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Hamas preventing Palestinians from evacuating northern Gaza: Israel

Tel Aviv, Oct 14 (IANS) The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has said that the Hamas terror group is preventing Palestinians from evacuating the northern part of the Gaza Strip, the media reported.

The IDF has warned Gaza residents in the northern part of the Strip to evacuate amid preparations for an expected ground incursion or a steppedup offensive. The area is home to about 1 million people.

prevents the passage of vehicles on these roads," the IDF said.

The military says it has identified hundreds of thousands of Palestinians moving south, but many are getting stuck in traffic caused by Hamas roadblocks, Times of Israel reported.

The Israel Defense Forces says it is completing preparations for a "significant ground operation" in the Gaza Strip, the media reported.

"Hamas is making it difficult for the residents of the Gaza Strip to move on main roads, and

The military releases a video showing heavy traffic in the Gaza Strip, which it says is caused

by Hamas roadblocks, Times of Israel reported.

In a statement, the IDF says it is readying to "expand the offensive" Continued on Page 3

Australia rejects Indigenous Voice to Parliament Canberra, October 14 (Australia India Newsdesk) The much-awaited referendum is now done and dusted with a majority of Australians voting against including Indigenous people in the country’s constitution, the results of the referendum show. This implies that the majority of Australians have rejected the proposal to establish an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which would

The collective wealth of India’s 100 Richest was flat at $799 billion this year.

New Delhi, Oct 12 (IANS) In a dramatic shift in the pecking order at the top, Mukesh Ambani

India is on a high after hosting the G20 Summit in New Delhi this September and becoming the fourth country to land a

victory over Pakistan in a highly-anticipated clash of 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup here at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Saturday.

Ahmedabad, Oct 14 (IANS) India skipper Rohit Sharma smashed six fours and as many sixes en route to top-scoring with a scintillating 86 off 63 balls in powering the hosts’ to a comprehensive seven-wicket

Significantly, any changes to Australia’s constitution also require the support of at least four of the nation’s six states — a so-called double-majority.

By Saturday night itself, it was apparent that the states of New South Wales, Tasmania, and South Australia had voted against the proposed Voice to Parliament.

Quite clearly, the result of the referendum is a setback for

Continued on Page 3

However that jump, tempered by a weaker rupee, was not reflected in the collective net worth Continued on Page 3

In the chase of 192, apart from Continued on Page 3

The third flight from Tel Aviv arrived at the IGI Airport here around 4 a.m. with 197 passengers.

The Indian nationals were received by Union Minister Kaushal Kishore, who greeted them with the Indian National flag upon their arrival.

New Delhi, Oct 15 (IANS) Continuing its efforts to evacuate the Indian nationals stuck in war-torn Israel, two more flights landed in the national capital on Sunday morning with 197 and 274 people respectively under 'Operation Ajay'.

The fourth flight carrying 274 Indian nationals from Israel, arrived at Delhi airport around 7 a.m.

On Saturday, 235 Indian nationals had arrived from Israel in the second flight, while on Thursday Continued on Page 3

Hamas attack mastermind known as ‘The Guest’ for staying in different houses every night every night to avoid being tracked, and killed, by Israel and he is now in charge of the militant group's military wing, the Al Qassem Brigades, the media reported.

spacecraft on the moon.

Reflecting this sentiment, India’s stock market rose 14 per cent since fortunes were last measured.

In the afternoon, Jasprit Bumrah’s intelligent variations and Kuldeep Yadav’s accurate wrist-spin, along with other bowlers amongst the wickets, meant India bowled out Pakistan for just 191 in 42.5 overs.

From being 155-2 at one point, Pakistan lost eight wickets for just 36 runs in 13 overs.

‘Operation Ajay’: Two more flights from Israel arrive in Delhi with Indian nationals

have been an advisory body to Parliament had the referendum been passed.

Mukesh Ambani reclaims top spot on Forbes list of India’s 100 Richest has reclaimed the No. 1 position on the 2023 Forbes list of India’s 100 Richest.

Men’s ODI WC: Rohit Sharma’s scintillating 86 powers India to seven-wicket win over Pakistan

Gaza, Oct 14 (IANS) Hamas leader Mohammed Diab Ibrahim al-Masri, is known as 'El Deif' or the Guest, because, for decades, he has stayed in different houses

Thought to have been born in the 1960s, El Deif is little known to ordinary Palestinians, CNN quoted Mkhaimar Abusada, a professor of political science at Al Azah University in Gaza, as saying.

Continued on Page 3

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

EDITORIAL BOARD Amrita Deshpande, Community News Editor Paras Sharma, Assistant Editor Dr Uttam Kumar Sinha, Senior Fellow, Nehru Memorial Museum & Library, India Mr Shaun Star, Director, Centre for Australia India Studies, Jindal Global University, India

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Ms Kriti Bharadwaj

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Community News

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Community News Middle East crisis, fragmented supply chains remain major concerns for emerging markets: Finance Minister

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The emergence of the ‘GenerAsian’ Traveller

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News from Australia Survivor Lisa Ray enlightens, inspires at Simply Humans cancer fundraiser

Israel horror a reminder of Oct 1947 Pakistani tribal raid in Kashmir

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WEBSITE DESIGN & MANAGEMENT Cosmos Media www.cosmosmedia.info

Critically endangered Swift Parrot named 2023 Australian Bird of Year

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Australia rejects Indigenous Voice to Parliament Continued from Page 1

even allegations of racism.

any reconciliation efforts with Indigenous people. Furthermore, the result is also being viewed as a political blow to the Labor government, which has been in office for less than 18 months.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was optimistic throughout as he had high hopes the referendum would forge unity among all Australians. On the contrary, it has brought to the fore division,

The Albanese government had the intention to initiate the referendum with a view to giving greater representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The proposal for giving greater representation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders was forwarded by Indigenous elders in 2017.

It was apparent from opinion polls, ahead of the referendum

that there was a widespread opposition to the Voice to Parliament, which was based on a misinformation that if the referendum was passed, it would divide the country along the lines of race. In fact many voters were not clear about how the Voice to Parliament would work, if it was constituted.

Since Australia became a Federation in 1901, of the 45 referendums only 8 have been successful.

Mukesh Ambani reclaims top spot on Forbes list of India’s 100 Richest Continued from Page 1

of India’s 100 Richest, which flatlined at $799 billion.

Mukesh Ambani, who transformed his Reliance Industries into a diversified conglomerate, reclaimed the No. 1 spot with a net worth of $92 billion.

Shortly after spinning off and listing Jio Financial Services, which has an asset management joint venture with BlackRock, Ambani cemented his succession plan by appointing his three children to Reliance’s board as non-executive directors in August.

The fortune of infrastructure magnate Gautam Adani, who rose meteorically to overtake Ambani

as India’s richest person for the first time last year, reversed dramatically after a report by US short seller Hindenburg Research in January sent his group’s shares tumbling.

Despite recovering somewhat since, his net worth, which includes that of his family, fell by a whopping $82 billion to $68 billion -- down the most in both dollar and percentage terms -- and he slips back into second place.

Software tycoon Shiv Nadar climbs two spots to return to No. 3 with a fortune of $29.3 billion, as shares of HCL Technologies jumped 42 per cent in the past year amid a tech rebound.

Matriarch Savitri Jindal, of

the O.P. Jindal Group, a power and steel conglomerate, ranks No. 4 with $24 billion, up 46 per cent, thanks partly to the September IPO of ports unit JSW Infrastructure, by her son Sajjan Jindal. Rounding out the top five is Radhakishan Damani of Avenue Supermarts, whose fortune declined to $23 billion from $27.6 billion previously.

Naazneen Karmali, Asia Wealth Editor and India Editor of Forbes Asia, said: “India is riding high and is considered a hot spot by global investors. That buoyancy has made the elite club of India’s 100 Richest even more exclusive this year, with the minimum net worth to make the cutoff rising to a record $2.3 billion.”

Hamas preventing Palestinians from evacuating northern Gaza: Israel Continued from Page 1

by implementing a "wide range of offensive operational plans" which it says include a "joint and coordinated attack from the air, sea and land", Times of Israel reported.The IDF said it was finalising the draft of hundreds

of thousands of reservists, as the logistics directorate is working to provide troops with all the equipment they will need for the ground offensive.

"In recent days, the tools required for combat have been transferred to the assembly areas, and at

this stage the various units of the Technological and Logistics Directorate are working to complete the qualification of the tools and equipping them with advanced combat means, as needed," the IDF said.

SpiceJet joins ‘Operation Ajay’, sends Airbus A340 evacuation flight, took off from Amritsar for Tel Aviv on Saturday evening," an airline spokesperson said.

"The return journey from Tel Aviv is scheduled for departure at 11 p.m. (local time), with an arrival in Delhi the following morning," said the spokesperson.

New Delhi, Oct 14 (IANS) SpiceJet on Saturday joined the Central government's 'Operation Ajay' to facilitate the repatriation of stranded Indians from Israel, an airline official said.

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The airline has initiated its inaugural special evacuation flight to Tel Aviv, utilizing its Airbus A340 aircraft.

"SpiceJet has been a steadfast contributor to the government’s evacuation and repatriation efforts, previously assisting in ‘Operation Ganga’ by evacuating over 1600 students through special flights to Budapest, Kosice, and Suceava," said the spokesperson.

"Flight SG 9995, designated as the

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COVER STORIES

Men’s ODI WC: Rohit Sharma’s scintillating 86 powers India to seven-wicket win over Pakistan Continued from Page 1

Rohit’s efforts, Shreyas Iyer got crucial game time to make 53 not out off 62 balls, to give India its eighth straight victory over Pakistan in Men’s ODI World Cups in an utterly one-sided match, also its third consecutive win of the ongoing competition.

Chasing 200, Shubman Gill didn’t look like he was back after missing first two games due to illness – striking three absolutely gorgeous boundaries through the off-side, before tickling one through fine to hit his fourth four in nine balls. His promising knock ended in the third over when he flashed hard at a short and wide delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi and picked out backward point.

Rohit struggled to get his timing initially, but found his groove when he carved Hasan Ali over point and flicked sweetly through mid-wicket for two fours.

There was more delight in store for Indian fans as Virat Kohli creamed his cover drive to absolute pristine timing against Shaheen and would later bring out an extra-cover drive against left-arm pacer for two unforgettable boundaries.

Rohit, meanwhile, entertained

the crowd with mesmerising maximums – Shaheen was hooked over fine leg, Mohammad Nawaz was flicked over mid-wicket and Haris Rauf was muscled over long-on, also his 300th ODI six.

He hit his 301st six by crunching Rauf over cover for six, before Pakistan hit back as Hasan got Kohli to mis-time to mid-on, leaving the crowd silent.

After getting his fifty in 36 balls, Rohit continued to thunder boundaries effortlessly and got good support from Iyer, who also joined him in raining fours and sixes against Pakistan’s bowlers, especially against the spinners.

Though Rohit fell short of his second successive century by 14 runs after mis-timing a slower ball to mid-on off Shaheen, Iyer and KL Rahul knocked off the remaining 36 runs with ease, with the former reaching his fifty through a winning six down the ground, to secure an emphatic win for India. Brief Scores: Pakistan 191 in 42.5 overs (Babar Azam 50, Mohammad Rizwan 49; Jasprit Bumrah 2-19, Hardik Pandya 2-34) lost to India 192-3 in 30.3 overs (Rohit Sharma 86, Shreyas Iyer 53 not out; Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-36, Hasan Ali 1-34) by seven wickets

‘Operation Ajay’: Two more flights from Israel arrive in Delhi with Indian nationals Continued from Page 1

212 people had arrived from the flight under 'Operation Ajay'.

Addressing a flurry of questions on the Israel-Palestine conflict, which escalated last week after the Hamas group launched rocket attacks on Tel Aviv, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said that the government's prime focus was to bring back 18,000 Indians stuck there.

"Our focus is to bring back Indians who want to come out of Israel. There are 18,000 Indians

there, including students," he said, informing that the government has launched 'Operation Ajay' to bring back Indian citizens from war-torn Israel.

At least 1,300 Israeli nationals, most of them civilians were killed in a surprise attack by Hamas terrorists. Hamas had carried out a surprise attack last Saturday in Israel.

In retaliation, Israel also launched counter operations in which over 1,500 people have been killed.

Hamas attack mastermind known as ‘The Guest’ for staying in different houses every night Continued from Page 1

them is rockets. Primitive at first, the missiles have been improved and refined over years of help from Iran.

The Al Qassem Brigades were opposed to the peace process embraced by Yassir Arafat, thenleader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, and the 1993 Oslo Accords that were supposed to pave the way to a two-state solution of a new Palestine living in peace alongside Israel.

The Tehran theocracy, also dedicated to the eradication of the Jewish state, trained engineers, organised technology transfers and guided developments to create rockets capable of hitting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, CNN reported. Men like El Deif, the bomb makers and decision takers, were hunted by Israel. In 2014, an air strike killed his wife and daughter. He lost part of an arm, a leg and his hearing. No doubt his hatred for Israel intensified then, CNN reported. But his emotions were leavened with zealous cunning. And the first, and most important deception, was to transform the Israeli perception of Hamas.

“He’s very much like a ghost to the majority of the Palestinians,” he said.

In 1996, El Deif, an accomplished bomb maker, was behind a wave of four suicide attacks that killed 65 people in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and other outrages intended to derail the peace process, CNN reported. The tighter the Israeli and Egyptian control over Gaza’s borders – the more Hamas (and other groups) developed military means to fight back. Chief among

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

ADVERTORIAL

Bravus and Adani celebrate Mundra Port: ‘An emblem of global excellence’

Bravus’ global parent, the Adani Group, is celebrating 25 years of safe and successful operations at India’s Mundra Port.

The industrial precinct - among the world’s largest ports - this month recognised the “silver jubilee” milestone of 25 years since the first ship MT Alpha berthed at the Gujarat port.

Mundra Port exemplifies the transformation of the Adani Group from its origins in industrials into one of the world’s most advanced and technologically driven logistics operations globally.

Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani said the port was a testament to “the wonders

About Bravus

Bravus is at the forefront of the global energy transition.

Our energy products, and the businesses that transport and export them, are fuelling positive growth for the future.

We are deeply committed to creating Australian jobs and opportunities in regional communities and operating

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that can unfurl when foresight, tenacity and a united community converge”.

“Mundra, for me, is much more than just a port,” he said. “It is the beachhead of a horizon of possibilities for the entire Adani Group.

“Along with our employees and partners, we did not merely construct a port; we sculpted an emblem of global excellence, transforming an entire region and crafting new blueprints. Our confidence has never been higher and Mundra will continue to trailblaze, setting benchmarks on the global canvas.”

of responsible operations at its North Queensland Export Terminal near Bowen, in north Queensland.

The North Queensland Export Terminal is Queensland’s most northerly coal export terminal and provides strategic deepwater access to the world for about a dozen thermal and metallurgical coal producers in the Bowen and Galilee basins.

Since commencing operations in 1984, the Terminal has shown great care for its people and the environment as it grew to its current nameplate capacity of 50 million tonnes per annum.

The milestone comes as Bravus prepares to recognise 40 years

The Terminal’s operator, Abbot Point Operations, also

responsibly. The safety and well-being of our people and the community, responsible environmental management and governance are at the heart of all we do.

energy from the Rugby Run solar farm, both in central Queensland.

Our Bowen Rail Company, Abbot Point Operations and North Queensland Export Terminal businesses proudly transport high-quality coal from our Bravus Mining and Resources Carmichael mine, and from our other mining customers, to the world.

We walk the talk on the energy transition. Our diversified group of Australian businesses produce high-quality thermal coal at the Carmichael Mine and renewable

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a Bravus group business, has a workforce of more than 400 direct employees and contractors making it one of the Whitsunday region’s biggest employers.

A Bravus spokesperson the local benefits extended beyond employment, with Abbot Point Operations’ dedicated Community Support Program providing more than $2.15 million in support to social programs and initiatives in the last six years.

“Abbot Point Operations’ mission is to Grow Local,” the spokesperson said.

“Along with an unwavering focus on safety and the environment, our people are dedicated to providing employment and These operations provide reliable and affordable energy solutions that help reduce poverty in the Asia Pacific region and power growth.

We are part of the global Adani Group, which is headquartered in India and is leading the way in progressing the transition to a lower emissions future. The Adani Group is the world’s largest

engagement in their local community.”

Mundra Port is India’s largest commercial port, with state-ofthe-art facilities including the largest coal, natural gas, and auto terminals. It is also home to renewables. Adani Wind’s flagship 5.2MW, 200m tall and 160m blade diameter Wind Turbine Generator last month achieved certification as India’s largest turbine.

Bravus is a diversified group of Australian businesses encompassing thermal coal, solar energy, port operations, and rail operations that are part of the Adani Group.

multinational solar energy company, and India's leader in the emerging hydrogen energy industry. The Group also has businesses in the energy, transport, infrastructure, agribusiness, ports, airports, data centres, cement, and utility sectors.

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

MP Assembly Polls: For now, BJP leaders will have to wait for ‘son’ shine Bhopal, Oct 9 (IANS) The BJP’s fourth list for Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections, which retained most of its senior sitting legislatures, including veteran politician and Assembly Speaker Girish Gautam, made it clear that the next generation of the saffron party aspiring to pursue their career in politics will have to wait.

The 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will go to the polls on November 17, while the counting of votes will be taken up on December 3, The BJP’s election screening committee on Monday announced the names of 57 candidates, of which 24 are state ministers and the remaining 32 are those who won the Assembly elections in 2018 or the bypolls in 2021.

Importantly, around a dozen senior BJP leaders in Madhya Pradesh wanted to field their children in the elections, but the saffron party, which is known to corner other political parties over the politics of ‘dynasticism’, refrained from fielding the children of its active leaders.

Until the fourth list was released on Monday, the political gallery was filled with murmurs that CM Chouhan’s elder son Kartikey Chouhan may be fielded.

Kartikey, who recently completed his LLM from an US-based university, would often be seen active in his father’s constituency -- Budhni in Sehore district.

Home Minister Narottam Mishra’s son Sukarn Mishra has been managing the poll strategy from behind the curtains. Sources said that Sukarn also held meetings with the people in his father’s home district Datia.

BJP national General Secretary Kailash Vijayavargiya's son Akash Vijayvargiya is an MLA from Indore-3. However, he has not been given ticket this time.

Annoyed with the party’s decision to field senior Vijayavargiya instead of his son Akash, a large group of his supporters had staged a protest at the party headquarters in Bhopal recently.

Senior BJP leader and Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar's son Devender Pratap Singh has been active in the party’s district level activities in Morena.

Being the election convener, Tomar has to give time for formulating poll strategies for the party, while his son, Devender Pratap Singh, is preparing the ground for his father in Dhimini.

PWD Minister Gopal Bhargav's son Abhishek Bhargava,

Agriculture Minister Kamel Patel's son Sandeep Patel and Transport Minister Govind Singh Rajput's son Akash Rajput along with Water Minister Tulsi Silawat's son Nitish Silwar and former MP Prabhat Jha's son Tushmul Jha are all standing on the threshold of politics.

The other senior BJP leaders whose sons or daughters are waiting to enter politics include Santosh Sahu’s daughter Parul Sahu, ex-minister Manvendra Singh’s son Kamkshya Singh, Gaurishankar Bisen’s daughter Mausam Bisen, and Umashankar Sharma’s daughter Jyoti Sharma, among others.

Most of them had earlier secured organisational posts in the party or are active in managing poll strategies for their fathers from the backend.

Aspire to establish horizontal society by eradicating vertical caste system: Siddaramaiah Veerashaiva-Lingayat Sanghas and Mysore Federation of Basava Balagas at Mysore Kalamandir.

Mysuru (Karnataka), Oct 7 (IANS) Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that it was the aspiration of Basavadi Sharanas to establish a horizontal society by eradicating the vertical caste system, adding this was his aspiration as well.

The Chief Minister said this while speaking after inaugurating the Basava Jayanti programme organised by Akhila Bharatha Veerashaiva Lingayat Mahasabha,

"Basavadi Sharanas created awareness among the Shudra communities. Allama Prabhu who was from the deprived class was the president of the Anubhava Mantapa. Thus, Basavadi Sharanas were able to implement the democratic system in the 12th century itself. Basavanna conducted inter-caste marriages during that period itself. It was for this reason that Bijjala was pitted against Basavanna," he said.

The Karnataka CM said the aspirations of the 12th-century sharanas are yet to be fulfilled.

"Even after 76 years of Independence, the aspirations of democracy and Constitution have

not been fulfilled and inequality still prevails.

"BR Ambedkar had warned about this possibility during the implementation of the Constitution. The same caution was given by Basavanna and Basavadi sharanas as well in the 12th century itself," the CM said.

"Society should not be divided on the basis of castes. We should become Vishwa manavas. It was Basavanna's wish that a hierarchical society must go and a horizontal society must exist," the CM said.

“The FIR was registered under IPC 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to

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outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion) and the matter is being investigated,” said Additional DCP (East) Syed Abbas Ali on the complaint lodged

by Rakesh Kumar Shastri.

Shastri had, through a food delivery app, ordered dry chilli paneer from the restaurant in Chander Nagar area, but received chilli chicken instead. “When we

community and apprise them about the scheme before October 20.

New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) BJP National President J.P. Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a meeting with party leaders on Monday to prepare a strategy for promoting the Centre's Vishwakarma Yojana across the country.

According to sources, the party high command has entrusted the responsibility of publicising the scheme to different state leaders and directed them to go to people belonging to the Vishwakarma

began to eat, my wife said it tasted strange. I checked the box and found that the restaurant had sent us chilli chicken instead of chili paneer,” he said in his complaint, adding that after the revelation, his wife started vomiting.“Due to our religion, our entire family is hurt,” said Shastri, claiming he is president of the Balaji Temple Trust.

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The meeting, held at the BJP headquarters' extension office, was attended by party's national general secretaries Dushyant Gautam, Tarun Chugh, and Vinod Tawde, BJP OBC Morcha national president K. Laxman, former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb, Union Minister B.L. Verma, former Uttar Pradesh Minister Shrikant Sharma, ministers from several BJP-ruled states and MPs. Sources said that all these leaders have been given the responsibility to promote the scheme in different states.

BJP likely to get two-third majority in Rajasthan

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) The BJP is making massive gains in Rajasthan and is likely to get a two-third majority, as per the current projections of the ABPCVoter Opinion Poll.

The 200-member Rajasthan Assembly will go to the polls on November 23.

The BJP is set to get 132 seats, a massive gain of 59 from its 2018 tally of 73, while the ruling Congress is projected to get 64 seats, down 36 seats from its previous tally.

As per the range, BJP is projected to get 127-137 seats, while the Congress is projected to get 59-69 seats.

The BJP's vote share is at 46.7 per cent, up by 7.9 per cent, even though the Congress is also gaining in vote share. Congress' vote share is at 42 per cent, up 2.7 per cent from the previous elections, but still resulting in fewer seats.

The vote share of the ‘Others' category is down by 7.5 per cent to 10.3 per cent, which the BJP seems to be gaining in a major way.

The Election Commission on Monday announced the Assembly poll schedule for five states.

The elections start on November 7 in Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.

Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases – on November 7 and 17. Polling in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17, while Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls on November 23 and 30, respectively. Counting for all states will take place on December 3.

Telangana set to witness resurgence of Congress projected to get 49 seats, sharply down from its previous tally of 88.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah assured that the demands put forward by the VeerashaivaLingayat community will be considered in the next budget.

FIR lodged after Lucknow eatery sends chilli chicken instead of chilli paneer Lucknow, Oct 12 (IANS) The owner of a Chinese restaurant in Lucknow and an employee of a food delivery aggregator have been booked for allegedly delivering non-vegetarian food to a vegetarian family in the city's Aashiana locality.

BJP discusses strategy to publicise Centre’s Vishwakarma Yojana in states

Abhishek Bhargav held various posts in the organisation but his work was limited to his father's Assembly area. He remains in constant touch with the public.

Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel's son Sandeep Patel focuses on sports activities more than politics. He had recently organised a sports festival, while Tushmul Jha is active in social activities, more than politics.

NEWS FROM INDIA

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) The Congress is emerging as the frontrunner in Telangana Assembly elections scheduled on November 30, as per the ABPCVoter Opinion Poll.

In the 119-member Telangana Assembly, the projected range of seats for the Congress is 48-60, while it is 43-55 for the ruling BRS. If the Congress cracks the upper end of the range, it can attain simple majority, otherwise it will be a hung Assembly.

The Congress is projected to get 54 seats, a massive gain of 35 seats from its 2018 tally. The BRS is

There is a huge swing in favour of the Congress with a projected vote share of 38.8 per cent, a gain of 10.5 per cent. The BRS is losing vote share by 9.4 per cent to reach 37.5 per cent, as per the opinion poll.

The BJP is gaining vote share to the tune of 9.3 per cent at 16.3 per cent. The party is projected to get eight seats in Telangana, up seven from its previous tally.

The Election Commission on Monday announced the Assembly poll schedule for five states.

The elections start on November 7 in Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.

Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases – on November 7 and 17. Polling in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17,

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

I-T raids in B’luru: Rs 42 cr found in flat, money was meant for poll-bound Rajasthan Bengaluru, Oct 13 (IANS) Sleuths of the Income-Tax Department found cash amounting to crores beneath the bed at a flat in Bengaluru, sources stated on Friday. The I-T officers are questioning a former woman corporator and her husband in connection with the case.

Sources said that vast amount of

money is being collected from gold jewellers and other sources in Bengaluru to fund Assembly elections in five states, especially in Rajasthan.

On getting tip offs in this regard, the I-T Department is conducting raids in the city. The cash, amounting to Rs 42 crore, was found during a raid conducted

late on Thursday night at a flat located in Atmananda Colony near RT Nagar. Sources said that Rs 500 denomination notes to the tune of Rs 42 crore were kept in 23 boxes under the bed. After getting a tip-off the I-T officers had conducted raids at two locations in RT Nagar and they found the cash in one of the locations.

6 MoUs signed between India and Tanzania on maritime cooperation, IT, sports

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) A total of six MoUs were signed between India and Tanzania Monday in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan in fields such as communications, maritime security, and sports,

among others.

countries between 2023 and 2027.

A MoU between the IT ministry and Tanzania's Information and Communication Ministry was signed in the field of sharing successful digital solutions implemented at population scale for digital transformation.

Another MoU between the National Sports Council of Tanzania and the Sports Authority of India on cooperation in the field of sports was also inked on the occasion. A pact between Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority and Tanzania Investment Centre was signed to set up an industrial park in Tanzania.

A technical agreement between the Indian Navy and Tanzania Shipping Agencies Corporation was also signed on sharing white shipping information. It was also agreed to hold cultural exchange programmes between the two

Another MoU between Cochin Shipyard Ltd and Marine Services Company Ltd was signed

NEWS FROM INDIA

Congress projected to win Madhya Pradesh polls in a tight contest BJP is slated to get a vote share of 44.7 per cent.

The projected range of seats, as per the opinion poll, is 113-125 for the Congress, and 104-116 for the BJP.

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) The Congress is projected to dethrone the BJP in Madhya Pradesh assembly polls., as per the ABPCVoter Opinion Poll.

Congress is projected to get 119 seats in the 230 member Madhya Pradesh Assembly -- which goes to plls on November 17 -- marking a gain of five seats from its 2018 tally of 114.

The ruling BJP is set to win 110 seats, a gain of one seat from its previous tally.

Both parties have a similar vote share projection for the state but the Congress is ahead in the seats tally in a tight two-way contest.

The Congress is projected to win Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and is leading in Telangana while the BJP is set to sweep Rajasthan in the upcoming Assembly polls.

The Election Commission on Monday announced the poll schedule for the Assembly elections in five states from November 7 to November 30 while counting of votes will take place on December 3.

The elections start on November 7 in Chhattisgarh and Mizoram.

Chhattisgarh will go to the polls in two phases – on November 7 and 17. Polling in Madhya Pradesh will be held on November 17, while Rajasthan and Telangana will go to polls on November 23 and 30, respectively. Counting for all states will take place on December 3

Four killed, 30 injured as 23 coaches of Sukesh writes to Kejriwal, North East Express derail in Bihar terms Sanjay Singh his ‘financial bookkeeper’ The Congress is projected to get 44.6 per cent of votes, while the

9.53 pm on Wednesday wherein 4 persons were killed and 30 injured. Five of the injured persons have critical conditions and are admitted to the hospitals of Buxar and Patna. A total of 23 coaches were derailed in this mishap,” Kumar said.

Patna, Oct 12 (IANS) The Railways on Thursday confirmed that four passengers have died and 30 others injured in the derailment of the North East Express train in Bihra's Buxar district.

The East Central Railway CPRO Virendra Kumar said, “The North East Express was derailed at Raghunathpur railway station at

“The Indian Railways has given Rs 10 lakh compensation to the family members of deceased, and injured persons were given Rs 50,000 each,” Kumar said.

“We have arranged a special train from Raghunathpur for the passengers. Besides, we have issued helpline numbers at Patna, Danapur Deen Dayal Upadhyay,

Barauni, Katihar, Kishanganj, New Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, New Bongaigaon, Rangia, Kamakhya and Guwahati,” he said.

Following the accident, East Central Railway GM Tarun Prakash, Danapur DRM Jayant Kumar Chaudhary and other officers reached Raghunathpur to take control of the situation.

The technical teams initiated investigation of the mishap.

“Our technical team started the investigation to ascertain the actual reason for the derailment.

An expert committee is formed for the purpose,” Tarun Prakash said.

UP govt nod for purchase of 2L tablets for selected schools each.

In schools where two tablets are being given, one is for teacher in-charge and one for the seniormost assistant teacher.

Lucknow, Oct 11 (IANS) The Yogi Adityanath government has given nod to the purchase of 2,09,863 tablets under the Learning Resource Package for selected basic schools.

In a circular issued by the director general, school education, to all basic education officers (BSA), it has been specified that two tablets each will be issued to 99,744 primary schools while 10,375 schools will get one tablet

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Where one tablet is being provided, it will be for the use of the teacher in-charge.

“The tablets are to be used only for academic work related to the school or as per directions of the department. They should not be used for any noneducation related works. If a tablet malfunctions, then it will be inspected, and action taken if the teacher is found guilty,” the circular reads.

If a teacher is found to be using it for any other purpose, action will be initiated.

To ensure that the gadgets are not misused, they will be delivered only to the address provided by the BSA in each district. The BSAs will ensure the safety of these tablets by keeping them in a store.

The store room will be guarded

by CCTV and other security mechanisms to preserve it from attacks by pests, dampness, etc.

Teachers will be provided training for using the tablets both offline and online. They are expected to use the tablets only as per laid rules.

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Jain of continuing to engage in illicit activities.

New Delhi, Oct 12 (IANS) Alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, in an open letter to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, has made a series of allegations and claims about the recent arrest of AAP leader Sanjay Singh, calling him the "financial bookkeeper" of the former.

Currently lodged in Mandoli jail, Chandrashekhar began his letter by saying that "truth is prevailing" and that Kejriwal and his associates are "spooked" by recent events.

He said that Singh's arrest has unnerved Kejriwal and exposed his concerns for all to see.

He implied that a "Pandora Box" has been opened, with the promise that "everything will be exposed."

"With the arrest of Sanjay Singh, I have seen how scared and spooked you are, it's very clear on your face, the whole country has seen it," he wrote.

The press statement released through his Advocate, Anant Malik, further accused Satyender

Chandrashekhar claimed that Jain, who is currently out on medical interim bail, has been sending threats and offers on Kejriwal's instructions, even from within jail. "How brazen, aren't you having any shame?" he wrote, adding that "it is clear he ( Jain) has misused his interim medical bail as he is using phones to manage his illegal money, which is yours (Kejriwal), and silencing the witness and sending me threats on your behalf through jail authorities, and I will release the screenshot of this threat calls also now."

Pointing at Kejriwal himself, Chadrashekhar wrote that after Sanjay Singh, two more of the former's associates will "go" before a "grand finale".

"You, Kejriwal Ji”. The truth is going to be out extremely soon," he said. "Now, Kejriwal Ji, you will be the proud member of "Tihar Club." The time has come, you are next," he added. He further said that no amount of threats from Kejriwal or Jain will stop him from exposing the CM or giving all the evidence against him and his associates. "Kejriwal Ji, I will make sure, you and your corruption will be stripped “open” every single one. I will expose, stop dreaming about upcoming election. People have thrown you out," he wrote.

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INDIA NEWS

NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

Critically endangered Swift Parrot Australia expected to face peak season of severe weather named 2023 Australian Bird of Year Sarah Scully.

Canberra, Oct 6 (IANS) The bright green-coloured critically endangered Swift Parrot was announced as the winner of the 2023 Australian Bird of the Year on Friday after winning more than 11,000 votes in a biennial poll.

First initiated by bird

conservation group BirdLife Australia and media outlet Guardian Australia in 2017, the fourth edition of the poll kicked off on September 25 with a lineup of 50 Australian native birds, while the bottom five species were eliminated at the end of each weekday, reports Xinhua news agency.

In Thursday's final count where all votes from earlier rounds were discarded, Swift Parrot edged past Tawny Frogmouth with a narrow 441-vote lead, and the latter finished as runner-up for 3rd time in a row.

Gang-gang Cockatoo secured the third place with 7,192 votes.

Swift Parrot, also known as Lathamus discolor, is a small, fast-flying, migratory bird that can be found in south-eastern Australia.

It is bright green with patches of red on the throat, chin, face and forehead.

The native species normally breeds in Australia's island state of Tasmania during spring and summer and then migrates to the mainland for winter.

Australia facing worst skills shortage in 60 yrs, govt body warns need to grow by 60 per cent by 2050.

in 2022, with technicians and trade workers and professional occupations such as health, engineering and science roles most affected.

Canberra, Oct 4 (IANS) Australia is facing its most significant skills shortage in 60 years, the head of the government's skills agency warned on Wednesday.

In an address to the National Press Club (NPC) in Canberra, Jobs and Skills Australia ( JSA) Acting Commissioner Peter Dawkins said urgent action is needed to train specialist workers for the country's clean energy transition, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to JSA data, 36 per cent of occupations are dealing with a skills shortage in Australia in 2023, up from 31 per cent

"Australia is experiencing widespread skill shortages, the likes of which we have not seen since the 1960s," Dawkins said.

His NPC appearance coincided with the release of JSA's 2023 Jobs and Skills Report, which sets out a roadmap to ensure Australia's labor needs are met over the next three decades as the country pursues a net zero emissions target.

"Reaching net zero by 2050 will require a workforce transformation in Australia that is substantial but not unprecedented," Dawkins said.

The report found that the clean energy supply workforce, comprising 38 occupations, will

It recommended that the government adopt broad strategies across higher education, vocational training and migration to ensure that workers have the skills employers need and said it was critical to improve the gender balance in professions with the most severe worker shortages.

"Australians will need to acquire and continually develop the necessary skills, which will increasingly be high-level skills if we are to achieve the economic and social aspirations of a prosperous and equitable nation," Dawkins told the NPC. "Increasing equity can be achieved by enhancing the ability of disadvantaged groups to obtain the skills and opportunities they need to be successful in securing and retaining good jobs."

Canberra, Oct 9 (IANS) The Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) on Monday said the country is expected to face a peak season of severe weather, including heatwaves and tropical cyclones.

In its latest 2023-24 Severe Weather Long-Range Forcast, the BOM stressed that while severe weather can occur at any time of the year, the October to April period is the peak time for heatwaves, bushfires, tropical cyclones, thunderstorms and floods, reports Xinhua news agency.

In the months ahead, Australia is likely to confront a high chance of "unusually high" temperatures until at least February 2024, also with an increased risk of bushfires in much of eastern and southern Australia.

"There is always a risk of dangerous and destructive fires in Australia at this time of year.

Grass growth due to aboveaverage rainfall in the past two to three years is contributing to an increased fire risk," said the bureau's Senior Meteorologist

On September 19, the weather bureau declared an El Nino event ongoing in the Pacific Ocean, which can typically shift rainfall away from Australia. Meanwhile, a positive Indian Ocean Dipole event is also underway, bringing warmer- and drier-than-average conditions in early spring and summer.

The BOM estimated an 80 per cent chance of fewer than average tropical cyclones this season.

"On average, the first tropical cyclone crosses the Australian coast in late December. This can be later in El Nino years, possibly early to mid-January," said Scully.

Besides, the meteorologist noted that severe thunderstorms are more common during the warmer months, particularly in northern New South Wales, southern Queensland, inland Western Australia and across the tropical north.

"Thunderstorm asthma can be triggered by thunderstorms after high grass growth in southern Australia from October to December when pollen levels are highest," she added.

Despite the long-range forecast for warmer and drier conditions, the BOM warned that there is still a risk of riverine and flash flooding where storms bring heavy rainfall.

Australia’s interest rates stay on hold for 4th straight month

Australia govt announces flights for stranded citizens in Israel Qantas will operate two flights from Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport to London for Australians who do not already have plans to leave the area, reports Xinhua news agency.

The flights will be operated free of charge for passengers, with Qantas to absorb the costs.

Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), there are up to 12,000 Australian citizens living in Israel.

On Wednesday, Wong and Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil confirmed that the body of Sydney-born Galit Carbone, 66, was found just metres from her home in the Be'eri Kibbutz, a farming community approximately 5 km from the Gaza border.

Canberra, Oct 12 (IANS) The Australian government on Thursday announced that it will run repatriation flights for

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citizens stranded in Israel amid the ongoing violent conflict.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong confirmed that flag carrier

According to local media, Carbone was born in Sydney but raised her children in Israel where she worked as a librarian.

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Canberra, Oct 3 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) on Tuesday decided to leave the cash rate target unchanged at 4.10 per cent for the fourth month in a row, with the interest rate paid on Exchange Settlement balances also steady at 4 per cent.

Having hosted her first monetary policy meeting as the central bank's governor, Michele Bullock said in a statement that higher interest rates are working to establish a more sustainable balance between supply and demand, reports Xinhua news agency.

Despite the fact that inflation in Australia is "still too high" and will remain so for some time, the governor underlined that recent data are consistent with the

forecast of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) returning to its 2 per cent to 3 per cent target range in late 2025.

"Inflation is coming down, the labour market remains strong and the economy is operating at a high level of capacity utilisation, although growth has slowed," said Bullock.

The RBA began a string of rate hikes in May last year, lifting the cash rate target from a recordlow 0.1 per cent to 4.10 per cent in June this year.

After peaking at 7.8 per cent in December last year, the annual CPI inflation dropped to 6 per cent in the June quarter of 2023.

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

INDIA NEWS

NEWS FROM AUSTRALIA

Indigenous Voice vote an opportunity for 2 in 5 Australians affected by mental disorders: Report Anthony Albanese said Australia to do better: PM Minister at a press conference in South country's first referendum since 1999, and decide whether the constitution will be changed to establish the Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which would advise the federal government on all issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, reports Xinhua news agency.

Canberra, Oct 13 (IANS) Campaigns have delivered their final pitch to Australia's voters ahead of the landmark Indigenous Voice referendum on Saturday.

Millions of Australians will head to the polls on Saturday for the

"We have an opportunity for Australia to do better. To do better to show respect for the first Australians. But also to do something for ourselves, as well, because we will feel better. We will feel better about ourselves on Sunday with a yes vote," Prime

Australia to boost support for the "yes" vote.

In order for the constitution to be changed, at least 50 per cent of Australians as well as a majority in at least four out of the country's six states must vote 'yes' in the referendum.

According to opinion polls, the proposal is set to be defeated.

The latest survey by Britishbased market research company YouGov, which was published on Thursday, found that 56 per cent of Australians intended to vote against altering the constitution.

Australian govt confirms death of citizen in Israel

Canberra, Oct 11 (IANS) The government in Canberra on Wednesday confirmed the death of an Australian national in the Hamas attacks in Israel.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong and Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said that the body of Sydney-born Galit Carbone, 66, was found just metres from her home in the Be'eri

Kibbutz, a farming community approximately 5 km from the Gaza border, reports Xinhua news agency.

unacceptable. Australia has called for the attacks to stop and for the immediate and unconditional release of all those taken hostage."

"The Australian government has received confirmation of the tragic death of Galit Carbone," Wong said in a statement.

Data from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), there are up to 12,000 Australian citizens living in Israel.

According to local media, Carbone was born in Sydney but raised her children in Israel where she worked as a librarian.

Speaking on Seven Network television on Wednesday, O'Neil said that the government was looking into options for rescue flights for Australians who want to leave the area, but that a final decision would be made by Wong and DFAT. Wong wrote on social media on Tuesday night that Australians in Israel should not wait for government-operated repatriation flights.

“Australia unequivocally condemns the attacks on Israel

by Hamas. There is no excuse for the deliberate killing of innocent civilians,” Wong said.

“The loss of life from these attacks has been devastating and

aged 16-24 years had a mental disorder in this period, with anxiety disorders being the most common," Linda Fardell, head of health statistics at the ABS, said in a statement.

Canberra, Oct 5 (IANS) Two in every five Australians have experienced a mental disorder, the national statistics agency said on Thursday.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Thursday published the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, revealing that 42.9 per cent of Australians aged 16 to 85, or 8.5 million people, have experienced a mental health condition in their lifetime, rpeorts Xinhua news agency.

Of almost 16,000 people who were surveyed for the study between 2020 and 2022, 21.5 per cent reported experiencing a mental disorder in the previous 12 months.

Among respondents aged 16 to 24, 38.8 per cent experienced a mental disorder in the 12 months prior to being surveyed.

"Almost half of young females (45.5 pe rcent) and one third of young males (32.4 per cent)

"Anxiety was the most common group of mental disorders in 2020-2022. More than one in six Australians (17.2 per cent) had an anxiety disorder such as social phobia or post-traumatic stress disorder in the previous 12 months.

"7.5 per cent of people had an affective disorder such as depression, while 3.3 percent had a substance use disorder."

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental disorders as health conditions that involve a disturbance in a person's cognition, behaviour or emotional regulation and estimated that 970 million people globally were living with a mental disorder in 2019.

The ABS found that 45.1 per cent of Australians who had a disorder in the 12 months before being surveyed for the report saw a health professional for their mental health, with females more likely to consult a professional than males.

Australian state sees almost 400 bushfires in a week

Australian states remain on high alert due to bushfires Canberra, Oct 3 (IANS) The Australian states of New South Wales (NSW), Victoria and Tasmania on Tuesday continued to remain on high alert as bushfires kept raging under hot and windy conditions.

In Australia's most denselypopulated state, 82 fires were burning across NSW as of 9 a.m. on Tuesday, with 16 yet to be contained, reports Xinhua news agency.

As the maximum temperature was tipped to hit 37 degrees Celsius with gusts in alpine areas likely to peak at 130 km/h, highto-extreme fire dangers have been forecast across the state.

"There are currently Total Fire Bans declared for the Greater Sydney Region, Greater Hunter, Far South Coast, Northern Slopes, North Western, Upper Central West Plains, Lower Central West Plains, and Central Ranges," NSW Rural Fire Service noted on social media.

Residents in Bermagui, Cuttagee, Barragga Bay, Abernethy, and Elrington received emergency warnings on Tuesday afternoon, which urged them to seek shelter inside a solid structure, as it was "now too late to leave" due to

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burning blazes nearby.

As for Victoria, challenging fire situations spread rapidly overnight, fueled by hot northerly winds, with households living in the state's east strongly warned by local fire authorities to take shelter indoors immediately.

"This morning, we saw particularly the Briagolong and the Loch Sport fires really move, rapidly grow in size, and affect more communities in the East Gippsland region," Country Fire Authority Chief Officer Jason Heffernan told reporters on Tuesday afternoon.

He provided an update about major blazes across Victoria, noting that the impacted area of the Briagolong fire has grown from 5,000 hectares to 17,500 hectares, while the wild flame at Loch Sport expanded from 600 hectares to 3,000 hectares over the last 24 hours.

"There are no more reported losses other than the original house loss that we had when the Briagolong fire first started on Sunday," Heffernan said.

According to the forecast by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM), a strong cold front may help tone down fire conditions in

eastern parts of Victoria, which would bring highly-anticipated rainfall and cooler temperatures.

But for the Gippsland region which has been enduring days of bushfire threats, the rollercoaster of natural disasters has yet to stop.

The weather bureau said a flood watch is current for eastern Victoria for minor to moderate flooding likely from late Tuesday into Wednesday.

"The most significant rainfall totals are expected for Gippsland, where totals may exceed 150 mm in some places," said the BOM. In the island state of Tasmania, a fire originated from a hotspot in Boat Harbour Creek in Flinders Island and moved rapidly to the east under strong wind on Sunday afternoon, which later sparked an emergency warning for local communities with waterbombing aircraft deployed to contain the flame.

The bushfire warning on Tuesday was downgraded to the "advice" level, given that there is no immediate threat.

However, the fire has not been fully under control, and emergency services reminded people to keep up to date with the changeable conditions.

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Sydney, Oct 5 (IANS) The Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) witnessed almost 400 wildfires since September 29, local authorities reported on Thursday.

The NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) noted that it had been a busy period for firefighters, with blazes gripping multiple areas across the state, including the Bega Valley, Mid-Western, Hunter and North Coast, reports Xinhua news agency.

Three properties were confirmed destroyed in the Bega Valley region due to a mega bushfire in Coolagolite.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns visited the region on Wednesday afternoon, calling people to prepare for a "horror summer".

"We are one week into October,

and we're experiencing midsummer conditions, multiple days above 30 degrees, high winds.

Bushfires love this environment, and it's devastating for regional communities in particular," said Minns.

The alert level for the Coolagolite fire was later downgraded from "emergency" to "advice".

In its latest major fire update on Thursday, the fire authority confirmed that with cooler temperatures and the falling of at least 20 mm of rain, the fire didn't grow in size overnight.

"But more detailed mapping shows the fire is 6,700 hectares in size and continues to burn in pockets in the Cuttagee, Barragga Bay, Murrah, Bunga, and Goalen Head areas," the NSW RFS warned, urging local communities to stay alert and monitor their surroundings.

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

INDIA NEWS

Government partnership to deliver 600 new It adds to the Palaszczuk homes for Queenslanders Government’s existing $5 • The Palaszczuk Queensland Government has confirmed it will deliver 600 social homes with more than $398 million from the Albanese Federal Government’s Social Housing Accelerator

Albanese Government will see the Palaszczuk Government build another 600 homes across Queensland, adding to the state’s record rollout of social and affordable homes.

• 80 per cent of homes will be delivered outside of Brisbane with many in regional, rural and remote parts of the state

As part of the Albanese Federal Government’s $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator, the state has received more than $398 million from the Commonwealth to deliver the additional homes.

Brisbane, 11 October: A federal funding injection from the

billion investment in social and affordable housing – the largest concentrated investment in the state’s history – which will help to deliver 13,500 homes.

The Albanese Government’s $2 billion Social Housing Accelerator will increase Australia’s housing supply by creating thousands of social homes across Australia – with all funding to be committed by states and territories within two years.

Artificial Intelligence trial in Queensland state schools • AI trial underway in 10 Queensland state schools • AI offers new ways to support teaching and learning, prepare students for the jobs of the future, and reduce teacher workload • Trial follows principles of national framework endorsed by all Education Ministers this week Brisbane, 7 October: 500 students and 25 teachers from 10 Queensland state schools are trialling an artificial intelligence teaching and learning tool called Cerego.

Cerego is an adaptive learning platform that uses generative AI and machine learning to provide quiz-based learning that quickly adjusts to the needs of individual students.

Teachers remain at the centre of classroom learning, providing Cerego with the parameters of the quiz design to specifically target the needs of their students.

Using machine learning based on the student’s answers, Cerego

then provides a personalised, tailored learning experience for the student to progress through the content.

Research shows that when it comes to education, using specific tools that only draw on accurate and approved information is one of the most effective ways of harnessing AI. While applications like Chat GPT are open source which can lead to issues with accuracy, Cerego’s source information can be provided directly: in this case it is a digitised version of the full curriculum used in Queensland state schools.

Students taking part are in classes from year 5 to year 12 and are studying a wide range of subjects including English, physics, science, health and humanities and accounting.

The trial is consistent with the six principles of the Australian Framework for Generative Artificial Intelligence in Schools which was agreed on in the

Education Ministers’ Meeting this week.

Learnings from the trial will be used to develop resources providing information and guidance for all state schools about the use of AI in schools in 2024. It will also support the work of the national body, Education Services Australia, which has been asked by Ministers today to produce a framework of requirements for those developing AI products to use in schools.

The Palaszczuk Government’s Equity and Excellence strategy commits to improving educational outcomes for students, including through digital innovation in teaching and learning. While teachers will always remain at the centre of classroom teaching and learning, future-focused learning practices such as the use of AI can play a vital role in delivering on this commitment.

Further support for drug and alcohol treatment unveiled on World Mental Health Day • Queensland Mental Health Week 2023 is held from Saturday 7 to Sunday 15 October, encompassing World Mental Health Day today on 10 October.

• Queensland’s Minister for Health and Mental Health has unveiled further support for alcohol and other drug treatment and support, through the $1.64 billion Better Care Together plan.

• This includes $47.9 million to boost treatment services, and a further $1 million to continue the Keep an eye on your drinking campaign.

Brisbane, 10 October: Queensland Mental Health Week 2023 has begun, offering an important awareness event that encourages people to check in on their mental health and wellbeing.

Today is also World Mental Health Day, which provides an opportunity to raise awareness for mental health issues and celebrate the vital work of

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professionals and stakeholders who are caring for people.

Queensland’s Health Minister, Shannon Fentiman, today acknowledged in Parliament those living with mental health conditions, mental health professionals, those whose lived experience is contributing to reform, and those living with problematic alcohol and other drug misuse.

Further support was announced for alcohol and other drug treatment services, including $47.9 million to be invested in 2023-24.

In addition to funding 41 additional frontline staff, the funding will go towards boosting non-government residential rehabilitation and withdrawal management services, to enhance delivery of safe and contemporary models of care.

expanded, to better support people presenting to hospital with problematic alcohol or other drug issues.

The funding will also support non-government organisations to encourage people with lived and living experience of alcohol and other drug use in policy, planning, and service delivery.

