23 May 2023_

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Y MEDIA POLITICAL SENSEX: WILL IT BE DOUG FORD VS BONNIE CROMBIE IN 2026?

I DETAILS ON PAGE 7

TORONTO MAYORAL RACE POLL SURVEY: OLIVIA CHOW LEADING; ANA BAILAO CLOSING GAP

‘ ‘ “SLAP IN THE FACE” TO MISSISSAUGA; SHOULD STEP DOWN AS MAYOR: DOUG FORD ON BONNIE CROMBIE'S LIBERAL LEADERSHIP RUN

Y MEDIA EXCLUSIVE: PEEL DISSOLUTION SHOULD NOT BE ABOUT GOVERNMENT BUT ABOUT PEOPLE: PEEL REGIONAL CHAIR NANDO IANNICCA

WON'T STEP DOWN AS MAYOR OF MISSISSAUGA, SAYS BONNIE CROMBIE AS SHE PREPARES RUN FOR LEADER OF ONTARIO LIBERAL PARTY.

WE ARE VERY CONCERNED FOR THE INVESTMENTS WE HAVE MADE IN THE REGION OF PEEL: ROWENA SANTOS, REGIONAL COUNCILLOR WARDS 1 AND 5 THIS DISSOLUTION RAISES MANY QUESTIONS FOR THE FUTURE OF BRAMPTON: GURPARTAP SINGH TOOR, REGIONAL COUNCILLOR, WARDS 9 AND 10

WATCH THE DETAILED ANALYSIS OF THE PROVINCIAL POLITICAL SCENARIO ON CHANNEL Y AND Y PLUS, BELL 828, TELUS 2418, ROGERS 857, IGNITE 707.

CONFLICTING STATEMENTS FROM MAYORS AS MISSISSAUGA AND BRAMPTON HEAD TOWARDS BREAK-UP

MISSISSAUGA, BRAMPTON, AND CALEDON TO BECOME INDEPENDENT CITIES BY 2025

BRAMPTON HAS TO BE REPAID FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE WE BUILT IN MISSISSAUGA: BRAMPTON MAYOR PATRICK BROWN

MISSISSAUGA DOES NOT OWE ANYTHING TO BRAMPTON” BONNIE CROMBIE ON PEEL DISSOLUTION

MUTUAL TRUST & RESPECT BIND INDIAAUSTRALIA TIES: PM MODI

While addressing a massive crowd of the Indian diaspora in Sydney on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that mutual trust and respect are the elements that bind India and Australia ties.

He made the remarks at an event at the Qudos Bank Arena where he received a rousing welcome from the diaspora members.

Upon his arrival at the arena accompanied by his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, Modi was welcomed amid Vedic chanting and other traditional rituals.

Addressing the Indian diaspora, Modi said: "No matter what the geographical distances are between India and Australia, the Indian Ocean connects us. No matter how different lifestyles are in both countries, yoga connects us! Cricket is something which has kept us connected for ages... and now tennis and movies form other connecting bridges.

"There was a time when '3Cs' were used to define relations between India and Australia -Commonwealth, Cricket and Curry. After that, it was '3Ds' -Democracy, Diaspora and Dosti (friendship). Now it has become '3Es' -Energy, Economy and I CONTD. ON PAGE 11 Education.

KHADIJA SHAH ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY ‘LEADING ATTACK ON JINNAH HOUSE’ I DETAILS ON PAGE 5

PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING BAN ON PTI I DETAILS ON PAGE 5

Y MEDIA TEAM AT MEET AND GREET WITH BOLLYWOOD PLAYBACK SINGER NEERAJ SHRIDHAR Y MEDIA TEAM AT AMAZON'S LAUNCH OF DOGS AT WORK IN TORONTO Y TEAM ATTENDS ONTARIO FIRST RESPONDERS' MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE

43-YEAR-OLD DEVINDER KAUR STABBED TO DEATH IN BRAMPTON; NAV NISHAN SINGH CHARGED WITH MURDER

YOU CAN WATCH THIS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW ONLY ON CHANNEL Y AND Y PLUS, BELL 828, TELUS 2418, ROGERS 857, IGNITE 707. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT OUR WEBSITES, SOUTHASIANDAILY.COM AND YMEDIAPLUS.COM. FOLLOW US ON OUR TWITTER AND FACEBOOK PAGES: Y MEDIA, TO STAY UPDATED WITH THE LATEST EVENTS. READ OUR 'MIDWEEK' NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY, TO KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CANADA AND WORLDWIDE.

BRAMPTON - The Peel Committee Against Women Abuse (PCAWA) is outraged and deeply saddened to share the news that on Friday May 19th Davinder Kaur, 43, was murdered in Brampton by her male partner.

PCAWA sends our deepest condolences to her family and friends.

PCAWA understands that femicide is not an isolated incident, we know that gender-based violence continues to be an ongoing issue in our community. In Canada, every 48 hours a women or girl is killed by an act of violence1. We need immediate action.

“Femicides are a systemic issue that reflect the systemic inequities and patriarchal systems that condone, normalize and encourage acts of gender-based violence.

I CONTD. ON PAGE 5

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 23, 2023

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

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MidWeek 3 Y MEDIA ENTERTAINMENT SPECIAL: CANNES 2023 HIGHLIGHTS

17 Y MEDIA TEAM AT AMAZON'S LAUNCH OF DOGS AT WORK IN TORONTO

07 Y MEDIA'S COVERAGE OF AMAZON EMPLOYEES VOLUNTEERING FOR PRIDE TORONTO

07 Y MEDIA TEAM SPOKE WITH THE ATTENDEES OF NEERAJ SHRIDHAR SHOW

Y MEDIA COVERAGE: OROOJ FINANCIAL AND INSURANCE DONATED $10,000 TO SUPPORT TRILLIUM HOSPITAL'S NEW SITE

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

EXPLORE A WORLD OF CULTURES THROUGH GO TRANSIT

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ississauga is known for its vibrant multiculturalism, and what better way to experience it than by attending the Carassauga Festival, Canada's largest cultural festival. And if you’re wondering how to get there, well, hop on GO Transit to Mississauga. From there, use your Carassauga Passport for a free Carassauga shuttle and MiWay to each venue.

With over 25 cultures represented and a lineup of dancers, singers, and performers from around the world, this 3-day event (May 26, 27, & 28, 2023) is a celebration of diversity and inclusion. Well, it’s what this country is all about, and you don’t want to miss it. And the best part? Getting there is easy with GO Transit, a convenient and reliable transportation option that can take you to a long list of destinations across the GGH, including Carassauga. GO Transit's trains and buses are equipped with modern amenities like free Wi-Fi, air conditioning, and comfortable seating, making your journey to the festival as enjoyable as the event itself. Plus, GO Transit offers unique pricing options that make it affordable for everyone to attend. If you're planning to attend the three-day festival on the weekend, take advantage of the $10 GO Weekend Day Pass to enjoy the amazing things the Carassauga Festival has to offer. And if you purchase a Carassauga Passport, which is the festival ticket, you can travel on the Carassauga Shuttle and MiWay, the Mississauga Transit system, for free during the festival.

And once you arrive at the festival, there are even more ways to make your experience unforgettable. For instance, at Paramount Fine Foods Centre, you can hop on one of the GOthemed golf carts to get around and experience all the different areas of the festival. Don't forget to check out the outdoor space where you can play GO-themed games and win branded merchandise! But it's not just about getting to the festival. Taking GO Transit is a great way to explore the GGH and all it has to offer. Whether you're heading downtown to see a show or exploring the suburbs for a day trip, GO Transit's comprehensive network of buses and trains makes it easy to get around without the hassle of driving in traffic.

So what are you waiting for? Hop on the GO Transit and take a journey through a world of cultures at the Carassauga Festival! With GO Transit, the journey is just as enjoyable as the destination.

Y TEAM ATTENDS ONTARIO FIRST RESPONDERS' MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE

MISSISSAUGA – Trillium Health Partners (THP) and Peel Regional Paramedics Services (PRPS) have come together in a unique par tnership to suppor t the mental health needs of our local paramedics. First responders are considered at high risk for development of mental health concerns including mood and traumarelated disorders, due to the high demands and traumatic exposure faced as part of their work. Rapid access to quality care is the first step in addressing and overcoming such conditions.

With this new partnership, paramedics will have expedited access to psychological assessment and treatment services provided by THP’s skilled team of mental health professionals, who have specialized training in working with first responders. “Paramedics are exposed to many work-related stressors, which can deeply affect their well-being. We know if an occupational stress injury is detected early and proper treatment is provided, recovery takes less time,” said Paramedic Chief Peter Dundas. “Partnering with Trillium Health Partners to give Peel paramedics faster access to mental

health supports will make it easier for paramedics to get the support they need to recover, and lead healthier and more rewarding lives.”

THP’s Insight Health Solutions team will be providing clinical services and will work to ensure easy, timely access to services and assist paramedics by removing barriers and navigating the health care system in a more seamless and efficient manner. “As the largest provider of mental health services in West Toronto and Peel, we know the impact one’s mental health can have on their quality of life,” said Dante Morra, THP Chief of Staff

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

SPECIAL REPORT

MidWeek 5 WE WILL KEEP THE RESIDENTS POSTED WITH LATEST DEVELOPMENT: HARKIRAT SINGH, BRAMPTON DEPUTY MAYOR WE WANT TO REASSURE RESIDENTS: NAVJIT KAUR BRAR REGIONAL COUNCILLOR WARDS 2 AND 6, ON INDEPENDENCE OF BRAMPTON, MISSISSAUGA AND CALEDON AS A CITY WE ARE CONCERNED: COUNCILLOR PAUL VICENTE, WARDS 1 AND 5 ON DISSOLUTION OF REGION OF PEEL

KHADIJA SHAH ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY ‘LEADING ATTACK ON JINNAH HOUSE’ Prominent fashion designer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter Khadija Shah has been taken into custody in relation to the assault on Jinnah House that took place in Lahore following the arrest of party chairman Imran Khan on May 9.

Khadija Shah turned herself in at the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) Iqbal Town police station on Tuesday, Express News reported. Police officials confirmed the arrest of the fashion designer.

She is the daughter of former finance minister Salman Shah and the brains behind the fashion label Elan. Khadija Shah is suspected to have been among those leading the attack on the Jinnah House, which is currently used as the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander.

PAKISTAN GOVERNMENT CONSIDERING BAN ON PTI As Pakistan's political crisis deepens, the incumbent government is mulling a possible ban on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday, in light of the May 9 protests against arrest of party chief Imran Khan in the 190 million pounds settlement case, local media reported. He, however, said that the matter will be referred to the Parliament for approval if the government finally decides to ban the former ruling party, Geo News reported. The move comes days amid political instability in the country by Khan's arrest on May 9 on corruption charges, before he walked free on bail as per court orders.

Responding to the leaders' call for countrywide protests, the PTI workers and supporters took to the streets, but the demonstrations turned deadly as they attacked public and private property including military installations and buildings. They also resor ted to arson and set afire the Corp Commander House, also known as the Jinnah House, in Lahore.

The armed forces have, since then, resolved to try the arsonists and those involved in anti-state activities on the day of the protests under relevant laws, including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secrets Act. "The PTI has attacked the very basis of the state, that never happened before. It can't be tolerated", Asif said while addressing a presser in Islamabad on Wednesday, Geo News reported. "Is there a crime that didn't happen on May 9?" he asked. Asif said that the miscreants involved

in the violent episode had nefarious motives. Referring to the events that unfolded ahead of the no-confidence vote against Khan in April last year, Khawaja Asif said: "All the steps taken by Imran Khan after April 9 have cost him. We did not harm him. He is suffering due to his own actions."

43-YEAR-OLD DEVINDER KAUR STABBED TO DEATH IN BRAMPTON; NAV NISHAN SINGH CHARGED WITH MURDER CONTD. FROM PAGE 1 In Ontario, 52 femicides took place between 2021 - 20222.

One life lost a week in our province to femicide and gender-based violence.

We need a meaningful, sustainable and systemic response to fundamentally change the systems and structures that keep allowing this to happen.” - Maria Zigouris, PCAWA Co-Chair PCAWA will continue to draw attention to this issue in our community and demand action be taken. We will be putting forth a motion at an upcoming regional council meeting that the Region of Peel declare intimatepartner violence and gender-based violence an epidemic. This is the first jury recommendation that came out of the Renfrew Inquest into the deaths of Carol Culleton, Anastasia Kuzyk and Nathalie Warmerdam. Currently, 14 regions, towns and counties across the province have already passed this motion, with 3 others in the works.

We will call on the leaders in our community to do the same to send a clear message to our community and province that Peel recognizes the imminent issue of intimate-partner and gender-based violence and are committed to taking action.

PCAWA will also be sharing a series of public education content pertaining to femicide on our social media platforms. It is essential that our community understands what femicide is and why it continues to be an issue we cannot ignore. A summary infographic of the content will be available on our website.

WE COUNT FEMICIDE BECAUSE: • Indigenous, Black and 2SLGBTQ+ women, girls, gender-diverse individuals and women with disabilities are at increased risk and experience disproportionate levels of gender-based violence.

• Every life lost to femicide tears a hole in the fabric of our communities. We honour their lives and commit to making changes to prevent future femicides.

• Naming men’s violence as the problem is part of the change we need to make as a society. We can’t change it if we can’t name it.

• For every femicide, there are more survivors who are not safe in their homes, workplaces and communities. We can do more to reach out and support them. We can engage their intimate partners, family members, friends, coworkers and acquaintances to end the violence.

WE CAN CHANGE THE OUTCOMES There is no commitment to prevention in Ontario or Canada. For 20 years domestic homicide death reviews have provided recommendations that can move us toward prevention. It is time to review our progress and invest in the evidence to see stronger social returns. There are successes to build on. There are experts and advocates in every community who can help.

WE MUST DO BETTER Most femicides are preventable. We Count Femicide Because… is intended to mark the tragic loss of each life, to raise a public alarm and to engage everyone in working together toward prevention. Professionals, coworkers, neighbours, friends and family members can learn to recognize the warning signs and how to respond safely and supportively. It is a call to action to prevent future deaths. Ask us what you can do to contribute.

“We all have a responsibility to work towards ending gender-based violence, and it’s not until we individually realise and act upon this responsibility that genderbased violence will be meaningfully addressed,” said Rebecca Pacheco, the Coordinator of the Peel Committee Against Women Abuse (PCAWA). PCAWA has created a GBV allyship resource, available on our website, which outlines tangible ways that everyone can get involved in ending gender-based violence.” PCAWA also has training oppor tunities available on the Enhanced Gender-Based Violence Protocol for the Region of Peel. This training is available to all community members and will provide you with information on how to best suppor t survivors and respond to disclosures of gender-based violence. Please contact Rebecca Pacheco at rebeccap@embrave.ca to schedule this training.

If you would like to join the PCAWA mailing list to to receive newsletters and updates on events and advocacy efforts email rebeccap@embrave.ca If you are a survivor of violence in need of support, please contact Embrave: Agency to End Violence’s 24-hour Crisis Line at 905-403-0864 or 1-855676-8515. You can also seek support from any of the Peel Committee Against Women Abuse member agencies. Visit their website at www.pcawa.net for more information. Remember that you are not alone.

We are here if you need us.

ARREST MADE IN RETAIL MARKETPLACE GUNPOINT ROBBERY REGION OF PEEL - Investigators from the Peel Regional Police Central Robbery Bureau have charged a male youth in connection to an armed robbery that occurred at a Brampton store.

On May 18, 2023, two suspects entered a retail marketplace near Bramalea Road and Clark Boulevard in the City of Brampton. The two suspects, one of which armed with a handgun, made demands for money. They fled the robbery on foot with a quantity of stolen cash. The store employees did not sustain any physical injuries.

Hours later, robbery investigators located a suspect in the area of Kings Cross Road, Brampton. After a brief foot pursuit, the suspect was apprehended without incident. Officers recovered a replica handgun and offence-related property from the robbery.

The accused, a 14-year-old male from Brampton, was arrested and held for a bail hearing. He has been charged with the following Criminal Code Offences: * Robbery * Use Imitation Firearm * Disguise with Intent The investigation into the outstanding suspect remains ongoing, and police anticipate further charges will be laid.

Anyone with information regarding this incident can contact investigators with the Central Robbery Bureau at (905)453-2121 ext. 3410. Information may also be left anonymously by calling Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800222-TIPS (8477) or visiting peelcrimestoppers.ca.

MISSISSAUGA IS DONE GROWING, WE ARE JUST BEGINNING: MICHAEL PALLESCHI, REGIONAL COUNCILLOR WARDS 2 & 6

PEEL REGION APPOINTS DEBORAH ARSENAULT AS DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES BRAMPTON, ON - Peel Region announces Deborah Arsenault as the new Director of Human Resources. In her role, Deborah will provide strategic leadership and direction to the human resources team to ensure the delivery of human resources services and programs.

Over her 25-year career, Deborah held several senior human resources positions, most recently as Head of HR Operations and Employee Service Centre Extendicare Inc. and Global Head, HR Business Excellence at Citco Group of Companies.

Deborah has extensive expertise developing innovative forwardthinking solutions and aligning workforce practices with organizational governance to effectively improve operations.

She is passionate about designing and implementing efficient HR processes and systems to foster equitable and inclusive work environments.

Deborah is a Cer tified Human Resources Professional. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Administration, from the University of Ottawa, as well as several leadership cer tifications from Schulich School of Business and Rotman School of Management. Learn more about Deborah here.

Quotations "I am pleased to welcome Deborah to Peel Region. Her wealth of specialized human resources exper tise and leadership experience make her a great asset to lead our human resources team at Peel."

Patricia Caza, Acting Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services.

DAVID JOHNSTON RULES OUT PUBLIC INQUIRY INTO FOREIGN INTERFERENCE Democracy is built on trust. Canada is blessed to have an electoral system run by professional, independent and non-partisan public servants, ensuring Canadians can have faith that when they mark their ballots, their votes will be counted. My mandate is not to investigate this system, which remains robust. Rather, it is to investigate whether foreign governments are attempting to influence candidates or voters, whether the federal government has failed to act appropriately in the face of intelligence about foreign electoral interference, and whether a further public process is required to reaffirm trust in our electoral system. Public concern about these issues has been amplified by media reports of leaked intelligence documents. This is my first report. I will report again not later than the end of October 2023. In this first report, after intensive review, I have reached the following conclusions: 1. Foreign governments are undoubtedly attempting to influence candidates and voters in Canada. While much has been done already, more remains to be done promptly to strengthen our capacity to detect, deter and counter foreign interference in our elections.

2. When viewed in full context with all of the relevant intelligence, several leaked materials that raised legitimate questions turn out to have been misconstrued in some media repor ts, presumably because of the lack of this context.

3. There are serious shortcomings in the way intelligence is communicated and processed from security agencies through to government, but no examples have been identified of Ministers, the Prime Minister or their offices knowingly or negligently failing to act on intelligence, advice or recommendations.

4. A further public process is required to address issues relating to foreign interference, but there should not and need not be a separate Public Inquiry. A Public Inquiry examining the leaked materials could not be undertaken in public given the sensitivity of the intelligence. However, public hearings on the serious governance and policy issues identified to date should and will be held, at the earliest possible date, as part of the second phase of my mandate.

5. My conclusions concerning the media allegations, including the confidential annex to my report, should be referred to and reviewed by the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) and the National Security and Intelligence Review Committee (NSIRA), and they should report publicly if they reach different conclusions.

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COMMUNITY

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

PIZZA NOVA'S THAT'S AMORE PIZZA FOR KIDS IS BACK WITH A MONTH-LONG FUNDRAISER IN SUPPORT OF VARIETY - THE CHILDREN'S CHARITY OF ONTARIO COMPANY INVITES CUSTOMERS TO DIP N' GIVE TO HELP RAISE AWARENESS AND MUCH NEEDED FUNDS FOR THE KIDS TORONTO- Pizza Nova, Southern Ontario's premium pizza brand, launches its 24th annual fundraising campaign in support of Variety - the Children's Charity of Ontario. Throughout the month of May, the company invites customers to add a dip to their order and 50 cents will be donated to Variety Ontario.

"Every child has unique gifts, talents and abilities," says Domenic Primucci, president of Pizza Nova. "As longstanding partners of Variety, our customers know we're committed to the organization, the important work they do and, most importantly, to the children who benefit from their programs. I know they appreciate the awareness and the added financial support this brings."

Pizza Nova launched That's Amore Pizza for Kids 24 years ago, but with the arrival of COVID-19, the organization had to come up with a new way of campaigning that would support the initiative and keep customers safe.

"The campaign used to be one day only and focused on an in-store pizza promotion," says Primucci. "In 2021, we launched this new monthly format featuring dips and the results have greatly exceeded our expectations. Our dips are delicious year-round but, in May, it's the time to do even more dipping and sampling to benefit the good cause."

The 2021 campaign raised some $200,000 for Variety and the 2022 edition even more with $203,000. In total, the Pizza Nova annual campaign for Variety has raised more than $2 million.

"Pizza Nova is one of our largest and most committed corporate donors," said Karen Stintz, president and CEO of Variety. "At around this time each year, we feel their deep passion for our work and the children who benefit from our programs and facilities. But the truth is they're present and supportive all year. We cannot thank them enough and invite all Ontarians who can to get into the dipping-giving action."

For more than 70 years, the programs at Variety have helped thousands of children with physical and mental disabilities by providing an accessible facility at Variety Village, specialized programs, dedicated staff, and a community in which everyone is equal and welcome.

Last year, Variety - the Children's Charity of Ontario, honoured Pizza Nova with the reveal of its newly renovated Primucci Pavilion, the main lobby to the landmark facility located at the intersection of Danforth Ave and Kingston Road. Part of the renovation includes a 22-foot-wide by 10-foot-

high mural depicting children at play against the Toronto skyline with the words, "Share the love".

To learn more about the fundraiser or to place your order for pizzas and a dozen dips, visit pizzanova.com.

Y Media Coverage: Orooj Financial and Insurance donated $10,000 to support Trillium Hospital's new site

Y MEDIA'S CONTEST WINNERS WITH THE PRIZE TICKET FOR BOLLYWOOD PLAYBACK SINGER NEERAJ SHRIDHAR'S LIVE CONCERT

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

SPECIAL REPORT

Prime Video and Amazon Canada is #ProudToBe #NotJustForShow during the 2023 Pride Celebrations and kick off their celebrations of Pride by volunteering for Pride Toronto

Prime Video and Amazon Canada employees are #ProudToBe supporting Pride Toronto and the 2SLGBTQI+ community this year and recently provided logistical support to pack donated items for Pride Toronto's 2023 Community Connect program. On May 17th and 18th, Amazon employees from across Toronto gathered at a sortation centre in Brampton where they packed 6000 care packages with personal care products and other donations. "Glamazon is one of Amazon's many communities. It centers around the LGBTQ+ community and allies. It's a community where we are able to connect with like-minded individuals.

We have Pride coming up and Amazon is such a large corporation. It's important to get back to the community and to be involved in activities like these to show our support" says Liz. The Community Connect Program is an effort to provide access to Pride Toronto Festival programming and to connect with members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community outside of the downtown core. The program assists in bringing Pride to community members in their own neighborhoods; to help them feel recognized and a part of Pride Toronto's

Festival without having to compromise on safety. This event will be amazing, with performances from Drag Queens, Spoken Word Artists, DJ's and more at Scarborough, Etobicoke and North Youth.

This is the first of many activities and donations driven by Prime Video and Amazon Canada employees this year. Prime Video has entered into a partnership with Pride Toronto and Fier té Montréal which will help support both parades. We very much appreciate their financial support.

They are going above and beyond. They are providing us with not just money but with volunteers and making sure that we can run an impactful, engaging, and fun Pride festival this year: Grant On June 23rd, 2023 Prime Video will be hosting a free movie screening with Pride Toronto and the Downtown Yonge BIA at College Park, in Toronto and all are welcomed to join. More information about the screening can be found in the 2023 Pride Guide.

In addition to the screening, Amazon Canada will be at the 2023 Pride Festival on Church Street in Toronto on June 24th and 25th, and will be hosting recruiters who can talk to anyone interested in finding a job at Amazon.

AMAZON'S MOST POPULAR EMPLOYEE PERKS, DOGS AT WORK

Dogs at Work - one of Amazon's most popular employee perks, with more than 10,000 dogs registered to work at over 100 Amazon corporate offices worldwide - has arrived at the company's Tech Hubs in Toronto and Vancouver.

Through Dogs at Work, four-legged furry friends become honourary 'Amazonians,' accompanying their owners to the office and enjoying an enviable list of amenities, including designated play spaces, events, discounted pet insurance, welcome packages, and of course, free treats.

Dogs at Work is great for humans, too: Several studies show that dogs can have a positive impact on people's mental and physical health, reducing tension in stressful moments and motivating people to be more physically active. They're also great for meeting new people: many employees say their favorite part about bringing their dogs to the office is seeing their colleagues light up when they spot their furry companions in hallways or snuggling under desks.

