Australia’s census night is on Tuesday 10 August 2021.
It will tell us about the latest economic, social and cultural make-up of Australia.
Image Source: Andrew Henderson, Census Executive Director and National Spokesperson, ABS.
Andrew Henderson, Census Executive Director and National Spokesperson said:
“With exactly 100 days to go it’s a good time to reflect on the enormous value the Census provides. It’s not just about counting people and households.”
Every census tells a story about Australia – its past, present and future.
The census stats show various communities growth and things that are needed to help them continue to grow.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has been preparing to deliver a Census that helps ensure everyone in Australia has an opportunity to participate.
Image Source: ABS.
ABS is providing more options for people to complete their Census this year.
People will be able to fill in their forms online, on phone, tablet, or laptop, or use the traditional paper form if they prefer.
This will provide the much needed flexibility to understand and fill a form at a time that best suits a person.
Mr Henderson adds:
“We also have a lot of support in place to provide people with any extra help they need. This includes our Census field staff, phone and online services, Census information hubs in public places to answer peoples’ questions and translated material.”
The Census is obviously a very big job for ABS and they are as always ready for it.
“The conduct is obviously disappointing, and the contractor – Alstom – is investigating.”
Mr Bailey further added that after Alstom reviewed CCTV footage, they identified seven instances of staff not performing the cleaning as required.
“To be very clear — the majority of the workers as we understand are doing the right thing and working very well.”
Image Source: Matt Longland – TansLink Facebook.
Matt Longland of TransLink told media that Alstom is still investigating to make sure there were not any other cases.
“Hopefully this is an isolated instance of a few workers not having their minds on the job.”
These actions – inadequate cleaning – were serious given that due to COVID19, frontline cleaning persons have the extra responsibility and part in ensuring fellow Australians are safe.
Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Tuesday held discussions with her Indian and French counterparts S Jaishankar and Jean-Yves Le Drian respectively and also discussed the Indo-Pacific strategic landscape.
After the meeting Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar tweeted, “Substantive discussions with my colleagues FM @JY_LeDrian and FM @MarisePayne at the first India-France-Australia Trilateral Ministerial Dialogue. Thanked them both for their strong support in meeting the Covid challenge.”
Discussed the Indo-Pacific strategic landscape and agreed on the importance of enhancing our cooperation.
“Discussed the Indo-Pacific strategic landscape and agreed on the importance of enhancing our cooperation,” added Mr Jaishankar.
These discussions took place at the first India-France-Australia Trilateral Ministerial Dialogue, held on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
Marise Payne and S Jaishankar are currently in the UK for the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers Meeting on the invitation of UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.
BCCI Vice President Rajeev Shukla has told Indian media that the Indian Premier League’s this years season is suspended with immediate effect. With Chennai Super Kings bowling coach L Balaji once again testing positive for COVID-19, the team is set to isolate and Wednesday’s game between CSK and Rajasthan Royals is set to be postponed in the national capital. As for the Indian Premier League itself, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is awaiting permission from the government to move the league to Mumbai.
Speaking to ANI, a BCCI official in the know of developments said while the CSK-RR game is under the cloud with Balaji testing positive for COVID-19, the board is also looking to move base to Mumbai keeping in mind the COVID-19 situation in Kolkata and Bengaluru — the next stop.
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“As of now, the Delhi game between Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad is on. But tomorrow’s game is likely to get postponed as Balaji has again tested positive for COVID-19. So we have two teams down, Kolkata Knight Riders and CSK.
“Coming to the league itself, we are looking at moving base to Mumbai, but are awaiting clearance from the Maharashtra government and once that is done, we will be good to go. Should take us another couple of days to get the clearance,” the official explained.
Explaining the reason behind not going ahead with the Kolkata and Bengaluru leg, the official said: “It is better to avoid a situation than to think of a substitute once you land in a problem is all I will say.”
Earlier on Monday, there were COVID-19 cases in two franchises. While two of the members of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) contingent tested positive, two Kolkata Knight Riders players tested positive — Varun Chakaravarthy and Sandeep Warrier — forcing the BCCI to postpone the KKR-RCB game in Ahmedabad.
Speaking to ANI, a BCCI official confirmed the development in the CSK camp and said: “The contingent has two COVID-19 positive cases. A support staff member has tested positive and a bus cleaner. Cannot give you the name of the support staff. The team’s training session has been cancelled as a precautionary measure,” the official said.
CSK last played a game on Saturday against Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. The side was slated to square off against Rajasthan Royals on Wednesday.
The BCCI issued a release on the twin cases in KKR and said: “Varun Chakravarthy and Sandeep Warrier were found to be positive in the third round of testing in the last four days. All other team members have tested negative for COVID-19.”
Both the players have isolated themselves from the rest of the squad. The medical team is in continuous touch with the duo and are monitoring their health. Meanwhile, the Kolkata Knight Riders have now moved towards a daily testing routine to identify any other possible cases and treat them at the earliest.”
Indian State of Punjab’s Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Monday digitally launched online language programmes started by Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU) Amritsar for the Punjabi diaspora settled across the globe.
Reviewing the functioning of the Higher Education and Languages department, the Chief Minister also ordered the immediate release of Rs 5 crore for establishing a language award to promote Punjabi. He said the online courses would go a long way in helping youngsters learn the Punjabi language, and imbue them with the spirit of Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Picture Source: Twitter
“This endeavour would also keep Punjabi youth abreast of Punjab’s rich and glorious cultural heritage, thus connecting them with their ancestral roots.”
GNDU Vice-Chancellor Dr Jaspal Singh Sandhu said that University Grants Commission (UGC) had granted permission to start courses to 37 Universities out of the 981 Universities of the country.
The GNDU is the only State Public University in Punjab to have been given this honour by UGC, to cater to the constant demand of the Punjabi Diaspora in the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and parts of Africa, and Europe, to provide the education of Punjabi language to the younger generation, he said.
Guru Nanak Dev University launches online courses for the worldwide Punjabi diaspora
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office and some shops in the Indian state of West Bengal were allegedly vandalised by miscreants and at least 13 crude bombs were hurled in the area on Monday.
The shopkeepers alleged that Trinamool Congress (TMC) is behind the attack as the area is known to be of BJP supporters. However, local TMC leader denied the allegations and said BJP’s insiders were behind the incident. BJP office and some shops in Ghoshpara road of Bhatpara were vandalized by unidentified people, earlier today. Bombs were also hurled in the area. “TMC miscreants looted my shop. At least 10 bombs were hurled here,” says a local.
The TMC goons vandalised the BJP office. They ransacked my shop and looted the cash and the articles. 12-13 crude bombs were hurdled. Two live bombs were also there that damaged many motorcycles,” Rahul Kumar Shaw, a shopkeeper told ANI.
“They destroyed my house, right in presence of Narkeldanga police officials. They thrashed my innocent puppies to death. Aara ki Manush? (Are they even humans?) Why are they committing atrocities on me?” said BJP’s worker Avijit Sarkar before he was thrashed to death by alleged TMC goons
“They destroyed my house, right in presence of Narkeldanga police officials. They thrashed my innocent puppies to death. Aara ki Manush? (Are they even humans?) Why are they committing atrocities on me?” said BJP’s worker Avijit Sarkar before he was thrashed to death by TMC goons pic.twitter.com/4fp6MmXGs2
“A bomb was hurdled on the roof of my house. we were sleeping. I anyhow ran out to save the kids. Three bombs were hurdled on our lane.” a resident Shakeel Ahmed told ANI.
“A bomb was hurled in front of our house. We are scared. we do not know who they were as they were masked,” a resident Manju Devi said.
BJP, ABVP offices in Bengal allegedly vandalised by TMC workers
Meanwhile, BJP National General Secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said that BJP offices were vandalised in Howrah.
“TMC goons and workers have vandalised BJP offices in Howrah. The goods have been stolen from there. BJP workers are being beaten into their homes,” tweeted Kailash Vijayvargiya in Hindi. “After Mamata ji’s victory, her workers are celebrating and vandalising the houses of BJP workers. More than nine BJP workers have been killed so far,” he said.
ममता जी की जीत के बाद उनके कार्यकर्ता जश्न मना रहे है और भाजपा कार्यकर्ताओं के घर तोड़ रहे है । अब तक 9 से ज़्यादा भाजपा कार्यकर्ताओं की हत्या हो चुकी है । pic.twitter.com/sMDpX4qu61
— Kailash Vijayvargiya (@KailashOnline) May 3, 2021
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office in Asansol was also allegedly vandalised by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers. The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) alleged that 15-20 party goons of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee attacked ABVP West Bengal’s Kolkata office and engaged in an altercation with the activists, assaulted them and vandalised the organization’s state office. They further alleged that TMC party goons deliberately vandalised the idols of Hindu deities and freedom fighters.
“Mamata Banerjee’s defeat in Nandigram had made the TMC cadres very resentful of those responsible for her loss and that such ‘traitors’ would not be allowed to live in Bengal for long,” ABVP said.
BJP announces nationwide dharna on May 5 against alleged violence by ‘TMC workers’, BJP National President JP Nadda to visit Bengal
Meanwhile, the BJP announced the party will also hold a nationwide dharna (Sit-in protest) on May 5 against the widespread violence unleashed by TMC workers post declaration of the West Bengal Assembly Elections results. The protest will be held following all COVID protocols across all organisational mandals of the BJP.
BJP National President Shri @JPNadda will be visiting West Bengal on 4-5May, in view of the wide spread post results retributive violence unleashed on BJP workers and supporters by criminal elements in the TMC cadre.
He will be visiting families of the affected karyakartas.
BJP president JP Nadda will be on a two-day visit to West Bengal starting from Tuesday to hold a protest against the alleged atrocities on party workers in the state by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) government.
BJP MP Babul Supriyo posted a video on social media where allegedly TMC workers can be seen throughing crude bombs, looting the shops.
He wrote, ” More from @MamataOfficial & @AITCofficial ‘s VictoryCelebrations or #TMC PostPollViolence, as u may choose to call it. Lets see Didi’s VIP friends condemn this cowardly act. Sadly, 4 @BJP4Bengal members have lost their lives to Didi’s celebrations #ShameOnTMC“
Mr Nadda will meet the BJP workers and their families affected by the violence and will hold protests in a democratic manner.
“Within 24 hours of election results, many BJP workers have been murdered. Many workers are seriously injured. The house and shops of many party workers have also been burnt. After Mamata Banerjee’s defeat and Trinamool Congress’ victory in the election results yesterday, the TMC hooligans started celebrating the victory with violence and blood. BJP condemns this,” BJP statement said.
.@BJP4Bengal allege some of their female party workers have been gangraped and murdered!!! Is this what politics of the day is coming to???? #BengalViolence
Bengal Governor raises concern over post-poll violence, summons top police officialsof the state
In wake of rising post-poll incidents of arson, looting and violence in West Bengal, Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday summoned the state Director of General Police (DGP) and Kolkata Police Commissioner to discuss the law and order situation. “DGP, West Bengal and Kolkata Police Commissioner summoned by me in the wake of continually rising post-poll incidents of arson, looting and violence as also killings in the State were indicated of alarming scenario. Called upon them to take all steps to restore law and order,” tweeted the Governor’s office.
Sad also to gather that nine persons have lost their lives and many injured in post poll political violence.
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) May 3, 2021
The Governor further said it is sad that nine persons have lost their lives and many injured in post-poll political violence. “Sad also to gather that nine persons have lost their lives and many injured in post-poll political violence. Such political violence and lawlessness cannot be overlooked as this taints the essence of the democratic fabric. Call upon people to maintain calm and peace and promote harmony,” he said.
DGP @WBPolice and Commissioner @CPKolkata summoned by me in the wake of continually rising post poll incidents of arson, looting and violence as also killings in the State were indicated of alarming scenario.
— Governor West Bengal Jagdeep Dhankhar (@jdhankhar1) May 3, 2021
Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress won 213 seats in the just concluded West Bengal assembly elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party garnered 77 seats in the 294-seat state assembly. However, elections for two seats in Murshidabad are postponed due to the demise of candidates due to COVID.
Australian Cricket will be throwing its support behind the India COVID-19 Crisis Appeal, with Cricket Australia, the Australian Cricketers’ Association and UNICEF Australia partnering to raise much-needed funds.
Australian Cricket has been deeply saddened by the devastation caused by this second coronavirus wave to hit India, a country with which Australians share a strong friendship and connection. UNICEF Australia’s India COVID-19 Crisis Appeal is procuring and installing oxygen generation plants in hospitals to treat seriously ill patients, providing testing equipment in heavily impacted districts, and supporting the acceleration of the COVID-19 vaccination rollout.
Cricket Australia will make an initial donation of $50,000 and encourage Australians everywhere to give generously at this critical time in India’s COVID-19 response. “Australians and Indians share a special bond and, for many, our mutual love of cricket is central to that friendship. It has been distressing and saddening to learn of the suffering of so many of our Indian sisters and brothers during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and our hearts go out to everyone impacted,” Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia’s Interim CEO said in an official statement.
“We were all deeply moved by the sentiments expressed and donations given by Pat Cummins and Brett Lee over the past week. In that same spirit, we are proud to partner with UNICEF Australia to raise funds that will help the people of India by providing the health system with much-needed oxygen, testing equipment and vaccines,” he added. Earlier, Pat Cummins and Brett Lee had also donated their share to help India fight the pandemic.
In welcoming the partnership with Australian Cricket, UNICEF Australia CEO Tony Stuart said he was heartened that a major sport such as cricket, and its players, who have had a long relationship with India, and its people, recognised this urgent need to act now. “We know that sport has the power to bring people together and there has never been a more important time,” Stuart said.
Hockley: "We want to encourage the cricket family across Australia to get behind this UNICEF appeal. All of the proceeds go directly to getting oxygen to areas of greatest need."
“UNICEF has been working tirelessly throughout the pandemic and as the world’s largest children’s charity we know the devastating and life-long consequences this emergency will have, in particular, on children and young people,” he added.
The COVID-19 pandemic has gripped India and the country has been reporting more than 3,00,000 new cases every day. This is the most number of cases being reported since the pandemic broke out in 2020.
Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne has categorically denied that the decision on a travel ban from Inda was racist, but many human rights activists and legal experts are still raising their concerns over fine and jail terms for returning Australians.
Talking to the media on Sunday Ms Payne said, “The decision which has been made under the biosecurity act on the basis of the advice of the Chief Medical Officer is a temporary pause on returns. And is entirely founded on the advice of the Chief Medical Officer.”
The Australian Government has introduced short-term measures regarding travel from 🇮🇳 to 🇦🇺. The Australian High Commission in #NewDelhi & our other posts in 🇮🇳, remain fully operational & ready to provide support to Australians in India. @AusCGChennai@AusCG_Mumbai@AusCGKolkata
When asked if the decision is immoral or even racist, Ms Payne said, “Absolutely not in any way.” “What is most important is that it is temporary. We absolutely recognised the very, very difficult circumstances occurring in India right now. Absolutely recognise that She further explained.
Molina Swaroop Asthana is Principal at Swaroop Asthana Lawyers and Co-Founder and Convenor of the Asian Australian Alliance, National Vice President of the Asian Australian Lawyers Association and Vice President of the Law Institute of Victoria.
Ms Asthana told The Australia Today, “The unjustified and harsh penalties imposed on the return of Australians from India is an unprecedented Act to target particular communities and is racial in nature. No such ban, let alone penalties were imposed on returning Australians from any other country. This is nothing new. Systemic racism has been the fabric of Australia.”
However, Ms Payne claimed the COVID19 positivity rate of arrivals from India was 57 per cent, which was placing a significant burden on health and medical services in the states and territories and through the quarantine program.
“So it is a very targeted temporary period of time, it will be reviewed on 15 May and In fact, we had eight flights booked to return Australians from India. That has been a very important part of returning Australian process. Once the 15 May review occurs, we will then plan what the resumption of those flights looks like and if we are able to increase them.”
Molina Swaroop Asthana refutes, “The ban and the penalties must also satisfy section 477 of the Biosecurity Act under which the ban has been enacted. The section states that the measure has to be ‘appropriate’ and ‘no more restrictive or instructive than is required in the circumstances. The current ban is neither appropriate nor required in the circumstances.”
Dr Vyom Sharma is a GP in Melbourne. He called these travel ban from India as disproportionate, hurtful and unethical.
Australia's flight ban on citizens stranded in India is now making news around the world. BBC World was kind enough to let me share my views – my most, and least charitable interpretations – on the disproportionate, hurtful and unethical bans.#covid19aushttps://t.co/P0osxhpV06
“The Chief Medical Officer will provide us with updated advice and the government will review that in accordance with the commitment that we’ve made, Said Ms Payne.
Australia did not put such ban and threats to jail on the UK, US and South African travellers when the infection rate of returning travellers from these countries was more than 20-30 per cent. Some health experts also suggest that the South African variant, UK variant, the Brazilian variant are all incredibly infectious arguably more than the Indian variant.
Well, 57 per cent of the infections in quarantine had come from returned travellers from India. In contrast to just the month before, 10 per cent of infections. The burden that has placed on the health systems in the states and territories, including through particularly Howard Springs, is a very significant one. And the decision to place a temporary pause, a temporary review on returning travellers from India has been to enable our systems to deal with that and then once we review that on May 15, we’ll make further decisions, said Ms Payne.
Ms Asthana says We have started an online petition to urge the Federal government to withdraw the arbitrary decision to impose penalties on Australians returning from India.
Minister Payne refused to concede that the governement is not confident of it’s hotel quarintine arrangements.
“I think that the hotel quarantine arrangements as the Prime Minister said the other day has been operating at around 99 per cent efficacy. It absolutely does not prove that we are not confident about the hotel quarantine arrangements, She replied.”
“Let me say, again, that the burden that such a high infection rate was placing on the states and territories’ medical systems and health system tolls address such a high positivity rate was one which had become difficult for them to deal with. So pausing the returns process allows the system to manage those infections. To reduce those numbers and then we can review the process again on May 15.”
Ms Payne specifically clarified that the federal government is not considering using the Christmas Island detention facility as a quarantine centre for returned travellers from India.
Shikhar Dhawan played a knock of 69 runs as Delhi Capitals defeated Punjab Kings by seven wickets in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter here at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
Along with Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw also played a quickfire knock of 39 runs. For Punjab Kings, Chris Jordon, Harpreet Brar, and Riley Meredith returned with one wicket each. With this win, Delhi Capitals has moved to the first spot in the points table with 12 points from 8 games while Punjab Kings remain in sixth place with six points. Chasing 167, Delhi Capitals got off to a flying start as openers Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan put on 63 runs inside the first six overs. The introduction of Harpreet Brar paid off immediately as he clean bowled Prithvi (39) in the seventh over of the innings.
Steve Smith then joined Dhawan in the middle and the duo put on 47 runs for the second wicket but with just 50 runs away from the target, Delhi ended up losing the wicket of Smith (24) in the 13th over. Rishabh Pant then came to the middle and he played a useful 14-run cameo. In the end, Dhawan along with Shimron Hetmyer (16*) took Delhi over the line with seven wickets in hand and 14 balls to spare.
Earlier, Mayank Agarwal played an unbeaten knock of 99 runs as Punjab Kings posted a score of 166/6 in the allotted twenty overs. Along with Agarwal, Dawid Malan also chipped in with a knock of 26 runs. For Delhi Capitals, Kagiso Rabada returned with three wickets. Asked to bat first, Punjab Kings got off to a bad start as the side lost Prabhsimran Singh (12) and Chris Gayle (13) inside the first six overs and the side’s powerplay score read 39/2. Kagiso Rabada took the first two wickets for the Delhi Capitals.
Shikhar Dhawan, Picture Source: Twitter @IPL
Dawid Malan then joined Mayank Agarwal in the middle and the duo mixed caution with aggression to revive the innings for Punjab. Both batsmen put on 52 runs for the third wicket, but as soon as Punjab started to gain an upper hand, Delhi stormed right back as Axar Patel bowled Malan (26). In the very next over, Deepak Hooda (1) was run-out and as a result, Punjab was reduced to 88/4 in the 14th over.
After Hooda’s dismissal, Mayank took on the mantle of being the aggressor and he even dispatched Ishant Sharma for 15 runs in the 16th over. Shahrukh Khan (4) and Chris Jordon (2) disappointed with the bat, but Mayank ensured that Punjab posts a score of more than the 160-run mark.
The ruling Trinamool Congress scored an emphatic victory in West Bengal in the face of the stiff challenge posed by BJP with the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee leading the party to its third successive victory in assembly polls.
While the BJP-led NDA retained Assam, the ruling LDF created history by retaining Kerala. DMK is poised to oust AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and in Puducherry, where Congress chief minister V Naryanasamy had resigned earlier this year, NR Congress-led NDA came to power. The counting was held amid COVID-19 protocols. With a surge in cases in the country, no victory processions were allowed.
In West Bengal, TMC has already won 198 seats and is leading on another 16 out of the total 292 seats for which elections were held. The party is poised to improve its 2016 tally of 2011 seats.
Mamta Benerjee, CM Bengal, Picture Source: Twitter @TMC
‘Khela shesh’ for Mamata in Nandigram, Suvendu Adhikari wins by margin of 1,956 votes
Mamata Banerjee was defeated in Nandigram by her former ministerial colleague and BJP candidate Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari, who was once a close aide of Banerjee, joined the BJP just a few months ahead of the state assembly elections. As per the Election Commission of India (ECI), Adhikari won with a margin of 1,956 votes in Nandigram. BJP, which had only three MLAs in the outgoing assembly, has won 48 seats and is leading on eight more. The party has major inroads in the state. One Independent candidate has also won in West Bengal while Rashtriya Secular Majlis Party is leading on one seat.
Left-Congress alliance fails to win a single seat in WB The Samyukta alliance comprising Congress, Left parties and ISF failed to open its account.
In the 126-member Assam assembly, BJP has won 47 seats and is leading on 12. Its alliance partner AGP has won nine seats and UPPL six seats.
Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal
In the Mahajot alliance, Congress won 21 seats and is leading on eight, AIUDF won ten seats and is leading on six, CPI-M won one seat and BPF won three seats and is leading on one. Independents won one seat and are leading on another.
PM Modi thanks the people of Puducherry for blessing NDA In the 30-member Puducherry assembly, NR Congress won 10 seats and BJP six. DMK has won five seats and is leading on one, Congress won two seats and independents six seats. AIADMK failed to open its account.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Amit Shah among other leaders thanked the people of Puducherry after the NR Congress, BJP and AIADMK alliance headed for a majority in assembly elections.
I thank the people of Puducherry for blessing NDA. We are humbled to serve the people and fulfil their dreams. Our Karyakartas made outstanding efforts to work among the people and elaborate on our agenda of good governance.
“I thank the people of Puducherry for blessing NDA. We are humbled to serve the people and fulfill their dreams. Our Karyakartas made outstanding efforts to work among the people and elaborate on our agenda of good governance,” tweeted PM Modi.
The DMK-led alliance scored an emphatic win in Tamil Nadu. According to the latest trends from the Election Commission, DMK has already won 62 seats and is leading on 71 in the 234-member assembly.
DMK chief MK Stalin on Sunday thanked the people of Tamil Nadu after his party-led alliance emerged victorious in the Assembly polls and informed his swearing-in ceremony would be organised in a simple way due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “I would like to express my gratitude to the people of Tamil Nadu for giving the coalition a huge victory in the election. We will gradually fulfill our specific election promises,” Stalin said.
DMK chief MK Stalin, To be CM Tamil Nadu
Congress, which is an ally of DMK has won 3 seats and is leading on 13 more. DMK’s other allies CPI and CPI (M) have won one seat each and is leading on one seat each and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) has won two and is leading on two more. AIADMK also won 26 seats and is leading on 43 while its ally BJP won on one seat and is leading on three seats. Paattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has won one seat and is leading on three others.
Kamal Hasaan loses Coimbatore South seat to BJP candidate Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan who was contesting from the Coimbatore (South) constituency in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections lost the seat in a close fight with BJP candidate Vanathi Srinivasan on Sunday. Early trends had shown the Haasan leading from the constituency, but the BJP candidate won pulled ahead with a margin of 1,540 votes. Taking to Twitter, the actor-turned-politician thanked all the people who voted and said that he would continue to protect the state’s soil, land, and people.
MNM Chief Kamal Haasan
He also congratulated DMK chief MK Stalin for his victory in the polls. “Heartfelt congratulations to the big success MK Stalin. You are taking charge as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu in this time of crisis. My congratulations to perform well and taking Tamil Nadu on the path of development,” Haasan tweeted.
In Kerala, all results have been declared with CPI-M winning 62 seats. Among the other constituents of LDF, CPI has won 17 seats, Kerala Congress (M) has won five seats, NCP and Janata Dal (Secular) both won two seats each, and Janadhipathya Kerala Congress also won one seat.
Pinarai Vijyan CPM leader, CM Kerala
LDF allies Loktantrik Janata Dal (LJD), Indian National League (INL), and Kerala Congress (B) also won one seat each. In the UDF’s pavilion, Congress has won 21 seats, IUML won 15, and Kerala Congress (Jacob) one seat. West Bengal saw eight-phase polling, Assam went for a three-phased election while Kerala, Puducherry, and Tamil Nadu went for a single-phase election on April 6.
As soon as the details of India travel ban and order saying “anyone who tries to enter Australia from India will be fined and/or jailed for up to 5 years” reached Australian community social media is abuz with angry posts.
Not only social commentators, politicians, and community leaders but also the Indian Australian community, in general, have expressed their displeasure about the tone and tanner of the Federal government’s order.
Yadu Singh is the President of the Federation of Indian Associations of NSW. He told The Australia Today, “Indian Australian community is unsure how anybody from India will be able to come to Australia presently when there is no flight to Australia from India either directly or via a 3rd country. Our community is unable to see the logic behind this announcement.”
“We urge the government to put extra efforts to repatriate 9000 stranded Australians in India when it is safe to do so. They are our people. Extra quarantine facilities may need to be created to bring these stranded Australians home. Australia has a moral obligation to look after these stranded Australians in every way possible,” Mr. Singh further explained.
Picture Source: The Australia Today
Melbourne has the largest number of Indian Australians living in any city of Australia.
Melbourne-based Karthik Arasu, President of Federation of Indian Australians says, “I have written a letter to the Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and Assistant Minister of Multicultural Affairs Jason Wood requesting them to address the community concerns over the criminalisation of India travel ban.”
“While we do understand the temporary pause in travel from India to Australia, making it a criminal offense is deeply concerning.”
He told The Australia Today, “Indian Australians have been contributing in numerous ways to support the Government efforts with their fight against Covid19. This order has brought in great anguish and frustration amongst community members.”