The Minister also announced a further $1 million to continue the Keep an eye on your drinking social marketing campaign, which aims to raise awareness about risky alcohol consumption and drive a cultural shift towards healthier behaviours.

In 2022, 1.5 million (one in three) Queenslanders exceeded the risky drinking guideline.

Specialist alcohol and other drug responses in EDs are also being

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NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND

Historic hate crime and serious vilification laws passed in Queensland • Queensland Parliament has passed legislation to increase penalties for hate crimes and serious vilification.

including the public display of tattoos and the public distribution or publication of prohibited symbols online.

• The legislation bans the public display, distribution or publication of prohibited hate symbols without reasonable excuse.

The new legislation will enable hate symbols to be identified in a regulation.

Brisbane, 12 October: The public display, distribution or publication of prohibited hate symbols will become a criminal offence in Queensland, significantly strengthening the state’s response to hate crimes.

The historic laws passed in Parliament on Thursday will protect Queenslanders from the distress associated with the display of symbols that are representative of an ideology of extreme prejudice against a particular religious, ethnic, gender, or other relevant group.

Displaying, publishing or distributing prohibited symbols in a way that might reasonably be expected to cause someone to feel menaced, harassed or offended will be a criminal offence with a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment.

The offence is intended to capture a broad range of circumstances,

The Attorney-General will consult with the Commissioner of Police, the Crime and Corruption Commission Chair and the Queensland Human Rights Commissioner to identify which symbols of hate are to be criminalised.

The legislation has provision for reasonable excuses to the new offence, such as public display for genuine artistic, religious, educational, historical, legal, or law enforcement purposes.

Criminals who commit offences while motivated by hatred or serious contempt against a particular person or group’s characteristics are liable to receive tougher penalties including custodial sentences.

These offences include going armed as to cause fear, threatening violence, assault occasioning bodily harm, wilful damage, stalking, harassment, and public nuisance.

Next phase of e-scooter reforms announced Next phase of e-scooter reforms announced • New laws introduced into Parliament to improve the safety of e-scooter and other Personal Mobility Devices (PMD) • It will be an offence for the rider of a PMD or bike to ride without due care and attention on a roadrelated area, such as a footpath, bike path or shared path • The proposed laws aim to improve safety for all people using Queensland’s paths and recreational areas Brisbane, 12 October:New laws have been introduced into Parliament today to improve the safety of e-scooter and other Personal Mobility Devices (PMD).

The proposed laws will make it an offence for the rider of a PMD or bike to ride without due care and attention on a road-related area, such as a footpath, bike path or shared path.

This law already applies on roads and the proposed change ensures careless riding will be able to be enforced on other relevant infrastructure.

The proposed laws will also better align post-crash obligations for all drivers and riders, including ensuring drivers and riders involved in a crash stop, remain at the scene, render any medical assistance to any injured person, and exchange relevant information, such as name and address details.

Currently, these obligations do not apply consistently to PMD and bike riders on roads and paths.

The proposed amendments will ensure that anyone involved in a crash has the same rights, no matter where the crash occurs.

The proposed amendments also introduce protections for vulnerable people who may not be able to exchange personal information with other people involved in crashes.

This protection applies to any person who feels that exchanging their personal information may expose them to harm and allows for them to report the crash to the police instead.

The proposed laws will be considered by Parliament and commence once passed.

This next phase of e-scooter reforms follows the release of the PMD Safety Action Plan in mid2022.

Since the release of the plan, the Department of Transport and Main Roads has delivered on 16 of the 18 actions, including a comprehensive package of road rule changes that began on 1 November 2022, public education campaigns, and high-profile enforcement blitzes with the Queensland Police Service.

These reforms are nation-leading and aim to strike the right balance between PMDs, as an emerging form of mobility, and the safety of all path and road users.

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INDIA NEWS

Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

MAKE IN INDIA

MAKE IN INDIA

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

Global US firm LAM Research plans to set up semiconductor lab in Karnataka software development support.

Middle East crisis, fragmented supply chains remain major concerns for emerging markets: Finance Minister

New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) The recent Middle Eastern crisis, fuel prices, and fragmentation of global supply chains remain major concerns for emerging markets, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Friday.

Addressing a press conference in Morocco's Marrakesh, Sitharaman, giving details of deliberations during the second session of the second day of the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (G20 FMCBG meeting, said that discussions on global economy and crypto assets were held in the meeting.

The meeting adopted the G20 roadmap on Crypto assets, its implementation going forward and provided their guidance regarding the swift and coordinated implementation of the roadmap to achieve a comprehensive policy response for Crypto assets.

The ministers and governors also exchanged views on the global economic outlook and the possible policy approaches that could be adopted, individually and collectively to address the challenges.

Brazil's Economy Minister Fernando Haddad provided an overview of the key priorities of the G20 Brazilian presidency in 2024.

Under the G20 FinanceTrack, he said that the Brazilian presidency will have key focus on addressing global risks, deepening reforms of international financial

institutions, international taxation, and other issues.

Haddad shared that Brazil’s G20 presidency's theme will be “Building a fair world and a sustainable planet”.

Sitharaman concluded the G20 FMCBG with commitment of India’s support to the Brazilian presidency in achieving a strong today and a stronger tomorrow for the world and all our people.

Earlier at the outset, Sitharaman expressed gratitude to the government of Morocco and the Moroccan people for their extraordinary hospitality extended to G20 countries under very difficult circumstances and expressed solidarity with Morocco for quick recovery. She also thanked Indonesian Finance Minister and Central Bank Governor for providing continued guidance and enabling India to steer work of the Finance Track.

Essar’s Black Box expands footprints in India to serve local and global customers desks, and customised delivery operations tailored to meet clients' specific requirements.

Bengaluru, Oct 8 (IANS) Black Box, a key investment in the technology and retail sector by Essar, has recently set up a stateof-the-art Center of Excellence in Bangalore.

This center is designed to support global clients and is equipped with advanced R&D labs, command centers, service

"India holds significant importance as a market for us, serving both Indian conglomerates and global customers. We have a positive outlook on our growth potential in India and will continue to invest here. The ongoing digitisation initiative by the Government of India and the strong demand for data centers are areas we wish to evaluate, given our expertise in working

with hyper-scale customers,” said Sanjeev Verma, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Black Box Corporation.

The company is committed to expanding its workforce across various regions to drive growth and has outlined a clear plan to enhance its Bengaluru center of excellence by adding 500 new jobs. company’s steadfast commitment extends to actively collaborate with businesses, whether based in India or operating globally, to provide cutting-edge digital infrastructure solutions.

National strategy on robotics to help India emerge as ‘Robotics Hub’: MoS IT New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) India has made significant strides in the field of robotics and the national strategy on robotics policy will present significant opportunities for the manufacturing sector, Industry 4.0 and cyber-physical systems, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, said on Friday.

robotics aims help India emerge as a “Robotics Hub” for the world.

Releasing the draft national strategy on robotics for public consultation here, the minister said the national strategy on

The feedback on the draft national strategy on robotics can be submitted through the MyGov platform by October 31.

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“We have put out for public consultation the draft national strategy on robotics and we seek inputs from startups, manufacturing companies and those at the demand side of industry 4.0,” Chandrasekhar said.

“This is in line with our strategic planning and thinking for India AI. I invite all those in the robotics and AI ecosystem to contribute and make this a successful policy,” he added.

Advances in AI are expected to have a significant impact in the realm of cyber-physical systems (CPS) such as robotics which relies on AI to enable the interaction of the virtual world with components of physical systems.

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Bengaluru, Oct 6 (IANS) LAM Research, a global provider of semiconductor equipment and services, has shown interest in setting up a new lab in Karnataka.

The Minister for Large and Medium Industries M. B. Patil has also held a discussion with the company’s management representatives.

Patil is currently leading a highpowered delegation to the United States of America to attract investment into the state. He is meeting a slew of companies drawn from semiconductor, aerospace and defence auto/ EV, space, and Med-tech among others.

LAM Research has already established a presence in Karnataka since 2000 and its campus in Bengaluru is focusing on hardware engineering, global operations management, and

During the state level single window committee meeting held in September, the company secured approval to set up Engineering, R&D, Testing and Tool Prototyping for capital goods for the manufacturing of semiconductors and displays.

It also plans to invest Rs 236 crore in this project.

LAM Research is also planning to contribute to the development of Indian suppliers and establish connections with the existing supplier ecosystem in Karnataka, the company said.

Rangesh Raghavan, Corporate Vice President, Karthik Rammohan, Group Vice President, Pat Lord, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, and Vartan Djihanian, Director of Government Affairs were present during the discussion with the minister.

LeoLabs, a pioneering force in transforming the landscape of satellite operations, intends to set up a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for research in space technology in Karnataka.

Indian startup sector sees significant drop in deal activity in 2023 in the number of deals and a 28 per cent decrease in their values compared to YTD 2022.

The third quarter ( JulySeptember period) this year witnessed a deal volume of 302 deals with values amounting to $13.4 billion in the country.

New Delhi, Oct 13 (IANS) The Indian startup sector saw a significant drop in deal activity in 2023 (year-to-date) compared to the same period in 2022, a report showed on Friday.

Overall, there was a 39 per cent decrease in the number of deals and a 68 per cent decrease in their total values, according to Grant Thornton Bharat's ‘Q3 Deal tracker Report.’

This decline was particularly pronounced in the mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape, where values plummeted by 83 per cent this year. This steep drop can be attributed to the absence of some of the massive billiondollar deals witnessed in the YTD period 2022, according to the report.

In Q3, the startup sector, along with e-commerce and IT &ITeS, led the way, accounting for 64 per cent of total deals.

“With growth-oriented policies, reduced inflation, and increased infrastructure spending, India's domestic growth is set to fuel deal activities, particularly in traditional sectors (pharmaceuticals and healthcare) and the ever-accelerating digital transformation landscape (e-commerce and IT & ITES),” said Shanthi Vijetha, Partner, Growth, Grant Thornton Bharat.

The report said that India's economic prospects for 202324 remain upbeat, supported by growth-oriented policies, subdued inflation, and heightened infrastructure investments.

In the private equity (PE) sector, there was a 40 per cent reduction

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Russia fully supports two-state solution in Palestinian-Israeli conflict: Putin both Israel and Palestine.

Moscow, Oct 12 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Moscow has always supported a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Speaking at the plenary session of the Russian Energy Week, Putin said that Russia's position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has remained the same over decades, and this stance is well known in

"We have always advocated for the implementation of the decisions of the United Nations Security Council, which involve the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian state," the Russian President said.

He criticized Washington's policies in the Middle East, noting that the US "tried to focus on financial assistance, rather than finding solutions to existing fundamental political challenges".

The Russian leader said that such moves only escalate the situation, and it is necessary to find compromises.

Brussels, Oct 12 (IANS) As the world's attention shifted to Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Brussels to ask Western countries to continue their aid to Ukraine.

joined Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition government, Xinhua news agency reported.

He further said it was crucial to minimize civilian casualties on both sides.

"We will smash and destroy Hamas," Netanyahu said.

Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza. The Israel-Hamas conflict has so far caused heavy casualties on both sides.

"We spoke about priorities for Ukraine, for defending how to

survive during this next winter," Zelensky told reporters on Wednesday before attending a meeting with NATO defence ministers, Xinhua news agency reported.

conflicts. Stoltenberg said the alliance would provide more cold weather clothing, demining capabilities, fuel, and medical equipment "to help Ukraine weather another difficult winter".

"We need some support from the leaders. That is why I am here today," he said, with the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The new pledge was made when the clashes between Israel and Hamas were drawing the world's attention. As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands of others injured on both sides.

The NATO-Ukraine meeting secured more support for the country to face the winter

On Thursday, NATO defence ministers will discuss the situation in the Middle East, with Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant set to join via videoconference.

Amazon’s Alexa claimed 2020 US Prez election was ‘stolen’: Report Substack. Alexa contended that Trump won Pennsylvania, citing “an Alexa answers contributor".

However, multiple investigations into the 2020 US election found no evidence of fraud.

San Francisco, Oct 9 (IANS) Amazon’s smart assistant Alexa has reportedly claimed that the 2020 US presidential election was “stolen by a massive amount of election fraud”, as concerns rise over artificial intelligence (AI)-driven chatbots and virtual assistants spreading misinformation.

by conservatives, reports The Washington Post.

Asked about fraud in the election race, in which Joe Biden defeated former president Donald Trump with 306 electoral college votes, Alexa said it was “stolen by a massive amount of election fraud,” citing Rumble, a videostreaming service favoured

The 2020 races were “notorious for many incidents of irregularities and indications pointing to electoral fraud taking place in major metro centers,” according to Alexa, referencing subscription newsletter service

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Amid concerns that the rise of artificial intelligence will supercharge the spread of misinformation comes a wild fabrication from a more prosaic source: Amazon’s Alexa, which declared that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

Israel’s war-time cabinet vows to ‘smash’ Hamas

"It is unclear whether it will be possible to somehow calm the situation in the near future, but we must strive for this because the expansion of the conflict zone can lead to dire consequences," Putin said.

Zelensky asks for more aid to Ukraine as world’s attention turns to Israel

Zelensky named air defence systems as one of his priorities.

"It is not just basic words. We need concrete things and we need them in very concrete geographic points on our land," he added.

WORLD NEWS

In an address broadcast to the nation, Gantz vowed to deal "decisively" with Hamas.

Jerusalem, Oct 12 (IANS) Israel's new wartime cabinet has vowed to continue the military operation in the Gaza Strip until "Hamas is toppled and destroyed".

It was the first statement by the new emergency unity government, which was formed on Wednesday as Benny Gantz, an opposition leader and former defence minister of Israel,

Hamas on Saturday launched a surprise attack on southern Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

As of Wednesday, more than 2,000 people have been killed and thousands of others injured on both sides.

India stands firmly with Israel, says Modi after receiving phone call from Netanyahu This the Prime Minister's second post after the conflict broke out on October 7 when the Palestinian militant group launched the unprecedented attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip.

New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) Following a phone call with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the "people of India stand firmly" with the Jewish nation amid the ongoing conflict with the Hamas militant group.

Thanking Netanyahu for making the call and "providing an update on the ongoing situation", Modi said in a post on X: "People of India stand firmly with Israel in this difficult hour. India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."

Also taking to X hours after the attack, Modi had said: "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour."

As the violence raged for a fourth day on Tuesday, more than 1,600 people have been killed on both the sides, while tens of thousands of people have been displaced and injured.

Israeli authorities believe that up to 150 people, including senior army officers, are being held as hostages by the Hamas in the besieged coastal enclave.

Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks rises to 1,569

“Yet Alexa disseminates misinformation about the race, even as parent company Amazon promotes the tool as a reliable election news source to more than 70 million estimated users,” the report said late on Sunday.

An Amazon spokesperson said that these responses were “errors that were delivered a small number of times, and quickly fixed when brought to our attention”. “We continually audit and improve the systems we have in place for detecting and blocking inaccurate content,” said the company.

After the report, Alexa’s responses changed.

Voice assistants and advanced chatbots are only as accurate as the websites, news reports and other data they draw from across the web.

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Gaza, Oct 13 (IANS) The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip and West Bank has totalled 1,569, while 7,212 others were wounded, according to the Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry.

The ministry said in a statement that the number of fatalities in Gaza has reached 1,537, including 500 children and 276 women, Xinhua news agency reported.

Israel on Thursday continued its airstrikes on various areas of Gaza in response to a large-scale surprise attack launched by the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Saturday.

Israel's public broadcaster Kan said the death toll from the Hamas attack in Israel has so far risen to over 1,300.

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WORLD NEWS

Arab FMs to hold emergency meeting Afghanistan earthquake over Palestinian-Israeli conflict toll rises to 2,445 announced.

The meeting will be held at the request of Palestine and headed by Morocco, the current president of the AL Council at the ministerial level, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a statement by the pan-Arab body.

Cairo, Oct 10 (IANS) Arab foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss ways to stop the ongoing conflict between Palestinians and Israelis, the Arab League (AL) has

Participants of the meeting are scheduled to discuss political action at the Arab and international levels to tackle the conflict, according to the AL. Hamas on Saturday launched a

surprise attack on Israeli towns adjacent to the Gaza Strip, prompting Israel to launch retaliatory strikes on Gaza.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV reported on Monday that the death toll from Hamas' attack on southern Israel rose to more than 900.

The death toll and injuries from Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip have risen to 687 and 3,726, respectively, according to the latest update by the Palestinian Health Ministry on Monday.

the quakes.

The earthquake struck about 40 km north-west of the city of Herat at around 11 a.m. on October 7.

Kabul, Oct 9 (IANS) The death toll from the massive 6.3-magnitude earthquake in Afghanistan's Herat and neighboring provinces has increased to 2,445 as rescue officials are racing against time to rescue people from the debris, authorities said.

With communications down and many roads blocked, rescue workers are struggling to reach remote areas.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), at least 465 houses have been completely destroyed.

Herat is located 120 km east of the Iranian border and an estimated 1.9 million people are believed to be living in the province.

The most affected area is the Solidarity marches to peaceful protests; Zanda Jan district in Herat, where Afghanistan is frequently hit by villages have been "utterly earthquakes -- especially in the Hindus world over stand in Israel’s support 13destroyed", Xinhua news agency Hindu Kush mountain range as A peaceful rally was also held in Chicago by Indian-Americans to express solidarity with Israel.

New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) Hindus from across US, UK, Canada and Australia have slammed the brutal wave of terror and violence unleashed by the Hamas militant group in Israel and urged their governments to take firm action against the war criminals.

Israel has been left reeling by Hamas's unprecedented attack that has left thousands dead on both sides, and the fatalities are expected to rise with the conflict entering its fifth day on Wednesday.

In a display of solidarity, Hindu and Jewish communities across Canada turned up in sizable numbers for a protest march in Toronto, condemning the Hamas attacks that have been called by many as 'Israel's 9/11 moment'.

The march called by the Canadian Hindu Forum saw the two communities peacefully marching along, holding Indian and Israeli flags, according to videos shared on X on Tuesday.

“Terrorism is not only an Israel issue, it's an ongoing humanitarian issue. It must be stopped before it gets too late!” members of the India-American community said in a statement.

Strongly condemning the acts against innocent civilians, USbased advocacy organisation, Coalition of Hindus of North America (CoHNA), said they stand in solidarity with the Jewish community in their mourning of the loss of innocent lives.

"Violence, especially one that targets innocents, that exults in the degradation of women should never be tolerated by any civil society. We stand with the Jewish community in their mourning of the loss of innocent lives. May peace break out in a thousand different forms," CoHNA said in a statement.

On behalf of Hindus in Britain, the Insight UK group expressed its unequivocal condemnation of the violence against women, children and elderly by Hamas terrorists.

"The world once again witnessed the brutality of Islamists on

innocent women, children and the elderly, including the abduction of children and the use of mass rapes as a weapon of war against Israelis. The victims of the terror attacks included men, women and children from Thailand, Nepal, India and beyond," Insight UK said in a statement.

"As members of minority communities ourselves, we empathise deeply with the plight of the Jewish people in facing such hatred and violence. We support the right of Israel to defend itself and its citizens against such brutal acts of terror," it said.

The British advocacy group also called upon the UK government and authorities to take firm action against anti-semitism seen on the streets, in politics, academia and the media in the country.

"Now more than ever, the voices of moderation must come together to isolate the Islamist terrorists and work towards building bridges of understanding between communities. To this end, we extend our full support and solidarity to the Israeli and Jewish communities during this difficult time," it said.

Hamas denies killing babies, says allegations ‘unethical’ Gaza, Oct 13 (IANS) The Hamas has denied its involvement in killing and beheading babies in southern Israel and said the allegations were "unethically and unprofessionally adopted by western media outlets".

"We firmly deny these allegations as we reject this media bias, and we call on media to abide by journalistic code of ethics," CNN quoted Basim Naim, an official with Hamas information office, as saying in a video statement late Thursday.

The official also called the militant group's large-scale surprise assault on Israel on October 7 a "defensive operation"

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and an "internally Palestinian" one. "The operation targeted only the Israeli military bases and compounds," Naim claimed.

"There were clear instructions from the top commanders of Al Qassam Brigades (Hamas' military wing) to avoid targeting civilians or killing them."

Earlier this week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told CNN that militants carried out a "massacre" Kfar Aza, a kibbutz in southern Israel, in which women, children, toddlers and the elderly were "brutally butchered in an IS way of action". On Wednesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's spokesman Tal

Heinrich alleged that babies and toddlers were found with their "heads decapitated" in Kfar Aza.

Netanyahu's office on Thursday released "horrifying photos" of two babies whose bodies had been burned beyond recognition and a bloodstained infant's body. Also commenting on the hostages held by the Hamas, Naim said in the video statement that the abductees will be treated "in accordance with our religious values and the rules of international humanitarian law".

"We are really worried that since the Israeli aggression is everywhere in Gaza, they might be the victims of the Israeli army bombardment just like our people," CNN quoted the official as saying.

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quoted Mawlawi Musa Ashari, Herat's provincial director for the National Disaster Management Authority, as saying on Sunday night.

Earlier on Sunday, spokesman for the National Disaster Management Authority, Mullah Janan Shaeq, said more than 9,200 people had been injured during

it lies near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates.

In June last year, Paktika province was hit by a 5.9 magnitude quake which killed more than 1,000 people and left thousands homeless

‘20 or more Americans’ unaccounted for in Israel, says WH also true of Americans, which has

gone up just today from an earlier report this morning of 12 and 13 — now 14.”

Washington, Oct 11 (IANS) The White House has said that "there are 20 or more Americans" who currently remain unaccounted for since the Hamas launched its attack on Israel on October 7.

Addressing a regular press briefing on Tuesday, National Security Adviser (NSA) Jake Sullivan told reporters: "We believe that there are 20 or more Americans who at this point are missing. But I want to underscore and stress that does not mean, necessarily, that there are 20 or more American hostages, just that is the number who are currently unaccounted for.

"We will work hour by hour both to determine whether we can account for any of those Americans or to confirm exactly what the number of Americans are being held hostage."

He also said that "we do not know about their condition, and we cannot confirm the precise number of American citizens".

Sullivan also noted that 14 Americans have been killed in the ensuing violence so far, a figure that was also confirmed

by President Joe Biden during his address on the conflict earlier on Tuesday.

“As you know, very sadly and tragically, the number of dead has risen with each passing hour, and that's true of the total number, it's

The NSA also informed that on Biden's direction, "the US has surged ammunition and interceptors for Iron Dome" and also pledged to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that "American planes will be landing in Israel with those capabilities in the days ahead".

Regarding the movement of a carrier strike group into the Eastern Mediterranean, Sullivan clarified: "We did not move the carrier for Hamas. We moved the carrier to send a clear message of deterrence to other states or non-state actors that might seek to widen this war."

He, however, declined to weigh in on the possibility of a ground incursion into Gaza and how that might affect American hostages.

"I'm not going to get into the operational discussions that the President and the Prime Minister had," he said, referring to a phone call between Biden and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu.

"That is important for them to be able to keep in his discreet channel between them."

Also at the same briefing, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the President held 17 calls and meetings over October 7, 8, and Monday with his national security team.

Since the attack began, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris have held more than three dozen meetings, briefings and calls, she added.

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INDIA NEWS

WORLD THIS WEEK In collaboration with National Institute for Advanced Studies, Bengaluru

Authored by Rohini Reenum, Padmashree Anandhan, Anu Maria Joseph, Femy Francis, Dhriti Mukherjee and Shamini Velayutham China: Accused of international media manipulation by the US

On 28 September, the US State Department accused China of manipulating the international media via censorship, data harvesting and covert purchases. The report warned of repercussions stating that this will affect the global freedom of expression. With the rise of Chinese aggression and competition, Beijing has intensified its efforts to clean its negative image. It claimed that China has invested in satellite networks and services to further the state-backed media. With its global footprint, China has been able to data harvest overseas, facilitating its censorship efforts.

China: Refuses to expand support for some CPEC proposals by Pakistan On 26 September, an editorial in The Express Tribune “CPEC expansion plan in doldrums,” on the state of China and Pakistan’s economic ties as China did not agree to further their bilateral cooperation in areas of energy and water management. They expressed that Islamabad left its opposition to set up a coalpowered plant in Gwadar and that China refuses to agree to measures proposed by Pakistan.

The negotiations signed upon largely exclude provisions proposed by Pakistan like the issue of financial challenges faced by power companies. They also advised that the imported fuelbased Gwadar plant converts to Thar coal. The Planning Ministry called the ratification of the 11th JCC meeting a testament to their strong cooperation while the iron-clad friendship is seeing strains.

Australia: Prime Minister of Solomon Islands criticizes US approach to Pacific

lecturing Pacific leaders and suggested a rethink of the Pacific Leaders' Summit. He declined US President Joe Biden's invitation to the summit. While initially citing "domestic issues," he later stated that preparations for the parliamentary session in Honiara were more important. It is raising concerns about his growing alignment with China. Sogavare praised China's development role and Belt and Road initiative during his UN speech. China's "positive feedback" has resulted in transformative changes, he noted.

Meanwhile, Chinese naval officers visited Papua New Guinea during a goodwill visit.