According to the Ontario SPCA, nearly three in 10 Canadians adopted a DIFFICULT TIME IN PEEL'S PROUD HISTORY; STILL GETTING OVER THE SHOCK: NANDO IANNICCA ON PEEL DISSOLUTION CONCERNED ABOUT EMPLOYEES, AND RESIDENTS ON HOW THEY WILL BE TREATED: NANDO IANNICCA NOT CONSULTED PERSONALLY, DETAILS WERE NOT DISCUSSED WITH ME BEFORE THE DISSOLUTION HAPPENED: NANDO IANNICCA

pet during the pandemic (with over 40% adopting through and adoption agency), and programs that allow dogs at the office make the postpandemic transition easier for humans and pets alike.

Amazon launched Dogs at Work in Toronto on Thursday, May 18 with a 'pooch party' that allowed employees to snuggle with a furry crew from Corporate Canine Therapy, including a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever, a Chocolate Lab and a White Sheepdog as part of its Mental Health Awareness Month celebrations which was led by Christine De Siato, Canada/ LATAM Comms Leader and President of Amazon's employee resource group Mental Health & Well-Being at Amazon. The group has mission is to promote employee well-being and to create a safe community where employees can come together to reduce the stigma of mental health, raise awareness, create a culture of acceptance, and support one another. It helps employees find resources and connect with teammates, and hosts events featuring Amazon employees along with exper t speakers and mental health professionals.

97% OF SERVICES WE PROVIDE IN PEEL ARE NOT PROVIDED

BY LOWER-TIER MUNICIPALITIES: NANDO IANNICCA PEEL HAS $41 BILLION OF ASSETS, WITH AN OPERATING BUDGET OF $3 BILLION A YEAR: NANDO IANNICCA HOW THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT WOULD UNRAVEL THE DISSOLUTION OF PEEL REGION IS A DAUNTING & CHALLENGING TASK: NANDO IANNICCA

HAD DISAGREEMENTS RELATED TO GOVERNANCE DECISIONS ON TOUGH CHOICES LIKE DUMP SITES: NANDO IANNICCA

NOT AN EASY THING TO TAKE APART A $41 BILLION CORPORATION WITH 10,000 EMPLOYEES & THINK EVERYTHING IS GOING TO FALL NEATLY INTO PLACE IN 17 MONTHS: NANDO IANNICCA

NO ONE EVER QUESTIONED THE FAIRNESS OF WORK THE PEEL DOES, EXCEPT MISSISSAUGA MAYOR CROMBIE: NANDO IANNICCA

SERVING THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE THE KEY DURING THE TRANSITION: NANDO IANNICCA

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WE NEED PEOPLE TO DEAL WITH PEOPLE IN NEED: NANDO IANNICCA

ONTARIO HELPING MORE WOMEN IN BRAMPTON BUILD SKILLS AND GET JOBS BRAMPTON – The Ontario government is expanding the Investing in Women’s Futures program to 10 additional locations across the province, including Roots Community Services in Brampton. This will help more women who are experiencing social and economic barriers connect to supports and develop the skills they need to gain financial security and independence. This expansion is part of a $6.9 million investment over three years to enhance the program and create more economic opportunities for women.

“The new Investing in Women’s Futures program location in Brampton will provide women in the community with the wraparound supports and resources they need to rebuild their lives, increase their participation in the workforce, and gain financial independence,” said Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity. “Our government is empowering women to achieve the success they deserve.” The Investing in Women’s Futures program provides a range of flexible services and employment readiness supports for women facing social and economic barriers, including those experiencing gender-based violence and social isolation. These services and supports help women to overcome any barriers, increase well-being, build skills and gain employment. The addition of 10 new sites brings the total number of service delivery locations to 33, providing greater access for more women across Ontario.

“As a father of two young girls, I am incredibly pleased that the government is expanding the Investing in Women’s Futures program to 10 additional locations, including to Roots Community Services in Brampton,” said Prabmeet Sarkaria, President of the Treasury Board and MPP for Brampton South. “Today’s investment is ensuring that women and girls get the skills they need, and the jobs they deserve. The Investing in Women’s Futures program is helping us build a stronger Ontario for the future, for all Ontarians.” In Brampton, the Investing in Women’s Futures program will be delivered by Roots Community Services through an investment of $318,590 over three years. The organization will deliver 12-week programs to help women heal from past trauma, build confidence, and work towards financial independence. The programs will include workshops on business, financial resources, and networking as well as peer support, self-care, and mental well-being seminars to prepare them for entering or re-entering the workforce.

MidWeek 7 ONTARIO INCREASING HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION SUPPORT FOR INDIGENOUS PEOPLE The Ontario government is investing an additional $2.9 million for the Miziwe Biik Development Corporation - for a total of $10.4 million annually - to support homelessness prevention efforts in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) through the province's Indigenous Supportive Housing Program (ISHP).

This funding is part of Ontario's historic $202 million increase in homelessness prevention funding through the 2023 Budget, for a total of $695 million annually. Of this total, approximately $41.5 million is being distributed through the ISHP: $10.4 million through Miziwe Biik Development Corporation and $31.1 million through Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS). The remaining $653.9 million is being distributed to service managers across the province through the Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP).

"Today's announcement demonstrates our government's commitment to tackling homelessness in Ontario and ending the housing supply crisis," said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "I'm grateful to Miziwe Biik and Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services for the fantastic work they do providing safe and secure housing to Indigenous people in Ontario, and I'm proud that our government has been able to deliver this timely and historic support."

Established in 2004, Miziwe Biik Development Corporation serves the Indigenous community in the GTA with funding oppor tunities for affordable rental development including suppor tive housing, down payment assistance for homeownership, and rental suppor ts and services through community partnerships and programs.

Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services provides Indigenous-led, culturally appropriate long-term housing solutions and support services to Indigenous people experiencing or at risk of homelessness outside the GTA. "Along with improving access to transit, quality jobs and services in urban centres, our government is improving access to safe housing while suppor ting homelessness prevention," said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs. "We are confident that this investment will result in better outcomes for urban Indigenous populations, and we thank Miziwe Biik and the Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services for their continued partnership as we invest in communities across the province." "Miziwe Biik Development Corporation values the relationship we have built with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing," said Nancy Martin, President of Miziwe Biik Development Corporation. "Their ongoing support for Indigenous housing in the GTA has led to increasing housing stock. Increased housing transforms the economic outlook of the Indigenous community in the GTA, as a foundation for better opportunities and a better quality of life." "Miziwe Biik Development Corporation gratefully acknowledges the ongoing support of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in their provision of housing programs that align with the unique housing needs of the GTA's Indigenous community," said Lorna Lawrence, Executive Director of Miziwe Biik Development Corporation. "Flexibility to develop housing and provide supports and services that enhance housing stability enables us to address housing gaps and provide long-term housing solutions." In addition to reducing costs in other sectors, supportive housing provides people in Ontario with an opportunity to live happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. Ontario will continue to support the most vulnerable by providing suppor tive housing and homelessness prevention services to help those most in need.

BIPARTISAN BILL TO PROTECT 'AGEDOUT' INDIAN KIDS IN US REINTRODUCED A group of US lawmakers, including Indian-American Congressmen Raja Krishnamoor thi and Ami Bera, have reintroduced a bipartisan legislation to protect children of-longterm visa holders from aging out when they turn 21, forcing them to self-deport.

Congresswoman Deborah Ross and Senator Alex Padilla, who were accompanied by more than 40 such children -- also called Documented Dreamers -- announced the reintroduction of the America's Children Act at a press conference on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. More than 250,000 children and young adults are living in the US as dependents of long-term non-immigrant visa holders, including H-1B, L-1, E-1, and E-2 workers.

"These young people are par t of the fabric of our country, contributing to our economy and enriching our communities.

It's our moral duty to provide these young individuals with a pathway to permanent residency and a future free from the threat of having to leave the only country they know and love because of a broken immigration system," Bera said.

These individuals grow up in the US, attend American schools, and graduate from American universities. Because they have maintained legal status, Documented Dreamers are not eligible for protection under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or the work authorisation that comes with it. The DACA program was created to protect eligible young adults who were brought to the US as children from deportation and to provide them with work authorization for temporary, renewable period.

America's Children Act bill will allow Documented Dreamers to obtain permanent residency if they were brought to the country as dependent children of workers admitted under employment visas, have maintained status in the US for 10 years (including eight years as dependents), and have graduated from an institution of higher education. The bill would protect any child who has been in the country for an aggregate of eight years before the age of 21 as a dependent of an employment-based nonimmigrant by allowing them to remain a dependent on their parent's non-immigrant visa until they can find another status. It will also establish age-out protections that lock in a child's age on the date on which their parents file for a green card, and provide work authorisation for individuals qualifying for age-out protection. "These Documented Dreamers are Americans in every way except one: their parents' green card is tied up in red tape," said California Senator Padilla. "This legislation is about more than just immigration reform -- it's about righting a moral wrong that's a byproduct of our outdated immigration system," he added.

Welcoming the move, Dip Patel, founder of Improve the Dream, an organisation supporting Documented Dreamers, said: "Fixing this loophole will ensure that America reaps the benefits of the contributions of the children it raised and educated.

MidWeek

8

OPINION

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

AFTER THE UKRAINE WAR, IS THE G-7 OUT TO DESTROY THE G-20?

P

rime Minister Modi has been invited to the three-day G 7 summit in Germany starting from June 26. The context of this meeting has changed drastically because of the Ukraine conflict. This exclusive forum to superintend the global financial system had lost its salience in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis, with the G 20 emerging as a wider group to address it through policy coordination by the world's top economies. As part of the comprehensive sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, the most potent is the weaponisation by the US of its financial power. Russian state and private assets have been frozen or confiscated, the Russian Central Bank and other major banks have been sanctioned, Russia has been expelled from the Swift system, western multinationals have withdrawn from Russia en masse, energy bans have been imposed and more will follow.

The West has declared Russia's economic isolation as its goal. As a consequence, the global economy has come under pressure, oil prices have shot up with damaging impact on economies worldwide, food shortages are looming with disruption of global supplies of food grains and fertilisers.

Inflationary pressures have built up. All countries are feeling the impact, including India.

With the West seeking the expulsion of Russia from the G -20, the viability of this forum is being called into question. At a G- 20 Finance Ministers virtual meeting in April in Washington D.C., the western Finance Ministers walked out when the Russian delegate spoke. This bodes ill for the G- 20 summit in Indonesia this year which President Putin will attend as of now, having accepted the invitation.

If the West plays the boycotting game, the survival of the G- 20 will become uncertain, and this at a time when there is a need for coordination to tamper the serious impact of the Ukrainian conflict on the global economy. The efforts of the US and Europe to boost oil supplies globally, for instance, is being done through bilateral diplomacy, not as a coordinated decision within the G- 20 format.

With the oxygen provided by the strengthening of transatlantic solidarity against Russia and energetic western diplomacy to pressure non-western countries to adhere to sanctions on Russia and join in condemning and isolating it, the G 7 is taking centerstage once again.

India has been invited to the G 20 summit, setting at rest rumours that we may not be because of our refusal to condemn Russia. India has, however, to weigh the consequences for the future of G-7 replacing or diluting the G-20 as the key politically and economically balanced grouping to steer the globe out of economic and financial crises.

In this context, the G-7 Foreign Ministers meeting from May 12 - 14 in Germany provides a clue to the nature and scope of discussions to be expected at the summit in June. The communique issued by the Foreign Ministers is allencompassing. Russia's invasion of Ukraine is severely condemned, but to claim that it is "a watershed moment for the 21st century and carries dramatic consequences far beyond Europe", and that it is "unprovoked", is plainly rhetorical, as the conflict could have been avoided if sufficient effort had been

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made to find a negotiated solution, which is still lacking as the doors for any negotiation are being closed by continuing to arm Ukraine, seeking Russia's isolation and a regime change in the country. It is revealing that the communique does not mention "diplomacy" or "negotiations" anywhere, whereas India in its statements has been underlining the need for both these, besides an immediate ceasefire. The consequences beyond Europe flow from the draconian sanctions imposed on Russia and pressures on all countries to subscribe to them rather than an openness towards mitigating their adverse consequences on countries distant from what is essentially a revived Cold War conflict in Europe in a changed international landscape with the effective demise of the nonaligned movement.

To blame Russia for "one of the most severe food and energy crises in recent history which now threatens those most vulnerable across the globe" is to evade the major responsibility of the G- 7 in contributing to this situation." The communique speaks of a "coordinated multilateral response to preserve global food security and stand by our most vulnerable partners in this respect".

It is blatantly wrong on the part of the G-7 Agricultural Ministers to chide India on May 13 for banning unapproved wheat exports and calling on it "to assume its responsibility as a G 20 member". In response to this uncalled-for criticism, India in a UNSC meet convened by the US presidency on the subject has robustly defended its position.

New Delhi unequivocally asserted that its decision was meant to ensure that those most in need get relief and that the issue of food grains should not go the way of Covid -19 vaccines purchased by rich nations in excess of their requirements, depriving the less developed nations access to them. India cautioned against hoarding and speculation. "Open markets must not become an argument to perpetuate inequity and promote discrimination", India has said, adding that New Delhi intends to support the needs of neighbouring and other developing countries" by exporting only to those countries from which requests are received by India as a way to uphold equity, display compassion and promote social justice.

The communique speaks of economic coercion, information manipulation, including disinformation etc. in the context of Russia's invasion. It talks of the G-7 working together through the Media Freedom Coalition to defend media freedom. There is a reference to Rapid Response Mechanism to collectively safeguard G-7 democracies from foreign threats in the information domain, linked again to Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

But is Russia alone guilty of information manipulation and disinformation?

The West has censored Russian media despite what is being claimed in terms of media freedoms. The narrative about the conflict in Ukraine is being tightly controlled by the Western media, with much disinformation. This is apparent also in the one-sided coverage of the crisis in India derived from western sources.

On the climate crisis the G-7 FM's meeting talks of its commitment to provide support for developing countries to make the energy transition, including climate finance. This remains to be seen. The G-7 wants to explore establishing an open, cooperative international Climate Club, consistent with international rules, and with participation beyond the G-7. The import of this is not clear, as is the reference to just energy-transition partnerships on a case- by- case basis. The implication seems to be that financing, access to green technologies, technical assistance will be on a selective, not universal, basis. Energy transition for sustainable growth is also linked to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, with a call to accelerating upstream investments, including in LNG projects and decreasing G-7 dependency on Russia's energy, overlooking the fact that gas pipelines are more climate friendly than tanker supplied LNG. It is also linked to development of secure and sustainable sources of critical minerals- including rare earth elements- essential for green technologies.

Responsible business conduct including human rights and environmental due diligence in global value chains is seen as contributing to resilient supply chains- a way of bringing in these issues in investment by multinationals abroad. While the communique speaks of "equitable access to and provision of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics" in the context of the pandemic, the US, EU and others are resisting in the WTO the scope of waivers under TRIPS for production of vaccines to meet the needs of developing countries, as proposed by India and South Africa. The paras on the Indo-Pacific are strongly worded, with rejection of China's claims in the South China Sea and urging it to comply with the UNCLOS arbitral award. Serious concern about the situation around the East and South China Seas is expressed. Significantly, neither the

Quad nor AUKUS are mentioned.

There is no reference to the situation in the Indian Ocean or China's aggression in Ladakh. China is, however, is asked to uphold the principles of the UN Charter and "abstain from threats, coercion, intimidation measures or use of force". It is encouraged to support the independence and sovereignty of Ukraine, urge Russia to stop its aggression, not assist it or undermine sanctions, not justify its action and not engage in information manipulation and disinformation to legitimise its war against Ukraine. This sounds unrealistic in the context of China itself being declared as an adversary by the US and targeted in many ways, and the West's own responsibility in pushing Russia into China's arms.

The hardening of tone towards China is reflected in the support extended to Taiwan's "meaningful participation in the World Health Assembly and WHO technical meetings. Much more so in the expression of deep concern about the human rights situation in China, particularly in Xinjiang and Tibet, and the demand that independent observers, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, be given "immediate, meaningful and unfettered access" to both these territories. China is also asked to respect Hong Kong's autonomy and rights. The language on Myanmar is very strong too, and is not in line with India's stance. On Afghanistan there is the usual verbal hand wringing about the abuse of human rights, especially of women and girls, recurring terrorist attacks against ethnic and religious minorities etc. but the irony is that the defiant Taliban have announced more measures suppressing the rights and freedoms of women, disregarding international reaction.

On Libya, the G- 7 urge the full resumption of oil production, even as they sanction Russian oil. The paras on Syria are very hard line. Iraq merits a long para, as does Yemen, the Horn of Africa, Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Sahel, Gulf of Guinea, Venezuela and Haiti. Significantly, contrary to the US position, the G 7 commitment to a negotiated Two-State solution, with a viable Palestinian State is mentioned, as also the historic status quo in Jerusalem.

The expansion of settlements is opposed. Other subjects touched are G7Africa Partnership, with Russia's Ukraine war blamed for rising energy, food and fertiliser prices and increased cost of borrowing in the continent. On UN reform, the UNSG's path for a more agile, integrated and cohesive UN is mentioned, whatever that means in practical terms. While recommitting itself to a reform of the UN Security Council- not expansion- deep concern is expressed by Russia's abuse of its position as permanent member, particularly in the context of its Ukraine aggression. Clearly, the G-7 is not concerned about its credibility as its western members have taken military action against several countries without the approval of the UNSC and have used their veto power too whenever needed. On the NPT and disarmament, the G- 7 statement relies on recycled formulations that have lost meaning and credibility, such as their commitment to disarmament and promoting the universalisation of NPT (when North Korea has quit the NPT and is expanding its nuclear arsenal despite western pressure). To say that they are committed to a "world without nuclear weapons with undiminished security for all" flies in the face of US allocating huge funds to modernise its nuclear arsenal and the UK's Trident programme. Not only the western nuclear powers refuse to subscribe to the No First Use doctrine, the risk of a nuclear war is emerging in the way that the Ukraine war is sought to be used to corner a nuclear Russia. The hope of the G- 7 of involving China in an active arms control dialogue has to be seen in the context of a rapid expansion of China's nuclear arsenal and new ICBMs. The G-7 unrealistically demands that North Korea to verifiably abandon its nuclear weapons and missile programme. To move in that direction, genuine international cooperation is needed, the possibility of which in the UN or outside has receded with the rising confrontation between the US with both Russia and China, which may not want a nuclear North Korea on their borders but will want geopolitical concessions in return, for which the atmosphere is becoming less congenial.

The G-7, in a long para on Iran, states its commitment to ensure that Iran never develops a nuclear weapon and its support for a restoration and full implementation of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA), but places all the burden on Iran, omitting any reference to lifting of sanctions.

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 23, 28, 2012 2023

MidWeek 9

CANADA

CANADA STRENGTHENS TIES WITH THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today concluded a successful bilateral visit to the Republic of Korea (Korea) on the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries, where he continued to strengthen ties and grow our economies.

Canada and Korea have a strong history of shared values and priorities, including defending democracy and standing up for human rights. They also share a dynamic trade relationship, especially in sectors like clean energy, critical minerals, and emerging technologies.

While in Seoul, the Prime Minister held an extended bilateral meeting with the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, where the two leaders reiterated their mutual commitment to deepening their friendship, coordinating closely on regional and global issues, and strengthening economic ties. Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the CanadaKorea Comprehensive Strategic Par tnership and agreed to continue working together to defend shared values, grow the economy to benefit everyone, and create good, middle-class jobs and opportunities for people and businesses in both countries. Prime Minister Trudeau also welcomed President Yoon’s agreement to join the Global Carbon Pricing Challenge, a Canadian initiative to encourage the adoption of carbon pollution pricing systems which will fight climate change and grow the economy. In Canada, carbon pollution pricing remains a key pillar of Canada’s climate plan because it is one of the most effective ways to cut pollution while making life more affordable for families.

As the world continues to face increasingly complex challenges, the two leaders underscored the importance of economic and energy security,

democracy, and human rights. They agreed to work closely together to defend the rules-based international order, specifically in the Indo-Pacific and North Pacific regions, and enhance collaboration through information sharing, defence, and maritime security. Both leaders also discussed their commitment to gender equality, including advancing the meaningful participation of women in defence & security, peace operations and peace negotiations. The Prime Minister also addressed the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea, where he celebrated the strong relationship between our countries and ties between our people. He highlighted the deepening partnership between the two countries, underscored the importance of democracy and democratic institutions, and outlined key steps taken by both countries to create jobs, support families, and protect the environment.

LAW SOCIETY LAUNCHES NEW RESOURCE TO SUPPORT LICENSING CANDIDATES AND SUPERVISORS TORONTO- The Law Society has launched the Guide to Experiential Training- a new series of online learning modules, videos and resources to help experiential training candidates (such as ar ticling students) acclimate to legal practice and prepare supervisors and principals to orient their candidates using effective practice management techniques. The Guide has differentiated streams for candidates and supervisors. The candidate stream covers a variety of subjects and topics to address the challenges most frequently reported by candidates during experiential training such as: what to expect during experiential training, receiving regular feedback in the workplace, and maintaining work-life balance.

The Guide's supervisor stream will help supervisors and principals understand their obligations, incorporate best practices for managing and coaching, provide tools to assist with challenging conversations and much more. The supervisor Guide modules qualify for professionalism and EDI Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Hours as well as the LAWPRO CPD credit.

There are four stages which are broken down into short (two- to sevenminute) modules. The staged approach allows users to access the various modules as needed. There's no set order. The Guide also includes links to other helpful resources.

The Guide is the newest resource that the Law Society has available for experiential training candidates and supervisors. The full complement of resources includes programs such as the Coach and Advisor Network (CAN), Practice Management Helpline (PMH), Member Assistance Program (MAP), and the Continuing Professional Development Bridge to Practice Modules. The Law Society regulates lawyers and paralegals in Ontario in the public interest. The Law Society has a mandate to protect the public interest, to maintain and advance the cause of justice and the rule of law, to facilitate access to justice for the people of Ontario, and to act in a timely, open and efficient manner.

OAKVILLE RECEIVES FEDERAL FUNDING FOR ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS TO WEDGEWOOD POOL Renovations to make Wedgewood Pool more accessible will begin this fall thanks to $100,000 in funding the Town of Oakville received in part from the Government of Canada's Enabling Accessibility Fund. The purpose of the fund is to make Canadian communities more accessible for persons with disabilities to take par t in community activities, programs and services. Oakville will use the funding to add ramps to the two outdoor showers and install a portable pool lift. The ramps will include handrails

and visual contrasting strips. In addition to the new accessible features, the 52-year old facility will simultaneously undergo town-funded renovations, including repairs to the pool tank and replacement of the pool liner. To enable all renovations, construction will begin in the fall when the pool is closed for the season after Labour Day. Wedgewood Pool, located at 351 Cairncroft Road, was built in 1970, and is one of five outdoor pools in Oakville with 25-metre lanes and a dry slide.

CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW RUSSIAN SANCTIONS HIROSHIMA: Canada stands shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine as it defends itself in the face of Russia’s war of aggression, and we will continue to support the Ukrainian people for as long as it takes.

Today, at the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau reiterated that Canada condemns Russia’s brutal and unjustifiable war of aggression against Ukraine, its targeting of civilians, forcible deportation of children, seizure and exploitation of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, and use of nuclear rhetoric.

At the Summit, the Prime Minister announced that Canada is imposing new sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations. Building on the Government of Canada’s already extensive sanctions regime, this includes: sanctions on 17 individuals and 18 entities linked to Russian companies that provide military technology and know-how to Russia’s armed forces, family members of listed persons, and members of the Kremlin elite; and

$149,700 OTF GRANT HELPS ACHEV WITH DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION TO IMPROVE CLIENT EXPERIENCE

MISSISSAUGA: ACHEV received a $149,700 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) to support their efforts to create an accessible, user-friendly digital library of resources to support staff, clients and the community.

The project will be completed in May 2023 and will support the organization's digital transformation journey and countless clients for years to come. "I am thrilled with the announcement that Achev, a cornerstone organization in my riding of Mississauga Centre is benefitting from a $149,700 Resilient Communities Fund grant.

The grant has been used to help Ach?v enhance their technological capacity with an increased emphasis on digitizing services. This will increase accessibility and efficiency and, in turn, better serve vulnerable residents in both Mississauga Centre and beyond," said Natalia Kusendova-Bashta, MPP for Mississauga Centre.

Achev used the grant to research options and develop a digital asset management system (online library), Ach?vShare, to consolidate and share a wealth of client service resources and make them accessible to more clients and staff. "Making our company-developed resources available to all our staff and clients is critical. This OTF-funded project has enabled us to create a customized digital library consolidating a wealth of resources on topics such as job search tips, language learning, and more. All in formats that address needs on an immediate basis," said CEO Tonie Chaltas. OTF has also provided Achev with a Capital Grant to purchase 10 Smart Boards and accessories. Smart Boards will allow Ach?v to provide interactive in-person, hybrid and virtual services to their clients. The touchscreen feature aligned with easy sync to staff's laptop content results in dynamic events, sessions, classes, workshops, meetings etc. The new technology was received by staff with excitement: "Great! Yes, very excited!

