16 May 2023_

MINISTER NG WELCOMES PIYUSH GOYAL, INDIA'S MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AND BUSINESS DELEGATION FROM INDIA

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FUTURE OF PEEL REGION PREMIER DOUG FORD HINTS SUPPORT FOR INDEPENDENT MISSISSAUGA MISSISSAUGA MAYOR BONNIE CROMBIE WELCOME'S PREMIER FORD'S COMMENTS WE DON'T DISAGREE ON INDEPENDENCE. WE DISAGREE ON HOW MUCH MISSISSAUGA OWES BRAMPTON TO LEAVE: BRAMPTON MAYOR PATRICK BROWN

ONTARIO INVESTING IN MORE ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITIES

I DETAILS ON PAGE 6 I DETAILS ON PAGE 7

CONGRESS WINS KARNATAKA

AAP CLAIMS JALANDHAR BYPOLL

I DETAILS ON PAGE 11

CRISIS IN PAKISTAN DEEPENS; IMRAN KHAN TARGETS ARMY GENERALS, RULING COALITION The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday granted protective bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in Al-Qadir Trust case, hours after he warned of countrywide unrest if he was re-arrested in any other case, local media reported.

During the course of proceedings, Khan had warned of unrest across the country in case of his arrest.

In the first session of the hearing, a two-member special division bench of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) left the courtroom, adjourning the hearing on Khan's bail plea immediately after slogans were chanted in favour of the former premier, Geo News reported.

The IHC took up former prime minister's bail plea a day after Supreme Court termed former prime minister's arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case "unlawful". In response to a question that had he expected to be arrested, Khan replied: "I was 100 per cent certain that I would be arrested."

Following this, the courtroom erupted into slogans in favour of the PTI chief. The courtroom staff tried to stop the chanting; however, they failed to do so. At this, Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb said that this was "unacceptable". Subsequently, the hearing was briefly adjourned for a break for Friday prayers. Khan arrived in a high-security convoy at IHC, where hundreds of police and paramilitary troops have been deployed.

Y MEDIA AT THE MISSISSAUGA ARTS AWARDS (MARTY'S )

I DETAILS ON PAGE 4

Y MEDIA TEAM COVERS SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH I DETAILS ON PAGE 5

NATIONAL HOME SALES UP 11.3% BETWEEN MARCH AND APRIL: CREA OTTAWA– Statistics released today by the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) show national home sales jumped by double digits on a month-over-month basis in April 2023.

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OLIVIA CHOW LEADING TORONTO MAYORAL RACE I DETAILS ON PAGE 7

Y MEDIA EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SYED JAFFERY, TORONTO MAYORAL CANDIDATE

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MAINSTREAM MEDIA TOLD ME 'WE DO NOT HAVE RESOURCES' WHEN I APPROACHED THEM FOR INTERVIEWS: SYED JAFFERY

Y MEDIA COVERS ACHEV'S INAUGURAL ACHEVMENT AWARDS I DETAILS ON PAGE 4

PEOPLE VOTED FOR POLICIES AND INTENTIONS: GURDEEP SINGH DHILLON (MAMU) ON AAP'S VICTORY IN JALANDHAR BYPOLL

CIRCULATED THROUGH : TORONTO, MARKHAM, SCARBOROUGH, RICHMOND HILL, VAUGHAN, WOODBRIDGE, ETOBICOKE, NORTH YORK, MALTON, REXDALE, BRAMPTON, MISSISSAUGA, OAKVILLE, HAMILTON, MILTON, STONEY CREEK, BURLINGTON

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

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04 Y MEDIA TEAM COVERS THE ANNOUCEMNT OF ONTARIO INVESTING UPTO $1.5M IN MORE ACCESSIBEL COMMUNITIES

06 ACHEV LAUNCHES INAUGURAL ACHEVMENT AWARDS

04 Y MEDIA TEAM COVERS TEEYAN 2023

04 Y MEDIA TEAM COVERS SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH

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SPECIAL REPORT

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

Y MEDIA AT THE MISSISSAUGA ARTS AWARDS (MARTY'S )

THE MISSISSAUGA ARTS AWARDS (THE MARTYS) ARE MISSISSAUGA ARTS COUNCIL'S (MAC) ANNUAL AWARDS CELEBRATION HONOURING OUTSTANDING CREATIVE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE ARTS IN OUR CITY. EACH YEAR WE RECOGNIZE HONOUREES WHOSE CREATIVE EXCELLENCE HELPS TRANSFORM MISSISSAUGA'S ARTS SECTOR. THE MISSISSAUGA ARTS COUNCIL IS DEDICATED TO ENABLING THE GROWTH OF THE ARTS BY CREATING OPPORTUNITY AND CONNECTION BETWEEN ARTISTS AND RESIDENTS IN MISSISSAUGA AND BEYOND. NOW IN OUR 42ND YEAR, THE MISSISSAUGA ARTS COUNCIL IS A REGISTERED CHARITY, COMMITTED TO ATTAINING OUR VISION OF MISSISSAUGA, AS A VIBRANT CULTURAL COMMUNITY WHERE ARTS AND CULTURE THRIVE!

ACHEV LAUNCHES INAUGURAL ACHEVMENT AWARDS

NORTH AMERICA'S LARGEST LULULEMON OFFICE COMING TO BRAMPTON

Another win for Wards 9&10, Brampton!

I cannot tell you how excited I am to share that we broke ground today for the 1 million sqft Prologis building at 5525 Countryside Drive.

1,000,000 square feet of industrial space It gets better. I am proud to announce that this building will be home to Lululemon's largest distribution centre and office, generating more than 1500 jobs!

As Regional Councillor for the area, and as Chair of Economic Development, it is my goal to support more of these projects and bring well paying jobs to our city.

Lululemon, welcome to Brampton!

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

SPECIAL REPORT

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MINISTER GOYAL URGES CANADIAN ENTREPRENEURS NOT TO MISS OUT ON THE INDIA OPPORTUNITY

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anada India Foundation members and other prominent stakeholders met with Hon. Piyush Goyal, India's Minister of Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles in Toronto on May 09, 2023. The meeting was arranged to exchange views on the latest developments in the proposed EPTA (Early Progress Trade Agreement). The meeting took place a day after Minister Goyal met with Canada's Minister of International Trade, Mary Ng in Ottawa during the sixth IndiaCanada Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment (MDTI).

Hosted by India's Consul General in Toronto, Minister Goyal got the opportunity to hear directly from prominent businesspeople in the Indo Canadian community on their hopes and aspirations regarding the Canada India bilateral ties.

India's High Commissioner, H.E. Sanjay Verma, Consul General of India in Toronto, Ms. Apoorva Srivastava Ray Gupta, Chairman of Sunray Group with a large presence in the hospitality sector, while inquiring about sourcing for his chain from India stressed on the need for higher quality controls.

Pankaj Dave, CEO of Manas International that trades in metals, requested careful management of tariffs on metals as any sudden increase impacts the business adversely.

Dr. V.I. Lakshmanan, OC, Chair, Process Research ORTECH Inc. and a recipient of the Order of Canada, & Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) listed areas that could prove productive for the Canada India relationship, especially in the mining sector and smart fabric for health sector.

CIF Board of Governor members Mr. Girish Kekre, Mr. Ramesh Chotai, Mr. Vinod Vyas and Mr. Mike Mehta also discussed their ideas of trade, tariff, commerce and manufacturing with the robust Make in India initiative.

Minister Goyal thanked the members for their suggestions and added that government of India is very focused on making sure that quality is a top priority in everything which is exported or imported into the country.

Additionally, India is already looking to broaden the scope of quality control and adding more items on a regular basis to build trust among buyers for India-made products.

He said that India today has a strong, stable, and decisive government that is determined to turn the country into to manufacturing powerhouse.

Minister Goyal informed the gathering that a National Single Window System (NSWS) is in effect to support entrepreneurs from across the world interested in establishing their businesses in India. He invited Canadian entrepreneurs to become the part of India's growth journey.

and Consul General of India in Vancouver, Mr. Manish attended the meeting, and expressed their optimism on the current negotiations leading to positive outcomes.

Satish Thakkar, Chair, CIF, briefed Minister Goyal on the various initiatives being promoted covering many areas of Canada India cooperation including the bilateral sector-wise industry forums held to bring together stakeholders in both countries. He pointed out that following one such a forum on energy organized by the CIF, an agreement on nuclear energy cooperation was signed between Canada and India.

CIF members were keen to hear from the Minister on ways to increase sourcing from India to benefit their businesses in Canada.

Ritesh Malik, National Convener highlighted the importance of entrepreneurship at grassroots in India as the Indian MSME sector is one of the largest contributors to the Indian economy with micro enterprises as the dominant growth enabler. His group's investment in an impact-driven MSME Fintech star tup ARTH (www.arthimpact.in) has helped over 3,50,000 micro businesses with access to responsible credit and health insurance, out of which 30% are women enterprises. The platform has facilitated close to 475 crores of credit to nano and micro businesses across India leveraging it's technology, data & partner-led distribution capabilities.

Minister Goyal laid out the reasons why India offers a great opportunity to businesses in Canada and elsewhere as India is today the fastest growing major economy. As India grows, the markets for products and services will increase exponentially in the coming years, offering companies unprecedented benefits. He urged the potential investors to move quickly to avoid missing this great window opening.

Speaking on the current trade negotiations between India and other countries including Canada, he noted that India would like to ensure that all such agreements are a win-win for both parties. Friendly bilateral ties between governments and the people go a long way in helping to conclude the negotiations.

He appreciated the role of Indian diaspora in Canada and described them as the "permanent ambassadors of India." Indian diaspora organization can play a role in building these links needed to take the file forward, he said. He invited the business community to get engaged with India that has changed dramatically and is on the path to bringing prosperity to every Indian citizen.

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

Y MEDIA TEAM COVERS THE ANNOUCEMNT OF ONTARIO INVESTING UPTO $1.5M IN MORE ACCESSIBEL COMMUNITIES

TORONTO – The Ontario government is providing up to $1.5 million this year to not-for-profits and organizations across the province so they can develop tools and educational resources to raise awareness about the value and benefits of accessibility and help make Ontario open to people of all abilities.

“We are moving forward on the journey to make Ontario more accessible and inclusive,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “The projects our government supports through the EnAbling Change Program are one more way we are ensuring Ontario is accessible for everyone.”

“The EnAbling Change Program is the next step in our government’s efforts to build a more accessible Ontario,” said Graham McGregor, MPP for Brampton North. “The funding provided through this program will help not-

for-profit organizations, including many right here in Brampton, to promote accessibility in the workplace and community and foster a more inclusive Ontario.” Applications for the 2023-24 EnAbling Change Program funding are open now through to June 29 and will focus on projects that create equitable opportunities in the labour market, drive a culture of respect and dignity for people with disabilities, and support awareness and regulatory compliance of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Examples of projects currently funded through the 2022-23 program include: * up to $150,000 to the Ontario Tourism Education Corporation (OTEC) to deliver an employer awareness campaign providing sector leaders with disability awareness training. * up to $119,800 to Retail Council of Canada helps retailers through its

“EnAbling Change for Retailers – Creating an Inclusive Culture within the Retail Store” project. * up to $119,125 to Breaking Down Barriers An Independent Living Centre Inc. “Start the Conversation AODA 2025” includes guides and workshops that cover areas such as accessible customer service, digital accessibility and the design of public spaces. * up to $150,000 to Peel Career Assessment Services Inc. for its “Ability Works” project to help people with disabilities access equitable employment opportunities and employers support inclusive employment. * up to $36,750 to the Algonquin and Lakeshore Catholic District School Board is updating the board’s Special Education Plan, Individual Education Plan Guide and Alternative Report Card. People with disabilities will be included in planning stages and a summary report will be provided to stakeholders to drive a culture of respect and dignity. * up to $116,438 to the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) “CNIB Kids – Inclusive and Accessible Education in Ontario” project. Fully accessible presentations will be made in schools across Ontario and will provide accessibility and sight loss education, and challenge stigmas. * up to $16,450 to Carassauga Festival Inc. to help event organizers plan, assess and deliver accessible events through its “Accessibility at the Festival – Celebrating Inclusion and Diversity” project. * up to $104,516 to ParaGolf Ontario “Driving Toward InclusiON – changing attitudes and increasing opportunities for everybody in the sport of golf” project. The program features new teaching guidelines, coach and ambassador training, and golf events for all abilities.

The Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility’s Age-friendly and accessibility grants web page has information on how to apply for the 2023-24 EnAbling Change Program.

METROLINX IS PLAYING A MAJOR ROLE IN WELCOMING NEWCOMERS

BY PARTICIPATING IN THE 9TH ANNUAL TORONTO NEWCOMER DAY

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heir goal is to create a more integrated and inclusive transit network that will meet the needs of the growing population.

Metrolinx is committed to ensuring that everyone can travel easily and affordably in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton areas.

At the Toronto Newcomer Day Information Fair, attendees can check out the Metrolinx booth and view the digital installation of the transit map. This interactive exhibit showcases how transit can connect newcomers to important destinations such as hospitals, Service Ontario locations, and immigration centers, as well as getaways, attractions, and tourist destinations.

Visitors can also learn about the benefits of having a PRESTO card, which includes transit fare discounts and discounts on many attractions. The booth also provides information about GO Transit's regional public transportation network, and learn how to visit or pick up loved ones by taking the UP Express to Pearson Airport.

Metrolinx staff will be on-site with giveaways, including informational brochures, possibilities passports, and more.

Event details When: Wednesday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Nathan Phillips Square, 100 Queen Street West - Downtown Toronto Cost: Admission is free

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

SPECIAL REPORT

MidWeek 7 CHOW GROWS LEAD IN MAYOR RACE TORONTO – In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 2000 Toronto residents, Olivia Chow continues to lead the race for the upcoming mayoral election with support from 33% of decided and leaning voters, up 2% from the previous week.

Mark Saunders (14%) and Josh Matlow (14%) remain in second and third place, with Matlow losing 1% support from the previous week.

Among those surveyed, 39% of those who are decided and leaning support a range of other candidates, none of whom obtained more than 8% support. * Chow is maintaining a comfortable lead,•h said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff, President of Forum Research. “However, it•fs still early in the race.”

Among those surveyed, the most important issues in the mayoral election are housing affordability (23%) and the cost of living & inflation (22%).

The poll was conducted by Forum Research with the results based on an interactive voice response telephone survey of 2000 randomly selected Toronto residents over the age of 18, 72% by cellphone and 28% on landlines. The poll was conducted from May 6th to May 7th, 2023. Results based on the total sample are considered accurate +/ •] 2%, 19 times out of 20. Subsample and regional results will be less accurate. Margins of error for subsample results are available at www.forumresearch.com/samplestim.asp.

LASALLE PARK COMMUNITY MARINA AND PUBLIC BOAT LAUNCH OPENING MAY 13

TELUS COMMITS $5 MILLION TO SUPPORT ALBERTA FIRE RELIEF TELUS, TELUS FRIENDLY FUTURE FOUNDATION, TELUS INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES FUND, TELUS AGRICULTURE & CONSUMER GOODS AND TELUS HEALTH, TOGETHER, ARE DONATING TO LOCAL GRASSROOTS CHARITIES IN ALBERTA, SUPPORTING RELIEF EFFORTS ON THE GROUND VANCOUVER: In response to the devastating wildfires spreading throughout Alberta and its impact on children and families, TELUS, in partnership with TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund, TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods and TELUS Health are making an initial commitment of $5 million in cash donations and in-kind contributions to local charities and organizations supporting relief efforts and first responders, including the Canadian Red Cross and Salvation Army.

"Our team is deeply saddened by the widespread wildfires across Alberta and our thoughts are with those impacted by this disaster," said Darren Entwistle, President and CEO of TELUS. "We have a long-standing history of being there for Albertans, particularly in their time of need, and it is an honour to lend our support through an initial investment of $5 million, as wildfires continue to ravage many parts of our province. I am grateful to our team for continuing to demonstrate that when things are at their worst, Canadians can count on TELUS to be at its very best, offering our resources and human compassion to help our fellow citizens in need."

TELUS technicians continue to work around the clock to maintain critical infrastructure and network connectivity under the most challenging of conditions to ensure Albertans and first responders stay connected. These efforts include ensuring emergency generators are running for cell sites to provide wireless coverage throughout the province. In partnership with Ralcomm Ltd., a portable cell tower was placed outside of Drayton Valley for evacuees and first responders to stay connected. TELUS is also deploying extra network technology to evacuation centres such as Smart Hubs and power banks so everyone can stay connected to their loved ones.

Donations and in-kind support to assist with wildfire relief effor ts in Alberta include: * TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, TELUS Edmonton and Northern Alber ta Community Board, TELUS Calgary and Southern Alber ta Community Board, TELUS Indigenous Communities Fund, TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods, and TELUS Health are committing $500,000 to help evacuees and Albertans in need through local relief efforts, mental health support, emergency care and providing food and supplies to affected areas. * TELUS Health has initiated a free community crisis hotline available 24/7 to all Canadians at 1-844-751-2133 and is providing support through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) help line for eligible employees of their clients. * Notifying impacted TELUS and Koodo residential and business customers via SMS that we are waiving all domestic voice, text and data overage fees, helping them stay connected to loved ones. * TELUS Health and TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods are providing complimentary mental health support for farmers and in-kind emergency veterinary care for cattle. * TELUS Friendly Future Foundation has activated a text-to-donate fundraising campaign whereby TELUS customers can text DONATE to 41010 to give $20 to TELUS Friendly Future Foundation to support registered charities providing wildfire relief across the province. * TELUS team members are contributing to TELUS Friendly Future Foundation which TELUS is triple matching in support of Alberta fire relief efforts. * TELUS Community Ambassadors delivered disaster kits with essential items like bandages, USB car chargers and flashlights to support evacuees from Brazeau County and Drayton Valley.

In addition, TELUS is engaged with evacuated Indigenous communities to understand their needs and supply necessities such as water, diapers and non-perishable food items.

To support Albertans who may not be able to travel to see their doctor, TELUS Health MyCare is free to download and offers a robust suite of services, including those covered by provincial health insurance, such as access to licensed medical professionals in numerous languages, specialist referrals, mental health counsellors and registered dietitians.

TELUS Health patients who were evacuated and usually receive their prescriptions by home delivery can contact: 1-877-796-7979 to re-route their prescription, if needed immediately, to another location or accessible pharmacy.

Customers in Alberta and B.C. can redeem their TELUS Rewards points for a $20 donation to TELUS Friendly Future Foundation in support of wildfire relief efforts. To learn more about TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, visit friendlyfuture.com.

About TELUS TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a dynamic, world-leading communications technology company with more than $18 billion in annual revenue and 18 million customer connections spanning wireless, data, IP, voice, television, entertainment, video, and security. Our social purpose is to leverage our global-leading technology and compassion to drive social change and enable remarkable human outcomes. Our longstanding commitment to putting our customers first fuels every aspect of our business, making us a distinct leader in customer service excellence and loyalty. The numerous, sustained accolades TELUS has earned over the years from independent, industry-leading network insight firms showcase the strength and speed of TELUS' global-leading networks, reinforcing our commitment to provide Canadians with access to superior technology that connects us to the people, resources and information that make our lives better.

Operating in 31 countries around the world, TELUS International (TSX and NYSE: TIXT) is a leading digital customer experience innovator that designs, builds, and delivers next-generation solutions, including AI and content moderation, for global and disruptive brands across strategic industry verticals, including tech and games, communications and media and eCommerce and fintech.

TELUS Health is a global health care leader, which provides employee and family primary and preventive health care and wellness solutions.

Our TELUS team, along with our 100,000 health professionals, are leveraging the combination of TELUS' strong digital and data analytics capabilities with our unsurpassed client service to dramatically improve remedial, preventive and mental health outcomes covering 67 million lives, and growing, around the world. As the largest provider of digital solutions and digital insights of its kind, TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods enables efficient and sustainable production from seed to store, helping improve the safety and quality of food and other goods in a way that is traceable to end consumers.

Driven by our determination and vision to connect all citizens for good, our deeply meaningful and enduring philosophy to give where we live has inspired TELUS and our team to contribute $1.5 billion, including 2 million days of service since 2000. This unprecedented generosity and unparalleled volunteerism have made TELUS the most giving company in the world. Together, let's make the future friendly.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com, follow us at @TELUSNews on Twitter and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram.

The LaSalle Park Community Marina and public boat launch will be opening May 13, 2023. The Marina is also home to the Burlington Sailing and Boating Club and the Burlington Able Sail program.

About the LaSalle Park Community Marina Through an agreement with the City, the Marina has been operated by the LaSalle Park Marina Association (LPMA) for 42 years.

The City owns the wave break and the Marina.

The Marina is a beautiful location for residents and tourists to launch their boats and enjoy the crisp waters of Lake Ontario and Burlington's breathtaking lakefront views. The Marina has 219 docking spaces and is protected by a new floating wave break that was installed in 2020. The Burlington Sailing and Boating Club and the Burlington Able Sail program offer sailing programs at the Marina. In addition, the City has a public boat launch at the Marina that is protected by the floating wave break.

For more information on the LaSalle Park Community Marina, visit burlington.ca/marina.

Burlington is a city where people, nature and businesses thrive.

Sign up to learn more about Burlington at burlington.ca/subscribe and follow @CityBurlington on social media.

Quotes Denise Beard, Manager of Community Development "The Marina and public boat launch is a great asset to the city not only for residents but also boaters from our neighbouring areas and tourists. We are a city with a beautiful lakeshore and seeing it by boat is a great way to enjoy it."

Lorn Newton, President of LaSalle Park Marina Association "The Marina is a Lake Ontario gem. We open May 13 and our stable docks are well protected, the bay is wonderful for an afternoon sail and we have easy access to the lake. We can accommodate up to 35-foot craft. We are accessible and we are open and welcoming to all."

SIKH TEMPLE STAFFER ARRESTED IN BRITISH COLUMBIA FOR ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT ON TEEN A 58-year-old staffer at a Sikh temple in Canada's British Columbia province has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 15 year-old girl, the police said. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said they are investigating the incident, which took place earlier this month at or in the area of the Gurdwara Dukh Nivaran in Newton. The suspect was arrested a day after the incident, and has been released on the condition that he have no contact with the victim and not be in the presence of anyone under 16 without another adult. No charges have been laid on the temple staffer as yet, and the suspect's employer has been informed of the allegations, the police said. "Our Special Victims Unit are leading this investigation, with support for the youth victim from Surrey Women's Centre," Corporal Sarbjit Sangha said in a news release. "We urge anyone with information to come forward, as investigators continue to work to gather evidence and advance the investigation," Sangha said. Under Canada's criminal code, the maximum punishment for sexual assault charges is 14 years of prison. The incident follows two more cases of sexual assault on minors reported in the month of May alone by men of Indian-origin. A 40year-old Sikh priest and teacher Bhupinder Singh Sonu was charged this month with six counts of sexual offences involving children in British Columbia province. Before Sonu, a 62-year-old Indo-Canadian homeopathic doctor Sunil Anand was charged with sexual assault and sexual interference of a young patient in Brampton, following an investigation by the Peel Regional Police Special Victims Unit.

MINISTER NG WELCOMES PIYUSH GOYAL, INDIA'S MINISTER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, AND BUSINESS DELEGATION FROM INDIA

BRAMPTON IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE CITY FOR CAR INSURANCE IN ONTARIO: REPORT

OTTAWA: India’s strategic, economic and demographic importance in the Indo-Pacific makes it a critical partner in Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. This week, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of International Trade, Export Promotion, Small Business and Economic Development, welcomed Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, and Indian business leaders to Canada. In Ottawa, Minister Ng and Minister Goyal hosted the 6th Canada-India Ministerial Dialogue on Trade and Investment, during which they issued a joint statement on strengthening Canada-India economic relations.

Joined by officials from both countries, the ministers made progress on key trade initiatives such as ongoing talks toward an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA). They reaffirmed that EPTA would cover shared areas of importance such as high level commitments in goods, investment, service, a focus on rules-based international order, technical barriers to trade and dispute settlement.

Canada and India have a growing and prosperous trading relationship – our bilateral trade in goods reached about $11.9 billion in 2022, a 56% growth from 2021. Our service trade reached $8.9 billion in 2022. These numbers show what happens when Canada and India work together.

Minister Goyal and Minister Ng reaffirmed their shared commitment to enhance cooperation in key sectors of mutual interest such as critical minerals, clean tech, renewable energy and AI. The ministers discussed continuing to work together in coordinating investment promotion, information exchange and mutual support between Canada and India through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) later this year. The ministers agreed to an annual meeting of officials on the margins of the Prospectors and Developers Association Conference in Toronto, to advance their shared priority of G2G coordination to promote critical mineral supply chain resiliency and other issues of mutual interest. With Minister Goyal as guest of honour, Minister Ng hosted a dinner in Ottawa that brought together close to 150 Canadian and Indian business leaders and parliamentarians. During this event, Minister Ng announced Canada’s plan to undertake a Team Canada trade mission to India in October as part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy. The two ministers also agreed to relaunch the Canada-India CEO Forum, with new priorities to enhance business to business ties. The ministers noted the desire for enhanced discussions in the area of migration and mobility, with the significant movement of students, professional and skilled workers, and business travelers between our two countries. The ministers held meetings with business representatives in Toronto, including at a round table hosted by the Business Council of Canada, and another round table focused on finance and investment issues.

Ontario's average estimated auto insurance premium rose 12% in 2023 compared to 2021, according to data from the RATESDOTCA Insuramap, an interactive online map that shows the average insurance rates by postal code. The average estimated premium is currently $1,744, marking the largest increase in the history of the Insuramap survey. In late December 2021, the last time RATESDOTCA surveyed the province, the average estimated auto insurance premium was $1,555. A lot has changed since. The lifting of COVID restrictions means drivers have mostly returned to their pre-pandemic routines. Meanwhile, operating costs for insurers are rising due to surging inflation, ongoing vehicle and parts shortages, longer wait times for repairs, an uptick in car theft, and a jump in the number and severity of claims filed.

