India News - June 1-15, 2022; Vol 2 Issue 22

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India, Australia review cooperation under Comprehensive Strategic Partnership New Delhi, May 24 (IANS): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on May 24 reviewed the multidimensional cooperation under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

New Delhi, May 24 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 24 said that the free and inclusive Indo-Pacific region is a shared goal of QUAD and in a short span, it has created an important place in the world forum.

Cooperation under the partnership includes in the sectors of trade and investment; defence manufacturing; renewable energy, education; science and technology; agricultural research; sports; and people-to-people ties.

The two Prime Ministers met Continued on Page 3

Anthony Albanese sworn in as Australia’s 31st PM Canberra, May 23 (IANS): Anthony Albanese, leader of Australia's Labor Party, was sworn in on May 23 as the country's 31st Prime Minister following his victory in the May 21 federal election.

a constructive agenda for the Indo- Pacific region," he said.

Noting that the QUAD has gained world prominence in a short span of time, PM Modi said that despite the adverse situation created by Covid-19, the coordination was increased for vaccine delivery, climate action, supply chain resilience, disaster response, economic cooperation and other areas. It has resulted in peace, prosperity and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

He also thanked Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for the warm welcome and said that it was a matter of great pleasure to be here among friends.

Congratulating the newly elected Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese, Modi said: "I congratulate PM Albanese. Your presence in this Summit within 24 hours just after taking oath shows your commitment to QUAD."

PM Modi arrived in Tokyo on May 23 morning on a two-day visit at the invitation of the Japanese Prime Minister to attend the Quad Summit.

Yasin Malik sentenced to life in terror funding case

India logs 2,628 fresh Covid cases, 18 deaths New Delhi, May 26 (IANS): India saw an uptick in Covid-19 cases with 2,628 infections being recorded in 24 hours, as per the Union Health Ministry's data on May 26.

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS): Kashmiri separatist leader Yasin Malik, who has been convicted in connection with a 2017 terror funding case, was sentenced to life on May 25 by a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court here.

Special Judge Praveen Singh pronounced the verdict under relevant sections of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act which will be concurrent and it will run till life.

In the same period, 18 Covid fatalities were recorded taking the nationwide death toll to 5,24,525.

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In an opening remark at the QUAD summit in Tokyo, the Prime Minister said that QUAD's efforts are promoting a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

Mutual trust and determination among the member nations are giving new hope to democratic principles.

"QUAD's impression has become a force for good and taking forward

Albanese, joined by members of his leadership team, on May 23 morning visited the Government House in Canberra where Governor-General David Hurley officially swore him in as the Prime Minister, reports Xinhua news agency.

Continued on Page 3

Meanwhile, the active caseload was also pegged at 15,414, accounting for 0.04 per cent of the country's total positive cases.

Free, inclusive Indo-Pacific region a shared goal of QUAD: Modi in Tokyo

The quantum of punishment for the offences in the terror funding case, was pronounced amid tight security at the Patiala House Courts.

Continued on Page 3

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INDIA NEWS EDITORIAL TEAM Dr Ram Mohan, Chairman Dr Ashutosh Misra, Editor-in-Chief Ms Priyadarshini Rana, Bureau Chief, Victoria Ms Apoorva Raghubanshi, Bureau Chief, ACT Ms. Garima Sangar, Associate Editor

Probe & sentence Yasin Malik for crimes against us: Kashmiri Pandits

EDITORIAL BOARD Professor Prasad Yarlagadda, Queensland University of Technology Dr Uttam Kumar Sinha, Senior Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, India Mr Shaun Star, Director, Centre for Australia India Studies, Jindal Global University, India INDIA NEWS TV Mr Karthik Pratap Singh, News Director Mr. Agastya Yeturi, Cinematographer Mr Nishit Chandan, Special Correspondent WRITERS Mr Devashish Chakraborty Ms Deepika Banerjee Mr Rabindra Mukherji

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

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Conservation activists call for action from new govt

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

World to gather for exponential climate action at Stockholm+50

New Delhi, May 31 (IANS This week world leaders and representatives from government, business, international organisations, civil society and youth will gather in Sweden for Stockholm+50, an international meeting to drive action towards a healthy planet for the prosperity of all. The event on Thursday and Friday comes at a crucial time as the earth is in emergency mode, and urgent action is needed to address the triple planetary crisis of climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. So what exactly is Stockholm+50, and why is it important?

Co-hosted by Sweden and Kenya, Stockholm+50 will take place under the theme “a healthy planet for the prosperity of all, our responsibility, our opportunity”.

The two-day meeting will commemorate the 50th anniversary of the UN Conference on the Human Environment in Stockholm, which marked a new era of global cooperation.

At the 1972 conference, 113 countries adopted the Stockholm Declaration and Action Plan for the Human Environment, placing environmental issues at the forefront of international

concerns. The conference also led to the creation of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and began an important dialogue between industrialised and developing countries on the links between the environment, economic growth and human well-being. Stockholm+50 marks a milestone in the collective journey toward a healthy planet.

It offers the opportunity to reflect on, celebrate and build upon 50 years of environmental action.

The meeting will be organised around plenary segments, three leadership dialogues and side events that will focus on the importance of multilateralism in tackling the triple planetary crisis.

It will also reinforce the outcomes of the fifth UN Environment Assembly, which took place earlier this year in Nairobi, Kenya.

As decision makers and business leaders meet, the Exponential Roadmap Initiative will shine a light on the game-changers in energy efficiency, green energy, travel and transport, plant-based food, regenerative agriculture, protecting and restoring nature and maximising positive impacts from digitalization.

“We need to halve global emissions by 2030 and become nature positive at the same time to tackle the climate emergency.

We have the answers in our hands, we just need sharper action. The solutions to halve emissions by 2030 exist in all sectors and many are scaling exponentially. This is the moment to scale even faster and make a pull-in. The companies that realise that today are the winners of tomorrow,” says Johan

“We Don’t Have Time gathers leaders from around the world to share climate solutions and thereby speed our necessary transition from a fossil-to a renewable economy. We hope our daily Stockholm+50 broadcasts reaching millions will inspire leaders within all sectors to act faster while we still have time.” says Ingmar Renzhog, Founder We Don’t Have Time.

Ahead of the first international UN summit on the environment, parents, grandparents and carers from 32 countries have come together to demand a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to give children a livable planet.

Their open letter decries that “the fossil fuel juggernaut continues on like a runaway train with our children’s futures on the track”, demanding that governments step up and phase out the primary cause of the climate crisis: fossil fuels. The parents are from 121 climate parent groups across the world, including Warrior Moms (India), Rodzice dla Klimatu (Poland) and Parents For Future Nigeria. The parents have gained support for their call from delegates that attended the first Stockholm conference 50 years ago.

Continued from Page 1

on the sidelines of the QUAD Leaders' Summit in Tokyo.

to Albanese to visit India at an early date.

Modi congratulated Albanese for his win in the May 21 federal election.

to add even greater momentum across key sectors".

In a tweet after the meeting, Modi said: "India's Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Australia is robust and benefits not only the people of our nations but also the world."

Also on May 24, a bilateral meet is scheduled between Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, during which they will review the strategic partnership between New Delhi and Tokyo.

He said he was delighted to meet Albanese and "take stock of bilateral ties. We discussed ways

Earlier in the day, Modi met US President Joe Biden.

Modi also extended an invitation

Anthony Albanese sworn in as Australia’s 31st PM Continued from Page 1

Albanese's Labor Party defeated former Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his coalition in the federal election, ending the coalition's hold on power for nearly nine years.

Richard Marles was sworn in as the Minister for Employment and Deputy Prime Minister, Penny Wong as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Jim Chalmers as the Treasurer and Katy Gallagher as the Minister for Finance and Minister for Women and

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Attorney-General.

Albanese fast-tracked the swearing-in ceremony to allow himself and Wong to fly to Tokyo later on May 23 to meet the leaders of the US, Japan and India as well as their foreign ministers, and join the QUAD) summit on May 24.

In a statement, Albanese said: "The QUAD Leaders' Summit brings together four leaders of great liberal democracies -

Modi breaks security protocol to accept mother’s portrait in Shimla

Falk, founder of Exponential Roadmap Initiative. Within the Stockholm+50 Climate Hub, the Exponential Race to Zero events, hosted by We Don’t Have Time, Exponential Roadmap Initiative, UN Race to Zero and We Mean Business Coalition, will showcase examples of leading innovative, disruptive and transformative companies taking climate action in line with science.

India, Australia review cooperation under Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

The two leaders affirmed their desire to continue the positive momentum in the bilateral relationship.

COVER STORIES

Australia, Japan, India, and the United States of America - in support of a free, open and resilient Indo-Pacific."

Marles will serve as the Acting Prime Minister until Albanese's return.

This is Australia's first Labor government in almost a decade.

The party has won 72 lower house seats but counting continues to determine whether they can get the 76 needed to form a majority.

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Shimla, May 31 (IANS) Breaking the high-security security protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on seeing a girl carrying a pencil portrait of his mother en route of his roadshow, on Tuesday asked to stop his cavalcade to meet her.

Thanking the girl for presenting him the handmade portrait, Modi, who was in the Himachal Pradesh capital to participate in the Garib Kalyan Sammelan, expressed gratitude to her for the gesture.

On being asked, the girl, who touched his feet, replied that she

belonged to Shimla.

"I also made your portrait," she replied. At this, Modi blessed her.

The girl was among the crowd awaiting the departure of Modi.

As the cavalcade was making its way, Modi, on seeing the portrait by a bystander, intervened and opened the door of his vehicle to accept the gift.

The Prime Minister on his visit to Shimla received a rousing welcome from the people as they showered flower petals and chanted slogans of 'Modi, Modi' and 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'.

India logs 2,628 fresh Covid cases, 18 deaths Continued from Page 1

The recovery of 2,167 patients in 24 hours took the cumulative tally to 4,26,04,881. Consequently, India's recovery rate stands at 98.75 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Daily Positivity rate has marginally risen to 0.58 per cent, while the Weekly Positivity Rate stands at 0.51 per cent.

Also in the same period, a total of 4,52,580 tests were conducted

across the country, increasing the overall to 84.84 crore.

As of May 26 morning, the vaccination coverage exceeded 192.82 crore, achieved via 2,43,56,591 sessions.

Over 3.33 crore adolescents have been administered with a first dose of Covid-19 jab since the beginning of vaccination drive for this age bracket.

Yasin Malik sentenced to life in terror funding case Continued from Page 1

During the course of the hearing, Malik said: "I will not beg for anything. The case is before this court and I leave it to the court to decide it."

"If I have been involved in any terrorist activity or violence in 28 years, if Indian Intelligence proves this, then I will also retire from politics. I will accept the hanging." he told the court.

The NIA told the court during the hearing that the accused is responsible for the Kashmiri Pandits' exodus from the Valley.

The Central probe agency also argued for the death sentence for Malik.

On the other hand, the amicus curiae sought life imprisonment as a minimum punishment in the case.

Malik had pleaded guilty in the matter earlier. In the previous hearing, he told the court that he was not contesting the charges levelled against him, including section 16 (terrorist act), 17 (raising funds for the terrorist act), 18 (conspiracy to commit terrorist act), and 20 (being member of a terrorist gang or organisation) of the UAPA and sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 124-A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code.

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

ADVERTORIAL

Adani to acquire Holcim’s stake in Ambuja Cements and ACC Limited capabilities makes me confident that we will be able to establish the cleanest and most sustainable cement manufacturing processes that will meet or exceed global benchmarks.”

Mr Gautam Adani, Chairman, Adani Group with Mr Jan Jenisch, CEO, Holcim Limited Largest ever acquisition in India’s infra and materials space valued at USD 10.5 billion > Acquisitionpropels Adani into the cement business, and will establish its new materials, metal and mining vertical > With this, Adani is now India’s second largest cement manufacturer(capacity ~70 MTPA) Ahmedabad, May 15: The Adani Family, through an offshore special purpose vehicle, announced that it had entered into definitive agreements for the acquisition of Switzerlandbased Holcim Ltd’s entire stake in two of India’s leading cement companies – Ambuja Cements Ltd and ACC Ltd. Holcim, through its subsidiaries, holds 63.19% in Ambuja Cements and 54.53% in ACC (of which 50.05% is held through Ambuja Cements). The value for the Holcim stake and open offer

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consideration for Ambuja Cements and ACC is USD 10.5 billion, which makes this the largest ever acquisition by Adani, and India’s largest ever M&A transaction in the infrastructure and materials space.

"Our move into the cement business is yet another validation of our belief in our nation's growth story," said Mr Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group. "Not only is India expected to remain one of the world's largest demand-driven economies for several decades, India also continues to be the world's second largest cement market and yet has less than half of the global average per capita cement consumption. In statistical comparison, China’s cement consumption is over 7x that of India’s. When these factors are combined with the several adjacencies of our existing

businesses that include the Adani Group's ports and logistics business, energy business, and real estate business, we believe that we will be able to build a uniquely integrated and differentiated business model and set ourselves up for significant capacity expansion.”

Mr Adani added, "Holcim's global leadership in cement production and sustainability best practices brings to us some of the cutting-edge technologiesthat will allow us to accelerate the path to greener cement production. In addition, Ambuja Cements and ACC are two of the strongest brands recognized across India. When augmented with our renewable power generation footprint, we gain a big headstart in the decarbonization journey that is a must for cement production.

This combination of all our

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“I am delighted that the Adani Group is acquiring our business in India to lead its next era of growth,” said Mr Jan Jenisch, CEO of Holcim Limited. “Mr Gautam Adani is a highly recognized business leader in India who shares our deep commitment to sustainability, people and communities. I would like to thank our 10,000 Indian colleagues who have played an essential role in the development of our business over the years with their relentless dedication and expertise. I am confident that the Adani Group is the perfect home for them as well as our customers to continue to thrive.”

Headquartered in Ahmedabad, India, Adani is the largest and fastest-growing portfolio of diversified businesses in India with interests in logistics (seaports, airports, logistics, shipping and rail), resources, power generation and distribution, renewable energy, gas and infrastructure, agro (commodities, edible oil, food products, cold storage and grain silos), real estate, public transport infrastructure, defence & aerospace, and other sectors.

Adani owes its success and leadership position to its core philosophy of ‘Nation Building’ and ‘Growth with Goodness’ – a guiding principle for sustainable growth. The Group is committed to protecting the environment and improving communities through its CSR programmes based on the principles of sustainability, diversity and shared values.

With India’s cement consumption

at just 242kg per capita, as compared to the global average of 525kg per capita, there is significant potential for the growth of the cement sector in India. The tailwinds of rapid urbanization, the growing middle class and affordable housing together with the post-pandemic recovery in construction and other infrastructure sectors are expected to continue driving the growth of the cement sector over the next several decades.

Ambuja Cements and ACC currently have acombined installed production capacity of ~70 MTPA. The two companies are among the strongest brands in India with immense depth of manufacturing and supply chain infrastructure, represented by their 23 cement plants, 14 grinding stations, 80 ready-mix concrete plants and over 50,000 channel partners across India.

Both Ambuja and ACC will benefit from synergies with the integrated Adani infrastructure platform, especially in the areas of raw material, renewable power and logistics, where Adani Portfolio companies have vast experience and deep expertise. This will enable higher margins and return on capital employed for the two companies. The Companies will also benefit from Adani’s focus on ESG, Circular Economy and Capital Management Philosophy.

The businesses will continue to be deeply aligned to UN Sustainability Development Goals with clear focus on SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals and conditions.

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

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ADVERTORIAL

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Allahabad HC denies bail to cops accused of killing Sikhs in 1991 Prayagraj, May 26 (IANS) In a significant order, the Allahabad High Court has denied bail to 34 constables of the Pradeshik Armed Constabulary (PAC) who have been accused of killing 10 Sikh men in an alleged fake encounter in 1991, treating them as terrorists.

The bench of Justices Ramesh Sinha and Brij Raj Singh observed that the accused cops had indulged in a barbaric and inhuman killing of innocent persons by calling them terrorists.

“Besides, if some of the deceased were involved in anti-social activities and criminal cases were registered against them, then too, procedure established by law should have been adhered to, to bring them to task and not indulging in such a barbaric and inhuman killing of the innocent persons.”

The court listed the criminal appeal of the accused filed challenging their conviction, for a final hearing on July 25.

As per the prosecution case, on July 12, 1991, a bus containing passengers/pilgrims was stopped near Pilibhit by a team of Uttar Pradesh Police of district Pilibhit (appellants). They brought down 10-11 Sikh youths from the bus, boarded them in their blue police bus and some police personnel sat in the bus along with the remaining passengers/pilgrims.

Not easy to part ways after long association: Kapil Sibal on leaving Cong

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) Senior advocate and former Union Minister Kapil Sibal who filed his nomination papers for the Rajya Sabha on May 25 with the help of Samajwadi Party said “it is not easy to quit a party (Congress) after being associated with it for 30-31 years”.

Thereafter, the remaining passengers/pilgrims kept roaming the pilgrims’ bus the whole day here and there with the police personnel and after that, the policemen left the bus in a Gurudwara in Pilibhit at night, whereas 10 Sikh youths, who alighted from the pilgrims’ bus, were killed by the police.

The 11th one was a child whose whereabouts could not be traced out and his parents were given compensation by the state.

Initially, the investigation of the incident was conducted by the local police of district Pilibhit, and a closure report was filed by the local police. However, the Supreme Court entrusted the investigation of the incidents relating to the encounter to the CBI. The trial took place in the court of the Special Judge, CBI/Additional District Judge, Lucknow, and vide its judgment and order dated April 4, 2016, in total, 47 persons were convicted under Sections 120-B, 302, 364, 365, 218, 117 IPC.

All the 47 convicts/appellants moved to the High Court. Out of these 47 convicts, 12 were granted bail by a coordinate bench of the high court either on the grounds of age or severe ailment.

The court observed that it was a case of a gruesome murder of the deceased who had no criminal antecedents along with some of the deceased who had criminal antecedents.

However, the court added that it was not justified on the part of the accused persons to treat all the deceased to be the terrorists by separating them from their wives and their children, who were going on a pilgrimage on the bus, and taking them to another bus and killing them in a fake encounter.

Consequently, it denied bail to 34 cops and clarified that the observations made by it were only to decide the question of grant of bail and should not be treated to be the expression of any opinion on the merits of the case.

NEWS FROM INDIA

“There is no employer-employee relationship in a political party. I had to make a personal decision on what I wished to do ahead.

I need to raise my voice in an independent manner in the Parliament and if I am getting that opportunity, I want to take that,” he told IANS. Sibal said that he had quit the Congress on May 16, and is now an independent voice.

Even as he is yet to take up the membership of the Samajwadi Party, he has filed the nomination for Rajya Sabha as Independent with Samajwadi Party’s support in the presence of party chief Akhilesh Yadav. On being asked about Congress leaders taking pot-shots at him since quitting the Grand Old Party, Sibal said: “I don’t know who is talking about me. But I know why I took this decision (to leave the party).

Everyone has a personal opinion.”

The former Union Minister, when asked if he had any message to give to the Congress party, said: “I don’t want to give any message.

The Congress is a national party.

They know what they have to do.” “... will try to highlight the shortcomings of the Central government. Very soon, people will hear my voice in the Parliament. And they will come to know eventually which issues I will discuss,” he said.

Both Akhilesh Yadav and Sibal indicated that Sibal has not joined the Samajwadi Party.

Sibal is known to have close ties with the Yadav family as a senior advocate.

He had argued in January 2017 (during the Yadav family feud) at the Election Commission that Akhilesh Yadav should get the ‘Bicycle’ symbol. Eventually, he got it.

Sibal was a Union Minister in the UPA government and of late, was very critical of Rahul Gandhi and the functioning of the party.

Sibal’s departure from the Congress is considered a blow to the party. The former Union Minister’s role in the political circles of Delhi was also considered crucial.

Sharad Pawar seeks a Sasikala slams DMK, hints at re-entry into caste-based National AIADMK Census for

Chennai, May 25 (IANS): Former interim general secretary of the AIADMK, V.K. Sasikala who was in political hibernation after her incarceration in Bengaluru central jail, has slammed the DMK government led by Stalin.

At a press conference here on May 25, the former close aide of late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, said that the DMK government must stop its confrontationist attitude toward the Central government and start functioning in a constructive manner.

Taking a dig at the media, Sasikala said that it was failing to highlight the wrongdoings of the DMK government. She came out strongly against the state government for constituting committees headed by private persons and said that the IAS officers will not implement their recommendations. Sasikala said the government must stop constituting such committees and take IAS officers into confidence and execute government work directly through them.

She lashed out against the DMK government for stopping the people-friendly schemes launched by the late Jayalalithaa and said that the state

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Mumbai, May 25 (IANS) Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar has demanded a ‘caste-based’ national census to determine quotas for various groups and ensure social equality, here on May 25.

government in the past year was not doing anything other than taking a confrontationist attitude toward the central government.

She came out strongly against the home department and said that the law and order situation was bad and cited the example of a BJP leader being hacked to death in Chennai on May 25 night. She added: “It is doubtful whether Stalin is in charge of the law and order situation in the state.”

Sasikala said that the AIADMK cadres wanted her to lead the party and claimed that the delay in the announcement of AIADMK candidates for the three vacant Rajya Sabha seats was because the party was not in the control of a

single person.

When asked about the second rung leaders of the AIADMK opposing her coming back to the party fold, Sasikala said, “Not all second rung leaders but a few.

They may be speaking against me to get some party posts.”

Sasikala said that it was the party cadre who decides who will join the AIADMK and added that this was the norm created in the party by its founder and former Chief Minister, late M.G. Ramachandran.

She warned the DMK government not to play politics by cancelling the Amma clinics floated by the previous Jayalalithaa government.

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“Nobody is asking anything for free, but everybody should get what is rightfully due to them.

There is no alternative but to conduct a ‘caste-based’ Census,” said Pawar, addressing a conclave of the NCP-OBC Cell.

He pointed out that the SC/ ST had got the benefit of the reservations granted to them by the Constitution and similar concessions must be extended even to the Other Backward Classes (OBCs).

However, to provide such reservations, the government must ascertain the exact OBC population which can be known by a ‘caste-based’ Census, and based on these figures, justice can be done to the community, the 81-year-old NCP supremo said.

Slamming the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for blaming the Maha Vikas Aghadi

government on the issue of OBCs quotas, Pawar said they were in power in Maharashtra for five years and ruling in Delhi since 2014, so “were you sleeping till now”.

He added that irrespective of what the BJP people say there is no hope for the OBCs getting justice from them, and even Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has spoken on the need for a ‘castebased’ Census, but the Centre’s mindset is different on it.

Pawar reiterated that the MVA -- comprising Shiv Sena-NCPCongress -- will go for the upcoming civic polls only after the OBCs reservations issue is resolved to ensure that they get their share in the decisionmaking process.

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Probe & sentence Yasin Malik for crimes against us: Kashmiri Pandits

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) As the court sentenced Yasin Malik to rigorous life imprisonment on May 25 for terror funding cases, the Kashmiri Pandits demanded that he should also be held accountable for the crimes he committed against the minority community. The Pandits have held him responsible for their genocide and mass exodus from the valley in 1990.