I have been suggesting it for some time. I use them for teaching and love the experience". Achev aims to change people's lives as they discover their potential and achieve their purpose. It is one of the largest non-profit providers of employment, youth, settlement, women and language services in the Greater Toronto Area, serving over 100,000 clients in 2022. Since the pandemic, the organization has quickly adapted tools and processes to provide more online services in record time, providing essential community supports to job seekers, women, newcomers and youth. Further information can be found at www.achev.ca. The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada's leading granting foundations celebrates 40 years of grant-making in Ontario and making a lasting impact in communities. Last year, OTF invested over $110M into 1,022 community projects and par tnerships, which included funding for the Government of Ontario's Community Building Fund. Visit otf.ca to learn more.

sanctions on 30 individuals and 8 entities involved in Russia’s ongoing human rights violations, including the transfer and custody of Ukrainian children in Russia.

The Prime Minister made this announcement on the opening day of the Summit, where G7 Leaders discussed the ongoing global impacts of Russia’s war and Ukraine’s immediate military and financing needs as well as longer-term challenges related to its reconstruction and economic recovery. G7 Leaders issued a statement reiterating their collective support for Ukraine.

On their first day in Hiroshima, G7 Leaders also issued the Hiroshima Vision on Nuclear Disarmament, in which they condemned Russia’s reckless nuclear rhetoric and underscored the importance of maintaining the 77-year record of non-use of nuclear weapons. Together with our G7 partners, Canada is steadfast in its determination to advance global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

ONTARIO ANNOUNCES DISSOLUTION OF PEEL REGION The Ontario government introduced the Hazel McCallion Act, which would, if passed, begin the process to dissolve the Regional Municipality of Peel and make the municipalities of Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon independent. The proposed legislation honours the legacy of Peel Region's longest-serving mayor, the late Hazel McCallion, who was central to the region's remarkable growth during her 36 years as Mayor of Mississauga and a long-time advocate for greater autonomy for her city.

The province's plan would help ensure the continuation of high-quality services for taxpayers while improving the efficiency of local governments as they prepare for future growth, including by making good on their municipal housing pledges. "Our government is working with our municipal par tners to provide the tools and autonomy required to deliver on our shared commitments to the people of Ontario, including addressing the housing supply crisis," said Steve Clark, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "The Region of Peel includes some of the largest and fastest-growing municipalities in Canada and is poised for significant growth over the next decade. Our government is suppor ting this growth by cutting red tape and improving efficiency while maintaining and improving the high level of local services Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon residents rightly expect." The province would establish a transition board of up to five people to facilitate this change in local government and, if needed, oversee the financial affairs of Peel and its lower-tier municipalities to help ensure prudent financial stewardship until dissolution.

The board would provide recommendations to the province to help Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon prepare to become single-tier municipalities on January 1, 2025, when the proposed changes, if passed, would come into effect. If the legislation passes, names of the members of the board will be released in the coming weeks. The dissolution process, with the support of the transition board, would help ensure a fair outcome for the three municipalities that prioritizes the preservation of frontline services and workers, respect for taxpayers and government efficiency.

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MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

INDIA

MidWeek 11 RAHUL GANDHI'S NIGHT OUT! CONGRESS LEADER TRAVELS IN A TRUCK FROM AMBALA TO CHANDIGARH

MUTUAL TRUST & RESPECT BIND INDIA-AUSTRALIA TIES: PM MODI CONTD. FROM PAGE 1 "But the truth is that the actual depth of the relations between India and Australia transcends these C, D, E... The strongest and biggest foundations of this relation actually are mutual trust and mutual respect, and the real reason behind this is Indian diaspora."

Modi said he has kept his promise that the Indians in Australia will not have to wait for another 28 years to see their Prime Minister.

"Last time when I came here, I gave you all a promise. And that promise was that you won't have to wait for India's Prime Minister for a long 28 years, again. And see, I am here! Prime Minister Albanese is also with me, here," he said.

Remembering the late Austrlian bowling great Shane Warne, said: "We are not only partners in happiness but also share our grief. The entire India grieved at the passing away of Shane Warne."

The Prime Minister also highlighted that how India in the last nine years

has made great strides.

"We have opened around 500 million bank accounts for the poor people.

Not only this, actually the whole eco-system of public delivery has been transformed in India. An amount worth over Rs 28 lakh crore have been directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, since 2014.

"The JAM Trinity and DBT have brought a revolution in the country. IMF considers India the 'Bright Spot' of global economy. According to World Bank, if there's any country which is withstanding global headwinds, it is India. India has made record exports even in the most challenging times," he added. As part of his final leg of the three-nation tour, Modi arrived in Sydney on Monday night as a guest of the Australian government.

In 2014, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Australia after Rajiv Gandhi, where he addressed 20,000 people at the Sydney SuperDome at Olympic Park and said that in coming years, more Indian leaders will be visiting Down Under.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi last night travelled in a truck from Ambala to Chandigarh. He stopped at various places to interact with truck drivers and came back to Delhi around 3 AM in the morning. Congress tweeted about his short trip and said that the leader interacted with the truck drivers to know about their 'Mann Ki Baat'. "Jannayak @RahulGandhiji reached among the truck drivers to know their problems. Rahulji travelled with him from Delhi to Chandigarh. According to media reports, there are about 90 lakh truck drivers on the Indian roads. They have their own problems. Rahul ji did the work of listening to his 'Mann Ki Baat'."

Rahul Gandhi also interacted with college students and working women in Bengaluru ahead of the May 10 Assembly elections in Karnataka. The former party chief stopped for a cup of coffee at a 'Cafe Coffee Day' outlet on Cunningham Road. At a close-by Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus stop, he spoke to a bunch of college students and working women.

PM MODI DEGREE ROW: FRESH SUMMONS ISSUED AGAINST AAP'S KEJRIWAL, SANJAY SINGH

PULWAMA ATTACK: '2019 LOK SABHA ELECTIONS WERE FOUGHT ON BODIES OF OUR SOLDIERS,' SAYS SATYAPAL MALIK In another attack on the government, former Jammu and Kashmir governor Satyapal Malik on Monday slammed the Modi government over the Pulwama attack issue and said that the 2019 Lok Sabha decisions were "fought on the bodies of our soldiers", and the then home minister would need to resign had there been a probe into the incident.

He asserted he had informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the attack soon after the incident, but "he told me to keep quiet".

"Elections (Lok Sabha 2019) were fought on the bodies of our soldiers and no investigation was done. Had an inquiry been done, the then home minister (Rajnath Singh) would have to resign. Many officers would have been jailed and there would have been a huge controversy," Malik said at an event in Bansur of Alwar district.

Before the state's division into the two Union Territories of Ladakh and Jammu and Kashmir, Malik was the governor of Jammu and Kashmir, where he has been vocal about issues.

During the event on Sunday, he stated that the prime minister was involved in a shooting at Jim Corbett National Park on February 14, 2019, the day of the Pulwama attack.

"When he came out from there I got a call (from him). I told him that our soldiers have been killed and they got killed by our mistake. He told me to keep quiet," Malik said.

The CBI recently questioned Malik about his claim that he was offered Rs

300 crore as a bribe to clear insurance scheme files while governor of Jammu and Kashmir from August 23, 2018, to October 30, 2019.

He likewise went after PM Modi over the Adani issue. Malik said that Adani had made a lot of money in just three years and asked the people present if they had been able to get richer. According to him, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi informed Parliament that Adani had received Rs. 20,000 crores and inquired about the government's source of the funds.

SECTION 144 IN GUWAHATI AHEAD OF AMIT SHAH'S VISIT AMID REPORTS OF PROTEST RALLIES The District Commissionerate of Police, Guwahati, Assam has issued prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the city. The prohibitory orders were imposed in the wake of reports that some persons or groups are likely to disturb the normal functioning of offices and obstruct the movement of the public and traffic in any part of the jurisdiction in the coming days, according to the notification shared by Police Commissioner Diganta Barah. It is also apprehended that these groups or persons may carry out agitation or demonstration in the city, thereby causing a "breach of peace and public order", it said. "It is necessary to take preventive measures to ensure peaceful movement of public, traffic and also normal activities of local residents and also functioning of offices in above mentioned area," the order stated. Assembly of more than five persons and procession or slogan shouting in the entire jurisdiction of the police commissionerate has been prohibited with immediate effect until further orders. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma chaired a meeting of cabinet ministers to discuss the upcoming trip of Shah, who is likely to reach Guwahati on Wednesday night on a two-day visit. "Laying of the foundation stone for the National Forensic Science University & distribution of appointment letters will be done during the visit of Hon'ble HM," the Chief Minister's Office tweeted.

DELHI HC RESERVES ORDER ON PIL AGAINST RBI, SBI PERMITTING RS 2K NOTE EXCHANGE WITHOUT ID PROOF NEW DELHI, (IANS) The Delhi High Cour t on Tuesday reserved its judgement on a plea challenging the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and State Bank of India (SBI) notifications, that permits exchange of notes without any identity proof.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad said: "We will pass appropriate orders."

The counsel for RBI Senior Advocate Parag P. Tripathi objected to the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) saying that it must be dismissed with exemplary costs. The PIL has been filed by BJP leader and Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay. Tripathi further said that this is a statutory exercise and not demonetisation. "None of the points raised by my learned friend in any manner impinges upon the public issues," he added.

The PIL says that the notifications -- published on May 19 and 20 -- are arbitrary and offends Article 14 of Constitution of India.

The plea also seeks a direction to the RBI and SBI to make sure that Rs 2000 notes are deposited in respective bank accounts only, so that people having black money and disproportionate assets could be identified. To weed out corruption, benami transactions and secure fundamental rights of citizens, the PIL, which has RBI, SBI and Union Ministries of Home Affairs and Finance as respondents, seeks a direction to the Centre to take action regarding the same. "Recently, it was announced by the Centre that every family has an Aadhaar Card and a Bank Account.

Therefore, why RBI is permitting to exchange Rs 2000 banknotes without obtaining identity proof. It is also necessary to state that 80 crore BPL families receive free grains. It means 80 crore Indians rarely use Rs 2,000 banknotes. Therefore, petitioner also seeks direction to RBI and SBI to take steps to ensure that Rs 2000 banknotes are deposited in bank account only," the plea states.

A court in Gujarat issued a fresh summons against Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and AAP's Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh to appear before it on June 7 over a defamation case lodged by the Gujarat University over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic degree. The cour t of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate SJ Panchal summoned Kejriwal and Singh after the court was informed that the summons issued earlier directing the duo to appear on May 23 does not appear to have been received by them as none of them was present in the court. Earlier, the court of additional chief metropolitan magistrate Jayesh Chovatiya had issued summons to the AAP leaders in a criminal defamation complaint for their “sarcastic” and “derogatory” statements against the Gujarat University over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s academic degree. AAP's legal cell head for Gujarat, Pranav Thakkar, on Monday, said Kejriwal and Singh have not yet received the summons issued to them by the court. On Tuesday, Gujarat University's lawyer Amit Nair appraised the new judge- SJ Panchal- about the case and said that his predecessor issued the processes on April 15 against the accused persons to remain present on May 23. Since nobody was present on the given date, it is not clear whether the summons was served on them or not. The judge asked the staff to check and then directed them to issue a summons to Kejriwal and Singh.

'RED CARPET TO EXCHANGE NOTES': P CHIDAMBARAM'S BLACK MONEY DIG AT CENTRE OVER RBI RULE Former Union Minister P Chidambaram on Monday took a dig at the Centre after RBI's decision to withdraw Rs 2,000 notes from circulation saying BJP's spin that the notes are being withdrawn to unearth black money stands demolished as the banks have clarified that no identity, no forms and no proof will be required to exchange them. In a long note on Twitter, P Chidambaram siad, "The BJP's spin that the Rs 2000 notes are being withdrawn to unearth black money stands demolished. Ordinary people do not have Rs 2000 notes. They shunned it soon after it was introduced in 2016. They were useless for daily retail exchange."

"So, who kept the Rs 2000 notes and used them? You know the answer," he said. "The Rs 2000 note only helped keepers of black money to hoard their money with ease. The keepers of Rs 2000 notes are being welcomed on a red carpet to exchange their notes!" the former Union Minister said. "So much for the government's declared objective of rooting out black money. The Rs 2000 note was a foolish move in 2016. I am glad that the foolish move is being withdrawn at least 7 years later," P Chidambaram wrote.

DELHI COURT EXTENDS SISODIA'S JUDICIAL CUSTODY TILL JUNE 1 NEW DELHI, (IANS) A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the judicial custody of jailed AAP leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia till June 1 in connection with the excise policy case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The jail authorities were also directed to consider his request to provide him a chair and table for study purposes.

A copy of the detailed order is awaited.

The same court had, on May 12, extended Sisodia's judicial custody till June 2, in the case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The ED had arrested Sisodia on March 9, after the CBI arrested him on February 26 this year.

The ED has alleged that Sisodia was the mastermind behind the entire excise policy case and that he had deliberately leaked the policy to the co-accused to generate financial kickbacks.

12 MidWeek

INDIA

SIDDARAMAIAH, SHIVAKUMAR TAKE OATH AS NEW KARNATAKA CM, DYCM Siddaramaiah and D.K. Shivakumar on Saturday took oath as the new Karnataka Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, respectively, at the swearing in ceremony of the new Congress government in the state.

The oath of office was administered to the two leaders by state Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot at ceremony currently underway at the Kanteerava Stadium here.

This is the second tenure for Siddaramaiah as the Chief Minister. He previously served between 2013 and 2018.

While he took oath as the 24th Chief Minister in the name of God, Shivakumar took in the name of his spiritual guru Shri Gangadhara Ajja.

While, G. Parameshwara took the oath of office in the name of the Constitution, veteran Congress leaders K.H. Muniyappa and K.J George took oath in the name of God. AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yachury, CPI General Secretary D. Raja, NCP veteran Sharad Pawar are among the prominent politicians are in attendance at the ceremony.

Tamil superstar Kamal Hassan, Kannada super star Shivaraj Kumar,

popular actor Duniya Vijay, actress-turned-politician Ramya, actress Nishvika Naidu, senior actress turned politician Umashree and film director, producer V. Rajendra Singh Babu attended the event.

Siddaramaiah, Shivakumar joined their hands and waved at the crowd when they arrived at the venue.

Later, Rahul Gandhi joined them as the crowd cheered. Nearly a lakh of people are attending the swearing in ceremony.

Taking to Twitter ahead of the ceremony, Rahul Gandhissaid: "Great to be back among the people of Karnataka. Looking forward to the swearing in ceremony of the new Congress government, which will be a people centric government, focussed on bringing progress."

AFTER TRINAMOOL, AAP TO BOYCOTT INAUGURATION OF NEW PARLIAMENT OVER 'INSULT' TO PRESIDENT The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday announced that it will boycott the inauguration of new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28 as not inviting President Droupadi Murmu is an insult to her.

In a tweet, AAP Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Singh said: "Not inviting her Excellency President Droupadi Murmu for inauguration of Parliament House is a gross insult to her. This is also an insult to Dalit, tribal and derived class of the society. AAP will boycott the inauguration orogramme in protest of (Prime Minister) Modi not inviting the President".

Earlier in the day, the Trinamool Congress announced a boycott of the inauguration of the new Parliament building.

In a tweet, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien said: "Parliament is not just a new building; it is an establishment with old traditions, values, precedents and rules - it is the foundation of Indian democracy. PM Modi doesn't get that. For him, Sunday's inauguration of the new building is all about I, me, myself. So count us out".

The Trinamool has already raised objections about the choice of date of the inauguration of the new Parliament building. According to the leadership, the occasion of inauguration of the new building should be on the occasion of the Independence Day on August 15, instead of May 28 which is the occasion of the birth anniversary of RSS patriarch V.D. Savarkar.

According to the Trinamool leadership, the Union government has also kept the opposition in the dark over the fate of the old Parliament building.

Even Congress is likely to boycott the inauguration of the new building.

Party sources said that a decision is likely to be taken on Wednesday or Thursday. On Tuesday, Congress General secretary communication in-charge Jairam Ramesh also responded to Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and said, "SUV - Self-Usurped Vishwaguru - has already annexe-d the Parliament for self-aggrandisement. But surely, there is a fundamental difference between inaugurating an Annexe where officials work and a library which is hardly used on the one hand, and inaugurating not just the Temple of Democracy but its sanctorum itself." He was responding to Puri's remarks that in August 1975, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe, and later in 1987 Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Library. A row has erupted on the inauguration of new Parliament building after former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi demanded that President Murmu should inaugurate the new Parliament House instead of PM Modi. A war of words has erupted between Congress and the BJP over the inauguration of New Parliament House by PM Modi on May 28.

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

DELHI COURT TO PRONOUNCE ORDER ON CBI SUPPLEMENTARY CHARGE SHEET AGAINST SISODIA ON MAY 27

A Delhi court on Friday reserved its order on the cognisance of the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) supplementary charge sheet against former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and three others in connection with the excise policy case.

Arjun Pandey, Butchi Babu Gorantla and Amanadeep Dhal are the three others named in the charge sheet.

The court also reserved an order on the cognisance of Enforcement Directorate's supplementary charge sheet against Sisodia in the same case. Special judge M.K. Nagpal listed the pronouncement of order on CBI's charge sheet on May 27, and ED's on May 30.

The CBI in its supplementary charge sheet has alleged that Sisodia had got certain emails fabricated through Zakir Khan, Chairperson of Delhi Minorities Commission (DMC), to manipulate the process of seeking comments/suggestions in connection with the liquor policy. The probe agency has claimed that Sisodia was not happy with the recommendations of the expert committee report submitted on October 13, 2020, by former Excise Commissioner Ravi Dhawan and directed Rahul Singh, the new Excise Commissioner, to put the report on Excise Department's portal to get comments from the public and stakeholders. The CBI has alleged that Sisodia "destroyed" a draft Cabinet note which was prepared by the Excise Department and put up before the Council of Ministers at the meeting 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, and others were obtained.

TAMIL ACTOR BUYS SUNDAR PICHAI'S ANCESTRAL HOUSE IN CHENNAI

WRESTLERS PROTEST: "READY FOR POLYGRAPH TEST IF...", SAYS WFI CHIEF BRIJ BHUSHAN SHARAN SINGH Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, who is facing sexual harassment allegations, today (May 21), said he is ready to undergo a polygraph test if the same is conducted on star wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia. "I am ready for a narco test, polygraph test or lie detector test if the same test of wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia is also conducted along with his test," tweeted Brij Bhushan.

Earlier, Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on Sunday said he wanted to retire from politics in 2014 but continued after the insistence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah. BJP MP from Kaiserganj after reaching Gonda from Delhi, has been meeting people by participating in various programmes in his Lok Sabha constituency. He has been seeking people's support for Chetna Maha rally to be held in Ayodhya on June 5.

"I wanted to retire from politics in 2014 itself. But Amit Shah during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections did not allow me to do that," he said. On the allegations levelled by the wrestlers, Brij Bhushan said that "if someone decided to speak lies then they can do."

Several ace grapplers including Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshee Mallik have been protesting at the Jantar Mantar accusing the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh of sexual harassment and demanding his arrest.

PERMITTING FARMHOUSES IN GREEN ZONES WILL DESTROY GOA'S WEALTH: TMC PANAJI, (IANS) Trinamool Congress in Goa has demanded scrapping of proposed amendment to 'Goa Land Development and Building construction regulations 2023', stating that farm houses in green zones will destroy the state's wealth.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, TMC's national spokesperson Trajano D'Mello said that this amendment is dangerous to people of the state. "It will destroy the biodiversity, ecosystem, ecology, and agricultural land of Goa. We don't want another disastrous incident to happen, which will take place once the Mhadei river is diverted," D'Mello said.

He said that these amendments will affect climate change. "If this amendment is passed then our traditional occupational land will get destroyed. Goa will be in trouble, this has opened floodgates to destroy Goa," he said. D'Mello alleged that the BJP government is trying to help land investors, that's also not from Goa. "Today North Goa has become North India. This is done to help crony capitalists," he pointed out.

"Environment portfolio and Town and Country Planning had been given to

two different persons, so there are necessary checks and balances. "But here checks and balances have happened... (to see) everybody is getting what they need to get. We demand that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant intervene and scrap this proposed amendment," he said.

D'Mello also sought clarification from TCP and the environment minister over the issue. "Nothing will be left if the government goes ahead with these amendments, hence it should be scrapped" he said.

"This is being done to cater to the demands of wealthy outsiders through the construction of larger farmhouses by the amendments being brought in. The proposed amendments fail to serve the best interests of the people of Goa, and the TCP department must understand that land can be utilized for purposes other than construction. Goa TMC strongly objects to the conversion of agricultural land for non-agricultural purposes, as it would lead to a significant reduction in available land for farming activities, resulting in the loss of crucial biodiversity and posing long-term environmental challenges," he said.

A Tamil actor has purchased the ancestral house of Google CEO Sundar Pichai in Chennai for an undisclosed sum.

C. Manikandan, a small-time actor and producer who is also into real estate, is thrilled on purchasing the property in Ashok Nagar neighbourhood where Sundar Pichai was born and raised.

He told mediapersons that he feels proud of buying the house where Sundar Pichai was born. "Since Sundar Pichai made India proud, it is exciting to buy the house where he was born," said Manikandan, who plans to build a villa there.

Manikandan has built and delivered around 300 homes under his brand Chellappas Builders in different parts of the city.

According to Manikandan, Sundar Pichai's father R.S. Pichai razed the old structure at his own cost and handed over the plot. The actor revealed that since this was R.S. Pichai's first property, he became emotional while handing over the documents.

Sundar Pichai was born and brought up in Chennai. He is said to have lived in this house till the age of 20 years. He left the city in 1989 to study Metallurgical Engineering at IIT Kharagpur.

HARDEEP PURI SLAMS CONGRESS FOR CRITICISING INAUGURATION OF NEW PARLIAMENT BUILDING

KEJRIWAL SLAMS DELHI POLICE FOR 'MISBEHAVING' WITH SISODIA NEW DELHI, (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday slammed the Delhi Police for "misbehaving" with former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia at the Rouse Avenue Court here.

"Does the police have the right to misbehave with Manish ji like this?

Has the police been asked from above to do this?" Kejriwal asked on Twitter while retweeting a video posted by AAP Minister Atishi In her tweet, Atishi had said: "Shocking misbehaviour by this policeman with Manish ji in Rouse Avenue Court. Delhi Police should suspend him immediately."

In response, Delhi Police rubbished the allegations and claimed it was "propaganda".

"The allegations of police misbehaviour towards Mr. Manish Sisodia during his appearance at the Rouse Avenue Court is propaganda. The police's response, as seen in the video, was necessary for security reasons. Making statements to the media while in judicial custody is prohibited by law," the Delhi Police tweeted in Hindi.

Earlier in the day, the Rouse Avenue Court had extended Sisodia's judicial custody till June 1 in connection with the Delhi excise policy case being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The jail authorities were also directed to consider his request to provide him chair and table for study purposes.

NEW DELHI, (IANS) Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Tuesday slammed the Congress for criticising the inauguration of the new Parliament building by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28.

In a series of tweets, Puri said: "From criticising the New Parliament Building & questioning its very necessity despite many of them advocating for it before but not executing it, Congress President & other wor thies are now shifting the goalpost by generously misquoting an article a day from the Constitution!

"They should feel better if they remember Oct 24, 1975 the day when Smt Indira Gandhi inaugurated the Parliament Annexe! Or August 15, 1987 when Sh Rajiv Gandhi laid the foundation of the Parliament Library!

"So, instead of now finding articles to justify their hypocrisy why can't they just smile & join India on this momentous achievement & her march to greatness!" He also attached a screenshot of comments of Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor and Manish Tewari. Puri's remarks come amid a war of words between the Congress and BJP over the inauguration of the new Parliament House.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

INDIA

MidWeek 13 CONGRESS SLAMS GOVT FOR WITHDRAWING RS 2,000 BANKNOTES FROM CIRCULATION The Congress on Friday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying that the Rs 2,000 banknotes introduced with such fanfare after that "singularly disastrous" demonetisation decision of November 8, 2016, are now being withdrawn.

In a tweet, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh said: "Typical of our self-styled Vishwaguru. First Act, Second Think (FAST). 2000 rupee notes introduced with such fanfare after that singularly disastrous Tughlaqi firman of Nov 8 2016 are now being withdrawn." His remarks came after the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday announced to withdraw the 2,000 bank notes from circulation but said that it will continue as legal tender till September 30. The RBI in an official communique said, "In pursuance of the 'Clean Note Policy' of the RBI, it has been decided to withdraw the 2000 denomination banknotes from circulation".

"The banknotes in 2000 denomination will continue to be legal tender." It also said that all banks shall provide deposit and/or exchange facility for 2000 banknotes until September 30.

RBI TO WITHDRAW RS 2,000 CURRENCY NOTES; TO CONTINUE AS LEGAL TENDER The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday said that it will withdraw the Rs 2,000 denomination banknote from circulation but it will continue as legal tender. In a statement, the RBI said: "The 2,000 denomination banknote was introduced in November 2016 primarily to meet the currency requirements of the economy in an expeditious manner after the withdrawal of legal tender status of all 500 and 1,000 banknotes in circulation at that time." It also said that all banks shall provide deposit and/or exchange facility for 2,000 banknotes until September 30, 2023.

