India News - Feb 16-28, 2021, Vol 1 Issue 16

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India vaccinates 2.2L beneficiaries in a day, total crosses 6 mn

India’s online education surpassed many countries: Javadekar New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): India’s online education surpassed many countries amid the Covid-19 crisis and covered all students across the country, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a reply to a query during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

In his response to the question whether the government has set any guidelines and standard for online education in the country and what kind of mechanism has been devised to ensure that

New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS): More than 2 lakh beneficiaries, including healthcare and frontline workers, received Covid vaccine shots on Monday, pushing the tally of vaccinated population above the 6 million-mark, the

Union Health Ministry said.

online education abides by the guidelines and standards set by the government, he said our online education system covered students right from class 5 to higher education, after physical activities were barred in schools and colleges due to the Covid imposed lockdown.

Underprivileged students were also covered” in the online education system for which the government ran 34 educational channels -- 22 for higher

New York, Feb 9 (IANS): US President Joe Biden and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi have committed themselves to work closely on a range of issues from fighting terrorism and upholding territorial integrity to defeating the Covid-19 pandemic and rebuilding the global economy, according to the White House.

what the United States and India will achieve together for their people and for their nations,” the White House said.

including support for freedom

Modi tweeted, “President @ JoeBiden and I are committed to a rules-based international order.

We look forward to consolidating our strategic partnership to further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.”

and Australia), it added.

In another tweet, Modi said, “We discussed regional issues and our shared priorities. We also agreed to further our co-operation against climate change.”

cited updated inputs received Visas I Business Migration Temporary Graduate of navigation, territorial from the local administration, integrity, and a stronger and said that 202 people are still Family stream Visas I Partner Visa Specialist I Sponsored Visas regional architecture through missing. the Quad” (the regional group of The call to Modi on Monday was In an official release, the democracies, India, the US, Japan among theI first

by Biden after he Job Ready I Skill Assessments AAT representation

The ITBP, which is engaged in rescue and relief operations, also

Uttarakhand government said that 18 bodies have been recovered so far while 202 people are still missing.

Continued on Page 3

Continued on Page 3

the White House statement said that they pledged to “stand together against the scourge of global terrorism.”

Glacier burst: 18 bodies recovered, “The leaders agreed to continuing close cooperation to promote 202 missing, says state govt Student Visas I Skilled Visas I Tourist Visas a free and open Indo-Pacific, Chamoli, Feb 8 (IANS): At least 202 people are missing while 18 bodies have been recovered so far after a flash flood inundated a power project at Raini village in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, the state government said on Monday.

education and 12 for school education, he added.

Biden, Modi commit to working closely on terrorism, Covid, Indo-Pacific

The data shared by the ministry showed that 2,23,298 beneficiaries were vaccinated till 6 pm on Monday through 8,257 sessions held across the country.

Continued on Page 3

Prakash Javadekar

assumed office to the leader of a country outside the tight network of neighbours and treaty allies.

“The leaders agreed to stay in close touch on a range of global challenges and look forward to

During their phone conversation,

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

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News from India

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World News

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Make in India

EDITORIAL BOARD Professor Prasad Yarlagadda, Queensland University of Technology Ms Audrey Courty, Griffith University Dr Uttam Kumar Sinha, Senior Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, India Mr Shaun Star, Director, Centre for Australia India Studies, Jindal Global University, India INDIA NEWS TV Mr Karthik Pratap Singh, News Director Mr. Agastya Yeturi, Cinematographer Mr Nishit Chandan, Special Correspondent Ms. Ananya Dhyani, Consulting News Editor

Time to balance certainty to international students and national interest

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WORLD THIS WEEK

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

India vaccinates 2.2L beneficiaries in a day, total crosses 6 mn

Biden, Modi commit to working closely on terrorism, Covid, Indo-Pacific

Continued from Page 1 With the latest addition, the cumulative number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against Covid-19 has now reached 60,35,660 through 1,24,744 sessions held so far. Of these 54,12,270 are healthcare workers and the remaining 6,23,390 are frontline workers.

Meanwhile, the figure of deaths of vaccine beneficiaries has reached 23 after one person was reported dead in the last 24 hours. “Total 23 deaths have been recorded till date. In the last 24 hours, one death has been reported -- a 29-year-old female, a resident of Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh,” the ministry informed.

“These comprise 0.0004 per cent of the total vaccinations. Of the 23, nine persons died in hospitals while 14 deaths were recorded

outside the hospitals,” it added.

However, the ministry officials clarified that “none of these deaths have been causally linked to Covid-19 vaccination”.

The ministry also informed that 29 persons have been hospitalised after receiving vaccine doses so far, comprising 0.0005 per cent of the total vaccinations.

“Of the 29 cases of hospitalisation, 19 were discharged after treatment, while nine persons died. In the last 24 hours, one person suffering from B/L facial palsy has been hospitalised in Thiruvananthapuram, and his condition is stable, officials said.

However, they maintained that no case of serious/severe adverse event following immunisation/ death is attributable to vaccination till date.

Glacier burst: 18 bodies recovered, 202 missing, says state govt Continued from Page 1

Continued from Page 1

The White House said that Modi and Biden agreed to work on rebuilding the post-coronavirus global economy “in a way that benefits the people of both countries.”

They also committed themselves to “work closely together to win the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic (and) renew their partnership on climate change,” according to the White House.

Myanmar, where the military has blocked the outcome of the recent parliamentary elections and arrested State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, who was the de facto head of the nation, and other leaders of the National League for Democracy, came up in their discussion.

It added that about 25-35 people are trapped inside a tunnel, and the operation to rescue them is underway. The state government said the people trapped inside the tunnel are also included in the list of the 202 missing people.

An ITBP official said that 21 people from Rhitwik company, 100 from the associate company of Rhitwik, three from HCC Company, 21 from Om Metal, two persons each from Tapovan, Ringi and Karchao village, 46 people from Rishi Ganga Company and five people from Raini village are still missing.

The tragedy took place after the water level in the Dhauliganga river, one of the six sources of the Ganga river, suddenly surged on Sunday morning following

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an avalanche near the Rishi Ganga power project. The 85 km river meets the Alaknanda river at Vishnuprayag at the base of Joshimath mountain.

The ITBP said the flash flood occurred in Rishi Ganga at around 10.45 a.m. due to a glacier falling into it, thereby exponentially increasing the volume of water.

Due to this, the Rishi Ganga hydro project was completely devastated, it said.

Around 425 personnel of the ITBP, 70 personnel of the SDRF, 129 personnel of the NDRF and 124 from the Armed forces are carrying out the rescue and search operations in the area.

The paramilitary force said connectivity of its Border Outposts was totally restricted due to the bridge destruction near the Reni village.

of his foreign policy agenda.

The statement said that during his call, “the president underscored his desire to defend democratic institutions and norms around the world and noted that a shared commitment to democratic values is the bedrock for the US-India relationship.”

It appeared to allude to the criticism of India by some politicians from his party as well as entertainment figures who back him over the farmers’ protest and by organisations and media outlets about what they say are curbs on freedom of expression.

Modi and Biden “resolved that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld in Burma,” the statement said.

Biden had not mentioned in his first foreign policy agenda-setting speech last week the Indo-Pacific region, which had been elevated by his predecessor Donald Trump in the US strategy to face the China challenge, or India.

Biden has said that promoting and defending democracy around the world would be a cornerstone

But in that speech he had made clear that China is the prime adversary for the US.

In his call to Modi he has reaffirmed the importance of the Indo-Pacific region and the ties among the Quad, which was rekindled during Trump’s presidency.

The White House statement on the call with Modi did not directly mention China, as it had in readouts of Biden’s calls with Prime Ministers Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga of Japan during which it said that they had also discussed the IndoPacific.

But the mention of support for “territorial integrity” in the discussion with Modi can be seen as a reference to the threats to India from China in the context of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remarks at his Senate confirmation hearings about “working with India so that no country in the region including China could challenge its sovereignty.

India Tourism Mart Goes Virtual on 18-20th Feb 2021

F The state government said the list was prepared on Monday afternoon.

COVER STORIES

ederation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), the policy federation of all the national associations representing the complete tourism, travel and hospitality industry of India (ADTOI, ATOAI, FHRAI, HAI, IATO, ICPB, IHHA, ITTA, TAAI, TAFI) & cause partner AIRDA is holding its India Tourism Mart – ITM a buyer-seller meet in a virtual format from 18th – 20th Feb 2021.

The buyer-seller meet undertaken

by FAITH in 2015 was inaugurated by the Hon. PM, Shri Modi. The one in 2018 was inaugurated by Hon. Union Cabinet Minister Mr Piyush Goel and the one in 2019 was inaugurated by Hon. Union Cabinet Minister Mr Nitin Gadkari along with Union Tourism Minister Mr Prahlad Singh Patel.

The India Tourism Mart which has been actively supported by the Ministry of Tourism is a highly vibrant marketplace. It has seen active attendance from over 250 buyers from over 65 countries having B2B interactions from hundreds of tourism exhibitors

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from India including most of the State Governments, hotel companies, tour operators and travel agents and tourist transporters.

The elite international buyers reflect a strategic mix of target countries which are critical, developed and under developing markets for India. The tourism verticals in which B2B interactions take place reflect a mix between leisure, adventure, mice, heritage and niche tourism sectors.

Due to the pandemic, the format this year has gone virtual and online B2B interactions will be held between Indian tourism exhibitors and an elite group of global buyers who will be carefully selected from over 90 countries.

Additionally, the domestic focus will figure too prominently in the virtual format this year with domestic tourism buyers who too will be invited reflecting a mix of tourism trade, corporate and institutional tourism buyers.

This will be in robust alignment to being more vocal for local and

a stronger ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ from tourism.

Another landmark showcase this year will be a very engaging virtual knowledge tourism conclave which will look to bringing the best in tourism and policymakers to discuss how Indian tourism is strategic to India’s socio-economic goals and critical as the country targets post-pandemic revival. This will attempt to create strong linkages between India’s $ 5 trillion economy and the goals for India @75.

The India Tourism Mart or the ITM 2021 virtual will also hope to showcase and be a curtainraiser for the actual physical ITM to be held in September 2021 highlighting a tourism ready India once the vaccine is successfully deployed.

The FAITH associations are eagerly anticipating ITM 2021 virtual to be inaugurated by the Hon PM of India. This will position Tourism @ Made in India in services in line with the highly successful Make in India in manufacturing.

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

NEWS FROM INDIA

Vijayanagara is Karnataka’s 31st district ‘3-tier system to monitor transparency of Ram temple donations’ Ballari (Karnataka), Feb 9 (IANS): Vijaynagara, became Karnataka’s 31st district with the state government on Monday issuing an official gazette notification carving out a new district from the ore-rich Ballari.

The new district will have six taluks and Hosapete will be its headquarters, while Kudligi, Hagaribommana Halli, Kotturu, Hoovina Hadagali, and Harapanahalli are the other five taluks will be part of the new district.

Whereas Ballari district will have five taluks - Ballari, Kurugodu, Siraguppa, Kampli, and Sanduru whilst Ballari taluk will be its headquarters.

More importantly, the iconic cluster of monuments at Hampi or Hampe, a UNESCO world heritage site, will be part of the new district, Vijaynagara.

On November 18 last year, the state cabinet had given in principle approval for creation of Vijayanagara district.

The government’s plan to create Vijayanagara district had run

into opposition, especially from within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, including MLA Somashekar Reddy.

Minister for Infrastructure Development, Haj and Wakf, Anand Singh, who is also the Ballari district in-charge, had anchored the efforts for the new district.

Singh, when he contested on a Congress ticket in 2018 after deserting BJP, he canvassed hard that he would ensure that Vijyanagara would be the new district by bifurcating the Ballari, who then ran feud with Ballari strongmen, Reddy brothers.

However, this demand got its shape only when Singh rejoined the BJP by defecting from Congress within a year and half in 2019. To win the by-election from Vijaynagara constituency, the plan for a new Vijayanagar district was first officially mooted

by Chief Minister Yediyurappa in September 2019 during Singh’s poll rally.

As consensus eluded meetings held in this regard in October that year, the Chief Minister had

deferred a decision on it.

Many within the ruling BJP had criticised the move in 2019, stating the decision to create a new district was being taken under pressure from Singh, in return for his role in BJP coming to power.

Singh is one of the 17 MLAs defected and their rebellion led to the fall of the previous H.D. Kumaraswamy led CongressJD(S) coalition government, had cited the demand for a separate Vijayanagara district as one of the reasons for his resignation from the Congress.

Undivided Ballari was politically significant, comprising nine Assembly constituencies of which the Congress represents five and the BJP four.

In a note written to the Chief Secretary in September 2019, Yediyurappa had said keeping public and administrative interest in mind, it was necessary to create the new district noting that some parts of the Ballari district were about 200 km from the present headquarters.

NSUI chief meets J&K LG, discusses students’ issues Jammu, Feb 8 (IANS): The president of the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Neeraj Kundan, on Monday called on Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at his office and raised various issues regarding the demands of students, including 100 per cent job reservation for domiciles.

Kundan, in a written representation, addressed various issues of students and the problems faced by them and further pressed several demands like 100 per cent job reservation for domiciles of J&K, age relaxation for J&K aspirants of UPSC examination.

The NSUI leader also stressed on the need for improvement of the websites of JKSSB to provide

easy access and more options to the applicants and speeding the recruitment process of JKSSB. Kundan raised the issue of the need for proper placement and guidance cells for job applicants and state-sponsored free coaching institutes to make education available even to the poor for competitive exams and demanded more grants for employment generation programmes for the youth of J&K. Kundan also drew the attention of the LG towards timely payment of scholarships and fellowships to the needy students.

He further demanded an increase in the seats of colleges and universities and also an increase in the size of hostels or

President of National Students_ Union of India (NSUI), Neeraj Kundan construction of new hostels to increase their capacity to allow more students to avail this facility.

Adhir demands JPC probe on tractor rally violence New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee ( JPC) to thoroughly probe the violence during the farmers’ tractor rally, including hoisting of a religious flag at the Red Fort on Republic Day.

“You (government) decided to permit the farmers to carry out the tractor rally. You decided the route...then how did the miscreants reach Red Fort? The entire incident seems suspicious, it needs a thorough probe,” Chowdhury said, amid noise from the treasury benches.

Speaking on the motion of thanks on the President’s address in the Lok Sabha, Chowdhury said that the onus of security was on the Union government.

While Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi were engrossed in the

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discussion, Chowdhury said the violence seemed to be planned by those who appear to be close to the government.

“Amit Shahji is a tough minister but despite him being the Home Minister how did the miscreants dare to enter the secure Red Fort?

It seems that the sequence of events which led to the violence was part of a conspiracy to malign the image of innocent and poor farmers who are agitating on borders of the national capital for

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Jaipur, Feb 9 (IANS): Digital app with online monitoring, unique IDs and cumbersome audits comprise a three-tier system to monitor the donations being made for Ram temple construction in Ayodhya, said Abhishek Agrawal, a chartered accountant who is leading a few teams of depositors besides training members engaged in the collection drive.

As the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra trust is conducting a mass contact and contribution campaign for the construction of the grand temple in Ayodhya, which commenced on January 15 and shall continue till February 27, volunteers of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) engaged in fund collection are following a comprehensive threetier arrangement to maintain and monitor transparency of the donations, Agrawal told IANS. As a first step, three categories of coupons have been created under three different denominations -- Rs 10, Rs 100 and Rs 1,000. The account is monitored on a daily basis and Permanent Account Numbers (PAN) of those donating Rs 2,000 or above are also being collected.

Those individuals donating funds under these categories have been getting duly signed receipts by the fund collector. The name, address and mobile number of people donating these amounts are also being saved.

The person collecting the funds submits complete information of the donor to his leader (referred to as depositor), who is provided with each detail of receipt book, coupon book and funds collected.

It is mandatory for the depositors to get themselves registered in a web application. He is also given a unique ID. The depositor then uploads the details on his mobile application. Later on, the donors also receive a thank-you message.

In the second step, this information is saved on a digital app and the amount is then deposited in any of the three banks which have a tie-up with the temple trust. The banks

are State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank and Bank of Baroda.

The depositor will have to register with the web application on his mobile phone and select one bank out of the three.

Further, the entire summary detail of the amount collected is filled in a form which is then connected with the final receipt.

These efforts help in foolproof audit of funds without any mistake. In fact, a high profile team of CAs is monitoring the entire system.

After the CA makes a complete audit, the information is sent to the temple trust.

Even in the first step, each team collecting funds is monitored by a collector who keeps an eye on how much fund is been collected daily, and passes on the information regarding cash and cheque to the depositor and gets a receipt against the same.

The depositor updates the same information on the digital app and gets the amount deposited in the bank.

The deposit slip will have to be deposited in the district office where the amount is deposited and the receipt is matched with the app details to maintain a three-layered transparency arrangement which is monitored daily on district, zonal and regional level before the information is shared at the central level.

The account on the app is secret and hence the money goes directly into the account of the trust, Agrawal informed.

Those who want to donate directly to the bank can do the same as account numbers of the respective banks are shared, said Agrawal.

The Ram Janmabhoomi Teertha Kshetra trust was set up in accordance with the Supreme Court verdict for the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. As the trust lacked human resources, it requested the VHP to cooperate in this campaign which was accepted by the latter.

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INDIA NEWS two months,” said the leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha.

He also accused the ruling BJP of violating the code of Official Secrets Act over alleged leak of details of the Balakot air strike. “Four top officials of the

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16 government were privy to such confidential security information but a TV journalist got the secret news prior to the air strike. It’s a serious breach...and we demand a probe,” he said.

Underling the recent Twitter war

following the controversial tweet of young environmental activist Greta Thunberg, Chowdhury said that there was no need for the government and its active supporters on social media to go after an 18-year-old girl who

Rescue work gathers pace in disaster-hit Uttarakhand Dehradun, Feb 8 (IANS): Rescue and relief work in the disaster hit areas of Chamoli district in Uttarakhand gathered pace on Monday as a multi-agency operation continued to save 25-35 trapped people inside a tunnel of Tapovan Vishnugaud project that was blocked by the Sunday morning deluge.

Union Power Minister R.K. Singh said special equipment would be used to speed up the rescue operation inside the tunnel.

However, there is still no contact with the trapped people inside.

The state government said on Monday evening that a total of 197 people were missing after the disaster and 26 bodies have been recovered. In the 197 missing people, all those people who are trapped inside the tunnel are also included. However, the confusion still persisted on how many people have been rescued so far.

A statement of the state disaster control centre said 27 people have been rescued so far. However, top police officials maintained that only 12 were rescued.

Jawans of army, ITBP, NDRF and SDRF with rescue-equipments entered the tunnel with sniffer dogs in what is seen as the biggest rescue operation in the hill state since the 2013 Kedarnath disaster

in which more than 5,000 people were killed.

DGP Ashok Kumar said rescue workers were using bulldozers, JCB and other machines in their operation. “The Vishnugaud tunnel is very difficult to enter as there is a curve inside. But we are confident that our brave forces will try their best to rescue the trapped people,” said Kumar.

Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat had stated that nearly 176 people were working in the two hydel projects - 13.2 MW Rishiganga and 480 Mw TapovanVishnugaud when the disaster struck on Sunday morning. He again rushed to the disaster site this evening to oversee the relief and rescue works.

last evening were rushed to ITBP hospital in Joshimath where the two people who had suffered bone fractures were taken to a government hospital in Gopeshwar, the district headquarters of Chamoli.

Meanwhile, Union Power Minister R.K. Singh on Monday visited Tapovan, the site where NTPC’s Tapovan-Vishnugaud project is being built. Singh visited the disaster areas to take stock of the situation. He was accompanied by top state government officials including state Power Secretary Radhika Jha. “We will not scrap the Tapovan Vishnugaud hydel project,” Singh told reporters when asked to comment on the future of NTPC’s project.

All those who were rescued

Indian Army’s ban on Facebook, other apps successful New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): The ban imposed by the Indian Army on the usage of 89 smartphone applications, including social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram, since June last year, has been highly successful.

Of the 1.3 million strong Indian Army, only eight personnel were found to have violated the ban.

Official sources told IANS that at least 730 Army officers have been authorised to enforce the ban which came into effect last year, on July 15. The apps included 59 Chinese apps banned by the government for general public.

But strikingly, the Army also banned the usage of common apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Ella, Snapchat, PubG, Messenger, TrueCaller, anti-virus 360 Security, Tinder, Tumbler, Reditt, Hungama, Songs.pk, Cam Scanner, Ok Cupid, Daily Hunt, and others. Most of the applications are American and Chinese.

Following the violence face-

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off between India and China along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh last year, the Army imposed the ban to prevent cyber attacks, illegal accumulation of digital data and leakage of sensitive information.

In last few years, several cases of Army personnel were discovered where they were honey-trapped on Facebook resulting in leakage of sensitive information related to the Indian military and the government.

“Till five years ago, everything was open to our personnel.

Anyone could access anything,” an official said. Though the Army had been issuing several directives on the use of Facebook for personal life and WhatsApp for official work, but only in June last year, it made stringent rules for the violations.

The ban has been enforced by seeking undertakings from each soldier and officer across the country, that they have deleted their accounts and they have not

installed any of the applications on their phones.

Official sources told IANS that around 730 authorised officers are to review if the Army personnel are abiding by the rule every now and then and issue certificates of compliance. Only eight cases were found to be in violation of the rules, sources said adding that the punishment for violations includes conventional penalties in the Army for indiscipline.

In some cases, the personnel have been asked to carry sand sacks on their backs and run on the ground for a whole week, sources said. In serious cases, sources said, the punishment can be severe, including suspension or termination of services.

“But Indian Army is a highly disciplined institution and the ban has been quite effective so far,” an officer said.

Within the military institutions, academies and offices, the Army, is however allowed to access platforms like Facebook on

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had only supported the farmers’ agitation.

“The world has changed a lot and these days people do give opinions on events happening around the globe. Greta only supports the farmers’ cause,” he

NEWS FROM INDIA said, adding, “when our Prime Minister goes to America and says that ‘Abki baar Trump sarkar’ then nobody objects. So why are we worried about a child’s tweet in support of the farmers?”