“In the terror funding case, he has been awarded life imprisonment

by NIA court for terror funding, but the nation and the displaced Kashmiri Pandits are still waiting for the law enforcement agencies to bring to justice those people who committed acts of terror against the hapless Kashmiri Pandit Community, which includes Yasin Malik and many like him. We are still waiting for the day justice is delivered to this beleaguered community,” said Ramesh Raina, President, All India Kashmiri Samaj. The Kashmiri Pandits have been demanding a probe into the role of Yasin Malik and others in the exodus of the minorities from the valley. Raina said: “We have already demanded a time-bound truth commission to fix the responsibility and accountability on the perpetrators of genocide on us.”

The Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD), which played a key role in the making of the ‘The Kashmir Files’ movie has welcomed the decision of the NIA court, but said that Malik should be tried for crimes against the Kashmiri Pandits.

Dr. Surinder Kaul, President of the GKPD, said: “There should be a commission of enquiry to probe Yasin Malik and others. He cannot just get away with life in terror

funding case... “ He said that Malik was the “butcher of our genocide and ethnic cleansing. He has been given two life imprisonment sentences. And then there are others also... Bitta Karate is also there... and many more”. Nearly seven lakh Kashmiri Pandits were forced to leave Kashmir in 1990 because of terrorism which was created by the outlawed Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front to which Yasin Malik belonged.

From late 1980s onwards, Malik along with other members of JKLF and other terror groups have been accused of heinous crimes such as targeted killings, kidnappings, gang-rapes, assaults, arson and loot to drive the Hindus out of the Valley. Newspapers carried advertisements threatening the Hindus to leave or face the consequences. Posters were pasted outside the houses of Kashmiri Pandits threatening them with death.

In March 2019, the Centre banned Yasin Malik’s JKLF under the anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA). Then Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba said that murders of Kashmiri Pandits by the JKLF in 1989 triggered their exodus from the Valley. “Yasin Malik was the mastermind behind the purging of Kashmiri Pandits and is responsible for their genocide,” Gauba said. The community says when the Government of India accepts that Yasin Malik caused the persecution of Kashmiri Pandits then why has he not been tried for the cases. They demand a commission to be set up which can probe his role in the mass exodus.

Panun Kashmir leader Ramesh

Manwati says: “Why Yasin Mallik has not been convicted in the brutal murders that he has committed, including those of four IAF officers in Rawalpora in Kashmir in early 1990. It’s 32 years now. It raises a big question mark against the investigating agencies and the intent of the successive governments in tackling the dreaded menace of Islamic terrorism confronting our nation. Nearly 1,500 Kashmiri Hindus and Sikhs have been brutally killed, individually and in mass massacres over the decades.

Shouldn’t they get justice?”

Rajinder Koul Premi, whose father, the renowned poet Sarwanand Koul Premi and brother Virendra were kidnapped, brutally tortured and killed in 1991, demands justice for the whole community.

He said: “Yasin Malik was just one of them. Justice is getting delayed.

My family and the whole of my community has been waiting for justice. The Supreme Court should take up our case and bring justice to us. Eyes cannot be closed to our plight. It is 30 years now.”

“Not just in the 1990s, Malik has been continuing with his anti-Hindu agenda even now.

He is against our return to our homes,” said Manwati. Malik has been opposing the rehabilitation plan for the displaced Kashmiri Pandits. In April 2015, when the Centre was mooting to build composite townships for migrant Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir, he said he will not allow these townships and will oppose them tooth and nail.

For lakhs of displaced Kashmiri Pandits, Yasin Malik is one among the several villains who should be tried for crimes committed against them.

“It’s tragic that after three decades, no one has been held accountable for our exodus and genocide. If the government does not act now, then one day will come when our exodus was regarded as myth as there are no FIRs filed, no trials, no accountability,” laments Manwati and Premi.

NEWS FROM INDIA

Gyanvapi mosque case: Muslim side cites 1937 suit to claim mosque, courtyard as waqf property

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) The Varanasi district court will hear the civil suit on the Gyanvapi mosque-Kashi Viswanath temple complex dispute on May 26. The Muslim side has challenged the maintainability of the civil suit by Hindu parties under Order 7, Rule 11 (maintainability) of the Civil Procedure Code (CPC).

The district judge has outlined the sequence of hearing -- he would first decide the sequence in which additional pleas, objections, and add-ons would be taken up.

Speaking to IANS Mohammed Tauhid Khan, representing the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, said, “The suit is barred by law and not maintainable...”

Khan cited the 1937 suit filed by one Deen Mohammed, where it was settled that the mosque, courtyard, and the land on which the mosque exists is a property of waqf. He emphasised that issues which have been settled should not be raised again. The masjid management has claimed that the civil suit seeking unrestricted access for daily worship of Goddess Shringar Gauri and other deities on the premises violates Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act 1991. However, the Hindu parties had contended that the survey report should be considered.

The Varanasi court started hearing the case on May 23 after the Supreme Court order on May 20. “Civil Suit No 693 of 2021 shall stand transferred from the file of the Civil Judge, Senior Division,

Varanasi to the court of the District Judge, Varanasi for trial and all interlocutory and ancillary proceedings in the suit shall be addressed to and decided by the court of the District Judge,” said the apex court.

The present local commissioner is appointed in a fresh suit filed in 2021. The August 8, 2021 order (allowing inspection), April 5, 2022 order (allowing videography), and April 8, 2022 (appointing commissioner) are under challenge before the Allahabad High Court in this case.

Another counsel, familiar with developments in the matter, said on September 9, 2021, the high court had stayed the Archaeological Survey of India survey, and the proceedings were in relation to an earlier suit already filed in 1991, and the stay continued to operate.

The present civil suit has been filed by five plaintiffs -- Rakhi Singh, Laxmi Devi, Sita Sahu, Manju Vyas, and Rekha Pathak -- seeking worship at the place and seeking appointment of local commissioner to conduct an inspection.

On May 20, the Supreme Court transferred proceedings of the suit by the Hindu parties seeking worshipping rights at Varanasi’s Gyanvapi mosque to the district judge, while ordering its May 17 interim order to protect the ‘Shivling’, purportedly discovered during the survey, and free access to Muslims for ‘namaz’ should continue.

Delhi HC notice on PIL for equal status to ‘Vande Mataram’ with ‘Jana Gana Mana’

New Delhi, May 25 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on May 25 sought the Centre’s stand on a plea seeking directions for ‘Vande Mataram’, a poem which had played a historic role in the struggle for India’s freedom, to be “honoured equally” with ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and be given an “equal” status. The Public

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Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Bharatiya Janata Party leader and lawyer Ashwini Upadhyay sought direction to respondents, including the Central government and Delhi government to ensure that ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and ‘Vande Mataram’ are played and sung in all schools and educational institutions on every working day.

Issuing notice in the matter, a division bench presided over by Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Datta directed the central government to file its response within six weeks.

After hearing the submissions of

Upadhyay, the bench posted the matter for November 9. During the course of the hearing, the petitioner submitted that there are no guidelines and ‘Vande Mataram’ is being played in a distorted manner which is contrary to the statement made

by Dr Rajendra Prasad in the Constituent Assembly. The PIL contended that on January 24, 1950, Constituent Assembly Chairman Dr Rajendra Prasad said: “There is one matter which has been pending for discussion, namely the question of the National Anthem. “Accordingly, I

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make this statement. Composition consisting of the words and music known as ‘Jana Gana Mana’ is the ‘National Anthem of India’, subject to such alternations in the words, as the Government may authorise as occasions arise; and the song ‘Vande Mataram’, which has played a historic part in the struggle for Indian freedom, shall be honoured equally with ‘Jana Gana Mana’ and shall have equal status with it. I hope this will satisfy the members.” The plea stated that ‘Vande Mataram’ is the symbol of our history, sovereignty, unity and pride. If

any citizen by any overt or covert act shows disrespect to it, it would not only be an anti-social activity but it would also spell doom to all our rights and very existence as a citizen of a sovereign nation.

“We must be proud of our Nation, our Constitution, National Anthem and National Flag and put national interest above our personal interests and only then will we be able to protect our hard-earned freedom and sovereignty. It is the duty of the executive to frame a national policy to promote and propagate ‘Vande Mataram’,” it read.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Conservation activists call for action from new govt

to reduce Australia’s reliance on coal and gas.

“Labor’s goal to have 82 percent of our electricity generated by renewables by 2030 is a step in the right direction, but the new government must reconsider its position on new coal and gas projects. It’s not what Australians want, nor what our environment needs,” she said.

NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

Experts warn of unusual monkeypox outbreak in Australia

Similarly, marine conservation group Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) called for the government to revise its emissions targets to reduce emissions by 75 per cent by the end of the decade and achieve net-zero by 2035.

Canberra, May 23 (IANS) Environmental and conservation groups in Australia have called for climate action by the government led by the newly-appointed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, which has been dubbed by many as a “climate election”.

“The trends across the country show a majority of Australians care deeply for bold climate action and integrity in politics.

It is a huge win (for) the environment at a time when nature needs us most,” Xinhua news agency quoted Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF)

CEO Kelly O’Shanassy as saying.

AMCS CEO Darren Kindleysides welcomed A$200 million ($142 million) in funding pledged for reef recovery projects over the next three years.

The group said a new government provides opportunity for an environmental “reset” as Albanese looks to make environmental conservation a part of his legacy in office.

“(We support) promises to look after our precious environments by strengthening environment laws and protections for threatened and endangered species,” said Kindleysides.

“Together we can end the climate wars. Together we can take advantage of the opportunity for Australia to be a renewable energy superpower,” said Albanese in his election victory speech.

Climate change played a huge role in the May 21 election result, with a surge in support for candidates wanting urgent action.

While welcoming a more ambitious gas emissions reduction target, O’Shanassy said that more would need to be done

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government had committed to a 2030 emissions reduction target of 26 per cent-28 per cent, while Albanese’ has a target of 43 per cent.

Over 60 Australian species face extinction reserves, meaning small, within 20 yrs: Study targeted conservation efforts

would be possible and relatively inexpensive. Other species such as the King Island brown thornbill and the swift parrot would require new habitat protections.

Researchers warned that five reptiles, four birds, four frogs, two mammals and a fish that have not been spotted recently would be the hardest to save. “These are the biggest worries,” Garnett said.

Canberra, May 25 (IANS) Australian researchers have identified more than 60 animal species that might face extinction within 20 years. In a study published on May 24, a team from Charles Darwin University (CDU) identified 63 vertebrates they believe are most likely to go extinct by 2041, Xinhua news agency reported.

save at least 47 of the species, including 21 fishes, 12 birds, six mammals, four frogs and four reptiles. “We know who they are, where they are, what threatens them and have a good idea of how to save them. It just needs commitment,” Stephen Garnett, a conservation biologist and coauthor of the study, was quoted by the Australian Associated Press.

However, they found that even limited conservation efforts could

About half the habitat of the 47 species are in existing nature

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“If you can’t find something, you cannot help it. But we need to make sure they are gone before we give up.” Four more species including a frog, fish, lizard and a shrew, were determined to be already extinct. On Monday, a separate study from CDU, the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and Conservation International found that 21 percent of reptile species globally are threatened with extinction.

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Canberra, May 23 (IANS) As Australia records its second case of monkeypox, local authorities and experts are readying for what they called a “highly unusual outbreak” of the disease, which has been spreading across the globe.

Previously, the state of New South Wales (NSW) recorded the nation’s first case of the virus, and a second case was later confirmed in Victoria’s state capital Melbourne, reports Xinhua.

Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) held a meeting to discuss what has been Europe’s worst outbreak of monkeypox in history.

Head of the Biosecurity Program at the University of New South Wales’ (UNSW) Kirby Institute, Professor Raina MacIntyre, who has played a major role in the nation’s fight against Covid-19, has hit the ground running to inform the public and called on the government to ready itself for a potential outbreak.

In an article published on UNSW’s website on May 23, she reiterated that the initial cases were not a “cause for panic” but a reminder for people returning from overseas to “remain vigilant”.

She said that while the variant of monkeypox appears to have a similar fatality rate to Covid-19 of around 1 per cent, it was nowhere near as contagious.

“It is a respiratory virus and can also spread to humans without contact, probably through aerosols,” said MacIntyre.

“However, it does not usually spread easily between humans,

and typically only in close contacts. Studies have found about 3 percent of contacts of a monkeypox case will be infected.”

Several weeks after being infected, individuals may experience symptoms including fever, headache, swelling of the lymph nodes, muscle aches, which are followed several days later by the highly-distinctive pustule rash.

The monkeypox virus was first identified in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1970, but scientists are puzzled as to why it is now spreading outside of the African continent.

MacIntyre said waning immunity provided by the smallpox vaccination, which stems from the same virus that is causing monkeypox and was administered en masse before it was eradicated in the 1970s is likely a key factor.

A 2018 report published in the Emerging Infectious Diseases journal estimated that just 10 per cent of Australia’s population were vaccinated against smallpox.

MacIntyre called for contact tracing, quarantine of close contacts, and “ring vaccination”, where contacts of confirmed cases are vaccinated as opposed to the entire population, citing the fact that Australia is unlikely to have a large supply of second and third generation smallpox vaccines.

“Given the unusual nature of this epidemic, it would be wise to ensure we have a stockpile of antivirals and enough of both types of vaccines”.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Australian workers granted right to domestic violence leave

National Employment Standards (NES).

The FWC decision will immediately affect 2.6 million Australians employed under modern awards, which provides entitlements on top of the NES, and likely set a precedent for all workers.

Canberra, May 17 (IANS) Millions of Australian workers will be granted access to paid domestic violence leave following a landmark decision by the workplace tribunal.

In a provisional decision, the full bench of the Fair Work Commission (FWC) ruled that workers should be able to access 10 days of family and domestic violence (FDV) leave every year

at their base rate of pay, reports Xinhua news agency.

“Family and domestic violence is a ubiquitous and persistent social problem. While men can, and do, experience FDV, such violence disproportionately affects women.

It is a gendered phenomenon,” the ruling said.

Currently, all Australian workers are entitled to five days of unpaid FDV leave every year under the

NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

Indigenous Australians hold just 0.7% of executive jobs: Report

According to data the FWC considered when making its decision, one in four Australian women and one in 13 men will experience FDV from the age of 15, costing the economy billions of dollars in lost productivity.

“In comparison to women with no experience of FDV, women experiencing or who have experienced FDV have a more disrupted work history, are on lower personal incomes, have had to change jobs frequently, and are more likely to be employed on a casual and part-time basis,” it said.

Experts call for free flu vaccines for all citizens amid battle against Covid-19 if you’re not vaccinated.”

“What we don’t normally see is quite so many kids in hospital but a lot of this is due to high numbers. There’ll be deaths for sure, and no doubt increased pressure on hospitals.”

Up until May 8 there had been 10,599 confirmed influenza cases in Australia compared to fewer than 1,000 in 2021 amid coronavirus restrictions and border closures.

In the Central Australia region of the Northern Territory, 36 percent of confirmed flu cases in 2022 have been hospitalised for treatment, prompting concerns of a severe season.

Canberra, May 25 (IANS) A leading infectious diseases expert has urged the influenza vaccine to be made free for all Australians to prevent a looming health “disaster”.

Ian Barr, WHO Deputy Director Collaborating Center for Reference and Research on Influenza, said recently governments should entirely subsidise flu vaccinations to help emphasise their importance.

According to data from the federal Health Department, nearly 5.9 million people aged five years and above, or 24 per cent of the population, and 151,189 Australians younger than five

years had received a flu vaccine as of May 22, Xinhua news agency reported.

The low figures come despite governments and health authorities across the country urging as many people as possible to get vaccinated to protect the health system ahead of a projected winter spike in flu and Covid-19 cases.

“This is the first full flu season for three years while our hospitals are already full,” Australian Medical Association VicePresident, Chris Moy said.

“It’s quite a scary prospect. We should be thinking about this from a disaster perspective.”

“The Covid vaccination has set the precedent. It sends a message the government thinks it’s a priority,” Barr told the Guardian Australia.

As of May 24 afternoon, 7,020,862 cases of Covid-19 have been reported in Australia, including 8,178 deaths, and nearly 353,415 active cases, according to the latest figures from the Health Department.

“There’s a two-year gap when we haven’t been exposed, and we know immunity wanes especially

The number of new Covid-19 cases reported in 24 hours stood at 43,090.

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Canberra, May 24 (IANS) Indigenous Australians, comprising the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, are “almost entirely absent” from corporate executive roles, a report has revealed.

The Perth-based non-profit organization, Minderoo Foundation launched the Indigenous Employment Index (IEI), the first comprehensive snapshot of Indigenous employment representation ever carried out in Australia, reports Xinhua news agency.

It revealed that only 0.7 per cent of senior leadership positions in corporate Australia are held

by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people.

As of 2018, less than half, or 49.1 percent of working-age Indigenous Australians were in some form of employment, compared to 75.9 percent of nonIndigenous Australians.

Worryingly, that gap only closed by 1.3 per cent during the decade to 2018, said the report.

The average Indigenous employment rate among 42 organisations that participated in the survey was 2.2 per cent, with a low of 0.17 percent and a high of 10.9 per cent.

Shelley Cable, Director of Minderoo’s Generation One

initiative, described the disparity as disappointing.

“Today, less than half of workingage Indigenous Australians are employed, compared to threequarters of non-Indigenous Australians. At the current rate, it will take 200 years to close the gap,” Cable said in a media release on May 23.

“Among its key recommendations, the Indigenous Employment Index finds that one-off measures to create Indigenous jobs must give way to a more comprehensive and systemic approach.

Authentic commitments, tailored strategies with targets, and a broader definition of Indigenous employment success that includes retention, safety, progression, and partnerships are critical to better Indigenous employment outcomes.”

Over 50 per cent of Indigenous employees who were surveyed for the report said they have experienced direct or indirect racism in the workplace.

Three-quarters of participating organisations, which included Rio Tinto, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group and retail giants Wesfarmers and Woolworths, have Indigenous employment targets but only 67 per cent report regularly on their progress.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Free public WiFi to continue in Melbourne’s CBD without the need to log-in or submit personal details.

Melbourne, May 29: Free WiFi will continue to be available in the CBD for Melbournians and tourists alike with the Andrews Labor Government extending the service.

Minister for Innovation, Medical Research and the Digital Economy Jaala Pulford today announced the free public WiFi throughout Melbourne’s CBD will continue

for another two years.

The Vic Free WiFi service is available outdoors at more than 400 hotspots, including at all train stations, the Bourke St Mall, Queen Victoria Market, and South Wharf Promenade at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Users can assess up to 1GB per day per device, free of advertising and

Free public WiFi makes it easier for those in the CBD to access public transport time tables as well as booking nearby restaurants and tickets to major events. The Vic Free WiFi pilot in Melbourne launched in 2016 and was one of the largest free public WiFinetwork of its kind in Australia. Since then, the Melbourne service has been used more than 45million times with more than 430 terabytes of data downloaded. Free public WiFi is also available in Ballarat, Bendigo and Shepparton, and work is underway to deliver free WiFi networks in Geelong, Latrobe Valley and Ararat. The Government’s $550 million Connecting Victoria program is fast-tracking improvements to mobile coverage and broadband access across the state. More connectivity projects in locations across the state will be announced throughout 2022.

Victorians claiming rebates on dining and entertainment Melbourne, May 28: From pottery classes to museum exhibitions, hot springs visits and winery lunches, an Andrews Labor Government initiative is getting people out and about enjoying the best that our state has to offer.

Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Martin Pakula today confirmed that there have been over 580,000 successful claims since the Victorian Dining and Entertainment Program launched on 29 March.

Over a quarter of entertainment claims, 28 per cent, so far are

for theatre and performing arts, with popular choices including Hamilton and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Cinema purchases are close behind, accounting for 26 per cent of claims. Live music performances have featured prominently with 13 per cent of customers claiming for gigs.

The dining rebates are available from Monday to Thursday anywhere in Victoria outside of the City of Melbourne municipality. Hai Di Lao, Dumpling Alley, Shanghai Red and Phoenix Soars take the top

four spots on the claims list for customers dining in or collecting a takeaway in person.

Almost two-thirds of claimants surveyed said the program was a key reason for making their purchase or spending more than they would have otherwise.

Businesses and customers are encouraged to get in quick to benefit from the program before it closes on Thursday 30 June or when funds run out – whichever happens first. Individuals can claim a combined total of up to $125 back.

Boomers bound for Melbourne in World Cup bid Melbourne, May 27: Melbourne will soon welcome back the Australian Boomers for their first games on home soil since making history at the Tokyo Olympics by claiming their first ever medal.

Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Martin Pakula today announced Melbourne has won the right to host the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup Asian Qualifiers at John Cain Arena from 30 June to 4 July.

The series gives fans a chance to see the Boomers in action as they fight to secure their place in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The series

features the men’s national teams of Australia, China, Japan, and Chinese Taipei competing over six games, including two doubleheaders, at John Cain Arena.

It is expected that up to 36,500 people will attend the series over four days. The Boomers will take on China on 30 June, then Japan on 1 July, followed by another game against China on 3 July.

The June schedule means there is potential for Australian players currently overseas to return home to play in the series in front of a home crowd. The international broadcast will reach more than 150 million households, putting

Melbourne on the world stage.

Victoria is the home of Australian basketball with more than 340,000 Victorians regularly playing the sport, more than a third of the national total.

The FIBA Asian Qualifying Series complements the Andrews Labor Government’s $105 million contribution to the $132 million upgrade of the State Basketball Centre in Wantirna South, which will create one of Australia’s leading basketball facilities and support the continued growth of basketball and gymnastics at local and elite levels.

Aboriginal Victorians to lead mental health reforms Melbourne, May 18: A new mental health hub will give Aboriginal groups leadership to redesign how care is delivered to their communities across the state, as part of the Andrews Labor Government’s landmark reform agenda, transforming the way the mental health of Victorians is supported.

Minister for Mental Health James

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Merlino today launched the new Balit Durn Durn Centre in partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO).

The Balit Durn Durn Centre will work in collaboration with health services and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations to undertake research, provide workforce

training and development, and share best practice in delivering culturally appropriate and tailored support.

Mental healthcare is best driven from within communities that know their needs best – that’s why the Labor Government is supporting Victorian Aboriginal communities to develop their own informed care pathways.

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NEWS FROM VICTORIA

Helping high-ability students strive for success Melbourne, May 24: More high-ability students at every government school in Victoria will have support to excel at school and reach their full potential, with more funding for the Andrews Labor Government’s Student Excellence Program.

The Victorian Budget 2022/23 invests an extra $37 million to make sure high-achieving students at every school have access to programs that challenge them to extend themselves – and to boost the capacity of schools and teachers to deliver these extension programs and support every student to achieve their best.

The package includes $11.2 million to expand the Victorian HighAbility Program, supporting up to 57,000 government school students in Years 5 to 8 to participate in intensive online extension and enrichment programs across English and mathematics – opening the program up to an extra 9,000 high-achieving students statewide.

A further $6.4 million will continue the successful Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series – delivering engaging extension activities and excursions for 100,000 students from Prep to Year 12 who are performing a year or more ahead of the expected curriculum through universities, tech schools and other expert education organisations.

These activities include something for every student’s interests and talents – with programs in subjects as diverse as robotics, biomimicry, food

sustainability, screenwriting, nutrition, app creation, philosophy and neuroscience.

The package will also deliver $15.3 million directly to schools to purchase resources, develop new in-school initiatives or continue existing high-ability programs and support every school to have a High-Ability Practice Leader, coordinating programs and identifying and supporting highachieving students.