Pakistan: Pakistan has decided to deport over 1 million Afghans On 26 September, the caretaker government in Pakistan has decided to repatriate over 1.1 million Afghanis who have been living in Pakistan illegally reported Wion. The decision was taken by the caretaker cabinet.

The repatriation will be done in three phases according to the status of the Afghanis residing in the Pakistani territory. In the first phase, those without proper documents and lapsed visas will be deported. The second phase will deal with the status of Afghani citizens and the third will look at proof of residence card holders.

Afghanistan: Pakistani police continue to detain Afghan refugees

On 24 September, the consul of the Islamic Emirate in Karachi, Abdul Jabar Takhari claimed that hundreds of Afghan refugees have been detained over the last 15 days by the Pakistani police. He pegged the number of detentions at more than 900 and stated that 200 of them have been released because of the efforts of the consulates. He further requested the Pakistani government to stop detentions of Afghani refugees that are registered. In response, the Caretaker Government of Pakistan has ordered authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to not disturb Afghan refugees.

Israel: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor

On 27 September, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare criticized the US for

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On 27 September, Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, described the unveiling

of the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as "major news" for Israelis and described it as the "largest cooperation project in our history" that will change the Middle East, Israel, and the entire globe for the better. Israel is aware that this would significantly affect its economy. It might enable it to catch up economically to the Gulf and integrate with the region as a whole, enhancing ongoing normalization and giving the process a long-term perspective.

On 23 September, the leaders of the US, India, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, and the European Union jointly announced the new economic corridor, which many see as a rival to China's contentious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). This was done in New Delhi on the last day of the G20 summit.

Israel: Historic trips to Saudi Arabia and Israel as normalization negotiations advance On 26 September, the first high-level Saudi delegation to visit the occupied West Bank since Israel seized control of it from Jordan in the 1967 war.

According to his office, Haim Katz was the first Israeli minister to head a group of government representatives to the Gulf state.

The historic trips happen after Saudi and Israeli officials praised efforts to forge diplomatic ties.

Recent complicated negotiations between its two regional partners have been mediated by the US. A settlement between the major players would represent a sea change in Middle Eastern affairs and offer US President Joe Biden a significant diplomatic win. Nayef al-Sudairi, ambassador to Jordan and Saudi Arabia's first official representative to the Palestinians, visited the West Bank. In its statement, the Palestinian foreign ministry hailed the development as "an historic milestone" in ties with Saudi Arabia.Mr. Sudairi attempted to comfort Palestinians about the situation when speaking to journalists. The ambassador said that the crown prince's support for the Palestinian cause is hardly entirely novel. He cares deeply about the stability and safety of the entire area and the entire world since this benefit everyone on the planet.

Ukraine: NATO Secretary General visits Kyiv On 28 September, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Kyiv. He reaffirmed NATO’s strong support for Ukraine. He commended the leadership of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ukraine’s progress in its counteroffensive. He said:

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"Ukrainians are fighting for their families, their future, their freedom; Moscow is fighting for imperial delusions." Stoltenberg highlighted NATO’s commitment to Ukraine’s membership and three key decisions to enhance cooperation. He emphasized NATO’s collective efforts in providing military support and joint procurement initiatives.

Stoltenberg welcomed Ukraine’s peace plan and stated, “Ukraine's future is in NATO.” He paid respects at the Wall of Remembrance for Ukraine’s fallen heroes and reaffirmed NATO’s unwavering solidarity.

Cuba: Attack with Molotov cocktails on the Cuban embassy in Washington, DC

On 26 September, according to Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, an attacker used two Molotov cocktails to attack the Cuban Embassy in the capital city of the United States, Washington, DC. No one was harmed, he added. Just hours after Miguel Diaz-Canel, the leader of Cuba, arrived back on the island after attending meetings at the UN in New York, the attack took place on 22 September in the late hours.

According to Cuban officials, the attack didn't result in any major losses or injuries, but Havana promptly placed the blame on the country's exiled Cuban population in the US. No one claimed credit for the attack. Although there are often demonstrations outside foreign embassies in Washington, DC, attacks are uncommon, and the US consistently denounces instances that have an impact on its missions abroad.

Guatemala: Guatemalan landslides caused by heavy rain resulted in six deaths and 12 missing

On 25 September, A flooded river in Guatemala City washed away homes, leaving at least six people dead and 12 others missing. On 23 September, according to Guatemala's National Coordination for Disaster Reduction agency (CONRED) flooding from the Naranjo River poured into the shantytown of Dios es Fiel, or God is Faithful, in Guatemala City, destroying

WORLD THIS WEEK at least six homes that had been perched under a bridge. Six bodies were found by search dogs and recovery crews in the floodwaters, including a small girl, who was thought to be around five years old.

US: Major US politician demands for the suspension of millions of dollars in aid to Egypt On 27 September, In the midst of mounting calls to cut funding, a prominent Democratic member in the US has recommended halting hundreds of millions of dollars in help to Egypt due to concerns about human rights.

Gregory Meeks, the leading member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, claimed that members' standards for Egypt's eligibility for aid in terms of respecting human rights were not met. Of the USD1.3 billion Cairo receives annually from Washington, USD 320 million was subject to human rights conditions set by US Congress. However, the Joe Biden administration relaxed the restrictions earlier this month on the grounds that the support serves US national interests. Only USD 85 million was ultimately withheld.

US: 'Global information manipulation' by China endangers liberties says US

On 26 September, following the publication of the Global Engagement Center’s report the State Department spokesperson said in a statement that Beijing has spent billions of dollars creating a worldwide information ecosystem that supports its propaganda, enables censorship, and spreads misinformation. In the report, Beijing tried to sway foreign opinion and "bend the global information environment to its advantage" by employing a variety of "deceptive and coercive methods." According to the United States, China is engaging in a massive effort that involves persuasion, censorship, and disinformation that costs billions of dollars annually and may endanger international freedoms.

The report has been modified by Australia India News for space considerations.

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INDIA NEWS

Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

From the editor’s desk Terror attacks need wider condemnation not sermonizing India and China’s diplomatic successes will now be tested after Hamas launched an attack on Israel, provoking Israel to declare war against the Palestinian militant group. This attack by Hamas on Israel must go down in history as one of the bloodiest of attacks killing more than 1,300 Israelis. The Hamas group also took several Israelis as hostages after pulling out women, children, the elderly, and even the infirm from their dwelling places. While China has been projecting itself as the champion of world peace, brokering a deal between Iran and Saudi Arabia so as to facilitate reestablishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries after a dealsigning ceremony in China a few months back, quite curiously, its President Xi Jinping has yet to publicly condemn the Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the ruthless killing of Israeli civilians. On the contrary, China has issued a statement that calls for restraint by both sides, and a restart of peace talks along the lines of a two-state solution.

The Chinese foreign ministry statements have only vaguely condemned "any acts that harm civilians”. In fact, as media reports suggest, China’s state television channel CCTV has laid more emphasis on Israel’s bombing of the Gaza Strip in its coverage of the Middle East conflict, without endeavouring to give any balanced coverage to the happenings there. The mention of Hamas’ acts of terror on Israeli civilians has been conspicuous by its absence.

China’s reluctance to condemn Hamas for its acts of terror on Israel has not gone unnoticed.

As media reports quoted Yuval Waks, who is a senior official at the Israeli embassy in Beijing, as saying that the day after the attacks, Israel had expected to see a "stronger condemnation" of Hamas from China, especially when China happens to be one of Israel's top trading partners.

Waks clearly spelt out his frustration, which represented that of the entire Israel, when he told reporters that when people are being murdered and slaughtered in the streets, it is hardly the time to make a reference to the two-nation solution. China’s lukewarm response to the Hamas attacks and its remarks are somewhat similar to Russian President’s comments, making suggestions for a restraint, and referring to the two-nation solution.

It is highly inappropriate for a country like China to talk about restraint and a solution to the conflict, when it has been relentless in breaching

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Humans must brace for existential threats like never before

view their respective interests.

In a highly complex, competitive and interconnected world order, a non-aligned approach is no longer a viable option. This implies that out of economic and political necessities, countries may well be drawn into wars they neither initiate nor feel desirable to fight. Yet the situation may demand that they take sides and fight for their own interests. The results may be unimaginably complex and horrific, taking humans close to extinction, quite literally.

By Rabindra Mukherjee

India’s borders in a blatant act of aggression. Also, it has threatened to attack Taiwan. A responsible international power ought to walk the talk, rather than profess what it seldom itself follows.

India has, on the other hand, always kept a balanced approach, forging strong trade and defence relations with Israel, and at the same time showing support for the Palestinian causes. But terror attacks of any kind ought to be condemned, irrespective of who caused it and on whom.

After the Hamas attacks, the Indian Prime Minister wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that he was "deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour."

Later, when Modi received a phone call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Indian Prime Minister expressed India’s solidarity with Israel. Modi also issued a statement after the call, saying, “India strongly and unequivocally condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations." This has been India’s consistent position on terrorism. It has been a victim of terrorist attacks many times in the past, 26/11 attacks in Mumbai being one of the worst in memory.

Therefore, India has always maintained that terrorism in any form is against humanity. In a recent statement, Modi has once again reiterated that this is not the era of war.

It is interesting to ponder over the fact that while India did not have any diplomatic relations with Israel till 1992, India and Israel relations have strengthened after Modi became the Prime Minister.

In fact, Israel has always wanted close relations with India, and on several occasions assisted India with intelligence inputs. But the Indian leaders in the initial years of India’s Independence, and even afterwards for many years. had their sympathies only with the Palestinian cause, considering Palestinians a victim of British imperialism. Now both India and Israel have strong relations.

Unlike China and Russia, India does not believe in giving a sermon to a country that has just recently been brutally attacked by a militant group. This is certainly not the time to tell Israel to sit across the negotiating table when it is being relentlessly attacked.

All terror attacks must be stopped, and sanity must return in Gaza. Only then can there be any meaningful talks about finding a viable solution to the conflict in the Middle East.

EDITORIAL

Of late, mankind has entered into a phase of its development where it is fast moving towards an existential crisis of the magnitude never before witnessed, save the two World Wars. Given the technological progress that humans have made, it is now within the scope of a buttonpress to unleash the powers of destruction that have the potential to wipe the human race from the face of the earth.

This is now no longer paranoia; rather it is the grim reality of the unfolding of the history-inthe-making. Conventional wars are furthermore compounded by terrorist attacks with statesponsored terrorism becoming a norm rather than being an aberration. The Russia-Ukraine war is showing no signs of ending any time soon. As if that was not enough for an already energy-starved world, the Israel-Palestine war is likely to exacerbate the economic problems of many countries with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva saying recently that the Israel-Hamas conflict has darkened the horizon for the world economy that was already going through a phase of weak growth.

In the current global context, the recent report released by a US Congress-appointed bipartisan panel assumes significance as it has recommended that the US must prepare for possible simultaneous wars with Russia and China. The panel has emphasized the need for the US to expand its conventional forces, along with strengthening alliances and enhancing its nuclear weapons modernisation programme. This report is being viewed from the perspective of the situations rising from mounting tensions with China over Taiwan, and worsening of US-Russia relations over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The panel’s recommendations include the need for the US to prepare to increase its number of deployed warheads, as also increase its production of bombers, air-launched cruise missiles, ballistic missile submarines, non-strategic nuclear forces, and warhead

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production capacity. The report further asks the US to deploy multiple warheads on land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and consider adding road-mobile ICBMs to its arsenal.

The broader implications of these developments may be viewed as portents for the future course of international politics and power dynamics.

Interestingly, as the experts analyze the report, they feel that the only reason the report does not recommend an immediate increase of the US nuclear weapons stockpile is that the weapons production complex currently does not have the capacity to do so. However, the panel seems to have completely overlooked the fact that if the US resorts to increasing its stockpile of nuclear weapons, Russia and China would also follow suit resulting in yet-another era of arms race. This could put the US and its allies at risk of a potential nuclear attack. Nuclear weapons seem no longer to be much of a deterrent as it once used to be, at least on paper. Now countries do not shy away from acquiring their own nuclear-weapon capabilities, either through legitimate means or by resorting to smuggling nuclear technology from elsewhere. Then there is the recent trend of reverse engineering weapons, including missile technologies. Iran is a good example of a country that has increased its power by acquiring a few pieces of US technology using the means of reverse engineering weapons seized from the US. China also seems to have decided that it needs more nuclear weapons to confront any threat from the US, Russia and India.

India also faces the prospect of a two-front war- one with Pakistan, and the other with China. Both Pakistan and China have caused India a lot of wounds, in both distant and recent pasts. The ground reality as it stands from the Indian perspective vis-à-vis China and Pakistan, has forced India to increase manifold its defence expenditure. In the event of an outbreak of a war in Asia, many countries from across the world may have to get involved in choosing sides, keeping in

Therefore, in this extremely precarious situation the world finds itself in calls for all international entities, governments and nongovernment entities, charitable institutions, business conglomerates, and religious organizations to pause and introspect, and then get together, leaving aside narrow considerations of distinctions, to save the human race from extinction. This is not an option any more; in fact, this is the utter need of the hour. Natural calamities have already increased; global warming is no longer a theoretical matter to be discussed across coffee tables. One pandemic has already rocked the world, more are being predicted.

Mental diseases are also rising across the world, proving the point that the modern man is instrumental in bringing forth its own destruction much before nature would have struck anyway.

This is the sorry state of affairs of the world. Besides, human rights are being trampled underfoot in countries throughout the world.

Moreover, business interests have dangerously intermingled with political, social and cultural interests. An attempt at homogenizing diverse cultures in the world is a serious threat to the further development of the human race. Also, religious fanaticism and increasing intolerance have resulted in a world that is ever-ready to destroy itself.

The recent statement from the Russian President Putin that Russia always supports a twonation solution to the IsraelPalestine conflict is surprising in the light of the fact that Russia itself is fighting a bloody war with Ukraine and is in no way close to working out a solution to its conflict with Ukraine. But the Russian President’s statement has made one thing clear- Russia wants to play its part, akin to its former self, the erstwhile USSR, in the emerging world order.

With China rising and having the ambition of becoming a superpower, the complexities of the contemporary world will only increase, rather than gravitate towards peaceful solutions to problems that have cropped up recently or have been around for ages.

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INDIA NEWS

Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

SPECIAL FEATURES

Israel horror a reminder of Oct 1947 Pakistani tribal raid in Kashmir

By Deepika Bhan

New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) There can be nothing more horrifying than to see terrorists overrun parts of an independent nation.

It has happened in Israel and the October 7 shock has been too unnerving for the rest of the saner world.

For many Indians, the situation is a reminder of the October 1947 invasion by raiders from Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.

Hordes of tribals from Northwest Frontier Province backed by Pakistan army invaded the Kashmir valley on October 22, 1947 under the code-name ‘Operation Gulmarg’.

An estimated 5,000-10,000 raiders armed with axes, swords and rifles supplied by the Pakistan army and also military lorries

For J&K, October is a month of freedom from tyranny, and October 27 is annually observed as the Infantry Day to commemorate and pay tribute to the brave Indian infantry soldiers who lost their lives while defending the country against Pakistani invaders.

to capture Kashmir. The raiders plundered, looted, killed men, women and children. Hundreds of women were kidnapped and raped. The Sikhs and Hindus were particularly targeted.

The Maharaja of J&K, seeing the gravity of the situation, approached the Indian government for assistance on October 24. He agreed to accede to India and the Instrument of Accession was signed on October 26.

The first Indian troops were airlifted and landed in Srinagar on October 27. The raiders were punished and thrown out. But they left a huge trail of bloodshed and fear. Families were wiped out, women brutalised, and many were forcibly converted.

What India’s J&K endured in October 1947, similar is being witnessed in Israel, only that Muslims in Kashmir stood against the raiders and helped the army defend Srinagar. The crimes unleashed by the Pakistani raiders against Kashmiris and minority Kashmiri Pandits and Sikhs then were barbaric.

The crimes being committed in Israel by terrorist-raiders are no less than what was endured by Kashmiris seven decades ago.

India was quick to condemn the attack and expressed solidarity with Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted on X, "Deeply shocked by the news of terrorist attacks in Israel. Our thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families. We stand in solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour."

Videos emanating from Israel showed women being brutalised and forcibly taken in jeeps by armed terrorists. The terrorists

seemed to be enjoying a free run.

They were breaking into houses and apartments.

The terrorists were seen shooting civilians, kidnapping people, including women and children, and taking them away as trophies.

In one horrifying video, a woman soldier was seen naked being assaulted by terrorists. In another video, the lifeless body of a soldier taken out from a vehicle is trampled upon by the terrorists and their supporters’ raising slogans. There are hundreds of similar shocking videos of Israelis being attacked savagely.

The calibrated attack took place during Simchat Torah and Shabbat, which are significant days of rest in the Jewish calendar.

The Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel borders under the cover of missile attacks. They entered Israel by land, sea and air using paragliders, said the Israeli army.

The people were caught unawares as the terrorists attacked from the air and ground.

In earlier times there was no social media, only the stories remained and were carried from generations to generations. But in Israel everything is happening real time and people all over the world are witnessing the

barbarity.

The images that emanated from Israel are deeply disturbing and unnerving.

The unprecedented assault saw Hamas gunmen infiltrating several Israeli towns and over 5,000 rockets launched from the Gaza Strip. The infiltration came on the 50th anniversary of the 1973 War, which saw Israel's Arab neighbours -- led by Egypt and Syria -- launch a surprise attack on October 6 and lasted for three weeks. The 1973 War started on the holiest day of the Jewish Calendar.

And 50 years later, again during its holy day celebrations, Israel was attacked. This time not by countries but by terrorists.

The fact that terrorists could overrun a country like Israel, whose intelligence network is said to be the best in the world, should be a grim reminder to all those who believe in good and bad terrorists. India has long endured this and has been forewarning the world about the dangers of good and bad terrorists.

(Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in)

Our founding fathers and their conflicting views on village life Prof. Surinder S. Jodkha's 'The Indian Village: Rural Lives in the 21st Century' (Aleph Books; Rs 799) sheds light on how the founding fathers of Independent India toiled hard to set the balance right, but ended up pushing very different agendas.

Prof. Jodkha touches upon the issues of religion, the caste system and the evil of untouchability to make the reader understand how the idea of 'village republics' evolved postIndependence.

The author has authoritatively delved in detail into the lives of peasants, the British view of Indian villages, how rural society and farming practices were reshaped post 1947.

The real deal in the book is Chapter 3 where Prof. Jodkha analyses the works of three influential thinkers -- Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and B.R. Ambedkar -- whose views on villages also reflected their visions of free and independent India.

Their perspectives on Indian villages were not mere political rhetoric invoked to counter the colonial powers. The most important among these thinkers was Mahatma Gandhi, whose ideas about village society are widely known.

New Delhi, Oct 12 (IANS) Rarely comes a book that needs to be read and understood not only from the perspective of subject

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experts, but by common people to comprehend and recognise the relationship between rural and urban India.

Gandhi had emphatically said: "For me, India begins and ends in the villages." He also continued to underline the value of village life in his writings all his life. He was the most ardent and persuasive

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advocate of the idea of "the village being the soul of India".

Prof. Jodkha says that Gandhi's invocation of the idea of the Indian village appears to have evolved during his days in South Africa. Gandhi continued to see village life as an alternative way of living, an uthopia, even when he found faults with the realities of rural life in the Indian countryside.

He did not give up on the village but turned the politics around it upside down. He believed that real self-rule or Swaraj could only be achieved by restoring the civilisational strength of India, which meant a revival of its village communities.

The author notes that Gandhi's advocacy of village life was not to celebrate traditionalism; his was a plea for a kind of equality whereby villages are not treated as an inferior place. The village deserved autonomy if India were to arise as an independent nation, Gandhi believed.

Nehru, Gandhi's trusted disciple, differed with his guru on the issue of the primacy of the autonomous village in Independent India. He saw no virtue in reviewing the traditional social structure, as colonial and orientalist writings had presumably visualised or constructed it.

For Nehru, the solution to the problem of caste was in moving forward towards a democratic and modern social order. He also felt dismayed at the politically

docile and fatalistic nature of the Indian peasants, who he believed had the capacity to bear famines, floods, disease and grinding poverty, and when they no longer can endure these afflictions, they quietly lie down and die. That was their escape route.

Ambedkar was the nemesis to the philosophies of both Gandhi and Nehru.

Prof. Jodhka says that Ambedkar was critical of both Gandhi and Nehru's views on rural life and how they wanted to take Independent India forward.

The village, according to Ambedkar, was "the working plant of the Hindu social order" where one could observe "the Hindu social order in operation in full swing". Far from being a harmonious community, the village for Ambedkar was a divided universe resting on the foundation of the oppressive caste system.

Prof. Jodkha says some of Ambedkar's arguments were best crystallised during Constituent Assembly debates where some members had argued passionately for making the village an autonomous administrative unit with its own legislature, executive and judiciary.

Ambedkar had vehemently opposed such a move. Gandhi and Nehru, on the other hand, had accepted the colonial construct of the 'village community' as a reality of India's past.

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

INDIA NEWS

Adani Group condemns Financial Times’ ‘malicious’ campaign to tarnish its global reputation

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) Adani Group said on Monday that there is a renewed attempt by the 'Financial Times' and its collaborators to rehash old and baseless allegations to tarnish the name and standing of the Adani Group. This is part of their extended campaign to advance vested interests under the guise of public interest.

Continuing their relentless campaign, the next attack is being fronted by Dan McCrum of the Financial Times (FT), who jointly with the OCCRP put out a false narrative against the Adani Group on August 31, it said in a statement.

The OCCRP is funded by George Soros, who has openly declared his hostility against the Adani Group, the statement said.

Having failed earlier, the FT is making another effort to financially destabilise the Adani Group by raking up an old, baseless allegation of overinvoicing of coal imports. The FT’s proposed story is based on the DRI’s General Alert Circular No.11/2016/CI dated March 30, 2016. The FT’s brazen agenda is exposed by the fact that they have singled out the Adani Group, while the DRI’s Circular, the raison d'etre for the whole story, mentions as many as 40 importers, including the Adani Group companies, it said.

This list not only includes some of India’s major private power

generators like Reliance Infra, JSWSteels and Essar, but also the state power generating companies of Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, etc. and the NTPC and MSTC, Adani Group said.

transparent, independent process where the tariffs are fixed after carefully evaluating all variables and in consultations with the power generator, distributor and retail consumers, the statement said.

It is noteworthy that in the case of Knowledge Infrastructure, one of the 40 importers mentioned in the General Alert Circular, the DRI’s show-cause notice alleging over-valuation in the import of coal was quashed by the appellate tribunal (CESTAT).

So, clearly, the multiple stakeholders have multiple opportunities to look at all aspects determining the tariffs, including the import value of coal. Hence the question of over invoicing or price manipulation does not arise, Adani Group said.

Further, the DRI’s appeal was dismissed as withdrawn by the Supreme Court on January 24, 2023 with the observation that “we appreciate the stand taken by the government in not entering into futile litigation".

“It is unfortunate that some foreign entities like the OCCRP, supported by a section of the foreign media, short-sellers and domestic collaborators, have launched a series of attacks against the Adani Group with the primary intent of dragging down its market value, it said.

Clearly, the issue of overvaluation in the import of coal was conclusively settled by India’s highest court of law, Adani Group said.

The FT’s proposed storyline is a clever recycling and selective misrepresentation of publicly available facts and information with a deliberate and mischievous suppression of judicial decisions to arrive at a predetermined conclusion, the statement said.

It shows scant respect for India’s regulatory and judicial processes and authorities. It also deliberately ignores the fact that coal procurement in India on long-term supply basis is done through an open, transparent, global bidding process, thereby eliminating any possibility of price manipulation, it said.

Tariff fixation by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) is an open,

In fact, these individuals and groups, bound by the common objective of damaging the Adani Group, have developed a playbook which is being executed to perfection by a well-oiled and professional machinery working in sync both within India and abroad," the statement said.

It is not mere coincidence that such stories have an uncanny ability to appear just before the hearing dates of important cases in India’s courts, it said.

“While we deny all such allegations, which are false and baseless, we also condemn such deliberate, and motivated attempts to destabilise the Adani Group. We are a law-abiding company which is fully compliant with all rules, regulations and disclosure requirements with full respect for the rule of law," it added.

BUSINESS & TRADE

Storii by ITC Hotels expands its presence in West Bengal rooms offering various therapies, including ayurveda, a dedicated ‘yogshala’, a meditation room, a swimming pool, fitness centre and other recreational facilities.

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) ITC’s Hotel Group has announced the signing of its first Storii property in Kolkata. With the addition of this hotel, the Group will have nine properties in West Bengal, including four under development.

A total of three Storii properties are already in operation across India -- Storii Shanti Morada & Storii Moira Riviera in Goa, and Storii Amoha Retreat in Dharamsala.

Storii Kolkata is expected to open in early 2024 and will offer spacious well-appointed rooms and suites with an all-day dining restaurant and bar and banquet spaces.

The major attraction of this leisure destination will be the signature K by Kaya Kalp spa.

Surrounded by water bodies, the spa will reflect the grandeur of ancient Bengal where water pools were an integral element of design and architecture.

The spa is being developed as an oasis of tranquillity that leverages the best from India’s ancient traditions of health and wellness as well as modern rejuvenation programmes.