It was andolanjeevis who helped India break free of colonial rule: Farmers’ body

New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): As the protests over the new farm laws entered the 76th day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed the issue in the Rajya Sabha. The word ‘andolanjeevi’ (professional protesters), used by the PM, has come in for sharp criticism from the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), for allegedly being derogatory to farmers.

Reacting to the PM’s address, a statement by the SKM said: “We condemn the charge made by the PM and we would like to remind him that it was andolanejeevis who helped India break free from colonial rulers and so we are proud of being andolanjeevis.”

“It is the BJP and its forefathers who have never participated in an agitation against the British. They were always afraid of people’s movements and that is why they are afraid of people’s movements even now.”

On Monday, Prime Minister Modi once again spoke about resolving the impasse over the farm laws through dialogue.

According to the SKM, if the government still accepts their demands, farmers would be

happy to return to till the fields.

It is the government’s stubborn attitude that is prolonging the agitation and giving rise to further and activism andolanjeevis.

Speaking about MSP on Monday, PM Modi has said MSP will continue. “Hollow statements on MSP won’t help the farmers in any manner and such meaningless statements had been made in the past as well. Farmers will only gain in a meaningful manner if a legal guarantee is given on MSP for all crops,” said the statement.

The PM also warned people against the new meaning of ‘FDI’ as Foreign Destructive Ideology.

About this, the farmers’ body statement said: “We are opposed to all kinds of FDI. The PM’s FDI comment is also dangerous, even we want to keep away from any Foreign Destructive Ideology.”

On Monday, Modi also said: “We are familiar with the words shramjeevi and buddhijeevi. But a new ‘breed’ of agitators called ‘andolanjeevi’ has emerged in the country, who cannot live without an agitation and the nation should guard against them.”

their internet browsers on their desktops to monitor content. But no personnel is allowed to have an account or the application, sources said.

are, however, not bound by the directive. “They are common citizens who are entitled to the same rights as others,” an official said.

Army sources said everyone in the military now connects with their families and friends in the old way: “We all speak on phone instead of private messengers and social media.” The families of the Army personnel and officers

There are some in-house applications like Sandesh and Vishesh which Army personnel have been using for messaging purposes as an alternative to WhatsApp, sources said.

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Budget FY22: FM proposes to turbocharge economy via mega spending push New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday proposed to unleash a massive fiscal expansion in 202122 to revive India’s pandemicbattered economy.

Accordingly, she proposed to increase the capital expenditure by 34 per cent in Budget 2021-22 in comparison to the previous fiscal BE (Budget Estimate).

She presented the Budget in Parliament at 11 a.m.

The proposal will increase the capital outlay to Rs 5.54 lakh crore from Rs 4.12 lakh crore spending target in BE FY21.

Further, she proposed to institute ‘Land Bank’ monetisation company along with an asset management and reconstruction company or a ‘Bad Bank’ and a Development Financial Institution (DFI) which will fund infra projects.

Besides, agriculture, health and education sectors received a massive spending push.

On the other hand, to shoreup the Centre’s revenues, she proposed for an asset monetisation pipeline.

Furthermore, she proposed to provide Rs 20,000 crore for public sector bank re-capitalisation and make conducive environment for ushering in investments into FinTech, insurance and Start-ups.

In addition, the Centre plans to divest two public sector banks, as well as a general insurance company.

According to Sitharaman, the budget post the onset of Covid-19 pandemic has ample opportunities for growth and economic reset.

She said that in the post-Covid world, India is well positioned to benefit from the new realignments in the economic and political spheres.

This is Sitharaman’s third and most significant Finance Bill to the Parliament.

Budget evokes mixed reactions from people New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS): The Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday evoked mixed reactions, as per the IANS C-Voter Budget Insta-Poll.

On a question on how has the team of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman delivered on the budget front so far, 25.1 per cent of the respondents said that it performed much better than expected, while 27.6 per cent people said it was just as expected.

Around 36.4 per cent of the respondents said that the Budget was worse than expected, while 11 per cent stated that they actually didn’t know what was there in the

Budget.

After last year’s Budget, 42 per cent of the respondents had stated that it was much better than expected, while 25.9 per cent had pointed out that it was just okay and 24 per cent stated that it was worse than expected.

The poll, which was conducted after the presentation of the

Budget in the Parliament by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, included a sample size of 1,200 people selected randomly across all demographics. The margin of error is +/- 3 per cent at the national level and +/- 5 per cent at the regional level.

Budget 2021-22 provides for pro-growth measures: Moody’s New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS): India’s Budget 2021-22 provides for progrowth measures that will support credit quality across sectors in the near term, but at the expense of fiscal consolidation, a report by Moody’s Investors Service said.

slower fiscal consolidation will constrain fiscal strength over the medium term.”

The budget calls for a narrowing of the Centre’s fiscal deficit to 6.8 per cent of GDP in FY22 from an estimated 9.5 per cent in FY21.

“Banks will benefit from the establishment of an asset reconstruction company to resolve legacy problem loans, and public sector banks additionally from an INR200 billion capital infusion.”

“While the headline deficit projections are larger than we expected, they reflect both credible budgetary assumptions and greater transparency than in past budgets,” said William Foster, a Moody’s Vice President and Senior Credit Officer.

“The budget’s focus on higher capital spending, financial sector reform and asset sales will help stimulate growth, but implementation risks remain and

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As per the report, the financial sector will undergo some credit positive reform under the new budget.

“Meanwhile, the increase in the limit on foreign direct investment in insurers to 74 per cent from 49 per cent will unlock new sources of funding and access to external know-how.”

“Privatisation of one insurer and two banks will be credit negative for those companies as it will

reduce ongoing government support but will make them more market oriented.”

According to the report, tax incentives and other measures to increase consumption are credit positive for non-financial companies, with stronger demand in the housing and automobile sectors to carry over to other sectors such as steel.

“High public spending on highways and railways is also credit positive for infrastructure companies, with capital outlay for highways up 26 per cent from the previous year.”

“Finally, Indian securitisation transactions will benefit from regulatory changes that will allow for quicker debt recovery, and from interest deductions on affordable home loans that will increase borrower debt servicing ability.”

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UNION BUDGET FOR 2021-22

6 pillars of Budget 2021-22 stands on ‘Sarve Santu Niramaya’

I

congratulate Honble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanji for this forward thinking, growth inducing budget, based on the six core pillars of development -Health, Infrastructure, Inclusive Development, Human Capital, Innovation and Governance.

Based on our civilizational philosophy of “Sarve Santu Niramaya” our Govt has allocated Rs 2.23 Lakh Crore of our citizens towards Health and Wellbeing in budget this year. Out of this Rs 64,180 crore have been allocated towards Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, which will be used for ensuring health & well-being for all. Especially for a health care deficient state like West Bengal, where the state government has failed to cater to the healthcare needs of the people, Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana will go a long way in improving healthcare services right from grassroots, block-level to the districts.

To provide necessary boost to the economy, our Govt has announced an increase in government spending to the tune of Rs 5.54 lakh crore of capital expenditure, which will be spent towards infrastructure development. Along with this, our government has committed Rs 2.87 lakh crore towards Jal Jeevan Mission, which will ensure safe and potable drinking water for all.

Special focus on Urban Transport, development of New Metro Rail projects, Energy Sector reforms and reforms in Gas sector, together these projects, are going to have tremendous trickle-down effect on our entire economy and open up massive opportunities for employment and development.

Focus on developing 7 mega textile parks and development of Tier II and Tier III cities will ensure job creation opportunities and economic prosperity for all, including our region.

On behalf of the people from Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars and the rest of West Bengal, I thank Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modiji and Hon’ble Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharamanji for making special provisions for our region and state in this budget.

The tea garden workers from Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars have faced innumerable discrimination by the West Bengal Govt. The Union Govt has announced a special financial package worth Rs 1,000 crore towards ensuring the welfare of the tea garden workers from West Bengal and Assam. In accommodating the needs of the tea garden workers, the Union Govt has shown deepest of care towards our brother and sisters from the tea gardens, and this will go a long way in ensuring justice for them. Especially women and children from the tea gardens, who have been relegated to the margins due to the continued apathy and indifference of the West Bengal government, are set to benefit from this major announcement.

It was under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modiji that our government introduced the long awaited Labour Reforms to ensure a better life for our workers. The announcement adds onto those reforms and will help in guaranteeing a better life and higher standard of living for our tea garden workers.

I also thank Nirmalaji for announcing Rs 25,000 crore towards developing the highway system from Kolkata to Siliguri.

This will be the infrastructural spinal-cord for our state, and will become the first step towards transforming West Bengal to a modern state with world class infrastructure.

(Raju Bista is Member of Parliament, Darjeeling and National Spokesperson, BJP. The views expressed are personal)

Union Minister says Budget in tune with India’s post-Covid New Delhi, Feb 2 (IANS) Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Tuesday welcomed the Union Budget for 2021-22, saying that it is in tune with India’s post-Covid vision.

Singh, who is also Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), said: “The Budget has silenced all the critics and left them to attack the government only for the sake of criticism.”

In a statement, the Minister said: “Even though it is an economic document, the spirit of the Budget presented on Monday goes beyond the realms of economics to lay down the roadmap of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led India which is destined to emerge as a frontline member in the community of world nations.”

The Minister said that instead of putting “extra burden or liability” on the common man, as was being speculated by several commentators, the Budget has actually come as a relief for a nation struggling with the constraints of the Covid pandemic.

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Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

ADVERTORIAL

Bravus’ Carmichael Project direct job numbers surpass 2,000

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onstruction at Bravus Mining and Resources’, formerly Adani Mining, Carmichael Project in Central Queensland is now at its peak level, with more than 2,000 people working at the site.

Bravus Mining & Resources, CEO David Boshoff said he was delighted to report the project was able to deliver more jobs than previously expected, with more than 2,000 staff on site.

“We have always said that the Carmichael Project would be a major generator of jobs and now we are at peak construction levels employing more than 2,000 people onsite,” he said.

“Our project and the Queensland coal industry is powering the State economy, we are putting money in the pockets of workers and businesses in north and central Queensland, and providing jobs when they are needed most.”

“We expect to see more than 250 people working on these combined projects onsite, ensuring regional Queensland cities like Mackay see the benefits going back into their local economies,” Mr Boshoff said.

The Coal Handling Plant resizes the coal and the Coal Preparation Plant processes the coal to meet final product quality requirements. In doing so, the finished product is more energy efficient and environmentally friendly,” Mr Boshoff said.

“It is these facilities that will see Carmichael coal become some of the better-quality coal from around the world.”

When it is operational, the Carmichael Project will provide high-quality Australian coal for baseload electricity generation that supports India’s advancement, social progress and energy security.

Meanwhile, DRA Global’s Mackay operations has also won its second major contract on the Carmichael Project, delivering the $140 million coal preparation plant.

The 10 million tonne per annum thermal coal project is a clear example of the potential that a burgeoning trade and investment relationship between India and Australia holds.

DRA will carry out the design, engineering and construction of the Coal Preparation Plant, in addition to the Coal Handling Plant that they are already delivering.

Mr Boshoff said that India offers tremendous trade and investment opportunities for Australia, which could result in a significant uplift to our domestic economy.

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India’s population will grow by 287 million people between 2018 and 2050, and by 2025 one-fifth of the world’s working population will be India,” he said.

“That population growth means substantially more people who want affordable energy, education, technology, health care, employment and other commodities that ultimately provide for a better lifestyle.”

“With that national drive and ambition comes opportunities for countries like Australia to help India deliver new products, infrastructure, resources and improved living standard for its people, while also creating a growth catalyst for our own national economy,” he said.

“At a time when the local and global economy is struggling, we are pleased to be supporting fellow Australian companies and local businesses, making the most of materials you can find right here in our own Australian backyard.

“Every week we are reaching exciting new major milestones on the Carmichael mine and rail projects bringing us a step closer to the reality of completion. We are on track and looking forward to producing first coal in 2021,” he said.

“According to the United Nations,

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NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

Aus state to tighten hotel Thousands of US Marines to begin quarantine program arriving in Australia Melbourne, Feb 8 (IANS): The Australian state of Victoria will begin testing all hotel quarantine workers daily starting from Monday after another positive Covid-19 cases was detected in less than a week.

did not breach any infection control protocols and authorities were looking at possible airborne or aerosol transmission of the virus.

Victorian health authorities announced that the female patient in her early 50s had worked as an authorised officer at the Holiday Inn in Melbourne Airport, reports Xinhua news agency.

About 80 hotel quarantine staff, including nine police officers and 12 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel working at the Holiday Inn were considered close contacts of the infected worker and have been placed in quarantine for 14 days.

The woman was the second hotel quarantine worker who tested positive for the virus in the past week.

A total of 15 personal close contacts have also been identified and the number is expected to rise as contact tracing continues.

With a negative result at the end of her shift on February 4, she returned to work on Sunday when she developed symptoms and later tested positive.

Neville said the state government would further tighten hotel quarantine rules in light of the new case.

Genomic testing is underway to determine which strain of the virus she contracted.

The state’s Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville told reporters on Monday that three positive cases from the same family were identified at the hotel recently and they had since been transferred to a health hotel.

She said it appeared the woman

“We’ve implemented the staggering meal deliveries and other deliveries to individual doors, and we have also put in place the face shields with the surgical masks for all staff.

We’ll also start today the testing of staff on their days off,” he added.

Fifty ADF personnel arrived in Melbourne overnight Sunday to help the quarantine system.

Meanwhile, an overseas traveller

in the neighbouring state of New South Wales (NSW) tested positive two days after being released from hotel quarantine on day 14.

NSW health authorities said the person from the Wollongong area returned two negative tests during their quarantine period and showed no symptoms.

However, a recently enhanced day-16 follow-up test indicates the person has a low level of infection.

Investigations to date suggest the infection was likely acquired overseas and there is no indication at this stage of transmission in hotel quarantine.

As the source of the new case is still under investigation, NSW recorded 22 days in a row with no locally acquired Covid-19 cases.

However, the NSW Health issued a health alert for several venues in Wollongong and Sydney’s south on Sunday night and urged anyone who attended the venues on specific dates and times to get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative result.

Australia’s overall Covid-19 cases has increased to 28,850, while the deaths stood at 909.

Canberra, Feb 6 (IANS): Australian Defence Minister Linda Reynolds said on Saturday that some 2,200 US Marines will begin arriving in the country’s Northern Territory over the next five months.

In a statement issued here, the Defence Minister said that the 2021 and also the 10th Marine Rotational Force-Darwin (MRF-D) will consist of around 2,200 troops by June, reports Xinhua news agency.

Reynolds said that under special Covid-19 plans, the incoming Marines will be tested for coronavirus three times, once 72 hours prior to departure and twice while undergoing 14 days of quarantine in a secure facility.

The 2021 MRF-D would arrive in groups of between 200-500 personnel and would quarantine in the facility so as not to take places in Australia’s hotel

quarantine system, according to Reynolds.

“The MRF-D and Australian Defence Force (ADF) will conduct a comprehensive range of training activities, including humanitarian assistance, security operations and high-end live-fire exercises,” the Defence Minister said in the statement.

In 2020, the annual rotation of Marines was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, and a modified rotation of about 1,200, roughly half the usual numbers, trained in the Northern Territory.

As of Saturday, Australia has registered 28,842 confirmed coronavirus cases, and the numbers of locally and overseas acquired cases in the last 24 hours were zero and six respectively, according to the Department of Health.

The death toll stood at 909.

Australia to double international arrival caps

South Australia urged to bring int’l students on charter flights

Adelaide, Feb 5 (IANS): The government of South Australia (SA) has been urged to bring international students back to the state on charter flights.

Chief Executive of the International Education Association of Australia Phil Honeywood recently called on SA to follow the lead of the Northern Territory (NT) to revive its international education industry, reports Xinhua news agency.

The NT in November 2020 used a charter flight to bring 63 students into Darwin from Singapore.

They were the first international students to enter Australia since borders were closed in March 2020.

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Honeywood praised the initiative and said SA should follow suit, describing the state’s current plan of having international students take seats on commercial flights not filled by returning Australians as a “lottery”.

“Because the number of returning Australians is constantly changing, it becomes something of a lottery for any state government trying to pick up so-called empty seats,” he said, according to News Corp Australia on Friday.

“Charter flights are a viable alternative which has been proven by the NT government and perhaps we really need to have that as an option.”

Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, international education was worth about A$2 billion ($1.5 billion) per year to the SA economy.

James Stevens, an SA federal government MP, said the “massive” industry was in jeopardy if governments do not push ahead with plans for more international students to enter the country.

Australia has so far registered 28,838 confirmed coronavirus cases, and the numbers of locally and overseas acquired cases in the last 24 hours were one and eight respectively.

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Canberra, Feb 5 (IANS): The cap on international arrivals to Australia will be doubled from mid-February, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday following a meeting of the National Cabinet.

The Premiers of New South Wales and Queensland agreed to raise their arrival caps back to their previous level after halving them in January amid concerns over the new strain of Covid-19 detected in Britain, reports Xinhua news agency.

Friday’s announcement means that from February 15, more than 6,300 Australian citizens and residents will be able to enter the country every week to quarantine for 14 days.

More than 30,000 Australians remain stranded overseas.

Morrison said the National Cabinet also discussed expanding the capacity of a specialised

quarantine facility at Howard Springs in the Northern Territory and opening another facility in Queensland.

“We are still seeking a lot more information on that proposal, and the secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet has pulled together the various agencies that are needed to assess that proposal,” he said.

He was joined by Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly, who said that hotel quarantine remained the best method to prevent Covid-19 from entering the Australian community despite recent cases in hotel workers.

“We’ve seen only a small number of incursions from quarantine, and we need to understand these are complex systems with humans, and there is always an opportunity or a chance of human error,” he said.

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Threatened species at risk from South Australian bushfire Adelaide, Feb 4 (IANS): A vital wildlife refuge for threatened species on a South Australian island is under threat from a bushfire.

Firefighting units from the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) were on Wednesday deployed to Kangaroo Island, south-west of Adelaide, where a fire is threatening a patch of bushland that was unaffected by the 2019-20 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires.

The area is considered a refuge for Kangaroo Island’s diverse wildlife after more than 200,000 hectares of land, almost half the island, were burned during the Black Summer including 96 percent of Flinders Chase National Park.

It is home to the Kangaroo Island dunnart, glossy black cockatoo and southern brown bandicoot, all of which are threatened species that lost significant portions of their habitats in 201920.

“This is the worst-case scenario

for that bush. This is what we’ve feared all summer,” Pat Hodgens, a member of conservation group Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife, told The Guardian on Wednesday.

“If we lose this, we lose the last refuge for all of these threatened species on western Kangaroo Island.

“It is the most significant patch and if we lose this it will mean there’s no unburned vegetation left. The animals within it will be crucial for repopulation (of the

surrounding bush) in years to come.

In July 2020 an independent review of Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (EPBCA) warned of an “unsustainable” decline in the country’s biodiversity.

It found that more than 80 per cent of the Kangaroo Island dunnart’s habitat was affected by the Black Summer bushfires and called for an overhaul of conservation efforts.

Inaugural Triveni dialogue 2021 focuses on future steps in Australia-India economic ties

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he inaugural webinar of the Triveni dialogue this year which was conducted as a joint initiative of Australia India Business Council (AIBC), Institute for Australia India Engagement (IAIE) and Council for India Australia Studies (CIAS) on February 1 focused on kickstarting the mutual intellectual, academic and policy journey of Australia and India continuing on from last year.

Dr. Ashutosh Misra, CEO, IAIE, hailing the webinar as a highly stimulating, policy relevant and timely dialogue, welcomed the panel of speakers comprising Ambassador Anil Wadhwa, Former Secretary (East), Government of India; Peter Varghese AO, Chancellor, UQ, Former Secretary DFAT; Barry O’ Farrell, Australian High Commissioner, New Delhi; and Gitesh A. Sarma, Indian High Commissioner, Canberra.

Sanushka Seomangal, National Vice Chair, AIBC acted as the moderator giving an insight into the contributions of the keynote speakers.

Ambassador Wadhwa whose India’s Australia Economy Strategy report was launched on 18th November 2020 highlighted the key points of his seminal report which emphasise that the need of the hour is for Australia to get more closely involved in the Indian economy. Hailing Australia as the ideal strategic partner for India which is currently looking towards a transformative and inclusive growth, he asserted

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that with both India and Australia facing belligerence from China, there is a huge potential for greater business and trade initiatives, especially for Australia which is on the look-out for a potential alternative foreign market for its exports. Having identified 12 key sectors for strategic alliances between both the countries, Wadhwa further said that there is vast scope for Indian businesses to fortify ties with Australia in the areas of mining of resources, agribusiness, health care, cancer research and trials, education, renewable energy, tourism and digital technology. There is especially scope for collaborative projects in infrastructural development, joint manufacturing in space and research, cloud computing and financial and cyber technology.

slated to surge to 35 billion by 2035.

He further talked about the crucial role that Australia’s critical minerals sector can play in supplying the essential minerals to India even as the latter aspires to strengthen its industrial production and robust infrastructural development.

Moreover, he said that with India permitting 100 % Foreign Direct Investment in the renewable energy sector, Australian energy sector should capitalize on this opportunity. He also delineated the pivotal contribution that Australian vocational institutes could play in not only imparting valuable skills to Indian students but also equipping

the trainers with the requisite expertise in making the learning process more effective. As far as the implementation of his recommendations are concerned, Ambassador Wadhwa strongly feels that a special working group comprising officials from the Trade and Foreign Ministry of both the countries along with other experts in the area, should be formed and concrete policies should be put in place to ensure that the suggestions are channelized practically. Progress also needs to be done in removing trade and investment barriers by both the governments to streamline the process of bringing India and Australia closer together in trade and business, a process which was set in motion since the successful culmination of the virtual summit between both the countries on 4th June, 2020 in which the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between India and Australia came into fruition. Last but not the least, he also recommended the commencement of direct flights between the two countries.

Peter Varghese, Former Secretary DFAT who wrote the report An India Economic Strategy to 2035 in 2018 seconded Ambassador Wadhwa’s opinion about the time being ripe for India and Australia to strengthen their business and trade discourse. He commented that although the Covid-19 pandemic had a drastic effect on the Indian economy resulting in the slowing down of its economic growth, it will still continue to grow at a fast pace as it begins to emerge from the debilitating effects, in the post-Covid era.