“We hope the Hon Minister will consider other measures such as imposing strict guidelines for an airline not to board anyone with departure stamp originating from India within 15 days or more, having extended quarantine with costs charged to the person traveling, offshore quarantine, etc.”
Ravi Kant Bhatnagar is an IT consultant in Melbourne.
He told The Australia Today, “This order by Health Minister has created a lot of anguish and panic among the Indian Australian community. A lot of people feel this is discrimination against the community, as it was never done before in the history of Australia.”
Australian Human Rights Commission has also released a statement saying India travel ban raises serious human rights concerns.
“The need for such restrictions must be publicly justified. The Government must show that these measures are not discriminatory and the only suitable way of dealing with the threat to public health.”
The Commission also urged Parliament’s Senate Select Committee on COVID-19 to review these new restrictions immediately.
Nick Talley, is Editor-in-Chief, Medical Journal Australia. He wrote on social media, “A travel ban for Australian citizens from India will come into effect with criminal sanctions. I read this was based on “expert medical advice”. If so, I’d like to see the advice and evidence that justifies placing these Australians in harms way. And what about the rest of the world?”
A travel ban for Australian citizens from India will come into effect with criminal sanctions. I read this was based on “expert medical advice”. If so, I’d like to see the advice and evidence that justifies placing these Australians in harms way. And what about rest of the world? https://t.co/XVh9BoWCPD
Osman Faruqi is Melbourne based social comentrator. He say, “The path to this India travel ban insanity was paved by the same people who are now losing their minds about it imo. You can’t spend a year celebrating the government’s border policies, staying quiet on how they’ve been racially based, and then yell out about at the very end.”
It’s been a weird time to criticise governments on this stuff, because even though you could see where it was going from day one (Chinese-Australians detained on Christmas Island) progressives screamed at you for talking about it. Labor Premiers literally begged for this!
Kieron Pollard played one of the most memorable innings in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated Chennai Super Kings (CSK) by four wickets here at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Saturday.
Pollard remained unbeaten on 87 off just 34 balls as Mumbai gained a four-wicket victory. With this win, MI remains at the fourth spot with 8 points. On the other hand, CSK also remains static at the first spot with 10 points. Chasing 219, MI got off to a steady start as openers Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock put on 58 runs inside the first six overs. The 71-run opening stand finally came to an end in the 8th over as Shardul Thakur dismissed Rohit (35). In the very next over, Ravindra Jadeja removed Suryakumar Yadav (3), reducing Mumbai Indians to 77/2.
Kieron Pollard, Picture Source: Twitter @IPL
Mumbai fell further into a slump in the 10th over as Moeen Ali sent de Kock (38) back to the pavilion and as a result, CSK marched ahead in the match. Krunal Pandya and Kieron Pollard next joined forces in the middle and the duo kept Mumbai in the match with their partnership. Pollard took the role of being the aggressor and he dispatched sixes with ease. Pollard continued on with his carnage and he brought up his fifty off just 17 balls. With 49 needed more for the win, Mumbai ended up losing the wicket of Krunal (32) and this put an end to the 89-run stand for the fourth wicket. With 31 runs needed off the final two overs, Pollard (87*) and Hardik Pandya (16) did not mess around and they guided Mumbai to a memorable victory.
Picture Source: Twitter @IPL
Earlier, Moeen Ali and Faf du Plessis played quickfire knocks of 58 and 50 as CSK posted a score of 218/4 in the allotted twenty overs. Along with Faf and Moeen, Ambati Rayudu provided the much-needed boost to the CSK lineup as he played a quickfire knock of 72 runs off just 27 balls. Ravindra Jadeja also chipped in with an innings of 22 runs. For Mumbai, Kieron Pollard returned with two wickets. Asked to bat first, CSK got off to the worst start possible as the side lost its in-form opener Ruturaj Gaikwad (4) in the very first over as he was sent back to the pavilion by Trent Boult. Moeen then joined du Plessis in the middle and the duo took CSK’s score to 49/1 at the end of the sixth over. Moeen and Faf put together 108 runs for the second wicket and this stand saw CSK scoring runs at a brisk pace. The left-handed Moeen (58) was finally sent back to the pavilion by Jasprit Bumrah in the 11th over. In the very next over bowled by Pollard, CSK lost the wickets of du Plessis (50) and Suresh Raina (2), and the side was reduced to 116/4.
Rayudu and Jadeja joined forces in the middle and the duo did not let the momentum drop for CSK. The right-handed Rayudu took on the mantle of being aggressive and he kept dispatching Mumbai bowlers for constant boundaries and sixes. Both batsmen formed an unbeaten stand of 102 runs for the fifth wicket, and this also saw Bumrah conceding the most runs in his four-over spell in the IPL. Bumrah went for 56 runs in his four overs. In the end, CSK posted a score of more than the 210-run mark. Rayudu’s innings was studded with 4 fours and seven 6s.
Brief Scores: CSK 218/4 (Ambati Rayudu 72*, Moeen Ali 58, Kieron Pollard 2-12) vs Mumbai Indians 219/6 (Kieron Pollard 87*, Quinton de Kock 38, Sam Curran 3-34).
Recently, Amit Sial, who can be seen in Sony LIV’s new show Kathmandu Connection shared his story with Humans of Bombay.
Amit Sial grew up in a middle class family in Kanpur. His dad manufactured shoes and mother was a librarian.
Image Source: Amit Sial – Twitter.
Being born into middle-class increased Amit’s desire to perform well in school.
“I tried to do my best in school; in the 5th grade, I acted in a play for the first time. The applause I got was something else; so I continued acting in plays. Once our teacher Mishraji even pushed for me to get the lead role! I wanted to pursue acting, but giving up my studies wasn’t an option. So I went to Delhi for my B.Com.”
Image Source: Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Wikipedia.
At Delhi University, while studying at Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, Amit came across an ad for an English musical.
“I auditioned and got a role; I was 18. But my parents weren’t confident I could make it as an actor. Mom said, ‘Have a backup plan.’”
Soon, his parents started discussing the option of further studies. They took out a loan to send him to Australia.
Image Source: Swinburne University of Technology, Website.
Amit landed in Melbourne to obtain his Post-Graduation diploma in International Business from Swinburne University of Technology.
“I was studying and working two jobs to make ends meet. Despite that, on the weekends, I did theatre.”
After graduation, when Amit came back to India he began working with his uncle in Delhi on a decent salary.
Soon after, he bumped into someone from his theatre days.
“It felt like a sign, you know? So I got back to acting. With each performance, something in me kept shifting – it was as if my heart was filling up. So I decided to act full time.”
Amit was then 29 yo and his parents “freaked out” at his decison to change career.
“I told them, ‘Aap itni chinta kyun kar rahe ho? Aap ko kya darr hai?’ I was done being afraid of the uncertainty.”
In 2003, Randeep Hooda who was working on a Ram Gopal Verma film, called and advised Amit to audition for a role.
“I came to Bombay. Even though I didn’t get that role, I stayed back. Then began the rigmarole of auditions.”
For one such audition, Amit even reached 20 minutes late.
“Everyone was furious. But before I left, they said, ‘Thoda weight kam kar lena.’ I was confused, but later I found out that I’d got the role!”
Amit got Rs 50,000 for that film and by the time the shooting finished he thought that this was it!”
“I’d made it. Maybe it was ego, but I kept rejecting all the supporting role offers I got – mujhe hero banna tha!”
Image Source: Amit Sial – Twitter.
But unfortunately that film didn’t release for 4 years and soon the supporting role also stopped coming.
“So I started from scratch – I did theatre, small roles…I destroyed my ego. That’s when web series like A Simple Murder, Kathmandu Connection and Maharani, came my way. It took years, but I found my place in OTT. I realised ki hero nahi banna, stardom bhi nahi chahiye, bas acting karni hai.”
Image Source: Amit Sial in Mirzapur, Screenshot.
Today, Amit Sial is a successful actor in Indian film and TV industry. His parents are also happy with his decision to change his career.
“I’ve made them retire in Goa! So now, every time a role comes my way, I’m thankful. I’ve realised that when you find your purpose in life, you can’t let your ego get the better of you. You only get so many chances to turn your dreams into reality– so when you get that chance, grab onto it and…don’t let go.”
Amit has appeared in films and series such as Jamtara, Mirzapur, Sonchiriya, Bombairiya, Titli, and Love Sex aur Dhokha.
Image Source: Amit Sial in Jamtara, Netflix, screenshot.
The Morrison government has issued an order saying anyone who tries to enter Australia from India will be fined and/or jailed for up to 5 years.
Picture Source: Twitter @Greg Hunt
This is happening first time in the history of Australia that it has made it a criminal offense to come back home for Australian citizens. The government claims this action is based on medical advice, however, a number of commentators say this due to the “fear factor” that India’s COVID-19 crisis is getting worse day by day.
This is really shocking and I completely disagree with it. We should take Australians home because a. They’re citizens and B. It will relieve resources that should be dedicated for Indians that need it, not Australians who have an alternative option. I’m deeply ashamed of this. https://t.co/LFTKrtdWlH
The statement by Health Minister Greg Hunt says, “The risk assessment that informed the decision was based on the proportion of overseas travellers in quarantine in Australia who have acquired a COVID-19 infection in India.”
“Failure to comply with an emergency determination under the Biosecurity Act 2015 may incur a civil penalty of 300 penalty units, five years’ imprisonment, or both.“
Image Source: UNICEF – Facebook.
“The temporary pause will be reconsidered on 15 May by the Government following advice from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO). The CMO will consider the epidemiology in India and likely impacts on Australia’s quarantine capacity, and provide a further expert assessment of the public health risk to Australia to inform a proportionate response,” explains the statement.
Mr. Hunt further said, “The Government does not make these decisions lightly. However, it is critical the integrity of the Australian public health and quarantine systems is protected and the number of COVID-19 cases in quarantine facilities is reduced to a manageable level.”
Australian government’s travel ban will come into effect at 12.01am on Monday, 3 May 2021.
There are at least 9,000 Australian citizens and permanent residents stuck in India.
Image Source: Scott Morrison, Twitter.
India has been reporting more than 300,000 new cases of COVID-19 every day for the past week. The total number of cases in India is now close to 19 million and more than 200,000 people have died.
Image Source: Health Minister Greg Hunt, Twitter.
The government statement says, “Our hearts go out to the people of India – and our Indian-Australian community. The friends and family of those in Australia are at extreme risk. Tragically, many are contracting COVID-19 and many, sadly, are dying every day.”
Image Source: Priyanka Chaturvedi, Twitter.
Member of Indian Parliament and Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi has tweeted to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, PMO India, and Scott Morrison to urgently look into this matter.
Constitutional law expert George Williams told SMH that the move was “very likely to be constitutional”.
“The only impediment would be if the High Court discovered some form of constitutional protection for returning citizens, but that would be a long shot.”
Recently, Australian cricketers Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson took advantage of a loophole and came back to Australia via commercial flights from a non-restricted country.
The government has also said that they would explore all options of bringing back stranded citizens in India and other countries, on which it has imposed a travel ban.
Indian-Australians have started a petition urging the Australian Government and Hon Prime Minister Scott Morrison “to stand by its strategic partner and friend India in this hour of desperate need and provide urgent relief.”
Image Source: Prime Minister Scott Morrison -Twitter
The petitioners argue that “India is in crisis, the situation on the ground is dire and her health system has collapsed under the weight of an unprecedented surge in COVID-19 case numbers. The mutant, more virulent form of the virus is causing havoc. Hospitals have run out of beds, oxygen, other basic equipment and they haven’t peaked in terms of case numbers yet. The furnaces in crematoriums are melting and the images of mass funerals are heart breaking. It is estimated that up to 4 million people could die in a worst case scenario by August this year. A country of 1.3 billion people caught between the conundrum of “lives versus livelihoods” can only do so much on her own.”
Image Source: Twitter.
The petition further says that “Indian diaspora in Australia and in many other countries are distraught and are doing their best to help their homeland.”
This change.org petition titled “Australia – it is time to stand up for India, your friend in need” by Kiren Sekhar has received more than 11,000 signatures from the targeted 15,000 signatures.
In a virtual meeting with Indian ambassadors and high commissioners posted across the world, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar conveyed the message that the “one-sided” narrative in international media must be countered.
Image Source: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar – Twitter.
Officials present told the Indian Express that two themes were discussed.
One was about efforts being made to procure all the material that India needs to overcome the surge and second was taking control of the international media narrative.
This meeting was important keeping in mind the recent rebuttal written by the Deputy High Commissioner to Australia in response to ‘The Australian’ report.
The editorials, commentary and reports in some newspapers and on TV channels have blamed the Modi government for India’s COVID plight.
They are of the opinion that Modi ignored all warning signs, holding an extended election in West Bengal.
Screenshot The Australian Newspaper
To prove this they have been running visuals of ambulances, patients sitting outside hospitals, and Hindu cremation ceremonies.
Image Source: Wikipedia.
While India’s efforts to mobilise resources, such as oxygen container, concentrators, ventilators, drugs and vaccines, from friendly countries that been largely overlooked.
On this, Jaishankar was clear that envoys should not to get overpowered by the “negative” media reports in biased media outlets but to take charge and project the government’s work.
With the suspension of direct flights from India – until at least 15 May – all Australian citizens have essentially been banned from entering their own country for the first time.
Image Source: Australian Government.
A Guardian analysis has revealed that India has fewer coronavirus cases per capita than either the United States or the United Kingdom during their respective Covid peaks.
This has given rise to epidemiologists questioning of why Australia has banned all flights from India?
Image Source: Wikipedia.
The experts are pointing out that Australian government did not suspend flights from the UK and USA when they were going through their worst phase.
According to data released by the New South Wales health department, the UK and US were responsible for a greater share of overseas acquired cases in Australia.
The Guardian observes that epidemiology experts think that the ‘Indian variant’ of coronavirus has not yet been deemed as concerning as the ‘UK strain’.
Image Source: Prof. Peter Collignon, ANU
Prof. Peter Collignon of the Australian National University told the Guardian that Australia “needs to rethink blanket bans”.
“I look at the numbers and I’m not sure the rates are higher in India, that the risk is all that different. We need to rethink blanket bans because I’m not sure it’s being done on a consistent basis.”
Image Source: Prof. Mary-Louise McLaws, UNSW
Further, a comparison of infection data has led Prof. Mary-Louise McLaws at the University of New South Wales to argue the government’s ban on flights from India is likely “an act out of fear”.
According to data released by the New South Wales health department, in the four-week period ending 24 April 2021, 46% (63/137) of overseas acquired cases have been identified as having COVID-19 variants of concern (B.1.1.7, B.1.351 and P1).
Prof. McLaws has also questioned why a flight ban was not put in place when larger spikes were recorded in other countries.
“As a multicultural country that loves their multicultural community, it is beholden to the authorities to care for that multicultural community that needs to come home and for them to come home safely.”
Meanwhile, Melbourne’s Indian community gathered at Federation Square to hold a candlelight vigil.
Image Source: The Australia Today.
Indians from all faiths gathered to pray for India and safe return of Australian permanent residents and citizens from India.
Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan starred with the bat as Delhi Capitals defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by seven wickets in an Indian Premier League (IPL) encounter here at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday.
Shaw and Dhawan played knocks of 82 and 46 respectively as Delhi Capitals registered a win with 21 balls to spare. With this win, Delhi has moved to the second spot in the points table with 10 points. Chasing 155, Delhi Capitals got off to a flying start as Prithvi Shaw smashed six boundaries in the very first over bowled by Shivam Mavi. Shaw along with Dhawan continued the carnage and Delhi’s score read 67/0 after the end of the sixth over.
Dhawan and Shaw continued with their momentum and KKR had no answers on how to stop both the batters. With just 23 runs needed for the win, KKR finally managed to get a breakthrough as Pat Cummins had Dhawan (46) adjudged leg-before wicket, ending the first-wicket partnership of 132 runs. Cummins also removed Shaw (82) and Rishabh Pant (16) in the 16th over, but in the end, Delhi Capitals registered an easy victory to move to second place in the points table.
Earlier, Axar Patel and Lalit Yadav scalped two wickets each as Delhi Capitals restricted KKR to a score of 154/6 in the allotted 20 overs. For KKR, Shubman Gill got going with the bat as he played a knock of 43 runs. Andre Russell and Pat Cummins also played useful knocks of 45 and 11 respectively but KKR had to settle with a below-par score.
Asked to bat first, KKR did not get off to an ideal start as the side lost its opener Nitish Rana (15) in the fourth over. Patel had the left-handed batsman stumped and this brought Rahul Tripathi to the middle. Tripathi and Gill took KKR’s score to 45/1 after the end of the sixth over. Tripathi and Gill stitched together a 44-run partnership for the second wicket, but as soon as KKR started to dominate, Delhi Capitals stormed right back as Marcus Stoinis dismissed Tripathi (19). Skipper Eoin Morgan (0) and Sunil Narine (0) disappointed with the bat and as a result, KKR was reduced to 74/4 in the 11th over.
KKR’s innings fell further into a slump in the 13th over as the set batsman Gill (43) handed a simple catch to Steve Smith at wide long-on off the bowling of Avesh Khan, reducing the side to 82/5. Dinesh Karthik next joined Andre Russell in the middle and the duo put on 27 runs for the sixth wicket. However, in trying to increase the tempo of run-scoring, Karthik (14) ended up losing his wicket to Patel in the 17th over. In the final two overs, Russell and Cummins managed to add 31 more runs to the total, and as a result, KKR posted a score of more than the 150-run mark.
Brief scores: KKR 154/6 (Shubman Gill 43, Andre Russell 45*, Lalit Yadav 2-13) vs Delhi Capitals 156/3 (Prithvi Shaw 82, Shikhar Dhawan 46, Pat Cummins 3-24).
The exit polls of this round of assembly polls on Thursday predicted a clear victory for DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, LDF retaining power in Kerala and BJP-led NDA in Assam, and a tight contest in Bengal with several surveys giving an edge to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). In Puducherry, the polls predicted victory for NDA. In West Bengal, all exit polls predicted BJP making major inroads and a few also said that the party will emerge victoriously. Times Now-C voter exit poll predicted 158 seats for TMC, 115 for BJP, and 19 for others. ABP-C Voter predicted TMC to get 152-164 seats, BJP 109-121 seats, and Left-Congress alliance 14-25 seats. According to the Republic-CNX exit poll, BJP with 138-148 seats has an edge over TMC which is predicted to get 128-138 seats.
As per India TV- People’s Pulse, BJP is expected to get 173-192 seats while TMC will be reduced to 64-88 sets and the Left-Congress alliance will get 7-12 seats. Axis My India predicted a hung assembly in Bengal with the ruling TMC expected to get 130-156 seats and BJP 134-160 seats.
In Assam, India Today-Axis My India exit poll said the BJP-led NDA is likely to get 75-85 seats out of 126 seats. The BJP may get 61-65 seats, AGP 9-13, and UPPL 5-7. The Congress-led ‘Mahajath’ is expected to garner 40-50 seats and others may get 1-4 seats. Congress may get 24-30 seats, AIUDF 13-16, and BPF 3-4. ABP News-CVoter exit poll said that BJP-led NDA is predicted to get 58-71 seats and Congress-led ‘Mahajath’ 53-66 seats and others 0-3 seats.
Republic-CNX exit poll predicted 74-84 seats for BJP+, 40-50 for Congress+, and 1-2 for others. According to Today’s Chanakya, BJP+ is expected to win 61-79 seats, Congress+ 47-65, and others 0-3 seats. In Tamil Nadu, Today’s Chanakya predicted 164-186 seats for DMK and 46-68 for the ruling AIADMK-led alliance. According to the ABP-CVoter exit poll, AIADMK is expected to get 58-70 seats, DMK 160-172 seats, and others 0-7. Republic-CNX poll said that DMK is expected to win 160-170 seats whereas AIADMK may get 58-68 seats. In Kerala, the ABP-CVoter exit poll predicted LDF to get 71-77 seats, UDF 62-68 seats, and BJP 0-2 seats. India Today-Axis My India exit poll said LDF is predicted to get 104-120 seats, UDF 20-36 seats, BJP+ 0-2 seats, and others 0-2 seats. According to Today’s Chanakya, LDF is likely to win 93-111 seats, UDF 26-44 seats, BJP+ 0-6 seats, and others 0-3 seats. Republic-CNX predicted LDF to win 72-80 seats, UDF 58-64 seats, BJP+ 1-5 seats. Jan Ki Baat’s exit poll predicted 64-76 seats for LDF, 61-71 for BJP+, and 2-4 for others. In the Puducherry, ABP-CVoter exit poll predicted NDA to win 19-23 seats, UPA 6-10 seats, and others 1-2 seats. As per the India Today-Axis My India exit poll, NDA is expected to garner 20-24 seats, UPA 6-10 seats, and others 0-1 seats. Jan Ki Baat exit polls predicted 19-24 seats for NDA and 6-11 seats for UPA. Republic-CNX exit poll predicted 16-20 seats for the NDA and 11-13 seats for the UPA.
The federal government’s suspension of flights from India leaves some 9,000 Australian citizens stranded, 650 of whom are registered as financially or medically vulnerable. They are trapped in a country where hospitals are running out of oxygen, and where the number of new infections is more than 300,000 per day.
Along with the unfolding humanitarian disaster, the suspension of flights is yet another example of the ongoing dysfunction of Australia’s repatriation system.
As I have explained in my recent research, the pandemic has created a temporary, but desperate minority in Australia. These are the roughly 34,000 citizens abroad who are currently registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs as wanting help to get home, though the true number is likely far higher.
Australia continues to have a large diaspora living and working abroad, who cannot register with the government until they have attempted to return home of their own accord.
Indian Covid, Picture Source: Twitter MHA
So how did we end up here?
A consistent theme of Australia’s response to COVID-19 — including leaks in hotel quarantine — has been to blame individuals (be they guards or travellers), rather than the way the system is designed.
At the time of writing, Australia’s hotel quarantine programs have “leaked” 16 times. Many have come from poor ventilation and inadequate protocol for personal protective equipment. Experts say more must be done to prevent aerosol transmission of the virus.
When leaks have occurred, the political instinct of Australian governments has been to reduce the caps on overseas arrivals and — increasingly — point the finger at members of the public who have left Australia on federal government-approved exemptions.
The West Australian government’s response to its most recent leak is a useful case study. Despite warnings in March the Mercure hotel was “high risk”, it was not pulled from operation. Amid Premier Mark McGowan’s criticism of people travelling to India for family events, Western Australia has now halved its cap.
But a defective system not designed to accommodate aerosol transmission will continue to leak even with the reduced cap. It will merely do so at a lower rate.
Banning flights from India follows this logic. Australian governments have argued it is necessary to reduce the number of positive cases in quarantine. This implicitly acknowledges fundamental flaws in Australia’s hotel quarantine programs.
No constitutional right to return
Australians abroad have limited protection in this situation.
Australia is one of the only liberal democracies in the world without a bill of rights. Minority rights were explicitly rejected during the constitutional conventions during the 1890s, with a view that minorities
must trust to the sense of justice of the majority.
The lack of a rights framework creates particular problems during crises, when popular responses emerge in an atmosphere of fear and urgency. For a majority unaffected by travel bans, halving caps and suspending flights is an easy solution in the face of government failures. It also appeals to Australia’s cultural and historical reflexes regarding border control.
To make matters more complicated (and tougher for Australians trying to get home), we have a federal framework for quarantine. Quarantine is a “concurrent legislative power”. This means the federal government may assume responsibility for running quarantine, or it may leave it to the states. Ideally, the federal and state governments would work together and pool resources based on their respective strengths to maximise capacity and safety.
At an initial National Cabinet meeting, it was agreed the states would assume responsibility for running quarantine. The public has no insight into the reason for this decision, with National Cabinet deliberations remaining secret. It is likely the Commonwealth lacked short-term capacity, having dismantled quarantine infrastructure over many decades.
But with little public understanding of the complexities of federalism, governments of all levels have deflected responsibility to one another. Labor governments and oppositions at state and federal level claim quarantine is a “federal constitutional responsibility”. The federal Coalition claims responsibility lies with the states.
A need for leadership
As we move into the second year of travel bans, there are real questions about Australia’s longer-term strategy for facilitating essential travel in and out of the country — particularly for the 30% of Australians born overseas with family and significant ties elsewhere.
Within this are questions about how sustainable flight suspensions will be over coming years, with many developing countries unlikely to be vaccinated until 2024.
As the situation in India shows, there is a desperate need for leadership at both state and federal level to design systems that can facilitate essential travel until borders can safely reopen.
Unfortunately, this is unlikely to occur until voters insist political leaders step up.
Ruturaj Gaikwad’s blistering 75-run knock and a fifty from Faf du Plessis helped Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to defeat SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) by seven-wicket here at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Wednesday.
With this win, CSK moved at the top of the table with its fifth consecutive wins. Chasing 172, Gaikwad and Du Plessis gave a flying start to CSK. The openers showed their intentions from the beginning of the run-chase. Both the openers started taking on SRH bowlers and smashed them all around the park. The duo added 54 runs in the Powerplay overs. The openers continued the carnage and went on to take the side to the three-figure mark in the 11th over.
Meanwhile, Du Plessis completed his fifty off 32 balls. In the 12th over, Gaikwad also smashed his fifth IPL half-century. The 129-run opening partnership was put to an end by Rashid Khan in the 13th over as he dismissed bowled out Gaikwad after scoring 75 off 44. His knock was studded with 12 fours. Rashid in his last over gave a double blow to CSK as he picked Du Plessis (56) and Moeen Ali (15) on successive balls. Ravindra Jadeja and Suresh Raina remained unbeaten on seven and 17 runs respectively as CSK won the game with nine balls to spare.
For SRH, Rashid returned with the figures of 3-36 in his four overs. Earlier, a late onslaught from Kane Williamson and fifties from Manish Pandey and skipper David Warner guided SRH to 171/3 in their allotted 20 overs. Opting to bat first, openers failed to give the side the desired start as Jonny Bairstow (7) was picked by pacer Sam Curran in the fourth over.
Manish Pandey, brought in the playing XI, joined Warner in the middle. The duo after setting their eyes on the ball played furiously and increased the run-rate as they smashed boundaries at regular intervals. Pandey and Warner knitted a 106-run partnership off 87 balls. Meanwhile, Pandey completed his half-century in 35 balls. Warner also completed his fifty in the 16th over.
Warner smashed his 50th fifty and 200 sixes in the IPL. He also completed 10,000 runs in T20 cricket. In the 18th over, Lungi Ngidi bagged both Warner (57) and Pandey (61) and left the side reeling at 134/3. Williamson and Kedar Jadhav took the charge of moving the scoreboard. Williamson’s hitting enables SRH to accumulated 20 runs from Shardul Thakur’s 19th over. In the last over, the duo added 13 runs and took the total to 171/3 in 20 overs.