The Student Excellence Program was designed to ensure advanced and high-ability students are empowered to reach their full potential by challenging them – making sure they are not at risk of disengaging from their education.

The Labor Government is also supporting students who need extra assistance with their learning through the $480 million Tutor Learning Initiative – giving every child the individual support they need to thrive at school.

On top of the Student Excellence Program, the Government is also delivering the Centre for Higher Education Studies, to open in 2023 – boosting outcomes for high-achieving secondary school students by offering first year university-level courses and select VCE subjects accompanied by an enhancement and enrichment program. This ‘head start’ will allow Victoria’s most capable students to undertake a study that contributes to their ATAR while gaining university credits that will set them up for the future – with applications for the inaugural intake to CHES to open in the coming months.

Modular homes housing people across Victoria Melbourne, May 18: The Andrews Labor Government is supporting people in need to have a place to call home with more than 100 modular homes being built and dispatched across Victoria.

The modular homes are built in a factory and shipped to mostly regional areas, where construction shortages and supply issues can often impact the timing of building new houses.

Funding of $30.38 million is being invested to build 114 modular homes, which are either in construction, being assembled on site, ready to move in or already tenanted across Victoria. The new homes have created more than 200 jobs and will house people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The modular homes can be constructed quickly, are easily transported and can be permanently placed on vacant and underutilised land, which immediately addresses housing availability and reduces reliance on emergency accommodation and transient housing. The homes are being

built for many areas across the state, including Warrnambool, Horsham, Glenelg, East Gippsland, Swan Hill, Mildura and the Colac Otways. Building modular homes in a factory ensures supply and demand are met – and local businesses are still offered employment to assemble, install and connect services. All properties include energy efficient appliances, solar panels, heat pump hot water services and good site orientation to capture north and south light, which means more comfortable and cost-effective homes.

The modular homes are being delivered under the Labor Government’s Building New Homes to Fight Homelessness program, which is providing 1000 new public housing properties across the State. This is in addition to the $5.3 billion Big Housing Build. This investment includes $1.25 billion in regional areas, ensuring the economic and social benefits are felt in communities across the state.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Queensland to make public display of hate symbols a crime people fear.

“We are committed to a Queensland that is harmonious, fair and inclusive, not one where individuals or groups are vilified based on their race, religion, language, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation or gender.

Brisbane, May 26: The public display of hate symbols such as those related to Nazi ideology will be banned in Queensland under new laws to combat hate crimes and serious vilification.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Queensland was a freedomloving society but no-one has the right to spread fear and hate.

“Nazism is evil,” the Premier said.

“Evil triumphs when good people do nothing. These crimes are not harmless and nor is the ideology behind it.”

Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman said the Queensland Government would introduce a new criminal offence making it illegal to display such hate symbols.

“Depictions of hate symbols have no place in Queensland,” the Attorney said.

“As a community, we cannot tolerate the deliberate use of these symbols to promote hatred towards communities that have been persecuted and cause those

“The Queensland Parliament Legal Affairs and Safety Committee’s recent inquiry into serious vilification and hate crimes recommended a criminal offence prohibiting the public display of hate symbols.”

“Subject to consultation with legal and community stakeholders, we hope to introduce legislation to make that happen during the second half of 2022.”

Multicultural Affairs Minister Leanne Linard said she supported the introduction of legislation that addressed serious vilification and hate crimes against culturally diverse groups.

“I meet and work with people from across our ethnically diverse state every day and have heard first-hand of the devastating effects of vilification and hate crimes”, Ms Linard said.

“This new legislation will protect against this form of discrimination and hold Queenslanders who commit these crimes to account.

“I endorse the Queensland Parliament Legal Affairs and Safety Committee’s recommendation to make it a

“Electricity providers will automatically apply the credit, so Queenslanders don’t have to apply.

“These are assets that belong to Queenslanders.

Brisbane, May 26: Queenslanders will receive a $175 Cost of Living Rebate on their next power bill.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said rising fuel and grocery prices were taking a toll especially on those on low incomes.

“People are having to make difficult choices including going without,’ the Premier said.

‘The $175 Cost of Living Rebate will make life just that little bit easier and brings to $575 the dividends Queenslanders have received over the past four years.

“In February we announced Queensland households would receive $50 off their power bills later this year because Queenslanders own their power assets – the generators, the transmission and the distribution,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

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“It will mean total rebates to households of $575 over the past four years.”

Treasurer and Minister for Investment Cameron Dick said addressing cost of living issues is at the core of the Palaszczuk Government’s priorities.

“At a state and federal level, Labor Governments govern for people who are doing it tough,” the Treasurer said.

“This $385 million investment will be of most help to people who are disadvantaged, people who need help from rising prices, people who were left behind by the Morrison Government.”

Minister for Energy, Hydrogen and Renewables Mick de Brenni said the $175 Cost of Living Rebate has been increased to take into account rising wholesale electricity prices driven by a

Queensland’s first dedicated State Indigenous war memorial unveiled

criminal offence to display hate symbols to invoke fear in others.

“We know that swastika symbols have a profound meaning in some religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. The new laws will allow these symbols to be used in these respectful circumstances but prevent them from being used as a symbol of hate. I look forward to the legislation being introduced later this year.”

The Attorney said the Parliamentary Committee had made 17 recommendations after reviewing the nature and extent of hate crimes and serious vilification in the State, and the effectiveness of existing laws.

“Our existing laws respond to some of the issues examined by the Committee, however, we are committed to strengthening our laws to ensure our diverse communities are better protected,” she said.

“That’s why we will be accepting all recommendations of the committee.

“Some of the recommendations will require more detailed analysis once the Queensland Human Rights Commission review of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 is complete so we can consider proposed reforms holistically to ensure consistency in our approach to these important issues.”

Cost of living rebate on your next power bill “With wholesale prices going up due to global instability, we have moved to raise it to $175 because we know the pressure Queenslanders face.

NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND

combination of global factors and nine years of LNP Coalition inaction.

“We know affordable, reliable power is critical to Queenslanders,” Mr de Brenni said.

Minister de Brenni said the Queensland Government was also investing more than $2 billion to supercharge renewable energy supply and significant battery storage to produce cheaper, cleaner energy but has gone it alone for years.

“We are getting on with the job but Queenslanders are feeling the cost of living hangover of nine years of the failed AbbottTurnbull-Morrison Government and their flatlining on renewables investment,” Mr de Brenni said.

“The Australian Energy Regulator has this morning pointed out a combination of high peak demand and the impact of the invasion of Ukraine on gas prices have together resulted in a forecast increase in power bills of over 11 per cent.

“We’re working hard to keep downward pressure on prices because every dollar counts right now for Queensland households.”

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Brisbane, May 27: Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dedicated Memorial Committee Queensland Inc. to unveil a new memorial to First Nations servicemen and women in Brisbane today.

by Wakka Wakka artist John Smith Gumbula and Gold Coast-based sculptor Liam Hardy, features four First Nations Army, Air Force, Navy, and Medical Services personnel and two dancers representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

The Premier, who attended the unveiling ceremony at Brisbane’s ANZAC Square, said the service and sacrifice of all Australian military personnel deserved to be honoured with dignity and respect, including the important contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women.

Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford said the Palaszczuk Government was committed to Treaty with First Nations peoples and the memorial marked a significant step on that journey.

“Right throughout history, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders have served our nation courageously as members of Australia’s armed forces. It’s important their efforts are acknowledged,” the Premier said.

“This memorial will be a permanent reminder of their valour and sacrifice and is an opportunity to commemorate the stories of First Nations service men and women.

“It’s another step in our nation’s path to reconciliation and it’s fitting that we’re unveiling this on the first day of this year’s National Reconciliation Week.

“Our government is proud to partner with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dedicated Memorial Committee Queensland to support this important memorial with a $240,000 funding commitment as we continue on our reconciliation journey.”

The bronze memorial, designed

“This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme asks us all to be brave, and make change,” Mr Crawford said.

“It takes courage to speak the truth about history, but that honesty is fundamental to creating a new way for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and nonIndigenous peoples to work together as equals, with mutual respect.

“First Nations peoples have served in armed conflicts from the Boer War onwards and continue to serve our country today.

“Military service requires significant sacrifice from serving members and their families, in wartime and in peace, and some have made the ultimate sacrifice. delaide, Sydney and Canberra and soon to be established ones in Ipswich and Woorabinda.

Today’s unveiling was attended by the Premier, Brisbane Lord Mayor and approximately 200 First Nations Elders, Australian Defence Force representatives, veterans, project partners and philanthropists.

Coopers Plains level crossing removal one step closer

Brisbane, May 18: The Palaszczuk Government is upping its commitment to the Boundary Road level crossing removal in Coopers Plains to $133 million dollars to accelerate the much needed project. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the increased funding commitment was a huge step towards removing the level crossing to make it safer and

cut travel times. “This is one of Brisbane’s busiest level crossing, and it’ll only get busier as our population booms and Cross River Rail comes on line in 2025,” Mr Bailey said. “A business case on removing it is currently underway and it’s found it’ll cost in the order of $399 million to remove, meaning we’ve had to increase our funding commitment from $73 to $133 million.” “The Palaszczuk Government is committed to delivering for the people of Coopers Plains and that’s why we were happy to step up to the plate and invest more to remove this level crossing.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

EDITORIAL

From the editor's desk How much and how often should courts

Under Albanese India engagement won’t be disrupted

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Australia voted for a new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese— Member for Grayndler in New South Wales, since 1996. “Albo’s” substantial rise in the party eventuated under Kevin Rudd’s Kevin07 dispensation in which he was given a ministerial position.

In the 2010 hung parliament Albanese was also instrumental in securing the support of the independent members when the government was shy of the majority mark. After the drubbing in the 2013 elections, when the Australia Labour Party chose Bill Shorten over him as the leader, he secured the deputy prime minister position. Subsequently, following the shock defeat of the ALP in the 2019 elections, when Shorten resigned from leadership, Albanese became the party leader.

Albanese had taken charge of the party in very tough times in 2019, and needed to unite the factions within the party, restore public and business confidence in Labor’s policies and values, and most of all consolidate his own authority as a leader— and he has done fairly well on these counts. The jury may differ over his leadership style, articulation and capabilities, but his political resume certainly testifies his credentials as a peace/dealmaker within the Labor caucus and in the parliament. Above all, he possesses one key virtue to be a successful political leader—patience. Come 2022, biding his time he backed his political convictions and after the initial gaffes in the media, brick-by-brick built his prime ministerial image in the public.

He championed change in the way politics was conducted, inclusiveness in decision-making, compassion for the indigenous Australians and hope for the jobless. His promise to create a national anti-corruption commission is a big tick with the teals and also the Australian public.

His win was also aided by a strong anti-incumbency over rape and sexual misconduct, rising cost of living, fuel, electricity and essential commodities; stagnating wages, waning climate commitments and Scott Morrison’s delayed response in securing covid vaccines and handling natural disasters. Most recently, ScoMo’s

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adjudicate matters of religious fervour?

flip-flop response in dealing with the Queensland floods gave the ALP leadership in Queensland the much-needed ammunition to target the federal government. Scott Morrison’s mishandling of the Brittany Higgins’ rape allegations, and assault allegations against his two parliamentary colleagues Christian Porter and Alan Tudge especially inflicted a severe beating to the party’s and his own public image, and last-ditch effort to announce Marise Payne as the “Prime Minister for Women” proved futile in winning back the women voters.

Albanese is expecting to get a majority to escape dependence on teals (climate change activists) and the Greens. He needs space to manage the expectations of the resource industry in pursuing “renewable energy superpower” status for Australia. In the postpandemic recovery the flagship resource sector is the key for GDP growth which the IMF has raised to 4.2% in its latest forecast. The resource industry contends that more mines, minerals and metals are needed to build a modern society and boost economic growth and decoding this remains a challenging conundrum for the Albanese government.

Bipartisanship in Canberra means Australia’s India policy will continue uninterrupted. ALP deserves the credit for several key initiatives with India such as restoring uranium supplies, lobbying for a waiver from the Nuclear Supplies Group and signing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. It has also backed the latter in difficult situations. In the wake of the Pulwama attack, the new Foreign Minister Penelope Wong, then the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate had issued the party statement condemning the “atrocious terrorist attack against security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir”. In April, Anthony Albanese, as the Leader of the Opposition had also welcomed the “deepening of the ties” and signing of the Australia India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA). In 2017, Albanese led a Parliamentary Delegation to India to deepen parliamentary ties, people-topeople relations and understand the social, economic, governance and political issues. The insights gained will prove useful now.

As Anthony Albanese meets his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in Tokyo at the Quad summit, both draw comfort from the fact that their strategic and bilateral interests cannot be seen in isolation. This means they can keep an eye on what happens between and around them, simultaneously.

By Asad Mirza In the old city of Jerusalem, there lies a 187-foot long Western Wall, built by Herod on the western flank of the Temple Mount. Whilst the wall was considered Muslim property as an integral part of the Haram esh-Sharif and waqf property, the right of Jews to prayer and pilgrimage co-existed.

The Western Wall’ has been fraught with severe skirmishes between communities and though the Western Wall is carved in stone, the fate of its worshippers is not, and is written with an unease that has come to be seen largely in religiously zealous places such as in India.

The present dispute pertains to the land where Gyanvapi mosque is situated in Varanasi and has been witness to several proceedings in courts since 1991. In 1991, a suit was filed by devotees of the Kashi Vishwanath temple near which the Gyanvapi mosque is situated alleging that the mosque was built after a Lord Vishweshwar’s temple was destroyed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

The proceedings in the 1991 suit have been stayed by the Allahabad High Court. However, recently another suit was filed in 2021 by female devotees and worshippers of Lord Shiva, practicing the vedic sanatan hindu dharma before Civil Senior Judge, Varanasi seeking “restoration of performance of rituals at principal seat of an ancient temple” at the Gyanvapi mosque area”.

The dispute has now reached the apex court after multiple orders having been passed by both the civil court in Varanasi and the Allahabad High Court since 1991 on pleas by both the Hindi devotees and Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Varanasi, the Masjid Committee and others.

The Varanasi court had ordered an inspection of the premises on petitions moved by five Hindu women asking for year-long access to pray at a Hindu shrine behind the western wall of the

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Gyanvapi mosque complex in Varanasi, which is currently open for prayers once a year.

Be that as it may, the Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Varanasi, has sought leave of the Supreme Court that it’s application under Order 7 Rule 11 should be heard first by the civil judge, and then only should the case be proceeded with, including the unfolding of the commission’s findings. To countenance the same, the plaintiffs have stated that to address the very cause of action in the case it is imperative that the commission’s reports be attended to at first.

This has indeed led to a legal quagmire, and more in particular, encompassing the civil body of law, in the instant case.

But the Supreme Court on May 20, 2022, has put it to rest and has ordered that the application filed by the Committee of Management Anjuman Intezamia Masjid under Order 7 Rule 11 CPC for rejection of the suit as being barred in law, shall be decided on priority by the district judge. So, the question therefore is whether the Gyanvapi mosque does conceal in it’s premises a “shiv ling” as alleged by the plaintiffs or for that matter can the civil court in view of the estoppel envisaged by the Places of Worship Act, 1991, view the matter at all.

The significance of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, cannot be undermined. A legislature that has been in the fore in preserving the secular fabric of our nation has been the Places of Worship Act, 1991, which only accommodates the Babri masjid case as an exception to its covenant. The Act itself which is under challenge before the apex court, is the torch bearer of the secular ethos of our Constitution.

The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court in the Babri masjid title suit, while observing on the importance of the Places of Worship Act, 1991, stated that “The Places of Worship Act imposes a non-derogable obligation towards enforcing our commitment to

secularism under the Indian Constitution.”

The recent dismissal of the plea by the Allahabad High Court seeking the constitution of a factfinding committee to research on the “real history” behind Taj Mahal, is again a crusade in point.

The petitioner had also sought a direction to the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to open the sealed doors of over 20 rooms inside the Taj Mahal premises so that the alleged controversy pertaining to the “history of Taj Mahal ‘’ can be put to rest.

However, the plea couldn’t see the light of the day, unlike the Gyanvapi or the time-tested Babri masjid case.

The difference between them being that the Taj case was a writ petition and the suitability of using the same to elicit facts is less of a draw in law than using a suit in arriving at facts, and being the traditional device of Indian courts in drawing evidence.

So, if tombs are to be unearthed, then it better be by way of a suit, as laid down by precedence in Indian courts, not that it essentially draws out skeletons from a closet, even if there are none, but at least because it stirs the imagination of the larger rhetoric of the prevailing public opinion. What is worrisome is that matters of religious fervour are being adjudicated liberally in courts of law, where forensics ought to have been the rational way forward.

The question, therefore, that is now posed for our understanding is whether the plaintiffs’ prayer for the restoration of the performance of rituals at the principal seat of an ancient temple in the Gyanvapi mosque holds any water, and whether the courts are competent to tread these holy waters keeping in mind that only recently have they come out of the troubled waters of the Babri Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi case.

Asad Mirza is a political commentator based in New Delhi.

The views expressed are personal

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Foreign study tours, scholarship schemes become integral part of ‘Naya J&K’

SPECIAL FEATURES

India is QUAD’s crucial partner for peace and stability in Indo-Pacific region

Pakistan and is a known property broker in Rawalpindi.

Srinagar, May 11 (IANS) Just two years ago, students in Jammu and Kashmir had no idea about foreign study tours. However, in “Naya J&K” it has become a reality.

Recently J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off a batch of 12 undergraduate students from SKUAST-K on a study tour to Kansas State University, USA. These students are visiting the USA under the Student Overseas Fellowship Programme of National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) funded by Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) & World Bank.

This tour was one among the many initiatives that have been taken by the government to provide J&K youth with the opportunities to get quality education so that they can face the challenges and grow-up as responsible citizens.

After August 5, 2019-when the Centre announced its decision to abrogate J&K’s special status and divided it into two union territories-the government announced multiple scholarships and other schemes for the students.

5000 scholarships provided under PMSSS In 2021-22, under Prime Minister’s Special Scholarship Scheme (PMSSS), J&K a total of 5,000 scholarships were awarded for students pursuing courses in general degree, professional degree, and medical streams.

Students selected for the scholarship for general degree courses were eligible to receive upto Rs 30,000 per annum for the academic fee (payable to the institution) and maintenance charges of Rs 1 lakh per annum (payable to the student), a total of 2070 scholarships were offered under this category.

For professional degree, students were eligible upto Rs 1.25 lakh per annum for the academic fee (payable to the institution), maintenance charges of Rs 1 lakh per annum (payable to the student). A total of 2830 scholarships were offered.

For MBBS/BDS or equivalent medical streams students are eligible upto Rs 3 lakh per annum for the academic fee (payable to the institution), maintenance charges of Rs 1 lakh per annum (payable to the student). A total

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of 100 scholarships were offered under this category.

The steps taken by the government in the past 2-years have facilitated the access of students to quality education so as to equip them with knowledge, skills, experience, and training for higher academic level/profession.

The implementation of the National Education Policy-2020 has empowered young students to engage not only in advanced research but also in various other fields which facilitate development of new and innovative technologies and their commercial development. The international outreach initiatives are in line with the NEP-2020.

Separatists used education as tool Prior to the abrogation of socalled special status of J&K the separatists used to provide recommendation letters to students for pursuing studies in various colleges in Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

More than education the aim was to indoctrinate the young minds.

In April, officials revealed that seventeen Kashmiri youth, who had travelled to Pakistan on valid travel documents and sneaked back into the Valley through illegal routes were killed in antiterror operations.

Since 2015, a large number of youngsters have procured travel documents to visit Pakistan to pursue higher studies.

Recently, the University Grants Commission and the All Indian Council for Technical Education, the higher and technical education regulators of the country, had issued a statement, advising students not to travel to Pakistan for pursuing higher education.

In December last year the State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police had filed a chargesheet against nine people, including Hurriyat leader Zaffar Bhat, in a case connected to selling Pakistani MBBS seats to Kashmiri students against huge payments. The SIA in its charge sheet had stated that Bhat earned a great deal of money selling Pakistani MBBS seats to the top notch people of Kashmir.

Bhat used to operate through his brother, Altaf Ahmad Bhat, who moved to Rawalpindi, Pakistan, after crossing into PoK for arms training. Altaf Bhat is at present in

Besides Zaffar Akbar Bhat and his brother Altaf Ahmed Bhat charges were also framed against Fatima Shah, Qazi Yasir, Mohammad Abdullah Shah, Sabzar Ahmad Sheikh, Manzoor Ahmad Shah and Mohammad Iqbal Mir. The investigating agencies took the lid off the scandal and brought to fore the nefarious designs of the separatists, who were turning Kashmiri youth into terrorists at the pretext of providing education.

In last 2-years no student went to Pak During the past two years no student from Kashmir has gone to Pakistan or Pakistan occupied Kashmir to acquire any sort of education. The government has ensured that no need arises for Kashmiri students to even look towards the neighbouring country. Education has been made accessible to all.

The implementation of New Education Policy, 2020 and various scholarship schemes for young minds have provided them with multiple opportunities across the country.

The renewed thrust on providing quality education to the youth has been one of the integral elements of “Naya Jammu and Kashmir”.

The mainstream Kashmiri leaders, who ruled J&K till 2018, were aware about the conspiracies that were hatched by the separatists and Pakistani agents present in the Valley. Unfortunately these rulers just turned a blind eye towards how the adversary was using education as a tool to misguide a common man in the Himalayan region. Had they acted and made an attempt to implement the centrally sponsored schemes aimed at making education accessible to all, no Kashmiri student would have run after the separatists to seek recommendation letters for pursuing higher studies in Pakistan.

Now, the scenario has changed.

J&K students are going on study tours to foreign countries.

Colleges across the country have opened the doors for them. The government besides sponsoring the annual fee of the meritorious and deserving students is also providing them with the sustenance allowance yearly to help them complete their courses.

The new dawn has broken out in J&K and everyone from bottom to top is getting benefitted. People of the Himalayan region had to wait for 70 long years for getting the benefits and privileges they deserved. The dispensation led

by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has made it possible by changing J&K status-quo and by merging it into the Union of India completely.

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New Delhi, May 10 (IANS) QUAD Summit 2022 took place in Tokyo on May 24 where the leaders of four nations-India, Japan, the US and Australia deliberated upon various regional and global issues including Ukraine war and peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Interestingly, in the run up to the QUAD Summit, the US President visited the Republic of Korea and Japan from May 20 to 24 with the stated objective of further deepening the ties. There are many skeptics who are raising doubts about the QUAD members’ unity after India’s decision to abstain from the UN resolution against Russia over the Ukraine conflict. QUAD Group has steered ahead since it was first conceived in 2007 with a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The group became more coalesced after a decade and graduated to a formal association from being just a tentative coalition. Malabar Naval Exercises in November 2020 in which navies of Australia, India, Japan and the US participated, projected the power of unity among QUAD members. It is likely that India’s neutral stance on the Ukraine war, unlike other QUAD members, may come up during deliberations among the QUAD members in the Summit.

However, it is, almost a foregone conclusion, that despite US’s insistence on supporting Ukraine and decrying Russia for the war, India would stand firm in its stance that war should be stopped; negotiation and dialogue should be resorted to resolve disputes, humanitarian access should be provided, and civilian casualties should be avoided.