Thus, it is all the more significant that no momentum should be lost in the implementation of the recommendations in both his and Wadhwa’s reports. Recognising the significance of the burgeoning Indian diaspora in Australia, he commented that despite Indian migration particularly that of Indian students to Australia slowing down and picking up no sooner than the end of 2021, the people-to-people ties between the two countries shall continue to be a valuable asset in the long run. Remarking on the pivotal role of the tourism sector in

NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA increasing revenue for both the countries, he said that while there will be an inevitable delay in the materialization of the prospects offered by the tourism sector, the eventual outcome will indeed be propitious.

Furthermore, according to his observation, the involvement of Australia’s corporate sector in India has still not reached the level that it should have because of the former’s reservations against the latter in the backdrop of a growing environment of protectionism and self-sufficiency in many countries across the globe. He also stressed upon the need for the materialization of a mutual Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and Australia which would play an instrumental role in removing the roadblocks on the path to greater business and trade engagements between the two countries. Commenting on the Indian National Education Policy, he also said that the question of potential internationalization of Indian education must also be taken into account and also that the opening of branches of Australian universities in India might see the light of day once the authorities concerned have satisfactorily inspected the legislative and other framework.

The webinar concluded with Australian High Commissioner Barry O’ Farrell and his Indian counterpart Gitesh A. Sarma averring the need for conducive economic reforms in both the countries for an enduring partnership, and business literacy across the corporate sector in both the countries so that both comprehend the changed economic scenario following the Covid-19 pandemic where diversification and resilience of supply chains has become paramount. Shaun Star, Director, CIAS, O.P. Jindal Global University delivered the Vote of Thanks to the event organisers as well as the participants and asserted the significance of the webinar as a timely and illuminating discourse in paving the way for strengthening the economic, political and social ties between India and Australia.

He also opined that the traditional Indian exports of pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, automative spare parts, railway equipments, refined petroleum and textiles along with Indian traditional medicine which has off-late gained popularity in the Australian market should be ramped up.

Emphasising the need for Indian companies to invest more in Australia, he remarked the figures for India’s goods and services exports which was predicted to be 5 billion dollars in 2015, is

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

LEASE • 111m2 OFFICE / RETAIL

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Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

Sydney, Feb 10: The NSW Government has announced further details of the project to facilitate the removal of highrisk combustible cladding from residential apartment buildings across the State.

Minister for Better Regulation Kevin Anderson confirmed that Project Remediate would provide interest-free, 10-year loans, to Owners Corporations to enable and fast-track the safe removal of high-risk cladding.

“Under the program design developed since the 2020-21 NSW Budget, I can confirm that by 2023 the Government expects to have helped safely remove highrisk combustible cladding on an estimated 225 buildings across the State,” Mr Anderson said.

“This is a significant, complex project. In order to make it as

easy as possible for Owners Corporations to take advantage of this program and get this work started, we have invested up to $139 million to set up a project assurance service that will be coordinated through the Office of the NSW Building Commissioner.

information packs, guidance and training materials will be delivered to help Owners Corporations navigate Project Remediate. The Office of the NSW Building Commissioner is already consulting with the strata sector as part of this work.

“We will also help take pressure off Owners Corporations by appointing a managing contractor to oversee each individual project from design to final completion, to help get buildings remediated quickly and to the highest standards.”

Project Remediate will help drive the State’s economic recovery from COVID-19 by providing a pipeline of investment generating and supporting up to 3,500 jobs in the residential apartment construction sector.

Under the project details announced today, a financial partner will be engaged to facilitate the provision of interest-free loans to eligible Owners Corporations to fund remediation works.

Over the next few months the NSW Government will be tendering for the financial partners and a managing contractor for the program.

Applications for Owners Corporations to take part in the project will open in March.

Over the coming months

Replacing bridges to better connect regional NSW Sydney, Feb 5: More than 400 timber bridges across the state will be replaced through the NSW Government’s $500 million Fixing Country Bridges program, improving resilience to natural disaster and better connecting hundreds of regional communities.

Deputy Premier John Barilaro said the NSW Government is meeting its election commitment to replace ageing structures with safer, modern bridges that will better withstand events like floods and bushfires, easing the burden of maintenance for local councils and ratepayers and build a safer, stronger regional NSW. “Last year was one of the most challenging years’ regional communities have faced due to COVID-19, summer bushfires and drought – and that’s before heavy rains hit some areas,” Mr Barilaro said.

“I’m thrilled to see these bridges get underway, it’s an election commitment we promised and are delivering on. The bridges will help create new jobs, drive economic growth and deliver lifestyle improvements for generations to come.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Paul Toole said the

NSW Government had accelerated funding for the program with more than $290 million shared across 54 councils to replace 424 bridges in round one.

“That’s hundreds of fast-tracked projects that will start across the state in the next 12 months, helping councils to create and support jobs, drive productivity and keep our regional communities connected,” Mr Toole said.

burden on councils, this program will create thousands of local jobs right throughout regional communities at a time when they’re needed most,” Mr Johnsen said.

“I’m glad that in the Dungog Local Government Area alone, we’re going to see 23 bridges replaced under this new round of funding because I know what a difference they’ll make to entire communities.”

“This unprecedented funding commitment to replace NSW’s worst timber bridges builds on the $500 million we’re investing through Fixing Local Roads to deliver better journeys on the roads our regional communities use every day.

NSW Farmers President James Jackson said timber bridges have served the farming community well over many years.

“Together this $1 billion investment will ensure a safe, modern and more resilient road and bridge network for the bush that will serve generations to come.”

“NSW Farmers welcomes this important announcement by the NSW Government. It’s one that recognises the value of improving access to local food and fibre production and regional communities.”

Member for Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen said replacing old timber bridges means improved community connections to schools, towns and jobs, allowing easier movement of freight and delivering better outcomes for road safety.

“On top of easing the financial

“However, with weight and width restrictions they are now acting as a barrier to efficient freight movement,” Mr Jackson said.

Sydney secures blockbuster exhibition featuring Hilma af Klint

Courtesy Artnet News

NSW Government starts process to remove high-risk cladding

NEWS FROM NEW SOUTH WALES

Sydney, Feb 3: Visitors and Sydneysiders will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with more than 100 artworks created by one of the world’s leading visionary artists.

The Art Gallery of NSW will present Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings from 12 June 2021 with the support of the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism and Western Sydney Stuart Ayres said the Australian exclusive was an exciting addition to the state’s cultural calendar.

“As identified in our recently launched Visitor Economy Strategy 2030, investing in world-class events is a key pillar in achieving our goal to be the premier visitor economy in the Asia Pacific.

“When New York City’s prestigious Guggenheim Museum presented a Hilma af Klint exhibition in 2018-19, it broke attendance records.

“Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings will be a must-see event when it opens in Sydney this June and will play an important role in attracting visitors and Sydneysiders to the heart of our Harbour City,” Mr Ayres said.

Minister for the Arts Don Harwin said it was a unique chance to see the works of this highly regarded pioneer of abstract art.

“While Swedish-born artist Hilma af Klint began creating radically abstract paintings in 1906, she rarely exhibited them because she

did not think the world was ready to see them.

“Now, 77 years after her death, Australian audiences have a rare opportunity to marvel at her incredible paintings, many of which show her working with abstraction prior to renowned artists Kandinsky and Mondrian.

This is a major coup for Sydney,” Mr Harwin said.

Art Gallery of NSW Director Dr Michael Brand said the exhibition is the first major survey in the Asia Pacific region of this trailblazing artist who stood for too long outside the accepted story of European modernism.

“Stored away and scarcely known for decades, the startling rediscovery of af Klint’s ‘secret paintings’ has captured the imagination of contemporary audiences and at last placed the artist in the canon of truly imaginative and innovative twentieth century artists.

“We are privileged to present this exhibition of af Klint’s groundbreaking paintings, along with more than 30 watercolours from the last decades of the artist’s life, several of which have never before been exhibited, and a selection of notebooks, which give fascinating insights into her influences and processes.”

Hilma af Klint: The Secret Paintings will open at the Art Gallery of NSW on 12 June and runs until 19 September 2021.

Tickets on sale soon. For more information, visit the Art Gallery of NSW website

Successful applications are timber bridges, located on a council-managed road which are not a heritage or truss bridge and are a priority asset to council. A second round of the program will be offered later this year.

Courtesy www.technologydecisions.com.au/

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Record investment in regional digital education Sydney, Feb 3: Regional students will start the 2021 school year with a range of new classroom technologies as part of the Rural Access Gap package. The NSW Government’s $365.8 million Rural Access Gap (RAG) investment, will provide rural and regional schools access to the best digital

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teaching and learning tools.

The package will support over 1000 regional and rural schools in NSW. It will provide new devices in the classroom for students, laptops for teachers and training for staff.

Orana Heights Public School in Dubbo will be one of the first

schools to have their classrooms fitted with smart boards, faster internet access, laptops for all teaching staff and additional student devices.

A further 28 schools in the Dubbo region will be equipped in the same way as Orana Heights Public School. After being rolled

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out in Dubbo, another 81 schools will receive the RAG by Term 2 2021. The remaining schools will receive their upgrade by mid2023.

Minister for Education Sarah Mitchell said she wants to see all students have access to the same educational facilities and

opportunities no matter where they live. ]”Students can access subjects previously only available in larger schools, and teachers have additional support and a broad library of professional development options,” Ms Mitchell said.

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Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

NEWS FROM VICTORIA

Coronavirus update for Victoria Grand Slam Tennis Melbourne, Feb 8: Victoria has recorded one new case of coronavirus. The case is a female hotel quarantine worker at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport. The total number of confirmed cases in Victoria since the beginning of the pandemic is 20,456.

The number of active cases in Victoria is 20, made up of two locally acquired cases, an increase of one since yesterday and 18 cases in returned travellers in hotel quarantine, a decrease of two since yesterday.

A full public health response to this case is underway. As of this morning, around 80 hotel quarantine workers at the Holiday Inn have been identified as primary close contacts and are isolating and being tested.

Initial public exposure sites of this case are as follows: Marciano’s Cakes in Maidstone between 9:45am - 10:25am on

Friday 5 February

and outbreaks.

Dan Murphy’s Sunshine between 5:50pm - 6:30pm on Friday 5 February

Update: Grand Hyatt case

Off Ya Tree Watergardens between 1:17pm - 1:52pm on Saturday 6 February Dan Murphy’s in Sunshine between 6:50pm - 7:30pm on Saturday 6 February Anyone who has visited these Tier 1 exposure sites during these dates and times must immediately isolate, get a coronavirus (COVID-19) test and remain isolated for 14 days. More sites may be listed as interviews and investigations continue.

Seventeen people with direct contact with the case have so far been identified as social and household primary close contacts. They are isolating and being tested. This number is likely to increase as investigations continue. All current exposure sites can be seen at case locations

The Department is continuing to follow up close contacts of a hotel quarantine worker at the Grand Hyatt Melbourne who has tested positive to coronavirus (COVID-19) on Wednesday, 3 February.

61,000 people have been tested since Thursday morning. There are now 1266 primary close contacts in total identified with this case. More than 80 per cent have so far tested negative. This number includes 21 social and household primary close contacts.

All have tested negative.

There are 661 workplace contacts, who also have all tested negative.

There are still 14 identified public exposure sites that were visited by the Grand Hyatt worker. As of this morning, 584 primary close contacts have now been identified in connection with these public exposure sites.

New equipment, training grants back Victorian sports clubs Melbourne, 12 Feb: Grassroots sports clubs across Victoria are being urged to apply for a share of millions of dollars in funding available to buy equipment and uniforms, boost administrative skills and improve operations.

after the pandemic.

promotion.

The Victorian Budget 2020/21 added a further $6 million to the popular program, building on more than $1.8 million kicked in by the Government for more than 1,200 clubs across the state last year.

The grants will help people of all ages and abilities take part in grassroots sport no matter where they live and provide a great boost for clubs who are looking to get their operations back on track following a disrupted 2020.

The grants provide clubs with up to $1,000 for new uniforms and equipment, up to $5,000 for training coaches, officials and volunteers and up to $5,000 to improve club operational effectiveness. A COVID Recovery category is also being delivered that will provide up to $5,000 to help sports get back on their feet

Recipients in previous rounds of funding included the Benalla Hockey Association which won $1,000 to purchase new uniforms and first aid kits for junior teams and the Sunbury Football Netball Club which is receiving $5,000 to develop a strategic plan to identify priorities relating to membership, participation and

The Sporting Club Grants Program is part of the Victorian Government’s commitment to make sport more accessible and inclusive, stimulate local economies, build sustainable sport and recreation and volunteer opportunities and increase local participation.

Since 2014, the Government has provided more than 4,950 sporting club with grants totalling more than $6.8 million.

For more information on the grants and how to apply visit the Sporting Club Grants Program.

Cutting the cost of energy bills for struggling Victorians

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Melbourne, Feb 8: The Australian Open kicked off in Melbourne today, with strict public health directions in place across the Melbourne Park precinct to protect the efforts of Victorians to combat coronavirus.

the state’s visitor economy.

The Victorian Government has invested almost $1 billion over the past 10 years in upgrading and expanding Melbourne Park so that it can continue to host the Open until at least 2039.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula praised the ongoing work of Victorians to contain coronavirus, which has made it possible for the Grand Slam tournament to proceed. Melbourne Park is divided into three zones around Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena as part of rigorous infection prevention and control measures in place to ensure the safety of players, officials, and the broader Victorian community. Dedicated entry points will apply for each zone and no movement will be permitted between the zones.

When completed in time for the 2023 Australian Open, the final stage in the Melbourne Park redevelopment will have created 2,300 full-time jobs through the Andrews Labor Government’s Local Jobs First Policy. The final stage of the redevelopment includes the 5,000-seat Show Court Arena, a new event centre and conference space – Centrepiece at Melbourne Park – as well as two new match courts and a logistics hub.

There will be a daily crowd capacity of 30,000 for the first eight days, with 25,000 per day from the quarterfinals and 12,500 in Rod Laver Arena for the final three days of the tournament.

Over the two weeks of the event, this will equate to about half of the average attendance in the past three years.

The Australian Open is a key pillar of Victoria’s major event program – last year it contributed an estimated $387 million to

Applications are now open for the latest round of the Victorian Government’s Sporting Club Grants Program.

Melbourne, Feb 2: The Andrews Labor Government is reducing the cost of energy for Victorians doing it tough, with a one-off $250 payment to help with their energy bills.

Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change Lily D’Ambrosio announced today that low-income households can now apply for the new Power Saving Bonus. The bonus is available to any households with a Victorian electricity account who holds a pensioner concession card or receives Jobseeker, Austudy,

back at Melbourne Park

Abstudy or Youth Allowance.

It will be available for 12 months and provide immediate financial relief to more than 900,000 Victorian households. The $250 bonus will be transferred electronically into the bank account of the recipient or provided via cheque on request, and processing will take approximately two to three weeks from application.

Electricity bills are the top cost of living issue for consumers and about 20 per cent of Victorian households requested financial

assistance with their energy bills last year due to the impacts of coronavirus.

To ensure the bonus is accessible to those who need it most, including those from marginalised communities and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the Government has enlisted the support of the Brotherhood of St. Laurence and the Consumer Policy Research Centre.

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Tickets to the Australian Open are available at ausopen.com/tickets.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula, said: “It’s been a tremendous effort by the people of Victoria, our public health team, the staff atCOVID-19 Quarantine Victoria and Tennis Australia to get to this point where the gates are opening for fans at Melbourne Park.”

“This is a significant milestone in the recovery of our visitor economy and a boost for the hotels, bars, cafes and restaurants that help make Victoria such a great place.”

Upgraded stadium a winner for Oakleigh community

Melbourne, 11 Feb: Local gymnastics, basketball, netball and volleyball players in Oakleigh now have fantastic new indoor facilities after the completion of major works at the Oakleigh Recreation Centre backed by the Victorian Government.

grow their numbers and host local and regional competitions.

The transformation of the centre was made possible by a $3 million investment from the Better Indoor Stadiums Fund and a $500,000 loan provided through the Community Sports Infrastructure Loan Scheme.

They also create jobs, stimulate local economies and fasttracking community recovery by improving health, wellbeing and social outcomes for Victorian communities.

The overhaul of the centre included construction of five new indoor basketball courts, which can also be used for netball, basketball, volleyball and other sports, and an improved gymnasium and group fitness areas.

The conversion has elevated the centre to the status of a state-level gymnastics facility, providing the perfect base for the Waverley Gymnastics Club to

From playspace upgrades to new sport centres, investments like these provide high quality and accessible places for Victorians to enjoy the benefits of sport and active recreation participation.

The Victorian Government has invested more than $1 billion in community sport and active recreation infrastructure since 2014.

Ms Spence acknowledged the Monash City Council, Federal Government and Waverley Gymnastics Club for their commitment and financial contributions to the projects.

For more information about available infrastructure grants.

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Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND

Youth Justice reforms to crack down Nitro World Games on recidivist offenders in Cairns heats up in Brisbane Brisbane, 6 Feb: Travel-hungry Australians are being urged to visit Queensland to experience its unique and beautiful national parks and wildlife attractions.

Environment and Great Barrier Reef Minister Meaghan Scanlon said there was no better time than now to visit the state’s world-famous natural wonders and family-friendly ecotourism activities, such as David Fleay Wildlife Park on the Gold Coast.

“From the Great Barrier Reef to Whitehaven Beach, Carnarvon Gorge and the many national parks we have throughout the state - Queensland has something to offer everyone,” Minister Scanlon said.

“Whether relaxing by the beach or camping or glamping in a national park, Australians starved for new experiences are sure to find something in Queensland that is on their travel bucket list.

“Our national parks and wildlife attractions are open and good to go.”

With ecotourism a vital element in the Palaszczuk Government’s plan to grow Queensland’s tourism industry, the Department of Environment and Science is investing in adventure and nature-based tourism across the state.

“We are delivering some of Queensland’s first ecotourism experience for national parks such as glamping at the 102-kilometre Cooloola Great Walk and the $41.4 million Wangetti Trail, a 94-kilometre walking and mountain bike track stretching from Palm Cove to Port

David Fleay Wildlife Park Douglas,” Ms Scanlon said.

(O’Reilly’s - open)

“By next year, the Palaszczuk Government will have delivered 100 tourism infrastructure projects throughout the state, many of which are ecotourism projects, and close to $400 million in new investment being delivered in partnership with the private sector right across Queensland.

• Australia’s first underwater hotel on the Great Barrier Reef (open - $10M project / Qld Govt Funding $2.75M)

“These projects are creating jobs, stimulating the economy in surrounding regions, and encouraging increased tourism in those areas.”

Minister Scanlon today inspected a new $40,000 immersive learning experience at David Fleay Wildlife Park which connects young people with wildlife and the environment in an educational setting.

Other Ecotourism projects include: • $2.8 million revitalisation of Green Mountains Campground in Lamington National Park

• $10 million Scenic Rim Trail and Queensland’s only Great Walk of Australia (Spicers – open) • $2 million upgrade and expansion of Hill Inlet Lookout on Whitsunday Island (completed $1M Qld Govt funding) • Australia’s first commercial ‘Via Ferrata’ climbing system at Binna Burra Lodge (under construction - $2.5M project / $1.67M Qld Govt Funding) • Australia’s first fully glassbottomed bridge at Cobbold Gorge in the Outback (open - $615,600 project / Qld Govt Funding $461,700) • Upgrades and new experiences at Great Barrier Reef Island Resorts like the re-opening of Wilson Island and new eco-tents at Lady Elliot Island Eco-Resort (open)

Brisbane, 4 Feb: Elite action BMX, skate and scooter sport is coming to Queensland with the Nitro World Games at Suncorp Stadium this October.

taking on the champion skills of some of the world’s best, it’s no surprise Nitro World Games has a global reputation for thrills and spectacle.

One of the first major events to release tickets for sale this year, the Nitro World Games is being held outside of the USA for the first time and is already seeing avid fans lock in two-day passes from across the country.

“Nitro is a significant highlight to circle on Brisbane’s 2021 events calendar.”

Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Nitro World Games would bring more than 60 competitors and thousands of spectators to Brisbane.

“Nitro World Games at Suncorp Stadium is predicted to deliver more that $20 million to Queensland’s tourism economy, attracting up to 76,000 visitor nights,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“That’s a spectacular and welcome boost for accommodation and transport providers, cafes, restaurants and local tourism businesses.

“Nitro world Games is a destination event that will bring visitors to South East Queensland and support local jobs for Queensland’s economic recovery.

“The hard work of Queenslanders on COVID-19 means we’re able to enjoy safe, elite action events like the World Nitro Games.

President of Asia Pacific for Thrill One Sports & Entertainment Andy Edwards said with all the heartache and disruption of last year, it feels especially good for the countdown to the first ever Nitro World Games outside of the USA to now have officially started.

“Pre-sale ticket demand last week has been truly unprecedented which just makes the prospect of staging this unique event in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium of screaming fans all the more exciting,” Mr Edwards said.

Nitro World Games is the next evolution of action sports competition, with the world’s top athletes in Freestyle Motocross, BMX, Skateboarding and Scooter set to compete.

The games will run from 2324 October, 2021 at Suncorp Stadium.

Tickets are being released for sale to the general public from 10am Sunday 7 February ,2021 at: www. nitroworldgames.com

“It’s another event coup for Queensland after last year becoming Australia’s sporting capital.

“With big-name Australian Freestyle motocross, BMX trick, skate and scooter athletes

Australian-first OMCG exit and prevention program launched Brisbane, 4 Feb: Minister for Police and Corrective Services and Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, the Honourable Mark Ryan MP, joined Commissioner Katarina Carroll today to officially launch Australia’s first exit program for former outlaw motorcycle gang members wanting a lasting way out of gang life.

The Exit Program launch coincided with the release of two videos revealing the truth about associating with OMCGs as told by former gang members and families.

The former outlaw motorcycle gang members featured in the videos tell how they and their families continue to live with the consequences of their choice to join a gang.

The message they both share is, you wouldn’t join a gang if you knew the truth.

Commissioner Carroll said these personal accounts expose the reality of life inside these criminal networks and the devastating impacts on families.

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“Police regularly see the terrible personal outcomes for people drawn into these gangs, and those featured in the video chose to participate because they want to highlight to others the effect gang membership has had on their health, families and future,” Commissioner Carroll said.

“More than 50 ex-OMCG members have participated in the research.