The RBI said it will withdraw all the Rs 2,000 banknotes as a part of its clean note policy.

According to the RBI, people may deposit Rs 2,000 banknotes into their bank accounts and/or exchange them into banknotes of other denominations at any bank branch. "Deposit into bank accounts can be made in the usual manner, that is, without restrictions and subject to extant instructions and other applicable statutory provisions," RBI said.

The central bank said in order to ensure operational convenience and to avoid disruption of regular activities of bank branches, exchange of Rs 2,000 banknotes into notes of other denominations can be made up to a limit of Rs 20,000 at a time at any bank starting from May 23, 2023.

To complete the exercise in a time-bound manner and to provide adequate time to the members of the public, all banks shall provide deposit and/or exchange facility for Rs 2,000 banknotes until September 30, 2023.

The facility for exchange of Rs 2,000 banknotes up to the limit of Rs 20,000 at a time shall also be provided at the 19 Regional Offices (ROs) of RBI having Issue Departments, from May 23.

"As witnessed during demonetisation, we expect the deposit accretion of banks could improve marginally in the near term. This will ease the

pressure on deposit rate hikes and could also result in moderation in shor t-term interest rates," Kar thik Srinivasan, Senior Vice President Financial Sector Ratings, ICRA said.

Vimal Nadar, Head of Research at Colliers India, said: "The withdrawal of Rs 2,000 rupee notes is an expected and timely move towards prudent currency management within the realm of maintaining banking and financial discipline. Such measures further reduce/ eliminate the probable cash component in high-value real estate transactions. In the last few years, RERA and demonetisation have brought in significant levels of transparency in real estate, mainly contributing to fair market price determination."

According to the RBI, the Rs 2,000 denomination banknote was introduced in November 2016 primarily to meet the currency requirements of the economy after the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination currencies in circulation.

The objective of introducing Rs 2,000 banknotes was met once banknotes in other denominations became available in adequate quantities. And printing of Rs 2,000 banknotes was stopped in 2018-19.

The RBI said 89 per cent of the Rs 2,000 denomination notes have reached their life cycle end as they were issued prior to March 2017.

The total value of these banknotes in circulation has declined from Rs 6.73 lakh crore at its peak as on March 31, 2018 (37.3 per cent of notes in circulation) to Rs 3.62 lakh crore constituting only 10.8 per cent of notes in circulation on March 31. It has also been observed that this denomination is not commonly used for transactions. Further, the stock of banknotes in other denominations continues to be adequate to meet the currency requirements of the public, the RBI said.

BJP, CONG IN MP IN RACE OF ANNOUNCING FREEBIES TO IMPRESS VOTERS With Madhya Pradesh Assembly elections just a few months away, both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress in the state have been making announcements about freebies to impress the voters.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government headed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is not just announcing the one after another scheme but also taking steps to implement them.

The Congress, on the other hand, led by state president Kamal Nath, has been making a series of promises.

Chouhan, who was given the tag of 'ghoshna machine' (announcement machine) by the opposition, has now announced to increase the amount of financial assistance from Rs 49,000 to Rs 51,000 under "Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojana".

The Madhya Pradesh government provides financial assistance to the women whose marriages are conducted in mass marriage ceremonies under the scheme.

"We have tried to end the injustice meted out to daughters in society by launching several welfare schemes. Under the Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah/Nikah Yojana, Rs 49,000 is being given at present for the wedding of girls belonging to poor sections of the society. It is now raised to Rs 51,000," Chouhan made the announcement during a function held at Sonkatch town in Dewas district, around 160 km from here, on Thursday.

Kamal Nath on the same day (Thursday) announced that electricity charges up to 100 units would be waived off for people in the state and charges up to 200 units would be halved if Congress wins the assembly polls to be held later this year.

However, Thursday's announcement regarding electricity at a cheaper rate was a reiteration as Kamal Nath has been mentioning the same for the last couple of months. Before these announcements, CM Chouhan

I'VE FULL FAITH IN JUDICIARY, CBI, CENTRE: SAMEER WANKHEDE

Former Mumabai zonal director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Sameer Wankhede, has finally broken his silence over the CBI's FIR filed against him and others in connection with the alleged Rs 25 crore bribery case pertaining to the arrest of Aryan Khan after the cruise ship drugs raid.

Speaking exclusively with IANS, IRS officer Wankhede said that he has full faith in judiciary, CBI and the Central government.

His comments came after the Bombay High Court on Friday directed the CBI not to take any coercive action Wankhede till May 22, when the matter would come up for next hearing.

"I will come out clean in this matter. I have done nothing wrong. The report (prepared by the Special Enquiry Team of the NCB) has some flaws. I trust the CBI and believe that the agency will find out the truth. I also believe that the Central government will look into the matter as to how I am being victimised. The judiciary is there to protect the rights of the individuals. The judiciary has given me relief," Wankhede told IANS. Wankhede stated that it has been nearly two years, and despite his innocence he continues to endure emotional distress.

Wankhede finds himself in a precarious position as allegations have emerged that he attempted to extort Rs 25 crore from Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan in exchange of releasing his son Aryan Khan, who was accused in the Cordelia Cruise drugs bust case.

On the basis of the SET report, the CBI has lodged an FIR under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Wankhede and others. The CBI also conducted raids at his premises.

"I will expose a few things at the right time," Wankhede said.

TN BJP FOR PROMOTING TODDY TAPPING WITH AN EYE ON 2024 LS POLLS

announced providing financial assistance of Rs 1,000 per month to women under "Ladli Behna Yojana" and he has been relentlessly campaigning for it across the state.

In the beginning, the scheme was enough to make an impression among the people, but the Congress announced to provide Rs 15,000 per month under "Nari Samman Yojana".

The Congress also announced providing subsidised LPG cylinders at Rs 500 to households in the state.

Notably, the elections to the 230-member Assembly in Madhya Pradesh are scheduled to be held by the end of this year. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Par ty (BJP) is seeking to retain power, while the opposition Congress is endeavouring to return to the helm.

MUTUAL TRUST & RESPECT BIND INDIA-AUSTRALIA TIES: PM MODI NEW DELHI, (IANS) While addressing a massive crowd of the Indian diaspora in Sydney on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that mutual trust and respect are the elements that bind India and Australia ties.

He made the remarks at an event at the Qudos Bank Arena where he received a rousing welcome from the diaspora members.

Upon his arrival at the arena accompanied by his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, Modi was welcomed amid Vedic chanting and other traditional rituals.

Addressing the Indian diaspora, Modi said: "No matter what the geographical distances are between India and Australia, the Indian Ocean connects us. No matter how different lifestyles are in both countries, yoga connects us! Cricket is something which has kept us connected for ages... and now tennis and movies form other connecting bridges. "There was a time when '3Cs' were used to define relations between India and Australia -- Commonwealth, Cricket and Curry. After that, it was '3Ds' -- Democracy, Diaspora and Dosti (friendship). Now it has become '3Es' -- Energy, Economy and Education.

"But the truth is that the actual depth of the relations between India and Australia transcends these C, D, E... The strongest and biggest foundations of this relation actually are mutual trust and mutual respect, and the real reason behind this is Indian diaspora."

Modi said he has kept his promise that the Indians in Australia will not have to wait for another 28 years to see their Prime Minister.

"Last time when I came here, I gave you all a promise. And that promise was that you won't have to wait for India's Prime Minister for a long 28 years, again. And see, I am here! Prime Minister Albanese is also with me, here," he said.

Remembering the late Austrlian bowling great Shane Warne, said: "We are not only partners in happiness but also share our grief. The entire India grieved at the passing away of Shane Warne." The Prime Minister also highlighted that how India in the last nine years has made great strides. "We have opened around 500 million bank accounts for the poor people. Not only this, actually the whole eco-system of public delivery has been transformed in India. An amount worth over Rs 28 lakh crore have been directly transferred to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, since 2014. "The JAM Trinity and DBT have brought a revolution in the country. IMF considers India the 'Bright Spot' of global economy.

According to World Bank, if there's any country which is withstanding global headwinds, it is India. India has made record exports even in the most challenging times," he added. As part of his final leg of the three-nation tour, Modi arrived in Sydney on Monday night as a guest of the Australian government. In 2014, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Australia after Rajiv Gandhi, where he addressed 20,000 people at the Sydney SuperDome at Olympic Park and said that in coming years, more Indian leaders will be visiting Down Under.

CHENNAI, (IANS) The Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP is in the process of promoting toddy tapping in the state with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.

BJP state president, K. Annamalai in a recent statement said that the party at Villupuram district conference would support toddy tapping. The BJP president said that in all other districts also the party would take a stand to promote it.

This, according to sources in the BJP, is a realistic move as the party had been vouching for total prohibition in Tamil Nadu during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

It may be recalled that during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, both the DMK and the AIADMK had promised prohibition in a phased manner while BJP was for total prohibition.

However, the party has now taken a stand on regulating Tasmac shops and on how responsible drinkers were not posing any problems for the society.

The BJP state president has said that he would meet Chief Minister M.K Stalin personally and hand over to him a white paper on how toddy can eventually be an alternative to Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL). The BJP president has also said that toddy tapping and jaggery produced from it could generate Rs 1 lakh crore in the next five years.

It may be recalled that the former leader of BJP, L. Ganesan who is presently the Governor of Nagaland had in 2009 promoted toddy tapping and making of toddy during a conclave of toddy tappers.

The state BJP is eyeing the support of the powerful coconut growers in Erode, Salem, Thenkasi, and other western and southern areas of Tamil Nadu to get handful gains in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

SENIOR LEADER SHIREEN MAZARI QUITS PTI AFTER BEING ARRESTED SEVERAL TIMES

G7 SUMMIT CONCLUDES IN HIROSHIMA AMID STRONGER PROTESTS As more protesters took to the streets, G7 nations wrapped up their threeday gathering here, vowing to escalate sanctions against Russia amid the Ukraine crisis.

Following days of protests, hundreds of demonstrators from home and abroad on Sunday rallied against the G7 leaders' communique and other documents adopted by the summit in Hiroshima, a city once devasted by US atomic bombing during World War II, Xinhua news agency reported.

Placards and banners that read "No War-themed Conference," "Hands off on Ukraine," and "No to Japan-US military alliance" were spotted in Fukuromachi Park, where the protesters were gathering on Sunday morning, not far from the Peace Memorial Park that was shut due to the summit leaders' visit.

Chanting slogans such as "No to War" and "Smash the G7 Hiroshima Summit," they rallied along the main streets in Hiroshima, crowded by hundreds of riot police officers. They ran into physical conflict with the police in a downtown high street, where one of the protesters was arrested, but continued with the rally minutes later.

"To summarise, it is never a peaceful summit," Ryo Miyahara, head of a Hiroshima citizens' group and the protest's organizer, told Xinhua at the

demonstration site.

Several protesters, in their public speeches during Sunday's protest, accused the G7 Hiroshima Summit of being a war-themed conference sponsored by the US-promoted hegemonism in its essence, and that the Japanese government is ruthlessly trampling on the views of atomic bombing victims and local residents by holding such a meeting in Hiroshima. "We will not tolerate such a summit," they added.

While vowing to support Ukraine "for as long as it takes," in the final joint statement, the G7 nations, with the US taking the lead, announced specific measures to sanction Russia in a standalone statement on Ukraine on Friday, prior to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's in-person visit starting Saturday.

US President Joe Biden, on Sunday evening, announced a new package of military aid to Ukraine worth $375 million after Biden and Zelensky met on the sidelines of the G7 summit.

The G7 comprises the US, Britain, Italy, France, Germany, Canada and Japan. Leaders from South Korea, Brazil, Australia, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Comoros, Cook Islands and some international organisations were invited to the three-day gathering.

UK BARS FOREIGN STUDENTS FROM BRINGING DEPENDENTS WITH THEM In a move that could hit Indians, the UK government on Tuesday announced that international students will no longer be able to bring family members with them except under specific circumstances.

The new changes to the student visa route will not apply to international students on post-graduate research routes such as PhDs and will come into effect starting January next year, according to the Home Office.

The restrictions will also ban people from using a student visa as a backdoor route to work in the UK, thus cutting net migration while protecting the economic benefits students bring to the UK. "We have seen an unprecedented rise in the number of student dependents being brought into the country with visas. It is time for us to tighten up this route to ensure we can cut migration numbers and meet the government's pledge to the British people to cut net migration," Home Secretary Suella Braverman said.

"This is the fair thing to do to allow us to better protect our public services, while supporting the economy by allowing the students who contribute the most to keep coming here," she added.

The move comes after an Office for National Statistics data, due to be out later this week, is expected to show that net migration was over 500,000 from June 2021 to June 2022. Last year almost half a million student visas were issued while the number of dependents of overseas students has increased by 750 per cent since 2019, to 136,000 people.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader Shireen Mazari has decided to quit the Imran Khan-led party, local media reported.

The development came as Mazari had been arrested several times during the past few days following the May 9 riots triggered by the arrest of the former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in the AlQadir Trust case, The News reported.

Earlier, she was re-arrested once again after a court in Gujarat city in Pakistan's Punjab province approved her bail in a case related to the vandalism and attacks on defence and public installations including Lahore Corps Commander House and General Headquarters (GHQ) during the violent protests, The News reported.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Khan on Tuesday claimed that members of his par ty were being forced to leave the par ty at "gunpoint", The Express Tribune reported.

Speaking informally to journalists at an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad, Khan said, "People are not leaving the party on their own, they are being forced to do so, and that too at gunpoint", The Express Tribune reported.

SLEW OF PARTY LEADERS HAVE LEFT PTI AFTER MAY 9 CHAOS Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Shireen Mazari and Fayyazul Hassan Chohan announced quitting the Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in a major setback to the top opposition party, which has seen a slew of leaders parting ways with it following the May 9 violence, media reports said.

The development came as several party leaders and lawmakers, including Aamir Mehmood Kiani, Malik Amin Aslam, Mahmood Moulvi and Aftab Siddiqui, among others, have publicly denounced the attacks on the state installations and announced leaving the former ruling party since the May 9 vandalism triggered by the arrest of Imran Khan, The News reported.

Addressing a press conference here, Mazari, a former federal minister and a close aide of Khan, condemned the May 9 riots during which PTI supporters ransacked and torched public and defence installations across the country, The News reported.

JAMAAT-E-ISLAMI CHIEF'S CONVOY COMES UNDER ATTACK IN BALOCHISTAN

US court clears extradition of 26/11 attack accused Tahawwur Rana to India A US court has cleared the extradition of Pakistani-Canadian businessman Tahawwur Rana to India where he is sought for his involvement in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Said to be linked with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), Rana, 62, was arrested in the US for his role in attacks that saw 10 Lashkar-eTaiba (LeT) terrorists storm buildings in Mumbai, killing 164 people, including six Americans, in a 60-hour siege.

"The court has reviewed and considered all of the documents submitted in support of and in opposition to the Request and has considered the arguments presented at the hearing," Magistrate Judge of the US District Court of California, Judge Jacqueline Chooljian, said in a 48-page court order on Tuesday, which was released on Wednesday.

"Based on such review and consideration and for the reasons discussed herein, the court makes the findings set forth below and certifies to the Secretary of State of the US the extraditability of Rana on the charged offenses that are the subject of the Request," the judge said in the order.

Rana's arrest in the US was made at India's request as per the 1997 Extradition Treaty between the two countries.

He was convicted in Chicago in 2011 of providing material support to the LeT, which planned the Mumbai terror attacks.

The development comes after a US court last month dismissed a status conference motion moved by Rana, stating that it anticipates a ruling on his extradition to India within 30 days. Prosecutors in the court argued that Rana knew that his childhood friend Pakistani-American David Coleman Headley was involved with the LeT, and helped him in scouting locations and landing zones in Mumbai for carrying out the attack.

Rana was also aware of what was discussed in Headley's meetings,

A blast has occurred near Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Sirajul Haq's convoy as he was travelling for a rally in Balochistan's Zhob, media reports said on Friday.

"Sirajul Haq remained unharmed," the party's general secretary Ameerul Azeem said, Geo News reported.

The JI claimed on its official Twitter handle that it was a suicide attack, adding that the attacker had been killed, the report said.

including planning of the attacks as well as the targets.

While the extradition was contested by his lawyer, the judge ruled that there is sufficient competent evidence to extradite him.

The extradition had been requested for conspiracy to wage war, to commit murder, to commit forgery for the purpose of cheating, to use as genuine a forged document or electronic record, and to commit a terrorist act; waging war; murder; committing a terrorist act; and conspiracy to commit a terrorist act. "It is therefore ordered that Tahawwur Hussain Rana be and remain committed to the custody of the US Marshal pending a final decision on extradition and surrender by the Secretary of State to India for trial of the offences as to which extradition has been granted pursuant to Title 18, US Code, section 3186 and the Treaty," the Judge ruled.

TESLA CRASH: INDIAN-AMERICAN BLAMES CAR FOR PLUNGING OFF CLIFF; WIFE DENIES An Indian-American doctor denied that he intentionally drove his family off a cliff in California saying that the Tesla car he was driving malfunctioned -- a claim that has been denied by his wife, media reports said.

Dharmesh A. Patel, 41, of Pasadena, was charged with attempted first-degree murder and child abuse in February to which he pleaded no guilty.

According to The New York Post, Patel told investigators that the sensor on his Model Y electric car indicated it had low tire pressure as he was driving his wife and two children on the Pacific Coast Highway on January 2 this year.

He further told the investigators that he was trying to stop to check the tires when the vehicle tumbled down the cliff overlooking the ocean, court documents released on Wednesday said.

His wife Neha denied his claims, according to the documents obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle.

"He's depressed. He's a doctor. He said he was going to drive off the cliff. He purposely drove off," Neha told the rescuers.

Patel, a radiologist at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, was transported to San Mateo County jail after his release from the hospital where he was treated for "serious lower body injuries".

IMRAN KHAN'S EX-WIFE COMPLAINS ABOUT USING HER KIDS FOR 'POLITICAL AGENDA IN PAK' Directly addressing outgoing Twitter CEO Elon Musk, Jemima Goldsmith, the former wife of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, complained of fake accounts on the micro-blogging site pretending to be her sons, which she claimed were created by "imposters with a political agenda in Pakistan".

In a tweet late Thursday, the 49-year-old said: Thanks @elonmusk... Fake accounts pretending to be my children, created by imposters with a political agenda in Pakistan. This is exactly what I feared would happen when you took away Twitter's verification blue ticks.

"FYI my children are not on social media & have no plans to be."

Goldsmith and Khan were married in May 1995, and divorced nine years later in June 2004.

Goldsmith has two sons from her marriage to Khan -- Sulaiman Isa (born 1996) and Kasim (born 1999).

18-YR-OLD CHARGED OVER HIT-AND-RUN CASE INVOLVING KIDS IN SYDNEY

The police in Australia's New South Wales (NSW) state said on Friday that an 18-year-old man was charged over a hit-and-run accident involving three children in Sydney.

According to a statement released by the state police, at about 3.30 p.m. on Thursday, emergency services responded to reports that three boys, one aged 13 and two aged 12, had been struck by a car at the intersection of Falcon Street and the Pacific Highway, Crows Nest, reports Xinhua news agency.

The children were allegedly crossing the road while facing a green pedestrian signal.

The 13-year-old boy was taken to a hospital and treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries, while the two 12-year-old boys sustained minor injuries and were taken to another hospital.

After the crash, the driver failed to stop or render assistance and drove his vehicle away from the scene.

He was arrested at Fox Street, Lane Cove, shortly before 4 p.m., and then taken to a police station.

The young driver was charged with seven offences, such as dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving, and failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing grievous bodily harm. The driver has been refused bail to appear at a local court on Friday, and his car was seized for mechanical and forensic examination. Police also issued him a license suspension notice.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN'S CANNES 2023 BOLD RED CARPET LOOK LEAVES NETIZENS DIVIDED

THE VETERAN OF WALKING THE CANNES RED CARPET, AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN'S FIRST LOOK HAS STIRRED THE INTERNET. THE FORMER MISS WORLD ONCE AGAIN GRABBED ALL THE ATTENTION. THE PONNIYIN SELVAN II STAR GRACEFULLY WALKED THE FAMOUS RED CARPET AND FLASHED HER BILLION-DOLLAR SMILE FOR THE CAMERAS. KNOWN FOR HER MESMERISING LOOKS AT CANNES, AISHWARYA NEVER DISAPPOINTS HER FANS BUT THIS TIME WE HAVE MIXED REACTIONS FROM HER FANS. AISHWARYA CHOSE A HOODED GOWN WITH A TRAIL IN THE PICTURE. A HUGE BOW WAS ALSO THERE AROUND THE WAIST OF THE COSTUME. SHE CHOSE TO WEAR BOLD RED LIPSTICK AND HAD SOFTLY PARTED HAIR WITH BEAUTIFUL WAVY HAIR. ONE FAN PAGE OF AISHWARYA SHARED A PIC OF THE DIVA AND IT WENT VIRAL SOON AFTER. WHILE A FEW ARE MESMERISED BY HER LOOKS, ON THE OTHER HAND, OTHERS ARE CONFUSED ABOUT HER LOOKS. ONE OF THE TWITTER USER WROTE, 'THE CANNES QUEEN AISHWARYA. MOTHER OF ALL MOTHERS'. ANOTHER WROTE, 'PERFECT RENAISSANCE COUTURE...'. 'SHE SLAYED IT YET AGAIN CANNES QUEEN AISHWARYA', COMMENTED ANOTHER FAN. WHILE SOME JUST DIDN'T TAKE A MINUTE TO TROLL THE OUTFIT, 'AREEE JIJI TOH GIFT RAP HO KAR AA GYI', WROTE ONE USER. 'LAST MINUTE FASHION FROM MOM, BRINGING TIN FOIL FROM THE KITCHEN', ADDED ANOTHER USER.

'PRINCESS ARIEL IS ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITES,' SAYS JANHVI KAPOOR

VANESSA HUDGENS JOINS CAST OF MADS MIKKELSENSTARRER 'THE BLACK KAISER'

20 ACTRESS JANHVI KAPOOR IS A FAN OF DISNEY PRINCESSES AND SAID ARIEL FROM THE 'THE LITTLE MERMAID' IS ONE OF HER ABSOLUTE FAVOURITES.

19 VANESSA HUDGENS WILL JOIN MADS MIKKELSEN TO HEADLINE THE ACTION SPY THRILLER THE BLACK KAISER.

NUSHRRATT BHARUCCHA REVEALS HER LIST OF QUALITIES FOR AN IDEAL HUSBAND

23 A "GREAT SENSE OF HUMOUR" AND "HERO QUALITIES", ARE WHAT ACTRESS NUSHRRATT BHARUCCHA WILL LOOK FOR IN AN IDEAL HUSBAND.

TO WATCH ALL THE LATEST GOSSIP IN ENTERTAINMENT,WATCH CHANNEL Y ROGERS 857, BELLFIBE 828, TELUS 2418

VIRAT KOHLI CONGRATULATES SHUBMAN GILL AFTER THE GAME.

I DETAILS ON PAGE 25

MOUNI ROY LOOKS LIKE A RAY OF SUNSHINE IN A SERENE YELLOW GOWN; CHECK FIRST LOOK PHOTOS FROM CANNES 2023

This year’s Cannes Film Festival holds special for India because numerous Indian showbiz stars made their debuts at the famous gala this year. The newest Indian celebrity to debut at Cannes this year is actor Mouni Roy. Excited about her Cannes debut, Mouni said, " I am exhilarated to announce my debut at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. Representing Lenskar t at Cannes and being a par t of this iconic celebration of creativity is my greatest honor. I am grateful for this incredible oppor tunity and cannot wait to showcase my unique style and passion for cinema on this global platform. “Prior to Mouni, Sara Ali Khan, Manushi Chillar, Mrunal Thakur and Sapna Choudhary marked their debut at Cannes. We must admit that Mouni looks incredibly ethereal in the first batch of photos she has released of her first look from the 76th Cannes Film Festival. Mouni paired her amazing photos with the caption “Bonjour Cannes."

DIANA PENTY SHINES IN CAPTIVATING FIRST LOOK

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MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

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MidWeek 19 VANESSA HUDGENS JOINS CAST OF MADS MIKKELSEN-STARRER 'THE BLACK KAISER'

PARINEETI REALISED RAGHAV WAS 'THE ONE' OVER 'ONE BREAKFAST TOGETHER' MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Parineeti Chopra spoke about the time she realised her fiance and AAP leader Raghav Chadha was "the one" for her. Parineeti took to Instagram, where she shared a slew of pictures from her engagement, which also features her sister Priyanka Chopra Jonas and other family memebers.

Parineeti captioned the post: "When you know, you know. One breakfast together and I knew - I had met the one. The most wonderful man whose quiet strength would be calming, peaceful and inspiring."

"His support, humour, wit and friendship are pure joy. He is my home.

Our engagement par ty was like living a dream - a dream unfurling beautifully amidst love, laughter, emotion and loads of dancing!"