It is short of US’s expectations, but India is a sovereign nation and it has long and reliable ties with Russia, therefore, while it would continue to urge ending hostilities and resolving the disputes through dialogue and negotiations, it would maintain its measured and principled stand in this regard. All the Quad members are democratic and believe in complying with international conventions while pursuing their security and strategic interests together in the Indo-Pacific region. The description of the QUAD as the “Asian Version of NATO” in some quarters springs from the frustration that the presence of a QUAD like alliance would not allow any country to jeopardize peace and stability in the region.

The QUAD, being a group of democratic countries which respect the sovereignty of each other, would not make any fuss on

each other’s foreign policy. Rather they would focus on strategic collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region. The intention of QUAD is clear from the very beginning, i.e., maintaining peace and stability as well as smooth mercantile movement in the Indo-Pacific and not expansionism. India is pivotal to the US Indo-Pacific strategy.

Its importance in the Indo-Pacific region has increased due to a shift in geopolitics as highlighted by the Indian Foreign Minister - “the Indian and Pacific Oceans have become much more seamless.

It is increasingly untenable to see them in compartmentalized terms, which is part of a larger geopolitical shift”. India is now recognised as a great link between the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean -- the major theatres of contemporary geopolitics. India’s geographic location, size, and military capabilities as the world’s second largest army, ranking fifth overall (ahead of France, Israel and South Korea), and a formidable presence in the Indian Ocean, make India an ideal strategic partner for the QUAD. The US State Department has always highlighted that a strong US-India partnership is vital to the Indo-Pacific vision, particularly for safe and free mercantile movement and compliance of the international conventions in and around the South China Sea in particular and the Indo-Pacific region in general. During his recent India visit, the Prime Minister of the UK also highlighted India’s importance in maintaining peace and prosperity in the IndoPacific region and his willingness to cooperate with India in this regard. India’s importance for QUAD cannot be underestimated.

It has been an influential power in South Asia and SouthEast Asia.

It enjoys deep economic and strategic ties with the countries of the region. Since, India shares democratic values with other QUAD partners and security concerns due to increased Chinese unlawful activities in the Indo-Pacific region, often based on military expansionism and violation of international laws, India remains strategically the most pivotal partner of QUAD and other Western countries.

Anticipation about critical discussion in the QUAD summit over India’s position on the Russia - Ukraine conflict was far-fetched and unrealistic. The US has already indicated that it understands and appreciates India’s position on the Ukraine war.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

WORLD NEWS

India-Japan agree to shore up bilateral QUAD countries launch security & defence cooperation tracking system to check illegal fishing by China five years,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement on May 24.

New Delhi, May 24 (IANS): India and Japan have agreed to further enhance bilateral security and defence cooperation, including in defence manufacturing.

During a bilateral meeting held in Tokyo on May 24, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida concurred that the next 2+2 Foreign and Defence Ministerial Meeting may be held in Japan at the earliest.

Both leaders had a productive exchange of views on enhancing bilateral relations in various spheres as well as on some regional and global issues. They also appreciated the growing economic ties between the two countries.

“They agreed that both sides should work jointly towards implementing their decision to have 5 trillion yen in public and private investment and financing from Japan to India in the next

During the meeting, Modi highlighted the steps taken by the Government of India to improve ease of doing business, logistics through the Gati Shakti initiative and urged Kishida to support greater investments by Japanese companies in India.

Appreciating that Japanese companies were increasing their investments in India and that 24 Japanese companies had successfully applied under the various PLI schemes, Modi discussed the progress in implementation of the MumbaiAhmedabad High Speed Rail project with Kishida and welcomed the signing of the exchange of notes of the 3rd tranche loan for this project.

The two leaders also discussed possibilities of collaboration in critical and emerging technologies such as 5G, Beyond 5G and semiconductors. They agreed to deepen cooperation in the area of Clean Energy including green hydrogen and, in this regard, encouraged more business-to-business collaboration, the MEA said.

Modi raised the issue of further easing of travel restrictions in

order to facilitate quarantine free entry into Japan for travellers from India carrying Covaxin and Covishield vaccination certificates. The two leaders concurred that the India-Japan Act East Forum was useful in prioritising the development of India’s northeast region, and looked forward to early implementation of various projects which were identified by the two sides during the Annual Summit.

Modi and Kishida also exchanged views on recent global and regional developments. They noted the convergences in their respective approaches to the Indo-Pacific and reaffirmed their commitment towards a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

In this context, they welcomed the progress in the QUAD’s contemporary and constructive agenda such as vaccines, scholarships, critical technologies and infrastructure.

PM Modi thanked Prime Minister Kishida for the warmth and hospitality extended to him and members of his delegation during the visit.

The Japanese premier invited Modi to visit Japan for the next Annual Bilateral Summit, which he accepted.

Azadi March ends as Imran gives 6-day ultimatum to announce polls Islamabad, May 26 (IANS): PTI Chairman and former Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 26 gave a six-day ultimatum to the incumbent government to announce an election and dissolve Assemblies, indicating an end to his party’s ‘Azadi March’.

They managed to enter despite heavy security.

In his speech at Jinnah Avenue, Khan said he had reached Islamabad after 30 hours of travelLing from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The government tried every method to crush our Azadi March.

They used teargas on peaceful protests, our homes were raided and our privacy was violated.

However, I have seen the nation free itself of (the) fear of slavery,” Geo News quoted the former premier as saying.

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According to the Financial Times, which cited a US official, the US, Japan, Australia, and India, revealed a maritime strategy during the Quad conference in Tokyo to combat illegal fishing in the Indo-Pacific. They stated that the maritime programme would connect surveillance centres in Singapore and India to develop a tracking system for illegal fishing from the Indian Ocean to the South Pacific using satellite technology. President Joe Biden of the United States is in Japan for a meeting of the Quad Group, which includes Australia, India, Japan, and the

United States, and has boosted cooperation in the face of China's growing aggression. According to a story reported in the Financial Times, the maritime project will allow these countries to monitor illicit fishing even when the boats' transponders, which are generally used to track vessels, have been switched off.

Kurt Campbell, the US-Indo Pacific coordinator, stated earlier in May that the US will shortly reveal steps to combat illegal fishing in the US. Several IndoPacific countries are concerned over China's massive fishing fleet. They claim that its ships frequently breach their exclusive economic zones, causing environmental and economic damage.

Modi meets chairperson of JapanIndia Association in Tokyo New Delhi, May 24 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 24 met former Japanese Prime Ministers Yoshiro Mori and Shinzo Abe. Mori is the current chairperson of the Japan-India Association ( JIA), while Shinzo Abe will be taking over this role shortly.

Modi appreciated the significant contributions made by the JIA under the leadership of Mori in promoting exchanges between India and Japan in political, economic and cultural fields.

He also conveyed his best wishes to Shinzo Abe on his

new responsibilities and looked forward to the JIA continuing its important role.

The leaders also discussed the broad canvas of India-Japan Special Strategic and Global Partnership as well as the shared vision of India and Japan for a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Discussions were held on ways to further promote cultural and people-to-people ties, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.

The JIA, established in 1903, is one of the oldest friendship associations in Japan.

India-US strategic partnership is a ‘Partnership of Trust’: Modi

The PTI chairman was off to his Bani Gala residence after addressing the participants of the ‘Azadi March’ at Jinnah Avenue, leaving behind his supporters who marched for hours in anticipation of a major public gathering and sit-in, Geo News reported.

The PTI marchers, who were in D-Chowk most of May 26 night, had by this time entered Islamabad’s prohibited Red Zone, which is home to several sensitive buildings, including Supreme Court, PM House, US Embassy.

At the Quad Summit in Tokyo recently, the United States, Japan, Australia, and India revealed a maritime project.

New Delhi, May 24 (IANS): Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 24 said that the strategic partnership between India and the US is a “true partnership of trust”.

He also claimed that three PTI workers lost their lives in Karachi, while two others were thrown off Ravi Bridge and thousands of others were arrested.

Giving a deadline to the government to announce the date for fresh polls in the country, Khan said he is giving the government this time to announce a general election in June.

“My message for the imported government is to dissolve assemblies and announce elections, otherwise I will come back again to Islamabad after six days.”

As Khan’s convoy entered Islamabad and started marching towards D-chowk with the large

caravan, the federal government called in the army to protect Red Zone.

According to the notification issued by the Interior Ministry, the “Army has been called in to control the situation under article 245 of the Constitution”.

“Our shared values, and our common interests in many areas, including security, have strengthened the bonds of this trust,” he said in his opening remarks during a bilateral meeting between the two nations on the sidelines of the QUAD Summit in Tokyo.

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah took to Twitter and confirmed the development.

The Prime Minister further said that “our people to people relations and close economic relations also make our partnership unique”.

PTI workers threw stones using catapults at the Jang/Geo building located near D-Chowk and shattered the glasses of the newsroom.

He said that there has been a sustained development in the field of trade and investment, though, it was still less than what our real potentials.

Due to stone-pelting, several staffers got injured. Also, vans parked near D-chowk were damaged, Geo News reported.

“Mr. President, it is always a pleasure meeting you. We participated in a positive and useful QUAD Summit together today. I am confident that with the

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launch of India-USA Investment Incentive Agreement, we can see concrete progress in days to come,” Modi told US President Joe Biden.

The Prime Minister further said that “we are extending our bilateral cooperation in the field of technology and we are also consolidating our coordination on global issues”.

“We share similar views on the Indo-Pacific, at the bilateral level as well as with like-minded countries to work to protect our common concerns. Our discussions today will give speed to this positive momentum.”

He also said that the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) on May 23 was a live example of this and “our discussion today will give more impetus to this positive momentum”.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Hydrogen-powered electric bus to begin trial in Aussie state the Central Coast in east NSW. The bus will also need to pass onroad testing before it is rolled out in the trial.

NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister, Sam Farraway said in some regional areas, buses need to travel greater distances before they refuel, which is why trials like this are important.

“Hydrogen buses have a greater range than battery electric buses, which could make them better suited for use in regional and outer metropolitan areas of the state,” Farraway added.

Sydney, May 25 (IANS) The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) announced on May 25 that its first trial of a hydrogenpowered electric bus will begin later this year in a transition to zero-emission technology.

The government is partnering with local and national industry suppliers to test the future fuel source. Bus operators also joined the trial to help understand how the technology could be

implemented across regional NSW, Xinhua news agency reported.

“Unlocking hydrogen use in the heavy transport sector is key to creating new industries and achieving the economic prosperity that comes with it,” said NSW Treasurer and Energy Minister Matt Kean.

The local trial of the technology will begin after the first hydrogen fuel cell electric bus arrives on

“The results of the battery electric bus trial on the Central Coast will be compared against the hydrogen bus to understand any key differences, including fuel economy and refuelling times.”

The trial is part of the state government’s plan on reaching zero-emission targets with alternative transport options that are 100 per cent Australian designed, built and supported.

NSW to ban single-use plastic bags I encourage everyone to choose to go plastic-free as often as they can.”

Overall, the staged phase-out of plastic is projected to prevent almost 2.7 billion plastic items from entering the environment over the next 20 years.

The state has already begun to support over 40,000 small businesses with the phase-out.

Sydney, May 24 (IANS) Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) state is gearing up to institute its total ban on single-use plastic bags as it looks to slowly phase out all single-use packaging.

From June 1, all single-use bags would be banned in the state, meaning businesses and individuals will need to find alternatives in reusable plastic or non-plastic bags, reports Xinhua news agency.

NSW Minister for Environment James Griffin said single-use plastics make up 60 percent of all

the state’s rubbish, and as such it would be crucial to transition away from them.

“I think all of us can see the impact plastic pollution is having on our environment, which is why we’re making major changes in New South Wales this year.”

The state will also ban a slew of other single-use plastics from November, among them is plastic cutlery, plates, polystyrene cups, plastic straws, and cotton buds.

“We each have the power to make positive environmental change at an individual level, and

“The NSW government has worked with stakeholders to support small businesses to understand how they will be affected, how to comply with new laws and what alternatives they can use to single-use plastics,” said state Minister for Small Business Eleni Petinos.

The ruling makes NSW the last Australian state or territory to put into effect its ban of single-use plastic bags.

As a nation, Australia is set to phase out “problematic single-use plastics” by 2025.

Queensland warned of dam outflows, flooding risks

Sydney, May 23 (IANS) Australia’s states on May 23 warned of flooding risks due to dam outflows as a result of continued heavy rainfall. Due to continuing rain in the catchment areas, outflows have increased from more than 20 dams in the state of Queensland, reports Xinhua news

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agency. Seqwater, the state’s bulk water supply authority, started to drain down the flood storage compartment of discharged dams on May 23. Releases from Wivenhoe Dam, Southeast Queensland’s largest water storage, were likely to continue until May 26, subject to further rainfall within the catchment.

Australia’s east coast has already endured some repeated flooding in recent months and the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has warned more floods could be expected.

People in surrounding areas

of discharged dams were told to avoid potential hazards downstream of the dam, such as fast flowing or deep water near waterways and floodplains The BoM also warned that the minor to moderate flooding in southeast Queensland may go up to major in the south and southwest. Meanwhile, a hazardous surf warning has been issued for the coastline of New South Wales (NSW), with the surf and swell conditions expected to make activities like rock fishing and boating dangerous.

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ENERGY & RESOURCES

India joins US-led coalition to clean up carbon-intensive industry

Davos, May 25 (IANS) India has joined the US-led First Movers Coalition, a flagship public-private partnership to clean up the most carbonintensive industry sectors, from heavy industry to long distance transport.

net-zero transformation across industrial value chains.

The coalition on May 25 announced a major expansion to more than 50 corporate members worth about $8.5 trillion and a total of nine leading governments, including the US, covering over 40 per cent of global GDP.

Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry, said: “India has been at the forefront of climate change actions. The idea of LIFE -- ‘Lifestyle For Environment’ -- as highlighted

by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the call for a global mass movement on sustainable lifestyles, is very critical for combating climate change.”

US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry made the announcement alongside Bill Gates, founder of Breakthrough Energy, at a press briefing hosted by the World Economic Forum.

In addition to the US government, the coalition welcomed India, Japan, and Sweden to the steering board, as well as Denmark, Italy, Norway, Singapore and the UK as government partners.

These government partners will invite companies from their countries to join the coalition and will pursue public policies to commercialise the green technologies corporate members commit to purchasing.

Led by the World Economic Forum and the US government, the First Movers Coalition targets sectors including aluminium, aviation, chemicals, concrete, shipping, steel and trucking, which are responsible for 30 per cent of global emissions - a proportion expected to rise to over 50 per cent by mid-century without urgent progress on clean technology innovations.

For these sectors to decarbonise at the speed needed to keep the planet on a 1.5-degree pathway, they require low-carbon technologies that are not yet competitive with current carbonintensive solutions but must reach commercial scale by 2030 to achieve net-zero emissions globally by 2050.

To jump-start the market, the coalition’s members commit to purchasing -- out of their total industrial materials and longdistance transport spending -- a percentage from suppliers using near-zero or zero-carbon solutions, despite the premium cost.

If enough global companies commit a certain percentage of their future purchasing to clean technologies in this decade, this will create a market tipping point that will accelerate their affordability and drive long-term,

The coalition is launching two new sectors: carbon dioxide removal and aluminium, which join the four existing sectoral pledges (aviation, shipping, steel and trucking) launched at COP26.

“India has also taken global leadership with initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, One Sun One World One Grid, and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. We believe that the need of the hour is to strengthen technological innovation so as to have cost-effective climate technologies on a larger scale.

“The First Movers Coalition has a huge role to play in this and to achieve our climate goals.”

US Special Presidential Envoy Kerry said the purchasing commitments made by the First Movers Coalition represent the highest-leverage climate action that companies can take because creating the early markets to scale advanced technologies materially reduces the whole world’s emissions -- not just any company’s own footprint.

“With today’s expansion, the coalition has achieved scale across the world’s leading companies and support from committed governments around the world to tackle the hardest challenge of the climate crisis: reducing the emissions from the sectors where we don’t yet have the toolkit to replace unabated fossil fuels and swiftly reach netzero emissions.”

Borge Brende, World Economic Forum President, said: “The coalition’s members are truly the ‘first movers’ who are focused on scaling disruptive innovations that pave the way for long-term transformation rather than the lower-hanging fruit of short-term process efficiency gains.”

“Once the tipping point is reached in the market, the First Movers Coalition will demonstrate that a net or near-zero transformation across the value chain is not only possible but that it will be no more expensive than the highemitting alternative.”

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

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

Authored by AD Suba Chandran, Lavanya Ravi, Padmashree Anandhan, Avishka Ashok, Ashwin Dhanabalan, Apoorva Sudhakar, Abigail Fernandez, Rishma Banerjee and Vijay Anand Panigrahi

The US: Another racial attack highlights the deep divide within On 14 May, in the US, in a racially motivated attack, a young white male opened fire in a supermarket, killing ten people, most of them belonging to the African American community.

The shooting took place in Buffalo; a report in the New York Times read: “drove more than 200 miles to mount his attack, which he also live streamed, the police said, a chilling video feed that appeared designed to promote his sinister agenda.”

On 14 May, the US president, in his statement on the shooting, said: “... we don’t need anything else to state a clear moral truth: A racially motivated hate crime is abhorrent to the very fabric of this nation. Any act of domestic terrorism, including an act perpetrated in the name of a repugnant white nationalist ideology, is antithetical to everything we stand for in America. Hate must have no safe harbor. We must do everything in our power to end

hate-fueled domestic terrorism.”

On 18 May, a report in the New York Times read explained how the killer “had posted racist and antisemitic memes and messages and updated his plans on the internet forums. He was able to buy an assault-style weapon despite having been held for a mental health evaluation in 2021 after making a threatening remark at his high school.”

Israel: Al Jazeera journalist killed in the West Bank

On 11 May, Shireen Abu Akleh, an Al Jazeera journalist covering Palestine news, was shot by Israel’s forces on the West Bank.

Abu Akleh was covering Israel’s military operations in the refugee camp of Jenin. She was wearing a vest that said “press”, but Israel’s snipers did not wait before opening fire. Abu Akleh was shot in the head, while Al Jazeera’s other journalist Ali al-Samoudi was shot in the back. Abu Akleh was rushed to the hospital in critical condition and passed away shortly, while al-Samoudi is stable. Abu Akleh was shortly transferred to the Itishari hospital in Ramallah, a city in the central West Bank, for autopsy after public prosecution.

The Palestinian Authority’s President Mahmoud Abbas

ALSO IN NEWS China: Detained Uighurs in Xinjiang region list leaked On 13 May, the Strait Times reported that a police list of detained Uighurs had been leaked which estimates that over a million Uighurs and other Muslim minorities were being held in different detention centres and prisons across the Xinjiang region in China. The list was released to Uighur activists outside China.

According to the report, the information on the government’s anti-terrorism crackdown in the region is closely protected by

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has stated: “it was a cold blooded murder, and it shows the monstrosity of Israeli colonialism and occupation.”

However, Israel has denied all allegations with the prime minister Naftali Bennet stating, “these are unfounded allegations before Israel could conduct a thorough investigation, Palestinians firing indiscriminately were responsible for the killing of journalists.” The Al Jazeera reporters present on the scene, including al-Samoudi, deny the presence of any Palestinian fighters in Jenin, and they claim there was no confrontation between the Palestinian people and Israel’s forces. Al-Samoudi has stated that journalists were directly targeted.

the authorities. It also explained that most court notices are not available to the public while the police are uncooperative with the people.

Indonesia: Palm oil export ban endangers the livelihood of local farmers On 16 May, the palm oil and product export ban raised a furore among the local smallscale farmers who urged the government to reverse its decision. Indonesia is the largest producer of palm oil in the world but had to resort to a ban on it in an attempt to manage the price

On 13 May, the funeral of Abu Akleh was conducted in East Jerusalem. Israel’s police forces attacked the procession and beat the mourners, almost causing them to drop the coffin.

Palestinian flags were seized and all patriotic music was shut off. The Jerusalem Red Crescent said 33 people were injured. The US has described the scenes as “deeply disturbing,” while the EU said it was “appalled by the violence and the level of unnecessary force exercised by Israeli police.” Al Jazeera has strongly condemned the attacks stating the attack “violates all international norms and rights.”

people during his address that Sri Lanka was down to its last day of petrol as the country had run out of foreign currency to import more fuel. He also indicated the country’s urgent need for USD 75 million of foreign currency to import necessary commodities.

Privatization of state-owned Sri Lankan Airlines is also probable, according to the Prime Minister.

The Sri Lankan central bank would also be printing money to pay wages to state-sector employees despite the obvious consequence of the rupee depreciating further.

India: Wheat export ban faces criticism; G7 expected to address the issue On 17 May, there’s an increased probability of the G7 persuading India to reverse their wheat export ban in their upcoming summit in Germany, likely to be attended by Prime Minister Modi.

The United Nations Security Council hopes to address the wheat export ban issue and urge the countries opting for it, including India, to reverse their decision owing to its implications in the global market. The upcoming G-7 summit scheduled from 26 June to 28 June is expected to keep food security as an issue at the forefront. India’s wheat export ban shocked the world as it comes in times of dire necessity of ensuring global food security.

Sweden: Youth reluctant to join NATO

Sri Lanka: In urgent need of forex, left with just one day of petrol

On 18 May, Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson’s decision to join NATO marked the end of Sweden’s 200-year military neutrality policy, which the Nordic country has followed since the 19th century. While the majority of Swedes favor their nation joining NATO in the midst of the Ukraine conflict, many young people are more reluctant. Some even marched to the streets of Stockholm, condemning the loss of military neutrality as a step that would result in greater global warfare.

According to a security policy analyst at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) Alina Engström, the benefits of quitting the military non-alignment status include the possibility of Sweden being involved in NATO’s defence planning and receiving security assurances. The disadvantages of alliance participation include that Sweden must be more adaptable in adjusting its security policy and loses some flexibility in foreign and security policy.

On 18 May, the newly appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe cautioned the

On 17 May, Mariupol, which

rise fostered due to the Ukraine war, disappointing harvests, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, the ban has caused palm prices to plummet which affects the livelihood of the local farmers significantly. Out of the 270 million people in Indonesia, around 16 million are small-scale palm farmers who now urge the government to find a solution.

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Ukraine: Russian forces take control of Mariupol city

WORLD THIS WEEK had been under siege from the beginning of the war in February, finally fell to the Russian forces.

The last of the Ukrainians holding out in the bunkers and tunnels below the Azovstal steelworks surrendered. Russia’s defence ministry reports that 256 fighters have surrendered, among whom 51 were severely wounded, and will be taken to Novoazovsk in the Russian-backed breakaway Donetsk region. The remaining fighters were taken to a prison in Olenivka, near Donetsk. Ukraine has acknowledged the terrific bravery of the defenders at Mariupol, who managed to hold the Russian forces at bay for 82 days, amidst severe bombardment and blockades. Presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said: “Because Mariupol drew in the Russian Federation’s forces for 82 days, the operation to seize the east and south (of Ukraine) was held up. It changed the course of the war.”

Finland: Parliament approves application proposal for NATO membership On 17 May, Helsinki’s parliament voted yes to join the NATO military alliance. According to the speaker Matti Vanhanen, out of 200 parliamentarians, 188 voted in favor of the motion while eight voted against it. Foreign minister Pekka Haavisto stated that the decision would not change Finland’s values of seeking peaceful and diplomatic solutions to conflicts. Haavisto added: “Our border would become the border between the military alliance and Russia. New tensions would not be a risk only during the application process but rather a new and permanent condition of our foreign and security policy.”