“It’s the first Australian study to explore reasons why individuals join and leave OMCGs by speaking directly to former club members.

“What the research tells us is more than half of those interviewed joined an OMCG following a significant life event or crisis, seeking camaraderie, but were instead met with a life of violence and crime and felt like there was no way out.

“For many ex-gang members, staying out of gangs and criminal activity is influenced by a range of factors and motivators, which individuals find difficult.

“It is these factors the Exit Program is trying to address in

order to reduce gang-related crime and the harm it causes families and communities.”

Australian Federal Police (AFP) National Anti-Gangs Squad (NAGS) Detective Acting Superintendent Jason McArthur said the AFP-led NAGS was a strong supporter of the new program, with the initiative providing a positive solution for OMCG members and their loved ones to escape the reach of these dangerous gangs.

“OMCGs are criminal gangs motivated by greed and these videos pull back the curtain and reveal the harsh reality of membership and association with these gangs using the stories of real people,” Detective Acting Superintendent McArthur said.

The Exit Program is an initiative of the Queensland Police Service and Queensland Corrective Services for adult ex-gang members in Queensland to access tailored support services including drug and alcohol issues, employment and training, mentoring, family relationships

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and mental health.

re-offending.”

While QPS acts as a referrer, the program is delivered and managed through community organisations and alongside government partners.

The Exit videos were produced in partnership with the Australian Federal Police National AntiGangs Squad.

Minister Ryan commended police for their innovative thinking in deterring gang recruitment while staying tough on OMCG activity.

“Police are continuing to use the Queensland Government’s tough laws to target and disrupt criminal networks and OMCG offenders,” Minister Ryan said.

The Queensland program supports the work being done through Taskforce Morpheus, a multiagency approach to combating crimes linked to OMCG nationally and internationally.

“Now, through the Exit Program and the prevention videos, police are expanding their focus on exposing the truth of gang membership delivered by exgang members themselves and providing a pathway from gangs.

“It is an opportunity for gang members to change the course of their life and their families.

“The Exit Program is an Australian-first and in fact the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, backed by research that highlights the potential for these programs to reduce rates of

Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll (Wikimedia Commons)

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Light rail Stage 2A gains federal approval Canberra, Feb 3: Stage 2A of light rail from Alinga Street to Commonwealth Park has passed another significant milestone with the Federal Government granting environmental approval for its construction.

The announcement comes as the ACT Government continues its work on the design of Stage 2 of light rail to Woden, with funding provided through the 2020-21 ACT Budget. $2.1 million will be invested

on early works design to raise London Circuit. Raising London Circuit is a crucial enabling project for light rail Stage 2A and will improve the urban realm and pedestrian and cycling access between the CBD, City West, Acton and the Acton Waterfront.

The project will raise the London Circuit road level on either side of Commonwealth Avenue, taking around two years to complete. It involves changing the current split-level, overpassunderpass configuration into a

Update on Belconnen Wastewater

level intersection. Construction is expected to commence in the 2021-22 financial year.

Canberra, Feb 4: ACT Health is pleased to report that a sample of Belconnen wastewater collected on 1 February, 2021 has come back negative with no traces of COVID-19 virus. This is a great result for Canberra, particularly those who live and work in the Belconnen area.

The 2020-21 Budget also allows for around $1.3 million for feasibility studies to assess the benefits of extending light rail even further from Woden to Mawson.

Light Rail to Woden will create thousands of local jobs during construction, supporting the economic recovery of our city in the coming years.

Results of routine weekly testing

The changes to the Public Health Direction that were put in place on Monday, 1 February, 2021

are in line with the easing of lockdown restrictions announced by the WA Government yesterday.

People who had recently been to these areas and were previously instructed to quarantine in the ACT will be able to leave quarantine (ACT time). This change also means that there will be no travel restrictions for

people coming from these areas of WA into the ACT.

Canberra, Feb 2: Gungahlin is one of the fastest growing regions in Canberra and more families are moving to the area and choosing to send their children to public schools. In the ACT, public school student numbers continue to increase by around three per cent each year.

While the lifting of restrictions in WA is encouraging, the ACT community should continue to follow all existing public health directions and the public health advice to keep the ACT community safe from COVID-19.

Colourful future for Scullin shops Canberra, Feb 2: The Scullin shops are undergoing a revival thanks to the creation of a stunning large-scale mural.

Scullin Community Group cofounder and president Sue White said the mural “got our creative juices flowing again after a tough 2020”.

“We want to get the shops this year to a point where they are a bit of a destination – we already have a great op shop, yoga, pizza and more – next on our list is a busy café,” Sue said.

Prior to mural’s completion, the community group had been working tirelessly to fundraise for the shops’ revival, however COVID-19 meant last year was more about ‘behind the scenes’ work rather than their popular public activities. But thanks to a combination of Federal

Government, ACT Government and community fundraising, the community group was able to get the mural project across the line – a huge step towards the revitalisation of the Scullin shops.

The community group commissioned artist Dave Cragg to create and paint the mural.

Inspired by Canberra’s native flora and fauna, and positioned on the left side of Scullin shops, the colourful artwork features earthy tones, flowers and an Australian native Honeyeater bird.

“Everyone loved it … When our nine person-committee saw the proposed design, they were unanimous; that never happens!” committee member Emily Brindley said.

The mural has generated many admiring onlookers – with people already using it as a background

As part of the ACT Budget 2020-21, new schools are being planned for the region as well as expansions for some existing schools to keep up with demand and ensure every child has a place at a great local school.

for their selfies – and it has also helped create a sense of pride within the community.

“What it’s done for our key volunteers is [that] it’s really inspired us. Suddenly it’s opened up all this other creative thinking about what we can do here,” Sue said.

Scoping and design work is starting for a new high school in Taylor, which will cater for around 800 students from Year 7 to 10, and is planned to open

The next project on the community group’s agenda is to fundraise money to get a shade structure over the main courtyard, as well as tables and chairs alongside the mural. And if there are any talented baristas out there, the community group wants to hear from you.

Canberra, Feb 4: To support the mental health of Canberrans, the ACT Government is funding a range of programs through the 2020-21 Budget to ensure people receive the support they need during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond.

“There’s certainly opportunities for more shops, and we’ve got some really clear ideas around how we can support those people,” Sue said.

$15.8 million will be invested to extend a range of mental health programs and services that were funded by the COVID-19 Mental Health Support Package in May 2020 to support and increased demand on services. These programs and services include:

ANU is the first “sister” institute of GIWL - based at King’s College London - and home of the Institute’s Asia-Pacific node.

Founded and chaired by former Australian Prime Minister the Hon Julia Gillard AC, GIWL aims to create a world where being a woman is not a barrier to becoming a leader in any field.

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Professor Ryan, who graduated from ANU with undergraduate and PhD qualifications, will join ANU on 1 July. She has spent the last 17 years in the UK and will continue as a part-time Professor of Social and Organisational Psychology at the University of Exeter, prior to relocating to Canberra.

“I am very excited to be returning to The Australian National University after almost 20 years working in Europe,” Professor Ryan said.

ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt AC said improving

gender equality across Australia and the Asia-Pacific was one of the University’s highest priorities.

• $14.1 million to continue the seven-day-a-week operation of the Police, Ambulance and Clinician Early Response (PACER) program through until 2024, • $500,000 for the Mental Health Foundation, • $135,000 for Menslink, • $100,000 to continue grief counselling services during the pandemic, Courtesy Twitter Professor Michelle Ryan

The glass cliff - which was shortlisted as the Oxford Dictionary’s word of the year in 2016 - describes how women in business and politics are often put in leadership roles that are more risky or precarious or during times of crisis when the chances of failure are highest.

The institute brings together research, practice and advocacy to better understand and address the causes of women’s underrepresentation in leadership positions across sectors and countries, and the way gender negatively impacts the evaluation of women leaders.

for the 2024 school year. Work is also starting to expand Margaret Hendry Primary School by the 2023 school year. The expansion will cater for an additional 800 students from Year 7 to 10.

Road access to the high school in Kenny will also be built, so parents can drop their children off in times when they can’t ride or walk to school. The high school, due for completion by 2023, will also feature a multi-purpose double gymnasium that will also be available for community use.

All new and expanded schools in the ACT will operate with net zero carbon emissions to help move towards the ACT Government’s new zero emissions target by 2045.

Funding boost for mental health support

Leading light on women’s leadership joins ANU Canberra, Feb 4: Professor Michelle Ryan, who famously uncovered the concept of the “glass cliff”, will join ANU as the inaugural Director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership (GIWL) at ANU.

on 2 February 2021 at all sites in the ACT, including Belconnen, have not yet been received by ACT Health. However, this initial negative result in Belconnen from 1 February, gives confidence that the positive detection from last week was likely the result of a recovered case of COVID-19 who was intermittently shedding virus.

New and upgraded schools for Gungahlin

Travel restrictions for Western Australia lifted Canberra, Feb 5: Restrictions that were in place affecting travel from the Perth metropolitan area, the Peel and South West regions of Western Australia (WA) to the ACT will be eased with effect from 6pm, 5 February.

NEWS FROM ACT

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• $80,000 for Mental Illness Education ACT, • $720,000 for the Access Mental Health Service and Home Assessment Acute Response Team (HAART), • $120,000 to continue the community mental health and wellbeing communications campaign, and

• $80,000 for the Safe Haven Café. $3.156 million will be provided for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAHMS) to continue to operate the Adolescent Mobile Outreach Service. This service improves care for vulnerable young people and increases the availability of existing services supporting young people under the age of 18 who have moderate to severe mental illness.

The ACT Government is also investing $655,000 to increase mental health support for young Canberrans with highly complex needs who are at risk of mental illness. This funding includes: • scoping for a multidisciplinary service to support young people with complex needs who experience mental health challenges alongside trauma and/ or drug and alcohol abuse.

• scoping for an intensive trauma service for adolescents built on the Melaleuca Place model to support recovery and positive behaviour for 13 to 17-year-olds who have experienced childhood trauma, including abuse or neglect.

This investment supports the work already underway to deliver an Adolescent Mental Health Unit

by September 2022.

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India-US joint training exercise commences at Rajasthan’s Mahajan Field Firing Ranges Jaipur, Feb 8 (IANS): “The India-US joint training Exercise YudhAbhyas commenced at the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges on Monday with an opening ceremony that saw the unfurling of the national flags of both countries amidst the playing of the national anthems,” said Liutenant Colonel Amitabh Sharma, PRO Defence, Rajasthan.

On Saturday, the US Army contingent comprising a brigade headquarters and a battalion group of the 2nd Battalion, the 3rd Infantry Regiment of 1-2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, comprising of 270 personnel, had landed at Suratgarh. The 14-day schedule is focused upon joint training in Counter-Insurgency environment under the mandate of United Nations, he added.

The opening ceremony was held on Monday at Mahajan Field Firing Range. Brigadier Mukesh Bhanwala, Commander 170 Infantry Brigade welcomed the US contingent.

He impressed upon both the contingents to achieve optimum

A number of aerial platforms including newly inducted indigenous Advance Light Helicopter WSI ‘RUDRA’, MI - 17,

Chinooks, Stryker Vehicles of US Army and BMP-II Mechanised Infantry Combat Vehicles of Indian Army, will be utilised in the exercise.

The exercise will enrich both the contingents from each other’s rich experience in counterinsurgency operations. Besides counter-insurgency operations, exchange of experiences in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief will also be a part of the exercise.

Australian politicians undergo quarantine in Canberra Canberra, Feb 1 (IANS): A number of Australian politicians, including Defence Minister Linda Reynolds, have been forced to undergo quarantine in Canberra following a lockdown imposed in the city of Perth after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive for Covid-19.

Politicians who flew from Western Australia (WA) to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) on Sunday evening ahead of Parliament resuming on Tuesday were informed on arrival that they were required to immediately quarantine until at least Friday and get tested for the virus, reports Xinhua news agency.

The development comes after WA Premier Mark McGowan announced that the Perth metropolitan area, Peel and South West regions would enter a five-day lockdown from Sunday evening based on “the best of

health advice due to a fastevolving situation in Western Australia with the positive Covid-19 case detected in a hotel quarantine worker”.

“ACT Health advises that all passengers should go directly to their accommodation in a mask, review the WA government website and follow all directions from WA authorities,” passengers were told.

“ACT Health will be in contact directly with passengers should additional advice be required.”

The development has thrown the first parliamentary sitting days of 2021 into confusion.

“We will do everything that we are advised to do,” Reynolds told

New York, Feb 9 (IANS): After being torn between a fuller revenge against former US President Donald Trump and advancing incumbent President Joe Biden’s agenda, both Democrats and Republicans have opted for a short Senate impeachment trial starting on Tuesday.

week or so, allowing Congress to proceed with important legislative work.

On Monday, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnel hammered out an agreement that could see the Trump’s trial wrap-up within a

Trump, who is now living in Florida, has refused to appear before the Senate trial.

Indications are that the trial would only be a catharsis for the Democrats as he would ultimately be acquitted at the Senate because they seem to lack the 67 votes needed in the 100-member upper chamber to convict him.

On January 13, the former leader was impeached for a second time

The US will “take on directly the challenges posed” to “our prosperity, security, and democratic values by our most serious competitor, China”, Biden said in his speech at the State Department on Thursday.

Challenging Beijing, he declared: “We’ll confront China’s economic abuses; counter its aggressive, coercive action; to push back on China’s attack on human rights, intellectual property, and global governance.

“American leadership must meet this new moment of advancing authoritarianism, including the growing ambitions of China to rival the US.” The strong language was a turnaround from his globalist past as Senator and Vice President and his campaign statements like, “They’re not competition for us” and “China is going to eat our lunch? Come on, man”.

He did not layout a concrete plan in his speech to take on the China challenge, but spoke in generalities.

Arrivals to Canberra, which included Minister Reynolds, from WA were told of the new conditions by a broadcast on the planes.

reporters upon her arrival in Canberra earlier Monday.

ACT Health said in a statement that the department was moving to ensure the safety of the community by asking anybody who has been to the Perth metropolitan area or the Peel and South West regions of Western Australia since January 25 to self-quarantine and get tested for Covid-19.

Democrat, Republican leaders agree to short impeachment trial of Trump

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Biden names China main adversary, but silent on India, Indo-Pacific New York, Feb 5 (IANS): In his agenda-setting foreign policy speech, US President Joe Biden has made China the principal adversary of America, but failed to make any mention of the Indo-Pacific region or of India in confronting it.

cohesion and inter-operability to achieve the military objectives of the exercise. He stressed upon importance of free exchange of ideas, concepts, best practices between the troops and the necessity to learn from each other’s operational experiences as well enhance situational awareness

by the House of Representatives accusing him of instigating the deadly January 6 Capitol riots, paving the way for the judicialstyle trial in the Senate.

This is his second impeachment.

The first was a year ago on charges for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress ended in his acquittal because all 53 Republicans voted against conviction on one charge and in the other only one, former presidential candidate Mitt Romney, switched sides.

This time in the chamber divided

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WORLD NEWS

“We will compete from a position of strength by building back better at home, working with our allies and partners, renewing our role in international institutions, and reclaiming our credibility and moral authority, much of which 50-50, at least five Republicans are expected to go with the Democrats, a number not sufficient to convict.

Trump’s lawyers in their briefs ahead of the trial have questioned the constitutionality of impeaching a president who is not in office and have raised the constitution’s First Amendment guaranteeing free speech against prosecuting Trump for the speech to his supporters that the Democrats say instigated the riots.

Democratic prosecutors have asserted that the impeachment of former presidents is permitted under the constitution and said that his speech was an “incitement of insurrection” and “is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a President”.

Many Democrats chafing under the humiliations heaped on them over four years by Trump wanted an extensive, dramatic trial with witnesses testifying about their ordeal during the attack when the rioters stormed the Capitol and forced their way into the

has been lost.

“But we are ready to work with Beijing when it’s in America’s interest to do so,” Biden added.

His predecessor Donald Trump had made the Indo-Pacific region, the main theatre of confrontation, a focus of his strategy on China with the Quad -- US, India, Japan and Australia -- as an emerging force there, an alliance of democracies bookended by Washington and New Delhi.

Biden did not mention the IndoPacific or, while speaking of allies, the Quad or India.

But he mentioned his conversations with the leaders of Japan, South Korea and Australia in the region with a view to “rebuilding the muscle of democratic alliances that have atrophied over the past few years of neglect”.

Two foreign policy leaders in his administration, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan have spoken of the importance of the Indo-Pacific and India.

Blinken “underscored India’s role as a pre-eminent partner of the US in the Indo-Pacific” in his discussions with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, according to the State Department.

The White House said that when Sullivan called his Indian counterpart AjitDoval, they spoke about “continuing close co-operation in the Indo-Pacific region and promoting regional security”.

Senate chamber and offices of Congressional leaders.

But Democratic Party’s leadership decided on a quick trial so they can get on with the work of legislating Biden’s Covid-19 recovery package and confirming key officials so the President could have his cabinet in place.

Only seven officials have been approved so far.

The plan for the trial was “eminently fair” and “will allow for the trial to achieve its purpose: truth and accountability”, Schumer said.

Biden himself has not sounded eager for an extensive trial as it could interfere with his agenda.

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

WORLD NEWS

Process launched for UN Secy-Gen India to host Indian selection, appointment Ocean Region Defence United Nations, Feb 9 (IANS): The Presidents of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) and Security Council have signed a joint letter to member states, which officially launched the selection and appointment process for the position of Secretary-General, a top official said here.

bodies, Varma added.

“That letter, which had been posted on our website, states that member states presenting candidates should do so in a letter to the presidents of the General Assembly and Security Council,” Xinhua news agency quoted Brenden Varma, spokesperson for UNGA President Volkan Bozkir, as saying at a press briefing on Monday.

“Our office has just launched a web page, which should help the public to better understand the secretary-general selection and appointment process,” said the spokesperson.

The Presidents will jointly circulate to all member states the names of individuals that have been submitted for consideration when received, the spokesman said.

They will also offer all candidates opportunities for informal dialogues or meetings with members of their respective

The letter states that informal dialogues with candidates in the General Assembly will take place before the Council begins its selection by May or June, and might continue, if necessary, throughout the process of selection.

Asked if any candidates had been presented thus far, Varma noted that the incumbent, Antonio Guterres, had confirmed to the UNGA President his availability to serve.

Regarding any other candidates, none had been presented as of yet.

In that context, the spokesman said that the letter outlining the procedure for member states to present candidates, if they so wished, had only been sent out on the afternoon of February 5.

If candidates were presented, the membership would be informed, and candidates’ profiles would be posted online, said Varma.

Asked whether there was a deadline for member states to present candidates, the spokesperson said there was nothing set in stone and recalled that the UNGA President had said in his last press conference that candidates could be presented “even one month before January”.

The joint letter mentioned May or June, as a time by when informal dialogues with candidates in the General Assembly might happen.

But that was not an official deadline, as member states had not imposed time limits on the process, according to the spokesperson.

Varma recalled that the UNGA President had said at his press conference that, depending on the number of candidates and when they were presented, there may also be different waves of dialogues.

The term of a UN SecretaryGeneral is five years. Guterres took office on January 1, 2017.

Myanmar military takes control after detaining Suu Kyi

Ministers’ Conclave Bengaluru, Feb 3 (IANS): India will host the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) Defence Ministers’ Conclave on Thursday on the margins of Aero India 2021. The broad theme of the conclave will be “Enhanced Peace, Security and Cooperation in the Indian Ocean”, the ministry of defence said.

Till January 30, 2021, there was total confirmed physical participation from 18 countries including the Defence Ministers of four countries (Maldives, Comoros, Iran and Madagascar), six Ambassadors/High Commissioners (Australia, Kenya, Seychelles, Mauritius, Kuwait and Myanmar), the Defence Secretary of Sudan and the Service Chiefs of 10 countries. Also, six countries are either participating virtually or sending their recorded messages.

The conclave is an initiative to promote a dialogue in an institutional, economic and cooperative environment that can foster peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region.

The conclave will address aspects related to Defence Industry co-operation amongst participating countries, sharing of resources available in Indian defence shipyards for design and shipbuilding, and Indian Ports with friendly countries.

It will also address informationsharing towards increased maritime domain awareness, maritime surveillance and cooperation, Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief

(HADR), Marine Pollution Response activities and development of technologies and capabilities for harnessing marine resources.

The Defence Ministers’ Conclave will be followed by two seminars.

The first seminar will be conducted by the Indian Navy and the Naval Maritime Foundation and the second seminar will be organised by the Indian Coast Guard and Industry on February 5.

The conclave and the two follow up seminars will be instrumental in realising IOR into a region of ‘Peace, Progress and Prosperity’ and enhancing the cooperation and coordination among countries of the region for sustainable development and mutual coexistence.

India is geographically central to the Indian Ocean and has a vast coastline of 7,500 kms.

“India’s vision for Security and Growth for All (SAGAR), as articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cannot be realised without close cooperation and engagements amongst countries in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR),” the ministry said.

Navigating through the pandemic year of 2020, India is taking the lead in organizing an international platform for the world Aerospace and Defence (A&D) leaders to exchange ideas and forge partnerships towards synergizing the efforts in the A&D sector.

India urges Myanmar to uphold democracy after coup

Yangon, Feb 1 (IANS): The Myanmar military on Monday detained government leaders including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint, after which the government declared a state of emergency which will last one year.

The emergency declaration signed by First Vice President U MyintSwe, who is serving as the Acting President, was announced on the military-owned Myawady TV, reports Xinhua news agency.

detained by the military earlier in the day.

“I received internal reports about our state counsellor and president being taken by the military. As far as I was informed, Shan State’s Planning and Finance Minister U SoeNyunt Lwin, Kayah state’s NLD chairman ThaungHtay and some NLD representatives of the Ayeyarwady region’s Parliament have been detained,” MyoNyunt, spokesperson of the NLD, told Xinhua.

The state power will be handed over to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Min Aung Hlaing, according to the declaration.

“Two members of the Central Executive Committee of the party were taken and I am also waiting to be detained as I was informed by our members that my turn will come shortly,” he said.

Besides Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint, other senior officials of the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) were also

The state-run Radio and Television (MRTV) is also no longer working, the channel announced on its social media

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page.

Telecommunications in capital city of Nay Pyi Taw and some other regions and states are also being cut off.

