the JJ Valaya ethos yet is a modern label for the modern traveller who likes to be prepared for celebrations, wherever he/she may go.”

Sidharth Malhotra and Ananya Pandey team up for new campaign

March 10, 2022: With Sidharth Malhotra and Ananya Panday as their style ambassadors for the season, Scott Eyewear’s latest range celebrates its 20th anniversary with a refreshing approach to accessorising.

The Spring-Summer collection features a range of trend-forward sunglasses and optical frames.

Splashes of various hues, a goodlooking mixture of metallics and mattes, pastels and neutrals across a range of sunglasses and optical frames is what you can look forward to. Along with its diverse features, the collection embraces creativity, passion and

innovation in each element with a range that is appealing to the young generation of the day.

Sidharth Malhotra and Ananya Panday are the New Faces Of Scott Eyewear The collection also sees a revival of many popular retro shapes that are sure to make their way into fashionista closets. With RetroSquares, Modified-Aviators and Butterfly, the collection is about to redefine eyewear fashion. Sleek metallic frames, glamorous metallic embellishments and various plays of transparency & colours are the perfect additions to the Spring-Summer look.

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Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

ENTERTAINMENT

Farah Khan gushes over Vidyut Jammwal: Akshay Kumar made me dream of becoming a hero ‘very sporty and agile’ SRK Mumbai, March 11: Actor and martial artist Vidyut Jammwal, who is hosting the non-fiction action reality show ‘India’s Ultimate Warrior’, says the series would have been incomplete without the presence of Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar.

Akshay has appeared in a special episode of the show and seeing the impressive performance of the participants he announced to give Rs 10 Lakhs to the winner of ‘India’s Ultimate Warrior’.

Talking about the experience of the special episode, Vidyut in a conversation with IANS said: “Like many youngsters, I was also a huge fan of Akshay Kumar who is known as one of the best action superstars of our country till date.

“I was training in martial art and as we all know he also started his career as a stunt man and a trained martial artist, he made me dream of becoming a hero in the film! I think he is one of those actors who has taken the action in our cinema to the next level.”

“Nowadays, in cinema martial artists have found a new place of respect because of Akshay sir. My show would have been incomplete without his presence,” Vidyut

further added.

‘India’s Ultimate Warrior’ is a reality show, where Vidyut along with four mentors from different combat forms and experiences train participants and choose the best warrior of our country based on their physical and mental attributes like focus, control, determination, balance, discipline, amongst others.

“I think the most special element of our show is how we are choosing the warrior. As mentors for us, it was our responsibility to bring out the best of their potential.”

He added: “It was not a competition where participants were

fighting against each other. With each passing day, they were becoming the best version of themselves. So, when the show ends, they can feel how mentally and physically they have changed.”

“All of them are winners in a way that they are a new version of themselves. That is why our reality show is real by all means and very unique too,” Vidyut signed off.

‘India’s Ultimate Warrior’ will have its television premiere on the Discovery channel on March 14. The special episode featuring Akshay will air on the OTT platform discoversy+ on March 11 and on the channel on March 16.

Mumbai, March 10: Ace film director, producer and choreographer Farah Khan, who will be seen hosting ‘The Khatra Khatra Show’, is all praise for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s agility.

On the show, Farah will make the guest participants involved in ribtickling pranks, dares, and games.

Farah thinks that superstar Shah Rukh Khan will nail all the challenges.

She said: “Shahrukh is very sporty and agile.”

She added: “He will undoubtedly ace all the Khatra Khatra games but apart from Shah Rukh Khan, if I had to choose it would be Akshay Kumar and Prabhudeva. They

would probably do the stunts.”

‘The Khatra Khatra Show’ is starting from March 13 at 7:00 pm on Voot.

‘Aashiqui Aa Gayi’ shot in minus 2 degrees Celsius

Sunny praises for ‘Anamika’ co-star Sonnalli Seygall: She has done an amazing job

Hyderabad, March 11: An interesting trivia about ‘Aashiqui Aa Gayi’ from ‘Radhe Shyam’ reveals that the song was shot in freezing temperatures, while Pooja Hegde, along with her co-star Prabhas, had to endure the extreme weather conditions.