Parineeti and Raghav got engaged in New Delhi at the Kapur thala house on May 13.

On the acting front, Parineeti will be seen sharing the screen with Diljit Dosanjh in the Imtiaz Ali directorial 'Chamkila'. The film is said to be inspired by Punjabi singer Amar Singh Chamkila.

AS JUNIOR NTR LOOKS BACK AT A BUSY 40TH, HIS 31ST MOVIE IS ANNOUNCED HYDERABAD, (IANS) On a bir thday packed with announcements -Koratala Shiva's NTR30 getting an identity ('Devara') and Hrithik Roshan teasing a possible collaboration -- the one that stood out was the confirmation by Mythri Movie Makers that NTR31, to be helmed by 'KGF' directdor Prashanth Neel will go on set in March next year.

The popular Tollywood star, Junior NTR, who's been basking in the success of 'RRR', woke up seeing hundreds of delirious fans showing up outside his residence to celebrate his 40th birthday.

Mega Star Chiranjeevi called him a bundle of talent while wishing him on Twitter. "May God bless you with all the success and happiness," Chiranjeevi said. Mahesh Babu tweeted: "Happy birthday @tarak9999. Wishing you an epic year ahead!!"Junior NTR is said to be the only Tollywood actor who has huge craze in Japan. He has been ranked second on the 'Forbes India' celebrity list. A recipient of numerous awards, notably two Nandis, Jr NTR is popular in the two Telugu-speaking states as the hero of the masses. In his 22-year career, he has acted in 29 films. The poster of his 30th movie 'Devara' was unveiled on his 40th birthday. Grandson of legendary actor and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nanadamuri Taraka Rama Rao, Junior NTR was born on May 20, 1983. His real name was Tarak Ram, but on his grandfather's suggestion, it was changed to Nandamuri Taraka Rama Rao. Like his father Nandamuri Harkrishna, Junior NTR also made his debut as a child artiste. He had gone to see the shooting of 'Major Chandrakanth' when his grandfather called the makeup man and asked him to get Junior NTR ready for a role. The thespian announced that Junior NTR would play the role of Bharat in the mythological, 'Brahmrshi Viswamitra', which was to be made in Hindi.

After a few years, the child artiste was doing a bit part in 'Ramayanam'.

Thereafter, Junior NTR's family asked him to focus on studies. After studying at Vidyaranya High School, Hyderabad, he completed his intermediate education at St Mary's College, also in Hyderabad.

Encouraged by his mother, he took training in Kuchipudi and performed at various places across the country. It was in 2001 that Junior NTR

A SMALL TOWN SINGER INSPIRED 'MIRZAPUR'S' BEENA TRIPATHI, REVEALS RASIKA DUGAL

made his debut as a lead actor with 'Ninnu Choodalani'. But it was with 'Student No. 1' that he established himself in the same year, followed by 'Aadi'. From there he never looked back. Junior NTR is married to Lakshmi Pranathi and they have two sons, Abhay and Bhargav. In an interview, he had revealed that he feels the pain of not having a daughter.

AJAY-ATUL LEAD 30-STRONG CHORUS TO RENDER 'ADIPURUSH' ANTHEM 'JAI SHRI RAM' MUMBAI, (IANS) The first song of the Prabhas and Kriti Sanon-starrer Adipurush -- 'Jai Shri Ram' -- was released on Sunday by the awardwinning music composer duo Ajay and Atul Gogavale, better known as Ajay-Atul, with a live orchestra.

At the launch, the duo mentioned how a magical power was with them while they composed this anthemic number. The launch of the song with a 30-member chorus along with Ajay-Atul was indeed an uplifting experience.

The duo, incidentally, have composed the music or written songs for an impressive array of films and TV serials in Hindi and Marathi, notably 'Tumbbad', 'Zero', 'Super 30', 'Panipat', 'Tanhaji' (helmed by 'Adipurush' director Om Raut) and most recently, Riteish Deshmukh's 'Ved'. Speaking at length about the journey of the song, Ajay said: "The inspiration of this song is the name of the song itself. This was the first song we composed for the film.

"When the film was offered to us, we were told about its scale. As soon as we heard the name of Shri Ram, that power and devotion automatically came to us. This magical power was with us while we were composing the song."

Ajay added: "This was the first time ever our song has been released on such a grand scale and we got to see live reactions. We are

LOS ANGELES, (IANS) Vanessa Hudgens will join Mads Mikkelsen to headline the action spy thriller 'The Black Kaiser', directed by Derrick Bor te.

Bor te has replaced Jonas Akerlund, who was previously announced as director. The film is written by Jayson Rothwell, based on the Dark Horse graphic novel 'Polar' by Victor Santos.

It is set to shoot this fall, reports 'Variety'.

In the film, the Black Kaiser (Mikkelsen), the world's most lethal hitman, uncovers a deadly conspiracy protecting a powerful syndicate of killers, and becomes their No. 1 target.

'The Black Kaiser' is a Constantin Film, JB Pictures and Dark Horse Enter tainment production, and will be produced by Jeremy Bolt and Robert Kulzer, two of the producers behind the 'Resident Evil' franchise.

As per 'Variety', Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg of Dark Horse Enter tainment are also producing, and Mar tin Moszkowicz and Mikkelsen are executive producing.

XYZ Films will executive produce and will continue to sell worldwide rights at the Marche du Film in Cannes.

MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Rasika Dugal, who is known for 'Humorously Yours', 'Delhi Crime' and 'Mirzapur', spoke about the inspiration behind her role of Beena Tripathi in the crime-drama show 'Mirzapur'.

In the show, the actress essays the character of a sensual woman, who despite her simple way of dressing oozes charm and sensuality. Reflecting on the preparation process, Rasika said: "Initially, I was nervous.I wondered if I would be able to pull off the part. I thought maybe the role was more suited for someone more voluptuous or stereotypically 'sexy'."

She further mentioned: "However, a memory of a young girl I met at a par ty years before I was to star t work on Mirzapur became my inspiration. She was from a small town, dressed in a simple pair of jeans and a T-shirt. She was a singer. Otherwise she looked like a shy young girl but the moment she started to sing, she transformed into a sensual, stunning woman who commanded your attention. That image stayed in my mind and became my inspiration." Meanwhile, on the work front, Rasika recently completed shooting for the third season of 'Mirzapur' which is due to release this year. She has explored diverse genres and portrayed different roles in her upcoming projects 'Adhura: Supernatural Thriller ', 'Spike: Spor ts Drama,' 'Lord Curzon Ki Haveli: Black Comedy Thriller,' 'Fairy Folk: Improv Comedy,' and 'Little Thomas: Dramedy.'

ANUPAM KHER INJURES HIS SHOULDER WHILE SHOOTING 'VIJAY 69'; SAYS, 'DARD TO HAI'

speechless because of the love the song is getting. We are grateful we got the oppor tunity to create an anthem that will resonate with people for years to come."

Thanking the lyricist Manoj Muntashir, Ajay said; "He has written the song so beautifully. His words have added power to the song. Only he could have done this. Also, this song is special as after a very long time, a song has been sung not by one singer, but by a chorus of 30."

RAJA KUMARI 'THRILLED' ABOUT HER CANNES DEBUT IN MANISH MALHOTRA OUTFIT MUMBAI, (IANS) Hip-hop ar tiste Raja Kumari, who is known for the char tbuster track 'City Slums' and recently dropped her album, 'The Bridge', is set for the prestigious ongoing Cannes Film Festival.

This will be the first time she will be attending the festival. Speaking of attending the Cannes 2023, she said: "I am thrilled to be a par t of The Cannes Festival this year. I recognise that my music and my journey has inspired my audience. I hope I am able to represent everything that I have built. I want to embrace this oppor tunity entirely and it's an honour to share the carpet with the most influential names. We are all here to celebrate the beauty of being an ar tist and the work we create."

She further mentioned: "We're all here to celebrate the beauty of being an ar tist and for me, it's important to celebrate Indian couture. Wearing Manish Malhotra represents more than just clothing, it's our Indian pride." The Cannes Film Festival, known for its star-studded lineup, carries immense star power, making it one of the grandest film festivals of the year. It is par t of the 'Big Three Film Festivals' of Europe after Venice and Berlin International Film Festivals.

MUMBAI, (IANS) Veteran Bollywood star Anupam Kher injured his shoulder while shooting for his upcoming film 'Vijay 69'.

Anupam took to Instagram, where he posted a picture of himself in a sling. He wrote: "Aap sports film karo aur aap ghaayal na ho!! Aisa kaise ho sakata hai? Kal #vijay69 ki shooting ke dauran kandhe mein achi khaasi choth lagi."

He shared that the injury does hur t.

"Dard to hai par jab kandhe par sling lagaane vaale bhaiya ne bataaya ki unhone hi @iamsrk aur @hrithikroshan ke kandhon ko is sling se sajaaya tha to pata nahin kyon dard ka ehasaas thoda kam ho gaya."

He added: "Par waese agar thoda zor se khaansun toh muh se halki si cheekh zaroor nikalti hai! Photo mein muskuraane ke koshish genuine hai! Ek do dinon baad shooting jaari rahegi."

"Waese maa ne suna to boli, 'Aur dikha apni body duniya ko!!

Tujhe nazar lag gayi!' Maine jawaab diya, 'Maa! Gir te hai shahasvaar hi maidaan e jang mein. Vo tiphal kya girega jo ghutno ke bal chale!' Maa jhaapad maarte maarte rukh gayi."

The film will narrate the life of a man who decides to compete in a triathlon contest at the age of 69.

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

HOLLYWOOD 'FAST X' DIRECTOR WEIGHS IN ON VIN DIESEL'S HINT AT TRILOGY

'PRINCESS ARIEL IS ONE OF MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITES,' SAYS JANHVI KAPOOR MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Janhvi Kapoor is a fan of Disney princesses and said Ariel from the 'The Little Mermaid' is one of her absolute favourites. Janhvi was seen celebrating 'The Little Mermaid' at a special theme inspired party with little girls. With lots of cakes, hugs and love, Janhvi relived her childhood and shared a sneak peek of the magical world of princess Ariel with her fans.

She said: "My Friends, Khushi and I have grown up watching and

reading about Disney princesses and princess Ariel is one of my absolute favourites!" Janhvi added: "I just love her colourful, fun spirit and how she goes about achieving her dreams. I cannot wait to watch the film and relive my childhood with my girlfriends!"

Disney India is set to release 'The Little Mermaid' on May 26.

On the work front, Janhvi will next be seen in 'Bawaal', 'Mr. & Mrs. Mahi' and Telugu film 'Devara'.

LOS ANGELES, (IANS) Filmmaker Louis Leterrier is open to more 'Fast and Furious' movies. The 49-year-old director is sitting at the helm for the next two films in the high-speed franchise, which were thought to be the final installments in the long-running series, but he has now echoed star Vin Diesel by suggesting that there could yet be more pictures, repor ts aceshowbiz.com. "Let's see what this one does. You know what's beautiful about this franchise is that the audience gave love and then the franchise kept growing and delivered for the fans, but also surprised them. Don't shove it down people's throats, but give people what they love. So let's see (what happens next)," Louis said to Entertainment Weekly.

MILEY CYRUS CAN'T DO ANOTHER ARENA TOUR BECAUSE THEY'RE 'SO ISOLATING'

TAMANNAAH BHATIA DENIES FALLING OUT WITH ANIL RAVIPUDI OVER ITEM SONG MUMBAI, (IANS) Tamannaah Bhatia had denied the rumours that she had a falling out with filmmaker Anil Ravipudi over an item song in Nandamuri Balakrishna's highly anticipated upcoming action movie - his career's 108th film.

The news that went viral was that Tamanaah, who performed the song "Daang Daang" in the Mahesh Babu-starrer "Sarileru Neekevvaru", was approached by Ravipudi, but the duo had a falling out over the fee. This, Tamanaah now says, is not true.

Tamannaah took to her Twitter profile and slammed portals for running the "baseless allegations".

She tweeted: "I have always enjoyed working with @AnilRavipudi sir. I have huge respect for both him and Nandamuri Balakrishna sir.

So reading these baseless news articles about me and a song in their new film, is very upsetting. Please do your research before you make baseless allegations." Meanwhile, on the work front, Tamannaah has a slew of projects in her kitty, such as "Bhola Shankar", "Jailer" (the Rajinikanth-starred helmed by Nelson), "Aranmanai 4", "Bandra", "That Is Mahalakshmi", and "Bole Chudiyan". She's also wrapping up her bits in the web shows "Jee Karda" and "Lust Stories 2" and an untitled drama series with Disney+ Hotstar.

LOS ANGELES, (IANS) Singer Miley Cyrus said that performing in such large venues makes her uncomfortable and she would much rather per form in smaller, more intimate spaces for friends and family. "It's been a minute," Cyrus said about touring to British Vogue, reports Variety. "After the last (headline arena) show I did [in 2014], I kind of looked at it as more of a question. And I can't. Not only can't, because can't is your capability, but my desire. Do I want to live my life for anyone else's pleasure or fulfillment other than my own?"

Cyrus' last arena show was the Bangerz Tour back in 2015.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

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MidWeek 21 RAY STEVENSON, WHO PLAYED EVIL GOVERNOR OF DELHI IN 'RRR', PASSES AWAY AT 58

MOUNI ROY GEARS UP FOR CANNES DEBUT: 'CAN'T WAIT TO SHOWCASE MY PASSION FOR CINEMA' MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Mouni Roy is all set to make her debut at the ongoing prestigious Cannes Film Festival and said that she "cannot wait to showcase her passion for cinema" at the global platform.

Speaking on the occasion, Mouni, who has collaborated with eyewear brand Lenskar t for the event, said: "I am exhilarated to announce my debut at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival.

Representing Lenskar t at Cannes and being a par t of this iconic celebration of creativity is my greatest honour." "I am grateful for this incredible oppor tunity and cannot wait to showcase my unique style and passion for cinema on this global platform." On the work front, Mouni will be seen in 'The Virgin Tree'. It also stars Sanjay Dutt and Palak Tiwari among many others.

HALLE BAILEY: 'SEEING BLACK LITTLE MERMAID AS A CHILD WOULD HAVE CHANGED MY WHOLE LIFE' LOS ANGELES, (IANS) Hollywood star Halle Bailey says seeing a black Little Mermaid character as a child would have changed her "whole life". The singer and actress, 23, is starring as mermaid Ariel in the upcoming live action remake of Disney's 1989 "The Little Mermaid" animation, and said if the car toon had been more diverse, it would have increased her "confidence", repor ts 'Female First UK'.

Halle, who shot to fame as a teen pop star as one half of the duo Chloe x Halle with her older sister, told The Guardian: "I feel like, if I would have had a black mermaid, that would have been insane, that would have changed my whole perspective, my whole life, my confidence, my self-wor th." She also said, as per 'Female First UK': "You're able to see a person who looks like you, when you're young? Some people are just like, oh, it's whatever, because they've had it their whole life. It's nothing to them. But it's so impor tant."

Halle was targeted with race hate when her role as Ariel was announced, with the hashtag #NotMyAriel trending on Twitter after her role was announced.

She said it is impossible to avoid feeling "hur t" by the backlash. "Yeah, we're all human beings, so if we see anything negative about ourselves, of course it's going to hur t or sting a little bit, especially remarks like those. I expected it, honestly."

"I mean, yeah. The world we live in today, just being a black woman, you have a certain awareness that comes with life, in general. So I wasn't very surprised or shocked."

She also spoke about how the attitude she adopted to face down the racism: "I think it's just the way that you respond and move, and know that inside you're worthy, and you're here for a reason."

NATALIE PORTMAN SAYS WOMEN AT CANNES ARE EXPECTED TO BEHAVE DIFFERENTLY THAN MEN LOS ANGELES, (IANS) A scandalous age-gap relationship plays out at the centre of 'May December' which debuted recently at the Cannes Film Festival. In the starry romantic drama directed by Todd Haynes, Julianne Moore plays the 'December' to Charles Melton's much-younger 'May', whose character was just 13 when the two fell in love, reports 'Variety'.

It's a complicated dynamic, Moore admitted, because of the time in their lives when they first met.

"An age gap is one thing, but a relationship between an adult and a child is a different thing entirely," Moore said at Sunday's press conference for 'May December' which was embraced in the Grand Palais the day prior with an enthusiastic sixminute standing ovation.

"When is age inappropriate? It's when people are in different places developmentally, when someone is not an adult. This is why we have boundaries around that," she said, quoted by 'Variety'. "The reason why this movie feels so dangerous watching it is because people don't know where anyone's boundaries are. It feels scary."

In 'May December', Natalie Por tman plays an actress who travels to Maine to study the life of Moore's character, whom she's set to play in a film. As per 'Variety', Moore and Melton portray as a married couple whose 20-year age gap inspired a national tabloid scandal. As they plan to send their twin girls off to college, the family dynamic begins to buckle as Portman delves into their past.

Given America's obsession with scandal, Portman says there was no shortage of material to mine for inspiration.

"We had all the inspirational tabloid materials that existed.

There was a book with a crazy title, like "Punished for Love," or something like that," she recalled. "We had those resources at our fingertips, which was helpful at getting background."

Portman describes the film as a study of "the different roles we play in different environments." She observes that discrepancy is par ticularly on display at the Cannes Film Festival, where women are mandated to wear heels on the red carpet.

"Even here, the different ways we, as women, are expected to behave at this festival even compared to men... how we're supposed to look, how we're supposed to carry ourselves," she said. "The expectations are different for you all the time. It affects how you behave, whether you are buying into or rejecting it. You're defined by the social structures upon you".

LONDON, (IANS) Ray Stevenson, the Irish actor who played the evil and authoritarian governor of Delhi in S.S. Rajamouli's 'RRR', passed away on Sunday, repor ts 'Variety'. He was 58.

No information on or the cause of the death was available.

Though well-known in India for his 'RRR' role opposite 'Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade' actress and Bond girl Alison Doody, Stevenson will be remembered for playing Volstagg in Marvel's 'Thor' franchise. Stevenson, according to 'Variety', began his career appearing on TV shows in the 1990s and then began landing action roles in Hollywood films starting in the 2000s. His first major film role came in Antoine Fuqua's 2004 adventure movie 'King Arthur', where he played Dagonet, one of the Knights of the Round Table. In the film, his character sacrifices himself in battle to help Ar thur (Clive Owen) and his brotherhood of warriors, says 'Variety' In 2008, Stevenson landed a starring role in the Marvel film, 'Punisher: War Zone', where he played the titular mercenary, aka Frank Castle, adds 'Variety'.

The film was distributed by Lionsgate in North America, before Disney acquired the rights to the Marvel universe and later re-introduced the character in the Netflix series 'Daredevil'. Before his death, Stevenson starred in the upcoming action-adventure limited series, 'Ahsoka', a spin-off of 'The Mandalorian' from the Star Wars franchise. He played Baylan Skoll, a former Jedi who survived Order 66 by fleeing into the Unknown Regions. He is a master to Shin and ally to Thrawn. This was to be his last role.

NEHA KAKKAR'S 'KHOOBSURAT' IS REMINISCENT OF FIRST LOVE

MUMBAI, (IANS) The song 'Khoobsurat', crooned by Neha Kakkar and Raghav Chaitanya was released on Monday. The song also features Soundarya Sharma along with Adhik Mehta.

Talking about the song, Soundarya Sharma said, "I'm very happy to be a par t of this fantastic song. Filming at these beautiful locales truly made me feel ?Khoobsurat'. Every girl wants to feel this special and the song perfectly depicts the essence of that. It's a super cute love song and is definitely going on my playlist". Adhik Mehta said, "Soundarya and I had a lot of fun shooting Khoobsurat' in a ?khoobsurat' location. Hope the comfort level we shared off-screen reflects in our onscreen chemistry. I'm very glad to be a part of this song". Produced by Bhushan Kumar of TSeries, the song has its music composed by Rohanpreet Singh with lyrics furnished by Rana Sotal. The music video has been directed by Video Brains and takes the viewers through a love story that will remind them of their first love. Set against the background of a serene hill station, the song showcases the chemistry between Soundarya and Adhik. The song is currently streaming on T-Series' YouTube channel.

SAUMYA TANDON EXTENDS HER KASHMIR SHOOT INTO A VACAY

MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Saumya Tandon recently delighted her fans by sharing a video on social media, showcasing her visit to Kashmir. The actress went to Kashmir for a shoot but extended her work into a vacation as she was fully consumed by its beauty. Saumya, who is known for her work in 'Bhabi Ji Ghar Par Hai!', expressed how she is in awe of the scenic beauty of Kashmir and praised how peaceful and easy it is to shoot and travel there. She said, ""I am in Kashmir for a small shoot and extended it for a holiday. Shoot was pleasantly smooth and it's a wonderful travel experience. I always wanted to go to Dal lake in a shikara with flowers and I finally did it this time.

Srinagar today looks totally geared up and prepared for G20. I will be stepping out of Srinagar these three days". She also recollected her encounters with the welcoming locals who shared inspiring stories. She mentioned, "Kashmiri locals are very welcoming towards the tourists and it was great to see their businesses and tourism pick up. I met some wonderful women entrepreneurs while shopping for rugs, pashmina and papier mache souvenirs, they are reviving the languishing arts and crafts of Kashmir and employing the local women as well as generating employment. I bought some precious local stuff".

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

ACTOR ADITYA SINGH RAJPUT FOUND DEAD AT HIS MUMBAI HOME

MUSLIM ACTIVISTS STORM BIRMINGHAM CINEMA SCREENING 'THE KERALA STORY' BIRMINGHAM, (IANS) Muslim activists in Birmingham stormed a screening of the controversial Bollywood film 'The Kerala Story', which has sparked a row in India amid claims that it destroys 'religious harmony', media reports said. A group of protesters led by Shakeel Afsar, a Kashmiri activist, disrupted the screening of 'The Kerala Story' on Friday at a Cineworld theatre in Birmingham, Daily Mail reported.

A 10-minute clip uploaded on the British Muslim news website '5Pillars' showed Afsar, 35, with a group of demonstrators entering the cinema and causing the film to be paused.

In the clip, Afsar along with at least two others ask to speak to the cinema manager about the 'Islamophobic' nature of the film.

The staff at the Cineworld were forced to pause the screening as

mayhem broke out, with audience members seen confronting the activists and telling them to leave, Daily Mail repor ted.

After the activists were ejected by the security personnel, a theatre attendant could be heard telling the audience: "If you want to watch this film, you should calm down first. I am going to resume this film.

We're trying to deal with this in the best way we can. We've paused the film, we've turned the lights on, we've called the police."

Last year, Afsar, an entrepreneur and proper ty developer, led a campaign to pull 'The Lady of Heaven' from the cinemas.

He was also banned from protesting outside a primary school in Birmingham in 2019 after demonstrating against the teaching of LGBT values, Daily Mail repor ted.

AAHANA KUMRA LOSES HER COOL WHEN FAN TOUCHED HER DURING PHOTOCALL MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Aahana Kumra, who is known for films like 'Lipstick Under My Burkha', 'Inside Edge' and 'Rangbaaz', recently lost her cool at a fan breached her personal space and touched her while she was posing for the paparazzi.

A video, shared by a paparazzi account, revealed how a fan touched her around her waist at an event in Mumbai. In the video one of her fans can be seen putting his hand around her waist. The actress was taken aback. She turned towards him and told him: "Don't touch me!"

The video has gone viral since then with several netizens coming out in support of the actress against the fan's behaviour.

Aahana's fans were also angry at the man. Most of them wrote in the comment box that the actor was right.

One of them commented: "She is right. Self-respect is very important."

Another one wrote: "This is bang on !! She is absolutely correct. Guys/ fans need to understand that they can't put their unsolicited hands

MUMBAI, (IANS) In yet another shocker, actor and model Aditya Singh Rajput was found dead in the bathroom of his home on Monday afternoon, Mumbai Police said here.

The 32-year-old actor was living in a shared apartment on the 11th floor of the Lashkaria Heights building in the posh Oshiwara area. Though there is no official word on the exact cause of his death, preliminary reports suggest it could probably be owing to a suspected drug overdose.

The actor's body has been sent for an autopsy, the repor t of which is awaited and the Oshiwara Police Station is conducting further investigations from all possible angles, said an official.

The first tip-off came from a friend of the actor who found him lying motionless in the home bathroom and rushed him to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead on admission.

Rajput was born in Uttarakhand but settled in Delhi and started as a model-cum-actor as a child star in the glamour industry around 20 years ago. Over the years, he became a familiar face on more than 300 advertisements and spots, and acted in films like "Krantiveer", "Maine Gandhi Ko Nahin Mara", "Love" and others. On the small screen, he was seen in shows like 'Cambala Investigation Agency', 'Splitsvilla - 9', 'Love', 'Ashiqui', 'Code Red', 'Rajputana', 'Aawaz-9', 'Bad Boys' and more.

Bollywood personalities reacted with shock and disbelief at the young actor's death on various social media networks and some were reminded of the demise of popular actor, Sushant Singh Rajput on June 14, 2020.