Chairman Jussi Halla-who also mentioned that the decision was taken after considering many experts and noting the opinions of ten parliamentary committees About the authors D Suba Chandran is a Dean and Professor at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS. Lavanya Ravi is a postgraduate scholar at Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore.

Padmashree Anandhan, Avishka Ashok, Ashwin Dhanabalan, Apoorva Sudhakar, Abigail Fernandez are Project Associates at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS. Rishma Banerjee is a Research Intern at the School of Conflict and Security Studies, NIAS. Vijay Anand Panigrahi is a postgraduate scholar at Pondicherry University.

The report has been modified

by India News due to space considerations.

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

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).

Modi meets industry leaders in Japan, invites them to invest in India formula for success

New Delhi, May 23 (IANS) Visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived in Tokyo on Monday on a two-day visit, met three important business leaders of Japan and invited them to invest in India. Shortly after his arrival, Modi first met Nobuhiro Endo, the Chairman of NEC Corporation. The Prime Minister lauded the NEC's role in India's telecommunication sector, especially in undertaking Chennai-Andaman & Nicobar Islands (CANI) and KochiLakshadweep Islands (KLI) OFC projects. He also highlighted India's investment opportunities under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

During the meeting, they discussed various reforms being undertaken to enable ease of doing business in India including in industrial development, taxation and labour. They also discussed opportunities in India in new and emerging technologies. According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Endo spoke about opportunities in India in areas such as smart cities, emerging technologies and an innovative effort to encourage learning of Japanese in India.

Modi also met Osamu Suzuki, senior advisor of the Suzuki Motor Corporation, and discussed further investment opportunities in India including setting up of production facilities for electric vehicles and batteries as well recycling centres, for realizing the goal of sustainable growth.

They also discussed strategies for building the local innovation system in India, including skill development through JapanIndia Institutes of Manufacturing ( JIM) and Japanese Endowed Courses ( JEC). Recalling Suzuki's association and contribution in India, Modi appreciated the transformational role of Suzuki Motors in the automotive industry

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of India. He also appreciated that Suzuki Motor Gujarat Pvt Ltd. and Maruti Suzuki India Ltd were among the applicants approved under Production Linked Incentives (PLI) scheme in automobile and auto component sector. According to the officials in PMO, after meeting Modi, Suzuki said: "Reforms undertaken

by PM Modi are indescribable and these reforms are changing India into a 'Model Landscape' while the self reliance (Aatmanirbhar) theme is supported by the Japanese's investors very strongly." Modi also held two other meetings with Tadashi Yanai, Chairman, President and CEO of Uniqlo, a Japanese casual wear designer, manufacturer and retailer; and Founder of SoftBank Group Masayoshi Son. During their meeting, Yanai appreciated the entrepreneurial zeal of the people of India and said: "We can focus on end to end products i.e. from plant to design to fabric. We want to make growth in India. IT talent in India is excellent... I just want to say, 'Let's Do it'." On his part, Modi asked Yanai to take part in the PMMitra scheme aimed at further strengthening the textiles sector. said the PMO. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister and the Softbank Group founder discussed subjects like India's strides in the world of StartUps, opportunities in research, technology and ways to boost investment linkages.

Modi arrived here on a twoday visit at the invitation of his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida. He is scheduled to participate in the third Quad Leaders' Summit in Tokyo on Tuesday along with US President Joe Biden, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Kishida. Modi and Kishida will also hold a bilateral meeting.

The Indian Pharmaceuticals industry plays a prominent role in the global pharmaceuticals industry. India ranks 3rd worldwide for production by volume and 14th by value. The nation is the largest provider of generic medicines globally, occupying a 20% share in global supply by volume, and is the leading vaccine manufacturer globally. India also has the highest number of US-FDA compliant Pharma plants outside of USA and is home to more than 3,000 pharma companies with a strong network of over 10,500 manufacturing facilities as well as a highly skilled resource pool.

The pharmaceutical industry in India offers 60,000 generic brands across 60 therapeutic categories. Major segments include generic drugs, OTC Medicines, API/Bulk Drugs, Vaccines, Contract Research & Manufacturing, Biosimilars and Biologics. > Incentives worth INR 21,940 Crore ($3 Mn) are approved > Expected to reach $65 bn by 2024, and ~$120-130 bn by 2030 > Growth rate 10-12% > Cost of manufacturing ~ 33% lower than western markets 18.7% year on year export growth India is the 4th largest Asian medical devices market after Japan, China, and South Korea and among the top 20 global medical devices markets in the world.

Indian pharma companies enabled by their price competitiveness and good quality, have made global mark, with 60 per cent of the world’s vaccines and 20% of generic medicines coming from India.

100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Pharmaceutical sector is allowed under the automatic route for greenfield pharmaceuticals.

100% FDI in the pharmaceutical sector is allowed in brownfield pharmaceuticals; wherein 74% is allowed under the automatic route and thereafter through the government approval route.

Indian pharmaceuticals - a

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The Rise and Rise of Indian Pharmaceuticals Industry

By Bhakti Jain and Srijata Deb, Strategic Investment Research Unit (SIRU)

Climate change is speeding up and escalating quicker than expected with pollution levels at record highs. Present and future generations’ health and well-being and their economic progress are in jeopardy. We urgently require adequate solutions to preserve a cleaner and greener environment.

As one of the cleaner fuels with zero carbon, hydrogen has provided a ray of hope in the fight against climate change.

With the right fuel cells, they can be employed in numerous energy applications. Green hydrogen is one of the cleaner fuels available for transportation and power generation. For regulators, investors, and consumers, reduction in cost in hydrogen production, storage, transmission, distribution, and utilisation has become a major global change. Today, hydrogen is seen as a carbon-free alternative for various uses including longhaul haulage, shipping, and the steel industry. Because hydrogen manufacturing is energyintensive, non-greenhouse gas-producing sources such as wind and solar must be used to generate power. Large-scale usage of green hydrogen energy, a 100 per cent clean fuel, will cut greenhouse gas emissions while lessening the burden on fossil fuels.

Over the next decade, refineries are projected to switch to green hydrogen. Green ammonia will be cost-effective for fertiliser production by 2030. The path to a cleaner future must pass through higher investments in research and development, technology enhancements, and capacity building.

In the fight against climate change, India has emerged as a significant leader. It is now making noticeable measures to mitigate global warming as the world’s third-largest emitter, and it remains committed to significantly decreasing its environmental impact in the future. The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PHDCCI) functions as a catalyst in disseminating awareness and technological advances about pollution prevention and management, including climate mitigation. It has also been working on advanced multi-stakeholder initiatives and industrial transformation to enhance sustainability,

robustness, and efficiency in many socio-economic sectors. In the context of green hydrogen, India is in a distinctive position to create hydrogen for its purposes and emerge as a worldwide export hub owing to its wide accessibility of inexpensive renewable energy.

The National Hydrogen Energy Mission, announced in the union budget of India for 202122, demonstrates India’s ability to build capacity to become the world’s cheapest hydrogen producer by 2050. This will aid in the development of a set of equitable, positive, and valuable future solutions.

There has been significant impetus given to the production and consumption of green hydrogen. This has extensively induced several Indian companies to invest in innovations in green hydrogen plans: > Reliance Industries announced it would commit $ 75 billion to green energy, including an undisclosed amount toward green hydrogen projects. > Hyderabad-based Greenko group and Belgium-based John Cockerill to build a two-gigawatt hydrogen electrolyser gigafactory in India, the largest outside China. > The state-owned Indian Oil Corporation teamed up with two private companies to launch a joint venture to develop green hydrogen. There are also plans to manufacture and sell electrolysers used to produce green hydrogen. > In November 2021, the world’s largest solar power developer Adani Group announced it would invest $ 70 billion by 2030 into renewable energy infrastructure, including green hydrogen. > Reliance Industries and Adani Group have both pledged to make the world’s cheapest green hydrogen at $ 1 per kilogram, or about a quarter of a gallon — that’s down from the current cost of $ 5-6.

Green hydrogen needs innovation and technological advancements to replace fossil fuels. It will become commercially viable only when it becomes cheaper.

For the country, it is essential to focus primarily on initiating small and medium scale pilot projects before pivoting to large scale production plants.

Source: Invest India, Government of India

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BUSINESS & TRADE

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

UP gears up for 3rd groundbreaking ceremony

‘Extraordinary order’, SC sets aside Delhi HC order staying SFIO probe into Sahara group firms

processing, with 474 projects, worth Rs 4,118.39 crore as the sum of investment intent.

However, in terms of value, the top department is IT and electronics, where the number of projects is 14, but the sum of investment intent is a staggering Rs 20,587.05 crore.

In the IT and electronics sector, projects are related to setting up of data centres, software development centres, IT and ITEs centres. This indicates the preference of intending companies for Uttar Pradesh as a suitable destination for IT and electronics projects.

Lucknow, May 26 (IANS) Hectic preparations have begun for the Global Investors Summit in Uttar Pradesh, which will pave way for making the state a $1 trillion economy.

The third ground-breaking ceremony will be held on June 3 in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and more than 60 giants from the corporate and industry world.

According to an official spokesman, the Prime Minister will perform 'bhumi pujan' for about 2,000 projects worth Rs 75,000 crore at the ceremony.

Uttar Pradesh has reinforced its reputation as an industry and investment-friendly state with the repeated investment by global giants in many sectors.

In the last five years, sectors such as Information Technology and Electronics, Food and Food Processing and Infrastructure

have seen massive investment by companies with a global footprint.

The third GBC and investment ceremony marks a display of confidence by the industry and corporates of India and abroad in the industrial environment created by the Yogi government in the last five years. While the Investor Summit held in February 2018 was followed by the first GBC, the second GBC was held in July 2019.

In the UP Investors Summit and GBC held in February 2018, 81 projects with projected investments worth Rs 61,800 crore were put into operation.

The second GBC held on July 28, 2019, saw 290 projects worth Rs 67,000 crore put into operation.

The third GBC is bigger than the previous two with a higher projected investment.

In terms of number of projects, the top department is food

Notable among other departments with a large number of projects are: FSDA or Food Safety and Drug Administration (59), Tourism (23), Cooperative (24), Housing (23), Additional Sources of Energy (20), Excise (13), Textile (12), Animal Husbandry (6), Higher Education (4) and Dairy (3).

Among facilitating departments, the UP State Industrial Development Authority or UPSIDA has the highest number of projects at 647, followed by NOIDA (47), UP Expressways Industrial Development Authority or UPEIDA (25), Greater Noida (17), Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority or GIDA (14), Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority or YEIDA (7) and Infrastructure and Industrial Development Department or IIDD (3).

The huge interest shown in Uttar Pradesh by top industrial houses in varied sectors will go a long way in boosting the state's economy and create lakhs of employment opportunities.

FY22 GDP growth seen at 8.2-8.5%, for Q4 at 2.7%: SBI Ecowrap report Early trend of Q4FY22 results for corporates, in the listed space, reported better growth across parameters as compared to Q4FY21 albeit contraction in operating margin due to higher input costs. Sectors such as steel, FMCG, chemicals, IT-software, auto ancillary, and paper reported better growth numbers.

New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) The State Bank of India's (SBI) research report Ecowrap, in its latest edition, projected India's GDP growth for FY22 to be at 8.2-8.5 per cent. For Q4FY22, the report projected growth at 2.7 per cent. "We however believe the GDP projection for Q4FY22 is clouded by significant uncertainties. For example, even a 1 per cent downward revision in Q1 GDP estimates of FY22 from 20.3 per cent, all other things remaining unchanged could push Q4 GDP growth to 3.8 per cent," the report said.

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"Meanwhile globally, while the average real GDP Y-o-Y growth in Q1 2022 for 25 economies at 5.5 per cent is a tad higher than the preceding quarter, GDP growth is marking an abrupt reversal in major economies (the US, France, Italy, Sweden). The US economy unexpectedly contracted in the Q1 2022 (on sequential basis) amid a resurgence in Covid-19 cases and drop in pandemic relief money from the government. This is the first decline in GDP since the short and sharp pandemic recession nearly two years ago," said the report.

Investors are already wary of rising inflationary pressures, however, certain economic data including new jobless claims rising to a four-month high and negative leading index have further sparked concerns that pricing pressures are starting to now take a toll on the economic growth. On crude oil prices, the report said it was sceptical that prices may not sustain at high levels for a long time.

The report added that the best thing that has emerged during the pandemic is the coordinated policy response by both the government and the RBI in staving off the health crisis and now the inflation.

"The RBI has largely been successful in communicating to the market about its intentions and seems to have managed the art of managing expectations much better."

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New Delhi, May 26 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside the Delhi High Court order, which stayed the investigation into companies related to the Sahara Group and also the look out circulars issued against Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy and his wife.

A bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Bela M. Trivedi said the high court order was unwarranted and also it passed an extraordinary order staying the investigation. On May 17, the top court had agreed to list a plea

by SFIO challenging the Delhi High Court order.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the SFIO, submitted that total money involved is Rs 1 lakh crore and considering layers and layers of companies involved, the probe could not be completed in three months and it took more time. Mehta said: "We issued a look out circular so that they do not flee the country..."

A plea by Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) said: "The petitioner SFIO has filed the captioned petition against the final judgement of the Delhi High Court dated December 13, 2021, whereby the high court erroneously granted interim relief to respondents 1 to 3 by staying the operation, implementation, and execution of the investigation orders dated October 31, 2018 and October 27, 2020 passed by the Central government and stayed all subsequent actions and proceedings initiated pursuant thereof including coercive proceedings and look out notices issued against the respondents."

After hearing arguments, the top court said the Delhi High Court was not correct in staying the investigation at interim stage. "We allow appeals and set aside the high court order on stay...," said the bench.

The SFIO, a statutory corporate fraud investigating agency,

moved the top court against the December 13, 2021 Delhi High Court order. "It is submitted by way of the order, all actions and proceedings undertaken under the orders dated October 31, 2018 and October 27, 2020, passed by the central government have been stayed which seriously prejudice the ongoing investigations and proceedings which necessitated urgent listing of the captioned petitions," added the SFIO's plea.

It further added that high court order was passed by ignoring the material facts available on record, and sought stay on high court order.

The high court had observed that petitioners Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd and others have made out a prima facie case for the grant of interim relief. It further added that the balance of convenience was also in their favour, and irreparable loss would be caused to them, if interim relief is not granted. The high court had asked the central government to file its response to the petition.

The petitioners -- Sahara firm and others -- had submitted before the high court that the first order was passed on October 31, 2018, for investigation into the affairs of three companies -Sahara Q Shop Unique Products Range Ltd, Sahara Q Gold Mart Ltd, and Sahara Housing Investment Corporation Ltd. The petitioners further contended that perusal of the October 27, 2020 revealed that no reason was assigned, why it was necessary to begin an investigation against the six companies.

These companies are: Aamby Valley Ltd, Qing Amby City Developers Corporation Ltd, Sahara India Commercial Corporation Ltd, Sahara Prime City Ltd, Sahara India Financial Corporation Ltd and Sahara India Real Estate Corporation Ltd.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Australian medical body calls for return of face masks

Scientists speculate waning smallpox vaccine protection to be root cause of Monkeypox outbreak in countries where the virus is endemic.

it is not possible to physically distance, to get back to basics, such as wearing masks, to minimise the spread of both those infections.”

Australia on May 18 recorded more than 50,000 new coronavirus infections and over 50 deaths.

Canberra, May 18 (IANS) The Australian Medical Association (AMA) on May 18 called for a return of face masks to mitigate an impending spike in Covid-19 and influenza cases.

Chris Moy, Vice-President of the AMA, warned that a double blow of Covid-19 and the flu would put “enormous pressure” on the country’s health system, reports Xinhua news agency.

Australia reported fewer than 30,000 influenza cases in 2020 and 2021 combined, with Covid-19

restrictions preventing its spread.

In comparison, there were more than 300,000 cases in 2019 and 953 deaths.

With coronavirus restrictions now lifted across the country, experts have warned of a potentially devastating winter flu season.

“We are heading into winter for our first real flu season in a couple of years,” Moy told local media.

“People need to consider, particularly in indoor areas where

Asked about the ongoing response to the pandemic while campaigning for the general election on May 21, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said rising case numbers were “always going to happen”.

The number has risen and that’s what was always going to happen, he said on May 18.

“What you see when you have case numbers of that level is that people, when they pass away, from many other causes, they will die with Covid, and their deaths are recorded as Covid deaths, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they passed away because of Covid, that’s a very different proposition.”

Global Covid caseload surges to 527.2 mn 26 morning, the University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) revealed that the current global caseload and the death toll stood at 527,265,341 and 6,282,780, respectively, while the total number of vaccine doses administered increased to 11,485,421,664.

Washington, May 26 (IANS) The global coronavirus caseload has topped 527.2 million, while the deaths have surged to more than 6.28 million and vaccinations to over 11.48 billion, according to the Johns Hopkins University.

In its latest update on May

The US continues to be the worsthit country with the world’s highest number of cases and deaths at 83,706,662 and 1,003,743, respectively, according to the CSSE. India accounts for the second highest caseload at 43,142,192.

The other countries with over 10 million cases are Brazil

(30,851,191), France (29,605,758), Germany (26,159,106), the UK (22,462,129), Russia (18,038,920), South Korea (18,036,720), Italy (17,312,432), Turkey (15,066,784), Spain (12,238,073) and Vietnam (10,712,733).

The nations with a death toll of over 100,000 are, Brazil (666,261), India (524,507), Russia (370,972), Mexico (324,768), Peru (213,122), the UK (178,973), Italy (166,264), Indonesia (156,553), France (149,095), Iran (141,293), Colombia (139,833), Germany (138,643), Argentina (128,825), Poland (116,290), Spain (105,947) and South Africa (101,043).

Some antivirals may be effective against Monkeypox virus: Lancet

London, May 25 (IANS) A team of researchers have found that some antiviral medications might have the potential to shorten symptoms and reduce the amount of time a patient is contagious with Monkeypox virus.

In the paper published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal, researchers described a retrospective study of seven patients diagnosed with Monkeypox in the UK between 2018 and 2021. It also reported the first off-label use of two

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different antiviral medications brincidofovir and tecovirimat - to treat the disease. The study found little evidence that brincidofovir was of clinical benefit but concluded that further research into the potential of tecovirimat would be warranted. The team from Liverpool University Hospitals also report detection of monkeypox virus in blood and throat swabs. “As public health officials are trying to understand what is causing the May 2022 Monkeypox outbreaks in Europe and North America - which have affected several patients who reported neither travel nor an identified link to a previously known case - our study offers some of the first insights into the use of antivirals for the treatment

of Monkeypox in humans,” said lead author Dr. Hugh Adler from the Hospital.

The initial three patients were treated with brincidofovir seven days after the initial onset of the rash. Brincidofovir was not observed to have any convincing clinical benefit in treating Monkeypox and alterations in liver blood tests were observed.

The researchers note that it is not known whether brincidofovir administration earlier in the course of the disease or at a different dosing schedule would have yielded different clinical outcomes. Despite this, all three patients, plus the fourth hospital transmission patient, made a full recovery.

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HEALTH

London, May 25 (IANS) Scientists are speculating whether the waning smallpox vaccine protection could be behind the recent Monkeypox outbreak that has seen more than 200 confirmed or suspected cases in over a dozen countries.

Owing to the mass immunisation campaign, naturally occurring smallpox was wiped out worldwide by 1980. The smallpox vaccine also offered the bonus of strong protection against Monkeypox.

“Waning of immunity from smallpox vaccination may be contributing to the increasing outbreaks of Monkeypox,” Prof.

Raina MacIntyre, from the University of New South Wales, was quoted as saying to the Medical Journal of Australia.

“It has been more than 40-50 years since mass vaccination ceased,” she said.

A study published in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, in February, warned Monkeypox cases were rising as a result of the cessation of widespread smallpox vaccination, as the virus was declared eradicated by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

According to Dr Romulus Breban, a researcher at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, the “outbreak was really waiting to happen”, the Guardian reported.

“Our immunity level is almost zero. People aged 50 and above are likely to be immune but the rest of us are not, so we are very, very susceptible,” he was quoted as saying.

He, however, believes the outbreak can be contained and said it was an opportunity to propose vaccination campaigns

Further, the surge in cases has also raised questions about whether the monkeypox virus has evolved into a more transmissible form.

So far scientists have found no evidence for this being the case, but researchers are studying the DNA to see if mutations in the virus may have changed its behaviour. Genetic studies so far suggest the virus matches strains that reached the UK, Singapore and Israel in 2018 and 2019.

The WHO also believes there is no evidence that the Monkeypox virus has mutated.

Viruses in this group “tend not to mutate and they tend to be fairly stable,” Dr. Rosamund Lewis, who runs the WHO’s smallpox research, said recently.

Meanwhile, several countries are planning to stock up the existing smallpox vaccines that are reportedly 85 per cent effective against the monkeypox virus.

The UK has secured a supply of tecovirimat and is offering a smallpox vaccine to close contacts of people diagnosed with monkeypox to reduce the risk of symptomatic infection and severe illness. Sources suggest an extra 20,000 doses of the vaccine have been ordered to add to the UK’s stock of 5,000, Guardian reported.

The US is also preparing to give monkeypox vaccines to close contacts of people infected and to deploy treatments, with five cases now either confirmed or probable and the number likely to rise.

EU health authorities have also advised member states to prepare a monkeypox vaccine plan.

However, the WHO said it does not believe the monkeypox outbreak outside of Africa requires mass vaccinations as measures like good hygiene and safe sexual behaviour will help control its spread.

Mainland China reports 102 new local confirmed Covid-19 cases news agency reported.

Beijing, May 25 (IANS) The he Chinese mainland reported 102 locally-transmitted confirmed Covid-19 cases, of which 44 were in Shanghai and 41 in Beijing, the National Health Commission said on May 25.

Five other provincial-level regions on the mainland also saw new local Covid-19 cases, including seven in Tianjin and five in Sichuan on May 24, Xinhua

Shanghai also reported 343 locally-transmitted asymptomatic infections of the novel coronavirus on May 24, out of a total of 418 local asymptomatic carriers newly identified on the mainland.

Following the recovery of 374 Covid-19 patients who were discharged from hospitals on May 24, there were 3,699 confirmed Covid-19 cases receiving treatment in hospitals across the Chinese mainland.

No new death from Covid-19 was reported on Tuesday on the Chinese mainland, according to the Commission.

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

IPL 2022: Determined Gujarat Titans clinch maiden title with 7-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals Ahmedabad, May 29 (IANS) A determined Gujarat Titans made their maiden IPL season an unforgettable one by clinching the 2022 title with a seven-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in front of a roaring home crowd of 1,04,859 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

By finishing off a chase of 131 with 11 balls remaining and defeating Rajasthan for the third time in IPL 2022, Gujarat have capped off a season where they exceeded everyone's pre-tournament expectations to become champions in their debut season of the competition.

Chasing 131 wasn't going to be easy for Gujarat on a slow, dry pitch with variable bounce, where Hardik Pandya had taken a fantastic 3/17 in the first innings.

Wriddhiman Saha was clean bowled by a quick inswinger from Prasidh Krishna while Matthew Wade flicked straight to midwicket off Trent Boult.