The love saga hit the screens on Friday, grabbing everyone’s attention. One of the most-loved songs from ‘Radhe Shyam’ is being talked about, for its picturesque locales in Italy, as well as the grandeur.

It is reported that Prbahas and Pooja Hegde had to endure a freezing temperature minus 2 degrees Celsius in the rains for Mumbai, March 11: Actress Sunny Leone has heaped praises on her ‘Anamika’ co-star Sonnalli Seygall and said that she has really done such an amazing job in it.

Sunny said: “It was great. We were recently speaking and congratulating each other because people are talking about the series now with so much love and appreciation. I watched the series recently and realized that Sonnalli’s so

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pretty. She has really done such an amazing job in it.

“Even on set, we had amazing conversations about life and what’s interesting to us,” Sunny shares about her equation with the ‘Pyaar Ka Punchnama’ actress.

The actress goes on to inform that it was an amazing experience for both her and Sonnalli to shoot for the series as they both got to explore the adventurous action

side of theirs.

“There are action scenes between me and Sonnalli, and not just one, but multiple ones. There’s a cat and mouse chase happening between us and some amazing action taking place throughout the series,” Sunny reveals.

The show ‘Anamika’, also featuring - Samir Soni, Rahul Dev, Shehzad Shaikh, Ayaz Khan - released on MX Player on March 10.

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the picturisation of the song. The song was shot at a hill station in Italy and had extreme weather conditions at the time of its shoot.

The superhit song brought forth a new side of the versatile actress, Pooja Hegde. Pooja’s role as Prerana has conjured the audience, as she has been receiving good reviews for her role opposite Prabhas.

Apart from ‘Radhe Shyam’, Pooja is gearing up for her upcoming movies, including Salman Khan’s ‘Bhaijaan’, ‘Cirkus’ opposite Ranveer Singh, ‘Acharya’ with Ram Charan, and ‘SSMB28’ opposite Mahesh Babu.

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INDIA NEWS

Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

ENTERTAINMENT

Priya Ahuja Rajda looks at depiction of Why Prabhas thanked women and how it’s changed with time Big B, Prithviraj, Shiva Rajkumar, SS Rajamouli Mumbai, March 8: Actress Priya Ahuja Rajda who’s known for her stint as Rita reporter in ‘Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah’, says that she is elated to see a positive change in society towards women.

She says: “Of course, I am very happy about it! In fact, I come from a very conservative family and my cousins and my relatives always pinpointed me being way too modern. But when I look at today’s generation who are in their 20s, I feel so beautiful that the parents are taking care of their choices and are giving them the liberty to do whatever they want. Girls nowadays can roam till late evenings. So, I am very happy about the changes in the society.”

Priya also spoke about how the depiction of women on screen has undergone a radical change and women are no longer shown as damsels in distress on screen.

She adds: “Yes, I would say ‘Der Aaye Durust Aaye’. The typical portrayal of women has changed so much even the Saas Bahu sagas have changed so much. Nowadays, they show working women and their current issues. So it’s very great to see all these changes on the small screen and other mediums as well.”

Lastly, she concludes by addressing about the suppression women go through in some rural parts of India and how important it is for us to work from the grassroot lev-

Mumbai, March 10: With his film ‘Radhe Shyam’ is all set to hit the screens, Prabhas has thanked Amitabh Bachchan, Prithviraj Sukumaran, Shiva Rajkumar and S.S. Rajamouli for lending their “glorious” voices to the movie.

Amitabh, Prithviraj, Rajkumar and Rajamouli have voiced the film in different languages.

Taking to Instagram, Prabhas wrote: “We are honoured to have Amitabh Bachchan sir, Shiva Rajkumar sir, Prithviraj Sukumaran sir, S.S. Rajamouli sir lending their glorious voice to our film #RadheShyam. Expressing my gratitude for making this film even more special for us as well as the audience. Thank you so

el to bring in a change, she says: “This will take time. Our thought process has been this way. I have seen many people who receive a lot of body shaming from their partners and are made fun of on the basis of their education.”

“You are actually making your partner feel a little less about

themselves which is not right.

Women need to be taught how to treat the women around them. We cannot change the adults as that has been their mindset for years.

But now women need to inculcate these values in their sons to stay humble and their daughters to stay strong,” she concludes.

much.”