Here are some of the key trends revealed by the data: Brampton is once again the city with the highest average rate in the province at $2,707 per year after falling to number four in the last survey. The average estimated rate is up 37%.

York Region cities dominate the rankings, including Vaughan, last year’s top spot holder. Vaughan fell to the middle of the list at $2,158 annually, although its rate remained mostly stable, declining by only 1% year-over-year.

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OPINION

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

PRIORITISING THE ROAD AHEAD FOR THE INDIAN INDUSTRY The last nine years have proved to be a period of immense economic and commercial gains for India businesses, partly helped by the governments new policy initiatives and also the charged-up Indian businessmen ready to take-up new challenges and claim their due place under the sun.

Seventy-five years after independence, becoming the fifth largest economy in the world and poised to be the third largest economy by 2030, India has indeed surpassed many significant milestones. But the moot question here is what has fuelled India's growth, the services or the manufacturing sector, and what should be its future plan of action.

The economic reforms ushered-in by the Narasimha Rao government in 1990s, and the subsequent unshackling of chains bounding the private sector ill then, proved to be a boon for the Indian businessmen. But more or less these economic reforms ushered in the groundwork for future transformation of the Indian businesses, which were able to lead the growth curve with the services sector.

Currently G-20 Sherpa and former head of the Niti Aayog, Amitabh Kant in his book, 'Made in India: 75 Years of Business and Enterprise', offers an insiders peep in to the second-generation reforms which began in 2014 and delves deep into the policies and people behind the new age startups and their novel businesses versions that are unleashing the entrepreneurial zeal among the Indian youth.

Kant's ringside view as a top policy maker have added immensely to the book, besides highlighting his out of the box campaigns such as Make In India, Star t-up India, God's Own Country, and policy changes like Performance-Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI), Aspirational Districts, eMobility, Green Hydrogen, and Ease of Doing Business reforms.

However, the book has also gave an opportunity to the top business leaders and policy makers to air their views about the future course to be taken by the Indian government and the businesses to lead this economic growth trajectory.

Speaking at the book release function of the book, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made a strong pitch for the country to refocus its economic growth strategy on manufacturing. While Kant emphasised that the growth of MSMEs (Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) in India is also desirable but is contingent upon having very large companies.

On the other hand N Chandrasekaran, Chairman of Tata Sons expounded that there are three transitions coupled with moving geopolitical situations.

From the transition's point of view, the first is digital and AI, second one is energy and third one is supply chain. In all the three transitions, India is probably the best placed country in the world, to maximise on the opportunities offered and further propelling the Indian growth story.

Uday Kotak highlighted the resilience and stability of the Indian banking system and financial systems in the world today. He felt that the Indian banking industry has got something right in comparison to the US and European banks. He said we have got our act together, we have created

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TAKING THE DEBATE FURTHER ON SERVICES SECTOR V/S MANUFACTURING SECTOR, JAISHANKAR OPINED THAT THIS FOCUS ON SERVICES WAS ACTUALLY AN ELEGANT EXCUSE FOR BEING INCOMPETENT. HE FURTHER EMPHASISED THAT INDIA WILL NEVER BE A GREAT COUNTRY IF IT IS NOT A GREAT MANUFACTURER. HE ALSO BATTED FOR THE PRODUCTION LINKED INCENTIVE SCHEME (PLI) SCHEME, WHICH PROVIDES INCENTIVES FOR DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS. IN HIS OPENING REMARKS, KANT, DISTINGUISHED INDIA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH CHALLENGE FROM THAT OF OTHER COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA AND SOUTH KOREA. HE STRESSED ON THE NEED FOR INDIA TO FORAY INTO SUNRISE SECTORS OF GROWTH LIKE MOBILE MANUFACTURING AND ELECTRIC MOBILITY, INDUSTRIALISING FURTHER WITHOUT CARBONISING. WHILE PUSHING FOR A REFOCUS ON MANUFACTURING, JAISHANKAR REMARKED CORRECTLY THAT INDIA NEED TO STOP LOOKING FOR A CHINA FIX. INDIAN GROWTH CANNOT BE BUILT ON THE PATTERN OF CHINESE EFFICIENCY AND PLANNED INPUTS AND OUTPUTS.

a stable financial system, well capitalised and it's a goldilocks time -lowest non-performing assets, clean credit, reasonable growth in the book, and none of these risk issues like we are seeing in the developed nations. Thus assuring the stability and the solidity of the Indian financial sector, in the future too.

Taking the debate further on services sector v/s manufacturing sector, Jaishankar opined that this focus on services was actually an elegant excuse for being incompetent. He further emphasised that India will never be a great country if it is not a great manufacturer. He also batted for the Production Linked Incentive Scheme (PLI) scheme, which provides incentives for domestic manufacturers.

In his opening remarks, Kant, distinguished India's economic growth challenge from that of other countries like China and South Korea. He stressed on the need for India to foray into sunrise sectors of growth like mobile manufacturing and electric mobility, industrialising further without carbonising.

While pushing for a refocus on manufacturing, Jaishankar remarked correctly that India need to stop looking for a China fix. Indian growth cannot be built on the pattern of Chinese efficiency and planned inputs and outputs.

India surely lost on the count of efficiency, when during the Covid period, with lockdowns affecting Chinese production capabilities and the order books getting bulky, Chinese companies preferred to spread base in countries like Vietnam instead of India.

Jaishankar also touched on the gap of comprehensive national power between India and China, which he described as a big concern in the diplomatic arena.

Comprehensive national power is a common parlance in foreign policy to refer to a totality of a country's economic, military and political power.

The foreign minister went as far as to say that improvements in Ease of Doing Business (EDB) have helped grow India's "global stature", and proves that India is finally moving towards "a politics of delivery".

Without directly referring to the Ukraine war, the Indian foreign minister remarked that the current "global polarisation" is an opportunity for India.

"Global polarisation has made diplomacy far more complex but it is also a window of opportunity for many nations. Smart business moves can really open up many possibilities," he said.

Unambiguously all the participants were unanimous in highlighting and appreciating India's robust economic growth since 2014, increase in its global stature besides expanding its wings in those sectors which were hither to considered unapproachable or unfeasible for the Indian businesses to manage, but Indian businessmen have proved the critics and naysayers wrong, majorly due to the support and guidance provided by the government.

As most of the panellists at the book launch agreed we indeed have to take a clarion call to move our industries to the manufacturing paradigm but additionally we also have to focus more on building-up the infrastructure ecosystem, which could sustain these large scale manufacturing activities, which in turn will give a boost to the MSMEs, only then we could be safe and proud in proclaiming that India's development story after 2014 has been a successful one, based on its performance levels.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed within this article are the personal ideas of the author. The facts and conclusions appearing in the article do not reflect the views of Y Media and Midweek Newspaper, and Y Media does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

MidWeek 9

CANADA

HEATHER HE, CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR OF TORONTO, ATTENDED THE MOTHER'S DAY EVENT IN TORONTO

In the bright spring days, today, on May 14, we ushered in the warmest human holiday - Mother's Day. Co-organized by the Hua Fengyun Art Troupe, the Canada Care Alliance ,and the campaign team of Toronto Mayoral candidate Heather He, this is to make Toronto a better place for tomorrow and our Toronto home: The water is clearer, the sky is bluer, the city is cleaner, the community is safer, and transpor tation is more convenient. The elderly enjoy free transportation, and students enjoy free lunch. The large-scale celebration, publicity, and performance activities started happily at Milliken Park Community Recreation Centre in Toronto.

Performance activities by the old artist, Hua Feng Yun Art Troupe Laura Wu, personally as the celebration of Mother's Day performance director and commander in chief. Jason Wang, president of the Pan Pacific Cultural and Economic Association of North America, is the male host, and Sasha is the female host. The repertoire is complete: dance, song singing, martial arts, recitation, solo singing, male and female chorus, and more.

The performance begins slowly with the chorus of the "Canadian National Anthem". Mr. Jin, the old artist, played an accordion solo for Heather He, the mayoral candidate, which brought joy to everyone. In particular, Heather He, the mayoral candidate, sang "Happy Hometown", which won enthusiastic cheers from the entire audience. Quiet and happiness fill our mothers' hearts, and under the leadership of Mayor He in the future, happiness will be our forever home!

The happy melody of Mother's Day, the beautiful dancing, the joyful singing, the cheerful smiles, and the passionate speech of mayoral candidate Heather He brought a unique holiday gift to the mothers on Mother's Day: making Toronto a better place tomorrow! Heather He said in her speech that her campaign platform includes: Implementation of the Care Bank; Providing day care services for the elderly; Free off-peak transit for seniors Accelerated application process for senior housing. boost the education industry Providing Free Lunches for primary and secondary school students?Improving the efficiency of government work and road maintenance and urban cleanliness; Strengthening Security; Implementing a dual-layer security system; Housing the homeless; Simplifying landlord-tenant dispute litigation; Implementing a first-time homebuyer credit; Freezing Local Taxes;

Building the subway; Building underground parking lots, canceling surface parking lots. Special entrepreneur contribution Award.

Heather He explains why she is running for mayor of Toronto, where students get free lunches, seniors get free rides, and neighborhoods become safer, all without raising taxes. Finally, Heather He would like to thank all of her supporters who came out today and have followed her campaign. She expresses her gratitude to all the volunteers, the director, and all the performers. She also thanks President Wang of NPAC for his dedicated sponsorship for Canada Care Alliance and wonderful singing, and expresses appreciation for the wonderful hosting. This event only took two days to prepare, and there were hundreds of people present!

Bang the drum for Heather He, the mayor of Toronto! Like a rainbow!

Heather He, No.1! Heather He will win! It rings through the clouds! Heather He vows, and heaven and earth bear witness: I, Heather He ,will devote the rest of my life to gathering all the strength and leading everyone to make Toronto a better place! A Better Toronto! Please believe in me and suppor t me! When asked why her campaign website is www.carebank.world, Heather He replied: Caring changes the world!

ONTARIO INVESTING $700,000 IN LIFE-SAVING TRAINING FOR FIREFIGHTERS

MISSISSAUGA — The Ontario government is investing $700,000 to suppor t four innovative and free training projects designed for 203 professional and volunteer firefighters around the province. Training will focus on fighting fires in hazardous (Mayday) situations for small and rural services to ensure they are equipped and prepared for ground

rescue and wildfire scenarios. There will also be courses for automobile extraction, boating and water safety, and elevator rescue.

“Our firefighters are true heroes who face danger head-on and without hesitation to protect our communities and our people,” said Premier Doug Ford. “These new investments will help to ensure they have the training and resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively.”

Firefighting is among the most stressful careers in Ontario. In recognition of the mental toll, this investment will also contribute to peer suppor t training for suicide awareness and crisis intervention.

Two projects will be led by the Ontario Professional Fire Fighters Association, while the City of Mississauga and the Town of Georgina are receiving funding as well.

“Firefighters work tirelessly to protect others and the physical and mental stresses they face takes a toll,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

“Our government is proud to invest in training programs that offer peer suppor t and mental health services to ensure our firefighters have the training and experience they need to take care of their communities and themselves.”

ONTARIO FINISHES BUILDING NEW UPGRADES TO BRAMALEA GO STATION

BRAMPTON – The Ontario government has finished building major infrastructure improvements at Bramalea GO station in Brampton, suppor ting future two-way, all-day GO train service along the Kitchener line and connecting more people to transit, jobs and housing across the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

“The new and improved Bramalea GO station is a huge boost for the people and businesses of Brampton and throughout the Greater Golden Horseshoe,” said Premier Doug Ford. “As the population of this region grows, we’re bringing more transit options, including more all-day GO train service alongside the future Highway 413, to reduce gridlock and keep people and goods moving.”

Major improvements at Bramalea GO include a brand-new accessible station building, a parking garage with 2,059 spaces, and a new bus loop that will provide better access to regional GO and local Brampton Transit bus services. Customers can also access 18 new bus platforms and a new stop inside Bramalea GO station for Züm, Brampton Transit’s rapid bus service.

“With an estimated 12,200 daily riders using Bramalea GO by 2041, this station is a key transit hub for families, commuters and businesses in Brampton and across the Greater Golden Horseshoe,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation.

“Building Ontario through critical infrastructure projects like the new and improved Bramalea GO station is part of our government’s plan to improve transit, while unlocking access to more jobs and housing.” The station improvements will support Ontario’s plans for 15-minute two-way, all-day service on the Kitchener line, serving communities like Waterloo, Kitchener, Guelph and Brampton. It will also allow GO Transit to accommodate even more daily passengers at Bramalea GO, one of the busiest stations along the corridor.

“Extensive public transit infrastructure is key to a livable, sustainable, and inclusive city,” said Maninder Sidhu, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Brampton East, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities. “Today’s announcement brings us one step closer to connecting travellers across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area with a seamless and accessible transit experience.” In April, Ontario also introduced new two-way weekend GO train service between Brampton and Toronto. The weekend service runs hourly in both directions between Mount Pleasant GO and Union Station.

INDIAN-ORIGIN CANDIDATES IN RACE FOR TORONTO'S MAYORAL ELECTIONS A handful of Indo-Canadians are among 102 candidates in fray for the Toronto mayoral election to be held for the remaining city council term of 2022-2026 following Mayor John Tory's resignation early this year. The candidates for the June 26 by-election were cer tified by Toronto City Clerk John D. Elvidge.

Born to Indo-Guyanese and Afro-Bermudian parents, Knia Singh has ran for political office municipally, provincially and federally, most notably running for Mayor in the 2018 and 2022 Municipal elections.

Singh received the community service award from the Jamaican Canadian Association in 2016 and was named the Toronto Star person to watch for 2014. He co-founded the Osgoode Society Against Institutional Injustice, which was instrumental in challenging carding and arbitrary detention across police services in Ontario.

"I seek to be the representative of our city as someone who has lived through various stages of life experience, and who can relate and identify with the needs of all people, from those trying to find their next meal, to those looking to invest in an economic venture," Singh said in his campaign statement. Sandeep Srivastava, who came to Toronto from India as a teenager, ran unsuccessfully in the last municipal election. As a Mayor, Srivastava says he hopes to build a more sustainable and cost-efficient community.

"I want to build Toronto Smar t City based on my local municipal experience, knowledge, skills, and strengths. I put forward a plan to make sure that we're bringing Business and Technology jobs back to Toronto by rewarding companies and small businesses," he said in his campaign statement. Habiba Desai and Par tap Singh Dua are among other candidates who have thrown their hats in the ring.

Desai most recently ran in the 2022 municipal election in Scarborough-

Guildwood for a Councillor position and gained over 1000 votes.

With 102, a record-high number of candidates have ever registered for Mayor of the amalgamated City of Toronto, surpassing the previous record of 65 candidates in the 2014 municipal election, a release by City of Toronto stated. There were General Accounting & Bookkeeping 31 certified candidates for Mayor of Toronto in the 2022 municipal election.

The city said advance voting days for the election will run from June 8 to June 13 with the election day set on June 26.

The Mayor of Toronto is the head of Toronto City Council and chief executive officer of the municipal government.

He is elected alongside the city council every four years on the fourth Monday of October.

However, this time the by-election was called after Toronto's long-time Mayor John Tory resigned on February 17 following reports of an affair with a staffer.

Nominations for the mayoral election closed on May 12.

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CANADA

ONTARIO LAUNCHING ELECTRIC VEHICLE GO BUS SERVICE OSHAWA – The Ontario government is bringing two new fully electric zero-emission GO buses into service for the first time as part of its plan to support electric vehicles, reduce emissions and expand clean, green transit options across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. “The launch of these electric buses marks a significant milestone in our government’s plan to be a global leader in the electric vehicle revolution,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We’re building a strong electric vehicle supply chain, securing game changing investments in electric vehicles and battery manufacturing, and getting more electric vehicles on the road. The future is electric and we’re leading the charge.”

Starting May 15, commuters on GO bus routes 19 (Mississauga/North York), 27 (Milton/North York), 92 (Oshawa/Yorkdale) and 96B (Oshawa/ Finch Express) will have the opportunity to travel on the zero-emission buses. The buses will be identifiable by their unique exterior, which features a lightning bolt. Once onboard, commuters will experience a quieter ride and have access to USB chargers and seatbelts.

“These electric vehicle buses are an exciting new transportation option, bolstering the presence of zero-emission technology in Ontario,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “As we deliver on our plan to get Ontarians moving, we will continue to leverage clean-energy

opportunities that are good for people and good for the environment.” The new electric vehicle GO buses have been in the testing phase without passengers since December 2021. As commuters travel on the new buses, the province will continue to evaluate feedback to help inform the potential future expansion of the program and our Made-In-Ontario strategy to procure electric vehicles and low-carbon equipment.

STREET BOYS CALEDON CELEBRATE AAP'S VICTORY IN JALANDHAR BYPOLL On May 13, 2023, Street Boys Caledon (Canada) celebrated Aam Aadmi Party victory in Jalandhar by election in the backyard of senior party leader Rupinder Uppal (Master Ji). The volunteers distributed sweets to each other and sweetened Masterji's mouth. Master ji said that this is a great victory for AAP Punjab and the party will get a good boost in Punjab. Apart from this, he said that the party has done a good job by running a positive campaign instead of a negative campaign like the opposition parties. The people of Punjab are really happy and satisfied with the work and progress of the present government. Apart from this, Masterji thanked the leaders, workers and volunteers of each par ty.

Apart from Masterji, Raja Gill, Nikku, Bhinder, Gary Thind, Suchet, Harnek etc were present.

NATIONAL HOME SALES UP 11.3% BETWEEN MARCH AND APRIL: CREA CONTD. FROM PAGE 1 Highlights: National home sales surged 11.3% month-over-month in April.

Actual (not seasonally adjusted) monthly activity came in 19.5% below April 2022.

The number of newly listed properties edged up 1.6% month-over-month but remain at a 20-year low.

The MLS® Home Price Index (HPI) climbed 1.6% month-over-month but was down 12.3% year-over-year.

The actual (not seasonally adjusted) national average sale price posted a 3.9% year-over-year decline in April.

Home sales recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems posted an 11.3% increase from March to April 2023, foreshadowed by smaller back-toback gains recorded in February and March. (Chart A) The actual (not seasonally adjusted) number of transactions in April 2023 came in 19.5% below April 2022, a markedly smaller decline than those seen over the past year. “Over the last few months, there have been signs that housing markets were going to heat back up this year, so it wasn’t a surprise to see things take off after the Easter weekend, which often serves as the opener to the spring market,” said Larry Cerqua, CREA’s 2023-2024 Chair. “The issue going forward is not new: demand is once again returning at a scale that is outpacing supply. If you’re looking for information and guidance about how to buy or sell a property in this rapidly changing market, contact a REALTOR® in your area,” continued Cerqua.Following the trend seen in recent months, the sales increase was broad-based but once again dominated by the B.C. Lower Mainland and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

324TH VAISAKHI CELEBRATIONS AND THE MALTON - TORONTO NAGAR KIRTAN The 324th Vaisakhi celebrations hosted by Ontario Gurdwaras Committee were attended by over 200,000 people, sangat (congregation) that had come together to commemorate the founding of the Khalsa. As we embarked on this Nagar Kirtan, we immersed ourselves in the powerful Sikh vision of Khalistan and the indomitable essence of the Khalsa, steeped in Sikh philosophy, in its pursuit. We dedicated this year's celebrations to our puratan and vartman shaheeds like Shaheed Bhai Parmjit Singh Panjwar, killed by the Government of India on May 6th 2023.

The Khalsa, an embodiment of the Guru’s divine sovereignty (patshahi), is rooted in the timeless principles of Miri-Piri (temporal and spiritual) and has been bestowed the sacred mission to establish a just socialpolitical structure where each individual and community can soar to their highest potential, liberated from any form of discrimination–be it gender, caste, or religion–in order to achieve the spirit of Sarbat da Bhala (welfare of all). Our hearts fervently yearn to actualize this vision of Halemi Raaj and Begampura, the ideal Sikh state where sorrow and grief are transcended, and the spirit of chardi kala (rising spirits) reigns supreme. Galvanized by unwavering devotion to the Guru and Panth, countless naujawan, including Bhai Jagtaar Singh Tara, Bhai Jagtar Singh Johal, Bhai Jagtar Singh Hawara, and others, have selflessly offered their tan (body), mann (mind), and dhan (money) to the noble cause of Khalistan. Though incarcerated today, their sacrifices fuel our determination, and we pledge to learn from their lives and persevere in our struggle for Khalistan. This gathering reiterates our collective commitment to liberate these political prisoners from Indian jails and express our support for every effort and morcha calling for their immediate release. Our naujawans (youth) have valiantly embraced the path of our revered shaheeds, like Sant Jarnail Singh Khalsa Bhindranwale, Jathedaar Kaunke, Bhai Jugraj Singh Toofan, Bhai Manochal, and countless others. Upholding the teachings of Gurbani and the spirit of sewa, naujawans like Bhai Amritpal Singh and jatha (group) have taken up the parchaar mohim (movement to preach) with dauntless resolve, breaking the shackles of the drug epidemic that has plagued Punjab, and rekindling the qaumi jazba (rising religious spirit). We are now entrusted with the sacred duty to carry forward the indomitable legacy of our shaheeds and nourish the sangarsh (struggle) with unwavering fortitude. Today’s gathering reiterates our collective commitment to reignite Sikh parchar and amrit sanchar worldwide.

Lastly, it is vital to shed light on the plight of Sikhs who have recently been arrested and are now being held in Indian prisons under draconian laws such as the National Security Act (NSA). The qaum must continue to expose the injustices inflicted upon Sikhs in Punjab by the Indian state.

From granting impunity to those guilty of heinous crimes during the Sikh genocide, to protecting those responsible for the beadbi (desecration) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib jee, and continuing to repress Sikh naujawan, India continues every effort to criminalize Sikh dissent and maintain the genocidal structures of violence.

As a sovereign people, Sikhs continue to resist and build institutions of sovereign self-governance, defying the terms and conditions the state seeks to impose. As long as the Indian state represses the right to selfdetermination and restricts the political space necessary to advocate for Khalistan, the Sikh panth will resolutely continue its movement towards sovereignty by any means necessary.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

INDIA

MidWeek 11 KARNATAKA CM RACE: SHIVAKUMAR CANCELS DELHI TRIP, SENDS BEST WISHES TO SIDDARAMAIAH

'BOTH SIDDARAMAIAH, DKS WORKED HARD BUT ONLY ONE CAN BE CM' Congress leader Syed Naseer Hussain on Monday said even as both former Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and state unit party chief D.K. Shivakumar have worked hard and led the party from the front, "only one of the two can be the Chief Minister".

He said that the party leaders would discuss "what is best for Karnataka and its people", and soon, a decision will be taken after discussing with the top leadership, A meeting of the Congress observers for Karnataka was held on Monday at the residence of INC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Hussain said both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar have worked hard to strengthen the party and led from the front against the BJP. Speaking to the media outside Kharge's residence after arriving from Bengaluru, Hussain said: "We have our senior leadership, where par ty chief Kharge and former par ty chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are here and here we have general secretary organisation (K.C. Venugopal) and general secretary in-charge of Karnataka Randeep Singh Surjewala too.

"They will discuss what is best for the state, what is best for the people of the state and what is best for the state Congress. As the Lok Sabha elections would be held next year, we will discuss accordingly," the

Rajya Sabha MP said.

Asked if any announcement would be made by Tuesday morning, he said: "We will do it as soon as we can, and we will have to make preparations for the oath ceremony."

All three Congress observers -- former Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, party general secretary Jitendra Singh and party leader Deepak Bawaria -- met Kharge and submitted their repor t and held deliberations over government formation in Karnataka.

Shinde, Singh and Bawaria were deputed as observers for the Karnataka CLP meeting by Kharge on Sunday.

The observers had returned from Bengaluru on Monday afternoon, after they had held discussions with the party MLAs in the state on Sunday evening.

They had taken the views of the newly elected MLAs in Bengaluru in oneon-one interactions late on Sunday night.

The Congress leadership has called both Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar for further discussions.

Congress has won 135 out of 224 seats in the state assembly whereas the BJP was reduced to 66 seats.

The JD-S got 19 seats.

The race for the post of the next Karnataka Chief Minister turned more intriguing as state Congress President D.K. Shivakumar cancelled his Delhi trip to skip the meeting called by senior party leader Sonia Gandhi on Monday.

Shivakumar, who had earlier announced that he would board the New Delhi flight after visiting his spiritual guru, later said that he has developed stomach pain and a doctor is coming to treat him.

He gave his best wishes to veteran leader Siddaramaiah, who is vying with him for the top post.

"I am not going to New Delhi. As I have vowed, I got 135 seats for Congress. I have done my job. I won't take any legislators to New Delhi. I don't have support of any MLAs. "I have to carry out special worship. I have fulfilled my duties.

People call me 'bande' (boulder). You can turn into any shape.

Crush it into a powder or make it a pillar," Shivakumar remarked, apparently addressing the high command.

"I have patience. Sense of time and fighting spirit. I won't speak about numbers. The number of Congress is my number," he added.

Shivakumar had told media persons that he had stood with the party through its thick and thin and that even when many party legislators had ditched the party, he worked hard and rebuilt the party from scratch.

Sources in Congress told IANS that Shivakumar was sore at Siddaramaiah being considered for the top post.

Meanwhile Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP from Karnataka, Syed Nasser Hussain, told media persons at Bengaluru that there was no need for Shivakumar to be anxious and upset. He said that only observers knew who among the two leaders had more support among Congress legislators.

After the sparkling victory in Karnataka, the fight between Siddharamiah and Shivakumar has created a situation of uneasiness among the party cadres and supporters.