After Gujarat could amass just

31/2 from power-play, Rajasthan's bowling continued to be incisive from both ends as Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya struggled to break free despite some boundaries here and there. Gill, who was dropped on fourth ball of the innings, earned another reprieve in the eighth over when a hoick down the pitch wasn't caught by a diving extra cover.

But the introduction of Ravichandran Ashwin brought Pandya the chance to find his groove, taking the off-spinner for a four with a thick outer edge past the keeper and followed it up with a six over wide long-on.

The 63-run stand off 53 balls between Pandya and Gill ended when Yuzvendra Chahal took out the former with the one turning away and taking the outer edge, giving a catch to slip. It seemed like Pandya's dismissal would leave Gujarat in a spot of bother.

David Miller, one of their key players in the season, began by driving Obed McCoy through

extra cover for a boundary and then dispatched an overpitched ball from Ashwin over long-on to make the equation 22 runs off the last four overs.

The left-hander took two boundaries off Krishna's final over, a pull swivelled over fine leg followed by a thick edge through third man. Gill finished off the innings in style with a swivelled six off McCoy over deep square leg to make Gujarat IPL 2022 champions.

Brief Scores: Rajasthan Royals 130/9 in 20 overs ( Jos Buttler 39, Yashasvi Jaiswal 22; Hardik Pandya 3/17, R Sai Kishore 2/20) lost to Gujarat Titans 133/3 in 18.1 overs (Shubman Gill 45 not out, Hardik Pandya 34; Trent Boult 1/14, Yuzvendra Chahal 1/20) by seven wickets

The Royals’ IPL 2022 season: Winning the Purple Cap and Orange Cup but losing the trophy to win the title in their second IPL final ever.

Summing up the loss, Sri Lankan great Sangakkara said, "I think we went through a few ups and downs but we have a lot of skill.

We had huge contribution from Jos (Buttler), (Ravichandran) Ashwin and Yuzi (Chahal). We had Prasidh (Krishna), Boulty (Trent Boult), Obed McCoy coming in.

"I think it has been a great journey and great to be part of this franchise. It's never about recreating what happened before but about looking forward. The change is inevitable. Who you are makes a lot of difference, so I will ask players to work on their whole self," added Sangakkara.

Ahmedabad, May 30 (IANS) It's pretty heart-breaking when the Purple Cap and the Orange Cap winners are in the same IPL side, but the team still ends up on the losing side. However, Rajasthan Royals head coach, Kumar Sangakkara didn't want to delve into the seven-wicket loss to Gujarat Titans in title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium and preferred to look at the positives.

Royals' spin bowler Yuzvendra Chahal received the Purple Cap for his 27 wickets in 17 games, while Jos Buttler, with 863 runs, took the Orange Cap. But there was little consolation for the Sanju Samsom-led side at it failed

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It was a season of several positives for the Royals, who looked the best team till they were subdued by the Titans.

With 863 runs, four explosive centuries, most fours and most sixes and the Orange Cap to his name, Buttler capped off his most successful run in the IPL. But more than his run-scoring, it was his ability to switch gears and step out of his comfort zone that showcased the other side of his batting personality.

As an explosive batter and as a guiding force, Buttler's presence in the Royals camp has added a different dimension to their batting , one that bodes well for seasons to come.

Chahal's first IPL season in Royals colours turned out to

Ranveer Singh, Rehman enthrall spectators at IPL closing ceremony Ahmedabad, May 29 (IANS) Before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 final match was played between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals, Bollywood star Ranveer Singh and music maestro A R Rehman enthralled around 1,10,000 spectators with their performances during the closing ceremony of cash-rich league at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.

The closing ceremony started with Ranveer Singh's performance with cricket legend and former Indian captain Kapil Dev's biopic '83's song. He danced on the floor for almost 20 to 25 minutes, on songs mostly from his movies like 'Band Baaja Baraat', 'Ram Leela', 'Gunday', 'Dil Dhadakne Do', 'Padmavat', 'Bajirao Mastani' besides latest movies like 'RRR', and 'KGF Chapter-2'.

Indian choreographer Shiamak Davar dance group gave local touch with Garba and Ghummar dance of Rajasthan. Ranveer Singh passed baton of entertainment to A R Rehman, who with team of playback singers Mohit, Benny Dayal, Niti Mohan, A R Ameen and others engaged crowd with songs like 'Mukabala', 'Lagaan', 'Rockstar',

With so many positives, it's a matter of time before the Royals bag their second IPL title after 2008. And, Buttler summed it up well when he tweeted after the final that he was looking forward to the "next one".

"Disappointed with last night but we will be working hard and sticking together as always.

Looking forward to the next one," tweeted the England cricketer.

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'Yuva', 'Rang De Basanti'.

Rehman's 'Vande Mataram' song thrilled everyone in the stadium, even cricketers sang with Rehman and his team. The finale event started with Ravi Shastri opening remarks of 'Kem Chho' (How are you?) and Namaste India.

"I am going to set the stadium on fire, such a huge crowd in one of the biggest stadiums, Gujarat Titan will be hot favourite of Gujarati, but If Rajasthan wins, it will be a tribute to Shane Warne," Ranveer Singh said before the event.

Before the closing ceremony commenced, 'little master' Sunil Gavaskar said, "Gujarat Me Gujarat Titans ko support Nahi Karenge to kisko karange". (In Gujarat if we will not cheer for Gujarat Titan, then for whom we will cheer or support).

Cricket Australia’s perfect reply to those who say Buttler and IPL are the England cricketer scored 39 not Australian off 35 balls, which took him past Australian great David Warner in the list of all-time highest rungetters in IPL in a single season.

be a rewarding one, with the leg-spinner finishing off with 27 wickets, an economy of 7.75 and the Purple Cap to his name.

His variations were one of the biggest threats to the opponents, often being the cause of crucial breakthroughs just when the team needed them. Chahal bagged the only hat-trick of the season, his first of the IPL, and also registered his maiden five-wicket haul in the tournament.

Royals fans were surprised when Ravichandran Ashwin was brought on board and then pushed up in the batting order. The team soon found that the off-spinner was a handy batter, capable of striking the ball irrespective of his batting position. The move to promote him may not have always worked in the team's favour, but it did boost Ashwin's confidence, making him the all-rounder to slot in the Royals' middle order.

He finished with 191 runs -- the most he's scored in any season and the only fifty of his IPL career.

SPORTS

Buttler emerged the new No.2 on the list topped by Virat Kohli. The hot-shot England player pushed Warner (848 runs in 2016 for SRH) to third spot in the elite list.

Cricket Australia posted an image of Buttler along with the top-five run-getters in a single IPL season, and wrote, "With four centuries in the tournament, Jos Buttler was unstoppable in #IPL2022! But he couldn't quite get Virat Kohli's record..."

Virat's mountain of runs in 2016 -- 973 in 16 innings in 2016 for RCB -- continues to be the highest by a batter in an IPL season, and Buttler (863 runs in 17 games) missed it by a big margin.

Ahmedabad, May 30 (IANS) Cricket Australia was on Monday trolled for posting an image of charismatic Rajasthan Royals batter Jos Buttler, after the 32-year-old England cricketer emerged the second-highest run-getter ever in a single Indian Premier League (IPL) season, scoring an astronomical 863 runs in 17 games.

Buttler's exploits were the key reason for Rajasthan Royals making it to the IPL 2022 final, and while he could not guide his side to the title, losing to Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Sunday night,

While two Australians -- David Warner (848 in 17 innings, 2016) and Mike Hussey (733 in 17 innings, 2013) -- also figure on the Top-5 list, people were quick to point out why Cricket Australia was highlighting the achievements of an England cricketer and a league that is played in India.

"Surprising why you guys are giving update because neither ipl nor jos buttler is Australian," wrote a fan on @cricketcomau, Cricket Australia's social media wing.

However, Cricket Australia came up with a perfect reply, saying, "we love cricket."

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

COMMUNITY NEWS

Indian Trade Fair held in Queensland The Indian Trade Fair was held on May 22, 2022 at the Robina Community Centre in Queensland. A group of 10 business women held this exhibition for the first time ever in Queensland. All exclusive brands from Brisbane and Gold Coast joined together for this first-of-its-kind experience.

Businesses and communities were brought together to celebrate and experience festive shopping in Brisbane, Queensland. The Expo was organised by a group of innovative women entrepreneurs

who exhibited and sold elegant Indian attires, sweets and savoury snacks, jewellery, home décor and accessories. It was a free entry event and there were different activities representing the beautiful Indian culture. There were stalls at the Calamvale Hotel in Brisbane that recreated the typical local experience of India, in Australia. It was a celebration of Indian heritage through traditional clothing, jewellery, home décor, mithai with a luxurious touch, Bollywood music and much more.

Griffith University Alumni event held at AIBC hosts special online session SkyPoint Australia Griffith University Alumni held its Alumni Networking event at SkyPoint Australia recently.

Interesting conversations were held with Andrew Frazer, a proud Griffith alumni, who will also be the sixth Chancellor of Griffith University in October following

The Australia India Business Council (AIBC) hosted a special online session on "Australia India Business Trade Engagement and Ongoing Bipartisan Support", on May 18, 2022, featuring guest speaker Madeleine King MP, Shadow Minister for Trade and Shadow Minister for Resources.

the retirement of Mr Henry Smerdon AM. The guest speaker at the event was Captain Jan Becker AM, recipient of Griffith Sciences' 2021 Outstanding alumnus - Masters of Aviation Management.

The event was moderated by AIBC National Chair Jim Varghese, AM, with a welcome note from AIBC NSW Chapter Chair Malik Irfan.

The Honourable Madeleine King MP spoke about the great relationship between Australia and India, and the range of opportunities to further deepen

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the strategic relationship. During the Q&A session hosted by AIBC Immediate Past National Chair Sheba Nandkeolyar, Madeleine King MP also responded positively to further engagement, with an overall message of an optimistic future of growth.

The AIBC looks forward to hosting future events to further its 35 year and ongoing mission to promote trade dialogue between India and Australia through nurturing and maintaining close relationships in both Australia and India, with Federal and State government agencies, the diplomatic corporations and industry bodies.

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COMMUNITY NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Gold Coast observes National Volunteer Week The city of Gold Coast celebrated the 'National Volunteer Week' recently. The theme of this year was better together.

The Queensland Country Women's Association, also celebrated 100 years of serving the community this year.

Volunteering brings people together; it builds communities and creates a better society for everyone. There are about 67,000 volunteers on the Gold Coast and this week was celebrated to hail their selfless work.

Thia Taylor, President of Kusuma Indonesia Community Australia -KICA shared her volunteering journey in Australia and also got everyone grooving to Indonesian dance moves.

AIBC congratulates new Australian Prime Minister The Australia India Business Council Ltd (AIBC) has congratulated the Hon Anthony Albanese MP on his election victory as Australia's 31st Prime Minister.

Jim Varghese AM, AIBC National Chair said he joined all Australians in wishing Mr Albanese MP all the very best and looked forward to working collaboratively with his government in progressing the Australia India bilateral business, trade and investment space.

Mr Varghese said, "AIBC is now strategically well placed to work with the Albanese government to support increased trade and investment between Australia and India for over 35 years. Bipartisan support to such trade objectives has been the key success mantra to the growth of Australia India irrespective of the political alignments of the Governments.

Former Prime Minister Bob Hawke, together with the then Indian Prime Minister, was the architect and inspiration behind the establishment of the Australia India Business Council."

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"The Australia India bilateral relationship has never been stronger and the recent AustraliaIndia Economic and Trade Agreement (AI ECTA) signed between the two countries is a focussed platform to take forward," Mr Varghese said.

Mr Varghese thanked the Albanese government for election commitments made to promote trade and investment and nurture the social capital of the India diaspora.

He also acknowledged former Prime Minister Scott Morrison's and Tony Abbott's work in furthering bilateral connections with India, leading to the historic ECTA signed recently by him and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Mr Varghese was encouraged by these words of Mr Albanese: "We are the greatest country on earth. But we can have an even better future if we seize the opportunities that are right there in front of us. The opportunity to shape change, rather than be shaped by it. Together we can work in common interests

with business and unions to drive productivity, lift wages and profits."

and accelerate the trade and investment between India and Australia.

In this context, Mr Albanese is placing words into action by getting straight to work by representing Australia at the QUAD Leader's Summit in Tokyo on Tuesday 24 May, and his first momentous meeting with President Biden, Prime Minister Kishida and Prime Minister Modi.

Founded over 35 years ago, the AIBC continues to be the peak industry body representing and fostering bilateral trade and investment relations between Australia and India. The AIBC maintains close relationships with federal and state government agencies, the diplomatic corps and industry bodies, and showcases opportunities to the Australian business community through active program of events nationally.

The AIBC is a national not for profit membership organisation with State Chapters in ACT, NSW, QLD, SA, VIC & WA and will shortly have presence in the NT. The AIBC has established 17 national industry chapters headed by highly motivated and credentialled chairpersons.

These industry chapters range from education and skills, health, renewable energy, infrastructure, financial services, resources, sports, start-ups to innovation, sport, ICT, agriculture, Make in India, defence and security.

AIBC has also established a subsidiary company called Australia India Business Enterprises to capitalise

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Jim Varghese AM, AIBC National Chair

Anthony Albanese, Prime Minister of Australia

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

COMMUNITY NEWS

GOPIO Queensland’s Girmit Diwas: A memorial service to honour first Indians’ arrival in Fijiies GOPIO Queensland celebrated ‘Girmit Diwas’ on May 14 at the Queensland Multicultural Centre, Kangaroo Point. This day was honoured to recognise the arrival of the Indian indentured labourers in Fiji during the British rule.

GOPIO Queensland has been observing the Girmit Diwas since 2014 in Brisbane, every year on the 14th of May itself. During the colonial period, the first Girmits or indentured labourers from India were brought to Fiji on board the ship “Leonidas” on 14 May, 1879. For another 37 years, till the system was abolished, more than 60,000 indentured labourers were brought from India to work in the sugarcane plantations.

Mr Arpit Singh, vice president of GOPIO Queensland, welcomed the guests to the memorial service, and Ms Pravinita Pillay beautifully conducted the whole program. The keynote speaker was the Honorary Counsel for Fiji in Queensland, HE Hari Ragina, who motivate the young generation, saying "Don’t stop dreaming, dreams make you successful and help to reach where are you."

He further shared that Fiji's economy is improving and now there are many schools, worship places, and health institutions.

Adding that this is the time when we should support our young generation, he pled to give them wings to fly in every part of the world. The ‘Girmitiyas’ already have their presence at different places on Earth.

Magistrate Veena Goverdhan, Southport Magistrates Court, the first India-Fiji woman magistrate in Australia, also shared her journey from Fiji to Australia with the participants. She emphasised that cultural values and education play a significant role in every walk of life.

Sir Anand Satyanand, GNZM, QSO, KStJ, a former lawyer, judge and ombudsman who served as the 19th Governor-General of New Zealand from 2006 to 2011, delivered his talk through video conference. Anand Satyanand was raised in Auckland in an IndoFijian family. His grandparents arrived in Fiji from India in 1911, and his grandfather worked as a government interpreter. His father, Mutyala Satyanand, was born in Fiji and arrived in New Zealand to attend high school and later university. He visited India several times in a personal and official capacity and was a recipient of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman. He emphasized that Indian policies are changing for the recognition and inclusion of more Indian diaspora.

Utkatu Naiker also graced this occasion and revealed many unclosed chapters from his book ‘Echoes from Fiji: Global

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Footprints of a Girmit Grandson’.

Usha Chivukula sang an specially composed song to show the hardship, pain and eventually the triumph of the first arrivals of Girmitiyas through her melodious voice.

initiative to remember the Indian indentured labourers. It is of meaningful significance to the millions of descendants of those who left India as indentured Indian labourers from 1834 through 1920.

It was followed by a panel discussion with panellists HE Hari Ragina, Magistrate Veena Goverdhan, Mr Utkatu Naiker and Dr Vijay Kapadia and moderated

by Mr Umesh Chandra. The panellist discussed the role and importance of documentation of ‘Girmit’ events. They focussed on how documentation is important for the young generation when it is not a part of the academic curriculum. HC Ragina said that our responsibility shouldn't just stop at keeping the record, but every Girmitiya from the young generation may contribute with a piece of their generation's stories.

The event was supported by Cornerstone Law offices, Brisbane Indian Times, and Australian Indian Radio. The food was kindly sponsored

by Cornerstone Law offices; tea, coffee, and snacks were sponsored by Globenet Realities and past President Mr Rakesh Sharma and his wife Ms Rani Sharma.

Dr Vijay Kapadia, who has a strong interest in global health and is committed to improving cardiac care in Fiji, shared that he has spent almost two decades fundraising, volunteering, and securing equipment to build facilities in Fiji, and said that the sustainable health care will require a local workforce. Dr Kapadia called in favours, found second-hand equipments, and headed an army of volunteers, including some of the world's top cardiologists, to develop a cardiac care service in Fiji that is lifesaving. He informed that he, with other physicians from Australia and New Zealand, volunteer their time, visiting Fiji to help train local medics on how to use the equipment and provide treatment to patients. Dr Kapadia also established the South Pacific’s first tertiary cardiac unit with its cardiac catheter laboratory at the CWM Hospital in the capital, Suva, where he is a visiting cardiologist. He is working towards making this a national and regional cardiac centre.

"We need to get to the stage where Fiji is less reliant on the kindness of volunteers and we have the vision to see a fully operational cardiac centre there with Fijian doctors and nurses trained and skilled to be able to run it and provide the care their people need," he said. To find out how you can donate to or volunteer for Fiji Heart, please contact Vijay Kapadia on 0414 541 130.

More than 100 community members attended this event and paid respect to their elders through a floral tribute ceremony.

The wreaths and flowers are laid at the cut out of the plaque from the monument that GOPIO International was involved in erecting and inaugurating at Kiddpore Ghat in Kolkata. The Kolkata Memorial, an initiative of GOPIO, at the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) docks is the latest

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

COMMUNITY NEWS

Aussie-born, detention-raised -- How the ‘Biloela family’ got here With the stroke of a pen, the Murugappan family was liberated On provisional visas, asylumseekers Priya and Nades Murugappan are permitted to return to their hometown of Biloela on the Sunshine Coast. They escaped their own country's harsh and dangerous circumstances to Australia in quest of refuge. They have discovered serenity and safety in Biloela. However, he abruptly ended the call when they called their legal counsel.

Priya said, “He did not grasp our narrative.”

The legal procedure had permitted the family to enter Australia and await their court case, but they were refused permanent protection and deported in the meantime. Twelve years were spent fighting for the asylum seekers' right to return to Australia. With the assistance of transitional visas, the family will be allowed to return to Biloela

while their court case is pending.

The couple left Sri Lanka 18 years ago The Australian government currently prohibits permanent residence for Sri Lankan boat migrants. The ruling is a defeat for the two Tamil families who have been living in exile for twelve years. They dreaded returning to a place where they would be exploited, harassed, and sexually abused. The OHCHR has advised the government to establish a truth-telling commission, similar to the one established in South Africa after the end of apartheid.

In Biloela, they found peace Priya and Nades created a new life in Biloela despite their difficult circumstances. Priya escaped Sri Lanka 18 years before her 2013 arrival in Australia. Since then, she has not returned to her own country. But because of the intensity of her affection

for Nades and his children, they agreed to meet in Biloela.

They married and settled down in Australia. They have two daughters; their names are Kopika and Tharnicaa.

In an emotional statement, Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett said that the Tamil asylum seeker's family discovered serenity, safety, and love in the northern Queensland rural community of Biloela. He noted that reuniting the Murugappan family with their house was the priority.

Additionally, the Teal Independents have shown their support for the family. The Coalition has not yet committed to returning the family to their home.

Got temporary Australian visas The Australian government has given the four family members

Newly-elected Fowler MP Dai Le proclaims intention to be “real independent” who previously ran for the Liberals in state elections, told ABC that her background story resonated with Labor's varied electorate since its inception in 1984. Ms Le, a Vietnamese native, came to the shores of Australia at the age of 11 following her threeyear stay at a refugee camp in Philippines.

Labor paid the price for a rash move to parachute Ms Keneally, who lives on the northern beaches, into the previously safe seat, Ms Le claimed.

For the Sydney seat of Fowler, the woman who defeated highprofile Labor candidate Kristina Keneally said she will be a "true independent."

Former senator and NSW premier was defeated by Fairfield Deputy Mayor Dai Le, who overrode Labor's 14% majority in the electorate.

Ms Le, a former ABC journalist

"I think a lot of people, particularly Labor voters, saw that as a slap in the face; it was an insult for them," Ms Le told ABC News Breakfast.

"Those were the remarks I heard from voters when they came to vote for me, and they had never voted for anyone other than Labor."

Following the local government elections in December, the former

affairs, Jim Chalmers, said that the Nadesalingam family might relocate to Biloela, Queensland.

The family will dwell in Biloela while they pursue permanent residence. The decision followed the Murugappan family's struggle to return home.

In recent weeks, the tragedy of the Murugappan family from remote Queensland has gripped the hearts of Australians. They sought shelter in Australia after escaping the civil strife in their native Sri Lanka.

Mr Chalmers talked with Angela Fredericks, Bronwyn Dendle, and other supporters at Biloela around lunchtime on this day.

Authorised to return to Biloela

The Biloela family was awarded bridging visas to remain in Australia for up to one year while pursuing permanent residence.

The interim minister of home

Mahindra unveils Scorpio-N 2022 in India, opportunity for Australia

Liberal Party member teamed up with an ex-Labor mayor to lead a majority independent council in Fairfield.

When asked to compare herself to the wave of "teal" independent women who surged to power in inner-city seats over the weekend, Ms Le pointed out the difference between their climatefocused campaigns, which were sponsored by multimillionaire Simon Holmes a Court, and her own.

Emphasizing that she and her party cared about what is essential for the community, she stated that she is a true independent unlike the teal independents. She further remarked that the electorates represented by the teal independents have entirely different needs than her own electorate. Nevertheless, she expressed her willingness to discuss some additional subjects.

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of the Tamil asylum seeker temporary visas, enabling the family to pursue permanent residence in Australia. This complies with Australia's immigration regulations.

Numerous Australians have applauded the decision.

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Mahindra has unveiled the Scorpio-N, a body-on-frame four-wheel-drive vehicle that will compete with the Ford Everest and Isuzu MU-X in terms of price and size.

The new Scorpio-N is positioned as Mahindra's successor to the current, 20-year-old Scorpio offered in India – the SUV version of the Pik-Up truck now available in Australia – and sits on a new body-on-frame platform with four-wheel drive.

Although the exact date of the Australian debut has yet to be determined, Drive believes it will be a strong contender for the market, given that further information will be released on June 27.

Mahindra hasn't said how big the new Scorpio-N will be, but photographs of prototypes parked next to a Ford Everest imply it'll be more like a mid-size SUV like a Toyota RAV4, rather than a larger

off-roader like the Everest, MU-X, or Prado.

It's also unclear whether the vehicle will seat seven or five people.

SUVs like the Mercedes-Benz GLB, which is based on the Toyota RAV4, show that it is theoretically possible to fit a third row into a smaller vehicle, albeit with backseat occupants crammed in.