The coup comes after tensions escalated between the civilian government and the military following the disputed November 2020 general elections.

In the election, Suu Kyi’s NLD won enough seats to form a government, the BBC reported.

But the army has insisted that the vote was fraudulent.

The newly-elected lower house of parliament was due to convene for the first time on Monday but the military was calling for a postponement.

Myanmar was ruled by the military until democratic reforms began in 2011.

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New Delhi/Naypyidaw, Feb 1 (IANS): India on Monday expressed “deep concern” over the military coup in Myanmar which has been placed under a state of emergency for one year, urging the neighbouring country to uphold the rule of law and the democratic process.

A statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi said that the government was monitoring the situation closely.

“India has always been steadfast in its support to the process of democratic transition in Myanmar,” the government said.

Monday’s coup came just two months after State Counsellor Aung Sun Suu Kyi’s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept the November 8, 2020, general elections in Myanmar.

Myanmar’s military-backed opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) had disputed the results, in which

NLD secured way above the 322 seats required to form the government.

It was the second general polls since 2011, when the military rule ended in the country.

Earlier this week, the military had warned that it will take action if the complaints about “election fraud” were not addressed. It had also hinted the possibility of a coup.

On Monday morning, the military seized control of the country after it detained Suu Kyi, President U Win Myint and other senior officials of the NLD party.

Last week, IANS had reported that the coup appeared to be a likely outcome given China’s grip over the internal situation in the country.

Myanmar’s military junta, which ruled the country through the 90s and 2000s, has had the backing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

WORLD THIS WEEK

Contributed by the National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bengaluru

Compiled by D Suba Chandran, Sourina Bej, Avishka Ashok and Teshu Singh

US President Joe Biden - Courtesy The White House

The US: Biden calls for the return of America and diplomacy, as he unveils the US foreign policy priorities What happened?

On 4 February, in a speech at the US Department of State, the new President Biden outlined his foreign policy priorities. The message he wanted the world to hear is: “America is back.

Diplomacy is back at the center of our foreign policy.”

As a general outlook on the American alliances, leadership, China and Russia, he said: “We will repair our alliances and engage with the world once again, not to meet yesterday’s challenges, but today’s and tomorrow’s. American leadership must meet this new moment of advancing authoritarianism, including the growing ambitions of China to rival the United States and the determination of Russia to damage and disrupt our democracy.”

In terms of principles that the US would like to follow in conducting foreign policy, he said: “we must start with diplomacy rooted in America’s most cherished democratic values: defending freedom, championing opportunity, upholding universal rights, respecting the rule of law, and treating every person with dignity.”

He considered climate change as an existential threat, as he wants to build global cooperation to address the same.

What does it mean?

As Biden underlined in his 4 February speech, the above would mean that the US is back and would use diplomacy and alliances to reengage the world.

This would be crucial and much needed, given the four disastrous years of American foreign policy of disengaging the world and breaking the alliances. Biden’s big challenge would be to fill the gap that Trump has yielded and fill it fast. 2021 is not 2016; there have

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been numerous changes in the last five years. Biden will have to be proactive.

The emphasis on human rights should be another significant relief. Starting from Yemen, there are numerous conflict spots, that need a rightful engagement of the US. On this issue as well, there are enormous challenges – starting from Russia, Middle East, Africa, Afghanistan, Myanmar and the list would be a long one. Biden will have to prioritize.

Russia: New tension with Europe, Moscow expels European diplomats What happened?

On 5 February, Russia expelled diplomats from Germany, Sweden, and Poland for joining the protests in support of opposition activist Alexei Navalny, who was jailed earlier last week. In its statement, the Russian foreign ministry said the diplomats had taken part in “illegal demonstrations” held on 23 January and “such actions do not correspond to their diplomatic status. Russia expects that in the future, the diplomatic missions of Sweden, Poland and Germany and their personnel will strictly follow international law norms.”

The diplomats’ home countries have condemned the expulsions along with the UK, France and the EU. German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass denounced the expulsion as being “in no way justified.” Sweden said the claim was unfounded and said it reserved the right to an appropriate response. Poland reiterated that the expulsion could lead to the “further deepening of the crisis in bilateral relations.” EU’s foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, who is currently in Russia, on behalf of the EU, said he “strongly condemned this decision and rejected the allegations that they conducted activities incompatible with their status as foreign diplomats.”

What does it mean?

First, despite tensions, the EU has not engaged in constructive criticism of Russia. Instead, they have come together to negotiate on the Iran nuclear deal or the Paris climate agreement. The EU is still Moscow’s most significant trade and investment partner, and Merkel on 6 February has said Berlin’s stance on the Nord Stream 2 remains “unaffected”.

Thus, it is difficult to foresee any untoward pushback from the EU yet. Second, international pressure didn’t alter Russia’s defiance on human rights and freedom in 2014. It probably will not now as the hallmarks of Moscow’s preparation to handle the “Navalny issue” is the same as it did with the Crimean crises.

China: New Redlines on Xinjiang, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as US-China relations starts under Biden What happened?

On 1 February 2021, in a conversation with Jacob J. Lew, the Politburo Member and the Director of the office of the Central Committee for Foreign Affairs of the Politburo of the 19th CPC Central Committee, Yang Jiechi expounded on the state of US-China relations and prospects for the future of the bilateral relations. In his address, he cautioned the US not to cross the “red lines”.

What does it mean?

Will the Biden administration go back on the Trump policies? The new administration has already reaffirmed Taiwan’s enduring commitment and advised China “to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure.” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken also said he agreed that China’s actions in its western Xinjiang region should be designated as “genocide”. He has also offered support to people fleeing Hong Kong, “the US should give haven to people fleeing political repression in Hong Kong.

Consequently, Yang Yechi alluded to draw a “red line” on the core issues and reiterated that the US should fulfil its commitment to abide by the One-China principle.

Yang Jiechi speech was the most high-profile appeal by China to the US ever since Joe Biden took office. Through this speech, he has put the onus on the US to mend the damage caused by the “misguided policies” under the Trump administration.

Furthermore, after the speech, China Daily published an article titled, “US govt urged to focus on cooperation”. The article highlighted that both China and the US task to take their relationship back to “a predictable

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and constructive track”. It stated, the two largest economies should build a model of interaction that “focuses on peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation”.

ALSO IN NEWS China: BBC reports of systematic abuse in Xinjiang detention camps On 3 February, the BBC published a report regarding the horrifying treatment of women in China’s “re-education camps”. The report spoke about systematic rape, sexual abuse and torture of Uighur women at Chinese authorities’ hands. The report has garnered strong statements from Australia, UK and the US, demanding inspection in the region by international bodies like the United Nations. While accusing the BBC of fake news, China has denied the reports of abuse and insists that the camps operate per the international regulations on human rights.

Japan: Two-plus-two meeting with the US to strengthen relations On 4 February, the defence ministers and foreign ministers of Japan and Britain conducted a virtual meeting where the two countries agreed to cooperate on economic, national security, cyberspace, the pandemic and climate change. Japan raised the recently passed Chinese Coast Guard Law and appreciated the dispatch of Queen Elizabeth, an aircraft carrier strike group, in the South China Sea. The two countries signed a comprehensive economic partnership right after Britain’s exit from the EU. Myanmar: Coup leads to Civil Disobedience; increase in demands for Suu Kyi and Myint Win’s release On 1 February, the military detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint and other members of the NLD. 24 Ministers of the NLD were removed and instead an eleven-member bench was appointed comprising of retired military officers and members of

WORLD THIS WEEK the USDP. On 2 February, most detainees, except Suu Kyi and Myint Win were released. The UN Security Council met to release a statement on the subject but were blocked by China who stated the matter as an “internal matter” of Myanmar.

Russia: Sputnik V Vaccine announces 91 per cent efficacy On 2 February, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) confirmed the safety and efficacy by announcing 91 per cent efficiency of the Sputnik Vaccine.

The vaccine was effective against the coronavirus even in senior citizens over the age of 60. The Chief Executive Officer of the RDIF said that the Sputnik V vaccine was among the only three vaccines in the world which provided with efficiency above 90 per cent and also provided ease in transportation and storage due to its requirement of 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.

Russia: Navalny’s arrest intensifies protests across Russian cities On 2 February, Alexey Navalny was declared guilty for violating the terms of a case from 2014. He was sentenced to three-and-half years in prison, but he failed to report regularly to the Federal Penitentiary Service. The court has converted his judgement into a real one after claiming his excuse for non-appearance to be insufficient. Over 1400 people have been detained for protesting against the arrest of Navalny.

Navalny also issued a statement from prison, urging the people not to give up the fight against Putin’s government.

Canada: Proud Boys declared as a terrorist group On 3 February, Canada has declared the Proud Boys group as a terrorist group for the US Capitol’s insurrection 6 January.

The extremist group, an ardent supporter of Trump and Trump’s policies, has been scrutinized for their actions at the Capitol Hill and Canada is the first country to label them as a terrorist entity.

Canadian Public Safety Minister said, “their intent and escalation toward violence became quite clear”. In response, the chairman of the Proud Boys claimed that there were approximately 1500 proud boys in Canada and that a terrorist entity’s designation is ridiculous.

About the authors D Suba Chandran is Professor and Dean in the School of Conflict and Security Studies at NIAS; Teshu Singh is a Research Fellow with the Vivekananda International Foundation; Sourina Bej is a researcher with the Global Politics team at NIAS; and Avishka Ashok is Research Assistant, in the School of Conflict and Security Studies at NIAS. The report has been modified

by India News due to space considerations.

Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

MAKE IN INDIA

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

Budget is foundation stone for making India ‘future-ready’: Goyal New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS): Hailing the Union Budget 2021-22, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said that this Budget is the foundation stone for making the country “future-ready”.

Talking about the government’s role during the Covid pandemic, Goyal said that the way the government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra

Courtesy Piyush Goyal Twitter

Addressing a press conference at the Delhi BJP office as part of an outreach to explain welfare measures in the Budget, Goyal said important steps were taken to revive the economy under five ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ packages announced last year and now the economy is moving ahead.

then saved livelihoods, and then is moving fast saving both. We have left the whole world behind with our initiatives,” said the minister.

Modi, handled the situation is an example throughout the world.

“The Prime Minister was clear in his thoughts that he has to save people’s lives first and then ensure livelihoods by fixing the economy. India is a country that first saved the life of its people,

Invest India CHANDIGARH Commonly known as ‘The City Beautiful’ Chandigarh is considered to be one of the best-planned cities in the country. The high quality of social infrastructure, large green spaces and its compact size, makes it an ideal destination to live and work.

The quality of life in the city is often compared to some of the best cities across the world.

Chandigarh is also the capital city of two of the neighbouring states - Punjab and Haryana.

Chandigarh has a well-connected international airport, which handled over 4,500 tonnes of freight in 2015-16. Renewable energy sources contribute over 67% to the territory’s overall power requirements. The government has proposed setting up a monorail network to cater to the exponential increase in the transport needs of the city.

Chandigarh has the presence of over 56,000 MSME units. About 40% of industries in the union territory are ancillary units that manufacture components for tractors. Other industries based in the territory include IT, electronics, pharmaceuticals, machine tools and plastics. Rajiv Gandhi Chandigarh Technology Park (RGCTP), developed in two phases, has been accorded the SEZ status. Concurrently, the territory is planning to set up a terminal market for fruits and vegetables to support crop diversification program undertaken by the Governments of Punjab and Haryana.

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CHATTISGARH Shares border with 7 states, providing access to 40% of India’s population Located in Central India, Chhattisgarh shares its border with seven states and has market access to about 520 mn people across these states. The new capital of the state, Naya Raipur, is India’s first greenfield smart city.

The state is very well connected through rail, road and air and also has the potential of being India’s logistics hub. It is the highest contributor to railway freight. The state will be home to one of the seven Multimodal logistic parks to be constructed in India. Thriving sectors in the state include agriculture, iron and steel, cement and thermal power. The state accounts for approximately 15% of the total steel produced in India. Industrial infrastructure in the state has been strengthened through creating state-of-the-art facilities in the industrial areas.

Presently, there are 52 developed industrial areas in the state. The state also has an installed power capacity of over 14,000 MW. Known as the ‘Rice Bowl of India’, rice is the major crop of the Chhattisgarh covering 66% of the total cropped area. The state is also a major producer of maize, cereals, pulses and horticulture produce such as turmeric, ginger, guava, tomato, pea and cabbage. With 44% of its geographical area under forest cover, Chhattisgarh is one of the greenest states in India. About 88 species of medicinal plants grow in the state and the government actively promotes usage of

He further stated that the Budget has taken care of every section of the society like farmers, small businessmen and the middle class without putting extra tax burden and this has been done despite a resource constraints and with a possibility of reduced revenue till next year.

“This Budget was prepared with foresight. No burden has been put on taxpayers. The finance minister has also managed to give importance to the economy as well as prepare the country for the future,” Goyal said. ethnomedicine, practised by aboriginal tribes since centuries.

The state also contributes about 43% of the total lac produced in the country.

DADRA AND NAGAR HAVELI AND DAMAN AND DIU The Parliament of India in December 2019 passed a bill to merge two Union Territories Daman and Diu, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli into one UT. There are over 7,100 industrial units in the UT, around 85% of which lie in the MSME sector.

The Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu Union Territory consists of three districts, namely Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu. Dadra and Nagar Haveli is made up of two regions- Nagar Haveli which is located between the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra, and Dadra is located within Gujarat. Daman is on the mainland near the southern portion of Gujarat and Diu is an island near Junagarh district in Gujarat.

Major industries present in the region are polyester and cotton yarn, plasticizers, paper petroleum byproducts, pharmaceuticals, plastics, electrical conductors and marble tiles.

DELHI Home to India’s National Capital Territory of New Delhi Delhi is one of the fastest growing regions of India, consistently recording a growth rate of about 12.82% in 2018-19 (GSDP at current prices).

The capital city is a popular tourist attraction, majorly for street shopping, the variety of cuisines served here and its rich

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He also said that India can become “Aatmanirbhar” only when it moves forward with “Aatmavishwas” (self-confidence).

He said that even the opposition was not able to criticise the Budget this year. On the Railways’ share in the Budget, Goyal said that the finance minister allowed Railways to invest Rs 2.15 lakh crore which is five times more than Rs 40,000 to 45,000 crore invested before 2014.

“100 per cent electrification of railways has been approved.

Railways will become dieselcultural heritage. Delhi also hosts several trade conventions and fairs throughout the year. The region has an attractive realestate market and huge potential for agrochemical-based products.

The city has a total installed power capacity of over 7581 MW. Situated in the north of the country, Delhi is at a convenient distance from neighbouring states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana.

Delhi has headquarters of various key government ministries and departments.

Delhi Metro, a joint venture between the Government of India and the Government of NCT Delhi, is a revolution in mass transportation in the country consisting of 285 stations linking Delhi with neighbouring National Capital Region (NCR).

The region (NCT) has a total road network of over 24,000 lane km.

Delhi also has one of the busiest airports in the world, Indira Gandhi International Airport.

River Yamuna is the main river that flows through Delhi.

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

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

Goa is a coastal state located in Western India. Goa is accessible through sea-route and has a presence of one of the 12 major ports in India at Mormugao.

The state is also well-connected through rail and road routes. The National Highway-17 connects

free in the next three years,” he said. Accepting the operation of bullet train has been delayed, the railway minister said that land acquisition in Maharashtra for the project has been stalled.

“In Pragati meeting, the Prime Minister has directed Maharashtra to provide land for the project. Maharashtra has provided only one-third of land required for the project. Gujarat has made available more than 90 per cent of land required and the tendering process for work in the state has started,” he said.

Goa with Mumbai in Maharashtra and other major cities in Karnataka.

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

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

Gujarat ranked #1 in Export Preparedness Index 2020.

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

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

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

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

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

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

FASHION

Ravishing Fashionistas: Fashion Show 2021 A

fter organising two sold-out events in 2019 and 2020, Ravishing Fashionistas are set for another extravagant runway for all ages and sizes.

The team is again organising a dynamic gathering of designers, creators and patrons of the fashion industry at their next sensational fashion show to be held on July 3 at Royal International Convention Centre.

The Ravishing Fashionistas team has delivered a unique concept of “embracing yourself by breaking stereotypes in fashion industry”. This is setting a new standard where any woman can confidently be a model in her own right irrespective of body type, background or culture by advocating positive body image.

Their team is comprised of experts from the fashion industry and other professionals who volunteer their time to produce the shows that showcase professional and emerging models and designers.

Upma Kite, Mrs. Universal Australia 2019, the founder and concept creator of this show, is determined to deliver an exceptional fashion show experience.

As per a statement from Mrs

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Kite: “We have pledged that a portion of funds raised will go to the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Dignifying Women Charity. Your support will make a difference to many lives.

“With attendees including local politicians, celebrities and influencers under one roof, audience will witness the best of Brisbane’s models, fashion designers, jewellery creatives, stylists, hair and makeup artists, photographers. We promise to deliver a spectacular event.”

In the lead up to the event the event has several phases scheduled. The first is: Casting call When: March 14, 2021 Where: Hamilton Hall, 36 Racecourse Rd, Ascot QLD-4007.

Time: 10 AM to 1 PM Anyone can support the fashion firm by buying tickets to the exclusive show, or by referring Ravishing Fashionistas to potential sponsors/designers/stall holders/sample suppliers.

Readers can visit Ravishing Fashionistas website at https:// www.ravishingfashionistas.com Here’s the casting call page: https://fb.me/e/1UuoXG6YG You can also follow their social

Ravishing Fashionistas team, with Upma Kite in the midle (in red) media pages:

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Vaccine Maitri: India’s ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’ diplomacy draws global praise

Time to balance certainty to international students and national interest

T

he title-phrase is derived from the Hindu scripture the Upanishads, meaning the world is one family. For centuries, the phrase has shaped India’s spiritual and egalitarian outlook and, during contemporary independence, the country’s diplomatic and foreign policy contours. This ancient philosophy characterised India’s fight against Covid-19 in the initial phases of the pandemic outbreak and now in distributing the vaccine to the needy nations.

Notwithstanding a 17% of the world population (1.3 billion) to look after and an underdeveloped public healthcare, India’s inspirational leadership with a humane touch to help others, is winning hearts and minds globally. In early 2020, when the nations were looking inwards, PM Narendra Modi had held marathon telephone conversations with hundreds of head of states including – in Australia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, EU, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Maldives, Nepal, Oman, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, (State of) Palestine, Sweden, Thailand, Uganda, UAE, UK, US and Vietnam – to discuss joint strategies against Covid-19, and offering necessary support in the crisis. A lesser-known fact is that on 26 February last year a special Indian air force flight had carried 15 tonnes of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) to Wuhan at the request of President Xi Xinping. On return, it ferried 76 Indians, 23 Bangladeshis, 6 Chinese, two nationals each from Myanmar and Maldives, and one each from South Africa, USA and Madagascar – all stranded in ‘ground-zero’.

In April 2020, PM Modi had also spoken with the BRICS foreign ministers to share India’s antiCovid measures including, Arogya Setu disease surveillance portal, Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief fund (PM Cares), SAARC Covid-19 Information Exchange Platform (COINEX) and pharmaceutical assistance extended to other countries. Subsequently, India supplied Hydroxychloroquine and anti-pyretic paracetamol

to over 150 countries, including 25 nations in Africa alone. So much so that President of Brazil compared PM Modi with the legend of Hanuman, the monkey god in Hindu mythology, who had carried Sanjeevani (medicine) from the Himalayas to save the life of Lord Rama’s wounded brother, in the battle against the demons in Lanka. India has also provided grants-in-aid valued at around Rupees 80 crore to 82 countries.

Come 2021, being the world’s pharmaceutical hub, the Serum Institute of India developed the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, producing 2.5 million doses per day, which has enabled the country to help its neighbours and 25 other countries. Besides, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles and Afghanistan, now Indian made vaccine is being sent to Bahrain, Brazil, Morocco, Mauritius, Nicaragua, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Seychelles and the UAE. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, 24 million vaccine doses have been set aside for 25 countries in the month of February. Interestingly, Canada is not included. It is believed that at the heels of recent misgivings over the farmer’s protest, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau reached out to PM Narendra Modi to secure vaccines supplies, and was assured of all necessary help by the latter. According to the MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava, “As of date (12 Feb.), we have supplied a total of 229.7 lakh doses to the global community.”

Additionally, over 200 million doses will also be sent to the World Health Organisation, for distribution in the poorer countries. Yaroslav Trofimov and Bellman in a piece in the Wall Street journal titled, “In Covid-19 Diplomacy, India Emerges as a Vaccine Superpower”.

The New York Times wrote, “India, the unmatched vaccine manufacturing power, is giving away millions of doses to neighbours friendly and estranged”, and “Acting East.

Acting fast,” is how Dr S. Jaishankar, India’s foreign minister described India’s Vaccine Maitri diplomacy drive by the ‘Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’ philosophy.

By Professor Nick Klomp It has been almost 12 months since international students last arrived en masse in Australia, ready to begin the 2020 university year.

Many more, ready to commence their Australian studies, saw borders close before they could arrive – and by the end of 2020, some 138,000 international students were enrolled at Australian universities, including CQUniversity, but studying from their home countries.

These students are acutely aware of what they’re missing out on our vibrant university experience, our global industry connections, innovative workplaces, the inimitable Australian lifestyle.

But Australia stands to lose just as much, as education experts estimate the number of international students in our country will drop to half the precoronavirus cohort by July this year.

While international students are patiently making the best of a tough situation, we need a plan to make it better.

In recent months, we’ve seen governments hurriedly move mountains to ensure Australia’s top-tier sporting events can go ahead – signing off on international charter flights, opening new streams of quarantine accommodation, arranging “isolation bubbles” for training. We’ve also made special arrangement for farm workers, international seafarers and aircrews.

mostly young people to our shores, generating employment for 130,000 Australians.

public health remains the number one priority.

CQUniversity’s international student cohort, coming from over 80 different countries, is a small portion of that number.

Small and controlled cohorts could arrive on chartered flights, quarantine in independent accommodation, and meet strict travel requirements, as our sector prioritises health and safety above all else.

But I’ve seen first-hand the value they bring as students, workers, generous community members.

And they graduate as advocates of our great nation, sharing their Australian experiences wherever their careers take them. Indeed, 84 per cent of graduates return to their home country to pursue employment.