VIDYUT JAMMWAL ON BOUTS OF SELFDOUBT: 'IT'S NEVER A HINDRANCE'

behind anyone's back while taking a picture. Not cool." "The second man also touched her, if a girl says no it means no !!!!!!!" another fan commented. Meanwhile, on the work front, Aahana will next be seen in Faisal Hashmi's 'Cancer' opposite Sharib Hashmi. She was last seen in 'Salaam Venky' which also stars Kajol and Vishal Jethwa.

'DRISHYAM' SET FOR SOUTH KOREAN REMAKE MUMBAI: Ajay Devgn and Tabustarrer 'Drishyam' franchise is transcending boundaries as it is set to be adapted for the South Korean audiences with the official Korean remake. 'Drishyam' is an Indian franchise that has delivered success in every Indian language be it Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telugu or Hindi. The announcement happened on Sunday at India Pavilion at the ongoing edition of Cannes Film Festival. Indian production company, Panorama Studios, and Anthology Studios, founded by former Warner Bros. local Korean production head, Jay Choi, 'Parasite' actor Song Kang-ho and acclaimed director Kim Jee-woon have partnered for the Korean remake.

NEW DELHI, (IANS) There are just a handful of names today in Hindi cinema that have redefined genres with their performances in films. One such name is Vidyut Jammwal, who has, time and again, brought his A-game forward with each movie he does. Vidyut has carved a niche for himself by per forming death-defying stunts in films. However, he admits harbouring doubts but said "it is never a hindrance."

"Every time I star t something, it could be anything, it star ts with self doubt and then I still go ahead and attempt it," said the Kanpur-born actor.

Touted as one of Bollywood's bankable actors, Vidyut added: "It starts with that but it is normally not a hindrance because the moment I doubt myself, the first thought that comes to me is that I need to invest some time on it. It starts with that but the moment you surpass it, it becomes easy."

Synonymous with his name, which means electricity, Vidyut, after 'Force', gave electrifying performances in films such as the 'Commando' franchise, 'Khuda Haafiz' franchise, 'Sanak' and his latest 'IB 71'.

It wouldn't be wrong to say he's a man of great business and his ever-burgeoning fan base, fondly called "Jammwalions", is a testament to that.

Talking about when he felt he'd made it, the JAK Rifles officers' son said: "It's an ever-growing process. I think I am still supposed to find Vidyut Jammwal because there's a lot of work going on to find the perfect being. So, I feel I am very far away from it yet very close." With so much love pouring in for him and hopes riding on the actor who has ventured into producing films, does he feel the responsibility or pressure?

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

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MidWeek 23 HOLLYWOOD THE WEEKND, LILY-ROSE DEPP SCANDALISE CANNES WITH 'THE IDOL'

NUSHRRATT BHARUCCHA REVEALS HER LIST OF QUALITIES FOR AN IDEAL HUSBAND MUMBAI, (IANS) A "great sense of humour" and "hero qualities", are what actress Nushrratt Bharuccha will look for in an ideal husband.

Nushrratt will be seen on 'The Kapil Sharma Show'. She will feature alongside Bellamkonda Sai Sreenivas, Bhagyashree, Karan Singh Chhabra, Palak Mucchal, director V.V. Vinayak, and producer Jayantilal Gada as they will be coming for their film 'Chatrapathi'.

In the episode, host Kapil will face an interrogation by an internationally renowned talk show host, Karan Singh Chhabra. He would also take

the opportunity to pose a question to his co-actress Nushrratt, asking her about the qualities her husband should possess.

Nushrratt said: "I believe the person should be able to make me laugh a lot, have a great sense of humour, is single, and also has the qualities of a hero." Further, Kapil will intervene and jokingly mention that he is married in Andheri West and single in film city, implying that he meets the criteria and is fully eligible. 'The Kapil Sharma Show' airs on Enter tainment Television.

SURVEEN PUTS HER BEST FASHION FOOT FORWARD AT CANNES AFTER A DECADE MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Surveen Chawla will be making an appearance at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2023.

This marks Surveen's second visit to the prestigious film festival, as she made her debut at Cannes in 2013 for her film 'Ugly'.

Speaking on the same, Surveen said: "I am excited to be returning to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival for the second time! Cannes holds a special place in my heart, and it is an incredible honour to be a par t of this iconic red carpet."

"I've been fortunate enough to be attending one of the most prestigious events of the year attended by film enthusiasts, fashion experts, and the biggest names of the entertainment industry. I look forward to showcasing a part of our vibrant culture through a high fashion lens!"

Several Bollywood personalities including Sara Ali Khan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Urvashi Rautela and many more have made appearances on the red carpet there, putting in their best fashion foot forward.

HRITHIK FUELS 'WAR 2' SPECULATION BY WANTING TO MEET NTR JR ON 'YUDDHABHUMI' MUMBAI, (IANS) Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan has wished NTR Jr cheekily on his birthday on Saturday and said that he is waiting for him on the 'yuddhabhumi' (battle field), adding fuel to 'War 2' speculation.

Though he didn't mention 'War 2' in his tweet to NTR Jr., Hrithik dropped several hints about the most-anticipated pan-Indian film of our times being made.

Hrithik wrote: "Happy Bir thday @tarak9999! Wishing you a joyous day and an action-packed year ahead. Awaiting you on the yuddhabhumi, my friend. May your days be full of happiness and peace, until we meet Puttina Roju Subhakankshalu mitrama!"

The film is said to be directed by Ayan Mukerji.

YRF Spy Universe boasts of the presence of the biggest superstars in the history of Indian cinema as super-spies. It has Shah Rukh Khan as Pathaan, Salman Khan as Tiger, Hrithik Roshan as Kabir, Deepika Padukone as Rubai, Katrina Kaif as Zoya and John Abraham as Jim.

JANET JACKSON SLIDES HER HAND INTO MALE DANCER'S PANTS IN SENSUAL ACT DURING TOUR LOS ANGELES, (IANS) R&B Pop star Janet Jackson put on a raunchy act with one of her male dancers during her concert.

In photos and videos which have circulated online from the show, the 57-year-old diva can be seen showcasing a bold per formance with dancer Mariusz Maniek Kotarski, repor ts aceshowbiz.com.

At one point during the show, she put her hand on his private parts as he looked to be in ecstasy in a very sexual performance.

As par t of the dance routine, Janet stood behind the handsome dancer who went shirtless as he sat in a chair on stage, exposing his array of colourful tattoos. The mother of one then began to touch his chest and made her way down to his private par ts.

While the sexy act has been part of the performance throughout her 'Together Again' tour, she took it to the next level by sliding her hand into his pants on Thursday night.

The dancer didn't stop Janet as he kept his hands down. He even bit his bottom lip.

'Together Again' marks Janet's 10th concert tour. The tour kicked off on April 14, in Hollywood, Florida and will end in Seattle on June 21, 2023. The sister of Michael Jackson has brought out a slew of surprise guests during the tour, including her ex Jermaine Dupri for her concer t at State Farm Arena in Atlanta on April 26. Following his appearance at the show, many compared former lovers Janet and Jermaine to Nelly and Ashanti, who have been hit with reconciliation rumours.

Jermaine, however, shut down the dating speculation with Janet when met by HipHopDX backstage at Lovers & Friends festival. The legendary producer took part in a word association game of sor ts, where he was asked about Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, Nelly and Ashanti, and JD and Janet, "what do they all have in common?"

Jermaine gave a straight answer, "Exes." When pressed fur ther by the interviewer, "I thought you'd say they all came full circle, 20 years later," the 50-year-old insisted, "All exes," before stressing once again, "All exes."

CANNES, (IANS) The Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, appearing four days after her father took a bow at the inaugural screening, shut down the Croisette to show the price of fame -- and raunchy intrigue -- at the Cannes premiere of 'The Idol' on Monday (local time), repor ts 'Variety'.

Making direct parallels to superstar meltdowns like the one suffered by Britney Spears, the HBO Original series, which is the first TV show to officially debut at Cannes, finally revealed itself at a packed gala screening.

Revenge porn photos of bodily fluids on Depp's face, masturbation with ice cubes, nightclub-owning scam ar tists and vile Hollywood sycophants populated the first two episodes of the already controversial series, 'Variety' adds.

The brainchild of 'Euphoria' creator Sam Levinson and Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye, the series puts poor Depp through her paces as a pop phenom coming off of a psychotic break after the death of her mother, writes 'Variety'.

A pack of bloodsucking handlers (fabulously portrayed by Jane Adams, Hank Azaria and Eli Roth) are desperate to get a new album and tour off the ground. While blowing off steam at a seedy Hollywood dance spot, she encounters Tesfaye as a proprietor and shoulder to grind on -- who soon reveals much larger ambitions for her career and his bottom line. Tesfaye's character, Tedros, is a modern-day cult leader.

The suppor ting cast includes Suzanna Son, Troye Sivan, Dan Levy, Rachel Sennott and more.

'Variety' adds that brief respites from Depp's constant sexual and financial exploitation come in the form of her bestie/ assistant (Sennott) and adviser played by Da'Vine Joy Randolph -- but Depp's character is a lost lamb, looking to be seen as an artiste and woman. Tesfaye's Tedros is all too happy to step in.

JENNIFER LAWRENCE MADE 'BREAD AND ROSES' AFTER FEELING 'HELPLESS' FOR AFGHAN WOMEN

LOS ANGELES, (IANS) Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence and her producing partner Justine Ciarrocchi touched down at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday to promote their label's first ever documentary feature 'Bread and Roses', a harrowing and emotional look at the lives of women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. After two decades of American occupation, the nation fell once again to the insurgent group, which moved quickly to strip women of basic rights - simple freedoms like the ability to work, appear in public without a male chaperone and receive an education, reports Variety. "It all just collapsed in a matter of days," Lawrence recalled to Variety. "I was watching this from America, where Roe v. Wade was about to be overturned. We felt helpless and frustrated with how to get these stories off of the news cycle and into people's psyches. To help people be galvanised and care about the plight of these women." In the infancy of building their production company Excellent Cadaver, Lawrence and Ciarrocchi pursued Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani ('A Thousand Girls Like Me') to help capture the stories of the suppressed women on the ground.

The finished film, which was received with tears at its world premiere on the Croisette, is comprised largely of video filmed by its three subjects.

Crews could not safely enter Afghanistan, nor could Mani, who had been abroad working when the Taliban took over the country. "The director was given footage from women using their cell phones, there was one trusted camera person that was used occasionally," Lawrence said.

Ciarrocchi recalled the high stress of protecting Mani and the subjects from retaliation. "Sahra had been out of Kabul for about a month by the time it fell, she was in France. The great news now is that all of our protagonists are safely out of Afghanistan. We wanted to make sure that these women were safe and that we were being thoughtful, while also trying to shape a film. That was a wild set of responsibilities for us, and a very new experience," said Ciarrocchi.

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MOVIE REVIEW

BEYONCE DROPS 'AMERICA HAS A PROBLEM' REMIX WITH KENDRICK LAMAR

STARRING: MANOJ BAJPAYEE, ADRIJA SINHA, VIPIN SHARMA, SURYA MOHAN KULSHRESTHA DIRECTOR: APOORV SINGH KARKI RATING: 4/5

SIRF EK BANDAA KAAFI HAI REVIEW: MANOJ BAJPAYEE SHINES IN THIS STARK, RIVETING COURTROOM DRAMA The complex relationship between godmen and blind followers is a tale as old as time. These ‘extraordinary’ beings, in all their flowing robes, have convinced their followers that they possess divine wisdom and mystical powers. Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai puts these followers in the spotlight and treads the fine line of where blind faith meets questionable intentions.

The film opens with a jittery young girl stepping into a Delhi Police Station, accompanied by her parents. The girl, all of 16 (as of 2013) was sexually assaulted at an ashram in Jodhpur under the garb of freeing her of ‘supernatural forces’. An FIR is lodged against the film’s godman, thereafter referred to as Baba, under the POCSO Act, 2012.

He’s swiftly arrested and granted 15 days of police custody.

A ray of hope emerges in the form of PC Solanki, a selfless advocate in Jodhpur who is driven by compassion and justice. In a world where the mighty hold absolute power without question, he sets out for the truth. The audience is taken on a rollercoaster ride, replete with small victories, big setbacks, ruthless acts of violence and an indomitable quest for justice. In Sirf Ek Bandaa Kaafi Hai, director Apoorv Singh Karki takes on a system that is susceptible to manipulation by the powerful. A world that is tough to look at, but tougher to look away from. The murder of key witnesses – one is shot from point-blank range, another is hung from a bridge — sets the pace for a gritty drama that relies heavily on the nitty-gritty of the law. High-profile lawyers come and go as the case oscillates between the Sessions Court that deals with hard evidence and the Supreme Court that deals with the Baba’s sudden neurological condition and the victim’s age to determine whether or not she’s a minor. The film delves into the dark underbelly of those in power, exposing the uncer tainties that come with it, but the taut screenplay doesn’t allow the relentless tragedies to overwhelm the audience at any point. It comes with all the quintessential elements of a Bollywood courtroom drama — the dramatic desk banging, the eventual breakdown of a hostile witness and the witty legal banter — and fits into the mould completely. Adrija Sinha shines as the victim, Nu. She does most of the talking merely through her eyes and is convincing as a young girl whose spiritual beliefs have been shattered and her

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

Singer Beyonce surprise dropped a remix of her 'Renaissance' hit 'America Has a Problem' featuring Kendrick Lamar on Friday night. The new version of the song launches right into a tight verse from Lamar, in which he raps about everything from AI ("Even AI gotta practice clonin' Kendrick") to the Beyhive ("I'm an honorary Beyhive, let's see why them diamonds don't be flya), reports Variety. Beyonce then picks up for the rest of the song, which clocks in at four minutes and 20 seconds. The remix's cover ar t features an American flag made up of what appears to be red, white and blue bullets.

'America Has a Problem' has been surging in popularity recently, thanks in part to the choreography that Beyonce debuted when her 'Renaissance' world tour kicked off in Stockholm, Sweden on May 10, which has inspired a TikTok trend.

Beyonce's tour - her first in nearly five years - is set to continue through September, hitting both Europe and Nor th America. So far, her setlist has included hits such as 'Formation', 'Run the World (Girls)', 'Love on Top', 'Crazy in Love', 'Naughty Girl', 'Drunk in Love' and plenty of songs from 'Renaissance'.

TINA DATTA LENDS HER VOICE FOR A SEQUENCE IN 'HUM RAHE NA RAHE HUM'

right to life, violated. She breaks down at times but continues to hold her own in a courtroom where uncomfor table questions flow, serving as painful reminders of a trauma that remains fresh even as years go by. However, her struggles, as she coped with the aftermath of the horror, deserved more screen time. Vipin Sharma slips into the role of the defence lawyer with ease. Every suppor ting actor per forms convincingly, regardless of the length of the role. Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha, as the accused Baba, forms the crux of the story. He looks menacingly convincing as he draws the curtains at the courtroom, momentarily, to get a clearer view of his future, only to retreat into the shadows when things start to go awry. His frustration grows as years go by, and is conveyed through just his broody but guiltless eyes. I’ve saved Manoj Bajpayee for the last. He brings his remarkable acting skills to the forefront and effortlessly steps into the shoes of advocate PC Solanki, who always tries to do the right thing. Standout scenes include one where a starstruck Solanki runs after a renowned advocate for a selfie and one in which he praises his opposing lawyer with a genuine “Kya khel rahe ho.” His endearing conversations with the son he affectionately calls Buddy and his mother leave one warm and fuzzy. Moments where he offers suppor t to Nu, as she goes through grief and fury, too, catch the eye. The accent feels thick at times but is overshadowed by his acting prowess.

MOVIE REVIEW

MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Tina Datta, who plays the role of Surili in 'Hum Rahe Na Rahe Hum', has lent her vocal prowess for a sequence in the TV show and enjoyed the process.

She said: "It was a highly challenging task for me as I had to balance multiple emotions simultaneously. I was pleading for help and crying, yet anxious about Shivendra's condition. The only way to keep him awake was through my singing."

She said: "Incorporating three to four different emotions into my singing was an incredibly challenging aspect. However, as an actress, it was equally fascinating."

Speaking about how she is a music lover, she added: "There is power in music. A light tune can make you happy, a sad tune can bring you pain. I love listening to music on the go; it lifts my spirits and it makes me happy to sing along with the songs I like." "When this oppor tunity was presented to me, I was sceptical because I don't consider myself to be a good singer.

But I always want to try new things, so I am glad I can tick this off my list of things to do in the business of entertainment."

'Hum Rahe Na Rahe Hum' airs on Sony Enter tainment Television.

ANUPAMA SOLANKI ON HER 'NATH ZEWAR YA ZANJEER' ROLE: 'THIS IS A 2-IN-1 CHARACTER' STARRING: SANYA MALHOTRA, RAJPAL YADAV, ANANTVIJAY JOSHI, VIJAY RAAZ DIRECTOR: YASHOWARDHAN MISHRA RATING: 4/5

KATHAL REVIEW: SANYA MALHOTRA STRIKES GOLD AGAIN WITH HER IMPRESSIVE ACT IN HEARTWARMING FILM Yes, Dangal (2016) was a near perfect commercial entertainer riding high on content that tugged at the heartstrings of many. But who would have thought that the boy-cut haired Sanya Malhotra, who played wrestler Babita Kumari and was relegated to the background in most parts of it, would bloom into one of the most incredible roses in the garden? From Pataakhaa and Badhaai Do to Pagglait and Meenakshi Sundareshwar, Sanya has belted out films that smell of heartland India and have brought wide acclaim to not just her own body of work but also redefined contemporary Hindi cinema. And, Kathal: A Jackfruit Mystery is the latest gem from Sanya’s filmography. The actress completely owns the film, pulls you into its world and leaves you feeling exulted. A large chunk of the credit goes to its writing team - the father-son duo of Ashok Mishra and Yashorwardhan Mishra. And Sanya deftly and effortlessly, brings their words to life.

On the surface, the premise of Kathal is as bizarre as it can get, almost bordering on frivolity. Set against the backdrop of a small town called Moba in Uttar Pradesh, the film is pivoted around the sudden disappearance of two prized Uncle Hong jackfruits from the local MLA, Pateria’s orchard. Soon, the Moba police are tasked with the investigation to find out the jackfruit thief and leading this search is inspector Mahima Basor. One may question the intention and context of a narrative as off-thewall as this. And yes, most of the characters are equally idiosyncratic. But it is the

meaty and layered brilliance of the substance that makes Kathal so much more than what it looks like. The makers have tried to touch upon extremely relevant subjects like loopholes in the dubious bureaucracy, how those at the top of the hierarchical food chain are the only ones deserving of justice and how the police are always at their beck and call no matter what, and themes related to sexism and casteism, without the slightest trace of it being preachy. Mahima is a woman belonging to a lower-caste community and her promotion is taken by many with a pinch of salt, including one of her seniors. Her boyfriend, Saurabh, is a constable at the same police station and though the both of them are immensely in love and plan on getting married someday, his father leaves no stone unturned to constantly remind him that a wedding with Mahima will bring shame to their Brahmanical household. Further, the fact that Saurabh reports to Mahima doesn’t sit well with him. So, even when Mahima is tasked with unravelling a bigger case related to abduction of minors, she bargains with her supervisor and says that she will go ahead with it only if Saurabh gets a promotion so that their chances of marrying each other turn slightly fat. These subtexts are seamlessly blend into the narrative and never for once, do they come across as a constricted and ham-fisted attempt to make a strong statement on the current sociopolitical state of affairs even if they are very much so.

MUMBAI, (IANS) Actress Anupama Solanki feels lucky to have bagged the show 'Nath Zewar Ya Zanjeer' and said that she is loving her character which is negative with a comic side. "Nath Zewar Ya Zanjeer is taking a 15-year leap. This time, 99 per cent of the star cast has changed. Actually, this show is becoming a new show and they have changed the show name also. It's now called Nath Gauri Aur Krishna Ki Kahani."

"My latest character is a combination of Maddam sir and Bindiya Sarkar. This character is a 2-in-1 character who is negative and slightly comic as well. This is quite new and challenging compared to an only negative shade. My character is Kalawati, Chahat Pandey is playing the role of Krishna and my mother is playing Vandana Vithalini," she said.

GLOBAL T20 CANADA RETURNS WITH A BANG

SHUBMAN GILL EXULTS AFTER HIS SECOND SUCCESSIVE IPL CENTURY.

GUJARAT TITANS BEAT ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE, MUMBAI INDIANS QUALIFY FOR PLAYOFFS Gujarat Titans beat Royal Challengers Bangalore by 6 wickets in the 70th match of IPL 2023 on Sunday. Shubman Gill was the star for the Titans scoring a stunning ton in the chase. His knock of unbeaten 104 led to the defending champions chasing down 198 runs in the final over of the game with six wickets in hand. In the game, GT won the toss and opted to bowl. Yet again, the duo of Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli started well for RCB. The duo added 61 runs in less than 8 overs for the opening wicket. But GT's spinners Rashid Khan and Noor Ahmad made things happen with the duo picking top three wickets leaving RCB struggling at 85/3 in the 10th over. Michael Bracewell hung around for a while but it was a Virat Kohli show right through with no other batter scoring runs. The former RCB skipper paced his innings nicely and didn't slow down even after wickets fell around him. The man slammed the second consecutive century, this time off 60 deliveries

to power RCB to 197 runs for the loss of five wickets in their 20 overs.

Kohli remained unbeaten on 101 with 13 fours and one six while the next highest score in the line-up was 28. In response, Gujarat Titans lost Wriddhiman Saha early but Shubman Gill and Vijay Shankar stitched a massive 123-run stand for the second wicket keeping their team ahead in the chase. While Shankar made sure to stick around, Gill took charge in the chase and smashed RCB bowlers at will.

However, Shankar's wicket in the 15th over brought RCB back in the game only for Gill to keep smashing runs and thrashing RCB's hopes big time. The young superstar of Indian cricket stunned the Chinnaswamy crowd with his knock and fittingly scored the winning runs as well with a six in the final over and also reaching his second century of the season. With this loss, RCB have been eliminated while Mumbai Indians have now qualified for the playoffs.

It is the dawn of a new day for the world of cricket, after a 3-year hiatus brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian Men's T20 tournament is back and will be hosted at the Brampton Sports Park from July 20 - August 6, 2023.

Sport has a unique ability to shine in the face of adversity and grow in strength and determination and this is indeed demonstrated by Cricket Canada and Global T20 management.

With 6 (six) franchises participating in the tournament, each team will comprise of a total of 16 (sixteen) players from full and associate nations, including two (2) world-renowned marquee players, three (3) Canadian National team players and three (3) emerging Canadian Cricketers, who will play 25 matches over 18 days. The first two editions of the Global T20 saw some of the most renowned names from around the world, including the likes of Chris Gayle, Yuvraj Singh, Lasith Malinga, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Shahid Afridi, Shoaib Malik, David Warner, Steve Smith, Brendon McCullum and Thisara Perera, as players and the likes of Wasim Akram, Brian Lara and Mahela Jayawardene as mentors.

"Cricket Canada is excited to announce that Canada's premier cricketing event, the Global T20 is BACK and is once again ready to entertain you with exciting match play and some of the best names in the industry. "With Canada regaining ODI status, Global T20 will work as a catalyst to kick start our campaign to realize our vision to be amongst the top Associate Nations," said Rashpal Bajwa, Cricket Canada President. "We are excited about the return of GT20 Canada.

In season 3, we will aim to improve the playing experience for our players, produce a world-class event for thousands of fans, and inspire a new generation of cricket lovers to participate in the sport."

WE DIDN'T DESERVE TO BE IN SEMIFINALS: RCB CAPTAIN FAF DU PLESSIS ON TEAM'S PERFORMANCE

SHUBMAN GILL GOES PAST BABAR AZAM AFTER SCORING A TON VS RCB Gujarat Titans opener Shubman Gill smashed his second century of the IPL 2023 season on Sunday (May 21) against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). His knock dumped RCB's chances of making it to the playoffs and Mumbai Indians benefitted big time. Meanwhile, Gill broke several records and also smacked 600+ runs in a single IPL season for the first time. He also became only the fifth player to complete 600 runs in a single IPL season before turning 25 years old.

Meanwhile, Shubman Gill also become the youngest player in the history of T20 cricket to score 25 fifty-plus scores in the shor test format of the game. He has so far smashed four tons and 21 fifties in his T20 career and looks destined to go big in his career across all formats. Coming back to his record, Gill went past Pakistan's Ahmed Shehzad and Babar Azam who had completed 25 fifty-plus scores in

CAMERON GREEN GOT TO HIS CENTURY IN JUST 47 BALLS.

their T20 career at the age of 24 years 75 days and 24 years and 135 days respectively. On the other hand, Shubman Gill reached the said milestone at the age of 23 years and 255 days. Along with this, Gill also smashed a lot of other records during his knock. Gill became only the fourth player to score back to back centuries in IPL and also registered the highest score ever for GT. Speaking about his performance in the match, he said, "I am in good form, it's about getting a start and then conver ting it into a big one. In the first half of the IPL, I was missing out on those big ones. I was getting a lot of 40s and 50s. Thankfully, it's all working out for me in the business end of the IPL. You need to keep playing shots in T20 cricket. You have to keep the intent and keep applying yourself, keep the belief.