The new Mahindra Scorpio-N retains the boxy appearance of its predecessor (and Australia's Pik-Up), but adds LED headlamps, chrome trim, and sharper surfacing down the vehicle's sides.

There have been no shots of the vehicle's back end revealed, but spy photos from other countries show an infotainment screen measuring around eight or nine inches wide, as well as a digital instrument cluster, multi-zone climate control, and different USB ports.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

INTERVIEW

Reviving India’s “lost” recipes, meet IABCA finalist

By Gaurang Gahoi A Hospitality professional with over 16 years of experience working across world leading brands including Four Seasons, Accor, Starwood, Hayman Island Resort, Gaurang Gahoi is pushing beyond the barriers of conventional Food & Beverage.

He has proven abilities to innovate, and continuously explore the unknown using his extensive knowledge of food & beverage and events management.

hospitality sector?

In his latest venture as founder of Foreign Return, Gahoi has broken away from the stereotype to bring Indian cuisine into the spotlight in 2021. In his latest interview with INDIA NEWS, the “Young Professional of the Year” finalist gives us an insight into his journey into the world of hospitality.

Being an entrepreneur, you are more involved in your own success, you have more flexibility around decision making but more importantly I feel building business for yourself is more satisfying overall. It gives me more independence to make fast decisions, make them often and more accurately each time, so it drives my motivation.

Q1: You have stated in a Facebook post that you started your entrepreneurial journey in the middle of the pandemic. What inspired and motivated you to become an entrepreneur after 16 years of professional service in the hospitality sector, especially in such trying times?

Ans: Being an ex-hotelier, I consider this as a great gift, reason being, you become jack of all trades, we become masters of doing many varieties of tasks and learn to do them very well. For instance, apart from the basics of running a hotel, there is IT, Social Media, Interior Design, Legal, Project Management, Human resources, Sales & Marketing and the list goes on. A hotelier needs to understand all of this to ensure he/she is running a successful business. I look upon many great hoteliers like Mr. Marriott who started his root beer stand with his wife, which evolved into restaurant chains and now the world’s best hotel company; another example being Accor founders Paul and George who opened their chain’s first hotel “Novotel” in 1967 outside city center making it the most successful brand for business travelers. I feel there is always room for new players if they are persistent and passionate to achieve their dream. I dared to become an entrepreneur and started my journey with my debut restaurant “Foreign Return” with an aim to showcase India’s rich history, culture, and diversity.

I do aspire to reach my full potential one day. I can only say why this happened during the pandemic is because I had more time in my hands which made me self-reflect and make changes in my course for life ahead.

Q2: How is the experience of being an entrepreneur different from that of a professional in the

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Ans: There is definitely a huge difference. When you become an entrepreneur, you have to constantly create, build and define a framework in which you want to operate in order to make you successful. Whereas working as a professional, many of these things are already defined for you and you are required to follow protocols to ensure you operate in the way the company wants you to.

Q3: What does your nomination as one of the IABCA Global Finalists 2022 in the category of ‘Young Professional of the Year’ mean to you, personally and professionally?

Ans: Personally it was great to be recognized and become a finalist amongst such an amazing talent pool out there. It was really great reassurance that hard work is being noted and allows me to further push myself to create even something better.

Professionally, I feel being recognized at IABCA was a really rewarding experience especially when you are on your own so I thank IABCA as I couldn’t have asked for any better platform.

Q4: Tell us briefly something about your entrepreneurial endeavour ‘Foreign Return’.

What does the name signify?

Ans: Foreign Return – named affectionately for expats who leave India and come back home was our way of creating nostalgia. We wanted to represent India as a whole, not just one region or two regions. At Foreign Return, every detail in the restaurant helps build a hyper colourful map of India. The Marigold Sour cocktail, for instance, is decorated with pretty petals inspired by the 4000 florists who work at Mullik Ghat, the largest flower market in Kolkata. The marigold gin cocktail is served in a brass goblet custom-made in Moradabad, known as India’s “Brass City”, and located by the Ramganga river, in Uttar Pradesh. Along one wall of Foreign Return, you’ll see the restaurant’s mascot – a pigeon called Aakesh (Hindi for “lord of the sky”) – travelling across India’s regions and now is at Surry Hills.

Grandfather clocks hang on the matte, navy walls in the two-

storey space. Old telephones with actual dials hark back to India’s colonial era.

At Foreign Return we want to revive India’s “lost” recipes, dishes that are menu rarities and pay homage to regional cuisine of India. Even though it is a regional specific menu we are also adding indigenous twists where we think they’re apt, such as Tasmanian mountain pepper to spice the tandoori chicken, or bush tomato for a spiced chutney that runs over a burrata and pumpkin and wattle seed naan appetiser.

We also curated a cocktail menu which represents the north, south, east, and west. Take a trip to India’s north with the Khari Baoli Mojito (spiced rum, spiced syrup, soda, lime, and mint), inspired by Asia’s largest spice market; or head to the tropical south with a spiced Colada (rum, coconut, pineapple, lime and curry leaves). Everything we do at Foreign Return has a story to tell and it’s our way of connecting with locals and sharing an experience which is unforgettable

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Q5: How far has your entrepreneurial journey been so far in terms of personal satisfaction?

Ans: To be very honest I feel very happy that I took my first step and created Foreign Return. Being on your own is not easy but it makes it worthwhile once you see your hard work is being recognized.

Q6: What challenges have you faced till now in pushing to the forefront Indian cuisine among your clients other than Indians?

Ans: I am very fortunate to have such an amazing clientele who appreciate what I am doing, and they are very much intrigued with our story, our food and what we are trying to do. Lots of them have traveled to India and have lived in India so they appreciate authenticity and honesty in our food & beverage. They love our creative approach at Foreign Return. Hence, I wouldn’t say that there has been a challenge, rather it has been great so far as I get to educate and share a new story every time they return to us.

can be helpful while forging strong bilateral ties with other countries?

Ans: Yes absolutely. Indian cuisine is one of the most popular cuisines across the globe. India’s recent economic growth is robust and remains the fastest growing major economy. Many countries want to upgrade their strategic and economic relationship with India. For example, Australia has significant opportunities to benefit from India’s growth and has taken steps to establish multi-dimensional strategic partnerships with India. One of the cornerstones of this partnership is the Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

Q8: Finally, let us know if you have plans to undertake some interesting projects in future, and what they are likely to be.

Ans: I am always thinking about new and interesting projects and to collaborate with like-minded people. Currently, I am working on something very unique and will share once I am ready.

Q7: Do you think Indian cuisine

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INDIA NEWS

Luxury, lifestyle, location — welcome to Dress Circle

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Located in the heart of one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, Brookwater is Brisbane’s best kept secret for luxury living. Crafted around the Greg Norman designed golf course, Brookwater provides a rare combination of prestige golf-side living and natural bushland beauty.

With over 800 families already calling Brookwater home, we are pleased to introduce the next stage of this exclusive community — your own architecturally designed piece of paradise — Dress Circle.

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We welcome you to experience Brisbane’s best kept secret when it comes to luxury living, and choose from our leading architectural collaborators to design your dream home — with all architectural fees complimentary with your Dress Circle land purchase.

READY TO BUILD ON LARGE PREMIUM HOMESITES FROM $566,000

Life on Brookwater’s Dress Circle is within 10 minutes of everything you need — commuter rail to the city, private and public schools, childcare centres, a university, a private hospital, shopping centres and a thriving commercial precinct.

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INDIA NEWS

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Geetanjali Shree’s ‘Tomb of Sand’ wins International Booker Prize and humbled," says the author, who was in disbelief during her acceptance speech, "There is a melancholy satisfaction in the award going to it. 'Ret Samadhi/Tomb of Sand' is an elegy for the world we inhabit, a laughing elegy that retains hope in the face of impending doom.

The Booker will surely take it to many more people than it would have reached otherwise, that should do the book no harm."

It is the first Hindi-language book to win the award May 27, 2022 (IANSlife) Geetanjali Shree, a Delhi-based Hindi novelist and short-story writer, has won the prestigious 2022 International Booker Prize for her book 'Tomb of Sand.'

It is the first Hindi-language book to win the award. The book was first published in Hindi as 'Ret Samadhi' (Rajkamal Prakashan)

and has been translated into English by American writertranslator Daisy Rockwell into 'Tomb of Sand' (Penguin Random House India).

"This is a bolt from the blue, but what a nice one. I never dreamt of the Booker, I never thought I could. What a huge recognition, I'm amazed, delighted, honoured

The book revolves around the story of an 80-year-old north Indian woman who goes into a depression after her husband dies, but eventually recovers from her depression and insists on travelling to Pakistan to confront the unresolved trauma during the partition.

Geetanjali will be awarded 50,000 pounds, which will be shared between the author and translator.

An auction steeped in royal elegance & timeless luxury

AstaGuru’s upcoming ‘Heirloom Jewellery, Silver, and Exceptional Timepieces’ has a lot to offer May 27, 2022 (IANSlife) The meticulously curated catalogue offers a comprehensive insight into the rich craftsmanship and design heritage of the Indian subcontinent and the western world. AstaGuru’s upcoming ‘Heirloom Jewellery, Silver, and Exceptional Timepieces’ auction will present a stellar collection of 132 lots and is scheduled to take place on May 30-31, 2022.

The jewellery section offers traditional Indian jewellery, western-style jewellery, and pieces executed with natural pearls, Burmese rubies, Zambian emeralds, and high-quality diamonds. The auction will also showcase creations by celebrated brands from the west such as Cartier, Tiffany, and Jean Été.

A unique creation by Nanubhai Jewellers formerly based in Mumbai will also be presented.

Helmed by Nanubhai Jhaveri, the jeweller enjoyed the patronage of several princely royalties including Maharaja Jiwajirao Scindia of Gwalior and the Nizam of Hyderabad.

Jay Sagar, Jewellery Expert, AstaGuru Auction House

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commented, “The Indian auction market is witnessing a consistent demand for vintage jewellery from collectors. We are excited to present an exquisite collection which brings the best of both traditional Indian and classical western jewellery designs. The collection also includes an array of jewellery pieces executed with rare and coveted gemstones from across the world and ones that would make for a worthy inclusion in any important collection.”

HEIRLOOM JEWELLERY HIGHLIGHTS The oldest offering in the auction, lot no. 30, is an antique Hyderabadi Guluband tracing back to circa 1890 and is set with rubies and natural pearls. It will be offered with an estimate of INR 8,00,000 – 9,00,000.

A fine selection of jewellery crafted with natural pearls will also be showcased. Lot no. 121 is a stunning three-row natural pearl necklace interspaced with faceted crystal discs and a clasp set with old cut diamonds.

HALLMARK SILVER HIGHLIGHTS The silver collection is a testimony to the deft metalworking techniques pioneered in India and Europe in the bygone era. Several of the featured lots are over a century

old and also offer great utility.

The oldest item in the category, lot no. 49, is a hallmarked silver English dish By Paul Storr, London. Executed circa 1806, it is estimated to be sold at INR 6,00,000 – 7,00,000.

TIMEPIECES HIGHLIGHTS A fascinating horology collection with pieces from the world’s leading brands including, Patek Phillippe, Audemars Piguet, Rolex, Piaget, Chopard and Breguet will present distinct styles of timepieces ranging from vintage watches, dress watches, as well as state-of-the-art pieces.

Jehangir Readymoney, Luxury Timepiece Expert, AstaGuru Auction House commented, “The collectors have expressed immense interest in luxury and vintage watches in the last few years. Catering to these demands, AstaGuru has consistently offered exquisite and rare watches in its timepieces auctions.”

The oldest timepiece, lot no.15, in this category is an18k Gold Chronometro Gondolo Pocket Watch created by Patek Philippe in 1910. This lot will be offered with an estimate of INR 6,50,000 – 7,50,000. Other creations by Patek Philippe will also be offered.

This auction category is also highlighted by bejewelled watches of extraordinary beauty. Two of these lots come from the brand Piaget which has a celebrated legacy of timepieces with dials featuring ornamental stones.

Piaget has consistently produced original masterpieces from time to time. The entire auction catalogue can be viewed on www. astaguru.com and the auction will take place on the website on May 30th and 31st 2022.

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ART & CULTURE

Every artwork has a different tale to tell: Laxma Goud

He always wanted to have an exhibition where only his black and white paintings were on display. “It can give a very different experience to the art viewers. Many people feel that without colours, the art looks or feels incomplete. Through this exhibition, I wanted to change that perception.

While colours are important when it comes to art, there are other aspects that bring out an artwork such as technique, detailing etc,” Padma Shri awardee artist K. Laxma Goud tells IANS May 25, 2022 (IANSlife) He always wanted to have an exhibition where only his black and white paintings were on display. "It can give a very different experience to the art viewers. Many people feel that without colours, the art looks or feels incomplete. Through this exhibition, I wanted to change that perception. While colours are important when it comes to art, there are other aspects that bring out an artwork such as technique, detailing etc," Padma Shri awardee artist K. Laxma Goud tells IANS. A master artist who has deeply explored the erotic in his art while placing it within the normal as well as the rustic, he is a printmaker as well and has received several accolades, including the Prafulla Dahanukar Lifetime Achievement Award.

With 'Drawings and Intaglios

by K Laxma Goud' (Curatorial Advisor, Nanak Ganguly), it is after 11 years, that Laxma Goud is exhibiting in Delhi NCR with Gallerie Splash (till June 7).

Around 125 of his artworks are being displayed which include drawings, intaglio plates, and prints.

Talking about the current exhibition, he says "Drawing has come as a sustainable tool in my creative pursuit, a singular line has umpteen nuances realizing my imaginations. Drawing alone has driven me towards a fertile imagination, and drawing is the source of my metamorphosis."

Adding that the element of his drawing is not confined to a singularity in his art practices; but facilitated him to be highly versatile, Goud says that for him, drawing is like a magic wand.

"This very passion has given me the strength of holding a sharp metal tool to make an engraving line onto a metal plate, while I am simultaneously drawing on paper.

These decades of practice have made me confront difficulties in finding a place for myself and

my work. As an individual, I have not compromised with the value judgments of the outside world.

I am passionately engaged with my drawing and making Intaglio Prints every day," he says.

While he may be working with multiple mediums, it is Printmaking that remains his favourite. And when it comes to themes and choosing the medium to convey, he says, "I do not plan a particular theme or medium beforehand, during the course of the progression of the artwork whatever seems right or suitable is what I make. I think every artwork has a different tale to tell."

Lamenting the decline in state art institutions over the years, Goud feels that it is important that every state must boast of some.

Stressing that they open new doors for upcoming artists, the artist feels that it is time that the government starts allocating more funds to the arts and their promotion. "Small initiatives will help in bringing out a whole new world for many artists and art lovers. If we want to see a major change, we have to be the cause for that change. Also, parents must encourage their kids to take up art seriously if the latter show interest."

Goud, who studied murals under the legendary K.G. Subramanyan, is currently focussing on intaglios and its prints so that they are recognised as a major medium of art.

The artist, who does not really work with a plan in advance feels that the media tends to ignore art in general. "With the kind of power it holds over people, it can play an instrumental role in the promotion of the arts. Also, if we as Indians are not going to respect Indian art, how can we expect other countries to do so?" he concludes.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

A scenic landscape of India’s North-east Imphal, Manipur

North East India has everything that a tourist would want. A little adventure, amusement, culture, and heritage. This area has it all. All of the northeastern states, from Assam to Arunachal Pradesh, are blessed with nature's bounty, and anyone visiting the region for the first time is both excited and surprised to see such a diverse landscape.

However, there are a few destinations in the North East that have something unique to offer. It could be because of their wildlife, landscape, or culture, but each destination offers a unique experience.

Guwahati, Assam

Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh

Mawsynram, Meghalaya What makes Tawang one of the most visited destinations in Northeast India is its resemblance to heaven if you know what heaven looks like. The smallest district of Arunachal Pradesh is home to several attractions, including Tawang Monastery, Nuranang Waterfalls, Taktsang Gompa, Pankang Teng Tso Lake and Jaswant Garh, among others.

Agartala, Tripura

Guwahati is the gateway to the Northeast, besides being one of the largest cities in this region.

There are several opportunities for sightseeing in this city. The most prominent attractions of Guwahati are the Kamakhya Temple, Fancy Bazaar, Regional Science Center, Assam State Zoo and Accoland. There are also several gardens in the city where you can spend quality time with your friends and family.

Kaziranga National Park, Assam

Imphal, Manipur's capital city, is blessed with a beautiful landscape that will capture your heart at first sight. It is home to several tribes and is also the cultural capital of the state. For a tourist, there are several fascinating sights to explore. One of these is the Imphal Polo Ground, the oldest polo ground in the world.

Imphal also hosts several events, like Lai Haraoba, the Kang Rath Yatra and Ningol Chakouba Festival, to name a few.

Agartala is the second-largest city in the Northeast and has attracted a large number of tourists. It is one of India's fastest-growing cities and the third international internet getaway after Mumbai and Chennai. Ujjayanta Palace, Neermahal, and the Tripura Government Museum are among the magnificent monuments in Agartala. Other popular tourist destinations include Rose Valley Amusement Park, Dumboor Lake, and Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary, among many others.

Kohima, Nagaland

Mawsynram, about 56 kilometres from Shillong, is a tiny village in Meghalaya. Along with Cherrapunji, it is known for being the wettest place on Earth.

It is said to receive nearly 11,872 mm (39ft) of rain per year! It is, however, a natural paradise, and visitors enjoy the fresh air, sliding slopes, and rolling green mountains.

Gangtok, Sikkim

Aizwal, Mizoram

Kaziranga National Park in Assam is renowned for being home to the one-horned rhino. It's also one of the most amazing holiday destinations in Northeast India.

They are an endangered species, though. Spotting this colossus beast with its thick hide and horn which juts out menacingly from its head is a rewarding experience. Indeed, no visit to Assam is complete without a safari in the Kaziranga National Park.

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Nagaland's capital city, Kohima, is one of the most amazing cities to visit in Northeast India. Kohima is most well-known for hosting the annual Hornbill Festival in December, which attracts thousands of visitors each year.

After sightseeing, you can go on a family trek to Dzukou Valley, which is about 20 km from Kohima.

Still stuck in pandemic blues?

Here are some adventure sports that will make you feel alive again

Adventure sports have always been an escape from mundane life. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a worldwide lockdown as restrictions forced people to stay indoors. The global health crisis had a huge impact on the adventure sports market, as the aviation and hospitality sectors also bore the brunt. However, with the adventure sports activities gradually opening now, it is time to set yourself free!

India is home to some stunning destinations, which in the last few years have been developed to house some thrilling adventures.

Niharika Nigam, Director, Business Development at Jumpin Heights shares adventure sports activities that will help you beat the pandemic blues and get your adrenaline pumping while exploring some gorgeous landscapes in the most novel ways possible!

Bungy jumping: Quite popular among adrenaline junkies, this extreme adventure sport will make you forget all your worries as you see the world 'upside down' (literally!).

Gangtok is the capital city of Sikkim, & its beauty justifies its status as one of the state's most important cities. Beautiful, exuberant, & adorned with clouds all over. Sikkim is endowed with the kind of cultural & historical significance that Gangtok adds to the state's pride. You must fly to Gangtok while exploring Sikkim.

Aizawl, Mizoram's capital & a breathtakingly beautiful hill city, offers the best sightseeing opportunities. In Aizawl, you will also come across the friendliest people in the entire Northeast.

Also scope for adventure, from paragliding to rafting.

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Rishikesh in Uttarakhand touted as the adventure capital of India is home to India's highest Bungy platform standing mighty tall at a height of 83 meters. After operating over 1 lakh jumps there - a global record for adventure tourism in India, they have recently opened their second location in Goa with a whole different vibe of bungy jumping over Mayem Lake in North Goa. Run by ex-Army officers, and with jump masters trained extensively under experts from New Zealand, they follow Australia and NZ safety standards for Bungy operations. Besides, Rishikesh and Goa offer safe and professionally conducted bungy jumping amidst breathtaking views. So explore the valleys of Rishikesh or the azure lake of Goa while jumping into their infinity!

Take that 'leap of faith' and earn some serious bragging rights!

Giant Swing: This is another extreme adventure, and it can be done solo as well as with two people in tandem. You can try this exhilarating activity with your friend, spouse, sibling, or family members and have once in a lifetime memory to be cherished for a long time! Jump is done from the same Bungy platform in Rishikesh. This is India's most extreme Giant Swing. You are fitted with a seat and chest harness which is connected to the fixed wire ropes.

On jump, after an initial free fall, the ropes will smoothly swing you like a pendulum as you are left suspended in the mid-air.

This adventure sport allows you to enjoy double the freefall of the Bungy, with considerably more speed, and almost as much fear.

Flying Fox: Imagine yourself taking in the bird's eye view of the scenery around you, while being harnessed to the wire on a zip line. Asia's longest flying fox is in Rishikesh where you can fly at 140kph. Accelerate up to speeds of 160 kmph and feel the air gushing past, while you are lowered down to just 7 meters above the river level.

River rafting: Summer is here, with scorching heat increasing day by day, and what would be better than river rafting in white waters at Rishikesh or Manali!

The excitement and adrenaline rush you get while riding and tumbling down the white waters is simply unmatched! Since it is a team sport, it is great for mental health as well as overall well-being. And basically having a splendid day out in the river!

Adventure sports can make you feel alive again and help you challenge yourself as these activities are a true test of mental strength. After all, “A life lived without adventure is a life wasted.”

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

National Train Day: Experience unique railways around the world Trains are an excellent way to travel the world, taking you through truly spectacular scenery that is often inaccessible by other modes of transportation and at a pace that allows you to take in the scenery.

On the eve of National Train Day, Booking.com shares a list of stunning train destination landscapes from around the world for everyone to enjoy. From straw mats on a bamboo track to a coalpowered steam train chugging through the Himalayas, save these incredible train journeys for your next trip.

Darjeeling 'Toy Train', India The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway rumbles through the misty mountains with a shrill whistle and plumes of steam and smoke billowing from its coal engine.

This locomotive, affectionately known as the 'Toy Train,' has been transporting tea and passengers up the steep inclines of the Lower Himalayas since the late 1800s; an engineering feat at the time that still impresses today.

The blue carriages of the train skim buildings and traffic by inches along the old Hill Cart Road as it travels from Darjeeling to Ghum, India's highest train station. Before unfolding to reveal breathtaking views of terraced tea plantations and the snowcapped Himalayas. Stay at the Dekeling Resort, which has a view of the Darjeeling Hills and the Kanchenjunga Range.

Battambang Bamboo Train, Cambodia The Battambang Bamboo Train is a warm-weather toboggan ride powered by a small motorcycle engine. The infamous 'bamboo train,' located in the northwestern part of Cambodia, is a piece of back-to-basics engineering for thrill-seeking travellers. You'll be hurtling through rice paddies and over rickety bridges at up to 40km per hour while perched on straw mats laid across a bamboo platform.

Hold on tight with the wind in your hair and try to take in the tropical Cambodian scenery as you speed by. Ramchang is a budget-friendly, orange-andyellow-painted guesthouse in the heart of Battambang.

Puffing Billy, Australia Puffing Billy in Australia is an unforgettable experience because you can dangle your legs out the window of an old steam train as it chugs through a verdant mountain range. The path takes you through the Dandenong Mountains and the Yarra Valley, past cascades, creeks, and lime-green ferns, with sunlight filtering through tall, thin gum and mountain ash trees.