JHARKHAND CM SOREN MEETS KHARGE TO CONGRATULATEHIMONKARNATAKAVICTORY

AAP WINS 24-YEAR-OLD CONGRESS BASTION JALANDHAR

In a four-cornered contest, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab on Saturday won the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll with a thumping margin of 58,691 votes by defeating its nearest rival, the Congress, which lost its traditional stronghold of 24 years to the 13-month old ruling party that was portraying a clean image and good work.

Congress rebel and AAP candidate Sushil Rinku, 47, trounced Congress' Karamjit Kaur, the wife of Santokh Chaudhary, whose death during the Bharat Jodo Yatra necessitated the bypoll.

Congress faced defeat in this seat for the first time since 1999. In the past five decades, the Congress has lost the seat only four times.

This marks the state AAP unit re-entry to the Lok Sabha. Earlier, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was the AAP's first and lone Lok Sabha MP. He resigned from Parliament on being elected as an MLA in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. His party could not retain the seat vacated by him in the previous bypolls.

AAP secured 3,02,097 votes, while Congress finished with 2,43,450 votes.

The Akali-BSP combine was third with 1,58,354 and the BJP came fourth place with 1,34,706 votes.

The Jalandhar parliamentary reserved seat falls in state's Dalit-dominated Doaba region.

AAP candidate Rinku enjoys a good support base in the Dalit community.

The constituency has 42 per cent Dalit population.

Conceding the defeat, state Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring congratulated the Aam Aadmi Party and its candidate Sushil Rinku.

"We humbly accept people's mandate! I thank party workers, volunteers, supporters and the entire @INCPunjab leadership, for the hard work & efforts put in by them for the #JalandharByElection. I congratulate Sushil Rinku & AAP party for the victory."

Describing the "unprecedented victory" because of the Bhagwant Mann government's good work, national convenor and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "We do the politics of work and seek votes from people for our work, and people have put a stamp on Bhagwant Mann government's work saying 'we are with you'... This is a big message."

Chief Minister Mann said the result was an outcome of development works by the AAP government in Punjab.

Kejriwal and Mann campaigned extensively in Jalandhar, appealing to voters that it's been only one year since the AAP government was formed, and that they should be given 11 more months before the next Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Chief Minister Mann wooed votes by saying, "You (people) kept on giving chances to the Akali Dal and the Congress for 70 years, but they did nothing for you. Just give us one more year to work. If you don't like our work, don't vote for us in 2024."

The Jalandhar bypoll was a do-or-die battle for Chief Minister Mann, says a political observer. "AAP win stamps Mann's administrative and leadership qualities, besides building national narrative as a challenger," an observer told IANS. In the 2022 Assembly polls, the Congress had won in five out of nine segments in the Jalandhar parliamentary seat, while the AAP bagged the remaining seats.

LAND-FOR-JOB CASE: CBI RAIDS RESIDENCES OF LALU PRASAD'S CLOSE AIDES IN BIHAR (LD) PATNA, (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday conducted raids at residences of RJD law makers and close aides of former Railway minister Lalu Prasad in Bhojpur district in connection with its probe into the IRCTC land-for-job case.

A team of CBI officials reached Sandesh block -- a native place of Agiao RJD MLA Kiran Yadav -- this morning and launched a search which is still on. Kiran's husband Arun Yadav, also a former RJD MLA from Sandesh Assembly constituency, is a known sand trader.

Besides Sandesh, simultaneous raids are also taking place at the house of Arun Yadav in Bhojpur's district headquarter Arrah.

Raids are also on at the Delhi and Noida premises of former minister Prem Gupta who is very close to Lalu Prasad.

In March, the probe agency quizzed Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi, Misa Bharti, Tejashwi yadav, Chanda Yadav, Ragini Yadav and other members of the family and registered an FIR against them in IRCTC land for job scam.

The scam took place during the second tenure of Manmohan Singh government between 2004 to 2009.

At that time, Lalu Prasad was the union railway minister.

SHIVAKUMAR LEAVES FOR DELHI, SAYS PARTY IS HIS 'GOD' BENGALURU, (IANS) Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday left for New Delhi for a discussion with party leadership on chief ministerial candidate in his state. While interacting with the media before his departure, he said that the party is "God" to him.

"Ours is a united house. Our number is 135 and I am a party President. Congress party is my temple. The party is like a mother. I have done my job," Shivakumar stated.

"The God and mother know what to offer to the children. I am going to meet my God in the temple. I am going alone. The General Secretary had asked me to come there alone," Shivakumar stated.

According to Shivakumar's office, he boarded the 9.50 a.m. flight. He will attend the crucial meeting with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge to decide on the Chief Minister's post for Karnataka.

Veteran leader Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar are vying for the top post. Sources said that despite Siddaramaiah getting the majority, Shivakumar is not willing to budge. He is claiming that he had delivered the victory to the party and hence deserved the chief minister's post.

Jharkhand Chief Minister and Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) leader Hemant Soren on Monday called on Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and congratulated him for the party's victory in Karnataka.

In a tweet, Soren said: "Met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge ji in New Delhi today and congratulated him on the victory of the Congress Party in the Karnataka Assembly Elections. During the meeting, discussions were also held with Kharge ji on current and future political scenarios."

He also tweeted the picture of both the leaders together.

The COngress had won 135 out of 224 seats in Karnataka, an increase of 55 seats as compared to 80 in the 2018 Assembly elections. Meanwhile, the ruling BJP was reduced to 66 seats in the state whereas the JD-S which was dreaming of playing the role of 'kingmaker' managed to win only 19 seats in the state.

The Congress is an alliance partner of the JMM in Jharkhand.

RAJASTHAN: 'IF MY DEMANDS ARE NOT MET...'- SACHIN PILOT'S ULTIMATUM TO GEHLOT GOVT

It seems that the political rivalry between warring Congress leadersSachin Pilot and Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot entered final round as the former issued an ultimatum against the state government. Dissident Pilot on Monday threatened to launch a massive movement in Rajasthan if action on his demands is not taken by the month-end.

He also demanded disbanding of the Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC) and its reconstitution, compensation for those affected by government job exam paper leak cases, and a highlevel probe into charges of corruption he has leveled against the previous BJP government.

"If action is not taken by this month-end on these three demands, an agitation will be launched across the state," the former deputy chief minister told a rally in Jaipur.

"Where's this policy, defame own leaders, praise the leaders of the other party? This is not going to work… Did anything wrong ever come out of my mouth? Did you (Gehlot) lack in abusing me? I am not worried… no one should misunderstand, the public is God," he said. "People coming here were stopped .. now stop the internet, block the road, do anything you want, nothing is going to happen… me and my family have long political history, whatever allegation you want to level, do level...I want to make a promise… Whether I remain on any position or not, I will always work for the people of Rajasthan. Ask with love, we will cut off your head and give it to you but if you threaten, it is not going to work. I swear by your feet's ulcer, I am not going to back down," he asserted. Gehlot and Pilot have been at loggerheads over the chief minister's post ever since the Congress formed the government in Rajasthan in December 2018. Their simmering tussle for power came out in public in July 2020, when Pilot led a failed rebellion in the party for a change in leadership in the state.

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

DELHI MAYOR ACTED IN MALAFIDE MANNER AFTER POLITICALLY UNPALATABLE RESULT: BJP TO HC

EXCISE CASE: 'SISODIA DESTROYED CABINET NOTE FILE CONTAINING LEGAL OPINION', SAYS CBI The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has alleged in its supplementary chargesheet filed in connection with the Delhi Excise Policy Scam that former Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, "destroyed" a draft Cabinet Note which was prepared by the Excise Department and put up before the Council of Ministers in the meeting which was held on January 28, 2021.

In the draft Cabinet Note, the legal opinions of Ranjan Gogoi and K.G. Balakrishnan, both former Chief Justice of India (CJI), Mukul Rohtagi, senior advocate and former attorney general of India (AGI) and others were obtained.

The CBI has claimed that their legal opinions were mostly in favour of maintaining the status-quo (which means the policy which was being brought should be stalled).

On January 28, 2021, a file containing the cabinet note was taken to the camp office (official residence of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal).

Here, the Delhi Excise Department officials handed over the file to Pravesh Jha, the additional secretary to Kejriwal.

K.P. Gupta, who was looking after the work of Secretary of Finance, signed the file, marked it to Sisodia and gave it back to Jha. After that, Sisodia was given the file by Jha to seek the approval of the chief minister before placing it before the meeting of the Council of Ministers. However, this file was not considered by the ministers in the meeting. "Sisodia called Rahul Singh, the Delhi Excise Commissioner,

and expressed his anger for incorporating the comments of the legal experts in the Cabinet Note. Sisodia did not return the file containing the Cabinet Note to Delhi Excise Department or Excise officials. Later, when the CBI inquired about the Cabinet Note file, the Finance Department informed that the file was missing," a source said, quoting the chargesheet.

The CBI has also alleged that later, their digital evidence corroborated that the file was submitted to Sisodia by the Excise Department.

The CBI said that later on February 2, 2021, Sisodia made a fresh note, but there, he did not make any reference to the previous cabinet note.

The CBI has alleged that this was done with the intention of suppressing the submission of the Cabinet Note.

The CBI has alleged that Sisodia then directed the new excise commissioner to prepare a fresh cabinet note without making any reference to the legal opinions of the former chief justice of India. And on February 5, 2021, a fresh cabinet note was put up before the meeting of the council of ministers.

"This clearly indicates that Sisodia wanted to help the accused involved in the case and was working with a pre-conceived idea to formulate the excise policy in a particular manner to suit the design of the co-accused and dishonestly did not put the original cabinet note in the cabinet meeting of January 28, 2021, and also destroyed the file of the cabinet note because it was not suiting their ulterior designs," said the source.

This was the second supplementary chargesheet by the CBI in the matter.

TILLU TAJPURIYA MURDER ACCUSED SENT TO 14-DAY JUDICIAL CUSTODY A Delhi cour t on Monday sent six men arrested for their alleged involvement in gangster Tillu Tajpuriya's murder inside the Tihar Jail to 14 days judicial custody.

Tajpuriya, 33, was stabbed over 90 times to death by the assailants on May 2. The arrested accused persons are Deepak Dabas, Yogesh Tunda, Rajesh Bawana, Riyaz Khan, Ata-ul Rehman, and Chavanni.

The Patiala House Courts directed the jail authorities to ensure their safety and security and listed the matter for hearing next on May 29.

The accused have been asked to be produced through video conferencing.

Tajpuriya, a resident of Tajpur Kalan on the outskirts of Delhi, was lodged in Tihar Jail under tight security measures on the ground-floor of Jail number 8. He was an accused in the 2021 Rohini court shootout in which gangster Jitender Gogi was killed.

LORD HANUMAN'S MACE WILL SWING BEYOND KARNATAKA, SAYS TEJASHWI YADAV In wake of the Congress' thumping victory in the Karnataka Assembly polls, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav took dig at the BJP over its "Bajrang Bali" move, saying the 'gada' (mace) of Lord Hanuman would not be limited only to the southern state but hit allthose who are doing politics over religion and spreading hatred in the society.

"I was told earlier that Hanuman ji is angry with the BJP. This was the reason why, Congress party won the election in Karnataka. It is not the defeat of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi ji and BJP but also to those who are associated as alliance partners," he said.

"The Karnataka election has given a strong message to the rest of the country that opposition parties should fight against the BJP. Our Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, (RJD chief) Lalu (Prasad) ji and we are making efforts to get every opposition party united in the country and defeat the BJP. We have no personal aim to become the Prime Minister or Chief Minister. "We have only one aim to work for the poor people, farmers, labourers, security personnel, remove unemployment and minimise inflation. We are making efforts to save our democracy and constitution," Tejashwi Yadav added.

ARMY'S MULTI-PRONGED TACTICS TO RESTORE PEACE IN MANIPUR, MAXIMUM VIGIL ALONG MYANMAR BORDER To restore complete peace in Manipur, the Army has undertaken multi-pronged strategies including maintaining the highest vigil along the state's 400 km unfenced border with Myanmar.

Defence sources said that over 7,000 Army and Assam Rifles soldiers, including women personnel, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and other modern gadgets have been relentlessly engaged in area domination to ensure early restoration of complete normalcy in Manipur, which was devastated by the ethnic violence since May 3.

The sources said that Army authorities, in consultation with the state government and all stakeholders, has worked out fresh and elaborate security measures to address the fears of people of all communities, especially those staying in fringe vulnerable areas outside capital city Imphal. "Stringent measures and inter alia a robust multi-agency intelligence grid is in place to ensure continuance of 'hard earned' peace in Manipur. Long duration patrols, appropriately equipped and grouped with riflewomen of Assam Rifles, were sent to fringe vulnerable areas identified in consultation with the state government in the past 72 hours," a defence spokesman said. The Army's area domination patrols visited villages across communities, interacted with locals, women and influencers, not only to reassure them of their safety but also to provide the much-needed succour, he said. "Rendering medical assistance 'in situ' by para-medics including undertaking prophylactic medical evacuation were some amongst many activities that were undertaken by these patrols." Fringe incidents of violence were immediately responded to by security forces and brought under control, the spokesman said adding that while locals across communities have expressed their yearning for lasting peace, four other measures, in par ticular, are in place to thwar t any misadventure attempt by inimical elements. The measures include, day and night area domination patrolling, surveillance over designated flash points, engagement with civil society organisations of all communities across Manipur, employment of quadcopters, tracker dogs and UAVs. The spokesman said that domination of the India-Myanmar border is also being effectively under taken to deter any misadventure from insurgent groups. "Round the clock vigil through domination patrols, employment of UAVs, quadcopters and tracker dogs have significantly contributed towards deterring various insurgent groups in taking advantage of the prevailing situation," he said. The Indian Army also appeals to all sections of the population of Manipur to suppor t the effor ts of security forces in sustaining the hard earned peace and promoting harmony and quell any attempt to spread hate, misinformation being directed either towards them or spreading hatred towards each other in general. Claiming the lives of around 70 people and injuring a few hundred, ethnic violence, clashes, rampant arsoning, indiscriminate vandalisation, random destruction of government and private properties broke out in Manipur after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' organised in the 10 hill districts on May 3 to protest against the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

Two BJP leaders on Thursday alleged in the Delhi High Cour t that Mayor Shelly Oberoi acted in a malafide manner when she called for re-election of six members of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) standing committee after finding the election results "politically unpalatable".

Before the bench Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, senior lawyers Mahesh Jethmalani and Jayant Mehta, appearing for the BJP two councillors, Kamaljeet Sehrawat and Shikha Roy, respectively, submitted that Oberoi invalidated one of the votes in a manner "unrecognised in law" and interdicted the election process.

On February 24, the Mayor had announced re-election for the standing committee on February 27 due to the chaos that rocked the MCD House during polling for the body earlier.

During a special hearing on the petitions filed by the councillors, the Delhi High Court had on February 25 put a stay on a notice issued by Oberoi. Jethmalani stated that a vote's invalidity must be suppor ted before determining the quota that decides the winner, however, in this instance, the Mayor incorrectly declared a vote invalid at a later stage. "Once quota is fixed, how can anyone go back to validation? Quota is to see that after the first stage, who wins. If this is not malafide, what is? Because of unpalatable result, you try to subvert the election," he argued.

"This is res ipsa loquitur (things speak for themselves). This shows the motive of the Mayor. She acted ex post facto on unfavourable result. The Mayor acting malafidely is a good ground for interference of writ cour t," Jethmalani said. Jethmalani was referring to the quota of votes each candidate was allotted by his/her party to ensure their victory in preferential voting. Mehta also stressed that there is no legal provision that gives the Mayor the authority to ask for a re-election, a re-count, or to declare the election invalid. He also said that there was no invalid vote at the relevant stage and "ex post facto scrutiny of ballot papers" cannot be permitted. "There was no invalid vote and therefore the quota was fixed. Only when the result sheet was placed and when she found that it was not politically palatable, she revisited the votes," Mehta said.

SC JUDGEMENTS ON DELHI, MAHARASHTRA 'HISTORIC', BJP LOST ON ALL FRONTS: SINGHVI The Congress on Thursday dubbed the two Supreme Cour t judgements over Delhi and Maharashtra issues as historic and said that the ruling BJP has lost on many fronts, including politically and morally. Addressing a press conference at the par ty headquarters here, party leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was counsel in both the cases for the Delhi government and the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction, respectively, said: "Today we have two colossal judgments by the Supreme Court. They are judgments, which have exposed the unholy, undemocratic and ugly nature underbelly and the back belly of the BJP." He said the BJP has lost on all fronts, on many fronts - legally, morally, ethically. and politically.

Citing the SC judgement in Delhi government matter, he said: "In particular for the people of Delhi, it will not be run by a nominated LG or an LG controlled bureaucracy, but, Delhi will be run by representative democracy."

His remarks came after the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled in favour of the Delhi government in a case between the state government and Centre in connection with the administrative control over transfers and postings of civil servants.

The apex court held that the Delhi government must have control over bureaucrats in administration of services except in areas outside the legislative powers of NCT. The top court said the Lt Governor is bound by aid and advice of the NCT government except the matters relating to land, public order and police. On the Maharashtra issue, Singhvi, who is a Rajya Sabha MP said, "On Maharashtra I know that you will ask me about relief, not given by restoration of status quo ante, but, that's a wrong way to approach that judgment."

He said that first and foremost, friends, all relevant legal findings in the Maharashtra case were in favor of the petitioners.

"And it was why I said that legally, morally, ethically, and politically, the respondents have lost, even though status quo ante was not restored," he said. He said that the whip by the Shinde faction was held to be illegal, secondly the recognition of that illegal whip by the Speaker was itself illegal, and third the Speaker's recognition of the entire Shinde faction was held to be illegal.

TOP OFFICIALS REVIEW G-20 ARRANGEMENTS IN KASHMIR Additional Director General of Police Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar alongwith Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri held a review meeting with field officers to discuss the arrangements for G-20 meet in Kashmir, officials said on Monday. The officers were briefed by the concerned officers regarding the necessary arrangements put in place for safe and peaceful conduct of G-20 meet.

"During the meeting, ADGP Kashmir and Div Com Kashmir directed the participating officers to ensure that the deployment of magistrates and police arrangements are put in place well before the summit and reiterated the need to enhance the security measures at vulnerable locations to avoid any chance of terrorist attack during the G20 summit. Besides, directed them to enhance joint patrolling especially during the night hours to prevent any terrorist movement. They further advised the officers to display highest level of synergy on ground with the civil administration," police said. "They also directed the civil administration to keep in close liaison with their concerned jurisdictional police officers to meet any exigency in their respective area of responsibilities (AOR). Moreover, they also directed the officers to keep close cooperation with the police and security force officers for successful G-20 Summit."

"All magistrates and police officers were instructed to identify, if any, r umour mongers and take preventive measures. All participating officers were instructed to ensure that there wouldn't any harassment to general public," police said.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

INDIA

MidWeek 13 ARYAN KHAN CASE: NCB'S VIGILANCE DEPT REPORT LED TO FIR AGAINST SAMEER WANKHEDE, 4 OTHERS

AHEAD OF PM MODI'S VISIT, RAHUL GANDHI TO FLY TO US ON MAY 31; LIKELY TO HOLD RALLY AT MADISON SQUARE Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will be travelling to the United States on May 31, sources said. He will be there for a week. Rahul Gandhi's visited Cambridge University in March where he remarked that Indian democracy is under attack and several politicians, including himself, are under surveillance. The Congress leader, who is planning to stay in the US for a week, will be addressing a gathering which will be attended by at least 6000 people from Indian diaspora at Madison Sqaure on June 4.

According to his itinerary, he will be visiting California also where he will participate in a university event. He will be going to Washington as well.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi focussed had delivered lecture at a prestigious University of Cambridge on the "art of listening" and called for a new thinking to promote a democratic environment globally, as opposed to a coercive one.

PM Modi's State Visit Rahul Gandhi tour of the United States will come ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first state visit to the United States on June 22.

The Ministry of External Affairs said PM Modi has been invited by President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden and he will attend a state dinner on June 22. It said the visit offers a "valuable opportunity" for the two countries to further deepen their comprehensive and forward-looking global strategic partnership.

It said the visit offers a "valuable opportunity" for the two countries to further deepen their comprehensive and forward-looking global strategic par tnership. "The upcoming visit will affirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of family and friendship that link Americans and Indians together. The visit will strengthen our two countries’ shared commitment to a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific and our shared resolve to elevate our strategic technology partnership, including in defense, clean energy, and space," White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre had said in a statement while announcing the visit.

PM Modi had visited the US in September 2021

DEFAMATION CASE: JHARKHAND HC RESERVES ORDER AGAINST RAHUL GANDHI OVER 2018 REMARKS ON AMIT SHAH The Jharkhand High Court on Tuesday reserved the order on the defamation case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The court was hearing the matter pertaining to the defamation case filed by a local BJP leader accusing Gandhi of making derogatory remarks against Union Home Minister Amit Shah in 2018. According to reports, BJP leader Naveen Jha alleged that Gandhi had made objectionable remarks against Shah during the 2028 Congress session in Jharkhand's Chaibasa district. The matter was first filed in a lower court which was later moved to the Jharkhand High Court. On Tuesday, the arguments were concluded in the court of Justice Ambujnath. During the hearing, the cour t also instructed both sides to file the synopsis of the arguments by tomorrow (May

15). Gandhi's case was represented by Advocates Piyush Chitresh and Dipankar Rai. It should be mentioned here that a court in Gujarat's Surat sentenced Congress leader Gandhi to two years in jail in a 2019 criminal defamation case filed against him over his "Modi surname" remarks. He stated this while addressing a rally at Kolar in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Notably, the complaint against his remarks was lodged by BJP MLA and former Gujarat minister Purnesh Modi. A case was filed against Gandhi for his alleged “How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?” The case was filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Purnesh Modi under sections 499 and 500 (defamation) of the Indian Penal Code.

'WILL NOT PUT UP POSTERS AND BANNERS FROM NEXT ELECTION', SAYS NITIN GADKARI Senior BJP leader and Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday while highlighting the "politics of service" said that he will not put up any posters or offer tea to people in his constituency in the next election. He asserted that votes are won on the basis of “politics of service” rather than on "posters and banners".

Gadkari exuded confidence in increasing his winning margin Gadkari said that "those who have to vote will vote and those who do not will not". At the same time, he exuded confidence in increasing his winning margin in the next poll. Gadkari was addressing a programme on the death anniversary of former vice president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat at Khachariyawas village in Sikar district of Rajasthan.

"I will not put up posters or banners" “I have fought the election in a very tough constituency. Everyone had asked me not to contest from there, but I fought with determination. Now I have decided that in the next election, I will not put up posters or banners, will not give tea or do anything else. Those who have to vote will vote and those who do not will not," he said. “Votes are obtained by 'politics of service', 'politics of development', welfare of the poor in villages, giving poor people health facilities, employment to youth and good education to children,” he added. The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways said the concept of “politics of service” was brought in by RSS ideologue

Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya, and that he defined his politics on this concept. “The biggest problem of politics is the emptiness of ideas. Bhairon Singh Shekhawat stayed with principles and never compromised with his ideology. Politics for Shekhawat was a medium to serve people and an instrument for socio-economic reform,” he said.

Gadkari, who represents Nagpur constituency, said the 'politics of service' does not come with talks, books or research, but with actions and deeds.

MISSION 2024: WHEREVER CONGRESS IS STRONG, WE WILL SUPPORT IT, SAYS TMC CHIEF MAMATA BANERJEE ON LS ELECTION West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC president Mamata Banerjee on Monday made a big statement which will have a huge implication on the upcoming Lok Sabha election 2024. "Wherever Congress is strong, we will support it," asserted Banerjee in a surprise move. Until now, Banerjee had hinted that her party will vouch for formation of 'Third Front' or TMC will go solo in the General Election slated to take place in 2024. "Wherever the Congress is strong, let them fight. We will give them support, there is nothing wrong (in that). But they have to support other political par ties also," Banerjee told repor ters at the state secretariat. However, to get support, Congress also has to back other parties, she said. The TMC supremo also made it clear that she expected the seat-sharing formula to give priority to regional players in areas where they were strong. "Strong regional par ties must be given priority," she said. The timing of a surprise change of heart suggests that Congress's landslide victory in Karnataka compelled Banerjee to give a second thought to her earlier stand to keep distance from the grand old party. In Karnataka, Congress proved that it can defeat BJP in a direct fight with the saffron party. The Karnataka electoral results are the "beginning of the end" for BJP, Banerjee claimed on Saturday.

Banerjee also asser ted the moral of the Karnataka assembly poll results is that people "want plurality" and that "no central design to dominate" can repress them. Adding for good measure, she said that the poll results were a "lesson for tomorrow", implying the 2024 Parliamentary polls. Her party also took a swipe at BJP’s “double engine” rhetoric of the benefits of having the same party rule both at the centre and in the state, a claim TMC had to fight against during elections to Bengal's assembly in 2021, and quipped that the people of Karnataka had rejected the “trouble engine” government.

NCB's Vigilance Department had forwarded a report to the CBI, which led to the registration of an FIR against former NCB's Mumbai zonal chief Sameer Wankhede and four others, for allegedly demanding Rs 25 crore from Shah Rukh Khan's family to save his son Aryan Khan in the alleged drugs-on-cruise case.

Aryan Khan was on board, Cordelia cruise, when the NCB officials conducted raids. Name of dismissed NCB official VV Singh has also been mentioned in the FIR as an accused among others. The FIR has been lodged against Wankhede and four others including two public and two private persons.

A top CBI source told IANS that during the raid on the Cordelia cruise, the NCB officials led by Wankhede allegedly threatened the individuals, who were on board, and demanded Rs 25 crore from Aryan Khan's family for not lodging any case against him.

The source said that the case was lodged against Wankhede and four others under corruption and other Acts.

"Out of Rs 25 crore, Khan family paid Rs 50 lakh to the NCB officials.