I DETAILS ON PAGE 26

Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis has opened up on his team's performance in the IPL 2023. RCB suffered a disappointing loss against Gujarat Titans in the 70th match of IPL 2023. They were among three teams with a chance to qualify for the final spot of the IPL Playoffs on the final league stage day on Sunday. Even though they had the best chance to finish in the top four, the Challengers conceded their advantage and finished in sixth place, letting Mumbai Indians take the final playoff place in 4th.

However, after the defeat, the RCB skipper has shed light on his team's campaign in the 16th edition of the Indian cash-rich league.

The Proteas star has stated that they were not one of the best teams in the competition and did not deserve to be in the playoffs. "I am so disappointed that our season ends there. If we take a hard look at ourselves, we'll be honest in saying that we weren't one of the best teams in the competition," Faf du Plessis said in a video posted by RCB on Monday. The skipper added, "We were lucky that there were some really good performances throughout the season but, as a whole (and) as a team, we probably don't deserve to be in the semifinal, if you look at the period of 15-14 games." Despite the loss, RCB had some big highlights from the season, starting with du Plessis and Virat Kohli's partnerships. Glenn Maxwell's power-hitting added to their arsenal and Mohammed Siraj was right on the money with the ball, especially in the powerplay. Du Plessis also spoke about the positives from the season. "It (defeat) still hurts. I mean, we tried really hard tonight (Sunday) and unfortunately just fell short. Looking at some real positives in the form of Maxi (Glenn Maxwell) this year, and the partnerships we had between myself and Virat (Kohli).

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SPORTS

MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

RAFAEL NADAL PULLS OUT OF FRENCH OPEN 2023 DUE TO INJURY, GIVES UPDATE ON RETIREMENT

DECISION ON ASIA CUP 2023 LIKELY TO BE TAKEN 'OVER THE NEXT WEEK OR SO' It appears that the current deadlock over the future of Asia Cup 2023 could end as early as this week with the BCCI inviting Sri Lanka Cricket president for the IPL 2023 playoffs during which discussions around the tournament will also be held.

According to reports, SLC president Shammi Silva has received invite from the Indian cricket board for the T20 league playoffs scheduled to be played from May 23 in Chennai. The qualifier 1 and Eliminator will be held in Chennai while the second qualifier and the final will be played in Ahmedabad. “We have been invited to witness IPL PlayOffs in India and during that trip, there will be discussions on the Asia Cup 2023. Nothing has been decided yet. But, I think the fate of Asia Cup 2023 will be decided over the next week or so. " SLC Silva was

quoted as saying telling Sri Lankan media. The uncertainty over the continental tournament began when BCCI refused to send its team to Pakistan, the host of the event, citing security reasons and a denial of permission from the Indian government. On the other hand, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier responded by threats to boycott the Men’s ODI World Cup set to be played in India later this year. It meant the tournament could be shifted to a neutral venue which PCB continues to vehemently oppose. However, recently, PCB chairman Najam Sethi said he has proposed a hybrid model for the Asia Cup which will see Pakistan playing its matches at home while India can play at a neutral venue.

BCCI will be conducting its Annual General Meeting (AGM) this Saturday (May 27) and as per reports, it will discuss Pakistan’s proposal.

Rafael Nadal has withdrawn from the French Open 2023 after sustaining an injury. The star Tennis player has never missed the French Open since winning the title there when he made his debut in 2005. It is a tragic news for Nadal's fans as they won't be able to see their favourite player in the tournament that has won a record 14 times (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022). Roland-Garros, the clay-court Grand Slam tournament in Paris will begin with its main-draw games on May 28. Nadal sustained an injury on his left hip flexor during a second-round loss at the Australian Open on January 18. After the injury, the 36-year-old aimed to return at the Monte Carlo Masters in March, but he wasn't able to play there, then subsequently sat out tournament after tournament.

VIRAT KOHLI SMASHES BACK-TO-BACK CENTURY IN IPL, BREAKS SERIES OF SPECIAL RECORDS

CAMERON GREEN'S TON GUIDES MI TO EMPHATIC WIN OVER SRH, ROHIT SHARMA'S SIDE STAYS ALIVE IN IPL 2023 Cameron Green's hundred guided Mumbai Indians to an emphatic win over Sunrisers Hyderabad in MI's final league game of IPL 2023 on May 21. Rohit Sharma's side chased down another 200-plus target in the season as they hunted SRH's 200 with 8 wickets in hand and 12 balls to spare. With this, Rohit's side has collected 16 points in the season and are alive in the race for the playoffs. Mumbai bossed the chase after a slight hiccup. They lost Ishan Kishan in the 3rd over and did not have a fiery start. However, once Cameron Green joined the party, MI stormed back into the contest. He looked unstoppable and hit boundaries at will in the initial phase. Green became the 9th centurion in the season and smashed the fastest hundred in IPL 2023 off just 47 balls. The Aussie all-rounder got to his tons as he hit the winning runs in the 18th over.

ROHIT SHARMA BECOMES 2ND INDIAN AFTER VIRAT KOHLI TO SCORE 11000 T20 RUNS Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma achieved a massive feat with the bat as he returned to form with a sublime half-century against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League match on Sunday. Rohit joined the elite list of cricketers to score 11000 runs in T20 cricket. The swashbuckling opener achieved the feat in a do-or-die clash versus Hyderabad at Wankhede Stadium as he became the second Indian after Virat Kohli to do so.

Virat Kohli smashed his consecutive century for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the match played on Sunday against Gujarat Titans. Virat's ton came during a very crucial time when the team was five wickets down. He hit 100 off 60 balls including 13 fours and a six. By his impressive batting Virat broke series of records and registered special milestones. Kohli surpassed Chris Gayle to score most centuries in the history of IPL as he registered his 7th century of the season. He has also reached the 600-run-mark in the 2023 edition of the tournament. It includes 6 half-centuries and two centuries. Virat Kohli had earlier scored four centuries in the year 2016 and a century in the year 2019. His previous hundred came in their last game against Sunrisers Hyderabad.

WTC FINAL: RAVI SHASTRI RECKONS ASHWIN, JADEJA WILL FEATURE IN INDIA'S PLAYING XI

Former India head coach Ravi Shastri reckons the Rohit Sharma-led side could include both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the playing eleven for the upcoming World Test Championship final against Australia, set to be played at The Oval from June 7-11.

Apart from ace off-spinner Ashwin and top-ranked all-rounder Jadeja in the 15-player squad, India also have the services of left-arm spin all-rounder Axar Patel. "If the track is hard and dry, you would want two spinners to play for sure. I think it goes a lot with the weather in England. I believe it's sunny now at the moment, but you know, English weather, how it can change in the month of June. So there's a very good chance India will go with two spinners, two fast bowlers and an all-rounder. That will be the combination. And then there'll be five batsmen and the wicket-keeper, so six batsmen," said Shastri in an episode of The ICC Review show.

EVERYTHING HE TOUCHES TURNS TO GOLD, AND THAT'S WHY HE'S NAMED MAHENDRA SINGH DHONI: SURESH RAINA Chennai Super Kings booked a berth in the 2023 IPL finals after completing a 15-run win over the reigning champions, Gujarat Titans on Tuesday at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

CSK's innings was spearheaded by Ruturaj Gaikwad scoring 60 runs en route to a 173-run target for Gujarat. The Titans couldn't match up, getting bowled out with 157 runs on the board with Shubman Gill as their biggest contributor, adding 42 runs. This will be Chennai's 10th appearance in the IPL Finals and was their first win against the Gujarat Titans since the franchise's inception in the 2022 season.

MS Dhoni's sparkling record as a captain in the IPL has further improved by him taking Chennai to their 10th Finals. He currently has four titles to his name and has moved one step closer to winning his fifth. JioCinema IPL exper t Suresh Raina hailed Dhoni's ability to lead teams to this late stage in the IPL consistently, "Look at how they reached the Finals, 14 season 10 Finals, I think it's a great achievement. MS Dhoni kept it simple. He deserves credit and Ruturaj (Gaikwad) had told me that CSK wants to win the title for Dhoni. Entire India wants to see Dhoni win the IPL. But what we got to see today is that it's very challenging to beat Chennai on this ground... Everything he touches turns to gold, and that's why he's named Mahendra Singh Dhoni." The dismissal of Hardik Pandya in the sixth over played a massive role in this win for Chennai.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

SUNNY LEONE LOOKS PICTURE-PERFECT IN A STUNNING GREEN GOWN TOYOTACANADARELEASESAPRILSALESRESULTS

SUNNY LEONE, WHO IS IN CANNES, DECIDED TO DRESS GREEN FOR HER FIRST OUTING. SHE HAS POSTED PICTURES OF HERSELF WEARING A STUNNING ONE-SHOULDER DRESS. THE ACTOR IS IN FRANCE FOR THE KENNEDY MOVIE PREMIERE DURING HER FIRST YEAR PARTAKING AT CANNES. RAHUL BHAT, THE MOVIE’S ACTOR, AND DIRECTOR ANURAG KASHYAP ARE BOTH IN CANNES. “AMAZING FIRST DAY @FESTIVALDECANNES DOING INTERVIEWS FOR #KENNEDY," SUNNY STATED ON INSTAGRAM WHILE POSTING SOME GORGEOUS IMAGES OF HERSELF TAKEN AROUND THE FRENCH RIVERA.

APRIL HOME SALES ROSE TO 11.3%, STRONGEST MONTHLY ADVANCE IN ALMOST 3 YEARS Spring 2023 increasingly looks like the turnaround point for Canada’s housing market after a year-long slump. April home resales spurted 11.3% m/m nationwide, marking the strongest monthly advance almost three years.

Prices rose in back-to-back months (including a 1.6% gain in April for the MLS Home Price Index) for the first time since early 2022—with the vast majority of local markets contributing. And perhaps more importantly, demand-supply conditions suddenly appear tight. Resurging demand and low inventories have put sellers back in the driver’s seat in most major markets, including Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary and Halifax. Activity is still running (11%) cooler than just before the pandemic but possibly not for long, especially if more sellers enter the market. The latter have so far remained hesitant to make a move.

New listings significantly lagged resales, rising just 1.6% m/m in April on the heels of a sharp 13.6% decline between January and March. Rising prices could spur more sellers into action. We suspect many have been waiting out the correction until conditions turned in their favour. A rise in supply would help unlock more of the pent-up demand that built over the past year.

Spring fever hits buyers in Toronto and Vancouver…

Earlier tentative signs of a turnaround in Toronto and Vancouver were confirmed in a big way in April. Home resales jumped 27% and 25% m/m, respectively, rolling back roughly one-quarter of the correction in one go. It appears buyers are quickly regaining confidence in both markets now that the Bank of Canada has paused its aggressive rate hike campaign. …and turns up the heat in other markets

The mood is becoming more upbeat in many other markets too. Resales also picked up solidly in Victoria (up 13% m/m), Calgary (up 12%), Hamilton (up 18%), Kitchener-Waterloo (up 16%), London (up 15%), Ottawa (up 14%) and Halifax (up 17%). These advances occurred despite further declines in homes listed for sale in most cases.

Price correction is over: property values are rising across the country Demand-supply conditions have tightened in the majority of places in April, giving sellers more pricing power. And they wasted no time using it. By our count, the MLS HPI increased in over three-quarters of local markets from March levels. Some of those gains were sizable. The index jumped 5.4% m/ m in Hamilton, 5.1% in Cambridge and 3.9% in Kitchener-Waterloo for example.

In Toronto, a 2.4% rise was the second in as many months, adding more than $35,000 to the benchmark price in the process (now sitting at $1.11 million).

It was a similar story in Vancouver where the benchmark price is up $23,000 (or 2.0%) over the last two months. The rebound was more subdued in Montreal, though, with the MLS HPI appreciating just 0.7% ($3,500).

MLS Home Price Index - Canada Combination chart with 2 data series.

Year-over-year % change in the composite index Source: Canadian Real Estate Association, RBC Economics View as data table, MLS Home Price Index - Canada The chart has 1 X axis displaying Time. Data ranges from 2006-01-01 00:00:00 to 2023-04-01 00:00:00.

TORONTO– Record-setting electrified vehicles led the way for Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) in April, representing 48.1% of overall sales. Both Toyota and Lexus divisions saw record electrified vehicle uptake last month. Electrified vehicles represented 48.2% of all Toyota units sold in April 2023, led by record April sales for RAV4 Hybrid, Corolla Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid and Tundra Hybrid. Electrified vehicles also represented 47.0% of all Lexus units sold in April 2023, with NX Hybrid, NX PHEV and RX Hybrid all setting April sales records.

Best month ever for Lexus Lexus had its best month ever, selling 3,061 units, up 21.2% from April 2022. Toyota division sold 16,555 units, down 7.0% from April 2022. Overall, TCI sold 19,616 vehicles in April 2023, down 3.5% from April 2022.

Made in Canada Toyota and Lexus vehicles assembled in Canada led the way in April.

Sales of the best-selling passenger vehicle in Canada, the Toyota RAV4, were up 21.3%, led by record April sales of the RAV4 Hybrid.

The Lexus NX and Lexus RX also saw record April sales, including records for their respective Hybrid versions.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM TICK BITES THIS SUMMER

Reduce your risk of Lyme disease and tick-borne illnesses As temperatures start to climb, the Ontario government is encouraging people across the province to take precautions to prevent tick bites and reduce the risk of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses when enjoying the outdoors. Lyme disease is a potentially serious infection that comes from being bitten by an infected blacklegged tick, commonly known as a deer tick.

Symptoms include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, and an expanding circular rash that resembles a bulls-eye. Ticks commonly live in wooded areas, tall grasses, and bushes and can be found almost anywhere in Ontario, including city gardens and parks.

"As we head outside to star t enjoying the warmer weather, it is impor tant to protect ourselves from Lyme disease and other tickborne illnesses," said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. "With tick populations expanding every year, the number of people at risk of tick bites is increasing. By taking simple precautions, Ontarians can protect themselves and their families when enjoying time outdoors in our beautiful province."

ravishing beauties at cannes 2023!

DETAILS INSIDE! SALMA HAYEK

URVASHI RAUTELA

GIGI HADID

JENNIFER LAWRENCE

MANUSHI CHHILLAR

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

LIV WHERE YOU ALWAYS WANTED FROM LAKESIDE HOMES IN GRAVENHURST AND SEVERN, TO BEAUTIFUL MODERN URBAN TOWNS IN BRAMPTON LIV Communities has launched the second phase of two premier communities in Ontario's cottage country.

Last year the "Live Near The Lake" joint initiative in par tnership with Bosseini Living brought you three gorgeous collections of single-family homes and towns by the water: The Cedars at Brydon Bay in Gravenhurst, and Paradise By The Lake and Serenity Bay, both in Severn.

Paradise by the Lake sold out quickly and construction is well underway with closings beginning this summer. Recently, we celebrated the grand opening of the next phase of the Cedars at Brydon Bay and Serenity Bay, with new homes now available.

Serenity Bay's 49' and 59' single-family homes and wide 30' townhomes are located just nor th of Orillia off Highway 11 at Grayshott and Turnbull Drive. Residents will have boardwalk access to a one-acre private club on the shores of Lake Couchiching, with private trails, picnic areas, kayak, paddleboard, and canoe launching off of the community dock. These homes, with contemporary architecture and stunning customizable features, are surrounded by forests and conservation lands.

The Cedars at Brydon Bay is a community of over 100 single family homes on extra deep lots. Located at Wellington Street and Evans Avenue just off the shores of Lake Muskoka, it's also minutes away from Gravenhurst's town centre. Here, in the most famous par t of Ontario's cottage country, you'll be able to enjoy a wide variety of year-round festivals, markets, and eateries, while the rocky waterways and pristine forests offer plenty of activities such as hiking, cross country skiing, boating, fishing, snowmobiling, and golfing.

Both communities offer mid to late 2025 closings with extended deposit structures available. For more information, contact one of our two sales centres in Toronto (416.386.0222; 1 Duncan Mills Road, North York) or Severn (705.703.9252; 9361 Highway 11, Cumberland Beach).

We are also pleased to announce an upcoming release at Sienna Woods West. This modern collection of townhomes in Brantford is offering amazing value star ting as low as the $600s. They're surrounded by protected greenspace with access to trails in this charming city on the Grand River known for its boutiques, restaurants, museums, and galleries.

In the GTA, there are oppor tunities still available at Maya Urban Towns, a unique collection of walk-up and stacked townhomes at Mayfield Road and Bramalea Road in Brampton. All models feature three bedrooms with modern designs and spacious layouts. They also back onto greenspace, giving you quick views and access to the natural landscapes and trails of the area. Plus, you'll have access to plenty of urban amenities within walking distance- from shopping to dining to entertainment - and a full range of schools, parks, and healthcare offerings just a short drive away. Maya is a sure investment in an area that is one of the fastest growing in the country. Visit our website to schedule an appointment or to learn more - livhere.ca This is your opportunity to find the home you always wanted, built by a trusted family-owned company, in some of the most beautiful locations across southern Ontario. Don't miss your chance!

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

LIFESTYLE

MidWeek 31 CANNES 2023: LOOKING BACK AT SARA ALI KHAN’S MOST ICONIC LOOKS

BY THE FRENCH RIVIERA

URVASHI RAUTELA LITS THE CITY ORANGE WHILE LOOKING STUNNING IN A FLOWER GOWN Cannes 2023: At the ongoing Cannes Film Festival 2023, Urvashi Rautela is creating a stir with her cutting-edge fashion sense. At the 76th Cannes Film Festival in 2023, Urvashi Rautela donned an ornate orange gown on the fourth day. She posted photos from that day on her Instagram. For the fourth day of Cannes 2023, Urvashi Rautela wore a dress in the hue orange by the Parisian design house Homolog.

Urvashi Rautela shared the pictures with the caption, “A rendezvous of talent, passion, and inspiration: Cannes Film Festival".

Urvashi was spotted wearing an orange couture ensemble. In the sensual orange blossom strapless gown, she was stunning and enticing. She had been wearing a corseted dress with oversized offshoulder sleeves. The colour of Urvashi’s lipstick complemented the teal blue in her dress. She had chosen an ornate halter-neck gown for

a second stunning outing, which featured heavy stonework all over the corset and a multi-layered ruffle tulle waist down. She looked all the more beautiful while bunning her hair in a middle-part knot. She decided against wearing earrings and substituted a galaxy-patterned choker for them, finishing the ensemble with a few diamond rings.

Urvashi continued to add drama to her makeup with precisely contoured cheeks, long lashes, properly coloured eyes, and glossy lip colour. Without a doubt, the actress looked beautiful. She has a devoted following that is only becoming bigger with each public appearance because to her exquisite sense of style and ability to pull off any look with ease. The 2015 Miss Diva winner was Urvashi. Moreover, she represented India at the 2015 Miss Universe pageant. She will soon be featured in the online series Inspector Avinash, which stars Randeep Hooda.

Cannes 2023: Sara mesmerized on her Cannes Film Festival debut, effortlessly captivating the crowd with her impeccable sartorial choices. The rising star exuded elegance, donning breathtaking ensembles that were both daring and enchanting. Her ethereal presence and grace left an indelible mark on the red carpet, as she showcased her innate fashion sense with radiant charm.

CANNES 2023: ESHA GUPTA IS AN ABSOLUTE STUNNER IN A SEXY 'TIFFANY BLUE' DRESS

JANHVI KAPOOR WEARS HOLOGRAPHIC SKIRT, LOOKS STUNNING IN HER MERMAID LOOK Janhvi Kapoor has been taking the fashion bar up by multiple notches one outfit at a time. She is one of the most stylish divas in Bollywood and a fashion icon for Gen Z. Her style mantra is all about making statements and leaving everyone stunned with her sartorial choices.

Recently, the Mili actress shared a few glimpses of her extravagant look and the results were everything fairytales are made of.

Recently, she blew away the minds of her fans after she dropped some ultra-glamorous and gorgeous photos of herself on her Instagram feed. Along with these photos, she also provided glimpses of her many moods.

In the BTS snippets, Janhvi Kapoor shared a few snaps from her shoot. She wore a holographic mermaid skir t and paired it with a jawdroppingly beautiful bustier top with pearl-adorned straps and shellshaped fabric in pastel blue hues. Her whole look was for Disney’s The Little Mermaid movie promotions. To capture the essence of the

ocean world, she added conch shell earrings to elevate the look. For her glam picks, she opted for cascading hair with mermaid waves, wispy eyelashes and soft eye makeup using pinks and lilacs. She chose rouged cheeks and pink highlights and glossy lips. In case you missed out on her mermaid look, check it out here and be instantly transported to the magical worldThe Little Mermaid is helmed by Rob Marshall and will star Halle Bailey as Ariel. The movie will also feature Melissa McCarthy, Jonah Hauer-King, Javier Bardem, Daveed Diggs and many others.

On the other hand, Janhvi Kapoor was last seen in the film Mili, directed

by Mathukutty Xavier. It also starred Sunny Kaushal, Manoj Pahwa, Sanjay Suri and others. The actress is now gearing up for Bawaal where she will be sharing the screen with Varun Dhawan and Mr and Mrs Mahi with Rajkummar Rao. She is all set to mark her debut in the Telugu industry with RRR star Jr NRR in NTR30.

THE TOP ACTIONS REPRESENTING INFIDELITY NEW DELHI, (IANSLIFE) Infidelity can be a devastating event for those affected. It's a subject that has sparked a lot of debate over time and contributed to the dissolution of numerous marriages and relationships. The concept of infidelity has evolved over time, though, blurring the boundaries between what is acceptable and what is not.

Switching Up the Sheets Infidelity is often indicated by the act of engaging in sexual intercourse with someone other than one's partner, which can take the form of a one-night stand or a full-blown affair outside of the relationship. The survey results indicate that 39 per cent of women have had thoughts of engaging in sexual activity with someone other than their par tner. In particular, the survey found that 52 per cent of women from Kolkata, 42 per cent from Delhi, and 40 per cent from Mumbai have expressed interest in such activities, while 40 per cent from Ludhiana, 39 per cent from Jaipur, and 38 per cent from Ahmedabad have also indicated that they have considered or acted on infidelity.

Swingin' Solo but outside the Relationship Box Infidelity can take on different forms, including platonic relationships outside of the existing partnership. This involves engaging romantic moments with someone other than your current par tner, such as sharing deep conversations, tender touches, or emotionally private experiences. Surprisingly, the survey found that 46 per cent of men are inclined towards seeking this kind of connection outside of their official relationships. Additionally, individuals aged 36-50 years old display a higher inclination towards this behaviour, with 48 per cent falling in this category. Moreover, different cities show varying rates of infidelity, including a staggering 52 per cent in Kolkata, 38 per cent in Delhi, 40 per cent in Mumbai, 44 per cent in Kochi, 45 per cent in Ludhiana, and 40 per cent in Ahmedabad.

When Forbidden Temptations Meet Virtual Connections In today's world, a large number of people engage in online flirting using various communication methods such as text messaging, chat, and email. Virtual flirting involves activities like sexting, sending flirty emojis, and exchanging intimate messages with individuals who are not one's current partner. According to the survey, 36 per cent of women and 35 per cent of men are drawn towards virtual flirting. The statistics reveal that 34 per cent of people from Mumbai, 35 per cent from Delhi, and 32 per cent from Kolkata fall into Tier 1 cities. In Tier 2 cities, 35 per cent of respondents from Kochi, 31 per cent from Ludhiana, and 29 per cent from Indore have revealed some astounding results.

Cannes 2023: In a rather stunning display of style and grace, the ever-gorgeous Esha Gupta stole the spotlight on the streets of Cannes, leaving onlookers breathless as she posed by the French Riviera in a stunning tiffany blue dress from Fendi. The length of the dress was ar tfully tailored, accentuating her enviable, lean legs, while exuding an air of timeless glamour.

Complementing the enchanting dress, Gupta chose to don lovely sleek golden stilettos that added a touch of sophistication and height to her statuesque frame. Her choice of footwear effortlessly elevated the overall allure of her ensemble, creating a harmonious balance between elegance and glamour.

To further enhance her impeccable style, the actress opted for a vibrant Fendi clutch, effor tlessly blending hues to create a captivating visual contrast. The black shades she spor ted were nothing short of regal, adding an air of mystery and intrigue to her already stunning appearance. A true embodiment of effortless elegance, we must say.

Adding a classic touch to her ensemble, Gupta adorned her wrist with a delicate bracelet from Bulgari. The timeless piece of jewellery added a subtle yet impactful element to her look, showcasing her impeccable taste and attention to detail.

Keeping her makeup minimal, Esha allowed her natural beauty to shine through, enhancing her radiant complexion with subtle touches of blush and a hint of lip colour. Her tresses, left open and cascading in gentle waves, exuded an aura of carefree glamour, perfectly complementing her overall look.

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

CANNES 2023: JENNIFER LAWRENCE LOOKS RADIANT IN A CLASSIC RED GOWN

MOUNI ROY EXUDES CHARM IN A CHIC BLACK GOWN AT THE CANNES FILM FESTIVAL Mouni Roy wore a gorgeous black gown for her second appearance at Cannes after making her red carpet debut in a yellow ensemble.