Australia’s international education boom of the past decade has too often been derided as creating “degree factories”.

In reality, national and universitylevel regulations ensuring the quality of our education are vast.

At CQUniversity for instance, we make an offer of enrolment to just one out of every nine foreign applicants. Our rejection rate is so high because we are uncompromising in our vetting process; scrutinising academic records, English language proficiency, financial capacity to support themselves while studying, performance in a formal interview, and study intentions and career aspirations.

While domestic students can be

The burden on the taxpayer would be non-existent (with students or their universities footing the bill), and commercial airline seats and government quarantine processes would remain prioritised for returning Australian citizens.

There is even an opportunity for our regional communities to get a bigger slice of the international education benefits.

While foreign students have traditionally preferred city education, regional centres like Rockhampton, Mackay and Cairns – among the safest destinations in the world and barely touched by the ravages of COVID – could emerge as new education leaders and attract international students in their thousands. This could transform economies in those areas and create new opportunities for growth and employment creation.

CQUniversity, with campuses

So why is there still no staged and strategic plan to welcome back international students, despite international education being Australia’s third-biggest export?

International students injected $37.6 billion a year into Australia’s economy before the pandemic hit.

(The Australian sporting industry, by comparison, contributes less than half that amount.).

International students injected $37.6 billion a year into Australia’s economy before the pandemic hit. The Australian sporting industry, by comparison, contributes less than half that amount.

Nearly 60 per cent of that figure is what international students spend on goods and services once they get here – and that’s just the start of their contribution to the Australian community.

In 2019, we welcomed 876,000

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EDITORIAL

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enrolled on the spot and begin studying almost immediately, international students face a gruelling 12-18 month process of tests, forms and background checks.

And yet, they still clamour to come. Such is the pull of our universities and our lifestyle, that the Australian sector was about to overtake the United Kingdom as the world’s second most popular study destination.

But for how much longer will international students put their study dreams on hold?

While Australia is the envy of the world for how we’ve controlled COVID-19, destinations like Singapore, Japan, the USA, Canada, and even New Zealand have already moved to welcome back international students.

Surely this is not beyond the will of Australia.

Australian universities are ready and willing, albeit with the highest degree of COVID safety to ensure

across regional Australia, understands that our regions desperately want fresh opportunities in the wake of the pandemic downturn.

We’ve already seen massive breakthroughs in logistics, treatment and science for dealing with COVID-19.

It’s time for a breakthrough in how we welcome back our international students, and the vast economic benefits they bring – safely, with a smile, and before our competitors take away Australia’s market.

Professor Nick Klomp is ViceChancellor of CQUniversity. He is entrusted with the safety, wellbeing and success of more than 7,500 international students from 88 different centres, plusmore than 2,000 staff and 25,000 domestic students, working and studying at CQUniversity campuses across the nation.

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BUSINESS & TRADE

HAL to make head-up display systems Mobile app to help farmers find new market for pilots developed by IIHR Bengaluru, Feb 9 (IANS): Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) would make head-up display (HUD) systems for pilots in partnership with Israel’s Elbit Systems Electro Optics Elop Ltd, the aerospace major said on Monday.

“We signed a pact with Elbit to make and supply digital overhead head-up display (HUD) systems for guiding pilots in navigating their aircraft,” HAL said in a statement here.

A HUD system displays data or information for pilots to view with their head up and looking straight instead of seeing it in instruments on dash board at a lower angle in the cockpit.

Though HUD systems were developed for military aviation, they are also being used in commercial aircraft, automobiles and other applications.

“The HUD systems will be initially produced at our Korwa plant in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi. A dedicated facility will be set up for volumes later,” said an HAL official.

The company will upgrade its facility by acquiring the latest technology on HUD systems.

“The digital HUD system with modern optics provides sharp brightness, larger field of view and larger head motion box,” said the statement.

The company has supplied to Indian Air Force about 500 HUDs for their Sukhoi-30MKI, Jaguar and MiG-27M upgrade fighters’ fleet.

“Our Korwa plant had a licensed transfer of technology agreement with Elbit for setting up the facility to make and maintain cathode-ray tube HUDs in the past.

Elbit participated in the 13th edition of Aero India 2021 expo February 3-5.

Google removes 100 fraudulent instant loan apps in India: Govt New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): Google has so far removed about 100 instant loan apps from its PlayStore in the country that were involved in alleged collection of personal data and its misuse, fraudulent and unlawful practices of physical threats and use of other coercive methods for recovery of loans, according to the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY).

Answering a query in the Lok Sabha, the IT Ministry said that upon being notified by law enforcement agencies of the availability of certain money lending apps that were possibly not in compliance with the applicable legal and regulatory framework, Google has already removed about 100 such apps since December 2020 till January 20, 2021.

The IT ministry said it received a number of public grievances against frauds and the malpractices by few online instant

loan applications available on internet including on Google PlayStore.

Google last month informed that it reviewed hundreds of personal loan apps in India and pulled down several of them found to be violating its app policies.

The company said it has asked the developers of the remaining identified apps to demonstrate that they comply with applicable local laws and regulations in India.

“We have reviewed hundreds of personal loan apps in India, based on flags submitted by users and government agencies,” said Suzanne Frey, Vice President, Product, Android Security and Privacy.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in December said that legitimate public lending activities can be undertaken by banks, NBFCs registered with RBI and other entities who are regulated by the state governments under

appropriate statutory provisions such as Money Lending Acts.

“Members of the public were cautioned not to fall prey to such unscrupulous activities and were requested to verify the antecedents of the company/firm offering loans online or through mobile apps,” the RBI had said.

As per the “Google Play Developer Policy”, financial services apps that offer personal loans are required to disclose key information such as minimum and maximum periods of repayment, maximum annual percentage rate, and a representative example of the total loan cost.

To help further ensure that users are not subject to unfair terms, only personal loan apps with full repayment required in greater than or equal to 60 days from the date the loan is issued are permitted, according to Google policy.

Top India challenges ahead for new Amazon CEO New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS): A toughened upcoming ecommerce policy, legal feuds, the imposition of new taxes and widespread anger among the leading retail associations, the road ahead for upcoming Amazon CEO Andy Jassy will not be a smooth one in India when he takes over the reins from Jeff Bezos in the third quarter of this year.

The fact is that just like Bezos, Jassy also treats India as one of the key growth markets.

In 2018, Jassy had said that the Asia-Pacific region has huge potential to write the next

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growth story for Amazon Web Services (AWS), with India playing a key role in Cloud adoption among both enterprises and the governments.

“The business in the AsiaPacific region is very broad and is growing very quickly. The business is growing rapidly in China, India, Singapore, Australia and South-East Asian countries,” he had said during a press conference.

In November 2020, AWS had announced to invest Rs 20,761 crore (nearly $2.7 billion) to set up multiple data centres

in Hyderabad. This will be the second AWS region within India after Mumbai, which is expected to go live by mid-2022.

Last month, the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had launched a quantum computing applications lab in the country in collaboration with AWS. In the financial year 2020, the revenue of Amazon Seller Service, the online marketplace unit of e-commerce giant Amazon India, grew by 43 per cent from Rs 7,593.5 crore to Rs 10,847.6 crore.

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Bengaluru, Feb 8 (IANS): In a bid to eliminate middlemen and to give farmers’ access to multiple markets, the ICARIndian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR), Bengaluru, on Monday launched its ‘ArkaVyapar’ mobile application during five-day national horticulture fair 2021.

He added that for a long time, farmers have faced the biggest hurdle in terms of middlemen controlling the market, and now it is farmers who will be in control of the things. “The market dynamics will change as the farmer will have control since he can sell his produce to whoever pays the highest rate,” he said.

IIHR Director M.R. Dinesh told IANS that the very aim of this app is to provide direct marketing linkage to farmers. “It is an open application and any one can install it on his or her mobile.

Through it, one can sell or buy produce,” he said.

After releasing this app virtually, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) Director-General Trilochan Mohapatra said that the ‘Ark Vyapaar’ will help farmers to double their income. “Most of the horticulture produces being perishable, this app will bridge the demand and supply gap.

This could turn out be disruptive technology,” he said.

The director said that this app will also provide market updates regularly.

Bangladesh economy better than India’s: Cong Guwahati, Feb 7 (IANS): Assam’s Congress leader and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday said that in terms of economy, Bangladesh is better than India as the BJP government’s misgovernance has failed to deliver the goods in each front.

Reacting to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit and address to a public gathering in Assam on Sunday, Gogoi told the media that the Northeast Industrial Policy undertaken by the Congress-led previous UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government has been scrapped by the BJP government led by Modi.

He said : “Modi and present BJP leadership would not accept the contributions of the previous Congress government for Assam, it is understood, but they even forget the contributions of former Prime Minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government.”

The Congress leader said that during the BJP governance in Assam, various corrupt syndicates are proactive in all sectors -industrial to education to welfare schemes.

He said people whoever raised any petty issues or criticise the government they are being harassed by various central agencies causing shrinking of

democratic space in the country.

Gogoi, son of former Assam Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader late TarunGogoi, said that Modi and his government used CBI, ED, NIA, Income Tax Department against the critics.

“People are even not being allowed in making comments on social media.”Congress’s Deputy leader in the Lok Sabha said that due to the various agitations, including the protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and the ongoing farmers’ stir, had claimed the lives of many people, but the Modi government is “not in a mood to listen to anyone’s legitimate demand”.

“In Assam, the Prime Minister’s Sunday speech in the public gathering was silent on many issues of Assam including the chronic flood problem. He just came for a few hours to befool the Assamese,” said the Congress MP from Kaliabor parliamentary constituency.

He also criticised the BJP government at the Centre for promising tea garden workers of solving their problem, but not done anything even granting the Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the community and providing minimum daily wage of Rs 351 remained unfulfilled.

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India set to see largest energy demand spike: IEA New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS): India’s ability to ensure affordable, clean and reliable energy for its growing population will be vital for the future development of its economy, but avoiding the kind of carbon-intensive path previously followed by other countries will require strong policies, technological leaps and a surge in clean energy investment, a new report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Tuesday.

The India Energy Outlook 2021, a special report in the IEA’s World Energy Outlook series, examines the opportunities and challenges faced by the planet’s third-largest energy consuming country as it seeks to recover from the Covid-19 crisis.

India is set to experience the largest increase in energy demand of any country worldwide over the next 20 years as its economy continues to develop and bring greater prosperity to its citizens.

The combination of a growing and industrialising economy and an expanding and increasingly urban population will drive energy use higher, raising the question of how best to meet that swelling demand without exacerbating issues like costly energy imports, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

“India has made remarkable progress in recent years, bringing electricity connections to hundreds of millions of people and impressively scaling up the use of renewable energy, particularly solar,” said IEA Executive Director FatihBirol.

“What our new report makes clear is the tremendous opportunity for India to successfully meet the aspirations of its citizens without following the high carbon pathway that other economies have pursued in the past. The energy policy successes of the Indian government to date make me very optimistic about its ability to meet the challenges ahead in terms of energy security

and sustainability.”

The rapid expansion of solar power combined with smart policy-making are transforming India’s electricity sector, enabling it to provide clean, affordable and reliable power to a growing number of households and businesses, the report finds.

However, as is the case in economies around the world, the transport and industrial sectors -- areas like road freight, steel and cement -- will prove far more challenging to develop in a sustainable manner.

More than that of any other major economy, India’s energy future depends on buildings and factories that are yet to be built, and vehicles and appliances that are yet to be bought. Based on India’s current policy settings, nearly 60 per cent of its CO2 emissions in the late 2030s will be coming from infrastructure and machines that do not exist today.

This represents a huge opening for policies to steer India onto a more secure and sustainable course.

If India goes down this path, it would need to address the critical challenge of the industrial sector through efforts like more widespread electrification of processes, greater material and energy efficiency, the use of technologies like carbon capture, and a switch to progressively lower-carbon fuels.

Electrification, efficiency and fuel switching are also the main tools for the transport sector, alongside a determined move to build more sustainable infrastructure and shift more freight onto India’s soon-to-be-electrified railways.

These transformations -- on a scale no country has achieved in history -- require huge advances in innovation, strong partnerships and vast amounts of capital.

The additional funding for clean energy technologies required to put India on a sustainable path over the next 20 years is $1.4 trillion, or 70 per cent, higher than in a scenario based on its current policy settings.

But the benefits are huge, including savings of the same magnitude on oil import bills.

India faces a range of evolving energy security challenges. Based on today’s policy settings, India’s combined import bill for fossil fuels is projected to triple over the next two decades, with oil by far the largest component.

Domestic production of oil and gas continues to fall behind consumption trends and net dependence on imported oil rises above 90 per cent by 2040, up from 75 per cent today.

This continued reliance on imported fuels creates vulnerabilities to price cycles and volatility, as well as possible disruptions to supply.

ENERGY & RESOURCES

Himalayan glaciers sensitive to climate change, rapidly shrinking: Explained

New Delhi, Feb 9 (IANS): Himalayan glaciers are highly sensitive to climate change and are rapidly shrinking, posing a big threat to the populations that rely on them, according to scientific explanations.

Besides the ecosystem services that the glaciers provide, their melting increases the risk of runoffs and floods as recently seen with the Uttarakhand glacier disaster that claimed 26 lives and 197 people still reported missing with rescue operations underway.

The science behind what is currently happening in the Himalayas was forecasted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its 2019 report that say glaciers would retreat in the upcoming years, causing landslides and floods.

Himalayan glaciers play an important role in South Asia, providing drinking water and water resources for agriculture, hydropower and biodiversity.

Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region are a crucial water supply for the 240 million people who live in the region, including 86 million Indians, roughly the equivalent of the country’s five biggest cities combined.

Another comprehensive report two years ago, the Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment, coordinated by the International

Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) notes that eastern Himalaya glaciers have tended to shrink faster than those in central and western Himalaya.

ICIMOD develops and shares research, information and innovations to empower people in the eight regional member countries of the Hindu Kush Himalaya region -- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.

Sounding an alarm, a 2019 discussion paper by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) notes the warming rate over the Himalayan region is projected to increase in the range of 0.5 degree to one degree Celsius by 2020s and one to three degrees by midcentury.

Describing the Himalayas a water tower, Jawaharlal Nehru University’s School of Environmental Science Professor A.P. Dimri said with increasing global warming, the upper reaches of the Himalayas are warming faster, leading to more rapid melting of the glaciers.

An analysis by the UN University (UNU) said by 2050 most people on earth will live downstream of tens of thousands of large dams built in the 20th century, many of them already operating at or beyond their design life, putting lives and property at risk.

ONGC to implement India’s first geothermal energy project in Ladakh Moody’s changes India’s power sector outlook from negative to stable New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): Energy major ONGC will implement India’s maiden ‘Geothermal Field Development Project’ in Ladakh.

outside the UT round the year.

Further, direct heat energy applications make it most relevant to Ladakh.”

A memorandum of understanding to formalise the plan has been inked between the ONGC Energy Centre (OEC) and the Union Territory of Ladakh and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council.

According to the statement, ONGC has planned the field development in three phases.

“This project of ONGC will put India on Geothermal Power map of the world,” the company said in a statement.

“Geothermal resource development can revolutionise farming in Ladakh, which is now totally dependent for supply of fresh vegetables, fruits from

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“Phase I involves exploratorycum-production drilling of wells up to 500 metres depth and setting up of a pilot plant of up to 1 MW power capacity. Phase II would involve deeper and lateral exploration of geothermal reservoir by drilling of optimal number of wells and setting up of a higher capacity demo plant and preparing a detailed project report.”

“Phase III would involve

commercial development of the geothermal plant.”

At present, Puga and Chumathang in eastern Ladakh are the most promising geothermal fields in India.

“These areas were discovered in 1970s and initial exploratory efforts were made in 1980s by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). But development efforts to exploit geothermal energy by government as well as private agencies did not materialise for some reasons.”

“After creation of UT Ladakh, efforts were taken up earnestly

by ONGC Energy Centre, culminating in this MoU.”

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New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): Moody’s Investors Service has changed India’s power sector outlook from negative to stable on generation growth.

Accordingly, on February 6, India’s Central Electricity Authority reported a 3.1 per cent year-on-year growth for the country’s power generation in January, the fifth consecutive month of power generation growth after six months of decline driven by coronavirus pandemic.

“We have changed the outlook for the Indian power sector to stable from negative, recognising the better prospects for the sector as a result, amid an improved macroeconomic backdrop,” Moody’s Investors Service said in a statement.

“Sustaining growth in power generation indicates a stabilisation of the operating environment, which was severely impacted by the lockdowns to contain the pandemic.”

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Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

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Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

ARTS & LITERATURE

Kolkata Book Fair to be held in July 200 musicians come together to mark 174th Thyagaraja Aradhana Kolkata, Feb 4 (IANS): Considering the upcoming Assembly elections and multiple board exams in West Bengal, the 45th International Kolkata Book Fair will be held in the month of July this year at the Central Park Mela Ground in Salt Lake.

Earlier, the fair, which is held at the end of January every year, was deferred owing to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Necessary health protocols will be taken to organise the fair in this changed schedule. We expect that international flights will be in operation by that time and the fair will see global participation like the earlier years,” said Tridib Kumar Chatterjee, President, Publishers and Booksellers Guild.

He also welcomed all intending publishers, booksellers, editors of little magazines and other participants to submit their applications at the Guild House from March 1 onwards.

He said that the added attraction of the event -- the 8th Kolkata

Literature Festival -- will be organised as usual during the book fair.

“We are happy to announce that for the first time, the Publishers and Booksellers Guild will organise a book festival -‘Ekushe Bhasha Utsab’ -- on the occasion of the International Mother Language Day, Chatterjee said. The festival will celebrate Bengali literature, language and culture.

“As of now, the pandemic situation has improved. The focal theme country of this year’s

book fair is Bangladesh. The year is also the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and it is also the 50th year of the independence of Bangladesh. The book fair will be dedicated to Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee year of Bangladesh’s independence,” Chatterjee said.

He added that the 125th birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the birth centenary of Satyajit Ray will also also be celebrated during the book fair.

Pranab Mukherjee’s diaries may soon be a book New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS): Sharmistha Mukherjee, national spokesperson of the Congress and the daughter of former India President late Pranab Mukherjee, said that she is contemplating to come out with a book based on her father’s handwritten diaries.

Announcing this at a session with Rasheed Kidwai during the Kalinga Literary Festival, Sharmistha said that though she would like to write her father’s biography, she faced a moral and ethical dilemma of what to include and what not to mention in the proposed book.

Sharmistha, who is also a classical dancer, spoke on a range of

subjects. Apparently, Mukherjee has left her with 8,000 books and a collection of pipes that he used to smoke.

Talking about ‘The Presidential Years’, the fourth and concluding volume of Mukherjee’s memoirs, Sharmistha said, “This is completely my father’s book.

I may or may not agree with everything mentioned in it, but I am glad that it is out. However, I feel terribly sad that he is not there to talk about his work.”

She also said that the former President religiously wrote diaries. “Writing diary was a daily ritual for him. Despite his hectic schedule, he would never miss his

Sahu, an engineering student, found a mention in Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ address on Sunday for her artwork to promote cloth-based scroll paintings ‘Pattachitra’.

“It is a proud moment for me, my family and the entire Odisha that the Prime Minister has mentioned my artwork in his Mann Ki Baat. I had never expected that my artwork of Pattachitra will give me a national identity. I thank the Prime Minister,” said Bhagyashree.

“I started all these last year when I joined M.Tech first year. During the lockdown, I focused on my passion for Pattachitra painting. I have decided that I will follow my passion in future,” she added.

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During his monthly radio programme, Modi praised her for popularising the traditional art form.

“Look at Bhagyashree Sahu of Rourkela. Although she is a student of Engineering, in the past few months, she started learning the art of Pattachitra and has mastered it. On her way to college, Bhagyashree found soft stones, and collected and cleaned them. Later, she painted these stones in Pattachitra style for two hours every day,” said Modi.

“After painting these stones, she started gifting them to her friends. During the lockdown, she started painting on bottles too. And now, she even conducts workshops on this art form. A few days ago, on the birth anniversary of Subhash Babu (Subhash Chandra Bose), Bhagyashree paid him a unique tribute done on stone,” said Modi.

Meanwhile, congratulatory

Celebrating the late composer, the musicians gave a rendition in chorus, of his pancharathna kritis.

The Aradhana began at 8 am, with rendition of mangala isai.

morning walk, puja and writing the diary,” she said.

Talking about a biography of Mukherjee, Sharmistha said, “Well, I would definitely love to have one and as I have the diaries, I will publish them. However, the form is yet to be decided, I am working on that.”

Honour to be mentioned by PM: Bhagyashree Bhubaneswar, Jan 31 (IANS): Bhagyashree Sahu of Odisha’s Rourkela, who was praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for her artwork on Sunday, said it was an honour to be mentioned by the Prime Minister.

Thanjavur, Feb 2 (IANS): Adhering to Covid protocols such as social distancing, as many as 200 musicians gathered on Tuesday at saint-composer Thyagaraja’s samadhi for the 174th Thyagaraja Aradhana event. The samadhi (memorial) is located in Thiruvaiaru of Tamil Nadu’s Thanjavur district.

messages poured in for Bhagyashree Sahu.

Union ministers from Odisha, Dharmendra Pradhan and Pratap Sarangi congratulated for her endeavour.

“Spoke to Bhagyashree Sahu.

Congratulated her for efforts to promote #Pattachitra art and also encouraged her to continue her inspiring work in making our art and culture more popular.

She was excited and expressed happiness on her work getting noticed by PM @narendramodiji,” tweeted Pradhan.

“It was a moment of pride to know from the #ManakiBaat of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi ji about Bhagyashree Sahu from Rourkela who mastered the art of traditional Patta Chitra paintings in a few months of practice despite she being a student of Engineering,” tweeted Sarangi.

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Earlier, a portrait of the saint was taken in procession to his samadhi from Thyagaraja Kutir and a special puja (prayer) was held.

The 174th Thyagaraja Aradhana culminated at 11 am, with an Anjaneyar procession.

Born in 1767 at Thiruvarur, the legendary composer moved to Thiruvaiyaru and continued to live there and composed a large number of kritis praising Lord Rama.

Thyagaraja breathed his last in 1847.