Khan family claimed that they paid Rs 50 lakh to save Aryan Khan," said the source.

IANS made several attempts to reach out to Wankhede for his comments on the matter, but he was not available. Wankhede is currently posted in Chennai. The raids by CBI are currently going on at 29 locations in Mumbai, Delhi, Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh). In Mumbai, raids are on in Andheri and other premises of Wankhede. The sources have claimed that a few documents were seized by them.

DGCA SUSPENDS AI PILOT FOR ALLOWING FRIEND INTO COCKPIT The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has suspended the licence of an Air India pilot for three months. The suspension comes after the pilot allowed a woman friend to enter the cockpit mid-air during a Dubai to Delhi flight.

The aviation regulator has also imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh on Air India for failing to address the safety-sensitive issue in a prompt and effective manner. Additionally, the co-pilot has been cautioned for not being assertive enough to prevent the unauthorized entry.

The Air India pilot was under investigation for violating safety norms by allowing a friend into the cockpit during a flight from Dubai to Delhi on February 27, violating DGCA safety norms.

In April, a senior DGCA official had said that this act is unacceptable and could have put the passengers' safety at risk. Air India had also released a statement saying that they have taken note of the reported incident and investigations are underway. "The airline has a zerotolerance policy regarding passenger safety and well-being and will take requisite action. The matter has also been reported to the DGCA, and Air India is cooperating with their investigation," said the statement. "We have taken serious note of the reported incident and investigations are underway in Air India," the statement further said.

ADANI-HINDENBURG ROW: SC HINTS AT GIVING 3 MORE MONTHS TO SEBI TO COMPLETE PROBE The Supreme Court on Friday indicated that it may grant three months more time to the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) to complete its probe into the controversy surrounding the Hindenburg Research report on the Adani Group. A bench headed

by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala said that it accepts the petitioners' point that Sebi cannot take indefinitely long period to complete its probe and "we are not going to give them six months, we give them three months", adding that it is not keen on accepting Sebi's request to grant six-month extension to complete the probe.

The Chief Justice told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Sebi, "We will now place the matter for around mid-August that will give you three months' time. You complete your investigation in three months and come back to us, because there has to be some alacrity... We cannot say that you need a minimum of six months."

ALLAHABAD HC DIRECTS ASI TO CARRY OUT SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF 'SHIVLING' IN GYANVAPI MOSQUE The Allahabad High Court on Friday directed the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to carry out a 'scientific survey' of the 'Shivling' in Gyanvapi mosque to ascertain its age.

The court asked the ASI to ensure that no damage is done to the structure during the survey.

The court upturned the district judge's decision in this regard.

A single bench of Justice Arvind Kumar Mishra was responding to a petition filed by the Hindu side, demanding carbon dating of the Shivling.

The ASI had submitted its report in a sealed envelope on Thursday.

NIKKI YADAV MURDER CASE: DELHI POLICE FILE CHARGE SHEET AGAINST 6 ACCUSED

Congratulating the people of Karnataka for their mandate in favour of change, Banerjee said that “brute authoritarian and majoritarian” politics has been vanquished. She forecast that the safforn party would lose in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh too, where it faces off with the Congress, which steamrolled the BJP in Karnataka in results announced on Saturday. "This is the beginning of the end of the BJP before 2024 Lok Sabha polls. People have voted against the arrogance and intolerance of the BJP, the TMC leader said. "I think the saffron party will also lose the upcoming elections in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh," Banerjee told newspersons gathered in front of her house, after seeing off actor Salman Khan who had come to pay her a visit. As late as March this year, the fiery TMC chief had said she would maintain equidistance from both the BJP and Congress only to change her stance somewhat after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was disqualified as a Lok Sabha MP.

Delhi Police on Friday filed a charge sheet against six accused in Nikki Yadav murder case in a Dwarka court.

The charge sheet, which runs into 576 pages, has been put up for consideration on May 25 by the court.

The accused persons have been charged with offences falling under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (disappearance of evidence), 202, 212, 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

The prime accused Sahil Gehlot had allegedly strangled 23-yearold Nikki Yadav near Kashmiri Gate on February 10 and married another woman on the same day. Four days later, Nikki Yadav's body was found in a fridge at a dhaba, owned by Gehlot, in Mitraon village on the outskirts of Delhi. Gehlot's father, Virender Singh, cousins - Naveen (a constable in Delhi Police) and Ashish - and friends Lokesh and Amar are accused of hatching a conspiracy to get rid of Nikki Yadav, so that he could marry another woman.

According to a senior police official, Gehlot was interrogated at length during police custody when he disclosed that Nikki Yadav was trying to stop him from marrying someone else as they had already solemnised their marriage in 2020. "She was pleading with him not to go ahead with the marriage fixed by his family with another girl on February 10.

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

PAKISTAN CABINET ISSUES STRONG CONDEMNATION OF CHIEF JUSTICE

IMRAN KHAN CLAIMS 'HIT ON HEAD' DURING ARREST Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Friday claimed that he was hit on the head with batons as Rangers personnel arrested him in the Al-Qadir Trust case earlier this week, local media reported.

During a conversation with media personnel in the Islamabad High Court (IHC), the former prime minister reportedly showed swelling and wounds on the back of his head, alleging that he was hit during his arrest. He continued that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) officials had treated the injury.

The PTI chairman was in IHC for the hearing of his bail plea in the AlQadir Trust case as per the Supreme Court's order.

He said that NAB's treatment toward him was "alright" and reiterated that

he was hit on the head with a baton during his arrest, The Express Tribune reported. When asked about the violent protests that began following his arrest on May 9, Khan questioned how he could stop everything that was happening and said that he had warned earlier that there would be a "reaction" if he was arrested. “How can I be held responsible, when I was in (NAB's) custody?" he asked, adding that he had stated before the SC that whatever happened during the protests "did not go well".

Khan maintained that "When the Rangers arrested me, I said: this is my country, my people. Be peaceful".

The deposed prime minister said that he has filed for bail pleas in dozens of cases against him but he will "not resist arrest"

'PATIENCE, DIPLOMATIC SKILL' NECESSARY IN KOREA-JAPAN TALKS ABOUT FUKUSHIMA VISIT: US AMBASSADOR South Korea and Japan should exercise "patience and diplomatic skill" during talks about details of a planned inspection visit by South Korean exper ts to Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear power plant, US Ambassador Philip Goldberg said on Friday.

Goldberg made the remark during a Q&A session after a lecture at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, as South Korea and Japan opened a workinglevel meeting in Seoul to determine specifics of the inspection, stressing that the overall objective of such an inspection is to make bilateral relations better. "So now there's a discussion between the foreign ministries about how exactly that will be carried out. And so again, it needs to be done with patience and diplomatic skill," he added.

"We believe that the overall objective, which is to create a better environment for relationship between two modern and democratic countries that share values, is hugely important for the security in the region and prosperity in the region," Goldberg said.

The inspection trip, set for May 23-24, is one of the outcomes from a recent summit between South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and shows relations between the two countries are warming after years of fraying over the issue of wartime forced labor, Yonhap news agency reported.

Still, there appears to be a gap between the sides over the nature of the inspection. South Korea says the inspection is aimed at looking into whether Japan's treatment facilities are working properly, while Japan says the inspection is meant to "help deepen understanding" about the safety of the release, not to evaluate or certify its safety.

Goldberg's emphasis on patience and diplomatic skill could reflect concern about the gap. Relations between Seoul and Tokyo have warmed significantly since the Yoon administration offered in March to resolve a dispute over wartime forced labor by compensating the Korean victims without contributions from Japanese firms.

That led to the resumption of "shuttle diplomacy" of regular leader visits

after 12 years.

Goldberg praised Yoon for making a "quite brave political move" to start mending ties with Japan.

"One of the things that has happened ... is that it has opened up more space for the kinds of projects, programmes, military cooperation that will help secure both countries and that includes through trilateral cooperation with the United States," he said.

During the lecture, the ambassador called on South Korea to "keep speaking out" against Russia's invasion of Ukraine, stressing the importance of the two allies working together on global issues.

"We need you to work with us to find solutions to the climate crisis. We need you to continue standing up for our shared democratic values, such as respect for human rights," Goldberg added.

"And we need you to keep speaking out against atrocities, like Russia's war in Ukraine."

The ambassador also reaffirmed the US security commitment to South Korea is firm.

"There should be no doubt that our commitment to South Korea's defence is ironclad, as it has been for the past 70 years," he said.

Goldberg denounced North Korea's destabilising actions, such as missile launches, saying Pyongyang is using its scarce resources to develop weapons of mass destruction, rather than caring for its people.

Still, he said diplomacy is the "only viable way to achieve a safe and stable Korean Peninsula free of nuclear weapons".

The envoy also spoke at length about the recent summit between Yoon and US President Joe Biden, saying the two leaders "looked a lot like old college friends". "To ensure we are ready to stand against any threat, our presidents announced a new forum to discuss the full range of our combined defensive capabilities, including nuclear, conventional and missile defence," he added, referring to the Washington Declaration adopted at the White House summit.

US COVID-19 PUBLIC EMERGENCY ENDS The US Covid-19 public health emergency (PHE) came to an end on Thursday, marking a major transition in the country's fight against the global pandemic. The PHE was announced by then US Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in January 2020 to implement temporary measures and allocate resources to better contain the pandemic, Xinhua news agency reported.

Since taking office in 2021, US President Joe Biden has repeatedly extended the emergency.

The Biden administration's decision to end the emergency comes as Covid-19 deaths and hospitalizations have declined dramatically due to the availability of vaccines, antiviral treatments and widespread exposure to the virus.

The pandemic claimed at least 6 million hospitalisations, and 1.1 million deaths in the United States, according to data of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The end of the PHE will bring significant changes in how the country responds to the virus. The CDC will scale back its efforts to track the virus.

Most tools, like vaccines, treatments and testing, will remain available, but some tools, like certain data sources and reporting, will change.

The Biden administration also ended the Covid-19 vaccine requirements for federal employees, federal contractors, and international air travellers on Thursday. While public health experts agree the country has many more tools to fight Covid-19 today, they warn the virus will remain a persistent threat to the nation's battered healthcare system.

TOMB CLUSTERS IN S.KOREA RECOMMENDED FOR UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE LIST INCLUSION The Gaya Tumuli, seven tomb clusters from South Korea's ancient Gaya confederacy, has been recommend for inclusion on the Unesco World Heritage list by an international advisory body, the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) said on Thursday.

The Gaya Tumuli was recommended for inscription during a meeting of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), a cultural heritage evaluation advisory organisation under Unesco, according to CHA. The World Heritage Committee will make a final decision based on ICOMOS' recommendation during the 45th session to be held in Saudi Arabia in September, reports Yonhap News Agency.

Gaya was a loosely knit federation of six or seven small kingdoms that prospered between the first and sixth centuries in southern and central region of the Korean Peninsula.

The tumuli consists of seven clusters of tombs that display the architectural style of graves built in the fourth and fifth centuries, along with burial accessories and goods showing Gaya's network of trade and handcrafted manufacturing.

The seven cemeteries are all sited in highly visible hilly areas in the political centre of their respective polities.

These sites exhibit dense concentrations of burials that were constructed over extended periods of time.

If the tumuli are added to the list, South Korea will have 16 sites inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

UKRAINE NEEDS MORE TIME TO LAUNCH COUNTER-OFFENSIVE AGAINST RUSSIA: ZELENSKY Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country needs more time to launch a counter-offensive against Russia as his wartorn nation's military awaits the delivery of promised military aid.

Speaking to the BBC from his headquarters in Kiev, Zelensky described combat brigades, some of which were trained by NATO countries, as being "ready" but said the army still needed "some things", including armoured vehicles that were "arriving in batches".

"With (what we already have) we can go forward, and, I think, be successful," he told the BBC. "But we'd lose a lot of people. I think that's unacceptable. So we need to wait. We still need a bit more time."

The much-anticipated counter-offensive could be decisive in the ongoig war, redrawing frontlines that have remained unchanged for months now. It will also be a crucial test for Ukraine, eager to prove that the weapons and equipment it has received from the West can result in significant battlefield gains, says the BBC. Russian forces, meanwhile, have fortified their defences along a frontline that runs for 1,450 km from the eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, to Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south.

Pakistan's federal Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has issued a strong condemnation against the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), Umar Ata Bandial, for his "extraordinary intervention" in the arrest of former premier and Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, media reports said.

The Cabinet deemed the intervention as "misconduct" on the part of the top judge, The Express Tribune reported.

According to the Cabinet, Imran Khan's arrest was carried out in compliance with the Constitution, law, and legal procedures in the "open and shut case of corruption and corrupt practices".

The federal Cabinet reiterated its stance that the CJP's interference was unjustifiable and condemned it in the strongest possible terms.

It also denounced the CJP's interference as "misconduct", The Express Tribune reported.

The Cabinet said that the expression "good to see you" by a person sitting on the highest seat of justice - CJP - for an accused arrested in a corruption case was "a shameful stain" on the forehead of the justice system. The Cabinet statement read that the history of Islam, the civilised world, and judicial fora attest that such behaviour is unbecoming of any judge, The Express Tribune reported.

The government's reaction came a day after CJP Umar Ata Bandial led a three-member bench that granted "extraordinary" relief to Khan in an alleged multi-billion corruption case of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). On Thursday, a three-member bench led by the CJP termed Khan's arrest as "invalid and unlawful", and directed the law enforcers to provide him "foolproof" security until his appearance before the Islamabad High Court (IHC). It also "requested" Khan to condemn the violence that took place following his arrest from the IHC premises and asked him to consider opening up dialogue with his political opponents.

IMRAN KHAN CLAIMS HE WAS BEATEN WITH STICKS IN CUSTODY Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed grievances about his arrest on Thursday, claiming that he was abducted from the Islamabad High Court and beaten with sticks, which is not an acceptable treatment for even a criminal, media reports said.

Khan claimed that he was taken to various places, including the police lines, and had no knowledge of what was happening outside, Samaa TV reported.

Khan also mentioned that he had many cases registered against him, including on charges of terrorism, and demanded to see the arrest warrant. He also criticised those who want chaos and anarchy instead of elections, stating that a party that wants elections will not support such behaviour.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman urged his par ty workers to refrain from damaging public and private property, Samaa TV reported.

During the hearing in the Supreme Court on Thursday, Khan appealed to the public to protest peacefully and not harm the country.

The court termed Khan's arrest by Pakistan's anti-corruption body as illegal, and ruled that the PTI chief should be released immediately. Khan was under the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

'WHAT IS THE CHIEF JUSTICE DOING?' IMRAN'S AUDIO LEAK SURFACES A new audio leak of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has surfaced in which he was purpor tedly talking with Musarrat Jamshed Cheema about the court developments and the response of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP), media reports said on Thursday. The purported audio conversation between Imran Khan and PTI leader Musarrat Jamshed Cheema has surfaced online in which the party chief ? who was detained by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday ? could be heard inquiring about the latest situation, ARY News reported.

Cheema replied that they had sent a "message to them and we are sitting in the high court now. We demanded them to bring Khan Sahib before us, otherwise we will not leave [the high cour t premises]". Khan, apparently criticising his arrest, said whatever they have done is "malicious". "You should also initiate a proceeding in the Supreme Court against whatever they have done today. What is Chief Justice doing," Khan could be heard saying in the purported video, ARY News reported. Cheema then apprised Khan, "NAB officials have just come here and we questioned them. We asked Salman Safdar to tell them to present him before the cour t, otherwise, we will not leave. Your case will also be heard by the Chief Justice." Khan replied, "No, he receives orders from them.

You should talk to Azam and ask him to talk with the other people," ARY News reported. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday termed Khan's arrest by Pakistan's anti-corruption body as illegal, and ruled that the PTI chief should be released immediately. Khan was under the custody of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

MARYAM NAWAZ TELLS PAK CHIEF JUSTICE TO QUIT AND JOIN PTI LIKE HIS MOTHER-IN-LAW The chief organiser of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Maryam Nawaz, on Thursday advised the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) to join Imran Khan's party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), media reports said. Maryam said this in a tweet right after the top court ordered to release Imran Khan while terming his arrest from the premises of Islamabad High Court (IHC) as 'illegal', Samaa TV reported. "The Chief Justice [of Pakistan] was very happy today to meet the person who usurped Rs 60 billion from the national exchequer, and he was even happier to release this criminal, Maryam tweeted. She went on to say, "The Chief Justice is primarily responsible for the attacks on the most important and sensitive installations in the country, as he has become the shield of 'fitna' and is exacerbating the situation in the country by fuelling the fire." The PML-N leader advised CJP Umar Ata Bandial to resign from his position and join the PTI, "just like his mother-in-law", Samaa TV reported.

Earlier on Thursday, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb had censured the Supreme Court for providing "relief" to Khan, The Express Tribune reported. "The SC is giving relief to a criminal, a terrorist, a gangster who leads armed groups," said Marriyum Aurangzeb. The remarks came as the minister addressed a press conference in Islamabad minutes after the apex court ordered Khan to be produced in court within an hour on Thursday, as it heard the PTI's plea challenging his arrest in the Al-Qadir Trust case.

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RAGNEETI: RAGHAV CHADHA, PARINEETI GET ENGAGED AT A GLITTERING CEREMONY

ON A DAY HE WOULD HAVE LOVED TO BE IN JALANDHAR TO CELEBRATE THE AAM AADMI PARTY'S RETURN TO THE LOK SABHA VIA THE BYELECTION CAUSED BY ITS FORMER CONGRESS MP'S DEATH, RAGHAV CHADHA GOT ENGAGED TO BOLLYWOOD ACTRESS PARINEETI CHOPRA, BETTER KNOWN AS THE SISTER OF PRIYANKA CHOPRA JONAS. IT WAS A HOT SATURDAY AFTERNOON, YET THE NORMALLY SOMNOLENT KAPURTHALA HOUSE -- ONCE THE SPRAWLING DELHI HOME OF KAPURTHALA'S MAHARAJA PARAMJIT SINGH AND NOW THE OFFICIAL RESIDENCE OF PUNJAB'S GOVERNOR AND CHIEF MINISTER WHENEVER THEY'RE IN DELHI -- WAS A BEEHIVE OF ACTIVITY. PHOTOGRAPHERS AND VIDEOGRAPHERS JOSTLED FOR THE RIGHT ANGLES, SHOUTED OUT REQUESTS TO THE ARRIVING GUESTS TO POSE FOR PICTURES AND EXCITEDLY EXCHANGING NAMES, WORKMEN WALKED IN WITH LAST-MINUTE DELIVERABLES, THE EVENING'S GRANTHI SAUNTERED IN, AND BOLLYWOOD FAVOURITE DESIGNER MANISH MALHOTRA DARTED IN AND OUT WITH PARINEETI'S DRESS FOR THE OCCASION BEFORE RETURNING TO FORMALLY JOIN THE PARTY.

MRUNAL THAKUR TO MAKE HER SUSHMITA SEN: JUST LIKE CANNES DEBUT THIS YEAR, SAYS 'I AARYA, I CAN GO TO ANY EXTENT AM THRILLED' FOR MY TWO DAUGHTERS

ESHA GUPTA TURNS HEADS IN A BODYCON DRESS AND MINIMAL MAKEUP AS SHE ATTENDS THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL

Earlier while announcing her Cannes Debut, Esha Gupta shared a video on her Instagram where she shared, “I am delighted to be here at Cannes Film Festival 2023 as a part of Indian government delegation. I just want to take this moment to express my gratitude towards the Indian government and FICCI for providing me with this opportunity on a global stage. India is now on a global stage in the world of cinema and it is an honour to be representing my country to showcase the world its unique voice and perspective in the world of cinema. Walking the red carpet at Cannes is nothing but a dream come true.” The 76th Festival de Cannes will begin on Tuesday, May 16, and end on May 27. Every year, various Indian celebrities attend the prestigious film festival on the French Riviera and walk the red carpet in enchanting ensembles.

This year, Esha Gupta shall walk the red carpet in a specially curated designation led by Union Minister of state Dr. L Murugan.

JANHVI KAPOOR, ALIA BHATT AND DEEPIKA PADUKONE TURN INTO BOLLYWOOD MERMAIDS

JENNIFER LAWRENCE 'DIED LAUGHING' OVER THE AD THAT INSPIRED 'NO HARD FEELINGS' As we eagerly anticipate the release of ‘The Little Mermaid’ on the 26th, the word “Jalpari" has become a favorite among us. Social media has introduced us to numerous actresses who have wonderfully transformed into Jalparis through captivating photoshoots. The enchanting world of these aquatic beings has captured our imagination this May, adding to the excitement surrounding the upcoming film. Many actresses on social media who have genuinely transformed into Jalparis in photoshoots.

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19 MRUNAL THAKUR WILL BE MAKING HER DEBUT THIS YEAR AT THE PRESTIGIOUS CANNES FILM FESTIVAL. THE ACTRESS IS ECSTATIC ABOUT THE OCCASION.

20 FORMER BEAUTY QUEEN SUSHMITA SEN HAS DRAWN PARALLELS BETWEEN HER REAL SELF AND HER REEL CHARACTER AARYA.

20 DIRECTED BY LAWRENCE'S LONGTIME FRIEND GENE STUPNITSKY, THE FILM CASTS THE OSCAR-WINNING ACTOR AS A MONTAUK UBER DRIVER.

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MidWeek 19 'IN OUR FAMILY, WE AGE BACKWARDS,' SAYS SRK AFTER GETTING GAURI'S AGE WRONG

MRUNAL THAKUR TO MAKE HER CANNES DEBUT THIS YEAR, SAYS 'I AM THRILLED' Mrunal Thakur, an esteemed actress in the world of showbiz, has established herself with her remarkable talent and captivating persona.

Adding another milestone to her career, she is now poised to make her much-awaited debut at the prestigious Cannes event this year.

Joining other renowned Bollywood celebrities at this grand fashion extravaganza, Mrunal recently shared her excitement and anticipation for the upcoming event. Speaking about her debut, Mrunal told Pinkvilla, "I am thrilled to be attending the Cannes Film Festival for the first time. I am looking forward to interacting with global filmmakers, exploring new oppor tunities, and showcasing the talent that Indian cinema has to offer." Mrunal consistently demonstrates her flair for fashion by making stylish choices. As she prepares for

her appearance at Cannes 2023, there is no doubt that she will captivate everyone with her glamorous avatar. From May 17 to May 19, Mrunal will grace the French Riviera, undoubtedly grabbing all the eyeballs with her impeccable style. Besides, Mrunal, Manusi Chhillar and Anushka Sharma will be representing our country and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap too will be present at the 76th annual film festival. Anurag Kashyap's movie Kennedy will be showcased in the midnight screening section at the prestigious event. Film distributor Iris Knobloch and Thierry Fremaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival made the announcement in a press conference at Cannes. Meanwhile, the actress was last seen in Gumraah alongside Aditya Roy Kapur. The movie was released on April 7, 2023. It is the official Hindi remake of the Tamil-hit Thadam.

PARINEETI CHOPRA-RAGHAV CHADHA'S WEDDING SOON?

MUMBAI, (IANS) Entrepreneur Gauri Khan corrected her superstar husband Shah Rukh Khan after he got her age wrong about when she star ted working. Shah Rukh and Gauri were speaking at the launch event of her coffee table book 'My Life in Design'. SRK then spoke about about how his wife Gauri started her work on her own. He shared that even though he offered to her help her, she denied taking any. Shah Rukh said: "It doesn't make a difference to all the youngsters, to all the people who miss out on a dream of their life to be creative. You can star t at any age. I think Gauri started mid-40s." Shah Rukh then looked at Gauri, who corrected him saying that she started working at the age of 40. Flaunting his iconic smile, Shah Rukh then said: "40? Oh, only 40. She is 37 now. In our family, we age backwards. So yes, at 40 she started doing this at a time when I even told her, 'Listen, should I be helpful? I have some friends we can talk to them?' She said, 'No'." "She started with a 10 feet by 20 feet shop in Lower Parel. She worked it all out on her own and continued doing what she does."

INTERNET ISN'T PLEASED WITH PC ON ALEXANDRA COOPER'S PODCAST AFTER BEING CALLED GAY

ACTRESS ASKS PRIYANKA CHOPRA TO PREP FOR ‘BRIDESMAID DUTIES’

Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha recently exchanged engagement vows in a romantic ceremony. Amidst speculation surrounding their roka and wedding celebrations, the couple made an official announcement confirming their engagement. Surrounded by their loved ones and close friends, Parineeti and Raghav marked their roka in an event held at Kapurthala House, Connaught Place, Delhi.

Priyanka Chopra also joined in the celebrations, and she shared pictures of the lovebirds on her Instagram. Sharing the pictures, she wrote, "Congratulations Tisha and Raghav... Cannot wait for the wedding! So happy for you both and the families so fun to catch up with the fam!" After that, Parineeti responded to her post, writing, "Mimi didii - bridesmaid’s duties coming upppp!"

A day after their engagement, the couple released a statement to express their gratitude for all the love they received. They said that it

is a union of two different worlds, as they have engaged.

Parineeti Chopra's statement read, "Raghav and I are overwhelmed with the love and abundance of positivity we have received over the past few weeks, particularly on our engagement. We both come from different worlds and it’s amazing to know that our worlds also unite with our union. We have gained a bigger family than we could have ever imagined." "We are so touched by everything we have read/seen and we cannot thank you all enough. We embark on this journey known that you all are standing with us." Speaking about the outfits, Parineeti Chopra and Raghav Chadha chose to wear ivory ensembles for the engagement.

While the actress wore a beautiful dress by Manish Malhotra, the AAP minister wore a matching outfit by his maternal uncle, Pawan Sachdeva. Their function began at 5 p.m. with the Sukhmani Sahib path, followed by ardas. The engagement took place at 8 p.m.