Williamson’s 26-run knock was studded with a six and four 4s while Jadhav scored 12 off four balls. For CSK, Ngidi bagged two scalps while Chahar took one wicket.
Brief Scores: SRH 171/3 in 20 overs (Manish Pandey 61, David Warner 57, Kane Williamson 26*; Ngidi 2-35); CSK 173/3 in 18.3 overs (Ruturaj Gaikwad 75, Faf du Plessis 56; Rashid Khan 3-36).
Indian community in Australia has demanded apology from the West Australian for calling India a “hell” in their latest piece titled “Ban on trips from Indian hell.”
Image Source: The West Australian.
The letter written by President of the Indian Society of Western Australia (ISWA), a peak body that represents more than 80 Indian origin associations with 30,000 members says that the community is “disappointed with the style of journalism that is devoid of ethics and humanity.”
Supriya Guha, President of ISWA, further adds that the published article is “full of sensational and biased language – describing India and ‘Indians’ – in the utmost derogatory and discriminatory fashion.”
Recently, many Indian community members have voiced their concerns in relation to the coverage of events in newspapers abroad that may give rise to racism and Hinduphobia.
Prominent members of Indian diaspora in Australia have also tweeted against the West Australian’s coverage at a time when diaspora is worried about the safety of their loved ones in India.
The Indian diaspora in Australia is ware of the seriousness of the situation in India and has requested all local newspapers to show some compassion to a country that went out of its way to help 95 countries with timely supply of COVID vaccine.
Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned media against jumping to conclusions about the new coronavirus variant discovered in India, saying it had not yet classified it as worrying.
WHO believes it is possible that the British coronavirus variant may have affected India’s epidemiological situation.
The British, South African and Brazilian variants of Covid-19 have all been classified by the WHO as “variants of concern.”
The Trade Ministers of Australia, India and Japan have formally launched the Supply Chain Resilience initiative.
“The SCRI aims to create a virtuous cycle of enhancing supply chain resilience with a view to eventually attaining strong, sustainable, balanced and inclusive growth in the region. The Ministers consented that expansion of the SCRI may be considered based on consensus, if needed, in due course.”
This was launched in a Trilateral Ministerial Meeting held virtually on 27 April 2021 between Mr. Dan Tehan, Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry, and Mr. Kajiyama Hiroshi, Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry.
Image Source: Mr. Dan Tehan, Australia’s Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment – Wikipedia.
The Ministers acknowledged that the COVID-19 pandemic was having an unprecedented impact, in terms of “lives lost, livelihoods and economies affected.”
They also agreed that “the pandemic had revealed supply chain vulnerabilities globally and in the region.”
Images Source: Mr. Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister for Commerce and Industry – Twitter.
The Ministers also noted that some supply chains have been left vulnerable due to a range of factors.
Image Source: Mr. Kajiyama Hiroshi, Japan’s Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry – Wikipedia.
The Ministers also noted the importance of risk management and continuity plans.
This is much needed initiative in order to avoid supply chain disruptions and affirmed their commitment to strengthen resilient supply chains.
Ministers noted that the possible policy measures may include: (i) supporting the enhanced utilization of digital technology; and (ii) supporting trade and investment diversification.
Image Source: Shipping – Wikipedia.
The Ministers have now instructed their officials to implement the following as initial projects of SCRI and further develop the Initiative: (i) sharing of best practices on supply chain resilience; and (ii) holding investment promotion events and buyer-seller matching events to provide opportunities for stakeholders to explore the possibility of diversification of their supply chains.
In addition, the Ministers have decided to convene at least once a year to provide guidance to the implementation of the SCRI as well as to consult on how to develop the Initiative.
With an eye on China, the Ministers directed their officials to meet as often as required to take the Initiative forward.
Congress workers held a protest and “ransacked” the office of Storia Foods in Mumbai on Tuesday over the company’s recent advertisement allegedly mocking Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
The Congress workers, who were not wearing masks in accordance with the COVID-19 protocols, raised the ‘Rahul Gandhi zindabad’, ‘Sonia Gandhi zindabad’ slogans. They were carrying also party flags when the Police reached the spot.
#WATCH Congress workers held a protest today at the #Mumbai office of Storia Foods over the company's recent advertisement allegedly mocking Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi
BJP leader Kirit Somaiya told ANI that Congress members can take legal action over their objections but they should not have “threatened people”. He asked if Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will take action against Congress workers for flouting COVID-19 guidelines and demanded their immediate arrest.
“There is no problem with the objection concerning Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in the advertisement. Take legal action. But how can you beat and threaten people? This is not done. There is a lockdown. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray uses foul language for the Opposition. Now, will he take action on it?” Somaiya asked.
He alleged that Shiv Sena workers had earlier beaten a retired Navy officer for sharing a cartoon. “Since the Thackeray government came to power, there has been anarchy. Now the Mumbai Congress President has said he is proud of his party workers for burning the materials and records of an advertisement company. I would like to ask Chief Minister Thackeray and Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil why action has not been taken? They should be arrested immediately,” added Somaiya.
BJP MP Manoj Kotak told ANI that if Congress has objections they can seek withdrawal of advertisement through proper mechanism. He accused Congress of intolerance.
“If you have objections, you can demand that the company withdraw the advertisement. There are mechanisms for that. But ransacking the office and causing violence is not acceptable. Congress does not have any tolerance. When Congress uses bad language against the top BJP leadership including the Prime Minister they do not think twice.”
Emu Plains business, DDC Architecture and Interior Design have been revealed as the Australian architects for a new Hindu Temple.
This $41 million Hindu Temple will be built by Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Sanstha (BAPS) in Adlington Road, Kemps Creek, New South Wales.
Image Source: Penrith city council – Wikipedia.
According to Penrith City Council, this temple was approved last month by the Sydney Western City Planning Panel.
The development will include a 25-metre tall temple, two two-storey community buildings, a carpark and extensive gardens.
Director of DDC Architecture + Interior Design Geoff Ferris-Smith said:
“They wanted to use a local architect to support the community they are coming into. We stood out because our core work has been designing Churches and bible colleges, and we also have experience in building large scale workforce accommodation communities for the resources sector.”
After initial discussions, BAPS Sydney which is based in Rosehill, also sent Mr Ferris-Smith to India.
“I travelled to India to get a better understanding of the Hindu faith, which was a huge privilege. I spent two weeks living in a Monastery with the Monks and travelled to five different Temples throughout the state of Gujarat in the west of India.”
Following his trip, it took three years from first pencil to final approval of the design.
Mr Ferris-Smith worked closely with Penrith Council to ensure that the design was compliant with Australian safety and accessibility standards.
Image Source: BAPS
This new Hindu temple may take up to nine years to construct and the first stage of the development will be complete in 2023.
According to Penrith City Council, this stage will involve moving 400,000 cubic metres of earth to accommodate a carpark, gardens and the two community buildings, which will include a 2,000 seat auditorium, kitchens and a 1,000 seat dining room along with teaching spaces.
Mr Ferris-Smith said that the Hindu temple’s gardens will be open to the Australian public.
“The idea is that you come in through the gardens to calm your mind and help stop the ‘monkey chatter’ of the mind and the everyday world before you enter the Temple.”
Further, the construction of the Hindu temple will create local jobs and create multicultural community in the Penrith area.
Australian Government has agreed on a number of new measures to protect Australians from the increased risk of the COVID-19 outbreak in India, while also providing significant new support to assist the Indian Government in its humanitarian response.
In a statement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison recognised the challenging COVID-19 crisis that India is currently battling and committed to stand ready to provide more support to friends in India and Indian Australians during this difficult time.
“On advice from the Chief Medical Officer, India has been determined to be a high-risk country for the purposes of travel arrangements,” said the statement
Earlier on Tuesday, PM Morrison announced, “Australia will implement a temporary pause on direct passenger flights between India and Australia for two weeks, with consideration of further flights to be made by 15 May 2021.”
Passengers on all future flights will be required to have both a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result and a negative Rapid Antigen test result prior to taking off.
Once flights restart, the Federal Government will prioritise the return of vulnerable Australians. Already almost 20,000 registered Australians have returned from India since the pandemic began.
Australia has placed restrictions on outbound travel exemptions to high-risk countries to strictly essential travel only which includes three criteria…
1- National interest 2- Medical exemption 3- COVID-19 purposes
For indirect flights through Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), the Federal Government notified that flights to and from these transit points and India have been paused by respective governments.
As a close friend and comprehensive strategic partner, Australia stands with India as it battles a surge in COVID-19 cases, said Mr. Morrison
Following consultation with the Indian Government, Australia will provide emergency medical supplies.
The initial package of support includes rapid deployment of 500 non-invasive ventilators, with the capacity to deploy up to a total of 3,000 ventilators.
Federal Government is also supplying a significant package of personal protective equipment (PPE), including one million surgical masks, 500,000 P2/N95 masks, 100,000 surgical gowns, 100,000 goggles, 100,000 pairs of gloves and 20,000 face shields.
Besides, the government has agreed to commence procurement of 100 oxygen concentrators, along with tanks and consumables.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will manage the movement of PPE and equipment over the next week.
PM Morrison says, “My government is standing with Australians in India and we recognise the difficulties they face. The Hardship Program and Consular Support continues to be available to Australians in India.”
The current restrictions will be under regular review, as we look to find a solution for those seeking to return to Australia.
Following the footsteps of Australian pacer Pat Cummins, former fast bowler-turned commentator Brett Lee has come forward to help India in its battle against COVID-19.
Picture Source: Twitter @Pat Cummins
The 44-year-old represented Australia in 76 Tests, 221 ODIs and 25 T20Is during his successful international career.
Brett Lee is in India right now as a part of Star Sports’ commentary team for the IPL.
Image Source: Wisden.
In his heartwarming gesture, Brett Lee has said that he would donate 1 Bitcoin (valued more than Rs 40 lakhs) to Crypto Relief to aid Indian hospitals to procure oxygen supplies amid the scarcity.
Image Source: Wikipedia
Taking to Twitter, Brett Lee thanked Pat Cummins for taking the step as he announced his contribution.
Image Source: Brett Lee – Twitter
Earlier, Pat Cummins has donated $50,000 to Narendra Modi’s PM Cares Fund.
He also urged other IPL players to help India tackle the current situation with their donations.
Brett Lee’s full statement:
Image Source: Brett Lee – Twitter
Brett Lee has always considered India as his ‘second home.’
In 2015, he has also starred in an Indian-Australian film ”unINDIAN” – a cross-cultural comedy directed by Indian-origin Sydney-based filmmaker Anupam Sharma.
Image Source: unIndian – Screengrab
Although, Bitcoin is not considered a legal tender in India but Brett Lee’s gesture is a helping hand that India especially its all the frontline workers need right now.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia would send a range of goods to India to help as it struggles with a critical shortage of medical supplies.
Australia will send 500 ventilators, as well as 1 million surgical masks, 500,000 P2 and N95 masks, 100,000 goggles, 100,000 pairs of gloves, and 20,000 face shields.
“I stress this is an initial package, there’ll be more to follow,” Mr Morrison said.
PM Morrison also announced a total ban on flights to and from India until May 15 amid the second wave of coronavirus. “We recognise that this has been a very significant outbreak in India,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
This comes after three Australian cricketers pulled out of IPL 2021 amid the COVID-19 crisis in India.
Lord Hanuman, the God of Strength, is known to be one of the biggest devotees of Lord Ram.
Image Source: Wikipedia.
His birthday, known as Hanuman Jayanti, is usually celebrated on full moon day during Hindu Chaitra month.
On this Hanuman Jayanti, Indian politicians and netizens are praying to seek some protection and relief from COVID19.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invoked Lord Hanuman’s blessings, hoping it would help the country in the “continuing fight” against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Image Source: Narendra Modi – Twitter
Greeting the nation on Hanuman Jayanti, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor wrote on Twitter:
Image Source: Shashi Tharoor – Twitter
Greeting the people on Hanuman Jayanti, AAP leader and Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal tweeted:
Image Source: Arvind Kejriwal – Twitter
WATCH VIDEO: Hanuman Chalisa Full | Shekhar Ravjiani
“Best wishes to all of you on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. You may get rid of every crisis in your life and be healthy and safe, this is my prayer to Lord Hanuman,” said Defence Minister.
हनुमान जयंती के अवसर पर आप सभी को शुभकामनाएँ।आप सभी के जीवन में हर संकट का निवारण हो एवं आप स्वस्थ और सुरक्षित रहें, यही हनुमानजी से प्रार्थना है।
Union Minister Piyush Goyal wished all the countrymen on the birth anniversary and wished health, happiness, and prosperity to everyone’s life.
संकट मोचन श्री हनुमान जी की जयंती पर सभी देशवासियों को मेरी शुभकामनायें।
प्रभु श्रीराम के अनन्य भक्त श्री हनुमान जी सभी के जीवन में आरोग्य, सुख, व समृद्धि लायें, और सभी पर अपना आशीर्वाद बनायें रखें, मैं ऐसी कामना करता हूँ। pic.twitter.com/M0ioNYbzsR
“My best wishes to all the countrymen on the birth anniversary of Sankat Mochan Sri Hanuman. Lord Hanuman, an ardent devotee of Lord Shri Ram, brings health, happiness, and prosperity to everyone’s life, and keep his blessings on everyone,” Piyush Goyal said in a tweet.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden had a telephonic conversation on Monday night wherein the latter pledged America’s “steadfast support” for the people of India who have been impacted by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. The phone call comes a day after the United States announced that it will send the raw material required for the Indian manufacture of the Covishield vaccine, in a bid to support India’s fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a tweet, PM Modi said, “Had a fruitful conversation with US President Joe Biden today. We discussed the evolving COVID situation in both countries in detail. I thanked President Biden for the support being provided by the United States to India.” The Prime Minister further said that their discussion also underlined the importance of smooth and efficient supply chains of vaccine raw materials and medicines. “India-US healthcare partnership can address the global challenge of COVID-19,” he added.
According to a press statement by the White House, the two leaders resolved that the United States and India will continue to stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” in the effort to protect “our citizens and the health of our communities”. “President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, committing that the United States and India will work closely together in the fight against COVID-19. The President pledged America’s steadfast support for the people of India who have been impacted by the recent surge in COVID-19 cases,” the statement read.
My discussion with @POTUS@JoeBiden also underscored the importance of smooth and efficient supply chains of vaccine raw materials and medicines. India-US healthcare partnership can address the global challenge of COVID-19.
“In response, the United States is providing a range of emergency assistance, including oxygen-related supplies, vaccine materials, and therapeutics. Prime Minister Modi expressed appreciation for the strong cooperation between both countries,” the statement further noted.
India is reeling under the impact of the second wave of coronavirus. The country has been reported over 3 lakh daily cases in the last few days. India on Monday reported 3.52 lakh fresh coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours. This is the highest single-day spike registered since the onset of the pandemic.
Today, I spoke with Prime Minister @narendramodi and pledged America’s full support to provide emergency assistance and resources in the fight against COVID-19. India was there for us, and we will be there for them.
On Sunday, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan spoke on the phone with Indian counterpart Ajit Doval, expressing deep sympathy for the people of India following the recent spike in COVID-19 cases. The White House had said that to help treat COVID-19 patients and protect front-line health workers in India, the United States has identified supplies of therapeutics, rapid diagnostic test kits, ventilators, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that will immediately be made available for India.
Later on Sunday, Biden said that the United States is determined to “help” India as it faces an unprecedented COVID-19 crisis. “Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need,” Biden tweeted.
Spirited performance from Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) helped them to beat Punjab Kings by five wickets in the Indian Premier League match here at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday evening. With this win, KKR finally registered a second win of the season after four successive defeats. A spirited bowling performance from KKR restricted Punjab Kings to 123/9 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, skipper Eoin Morgan and Rahul Tripathi led the run-chase and scored unbeaten 47 and 41 runs respectively to put the side over the line with 20 balls to spare. Chasing 124, KKR had a wobbly start as they three wickets inside the first three overs. Nitish Rana (0), Shubman Gill (9) and Sunil Narine (0) departed cheaply as Punjab bowlers gave their all to defend the low score. But the 66-run stand between Morgan and Tripathi for the fourth wicket depleted any chances of a turn-around in the encounter. The duo added runs quickly and took charge on Punjab bowlers. Deepak Hooda bagged Tripathi in the 11th over after he had scored 41 runs studded with seven fours.
.@KKRiders captain @Eoin16 scored a match-winning 47* against Punjab Kings & won the Man of the Match award in Match 21 of the #VIVOIPL. 👍 👍 #PBKSvKKR
Andre Russell joined Morgan in the middle after Tripathi’s dismissal. Russell’s nine-run stint ended in the 15th over as a sharp throw from Arshdeep Singh hit the base of the stumps and found him short of the crease. Dinesh Karthik came in to bat at number seven. Karthik and Morgan then stitched an unbeaten 28-run match-winning stand. Karthik remained unbeaten on 12 runs while Morgan scored not out 47 off 40 including two sixes and four 4s. For KKR, Mohammed Shami, Moises Henriques, Arshdeep, and Hooda picked one wicket each.
Source: Twitter @IPL
Earlier, KKR bowlers backed their skipper Eoin Morgan’s decision of bowling after winning the toss as they bowled on tight lengths and did not give any loose balls to Punjab batters to score freely. Apart from openers KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal, no other batsman was able to stitch a decent partnership. Rahul and Mayank gave a slow start to the side and added 36-run for the opening wicket. Pat Cummins bagged the first wicket for his side as he dismissed Rahul (19) in the sixth over. Chris Gayle could not live up to the expectation as he was sent back to the pavilion on a golden duck by Shivam Mavi. Things did not turn good for Punjab as Deepak Hooda (1) too departed cheaply in the eighth over. Nicholas Pooran and Mayank build an 18-run brief stand for the fourth wicket but Narine broke the partnership. Mayank departed after scoring 31 runs studded with two sixes.
Punjab kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. Moises Henriques (2), Pooran (19), Shahrukh Khan (13), and Ravi Bishnoi (1) failed to leave their mark on the scoreboard. In the death overs, Chris Jordan’s 30-run knock-off 18 balls guided the side to a respectable total in the end. For KKR, Krishna returned with the figures of 3-30 in his four overs while Cummins and Narine scalped two wickets each.
Brief Scores: Punjab Kings 123/9 in 20 overs (Mayank Agarwal 31, Chris Jordan 30; Prasidh Krishna 3-30, Sunil Narine 2-22, Pat Cummins 2-31); KKR 126/5 in 16.4 overs (Eoin Morgan 47*, Rahul Tripathi 41; Shami 25-1).
High Commission of India in Canberra has issued a rebuttal to an article published in newspaper The Australian.
The letter undersigned by P. S. Karthigeyan, Deputy High Commissioner of India, stated, “It appears that the article has been written only with the objective of undermining the universally acclaimed approach taken by the Government of India to fight against the deadly global pandemic, at this decisive moment.”
Source: Twitter Screenshot : Letter by Indian HighCommission of India, Canberra
The article by Philip Sherwell was first published in The Times titled ‘Modi leads India out of lockdown and into a Covid apocalypse’. It was reproduced in the Australian paper Sunday with the title — ‘Modi leads India into a viral apocalypse’.
The Australian tweeted on 25 April, “Arrogance, hyper-nationalism and bureaucratic incompetence have combined to create a crisis of epic proportions in India, with its crowd-loving PM basking while citizens suffocate. This is the story of how it all went so terribly wrong.”
Screenshot from Twitter @The Australian Newspaper
The High Commission of India’s rebuttal accuses The Australian’s coverage of India’s Covid crisis “motivated and malicious reports” helping in “spreading falsehoods.”
The High Commission of India has urged the Christopher Dore, editor of the Australian newspaper, to “refrain” from publishing “such baseless” articles.
Letter by Indian HighCommission of India, Canberra
The High Commission of India in Canberra has also urged the newspaper to publish a rejoinder.
The letter points to “all possible measures” that “are being taken on a war footing by authorities to tackle the recent surge in Covid-19 cases”.
As India is struggling to counter massive second coronavirus wave, daily case numbers are making new infamous records. However, amid this time of crisis Indian Premier league cricket tournament has come under critcism by some.
Do we need to continue with this tournament when India is suffering? Maybe yes. But how can we say that? Aren’t we sensitive about the situation? Yes, we are.
A country that is as passionate about cricket as India can definitely be helped by few hours of smiles.
Australian cricket star Pat Cummins who is playing the IPL in India says that he has been advised that this tournament is providing joy and respite to millions of people in lockdown.
Pat Cummins released a statement on social media site Twitter saying, “I have made a contribution to the “PM Cares Fund,” specifically to purchase oxygen supplies for India’s Hospitals.”
Last week, the Indian Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in line with PM Narendra Modi’s direction of boosting the availability of oxygen to hospitals, the PM CARES Fund has given in-principle approval for allocation of funds for the installation of 551 dedicated Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) Medical Oxygen Generation Plants inside public health facilities across the country. Cummins encouraged his fellow IPL players and anyone around the world who has been touched by India’s passion and generosity to contribute.
Mr Cummins said, I will kick it off with $50,000.”
He says, I know my donation isn’t much in the grand scheme of things, but I hope it will make a difference to someone.” Earlier few social commentators have questioned the continuance of the IPL tournament while India is gripped in the second wave of coronavirus.
Picture Source: Twitter @Pat Cummins,
“At times like this, it is easy to feel helpless. I’ve certainly felt that of late. But I hope by making this public appeal we can all channel our emotions into action that will bring light into people’s lives,” said Cummins.
This comes after several Australian cricketers opted out of the ongoing IPL. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Monday confirmed that two Australian players — Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson — will be heading back for personal reasons. Rajasthan Royals pacer Andrew Tye opted out of the ongoing tournament on Sunday. India and Delhi Capitals spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has also announced that he would be taking a break from the ongoing IPL season as he wants to extend support to his family who is currently battling Covid-19.
Social Scientist Anita Singh Guha says, “It’s important to keep the spirits high in a time of crisis like this. Mental health should also be considered as a vital factor while dealing with the current situation.”
She says, “Seeing from outside it could look like IPL should be stoped but when you monitor closely it might have more benefits than distractions as claimed by some.”
A GoFundMe appeal set up by Amit Kachroo with Satyam Singh, Gaurav Mahna to supply India with oxygen concentrators has now reached £205,076 with 3.8k donors.
The appeal from UK read:
“Since lack of oxygen supply has been a limiting factor, we would like to contribute as many Oxygen concentrators as we can procure from various sellers and send it to India to aid in recovery and ease the burden on already stretched resources. Oxygen concentrators need just a 220V power supply to purify oxygen from ambient air by filtering out nitrogen. Every contribution no matter how big or small counts. Time is of essence and we would like to raise these funds by Monday morning UK time to ensure that we can get hold of all supplies that are available.”
The British Asian Trust launched an ‘India Covid-19 emergency appeal’ on Virgin Money and JustGiving websites which had raised £1,500 in 24 hours.
Lord Gadhia, a trustee of the Trust, said:
“We are getting a lot of enquiries from the UK Indian diaspora about how they can help in the current situation. The British Asian Trust works with some long-standing and highly reputable delivery partners like Jan Sahas and Goonj to reach the frontline. In the last campaign during the first lockdown in India we raised £1 million in our Covid-19 emergency appeal. This time around, we will assess the most pressing requirements and act accordingly.”
“I would urge the UK government to, as a matter of urgency, procure and send life-saving oxygen along with any other equipment/expertise that is available to assist in the current emergency, regardless of whether a formal request has been made.”
Various other charities run by Indian diaspora have also launched emergency appeals to help India.
The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London too has launched The BAPS India Covid Emergency to provide critical health care and support to the vulnerable.
According to a report by NDTV, the Arvind Kejriwal government is responsible for Delhi’s current oxygen crisis.
Their sources have revealed that the Delhi government had not done its homework on the proposed oxygen plants in 4 hospitals.
These plants were to be supported by the PM-Cares fund.
Other sources in the Railway Ministry said that the Delhi government has not yet provided cryogenic tankers for the ‘Oxygen Express’.
Image Source: Indian Railways, Twitter.
The Delhi government has brushed aside these “outrightly false statements” given by the centre to “hide its abject failure in setting up of PSA oxygen plants in Delhi”.
According to the Delhi government 4 plants at Deen Dayal Upadhya Hospital, Lok Nayak Hospital, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital Rohini, and Deep Chand Bandhu Hospital will be ready by the end of April 2021.
Although the plans for these 4 plants were drawn in October 2020, according to NDTV’s sources the site readiness was delayed by the Delhi government.
Image Source: YouTube.
Responding to these allegations, the Delhi government said in a statement:
“We are shocked to learn that central government is now making the excuse of site certificate not being available from the Delhi government as a reason for delay in plants. This has never been brought to Delhi government’s notice and is an outright lie.”
Narendra Modi led government has accused Arvind Kejriwal of mismanaging oxygen distribution and sensationalising the issue.
Image Source: Screengrab, YouTube.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represents the centre, has even said:
Ravindra Jadeja whacked 37 runs in the final over of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) innings before the all-rounder came back to pick three wickets as MS Dhoni-led side thrashed Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by 69 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL) here at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday evening. A business end master-class from Jadeja had powered CSK to 191/4 in their 20 overs. In response, RCB could only manage 122/9, thanks to Jadeja and Imran Tahir’s impeccable bowling performances. A three-for, a wicket-maiden, and a direct hit with the ball aided by Tahir’s tight bowling helped CSK move to the top of the points table as they toppled RCB on Sunday.
Chasing 192 runs, RCB got off to a flying start with the side scoring 44 runs in the first three overs. However, things soon went downhill as Sam Curran dismissed skipper Virat Kohli on the first ball of the fourth over. Devdutt Padikkal showed a glimmer of hope with his firing knock of 34 runs off 15 balls but was not able to convert it into a big score. Shardul Thakur removed him in the fifth over to reduce RCB to 54/2. RCB kept losing wickets at regular intervals and was soon found reeling at 89/7 in the 12th over. While Glenn Maxwell tried to smack boundaries, AB de Villiers, Washington Sundar, and Daniel Christian went without scoring in the double-digit.
Jadeja dismissed Sundar, Maxwell, de Villiers and ran Christian out as RCB was left gasping for breath. Imran Tahir too joined the party picking two wickets and resulting in a run out as RCB suffered a horrific collapse. In the end, the Kohli-led side was only able to score xxx runs, as CSK broke RCB’s unbeaten streak in the ongoing tournament. Earlier, opting to bat first, CSK got off to a good start with openers Ruturaj Gaikwad and Faf du Plessis scripting another fifty-plus partnership in the powerplay. Yuzvendra Chahal removed Gaikwad in the tenth over but Suresh Raina and du Plessis continued ticking the scoreboard.