Written and directed by Radha Krishna Kumar, ‘Radhe Shyam’ is a period romantic drama, which revolves around the story of Vikramaditya, a palmist who is conflicted between destiny and his love for Prerana, played by Pooja Hegde.

Is it true that Rajamouli reserves the best stories for NTR?

Prabhas on ‘Radhe Shyam’: ‘Didn’t want to do only action’ New Delhi, March 11: Superstar Prabhas, who has worked in blockbuster hits with a dollop of high-octane action, says he wanted to move away from his action image and do something different and that’s how his latest release ‘Radhe Shyam’, a lovestory, happened to him.

The ‘Baahubali’ star says ‘Radhe Shyam’ also has a sprinkle of thriller and is India’s first film with retro visuals, dresses and colour mix.

In a candid conversation with IANS, during the promotion of the film in the Capital, Prabhas revealed as to what enticed him to take up ‘Radhe Shyam’, which also stars Pooja Hegde.

“I wanted to do something different not like action, action and action... I wanted to do something different so that I could do some experiment more in the future.

So, we thought we’d do a love story or something different. I heard 3-4 scripts and planned to do this,” said Prabhas, who is the first south Indian star to receive a wax sculpture at Madame Tussaud’s wax museum.

The 42-year-old actor hopes that the film lives up to the expectations.

“The promos and making videos got good response and finally af-

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ter three different dates finally it’s getting released so hope it works,” he said.

Written and directed by Radha Krishna Kumar, ‘Radhe Shyam’ is a period romantic drama, which revolves around the story of Vikramaditya, a palmist who is conflicted between destiny and his love for Prerana, played by Pooja.

Does Prabhas in personal life believe in palmistry and astrology?

“I never followed anything like that. We have heard many stories... In my family also we had heard many stories... This palmist told that this is going to happen and all my uncle said ‘he’s going to be big when I was born’ but I never followed any palmistry or astrology...”

“We have a rich culture in astrology in India but I never followed,” said the pan-India star, who was ranked second in Times’ Most Desirable Men for the year 2017 and twelfth in 2018.

Prabhas has previously done two romantic films such as ‘Darling’ and ‘Mr. Perfect’.

Asked about what attracts him towards the concept of romance, he said: “So, I did two romantic love stories in Telugu which I had good action image then also I did that and it worked very well... It’s

called ‘Darling’ and ‘Mr. Perfect’.”

“So, after ‘Baahubali’ and ‘Saaho’...

We thought better go with a love story with a small budget and I couldn’t get a proper script then ‘Saaho’ happened... for ‘Radhe Shyam’ we took a lot of care and drama...”

Added the actor: “We can say it’s a love thriller also in a way and with granduer aand first time in Indian-cinema -- retro. We, never saw Indian cinema with retro visuals or dresses or the colour mix.”

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Hyderabad, March 11: SS Rajamouli, the most-hyped director of the country right now, is also known for his bromance with ‘RRR’ actor Jr. NTR. Even other stars who have worked with Rajamouli think the filmmaker reserves the best stories for NTR. Rajamouli, who took an opportunity to interact with pan-India actor Prabhas, for his movie ‘Radhe Shyam’, had an interesting talk regarding the movie earlier.

During the leisure talks about ‘Radhe Shyam’, Prabhas recalls a previous conversation with Rajamouli. He expressed that he always wondered when Rajamouli would make a movie with himself, as he always spoke about storylines he had fixated for Jr. NTR. “When I met Rajamouli during ‘Yamadonga’ movie, he always mentioned his upcoming projects

with NTR. That made me wonder when I would get an opportunity to work with him”, Prabhas said.

Rajamouli, who has always mentioned that he liked NTR more than any other actors, has always maintained the same friendship with the ‘Aravainda Sametha Veera Raghava’ hero.

The fact that SS Rajamouli and NTR started off their individual careers with their movie ‘Student No. 1’, they have bonded well in years. Folks from the industry also talk about how Rajamouli tries to reserve some good storylines for NTR. Rajamouli’s next- ‘RRR’, which is touted to be a visual wonder, has Jr. NTR essay the role of the ‘Gond Veer’- Komaram Bheem, who was a tribal leader and a freedom fighter.

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INDIA NEWS

Mar 16-31, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 17

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