SHRUTI HAASAN TO BE GUEST OF HONOUR AT GENDER PARITY CONFERENCE IN CANNES MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Shruti Haasan will attend the prestigious Cannes Film Festival as the guest of honour for their round table conference on gender parity. The conference, titled 'Activating Change', hosted by 'Breaking through the lens' aims to discuss the challenges and oppor tunities for women in the entertainment industry, and explore ways to create a more equitable and inclusive environment. Their objective is to provide realistic solutions for underserved filmmakers with a multicultural, intersectional, and results-driven approach.Shruti has been very vocal about her opinions on women's rights and gender equality. The actress has been a strong suppor ter of initiatives aimed at promoting gender parity.

On the work front, Shruti awaits the release of her international project 'The Eye', where she plays a widow visiting a greek island to spread her deceased husband's ashes. She also has the action-packed film 'Salaar'. The actress stars opposite Prabhas and is directed by the blockbuster KGF filmmaker Prashanth Neel.

MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Priyanka Chopra Jonas, who is receiving a lot of positive response to her streaming show 'Citadel', recently graced Alexandra Cooper's podcast 'Call Her Daddy'. While during the podcast she spoke about her life in the U.S., winning Miss World pageant, her career in India and also the bullying she faced in U.S. schools, a section of people on the Internet are not pleased with the actress's decision to appear on the podcast. The reason behind the same is an old podcast

by Alexandra and Sofia Franklyn from 2020.

In the said podcast, they called Priyanka and Nick Jonas "the most annoying couple." "I find them very unattractive like I want to punch them," said one of them as another laughed.

Alexandra went on to say during the podcast: "Priyanka is a lesbian and Nick has big nipples syndrome. I just want Priyanka to stop using him as her beard," to which Sofia agreed.

It didn't stop here, they even went about passing mean remarks about the couple's sex life. "They are constantly posting to prove to the world that they are in love with each other, is disgusting and repulsive," Alexander fur ther said.

NAWAZ VISITS FACULTY OF PERFORMING ARTS: 'THIS IS WHERE IT ALL STARTED FOR ME'

'NO ENERGY TO BE GLAMMED UP FOR MY FIRST POST AS A MOTHER,' SAYS GAUAHAR KHAN MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Gauahar Khan has shared the first picture with her newborn baby and said that she did not have the energy to glam up for her maiden picture as a mother.

Gauahar took to Instagram, where she shared a picture of herself in an au naturale look. In the image, she is seen holding her newborn son as she smiles for a selfie.

She wrote: "So it's past 12 a.m., past 1 day of my first Mother's Day as a New MoM , n yes I didn't have the energy to be glammed up for my first post as a Mother too, but boy , am I grateful!!!!!!! Alhamdulillah, for everything and everyone who made it sooooooooooo special for me. Just holding my baby is my best gift from Allah! Allahumma baarik fihi."

"Every year I wrote a post for all the mothers who have impacted my life , but the most special thing about 2023 Mother's Day for me was my Mom wishing me happy Mother's Day beta!!!!"

RANDEEP HOODA SPENT TIME WITH REAL COP AVINASH MISHRA FOR 'INSPECTOR AVINASH' MUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Randeep Hooda, who is known for films like 'Laal Rang', 'Jannat 2', 'Monsoon Wedding', 'Sarbjit' and several others, has shared that for his webseries 'Inspector Avinash', he spent time with real life cop Avinash Mishra.

The cop drama is inspired by Avinash Mishra and his fight against crime. Set in Uttar Pradesh of the 1990s, it shows Avinash Mishra battling with his team to curb the growing mafia dominance and illegal arms trade.

Talking about the series, Randeep Hooda said: "As an actor, I am always drawn towards real-life stories of unsung heroes. It is impor tant to tell stories rooted in India, stories that depict the struggles and triumphs of our people. Mishra's story is nothing short of a real-life modern day Robinhood, fighting against crime and standing up for what's right and I am truly honoured to be a part of this heroic story.

While I love playing cop roles, this role was different. I spent a lot of time with Avinash ji to get the nuances right."

The show, written and directed by Neerraj Pathak, also features Urvashi Rautela, Amit Sial, Abhimanyu Singh, Shalin Bhanot, Freddy Daruwala, Rahul Mittra, and Adhyayan Suman in pivotal roles.

Shot in never-seen-before locations of Uttar Pradesh, the series features a unique mix of urban and rural locations, showcasing its beauty and complexities.

The series will drop on May 18 on JioCinema.

MUMBAI, (IANS) Acclaimed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui visited Faculty of Performing Ar ts Academy in Gujarat where he started his journey in performing arts.

Travelling through the lanes of the academy, it was indeed a nostalgic trip for the actor where he addressed the students.

Nawazuddin captured some precious moments from his visit to his Faculty of Performing Ar ts Academy in a video on his social media. Remembering his good old days from the academy, the actor gave a speech to the students and the moment was filled with a lot of warmth and emotions.

He wrote in Hindi that translates to: "This is the place where I performed for the very first time in a play. This is where it all started for me @faculty.of.performing.arts.msu Special Thanks to everyone involved in this process."

On the work front, Nawazuddin has an interesting lineup of films which includes Jogira Sara Ra Ra, Noorani Chehra, Haddi, Tiku Weds Sheru', and Adbhut.

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HOLLYWOOD SIMON PEGG SAYS HE HID ALCOHOLISM WHILE FILMING 'MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE III'

'THE AFRICAN IN ME ALWAYS WANTS TO CELEBRATE AFRO MUSIC AND DANCE,' SAYS NORA MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress-dancer Nora Fatehi and Nigerian singing sensation Rema set the stage on fire during his per formance in Mumbai.

Rema aka Divine Ikubor's much hyped three city debut tour of India has kicked off.

Nora jammed with Rema on Guru Randhawa's 'Dance Meri Rani' which is also India's very first Afrobeats song. Prior to taking to the stage the duo exchanged pleasantries in the vanity van about their mutual love for Indian and African culture and music and their individual contribution to the Afrobeats industry.

The 23-year-old Nigerian superstar sported outfits by Manish Malhotra on stage and also waved the Indian flag.

Nora said: "Rema's show was truly spectacular and I enjoyed myself thoroughly on stage. He's such a talented ar tist with such a warm

vibe and collaborative spirit. Being a North African, it's such a proud moment for me to witness how the Afro music and dance movement has become a mainstay in India now."

"It's amazing to witness how Afrobeats, just like Indian music, has become such a massive movement worldwide and it's a moment of joy for me since I've been largely associated with the genre for a long time." Nora looks forward to collaborating with Rema and many more Afro artists in the future.

She added: "The African in me always wants to celebrate Afro music and dance on a big scale through my ar t."

Rema is happy to have met Nora Fatehi.

He added: "She is a house on fire and her energy is infectious. I thoroughly enjoyed vibing with her on stage in Mumbai tonight on some Bollywood moves!"

ALI FAZAL CALLS VIN DIESEL THE SOUL OF 'FAST' FAM, 'KINDEST MAN' HE KNOWS MUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Ali Fazal, who made his international debut with the seventh installment of the mega-action film 'Fast and the Furious', has heaped praise on his co-actor Vin Diesel as he joined him for the premiere of Fast X' in Rome.

Ali took to Instagram, where he shared a video where he is seen posing and chatting with Diesel. In the backdrop, the iconic Colosseum is seen as the two posed.

"AND THE FAST X PREMIERE WENT DOWN HARD RIGHT HERE AT THE COLOSSEUM .. cuz #Wheninrome you go gladiator style.. #fastx #reunion #furious7 Thank you for all the love Vin @vindiesel. You are the kindest man i know and the soul of the Fast fam. Feel proud to be part of the team. (disclaimer - am not in fast X guys, but there for Love)," Ali wrote as the caption.

On the work front, Ali will soon be flying off to the US, where he will be promoting his next big Hollywood release, 'Kandahar' with Gerard Butler. In addition to his international work, Ali is also busy on the work front in India. He will soon be seen in 'Khufiya' with Tabu, 'Metro In Dino' with Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sara Ali Khan, and the third season of India's biggest OTT series, Mirzapur.

JENNIFER LAWRENCE 'DIED LAUGHING' OVER THE AD THAT INSPIRED 'NO HARD FEELINGS' Hollywood star Jennifer Lawrence recently shared that she "died laughing" when reading the real-life Craigslist ad that inspired her upcoming raunchy R-rated comedy 'No Hard Feelings'.

Directed by Lawrence's longtime friend Gene Stupnitsky, the film casts the Oscar-winning actor as a Montauk Uber driver facing bankruptcy who accepts a Craigslist ad to date and seduce an awkward 19-year-old (Andrew Bar th Feldman), repor ts Variety.

His helicopter parents don't want him leaving for college as a virgin. Stupnitsky and Lawrence first let it slip at CinemaCon last month that 'No Hard Feelings' was based on a real-life Craigslist ad. The director told Enter tainment Weekly that it was the film's producers, Marc Provissiero and Naomi Odenkirk, who sent him the Craigslist ad.

"I read it, and I thought, 'This is wild. Who is the woman that answers this ad?'" Stupnitsky said, quoted by Variety. "And I thought, 'Oh, that'll be a great role for my friend Jennifer Lawrence.'"

"Gene read the Craigslist ad to me, and I died laughing," Lawrence added. "I thought it was hilarious, but there wasn't a script or anything. I just thought he had a funny idea. And then a couple years later, he handed me the funniest script I've ever read in my life."

"A theatrical release these days is, uh...It's a test," Lawrence also said in the EW interview. "You get tested publicly, and everyone knows if you pass through. But I feel we're putting our best foot forward."

NETFLIX PLANS TO CUT $300 MN IN SPENDING THIS YEAR: REPORT

LOS ANGELES, (IANS) Actor Simon Pegg has talked about his personal struggles and shared that he concealed his alcoholism while working on the set of 'Mission: Impossible III' in the 2000s.

The actor discussed the matter on a recent episode of the BBC's 'Deser t Island Discs', via the Guardian, repor ts 'Variety'.

"You become very sneaky when you have something like that in your life," he told Lauren Laverne, host of the radio program.

Pegg, who plays IMF technical field agent Benji Dunn in the series, disclosed that he developed an addiction after suffering a series of mental health issues. He kept the matter private while filming 'Mission: Impossible III', which was released in 2006. "You learn how to do it without anyone noticing because it takes over. It wants to sustain itself and it will do everything it can to not be stopped," said Pegg.

"But eventually it just gets to a point when it can't be hidden, and that's when, thankfully, I was able to pull out of the dive."

Pegg attributes his road to recovery to the birth of his daughter in 2009. While speaking with Laverne, Pegg also shared some details about his relationship with 'Mission: Impossible' star Tom Cruise, who he has appeared alongside for four 'MI' entries, with the fifth, 'Dead Reckoning Par t One' releasing this summer.

"My relationship with him is just very simple and amiable," said Pegg. "It's always been a very easy relationship. I think you realize, when you meet the person rather than the thicket of mythology that's built up around them, it's a different experience.

I mean, he loves (the fame) and he really relishes it. It's all he knows. It energises him and spurs him on."

SHANIA SIGNS INTIMATE PART OF FAN: 'THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING'

LOS ANGELES, (IANS) Singer Shania Twain has said that "there's a first time for everything" after she signed a fan's thigh while on-stage during a gig in Canada.

Performing her Queen of Me tour, Shania made a permanent mark on one dedicated fan, reports mirror.co.uk.

Taking to Instagram, Shania shared a clip from her sold-out show which had around 15,000 fans in attendance.

The country icon, 57, shared a video that saw a fan standing onstage, with the singer crouched down and armed with a permanent marker.

With his thigh on full display and in eye-line with the Canadian star, the fan hitched up his shor ts to show off even more flesh.

Shania is seen scribbling her signature above a tattoo that the fan already had, which was of a bed with some boots underneath it. The fan's tattoo was probably a nod to Shania's 1995 track 'Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?', which played in the background of the video she shared.

Shania crouched down, donning a cobalt blue chiffon dress and some knee-high cowboy boots. While her fan donned shorts, a black t-shirt with Shania on the front of it, and a a beige cowboy hat. Leaving her fans gobsmacked - as well as the crowd that watched on, and her fans online - Shania autographed the top of her fan's thigh while grinning in the process.

SWEDISH SINGER LOREEN WINS EUROVISION FOR THE SECOND TIME

Streaming giant Netflix is reportedly slashing its spending by $300 million this year, including related to hiring.

According to a new report from The Wall Street Journal, one of the reasons behind the spending cut is that Netflix delayed its plans to crack down on password sharing from the first quarter to the second quarter this year.

It means that the revenue Netflix expected from the move is now shifted to towards the second half of the year, the report said.

SUSHMITA SEN: JUST LIKE AARYA, I CAN GO TO ANY EXTENT FOR MY TWO DAUGHTERS MUMBAI, (IANS) Ahead of Mother's Day on Sunday, actress and former beauty queen Sushmita Sen has drawn parallels between her real self and her reel character Aarya.

Sushmita represents strong women and especially mothers who could kill or die for their children in any circumstances.

Talking about motherhood and her character of Aarya, Sushmita said: "Aarya is synonymous with motherhood. She is the epitome of grace and strength. I am elated to be associated with her story and her journey of motherhood. I admire Aarya for being a warrior and surpassing every hurdle that comes her way."

Sushmita describes Aarya as "bold and has emerged as a fierce lioness who wants to protect her children at any cost."

"I have raised my two daughters single-handedly and I know I can go to any extent for them just like Aarya does in the series. I thoroughly resonate with her zeal to move ahead, no matter what and prevail through every hindrance."

She added: "Motherhood is the most beautiful thing in the world and I absolutely enjoy playing such a strong mother, on-screen as well. Moreover, I hope audiences are looking forward to Aarya season 3." Sushmita is currently shooting for 'Aarya' season 3. The show will stream on Disney+ Hotstar.

LONDON, (IANS) Swedish contestant Loreen came first with her song 'Tattoo' at the Eurovision Song Contest 2023, beating out 25 other countries to garner 583 points, repor ts 'Variety'.

Loreen's win means the contest will likely be held in Sweden next year. Traditionally the winning country hosts the following year's contest. Sweden was followed by Finland's Kaarija with 526 points and Israel's Noa Kirel with 362 points, who took second and third place respectively, 'Variety' adds.

It is Loreen's second Eurovision win: she previously won the contest in 2012 with her song 'Euphoria'.

Eurovision, which is run by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), features musical acts from around Europe as well as a number of countries outside it, including Israel and Australia, who par ticipate by vir tue of their membership of the EBU, 'Variety' notes. This year's Eurovision took place in Liverpool, UK, on behalf of last year's winner Ukraine after it was deemed too dangerous to hold Eurovision in the country following the Russian invasion.

Ukrainian entry Kalush Orchestra won last year's contest, followed by the UK's Sam Ryder, who came a close second.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

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MidWeek 21 JACQUELINE FERNANDES GROOVES TO BLACKPINK JISOO'S 'FLOWER'

'SIRF EK BANDAA KAAFI HAI' GETS STANDING OVATION AT NEW YORK INDIAN FILM FEST MUMBAI, (IANS) National Award winning actor Manoj Bajpayee's upcoming film 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai' recently received a standing ovation after its screening at the New York Indian Film Festival. Manoj was par ticularly chuffed with the response that the film garnered at the prestigious film festival.

He said: "It's an overwhelming feeling to see such an amazing response from the audience on the International stage. I literally got goosebumps when our film received a standing ovation at the New York Indian Film Festival. I am thankful to everyone."

The film shows that in the battle between an ordinary man's willpower and the power of a self-styled godman, it is always the victory of

willpower and no man is above the law. It shows the fight of a rape survivor.

Director Apoorv Singh Karki shared: "A film made with all heart and hard work to send out an impor tant message to the viewers and getting appreciated is a humbling feeling. I am happy that our efforts are getting the reward that it deserves."

A Zee Studios and Bhanushali Studios Limited presentation, Suparn S. Varma's courtroom drama 'Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai' is produced

by Vinod Bhanushali, Kamlesh Bhanushali, Asif Sheikh & Vishal Gurnani and co-produced by Juhi Parekh Mehta. The film is all set to premiere on ZEE5 on May 23, 2023.

JYOTIKA RETURNS TO HINDI FILMS AFTER 25 YEARS WITH AJAY DEVGN'S SUPERNATURAL THRILLER MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Jyotika will be joining Ajay Devgn, R Madhavan in the upcoming supernatural thriller, directed

by Vikas Bahl. Jyotika is returning to Hindi films after 25 years and will be seen sharing screen space with Ajay for the very first time. The film will go on floors this June and is being extensively shot in Mumbai, Mussoorie and London.

Details about the films are still under wraps. The film will be produced by Ajay Devgn, Kumar Mangat Pathak and Abhishek Pathak under the banner Ajay Devgn Ffilm and Panorama Studios. The makers will be unravelling more information about the film soon.

KERALA FLOODS MOVIE '2018 EVERYONE IS A HERO' SMASHES MOLLYWOOD BO RECORDS

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, (IANS) The Malayalam Tovino Thomas-starrer '2018 Everyone Is A Hero', directed by the award-winning popular director, Jude Anthany Joseph, is having a dream run and moving toward the Rs 100-crore club, a rare feat for a Mollywood movie. And coming as it does at a time when 'The Kerala Story' is attracting nationwide attention, people close to the Malayalam film industry are saying that '2018' is "the real

Kerala Story" and not the one that claims to be one.

The film is centred around stories of humanity triumphing over adversity in the backdrop of the 2018 floods that devastated parts of Kerala. It is the second Tovino project to attract national attention and draw an adulatory audience response after the 2021 superhero movie 'Minnal Murali'. And it also brings back memories of his performance in 'Virus', the 2019 film about the Nipah outbreak in Kerala.

Tovino, incidentally, volunteered his services for flood relief back in 2018.

In the film, he plays a young man who leaves the Indian Army with a fake medical certificate and redeems himself during the floods.

The ensemble cast includes top Malayalam talents, notably Asif Ali, Kunchacko Boban, Lal and the National Award-winning actress, Aparna Balamurali, who plays a TV reporter.

The movie, which was released on May 5, raked in around Rs 5.18 crore on its ninth day from Kerala alone, which is an all-time record in Mollywood history. The worldwide collection is reported to be more than Rs 80 crore in the first nine days. The film is reported to be getting a standing ovation in theatres across the state.

Produced by Venu Kunnappilly, C.K. Padma Kumar and Anto Joseph under the banner of Kavya Film Company and P.K. Prime Productions, the film is the second back-to-back blockbuster from Kavya after the 2022 action adventure drama 'Malikappuram' starring Unni Mukundan.

DIMPLE KAPADIA'S MOST INTENSE SCENE IN 'SAAS, BAHU AUR FLAMINGO' REVEALED

MUMBAI, (IANS) Filmmaker Homi Adajania has talked about the most intense scene he shot with veteran actor Dimple Kapadia on the shoot of 'Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo' and what all went behind creating it.

Talking about the most intense scene he shot with Dimple Kapadia, Adajania said: "I think the most intense scene was when Dimple's character Savitri walks through her atrium to her room after she leaves the celebration when she came back from attacking the Monk and she realises that her master plan has not worked out."

"There is something way more devious, which is beyond her at this point in the narrative and she goes through all the tragic milestones that has were extremely sort of prominent for making her the character she is today." He added: So she goes through all the milestones from whether it's the murder of her husband - what made her when she was left to die in the desert, and how she rose like a phoenix rather than crumbled up and died, how Monk shot her, she lost everyone close to her in various tragedies and she goes through those milestones."

Homi recalled when Dimple was doing that, it's just a walk and it's difficult for an actor because an actor cannot see you.

"I am as a director seeing the visuals that will be intercut within the scene. But to get that intensity of those visuals, memories for the actor is much more difficult because some of those scenes have not been shot, some have not been seen - so she needed to get that intensity and go through each memory and keep it climbing in that walk."

He added: "Then she reaches the pinnacle of emotional threshold where she starts beating this door and she was wearing one of those massive rings, along with our other chunky accessories, which broke one of the fingers because it was swollen like a little watermelon, but she did it in one take." "In spite of me being good with the take, she wanted to do more takes and she actually ended up doing four takes and in fact, it was so emotionally draining to direct it that I can't even imagine what she must have gone through to enact it." Homi said that Dimple won't stop until she's happy or he would tell her to go off the set.

The show also stars Radhika Madan, Angira Dhar and Isha Talwar in pivotal roles along with a talented cast, Ashish Verma, Varun Mitra, Udit Arora, Deepak Dobriyal and Monica Dogra amongst others. Saas, Bahu aur Flamingo is streaming on Disney+ Hotstar.

MUMBAI, (IANS) Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandes jumped on the trending song 'Flower' bandwagon and shared a video on social media.

'Flower' is a viral track by singer Jisoo, who is a part of the KPop all girls super band BLACKPINK. Taking to Instagram, Jacqueline shared a transition video from her 'Dabangg' tour, where she was seen doing the hook step of the track which is currently all over social media.

In the first half of the clip, Jacqueline sported a casual look and then the video transitioned to her wearing her stage outfits.

She captioned the video: "Dabangg the Tour Reloaded KOLKATA. Thank you for so much love!!" On the professional front, Jacqueline will be next seen opposite Sonu Sood in 'Fateh'.

PARINEETI CHOPRA'S MOTHER PENS EMOTIONAL NOTE ON DAUGHTER'S ENGAGEMENT

MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Parineeti Chopra's mother Reena Chopra wrote an emotional note for her daughter, who got engaged to AAP leader Raghav Chadha on May 13.

Reena took to Instagram, where she shared an engagement picture of Parineeti and Raghav and penned down her thoughts for them. She wrote: "There are reasons in your life that make you believe all over again and all the time that there is a God up there This is one of them ....#trulyblessed#thankyougod I wish to thank all of you who have reached out and poured your blessings and wishes for them." Parineeti and Raghav's engagement took place at the Kapurthala House in New Delhi and was attended by close friends and family members of the couple. After staying mum for over a month about their relationship, on the day of the engagement the couple took to Instagram to confirm. Raghav wrote: "Everything I prayed for .. She said yes!" While, Parineeti said: "Everything I prayed for .. I said yes!"

WHEN ANGAD BEDI WAS DROPPED FROM FILMS, PATIENCE AND PERSEVERANCE HELD HIM UP MUMBAI, (IANS) Actor Angad Bedi, who will be seen in the R. Balki film 'Ghoomer', witnessed a phase of rejection as he was dropped out of movies. But the actor feels that patience and a thick skin goes a long way in the ruthless world of showbiz.

The actor said: "I have been dropped from films. One's initial reaction is shock, but then you learn to take it in your stride.

You have to be patient and have to build a thick skin to face rejection. Being dropped from a film after having been confirmed for it is a painful process, but I believe destiny has another plan for you." He fur ther mentioned: "It's not too uncommon that suddenly another gives a hit film and you're replaced, and that's the business and you have to learn to take it well.

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

'SCOOP' TRAILER SHOWS HOW ONE PHONE CALL HAS FAR-REACHING REPERCUSSIONS

PARINEETI SAYS THANKS POST ENGAGEMENT: 'RAGHAV, I ARE OVERWHELMED WITH THE LOVE' MUMBAI, (IANS) Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra has penned a thank you note for all the love she and her fiance Raghav Chadha are getting. Two days after their intimate engagement, Parineeti took to Instagram on Monday and wrote: "Raghav and I are overwhelmed with the love and abundance of positivity we have received over the past few weeks, par ticularly on our engagement."

"We both come from different worlds, and it's amazing to know that our worlds also unite with our union. We have gained a bigger family than we could have ever imagined."

It fur ther read: "We are so touched by everything we have read/ seen, and we cannot thank you all enough. We embark on this journey knowing that you all are standing with us.""A special shout-out to our amazing friends in the media. Thank you for being there through the day and cheering for us. Love, Parineeti and Raghav." Raghav took to Twitter to thank the Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal who shared two pictures from the engagement ceremony. Raghav wrote: "Sir, apne apna aashirwaad dekar khaas din ko aur bhi khaas bana diya. Parineeti aur meri taraf se aapka aur apke parivaar ka tahe dil se abhaar."

HIBA NAWAB OF ‘WOH TOH HAI ALBELA' ON HOW HER MOTHER INSPIRES HER MUMBAI, (IANS) Television actress Hiba Nawab, who can be currently seen in ‘Woh Toh Hai Albela' essaying the role of Sayuri opposite Shaheer Shaikh, recently spoke about her character's transformation as she becomes a mother.

Hiba said she could relate to her character without being a mother in real life as she is very close to her mom in real life and draws inspiration from her.

She spoke about her bond with her mother and wished her ahead of Mother's Day (May 14).

The actress said, “I share a very friendly relationship with my mother. We are more like best friends to each other. We share things with each other, we fight but eventually come back to each other. I believe there's no par ticular day to celebrate our mothers and it goes for everyone. I feel I'm always going to be a child for my mother." She added: "As she's not here in town this time, I'm going to make her feel special since I'm too loud on my gestures and I always like to spoil her so I'll be sending her lots and lots of gifts. I hope I spend every Mother's Day and every day with her to make her feel special. Happy Mother's Day mom, and to every mother out there."

‘Woh Toh Hai Albela' airs every Monday-Friday at 9:00 p.m. on Star Bharat.

MUMBAI, (IANS) The trailer of the upcoming crime drama streaming show 'Scoop' was unveiled on Monday. It starts off on a pacey note as the character of crime reporter Jagruti Pathak receives a call from the underworld don Chhota Rajan to talk about a certain subject.

It soon spirals to show how Jagruti gets mired in a controversy because of her proximity to the Rajan and is soon sent behind the bars for enabling the murder of a fellow crime reporter.

The trailer highlights society's rush to pass the judgement as Jagruti is caught between the nexus of the police, the underworld, and the media. The show, directed by Hansal Mehta, is inspired by real events and Jigna Vora's memoir, 'Behind Bars in Byculla: My Days in Prison' and tells how she was framed by the police and investigating agencies for abetting the murder of crime repor ter Jyotirmoy Dey citing professional rivalry.