The sprawling spa sanctuary brings together all of nature’s elements to lighten the mood.

From the sun sights to a vast aqua ambience surrounded by fresh open air. The spa will encourage the pursuit of holistic well-being by offering a conducive relaxation environment with large treatment

The 30-key resort in South City Retreat District is a 20-minute drive from the Eastern Metropolitan (EM) bypass.

Anil Chadha, Divisional Chief Executive, ITC Hotels, said, “ITC Hotels already has a strong presence in Kolkata. Storii by ITC Hotels will bring a boutique resort offering, away from the hustle and bustle of the metro life. The addition of this property represents our commitment to enrich the tourism landscape of Eastern India with each of our differentiated brands offering a varied choice of experiences to travellers.”

Ravi Todi, Director, South City Projects (Kolkata) Limited, said, “South City has had a history of bringing quality projects, including a mall and school, to the City of Joy. With our first hospitality venture, we are bringing a world-class boutique resort with spa that will become the preferred destination for staycations in and around Kolkata. We believe ITC Hotels will add quality of service and an eye for detail to our project.”

Storii is a collection of handpicked boutique properties, designed to satiate the everevolving needs of the global traveller. Consisting of intimatesized properties in the premium segment, Storii by ITC Hotels can be found at both expected and unexpected destinations, breathtaking locales or sites steeped in history, golden untouched beaches or jungles thriving with adventure, quiet scenic valleys or deserts buzzing with folklore.

Global airline shares fall as markets reacted to attack on Israel by Hamas Web Werks, Iron Mountain to Energy was up 2 per cent.

London, Oct 9 (IANS) Oil prices rose on Monday while airline shares fell as markets reacted to the surprise attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas, according to a media report.

Investors on Monday appeared to be pricing in the prospect of further instability in the Middle East, The Guardian reported.

Oil prices jumped by 3 per cent on Monday morning. Futures prices for Brent crude oil, the North Sea benchmark, rose to $89 (£73) a barrel at one point, recovering some of the losses of the last week.

London-headquartered FTSE 100 rivals BP and Shell rose by 3 per cent and 2.7 per cent, respectively, while on the FTSE 250 Harbour

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Airlines were among the biggest stock market fallers on Monday morning, with international air travel already affected by the war.

The share price of British Airways owner International Airlines Group was down 3.4 per cent, while easyJet fell by 4 per cent.

The Paris-listed Air France-KLM lost 4.5 per cent, while Germany’s Lufthansa lost 3 per cent, The Guardian reported.

Several airlines have stopped flights to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport, Israel’s main international travel hub. They included the US carriers United, Delta and American, Air Canada, Germany’s Lufthansa and Air France.

British Airways adjusted departure times and said customers can change their travel dates free of charge, Bloomberg reported.

About 16 per cent flights into and out of Ben Gurion on Monday were cancelled, according to the data company FlightAware.

build 2 data centres with Rs 1,800 cr investment in India

across Pune, Bengaluru, Noida, Mumbai and Hyderabad.

BAE Systems rose by 4.4 per cent, making it the biggest riser on the FTSE 100. The company makes a wide range of weaponry, from tanks and fighter jets to ammunition and missiles.

The German tankmaker Rheinmetall rose by 6.2 per cent, while the Italian defence and aerospace company Leonardo gained 5.7 per cent, The Guardian reported.

Gold prices rose by 1 per cent, as investors bought the traditional safe-haven asset.

Israel’s central bank stepped in to support its currency after the shekel fell to a near-eight-year low against the US dollar in early trading, The Guardian reported.

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Chennai, Oct 9 (IANS) IT company Web Werks and Iron Mountain Data Centers on Monday announced to build two new data centres here with over Rs 1,800 crore investment.

The two data centres (CHE-1 and CHE-2), to be built on a four-acre plot in Ambattur, will support 36 megawatts of IT load, further enhancing the company’s rapidly growing pan-India footprint, which will support more than 90 megawatts of new development

“As Chennai is one of India’s most important connectivity hubs, we are thrilled to be building capacity to meet hyperscale, network, content, public sector undertakings and enterprise customer demand,” said Mark Kidd, EVP and Global General Manager, Iron Mountain Data Centers and Asset Lifecycle Management.

Web Werks has put together an extensive range of colocation and hosting services, designed to deliver wholesale, retail and hyper-scale hosting facilities via strategically planned Tier 3 data center facilities in Mumbai, Delhi-NCR and Pune. Web Werks is now expanding with new data centre facilities in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai.

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INDIA NEWS

Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

ENERGY AND RESOURCES

Petroleum Minister on impact of Israel-Palestine conflict India, Saudi Arabia sign pact on on energy prices: ‘Will watch the situation carefully’ clean hydrogen, supply chains conflict's impact on the energy sector is concerned.

New Delhi, October 9 (IANS) Amid heightened stand-off between Israel and Palestine, India has said that it will adopt a cautious approach as far as the

"India will handle it with maturity.

As far as the energy sector is concerned, the place where the action is taking place is in many respects the centre of global energy. We will watch very carefully. We will navigate our way through this. These kinds of uncertainties only encourage people for sustainable and cleaner fuel," Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri said on the

sidelines of an event on Monday.

The conflict between Israel and Palestine during the weekend unnerved global markets and saw crude oil futures prices jump 5 per cent in early trade today.

Experts have said that if Iran joins the conflict, then it could disrupt oil supplies, which may cause a spike in crude prices.

Iran is a supporter of Hamas, whose rocket attacks on Israel had triggered the war.

India’s energy demands bound to grow exponentially in coming years: Hardeep Puri fourth largest automobile market.

India is likely to account for 25 per cent of global energy demand growth over the next two decades, he emphasised.

New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) Petroleum Minister Hardeep Puri on Tuesday said that India's energy demand will continue to provide fuel for future economic growth and is bound to grow exponentially in the coming years.

He said that at present the country is the world's third largest consumer of oil, third largest LPG consumer, fourth largest LNG importer, fourth largest refiner,

With the launch of the Biofuels Alliance, Puri said that the global biofuel market will go up from $92 billion at present to $200 billion very shortly.

However, he said, this is not the end of the story as the real story on biofuels has just started. "The 10 per cent ethanol blending has led to considerable savings on the import bill and it will increase with 20 per cent blending," he stated.

The minister said that the surest means of determining a country’s

growth is to look at its energy consumption. And India’s energy consumption is three times of the global average.

Going forward, he suggested, "We should have more gatherings like this, encourage more countries to come and take advantage of all the discussions".

The minister further informed that the 10 per cent target on biofuel blending by November, 2022 was attained five months in advance, and the 20 per cent biofuel blending target of 2030 has been advanced to 2025.

Puri was addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the 26th Energy Technology Meet.

New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS) India and Saudi Arabia on Sunday signed a MoU on electrical interconnections, green and clean Hydrogen and supply chains.

The MoU was signed between Power Minister R.K. Singh, who is currently in Riyadh and Saudi Arabian energy minister Abdulaziz bin Salman Al-Saud on the sidelines of the MENA climate week.

This MoU aims to establish a general framework for cooperation between the two countries in the field of electrical interconnection, exchange of electricity during peak times and emergencies, co-development of projects, co-production of green and clean hydrogen and renewable energy and also establishing secure, reliable and resilient supply chains of materials used in green and clean hydrogen and the renewable energy sector.

It was also decided between the two energy ministers that B2B (business to business) business summits and regular B2B interactions between the two countries will be conducted to establish complete supply and value chains in the abovementioned areas of energy sector cooperation.

Public sector oil & gas firms have bankrolled over 230 startups: Hardeep Puri Singh is leading a delegation to provided grants, mentor support and specific technical assistance

by Bharat Petroleum under Project Ankur, to improve the working conditions of sanitary workers.

New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS) The public sector oil and gas companies are playing a significant role in promoting startups and have set up a Rs 405 crore fund for the purpose from which they have already financed 232 startups, Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Wednesday.

He said that the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas had directed the Oil and Gas PSUs to help create an innovative ecosystem and promote startups in the fields such as IOT in Upstream/ Midstream/ Downstream operations, digitalisation of business processes, green fuels, alternative energy, etc.

"The PSUs of oil and gas sector have already disbursed Rs 208 crore to fund 232 startups," he added.

The Petroleum Minister cited examples of successful startups including Bandicoot, a robotic scavenger, developed by Genrobotic Innovations, who were

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Puri lauded Vasitars Private Limited -- a technology-based company funded by Indian Oil that provides complete in-situ composite repair solutions to all kind of damage scenarios in transmission pipelines by using patent registered innovation nano filler reinforced polymer composite wrap to repair corroded pipelines.

He said that this project holds the promise of revolutionising pipeline repair in India.

India with its vibrant entrepreneurial spirit and booming start-up ecosystem, has witnessed emergence of many unicorn start-ups that are reshaping our economy and markets, Puri said.

He pointed out that India today ranks third globally in terms of the unicorn count and has over 100 unicorns with a combined valuation of $347 billion.

The minister was speaking at ENRich 2023, the 14th edition of the KPMG's Innovation and Energy Conclave.

Puri also said that India's energy demand will continue to provide

fuel for future economic growth, as it agrows exponentially.

"India is also the world's 3rd largest consumer of oil, 3rd largest LPG consumer, 4th largest LNG importer, 4th largest refiner, 4th largest automobile market," he added.

India will account for 25 per cent of global energy demand growth over the next two decades, the minister said.

Noting the role of energy industry in India's journey of decarbonisation, he mentioned about the commitments of oil and gas public sector companies to achieve their net zero emissions -- scope 1 and 2 during the period 2038-2046.

the MENA climate week, which is being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between October 8-12, 2023.

It will discuss climate solutions ahead of COP28 and is being hosted by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

New Delhi, Oct 4 (IANS/101 Reporters) In an era of global energy transformation, India stands at the crossroads of its energy future. As one of the world's largest consumers of energy and a major coal producer, the nation faces complex challenges in aligning its energy needs with environmental imperatives.

In a candid conversation with Anil Kumar Jain, former Secretary of the Ministry of Coal in India, we delve into the intricacies of India's energy transition.

He added that "we have advanced the 20 per cent ethanol blending target to 2025-26, ahead by 5 years and approx 5,000 fuel stations are already dispensing E20 fuel".

The Gas Market and Profitability of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)

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"India having almost 17 per cent of the world population and being the world's fifth largest economy, is taking significant steps to reduce emission intensity of its GDP by 45 per cent by the year 2030 and to achieve the goal of Net Zero by the year 2070," he said.

Singh further said that green hydrogen is a promising alternative for accelerating India's energy transition.

"It brings me great pleasure in informing you that the government of India has launched the National Green Hydrogen Mission for harnessing hydrogen energy and has approved an initial outlay of $2.3 billion for this Mission," he informed the gathering.

The minister called upon MENA countries to join the Global Biofuel Alliance, in order to advance international cooperation in sustainable biofuels to realise the full potential of the Alliance.

He said that the Alliance aims to facilitate cooperation in intensifying the development and deployment of sustainable biofuels, to facilitate trade in biofuels and much more, in collaboration with international biofuels organisations.

Future of Coal & Just Transition in India

Highlighting the rapid strides made by the country in biofuels, the minister noted that India is today the 3rd largest producer and user of ethanol, thanks to nearly tripling production in the past five years. Ethanol blending in petrol has increased from 1.5 per cent in 2014 to currently 11.70 per cent, he said.

All smart city projects to be completed by June 2024, says Hardeep Puri

Earlier while addressing a session on "Global Stocktake of the Paris Agreement (GST) Regional Dialogue: Highlighting enablers and technologies for ambition and just and inclusive transitions" on the first day of the MENA climate week, the power minister said that the event is extremely important in exploring and sharing opportunities to shape the future of energy production, consumption and sustainability on a global scale.

We explore questions concerning the future of fossil fuels, the concept of Just Energy Transition Partnerships ( JETP), and India's role on the global stage.

Our dialogue begins with a discussion of India's evolving gas market. We ponder whether recent changes in the gas sector have prompted a reevaluation of

the profitability of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).

Anil Jain offers a nuanced perspective, emphasising that PSUs significantly contribute to government revenues through dividends and share sales.

He clarifies that the adjustment in gas prices for PSUs like ONGC is intended to support their expansion and not solely for profit maximisation.

Jain also underscores that if profitability were the sole motive, other PSUs like Coal India would have been permitted to raise coal prices, which hasn't been the case.

The Challenge of Reducing Fossil Fuel Dependence As our discussion unfolds, we confront the pressing challenge of reducing fossil fuel dependence, especially coal, in response to global pressures and climate change concerns.

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Survivor Lisa Ray enlightens, inspires at Simply Humans cancer fundraiser

By Amrita Deshpande Life makes you face challenges, and those who take up those challenges and fight back and be the winners can only be Simply Human.

Congratulations Prerna Pahwa and the Simply Humans Superheroes without Cape team for a wonderful evening raising funds for cancer research. Truly humbled to listen to the lived experience of Canadian actress

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Lisa Ray, who shared her story of courage, and determination to fight cancer. You are a true hero and an inspiration to many. It sure must have been devastating when told about the cancer. But without deterring to say "I can overcome this" and make it happen is commendable.

Congratulations to you, Lisa Ray, for being Simply Human Superhero without Cape.

Thank you Prerna Pahwa for

letting Australia India News be a part of this event as the media partner. It was a humble contribution in this mammoth task.

The event was attended by community leaders, business sponsors, young and old who definitely were moved by the story Lisa Ray unfolded.

Such stories of survival must be told and shared with others, so that more people can be

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motivated to fight the darkness in life called cancer. You can overcome this decease. You need the support from friends and loved ones and motivation to keep fighting it.

Thank you Multicultural Australia CEO, Ms. Christine Castley, MP Peter Russo, Anthony Shorten, Irene Tavutavu Louise, Moeller, Lewis Lee Oam, Mukesh Dubey, Anoop Nannuru, Sudha Manian Sitar, Varsha Badhe, Mahendra

Shinde and many more friends for your support to the event.

Congratulations to Madhu Naiker and Neelima Gandham for receiving the Unsung Hero Award 2023 recognising your contribution towards helping others fight the cancer.

Also, congratulations to Mili and Khushi for the beautiful artwork raising money for the good cause.

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Brisbane City Council hosts Asia Pacific Cities Summit & Mayors’ Forum Brisbane, October 14 (Australia India News Newsdesk) The Brisbane City Council hosted Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors’ Forum (2023APCS) recently. The 2023APCS was for

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city leaders and those involved in the business of cities, bringing together one of the largest and most diverse gatherings of mayors in the region. A record number of 118 mayors, representatives from 171 cities,

and more than 1,200 delegates attended the event. Australia India News was the accredited media partner at the 2023 Asia Pacific Cities Summit and Mayors' Forum in Brisbane.

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Brisbane’s reputation as the cleanest, the greenest, and the most sustainable city in Australia continues to win global recognition under the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Cities Global Initiative.

Mayor, Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Aam Aadmi Party Councillor Dr Shellly Oberoi, who was in the city to attend the Summit, delivered a speech on ‘Advancing sustainability through resilience planning’.

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Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary celebrations organized Canberra, October 3 (Australia India News Newsdesk) The Indian High Commission celebrated Mahatma Gandhi’s 154th birth anniversary recently.

A prayer meet was organized near Gandhi statue at Glebe Park in Canberra. Floral tributes were paid by High Commissioner Manpreet Vohra, followed by community members and High Commission staff present on the occasion. Community members made poetry and

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song presentations to mark the occasion.

The community in Perth paid humble tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest proponent of peace and non-violence, on Gandhi Jayanti on October 2. Mahatma Gandhi’s favourite bhajans were presented by Sanskriti Seniors group, Durba Bhattacharjee and her students, with Ananya Giridhar and Satheesan playing violin and mridangam. Pt Vimlesh Shukla

recited bhajans while Brennan, who has been influenced by Gandhiji's thoughts since the age of 10, recited Sant Kabir's bhajans to the accompaniment of music on Dufli.

The event showcased harmony and devotion within the Indian community in Western Australia.

Tushar Gandhi, great grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and Managing Trustee of Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, delivered a message through recorded video. Nishtha

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Nupur, a community language teacher, was the master of ceremonies on the occasion.

In Sydney, the Consulate General of India, Sydney paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Jubilee Park, Parramatta and UNSW, Sydney on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti celebrations, recently. Also, eminent dignitaries paid rich tributes to Bapu at Mahatma Peace Symposium 2023 organized by Saroni Roy Foundation to commemorate

154th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

In Melbourne, the 154th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi was celebrated at the Consulate General of India, Melbourne by paying homage to father of the nation. This was an occasion to remember Gandhi’s contribution to India’s Independence. He also taught the world the lesson of non-violence and peace.

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Bold plan to greenup Brisbane with one million plants by 2032 Norman Creek, Toowong Creek and Breakfast Creek and Kedron Brook.

To kick off the program, works are already underway to plant over 20,000 native plants across over three hectares at Archerfield Wetlands in Brisbane’s south.

The green and gold runway to Brisbane 2032 is about to become much greener, thanks to a bold new partnership that will see one million more native plants established before the Olympic and Paralympic.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the new partnership with Greening Australia will take Brisbane’s biodiversity to the next level by restoring greenspace and creeks across the city.

“Brisbane is Australia’s fastest growing capital city and we must protect and enhance our greenspace if we are to preserve our liveability,” Cr Schrinner said.

“We are already Australia’s most biodiverse capital city, but it’s important we continue to take further steps to protect Brisbane’s rich wildlife habitat for future generations.

“With the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games rapidly approaching, we are rolling up our sleeves now to sow the seeds for future environmental health.

“On average, Council plants more than 56,000 native plants annually, handing out an additional 45,000 saplings for free to residents each year.

“With our extensive tree planting program, the one million native plants will help add over 1.5 million plants to key environmental areas in Brisbane in the lead up to 2032.

“Council’s own Sustainability Agency has teamed up with Greening Australia to deliver the Biodiverse Brisbane Initiative, with a focus on creating and restoring natural habitat across our city.

“Brisbane is the first Council in Queensland to collaborate with Greening Australia on their Nature in Cities program, and we’re proud to be leading the way on this important environmental outcome.”

Through the partnership, up to 500 hectares of urban wildlife habitat, including the restoration of wetlands and riverbanks across Brisbane will be reinstated.

Hundreds of native ground cover, shrubs and tree varieties will be rolled out through various donor and corporate funded planting days.

Planting locations will align with Council’s existing creek corridor projects across the city and the suburbs, including

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The environmental restoration works at Archerfield Wetlands, which includes vegetation and waterways rehabilitation, will complement the Oxley Creek Transformation’s $22 million Archerfield Wetlands District Parkland that’s due for completion in 2024.

Chair of Brisbane Sustainability Agency, Mr Nigel Chamier AM said the partnership was the first step towards further environmental revitalisation.

“Brisbane Sustainability Agency is proud to support Council’s Clean and Green goals through the establishment of a partnership with Greening Australia,” Mr Chamier said.

“We are going to plant one million plants to create and restore critical wildlife habitat, especially along our wetland and riverbank areas in Brisbane.

“Brisbane 2032 is our goal, but this is also about creating an environmental legacy beyond the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”

Greening Australia CEO Ms Heather Campbell said the collaboration with Council will have long-lasting benefits for Brisbane.

"In our rapidly expanding urban landscape, restoring natural ecosystems and tree canopy for people and wildlife, improving water quality in our rivers and wetlands, and building green corridors is critical,” Ms Campbell said.

“This collaboration to deliver a citywide large-scale project is a first of its kind for Greening Australia, and we’re excited to collaborate with Brisbane for a cleaner and greener future.”

The project will contribute to Council achieving its goal of 40 per cent natural habitat cover across Brisbane.

“Establishing one million plants before Brisbane 2032 will help make our city even more clean and green, while showcasing the city as a leader in sustainability on the world stage,” Cr Schrinner said.

“We are committed to putting the plans in place now so that we can welcome the world to a cleaner and greener Brisbane in 2032 and beyond.”

To find out more about the Biodiverse Brisbane Initiative, visit the Brisbane Sustainability Agency website at www. sustainablebrisbane.com.au.

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“I want to build my own home – it’s cheaper, right?”

Building your dream home is an exciting journey, but it's essential to be prepared for the financial aspects. The cost of building a house in Queensland can be influenced by various factors, and understanding what these costs comprise and the variables involved is crucial. In this article, we'll explore the average cost to build a house in Queensland, break down the key expenses, and discuss the variables that can impact the final price.

What is the main breakdown of the cost?

It's worth understanding that when building a new home: • 40-45% of costs of the total cost to build is the cost of materials • Around 35-40% of the cost is labour • There are many taxes and charges, insurance, mortgage, interest, soil treatment, retaining walls and hidden overheads • And the build would like to make a profit margin of around 15-20% • Recently introduced new national home building codes designed to ensure more liveable housing and energy efficient are tipped to drive up the price of an average home by a further $30,000 according Master Builders Association(As of 1st Oct 2023 in Queensland).

• Lead time from start to when you can actually move in.

Key Expenses That Contribute to the Cost: 1. Land Acquisition: One of the significant expenses is purchasing the land on which you'll build your home. Land prices can vary significantly depending on

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location, with urban and coastal areas often costing more than regional areas.

2. Construction Materials: The choice of construction materials plays a pivotal role in the cost.

Premium materials such as hardwood timber or imported stone can significantly increase the budget.

3. Labor Costs: Labor expenses for skilled tradespeople like carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and builders are a significant portion of the cost.

Labor costs can vary depending on local demand and labor availability.

4. Design and Architectural Features: The complexity of your house design and the architectural features you want will impact the cost. Unique designs, custom features, and complex structural elements can increase expenses.

AVERAGE COSTS TO BUILD A HOUSE

5. Permits and Approvals: Building permits, development approvals, and inspections by local authorities come with associated fees. These costs can vary based on the location and scope of your project.

6. Utilities and Services: Expenses for connecting utilities like water, electricity, and gas, as well as installing sewage and drainage systems, are important considerations.

7.Interior and Finishes: The costs of interior finishes, fixtures, and furnishings can also add up. This includes everything from flooring and cabinetry to appliances and lighting.

In conclusion, building a house in Queensland is a substantial investment, and understanding the factors that contribute to the cost and the variables that can influence it is vital. Careful planning, obtaining multiple

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quotes from builders, and consulting with professionals can help you manage your budget and make informed decisions throughout the construction process. By being aware of these factors and expenses, you can

embark on the journey of building your dream home in Queensland with confidence and financial preparedness.

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Indian Mayor Ms Shelley Oberoi visited Brisbane for the Asia Pacific Cities Summit Written by Amrita Deshpande (Community News Editor India News) The Asia Pacific Cities Summit 2023, prooved to be a successful summit for national and international delegates. There was lots to think and reflect for every delegate who attended the summit. Many were able to foster new connections, new ventures, share ideas for sustainable city development and learn from each other. It was a power packed week at the Brisbane Conventional Centre.

Strong Voices were definitely heard at this summit, Young professionals made their presence felt and gave solution based long term recommendations for the sustainable future which

needs to be acted upon now.

Especially,relating to the climate change, developing environment strategies, creating green spaces through changing behaviours and advocating sustainability.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schriner announced that 1 million extra trees plantation will be done from now until the Olympics in 2032, giving Brisbane a good tree cover with 65 new Parks, building new green bridges for cycling and scootering.

Brisbane was announced the gold level City for the Sustainable Development Goals

by UN Sustainable Cities Global.

Brisbane is one of the only two places in the world to achieve this.

Around 118 Mayors from different

cities around the globe attended the summit. Delhi's youngest Mayor Ms Shelley Oberoi also was in attendance. She also presented a talk on Delhi's efforts towards sustainability in waste management and clean, green, sustainable Delhi.

It was a great opportunity to see and learn how plastic is being recycled and converted into materials that could be used for contructing roads and Theme Parks. When asked about women's empowerment she said she was extremely proud to be the youngest Mayor of Delhi and thanked her local public, the Prime Minister Narendra Modiji as well as Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for appointing her to this position. Shelley also visited schools in Brisbane to

learn the models of education they implement. She was also particularly interested in the teacher training and development in Brisbane schools.

Ms. Shelley Oberoi also met Australia's native animals the Wambat, Geokos, and the Koala.

She kept a brave face while interacting with them.

In a session about the Olympics and development in the city, Mr. Andrew N Liveris AO (Olympic and Paralympic Games committee) said "It's time for inclusion" and for Olympics, sports should be at its core and people at its heart.Using games you bring communities and other countries together.

He further added that we need a strategy that brings everyone to a level such as a rising tide that will lift all boats.

He also expressed that he will be traveling to Mumbai to share their learning about the journey towards the acquisition of the bid to the Olympic 2032.

Overall the summit connected delegates from all over the globe as well as catered to every age group. Such summits must be encouraged to happen every year. Delegates from countries like India should send not one but team of Mayors from various parts of the country to give a good picture of sustainable India and the efforts being taken towards its implementation.

Kerala’s culture showcased in Onam celebrations Brisbane, October 8 (Australia India News Newsdesk) The Malayalee Association of Queensland (MAQ) celebrated the

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Silver Jubilee Onam celebrations at St John’s College, Forest Lake recently. The celebrations showcased the Onam Sadya and

tapestry of Kerala's culture.