Exploring the other side of the LoC New Delhi, Jan 28 (IANS): ‘Forgotten Kashmir’ examines the evolution of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) over the past seven decades. It includes major milestones like the tribal invasion in 1947-48, the Sudhan revolt in the 1950s, the Ayub era, the Simla Agreement, the adoption of the Interim Constitution of 1974 and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

It is not simply a historical account but one that analyses the events in PoK against the background of developments in Pakistan’s polity and the situation within the area to better understand Pakistan’s motivations for its policies in the region.

The book, published by HarperCollins, delves into contentious issues, such as the right of self-determination that is distinct from the concept of plebiscite in Jammu & Kashmir debated in the UN Security Council (UNSC). For a fuller understanding, the issue is examined considering the positions of principal actors, particularly the United Kingdom up to the 1950s, as well as the subsequent evolution of the right of self-determination.

development of the CPEC that runs through the Northern Areas, now renamed Gilgit-Baltistan.

The book also covers internal developments in that remote area.

The author, Dinkar P. Srivastava, a seasoned diplomat, provides a wealth of information that comes from his involvement in the Kashmir issue at India’s Ministry of External Affairs and discussions at the UN, his stint in Karachi, and as a member of bilateral working groups on counter-terrorism with the US, EU, UK and Canada.

“Much has been written about Jammu & Kashmir. However, very little is known about the other side of the Line of Control (LoC). The purpose of writing this book is to look at Pakistanoccupied Kashmir (PoK) in terms of the aspirations of its people and the policies of Pakistan. The yardstick is not the Indian stand, but Pakistan’s international commitments and the context of contemporary Pakistan. For better or worse, the destiny of the people of the territory is tied to the evolution of Pakistan’s polity.

If so, the people of PoK deserve to be treated at least on par with the people of Pakistan,” Srivastava says.

More recently, Chinese presence in the region has grown with the

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Delhi: AQI ‘very poor’ despite rise in wind speed New Delhi, Feb 7 (IANS): Despite strong wind speed, air quality of the national capital dipped to ‘very poor’ category, with the hourly average air quality index at 316 micrograms per cubic meter on Sunday afternoon.

HEALTH

Australia gets additional 10 million PfizerBiontech vaccines

The Ministry of Earth Sciences has advised sensitive groups to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. If asthmatic, keep relief medicine handy, it emphasised.

Delhi’s neighbouring regions Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram are also logging ‘very poor’ quality of air.

Ghaziabad and Noida’s air quality remained the worst amongst all, with very poor air quality of 338 and 322 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively.

is regarded as good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is very poor and 401-500 is considered severe.

An AQI within the limit of 0-5

Pfizer’s Covid vax not allowed yet for emergency use in India New Delhi, Feb 5 (IANS): India’s drug regulatory authority has withheld approval of Pfizer’s Covid vaccine after the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) said that it does not recommend granting permission for its emergency use authorisation (EUA) in the country “at this stage”.

The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation’s (CDSCO) expert committee has noted number of serious adverse events (SAE) observed post-marketing of the Pfizer vaccine in other countries as a prime reason behind its non-recommendation for EUA here, minutes of the meeting accessed by IANS said.

“The committee noted that incidents of palsy, anaphylaxis and other SAEs have been reported during post-marketing and the causality of the events with the vaccine is being

investigated,” the committee observed, as per the document.

Besides, the SEC noted that the firm has not proposed any plan to generate safety and immunogenicity data “in Indian population”.

“After detailed deliberation, the committee has not recommended grant of permission for emergency use in the country at this stage,” the directions from experts’ committee in the document said.

The US-based pharmaceutical giant was the first drugmaker to apply for the EUA of its Covid vaccine in the country on December 5. The Pune-based Serum Institute of India followed it on December 6 for EUA of Covishield while Bharat Biotech sought EUA for Covaxin on December 7.

Both Covishield and Covaxin were permitted for EUA on January 3 by the Drug Controller General of India. Their administration is underway in the country’s Covid immunisation programme.

Meanwhile, Pfizer has issued a statement, saying that it has withdrawn its application for now and would re-apply with the additional data in hand sought by the SEC. “Based on the deliberations at the meeting and our understanding of additional information that the regulator may need, the company has decided to withdraw its application at this time,” it said in the statement.

“Pfizer will continue to engage with the authority and resubmit its approval request with additional information as it becomes available in the near future,” the company added.

Aus quarantine hotel shut down after 2 new Covid cases Melbourne, Feb 10 (IANS): A quarantine hotel in the Australian state of Victoria was shut down on Wednesday after the detection of two new Covid-19 cases linked to

the facility.

The Covid-19 cluster at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport increased to three on Wednesday, which comprises a returnee who

left the hotel, a food and beverage worker and a female authorised officer who tested positive for the virus two days ago, reports Xinhua news agency.

The government agency in charge of Victoria’s hotel quarantine system, Quarantine Victoria (CQV) announced the decision to close the hotel on Wednesday morning.

“The CQV is implementing strict infection prevention and control measures after a hotel quarantine worker, who last worked at the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport on February 4, tested positive for the virus,” it said in a statement.

A woman wearing a mask reads a mask-wearing notice in Sydney, Australia, Jan. 4, 2020

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“As a highly precautionary measure, the Holiday Inn Melbourne Airport is being closed until further notice for terminal cleaning, and with detailed contact tracing and investigations underway.”

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Courtesy Forbes

The air quality index is likely to marginally deteriorate and remain in the poor to very poor category on February 7. Very Poor air quality is forecasted on February 9 and 10, the forecast further stated.

Canberra, 4 Feb: The Australian Government has secured an additional 10 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID 19 vaccine on the advice of the Scientific Industry Technical Advisory Group on Vaccines led

by Professor Brendan Murphy.

Through the Government’s Advance Purchase Agreement with Pfizer, this additional 10 million vaccines means Australia will now receive 20 million Pfizer doses in 2021.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Government is committed to providing safe and effective vaccines free to everyone in Australia.

“Securing the additional PfizerBioNTech vaccines is another positive step in protecting Australians from COVID-19,” the Prime Minister said.

“Australia is a vaccination nation—we have one the highest vaccination rates in the world.”

As the rollout begins, people who need protection the most will get the vaccine first. This includes aged care and disability care residents and workers, frontline health care workers, and quarantine and border workers.

The priority groups have been determined based on the advice of the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) which oversees Australia’s highly successful immunisation program.

The Australian Government is also extending free access to COVID-19 vaccines to all visaholders in Australia.

“We now have access to over 150 million vaccine doses, ensuring we remain a world leader in the fight against the virus.”

This will include refugees, asylum seekers, temporary protection visa holders and those on bridging visas. People currently residing in detention facilities will also be eligible, including those whose visas have been cancelled.

The vaccination program remains on track for commencement of delivery in late February to people in the first priority group, Phase 1a.

“It is vital that we offer vaccines to all people living in Australia to achieve the maximum level of coverage.” the Prime Minister said.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said making safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines available to everyone in Australia is a key priority for the Australia Government.

Australia has entered into four separate agreements for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines, if they are proved to be safe and effective. Combined, these agreements will ensure access to approximately 150 million doses.

“I encourage people to get vaccinated when their turn comes – every vaccination helps us defeat the virus,” Minister Hunt said.

“Australians understand that vaccines work. They save lives and improve lives. They protect lives. We can be confident that every COVID-19 vaccine approved in this country will be safe and effective.”

Anyone who spent 15 minutes or more at the hotel between January 27 and February 9 is now considered a primary close contact of the outbreak and will be required to self-isolate for 14 days.

The Australia Government, states and territories, regulators and the health and medical sectors are working together to finalise arrangements under the Australian Vaccination Strategy and detailed roll out plans. Further information about the Australian Government’s COVID-19 Vaccine National Rollout Strategy can be found at www. health.gov.au/covid19-vaccines to the Pullman Melbourne to quarantine an extended number of days and about 135 staff at the hotel were stood down on Tuesday night and instructed to quarantine for 14 days at home and get re-tested.

As many as 48 residents at the Holiday Inn are being transferred

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SPORTS

Uttarakhand tragedy: Rishabh Pant Tall Ishant manages to donate match fee stress on joints well to Chennai, Feb 8 (IANS): Pained by the loss of lives in the massive flash flood caused by a glacier breach near Joshimath in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district, India wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant has decided to donate his match fee of the ongoing first Test against England in order to contribute towards the rescue efforts.

Nearly 150 people were still feared missing and many killed and as many as 10 bodies have been recovered after the tragic incident that took place on Sunday morning.

Pant also urged people to come

reach 300-wkt mark

out and help in these trying times.

“Deeply pained by the loss of life in Uttarakhand. Would like to donate my match fee for the rescue efforts and would urge more people to help out,” Pant said in a tweet.

“Stay strong people of Uttarakhand. Praying for everyone’s well being…,” tweeted Harbhajan Singh.

The rescue operation is still in progress and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia for next of the kin of all those who have lost their lives and Rs 50,000 compensation for those who were seriously

injured in the disaster.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has also announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the families of all the deceased.

BBL 10 most-watched tournament in league history Sydney, Feb 8 (IANS): The recently-concluded 10th edition of the Big Bash League (BBL) was the most-watched tournament in league’s history, Cricket Australia informed on Monday.

An average audience of over 1.4 million watched the Sydney Sixers claim their third BBL title in thrilling fashion over the Perth Scorchers on Saturday night across Seven, Foxtel and streaming services including Kayo.

That represented a 15 per cent increase on the BBL 9 final and ranked as the fourth most watched BBL game ever.

The BBL 10 final reached 2.5 million viewers on Seven and 669,000 on Foxtel, capping an extraordinary season in which as players, officials, staff and broadcast partners successfully navigated through the many challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic, the CA release stated.

Despite crowd restrictions, border closures and the need to stage the tournament in a biosecure hub, a total of 522,140 fans attended matches across Covidsafe venues in seven states and territories.

“The KFC BBL has the best fans in the country and we are grateful to

the record number of Australians who tuned in to watch our tenth season,” said Alistair Dobson, Cricket Australia’s Head of Big Bash Leagues.

“Bringing joy to our fans was the driving force for everyone across the league and clubs all season and we thank every one of them, whether they watched on TV or a device, listened on radio or attended at the stadium. We trust they enjoyed the incredible action on display in KFC BBL 10 and we can’t wait to welcome them back next season, hopefully in a more relaxed public health environment,” he added.

‘The Record’: Documentary on Australia’s journey at 2020 Women’s T20 WC Sydney, Feb 8 (IANS): Cricket Australia on Monday launched the trailer of a documentary ‘The Record’ which depicts Australian women’s team journey at the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup where they defeated India in a pulsating final to emerge as champions.

It goes inside the most dramatic World Cup in history -- and gives voice to the players who belong on this stage.

Cricket Australia interim CEO Nick Hockley said ‘The Record’ is a production that the cricket board is extremely proud of and excited to see come to life.

“The documentation of Australia’s ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign has given us the opportunity to reflect on what

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On Monday, when he reached the milestone by dismissing Daniel Lawrence leg-before wicket with a delivery that came in, teammate R Ashwin paid tribute to his longevity and called him one of the most hard-working cricketers he has played with.

“Ishant has been one of the most hard-working cricketers that I have seen in that Indian team dressing room. He worked extremely hard for more than just one reason. Being that tall requires a lot of facets to be managed throughout the career that panned out for almost 14 years,” said Ashwin of his teammate.

The documentary follows the heroic exploits on the field and the equally daring off-field campaign to “fill the MCG” for the final on International Women’s Day 2020.

Produced by Her Films, the documentary has voices of Meg Lanning, Rachael Haynes, Australia head coach Matthew Mott, Beth Mooney, Megan Schutt, Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Molly Strano, Harmanpreet Kaur, Heather Knight, Dane van Niekerk and SornnarinTippoch.

New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): Despite an injury-prone career, Ishant Sharma managed to become only the third Indian pace bowler after Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan to get to 300 wickets on Monday. Unless his ‘sore body’ relents, the tall fast bowler is likely to become only the second pace bowler behind Kapil Dev to play 100 Test matches in the second series. The ongoing first Test is the 98th of his career.

Height serves as a doubled-edged sword for a fast bowler. It can provide added bounce, acute angles to the bowler that he can trouble the batsman with but can also put stress on the body.

was a monumental occasion for cricket,” he said.

“I would like to thank everyone who played their part in bringing both the event and this documentary to life. Reliving this special moment in time will hopefully inspire the next generation of cricketers, both girls and boys, to aspire to play on the biggest stage of all,” he added.

The documentary is an Amazon

Prime Video acquisition and will be released on Friday in Australia, New Zealand, US, Canada, UK, Ireland, India, South Africa, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates, Nepal, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Guyana, Grenada, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Fiji, Jamaica, Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe, Malaysia, Indonesia.

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“For a tall bowler, ball hits the deck and it bounces up. That is great. The problem is that a tall person has much longer limbs, normally a longer torso. So, if you apply physics and you talk about levers, bones are longer so the levers are longer which means that the torsional stress or rotational stress at their joints is often much higher. So that stress at the joints needs to be managed very, very well. Otherwise, it can cause injuries to the joints and the discs of the spine,” sports physiotherapist Heath Matthews

told IANS. His injury problems began even before he made his debut in Bangladesh in 2007. He played the Test through a shoulder injury.

It has carried on with him since.

He has had back injuries, has had to undergo surgery on his ankle and most latest suffered side strain due to which he missed a possible fifth tour of Australia.

But he cam back in this Test and on a flat surface produced two beautiful deliveries, aided by reverse swing, in the first innings that saw the back of Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler.

I think it is a big testament to Ishant’s professionalism that he has kept his body in physical condition that he is available to play 100 Test matches. It is a big hats-off to those that have been working with him over the years in his career who have done their bit to ensure that he is doing his warm-ups and cool-downs and his fitness regimes to keep him in good nick,” added Matthews, who manages elite athletes.

Among the current crop of nonEngland, non-Australia pace bowlers across the world, none, including Dale Steyn, who has played 93 Tests, has such a huge experience of bowling against England and Australia. Ishant has played 25 Tests against Australia, his most against any team and 18 against England. He has picked 59 scalps against both teams so far.

“Quite a rollercoaster life so far.

A lot of experiences, I’ve learned a lot about how to bowl in the subcontinent, and what lengths to bowl when we go abroad. Feeling a bit sore,” the 32-year-old India bowler said after the end of the fourth day’s play.

India will hope Ishant’s soreness goes away soon and he is available to play all the three remaining Tests.

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SPORTS

Australian Open on alert Lisa Sthalekar inducted into Australian Cricket Hall of Fame as 2nd hotel worker tests Sydney, Feb 5 (IANS): Former Australia captain Lisa Sthalekar has been inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, Cricket Australia informed on Friday.

Sthalekar’s career included eight Tests, 125 ODIs and 54 T20IS for Australia from 200113, scoring almost 4,000 runs (3,913-including three centuries) before retiring from the game after the 2013 World Cup win in Mumbai.

She was member of four Australian World Cup-winning teams across the ODI and T20 formats and captained Australia in three ODIs against New Zealand in 2006. The 41-year-old was named Women’s International Cricketer of the Year in 2007, and was awarded the Belinda Clark Medal-recognising Australia’s best women’s international cricketer - in 2007 and 2008. In August 2020, she became the 27th Australian to be

inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

“Lisa Sthlalekar comfortably sits at the table of Women’s cricket trailblazers alongside Belinda Clark, Karen Rolton and Melanie Jones, and the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame is delighted to welcome her as the latest inductee,” Peter King, Australian Cricket Hall of Fame Chairman, said.

“As the Australian women’s cricket team conquers all before them, it has been Lisa’s passion and skill as a cricketer and her courage and determination in her post-cricket career, that has driven elite standards of professionalism in the women’s game. She left the sport as a four-time World Cup winner and a plethora of personal accolades, but has continued to advocate and champion the Women’s game as an administrator, commentator and ambassador,” King added.

been a strong advocate for the increased professionalism of the women’s game through serving on the board of the Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) and as a director with the Federation of International Cricketers’ Associations (FICA).

Her involvement in cricket also extends through to her work as a leading broadcast commentator in some of the game’s preeminent competitions, including the BBL and WBBL, along with the Indian Premier League.

positive for Covid Sydney, Feb 8 (IANS): A second hotel quarantine worker tested positive for Covid-19 in Melbourne on Monday, the same day the Australian Open (AO) commenced.

Last Wednesday, a quarantine worker at one of the hotels directly linked to the Australian Open had also tested positive for coronavirus, forcing the cancellation of a day’s play at lead-in events, reports Xinhua news agency.

Tournament Director Craig Tilley said that he was confident the event could go ahead safely despite Monday’s case.

“We’ve been preparing this for over a year, it will be one of the safest places to be through the health screening that we are doing,” Tilley told Channel Nine.

Victoria State officials said the latest case was employed at Melbourne Airport’s Holiday Inn

Since retirement, Sthalekar has

and tested negative on February 4 before returning to work on February 7 where they developed symptoms and returned a positive result.

Several venues in Melbourne were named as being attended by the worker while potentially infectious with officials launching a full public health response.

“We are contacting Holiday Inn Airport workers and others who are considered primary close contacts. They are required to immediately isolate, get tested and remain isolated for 14 days,” the Victorian Government Department of Health said in a statement.

In response to the first hotel worker testing positive, Victoria reintroduced Covid-19 containment measures, including mandating face masks indoors and reducing the number of visitors allowed in homes to 15.

BCCI to use drones for live aerial shooting of cricket tourneys Mumbai, Feb 8 (IANS): The Centre has given conditional permission to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to deploy drones for live aerial cinematography of the upcoming cricket season, including the Indian Premier League, officials said here on Monday.

received a request for granting permission to use Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) for live aerial filming. The first event to be captured by drones will be the IPL starting April this year.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted permission to use drones to the BCCI and drone operator Quidich till the year-end after it

“The drone ecosystem is evolving rapidly in our country. Its utilisation is expanding from agriculture, mining, healthcare and disaster management to sports and entertainment,” said Amber Dubey, Joint Secretary,

New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): Uttrakhand athletes have stamped their authority in endurance events of 36th National Junior Athletics Championships in Guwahati by winning as many as five medals in the race walking events so far.

Uttarakhand won seven medals in three age-categories, indicating huge depth in the field. The state team had won several medals at the 2018-19 edition of the National School Games, held in Sangrur, Punjab, highlighting the surge in the discipline.

After a dominant performance on Sunday, when the 2018 Youth Olympics silver medallist Suraj Panwar won gold in under-20 category and his teammate Reshma Patel claimed under-18 girls’ title hands down, Uttarakhand athletes continued their brilliant run by claiming three more medals on Monday.

Aditya Negi won bronze in under-18 category, and Himanshu Kumar and Babendra Singh Negi won silver and bronze in the under-16 boys’ category to continue a glorious run.

“Almost all the athletes who we had fielded in the race walking events in Guntur in 2019 had medals around their neck. There were one or two who missed the podium finish but lost bronze medals by narrow margins,” Uttarakhand athletics team coach Anoop Bisht, who is overseeing training of half a dozen race walkers, including Panwar and Reshma, told IANS.

Ministry of Civil Aviation.

“The granting of this permission is in line with the objectives of the government of India to promote the commercial use of drones in the country,” he added.

According to Dubey, the Drone Rules 2021 are in the final stages of discussion with the Law Ministry. “We are hoping to receive the approvals by March 2021,” he said.

The Mumbai Police are extremely

wary about drones for various reasons, including a busy international airport and the mini Juhu Airport in the heart of the city, plus major defence installations and other sensitive places in and around the city.

The validity of the conditional permission shall only be till December 31, 2021 subject to strict adherence to all conditions and limitations by the authorities and any violation could render it null and void.

Besides, the BCCI would require clearances from the local administration, defence establishments, Indian Air Force and Airport Authority of India before operating the drones.

Quidich can only operate the RPAS models specified by the authorities within a specified area, and any kind of changes would require the approval of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

Uttarakhand the new force to reckon with in race walking

This medal tally could go up on Tuesday, when the girls’ under-16 race walking events takes place.

This performance by Uttarakhand athletes wasn’t unexpected. Going by the results of the previous editions of the national meet, held in Guntur, athletes from

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What’s the reason for Uttrakhand to throw up a supplyline of quality race walkers, displacing Haryana and Punjab, the two dominant states in the recent events?

“The generation next has been inspired by the success of Olympian Manish Rawat, who had finished 13th in the men’s 20km race walk event at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games,” said Anoop.

“Coming from the high-altitude

district Chamoli, Rawat’s success story is an inspiring one. He was a sort of catalyst for youngsters of Uttarakhand. As he also landed a job in the sports quota in the state police department, that too serves as an inspiration -- that good athletes can get jobs as well,” said Gopal Bisht, physical education teacher from Chamoli.

Gopal has a group of athletes, including Paramjeet Singh Bisht, who had won bronze in the Youth Asian Championships in 2019.

Chamoli, in fact, is one of the pockets in Uttarakhand that has been producing good athletes in race walking.

the athletes aren’t strong and big physically to take up throwing events. Majority of them have lean and thin frames, best suited for endurance events,” said Purohit.

Former international athlete and national coach Gurdev Singh blames the decline of states like Haryana and Punjab in race walking due to lack of good coaches.

“Race walking is very technical event. If fundamentals aren’t

strong chances are that athletes wouldn’t progress on expected lines. It will take time for a good batch of athletes to come up. Some of the young athletes from Punjab, like former junior national champion Akashdeep Singh, have graduated to the senior level. They will take time to perform in the senior group while new crop of athletes would take three to four years to make an impression at the national level,” said Singh Patiala.

“Since we don’t have good tracks to use running spikes, youngsters either opt for distance running or race walking,” explained Gopal.

Praveen Purohit, another athletics coach from Dehradun whose athletes have had a fine success rate in race walking events recently, also attributed local environment for good results.

“The climate in the region is good for distance running. It doesn’t get too hot in the summer in the Doon Valley. Moreover, most of

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Delhi Zoo remains closed amid Bird flu scare, Covid-19 New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): Delhi Zoo has remained closed for nearly a year now, earlier due to the Covid-19 pandemic and now the recent scare of Bird flu cases.