RAM CHARAN FANS GIVE AWAY BOTTLES OF BUTTERMILK TO PEOPLE AROUND MUMBAI TEMPLE MUMBAI, (IANS) Over 1,000 fans of superstar Ram Charan have come together at the Shankar Temple in Juhu and Bhiwandi in Mumbai to give away 7,000 bottles of refreshing buttermilk to people in and around the temple.

The initiative is being organised by Ram Charan's fans, who have been inspired by the star's philanthropic activities.

Ram Charan is known not just for his work on screen, but also for his humanitarian efforts off screen.

Via multiple associations, NGOs, The Chiranjeevi Charitable Trust, the Global Star has headlined blood donation camps, eye check-up camps, Covid relief camps, and suppor ted various other charities over the years.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

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MidWeek 23 HOLLYWOOD

MOVIE REVIEW

ANNA KENDRICK WANTED TO TELL A STORY ABOUT TOXIC, ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP WITH 'ALICE, DARLING'

STARRING: BELLAMKONDA SREENIVAS, NUSHRRATT BHARUCCHA, SAHIL VAID, AUROSHIKHA DEY DIRECTOR: V. V. VINAYAK RATING: 2/5

CHATRAPATHI REVIEW: BELLAMKONDA SREENIVAS FILM TRIES TO BE SALMAN KHAN, ROHIT SHETTY MOVIE BUT FAILS There comes a scene in the second half of the film when our action hero Shiva (played by Bellamkonda Sreenivas) is seated in his car, confused with the turn of events in his life and tells his friends, “Ye sab kya ho raha hai." I instantly replied to the on-screen character, “Same, ye kya ho raha hai!" Chatrapathi makes you ask this question time and again, probably every 20 minutes and surprisingly, the film is only two hours and a few odd minutes long.

A remake of the Telugu film of the same name, which released in 2005 and starred Prabhas, Chatrapathi marks Bellamkonda Sreenivas’ Bollywood debut. Helmed by V. V. Vinayak, best known for his actioncomedy and masala films, Chatrapathi has Sreenivas sharing the screen with Nushrratt Bharuccha, Sharad Kelkar, Bhagyashree and Karan Singh Chhabra, among others.

The film is dated, set in what seems to be early 2000s — based on the old style phones being used in the movie — and revolves around a boy named Shiva and his half brother Ashok. Born in Pakistan, the siblings and their mother (played by Bhagyashree) are forced to migrate to a small sea-side village in Gujurat in 1985. Unfortunately though, Shiva is torn away from his family due to the chaos unfolding during the evacuation.

Shiva and a few local villagers take help from a powerful village head who orders the migrants to sign their life off to him. Shiva and his friends are forced to be slaves to the village head and performed illegal deeds to ensure their life is spared. Years go by and Shiva’s tolerance to the slavery is often tested. However, he refrains from acting on his anger.

Instead, he decides to invest his time looking for his long lost mother and brother with the help of Nushrratt Bharuccha’s character. His search comes to an end soon enough but his hurdles are far from over. The movie follows his fight with injustice against his village folks and his path of reunion with his mother.

Now, I have not seen the original film so I won’t be the right person to compare. However, the concept of Chatrapathi on paper isn’t bad. Typical family lost in a chaos, one child turns good while others bad only to have them go through situations that tests their characters and upbringing formula is a tried and test one in Bollywood. The film’s story writer V. Vijayendra Prasad packs in all the elements and characters to make this a masala watch, even though it seems dated.

However, the screenplay, dialogues and uneven editing makes this film a tad difficult to sit through. Chatrapathi feels like a series of scenes just patched together to ensure timely release. A lot of continuity errors and location errors are visible. You could easily guess a few scenes were not

shot in a small village in Bhavnagar (where the story is set) but at a luxury hotel in Mumbai’s Juhu area, leaving us wondering if director V. V. Vinayak even remotely tries to be factually right with the timeline.

Besides the error in locations, props were also conveniently introduced in scenes out of the blue, leaving you confused where it appeared from.

For example, just before the climax scene, Shiva declares that he will be leading the village into freedom. While he stands in the rain and delivers the freedom speech at midnight, out of nowhere, an umbrella appears and he is escorted out of the venue underneath it, showing his upgraded prominence. In another scene, wherein Shiva and his lady love are attacked, it is shown that their car is at the edge of the road. However, suddenly, it is in the middle of the road and is surrounded by the enemies’ cars. These scenes feel like a lot was chopped in order to make the duration less and in the process, the makers turned a blind eye to the continuity.

Nevertheless, Chatrapathi boasts of some impressive, slow motion action scenes, a template very common in Telugu films. The action sequence are choreographed well and it surprisingly draws you into the movie more than the drama playing out in the film.

The biggest disppointment from the film are the main four cast members.

It is hard to gauge if it is bad writing or lack of direction focused for Bollywood audience but Bellamkonda Sreenivas, Nushrratt Bharuccha, Bhagyashree and Karan Singh Chhabra deliver uneven performances.

Sreenivas tries his best to deliver a Rohit Shetty meets Salman Khan style massy performance and in a few places manages to deliver but there are scenes in which he looks confused about how to emote. The strange switch in scenes — from a relatively sad scene to an instant switch to a song — acts as a hinderance in his performance.

Nushrratt seems like she was roped in only to star in four songs of the film. She has only five scenes in which she is given the scope to act but that also goes by before you could even grasp as to what is going on.

Honestly, Bhagyashree deserved a better and toned down role. Her emotional scenes are written so messily that it is difficult to empathise with her. Karan felt weak as a grey shaded brother.

The saving grace of Chatrapathi were Sharad Kelkar, Sahil Vaid, and Amit Shivdas Nair, among others. The cinematography is also kept grand, in order to match the massy vibe of the film.

Bottomline: Chatrapathi is good on paper but deserved a better execution.

The film feels like it wants to be a Salman Khan massy movie with a vision of Rohit Shetty but doesn’t goes through with the idea.

MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Anna Kendrick, who plays the role of a psychologically abused girlfriend in the thriller film 'Alice, Darling', has shared that it was important to bring this story to light and to light so that she could tell a story of a toxic, abusive relationship. The film, which stars Anna in a titular role alongside Charlie Carrick, Kaniehtiio Horn and Wunmi Mosaku, follows Alice, through an abusive relationship where she's forced to see her boyfriend for who he really is.

The film touches upon the issue of emotional abuse and domestic violence, and is a revelation on the masked and hidden issues of the society. Sharing what drew her to the film, the actress said: "There was something about Alana's writing that felt so poetic and restrained. I was really interested in telling a story about a toxic, abusive relationship that didn't look the way that it's always kind of been portrayed in movies. And the way that Alana wrote this woman's inner turmoil, and the subtle, but very rewarding journey that she goes on, very much intrigued me." Talking about abuse, Anna fur ther added, "I feel like everybody's been touched by this kind of confusing, very insidious abuse, whether it's happened to you or a friend of yours, you've seen someone in your life star t to shrink and star t to look and feel suffocated, and you're not sure what's going on. It's this very unsettling feeling, you don't know what you can say, how you can help." The film will be available to stream on Lionsgate Play in India on May 26.

'ALADDIN' STAR MENA MASSOUD DELETES TWITTER AFTER INSULTING 'THE LITTLE MERMAID'

LOS ANGELES, (IANS) Actor Mena Massoud has landed in hot soup over his unwarranted comment on 'The Little Mermaid'.

The "Aladdin" actor has deactivated his Twitter account after coming under fire for apparently throwing shade at the latest Disney movie, repor ts aceshowbiz.com.

The backlash was triggered by Massoud's own post about 'The Little Mermaid'. Following a report that the live-action musical adaption of the 1989 animated film is projected to earn $115 on its domestic box office weekend, the Egyptian-Canadian actor compared the new movie to his 2019 film, which has not been granted a sequel despite opening to a similar number.

"Our film was unique in that audiences went to watch it multiple times. It's the only way we reached the billion dollar mark with our opening," he tweeted on Saturday, May 13.

"My guess is TLM doesn't cross the billion mark but will undoubtedly get a sequel." His tweet was in response to another user weighing in on why "Aladdin" never got a sequel despite its strong box office performance. "ALADDIN managed to end up at over a billion worldwide.

TAYLOR SWIFT PAUSES 'BAD BLOOD' TO TELL SECURITY TO LAY OFF FAN AT SHOW

LOS ANGELES, (IANS) Singer Taylor Swift took a pause in singing "Bad Blood" to repeatedly ask a guard or guards to lay off a fan as a confrontation developed in Philadelphia.

As usual with anything at a Swift show, there were tens of thousands of cameras trained on her, and one 25-second clip of the singer's interjections on Twitter had amassed more than 3 million views by Sunday morning, reports 'Variety'. Video of what happened between the fan and security guard was harder to come by; attendees at the Lincoln Financial Field show offered reports saying alternately that the fan was being confronted for being too close to a barricade or was being pulled away for taking photos (which are not disallowed on the tour). Swift is not known for breaking character to comment on what's going on with an audience mid-song on the Eras Tour, so the interchange stood out and quickly picked up steam among international Swifties. "She's fine," Swift is first seen telling security during the number. Then: "She wasn't doing anything." The singer shouts: "Hey! Stop!" And then again, after the next scheduled use of the word "hey!" in the lyrics, she once again orders security to "stop," before resuming her singing and choreography.

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B O L LY W O O D

MOVIE REVIEW

'KHATRON KE KHILADI 13': RUHI CHATURVEDI OPENS UP ABOUT BATTLING HOMESICKNESS

STARRING: VIDYUT JAMMWAL, ANUPAM KHER, DALIP TAHIL, VISHAL JETHWA DIRECTOR: SANKALP REDDY RATING: 3.5/5

IB 71 REVIEW: VIDYUT JAMMWAL IMPRESSES IN CLUTTER-BREAKING FILM WITH CRISP NARRATIVE Bollywood can’t get enough of its favourite theme, patriotism. Over the decades, films based on India and Pakistan’s complicated political ties have been made galore. Now, their template may be extremely formulaic but weaving a story that makes a point without any kind of preaching and excessive chest-thumping is no cakewalk.

In 2017, Sankalp Reddy, who mononymously goes by Sankalp, made his directorial debut with the bilingual film, The Ghazi Attack. The submarine warfare film won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Telugu in 2018. It was an underwater tale of the courage and patriotism of the men aboard the Indian Submarine INS Karanj and was inspired by true events from the mysterious sinking of PNS Ghazi during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. Six years later, Sankalp returns to Bollywood with IB 71, a spy drama, inspired by true events, which is again set against a similar backdrop. Interestingly, he once again manages to achieve what very few filmmakers can – make a patriotic film without the slightest ounce of melodramatic patriotism.

IB 71 is based on the Ganga Hijack, infamously called ‘the hijack that never happened’ and uncovers India’s top secret mission conducted by the Intelligence Bureau that made us win the 1971 war. It revolves around Dev, an IB officer, who single-handedly prevents Pakistan from joining hands with China and attacking India and gaining control over its nor th-eastern frontier. He takes on the critical operation of carrying out a hijack by two young but ambitious Kashmiri boys from POK (Pak Occupied Kashmir) by risking the lives of about 30 Indian civilians aboard an aircraft and safely bringing them back to their homeland, thus manoeuvring a mission that gives out a message that Pakistan has initiated a terror act on India. He successfully does so

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

within a span of just ten days.

Most of the film takes place in Kashmir and kudos to cinematographer Gnana Shekar VS – who has shot National Award winning films like Vedam (2010) and Kanche (2015) - for capturing the beauty of the state with aplomb. The pristine snow-covered lands and the misty Dal Lake are the beds for most of the action and they render an element of authenticity to the story. The use of greys, mundane browns and cloudy blues convey the mood and tone of IB 71 rather perfectly.

Despite a trained martial artist like Vidyut at the centre of the narrative, the stunts are far and few and extremely realistic, and never do you feel that these sequences are forced just to glorify the life of a spy.

A crisp narrative further helps the film. Sankalp wastes no time and dives straight into the story right from the first frame. We aren’t given any sneak peek into Dev’s life and his back story and interestingly, it causes no deterrence in establishing his character and his sharp acumen. Much like The Ghazi Attack, there are no frills here. There are no song and dance sequences and definitely, no love story involved, which, needless to say, makes for a gush of fresh air. Sankalp defies every stereotype and formula and creates a narrative that is impressive and will hopefully, set a precedent for all the patriotic films that are in the making. There’s no dearth of spy thrillers in Bollywood and more and more of them continue to be made. However, more often than not, these good-looking films have crossed the line of realism to make their protagonists appear larger-than-life. This is also where IB 71 stands out. It gives us a glimpse into the life of a regular spy, who isn’t afraid to revel in grime and grit to protect their motherland. And their job is everything else but glamorous and glitzy.

MOVIE REVIEW

STARRING: SHRIYA SARAN, SHARMAN JOSHI, SHAAN, PRAKASH RAJ, LEELA SAMSON DIRECTOR: PAPA RAO BIYYALA RATING: 3/5

MUMBAI, (IANS) As television actress Ruhi Chaturvedi gears up for the upcoming season of 'Khatron Ke Khiladi', she opened up about the challenges of staying away from home for a prolonged period and feeling homesick.

The actress, who has never been away from her husband Shivendraa Saainiyol after marriage, said that being a homebody, the thought of being all by herself for the show is daunting. Speaking from Cape Town, where she is currently shooting for 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 13', Ruhi said: "I am missing my husband and home terribly. Any challenge seems tougher when you are away from your loved ones. But I am trying to stay positive and focused on the task at hand."

She added: "Before leaving for the show, I spent quality time with my family and friends, who are all huge fans of Khatron Ke Khiladi. Their support and advice have been invaluable. And of course, my husband has been my rock throughout this journey, constantly motivating and encouraging me to face my fears and do my best."

'Khatron Ke Khiladi 13' will air on COLORS.

AMRITA RAO, RJ ANMOL REVEAL THEY SPENT ONLY RS 1.5L ON THEIR WEDDING

MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Amrita Rao, who has starred in films such as 'Main Hoon Na', 'Ishq Vishk', 'Jolly LLB' and 'Thakeray' along with her husband RJ Anmol, shared a shocking detail about their wedding. On the "anniversary special" episode of Couple Of Things' - Yehi Woh Jagah Hai, the duo took their fans on a nostalgic journey from Mumbai all the way to Pune city, where they had secretly tied the knot at a famous Iskcon Temple in Katraj, nine years ago. The couple disclosed that they spent only Rs 1,50,000 on their wedding, which included their wedding outfits, venue, travel cost and other expenses. The 'Vivaah' actress par ticularly insisted that she and Anmol did not want to wear designer clothes for their special occasion and rather settled for very traditional & elegant ensembles costing only Rs 3,000 each. The wedding venue was arranged at a cost of just Rs 11,000. Amrita Rao shared, "We always believed that weddings should be about love, not about showing off wealth and ostentation. We wanted our wedding to be a beautiful, intimate affair with just our immediate families & close friends, and we're glad we were able to achieve that without spending a for tune." RJ Anmol added, "Our wedding was a reflection of our personalities, and we wanted to keep it humble. We would be happy if this inspires people to opt for budget-friendly weddings too."

BIG B TAKES BIKE RIDE WITH STRANGER TO REACH SET ON TIME

MUSIC SCHOOL REVIEW: SHRIYA SARAN AND SHARMAN JOSHI'S FILM HAS ITS HEART IN THE RIGHT PLACE All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, a proverb that we all have grown up listening to, has also somewhere impacted us so much so that movies and shows based on this core element hit home. Papa Rao Biyyala’s Music School is built on the same premise and will make you travel back to your childhood days with a musical note.

Music School talks about the pressure put by schools and parents on kids to focus on academics and not on extracurricular activities like art, music or spor ts. However, the film doesn’t hold you long enough, as the elongated musical numbers which arrive abruptly, despite being situational make it a tedious watch.

The first half of the film is well-paced and balanced in quickly establishing the plot of the story. It opens with a school principal lecturing the students about focusing on their studies and not on the ar ts. That’s when you bump into Manoj (Sharman Joshi) who is a drama teacher in the school. Through a detailed musical number, the story then goes forward in explaining how there are hardly any kids who take up extracurricular activities. That’s when Maria (Shriya Sharan) walks in, takes the help of Manoj and sets up the Music School. Things look interesting and nostalgic too, when the kids walk in wanting to have a hobby, while their parents fret, looking for ways to avoid their distraction. This dilemma makes the movie both intriguing and nostalgic.

However, the second half of the story, makes you dread. While it promises predictability, it comes with a bunch of twists and turns, which may seem unnecessary. Despite the film having a social message and creating awareness among its viewers, the film lacks the motivational or impactful value of its talking point. The 2 hour 5

minute run time could have been shor tened. Speaking of Sharman and Shriya’s on-screen presence, they have a comforting chemistry.

They light up every frame. They balance each other well and still perform brilliantly individually too. You’d wanna root for them till the end of the film. Shaan’s performance stands out too. He adds the much-needed breeze to the film, with his aura along with his voice.

Special mention to the veteran stars Prakash Raj and Leela Samson who bring in the right sense of credibility with their parts.

The kids do a spectacular job. This bunch is no less than the groups you’ve seen in Stanley Ka Dabba and Chillar Party. They come from all age groups and similar backgrounds, thus making you relate and resonate with their thought processes. Their angst of wanting to do something creative, yet bound by their parent’s expectations, may resonate with many young people. As a first-time feature film director, Papa Rao Biyyala picked out a very relevant subject to make a film on. Another notable exception is the plot being based out of Hyderabad.

The story looked very relevant to its roots. Better writing and screenplay, barring the musical notes, would have made wonders for the film. Music School is a surprisingly fresh film. It has family-friendly written all over it. It’s a one-time watch and maybe a pass for the theatres. If you are into musicals, this may be a good add-on to your list, however, don’t expect much from it. All in all, Music School delivers a social message on the impor tance of extracurricular activities in children’s lives.

Given the fact that it’s a musical, with the predictable second half, it may make it a tedious watch. It’s a movie that takes you back to your childhood and reminds you of the impor tance of pursuing your passions, regardless of societal expectations.

MUMBAI, (IANS) Ditching the luxury of his expensive cars, megastar Amitabh Bachchan took a lift from a stranger, whom he fondly called his "ride buddy", to reach his work location on time. Amitabh took to Instagram, where he shared a picture of himself riding pillion as an elderly gentleman can be seen riding a Harley Davidson.

"Thank you for the ride buddy .. don't know you .. but you obliged and got me on time to location of work .. faster and in avoidance of the unsolvable traffic jams .. thank you capped, shorts and yellowed T - shirt owner," he wrote as the caption.

On the film front, Amitabh will be seen in Project K, which also stars Prabhas and Deepika Padukone. The film is directed by Nag Ashwin. He will also be seen in the cour troom drama 'Section 84' by Ribhu Dasgupta.

SHUBMAN GILL BREAKS SACHIN TENDULKAR'S ALL-TIME RECORD

GT VS SRH: GUJARAT TITANS BECOME 1ST TEAM TO QUALIFY FOR IPL 2023 PLAYOFFS AFTER WIN OVER SUNRISERS HYDERABAD Hardik Pandya's Gujarat Titans became finally secured a spot in the IPL 2023 playoffs as they registered their 9th win of season against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Hardik Pandya's men defeated Aiden Markramled SRH comfor tably and also confirmed a top two finish in the tournament. With this SRH's chances of reaching the top four have ended and they are out of the tournament.

GT defeated SRH by 34 runs as they successfully defended their total of 188 against a struggling Hyderabad batting line up. Apar t from Heinrich Klaasen and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, none of their batters made any notable contributions. For GT though, Mohammed Shami and Mohit Sharma were clinical with the ball and the duo shared four wickets each in SRH's off colour show.

This was the first instance where the pacers of both the teams

dominated an IPL game like this. For the first time pacers have taken 17 wickets in an IPL game. SRH's Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Marco Jansen, T Natarajan and Fazalhaq Faroorqi took 8 wickets in all. Whereas the GT pacers Mohammed Shami, Mohit Sharma and Yash Dayal combined for 9 wickets in the game. In SRH's poor outing with the bat, Klaasen and Bhuvneshwar combined to make 68 runs for the 8th wicket. Klaasen hit a 44-ball 64, whereas Bhuvneshwar scored 27 off 26 balls. The match also witnessed Shubman Gill scoring a sparkling hundred. It was his first hundred in IPL ever and first for a GT player.

GT cored 188 in their batting. Their batting also had only two shining stars in the form of Gill and Sai Sudharsan. Gill hit 101 off 58 balls and Sai scored 47 off 36. No other GT batter crossed the single digit mark.

Bhuvneshwar scalped 5 wickets.

'WAS A VERY EMOTIONAL MOMENT FOR ME', SAYS GAVASKAR ON TAKING DHONI'S AUTOGRAPH ON HIS SHIRT NEW DELHI, (IANS) Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has revealed that it was a very emotional moment for him when he took the autograph from skipper MS Dhoni on his shir t during Chennai Super Kings' (CSK) last league match at the Chepauk on Sunday.

Despite their six-wicket defeat to the Kolkata Knight Riders in their last home game of IPL 2023, Sunday was a special occasion for Chennai Super Kings and their fans at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Since it was CSK's last home of the season, Dhoni decided to do a lap of honor at Chepauk with his teammates. As CSK players walked around their home stadium, Indian cricket legend Gavaskar chased down the pack of players and asked CSK skipper Dhoni for his autograph. The former India captain, in fact, asked Dhoni to autograph his shirt, a touching tribute from one legend of the game to the other.

Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar took the autograph from the CSK captain MS Dhoni on his shirt during CSK's lap of honour at the Chepauk. The legendary Indian cricketer revealed the real reason behind his impulsive action and why he got emotional when Dhoni

Gujarat Titans opener Shubman Gill created and broke a plethora of records on the way to his maiden IPL century in the game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday (May 15). He slammed 101 runs off just 58 balls with 13 fours and a six to his name. On the back of his stunning knock, GT posted 188 runs for the loss of nine wickets after 20 overs and in turn, their bowlers defended the total easily to win the game by 34 runs. With this win, the Titans also sealed their playoffs qualification along with a top two finish in the points table. Coming back to Gill's records, the youngster also broke a long standing record of Sachin Tendulkar that was created back in 2010. Gill reached his fifty off just 22 balls hitting nine fours during his stay in the middle. However, he didn't hit a single six. This is a fastest fifty in the history of IPL without hitting a single maximum. Sachin Tendulkar was at the top of this list having reached the 50-run mark without smashing a six off 23 balls against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) back in 2010.

Sachin had scored 63 runs off 32 balls in that game with 11 fours to his name. On the other hand, Gill ended up smashing his maiden IPL ton and was dismissed on 101. Perhaps, the only six he hit in the innings came in the 12th over of the innings off Abhishek Sharma. Speaking after the match, Shubman Gill said, "I made my IPL debut against SRH and got my first hundred against them, so life has come a full circle. Hopefully many more to come. It's all about the bowlers and situation and I don't dwell much on my last innings. It is important to focus on the situation in front. The six off Abhishek Sharma was the most pleasing thing for me. I told him that if you bowl to me I'm gonna hit you for a six."

BOWLERS ARE VERY CLOSE TO MY HEART, SAYS HARDIK AFTER GT QUALIFY FOR PLAYOFFS

was giving him the autograph. "When I got to know about Chennai Super Kings and MS Dhoni are going to take a lap of honour at Chepauk, I decided to create a special memory. That's why I ran towards MSD to take his autograph. It was his last home game at Chepauk," Gavaskar told Star Sports.

BARCA PRESIDENT STRESSES GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH MESSI BUT NO PLAN TO BRING HIM BACK MADRID (SPAIN), (IANS) FC Barcelona President Joan Laporta said on Monday that the club has re-established good relationships with Argentine legend Lionel Messi, but it would not pay any price to bring him back to the Camp Nou Stadium.

Speaking on Catalan TV network, TV3 after Barca claimed this season's La Liga title late on Sunday night, Lapor ta explained he had tried to build bridges with Messi in the wake of the Argentinean's move to Paris Saint Germain after being unable to fit his wages into the club's tight wage ceiling. "I have spoken with Leo to somehow redirect the situation that occurred when I had to put the institution ahead of everything, including him, the best player in the world," said Laporta in a Monday morning TV show.

Messi will be out of contract with PSG at the end of the season, reports Xinhua.

"We have sent messages lately. The truth is that the conversation was affectionate and pleasant. We have known each other for many years. There is a relationship," Laporta said. "He (Messi) is the best player in the world, and any coach would like to have him and with all due respect to Saudi Arabia (cited as a possible destination for Messi), where they are doing a very good job, Barca is Barca. And Barcelona is his home." "We love Leo, but we will not move in high numbers to bring him in. The club is in an austerity plan," added Laporta. The club president also discussed Gavi, who is still on a B-team contract, and Ansu Fati, who has struggled for form after his long injury. Laporta said he was "convinced" Gavi would remain at Barcelona, but he was less clear about Fati.

AHMEDABAD, (IANS) Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya said he is a bowlers captain after his side beat Sunrisers Hyderabad by 34 runs in Match 62 of IPL 2023 at the Narendra Modi Stadium here and became the first team to qualify for the playoffs in the ongoing season. Batting first, Shubman Gill sizzled with his maiden IPL ton (101 off 58), hitting 13 fours and a six and was ably supported by Sai Sudharsan 47(36) to help Gujarat Titans put on a competitive 188/9 after a lion-hear ted Bhuvneshwar had picked up his second IPL fifer (5/31).