The duo took CSK over the 100-run mark in the 13th over. But RCB bounced back in the game as Harshal Patel dismissed both Raina and du Plessis in consecutive balls to reduce CSK to 113/3 in the 14th over. Ambati Rayudu and Jadeja then carried CSK innings as they both added 31 runs in 22 balls. But Harshal picked up his third wicket of the match when he dismissed Rayudu in the 18th over In the final overs, CSK scored at a sluggish rate courtesy of some fine bowling by RCB before Jadeja bludgeoned the bowling attack as he smacked five sixes in the last six legal deliveries to take his side close to 200.
As India fights against the unprecedented health crisis of COVID-19, global support in the form of oxygen supplies, ventilators, raw material for vaccines, PPT kits and oxygen concentrators have started pouring in.
On Sunday, the United States agreed to send essential raw material to India required for manufacturing vaccines. US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan dialled up his India’s counterpart Ajit Doval and offered to send resources and supplies to the Serum Institute of India (SII) to increase production of the vaccine against COVID-19. The United States earlier was dilly-dallying on the issue of supplying raw material to the SII. Former President Donald Trump had invoked the defence protection act, which in a way prohibits the US to export essential material for vaccines. His successor President Joe Biden has continued with it and has been following the policy to vaccinate Americans first.
Just as India sent assistance to the United States as our hospitals were strained early in the pandemic, we are determined to help India in its time of need. https://t.co/SzWRj0eP3y
In fact, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also took up the issue during his talks with his US counterpart Antony Blinken during their recent conversation. India has been reeling under the deadly second wave of COVID-19. The country recorded 3,49,691 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, the highest single-day spike since the pandemic broke out last year. According to the Union Health Ministry, the country has recorded 2,767 new deaths due to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Sunday that “vital medical equipment, including hundreds of oxygen concentrators and ventilators, is now on its way from the UK to India to support efforts to prevent the tragic loss of life from this terrible virus.”
We stand side by side with India in the shared fight against COVID-19. Vital medical equipment is on its way from the UK to India to help stop the tragic loss of life from the virus and we’ll continue to work closely with the Indian government during this difficult time.
Shipment is expected to reach India by Tuesday, Johnson recently cancelled his India visit due to a surge in the cases of coronavirus. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also lends support to India amid the health crisis. Merkel said Sunday that her government was preparing emergency aid for India as the country grapples with a devastating surge in coronavirus infections.
“To the people of India, I want to express my sympathy on the terrible suffering that COVID-19 has again brought over your communities,” Merkel said in a message shared on Twitter by her spokesman Steffen Seibert. European Union (EU) has also stepped in to support India. The European Commission has activated its EU Civil Protection Mechanism and is seeking to send oxygen and medicine to India after receiving a request from Delhi.
“Alarmed by the epidemiological situation in India. We are ready to support,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen wrote on Twitter on Sunday.
Alarmed by the epidemiological situation in India. We are ready to support.
The EU is pooling resources to respond rapidly to India’s request for assistance via the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
“The EU executive is already coordinating with EU countries that are ready to provide urgently needed oxygen and medicine rapidly,” European Commission for humanitarian aid Janez Lenarcic wrote on Twitter.
Australia stands with our friends in India as it manages a difficult second COVID-19 wave. We know how strong and resilient the Indian nation is. @narendramodi and I will keep working in partnership on this global challenge.
Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra tweeted, “Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra has decided to provide funds for the installation of 2 oxygen plants in Dashrath Medical College, Ayodhya in order to fulfil the requirement of Oxygen gas in the hospital”.
Sriram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust (SRJBTK) works for the construction of the grand temple of Lord Shri Ram in Ayodhya and for the development of the Ayodhya region.
It has now come out to help the COVID infected patients by setting up two oxygen plant at a cost of Rs 55 lakh.
The plant will be set up at Dasharatha Medical College, Ayodhya.
Image Source: Dasharatha Medical College, Ayodhya, YouTube.
KL Rahul and Chris Gayle guided Punjab Kings to a comfortable nine-wicket win over Mumbai Indians at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here on Friday. A spirited bowling performance restricted Mumbai Indians to 131/6 in their allotted 20 overs despite skipper Rohit Sharma’s 63-run knock. In reply, a half-century from Rahul and Gayle’s 43-run knock helped Punjab Kings to win the game with 14 balls to spare. Chasing 132, openers Rahul and Mayank Agarwal gave a flying start to the side as they amassed 45 runs in the first six overs.
Mumbai finally got the much-needed scalp in the eighth over as spinner Rahul Chahar ended Mayank’s (25) innings and broke the 53-run stand. Chris Gayle joined Rahul in the middle after Mayank’s departure. Rahul and Gayle kept scoring runs at a decent pace on the slow Chepauk wicket. In the 17th over, Rahul completed his gritty fifty. Rahul and Gayle were in no mood of taking the game to the last over and they charged Trent Boult’s 18th over and took the side over the line.
Rahul remained unbeaten on 60 off 52 while Gayle amassed 43 including two sixes and five fours. Earlier, after being asked to bat, Mumbai lost opener Quinton de Kock (3) early as Deepak Hooda picked him in the second over. Ishan Kishan came in to join Rohit in the middle. The duo stitched a brief partnership of 19 runs for the second wicket. Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi ended Kishan’s (6) stint at the crease. Suryakumar Yadav came into bat at number four. He along with Rohit built the innings for Mumbai as they accumulated 79 runs for the third wicket. The duo added runs at a quick pace and Rohit smashed hit first fifty of the season. And, it was Bishnoi again who gave the breakthrough to the side as he removed Suryakumar (33) in the 17th over. After the fall of the third wicket, Kieron Pollard joined Rohit in the middle.
Captain @klrahul11 bags the Man of the Match award for his match-winning knock of 60* as #PBKS win by 9 wickets to register their second win of #VIVOIPL 2021.
In the next over, pacer Mohammed Shami sent Rohit back to the pavilion after he had scored 63 runs. Hardik Pandya (1) failed to leave his mark on the scoreboard as he was dismissed by Arshdeep Singh in the penultimate over. In the last five over, Punjab just gave 34 runs and picked four wickets to restrict Mumbai Indians to 131/6. Pollard remained unbeaten on 16 runs. For Punjab, Bishnoi and Shami picked two scalps each.
Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians 131/6 in 20 overs (Rohit Sharma 63, Suryakumar Yadav 33; Ravi Bishnoi 2-21, Mohammed Shami 2-21); Punjab Kings 132/1 in 17.4 overs ( KL Rahul 60*, Chris Gayle 43*, Rahul Chahar 1-19).
According to a report in the Republic World, a thief who had stolen almost 1,710 doses of COVID-19 vaccine from a PPC Centre in Haryana returned the doses.
He left them outside the Jind Civil Lines Police Station.
Image Source: ANI.
As per ANI, the matter came to light when a sanitation worker found the locks of the store and deep freezer broken.
The thieves broke open four locks of the storeroom and the deep freezer.
Image Source: ANI.
The PPC officials sounded an alarm after 1,270 of Covishield and 440 of Covaxin doses were allegedly stolen from the centre.
The officials told Republic World that some important files were also stolen.
“1,270 of Covishield and 440 of Covaxin are stolen from PPC centre. Few important files have also been stolen. I will check the main sources as well that keeps entire the area’s supply. I’ll also inform officials.”
Later, vials of Covishield Vaccine and dosages of Covaxin were left by a thief at a tea stall outside the police station.
Image Source: Republic World.
Apart from this packet, the thief also left an apology note:
“Sorry- I did not know it was Coronavirus Vaccine inside.”
As per the police, certain clues about the identity of the thief have also become ascertained from the incident.
The police has registered a case against the unknown person under IPC 457 and 380.
According to the police, the thief may have been attempting to get his hands on valuable Remdesivir injections.
Devdutt Padikkal’s unbeaten 101 and skipper Virat Kohli’s 72 not out helped Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) registered a thumping 10-wicket win over Rajasthan Royals in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match here at the Wankhede Stadium on Thursday evening.
Chasing 178, Padikkal and Kohli displayed an amazing show with the bat as both the openers took RCB across the line in 16.3 overs. Padikkal scored his 101 runs in just 52 balls with the help of 6 sixes and 11 fours while Kohli played the second fiddle and smashed 3 sixes and 7 fours in his 47-ball knock. The India captain also became the first batsman to complete 6,000 runs in the IPL. Earlier, Shivam Dube and Rahul Tewatia played knocks of 46 and 40 runs respectively to steer Rajasthan Royals to 177/9 in their allotted 20 overs.
Devdutt IPL 2021 Picture: Twitter @IPL
Put in to bat first, Rajasthan didn’t have a great start as they lost both openers Jos Buttler (8) and Manan Vohra (7) within the first four overs. The fall of wickets did not stop as David Miller too departed on a two-ball duck. Pacer Mohammed Siraj picked his second scalp of the day as he caught Miller in front of the wickets.
Skipper Sanju Samson and Dube tried to pull together the innings and added some quick runs for the fourth wicket. The duo added 25 runs before Kane Richardson removed Samson (21) and broke the partnership in the eighth over. Riyan Parag then joined Dube and the duo added 66 runs off 39 balls for the fifth wicket. Dube looked in great touch and Parag supported him nicely in the partnership. Parag’s 25-run stint was ended by Harshal Patel in the 14th over. Rahul Tewatia came in to bat at number seven and along with Dube added 24 runs together before the latter was sent back to the pavillion by Richardson in the 16th over. He played a knock of 46 off 32 balls.
Chris Morris and Tewatia steered the side to the 150-run mark. Tewatia’s wicket was bagged by Siraj in the 19th over. He played a knock of 40 off 23 including two sixes. In the last over, Rajasthan lost Morris (10) and Chetan Sakariya (0) but Shreyas Gopal added seven runs off four balls.
‘Kailasa’ is his island ‘nation’ often described by his followers as a “the Good God Country” or “Hindu sovereign nation”.
About the island, the website says, “Kailaasa is a nation without borders created by dispossessed Hindus from around the world who lost the right to practice Hinduism authentically in their own countries.”
Image Source: Videograb – YouTube.
‘Kailaasa’ has its own “passport” with the symbols on the passport include the flag of Kailaasa, called Rishabha Dhvaja, and features Nithyananda along with Nandi, Lord Shiva’s mount.
Nithyananda has also banned travellers from Brazil, European Union, and Malaysia.
His ‘Presidential Mandate’, a statement, was released on Twitter:
The tweet accompanying the statement read, “KAILASA’s #PresidentialMandate Executive order directly from the #SPH for all the embassies of #KAILASA across the globe. #COVID19 #COVIDSecondWaveInIndia #CoronaSecondWave #Nithyananda #Kailaasa #ExecutiveOrder.”
In December 2020, Nithyananda had made headlines when he announced a 3-day visa to ‘Kailaasa’ off the coast of Ecuador in South America.
Image Source: Videograb – YouTube.
He has even launched his very own ‘Reserve Bank of Kailasa’ with an official currency of the island – ‘Kailashian dollars’.
He has even appealed to the United Nations to declare the ‘Kailasa’ island as a separate country.
A media report said that Nithyananda had recently said that those who made fun of him for going into self-isolation are scrambling to find a place where they can quarantine themselves.
Six people allegedly involved in a Western Sydney crime syndicate have been arrested by the Australian Federal Police.
These arrests were made over a multi-million dollar fraud against the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Source: AFP.
This was updated in a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), AUSTRAC and Services Australia.
According the AFP, the value of the fraudulent claims are alleged to be in the millions.
“It will be alleged the syndicate has claimed more than $10 million since 2017 in NDIS funding. Police inquiries identified a syndicate allegedly operating across three companies to defraud the NDIS.”
More than 100 AFP investigators, forensic specialists and more than 50 partner agency members conducted operational activity across Sydney.
A 34-year-old man and 30-year-old woman from Lidcombe and a 32-year-old Monterey man are alleged to be the company operators.
Police said the first two engaged a 22-year-old Merrylands man to withdraw cash from approved claims on their behalf.
A fifth member, 24-year-old man from Granville, was paid at least $40,000 to set up a bank account in his name to facilitate one company’s claims.
The group allegedly obtained NDIS funding for people who do not have a genuine disability.
During 11 search warrants, police seized flashy cars, cash, jewellery, cryptocurrency and 8kgs of gold bullion worth approximately $600,000.
Source: AFP.
The cars include a BMW M3, Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne.
The police also found “a significant amount of jewellery.”
Source: AFP.
AFP investigators and forensic specialists are continuing to examine the evidence and work closely with the NDIA to identify any further alleged offending.
NDIA Chief Risk Officer Mel Woodburn said:
“Fraud is a crime, and the agency will not tolerate the misuse of funds. One dollar fraudulently obtained is one dollar that isn’t received by those for whom it was intended – our participants.”
Source: AFP.
Investigations to date uncovered allegations that the criminal syndicate:
obtained NDIS funding for people who do not have a genuine disability (false entitlement);
skimmed NDIS funding from genuine NDIS participants without their knowledge (false invoices for services not provided);
conspired with NDIS participants or their families/nominees and other ‘sub-contracted’ NDIS service providers, to obtain NDIS funds that they are not entitled to receive;
conspired with NDIS participants or their families/nominees to monetarise their genuine disability; and
over-claimed for services provided to genuine NDIS participants.
Source: AFP.
AFP Commander Kirsty Schofield alleged they were driven by money and anticipates more arrests.
Anyone with information about suspected fraud involving the National Disability Insurance Scheme should contact the Fraud Reporting Hotline on 1800 650 717.
A late onslaught from Pat Cummins (66*) and Andre Russell (54) went in vain as Chennai Super Kings registered a thrilling 18-run win against Kolkata Knight Riders in their Indian Premier League (IPL) match here at the Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Batting first, CSK posted 220/3 in their allotted 20 overs riding on a brilliant 95 not out from Faf du Plessis and a well-compiled 64-run knock from Ruturaj Gaikwad. In response, knocks from Cummins and Russell kept the KKR alive till the last over of the match but the Kolkata-based franchise failed to cross the line. Chasing a mammoth target of 221, KKR had a horrible start as both the openers Shubman Gill (0) and Nitish Rana (9) went back to the dressing room inside the first three overs. Deepak Chahar bagged both the wickets for CSK with the new ball. Skipper Eoin Morgan and Rahul Tripathi also couldn’t stay long in the middle. Chahar first removed Morgan (7) and then Sunil Narine (4) in the fifth over to leave KKR reeling at 31/4.
Things turned from bad to worse very rapidly for KKR as Tripathi (8) was picked by Lungi Ngidi in the last over of the powerplay. After Tripathi’s dismissal, Russell joined forces with Dinesh Karthik and took on the CSK bowlers. He scored 54 off 22 balls with the help of 6 sixes and three fours. Russell and Karthik accumulated 81 runs off just 39 balls for the sixth wicket. The partnership kept KKR’s hope alive in the encounter but just when things seemed to go in favour of Morgan and boys, Sam Curran clean bowled Russell in the 12th over.
Pat Cummins joined Karthik in the middle and kept the run-rate at par with the required rate. The duo added 34 runs for the seventh wicket before Ngidi scalped the wicket of Karthik (40) in the 15th over. The match was all but gone for KKR. However, Cummins had other plans. He kept on smashing boundaries and was in no mood of giving up on the total. He scored 30 runs off Curran in the 16th over. In the last two overs, KKR needed 28 runs.
In the penultimate, Curran gave eight runs and took a wicket but Cummins kept the strike with him on the last ball of the 19th over. In the final over, Prasidh Krishna got run out as KKR got bundled out for 202 in 19.1 overs. Cummins remained unbeaten on 66 off 34, smashing six sixes and four fours. For CSK, Chahar bagged four wickets while Ngidi grabbed three scalps. Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Gaikwad and du Plessis provided a solid foundation to CSK. The openers gave a flying start to the side and played their shots freely all-around the park. They added 115 runs before spinner Varun Chakravarthy dismissed Gaikwad at his individual score of 64. The right-handed batsman smashed four sixes and six fours.
An absolute thriller here at The Wankhede as @ChennaiIPL clinch the game by 18 runs.
After Gaikwad’s dismissal, Moeen Ali joined the party and kept the scoring rate ticking. Moeen scored 25 off 12 and stitched a 50-run partnership with du Plessis. The England international became Narine’s victim in the 17th over. CSK skipper MS Dhoni, who promoted himself up in the order, played a quickfire knock of 17 off seven balls before he was sent back to the pavilion by Russell in the 19th over. Ravindra Jadeja scored a six off the one ball he faced as CSK’s inning came to an end at 220/3. For KKR, Narine, Russell, and Chakravarthy bagged one wicket each.
Brief scores: CSK 220/3 (Faf du Plessis 95*, Ruturaj Gaikwad 64; Sunil Narine 1-34); KKR 202/10 in 19.1 overs (Pat Cummins 66*, Andre Russell 54; Deepak Chahar 4-29).
In Australia, right now only four leased federal airports use electricity from solar farms: Brisbane, Darwin, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek.
The researchers have found Western Australia’s Perth and Jandakot airports have the highest and fourth-highest potential in generating power through solar energy.
Picture Source: wikipedia
In fact, Perth would equal the combined production of Adelaide, Sydney, Moorabbin and Townsville airports.
This was closely followed by Melbourne and Brisbane coming second and third respectively.
Picture Source: wikipedia
The RMIT study, lead by Athenee Teofilo, showed potential electricity production in each airport was affected by panel arrangement and tilt.
Picture Source: RMIT – Athenee Teofilo
Researchers have determined that panels installed across all 21 sites would generate enough electricity to power 136,000 homes.
This is about a third of the central Perth sub-region, a rural town or powering 71,000 cars.
Picture Source: RMIT – Dr Chayn Sun
Dr Chayn Sun told the Age that airports were ideal for solar panels as they were not shaded by tall buildings or trees.
“Airports with decent solar systems could not only be self-sufficient but would generate enough electricity to send the excess back into the grid.”
Dr Sun adds that Australia also has more than 150 privately owned airfields where such solar panels could be installed.
Australia has cancelled the controversial Belt and Road (BRI) agreement with China saying it goes against its national interest, in a decision that will further increase tensions between Canberra and Beijing.
In an official order issued on Wednesday, the Scott Morrison government scrapped the agreement signed between the state government of Victoria and the National Development and Reform Commission of China, which was signed on October 8, 2018. It also cancelled a framework agreement signed between the two sides on October 23, 2019. Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne said that the BRI deal has been cancelled under the Commonwealth’s new foreign veto laws. This scheme requires the federal government to cancel agreements that states, territories, local governments, and universities enter into with an overseas government if they contradict the country’s national interest, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
China-Australia Flag, Canva creatives
Initiated in 2013, the BRI is Xi Jinping’s grand plan to connect Asia with Africa and Europe via land and maritime trade networks to create new routes for China. The Australian Foreign Minister said she considered the agreements to be “inconsistent with Australia’s foreign policy or adverse to our foreign relations”. The Sydney Morning report said that the Morrison government and national security experts were concerned that China was using the agreement with Victoria as a propaganda win to claim the that state government had broken ranks with Australia’s China policy.
Moreover, they are also worried that China was using the BRI to load up poorer countries with debt and reduce Australia’s influence in the region. Sino-Australian relations have been in a downward spiral since April last year when Canberra infuriated Beijing by proposing an independent international inquiry into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic. Canberra has been locked in an ongoing trade war with Beijing for several months, which has seen China slap sanctions on various Australian products.
China-Australia Flag, Canva creatives
Beijing has slapped several restrictions amounting to billions of dollars of Australian exports, including beef, barley, and wine, citing dumping and other trade violations that analysts widely view as pretexts to inflict economic retaliation. China has unofficially banned Australian imports of coal, sugar, barley, lobsters, wine, copper, and log timber since November 2020. It has also imposed anti-dumping duties on barley.
The photographs of a dedicated female Indian police officer, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), has gone viral on social media platforms.
A 5-months pregnant DSP Shilpa Sahu was spotted on duty ensuring the COVID-19 mask and lockdown adherence on the streets.
“Shilpa Sahu, DSP of Dantewada, who is also 5 months pregnant, in the scorching sun and amidst the second wave of Corona, has come on the streets explaining to those who are needlessly leaving the houses, that we are on the streets so that you can Stay Safe in the houses.”
Picture Source; Twitter -Dipanshu Kabra, IPS
She stood there despite the high temperature for over several hours.
She was seen performing her duties as a frontline worker in the Maoist-infested town, Dantewada of Bastar division in Chhattisgarh.
DSP Sahu ensured that the traffic rules are followed and civilians move safely despite her health condition.
DSP Sahu’s photo was circulated on Twitter as people called her a living inspiration and acknowledged her ‘Nation before self’ spirit’.
Canadian police has smashed an all Punjabis drugs and weapons syndicate, with ties to the U.S. and India.
This according to insauga has led to charges against 25 people in Ontario.
These people belong to South Asian dominated suburb of Brampton.
Picture Source; Twitter -York Regional Police
According to reports, the police found some of the drugs hidden at kids indoor playground.
York Regional Police and other law enforcement agencies started “Project Cheetah” a year ago.
This investigation began following a large network of drug trade that involved importing cocaine, heroin, opium and ketamine into Canada.
According to the police, the drugs were distributed across the country through a sophisticated system run by the traffickers.
On April 8, police in Ontario, British Columbia and California executed more than 50 search warrants, resulting in 33 people charged in total with more than 130 criminal offences.
Picture Source; Twitter -York Regional Police
Officers seized approximately $2.3 million worth of drugs including: Ten kilograms of cocaine, eight kilograms of ketamine, three kilograms of heroin and 2.5 kilograms of opium. Investigators also seized 48 firearms and $730,000 in Canadian currency.
York police Inspector Ryan Hogan said in a statement:
“Of particular concern when we look at heroin, a very insidious drug causing great harm to our community, a number of kilograms are alleged to be seized from a playland in Brampton. This puts children at risk.”
Police further added that the guns were lawfully possessed by a person who now faces charges.
“They have been seized as a result of a serious threat to public safety under provisions that are afforded to us by the Criminal Code.”
Police are also searching for one other man, Gurbinder Sooch, 41.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the York Regional Police Organized Crime and Intelligence Services at 1-866-876-5423 ext. 7818, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips.
Farhan Naeem, a fourth-year college student majoring in Mandarin Chinese and pursuing further studies in Computational Linguistics in the US, has started a GoFundMe page to enroll in Sanskrit programme at a US university.
He, who grew up in a Muslim household, says he was reading the Quran from the age of eight.
Farhan adds that he felt “a certain discomfort” in “rejecting the narrative about spirituality” that he was expected to adhere to.
“I have no one in my family that understands what I went through, and the trauma I still carry.”
During his college, Farhan was exposed to ancient Chinese history.
“I was surprised to see just what a profound effect ancient India had on China, especially with the influence of the Sanskrit Language.”
He soon realised that words like 茉莉/mòlì came from मल्लि/malli (Jasmine); 剎那/chànà came from क्षण/kshana (Moment).
“a lot of which were absorbed into the Chinese language along with the migration of Dharmic ideas.”
So, Farhan started doing his own own research and found out that well-known Sanskrit Grammarian Panini came from what is now modern-day Pakistan.
Farhan’s family from his father’s side is from Pakistan.
“I bought a copy of the Ashtadhyayi, and I realized just how sophisticated the Sanskrit Language is. I realized that learning this language would not just give me personal satisfaction, but it might have applications in my future career in Computational Linguistics.”
A scene on campus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison on July 10, 2014, in Madison, Wis. Bascom Hall is seen with a statue of President Abraham Lincoln in front of the building.(AP Photo/Jon Elswick)
NASA will land the first person of color in addition to the first woman on the moon with the Artemis program, NASA’s Acting Administrator Steve Jurczyk announced.
American President Joe Biden’s administration in a new budget proposal increased funding that will support Mars sample return, research, climate science, and more at NASA. Mr. Jurczyk responded to the news in a NASA statement and additionally revealed that the agency will be landing the first person of color on the moon with the Artemis program, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface.
This funding request “keeps NASA on the path to landing the first woman and the first person of color on the moon under the Artemis program. This goal aligns with President Biden’s commitment to pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all,” the NASA statement reads.
The statement marks the first time that the agency has specified it will land a person of color on the moon; previous comments about Artemis have only referred to landing the “next man and the first woman” on the moon.
Under the administration of President Donald Trump, NASA was aiming to complete the first Artemis lunar landing by 2024, but the Biden administration has not yet commented on whether it will keep NASA to this ambitious timeline.
“This $24.7 billion funding request demonstrates the Biden administration’s commitment to NASA and its partners who have worked so hard this past year under difficult circumstances and achieved unprecedented success.
“The president’s discretionary request increases NASA’s ability to better understand Earth and further monitor and predict the impacts of climate change. It also gives us the necessary resources to continue advancing America’s bipartisan moon to Mars space exploration plan, including landing the first woman and first person of color on the moon under the Artemis program.
“We know this funding increase comes at a time of constrained resources, and we owe it to the president and the American people to be good and responsible stewards of every tax dollar invested in NASA. The NASA workforce and the American people should be encouraged by what they see in this funding request. It is an investment in our future, and it shows confidence in what this agency has to offer.”
The ambitious mission is being regarded as a forward step for diversity. The ‘Artemis’ program is so named after the Greek goddess of the Moon and the twin sister of Apollo, the inspiration behind Nasa’s first moon landing mission. Last year in November, Nasa had introduced the 18 astronauts who will staff the human spaceflight mission. The group includes nine women and several people of colour, but it is not yet known who the actual “first woman” or the “first person of colour” to touch the lunar surface will be. The initial group of Artemis astronauts also includes Indian American Raja Chari.
The statement from NASA goes on to include details about the discretionary funding request, including the fact that it supports STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) engagement and “strengthens NASA’s ability to better understand Earth and how it works as an integrated system, from our oceans to our atmosphere, how it all impacts our daily lives, and how it all is impacted by climate change,” the statement reads.
Following this funding request, we will learn more about the administration’s overall goals with regard to space, science and NASA programs. Within the upcoming months, President Biden is expected to release a complete budget that will include a more detailed plan for that spending. However, budgets for NASA and the rest of the federal government are ultimately determined by Congress.
The most recent rankings for the world’s most powerful passports have been named.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions all over the world, it is unlikely travellers who hold them will be able to use its power as they were before the pandemic.
HPI ranks passports based on the number of countries travellers can visit without obtaining a visa or receiving one on arrival.
Japanese can visit 193 countries visa-free, followed closely by Singapore (192), Germany and South Korea (both 191).