Onam is an annual harvest of India, which is celebrated with and cultural festivities related

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to Hinduism ,and is celebrated mostly by the people of Kerala.

Onam, which is a major annual event for Keralites, includes a

spectrum of cultural events.

Onam is also the occasion to commemorate King Mahabali and Vamana.

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Trophies & medals presented to ‘Jalolsavam’ boat race winners Perth, October 3 (Australia India News Newsdesk) The MAWA Malayalee Association of Western Australia Inc and

Malayali Association of Perth jointly organized ‘Jalolsavam’ Dragon Boat racing competition recently. Consul General Amarjeet

Singh Takhi presented trophies and medals to the winning teams. He was accompanied

by Dr Jags MLA, Mayor Ruth Butterfield - City of Armadale, Cr

Fiji Day celebrated in Brisbane Fiji Day celebration was hosted in Brisbane by Deo Family Charitable Foundation, and the event was supported by JD Electrical & Communications Pty Ltd and DEO Realty.

Many dignitaries and Brisbane's community leaders and Brisbane's Fijian diaspora attended the event.

"Fiji hosts a multitude of vibrant festivals - Diwali, Eid, Christmas, and, of course, the Fiji Day

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Independence celebrations. These festivities reflect the multicultural essence of the country, with each community contributing its unique traditions, Jitendra Deo of Deo Family Charitable Foundation said.

"Such celebrations serve to unite the community, strengthening the social fabric of multiculturalism.

Your presence here tonight is a testament to the multicultural tapestry of Australia and

symbolizes the harmonious life we all lead here.

"For me personally, as a fourth-generation IndoFijian, Fiji offered a plethora of opportunities. Its education system, with English as the medium of instruction, provided a solid foundation for many in Fiji. This beautiful island nation has nurtured countless doctors, lawyers, tradespeople, teachers, and engineers who have made

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Shanavas Peter JP, Cr Sam Singh Virk- City of Armadale, Justin Jacob of IHNA, and President Arun V. Nair of MAWA. The event saw enthusiastic participation

of community members in celebrating the cultural heritage and over four-century old tradition from the state of Kerala in India.

their mark globally.

hospitality of Fijians are truly remarkable, and their renowned Bula smile makes them some of the friendliest people in the world. "I have a great news to share. You will notice later in the program that Fiji’s PM address will not be delivered. The reason is that Fiji's PM is coming to Brisbane on October 19 and he will personally address our diaspora."

"Even though many of us left Fiji years ago, our love for the cuisine, music, and culture endures. Indigenous Fijians, or I-Taukei, have embraced roti, rice, curries, and tea from the Indian population, while Indians have adopted taro, cassava, and kava - Fiji's famous traditional drink. The simplicity and warm

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Ganesh Mahotsav celebrated Dance artists & singers perform at Sur O Taal 2023 Perth, October 4 (Australia India News Newsdesk) The Maharashtra Mandal Perth organized the Ganesh Mahotsav celebrations recently. Consul General Amarjeet Singh Takhi together with David Michael MLA, Minister for Ports, Local Government, Road Safety, President Indian Society of WA (ISWA) and hundreds of community devotees participated in the celebrations.

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A colourful procession was also organized in which the idol of Lord Ganesh was taken through Perth, with hundreds of devotees and captivating sound of dhol Tasha played by energetic, enthusiastic and devoted performers, giving the multicultural Western Australia community an opportunity to observe and participate in the spiritual vibrations of India.

Perth, October 3 (Australia India News Newsdesk) Sur O Taal 2023, a programme of music and dance, was organized recently. At the event, Gurukul WA and their dance artists, choreographers and community singers put up brilliant performances. The event was supported by various

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local community dance schools, including Veena’s School of Indian Dance, Rangali Dance Group, Parjna School of Sri Lankan dance, and Bollywood Dance n Beats. Among the attendees at the event were Consul General Amarjeet Singh, Sam Lim MP, Klara Andric MLC, Dr Jags MLA, Mayor George Gear of City of

Melvill, Mayor Logan Howlett of City of Cockburn, Councillor Hardeep Singh - City of Canning, Councillor Tarun Dewan - City of Cockburn, Councillor Keyur Kamdar - Ranford Ward, City of Armadale, Dr Parwinder Kaur, Asha Bhat OAM & CEO of Southern Aboriginal Corporation and hundreds of community members.

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Multicultural Fusion Festival 2023 organized Perth, October 7 (Australia India News Newsdesk) The Multicultural Fusion Festival 2023 was organized recently at The Rocks Cannington. Kids and artists from the Indian community made beautiful cultural presentations at the event. Perth is one of the largest multicultural cities in Australia with an inclusive and harmonious society. The Indian community in Perth has been making huge

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contributions in nurturing the multicultural fabric of the city in every field. The Consul General Amarjeet Singh Takhi joined the community and Bill Johnston MLA, president Indian Society of WA (ISWA) at the Multicultural Fusion Festival 2023. The event also featured cultural performances from other countries, including Nepal, and stalls of handicrafts, textiles and regional delicacies from India.

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An interactive evening with Indian professionals & academicians Perth, September 30 (Australia India News Newsdesk) An interactive evening was organized recently to deepen engagement with Indian professionals and academicians in Western Australia (WA).

Consul General Amarjeet Singh Takhi addressed the gathering and spoke about

India's growth trajectory and the role played by the diaspora in its development. The Consul General briefed members of the diaspora on Know India Programme (KIP), and invited businesses and professionals to join the forthcoming 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit in India in January 2024. Jessica Shaw MLA, parliamentary secretary to

the premier; Minister for State and Industry Development, Jobs and Trade; Public Sector Management; Federal-State Relations representing the Premier, Zaneta Mascarenhas MP and Dr Jags MLA, parliamentary secretary to the Minister for Finance; Commerce; Women's Interests lauded Indian diaspora's strong contributions to the

economy and society as well as strengthening the multicultural fabric of Western Australia.

Members from the Indian Diaspora in Western Australia representing diverse fields, including renowned doctors and medical professionals, engineers, chartered accountants, CEOs, entrepreneurs,

startup representatives, legal experts, professors, teachers, WA premier's scholarship recipients, civil servants, actively participated in the event. Two professional platforms - an IIT Alumni Association and the Indian Australian Technology (IATF) - were launched on this occasion.

Melbourne to host 2024 Australian International Education Conference touch with what makes our industry unique – our personal human connections.

Melbourne, October 13: IDP Education and the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) are excited to announce that Melbourne will be the host city for the 37th annual Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) in October 2024.

Themed “The human element”, the 2024 conference will bring delegates together to discuss the ongoing evolution of the sector and how human connection can be enhanced to ensure the sector continues to support students on their journey to realising their dreams.

IDP Chief Executive Officer, Tennealle O’Shannessy said AIEC 2024 will be a prime opportunity to reflect on the most important parts of the industry – the students, counsellors and leaders who are central to the sector’s success.

“While advances in technology are giving us the opportunity to engage people in ways which deliver more personalised interactions, we must not lose

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“AIEC 2024 will be our opportunity to focus on the heart of our industry – our people,” Ms O’Shannessy said.

IEAA Chief Executive Officer, Phil Honeywood, said IEAA is looking forward to hosting AIEC 2024 alongside IDP Education where they will provide a critical forum for delegates to reflect on the partnerships, collaborations and connections that have shaped the global education industry.

“At its core the global education industry relies on bringing people together and building human connections to support others on an important journey.

It’s this reliance on connectivity that makes the international education sector so unique,” said Mr Honeywood.

“AIEC 2024’s theme - the human element - will provide an avenue to reflect on the ways the international education sector partners and connects with others while challenging delegates to find new and inspired ways to support our students as they prepare for and embark on one of the most important phases of their lives”.

AIEC 2024 will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre from 22-25 October 2024. This follows the successful 2023 AIEC in Adelaide, which saw more than 1,700 global

international education leaders consider the transformative nature of the international education landscape and the opportunities to enhance student

support.

AIEC

human expertise with digital technology to help people get accepted into their ideal course, take an English language test or learn English in their schools. Our teams work side-by-side with our customers, at every step from course search through to starting their dream course or career.

a year.

The Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) has been connecting people and ideas for more than 30 years.

It is an opportunity each year for the international education sector to meet, learn about major industry trends and network with Australian and international colleagues.

IDP has been the proud owner and host of this event since it was first held in Canberra in 1986.

Since 2006, the conference has been jointly presented by IDP and the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA).

IDP Education IDP is a global leader in international student placement and a proud co-owner of the world’s most popular highstakes English language test (IELTS).

We specialise in combining

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We partner with more than 890 quality universities and institutions across Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. Our data insights are relied upon by organisations around the world to help ensure policies are informed by the diverse needs, challenges and motivations of students.

Most of all, we are proud of our people, who are trusted by our customers to help them realise their global study or career goals.

IDP is listed on the Australian securities exchange (ASX:IEL), and has 6800 employees across more than 30 countries. Its websites attract 100 million visits

For more information about AIEC and to stay updated, visit https:// aiec.idp.com/about

IEAA International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) is Australia’s leading association for international education. IEAA strives to empower professionals, engage institutions and enhance Australia’s reputation as a provider of world-class education.

IEAA provides advocacy and member services relevant to professional staff, academics and teachers across all sectors. It delivers high-quality professional learning to advance members’ careers and enhance the quality of Australian international education. It also drives new research to highlight emerging trends, inform strategy and policy, and enrich the sector's knowledge. Together with affiliated bodies, corporate partners and government, IEAA works to promote the benefits of international education to the broader community.

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Shaurya Entertainment hosts Australia’s Great Dancers event with celebrity judge Geeta Kapur Shaurya Entertainment, premier entertainment company, hosted an unforgettable extravaganza, "Australia's Great Dancers", in both Brisbane (22nd Sept) Melbourne (24th Sept). This star-studded dance competition featured renowned celebrity judge Geeta Kapur, an artist, choreographer, and dance icon known for her incredible contributions to the world of dance.

The event brought together

exceptional dance talents from across Melbourne and Brisbane, showcasing the diversity and creativity of the Australian dance scene. The performances were nothing short of spectacular, captivating the hearts of the audiences who filled the venues to capacity. The energy and enthusiasm in the room were palpable, making it a night to remember.

“We were amazed by the incredible talents that graced

our stage in both Melbourne and Brisbane," said Samika and Deepak Bhandari, spokespersons for Shaurya Entertainment. The level of dedication and passion displayed by the participants was truly commendable. Geeta Kapur's invaluable insights as a celebrity judge added an extra layer of excitement and prestige to the event.

"Shaurya Entertainment extends its heartfelt congratulations to the talented runners-up and

Multicultural Seniors Dinner organized Brisbane, October 8 (Australia India News Newsdesk) The Fiji Senior Citizens

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Association of Queensland hosted the Multicultural Seniors Dinner at Coorparoo

Secondary College, recently.

Members of the Multicultural Community Connect Queensland

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winners across all categories and age groups. The commitment and hard work of each participant were evident, and the results were a testament to their dedication to the art of dance.," Deepak Bhandari said.

"The success of 'Australia's Great Dancer' would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our participants and enthusiastic audiences. Both the Brisbane and Melbourne shows were completely sold out,

attended the event. Many community leaders from diverse community organisations such as the Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland,

reinforcing the overwhelming love and appreciation for dance in these cities," he added.

“We would like to express our gratitude to all the participants, as well as the enthusiastic audiences who made this event a resounding success," said Samika.

"Your support and enthusiasm are what make these events possible."

Shaurya Entertainment is already looking forward to the future with excitement and anticipation.

Australia Queensland African Communities Council also participated in the event.

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Sharing their dance of life with young people in hardship training, the young dancers will tour Australia and the world before returning to their respective communities to set up arts-based social enterprises and tourism hubs. Our partners to date include Ausdance NSW, Indian Support Centre (Wentworthville, Sydney), Horizon Theatre Company Ltd (Wiley Park, Sydney) and in India, Nrityashilp Foundation (Delhi), Calcutta Rescue (Kolkata) and Dream a Dream (Bengaluru).

Nirmal Jena and Chitrita Mukerjee are passionate about creativity, diversity, humanity and sustainability. These four pillars have sustained the two dance artists and educators from the time they met in Delhi, India, almost thirty years ago.

After founding the Odissi Dance Company in Sydney, Australia to promote their unique family style of Odissi Indian classical dance and music, they recently established the Arts and Life Education Gurukul Ltd (ALEG), an Australian charity. ALEG’s core program will be Odissi: Dance for Humanity, which will give young people experiencing hardship an

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opportunity to build their lives and livelihoods through training in creativity, diversity, humanity and sustainability.

After years of performing and teaching, Nirmal says I have done everything in the conventional arts industry, and now I will focus on my artistic practice as a way of life, a living philosophy that can build resilience like no other.

Teaching the dance and music to the next generation is an urgent priority for Nirmal and Chitrita.

And they want to do this in a Gurukul, a place of deep learning and eco-living, set in nature, and where the guru or the teacher guides and inspires every aspect

of the learning process. Under their Odissi: Dance for Humanity initiative, they want to offer scholarships to young people who have experienced difficulties in life, particularly financial disadvantage, and have a passion for the arts. Initially, this program will be offered to young people living in Australia. Later, we hope to expand and offer it to young people from India. The students will train intensively in the dance and music, and in essential life skills, at the Gurukul. Nirmal and Chitrita hope the training will be conferred as an accredited or honorary university degree.

After completing their initial

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Nirmal and Chitrita’s Gurukul concept is based on the notion of Vasundhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family in Sanskrit), thus relevant to anyone who shares their passion, philosophy and commitment to the arts. ALEG will operate out of studios in Sydney metro and in Hazelbrook, Blue Mountains.

The Gurukul will offer a unique and powerful suite of arts and educational services for learners, practitioners, observers and anyone in the community. They need more partners, funding and resources. Nirmal and Chitrita invite collaborators, philanthropists, professionals and anyone interested to join them on this journey. They are excited about their Gurukul project, a

valuable gift for the local and global community, at a time when the world really needs hope.

If they can embark on this ambitious project, it will be a first for Australia. Ausdance NSW strongly supports their initiative, claiming If there was ever a time when this was necessary, it is now, when the world is rife with uncertainty and chaos.

COVID-19 has forced a reset in an unprecedented way and Odissi: Dance for Humanity has much to offer in this period of collective reflection and search for new avenues of creative exploration that redefines creative practice in contemporary, intercultural and international ways.

Gavin Robins, Head of Movement in Australia’s National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), where Nirmal teaches first year acting students, said in support of Odissi: Dance for Humanity: In a time when diversity and intercultural connections within our communities are increasingly important, the support for this project will have far reaching effects on the performing arts industry and importantly the lives and potential of the young individuals engaged in this rigorous learning.

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SPORTS

Men’s ODI WC: Bumrah, Kuldeep, Rohit star as India ‘You have created history’, PM beat Pakistan by seven wickets in one-sided encounter tells Asian Games contingent Pakistan’s innings that no batter hit a six and Nasser Hussain on air said it was "a collapse only Pakistan team can manufacture".

In chasing 192, India skipper Rohit Sharma smashed six fours and as many sixes en route to top-score with a scintillating 86 off 63 balls.

Shreyas Iyer did well to make 53 not out off 62 balls, giving India its eighth straight victory over Pakistan in Men’s ODI World Cups. The comprehensive win has also meant India has climbed to top of the points table.

Ahmedabad, Oct 14 (IANS) In front of more than 1,00,000 fans sporting the blue jerseys, India put up a comprehensive performance to beat Pakistan by seven wickets in an utterly one-sided 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup match at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Saturday.

The charge of India’s third straight victory on a sluggish pitch with variable bounce was led by Jasprit Bumrah’s intelligent variations and Kuldeep Yadav’s accurate wrist-spin fetching them figures of 2-19 and 2-35 respectively. Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja also took two scalps each as India bowled out Pakistan for just 191 in 42.5 overs.

From cruising at 155-2, Pakistan lost eight wickets for just 36 runs in 13 overs in a shocking batting implosion, also their worst collapse for the last eight wickets in their history of playing in the Men’s ODI World Cup. Such was

Electing to bowl first, India waited for a breakthrough as Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq hit seven boundaries in the first seven overs. Siraj, who was hit for four boundaries, got a cross-seam delivery at back of the length to keep low and trapped Shafique plumb lbw.

After Imam pulled twice off Hardik Pandya for boundaries, the all-rounder bounced back by enticing the left-handed opener to go for a drive away from the body and he nicked behind to KL Rahul, who took a diving catch.

India could have got their third scalp when Jadeja trapped Rizwan lbw for one, but review showed ball missing leg-stump. While Azam was in excellent touch from the word go, especially in driving beautifully through covers, Rizwan was sublime with his sweeps and cuts.

With spinners tightening the screws by conceding only 11 runs in overs 24-27, India began to build pressure. But Azam

and Rizwan eased it by taking a boundary each off Siraj as 13 runs came off the 28th over. Azam got his first ODI fifty against India when he creamed a drive through cover off Kuldeep.

But his knock and the 82-run partnership with Rizwan came to an end when his attempt to dab Siraj through third-man resulted in being undone on pace and bounce as the pacer hit the top of off-stump. It sparked a Pakistan batting collapse as Kuldeep trapped Saud Shakeel plumb lbw on review and ended the 33rd over by castling Iftikhar Ahmed with a googly around his legs.

Bumrah came back and struck with a delightful off-cutter which came in sharply to go past Rizwan’s inside edge and hit top of off-stump. He went on to castle Shadab Khan with a length ball which straightened off the pitch to hit top of off-stump.

Mohammad Nawaz hit straight to mid-on off Hardik, while Hasan Ali holed out in the deep off Jadeja, who ended Pakistan’s innings by trapping Haris Rauf lbw.

In the chase, Shubman Gill didn’t look like he was back after missing first two games due to illness – striking three absolutely gorgeous boundaries through the off-side, before tickling one through fine to hit his fourth four in nine balls. His promising knock ended in the third over when he flashed hard at a short and wide delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi and picked out backward point.

Asian Games: Hangzhou bids farewell to participants with spectacular festival of light, colour and music

Hangzhou, Oct 8 (IANS) Introduce the first digital turf in Games history, which is the fusion of technology and ecology, and the grafting of technology and art, Hangzhou bid adieu to the 19th Asian Games with another sensational display of light, sound and music that left a mesmerising affect on the packed Hangzhou Olympic Sports Centre Stadium.

Embedded with LED lights, the turf is capable of outlining changeable images of a sea of stars, the turf is supposed to represent an interaction between “People and Landscape” showcasing the vibrancy of Hangzhou’s natural scenery, and the shared bonds and closely connected nature of Asia.

As hundreds of the athletes walked into the stadium, the Indian contingent was led by the men's hockey team's goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, who along with Manpreet Singh became the only two Indian players to win two

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gold medals in hockey in the Asian Games.

Nagoya in Japan for the 20th Asian Games.

If the opening ceremony was centred on water in its various forms, the closing ceremony focussed on people and showcased the exciting and touching moments of athletes throughout the Games while also representing thousands of volunteers and millions of citizens of Hangzhou and nearby areas as well as every person that made this Games possible.

The organising committee of the Hangzhou Asian Games, in the presence of Randhi Singh, then handed over the flag of the first Asian Games in New Delhi in 1951 and the flag of OCA to the Mayor of Aichi-Nagoya.

The closing ceremony also highlighted the spirit of Sports Without Borders, the harmony between culture and sports and the intertwining relations between thought and feelings with the hope that it will inspire millions of youth across the Asian continent to take to sports and continue the movement in future.

The acting President of the Olympic Council of Asia, Randhir Singh, declared the 19th Asian Games closed. He thanked all stakeholders and people of Hangzhou for organising the best Asian Games of recent times in Hangzhou and invited the youth of the continent to assemble in three years in 2026 in Aichi-

The organising committee of the next Asian Games in Japan then presented its vision of the 20th edition of the Continental extravaganza through popular motifs from the culture and music of Japan and Aichi-Nagoya.

Popular Kabuki actor Kankuro Nakamura performed on a virtual bridge, rendered in the style of an ukiyo-e woodblock print, the ancient art that his ancestors took from Aichi-Nagoya to Tokyo.

With Nagoya Castle'sHonmaru Palace, which served as a central location for political functions during the Samurai era, as the backdrop, Kankuro and his son Kantaro performed in roles of "shishi" lion and cub at the virtual palace with digital technology used in producing a splendid display of Aichi-Nagoya's vaunted craftsmanship and culture.

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Asian Games. It tells about the capability of the daughters of India," he said.

New Delhi, Oct 10 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday interacted with the Asian Games contingent, which won a record 107 medals, including 28 gold, at the recently-concluded Asiad in Hangzhou, China, and said that the entire country is proud of their achievement as they have created history.

"The whole country is feeling proud of your (athletes') performance in the Asian Games.

I also thank the trainers and coaches of the athletes on behalf of the nation," Modi said while interacting with the athletes at the Dhyan Chand stadium here.

He said India's medal tally in the Asian Games is an indication of the country's success.

"It is India's best performance in Asian Games till date, and personally, I am satisfied that we are moving on the right track," the Prime Minister said.

"Because of your hard work and achievements, there is an atmosphere of celebration across the country," Modi added.

"I am proud that our 'Nari Shakti' performed very well in the

The Prime Minister said that though there is no shortage of talent in the country, due to various obstacles, Indian athletes could not convert their efforts into medals.

This is the first time that India crossed the tally of 100 medals in Asian Games. India had won 70 medals at the Jakarta Games in 2018.

“In many events, decades long wait for a medal got over because of your efforts," the Prime Minister said.

“In many disciplines, you not only opened an account but blazed a trail that will inspire a generation of youth,” he added.

Modi also gave credit to the Centre's TOPS and Khelo India schemes as game-changers for the boost in medals tally.

“Our players are the 'GOAT', i.e., Greatest Of All Time, for the country," Modi said.

He also urged the athletes to help in fighting drugs and in promoting the millets and POSHAN missions.

The Prime Minister assured the athletes that lack of money will never be a hindrance to their efforts.

“Our faith in the youth was the basis of the slogan ‘100 paar’, and you have lived up to that faith,” he concluded.

India, the sleeping giant, wakes up and roars at the Hangzhou Asian Games Hangzhou, Oct 8 (IANS) When the former president of the International Football Federation (FIFA) visited India a few years back, he called the country a "sleeping giant" ready to wake up and roar.

Though Blatter said this in the context of the Indian football team, the country's performance in the 19th Asian Games that ended here on Sunday has proved that the "Sleeping giant" is definitely stirring and getting to wake up and roar.

If not the sleeping giant, the Tiger did roar in many of the immaculately prepared stadiums in Hangzhou.

And what a roar it was!

India produced its greatest-ever performance at the Asian Games, winning a hitherto unbelievable 107 medals -- 28 gold, 38 silver and 41 bronze medals. The country finished fourth behind China with 383 medals (261 gold, 111 silver, 71 bronze), Japan (188) and the Republic of Korea (186).

This was India's highest-ever medal count in Asian Games history surpassing by a wide margin the previous best of 70 at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. India had won 57 medals in 2014 in Incheon and 65

in 2010 at Guangzhou.

Athletics produced the most medals for India with 29, including six gold, 14 silver and nine bronze with shooting second with 22 medals. India's medals came from 22 sports and included new ones like cricket, roller skating and cricket which made its debut in the Asian Games in T20 format and the Indians won gold in both the men's and women's sections -, the men triumphing in the basis of their ranking as the final was washed out by rain. India's spectacular success was made possible by a generation of Indian sportspersons who are not afraid to express themselves, are ready to stand up for themselves and are not afraid of their opponents' reputations. It is this spirit, inculcated and nurtured through specialised training in the country and abroad with the government pouring in crores of monies, that resulted in India stunning everyone with their performance in many sports. In Hangzhou, Indian sportspersons broke new ground in sports like shooting, archery, badminton, equestrian, rowing, wushu and above all athletics, the epitome of sports competitions that urge everyone to go faster, higher and stronger.

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Nobel in Physics 2023 goes for exploring electrons with attosecond pulses short that they are measured in attoseconds, thus demonstrating that these pulses can be used to provide images of processes inside atoms and molecules.

“The three Nobel Laureates in Physics 2023 are being recognised for their experiments, which have given humanity new tools for exploring the world of electrons inside atoms and molecules,” the Academy said in a statement.

New Delhi, Oct 3 (IANS) The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Tuesday awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics 2023 for exploring the world of electrons with extremely short pulses of light.

The award went to Pierre Agostini from the the Ohio State University; Ferenc Krausz from Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics, Germany; and Anne L’Huillier from Lund University, Sweden “for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter”.

In the world of electrons, changes occur in a few tenths of an attosecond -- an attosecond is so short that there are as many in one second as there have been seconds since the birth of the universe.

The Laureates’ experiments have produced pulses of light so

“Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz and Anne L’Huillier have demonstrated a way to create extremely short pulses of light that can be used to measure the rapid processes in which electrons move or change energy”.

A prize money of 11 million Swedish kronor will be shared equally between the Laureates.

In 1987, L’Huillier discovered that many different overtones of light arose when she transmitted infrared laser light through a noble gas.

Each overtone is a light wave with a given number of cycles for each cycle in the laser light.