Mohd. Shami (4/21) then ripped through the SRH top order and Mohit Sharma (4/24) scythed through the middle-order as the away team overcame a fighting effort from Heinrich Klaasen (64 off 44) to restrict SRH to 154/9 and qualify for the play-offs on Monday night. Defending champions Gujarat Titans still have a game to go, but with nine wins in 13 matches, they have already confirmed their spot in the top two. "Very proud of the boys, two in two (making it to the playoffs twice in a row). The boys put their hands up and in challenging situations and we rightly deserve the playoff spot. There will be expectations and for me it was important to focus within the group," said Pandya at the post-match presentation. "We ticked a lot of good boxes, we made a lot of errors but we were always there in the game and tried to stay consistent. Bowlers are very close to my heart. Sometimes batters take a lot of credit, for me I will always be a bowler's captain and ensure they get the due credit they very much deserve," he added.

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SPORTS

WILL MS DHONI RETIRE AFTER IPL 2023?

CSK CEO COMES UP WITH AN UPDATE MS Dhoni has kept all his cards close to his chest when it comes to retirement after the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

While it is widely being accepted that the CSK skipper will hang his boots after this season, the man himself hasn't hinted anything apart from his 'last phase of my career' comment. Meanwhile, the CEO of Chennai Super Kings, Kasi Viswanathan has guessed that Dhoni will continue to play even in IPL 2024. He confirmed that the 41-year-old hasn't told anything to the franchise about the retirement.

"That is my guess, hunch. He has not told us either way but the way he played and led the side, I personally think he will play next year as well," he said while speaking to Cricbuzz. CSK played their last home game of the season against Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday (May 14). After the match, Dhoni was seen signing jerseys to the opposition, something that has been going on for the last couple of seasons now while cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar also rushed towards him to get his autograph.

Fans stayed back even as the entire CSK team took a lap to thank the crowd for all the suppor t this season. MS Dhoni also tossed a few jerseys towards the fans in the stands. However, there is no cer tainty

around his retirement as of yet. Currently, the CSK captain seems focussed on the last league game of the side.

The Men in Yellow are at the second position at the moment with 15 points to their name after 13 matches. They are not through to the playoffs yet and will need other results to go in their favour to make it to top two as well.

ITALIAN OPEN: RYBAKINA ADVANCES TO QUARTERFINALS; SWIATEK, VEKIC RAINED OUT ROME, (IANS) World No. 6 Elena Rybakina advanced to her first Italian open quarterfinal after defeating Marketa Vondrousova 6-3, 6-3, here. The reigning Wimbledon champion will face either two-time defending champion Iga Swiatek or No.24 Donna Vekic in the quar terfinals on Wednesday. Swiatek and Vekic were set to face off in the Monday night match on Court Centrale, but the match was canceled due to rain. The Round of 16 between Paula Badosa and Karolina Muchova was also canceled. Both matches are scheduled for Tuesday.

Swiatek and Vekic will play the third match on Centrale, not before 1:30 p.m. (Local time). Badosa and Muchova will play the four th match on Cour t Pietrangeli, not before 3:00 p.m.

Rome has been a surprising salve for Rybakina's slow star t to the clay-court season. The Indian Wells champion was forced to retire in Stuttgart due to a back injury and was knocked out of Madrid in the third round by Anna Kalinskaya.

"Coming here I didn't expect much because unfor tunately Rome for me is the worst for my allergies," Rybakina said, referring to the heavy pollen associated with the tournament.

"I'm happy that I'm managing to win and get these matches," she added.

Facing Vondrousova for a second time in her career, Rybakina overpowered the crafty Czech to level their head-to-head to 1-1. Rybakina hit 28 winners to Vondrousova's 13 and broke the 2019 French Open finalist five times.

IT'S NOT ONLY YOU, IT'S THE TEAM NOW: SUNIL CHHETRI RECALLS HIS CAPTAINCY DEBUT FOR INDIA NEW DELHI, (IANS) Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri reflected on his journey from being a junior player in the national team to leading the side and also recalled how he became more responsible after receiving the captain's armband.

Chhetri made his international debut for India in 2005 at a tender age of 20, but it was in 2012 when he took over the captaincy of the senior national team under former India head coach Bob Hoghton during the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup qualification in Malaysia.

He recalled what type of a character he was as a young player and how that all changed with captaincy.

"The day I was given the armband, it was in Malaysia by Bob Houghton, former head coach of the senior national team. There was an instant pressure because of what I was - a backbencher. Myself, Steven (Dias) and (NP) Pradeep made fun of the senior players, that was me. Everything was a prank and I was mischievous," Chhetri said on an episode of Let There Be Spor ts.

"But when I wore the armband, for the initial three-four games I started sitting ahead. That was me taking the pressure that I have become captain now. It's not these things, but doing the right stuff that you were doing before and being a little more thoughtful. It's not only you, it's the team now," he added. Chhetri has broken many records during his time with the Indian national team over two decades, also recording the most number of goals for the Blue Tigers. The 38-year-old explained how he had to change his approach after taking charge as captain and spoke about setting an example. "Before there was this mindset that I am Sunil Chhetri -- my dribble, my pass, my crossing, my goal. I would raise my hands and go home. Even if I received abuse, I would take them and go home. But now you are thinking about yourself as well, but also about the team. On and off the pitch. And when I forced myself to think this way earlier, I was scared. I told myself to relax, the job is still the same. Be a good example on the pitch and off the pitch," Chhetri said.

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BEN STOKES TO RETURN HOME AFTER CSK'S FINAL LEAGUE GAME, SET TO MISS PLAYOFFS Chennai Super Kings all-rounder Ben Stokes will repor tedly return home after CSK's final league game in IPL 2023. CSK are pushing hard to make it to the Playoffs in IPL 2023. The fourtime champions Chennai have 15 points in 13 games and occupy the second spot in the IPL 2023 Points table. Stokes played his part in two matches for Chennai this season and was sidelined with a toe injury. The English all-rounder played in the first two games for CSK - one against Gujarat Titans and the other against Lucknow Super Giants. He was hit with an injury issue. Now as per ESPNCricinfo, Stokes will head back to his home after CSK's final league game against Delhi Capitals on May 20. Bowling is a concern for Stokes and he is kept as a batting cover but Chennai are not in the mood to make any tweaks to their team.

CSK's head coach also opened up on Ben Stokes' injury. Fleming said that bowling remains a bit of a challenge at the moment for Stokes but he is being kept as a batting cover for the team.

"Ben's ability to bowl overs at the moment is still a bit of a challenge, but he's there as that batting cover," Fleming said after CSK's loss to KKR at Chepauk as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. Meanwhile, he also stated that CSK are likely to go with the same team in the next game despite a loss at the hands of KKR in their penultimate league stage game. "But with Moeen bowling well in good conditions - we go to Delhi which has been turning - we think the balance of the side has been right. And look, we're second on the table, so it's not our style to chop and change just because we've had a loss where things didn't go our way. We won't do that. We might tinker with it but we're very focused on getting the right team for Delhi," Fleming added.

SURYAKUMAR YADAV CAN BAT PERMANENTLY AT NO. 3 FOR MUMBAI INDIANS, SAYS SEHWAG Former India cricketer Virender Sehwag has backed star MI batter Suryakumar Yadav to be the permanent batter at number three for Mumbai Indians because of his brilliance against pace and spin. In a crucial IPL 2023 match, five-time champions Mumbai Indians and newbies Lucknow Super Giants take on each other on Tuesday evening in Lucknow as they aim to get a step closer towards booking the playoffs berth.

Living up to their 'late bloomers' tag, MI gathered steam in the second half of the IPL 2023 and their juggernaut continues to roll. The Rohit Sharma-led side has won four of its last five games and will be aiming to pick up two vital points tonight in Lucknow. "SKY can be the permanent No. 3 for Mumbai Indians because he's a good player of pace and spin. Although it all boils down to the team management (when it comes to taking such decisions), but I strongly believe he should get to face more balls," said Sehwag on Star Sports' Cricket Live.

Meanwhile, former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh believes Mumbai Indians can very well finish amongst the top two at the end of the league stage and give themselves an extra shot at lifting their sixth IPL trophy.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MADHURI DIXIT: TOP SAREE LOOKS OF THE 'DHAK DHAK' QUEEN

Y MEDIA TEAM AT BROWN TRASH, STAND UP COMMEDY SHOW AT COMEDY BAR

MADHURI DIXIT, THE EPITOME OF GRACE AND ELEGANCE, EFFORTLESSLY ADORNS HERSELF IN ETHEREAL SAREES, CAPTIVATING HEARTS WITH HER TIMELESS BEAUTY. WITH EACH DRAPE, SHE EXUDES AN AURA OF ENCHANTMENT, LIKE A CELESTIAL GODDESS GRACING THE MORTAL REALM. IN HER RESPLENDENT SAREES, MADHURI RADIATES AN ETHEREAL CHARM, EMBODYING THE PERFECT BLEND OF TRADITIONAL ALLURE AND CONTEMPORARY SOPHISTICATION. HER CHOICE OF COLOURS IS A SYMPHONY OF HUES, FROM VIBRANT REDS THAT IGNITE A PASSION TO SERENE BLUES THAT EVOKE TRANQUILLITY. EVERY DRAPE TELLS A STORY, WEAVING A TAPESTRY OF ELEGANCE THAT ENHANCES HER INNATE BEAUTY.

RENTAL DEMAND IN CANADA CONTINUES TO OUTPACE SUPPLY: REPORT With the national vacancy rate for rentals at less than 2%, the demand in Canada has continued to outpace the available supply, which has led to spiking rents in most of the cities in this report. The competition for housing is fierce as more and more people are moving to Canada, mortgage rates are high so many people are priced out of the ownership market, and with so much uncertainty in the economy many are holding back from making any big financial moves until there is more confidence restored. Although the overall rental supply in 2022 did have its strongest rate of increase since 2013, it still wasn’t enough to meet the demand created by this large pool of renters. As we head into the warmer months, rents will likely only continue to rise.

Overall, 15 cities saw rents increase on a monthly basis, 5 declined, and 3 remained flat. At the top, Vancouver and Toronto held steady as the 2 priciest markets with rents up in the double-digits year-over-year. Calgary moved up 4 spots and into the top 10 with a 6.1% monthly rent price growth rate. Calgary also had the fastest growing rent since this time last year, jumping 42.3%.

Halifax, Quebec, and Toronto followed with rents all up over 20%.

Top 5 Markets Vancouver, BC remained the most expensive city in Canada with one-bedroom rent staying flat at $2,600, while two-bedrooms jumped 5.6% to $3,800.

2. Toronto, ON was the 2nd priciest market with one-bedroom rent increasing 1.3% to $2,400, while two-bedrooms grew 3% to $3,090. Notably, both bedroom types saw rent jump over 20% since this time last year.

3. Burnaby, BC was 3rd with one-bedroom rent moving up 2.2% to $2,350, while two-bedrooms remained stable at $3,000.

4. Victoria, BC continued to rank as 4th with one and two-bedroom rents priced at $2,000 and $2,500, respectively.

5. Kitchener, ON rounded out the top 5 markets with one-bedroom rent dipping 1.1% to 1,880, while two-bedrooms inched up 0.9% to $2,250.

SHWETA TIWARI

Cities with The Fastest Growing Monthly Rent –Calgary, AB catapulted up 4 spots to rank as the 10th most expensive city with one-bedroom rent climbing 6.1% to $1,750.

–Edmonton, AB one-bedroom rent climbed 5.8%, settling at $1,090, and up a ranking to become the 22nd priciest market.

–Saksatoon, SK was 21st with one-bedroom rent jumping 5.6% to $1,140.

Cities with The Largest Monthly Decline –Kelowna, BC dropped 3 spots to rank as the 8th most expensive city with one-bedroom rent declining 5.3% to $1,800.

–Barrie, ON ranked as the 6th priciest with one-bedroom rent falling 2.7% to $1,830.

–Kingston, ON took a 2 ranking dip to become the 14th most expensive with one-bedroom rent dropping 1.8% to $1,650.

MALAIKA ARORA

NIKKI TAMBOLI

FIVE TIPS FOR CELIAC DISEASE AWARENESS AND MANAGEMENT 1. Know the symptoms.

Dr. Lee Roth, MD, MSc, The symptoms of celiac FRCPC, practices disease vary in extent gastroenterology and and severity. Infants internal medicine at and children often William Osler Health display symptoms of System. He completed his diarrhea, abdominal training at Western University, pain and poor growth. In London, Ontario, and is certified in adults, gastrointestinal both Canada and the United States. complaints are common and include abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhea. Many people have symptoms consistent with celiac disease, but only about one per cent of people actually have the disease.2 If you have any of these symptoms, speak with your family doctor.

2. Watch what you eat.

Although research is ongoing, the only real treatment for celiac disease at this time is to maintain a gluten-free diet. Finding glutenfree options can be challenging, but there are tools - like the one found on the Canadian Celiac Association website - to assist in finding gluten-free alternatives. Visit https://www.celiac.ca/livinggluten-free/gf-product-finder/.

3. Avoid a celiac disease flare-up.

For anyone with celiac disease, accidently ingesting gluten means a flare-up of symptoms. To avoid pain and discomfor t, it is best to be vigilant in monitoring your dietary intake and know your glutenfree options.

I CONTD. ON PAGE 32

NUSHRAT BHARUCHA

SONAKSHI SINHA

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Y MEDIA TEAM COVERS TEEYAN 2023

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MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

A Higher Standard of Living in Milton THE FIRST PHASE OF THOMPSON TOWERS OFFERS RESIDENTS A UNIQUE BRAND OF URBAN LIVING

G

reenpark Group, is pleased to announce the upcoming launch of their new Milton community; Thompson Towers. "Spring" is the first tower coming to Thompson Road South and Drew Centre.

Thompson Towers is a new landmark, with an impressive modern façade and striking design. It was designed to enhance urban living with suites that optimize space.

The Thompson Club, an impressive amenity area situated on the podium features a rooftop pool with city views, a walking track, gardens, multi-purpose sports courts, a dog run, a children's play area, as well as patios, gazebos, and picnic areas. Indoors, the Thompson Club also features fireside lounges, fully equipped entertaining areas, modern fitness facilities,and a yoga studio.

Sun or shade, day or night, these lively communal and semi-private amenities offer spectacular views and a warm ambience, making them a great place to entertain or just catch a sunset.

The new community is also only a few minutes' walk to the Milton GO train station. It offers regular train service into downtown Toronto and serves as a local transit hub, where you can take full advantage of local bus services throughout the city.

Those who drive will have easy access to highway 401 at James Snow Parkway, just a few minutes away.

Being in the heart of Milton, residents also have access to a full selection of modern conveniences, from big box stores to fantastic local restaurants, schools, hospitals and more. Green space is in an abundance with Thompson Towers being located across the street from Lion's Park, one of Milton's most popular recreational areas, with fields, ball diamonds, and courts.

The beautiful vistas of the Niagara Escarpment are also only a short drive away. That includes conservation areas, golf courses, ski slopes, and trails. Play 18 at Royal Ontario, Piper's Heath, or Crosswinds. Hike the trails at Crawford Lake. Take in the views at Rattlesnake Point. Venture onto the slopes of Kelso Conservation Area.

Thompson Towers is the latest in a proud legacy of communities by Greenpark Group. Built in partnership with the forward-thinking team at Trinity Point, Thompson Towers is a community that offers residents an exceptional standard of living in a rapidly growing and well-connected urban centre.

To register for more information, visit ThompsonTowers.ca.

MOTHER'S DAY GETAWAYS HANDPICKED FOR YOUR SUPER- MOM!

ANUSHKA SHARMA & ADITI RAO HYDARI TO DEBUT AT CANNES FOR L'OREAL PARIS NEW DELHI, (IANSLIFE) This year, L'Oreal Paris celebrates its 26th year as the Official Makeup Partner to the Festival de Cannes, from May 16 to 27. The beauty brand with women empowerment, scientific innovation, and Parisian luxury at its core, presents the L'Oreal Paris 'Lights on Women' Award.

Founded to celebrate women in cinema, this award honours one promising female short-film director from among the official Cannes Short Films selection, a category created with La Cinef. Academy Award-winner, juror and L'Oreal Paris ambassador Kate Winslet will once again announce the 2023 laureate on May 26, at the Cinema de Demain dinner.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, L'Oreal Paris global spokesperson, has been gracing Cannes Film Festival for over 20 years. A global icon, she was the first Indian female actor to be a Cannes jury member and has since become synonymous with this prestigious festival. Also representing the Indian Film Industry and L'Oreal Paris, Anushka Sharma and Aditi Rao Hydari will be making their highly anticipated debut at Cannes.

The brand ambassadors are not only known for their versatility and talent in showbiz but also for their advocacy on inclusivity and representation. Their personal goals and objectives resonate seamlessly with the brand's core values and cause initiatives. Through this association with L'Oreal Paris, they will further spread the message and encourage millions of people to value and accept their individuality. The festival's 2023 theme, 'Walk Your Worth', is a nod to the brand's ethos, which encourages individuals to embrace their confidence and celebrate themselves - because they are all worth it.

Aditi Rao Hydari - L'Oreal Paris X Cannes 2023 Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, on occasion of the 76th edition of Festival de Cannes says, "I look forward to returning to Festival de Cannes as a global spokesperson for L'Oreal Paris. I have been honoured with the privilege of experiencing female artists showcase their talent on a global platform of this stature. The brand's unwavering dedication to empower women has been a

constant throughout its illustrious history, and this year's theme serves yet another impactful step in that direction. It has always been a pleasure to celebrate my long-standing association with the brand and the values it upholds." Anushka Sharma said, "I am looking forward to represent L'Oreal Paris at the Cannes red carpet. I firmly believe that women must embrace their individuality with sheer confidence, and I feel truly aligned with the brand's key principles. This year's theme, 'Walk Your Worth', couldn't be more appropriate as it highlights the value of recognising and commemorating oneself. I'm happy to be a part of this progressive change towards inclusivity and to support millions of women all over the world to value and appreciate themselves. Together, let's celebrate self-worth in all its glory!"

Aditi Rao Hydari, added, "I am elated to be a part of this year's Festival De Cannes as L'Oreal Paris' spokesperson. It has truly been a privilege to have been associated with a brand that has always led the path to women empowerment and has worked towards enabling women to be confident and growth-oriented in every aspect of their lives. This year's theme of 'Walk Your Worth' truly aligns with what the brand stands for, encouraging women across the globe to accept themselves and walk their worth with confidence."

The brand stands for women's empowerment in cinema through a privileged relationship with the actress ambassadors who embody the values of the brand. As official Festival de Cannes makeup partner, it invites actors, actresses and ambassadors to bring this vision of empowered beauty to walk their worth on the red carpet. From the opening to the closing ceremony, it reveals the new season of beauty and innovation, unveiling the brand's new looks created by 30 international makeup artists under the creative direction of Global Makeup Artist Val Garland.

Festival de Cannes partner since 1997, L'Oreal Paris goes further in supporting women in cinema with the Lights on Women Award launched in 2021 to rebalance inequality in the movie industry.

NEW DELHI, (IANSLIFE) This Mother's Day, are you considering surprising your mother with something special? Give her something she can enjoy with you so you may make some special moments together. With a well-thought-out getaway that you can both enjoy and tick off her bucket list, surprise your super-mom. Whether your mother loves an adrenaline thrill or some downtime at the spa, a walk in the mountains or an authentic culinary experience, Booking.com has put together a list of events that are sure to make her feel particularly special.

For the foodie mom If your mother is seeking for a culinary experience, Hyderabad is a fantastic destination thanks to the world-famous Charminar and mouthwatering cuisine. She might celebrate Mother's Day by enjoying a gourmet tour of the city, which is home to many street food booths, recognisable bakeries, and well-known restaurants serving Nizam's rich gravies and luscious sweets. Hyderabadi biryani is a delicacy that must be indulged in while visiting the city. Booking the Biryani tour, which examines the interesting history of biryani in Hyderabad, or the Evening Street Food Walk, which also allows you the chance to eat this Hyderabadi staple and indulge your inner foodie, are two ways to experience this.

For the mom who is spiritual If your mother has a spiritual bent, she would adore Varanasi's Ganga Aarti's sights and sounds. A sight to behold is the evening aarti conducted at the banks of the Ganga, which features lights, cymbals, incense, and people chanting and singing hymns. While in Varanasi, you can either book the Guided Holy City Tour with a Boat Ride to experience the culture of Varanasi, indulge in some local cuisine, and participate in a variety of local activities, or you can visit the ancient temples of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, Monkey Temple, Tulsi Manas Mandir, and Birla Temple and soak up the spiritual vibe of the city. The ideal Mother's Day idea to honour her faith and compassion.

For the mom who loves to shop Shopping is a great idea for a Mother's Day celebration. And no better place to take her than Jaipur. Plan a day of shopping so you and your mom can spend some memorable time together exploring the vibrant local markets and fascinating local brands. Sign up for the Jaipur Markets Shopping Tour where you can explore some traditional bazaars and shop for jewellery, clothes, footwear, local handicrafts, pottery and souvenirs to take back home. You can also visit the Sanganer factory to see how the handmade paper goods are manufactured or Tripolia Bazaar for some local spices. Wrap your Mother's Day special shopping trip by heading over to a local restaurant and indulging in some local Rajasthani cuisine as you soak in the experience of the Pink City.

For the mother who loves nature/adventure Munnar, where the hills are bordered by tea plantations and where adventurers throng, is the ideal place for your mother to visit if she likes the outdoors. Paragliding is available in the city, as are walks that start at the meeting of three mountain streams and ascents to Anaimudi, the tallest hill in South India. On Mother's Day, you and your mother can escape your normal routine and experience an adrenaline rush by going on a trek and engaging in activities like the Letchmi Hills Hike, all the while learning about the meadows, tea plantations and mountain slopes.

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FIVE TIPS FOR CELIAC DISEASE AWARENESS AND MANAGEMENT CONTD. FROM PAGE 29 4. Get your daily vitamins and minerals.

Celiac disease can lead to an inability to absorb impor tant nutrients like iron and vitamins, which is of particular concern for children. Speak with your physician about supplements to prevent a delay in growth and development in children, and to avoid fur ther nutritional deficiencies.

5. Speak with a dietitian.

Following a gluten-free diet can be complex and difficult to navigate - especially in the early months of a diagnosis. Your doctor is available to help with nutritional support, or can direct you to consult with a dietitian to ensure you have the widest range of options possible and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY, SELFASSURANCE, FULFILMENT, AND SLEEP THROUGH MINDFULNESS

ALIA BHATT GUCCI'S GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR First it was Deepika Padukone, who was appointed as the first Indian to represent luxury giant Louis Vuitton internationally, and now Italian high-end luxury fashion house Gucci has appointed Alia Bhatt as their first Indian global ambassador.

The fashion house from Florence used Instagram to make the formal announcement with a photo and a comment stating, "Alia Bhatt is the House's newest Global Brand Ambassador. To mark the occasion, the actress, producer and entrepreneur was captured with the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag," read Gucci's official social media post.

Alia Bhatt stated, "I'm honoured to represent the house of Gucci, not only in India but at a global stage. Gucci's legacy has always inspired and intrigued me and I'm looking forward to the many sar torial

milestones we create together." Gucci further commented on its social media handle that Alia Bhatt was chosen, "an example of a creative talent fostering empowerment and self expression within the next generation" and is recognised by the House as the latest Global Brand Ambassador." Alia will repor tedly attend the fashion house Cruise 2024 show, which will take place in Seoul, South Korea, next week, after being named the brand's worldwide ambassador. The event will reportedly commemorate Gucci's 25 years in South Korea and will be held in the city's Gyeongbokgung Palace.

Alia will make her Hollywood debut alongside Gal Gadot and Jamie Dornan in the Netflix spy thriller "Heart of Stone" on the professional front. The film will make its debut in August of this year.

MULTANI MITTI TO ALOE VERA: KNOW EASY HOME REMEDIES TO FIX OILY HAIR The summer season brings with it many skin and hair problems. In this season, where the skin starts getting dry, the condition of the hair becomes worst. Due to the scorching heat and excessive sweating, the hair star ts getting damaged and looks oily, which also causes dandruff problems. It also results in the division of hair shafts from the end refers to split ends. Damaged hair develops cracks in the outer layer of the hair (cuticle). It may also look dull and frizzy and may be difficult to manage. In such a situation, we are going to tell you 5 hair pack recipes, by applying which oil will disappear from your oily hair. It is not easy to wash long hair every day, but if the hair is not washed in the summer season, it star ts to appear oily very quickly. In such a situation, a hair pack will prove to be very useful for your hair. Because this will make your hair shiny as well as the oil problem will also be managed. Make a paste from any of these ingredients and apply it to your scalp. Leave it on for 20-30 minutes and rinse it off with a mild shampoo.

Multani Mitti hair pack Multani mitti proves beneficial for oily hair. To make this pack, mix 2

teaspoons curd and 1 teaspoon fenugreek powder in 3 teaspoons Multani Mitti. Mix them all well and apply on the hair for 20 minutes 1 to 2 times a week.

Aloe vera gel hair pack To get rid of oily hair, you can apply fresh aloe vera gel mixed with fenugreek powder and lemon juice. The problem of dandruff will also end with this pack.

Fenugreek powder To make this hair pack, add curd to 4 teaspoons of fenugreek powder.

Whisk this mixture well and apply the pack on the scalp. Wash off with mild shampoo after about 20 to 30 minutes.

Banana pack A ripe banana pack proves beneficial for oily hair. For this, mash the banana and add curd to it. Apply this paste on the scalp and wash after 1 hour.

Egg hair pack To make this hair pack, mix 1 egg white in 1 tbsp fenugreek powder, now add 2 tbsp curd to it. Wash this pack after 30 to 40 minutes.

BECOMING WATERPOSITIVE AND PLASTIC-NEUTRAL NEW DELHI, (IANSLIFE) At this point in our lives, we are all aware of how the use of plastic can have a negative impact on both one's life and the environment.