Over the past years, the US passport has fallen from the number one spot to 7th place, a position it currently shares with the UK and New Zealand with visa-free travel to 187 countries.
Australia and Canada are both ranked at 9th place with access to 185 countries visa-free.
However, the 2021 rankings do not take into account COVID-19 restrictions around the world.
Dr Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of leading residence and citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners and the inventor of the passport index concept, says that the latest ranking provides an opportunity to reflect on the extraordinary upheaval that characterized 2020.
“Just a year ago all indications were that the rates of global mobility would continue to rise, that travel freedom would increase, and that holders of powerful passports would enjoy more access than ever before. The global lockdown negated these glowing projections, and as restrictions begin to lift, the results from the latest index are a reminder of what passport power really means in a world upended by the pandemic.”
India ranks at 84th place with visa-free travel to just 58 countries.
While over the last decade, China has climbed 22 places on the index, from 90th to 68th spot, increasing its access to visa-free countries from 40 to 77.
Afghanistan was at the bottom of the passport list, followed by Iraq and Syria.
The world’s most powerful passports
Japan (193 destinations)
Singapore (192)
Germany, South Korea (191)
Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain (190)
Austria, Denmark (189)
France, Ireland, Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden (188)
New Zealand, Belgium, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States (187)
Moeen Ali and Ravindra Jadeja shared five wickets between them to dismantle Rajasthan Royals as Chennai Super Kings registered a 45-run victory here at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
A spirited batting performance by Chennai guided them to a total of 188/9 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Rajasthan only managed to post 143/9 despite getting a decent start. Chasing 189, openers Manan Vohra and Buttler provided a 30-run stand for the first wicket before pacer Sam Curran picked the former in the fourth over. Vohra departed after scoring 14 runs.
IPL 2021, Source: IPL Twitter
Skipper Sanju Samson (1) failed to leave his mark on the scoreboard and lost his wicket cheaply in the final over of the powerplay. It was again Curran who took the wicket of Samson and brought Rajasthan under pressure. Shivam Dube joined Buttler in the middle and the duo stitched a 42-run partnership for the third wicket. In the 12th over, Ravindra Jadeja sent both the batsmen back to the pavilion. First, he picked well-set Buttler, who played a knock 49 off 35 balls including two sixes and five fours, and then on the last ball of the over he grabbed Dube (17). Dube was caught in front of the wickets. However, the all-rounder reviewed the decision but the on-field umpire’s decision stayed firm.
The trouble did not end for Rajasthan after losing two wickets at quick succession as Moeen Ali bagged new batsman David Miller (2) in the next over. Fiery Moeen was again brought into the attack. In the 15th over, England all-rounder dismissed Riyan Parag (3) and last-match hero Chris Morris on a duck. CSK totally took the control of the game as they dragged Rajasthan from 87/3 to 95/7 in no time. Rahul Tewatia kept the fighting spirit alive for Rajasthan but failed to put his side over the line. He played a knock of 20 runs. Jaydev Unadkat too contributed with the bat and scored 24 runs.
IPL 2021, Source: IPL Twitter
For CSK, Moeen returned with the figures of 3-7 from his three overs while Jadeja and Curran bagged two scalps each. Earlier, Faf du Plessis and Ambati Rayudu scored at a firing rate before Dwayne Bravo’s 20 runs off 8 balls came handy in the death overs as CSK posted 188/9 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite losing wickets at regular intervals, CSK was right on track for a big score before Chetan Sakariya dismissed both Suresh Raina and Rayudu in his third over. Sakariya in the 14th over broke CSK’s momentum and came back to dismiss skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Most CSK batsmen got a move on but weren’t able to convert it in a big score. In the final four overs, CSK scored 55 runs despite losing four wickets.
Put in to bat first, CSK got off to a decent start before it was undone by Mustafizur Rahman, who dismissed opening batsman Ruturaj Gaikwad in the fourth over. But Faf du Plessis continued his onslaught as he pulled off two back-to-back scoops for boundaries. The South Africa batsman then sliced a six over long-off before smashing another four as he took on Jaydev Unadkat in the fifth over. Chris Morris ended Du Plessis’ stint before completion of the powerplay to reduce CSK to 45/2. Moeen Ali continued from he left the other night as he whacked the ball right from the word go. However, Rahul Tewatia dismissed the England all-rounder in the 10th over against run of play as CSK lost the third wicket at the score of 78.
Moeen Ali bags the Man of the Match award for his all-round performance with the bat and the ball.@ChennaiIPL win their second game of #VIVOIPL 2021 and add 2 more points to their tally.
In the 11th and 12th over, CSK got a move on as Suresh Raina and Ambati Ambati Rayudu clubbed 30 off 12 balls. However, Rajasthan Royals again made a comeback as Chetan Sakariya dismissed both the batsmen in the same over to reduce CSK to 125/5. The next few overs saw CSK scoring a sluggish rate and Dhoni (18) tried to free his arms by smashing two boundaries but wasn’t able to middle the next ball. In end, Sam Curran and Dwayne Bravo’s contribution helped CSK get over the 180-run mark.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said We are in no hurry to reopen our international borders and risk the country`s nearly coronavirus-free lifestyle.
Australia’s international borders were closed to all non-citizens and non-residents in March 2020 and have been permitting only limited international arrivals in recent months, mainly its citizens returning from abroad.
The border closure, together with snap lockdowns, swift contact tracking, and high community compliance with health measures, have made Australia one of the world`s most successful countries in curbing the pandemic, limiting coronavirus cases to under 29,500 infections and 910 deaths.
“Australia is in no hurry to open those borders, I assure you,” Morrison said at a briefing.
“I will not be putting at risk the way we are living in this country which is so different from the rest of the world today.”
🔷PROTEST AT JANTAR MANTAR 🔷 Please allow international students to travel Australia 🇦🇺..! We want justice provide us a proper timeline that when we can travel to Australia..! #LetUsBackToAus#freezeourvisaspic.twitter.com/jstNDpzoTo
— International Students AUS🇭🇲 (@student_mehkma) April 6, 2021
For months now, except for some short snap lockdowns, Australians have been able to dine out, gather nearly freely and stop wearing face masks in most places.
They exchanged their international forays for local trips, with government figures showing big annual increases in intra-state travel in the first months of 2021.
From today (Monday 19th April), Australians and neighbouring New Zealanders will be able to travel in a babble between both countries without the need to apply for an exemption or spend time in mandatory quarantine.
New Zealand has had only 2,239 confirmed coronavirus cases and 26 related deaths.
Prime Minister Morrison flagged on Sunday that vaccinated Australians could be able to travel overseas “for essential purposes” and return via home quarantine in the second half of the year, but that possibility is only in “planning stages”.
Australia recently abandoned a goal to vaccinate nearly all of its 26 million population by the end of 2021 following advice that people under the age of 50 take Pfizer`s COVID-19 vaccine rather than AstraZeneca`s shot.
Well-known 58-year-old American actor Hank Azaria has apologized “to every single Indian person.”
Azaria is famous for his portrayal of Apu in superhit animation TV series The Simpsons.
From 1989 to 2020, Azaria voiced the role of the Indian American shopkeeper Apu Nahasapeemapetilon.
He left the role last year amid criticism of racial stereotyping.
Speaking on the Armchair Expert podcast, Azaria said that though he believed the show was founded on good intentions, it contributed to the “structural racism” in the US and has taken him some time to realize that his portrayal was offensive to the Indian American community.
“I really didn’t know any better. I didn’t think about it. I was unaware how much relative advantage I had received in this country as a white kid from Queens. Just because there were good intentions it doesn’t mean there weren’t real negative consequences to the thing that I am accountable for.”
To Monica Padman, an Indian American host of the show, Azaria said:
“I really do apologise. I know you weren’t asking for that but it’s important. I apologise for my part in creating that and participating in that. Part of me feels I need to go round to every single Indian person in this country and personally apologise.”
In 2017, Indian American comedian Hari Kondabolu made a documentary – The Problem with Apu – as a look at “how western culture depicts south-east Asian communities.”
In tweets about the recent podcast interview, Kondabolu welcomed Azaria’s apology but saw it as a “comeuppance” – a punishment or fate that someone deserves – for the show.
“The ‘Apu Controversy’ is not real. Racism isn’t ‘controversial’, it’s a constant … Unless you think People of Color finally standing up for themselves is ‘controversial’. However, I suppose a word like ‘controversy’ is more clickable than ‘comeuppance’.”
In another tweet Kondabolu called Azaria “kind and thoughtful”, which he said proved that “people are not simply ‘products of their time’ but have the ability to learn and grow”.
Last year, Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, has announced that non-white characters would no longer be voiced by white actors.
He also told the BBC that hurting any ethnic minority is never the intention:
“All of our actors play dozens of characters each, it was never designed to exclude anyone.”
In the Armchair Podcast, Azaria said he had worked on understanding the issue with the help of his teenage son Hal.
“I was speaking at my son’s school, I was talking to the Indian kids there because I wanted to get their input. … [There was] a 17-year-old, he’s never even seen The Simpsons but knows what Apu means. It’s practically a slur at this point.”
The report analyses data from the Department of Home Affairs to analyse how skilled workers are losing wages by taking jobs they are over-qualified for.
CEDA’s report estimates about 23 per cent of permanent skilled migrants in Australia are working in jobs beneath their skill level.
According to CEDA, migration has been a core key feature of Australia’s economic development over the last century.
Skills mismatch is costing Australia, $1.25 billion per year.
According to CEDA, 26 per cent migrants have faced major difficulties in finding the job as per their qualifications.
These include accountants, civil engineers and chefs who migrated to Australia and were among the least likely to find work in their profession of choice.
A lack of work experience, access to local networks in Australia, lack of jobs in the nominated field, and language difficulties are some of the most common reasons cited for the disparity in job market.
Of the migrants who cited not enough jobs as a reason for difficulty in finding a job in Australia, 28 per cent were state-sponsored migrants, 27 per cent were onshore independent and 17 per cent were offshore independent.
While, 53 per cent of permanent migrants surveyed appeared to have had no issues in finding their first job.
CEDA has suggested the following recommendations to help the migrants and economy:
Establish a new government-regulated online skills-matching jobs platform;
Comprehensively update the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations Codes (ANZSCO) to ensure that migrants with vital and cutting-edge skills can migrate to Australia;
More transparency from the Federal Government about the data and methods they use to assess what occupations are in demand and included on the skilled occupation lists; and
Reduce the Newly Arrived Resident’s Waiting Period for unemployment benefits back from four years to six months.
CEDA believes that most of the new permanent migrants are younger than the Australian population.
This means that they are more likely to hold post-secondary qualifications and facilitate important foreign trade and investment relationships with their home countries.
CEDA chief executive Melinda Cilento said Australia’s skilled migration system has served the country well, but there are areas where it must be improved.
CEDA suggests that Australia needs a new system of skills matching.
In the new proposed Skills Matching visa would not require an occupation on the skilled occupation list, this is a requirement for both the Employer Nominated and Skilled Independent visas.
CEDA is hopeful this will improve the quality of job matches – both migrants skills and employers’ needs will be met.
In the aftermath of the Indianapolis shooting attack, Sikhs from all over the world are in mourning and have shared messages of grief.
A Sikh advocacy group has called for an immediate probe of possible racial or ethnic hatred as a factor.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed that out of the total of eight people who lost their lives in the fatal shooting four belonged to the Sikh community.
Amarjeet Kaur Johal (66 yo), with some of her grandchildren.
According to the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD), the eight victims include Amerjeet Kaur Johal (66), Karli Smith (19), Matthew R. Alexander (32), Samaria Blackwell (19), Jaswinder Kaur (64), Jaswinder Singh (68), Amarjit Sekhon(48) and John Weisert (74).
The police are yet to determine the motive of Brandon Scott Hole, the 19-year-old shooter.
Many Sikhs believe that the attack may be racially motivated – a possible hate crime against Asian Americans.
The Sikh community from New York has called for an investigation into the racial angle.
Channel News Asia reports that the organisation, in its plea, highlighted that a majority of FedEx employees in Indianapolis are non-English speaking Sikhs adding that the centre was known for hiring elderly Sikhs.
Members of Indianapolis’ tight-knit Sikh community have demanded strict action that would prevent such attacks from happening again.
Speaking at a gathering in Indianapolis park on Saturday evening, Aasees Kaur said:
“We must support one another, not just in grief, but in calling our policymakers and elected officials to make meaningful change. The time to act is not later, but now. We are far too many tragedies, too late, in doing so.”
Indiana has 10 gurdwaras and about 8,000 to 10,000 Sikh Americans.
Mayank Agarwal’s masterclass had put Punjab Kings on the course of victory but Shikhar Dhawan’s ferocious knock took the game away from the KL Rahul-led side as Delhi Capitals registered an easy win in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match here at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.
Mayank’s sensational knock and a final over cameo by Shahrukh Khan had propelled Punjab Kings to put an impressive 195 for four. In response, Dhawan’s firing innings and Stoinis’ onslaught helped Delhi Capitals get over the line with 10 balls to spare. Dhawan failed to score a century as he got out on 92 off 49 balls but the opening batsman ensured Delhi Capitals were right on track for a victory. After Dhawan’s departure, Stoinis’ cameo steered Delhi Capitals to a comfortable win despite the side losing skipper Rishabh Pant in the 18th over. Chasing 196, Delhi Capitals got off to a solid start as openers Prithvi Shaw and Shikhar Dhawan fired the side to 57 in the first five overs.
However, Arshdeep Singh ended Shaw’s short stint at the crease as the opening batsman departed after scoring 32 off 17 balls in the sixth over. Steven Smith, who came into bat at number three failed to leave a mark. The Australian batsman’s sluggish knock ended when he tried to break the shackles but was caught in the deep. But Dhawan continued his onslaught and smacked a Mohammad Shami’s slower ball for six. The left-handed batsman three back-to-back fours in the 14th over but got out in the next over. With Delhi Capitals still needing 44 in five overs, Rishabh Pant played a cautious knock but Marcus Stoinis bludgeoned the Punjab Kings bowling attack thanks to two no-balls from Shami in the 17th over.
Earlier, put in to bat first Punjab Kings got off to a flying start with Mayank and KL Rahul firing on cylinders right from the word go. Mayank hit his first fifty of the season in just 25 balls as Punjab Kings got over the 90-run mark in 10 overs. However, Meriwala provided Delhi Capitals the much-needed breakthrough as he dismissed Mayank in the 13th over ending the 122-run partnership for the first wicket. Rahul tried to change gears but Kagiso Rabada dismissed him in the 16th over as Marcus Stoinis took an easy catch. Six balls later Chris Gayle sliced the ball in the air but failed to get any distance as Chris Woakes took his first wicket of the day.
Deepak Hooda and Nicholas Pooran then whacked what came in their slot before Avesh Khan ended the West Indies batsmen knock in the penultimate over. In the final over Shahrukh Khan scored 15 runs to take Punjab Kings close to 200 in their allotted 20 overs.
Dhrupal Patel was returning to Northern Virginia with his wife and child after a vacation in the Smoky Mountains. Rather than drive the interstate, he decided to take some less-traveled roads and see the countryside.
That’s how he ended up at the Stop & Save on Riverside Drive in Tazewell, Virginia. He got some coffee, groceries, and snacks, and he also bought an Electric 7s ticket from the Virginia Lottery.
Later, when he got home to Herndon, he scratched the ticket and discovered he’d won the game’s $777,777 top prize.
“I was not able to talk!” he later told Lottery officials. “I couldn’t believe it!”
He had just become the first top prize winner in Electric 7s (game #2067), one of dozens of Scratchers available from the Virginia Lottery. The game features prizes from $10 to $777,777. Since he is the first person to scratch to win the top prize, two more $777,777 tickets are unclaimed. The odds of winning the top prize are 1 in 1,224,000. The odds of winning any prize in this game are 1 in 3.94.
Mr. Patel, who is an IT consultant, said he intends to take care of his family with the winnings.
Amid the shortage of the anti-viral drug Remdesivir in the wake of a spike in COVID-19 infections in the country, seven major pharmaceutical companies have reduced the maximum retail price (MRP) of the drug on the intervention of the Union government.
The announcement comes days after the Central government held a meeting with all-existing manufacturers of the drug and other stakeholders in order to discuss steps taken to increase production and supply and reduce prices of Remdesivir. In an office memorandum issued on Saturday, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers said, “with reference to the ongoing efforts for enhancement of availability and affordability of ‘Remdesivir’ injection. On the intervention of the government, the major manufacturers/marketers of ‘Remdesivir injection’ have reported voluntary reduction in maximum retail price (MRP).”
Reviewed preparedness to handle the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Aspects relating to medicines, oxygen, ventilators and vaccination were discussed. Like we did last year, we will successfully fight COVID with even greater speed and coordination. https://t.co/cxhTxLtxJa
As per the revised price of major brands of Remdesivir injection 100mg/Vial’, Cadila Healthcare Ltd’s REMDAC which was earlier available at Rs 2,800 have been reduced to Rs 899. The price of Syngene International Ltd’s RemWin is reduced to Rs 2,450 from Rs 3,950. Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd’s REDYX will be available at Rs 2,700 instead of Rs 5,400. Cipla Ltd’s CIPREMI will now be available at Rs 3,000 instead of Rs 4,000, Maylan Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd’s DESREM will be available at Rs 3400 instead of Rs 4,800, Jubilant Generics Ltd’s JUBI-R will be available at Rs 3,400 instead of Rs 4,700 and Hetero Healthcare Ltd’s COVIFOR will be available at Rs 3,490 instead of Rs 5,400.
Due to Government’s intervention, the price of #Remdesivir Injection is now reduced!
I am thankful to pharmaceutical companies for joining hands with the Government to fight against CoVID Pandemic. pic.twitter.com/bNNqZ0T4Wb
Informing about the reduced price, Union Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertiliser Mansukh Mandaviya in a tweet thanks pharmaceutical companies for joining hands with the government in the fight against COVID-19. “Due to Government’s intervention, the price of #Remdesivir Injection is now reduced! I am thankful to pharmaceutical companies for joining hands with the Government to fight against COVID Pandemic,” he tweeted.
Pacer Trent Boult and spinner Rahul Chahar both picked three wickets each as Mumbai Indians registered an easy win over Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) match here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Saturday. Quinton de Kock and Rohit Sharma played knocks of 40 and 32, but SRH managed to maintain a stranglehold as Mumbai Indians were restricted to 150/5. In response, SRH was bundled out for 137 despite a flying start given by Jonny Bairstow. SRH needed 47 runs in the last five overs and Vijay Shankar whacked back to back sixes in Krunal Pandya’s third over to reduce the gap. But SRH was again put on the back foot when they lost two wickets in the 18th over and the team’s hopes were finally down when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Shankar with 17 required off seven balls. SRH collapsed from 129/5 to 137 in nine balls as Boult and Jasprit Bumrah denied the batsmen any chance of slogging in the death overs.
Chasing 151, SRH had a decent start but opening batsman Jonny Bairstow took the charge and smashed 18 runs in the third over. The English batsman didn’t stop and continued his onslaught as he whacked two consecutive six in the fourth. While David Warner played a sluggish knock, Bairstow was in top form as he hammered Mumbai Indians bowlers all around the park to take SRH over the 50-run mark before completion of the fifth over. However, the England opener brought his own innings to an end as he disturbed the stumps while attempting to hit the ball towards the fine leg. Manish Pandey failed to leave a mark as he hardly timed the slog down the ground and Kieron Pollard made no mistake. Warner changed gears in the second half of the SRH’s innings but a sensational direct hit from Hardik Pandya ended his stint leaving SRH reeling at 90/3.
The wicket of Warner triggered a middle-order collapse as SRH lost two quick wickets. Rahul Chahar, who had dismissed Manish, sent both Virat Singh and Abhishek Sharma back in the hut to pile further misery on SRH. Shankar tried his best to take SRH over the line but was dismissed in the penultimate over by Bumrah. In the end, Boult cleaned up SRH’s tail to hand Mumbai Indians their second win of the season Earlier, opting to bat first, Mumbai Indians got off to a brilliant start as openers Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock put on 53 runs inside the first six overs. SRH got the much-needed breakthrough in the seventh over as Vijay dismissed Rohit (32). Suryakumar Yadav (10) played two stunning shots but that was what he managed to do in totality as he was dismissed by Shankar in the ninth over, reducing Mumbai to 71/2. Ishan Kishan (12) failed to get going with the bat and at no point, he looked comfortable in his 21-ball knock. In the final two overs, Hardik Pandya (7), Pollard, and Krunal Pandya tried their best to register big strikes, but SRH managed to keep them in check. In the final over, Pollard hit two sixes and as a result, he registered his 200th sixth in the IPL. Brief Scores: Mumbai Indians 150/5 (Quinton de Kock 40, Kieron Pollard 35*, Vijay Shankar 2-19); SRH 137 (Jonny Bairstow 43, David Warner 36; Rahul Chahar 3-19)
Victorian universities recently re-proposed a previously conceived plan to get international students back under a similar model used to fly in tennis players for the Australian Open. Under the proposal, universities would help pay for around 1,000 foreign students to be flown into Melbourne every two to three weeks and placed into special lockdown arrangements.
But 63 students is an almost negligible number compared to how many visa holders are still stranded outside the country — an estimated 30% of 542,106 (or around 160,000) student visa holders were outside Australia as of January 10 2021.
In February, Phil Honeywood, the CEO of the International Education Association of Australia, expressed uncharacteristic desperation in his monthly email to members. He wrote:
When we directly lobby our federal politicians to promote student return plans, we are told that state/territory governments have full control of quarantine and we have to persuade them first. However, our discussions with state and territory politicians invariably produce the response that because the federal government controls Border Force, the ADF and international airport arrival caps, they are the ones actually in control!
If you don’t get that from the federal government then it doesn’t matter what other ideas, whether it’s the City of Melbourne, SA, NSW or ourselves, doesn’t matter what idea you have to deliver it, if you can’t get people [students] on the flights, it’s a no-goer.
But Federal Education Minister Alan Tudge is on the other side of the blame game, saying, at the end of March:
there is still the opportunity to bring students back in small, phased pilots. This could occur if an institution works with the state or territory government and presents a plan to us for quarantining international students […] I have discussed various plans with government and university leaders but to date have not received any concrete proposal.
This is all very confusing for the international education sector, which has come up with a number of concrete plans. Neither level of government seems to be able to either offer a sufficient explanation for why a plan it was considering was abandoned or, when an explanation is offered, when that plan may be resumed.
This creates the perception, among those working in the sector and international students, that no governments care about their fate.
South Australian and ACT plans shelved
The Australian Capital Territory and South Australia were the first jurisdictions to announce plans to bring back international students. In June 2020, they proposed pilots that would bring in 350 and 800 students to Canberra and Adelaide respectively. But both these plans were put on hold after Victoria’s second wave hit at the beginning of July.
The South Australian pilot was resuscitated in November — with preparations reportedly well advanced — before an outbreak later that month sent Adelaide into a snap lockdown and the pilot was again put on ice.
Not to be deterred, ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr announced in December he had requested Commonwealth approval to bring students back by February this year, but this too was quietly shelved with no explanation given.
Victoria and NSW try and try again
In Victoria universities and student accommodation providers have put a series of proposals to the state government, the first of which were scuppered when Victoria went into extended lockdown from July during the second wave.
But that all changed in February. In a national cabinet meeting at which an international student return plan was to be agreed, Prime Minister Scott Morrison instead said:
It was agreed once again that the return of Australian residents is the priority in terms of arrivals to Australia. We must remember that our borders are actually shut. No one can just come to Australia.
Within weeks, a small number of cases of community transmission from a Melbourne quarantine hotel caused a snap lockdown and the cessation of incoming international flights, which only resumed in April.
Now that the dust appears to have settled once more, Victorian universities are trying again, with a proposal to fly in 1,000 students each fortnight. The state government’s response so far appears lukewarm at best.
New South Wales has also had its share of pilot announcements. A well-developed scheme to start returning 1,000 international students to Sydney each week was shelved in January after the outbreaks in the northern beaches and Western Sydney.
Only 63 international students have come to Australia through the Northern Territory in November 2020. They were quarantined in the Howard Springs facility. In March 2021, Scott Morrison announced the Howard Springs facility’s capacity would increase to 2,000 people per fortnight. But there is no suggestion any of those places will be available for international students.
A recent study I was involved in identified nearly 12,000 beds in student accommodation facilities in the City of Sydney and nearly 19,000 in the City of Melbourne. Using some of these properties could provide a parallel quarantine pathway for international students – without taking hotel quarantine spaces away from returning Australians.
New South Wales recently launched the International Student Accommodation Quarantine program. The NSW government has invited student accommodation providers to apply to be assessed for eligibility (based on things like location and building layout) to house international students.
This is promising. We all agree bringing Australians home is a priority. But we have the capacity to bring back both. We know costs will be borne by students and education providers, and students will be subject to the same quarantine requirements and testing regimes already in place for returning Australians.
It’s just not good enough for the education minister to keep parroting the line returning Australians “remain the priority” over international students. If the government refuses to continue plans to bring students back, it must show them respect by providing a clear reason.
India reported its highest-ever single-day spike in COVID-19 cases with over 2.17 lakh new cases and more than 1,100 deaths in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry on Friday.
In the last 24 hours, 1,185 COVID-related deaths were reported in the country taking the death toll to 1,74,308. As many as 2,17,353 new COVID-19 cases have been reported in India in the last 24 hours. With this, the total number of cases has gone up to 1,42,91,917. The active number of cases stands at 15,69,743.
In the last 24 hours, 1,18,302 people recovered from the disease. With this, the total recoveries reached 1,25,47,866. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research, 14,73,210 samples were tested on Thursday. And, as many as 26,34,76,625 samples have been tested across the country till April 15.
Meanwhile, the cumulative number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered in the country stands at 11,72,23,509 till today. The Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved the use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus in the country on Monday. Now, India has three vaccines Covishield, Covaxin and Sputnik V for its inoculation programme against COVID-19.
From April 2, the government started vaccinating all people above 45 years. India started its vaccination drive on January 16 with priority given to all healthcare and frontline workers in the first phase. The second phase started on March 1 where doses were administered to people above the age of 60 and those between 45 and 59 years with specific comorbidities.
This is a ranking and analysis project conducted by US News & World Report; BAV Group, a unit of global marketing communications company VMLY&R; and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
The ranking was based on cultural, financial, political, and technological influences, as well as two new parameters, social function, and agility.
Japan and Germany secured the number two and three positions, whereas Switzerland, which is often on number one country, slipped to fourth over the course of the coronavirus pandemic.
Australia meanwhile was placed at number five, while the US and New Zealand gained sixth and seventh positions in the world on the report.