Asked about the arrival of new species of birds and animals in Delhi Zoo, Director of the National Zoological Park, Delhi, Ramesh Kumar Pandey, told

IANS, “Delhi Zoo has got a tigress from Kanpur and five species, including wild pigs, from Chandigarh Zoo.” When IANS asked Pandey when the zoo would open for the public, he was evasive.

“Zoo is closed due to the twin effects of Covid-19 pandemic and

Bird flu. Everyone would get to know whenever it opens for the people,” Pandey said.

Asked about how many people would be allowed to enter initially when the zoo reopens, he said online bookings would be done for which all preparations are already in place.

TRAVEL & TOURISM

Influenza-hit Pong wetlands host 40,570 bar-headed geese

India’s 2020 domestic air pax traffic plunges over 55%: IATA New Delhi, Feb 3 (IANS): The Covid-19 pandemic heavily dented India’s aviation sector with its domestic air passenger traffic plunging by 55.6 per cent in 2020 on a year-on-year basis.

As per the data furnished by International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Wednesday, the fall in India’s domestic air passenger volume -- measured in revenue passenger kilometres -- was the third highest amongst major aviation markets such as Australia, Brazil, China, Japan, Russia and the US. In the period under consideration, India’s domestic passenger traffic decline was preceded by that of Australia at 69.5 per cent and the US’s at 59.6 per cent.

The country’s domestic available passenger capacity -- measured in available seat kilometres (ASKs) -- fell by 48 per cent on a YoY basis.

the scare around the spread of Covid-19.

India’s domestic air passenger volume plunged in March 2020 due to the imposition of a nationwide lockdown and

At present, no foreign flights are allowed, however, operations under ‘air bubble’, evacuation and cargo are going on.

It was on May 25 that gradual re-opening of the domestic operations was allowed.

Mercury again dips below freezing point in Srinagar Srinagar, Feb 7 (IANS): Three days after hovering over the freezing point, the minimum temperature in Srinagar city again dropped below the freezing point on Sunday.

Minimum temperature again fell to minus 3.6 in Srinagar while it was minus 7.5 in Pahalgam and minus 6.5 in Gulmarg.

They are having a ‘field day’ in remote villages for a long time by ensuring the multimillion-dollar narcotics trade mainly high-class marijuana reaches across India and even off-shores.

Director General of Police Sanjay Kundu said 23 foreign nationals have been arrested by the Kullu police for drug trafficking since July 2019, out of which 17 are African nationals, who were indulged in heroin peddling.

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Their numbers comprised 108,578 birds of 96 species, a slight fall from 2020.

It said 714 birds of 16 other species were also recorded.

Leh town of Ladakh had minus 11.8, Kargil minus 15.1 and Drass minus 22.8 as the night’s lowest temperature.

Jammu city had 6.8, Katra 7.4, Batote 5.0, Bannihal 5.2 and Bhaderwah minus 0.1 as the minimum temperature.

High on charas, foreigners cultivating locals in Himachal Shimla, Feb 7 (IANS): Foreigners, it seems, are cultivating a number of locals, who have brought large tracts of land under the cannabis in ‘mysterious’ valleys of Kullu, besides rugged mountains of Himalayas across Himachal Pradesh -- the land of gods.

An influx of 40,570 bar-headed geese, one of the world’s highestaltitude fliers, was recorded in the Pong wetlands in the just concluded annual waterfowl estimation.

Out of those recorded this year, the water-dependent migratory birds were 1,01,431 of 51 species and the water-dependent resident birds were 6,433 of 29 species, said an official statement quoting state Forest Minister Rakesh Pathania.

However, on Saturday, the maximum temperature rose to 10 degrees Celsius after 40 days here.

“Maximum temperature was 10 degrees Celsius yesterday in Srinagar after 40 days.

On December 28, maximum temperature was 10.5 after which it did not rise for 40 days” said the MeT department.

Shimla, Feb 8 (IANS): Despite the 307-square km Pong wetlands in Himachal Pradesh being hit by avian influenza this winter that led to the death of nearly 4,500 bar-headed geese, the largest hit species, they continue to have a sizeable congregation in their preferred wintering ground, wildlife officials said on Monday.

Official sources said the African nationals arrested in Kullu district in drug trafficking cases are mainly from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and Zambia.

As per the police, 1,538 NDPS cases were registered in the state in 2020. A total of 351.018 kg of charas, a cannabis resin, and 6.751 kg of heroin was seized and arrested 2,044 Indians and 14 foreigners.

According to officials, over 60 per cent of the poppy and cannabis produced in Himachal is smuggled to countries such as Israel, Italy, Holland and other European countries. The rest finds its way to Nepal or other Indian states like Goa, Punjab, and Delhi.

According to police, cannabis and poppy (opium) plants are grown illegally on vast tracts in Kullu, Mandi, Shimla, and Chamba districts. Police records show that 50,000 acres in Kullu Valley alone is under cannabis cultivation.

Tens of thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit the state ever year.

The Kullu and Parvati Valleys are heavily populated by foreign tourists, largely Israelis, not all of them fascinated by the serenity of the mountains. Some never return, they either disappear or marry local women or are later found to be involved in drug trafficking in connivance with local and international drug smugglers.

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Besides, the bar-headed geese, the other notable species recorded at the Pong wetlands were the Eurasian coot (24,163), Northern Pintail (12,702), Common Teal (8,444), Little Cormorant (3,649), Great Cormorant (3,410), Greylag geese (2,297), Northern shoveller (2,275) and Common pochard (2,138).

The other species were the Red Necked grebe, Great Bittern, Lesser white-fronted geese, Red crested pochard, Ferruginous pochard, Pied avocet, Northern lapwing, Peregrine falcon.

During the estimation exercise, one Bar-headed geese and one Greylag geese with collars were also spotted at the Pong wetlands, nearly 250 km from state capital Shimla.

Forest Minister Pathania said the bird count was conducted this time under restrained conditions due to the prevailing avian influenza outbreak in the Pong Dam Lake Wildlife sanctuary as well as the Covid-19 pandemic.

The exercise was conducted by the wildlife wing by deploying 57 staff members in 26 sections of the sanctuary.

The Minister told IANS that the

total population of birds and the number of species counted this year were marginally less compared to 2020, probably due to the impact of avian influenza that was first reported on December 28, 2020.

Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife-North), Upasana Patial, who participated in the bird census conducted last week, told IANS that in February 2020, 49,496 bar-headed geese were recorded in Pong.

According to the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS), the Pong wetlands is the one wintering ground in the globe to hold such a large congregation of bar-headed geese.

Most of the wetlands in India have been regularly getting barheaded geese every winter. But Pong is the only habitat that sees the largest influx of bar-headed geese every winter, a BNHS ornithologist told IANS. Even their breeding grounds spread over the Tibetan plateau do not support such a large number of the geese at one point in time.

In 2015, a staggering 71,800 barheaded geese, nearly half their numbers globally, were recorded in the Pong wetlands, an all-time high till date.

The gregarious geese feeds at night in the grasslands on riverbanks and breeds in highaltitude lakes in Central Asia, including Tibet and Ladakh.

Crossing national and international boundaries, millions of migratory birds of several species descend on various water bodies and wetlands in the region.

They start returning by the end of February or the beginning of March.

The Pong wetlands are also home to many native birds such as the Red Jungle Fowl, Large Indian Parakeet, Indian cuckoo, Bank mynah, Wood shrike, Yelloweyed babbler, Black ibis, Paradise Flycatcher, Crested lark and the Crested bunting.

A total of 425 species of birds, both migratory and local, 18 of snake, 90 of butterfly, 24 of mammals and 27 of fish have been recorded so far in Pong.

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

ENTERTAINMENT

New mom Anushka Sharma reveals US film, TV union her ‘current favourite accessory’ bars Trump from

Courtesy Yahoo News India

future re-admission

Mumbai, Feb 7 (IANS): Bollywood actress Anushka Sharma, who has just become a mother, revealed that her baby’s burp cloth is her current favourite accessory!

Anushka took to Instagram on Sunday to share a picture of herself where she stands in front of a mirror with her daughter Vamika’s burp cloth on her shoulder.

“Current favourite accessoryburp cloth!” the actress captioned the picture.

Netizens commented on

Anushka’s photo saying she looks so fit that it does not seem that she delivered a baby recently.

Fans also requested the actress to share photographs of her daughter.

Anushka Sharma gave birth to her daughter Vamika on January 11.

The actress recently introduced her daughter infront of the world with an Instagram post.

Anushka shared a photograph of herself along with husband Virat Kohli where she is holding the baby and wrote: “We have lived

together with love, presence and gratitude as a way of life but this little one Vamika has taken it to a whole new level! Tears, laughter, worry, bliss - emotions that have been experienced in a span of minutes sometimes! Sleep is elusive but our hearts are so full of love. Thanking you all for your wishes, prayers and good energy.”

Commenting on her post, Anushka’s husband Indian cricketer Virat Kohli wrote: “My whole world in one frame.”

Tiger Shroff flaunts his perfect washboard abs in pool picture

Washington, Feb 8 (IANS): The US Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has passed a resolution pre-emptively denying any potential readmission applications by former President Donald Trump.

The resolution, passed in a Zoom video-conference on Saturday by the union’s National Board, cites the same concerns that prompted the initial disciplinary charges against Trump, “notably his antagonism of the union’s journalist members and disregard for the values and integrity of the union”, the SAG-AFTRA said in a statement issued on Sunday.

“Preventing Donald Trump from ever rejoining SAG-AFTRA is more than a symbolic step,” Xinhua news agency quoted SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris as saying in the statement.

“It is a resounding statement that threatening or inciting harm against fellow members will not be tolerated. An attack against one is an attack against all,” Carteris added.

Trump had been a member of the SAG-AFTRA since 1989.

Mumbai, Feb 7 (IANS): Bollywood action hero Tiger Shroff showcased his perfectly chiseled body on social media on Sunday.

The union represents

approximately 160,000 film and television actors, journalists, artists and other media professionals.

SAG-AFTRA’s national board, while meeting in a special session last month, found “probable cause” that Trump had “violated the union’s Constitution”, and ordered the matter to be heard the union’s Disciplinary Committee.

The charges cite the former President’s role in inciting the deadly riots on the US Capitol on January 6, and his “sustaining a reckless campaign of misinformation aimed at discrediting and ultimately threatening the safety of journalists, many of whom are SAG-AFTRA members”.

On February 4, Trump announced his resignation from SAG-AFTRA, on the eve of a hearing set by the union’s disciplinary committee.

In a letter to the union, the former leader said that he knew the Disciplinary Committee of the union could revoke his membership, but “who cares”.

His action provoked a twoword response from the Union immediately: “Thank you.”

Tiger posted the picture on Instagram, where he posed in the pool. He is seen wearing red swimming shorts and is shirtless.

The actor is seen showcasing his perfect washboard abs and muscles in the picture.

“If every sunday could be like (sun emoji) (wave emoji)” Tiger wrote as the caption.

On the work front, Tiger will next be seen in the action drama “Ganapath”. The film is set in a post-pandemic dystopian era.

Shooting for the project will begin this year. The film has been planned as the first film of a franchise.

The actor will also be seen in the second installment of his debut film Heropanti, an action film that was released in 2014. The second installment, to be directed by Ahmed Khan, will co-star Tara Sutaria, who made her Bollywood debut opposite Tiger in the 2019 release, “Student Of The Year 2”.

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

ENTERTAINMENT

Rihanna and Fenty Beauty face Jacqueline Fernandez: global outrage on child labour issues I spend an hour doing

the house chores

New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS): US pop star Rihanna is facing global outrage after her company Fenty Beauty came under the lens in India for sourcing mica from mines in Jharkhand which use child labour.

Mumbai, Feb 9 (IANS): Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez, who recently moved house, admits she indulges in household chores, too, in between her hectic professional schedule.

Following an IANS expose, there have been several reactions on social media with Fenty Beauty’s connection with Blood Mica becoming a global talking point.

“I spend an hour doing the house chores -- from looking into groceries to cleaning the house and looking into the food menu,” she says.

Here are some of these international reactions on Twitter.

Priya Kulkarni from USA wrote, “Rihanna Fenty Beauty brand under lens in India for “Using mica from mines hiring child labour”.

Cyrus Cohen from New York wrote, “Rihanna Stop using real mica sharing the brutalities video on children engaged in mica mining.”

B from Virginia tweeted: “@ fentybeauty are y’all 100% #CrueltyFree? @GavinNewsom, they seem to be in violation of the California Suppliers Act by using blood mica sourced from illegal mines in Jharkhand, India”, alluding to the violation of the California act which stipulates

Courtesy Prokerala audits for companies to ensure there is no child labour or slavery involved in merchandise.

Spanish girl Marie tweeted: “Complaint filed against Rihanna over exploitation of child labourRihanna and blood money”.

A complaint has been filed with NCPCR in India, a child rights body after the IANS newsbreak.

Freddy from Philadelphia, PA tweeted: “It will be interesting to see how this develops.”

Poonam from London, England wrote on Twitter: “So glad I no longer use #FentyBeauty of the products I HAVE used...

it’s COMPLETE trash. I will NEVER support makeup brands for using mica or exploiting child slave labour... So much for being “vegan” and “cruelty free” #ashy #basicbitchmakeup #boycottFenty”.

Cat De Costa from Argentina tweeted: “So Happy someone’s talking about this Rihanna Fenty Beauty brand under lens in India for Using mica from mines hiring child labour’.”

Ismail Meric Can Uygan from Turkey tweeted: “Rihanna Fenty Beauty brand under lens in India for ‘using mica from mines hiring child labour’.”

“Living independently does give freedom but brings in a lot of challenges along with it. You need to have the right balance of personal and professional life,” she adds.

If maintaining a physically healthy routine amid the grind of Bollywood is a challenge, and the actress has her way to manage with that bit.

“I maintain a journal which I write in the morning that helps me channelise my thoughts,” she reveals.

She says her day starts early.

“I am definitely a morning person and I prefer to start my day early as it gives me enough time for myself before the work commitments begin. (I love) Starting the day with yoga and then my bulletproof coffee which helps me to stay energized

through the day,” she says.

The actress made her Bollywood debut with Aladin in 2009. She later went on to do films such as Housefull (2010), Murder 2 (2011), Dishoom, Judwaa 2 (2017), Brothers (2015), Kick (2014) and Race 3 (2018).

Jacqueline has multiple films lined up. She will be seen in Bachchan Pandey, Kick 2, Bhoot Police and Cirkus in the coming months.

Salma Hayek was told she would Adnan Sami’s epic never make it as an actress throwback moment with Gabbar Singh Los Angeles, Feb 9 (IANS): Salma Hayek was once told she would never make it as an actress in Hollywood because she is Mexican.

“They told me my career in Hollywood would die in midthirties because there was no one. First of all, they told me a Mexican is never going to make it because, at the time, with the new generations, it was impossible for a Mexican to have a leading role in Hollywood,” Salma said, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

About her journey in Hollywood, the 54-year-old added: “I think it’s great; I’m proud of it. I want to shout it to the world because I was told so many times it couldn’t happen, and I almost believed them. But I fought it. I fought and won. And I want other women to realise that. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Mumbai, Feb 8 (IANS): Singer Adnan Sami on Monday shared a throwback with late actor Amjad Khan on his Instagram page. In the throwback picture, a young Adnan is seen standing nervously along with his brother Janaid Sami Khan, getting a picture clicked with Amjad Khan.

The caption of the picture does a spin on a popular dialogue of Khan as Gabbar Singh in the 1975 superhit, “Sholay”.

Salma credited her struggles for helping her to choose the right path.

in my life are completely unimaginable. Even in my greatest ideas of my most extraordinary destiny, I never imagined how I feel right now,” she said.

“The things that have happened

“At some point in your life you

just settle for doing the right thing and the best you can, instead of think about what you want and what you can didn’t get or what you’re not getting or how someone’s getting it and you’re not getting it,” she added.

Sunny Leone shares her ‘Monday lessons’ Los Angeles, Feb 9 (IANS): Salma Hayek was once told she would never make it as an actress in Hollywood because she is Mexican.

“They told me my career in Hollywood would die in mid-

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thirties because there was no one. First of all, they told me a Mexican is never going to make it because, at the time, with the new generations, it was impossible for a Mexican to have a leading role in Hollywood,” Salma said, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

About her journey in Hollywood, the 54-year-old added: “I think it’s great; I’m proud of it. I want to shout it to the world because I was told so many times it couldn’t happen, and I almost believed them. But I fought it. I fought and won. And I want other women to

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“Sardar...Do Bhai Thay!!” wrote Adnan, tagging the post with #adnansami #bollywood #sholay #amjadkhan #gabbar #gabbarsingh #junaidsami #junaidsamikhan.

Adnan Sami often shares memorable throwbacks from his childhood days, taking the fans realise that. It’s a beautiful thing.”

Salma credited her struggles for helping her to choose the right path.

“The things that have happened in my life are completely unimaginable. Even in my greatest ideas of my most extraordinary destiny, I never imagined how I feel right now,”

down memory lane. A while back, he had posted a picture of singers Noor Jahan, Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle together. she said.

“At some point in your life you just settle for doing the right thing and the best you can, instead of think about what you want and what you can didn’t get or what you’re not getting or how someone’s getting it and you’re not getting it,” she added.

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

ENTERTAINMENT

R Madhavan replies to fan saying ‘you ‘Every publicity or are my solar system’ on Propose Day controversy is good Mumbai, Feb 8 (IANS): R. Madhavan got a proposal from a female fan on Propose Day, February 8, and the actor replied in the affirmative, thanking her for her love.

“Haan .. haaan ... and AurekHaan. god bless you... thank you for the love,” Madhavan tweeted on Monday evening.

The actor’s tweet came in response to a fan’s proposal which reads: “@ActorMadhavan There are 8 planets, 204 countries, 7 seas, 7707 islands, 7.8 Billion peoples in the world..... and I love u till death....pls plzplz

for a movie’: Ankit Raj

accept my proposal....u are my love of this life ..my universe.. my solar system..mygalaxy..u are everything for me.”

Mumbai, Feb 8 (IANS): Television actor Ankit Raj, who will next be seen in Karan Razdan’s untitled film that reportedly revolves around love jihad, feels every publicity or controversy is good for a film.

The 50-year-old actor enjoys immense female fan following on social media and keeps replying to messages from them expressing their love and appreciation for him from time to time.

Madhavan was last seen in the recently released digital film Maara. The Tamil film helmed by Dhilip Kumar also features South actress Shraddha Srinath.

The actor will soon be seen in

a suspense thriller directed by Kookie Gulati, which also stars Aparshakti Khurana.

Why Big B was reminded of ‘Deewar’ on ‘MayDay’ set Mumbai, Feb 8 (IANS): Amitabh Bachchan on Monday revealed that shooting for his upcoming film MayDay has taken him to the same spot where he shot iconic scenes of the Bollywood classic Deewar 42 year ago.

“Looking back on time .. see that arch in the stone building at the back .. in a shadow loop .. Police Officer Shashi Kapoor shoots his brother Vijay in DEEWAR at that spot in film .. today shooting same place for MAYDAY... 42 years later... Deewar made in 1979 to today 2021...Been a while,” he wrote on Instagram, along with many of himself on location for his upcoming project.

MayDay reunites Big B and

Razdan has in the past directed films like Girlfriend (2004), Hawas (2004) and Souten: The Other Woman (2006), which courted controversy. His forthcoming film reportedly revolves around the controversial concept of love jihad.

Sonarika Bhadoria plays his girlfriend in the film. “She supports my character during the entire film. Having a Hindu

girlfriend for a Muslim guy speaks a lot, because it is still a taboo in our country. She is as important as male characters of the film. It’s not about love jihad. It’s a very nice and organic college kind of romance between two people. I think love jihad is a very strong word to use for our film,” he said.

The film also features Ashish Sharma, Anup Jalota and Deepika Chikhalia in key roles.

Kangana on ‘Dhaakad’ role: She’s my depiction of goddess of death

The iconic actor also took to his official blog to revisit memories of working on Deewar.

“The works of the day of Mayday... the place of several and the most memorable in the arch at the back in the architecture , the bullet in the back, the brother, the temple the Mother, the death and the finest written,” he said.

“I feel every publicity or controversy is good for a movie,” said Ankit, adding about the film: “Having said that, I feel this is a very pure story from his (Razdan’s) heart. There are emotional moments when people will cry after watching the friendship of these two male characters and there are a lot of things that people will take away after watching the film.”

Ajay Devgn, who have worked together in Major Sahab, Khakee, Satyagraha and Hindustan Ki Kasam. The film sees the two stars collaborate after over seven years since Satyagraha released in August 2013.

The film is directed and produced

by Ajay. It is said that Ajay will be seen as a pilot in the film. Rakul Preet Singh will be seen as a copilot in the film, billed as an edgeof-the-seat drama. Details about Big B’s character is under wraps.

Kajol shares some ‘Covid thoughts’ Mumbai, Feb 7 (IANS): Bollywood actor Kajol has shared her Covid thoughts on social media. She says perseverance is the key.

Kajol posted a picture on Instagram. In the image, the actress is seen looking into the camera and smiling.

“Covid thoughts :- Perseverance is the key.... whether it’s two lines of crochet, two i (love emoji) u as , a chapter a day. At the end of it you have a sweater, a relationship and u have read (books emoji)” the actress wrote as the caption.

Mumbai, Feb 8 (IANS): Actress Kangana Ranaut has shared a look of her character Agent Agni in the upcoming film Dhaakad on Monday. She says the role is a depiction of Bhairavi, the goddess of death.

Kajol enjoys popularity on social media for her humour, quirky posts and words of encouragement for fans. The actress recently mentioned in a post how the world is changing, post pandemic.

On the work front, Kajol was recently seen in the digitally released film “Tribhanga:

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TedhiMedhi Crazy”. Actressdirector Renuka Shahane has

helmed the film that also stars Mithila Palkar and Tanvi Azmi.

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Kangana posted the look on Instagram. The image seems to capture an action sequence with a burning car visible in the backdrop. The actress is armed

with a machine gun and a pistol.

“They call her Agni... the brave one #dhaakad I say she is my depiction of Bhairavi the goddess of death ... #dhaakad,” she wrote as the caption.

Dhaakad is a spy thriller that casts Arjun Rampal as the antagonist Rudraveer. The film is directed by Razneesh Razy Ghai, and is slated to release on October 1.

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INDIA NEWS

Feb 16-28, 2021 - Vol 1, Issue 16

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