She posted several images from her seond outing to her Instagram account along with the remark “Noir (sic)." In the pictures, she is pictured looking lovely in a black bodycon dress with a flare at the end. The off-shoulder dress includes a white bow up front as well.

Mouni put her hair up in a tidy ponytail. In the outfit, she accentuates her contours well. Mouni Roy donned a traditional black fishtail dress with a sweethear t neckline that she purchased from Tarik Ediz, a renowned fashion designer. In the fish-shaped gown with a figurehugging style, Mouni showed off her curves. Her trademark winged eyeliner and a nude lip colour were the only cosmetics she wore.

Mouni merely pulled her hair back into a tidy ponytail, and she was really stunning in the outfit.

We have always admired Mouni for having sharp features, whether it

be in her eyes, her makeup, or anything else. She made care to maintain the edgy style and let her eyes do the talking once more at Cannes. She had very distinct eyes with ideal contours, which wonderfully complemented the outfit she was wearing.

Mouni also recently shared a reel video on her instagram page with the caption, “Films,art, culture, wine, cheese, and lots of good food?

Hello Cannes." Apar t from Mouni, several stars including Sara Ali Khan, Manushi Chhillar, Anushka Sharma, Dolly Singh, and many Indian celebs are making their debut at the 76th Cannes Film Festival.

Aishwarya Rai, Urvashi Rautela, Vijay Varma, and Guneet Monga also graced the red carpet at Cannes 2023. Mouni Roy left everyone impressed with her powerful portrayal of Junoon in Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor starrer 2022 released blockbuster hit Brahmastra. The actress next shares the screen space alongside Sanjay Dutt, Palak Tiwari, and Sunny Singh, in the upcoming sci-fi horror comedy flick The Virgin Tree.

Cannes 2023: The red carpet came alive with an ethereal glow as Hollywood superstar Jennifer Lawrence graced the event in a breathtaking fashion ensemble. In a rather stunning display of beauty and sophistication, Jennifer dressed in a lovely, timeless red gown, exuded elegance and poise, leaving a lasting impression on not just everyone around her but all those seeing the live broadcast of the International film festival.

The captivating red gown embraced Lawrence’s figure creating a stunning silhouette, and accentuating her lean figure with its impeccable tailoring. The rich, vibrant hue of the gown perfectly complemented her complexion, making her glow like the true star that she is. The satin red arm stole draped delicately o on her arms, added an extra touch of glamour and a fairytale-like feel to her entire ensemble.

To enhance her look, Lawrence styled herself with a sleek diamond choker that exuded an air of luxury and classic charm.

The dazzling diamonds sparkled with every movement, capturing the light and illuminating her neckline with a mesmerizing brilliance. The combination of the red gown and the exquisite diamond choker created as harmonious and captivating as it could literally get, a styling brilliance one could say.

Keeping in line with her timeless elegance, the actress opted for a natural, no-makeup look. Her flawless complexion radiated a healthy glow, allowing her natural beauty to shine through.

With a subtle touch of gloss on her lips, she added a hint of allure and sensuality to her overall appearance, per fectly balancing simplicity and glamour.

Jennifer Lawrence’s blonde tresses cascaded down her shoulders in loose waves, framing her face with a touch of softness and femininity. The effortless, tousled hairstyle added a touch of relaxed elegance to her red carpet look, enhancing her overall aura of grace and charm. Believe it or not, she sure did look straight out of an 80’s romantic Hollywood movie and we are definitely not complaining.

VAANI KAPOOR'S METALLIC BACKLESS DRESS IS GIVING ALL THE RIGHT STYLE GOALS

CANNES 2023: DIANA PENTY HOLDS ONTO EVERYTHING HASSLE-FREE IN A TASSLE LADEN OUTFIT Diana Penty appeared at Cannes 2023 wearing an embroidered tassleheavy dress in all-black. Diana wore an easygoing outfit with a striking accent that went around her body and ended at her legs. Diana’s comments for her collection of pictures was a humorous take on the way she had dressed that day.

The stiff shoulders on Diana Penty’s Philipp Plein dress gave the playful silhouette a strong edge. The small black dress had a shor t volume and was covered in a lot of sequins; the hem fell just below the waist. A frame of fringe tassels that brushed the tops of her knees emerged from the sculpted shoulders was the dress’s most striking feature. The form-fitting design worked well with the tassel-detailing to lend a noticeable degree of motion and fluidity to the ensemble.

Diana wore strapped peep-toe shoes from Giuseppe Zanotti and wore an all-black outfit. Diana finished off her ensemble with a centerparted twist hairstyle, dark smoky eyes, and a nude lip.

At the prestigious Cannes film festival, Diana’s prior fashion sprint included a bold gold Falguni and Shane Peacock ensemble. The outfit included a high-rise skir t with a slim fit and an infinity shir t with

maggi sleeves. Diana’s appearance at Cannes 2023 got off to a bejewelled star t because to the massive rhinestone and bead work that covered the whole volume of the gown. At the prestigious Cannes film festival, Diana’s prior fashion sprint included a bold gold ensemble. The outfit included a high-rise skir t with a slim fit and an infinity shirt with maggi sleeves. Diana’s appearance at Cannes 2023 got off to a bejewelled start given the massive rhinestone and bead work that covered the whole volume of the gown.

Diana Penty most recently played Naina in the Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi movie Selfiee. For Section 84, the actress is now in production. Additionally, Diana has finished work on the films Bloody Daddy, starring Shahid Kapoor, and Adbhut. These will not yet have more information announced.

The French Riviera began rolling out its red carpet for the 76th Festival de Cannes on May 16. Numerous well-known figures from around the world have appeared at the French gala honouring film and ar t, which will run until May 27. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Mrunal Thakur, and Manushi Chhillar are a few Indian celebrities.

ACUPUNCTURE FOR HYPERTENSION: HOW DOES IT WORK? NEW DELHI, (IANSLIFE) Hypertension or high blood pressure poses a significant risk to both mortality and disability rates in India. If you are living with high blood pressure, your healthcare team may recommend incorporating lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medication to manage your symptoms. However, alongside these conventional approaches, acupuncture, a therapeutic method derived from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), may offer potential benefits as par t of your treatment regimen.

Blood Pressure and Hypertension Blood pressure (BP) refers to the force that blood exer ts on the walls of arteries during circulation. It is determined by the contraction of the heart muscle and is measured in systolic (during heart contraction) and diastolic (during hear t relaxation) pressures. Typically, BP is denoted by the systolic pressure preceding the diastolic pressure, such as 120/80 which is considered normal.

How does Acupuncture Help to Regulate Blood Pressure?

While the exact mechanisms of how acupuncture works are not yet fully understood from a scientific perspective, it is believed that the stimulation of certain points in the body can have an impact on the central nervous system, influencing blood flow and the production of key hormones. Regarding hypertension, acupuncture may assist in regulating blood pressure by affecting the hormones involved in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). This system is responsible for maintaining blood pressure levels and fluid-electrolyte balance. In par ticular, acupuncture may influence the presence of hormones and enzymes related to the RAAS in the bloodstream and stimulate receptors in the body that regulate blood pressure. Moreover, acupuncture could potentially act on the limbic system, leading to increased levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that plays a significant role in the brain's reward system. According to a study conducted recently, dopamine has the potential to decrease oxidative stress, which is characterised by an overabundance of free radicals, thereby assisting in maintaining healthy blood pressure levels.

Vaani is well known for her bold fashion choices and never fails to astound her fans with her remarkable outfits. The War star made heads turn as she walked the red carpet at the Femina Presents Mamaear th Beautiful Indians 2023 awards recently.

Her captivating appearance during the event has left fashion enthusiasts taking notes. Her stunning backless outfit at the event maintained her status as a style icon and was proof of her ability to carry off any ensemble.

The actress gave her fans some major weekend fashion goals with a string of pictures on her Instagram handle. Vaani Kapoor was dressed to the nines in a glitzy metallic outfit for the award ceremony. The dress featured a backless design with a chic tie at the back, a halter neckline and a deep V-neck. The flared bottom gave Vaani’s look a touch of elegance.

Vaani Kapoor kept her accessories to a minimum, with silver bangles on her hands and bold stud earrings that went well with her look. For her makeup, she opted for contoured cheeks, neutral eyeshadow, winged eyeliner, and glossy lip colour. Vaani used a shimmering highlighter to go all in with the metallic effect. She also wore white nail polish to contrast with her silver attire. Lastly, the actress styled her hair in side-par ted, wavy tresses. Earlier this year, the Shamshera actress exuded a similar classy look at the Pinkvilla Style Icon Awards. Vaani Kapoor was red carpet ready in a sky-blue sequin gown. The figure-hugging ensemble featured a thin strap that crossed over the actress’s shoulder. Vaani stole the limelight in the thighhigh slit dress that accentuated her toned body.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

LIFESTYLE

MidWeek 33 CANNES 2023: SALMA HAYEK MAKES A DRAMATIC STATEMENT IN A DEEP NECK GOWN

POOJA HEDGE IS READY TO SET THE WORLD ON FIRE IN THIS SEXY RED CUT-OUT DRESS Pooja Hegde’s sense of style is admired by one and all. She can slay any outfit, be it a comfy casual or an elaborate ethnic. The Kisi Ka Bhai Kisi Ki Jaan actress’ impeccable outfits compel fashion enthusiasts to take notes. Pooja star ted the week in style in a unique red gown and shared a slew of pictures on her Instagram handle. She looked stunning as she posed for her photo shoot in a sassy dress from the fashion house Monot. Pooja Hegde captioned the pics, “Where’s the matchstick coz I’m about to set this world on fire.”

Pooja was dressed in a vivid red gown with a cross-shoulder strap and a cut-out on one side of the waist. The dress featured a lengthy skir t with a thigh-high cut, exposing her midriff. For accessories,

Pooja Hegde picked dramatic silver embellished stilettos from Christian Louboutin, sleek earrings and a statement ring.

In terms of makeup, Pooja wore smokey eyeshadow, black eyeliner, black kohl, mascara-coated eyelashes, drawn eyebrows, contoured cheeks, and nude lip colour. She kept her hair open in wavy curls with a middle part. We envy Pooja Hegde’s unique wardrobe. Just a few days ago, the actress draped herself in a gorgeous fish-cut saree. By now we know that Pooja loves black, so the colour of the saree wasn’t a surprise. The saree featured a tulle layer and was paired with a beautiful backless blouse with a plunging neckline that was embellished with sequins. Pooja selected her personalised saree from the collection JADE by Monica and Karishma.

EFFECTIVE MEAL PLANNING IN THE AGE OF HEALTHY EATING Find Your Health Goal The first step to effective meal planning is to identify your health goal. This could be based on your weight, medical check-up repor ts, or a personal decision to try out a new diet. It's important to consult a professional to help you set this up, as they can guide you towards a realistic and sustainable goal. Once you have identified your health goal, it's important to create a system to track your progress. This could be as simple as a chart stuck to your fridge, or you could use apps, smartwatches, or health monitoring gadgets to make tracking more convenient.

Changing Diets Is Easier With The Internet One of the biggest challenges to meeting a health goal is learning how to cook new things. You may not be able to rely on your mom or cook to cut your carbs, and you can't expect the rest of your household to change their eating habits to accommodate your new diet. Thankfully, in 2023, learning to cook new things from the internet is easy. There are plenty of resources available to help you learn new recipes and techniques. You can find tutorials, blogs, and videos that will guide you through the process of cooking healthy meals. Additionally, ingredients are more abundant than ever before, so don't be afraid to try out new things. Make changing diets a fun experience full of discovery.

Cannes 2023: Stepping onto the red carpet at the 76th annual Cannes Film Festival, Salma Hayek radiated pure elegance as she graced the premiere of “Killers Of The Flower Moon." Dressed in a mesmerizing deep-neck purple gown, Hayek captivated all with the gown’s dramatic flair. Every detail of her ensemble, from the statement diamond jewellery to her regally styled updo, exuded a regal aura that left spectators in awe. Hayek’s choice of attire for the occasion was nothing short of spectacular. The deep neck of the gown showcased her flawless décolletage, adding an alluring touch to her overall appearance. The gown’s remarkable flair and silhouette beautifully emphasized her every movement, creating a sense of ethereal grace as she walked the red carpet. Adding an extra touch of opulence, the actress adorned herself with statement diamond jewellery. The neckpiece, in particular, was an absolute showstopper, capturing the essence of sophistication and luxury.

Its exquisite design perfectly complemented her gown, enhancing her radiant presence and ensuring that all eyes were drawn to her mesmerizing beauty. And let’s not forget the captivating ring, a true testament to her exquisite taste and love for fine craftsmanship.

Completing her regal look, Hayek opted for an elegant updo, with her hair artfully styled in a bun. This choice not only accentuated her facial features but also added an air of sophistication and timeless beauty. With her hair flawlessly gathered, she exuded an aura of confidence and regality, proving once again why she is regarded as a true Hollywood icon. Salma Hayek’s presence at the Cannes Film Festival was a sight to behold. Her deep-neck purple gown, adorned with its breathtaking flair, combined with the statement diamond jewellery, created an ensemble that was both visually captivating and artistically stunning.

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

CANNES 2023: MANUSHI CHHILLAR LOOKS ETHEREAL IN A NETTED BLACK DRESS BY THE FRENCH RIVIERA

CANNES 2023: GIGI HADID LOOKS ETHEREAL IN A STRAPLESS FISHTAIL GOWN, SEEKS INSPIRATION FROM SISTER BELLA Cannes 2023: In a truly show-stopping moment, the sensational Gigi Hadid graced the red carpet at the International film festival for the much-anticipated screening of the film Firebrand (Le Jeu De La Reine). Gigi’s choice of attire, a breathtaking custom Jean Paul Gaultier fishtail gown, left spectators in awe. Every bit of her look from the day was magnificently noteworthy and would be an utter shame if nobody really spoke about it considering it did make heads turn and how! Gigi’s reinterpretation of the iconic Y2K design was a testament to her fashion-forward sensibilities and a keen eye for elegance. Opting for a less dramatic approach, she adorned herself in a mesmerizing beige colour palette that exuded sophistication and timeless beauty. The gown’s scaled-down train added a touch of regality as it gracefully trailed behind her, adding an element of grandeur to her overall ensemble. The silhouette of the gown

accentuated Gigi’s tall and lean figure making her look phenomenal.

However, it was the supermodel’s choice of accessories that truly elevated her glamour quotient. She effortlessly amped up the dazzle factor by adorning herself with a stellar Messika Jewellery diamond neckpiece that delicately cascaded around her neck, enhancing her radiant beauty.

The matching bracelet adorned her wrist with a dazzling display of brilliance. The pièce de résistance, however, was the multiple diamond earrings that elegantly climbed up her ears, catching the light with every movement. A special mention should however also go out for that magnificent pair of tear-drop earrings, the sheer beauty of it, one can hardly ever get past the memory of seeing it. A good set of diamond rings graced her fingers, reflecting the glimmering lights of the event, leaving onlookers in an absolute daze of her impeccable taste.

Cannes 2023: After her amazing red carpet look, Manushi Chhillar has left her fans mesmerized yet again with a breathtaking appearance in a stunning black netted dress. The intricate details of the ensemble, coupled with her impeccable styling choices, showcased her great fashion sense and innate elegance. Manushi’s choice of attire for the occasion was nothing short of exquisite. The black netted dress effor tlessly showcased her svelte figure, with its colourful neckline, Vshaped neck, netted sleeves, and flared netted hemline. The dress’s vibrant stones added a touch of glamour, elevating her look to new heights of fashion brilliance. Every intricate detail of the ensemble spoke volumes about her impeccable style and attention to detail. In terms of makeup, the stunning actress embraced a minimalistic approach, allowing her natural beauty to shine through. With a touch of nude eyeshadow that beautifully accentuated her eyes, perfectly winged eyeliner that added a hint of allure, and voluminous mascara that enhanced her lashes, her eyes became the focal point of her radiant visage.

Subtle contouring on her cheeks added a touch of definition, while a subtle shade of nude lipstick completed her makeup look, exuding elegance and grace.

CANNES 2023: DOLLY SINGH PAYS ODE TO OLD BOLLYWOOD IN A BESPOKE ABU JANI SANDEEP KHOSLA OUTFIT

MASOOM MINAWALA LOOKS MAJESTIC IN A BLUE GOWN AT CANNES 2023; CALLS HERSELF 'INDIAN ELSA' Cannes 2023: Masoom Minawala, India’s undeniable fashion queen, represented her country at Cannes for the four th consecutive year while walking the red carpet in a majestic blue couture gown designed

by Falguni Shane Peacock.

The outfit had a 13-foot-long waist cape trail made out of numerous layers of ruffles. Masoom’s grace and delicacy are captured in the waist cape’s several layers of ruffles that softly drop from the waistline.

It was expertly made with great attention to detail. The bodice of the dress features intricate embroidery that highlights the country of India’s famed fine craftsmanship and cultural heritage. The gown’s modern allure is enhanced by the Swarovski stones, beads, and crystal decorations, which give the ensemble an enchanted appearance.

Masoom has once more kept her makeup simple and straight to the point by sticking to a sheer look accented with a shimmer blush and sharp, well-defined eyes using mascara. She made sure to apply nude lipstick, which once more complemented the whole style. The fact that her outfit and makeup go so well together is completely

taken care of. Masoom selected a lovely pair of white earrings from Carillon Jewel and Joolry by Karishma for her accessories. Her hair looks so lovely pulled back in a middle-pattern bun that is perfectly done. In order to sum up this complete look—which also happens to be Masoom’s last appearance from the 76th Cannes Film Festival— it is safe to say that this is by far one of her best looks.

Masoom also displayed her ethereal sense of style throughout this season by wearing pieces by Rober to Cavalli, Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla, Marmar Halim, and Elio Abou Fayssal, all of which were styled by none other than Anaita Shroff Adajania.

Masoom Minawala Mehta, an award-winning Indian influencer, visited the French Riveria and posted pictures of her experience on Instagram. She made her debut appearance wearing ultrac h i c b l u e c l o t h e s b y Ro b e r t o C a v a l l i . “ To u c h d o w n #CannesFilmFestival 2023. It’s time to have some fun! Kickstar ting with a vibe that’s been so me lately. Streetwear. À la @rober to_cavalli ,” she said in the caption.

TESTS FOR MOTHER'S TO CONSIDER FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH NEW DELHI, (IANSLIFE) Mothers are always on their toes to take care of their children, family, and friends. However, when it comes to taking care of their own health, they tend to lag behind.

While working moms get overwhelmed in balancing work and personal life, housemakers in the midst of their morning-to-night home managing schedules lose track of their own health. However, with the emergence of technology and diagnostic services available 24x7 on your smartphone, monitoring health has become effor tless. Therefore, mothers must not overlook their health and should undergo these ten essential tests, thereby, pre-empting any potential health-related complications and ensuring timely intervention suggested by Dr Monica Malik, Senior Consultant - Obstetrics and Gynaecologist, at Apollo 24|7, and Apollo Hospitals, Sector 26, Noida. Diabetes: The prevalence of diabetes in Indian women stands at 7.5 per cent which makes it imperative to regularly get their blood sugar levels checked. Diabetes can adversely impact triggering long-term complications in women's health, par ticularly through their various phases including pregnancy, post-partum, lactation, and menopause. To diagnose diabetes, you can go for blood tests such as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) test, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) test. Thyroid: Thyroid tests are equally important for women, however, often ignored. It impacts the health of women in numerous ways. Sometimes sudden weight gain or weight loss can be a significant indicator of the thyroid condition. Tests to undergo for thyroid include TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone) test or the T4 (Thyroxine) test or the overall thyroid profile test. Hyper tension: Due to an overburdened lifestyle, women are often vulnerable to hypertension. Therefore, it is highly important that women, particularly those above age 35, should get their blood pressure vitals checked at regular intervals of time. The normal blood pressure range is considered 120/80.

Dolly Singh, a well-known content producer and actor, made her red carpet debut at Cannes on the fourth day of the 76th international film festival on May 19. She sported a beautiful pearl-embellished conical blouse and an ivory sarong-skir t from the shelves of Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla.

Dolly sported a custom-made elegant outfit by ace couturiers Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla which comprised of a hand embroidered 1980-inspired conical blouse bejewelled with pearl embellishments and an ivory hued sarong-skir t with a 3.5 meters long ruffled dramatic trail for her first day at the French Riviera.

Sandeep Khosla states, “The outfit was inspired by Zeenat Aman’s Satyam Sundaram. We have been working on this conical blouse for a while and it’s a classic. Dolly is an exotic girl who isn’t conventional by any standards and emotes beautifully. She carried off this outfit to the fullest and looked every bit of a Bollywood diva.”

Dolly Singh states, “The outfit celebrated Indian craftsmanship and took over 150 working hours to curate. It was a beautiful blend of contemporary and traditional elements that was thoughtfully created by the fashion maestros Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla. I am grateful that I could in my own humble way represent Indian culture on my first ever red-carpet walk.”

Mohit Rai states, “The idea was to curate something that seamlessly marries avant-garde fashion and Indian couture craftsmanship. Abu Jani Sandeep Khosla collaborated with me to create this custom look that borrows from their archival work with a touch of innovativeness!" She opted for a fresh look with minimalistic make-up and natural curls. She was styled by Mohit Rai and adorned elegant fine jewellery by Burma Paris and shoes by ALEVi´ Milano. She walked the red carpet for Jonathan Glazer’s ‘The Zone of Interest’ which earned a six-minute standing ovation following its’ world premiere.

MIDWEEK NEWS NEWS WEEKLY WEEKLY TUESDAY, AUGUST TUESDAY, MAY 23, 28, 2012 2023

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TD HELPS NEWCOMERS TO CANADA WITH THEIR FINANCIAL TRANSITION THROUGH TAILORED ADVICE

C

anada welcomes hundreds of thousands of newcomers every year. Newcomers are a vital economic driver for Canada, accounting for over 95 per cent of Canada's population growth, and nearly 100 per cent of its labour force growth, according to Government of Canada statistics. But making the transition to a new country has its challenges. Beyond immediate needs, such as housing and employment, there are many new things to learn about how Canadians live and work, including how the financial system operates, anddeveloping a plan to help you achieve your financial goals in your new country.

Although Canada has madestrides in attracting the best and brightest fromaround the world, a recent survey by TD found thatnew Canadiansare less likely to be confident they can reach their financial goals.

Only 26 per cent of new Canadians surveyed by TD said they were 'very confident,' they could reach their financial goals, while 57 per cent were 'somewhat confident', and 16 per cent were 'not very confident at all.'

"Perhaps the best tool for achieving your personal financial goals is having abudget ," says Muhammad Kara, Product Group Owner, and Senior Manager, New to Canada at TD. "If you're a newcomer to Canada, he adds, that's important because you're dealing with the complexities of being new to the country ."

A solution: Advice and tailored banking packages "There is no one-size-fits-all approach that works for every age and phase of a newcomer's Canadian journey. For example, the needs of an international student may be vastly different from those who have arrived in Canada as permanent residents. And their needs are different again from those in Canada on a temporary work permit," says Kara. "But regardless of where they are in their Canadian journey, TD can help them navigate their financial journey in Canada." For instance, he points out, TD recently released multipleenhancements to help meet the needs of newcomers, including the TD New to Canada Banking Package (a value of $1,575) and the TD International Student Banking Package (a value of $550).

Additionally for this segment, TD offers a fully digital, andno applicationfee GIC programforinternational students applying for their study permit via the acceleratedGovernment of Canada Student Direct

Stream(SDS) program. This TD GIC program provides international students with a no-fee student chequing accountand allows them to fulfill one of the requirements of the Government's expedited study permit process via the GIC. Even the ATMs may speak your language Being able to access banking services in your own language is a big part of feeling comfortable with your bank, according to Kara. Across TD's 1,000-plus Canadian branch network, there are a variety of TD employees who speak different languages, up to 50 in total. And over the phone, translation services for more than 200 languages are available.

"We offer ATM service in seven languages," says Kara. "In addition to English and French, there's Greek, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese. And we are the only bank in Canada with ATM service in Punjabi, Portuguese and Italian."

Resources tailored tonewcomers Recently, the bank embarked on a multi-year strategic relationship with one of the leading online resources on Canadian immigrationinformation- CanadaVisa, and its affiliate news site,CIC News. The focus of the strategic relationship, says Kara, is to help provide newcomers with consistent and reliable information on key financial topics,from understanding Canadian bank accounts, how to build a good credit score, saving, investing for the future, buying a home, and much more.You can access these resources by heading to: www.cicnews.com/td.

TD also offers helpful resources for newcomers,such as a Welcome Bookletand a Guide to Canadian Banking Terms (both available in 10-plus languages). "Working with a knowledgeable advisor can be very beneficial for newcomers," Kara says. "It can help newcomers as they settle into a new life in Canada." TD Personal Bankers are available at TD branches across the country to provide personalized advice and help Canadian newcomers with their financial goals. Book an appointment at your convenience with a TD Personal Banker by heading to td.com.

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MIDWEEK NEWS WEEKLY TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023