According to the report, Canada was named the best country in the world for the high quality of life and social function.
It was also rated top in terms of the job market, human rights, and dedication towards social justice. The rate of corruption in the country was recorded as very low and the country was ranked high related to respecting the property rights of the citizens.
The report emphasized the parameter of social justice where most countries struggled.
The world’s largest democracy, India is ranked at number 25.
Arora Akanksha, a 34-year-old Indo-Canadian, has declared herself a candidate to be the next Secretary-General of the United Nations.
“people in my profession aren’t supposed to stand up to the ones in charge.”
She is challenging Secretary-General António Guterres, who is running for another five-year term starting in 2022.
She told New York Times that like many Hindus, her grandparents fled from Pakistan to India after the 1947 partition, a fact that colors her outlook on the world.
“Refugees have no plan B, hence I have no plan B.”
Arora Akanksha was born in Haryana and spent her early life in Saudi Arabia, where her parents, both doctors, had relocated.
From age 9 to 18 she was back in India attending boarding school and later she decided to move to Canada.
Here, after graduating from the prestigious York University with honours, she worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers Canada as an auditing manager.
In 2016, She was recruited from this firm to work as an audit coordinator for the United Nations Development Program for four years.
To prepare for this position, she has also attended Columbia University’s graduate program in public administration.
Her campaign message is that the United Nations is sclerotic, wasteful, adrift, paternalistic and patronizing toward many of the younger members of its staff of 44,000 people around the world.
“We spend our resources on holding conferences, writing reports. All these frivolous activities that are advertising. We have lost course on why we exist, what we’re supposed to do.”
No country has yet formally endorsed this self-nominated candidate but Arora is hoping to make her case to UN ambassadors in the next few months.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada (the ministry of foreign affairs) told PassBlue that Canada’s top diplomats – Ambassadors Rae, Arbeiter and Blais – have met with Arora to discuss her potential candidacy.
It is believed that this meeting could be a game changer for her and Arora Akanksha’s campaign.
A Current Affair has highlighted how a Sydney family has been left in shock after discovering the home they invested hard-earned $700,000 into over a decade was only half of what they were expecting.
Bishnu Aryal, the father of two moved to Australia from Nepal, couldn’t believe his eyes when he realised that his dream home was cut down the middle.
In 2016, Bishnu employed the services of Zac Homes for a custom off-plan build worth $322,400.
In 2019, he checked the progress and admitted that he “nearly fainted.”
Bishnu realised his free standing build had been turned into a duplex taking up half the block.
As is visible in the photographs, his house sits on the right hand side of the block with a giant windowless wall facing the empty half.
“I called the supervisor and asked him what’s going on, why is the house like this? And he said “it’s a duplex, semi-duplex”, and I nearly fainted that day. Where’s my house? I want the rest of my house. It’s not a freestanding house, it’s not a duplex, it’s half a house. And it looks embarrassing.”
Zac Homes said the build initially began as a single freestanding home.
However, according to A Current Affair, they claim it later had to be altered to fit with Liverpool Council regulations.
The regulation stated the block had to be an attached dwelling.
“Zac Homes appreciates the frustrations of Mr and Mrs Aryal surrounding the delay in the issue of the Occupation Certificate, these delays are not caused by Zac Homes. Instead, Zac Homes has worked diligently and at its own cost to attempt to remedy the outstanding matters so that the Occupation Certificate can issue.”
Zac Homes claims Mr and Mrs Aryal were made aware of the change of plan and were given opportunities to pull out of the contract more than once.
The building company also said that they have done everything required to secure an Occupation Certificate for the block.
Bishnu told A Current Affair that his family was forced to move into the house with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic limiting their options.
He shared his story with the media to raise awareness to make sure no one has to deal with the same thing.
However, since the A Current Affair episode went to air, Zac Homes has been bombarded with one star reviews.
Zac Homes has released a lengthy statement on their Facebook page.
They want to “provide some context to the dreadful situation”.
“The disagreement that’s causing the holdup is between the certifier and Liverpool City Council and we’re working hard with them both to try and rectify the situation as quickly as possible. The fact is the owners of the lot next door have failed to proceed with building their home and that’s why the certifier has continued to refuse to issue an Occupation Certificate. It’s a mess. We know that. Even though this situation hasn’t been caused by us, we are doing what we can to ensure that the right thing is done by Mr Aryal and his family. We feel for them.”
In order to boost the student exchange program, Jean-Yves Le Drian, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, on Tuesday said his country targets to enroll 20,000 Indian students in higher institutions by 2025.
“We set ourselves a target – it is to have 20,000 Indian students in higher education institutions in France by 2025. And we will make it. We will make it, thanks, in particular, to you, and to your dynamic experience and energy. And as you know, we will support these students during their stay in France so that as they may fully live this intellectual, cultural, and human experience,” Le Drian said while addressing student mobility and the appointment of 15 Alumni Ambassadors of Higher Education in France.
The French Foreign minister also stressed his relationship with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and called it a strong bond. “I apologise for arriving late but I was with my colleague, Minister Jaishankar, your External Affairs Minister, and we had so many things to discuss and our relationship is so strong that we got late. However, I very much wanted this latest visit, which is my 17th official visit to India. To begin with, you because the history, the background of our cooperation, of our partnerships has always been based on sharing knowledge, sharing ideas, and academic exchanges,” he added.
Mr. Drian is on an official visit to India from April 13 to 15. On Tuesday, During his stay in New Delhi, Minister Le Drian held talks with Indian Minister Jaishankar on bilateral, regional, and international issues of mutual interest. He will also meet Prakash Javadekar, Indian Minister of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change at a panel discussion on climate change. He will also participate in the Raisina Dialogue. India and France enjoy a strategic partnership since 1998 which has been marked by regular high-level exchanges and growing cooperation in diverse areas.
48-year-old Melbourne truck driver, Mohinder Singh, responsible for the deaths of four Victoria Police officers on Eastern Freeway has been jailed for 22 years.
He was sentenced in Victoria’s Supreme Court this morning.
Justice Paul Coghlan has described the footage of the horror crash as “chilling” during the sentencing.
“I have viewed the footage on a number of occasions and it is chilling.”
According to reports in the Australian media, Mohinder Singh pleaded guilty to four counts of culpable driving causing death, three charges of trafficking a drug of dependence, and one charge of possession of a drug of dependence.
Mohinder Singh must serve at least 18 years and six months behind bars before he is eligible for parole.
On April 22 last year, he was high on drugs (ice) and stopped on his route to do a drug deal.
Later he veered into the emergency lane of the Eastern freeway near in Kew killing four officers.
Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King and constables Glen Humphris and Josh Prestney all died in this incident.
The officers had pulled over Porsche driver Richard Pusey for allegedly speeding at the time.
According to reports, CCTV cameras showed footage of Mohinder Singh “repeatedly drifting” into the emergency lane.
Justice Coghlan added that Mohinder Singh was clearly “unfit” to drive.
“It has been put that the threat to you was that you might lose your job. You were simply unfit to do the job and had little legitimate claim to keep your position.”In the sense you drove to keep your job – that decision was selfish.”
According to Nine News, Mohinder Singh, father of two, remained silent throughout the hearing.
He was led out of the courtroom directly in front of the victims’ families.
Andrew Prestney, the father of Constable Josh Prestney, read out a statement in court following the sentencing.
“We would like to thank the people of Victoria, the people of Australia, and those from around the world for their outpouring of love and for embracing us with their hearts. We are consoled by the fact that our four will not be forgotten as we continue to carry them in our hearts.”
The session was moderated by Associate Editor and Deputy Chief of National Bureau Shubhajit Roy.
Here are some of the key questions that they asked the Australian High Commissioner.
“SHUBHAJIT ROY: Was China the glue that brought the Quad nations close?
Barry O’Farrell: I think the Quad was developed very nicely before China decided to change the way in which it interacted publicly with the world, and bilaterally with a number of nations. It is not that long ago that we had our foreign ministers’ meeting at the United Nations, and we have now had our first Quad meeting… It predates China’s changing posture. Power and wealth is shifting from the Atlantic to the Indo-Pacific. The Indian Ocean continues to be responsible for half of global trade, and it is important to each of the players in the Quad. China’s change of attitude in recent times probably has, to some extent, created an extra incentive, but I think the glue was there before.”
“ANIL SASI: The negotiations between India and Australia on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) have been underway since 2011. Will there now be an attempt to revive it perhaps through more strategic tools or even the Quad?
Barry O’Farrell: Yes, our two countries tried to negotiate what is colloquially called a free trade agreement. We got well down the path and then it stalled. We are now in 2021. The good news is that both our prime ministers, on June 4 last year, agreed to reengage on CECA. That essentially means in the language of politics that we are about to have another go at it. That reflects the commitment from both sides to try and improve the trade and economic relationship between both countries, because we understand that it is commerce, investment, business that underpins both our economies and determines the living standards of our citizens. A key part of the comprehensive strategic partnership was to promote trade investment between our countries and see opportunities in India, opportunities that have been opened up by reforms undertaken over the past 12 months, particularly around foreign direct investment… If India wants to have the world’s largest electric vehicle industry, if India wants to have a large battery industry, Australia has the critical minerals that it needs to develop those industries. And the good news is that some of those are already owned by Indian investors. The car world is looking for other opportunities to invest in similar sources of those minerals around the world, but equally in Australia.”
“SUNNY VERMA: The Indian government has been raising tariffs on a lot of items in line with the ‘vocal for local’ and self-reliant India campaigns to promote domestic manufacturing. What has been the position of Australian companies on this?
Barry O’Farrell: Of course, industries that are affected by changes in tariffs or non-tariff barriers will always raise those concerns with their government. But, over the past four months, I’ve been impressed by Prime Minister Modi’s reform agenda… From time to time, there will be, even amongst the closest of friends, the odd difference of opinion, and through the World Trade Organisation and other vehicles we peacefully, harmoniously, have to resolve that matters. I don’t think any nation is without issues that sometimes irk other countries. But I have to say, I’ve witnessed since I’ve been here over the past 13 months now, a closeness in the relationship with Australia. I have been coming here for 10 years, I have been a critic of the lack of consistency of the Australian government in their dealings with India. And at the risk of perhaps exciting some interest back home by this comment, I say, genuinely, that in Prime Minister (Scott) Morrison, in foreign minister (Marise Ann) Payne, and in our commerce minister, we have three individuals who have shown a constancy to this relationship. And I believe in any relationship, private, business or government, constancy is a key.”
“MANRAJ GREWAL SHARMA: Not many people know that Australia helped Punjab develop the happy seeder, which is a zero-tillage machine. Are we looking forward to more such initiatives?
Barry O’Farrell: I hadn’t heard of the happy seeder until six months before I came to India. When it was first mentioned to me by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, which has been cooperating here in India for over 25 years, I immediately thought they were talking about Lebanese cedar trees… What the happy seeder does is to do away with the need to remove stubble. It harvests and replants in the same movement. Having been to Punjab a few months ago and having seen it in operation and been told about the way in which it is slowly but surely moving across agriculture in India, I’m pleased by that. We know that change is hard in any organisation. And it’s hardest of all, I suspect, in agriculture in India and Australia. But hopefully, there’s some progress… I think what it reflects is that mining a relationship is often not just about the import of products to India but also about the provision of technology, services and expertise to assist India to develop its markets. In agriculture, we’ve been working together on research projects like the happy seeder. I think one of the lessons out of the past four months, and this has been reinforced to me by technology experts, investors and governments, is that two of the hot areas where I think we are going to see this (collaboration) happening is education and telehealth… or the remote to use of technology for people who… may not be close to a hospital, or a clinic.”
“NIRUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN: Do India and Australia know each other any better beyond the three cliches of cricket, Commonwealth and curry? You have come up with the four Ds, which are dosti (friendship), defence, diaspora and democracy….
Barry O’Farrell: I think we have advanced because the size of the diaspora is now significant. One in 35 Australians are of Indian origin, either born in Australia or have a parent or grandparent who was born in India… Indians in Australia join us and participate in local communities and sports and the like. So that is people-to-people. Then at a business-to-business level, just as most US technology companies are run by people of Indian origin, we have similar experience in Australia. I think that has helped to open up the eyes of many in business in Australia to the opportunities that exist in this country. So yes, it (the relation) has progressed….The thing that frustrates me is the media. Firstly, because of the economics of the media, there is only one Australian news representative in India. That means, therefore, when I read Australian newspapers… I am more likely to read articles… that have come from the The Guardian, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post written by, in many cases, people of Indian origin or citizens living in America or Britain… If Australian newspapers and media organisations can’t afford to have their own representatives in India, I’d like them to take copies from.”
Rahul Chahar spun a web while Trent Boult executed perfect yorkers in the death overs to snatch victory for the Mumbai Indians from the jaws of defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Tuesday.
Andre Russell’s five-wicket haul had bundled Mumbai Indians out for 152 after batsman Suryakumar Yadav’s gutsy knock. In response, KKR was restricted to 142/7 thanks to an all-rounder bowling performance from Mumbai Indians. KKR were right on the track for an easy win but Chahar spun a web and removed the top four batsmen before Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult’s fiery spell handed Mumbai Indians the match.
Chasing 153, KKR got off to a perfect start as the openers Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill stitched a 72-run stand for the first wicket. The duo made full use of the powerplay and smashed 45 runs in the first six overs. Chahar provided Mumbai Indians the first breakthrough as Gill in an attempt to go for back-to-back sixes got out in the ninth over. Minutes later Chahar picked his second wickets for the day as he dismissed Rahul Tripathi for a paltry five in the 11th over to reduce KKR to 84/2. Nitish and Eoin Morgan scripted a brief partnership of 20 runs. However, Chahar wreaked havoc and dismissed the KKR skipper in the 13th over.
With Nitish’s wicket, Chahar removed KKR’s top order to turn the game in Mumbai Indians’ favour in the 15th over. In the next over, Krunal Pandya joined the party and dismissed Shakib Al Hasan as KKR lost half of their side with 31 runs still needed in 28 balls. Andre Russell and Dinesh Karthik then played sluggish knocks in order to not lose any wicket but the batsmen still failed to get KKR over the line.
Earlier after being asked to bat first, Mumbai Indians suffered an early jolt as the side lost opener Quinton de Kock in the second over. Varun Chakravarthy bamboozled the South African batsman on the last ball of his first over. Rohit played a cautious knock but Suryakumar dealt in boundaries as he brought up his half-century with a six. However, after smashing the fifty, ‘SKY’ got out in an attempt to whack the ball around but failing to get all of it.
And in the death overs, Mumbai Indians failed to get going and kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Russell dismissed Kieron Pollard and Marco Jansen in the 18th over as Mumbai Indians collapsed from 115/3 to 126/7. Krunal Pandya tried to hit some shots towards the end of the innings but he faltered in order to whack every ball in the final over as Mumbai Indians touched the 150-run mark.
Chaitra Navratri or Vasant Navratri is celebrated during the spring season in India, however in Australia in autumn. This year, it will begin on April 13, 2021, and end on April 22, 2021.
Considered to be an important nine-day celebration for the Hindu community, the auspicious festival, much like Maha Navratri, is dedicated to the nine different forms of Goddess Durga, collectively known as Navdurga. While the festivity is all about heightening one’s spiritual credence by observing fast for nine consecutive days, it may turn out to be enervating for those who only stuff them up with the traditional aloo ki sabzi with kuttu or singhara atta puri.
During the pious days of Navratri, the Hindus skip or alter several ingredients from their meals, according to their family traditions. During the fasting process, people completely avoid onion, garlic, and more. From an ayurvedic perspective, these foods attract and absorb negative energies and should be avoided during this seasonal change as the human body tends to have low immunity around this time.
So as you prepare for the nine-day fasting period, here are some quick to make and yummy to eat recipes:
1. Sabudana Thalipeeth: Sabudana Thalipeeth is crisp and soft pancake made with tapioca pearls, mashed potatoes, ground peanuts and spices. They are also called Upvasache Thalipeeth in the Marathi language and can also be referred to as Sabudana roti.
2. Millet Uttapam: These uttapams are made from sama ke chawal or vrat ke chawal flour (barnyard millet flour). Sprinkle chopped tomatoes and serve hot with mint-yogurt dip.
3. Kuttu ka Dosa: What can you relish more than having a crispy dosa with potato filling during your fast? Serve it hot with coriander chutney. Move over usual kuttu ki puri and rustle up something new this Navratri.
4. Aalu ki kadhi: This is a unique dish that you can make by replacing the usual besan with singhade ka atta. All you have to do is to follow the usual steps that you do while making the besan ki kadhi, but replace the besan batter with singhade ka atta batter. Few people don’t use red chili powder during Navratri so you can replace it with green chilies also. This is a light and yummy snack to satiate your cravings during fasting.
5. Dahi arbi (Taro): This is the same as the delicious dish mentioned above. The only difference is that you have to add the soft arbi instead of potato while cooking this item. In contrast with the aalu kadhi, this dish is to be made with a thin gravy. This is a perfect dish for those who want to cut on carbs during fasting.
6. Sukhi arbi (Taro): Crispy, fried, and tasty spiced arbi dish is all you need to satisfy your cravings during the Navratri fast. This arbi recipe is also known as Brindavani ghuiya. This dish is easy to make and is also equally yummy to eat. Follow the same steps that you do while preparing french fries. Just make sure to add only those spices that are permitted in your family while fasting.
7. Banana dry fruits lassi: Tired of eating raw bananas? Try this Lassi made with the goodness of yogurt, bananas, honey, and walnuts. Drink up this healthy lassi and keep yourself energised through the day. This will also serve as a perfect smoothie for your summertime fast and will keep you full for the entire day.
8. Arbi (Taro) kofta with mint yogurt dip: Bored of eating the traditional potato vegetable during Navratri fast? Make this Arbi kofta recipe which is the perfect tea time snack for you to try out during the festival. This dish, prepared with kuttu ka atta and accompanied with the ever-versatile mint-yogurt dip, will leave everyone asking for more.
9. Sama chawal idli: Well, this dish is a perfect example of what can be achieved if you are well aware of the substitutes available to you. Who will not like to gulp hot idlis with the ever-versatile mint-yogurt dip? Just replace your usual rice batter with sama rice batter to make these idlis and you are ready to eat it as your ‘fast food’ for dinner or breakfast. While observing fast and welcoming the deity in your house, don’t forget to pray for the healing of the world from the deadly coronavirus, this year. A very happy Chaitra Navratri 2021!
These appointments are across the country to help deliver the 2021 Census.
These roles are among 38,000 temporary jobs created to successfully deliver the 2021 Census.
Field Officers are a crucial workforce that help people throughout Australia to participate in the upcoming 2021 Census.
Field Officers assist the ABS at a local level by delivering Census instructions and forms and by visiting households that have not yet responded.
The roles are short-term and available in all cities, towns and regional areas nationwide.
The ABS will recruit locally to ensure Field Officers are familiar with the local area.
The flexible working hours are variable and will include weekdays, weekends and evenings.
Andrew Henderson, Census Executive Director and National Spokesperson said;
“Field Officers play a vital role as they promote Census participation and answer peoples’ questions. Helping members of the public who need special support to complete the Census is a key role for our Field Officers. We want to recruit motivated people who are keen to tell their community’s story through the successful collection of Census data. Previous experience isn’t a requirement and training will be provided prior to commencing the job. We are also recruiting people who can speak a language other than English as part of the job.”
Applicants are encouraged to view the applicant information kit and apply early as jobs are expected to fill quickly.
Thousands of Australians donated over $370,000 via GoFundMe during October to save Lentil As Anything from closing their doors due to the economic uncertainty of COVID-19.
“We’ve seen first-hand the impact of economic hardship faced by many Australians this year with the demand for our community outreach programs significantly increasing since the pandemic took hold.”
Shanaka quit the board last year and Megan Evans was made the new Chair.
Megan admitted to the Age there had been problems in the social experiment but they were working with the authorities.
“It’s been a very awful, tricky situation … lack of expertise or capacity to meet regulatory deadlines.”
According to Megan, the enterprise is staffed by volunteers and paid staff who were “short-changed because they were paid under the wrong workplace award.”
On April 1, Lentil As Anything posted something on their Facebook page that raised many eyebrows about the enterprise.
People were devastated by this news and their comments showed the appreciation they had for this social enterprise.
This news of the St. Kilda restaurant closing down turned out to be an April Fool’s joke to raise awareness about the enterprise.
Due to the COVID pandemic, the number of Australians seeking food relief at least once a week has doubled.
Shanaka has rejoined the organisation and looking for all the support to help the enterprise.
With its core value to serve and create ‘healthy human community’, Lentil As Anything in Melbourne and Sydney is working on providing meals for the homeless.
The Hindu New Year is celebrated in accordance with the Almanac or the Panchanga, that is, the Hindu Lunar Calendar. The Hindu New Year is also known as the start of Vikram Samvat. The current era of Vikram Samvat is believed to have begun in the year 57 BCE. This day also marks the end of one agricultural harvest and the beginning of a new one. Hence, this event is concerned with the sowing and reaping of crops.
On this day, the sun is found to be at the point just above the intersection of the equator and the meridians. This day also marks the beginning of the season of spring or the Vasanta Ritu.
The exact day of the Hindu New Year changes every year, in accordance with the calculations in the lunar calendar. Each state in India celebrates the New Year in its own unique way, following customs and traditions that are exclusive to that particular region. We now take a look at the way in which this event is celebrated in different parts of the country.
Legend behind the New Year Celebrations
The origins of the Hindu New Year revolve around the legend of the great Hindu King, Vikramaditya, who ruled in 57 BC. It is believed that King Gardabhilla, who ruled in 12th Century CE, once seized a sadhvi named Saraswati. She was the sister of the Jain monk, Kalakacharya. The monk then took the help of the ruler of Saka to conquer Gardabhilla. The former eventually defeated the latter.
A defeated Gardabhilla went to the forest, where he was killed by a tiger. His son, Vikramaditya, grew up to be a great King. He invaded Ujjain and defeated the Sakas. This new era of the King’s victory, it is said, is celebrated as the Vikram Samvat.
Lord Brahma – Photo Print
According to the Brahma Purana, the New Year marks the day when Lord Brahma recreated the entire world after the previous Pralaya or Great Deluge. Time, hence, was created anew on this day.
Let us now look at how each region in India celebrates the Hindu New Year.
Ugadi
Ugadi, Yugadi or Samvatsaradi as per the Telugu and Kannada Hindu calendar, is celebrated on the first day of the waxing phase of the moon in the month of Chaitra. This day is also called the Chitra Shukla Paksha Padyami – this falls in March or April, as per the Gregorian Calendar. In fact, this day is considered the New Year day for Hindus living between the Vindhya-Kaveri belt.
The name Ugadi or Yugadi is derived from the Sanskrit roots of Yuga or “age”; and Adi, which means, “beginning” – combined together, this word means “the beginning of a new age”. The term Yugadi especially refers to the start of the current epoch or Yuga we are living in now, the Kaliyuga. This Yuga is believed to have started the day Lord Krishna left his mortal coil and ended this particular avatar on Earth. Hence, the Kaliyuga is supposed to have commenced on the midnight of February 17, going into February 18, 3102 BCE.
Celebrations
The Kannada, Marathi, Telugu and Konkani celebrate this event with great verve. The day begins with an elaborate oil bath ritual, followed by a visit to the nearby temple. This is followed by a feast of a certain dish including all six tastes, called the Ugadi Pacchadi in Telugu and Bevu-Bella in Kannada. This is symbolic of accepting and enjoying life in the year ahead, which is a mixture of all different tastes or experiences, including happiness, sadness, anger, fear, disgust and surprise.
The inclusion of neem signifies sadness, as it is bitter in taste. Jaggery and ripe bananas indicate sweet happiness. Green chili and pepper are hot and therefore, indicate anger. Salt signifies fear and the sour tamarind juice indicates the emotion of disgust. Unripened mango is also added for its tang, adding that emotion of surprise.
A special dish called Bobbatlu (also called Bhakshyalu, Polelu or Puran Poli) is prepared on the New Year’s Day. In Karnataka, this is referred to as Holige or Obbattu. This is basically a filling of gram flour and sugar or jaggery paste, stuffed into balls made of flour, then given a roti-like round shape. It can be eaten either hot or cold and is served up with ghee, milk or even coconut milk.
Post the feast, people gather to listen to the recitation of the Panchanga of the new year, followed by a forecast of the year ahead. This is called Panchanga Shravanam. Telugu people greet each other saying, “Yugadi Shubhakankshulu” and Kannadigas wish each other saying “Yugadi Hubbada Shubhashayagalu”.
Gudi Padwa
Gudhi Padwa or Gudi Padwa also referred to as Samvatsar Padvo (among the Hindu Konkanis residing in Goa), is celebrated by Maharashtrians, on the day of the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada. This is also the first day of Chaitra Navratri and is known as Ghatasthapana or Kalash Sthapana. The word “Padwa” is taken from the Sanskrit word, Pratipada, the first day of the lunar month.
On this day, an ornamented Gudi is hoisted and worshipped, which is what gives the festival its name. This festival is celebrated at the very end of the Rabi season. It is one of the Saade-Teen Muhurtas, or the 3 and a half auspicious days of the Hindu Lunar calendar. The other similar Muhurta days include Akshaya Tritiya, Vijayadashami (or Dusshera), and Balipratipada.
Erecting the Gudhi
All over Maharashtra, the Gudi is prominently displayed in all households. A long bamboo stick is fixed onto the ground or a fixed surface and the tip is tied with a brightly colored brocade or zari cloth, and some gaathi (sugar crystals), neem leaves, mango leaves, and a garland of red flowers is tied over it. A copper or silver pot is placed in an inverted position over the tip of this stick. This is referred to as the Gudi.
Significance of the Gudhi
Maharashtrians consider this as the symbol of the victory of Chhatrapati Shivaji, as also the victory of King Shalivahana over Sakas.
It also signifies the Brahmadhvaja or Brahma’s flag, or the Indradhvaja, or Indra’s flag.
It indicates Rama’s victory over the demon King, Ravana.
People believe that it also wards off evil and brings good luck in the household.
Celebrations
Multicolor Alpana Print on Round Sticker – Paper StickerPeople clean their households before the big day. Houses in villages are swept clean and are plastered with fresh cow-dung. Women create rangoli designs on the doorstep of their homes, using vibrant colors, which are associated with the abundant colors of spring. People take an elaborate bath and wear new clothes. This is also a time for family get-togethers.
A paste of neem leaves, tamarind and sugar or jaggery is made and all family members consume the same. This is believed to be capable of strengthening the body’s immune system. Women also make Pooris, Shrikhand and Pooran Polis on this day. Konkanis make Kanangachi Kheer, which is made of sweet potato, jaggery, coconut milk, rice flour and Sanna.