The Monbulk Trestle Bridge, an old timber bridge that carries the train out of Belgrave and towards Menzies Creek, is probably the most photogenic part of the train journey. It's also only an hour's drive from Melbourne, so bring a picnic for a relaxing and whimsical afternoon in the bush.

Make this highly-rated apartment in Melbourne's South Yarra your home base.

Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, USA The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway tracks follow the Animas River through wilderness inaccessible by road, and are a heritage railroad cutting through some of Colorado's most epic scenery. The railway was built in 1882, but steam locomotives are still used today, albeit for tourists who want to take in the breathtaking scenery. You'll see

river canyons, pine-covered valleys, waterfalls, snowy peaks, and if you're lucky, elk, deer, and moose.

Choose from open-air viewing gondola carriages to take in the fresh mountain air, or sit in one of the Historical Narration cars to hear on-board narrators in period costume discuss the railroad's and the region's history.

The journey takes three and a half hours each way, and you can board at either end, so plan accordingly.

The Presidential Train, Portugal For more than a century, the Presidential Train, Portugal's crown jewel, has hosted kings, presidents, heads of state, and popes. The Presidential Train, built-in 1890, is a time capsule in which passengers travel through history with a special aroma and purposeful music.

The Presidential Train, which travels from Porto to Quinta do Vesuvio on the eastern shore of the Douro Valley, brings together the world's best chefs with the world's freshest food, paired with wines from the region.

While waiting for meal service, passengers can unwind in private cabins and gaze out the windows at the golden valley.

Climate, Community and Choice

91 percent of Indian travellers want to travel more sustainably over the coming 12 months, with 94 percent of Indian travellers confirming that sustainable travel is important to them, reveals Booking.com's 2022 Sustainable Travel Research Report.

The insights gathered from more than 30,000 travellers across 32 countries and territories, highlighted the impact of their trips remains top of mind, with 68 percent stating that the recent news about climate change has influenced them to make more sustainable travel choices. To that end, 64 percent of Indian travellers say that the sustainability efforts of accommodations and transport providers play a strong role in their property and transport decisions respectively. In fact, 88 percent of Indian travellers say they would be more likely to choose a sustainable accommodation - whether they were looking specifically for one or not.

In search of more sustainable stays Awareness and visibility of more sustainable stays continues, with 68 percent of Indian travellers confirming they have seen a sustainable accommodation on an online travel site over the past year and 69 percent indicating that they actively look for information on the sustainability efforts of a property before they book. Even more encouraging are the 80 percent of Indian travellers say they have actually stayed in a sustainable accommodation over the past year. While 97 percent of Indian travellers intend to stay in a sustainable property at least once in the coming year, there is still more to do to make more sustainable stay options easier to find for everyone. 28 percent admit that they don’t actively look for the sustainability efforts of a property before they book, but if easily accessible, they say they will review it, which further underlines the importance of making this sustainability information transparent and understandable for a broad audience of travellers.

Alternative destinations and timing There is consensus amongst travellers on wanting to

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TRAVEL

avoid busy and over-visited destinations. Indian travellers said they’d be willing to exclusively travel outside of peak season to avoid overcrowding, and 64 percent revealed that they would avoid popular tourist destinations and attractions to ensure a more even dispersal of the impact and benefits of their visit. 42 percent would even be willing to choose an alternative to their preferred destination to help avoid overcrowding. This indicates an opportunity for travel platforms to work with accommodation providers in these destinations to help them progress on their sustainability journeys and in turn to highlight more sustainable options, as well as to help consumers discover.

Connection to culture and local communities A regenerative philosophy is influencing decision-making, with 56 percent of Indian travellers saying they want to leave the places they visit better than when they arrived and 69 percent Indian travellers wanting to have experiences that are representative of the local culture.

Tipping point for transportation Indian travellers are mindful of how far they travel, how they get there, and how they get around once they’re there. 31 percent Indian travellers say they chose to travel to a destination closer to home to reduce their carbon footprint and 31 percent indicated that they researched public transport and/or options to rent a bicycle in their chosen destination. 39 percent also chose to travel by train instead of the car for longer distances. With increased pressure on our natural resources and the undeniable impact our way of life is having on the environment. We have ambitious goals for what we want to achieve, but together with our partners across the industry and the passion of our innovative employees, we can continue to make it easier for everyone to experience the world in a more mindful and responsible way. “We believe that travel is and should remain a powerful force for good, bringing enhanced cultural understanding, socio-economic opportunities for countless communities and the potential to help rejuvenate and protect our planet for the long term.”

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INDIA NEWS

Cannes with Bollywood

It's time for the Bollywood celebs' red carpet looks, where some made their dream debut at the fest, some added more glam to the event, and many simply stole the show with their presence at the 75th Cannes Film Festival.

Helly Shah

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

On Day 2 of the film festival, Bollywood's biggest star, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, turned heads in two different yet majestic looks. The actress wore a pink Valentino pantsuit for the first look and exuded charm. Aish walked the red carpet in a stunning black gown with embellished flower sleeves for the second look.

Pooja Hedge

This year, TV actress Helly Shah made her Cannes Film Festival debut. She styled a green-hued ensemble with a risque thigh-high slit perfectly for the occasion. Helly posted the glamorous photos to her Instagram account with the caption, “Thankful and Grateful Debut at Cannes couldn’t have been a better one ... Thank you @lorealparis for making it the PERFECT #festivaldecannes #cannes2022 #cannes.”

Tamannaah Bhatia

FASHION

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Hina Khan

Deepika Padukone stuns in Sabyasachi ensemble

Deepika Padukone, who will represent India as a jury member at the 75th Cannes Film Festival in 2022, looked stunning in a Sabyasachi ensemble for the jury photocall on the first day of the festival.

Designer Sabyasachi shared a series of images on his Instagram post in which he quotes one image, "I love that moment of storytelling where looking back at the past reveals the future. For me the best stories of India are always told in these moments".

Hina Khan's first look for the 75th Cannes Film Festival wowed everyone. The actress chose a stunning strapless red gown as her outfit of the day. She wore minimal makeup and had a flawless base. Hina captioned the photos she shared, "#cannes2022 #frenchriviera."

Kamal Hasaan, AR Rahman and many more

He added that the Tamasha actress wore "clothing and high jewellery" from his Tropic of Calcutta collection "the global resort series, where Indian heritage gets a contemporary update".

Deepika wore a printed Mysore silk shirt “with a digital rendering of hand-painted vintage flora inspired by Company paintings

made by the Sabyasachi Art Foundation,” as described in the post.

She wore the shirt with monogrammed buttons and pleated wool trousers. Paired with the Lucknow Rose, a deconstructed Maharani necklace that has been crafted with extensively sourced multicoloured gemstones and uncut diamonds. She also wore the Bengal Trophy belt by Sabyasachi Accessories.

Sharing a second bold and glam look of the 75th Cannes Film Festival jury member Deepika dressed in Bengal Tiger couture sari conceptualised by Sabyasachi as part of the iconic Aakash Tara collection that celebrates heritage Indian crafts and techniques through a modern lens, the designer wrote, “The sari is a story I will never stop telling. No matter where we are in the world, it has its place.”

Black for the win

Pooja looked stunning in a stunning pink sleeveless gown.

She wore her hair in a low rise ponytail and added some makeup to steal the show.

Urvashi Rautela

When all else fails you can always have black to turn to hit your style notes. You can never go wrong with black, as Khloe Kardashian rightly captioned her recent Insta story, "Rock Royalty." Here's a list of celebrities to inspire you to purchase yet another black dress.

Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker

Tamannaah's Cannes photos went viral, with many social media users praising her appearance. She was dressed in a monochrome black gown with a long trail.

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Urvashi Rautela made her Cannes dream debut in a white offshoulder ruffle gown, and she once again steals the show with her good sense of make-up and looks mesmerising.

Many celebrities, including Kamal Haasan, AR Rahman, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, R Madhavan, and others, were part of the Indian delegation at Cannes 2022, and we must say that these men looked dapper.

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The Kravis couple is definitely made for each other, looking stunning together twinning in black color at the red carpet. The Poosh founder became the first in the Kardashian family to appears in the Oscars accompanying Travis who during the event.

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INDIA NEWS

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June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

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WHAT’S ON

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Dia Mirza addresses the issue of consent in her next short film ‘Gray’ "We know about consent, talk about it but how well do we understand or implement, is the real question. We are proud to bring this meaningful story to our library of award-winning short film," said Girish Prabhu, Head of Amazon Advertising.

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) Actress Dia Mirza and Shreya Dhanwanthary are coming up with a new short film titled "Gray" that deals with the topic of consent in a relationship - an aspect which is often talked about but not implemented correctly.

The film revolves around the

life of a young woman, Naina, who goes through a tumultuous time after an uncomfortable experience changes her life; the struggle one faces whilst differentiating between consent and friendship, and more often than not, it ends in one blaming themselves.

"'Gray' is a powerful story about consent, a topic that should be 'black' and 'white' but is often dragged into the 'grey', because we refuse to learn the meaning of 'No'. We hope that the film helps clearly define the meaning of consent for everyone who watches it," said Nikhil Taneja, Co-Founder and CEO, Yuvaa Originals.

Produced by Yuvaa Originals, "Gray" is written and directed by Sakshi Gurnani, and releases on May 20 on Amazon miniTV.

Rajesh Khanna, Big B’s iconic film ‘Anand’ set for a remake

of whose treatment is taken

by Amitabh. However, destiny has its own plans as Anand's cancer reaches its final stage and he passes away but not before touching the lives of many people whom he spent time with, including a total stranger Isa Bhai Suratwala played by the legendary Johnny Walker.

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) Filmmaker Hrishikesh Mukherjee's classic 'Anand', starring the then superstar Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, is set for a remake helmed by Sameer Raj Sippy, grandson of the film's original producer, N.C. Sippy, and Vikram Khakhar.

The director and cast of the film, which is in its scripting stage, are yet to be finalised.

Sharing his excitement on the

development, producer Vikram Khakhar said in a statement: "Digging into our own classics, we will find invaluable gems rather than scouting for stories, internationally or regionally.

Placing Anand in the post-Covid era, where we emphasise on the value of life, will enhance the story of Anand."

The 1971 original featured Rajesh Khanna as a terminally ill cancer patient, Anand Sehgal, the onus

Producer Sameer Raj Sippy feels that such stories need to be told to the new generation, as they should be made aware of our cinematic heritage. He said: "Keeping in mind the sensibilities of the original film and the emotions attached, I felt the current generation needs to be retold many stories that are so relevant today and especially when there is a great appetite for good content."

The details with regards to the film's development and technical crew are under wraps. Produced

by Sameer Raj Sippy and Vikram Khakhar, the film will soon go into production after finalising its cast.

‘Dhaakad’ title song released in Varanasi, played on floating LED screen and performed by the jazz artiste Vasundhara Vee.

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) 'Tu Hai Dhaakad' from the Kangana Ranaut-starrer 'Dhakaad' was released here amid much fanfare.

The song was played on a floating LED screen on the banks of the river Ganga.

The film's title song has been set to the tune by veteran advertising and film composer Dhruv Ghanekar. It is penned by actor and writer Ishitta Arun

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Talking about the song, Kangana Ranaut said, "We have released 'Tu Hai Dhaakad' during the last leg of our promotional campaign as this song sets the tone of the film.

It showcases Agent Agni as an unstoppable force who embodies the never-say-die attitude.

The song has an anthem-like quality to it and encompasses my character's grit and gumption in herself and her abilities."

'Tu Hai Dhaakad' personifies and embodies Agent Agni's fierce yet vulnerable characteristics.

Through the lyrics and the tune, the song underlines the titular

Pratik Gandhi to play Mahatma Gandhi in biographical web series

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) A new biographical series based on the life of Mahatma Gandhi is in the works.

The multi-season series, which has been adapted from historian Ramachandra Guha's two books -- 'Gandhi Before India' and 'Gandhi: The Years that Changed the World' -- has cast 'Scam 1992' star Pratik Gandhi in the lead role. Pratik incidentally, shares his last name with the father of the nation.

Sharing his excitement on the announcement, Pratik Gandhi said, "I deeply believe in the Gandhian philosophy and its values that echo simplicity in its purest forms. Personally too, I strive to achieve and imbibe many of his qualities and teachings in my daily life."

He further mentioned, "Moreover, playing the role of Mahatma is very close to my heart ever since my theatre days and now it is a huge honour to yet again essay the role of this legendary leader, on screen. I believe it's a huge responsibility to essay this role with dignity, grace and conviction and I can't wait to embark on this journey with Sameer Nair and his team at Applause."

Mahatma Gandhi taught the world that a revolution, resistance and reclamation of freedom doesn't always need to be violent, it can be achieved through truth, love, non-violence and an iron-willed

He added, "The song is inspiring and instils a sense of how one can achieve things against all odds and should never accept defeat. Ishitta Arun has written lyrics which do full justice to the spirit of the film's story and Agent Agni's fortitude.

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determination.

From his earliest days to his actions in South Africa to the great struggle in India, the series will tell the lesser known stories of his life which played an important role in shaping young Gandhi into a Mahatma. It will also tell the stories of all his compatriots and contemporaries of the freedom movement, incredible personalities who, along with him, played an integral part in the shaping of what became free and modern India.

Ramachandra Guha is confident that the series will do complete justice to his books. "Along the way he made many friends and not a few enemies too. I am delighted that my books on Gandhi are now being adapted for this ambitious and exciting series.

I am confident that it will bring the complex contours of Gandhi's life and the moral essence of his teachings to viewers across the globe," Guhar said in a statement.

Sameer Nair, CEO, Applause Entertainment said, "Ramachandra Guha is a historian and storyteller par excellence, and we are honoured to adapt his classic books -- Gandhi before India, and Gandhi - The Years That Changed the World -- to screen. We couldn't think of anyone better than the incredibly talented Pratik Gandhi to bring alive the Mahatma, and his philosophies of peace and love that shook the world."

Radio Silence: Why Ayushman Khurrana has stopped composing songs Pyaar Kitna' and his song 'Paani Da'.

On the question, why he is not so keen now on composing songs, he replied: "All my songs were composed during my college years, whether it be 'Paani Da Rang', 'Saddi Galli', 'Mitti Di Khushboo' which I composed with my friend Rochak."

character's journey in the film.

Talking about the song, director Razneesh Ghai added, "I wanted a song which had a rousing aspect to it. I reached out to my friend from the advertising world, musician Dhruv Ghanekar, who has composed many songs in the past. I knew that he would be able to understand what I had in mind and translate it into a tune."

ENTERTAINMENT

Mumbai, May 20 (IANS) Bollywood actor Ayushman Khurrana is appearing on the 'The Kapil Sharma Show' for the promotion of his film 'Anek' along with Andrea Kevichusa and director Anubhav Sinha.

During the show, Ayushmann sang some of iconic songs like 'Naina Da Kya Kasoor', Kishore Kumar's song 'Humein Tumse

"These songs were all written when I was in college and are released now. Now I don't have the time to do so. I was doing theatre in college, and it was a wholesome exercise. We used to write our lines, our own stories for theatre," he added.

'The Kapil Sharma Show' airs on Sony Entertainment Television.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Mahesh Babu’s ‘Sarkaru Vaari Paata’ is Tollywood’s fastest Rs 100 crore film the fastest movie to collect Rs 100 crore (worldwide) at the regional box office.

'Sarkaru Vaari Paata' surpassed the Rs 100 crore-mark (100.44 crore) in just five days, making it the fastest purely Telugu film to do so, while also becoming Mahesh Babu's fourth consecutive Rs 100 crore-plus grossing film.

The film has a five-day worldwide gross of Rs 160.2 crore.

On the other hand, other bigticket Tollywood movies 'Radhe Shyam' and 'Acharya' sank at the box office despite the huge hype prior to their theatrical release.

Hyderabad, May 18 (IANS) Superstar Mahesh Babu's commercial entertainer 'Sarkaru Vaari Paata' has performed well on weekdays also.

Despite mediocre talk post its release, 'SVP' grew stronger in terms of collections, making it

'Acharya' which was released on April 29, had a poor start, with a disastrous first week at the box office. 'Acharya' had a first weekend collection of Rs 41 crore, and the film has a total box office collection of Rs 45.2 crore only despite starring Chiranjeevi and his son Ram Charan.

'Sarkaru Vaari Paata,' directed

by Parasuram Petla and starring Mahesh Babu and Keerthy Suresh, is the only film to hold its own at the box office following the blockbuster pan-India releases of 'RRR' and 'Pushpa.'

Theatrical rights for Koratala's

New Delhi, May 18 (IANS) Bollywood choreographer Ganesh Acharya along with 'Dehati Disco' director Manoj Sharma and Saksham Sharma were in the capital to promote their film.

While talking about the title, he asserts: "'Dehati' means village for everyone but for me 'Deh' is body and 'Ti' is soul, so it means our culture and disco is western culture. So, this movie reflects conflict between two cultures and it also reflects my love for our Indian culture."

The entire movie revolves around father-son bond, and Ganesh has all the appreciation for Saksham, who plays his son and Saksham is in awe as he got an opportunity to work with Ganesh Acharya.

Saksham, who is fascinated to work with Ganesh, shares: "I learned a lot from Ganesh sir. He is a legend. I was very nervous initially. He taught me that on beats it is not always necessary to do fast steps but to perform in a

smooth and soft way. I just hope everyone likes my performance."

Ganesh praised him saying: "Saksham is mini Ganesh. I was like him only as a child."

He adds: "This movie is very close to my heart as it is about father-son bond. My father died when I was just 10 and he was a great dancer. My father always wanted to be a choreographer and after his death I fulfilled his dream. So, I really connect with this film. After 'ABCD' when Manoj ji approached me to work for some other movie, I said 'I am a choreographer and acting is not my job'. Then I told him this story of a father and son and told him to make a movie on this subject."

Ganesh, who has also choreographed for 'Pushpa: The Rise' says he hopes the south film

Singla by a margin of 63,323 votes.

With assets of Rs 7.87 crore as per his nomination affidavit, the singer-turned-politician, who loved to ride on an open jeep, was facing four criminal cases, including two for obscene scenes.

The theatrical run of 'Radhe Shyam' was cut short, making it a disaster in all languages it was released. The heavy-budget movie had struggled to generate significant box office revenue due to poor word of mouth.

Ganesh Acharya was on his toes for ‘Dehati Disco’!

Ganesh talked about the movie, its title and his shooting experience and his bond with 11-year-old 'Super Dancer 3' finalist Saksham Sharma.

Singer-turned-actor-politician Sidhu Moosewala shot dead

directorial 'Acharya' are valued at Rs 133 crore, making it the biggest disaster in Telugu cinema, while Prabhas-starrer 'Radhe Shyam' falls in the same bracket.

At the end of its theatrical run in all languages, 'Radhe Shyam' earned a total of Rs 83 crore, while the theatrical rights were a whopping Rs 200.5 crore, resulting in huge losses as much as Rs 117 crore.

industry also supports his film like they loved his choreography in the film.

"I am from Bollywood. I still got a lot of love there and I hope to get the same appreciation for 'Dehati Disco' from south people."

On selecting Saksham for the movie, director Manoj shares: "We did auditions from all over India but when the tape of Saksham came, Master ji (Ganesh Acharya) said, 'Call him from Ludhiana, we can work on him.' He auditioned in front of him and he came prepared with Master ji's steps, so he selected him in just two minutes."

Controversies are not new to Moosewala. He created stir by allegedly misusing the name of 18th century Sikh warrior Mai Bhago in his track ‘Jatti Jeonay Morh Di Bandook Wargi’ with panthic bodies demanding his arrest for hurting Sikh sentiments. He later apologised.

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) ‘In less than 24 hours after his security was withdrawn by the government, singer-turnedactor-politician Sidhu Moosewala was shot dead by gangsters close to his ancestral village in Mansa in Punjab, police said. He was 27 years old.

He was travelling in his vehicle when the assailants fired at the singer and his two friends. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead.

Leaving behind his celebrated tag of a top Punjabi rap singer with fans across the globe, Moosewala, belonging to native Moosa village, made his electoral debut as a Congress candidate from Mansa for the February 20 Assembly polls.

Moosewala, who was often caught on the wrong side of the law but broke several records, did not mind in singing couplets of his songs and posing for countless selfies with the electorate, largely first-timers, during his campaigning.

However, he was defeated by Aam Aadmi Party candidate Vijay

Ganesh asserts: "It was not easy to shoot for this movie but I am sure people will see our Indian culture and its beauty," he concludes.

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‘Vikram’ are also releasing in theatres on June 3.

At the song launch of ‘Oh Isha’ on Wednesday, Sesh was a picture of poise and humility when responding to a question on the topic. “I think practically speaking, we have the biggest film in Telugu, ‘Vikram’ is the biggest film in Tamil and ‘Prithviraj’ is the biggest film in Hindi.

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Moosewala, who was facing charges of promoting violence and gun culture in his song “Sanju”, joined the Congress on December 3, 2021.

Moosewala, who created a niche for himself with his unique rapping style, was known for hit tracks like ‘Legend’, ‘Devil’, ‘Just listen’, ‘Jatt da Muqabala’ and ‘Hathyar’, among many others.

He played the protagonist in the Punjabi film ‘Moosa Jatt’. His another film ‘Yes I Am A Student’ is a story that sheds light on the hardship of international students but inspires them to never lose hope.

Many of his songs featured in the Billboard Canadian Hot 100 charts.

“I am not entering politics for status or to earn praise. I want to become a part of the system to transform it. I am joining the Congress to raise the voice of the people. I am joining the Congress as the party has leaders who have come from common families,” Moosewala, who went to Canada in 2016 as an international student, had said on the day he joined the politics.

Nawazuddin to celebrate b’day for the 7th time at Cannes

Adivi Sesh unfazed by box-office clash between ‘Major’ and ‘Prithviraj’ Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) Actor and writer Adivi Sesh is unfazed by the prospect of a box office clash with Akshay Kumar’s ‘Prithviraj’ which is slated to release at the same time -- June 3. Adivi Sesh starrer ‘Major’ sets it up for a box office face-off with at least two other big ticket releases at the same time. Akshay Kumar starrer ‘Prithviraj’ and Kamal Haasan’s

ENTERTAINMENT

Mumbai, May 19 (IANS) The ‘Serious Men’ and ‘The Lunchbox’ star Nawazuddin Siddiqui will be celebrating his birthday at the Cannes Film Festival for the seventh time, on Thursday.

From his 2012 releases of ‘Miss Lovely’ and ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’, then 2013 releases ‘Monsoon

Shootout’, ‘The Lunchbox’, ‘Bombay Talkies’ followed by the 2016 release ‘Raman Raghav 2.0’ and 2018 release ‘Manto’ - all have been screened at Cannes Film Festival and coincidently the actor has been present there celebrating his birthday. Talking about his birthday celebrations, Nawaz, who is a part of the Indian contingent this year at Cannes, said, “Representing India is always special. I have celebrated 6 birthdays here in Cannes as my films were selected but this time as an Indian delegate it makes it more special and memorable.”

On the work front, the actor has an interesting lineup of films in his kitty which include ‘Tiku Weds Sheru’, ‘Noorani Chehra’, ‘Adbhut’ and ‘Laxman Lopez’.

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INDIA NEWS

June 1-15, 2022 - Vol 2, Issue 22

Brookwater is the premier address in the Western Corridor.

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