However, the increased awareness of the necessity of eliminating single-use plastic through new channels, as well as climate change activists, has resulted in a paradigm shift in how individuals process their thoughts, even when switching simple items in our everyday lives. For example, instead of using a plastic straw, use a bamboo straw.

And, more recently, Bisleri International Pvt Ltd, one of India's largest packaged drinking water firms has strengthened its sustainability strategy by launching 'Bisleri Greener Promise'.

In light of this, Angelo George, CEO of Bisleri International, speaks to IANSlife about how Bisleri's upcycling method benefits the environment What does sustainability mean to the brand?

Angelo: Sustainability is embedded in the core of Bisleri International's business strategy. Our approach to business revolves around creating sustainable solutions that address environmental challenges and drive growth. Our commitment to sustainability is based on its core principle, the Bisleri Greener Promise which aims to build a greener future through programs focused on water conservation, recycling, and sustainability. At the heart of this philosophy is the belief that Bisleri should replenish more natural resources than it consumes. This goal is achieved through initiatives such as Project NayiUmeed and Bottles for Change, which make the company water-positive and plasticneutral, respectively.

How is the company attempting to reduce its environmental footprint and actively promote sustainable practices throughout its operations?

Idanim, a meditation and mental wellness app, just reached the milestone of 1,000 guided meditations over more than 40 categories, including meditations for sleep, antistress, anxiety reduction, vipassana, etc. to suppor t specific goals. In less than a year after its release, the app has received over 50,000 downloads, and more than 5,000 users meditate using it each month. With a total experience of more than 200 years teaching meditation, the platform's team of world-famous teachers comes from a variety of countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, India, Singapore, and others.

Idanim users can receive guided meditations from these teachers. The app includes daily LIVE meditations with these masters in addition to guided meditations. These sessions give Idanim users an opportunity to interact with these international mindfulness experts and obtain answers to their questions about meditation in addition to experiencing meditation in a studiolike setting with a LIVE teacher.

The app also has a feature called "Recommend Me" that allows users to get personalised experiences and find meditation materials quickly. The app's user-friendly interface makes it suitable for both newcomers and seasoned practitioners. Users can select any meditation category and star t practising right away. Depending on one's interests, one can also put diverse techniques like Yoga Nidra, Buddhist and Zen meditations, and chakra meditations into practise.

Commenting on the same, Raman Mittal, Co-founder, Idanim says: "Meditation is a practice of exploring within oneself and is not a fixed destination, where one should aspire to reach.

Your head doesn't become vacuumed free of thoughts, utterly undistracted. It's a special place where you experience each and every moment in the now. When we meditate we venture into the workings of our minds: our sensations, our emotions, and our thoughts. We are delighted to introduce 1000 meditations across 40+ categories to create a mindful environment."

Idanim was created for working people and individuals to increase productivity, self-assurance, fulfilment, and sleep through mindfulness.

It was developed by TO THE NEW, a digital tech services firm and seven-time Great Place to Work winner.

WASHING HANDS CAN AID INFECTION CONTROL AND PREVENTION OF DIARRHOEA NEW DELHI, (IANSLIFE) An ounce of prevention is wor th a pound of cure! This came into realisation during the chaotic times of the pandemic when washing hands thoroughly was the most basic precaution asked by the government and healthcare authorities. However, hygiene has always lagged behind in most countries of the world resulting in the WHO recognising WASH (Water, sanitation and hygiene) as a human right for all and including it in the Sustainable Development Goals tailored for the world.

In India, the state of WASH is gradually improving but still has a huge scope for improvement and increased awareness drive.

During the period of 2010-2013, India recorded 7.5 per cent of deaths among all age groups because of diarrhoea, malaria and some tropical diseases while more than 1.32 crore cases of acute diarrhoeal disease were listed in the country in 2019.

The data is enough to highlight how important it is to integrate hygiene practices like washing hands in our lives as effective preventive measures.

Hands are used in almost every activity we perform throughout the day. Washing them rigorously is the cornerstone of maintaining good hygiene. And hygiene has never harmed anyone! Knowingly or unknowingly we get in contact with a lot of germs and these are carriers of many infections along with troublesome conditions like diarrhoea. To protect against a wide range of diseases like pneumonia, diarrhoea and more, washing hands is the most pocket-friendly method. We prepare, eat food, touch a public place, and touch and handle things that many people previously handled, treat wounds, care for a sick person and do much more with our hands. Thanks to the pandemic, the significance of washing hands was spread broadly, but did we take it seriously? According to UNICEF, people, especially men, do not use hygiene facilities consistently. There is a dire need for impactful political support and behavioural change interventions to spread awareness for sizable improvements in this direction.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

LIFESTYLE

MidWeek 33 STARTING YOUR RUNNING JOURNEY? DETERMINE THE IDEAL DURATION FOR YOUR INITIAL RUN

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES 2023: SPEND TIME WITH YOUR FAMILY AND BOOST YOUR MENTAL HEALTH Every year on May 15th, the International Day of Families is held to raise awareness of and emphasize the value of families in society. It honours the variety of families around the world and calls on authorities, groups, and people to deal with problems impacting families and advance their welfare. The day offers an opportunity to consider how impor tant families are to raising children, suppor ting adults, and promoting societal development.

The International Day of Families is significant because it emphasizes the value of families in society and their contribution to individuals' social cohesion and mental well-being. People can promote families, enhance family ties, and foster a loving environment for children by commemorating this day. Additionally, it fosters a more inclusive and kind society by developing understanding and respect for various family structures, and their impact on a person's mental health.

Following are various ways people can spend time with their family members, for a better mental well-being 1. Regular Family Meals Togetherness, open communication, and a sense of family belonging

are all facilitated by having meals together.

2. Outdoor activities Take part in cooperative outdoor activities like biking, hiking, or playing spor ts. Physical movement, time in nature, and an overall improvement in mental health are all benefits of these activities.

3. Game Nights Plan frequent family game nights so that everyone can enjoy playing board games, card games, or video games. This encourages joking, and healthy competitiveness, and develops ties within families.

4. Establish Family Traditions Create traditions for your family, such as celebrating holidays, taking yearly vacations, or setting aside weekly family time. These customs promote stability, and excitement, and strengthen ties within families.

5. Active Listening and Communication Practice active listening and communication in your family so that everyone feels heard, understood, and cherished. To address issues, settle disputes, and advance emotional well-being, encourage open and honest conversation.

IS EGG AND BREAD A HEALTHY BREAKFAST CHOICE? Egg and bread health benefits: Eggs and bread are both high-calorie foods, according to the USDA. If you look at the calories of these two, they are approximately between 250 and 350. By eating it, your body gets energy. This is a high-protein breakfast that is also beneficial for muscle health and helps in body building. Apart from this, it makes you feel full, so you do not feel hungry throughout the day.

When can it be harmful?

Eating eggs and bread for breakfast can sometimes take a harmful form. For example, if you eat regular bread, which is high in calories and low in fibre. This can increase your weight. Acidity can happen. Apart from this, you can be a victim of many stomach related problems.

Choose bread made from whole grains: Choosing bread made from whole grains is beneficial for your health. It contains a good amount of fibre, which keeps the bowel movements correct. Along with this, weight does not increase, and sugar control remains. So eat bread and eggs for breakfast. But not more than two breads and two eggs. In this too, choose bread made from whole grains.

Running is a beneficial exercise in many ways in terms of health.

In this exercise, the blood circulation of your body remains fine, and different parts of the body benefit. But, many times, when people start this exercise, they do it so fast that, due to this, extra pressure starts to be created on the body, and due to this, swelling and pain in the muscles start. Due to which things get worse the next day. So, know how to initially start running exercises.

How long should you run as a beginner?

For beginners in running, it is recommended to start with a distance of approximately 1.6 to 2 kilometers on the first day. Gradually increase your distance throughout the week, aiming to reach 5 kilometers by the end. This progressive approach allows you to gradually experience the benefits of running exercise.

Running exercises have benefits: 1. Beneficial for every part of the body Running impacts every part of the body, promoting an increase in metabolic rate and maintaining liver health, while also enhancing overall blood circulation. Consequently, running ensures proper oxygen supply throughout the body, contributing to healthy skin as well.

2. Running reduces belly Running is helpful in reducing belly fat. Running increases the metabolic power of the body and fat starts getting digested faster.

Due to this, fat does not get stored elsewhere in the body and weight does not increase. So, if your stomach is coming out, then you should go running.

Running is beneficial in many ways for keeping the heart healthy.

It opens the blood vessels, increases the oxygen supply in the body and improves the functioning of the heart. Apart from this, it also keeps the muscles of the heart healthy, keeps BP right and prevents heart diseases. So, start running and keep yourself healthy.

ANNOYED BY WHITEHEADS? USE THESE THREE FRUIT-BASED SCRUBS 1. Papaya scrub Papaya scrub works effectively to remove whiteheads. This scrub is enriched with a variety of cleansing agents, including Vitamin C, which penetrates the skin and removes dead cells. Also, it reduces oil production and is helpful in removing white heads. Grind papaya along with its peel and then apply it to your face. After drying a little, wash the face while scrubbing.

2. Rose scrub A scrub made from rose flowers can work for the skin in many ways. Firstly, it cleanses the skin from inside, and then it corrects the blood circulation in it by eliminating dead cells. Apart from this, rose is antibacterial, which is beneficial for the skin. So, grind rose petals by adding some aloe vera gel to them. Mix 1 teaspoon of oats on top and apply it to your face.

3. Guava scrub Guava scrub can remove many skin problems along with dead cells.

Apart from this, both guava leaves and their fruit are full of antibacterial and antiinflammatory properties. So take 1 guava and 4 guava leaves. Grind both and apply them to your face. Scrub with light hands and wash your face with cold water after keeping it for 20 minutes.

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MANUSHI CHHILLAR ESTÉE LAUDER GLOBAL BRAND AMBASSADOR ANNOUNCEMENT Q&A 1.

What was your first reaction when you found out you would be working with Estée Lauder?

I'm a long-standing fan of the Estée Lauder brand, especially their Advanced Night Repair Serum, and was excited to be featured in one of their campaigns in India in August 2022. When I was presented with the opportunity to be a Global Brand Ambassador, alongside the likes of Karlie Kloss, Adut Akech, Grace Elizabeth, Ana de Armas, and Carolyn Murphy, I was beyond excited and honored. When you believe in a brand and you get to endorse it, it's a dream come true!

2.

What is one beauty product you can't live without?

The iconic Advanced Night Repair Serum! This has been my go-to product since the day I was introduced to it. With the nature of my work, certain conditions and a lot of travel can be quite harsh on my skin. I'm currently shooting an action film and my skin can be exposed to dust, smoke, and dirt, so I always make sure I apply my serum. It has the benefits of 7 serums in 1 and keeps my skin hydrated and radiant!

I have it in all sizes - one goes with me in my travel kit, one stays in my make up kit, and one always by my bedside for my nighttime routine.

3.

What's the best piece of beauty advice you've ever received and from whom?

My mother always tells me that happy girls are pretty girls. And I think if you focus on inner happiness, you genuinely feel morebeautiful on the outside.

4.

What is your go-to beauty look?

Dewy skin, natural rosy cheeks, slight tint on the lip with well-shaped brows.

5.

What is your first memory of Estée Lauder?

I remember Estée Lauder from my childhood. The brand was not available in India until I was around 8 years old, but before thenI remember my relatives staying in the United States would often bring Estée Lauder products for my mother, whenthey used to travel back to India.

I personally used it for the first time when I was Miss World and my stylist, who is extremely knowledgeable about skincare, introduced me to the Advanced Night Repair Serum.Since I was travelling so often, she recommended the perfect skincare power duo, theAdvanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex,and the Advanced Night Repair Serum - they have been a constant in my routine ever since.

6.

What is your daily skincare routine?

My routine is quite simple. My morning starts by cleansing my skin, then I apply moisturizer and eye cream. I always wear sunscreen - my go to is the Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Multi-Defense Aqua UV Gel SPF 50.

Before sleeping, the first thing I do is double cleanse because I like to take off all my makeup. My first cleanser is oil based and then I use another cleanser to remove whatever remains on the skin. Then I like to use the Advanced Night Repair Serum followed by a deeply hydrating moisturizer and I finish my routine with the Advanced Night Repair Eye Supercharged Complex.

7.

What were the first beauty products you used?

It was tintedlip gloss. That was the only makeup my mother allowed me to use as a child. She would buy me little bottles of lip gloss in different colors.

8.

Biggest beauty mistake you've made?

When I look back, I see quite a fewof them!I started applying makeup when I entered pageantry, and I enjoyed playing with my mother's cosmetics during my childhood and adolescence but had no idea how to apply it!

My makeup application has developed and continues to evolve. Especially now, thanks to Estée Lauder.

Social Impact 9.

Why is it important to you to represent a brand like Estée Lauder?

As a woman and someone who has been vocal about having a strong female force, I believe it is important to align myself with a brand that is committed to advancing women, because not only am I a woman who is carving a path for herself, but I am also working towards supporting other women in anyway, big or small, that I can.

Estée Lauder is an iconic brand founded by a visionary woman, Mrs. Estée Lauder, who proved anything was possible with hard work, passion, and dedication. Like her, I hope to be a role model for women around the world, inspiring them to believe in themselves and their ability to impact positive change.

10.

What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership to me is about empowering. A good leader is not the one that can get things done, but the one that can teach people and empower them to achieve their goals. I believe a good leaderleads by example. So, for me, leadership meansbeing the change you wish to see in other people.

11.

You're known for being a champion of women's rights - what issues are closest to your heart?

I have been committed to raising awareness aroundmenstrual hygiene since I was 18 years old, and it's an issue incredibly close to my heart.

I believe healthy menstruation has a significant influence on a woman'sconfidence and quality of life. There are negative health consequences that can occur later in life if a woman is unable to practice

good menstrualhygiene,and I've seen how a lack of awareness or support around the subject can have a drastic impact on women and their place in society.

This is why I'm so strongly committed to addressing the issue, and why I started 'Project Shakti', my campaign aimed at educating women about the impor tance of menstrual hygiene management by constructing adequate sanitation facilities and providing quick access to feminine hygiene products.

12.

Who are your role models?

I've always called my mother my role model. She's the first woman I've been able to observe so closely all my life. There is a lot that I've learned from her and she's a wonderful woman.

She is a successful doctor, amother, a wife, amentor, and a great friend.

That's something I truly admire about her, and makes me incredibly grateful to have a role model like her Misc. (Lifestyle, Travel, etc.)

13.

What is on your bucket list?

I want to go on a food trip to Italy. I've never been there and would love to visit.

14.

What is your favorite way to relax and unwind?

My favorite way to relax and unwind would be to paint. When I can find the time between traveling, having some quiet time to do this works well for me.

15.

Where did you grow up?

For the majority of my life I have lived between Bangalore and Delhi, India.

16.

What dish from home do you miss the most?

I really miss Rajma Chawal because that's my comfort food.

17.

What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?

I drink a large glass of water and do my skincare.

18.

What is your workout routine?

I work out at least five days a week. It keeps changing, but of late I've really been enjoying resistance training. I like to spend a minimum of one hour in the gym which varies depending on my schedule for the day.

19.

What are some of your favorite foods?

As I travel so much, I end up eating out quite often.I miss home cooked meals and that's something I really enjoy. Home cooked Indian meals are my favorite.

20.

Cook at home, dine out or takeout?

I don't cook, but if someone can cook for me at home - there is nothing like it!

21.

What do you always have in your bag? (Can include products beside beauty) I have a lot of things!My wallet, a big bunch of house keys, a little pouch of electronics which contains my spare chargers and power banks and spare earphones. I have a little pouch of skincarewith some travel size serums, sunscreen, lip balm, a few lipsticks, and always a diary and pen to make notes.

22.

What talent would you most like to have?

I'd like to get better at painting and would love to learn to play music.

23.

Favorite weekend outfit?

My favorite weekend outfit would be a plain white cotton dress with a good pair of leather flats.

24.

Favorite glam outfit?

Black bodycon dress.

25.

What are the three words you would use to describe yourself?

Curious, Creative and Passionate.

26.

What advice would you give to your younger self?

Stop worrying about the future and live in the moment. Often,particularly when we are young and ambitious, we tend to worry about what's going to happen tomorrow and we forget to cherish what's happening in the moment.

FOLATE DEFICIENCY: KNOW SYMPTOMS, CAUSES AND TREATMENT Alack of folate can occur due to a diet devoid of fresh fruits and vegetables. Additionally, certain health conditions such as celiac disease and specific medications can contribute to this deficiency. Insufficient intake of folate in your diet can lead to a deficiency in this essential nutrient. Citrus juices and dark green vegetables are examples of food and beverages that are rich sources of folate.

Inadequate consumption of folate can result in a deficiency within a few weeks. Additionally, cer tain health conditions or genetic mutations can hinder the absorption or conversion of folate into its usable form, potentially leading to a deficiency. A folate deficiency can result in the development of anaemia, a condition characterised by a low count of red blood cells (RBCs).

Anaemia can hinder the delivery of oxygen to your tissues, as RBCs are responsible for transpor ting oxygen. Consequently, the functionality of tissues may be affected. Folate holds par ticular significance for individuals of childbearing age who have uteruses.

Insufficient folate levels during pregnancy can contribute to abnormalities in fetal development and bir th irregularities.

Symptoms of folate deficiency Folate deficiency symptoms are typically mild and can manifest as: Fatigue Premature greying of hair Mouth ulcers Swelling of the tongue Impaired growth Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage affecting specific groups of nerves) The signs of anaemia resulting from folate deficiency encompass: Persistent fatigue Weakness Lethargy Pale skin Shortness of breath Irritability Treatment of folate deficiency The treatment for folate deficiency entails boosting the consumption of folate-rich foods in one’s diet. Additionally, taking a folate or folic acid supplement can be beneficial. Individuals with a specific genetic mutation called MTHFR, which impacts folate absorption, should opt for methylated folate supplements to prevent deficiency. Supplements often combine folate with other B vitamins and are commonly referred to as B complex vitamins. Pregnant individuals are advised to completely abstain from alcohol, and those with folate deficiency should reduce their alcohol consumption.

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023

OROFACIAL PAIN: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT

The term Orofacial is used to include and represent all structures in and around the mouth and face region including the teeth, jaws, TM joint, head, neck and other structures of the face. Orofacial pain (OFP) is the newest identified and accredited dental specialty as per the American Dental Association (ADA). OFP as a specialty comprises the diagnosis, management and treatment of pain disorders of the jaw, mouth, face, head and neck. Orofacial disorders include conditions that affect the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), nerve pain on the face or in the mouth, muscular pain and issues around the face, head and neck, etc. Orofacial disorders can impact the overall quality of life of a person as it can affect a person’s ability to speak, eat and breathe normally. “Orofacial pain specialization refers to the field of dentistry that focuses on identification, treatment and management of oral and facial conditions that affect a person’s ability to function normally. Specialized Dentists in Orofacial use a range of procedures and treatments for their patients including physical therapy, or thodontics, surger y, prosthodontics, etc,” says Dr. Srishti Tody, BDS, Diplomate American Board of Orofacial Pain.

“Specialists can manage these conditions with a wide variety of therapies that is determined on a case by case basis ranging from injections to an or thotic splint or night guard to physiotherapy or most times we use a combination of various treatment modalities, adds Dr. Tody.

How To Manage It Dental sleep medicine is an emerging field in India that focuses on management of sleep-related breathing disorders, such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) and snoring through dental interventions. “Dental sleep medicine is vital in the country as OSA is a very common and serious health problem in India affecting an estimated 3-7% of the population, states Dr Tody.

Fur thermore, the general public is becoming more aware of the importance of a good night’s sleep and is starting to realize that snoring is not a sign of healthy sleep. “As awareness increases patients are looking for solutions to improve their quality of sleep and treat disorders like sleep apnea and are now consulting specialists like us,” opines Dr Tody.

You May Like The growing awareness about these issues in the general public about the impor tance of diagnosis and treatment of these disorders along with oral health and the impact it can have on overall well-being has resulted in people seeking out specialized dental care and orofacial pain and sleep medicine centers. Advanced technology and treatment modalities have led to an increased interest in orofacial pain dentistry as a specialty as dentists are able to provide specialized care and improve patient outcomes. As more people seek out specialized care for oral and facial conditions, the need and demand for skilled orofacial dentists is growing and likely to be seen consistently growing in the coming years.

SLEEP APNEA CAN DETERIORATE YOUR BRAIN HEALTH

Having sleep apnea and spending less time in deep sleep has been linked to developing brain biomarkers associated with an increased risk of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, according to a new research.

Researchers involved in the study said that it did not prove these sleep disturbances to cause the changes in the brain, or vice versa, but only that there was an association.

They have published their study in the journal Neurology. The study looked at sleep factors and biomarkers measuring of the health of the brain’s white matter, which is important to connect different par ts of the brain. One of the biomarkers, white matter hyperintensities, are tiny lesions visible on brain scans. White matter hyperintensities become more common with age or with uncontrolled high blood pressure.

The other biomarker measures the integrity of the axons, which form the nerve fibers that connect nerve cells. “These biomarkers are sensitive signs of early cerebrovascular disease," said study author Diego Z. Carvalho, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology.

“Finding that severe sleep apnea and a reduction in slowwave sleep are associated with these biomarkers is important since there is no treatment for these changes in the brain, so we need to find ways to prevent them from happening or getting worse," said Carvalho. The researchers studied 140 people with obstructive sleep apnea with an average age of 73 who had a brain scan and also an overnight study in a sleep lab. The par ticipants did not have cognitive issues at the start of the study and had not developed dementia by the end of the study, they said.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 16, 28, 2012 2023

LIFESTYLE

MidWeek 35 BELLY FAT TO TYPE-2 DIABETES, HEALTH RISKS OF CONSUMING EXCESS COLD DRINKS

CANNES 2023: ESHA GUPTA GRACES THE RED CARPET IN A STUNNING HIGH-SLIT WHITE GOWN BY NICHOLAS JEBRAN Cannes 2023: When Esha Gupta steps out on the red carpet or makes a casual appearance, she has a history of wearing avant-garde clothing. This year, the actress made her red carpet debut at the famous Cannes Film Festival. She just recently posted a gallery of photos showing her arrival in France. The beautiful actress has finished walking the red carpet at the prestigious 76th Cannes Film Festival, and we have to say, she looks absolutely stunning. The actress strolled around in a lovely white Nicholas Jebran gown. In order to highlight the outfit’s details, the gown had a lovely floral design on the front and a high slit that gave her overall appearance an elegant and sharp appearance. Esha was seen wearing a white ring and a pair of earrings from the Fred Parish Jewellery line. Her hair was wrapped in a bun

with a few loose strands hanging down from either side of her face, and she had very little makeup on. Victor Blanco, a stylist, provided Esha’s outstanding appearance on the first day. Esha, who had arrived earlier in the day in Cannes, kept things light and elegant in a striped T-shir t outfit. She effortlessly wore no makeup and kept her wavy hair open. Her entire outfit was completed with a pair of brown-tinted sunglasses. She chose to wear green block heels and a turquoise sling bag. She flashed one of her most radiant grins and struck the ideal tone between grace and appeal. Esha Gupta was last seen working on Aashram 3 with Prakash Jha. Bobby Deol’s eponymous character Nirala Baba is brought in to have his image changed in Aashram 3, while Esha portrayed the role of Sonia, an image builder.

SLEEP APNOEA MAY RAISE RISK OF LONG COVID, REVEALS STUDY NEW YORK: People with obstructive sleep apnoea may be at significantly higher risk of suffering long Covid, according to a study.

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common disorder characterised by repetitive episodes of nocturnal breathing cessation due to upper airway collapse. However, the condition is often underdiagnosed. The study, published online in the journal ‘Sleep’, found that observed increases in risk for long Covid in adults with sleep apnoea remained significant even when the research team accounted for obesity, hyper tension, diabetes, and hospitalisation at the time of their initial Covid infection, all known to independently contribute to risk for long Covid. Women showed an 89 per cent increased likelihood of having long Covid if they had obstructive sleep apnea, compared to a 59 per cent increased chance for men. While the underlying associations aren’t clear, women with sleep apnea included in the study may have had more severe conditions than men.

Alot of us love to consume cold drinks to ‘beat the heat’ during the summer. However, it is also well-known that these packaged foods are not beneficial to health. While the consumption of these cold beverages provides temporary relief, too much of these cold drinks can lead to some major health issues. Today, we will be focusing on some major medical problems that can arise from excessive drinking of these beverages. As per a report in Healthline, cold drinks have no nutrient value.

It includes high levels of calories and sugar. The excess calories can lead to massive weight gain. On this note, let us discuss 5 major health risks of consuming too many cold drinks. The primary risk of the cold drink is that it can lead to Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. When these beverages reach the liver in huge amounts, it can cause fat accumulation. Additionally, these cold drinks can also be the reason for a fatty stomach. As they are high in fructose, they can also cause heart trouble in the long run.

FROM WEIGHT GAIN TO TOOTH DECAY, KNOW THE NOT-SO-SWEET SIDE EFFECTS OF SUGAR ON OUR BODY Weight gain One of the most well-known side effects of sugar is its contribution to weight gain and obesity. When we consume sugar, it provides a rapid burst of energy, but excess energy is stored as fat. Over time, this can lead to weight gain and an increased risk of obesityrelated health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure.

Blood sugar levels Sugar consumption also affects our blood sugar levels. When we eat foods high in sugar, our blood sugar levels spike, causing our bodies to produce insulin to regulate them. This process can eventually lead to insulin resistance, a condition in which our cells become less responsive to insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels and a higher risk of type 2 diabetes.

Tooth decay Another major side effect of sugar consumption is tooth decay.

When we eat sugary foods, the sugar provides a food source for bacteria in our mouths, leading to the production of acid that can erode tooth enamel and cause cavities. This effect is particularly pronounced in children, whose developing teeth are more susceptible to damage.

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 16, 2023