Putthandu
Putthandu, also known as Chitthirai-Tirunaal, is celebrated as the New Year day across Tamil Nadu. This day falls in mid-April and is usually celebrated around the 14th or 15th of April each year. incidentally, this is regarded as the first day of the Tamil New Year among all Tamil people living in Singapore, Malaysia, Reunion and Mauritius.
The Tamil people follow the vernal equinox or Nirayanam. According to this, the first day of the new year usually falls on 14th April, in the month of Chitthirai. On this day, people greet each other by saying, “Putthandu Vazhtthukkal” or “Iniya Tamizh Putthandu Nallvaazhtthukkal”, meaning, “best wishes for a sweet (prosperous) New Year”.
Festivities
The people of Tamil Nadu celebrate this day in a big way. In the temple city of Madurai, the Chitthirai Thiruvizha is celebrated at the Meenakshi Temple there. A massive exhibition, called Chitthirai Porutkaatchi, is also held in the premises.
In some parts of Southern Tamil Nadu, this day is also called Chitthirai Vishu. The entrances to homes are decorated with elaborate kolams or rangolis and the women of the house get busy preparing a great feast. Some households also include neem flowers and raw mangoes, which symbolize growth and prosperity. In some regions, they also conduct a Car Festival during this time of the year.
In Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan Tamils celebrate this day, by performing a unique financial transaction of sorts, which is referred to Kai-vishesham. Here, elders gift money to the younger members of the household, particularly to children, as a blessing for their prosperity in the coming year. This event is followed by “Arpudu” or the ploughing of the ground in order to prepare for the brand new agricultural cycle. This time of the year is considered to be a Punya-kaalam or auspicious time to start any new activity or venture.
Beginning with a ritual herbal bath called the maruthu-neer, people visit temples to seek the blessings of the Almighty in the New Year. Youths play a game of “por-thenkai” or a “war with coconuts” and cart races are also held in some regions. People then get together with their family members for a sumptuous feast.
Incidentally, the Sinhalese New Year also falls on the same day, and hence, the entire country celebrates this day in a great way.
Vishu
Vishu is an important festival for residents of Kerala, as also in Mangalore and Udipi. In fact, this day is second only to Onam for Malayalis from around the world. This day also marks the New Year day according to the Kolla Varsham or the Malayalam calendar.
Vishukkani
The most important ritual on this day is the “Vishukkani”, which literally implies the “first thing seen” on the morning of Vishu. For this ritual, people arrange articles such as raw rice, fresh vegetables and fruits, coconut with betel leaves, arecanut, the sacred Konna Poo (the bright yellow Cassia fistula variety of flowers), sacred texts, gold, silver, coins and money; in front of a metal mirror. A nilavilakku or lighted lamp is placed beside this arrangement.
This Vishukkani is prepared the previous night, just before going to bed. The custom is to get up from bed before dawn and proceed towards the arrangement with closed eyes, only opening them to look at it. This is done so that one sees only good and auspicious things first thing in the morning, on the day of the New Year.
Festivities
Malayalis take a ritual oil bath, after which they visit temples in the vicinity. Many of these temples also maintain a Vishukkazhcha for the devotees to take a look. Later, verses from the Ramayana are read out before a gathering of family members.
Then the day is celebrated with much fervor with people lighting the Vishuppadakkam or firecrackers, wearing and gifting new clothes (Puthukodi) younger family members and elders giving Vishukkaineettam (giving money) to youngsters, including children; even including the domestic helpers of the household.
Family members then assemble to partake of a grand Saddhya or feast, consisting of equal quantities of salty, sweet, sour and bitter food items. The Vishu Kanji and the Thoran are the two most important items served during the Saddhya. The Kanji, which is nourishing and very tasty, is prepared with rice, coconut milk and some select spices.
Maha Vishuva Sankranti
In Orissa or Odisha, the New Year day is referred to as the Maha Vishuva Sankranti or the Pana Sankranti. The Oriya month of Mesha starts from this day on and that is why it is also called Mesha Sankranti.
Celebrations
People fill a small pot with Pana or a sweet drink. There is a tiny hole at the bottom of the pot, which allows the fluid to fall from it. People first offer a mixture made of horse gram, banana and curd to the sacred Tulsi plant in their homes, before consuming the same. They then make special offerings to the Shivalinga, Shalagrama, Hanuman, the various forms of Devi Parvati and other deities as well. Many also undertake Jhaamu Yatras to major Devi temples in Odisha.
Goddess Kali – Photo Print
The tribals in Odisha perform a ritual called Danda Nata, Danda Nacha, or Danda Jatra, which goes on for a period of 13 days. This is one of their most ancient traditional forms of welcoming in the New Year. This ritual, dedicated to Goddess Kali, is a group event, where devotees invoke Her grace and blessings. People believe that performing this ritual destroys negativity and sin and brings peace and prosperity, along with a good harvest all year round.
The end of the last day is referred to as Pana Sankranti or Meru Sankranti. People undertaking this ritual completely avoid non-vegetarian food during these 13 days, even avoiding the intake of onion and garlic.
Cheti Chand
Cheti Chand is an important festival for Sindhis and is also celebrated as the New Year’s Day by Sindhis hailing from both India and Pakistan. This festival is celebrated by Sindhis from around the world as well. This day for Hindus falls on the second day of the month of Chaitra. Sindhis refer to this month as Chet, and hence the name, Chet-i-Chand.
The Sindhi community celebrates this day to commemorate the birth of their Ishtadeva, Uderolal, more popularly known as Jhulelal, who is regarded as the Patron Saint of the Sindhis. On this day, people worship water, the giver of life.
Many Sindhis take the Baharana Sahib to a nearby lake or river. The Baharana Sahib comprises a Jyot or oil lamp, Phota or cardamom, Misiri or sugar crystals, Fal or fruits and Akha. Behind all these sits the Kalash, with a coconut, covered with cloth, flowers and leaves. Sindhis also place an idol of their Pujya Jhulelal Devta and offer prayers to him.
Chaliho Sahab
Devotees of Jhulelal offer their obeisance to Chaliho Sahab. Traditionally, they undertook rituals for forty whole days and nights and stood vigil on the banks of the river Sindhu. The men did not shave, use soap or detergent and did not wear new clothes either. They would just wash their clothes, leave them to dry and then wear them again. in the evenings, they would worship Lord Varuna, the God of water and rain, singing songs in his praise, praying for salvation. Even today, those who follow the traditional ritual of Chaliho, celebrate this day as a day of thanksgiving to Jhulelal.
Chaitti and Basoa
Chaitti and Basoa are celebrated as part of the festivities to usher in the New Year in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. Chaitti is the first day of the Chaitra month and so, it considered to be very important and auspicious for people residing in this part of India.
Basoa, also referred to as Bishu, is celebrated on the first day of the Baisakh month. On this day, the farmers and aboriginals living in this region participate in this festival with great joy and enthusiasm. Three days prior to this festival, people start making small cakes called Kodra, and then wrap them up in leaves, leaving them to ferment.
On the day of Bishu, they invite their relatives to break these cakes and eat them with honey and sweet water mixed with jaggery.
Pohela Boisakh/Juir-Sheetal
Pohela Boisakh, also called Poila Boisakh, is the Bengali New Year’s Day, which is celebrated all over West Bengal, extending to the Bengali people in Assam and Tripura; even crossing national borders and influencing the residents of Bangladesh.
This festival falls on the day after Vishuva Sankranti and is also called as the Choitro Sankranti in Bengali – hence, it usually falls on the 14th or the 15th of April. As seen above, this festival brings together all Bengalis, irrespective of their regional location.
In Bangladesh, this day has been fixed and falls on the 14th of April each year. This day has also been declared as a national holiday in this country.
Cheiraoba
Cheiraoba is the New Year’s Day festival, celebrated by the people of Manipur. This elaborate and joyous festival is celebrated with much verve all over the state. The name “Cheiraoba” is actually a combination of two words, namely, “Chahi” or “Year” and “Laoba”, which means “Declaration”. So this festival declares or announces the New Year, also bidding goodbye to the past year.
This day falls on the same day as Gudi Padwa, and so this state too celebrates the festival along with the rest of the Indian states.
Navreh
Navreh is celebrated as the New Year’s Day in Kashmir. This day too coincides with the first day of Chaitra Navratras. The people residing in this part of India consider this day to be as sacred and holy as the Shivartri day. In fact, this day is even mentioned in the Nilamat Purana and the Rajtarangini of Kashmir.
The people here celebrate this second Navratra (the first one is during the 9 days of the festival of Navratri, concluding with the Dusshera) in commemoration of the victory of their great King, Lalitaditya. Navreh falls on the same day as Gudhi Padwa or Ugadi.
The Maithili New Year
Juir Sheetal, which is also referred to as Baisakhi or Pahil Baisakh, is observed as the first day of the Maithili New Year. This day normally falls on the 14th of April as per the Maithils residing in the Mithila region of India and Nepal. They also sometimes refer to this day as Nirayana Mesh Sankranti or Tirhuta New Year.
This day is also referred to as Hanumat Dhwajadanam; the day when Hanuman’s flag, that is, Mithila’s flag, is to be flown. Incidentally, people additionally consider this as the birthday of Raja Shailesh or Salhesh, the King of the Himalayan region of Mithila, who was victorious in several battles and also conquered several regions in that area. In fact, every village of Mithila even now, has a “Rajaji’s Gahwar”, which is worshipped by all the people, especially by the Paswans. This day, hence, symbolizes community harmony as well.
This day also holds great significance in the present-day Indian cultural milieu. The Maithili New Year has been declared as the Mithila Diwas by the Government of Bihar in India.
Significance for Other mythologies
According to Hindu mythology, Goddess Ganga had descended to Earth on this very day. In her honor, people gather along the banks of the river Ganga (Ganges) to take their ritual bath.
Swami Dayanand Saraswati – Poster
Swami Dayanand Saraswati founded the Arya Samaj on this day, in the year 1875. Hence, this is a big day for that community as well.
Lord Buddha in Meditation – Glitter Poster
Even Buddhists celebrate this day as Vesakha, Vesak, Wesak, or Vaisakha. It commemorates the Birth, the Awakening, and the Passing Away of Gautama Buddha.
Baisakhi (Vaisakhi)
Vaisakhi Festival of Punjab – PosterBaisakhi, Vasakhi or Vaisakhi is the festival celebrated in Punjab, by the Sikh community residing there.
Guru Govind Singh Ji – Glitter Poster
This event is in commemoration of the establishment of the Khalsa. The 10th Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, had laid the foundation of the Panth Khalsa in the year 1699. The day is also celebrated by farmers as a way of giving thanks for the abundant harvest during that year, also praying for future prosperity.
Festivities
In East Punjab, especially in Talwandi Sabo, in a Gurudwara in Anandpur Sahib and also at the Golden Temple at Amritsar, people celebrate this festival with great vigor and verve. In West Punjab too, the festival is widely celebrated by Sikhs. Hundreds of Sikhs from all over the globe undertake pilgrimages to sacred Sikh places of worship including Nankana Sahib and Hasan Abdal. Even Sikhs living abroad celebrate the festival in an elaborate manner. They hold daylong Kirtans in their local Gurudwaras, with hordes of people pouring in to attend the same. Many communities also hold Nagar Kirtan, which involves the participants going around the streets, singing Kirtans. In some places, Vaisakhi Melas or fairs are also conducted in order to celebrate this festival with even greater cheer. Sikhs living in India traditionally visit Gurudwaras prior to dawn, along with flowers and other offering. In rural Punjab, people get together to do the vigorous and very joyous Bhangra dance. Then revelers partake of an elaborate feast and make merry, while also praying for a fruitful and profitable year ahead.
Happy New Year!
Here is wishing all our readers a very Happy and Prosperous New Year. May peace, prosperity, joy and health abound and may you achieve all that you can ever desire for. Happy New Year!
Author: Priya Viswanathan, a teacher/performer of Bharata Natyam, Classical Music, and Classical Instrumental Veena. A recipient of several awards for both music and dance, Priya is also a freelance writer online.
A destructive cyclone damaged several towns on Australia’s western coast, shattering windows, snapping trees, and knocking out power. Tropical Cyclone Seroja crossed the Western Australia state coast south of the tourist town of Kalbarri with winds gusting up to 170 kph (106 mph) shortly after dark Sunday, officials said on Monday.
Around 70% of buildings in Kalbarri, a town of 1,400 people 580 kilometers (360 miles) north of the state capital Perth, had been damaged, Department of Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said. About 30% of that damage was “significant,” Klemm said.
Other coastal towns sustained less damage. Government utility Western Power reported 31,500 customers had lost power. There have been no reports of serious injuries Such powerful cyclones are rare in subtropical Australia. The damage was worse in some parts of Kalbarri than others, but the whole town had been impacted, local State Emergency Service manager Steve Cable said.
Powerlines and trees were toppled, homes lost roofs and streets were strewn with debris. “Some of the older buildings didn’t stand up very well. But even some of the modern buildings, they just couldn’t hold it,” Cable told Australian Broadcasting Corp. “Large trees with quite substantial limbs just snapped off like carrots,” he added.
It’s estimated that half of the homes in #Kalbarri are damaged.
Debbie Major weathered the storm in a room of a Kalbarri tourist trailer park that she manages, clutching a door to prevent it blowing open as broken tree limbs shattered windows. “I’ve never experienced anything in my life that we experienced last night,” Major said. ”It was terrifying.”
Cyclone Seroja lost power and was downgraded to a tropical low before blowing out to sea near Esperance on Monday. The same cyclone caused flooding and landslides that killed at least 174 people and left 48 missing in Indonesia and East Timor last week.
The DASA is responsible for enhancing and promoting the safety of military aviation.
Flight Lieutenant Chowdhury works with people across Air Force and Defence in his daily work.
He told Defence News that he has always been encouraged to listen to others.
“When you hire people from diverse backgrounds, nationalities, and cultures, you’re bringing a fresh array of perspectives to the table. This can lead to benefits like better problem-solving and increased productivity.”
According to Australian Defence News, more than 25 per cent of the Air Force workforce identifies as being from a culturally and/or linguistically diverse background.
Flight Lieutenant Chowdhury says that it is important to use these varied experiences to help Air Force succeed.
“I think it is important to have a diverse workforce in Air Force as diversity helps us recognise and respect ways of being that may be different to our own. People from diverse cultures contribute language skills, new ways of thinking, new knowledge, and different experiences to our Air Force.”
Australian Defence forces offer roles across a variety of disciplines and professions.
It welcomes applications from all Australians as its selection processes are free from cultural, racial and gender bias.
Leaders have started questioning the decision of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s government to temporarily halt the travel from India.
Jacinda Ardern on April 8 announced that New Zealand would temporarily suspend entry for all travellers from India.
This includes its New Zealand’s citizens for two weeks from April 11 after India appeared to be gripped in the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic with cases suddenly soaring.
Leaders believe that this could possibly lead to or may promote racism and stigma against the Indian community in New Zealand.
According to a report in the Guardian report, Sunil Kaushal, president of the Waitakere Indian Association has questioned why the New Zealand government applied the rule to India.
“We don’t feel like a part of the ‘team of 5 million’ when Indians are singled out like this.”
He asked why not nations such as United States, Brazil, France and the UK who when compared novel coronavirus cases per-capita are way ahead than India.
Member of Parliament Golriz Ghahraman (Green Party) also took this opportunity to post a question on Twitter for Jacinda Ardern.
Mandeep Bela, of the Indian Workers Association, said that the restriction implies that New Zealand citizens in India had been “left stateless”.
“It’s quite shocking, to be honest. Since Covid started, we were told that New Zealand cannot shut its borders to its citizens, regardless of where they are, how many cases there are – they cannot stop them coming back to the country.”
New Zealand has recorded 23 new positive coronavirus cases at its border facilities as of Thursday, of which 17 were from India.
On this Prime Minister of New Zealnd has said:
“If that number of people from any country were coming in with Covid that would give us cause to pause and look at mitigation to reduce that risk, so this is not country-specific, this is about the cases we are seeing currently from that region.”
“While we recognise that the practicalities of managing an infectious disease can justify a limitation of this right, we also question whether the government has put in enough effort to avoid having to take this step.”
A recent study has found that unhealthy eating behaviours at night can make people less helpful and more withdrawn the next day at work. The findings of the study were published in the Journal of Applied Psychology. “For the first time, we have shown that healthy eating immediately affects our workplace behaviours and performance,” said Seonghee “Sophia” Cho, corresponding author of the study and an assistant professor of psychology at North Carolina State University. Cho added, “It is relatively well established that other health-related behaviours, such as sleep and exercise, affect our work. But nobody had looked at the short-term effects of unhealthy eating.”
Fundamentally, the researchers had two questions: Does unhealthy eating behaviour affect you at work the next day? And, if so, why? For the study, researchers had 97 full-time employees in the United States answer a series of questions three times a day for 10 consecutive workdays. Before work on each day, study participants answered questions related to their physical and emotional well-being.
At the end of each workday, participants answered questions about what they did at work. In the evening, before bed, participants answered questions about their eating and drinking behaviours after work. In the context of the study, researchers defined “unhealthy eating” as instances when study participants felt they’d eaten too much junk food; when participants felt they’d had too much to eat or drink; or when participants reporting having too many late-night snacks.
The researchers found that, when people engaged in unhealthy eating behaviours, they were more likely to report having physical problems the next morning. Problems included headaches, stomachaches and diarrhea. In addition, when people reported unhealthy eating behaviours, they were also more likely to report emotional strains the next morning – such as feeling guilty or ashamed about their diet choices. Those physical and emotional strains associated with unhealthy eating were, in turn, related to changes in how people behaved at work throughout the day. Essentially, when people reported physical or emotional strains associated with unhealthy eating, they were also more likely to report declines in “helping behaviour” and increases in “withdrawal behaviour.”
Helping behaviour at work refers to helping colleagues and going the extra mile when you don’t have to, such as assisting a co-worker with a task that is not your responsibility. Withdrawal behaviour refers to avoiding work-related situations, even though you’re at your workplace. The researchers also found that people who were emotionally stable – meaning people who are better able to cope with stress because they’re less emotionally volatile – suffered fewer adverse effects from unhealthy eating. Not only were emotionally stable people less likely to have physical or emotional strains after unhealthy eating, but their workplace behaviours were also less likely to change even when they reported physical or emotional strains. “The big takeaway here is that we now know unhealthy eating can have almost immediate effects on workplace performance,” Cho said.
Cho added, “However, we can also say that there is no single ‘healthy’ diet, and healthy eating isn’t just about nutritional content. It may be influenced by an individual’s dietary needs, or even by when and how they’re eating, instead of what they’re eating. “Companies can help to address healthy eating by paying more attention to the dietary needs and preferences of their employees and helping to address those needs, such as through on-site dining options. This can affect both the physical and mental health of their employees – and, by extension, their on-the-job performance,” Cho further said. The researchers also pointed to a variety of research questions that could be addressed moving forward. “One confounding variable is that the way our questions were phrased, we may be capturing both unhealthy eating behaviours and unhealthy drinking behaviours related to alcohol,” Cho said.
“That’s something we will want to tease out moving forward. And while we focused on the evening diet, it would be interesting to look at what people are eating at other times of the day. Are there specific elements of the diet that affect behavioural outcomes – such as sugar or caffeine content? Can there be positive effects of unhealthy eating, such as when people eat comfort foods to help cope with stress? This promises to be a rich field of study,” Cho concluded.
Thousands of Hindu devotees gathered by the river Ganges in Uttarakhand’s Haridwar on Sunday to offer prayers during the Kumbh Mela.
The Kumbh Mela is one of the largest religious gathering of Hindus in the world.
The Health Ministry has and the state government has made a negative RT-PCR result mandatory for those visiting Haridwar.
Hundreds of seers representing the thirteen Akhadas will also take the holy dip in the Ganges on Monday.
Monday is the day of the Shahi Snan which is considered to be an auspicious day to take holy dip in the river.
In Haridwar, there are 2056 active COVID-19 cases and SK Gunjyal, IG and Mela Police officer told NDTV:
”It’s a very challenging exercise to manage crowds. There are guidelines from the state and the Central governments. SOPs have also been issued to the general public that will be applicable till 30th April which require public to submit negative RT-PCR report, a medical certificate and identity card to generate e-pass to be able to access Haridwar Kumbh area.”
Held every 12 years, this year’s Kumbh Mela is taking place as India is gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Experts have urged the devotees and general public to avoid large gathering and maintain social distancing to avoid further spread of the coronavirus.
Prakhar Tewari is an International student from India and is studying in Sydney.
In the COVID19 affected market jobs are hard to come by that’s why to manage his expenses, he works as a delivery driver for Uber-eats. In a viral post on social media, he tells his story of his bicycle stolen, after which a stream of help and support from the generous Indian Australian community flowed for him.
On Thursday, when he went to deliver in a building on Bigge Street in Liverpool, he parked his bicycle outside. It took him 5 minutes and when he came back the bicycle was not there. Someone had stolen it. Abhishek looked everywhere, talked to the building manager who showed him CCTV footage. In the footage, it is clearly seen a man taking away the bicycle.
Prakhar Tewari’s Facebook post from Indians in Sydney
He went to the police and registered a complaint. Police told him the case will be allocated to an officer and they will contact him as and when they have an update. Prakhar agrees that he left his bicycle unlocked as there was no pole or bike stand where he could tie it. He also recalls parking bicycles many times in front of the building door and it remained safe. He uploaded the picture and video of the person who took his bike on social media, taken from the building manager.
In the viral post, Prakhar requested the Liverpool community, if they know the guy who stole the bike please report. He said, Uber eats is the only source of income and it was difficult for him to pay his bills without this work.
Within few hours Prakhar was overwhelmed by the support and help offered by Indian Australian community members on the Indians in Sydney page.
One of the members of Indians in Sydney, Yadwinder Sangha offered Abhishek his bike for free. He also wrote in a reply, “Happy to help anyother way.”
Yadwinder’s kind gesture was very much appreciated by the community. Avinash Thakur wrote, “You offering your bike is the best post I read today, Kudos to you for your generosity and selflessness.”
Others also appreciated it and offered to pool in some amount to help Prakhar.
Sanu Mandal also suggested to inquire with Prakhar Tewari that what kind of help he requires.
Offer to get him bike kept coming from community members. Rahul Singh wrote, “Sorry for you loss. Just text me and I will get you a bike.”
Jitender Chhabra provided his phone number and wrote, He has two bikes and offered Prakhar to come and pick whichever is suitable for him.
Mohit Singh suggested how to move forward from here to get actual help via a secure web link. He also offered his spare bicycle without any question.
Kind hearted Tanmay Patel even offered him a job at Domino’s near Liverpool.
Overwhelmed with the kindness of Indian Australian community Prakhar Tewari updated is post. He wrote, “Never expected such tremendous support. Thankyou for those who showed their concern and also those who offered their help. I have many options available. Will definitely go through some of them.”
Prakhar Tewari’s Facebook post from Indians in Sydney
We will update the story as soon as we here back from Prakhar Tewari on which bicycle he chose out of plenty of options.
Harshal Patel delivered a stunning bowling performance before AB de Villiers’ masterclass helped Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) defeat Mumbai Indians by two wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 opening match here at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday.
Harshal Patel had picked five wickets (three in the final over) to restrict Mumbai Indians to 159 runs in the allotted 20 overs. In response, RCB got over the line on the last ball, courtesy of some fine hitting by De Villiers in the death overs. RCB needed 39 runs off the last four overs and De Villiers ensured his side was right in the game as he brought down the equation to seven runs of one over. But the Virat Kohli-led side did wobble in the end as the South African batsman was run out in an attempt to steal a double. Harshal and Mohammed Siraj got RCB over the line on the last ball in the IPL 2021 opening match.
#RCB win the #VIVOIPL 2021 season opener against #MI by two wickets.
Chasing 160 runs, RCB got off to a firing start with openers Washington Sundar and Kohli clubbing 35 runs off the first four overs. However, Washington didn’t make his promotion count as Krunal Pandya dismissed him in the fifth over. In the very next over, Trent Boult bowled debutant Rajat Patidar to reduce RCB to 46/2 as the batting powerplay came to an end. Kohli slowed down in the middle overs but Glenn Maxwell played his natural shots and whacked two glorious sixes and three fours.
Jasprit Bumrah plummed Kohli in front of the stumps and the skipper’s wicket triggered a middle-order collapse as RCB lost two wickets in the 15th over. Marco Jansen first took the massive wicket of Maxwell and then turned the tide by sending Shahbaz Ahmed back to the pavilion. Daniel Christian too failed to leave a mark as RCB lost the sixth wicket of the day. But AB de Villiers held his nerves and smashed some glorious shots as the equation, which was 39 runs off 24 balls, came down to 19 runs off two overs.
RCB did wobble as Kyle Jamieson and de Villiers were run out in the last two overs but the side still got over the line in the end. Earlier, after being asked to bat first, Mumbai Indians got off to a good start with openers Rohit Sharma and Chris Lynn scoring regular boundaries. However, the duo only managed to form a 24-run partnership as Rohit (19) got run out in the fourth over. Suryakumar Yadav then came out to bat and played brilliantly along with Lynn. Both played with an aggressive mindset and took the team’s score to 86/1 after the completion of 10 overs.
In the 11th over, Kyle Jamieson put an end to their impressive 70-run partnership as the pacer dismissed Suryakumar (31). Soon after that, Washington Sundar caught and bowled Lynn, who missed his half-century by one run. Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya then came out in the middle. However, this partnership also did not last long as Harshal removed Hardik (13) in the 16th over, bringing Kieron Pollard on the field.
RCB bowlers continued their sublime bowling performance and did not allow Mumbai Indians batters to settle. Kishan (28) too was sent back to the pavilion in the 18th over by Harshal. Krunal Pandya then joined Pollard and the duo took the team’s score over the 150-run mark in the 19th over. Harshal bowled the final over of the innings and dismissed Krunal and Pollard on the first two deliveries. Harshal then bowled Marco Jansen and Jasprit Bumrah got run out on the final delivery of the over.
An American company Luna Society International has gifted land on the moon to Iftikhar Rahmany a software developer in India.
Luna Society International deals in lunar real estate and has commissioned Mr. Rahmany’s company to design some specialised products.
Rahmani works with a software development company called AR Studios which specialises in Artificial Intelligence based at Noida.
According to Dainik Jagran, he developed one program for an American company Luna Society International that sells lunar estate. For his exemplary and hard work, Rahmani was gifted an acre of land on the moon by the American company.
Mr Rahmany says, this reward has made him extremely happy, when his family in Bihar heard the news, they distributed sweets in celebration.