They are caused by the laser light interacting with atoms in the gas; it gives some electrons extra energy that is then emitted as light.

L’Huillier has continued to

In 2001, Agostini succeeded in producing and investigating a series of consecutive light pulses, in which each pulse lasted just 250 attoseconds.

At the same time, Krausz was working with another type of experiment, one that made it possible to isolate a single light pulse that lasted 650 attoseconds.

The Laureates’ contributions have enabled the investigation of processes that are so rapid they were previously impossible to follow.

“We can now open the door to the world of electrons. Attosecond physics gives us the opportunity to understand mechanisms that are governed by electrons. The next step will be utilising them,” said Eva Olsson, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Physics.

There are potential applications in many different areas. In electronics, for example, it is important to understand and control how electrons behave in a material.

Attosecond pulses can also be used to identify different molecules, such as in medical diagnostics.

resolution -- 100 metres, 500 metres or 1,000 metres "There's not been a commercial mission that is capturing data under 10 metres (33 feet) in the thermal spectrum," he noted.

The groundbreaking thermal imaging satellite launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket in June aims to provide valuable and unique insight into economic activity and energy efficiency for a range of industries.

The spacecraft, a cube that measures about 1 by 1 by 1 m, follows a polar orbit that allows it to see every spot on Earth at roughly the same time every day.

HotSat-1 monitors infrared to understand the amount of heat produced by objects or landscapes, compared to satellites that monitor the Earth with cameras that "see" visible light.

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The new images show temperature differences in Las Vegas and Chicago down to a resolution of 10 metres, Space. com reported.

From the thermal signature of a locomotive travelling on the main railway line in Chicago, the images also include a detailed thermal footprint of wildfires that devastated Canada's Northwest Territories in June.

The superb resolution provided

by HOTSAT-1 could help firefighters monitor how fire fronts advance in critical areas, such as near populated areas, Tobias Reinicke, chief technical officer and co-founder of SatVu, was quoted as saying.

Reinicke said that thermal imaging by NASA's Landsat and the European Sentinel satellites, collects data at a very coarse

14,300-yr-old tree rings reveal largest-ever solar storm measured radiocarbon levels in ancient trees preserved within the eroded banks of the Drouzet River, near Gap, in the Southern French Alps.

explore this phenomenon, laying the ground for subsequent breakthroughs.

HotSat-1: ‘World’s thermometer’ beams back 1st heat variations on Earth

London, Oct 7 (IANS) UK-based climate tech company SatVu’s HotSat-1 satellite, dubbed as ‘world’s thermometer’, has shared the first images of heat variations across Earth.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Seeing temperature differences on Earth's surface in such a high resolution will allow city planners to understand how heat escapes from buildings, pipelines and factories, which, in turn, will enable them to make future infrastructure more energy efficient to help fight climate change.

Detecting heat (essentially infrared light) from space is more difficult than synthetic aperture radar (SAR) -- satellite constellations that see Earth's surface even at night and through thick clouds -- and visible light imaging because of the longer wavelength of the measured signal, Reinecke said. "You need a slow shutter," Reinecke said.

"Effectively a longer exposure.

But because our satellites travel through space at a speed of 7 kilometres per second, we need to be able to carefully point the satellite; otherwise, the images would be blurry." HOTSAT-1 is the first of eight satellites planned for launch by SatVu, which has so far secured $37.1 million in venture capital funding. It hopes to launch its second satellite in about a year.

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London, Oct 9 (IANS) An international team of scientists has discovered a huge spike in radiocarbon levels 14,300 years ago by analysing ancient treerings found in the French Alps.

The radiocarbon spike was caused by a massive solar storm, the biggest ever identified.

The largest, directly-observed, solar storm occurred in 1859 and is known as the Carrington Event.

It caused massive disruption on Earth -- destroying telegraph machines and creating a nighttime aurora so bright that birds began to sing, believing the sun had begun to rise.

Nine such extreme solar storms -- known as Miyake Events -- have now been identified as having occurred over the last 15,000 years. The most recent confirmed Miyake Events occurred in 993 AD and 774 AD. This newly-identified 14,300-year-old storm is, however, the largest that has ever been found -- roughly twice the size of these two.

However, the Miyake Events (including the newly discovered 14,300-yr-old storm) would have been a staggering entire orderof-magnitude greater in size.

In the study, researchers from the UK, France and Czech Republic

The tree trunks, which are subfossils -- remains whose fossilisation process is not complete -- were sliced into tiny single tree-rings. Analysis of these individual rings identified an unprecedented spike in radiocarbon levels occurring precisely 14,300 years ago.

By comparing this radiocarbon spike with measurements of beryllium, a chemical element found in Greenland ice cores, the team in the paper published in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical Physical and Engineering Sciences, proposed that the spike was caused by a massive solar storm that would have ejected huge volumes of energetic particles into Earth's atmosphere.

The researchers said that the occurrence of similar massive solar storms today could be catastrophic for modern technological society, potentially wiping out telecommunications, satellite systems and electricity grids -- and costing us billions of pounds.

They warn that it is critical to understand the future risks of events like this, to enable us to prepare, build resilience into our communications and energy systems and shield them from potential damage.

New AI algorithm can forecast earthquake with 70% accuracy It’s not yet known if the same approach will work at other locations, but the effort is a milestone in research for AIdriven earthquake forecasting.

New York, Oct 7 (IANS) Researchers have developed a novel artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm that correctly predicted 70 per cent of earthquakes a week before they happened during a seven-month trial in China, raising hopes that the technology could one day be used to limit earthquakes’ impact on lives and economies.

The AI, developed by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin, was trained to detect statistical bumps in real-time seismic data that researchers had paired with previous earthquakes.

The outcome was a weekly forecast in which the AI successfully predicted 14 earthquakes within about 200 miles of where it estimated they would happen and at almost exactly the calculated strength. It missed one earthquake and gave eight false warnings.

“Predicting earthquakes is the holy grail,” said Sergey Fomel, Professor in UT’s Bureau of Economic Geology.

“We’re not yet close to making predictions for anywhere in the world, but what we achieved tells us that what we thought was an impossible problem is solvable in principle.” The findings from the trial are published in the journal Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. “You don’t see earthquakes coming,” said Alexandros Savvaidis, a senior research scientist who leads the bureau’s Texas Seismological Network Programme (TexNet) -the state’s seismic network. “It’s a matter of milliseconds, and the only thing you can control is how prepared you are. Even with 70 per cent, that’s a huge result and could help minimise economic and human losses and has the potential to dramatically improve earthquake preparedness worldwide.”

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HEALTH

Rising air pollution may cause inflammation Statins may cause muscle weakness: Report use", the MHRA said. in the brain, warn health experts Myasthenia gravis is an country and Delhi is the most polluted city in the world.

New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) As the air around Delhi-NCR begins to deteriorate ahead of Diwali, health experts on Monday warned that the pollutants in the air may cause inflammation in the brain that can lead to anxiety, depression, and memory issues.

Ahead of the World Mental Health Day which falls on October 10, doctors emphasised that pollution in any form is damaging to human well-being.

Dr Nand Kumar, Professor, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), told IANS that apart from air pollution, "environment changes marked by frequent and extreme weather events such as floods and storms affects mental health".

"People exposed to such climate changes may develop more serious mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or substance use disorders," he emphasised.

Air pollution is shortening lives in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, the most polluted city in the world, by 11.9 years, according to a new study.

As per the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) report for 2023 by the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute, India is the world’s second most polluted

The findings based on PM2.5 data for 2021 derived from satellites showed that pollution in India has increased from 56.2 micrograms per cubic metre air in 2020 to 58.7 micrograms per cubic metre air in 2021. This exceeds the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre air by more than 10 times.

Air pollution, a global issue that affects the health of millions of people globally, has long been associated with a range of physical health issues, from respiratory illnesses to cardiovascular diseases, however, the impact of air pollution on mental health is a less explored but equally significant concern.

A study released in March by Harvard University researchers adds to the evidence linking air pollution (small particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxide, and nitrogen dioxide) to an increased risk of dementia.

Several earlier studies have linked air pollution to increased stress, psychological distress, an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, and depression.

Dr Vipul Rastogi, Senior Consultant Neuropsychiatrist at Medanta Hospital, told IANS: "We have come across people who have had to leave their fulfilling jobs and Delhi/NCR because of breathing problems that their children have. This causes a lot of discontentment in people as their lives are turned upside down."

The latest data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR)

showed that the air quality in the national capital is now in the “poor” quality zone, and days ahead are worrisome.

According to Dr Mrinmay Kumar Das, Senior Consultant, Department of Behavioural Sciences, Jaypee Hospital, "longterm exposure to air pollution can lead to neuroinflammation, which can affect the brain's functioning and has been associated with cognitive decline and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases".

He mentioned that the high levels of air pollution can cause psychological stress which can lead to anxiety and depression over time. To deal with this, health experts suggested that maintaining a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, regular exercise, and stress-reduction techniques like mindfulness or yoga, can help support mental resilience.

As explained by Divya Mohindroo, a counselling psychologist, air pollution decreases happiness and life satisfaction, and increases annoyance, anxiety, mental disorders, self-harm, and suicide.

Air pollution impacts cognitive functioning and decision-making in the long run. It also affects work productivity and socially, may lead to criminal activities and worsened public behaviour.

"Take care of your diet and nutrition, move your body, hydrate yourself well and monitor your sleep,” Mohindroo told IANS.

New York, Oct 7 (IANS) A team of scientists have discovered the impact of a multitude of genes that are associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism, but whose effects on human brain development were previously unknown.

Studies have implicated at least 500 genes in such disorders. But scientists have no idea exactly how defects in most of these genes impair brain function.

The new findings, led by a team from the Stanford University in

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There are two main classes of neurons in the cerebral cortex: excitatory and inhibitory.

Excitatory neurons fire impulses that activate other neurons, while inhibitory neurons’ firing blocks other neurons from firing.

Inhibitory and excitatory neurons integrate to form circuits, shaping signalling activity in the brain.

In humans, as many as half of all cells in the cerebral cortex, the brain’s outermost and most recently evolved layer, are inhibitory. Scientists theorised that an imbalance in the number or function of inhibitory neurons compared with excitatory neurons might be at least partly responsible for autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy.

“If that’s true, you could find ways to alter the functional balance of these cells in the cortex as a

Statins -- atorvastatin, pravastatin, lovastatin, fluvastatin, simvastatin, rosuvastatin and pitavastatin (single-ingredient and fixed-dose combination products) -- are important medicines to lower a person’s risk of having cardiovascular events such as angina, heart attacks, and stroke.

The medications are an acceptably safe and effective group that help lower the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in the blood.

Statins also play an important role in the treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (narrowing and hardening of arteries).

But, "there have been some suspected reports of new-onset or aggravation of pre-existing myasthenia gravis or ocular myasthenia associated with statin

The common symptoms of myasthenic gravis include drooping eyelids, double vision, problems with chewing or swallowing, speech disturbance, limb weakness and shortness of breath.

Many people who take statins do not experience side effects and, where this does happen, these are typically mild. But those experiencing problems should not stop statin treatment without first discussing this with the doctor, the MHRA said.

The health agency said that the majority of UK patients recovered after stopping statin treatment, while a minority continued to experience symptoms; recurrence of symptoms has been reported when patients restarted on the same or a different statin.

MHRA urged patients taking the pills to "be alert to new symptoms for myasthenia gravis, or worsening symptoms of preexisting myasthenia gravis, and to seek medical advice if these occur". Globally, there has been a very small number of reports of new-onset or aggravation of preexisting myasthenia gravis.

Sticking to a strict veg diet may Those who face existential anxiety be partly in your genes: Study as an effect of air pollution, she suggested "meditating" in such a case will be helpful.

Scientists find multitude of genes associated with autism the US, are likely to accelerate drug development for neurodevelopmental disorders.

New York, Oct 9 (IANS) Statins, commonly used to lower cholesterol levels, may cause a rare long-term condition which causes muscle weakness, according to a report by the UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that is characterised by fluctuating weakness of the voluntary muscles that control eye movements, facial expression, speaking, swallowing, limb movement and breathing.

therapeutic approach for these disorders,” said Sergiu Pasca, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the varsity.

But first, he wondered, how do you make sense of the enormous collection of genes that have been implicated in these conditions but whose impacts are largely unknown?

Does the existence of hundreds of genes associated with disease mean that there are hundreds of different types of neurodevelopmental disorders, each requiring a different remedy? Or might several different genes converge and lead to similar pathology, or some particular aspect of it?

“If it’s the latter, a cluster of gene defects that all produce a similar physiological deficit might be amenable to a single type of treatment,” Pasca said.

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San Francisco, Oct 8 (IANS) Researchers have said that sticking to a strict vegetarian diet may be partly in a person's genes and not just a matter of willpower, a new study has found.

The study published in the journal PLOS ONE identified a set of genes associated with people who stuck to a vegetarian diet for at least a year.

A large proportion (about 48 to 64 per cent) of self-identified “vegetarians” report eating fish, poultry and/or red meat, which corresponding study author Dr Nabeel Yaseen said suggested environmental or biological constraints override the desire to adhere to a vegetarian diet.

"It seems there are more people who would like to be vegetarian than actually are, and we think it’s because there is something hard-wired here that people may be missing," said Yaseen.

To determine whether genetics contribute to one’s ability to

adhere to a vegetarian diet, the scientists compared UK Biobank genetic data from 5,324 strict vegetarians (consuming no fish, poultry or red meat) to 329,455 controls. The study identified three genes that were significantly associated with vegetarianism and another 31 genes that were potentially associated. “One area in which plant products differ from meat is complex lipids.

My speculation is there may be lipid component(s) present in meat that some people need. And maybe people whose genetics favour vegetarianism are able to synthesise these components endogenously," Yaseen said.

According to the researchers, religious and moral considerations have been major motivations behind adopting a vegetarian diet, and recent research has provided evidence for its health benefits.

Even though vegetarianism is becoming more popular, vegetarians still constitute a small minority of the global population.

“While religious and moral considerations certainly play a major role in the motivation to adopt a vegetarian diet, our data suggest that the ability to adhere to such a diet is constrained by genetics,” Yaseen stated.

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INDIA NEWS

Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

Listening to whispers: Artist Ayesha Singh and the many voices of historical buildings

The inner silence of buildings is translated into a script of the physical. Whispers continue to resound. In the endless corridors of meanings, sub-texts and contemporary relevance, artist Ayesha Singh creates tangible thoughts celebrating/uncelebrating multiple possibilities with reality at its most profound

ARTS & CULTURE

Art Mumbai 2023: International galleries in the spotlight The presence of an international art galleries will add immense value to the event

architecture," she says.

And it is the construction and ornamentation of a building that fascinates her. She often finds herself looking at the material used, especially when facades that look like brick are made with polyurethane foam and window sills that look like wood are plastic panels.

"The creation of facade, ideals, and aspirations speak through material and form, I often find myself delving into those details," says the artist.

By Sukant Deepak October 09, 2023 (IANSlife) The inner silence of buildings is translated into a script of the physical. Whispers continue to resound. In the endless corridors of meanings, sub-texts and contemporary relevance, artist Ayesha Singh creates tangible thoughts celebrating/ uncelebrating multiple possibilities with reality at its most profound.

In her dialogues with the past and present, many things are left unsaid only to be felt. Singh's first solo exhibition at Delhi's Nature Morte 'Monumental Turns' held recently, where she created three new sculptural installations, responding to the spaces of the gallery has been inside her for three years in the making.

She says in these times of continuous ideological shifts, the significance of monuments and memories has become more prominent in her readings and conversations.

"Since 2017, I have been researching monument aesthetics, to unpack their visuality and connotations. The pandemic further propelled me to delve into 3D software where I began to skew historical architecture to create totemic forms akin to the 'Hybrid Amalgamations' drawings on view at the exhibition. Today, three years later, this exhibition brings together the culmination of these explorations," she tells IANS. This Delhi-born artist, who completed her MFA in Sculpture at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and BFA from the Slade School of Fine Art in London, works with drawings, performance, installation, sculpture and video to question the assumed permanence of buildings and the histories omitted during construction and restoration. Her work involves subversive actions that highlight existing socio-political hierarchies and the assertion of established systems of power in architecture.

The works in the latest

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exhibition stress the fact that the ancient continues to breathe, consistently shaping our present, specifically 'Frayed Continuum' which is a machine that dips nine 50-90-year-old wooden architectural fragments into cement, speaking to continuous alteration and the assertion of the past beneath the facade of new construction. "'Monumental Turns' also delves into the opposite simultaneously, drawing references to ways in which our past is altered by present value systems and the dominating ideologies. The works here point to so many of the complexities we encounter in cities, including shifting power dynamics, the desire for belonging, imagined futures, and erasures," she adds.

Talking about Delhi, a vast city, that she says is spread in a way that one cannot fully know each crevice of it, Singh asserts that she does have a strong sense of belonging to many spaces there, albeit transient.

As the conversation veers towards her latest exhibition's title, she recalls that towards the end of the ideation phase, while rendering 3D iterations of the show, she realised that parts of her broader research within her practice were interwoven with the work in this exhibition.

"This includes my involvement in a reading group focused on the notion of the public and the nomenclature of public art, and my collaborative research and writing with political scientist Dr. Davies. The title of the exhibition was therefore one of the final decisions made after the work had been created."

Remembering her encounter with British art aesthetics during her BFA, Singh recounts that when she was learning about art history in the global west, including Bourriaud's ideas about relational aesthetics, she sought out reading groups on post-colonial theory, and worked with an artistbook publisher and a gallery from South Asia, outside of the university curriculum.

"My research often takes me to areas I may not have encountered before, or rediscover a familiar space through changed perspectives such as revisiting the Qutub Complex for 'Skewed Histories'."

"The ideas in each experience later evolved to alter the figurative paintings I was making in high school, to walk-around installations made with found objects, including carpets and cable trays, to foam, photographs, and drawings during my BFA."

Singh, who reveals the politics and power in a building's layers, believes scale, material and form affect how we maneuver through and around architecture.

From spaces of worship to governance, the way we behave and the subconscious relations we develop with a building are initially, and intentionally, dictated via design.

A co-founder of Art Chain, an active marketplace for artists, showcasing their work under the hashtag #ArtChainIndia started during the pandemic, the artist stresses that in the postpandemic world, the range of resources accessible to all has been broadened, encompassing knowledge-sharing on art law and intellectual property in India.

"While architecture is often perceived as passive, it plays a far more active role in our everyday experience of a city. My work often looks at those personal experiences of larger decisionmaking that surpass individual agency, and the connotative functioning of their construction.

To further that, towards questioning accepted histories, collective fact-making, and their proven malleability through

"There have been mentorship, workshops, and session opportunities for ACI artists and the wider public. We look forward to unveiling new developments and exciting updates for our audiences soon."

October 06, 2023 (IANSlife) Mumbai's much awaited art fair will see some prestigious international galleries showcasing a vast and finely curated selection of modern and contemporary art in India, for the first time.

Grosvenor Gallery (London), Aicon Gallery (New York), Aicon Contemporary (New York), 1X1 (Dubai) and Volte (Dubai) will present artworks from across the globe. With the participation of these international galleries, Art Mumbai, which takes place from 16th to 19th November at the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in November, will spotlight South Asia’s importance in the global conversation on art and culture.

“Art Mumbai will introduce the international collector or visitor to the best contemporary living artists practicing in India and internationally, showcased by a selection of the best art galleries, all under one roof for a few days in Mumbai. For the participating galleries, this is an incredible opportunity to meet and build up clients from an amazing, vibrant city. I believe Art Mumbai will have a profound impact on the South Asian Art market,” says Conor Macklin, Director,

Grosvenor Gallery & Co-founder, Art Mumbai.

With India, and more specifically Mumbai, at the centre of an enhanced cultural movement, as well as the strong growth of the Indian art market in the last fiscal year, Art Mumbai will be a vibrant addition to the international art calendar.

“Aicon is looking forward to making the trip from New York to the inaugural Art Mumbai this November. Mumbai has been in need of a quality international art fair for sometimes and we are delighted it is finally taking place. We have no doubt the fair will be well managed with quality works on display and something for every collector. With the Indian market as vibrant as it is, I’m sure we will see robust sales throughout the fair,” says Harry Hutchison, Director, Aicon Gallery.

The presence of an international art galleries will add immense value to Art Mumbai bringing in diversity, exposure, networking opportunities and a global perspective enhancing the overall cultural and economic impact of the fair for stakeholders from across the country.

On her next project, she smiles, "It is an adventure I would be happy to announce once I reach there!"

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INDIA NEWS

Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

Indian celebs and their love for Dubai properties From stunning beachfront apartments to opulent villas in exclusive neighborhoods, here’s a list of Indian celebrities and the lavish properties they’ve purchased in Dubai

October 09, 2023 (IANSlife) Dubai has long been a preferred destination for Indian celebrities to invest in opulent properties.

Since the introduction of the 10-year Golden Visa for an investment of 2 million Dirham, the emirate's appeal to Indian investors has increased.

Bollywood celebrities are among the foreign real estate investors who continue to find Dubai to be quite alluring. Several names in the industry have already made the emirate their second home.

From stunning beachfront apartments to opulent villas in exclusive neighborhoods, here's a list of Indian celebrities and the lavish properties they've purchased in Dubai: Shah Rukh Khan - Jannat Jumeirah The opulent "Jannat Jumeirah" home that belongs to the King of Bollywood is located on the wellknown Jumeirah Palm Island. The property has a private beach and breathtaking views of the Arabian Gulf.

Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan Jumeirah's Golf Estates

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan are the happy owners of a Sanctuary Falls property in Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, valued between 15 and 35 million Dirham.

Malaika Arora - Palazzo Versace Dubai Malaika Arora made a significant investment in a luxurious property at the prestigious Palazzo Versace Dubai, a gorgeous waterfront property created by the renowned fashion house.

Rakhi Sawant – Skyz by Danube Rakhi Sawant currently owns a luxurious flat in Dubai. In an Instagram post, the actress took her followers on a tour of her opulent house.

Rana Daggubati - Glitz by Danube The well-known South Indian actor invested in real estate in Studio City's "Glitz by Danube" as his Dubai home.

Tejaswi Prakash and Karan Kundrra property - Skyz Tower by the Danube The famous couple is one of many Indian celebrities who have invested in Danube properties.

The pair recently bought an

apartment in the Skyz Tower, a development by Danube Properties.

Sonu Sood - Lawnz by Danube Sonu Sood is the owner of a cosy flat in "Lawnz by Danube," a masterfully designed neighbourhood in International City, Dubai.

Shilpa Shetty - The "Burj Khalifa" Shilpa Shetty and Raj Kundra are the proud owners of a lavish flat in the world-famous Burj Khalifa, the highest structure on earth. According to sources, she reportedly afterwards sold the flat and bought an enormous property on Palm Jumeirah.

Akshay Kumar - Jumeirah Golf Estates In the posh golf enclave of Jumeirah Golf Estates, which is renowned for its opulent residences and green environs, Akshay Kumar has an opulent mansion.

Sania Mirza - Palm Jumeirah Popular sports personality Sania Mirza bought a villa for herself in Dubai in 2021. Sania and her husband Shoaib Malik earlier used to stay in a villa in Palm Jumeirah.

Domestic travellers have been crucial to the tourism sector million (INR 64 billion) in India in areas like purchases on transportation, restaurants, retail stores, and retail stores. The guests spent in 2022* more than doubled the 2019 levels.

In India, Airbnb’s presence was the highest in Goa, where Airbnb guests spending amounted to almost USD$190 million ( INR 14.8 billion), this was followed by Bangalore and Delhi, Mumbai and Manali.

October 04, 2023 (IANSlife) New research from Oxford Economics found Airbnb is an important pillar of India’s tourism industry, contributing over USD$920 million (INR 72 Billion) to Gross Domestic Product and supporting over 85,000 Indian jobs in 2022 alone. The GDP contribution and

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jobs supported in India has more than doubled since 2019 despite the Covid-19 outbreak and international border restrictions.

The report also highlighted the powerful multiplier effect Airbnb guest spending has within local communities. In 2022, Airbnb guests spent a total of USD$815

It details the significant contribution made by Airbnb guests to domestic tourism across the nation. In 2022, domestic Airbnb guest spending totalled USD$670 million (INR 52.6 billion), and accounted for approximately 82 percent of total Airbnb guest spend in India, around a threefold increase from 2019.

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TRAVEL

The emergence of the ‘GenerAsian’ Traveller Hilton Research Identifies a New Generation of Asian Travellers

October 11, 2023 (IANSlife) As Hilton releases its 2024 Trends Report, the leading global hospitality company has discovered an emerging generation of Asian travellers who are pursuing travel that will enable them to better understand their identity. Dubbed as the ‘GenerAsian traveler’ are Asians who are inspired by self-discovery and have a desire for a deeper understanding of their own cultural and ancestral heritage through travel.

In a global survey conducted in collaboration with Ipsos, a resounding chorus of travellers across Asia have expressed a growing confidence for selfexploration. In India, a staggering 85 percent of respondents reported they feel proud about the rising popularity of their country of origin as a travel destination, as well as the international popularity and appreciation for Asian food, design, and culture.

This shift in global taste can be attributed to globalization, where international audiences now have better accessibility and insight into Asia through pop culture and social media.