Hailing from Benipur from Bihar’s Darbhanga district, Iftekhar Rahmani always dreamt of becoming an engineer. He completed his school in Benipur and did his B.Tech from a college in Udaipur. He was extremely good in his studies which made him dream big.
Gifting a lunar plot of land has become quite the norm these days. Recently, a businessman from Surat bought a plot of land on the moon for his newborn son.
Physically, one cannot own land there. Just a certificate is given to the buyer that is proof enough of the purchase.
With the coronavirus pandemic looming over the whole world, the game of cricket too has to adapt to the changing scenario.
Cricket boards and countries have created strict bio-bubbles for the safety of cricketers during overseas tours and tournaments.
Under this, cricketers are only allowed to move in a restricted area (hotels and stadium) and interact with a very limited number of people.
Prominent cricketers have spoken about how this is very tough on their mental health.
Team India too has been placed in bio-bubbles for months during their overseas tour.
Commenting on bio-bubbles, BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has said that Indians are “more tolerant” to deal with mental health issues than cricketers from countries like England and Australia.
“I feel we Indians are a bit more tolerant than overseas (cricketers). I’ve played with a lot of Englishmen, Australians, West Indians, they just give up on mental health. “In the last six-seven months, with so much cricket being going on in the bio-bubble it’s so tough. Just going from the hotel room to the ground, handle the pressure and come back to the room and then get back to the ground again, it’s an absolutely different life.”
Citing the example of the Australian cricket team, Ganguly said in the virtual promotional event:
“Look at the Australian team, they were supposed to go to South Africa for a Test series after India played there. They refused to go there… And always there’s this scare of COVID. ‘Hope it’s not me the next time’. You have to stay positive, you have to train yourself mentally. All of us have to train ourselves mentally so that the good will happen. It boils down to training.”
Australia pulled out of their tour to South Africa following their defeat to India at home.
Australia were slated for a three-Test tour in March-April.
The team cited an “unacceptable level of health and safety risk to players, support staff and the community”.
It is alleged that an Indian woman was kept as a slave for eight years by a Melbourne couple.
The jury was told that this woman was a “tried and tested” good worker.
She was expected to be on call all hours of the day.
The Indian woman came to Australia from her home in Tamil Nadu first in 2004.
She stayed for two six-month stints before returning on a one-month tourist visa in July 2007.
The jury was told that the couple lied to her about overseas holidays and part-time work.
Once they got her into Australia, this Melbourne couple had no intention of letting her leave.
The Melbourne couple, known as KK and KK, is now on trial in Victoria’s Supreme Court.
Prosecutor Richard Maidment QC revealed that the couple’s payments to the woman amounted to just $3.39 a day.
This was in exchange for childcare, washing, cleaning and preparing meals.
“She was known to be a person who worked hard and would tolerate being at their beck and call 24/7 during the period she was with them. It doesn’t take much to compare that with what one might expect … to have to pay for a live-in housekeeper and childminder.”
The couple have pleaded not guilty to intentionally possessing the woman as a slave.
It was also revealed that this woman had four children and no formal education.
She had hoped to earn money in Australia to help support her family in India, Maidment said.
Maidment further added that the couple put controls and fundamentally deprived the woman of her rights and freedoms.
It is alleged that the couple even used to throw boiling water and tea at her and she was also hit with frozen chicken.
The Indian woman said through a translator:
“She will take a chicken, frozen chicken, and hit (it) on my head. She’ll be drinking and then she will throw it on my face. When it’s bubbling, she will put it on my leg. Then I would get big boils there and she won’t look at it.”
The woman was discovered by authorities in 2015 when she had to be taken to hospital.
China has warned Australia that it will “respond in kind” if Canberra sanctions Beijing over human rights violations against the ethnic minority Uyghurs in Xinjiang province, local media reported.
In a rare press conference, Chinese ambassador Cheng Jingye said China will not “swallow the bitter pill of interfering or meddling in China’s internal affairs”.
Ambassador Cheng was joined by government officials beamed in via Zoom from Xinjiang for a two-hour media conference in Canberra, dismissing allegations of human rights abuses as “fake news” and “lies”. The media event featured heavily-produced propaganda-style videos about how life could look in the autonomous region of north-western China.
The presentation on Xinjiang has been labeled as “preposterous propaganda” by members of the Uyghur community in Australia.
Ties between Australia and China are at an all-time low. Canberra has been locked in an ongoing trade war with Beijing for several months, which has seen China slapping sanctions on various Australian products. This warning comes weeks after United States, European Union, United Kingdom and Canada imposed sanctions on officials responsible for human rights violations in Xinjiang. China is coming under tremendous international pressure over the Uyghur issues.
Australia is not the only country China has threatened. Early this week, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi had a telephonic talk with Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi and warned Japan against imposing sanctions on China over human rights violations in Xinjiang province and Hong Kong. China has been rebuked globally for cracking down on Uyghur Muslims by sending them to mass detention camps, interfering in their religious activities, and sending members of the community to undergo some form of forcible re-education or indoctrination.
New Zealand on Thursday temporarily suspended entry for all travelers from India following a surge in COVID-19 cases arriving from there, local media reported.
The ban comes after it was reported that 17 of the 23 new COVID-19 cases in managed isolation announced on Thursday had arrived from India. The ban will commence on Sunday and will remain in place until April 28, New Zealand Herald reported. The island nation has reported 2,531 cases so far.
The ban will take effect on April 11 and is expected to stay in place until April 28. Anyone who has been in India during the previous 14 days will be covered by the order. Without direct flights from India, it will cover people transiting through Dubai.
While arrivals from India had triggered the risk assessment, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the Government would be looking at risks posed by other COVID-19 hot spot countries.
“This is not a permanent arrangement but rather a temporary measure,” she said.
The temporary hold would also help reduce the risk that travelers themselves faced, the Prime Minister added. India has been witnessing a sudden increase in COVID-19 cases. The country has so far reported over 1.28 crore cases. The active COVID-19 caseload of the country reached more than 8,43,000 and the daily positivity rate is on a steady rise.
This is despite the unprecedented repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic on the wealth of the world’s richest persons across the globe.
“Despite the pandemic, it was a record-setting year for the world’s wealthiest—with a $5 trillion surge in wealth and an unprecedented number of new billionaires.”
Amazon.com Inc founder Jeff Bezos, worth $177 billion, has topped the list for the fourth consecutive year.
Tesla Chief Executive Elon Musk, worth a $151 billion fortune, jumping to the second spot on the list from 31st position last year.
French luxury goods tycoon Bernard Arnault holds onto his spot at No. 3 with $150 billion with Bill Gates at No. 4 and Mark Zuckerberg, at $97 billion at No. 5 with $124 billion and $97 billion fortune respectively.
There are a record high 493 newcomers to the list—roughly one new billionaire every 17 hours, including 210 from China and Hong Kong and 98 from the U.S.
Ranked No. 10 and worth an estimated $84.5 billion, India’s Mukesh Ambani has become the richest person in Asia.
“The three richest Indians alone have added just over $100 billion between them,” Forbes said.
Other notable Indian billionaires include Gautam Adani (ranked 21, $58.5 billion), Shiv Nadar (ranked 63, 25.4 billion) and Lakshmi Mittal (ranked 107, 17.2 billion).
The Serum Institute of India’s Cyrus Poonawalla is ranked 169th on the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires with a net worth of $12.7 billion.
Forbes noted that India has the third-highest number of billionaires with 140 people included in the list.
This is followed by Germany with 136 and Russia with 117.
Would you like a pack of cold beer in exchange to excess solar power produced by your rooftop system?
In the world’s first offer of its kind, Asahi Group’s Carlton and United Breweries (CUB) in Australia will be serving up ‘Victorian Bitter’ to households who have solar power to spare.
Along with putting solar panels on its Melbourne brewery and buying power from a solar farm, CUB is looking to buy excess solar power from households, paying in cans of beer instead of cash, to help meet its target to use 100% renewable power by 2025.
However there is a catch, Beer drinkers would have to switch to energy retailer Diamond Energy to get in on the deal.
For every A$30 ($23) of credit Diamond Energy books for feeding solar power back into the grid, Asahi’s Carlton & United Breweries will deliver a slab of beer – 24 cans – worth A$50 to your home.
The offer is equal or better than the standard feed-in tariff across the eligible states, said Power Ledger, a blockchain-enabled energy trading platform, which will track how much power customers feed to the grid.
“You can see how many bottles of beer you’ve earned every 30 minutes,” Power Ledger founder Jemma Green said.
The standard feed-in tariff ranges between six cents/kilowatt hour and 10.2 cents/kWh, depending on the state.
A Sikh security personal from CRPF took off his turban to cover the bleeding wounds of a fellow jawan even after a bullet pierced through him, both of them were among the police officers attacked by left-wing extremists in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh.
Senior Police officer told a local journalist Ritesh Mishra that both of them had bullet injuries.
RK Vij is an Indian Police Services officer posted in Chhattisgarh. He talked about the comradery among the CRPF officers, We will go above and beyond expected of us. Sikh Commando Balraj Singh removed his turban (Symbol of Sikh faith: Something with the highest respect and not to be removed) to save the life of the fellow officer Abhishek Pandey. Both officers are safe now and recuperating in Hospital.
23 security personal have lost their lives in India’s Chhattisgarh in a Far left-wing extremists (Naxal) attack and around 31 officers sustained injuries.
CoBRA कंमाडो बलराज सिंह जिन्होंने शनिवार एनकाउंटर के दौरान अपनी पगड़ी अपने साथी अभिषेक पांडेय के ज़ख्म पे बांधी और बाद में खुद गोली झेली
उनको सीनियर आईपीएस विज ने आज अपनी तरफ़ से एक पगड़ी से सम्मानित किया
An encounter broke out between security forces and left-wing extremists (Naxals) along the Sukma-Bijapur border in the state of Chhattisgarh on Saturday after a group of police personals was ambushed by Maoists left-wing extremists near Jonnaguda village around noon.
The times they are a-changin’ for higher education. Or so say a growing number of commentators. They see COVID-19 disruptions as a tipping point for universities, accelerating sweeping changes across institutions. These include not just a shift to online teaching and learning, but also a greater focus on industry links and employability skills, and accompanying campus design upgrades.
Many of these changes are arguably necessary in a world in which digital connectivity is the expected norm. It is crucial to understand what these changes involve for universities themselves, and what they mean for the next generation of students. For instance, online education, if done properly, isn’t necessarily cheaper or easier.
With many still in crisis mode, universities might not be ready for these predicted changes. Despite a touted recovery in Australia as COVID vaccines roll out across the globe, the higher education sector isn’t out of the woods. Some expect the impacts will be even greater in 2021 as job losses persist and international students stay away.
Universities suffered the double whammy of a huge decrease in international student revenue as borders closed, and a federal government that stubbornly refused to support the higher education sector and its workers. COVID restrictions have forced university teachers to make often radical shifts in their curriculum and teaching practices while implementing broader changes, all with reduced budgets. And that’s if they are lucky enough to keep their jobs.
Collaborative, evidence-based approach is vital
Proposed “Instagram-worthy” campus infrastructure projects aim to provide more flexible learning and study spaces, immersive classrooms equipped for virtual reality experiences and remote teaching, and “industry precincts” that encourage collaborations. These are worthwhile, forward-looking innovations. But these goals cannot be achieved without a deeper, evidence-based conversation about how this will be done in practice.
And this transformative work must be done in partnership with teaching academics. The very real challenges they face must be taken into account.
Some assume online learning and teaching are easier or cheaper, but that isn’t always the case. Teaching well online requires at least as much effort as face-to-face, and potentially more.
The online/digital space can adequately replicate only some face-to-face interactions. Others can be difficult to reproduce. These include activities that develop manual and psychomotor skills, such as laboratory and field work in the sciences, and kinesthetic skills in the performing arts.
Even the robustness of tutorial debates might be altered as students move from a shared physical space to one dominated by the “Zoom gaze”.
Teaching academics will likely need extra support to implement such activities online or to find creative solutions. For either approach to be successful, institutions will have to invest more inappropriate technologies.
We are seeing an increase in the use of technology in teaching and learning at Australian universities. By necessity, the pandemic rapidly accelerated this trend. But an increase in online learning does not necessarily equate to a decrease in costs, or in the need for specialist staff.
Staff and students will likely appreciate the flexible learning offered by the predicted digitised future campus. But it is important to remember the benefits of in-person and on-campus interactions.
For students, these include fostering a sense of belonging to the university, which can increase resilience and retention. And the benefits for academic teaching staff include, for example, the fruitful conversations about teaching and learning that so often take place in informal settings.
With universities welcoming staff and students back to campus as COVID restrictions ease, many are seeing the value of the on-campus experience.
Transition will take a lot of time and effort
Digitisation and flexible learning models can help both students and academics collaborate with others across the sector. However, these changes won’t be instantaneous. Nor can they be driven solely by upgrades to campus infrastructure.
We also won’t see, in the near future, a complete shift in academics’ teaching and curriculum design practice. They are already stretched to their capacity in a sector under fire.
The continuing destabilisation of budget cuts, workload demands and an uncertain COVID situation mean the transformation of teaching practices may come in fits and starts. It will be an incremental process driven at first more by necessity and opportunity than by long-term strategy.
The challenge then for universities, and for their academic development and engagement units, is to define, validate and advocate for best practice in both online and face-to-face modes. Only then can they expect to meet the immediate, pressing challenges instructors face while building their future capacity to deliver collaborative, flexible and engaging online and blended learning.
India’s all-rounder Washington Sundar took to social media to share a picture of himself with his new pet dog.
The 21-year-old wrote, “Love is a four-legged word. World, meet Gabba!”
Sunder named his pet dog after the Gabba stadium in Australia, where he made his Test debut in January and helped India win on the venue after 32 years.
Coming with the touring Indian cricket team as a net bowler, Washington Sundar made an unexpected debut at the Gabba in the final India-Australia Test.
His debut story is like a romantic novel, He was picked ahead of a more experienced Kuldeep Yadav, apparently for his prowess with the bat. The move turned out to be the best decision as Washington Sundar dismissed Australian batting star Steve Smith for just 36 in the first innings and returned overall figures of 3-31.
India’s Washington Sundar bats during a fourth test match between India and Austrlaia, in Gabba on Sunday. (Photo Courtesy: BCCI twitter)
In the second dig, when the Indian batting was reeling at 186-6, Sundar with fellow allrounder Shardul Thakur stitched an all-important 123-run partnership.
Sundar was earlier asked to stay back with the side as a net bowler as injury concerns marring the tour.
After his heroics in Australia, Washington Sundar has cemented his place as one of India’s four top all-rounders in Test cricket.
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) April 2, 2021
Indian skkiper Virat Kohli has already clarified that Sundar is ahead of Ravichandran Ashwin in the pecking order for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
His precipitous rise began in IPL 2020, where he was the second most economical bowler (5.38). Sundar will be back plying his trade for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021.
SBA gave the funds as part of its Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Advance (EIDLA), Disaster Assistance Loan (DAL) and Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America (VHPA), based in Massachusetts, received more than US$150,000 under PPP and an additional US$21,430 under EIDLA and DAL programmes.
One of the key mission of VHPA is to “Cultivate a spirit of self respect for our way of life, our environment, our Dharma Gurus and institutions and respect for the people of all colors, creeds, races and religions.“
At least 22 security personal have lost their lives in India’s Chhattisgarh in a Far left-wing extremists (Naxal) attack on Saturday.
“22 security personnel have lost their lives in the Naxal attack at Sukma-Bijapur in Chhattisgarh,” said Bijapur Superintendent of Police, Kamalochan Kashyap.
On ground visuals from the site of Naxal attack at Sukma-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh; 22 security personnel have lost their lives in the attack pic.twitter.com/sVCoyXIRwN
Around 31 officers sustained injuries in the attack in Bijapur on Saturday, Chhattisgarh Police said.
Far left-wing extremists (Naxals) looted more than two dozen weapons from security personnel following the attack, according to Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sources.
— Tirupati Tarak 🇮🇳 (@tirupatitarak31) April 4, 2021
As per local media reports, an encounter broke out between security forces and left-wing extremists (Naxals) along the Sukma-Bijapur border in the state of Chhattisgarh on Saturday after a group of police personals was ambushed by Maoists lest wing extremists near Jonnaguda village around noon.
One of our Navodayan Bhaiya Deepak Bharadwaj , who was serving as Sub-inspector, bravely got martyred during face with Naxals in Sukma Chhattisgarh. 😭😭🙏🏻🙏🏻
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has said that operations against left-wing extremists/Naxals would continue and the work of establishing camps in Naxal-affected areas would be completed in an expedited manner.
पुनः दोहराता हूँ.. "नक्सलियों के प्रभाव क्षेत्र में कैम्पों की स्थापना का कार्य तेजी से किया जाएगा"
रायपुर के रामकृष्ण केयर हॉस्पिटल पहुंचकर बीजापुर में हुई घटना में घायल जवानों के इलाज की जानकारी ली व उन्हें बेहतर स्वास्थ्य सुविधा को कहा।
“They are fighting the left-wing extremists/Naxalites in their den. This left-wing extremist-police encounter has caused huge damage to the left-wing extremists in Bijapur. We have received information that the left-wing extremists had carried their dead and injured fellowmen in four tractors from the encounter site.” Baghel said.
He said that the influence of left-wing extremists in Chhattisgarh was shrinking rapidly, and they are panicking and trying to make their presence felt through such violent incidents.
Director-General of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Kuldiep Singh, who is in Chhattisgarh to monitor the situation following the left-wing extremists attack, on Sunday said that there was absolutely no intelligence or operational failure in the operation. Singh informed that around 25-30 left-wing extremists were also killed though the exact number is yet to be ascertained.
We salute the valour and steadfast devotion to duty of the Bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice for the nation while valiantly fighting the Maoists in an operation in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh yesterday. We stand with the families of our Bravehearts. pic.twitter.com/nOY66CLNP2
“There is no point in saying that there was some kind of intelligence or operational failure. Had it been some intelligence failure, forces would have not gone for the operation. And if there was some operational failure, so many left-wing extremists would have not been killed,” DG CRPF told media.
Indian Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday held a top-level meeting with senior officers on the Bijapur left-wing extremist attack at his residence here. Indian Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director IB Arvind Kumar, and senior CRPF officers are present in the meeting.
Mr. Shah said sacrifices of security personnel killed in Bijapur’s left-wing extremist attack would not go in vain. He informed that a search operation is underway for the missing police officers.
I bow to the sacrifices of our brave security personnel martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. Nation will never forget their valour. My condolences are with their families. We will continue our fight against these enemies of peace & progress. May injured recover soon.
“Both sides have suffered losses. Our jawans have lost their lives. I pay tributes to them. I want to assure their families that their sacrifice will not go in vain,” the Home Minister said.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that this sacrifice by police personels will never be forgotten.
He also wished for a speedy recovery for personnel injured in the encounter. “My thoughts are with the families of those martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. The sacrifices of the brave martyrs will never be forgotten. May the injured recover at the earliest,” PM Modi tweeted.
My thoughts are with the families of those martyred while fighting Maoists in Chhattisgarh. The sacrifices of the brave martyrs will never be forgotten. May the injured recover at the earliest.
Political leaders from across the spectrum condoled the attack and death of the security personnel.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik strongly condemned the attack by left-wing extremists.
Strongly condemn the cowardly attack by left-wing extremists on our jawans in #Sukma, Chhattisgarh. My deepest condolences to the families of the jawans who embraced martyrdom while fighting for the country. Wish speedy recovery to the injured.
Indian National Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi on Sunday paid homage to security personnel killed in Naxal attack at Sukma-Bijapur in Chhattisgarh and said that the Nation owes an enormous debt of gratitude to them.
In a statement, Gandhi wished complete recovery of injured personnel and said “we are united in our resolve to combat Naxalism”.
The entire country bows before the martyrdom of 22 jawans in the gruesome naxal attack in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. I pay homage to these jawans who have given their lives, and heartfelt condolences to their families.
“The entire country bows before the martyrdom of 22 jawans in the gruesome Naxal attack in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. I pay homage to these jawans who have given their lives and heartfelt condolences to their families. The Nation owes an enormous debt of gratitude to them,” she said.
French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain on Sunday expressed grief for the loss of lives of the security personnel in the Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh.
Heartfelt condolences for the losses suffered by the security personnel in #Chhattisgarh. Our thoughts go out to the families of the victims and to the injured, for whom we wish a speedy recovery. France stands with India in the fight against terrorism in all its forms.
Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez, who has started shooting for her upcoming movie ‘Ram Setu’ on Saturday, revealed the first look of her character from the film on social media.
The ‘Race 3’ actor took to her Instagram handle and shared a glimpse of her look for the movie, along with the caption, “First day of #ramsetu extremely honored to be part of this prestigious film! Thanks to the ace photographer @akshaykumar for capturing this moment #ramsetu.”
The picture, which was clicked by Jacqueline’s co-star Akshay Kumar, was a stunning monochromatic shot of her wearing a headscarf and looking candidly sideways from the camera.
Apart from Jacqueline and Akshay, ‘Ram Setu’ also stars Nushrratt Bharuccha, who had shared her first look from the movie a day prior. Akshay too had earlier shared his look from the film and revealed that he would be playing an archaeologist in the movie.
‘Ram Setu’, which is being helmed by Abhishek Sharma and produced by Aruna Bhatia and Vikram Malhotra was first announced on Diwali last year. It will be an action-adventure drama, that will bring to light a story that is deeply rooted in Indian cultural and historical heritage.
Following the film’s theatrical release, ‘Ram Setu’ will soon be also available for Prime members in India, along with more than 240 countries and territories. Amazon Prime will also be the worldwide exclusive streaming partner for the film.
An 82 year old man, gatekeeping India’s abandoned and haunted village- town of Kuldhara in the heart of the Thar desert in Rajasthan reunited with his “first love” after 50 years.
A post has gone viral on Instagram by the Humans of Bombay where this gentleman recalled that he was in his 30s when he met Marina, an Australian woman who had come to Jaisalmer from the foreign on a five-day tour. Opening up about what internet users are calling ‘magical love story,’
“I was in my 30s when I first met Marina–she’d come to Jaisalmer from Australia, for a desert safari. It was a 5-day trip & I taught her to ride a camel! This was the 1970s–un dino, pehli nazar mein pyaar ho jata tha!”
Image credits: @officialhumansofbombay/Instagram
He further narrates, “That’s exactly what happened–for both of us, it was love at first sight. Throughout the trip, we couldn’t take our eyes off each other. Before leaving for Australia, she said, ‘I love you;’ I went red! Nobody had ever said those words to me. I was so shy; I couldn’t utter a word in response!”
“But she understood & we stayed in touch–Marina would write to me every week. Soon, she invited me to Australia–I was over the moon!”
It was not easy for him he took a loan of Rs 30,000 and bought a ticket, arranged for a visa, and flew to be with her, that too without informing his parents. “Those 3 months were magical–she taught me English, I taught her to do the ghoomar. But then she said, ‘Let’s get married & settle in Australia!’–things got complicated, he told.
Image credits: @officialhumansofbombay/Instagram
However, this love story came to a dead end as both of them were not ready to leave their respective countries.
“I wasn’t ready to leave my motherland & she wasn’t willing to move to India. I told her–‘This can’t work long term,’ & we parted ways. It wasn’t easy–she cried the day I left, but I had to let her go.”
Then, life moved on. A few years later, owing to family pressure, I had to get married. I took up a job as the gatekeeper of Kuldhara, an abandoned ghost town to fend for my family. But I’d often think about Marina–‘Would she has gotten married?’, ‘Will I ever see her again?’ but I never had the courage to write to her, explains the post.
“As time passed, memories faded; I got busy with family responsibilities. And then 2 years ago, my wife passed away. All my sons were married & had moved out. And here I was, an 82-year-old man, gatekeeping India’s haunted village.”
For him lucky surprise came exatly 50 years after his meeting with her.
“And just when I thought life couldn’t surprise me anymore, it did! A month ago, Marina wrote to me; she asked, ‘How are you, my friend?’ After 50 years, she found me! Since then, she calls me every day; we have so much to catch up on! She told me she’d never gotten married & that she’s coming to India soon.”
“Ramji ki Kasam, I feel like I’m 21 again! I don’t know what the future holds, but knowing that my first love is back in my life & talks to me every day is a feeling I can’t explain.”
Veteran actor Anupam Kher on Thursday shared a health update about his wife and actor Kirron Kher stating that she has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer, and is currently ‘undergoing treatment’.
The ‘Hotel Mumbai’ star took to Twitter and released a statement which was from Anupam and his son Sikandar. The actor revealed that Kirron is undergoing treatment for the disease and ‘will come out of this stronger.
“Just so that rumors don’t get the better of a situation Sikandar and I would like to inform everyone that Kirron has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a type of blood cancer. She is currently undergoing treatment and we are sure she will come out of this stronger than before,” wrote the ‘Saraansh’ actor.
Stating that the ‘Singh Is Kinng’ actor is under doctor’s observation, he added, “We are very blessed that she is being looked after by a phenomenal set of doctors. She’s always been a fighter and takes things head-on. She’s all heart and that’s why she has so many people that love her.”
Urging his fans to keep on showering love and prayers for Kirron’s speedy recovery, he said, “so keep sending your love to her in your prayers and in your heart. She is well on her way to recovery and we thank everyone for their support and love. Anupam and Sikandar”
Scores of fans of the celebrity couple expressed concern and wished Kirron a speedy recovery in the comments. On the professional front, Kirron was last seen in ‘Khoobsurat’ directed by Shashanka Ghosh while Anupam was last seen in ‘One Day: Justice Delivered’ alongside Esha Gupta.
Queensland COVID Lockdown will be lifted from midday today, after just 1 new case of community transmission however, that’s linked to an existing cluster of COVID-19.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said testing rates, low case numbers, and the fact that community transmission had been linked to existing cases, allowed authorities to give the green light.
“Easter is good to go,” she said.
Highlights:
1- 10 New COVID19 cases in last 24 hours.
2- One new community transsion
3- Lockdown lifted, some restrictions reamin
BREAKING: The Greater Brisbane lockdown has now lifted.
Some temporary restrictions remain across the state for the next 14 days to keep people safe.
Family events, church services, long weekend getaways, and chocolate egg hunts can all go ahead – Easter is good to go. pic.twitter.com/b8swDAyhBW
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) April 1, 2021
From 12 noon today until 15 April all Queenslanders will be required to carry a mask when they leave their home. Mask-wearing will be compulsory for shopping centres and supermarkets, indoor workplaces, public transport.
PLEASE SHARE: Everything you need to know about Queensland’s updated roadmap for easing restrictions 👇 pic.twitter.com/GXhCqVpulp