Alongside this, the region has seen much greater representation in entertainment, food and beverage, and other industries – from the nation’s matchmaking traditions being featured on a popular reality dating show, to its local innovation, design, and cuisine receiving international recognition.

“We’re constantly monitoring the travel preferences of different generations to create tailored experiences that cater to their unique needs and desires. Fueled by a sense of pride that Asian food, design, and culture are gaining popularity globally, we know this will hold even greater significance and interest for travelers in the upcoming year,” Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director, Asia Pacific, Hilton commented.

“In fact, our research found that 82 percent of Indian travellers are seeking to better understand their own heritage through travel, with 84 percent looking to learn more about other Asian cultures. We believe that the heart of a great

trip is a great stay, and so we remain committed to delivering innovative solutions to ensure our guests can fully immerse themselves in both our hotels and their communities,” he added.

Access to Local, Gastronomic Experiences are a Priority for Indian Travelers Priorities differ among travelers when it comes to selecting their accommodation. For some, convenience might be key, but for others, price point remains at top of mind. In line with their travel motivations, Indian travelers are more likely than travelers from other countries surveyed to book their accommodations based on access to unique local experiences. In fact, a substantial 77% of India respondents indicated that they are likely to do so, compared to the 65% average across all countries surveyed in Hilton’s global study.

When it comes to the types of experiences India travelers seek during their trips, 91% of respondents unequivocally ranked exploring local and traditional food and beverage as the most critical to them. A strong majority also indicated a desire to connect with the local community when they travel (90 percent), and gain a deeper understanding of the local history and heritage of the destination they travel to (87 percent) – suggesting a reassuring desire for more authentic travel experiences.

Food and beverage also showed as a unifying passion point across Asian respondents in Hilton’s 2024 Trends Report survey, with respondents across China, India, Japan, and Singapore all ranking culinary experiences as the top budget priority for their travel plans next year. To ensure they are able to prioritize travel in the coming year, four in five (82 percent) Indian travellers are reducing spending on other areas of their life, which is considerably higher than the global average of 64percent. Travellers in India are also more inclined than the majority of their global counterparts to spend more on travel in 2024 than they did in 2023 (81 percent in India versus 65 percent globally).

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INDIA NEWS

Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

Fashion face-off: Suhana Khan and Khushi Kapoor While the girls debut side by side in Zoya Akhtar’s next offering, we pit them against each to decode their fashion sensibilities

Paris Fashion Week: Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Navya Naveli Nanda walks for L’Oréal Paris Under one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, the show reaffirms its tradition by bringing L’Oréal Paris’ unique vision to the most famous sites in Paris

By IANSlife

By Olivia Sarkar October 08, 2023 (IANSlife) In the glamorous world of Bollywood, actresses Khushi Kapoor and Suhana Khan are the newest entrants to the fashion rat race.

Both actresses in the making are well-known not just for their last names but also for their millennial sensibilities and stunning appearance. While the girls debut side by side in Zoya

Akhtar's next offering, we pit them against each to decode their fashion sensibilities.

Suhana caught eyes while wearing an all-shimmer saree. She found the ideal harmony of elegance and charm, making her a complete vision to behold in everything gold. Manish Malhotra's floral saree outfit is being adorned by Khushi Kapoor.

FASHION

October 02, 2023 (IANSlife) L’Oréal Paris the official partner of Paris Fashion Week celebrates women’s empowerment, inclusion, and sisterhood on the esplanade of the Eiffel Tower, and welcomes the brand’s family of spokespeople to unites and make a feminine and feminist statement on Day 7 at Paris Fashion Week.

Under one of the world’s most iconic landmarks, the show

reaffirms its tradition by bringing L’Oréal Paris’ unique vision to the most famous sites in Paris.

For the sixth time since 2017, Le Deìfileì “Walk Your Worth” celebrates sisterhood, as well as the synergy between stateof-the-art beauty expertise and fashion.

The brand’s diverse and inclusive line-up of international spokespeople who walked in the show included Aishwarya Rai

Suhana Khan was spotted sporting a stunning midi-dress in a soft lime green hue. This dress had a soft flowery pattern, a sensual side slit, and a ruched sweetheart neckline with a tie-up across the chest. On the other hand, Khushi Kapoor was spotted wearing a light midi-dress in tangerine. For a sweltering day in the city, the strappy fit-and-flare ensemble is the perfect option.

When dressing for the airport, Khushi Kapoor chose a stylish t-shirt and tracksuit. Suhana Khan, in contrast, posed for photos while wearing a blue crop top and grey pants.

Give Suhana any style and she will make a statement out of it.

She did the same with the basic grey hue as she looked stunning in a grey crop top paired with cool denims. Khushi Kapoor's creatively created feed is a lesson in styling. She teamed up a loose-fit sweatshirt with white bottoms to give the casual style an upgrade.

Suhana's fashion moments are becoming a treasure trove for millennials and Gen Z as well. Her red ribbed bodycon dress with shimmery noodle straps. On the other hand, Khushi's ensemble was a chic look for those who like to opt for unconventional winter shades. Her satin accented dress with a choker neckline detail and an extended train was a dainty yet chic silhouette for a forthcoming seasonal party look.

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Bachchan, Marie Bochet, Cindy Bruna, Camila Cabello, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Viola Davis, Elle Fanning, Luma Grothe, Kendall Jenner, Liya Kebede, Katherine Langford, Eva Longoria, Andie MacDowell, Helen Mirren, Aja Naomi King, Soo Joo Park, and Yseult.

Alongside these international

ambassadors, L’Oreal Paris’s cause ambassador, Navya Nanda was also seen walking the ramp marking her debut in the Paris Fashion Week. Earlier this year, the young philanthropist joined hands with L’Oreal Paris to support them for their cause initiative – Stand Up Against Street Harassment.

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INDIA NEWS

Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

Do fertility treatments affect your skin?

Consult with your fertility doctor before beginning any skin care regimen

BEAUTY

5 kitchen ingredients that elevate your skincare game Embrace these age-old Indian beauty secrets in your daily routine

By IANSlife September 17, 2023 (IANSlife) Even though more women in India have access to infertility treatment services and experts, dealing with infertility continues as one of the most difficult issues women face. Infertility is described by the WHO as "a disease of the male or female reproductive system defined by failure to achieve pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular unprotected sexual intercourse."

Dr. Shobha Gupta, Medical Director and Infertility specialist from Mother’s Lap IVF Centre, New Delhi and Vrindavan explains that “Women believe that having periods is a natural procedure for which they were born, regardless of whether they are regular or not.

They begin to experience stress when they are unable to conceive.

They don't interact with others or conduct independent research, which undoubtedly has an impact on their bodies. The mechanisms of reproduction heavily rely on hormones. They decide when to release an egg, how it grows, the timing of menstrual cycles, etc. The two hormones that are essential to these processes are oestrogen and progesterone.

Therefore, infertility may happen if the levels of these hormones dramatically rise or fall.”

The most obvious indication of hormonal changes is acne.

This is not comparable to a sporadic pimple. Along with the T zone, the cheeks, jawline, and bottom portion of the face are also affected. “In addition, when you receive any type of fertility treatment, it is typical to have skin redness, dryness, flaky skin, pigmentation, or melasma.

While the well-known glow of pregnancy is one benefit, some women also have skin issues as a result of the medicines used to trigger ovulation during their infertility treatment journey.

However, the surge of hormones recommended during a reproductive cycle can also cause some undesirable side effects in addition to the glow,” explained Dr. Shobha Gupta.

Let’s explore what exact skin conditions you face while undergoing fertility treatment explaining Dr. Sandeep Babbar, Medical Director and

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Dermatologist from Revyve Skin, Hair and Nail Clinic, Faridabad: Acne: Hormonal changes are what cause acne. Acne-prone women frequently also have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which is frequently linked to infertility.

High levels of androgen, or male hormones, are what define this.

Ovulation may not occur at all or may occur irregularly as a result.

Skin Redness - Elevated oestrogen levels might result in skin redness by expanding blood vessels and flushing the skin. “Hot flashes may be accompanied by redness and flushing, which can occasionally be brought on by medications” said Dr. Sandeep Babbar.

Injection site irritation Although the daily needles are the main cause of skin issues, some women may also experience negative side effects from the medicine solution that contains the fertility medication.

Progesterone, according to Dr. Sandeep Babbar, is one example.

Because sesame oil is used to make these injections, some women may react negatively to it.

Other conditions such as skin dryness, hair loss, under-eye bags, pigmentation, darkening of the face and melasma, redness, and rosacea flare-ups. These injections are prepared with oil.

The good news according to Dr. Sandeep Babbar is that most skin reactions to fertility treatments will go away once the procedure has finished.

How to treat it?

If at all possible, attempt to control any current skin issues before beginning IVF. This is my best advice. If the skin issue is moderate or severe, you might need to see your dermatologist because prescription medication can be needed.

Dr. Sandeep Babbar uses chemical peels, hydroquinone-based bleaching creams, and Cosmelan peels to treat patients' persistent acne once fertility treatments or pregnancies are over and skincare restrictions are no longer required. "Chemical peels can help increase skin cell turnover and treat facial discoloration," he claims. Treatments for skin discolouration brought on by hormonal aftereffects include

retinols, a substance that should not be used while pregnant, and vitamin C serum, a potent antioxidant for the skin.

Please follow below tips by Dr. Sandeep Babbar: During your fertility treatment, keep your skincare basic and non-stripping by using a mild cleanser, a non-pore-blocking (non-comedogenic), moisturising product, and a broad-spectrum sunscreen. Consider using a slightly heavier nighttime moisturiser and/or a moisturising serum if your skin is dry.

Alpha hydroxy acids, such as lactic or mandelic acid, azelaic acid, or niacinamide, may be useful components to include if your skin is oily or acne-prone.

Use these active components in skincare only if you are comfortable doing so.

To avoid sensitivity and irritation and for the greatest outcomes, try to be specific and consistent with the items you use.

If you're still having trouble, speak with a professional for customized advice. You should also stay in frequent contact with your infertility specialist so they are aware of your struggles and can be of assistance.

“Treatment for infertility can have a variety of consequences on the body, including the skin. It is truly a transformational experience.

Retinoids, Hydroquinone, and salicylic acid are some items that should be avoided during your pregnancy journey. Consult with your fertility doctor before beginning any skin care regimen” insists Dr. Shobha Gupta.

October 08, 2023 (IANSlife) India’s rich heritage offers a treasure trove of traditional skincare ingredients that have stood the test of time. These time-tested remedies which have been passed down through generations continue to be at the heart of Indian skincare practices. We’ve round up the five quintessential ingredients that have seamlessly transitioned into contemporary skincare routines - blending the ancient with the modern.

Turmeric: Turmeric or Haldi is the powerhouse of antiinflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant properties. It also has great anti-ageing benefits and has made its way into moisturisers, facial oils, eye creams and more.

In addition, turmeric has been accredited to helping reduce dark spots and pigmentation - making your skin look naturally even and radiant.

Saffron: Saffron which is also known as the ‘golden spice’ is an extremely versatile ingredient and is one of nature’s most potent, antioxidant-rich element, packed with Vitamin A, B, & C promising instant brightness and radiant skin. Another top benefit is its healing properties that helps to deal with pigmentation, moisturizes the skin and improves overall texture.

Honey: A timeless multipurpose ingredient that has graced skincare regimens for centuries is honey. It serves as an excellent

moisturizer, making it ideal for dry and dehydrated skin. NIVEA Milk Delights Moisturizing Honey Face Wash is enriched with the goodness of honey and milk protein and is a simple way to tackle dry and dull skin.

Milk: Milk for face is an excellent choice for keeping your skin healthy and beautiful. With the goodness of powerful milk proteins, the magical ingredient is known to nourish your skin leaving it soft and moisturised.

Apart from the deep nourishing effects of milk proteins, milk also contains Vitamin B5 which helps to fade dark spots and give a natural glow to the face.

Rose Water: Boasting of antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties, Rose Water is a cherished skincare gem that soothes irritated skin areas. It pampers your skin while providing a delicate cleanse, making it a perfect match for sensitive skin. One such product which combines the hydrating benefits of Rose Water and moisturising capabilities of Milk is NIVEA Milk Delights Caring Rosewater Face Wash that leaves your skin feeling soft and supple.

These timeless ingredients are deeply rooted in both tradition and science - offering a holistic approach to skincare.

Incorporating these into your daily regimen through simple yet effective products like face wash allows you to engage with them on a consistent basis.

Among the usual changes people may feel throughout infertility treatments include hormonal shifts, skin sensitivity, hyperpigmentation, dryness, and itching. "At the end of the day, each person's skin is unique, and their effects may differ as well." The best way to develop a safe, healthy, and practical strategy that meets your unique circumstances is to speak with your doctor. For individualised counselling and support throughout the IVF procedure, I strongly advise speaking with medical professionals.” concluded Dr. Sandeep Babbar.

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

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WHAT’S ON

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

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WHAT’S ON

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INDIA NEWS

Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and Nita Ambani welcome International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach at their residence, in Mumbai on Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

Amritsar: Gold medal-winning Indian Hockey team players welcomed upon their arrival at the airport

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with Asian Games medal winners

Srinagar : President Droupadi Murmu attends the 20th convocation of University of Kashmir

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City

Kolkata: Preparation underway at community puja pandal ahead of Durga Puja festival

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PHOTO FEATURE

A man walks past a destroyed building following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City

New Delhi: ICC Cricket World Cup Match Between India and Afghanistan

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviews progress on schemes based on the announcements in his Independence Day speech

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh during a meeting Italian Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto

Palestinians check destroyed buildings following an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City

Prayagraj : Indian Air Force Day

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New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks during a press conference after the Congress Working Committee meeting

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

INDIA NEWS

TIGER 3

RELEASE DATE: Diwali 2023 LANGUAGE: Hindi, Tamil, Telugu (With English Subtitles)

DIRECTOR: Maneesh Sharma CAST: Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Emraan Hashmi

Films

LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles)

SYNOPSIS: About Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta of the 45th Cavalry tank squadron who fought on the eastern front during the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 along with his siblings.

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RELEASE DATE: 22 December 2023 LANGUAGE: Hindi (With English Subtitles) CAST: Shah Rukh Khan, Taapsee Pannu

PIPPA

PRODUCER: RSVP, Roy Kapur

DUNKI

DIRECTOR: Rajkumar Hirani

PRODUCER: Yash Raj Films

RELEASE DATE: TBA

NEW RELEASE

DIRECTOR: Raja Krishna Menon

TIGER NAGESWARA RAO TIGER NAGESWARA RAO

RELEASE DATE: 20 October 2023 LANGUAGE: Telugu and Hindi (With English

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Subtitles) PRODUCER: Abhishek Agarwal DIRECTOR: Vamsee CAST: Anupam Kher, John Abraham, Karthi

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Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

INDIA NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

Big B unveils intense new look from Salman Khan gives a death stare in new ‘Tiger 3’ poster ‘Kalki 2898 AD’ on 81st b’day On the occasion of Amitabh Bachchan's 81st birthday, the filmmakers have unveiled the first official portrait of the actor.

Both intense and intriguing, Amitabh Bachchan's first look has created quite a stir on the internet already, particularly as this is perhaps the most different he has ever looked.

Revealing the look, 'Kalki 2898 AD' took to its official social media platform X and wrote: "It's an honour to be part of your journey and witness your greatness.

Happy Birthday Amitabh Bachchan Sir." Before that, the movie had also unveiled the look of Prabhas in a highly futurist get-up which had really added to the excitement.

Now with the megastar's brilliant look, which makes him appear like some kind of prophet, has only spiced things up further.

V

eteran Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who has now turned 81, set the internet ablaze with his intense new look from the epic science fiction 'Kalki 2898 AD'.

looking his fiercest ever.

Dressed up in rags, Big B is looking extremely mysterious.

The Prabhas-starrer had its teaser first unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con earlier this year, with the mega-budget flick garnering immense appreciation worldwide.

With his face almost completely hidden except his eyes and holding a stick, the megastar is

Being touted as one of the biggest and most awaited releases of 2024, 'Kalki 2898 AD' has got cinephiles highly excited ever since it was first announced.

Directed by Nag Ashwin, 'Kalki 2898 AD' also stars Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone, Dulquer Salmaan, Rana Daggubati, Pasupathy, Sasweta Chatterjee, and Disha Patani in lead roles.

The movie is a multi-lingual release and will be coming out in Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam and English.

A mysterious and innovative creation, the movie incorporates both mythology as well as futuristic sci-fi elements in its narrative.

Survey reveals movies on big screen are still go-to choice for majority of Indians week.

The report was launched by the ticketing platform BookMyShow, and the survey was rolled out to the ticket platform’s transacting consumer base across 650 cities and towns in India. The survey respondents comprised a mix of 41 per cent GenZ along with 59 per cent Millennial and GenX audiences going gaga about movies and their magic in this survey.

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new survey, 'The CineFiles', has revealed that the Indian audience enjoys watching the movies on big screen, and that the audience is also highly skilled at planning for their cinematic outings in theatres as 74 per cent of the audience keep a close watch on the new releases on the horizon at least three days in advance.

Ahead of this National Cinema Day, the report revealed that 98 per cent of Indians believe cinematic magic can only be

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brought alive on the big screen with a third of them attributing it to certain directors, themes, and VFX amongst others.

In fact, 90 per cent of respondents’ most likeable option for out-of-home experiences is catching the latest movie release in the theatre amongst other leisure activities such as shopping, live gigs, and adventure outings. The younger GenZ and Millennial groups think of the big screen experience for their movie-watching outing every

74 per cent of the respondents opted to watch a movie in the theatre for the immersive larger screen and high audio quality experience. 40 per cent of respondents almost always opt for premium screens like IMAX, 4DX, Director’s Cut, Insignia and so on.

92 per cent of respondents who have experienced an immersive format in premium theatre experiences make that choice based on certain factors such as blockbuster movies, big-budget films with impressive visuals and effects, Action movies, Sci-Fi and Fantasy movies or movies in 3D, 4D formats.

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his Diwali, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is coming with his highlyanticipated third installment of the ‘Tiger’ franchise, ‘Tiger 3’. On Wednesday, the poster of the superstar from the film was unveiled, and it has ‘Swag’ written all over.

The poster features Salman as a locked target of what seems to be the scope of a gun. The superstar stares into the scope with his head tilted down a little though his eyes are fixated at the sniper behind the scope. Behind him there are police cars.

The superstar also promised that the trailer of the film will be unveiled on October 16.

The actor can be seen sporting cargo pants, a leather jacket with a gun in his hand His look

is rounded up with the scarf which is his signature from the franchise.

Sharing the poster on his Instagram, Salman wrote in the caption: “Tiger aa raha hai. 16th October. #Tiger3Trailer Ready ho jao! #5DaysToTiger3Trailer #Tiger3 arriving in cinemas this Diwali. Releasing in Hindi, Tamil & Telugu.”

Earlier, Katrina’s poster from the film was unveiled on Tuesday.

It features the actress hanging from a rope and wearing a leather body hugging suit as she fires an assault rifle.

‘Tiger 3’ has been produced by Aditya Chopra and has been directed by Maneesh Sharma. It releases during Diwali holiday this year.

Julia Fox shares ‘50 shades of Julia’ while recalling her dominatrix past was already very jaded, even as a young teenager."

She went on saying that she started seeing her worth when she could make money off her beauty, reports aceshowbiz.com.

The mom of two also shared that the job was the one thing that inspired her to be an actor.

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ollywood actress Julia Fox, who was there to promote her memoir 'Down the Drain', recalled her past as a dominatrix.

"I think prior to that, I just had really low self-esteem," the actress/model told the co-hosts.

"You could tell me I was beautiful and this, but I would always think, 'They want something from me.' I

"A lot of it is role play, a lot of it is cosplay. So really, that's where I learned to act," she said, noting how she'd have "5 clients in a day and each one of them [would want] something different."

"One wants the mean popular girl in school, one wants a nun, one wants a neglectful mother. I had all the costumes ready," the 33-year-old said, prompting Ana Navarro to joke, "That's 50 Shades of Julia!"

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INDIA NEWS

Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

ENTERTAINMENT

Kangana Ranaut-starrer ‘Tejas’ sets SRK’s security scaled up to Y+ level following death threats trailer unveiling on Air Force Day Force Day in India. As the film in all sense celebrates the true spirit of patriotism, the release of the trailer on Air Force Day indeed marks a perfect day.

‘Tejas’ is a patriotic action film and stars Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut in the titular role of Tejas Gill, who is ready to take on the enemies of the nation and make them taste their own medicine.

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he trailer of the Kangana Ranaut-starrer upcoming film ‘Tejas’, will be unveiled on Sunday on the occasion of Air

Earlier, giving a short glimpse into its action-packed world, the teaser promised a never seen before experience for the audience.

From the word go, the teaser dove into the slow build up of action and it opens with a long shot of

an aircraft hangar with its gates slowly sliding open as an Indian Air Force aircraft makes its way out.

It then cuts to a shot of Kangana in silhouette inside a locker room taking out her dog tag chain and wearing it, The viewers then get to see her titular character’s name on her uniform, Tejas Gill.

The shot is then intercut with that of the aircraft taxiing out of the hangar.

Produced by RSVP, ‘Tejas’ is written and Directed by Sarvesh Mewara and produced By Ronnie Screwvala, the film is scheduled to release in Theatres on October 27, 2023.

‘Scoop’ bags best series, best lead actress for Karishma Tanna at Busan Film Fest

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ctress Karishma Tanna, who received a lot of positive response for her work in the streaming series ‘Scoop’, has bagged the coveted 'Best Lead Actress' award for her work in ‘Scoop’ at the prestigious Busan Film Festival 2023.

She was nominated in two categories ollywood superstar Shah at the festival. She also picked the Rukh Khan’s security is being trophy for ‘Best Series’ for ‘Scoop’ at beefed up to Y+ level. the Busan Film Festival.

The Busan Film Festival, one of Asia's The actor has asked for security most celebrated cinematic events. cover from Maharashtra government after he received On the red carpet of the film fest, death threats over the ‘Besharam the actress exuded elegance and cultural pride by adorning a Saree, Rang’ song from his blockbuster film ‘Pathaan’, which released symbolising her Indian roots. earlier this year.

In response to her win, Karishma Various fringe outfits had taken Tanna shared her gratitude and offence to the use of saffron enthusiasm, stating: "I am truly colour in one of the actress humbled and elated by this Deepika Padukone’s dresses in recognition at the Busan Film the song. These groups equated Festival. It has been an incredible journey bringing Jagruti Pathak to the use of saffron colour in the song with the title and took life in 'Scoop.' This award belongs offence saying the song mocks the to the entire team who worked saffron colour which is associated tirelessly to make this project a with the Hindu sentiment. reality. I am immensely grateful to my fans for their unwavering Following the row over the song, support, and I hope to continue Paramhans Acharya, an Ayodhyapushing boundaries and delivering based seer, had allegedly issued powerful performances in the death threats to the actor. future."

As per a media report, the

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actor had written to the state government seeking the security

cover.

Under the Y+ category, SRK will get 11 security personnel, including six commandos, four police personnel and a traffic clearance vehicle. The Y+ security is provided by the state to those citizens who face a threat to their lives.

In response to the state government's directive, the IG VIP Security scaled up the actor’s security for which he will have to deposit a certain sum of money.

Earlier, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was provided Y+ security cover last year following threats from the Lawrence Bishnoi Gang.

Lawrence Bishnoi Gang is the same gang that was involved in the day-light murder of Punjabi music star Sidhu Moosewala.

Shah Rukh Khan has had run-ins with the Mumbai underworld earlier and has been known to stand up to threats.

Jada Pinkett Smith, Will Smith living separately for 7 years A

ctress Jada Pinkett Smith has revealed that she and husband Will Smith have secretly been separated for the last seven years.

In an interview to 'People' magazine, the 'Set It Off' and 'Girls Trip' actor, 52, has admitted that the pair, who tied the knot in 1997, are still trying to "figure out" what the future of their marriage looks like.

The couple share children Jaden and Willow, as well as Will's son Trey, whom he had with ex-wife

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Sheree Zampino.

Jada admitted the pair were in fact living separately when Will Smith, 55, famously slapped comedian Chris Rock at the Oscars in 2022, when the latter cracked a joke about his wife's bald hairstyle.

Jada suffers from alopecia.

She noted that no permanent decisions have been made about the future of her marriage.

"We've been doing some really heavy-duty work together," she said.

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"We just got deep love for each other and we are going to figure out what that looks like."

She praised the children -- Jaden, 25, Willow, 22, and Trey, 30, for standing by her during this rocky time in her relationship.

"My children, they're little gurus.

They've taught me a deep sense of self-acceptance," she said.

"They love every part of me. The level of love, unconditional love that they have for me and their dad."

In the chapter of her new book 'Worthy', titled 'The Holy Joke, the Holy Slap, and Holy Lessons', Jada reveals what it was like to be made fun of for her alopecia

by Chris Rock and then witness her husband Will Smith slapping Chris on live television. The book 'Worthy' is being released on October 17.

Jada also reveals in the book that this was the second time that Chris had made fun of her at the Oscars, the first time being in 2016.

47

INDIA NEWS

Oct 16-31, 2023 - Vol 4, Issue 6

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