The Indian Weekender, Friday 31 July 2020

31JULY2020 | Vol 12 Issue 20
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The Indian Weekender Friday, July 31, 2020
NEW ZEALAND 3
Only temporarily returning Kiwis to pay $3150 under
govt’s new charges for managed isolation and quarantine
SANDEEP SINGH
Government is bringing new legislation
in parliament that will allow to impose
a charge for managed isolation and
quarantine, on returning Kiwis.
The government is seeking a charge of $3100
per person in a room, $950 for each additional
adult and $475 for each additional child sharing
the room.
Minister of Housing and in charge of managed
isolation and quarantine Megan Woods said
that the new legislation will be introduced in
the parliament and passed next week.
However, these charges are only for Kiwis
returning temporarily or are planning to leave
country now for short overseas visits for work,
business or leisure.
“The Bill will allow the government to
charge for managed isolation and quarantine
facilities. We have carefully considered how to
design a system that is fair on arrivals and not a
barrier for returning to New Zealand, especially
for those who might already be experiencing
financial stress,” Megan Woods said.
Notably, since March, more than 30,000
people completed their stay at a managed
isolation facility or quarantine.
The Government has covered the costs of
accommodation, food, basic laundry and airport
transfers, and has committed a further NZ$418
million towards costs for the next six months.
However current forecasts indicate more
money will be required by October, and to
meet this need the government has come up
with a new COVID-19 Public Health Response
Amendment Bill that will help raise money
by incurring levy on returning Kiwis and
temporary visa holders who are given exception
to enter New Zealand.
The COVID-19 Public Health Response
Amendment Bill provides a legal framework
to allow the Government to set payment terms,
exempt groups of people and waive charges in
cases of financial hardship. It will also ensure
that recovered charges do not exceed the actual
costs of managed isolation and quarantine.
Will returning temporary visa
holders be also charged?
All temporary visa holders who were
ordinarily resident in New Zealand as of 19
March 2020, and departed New Zealand on
or before 19 March 2020, and are not entering
New Zealand on a border exception as a critical
worker.
Currently a strict border closure is in place
except NZ citizens and residents and all
temporary visa holders are required to seek
exceptions to enter NZ from Immigration New
Zealand.
Exceptions are being granted on very strict
guidelines, including humanitarian and critical
worker categories.
"The Bill will
allow the
government to charge for
managed isolation and
quarantine facilities. We
have carefully considered
how to design a system
that is fair on arrivals
and not a barrier for
returning to New Zealand,
especially for those
who might already be
experiencing financial
stress
Those temporary visa holders who are
getting exception to centre NZ on the basis of
being critical work will be exempt of this latest
charges for managed isolation and quarantine.
So will be all Diplomats and official
government representatives, any person
travelling to New Zealand to attend the
sentencing of the accused in the Christchurch
mosque attacks, and refugees and protected
persons for their first entry into New Zealand
after the charges come into force.
When will charges come into
force?
It is not made clear in today’s announcement
when the charges will come into force.
“The legislation will be passed next week
before the House rises for the parliamentary
term, and will enable regulations to be
developed. Further details of the charging
scheme and when it will come into force, will
be announced soon,” Megan Woods said.
Under National’s announcement for
quarantine charges a fortnight ago, the charges
on returning Kiwis would have been started on
October 3.
“Charges will not apply to anyone entering
New Zealand and going into MIQ before
regulations are in force,” Megan Wood said.
Kiwis intending to return longterm
will be charged
The government has made it clear that
it intends to charge only Kiwis returning longterm,
and not those who are back for short visits
less than 3 months.
“As Minister I am proposing to only charge
New Zealanders who enter temporarily, or who
leave New Zealand after the regulations come
into force. Temporary visa holders would have
to pay unless they were ordinarily resident in
New Zealand before the border closure, and left
before the border closure,” Megan Woods said.

4 NEW ZEALAND
Friday, July 31, 2020
The Indian Weekender
Is it an end of road for temporary visa
holders stuck overseas as govt says it does
not intend to extend quarantine capacity?
SANDEEP SINGH
under Alert Level 4 and then subsequently under different
Alert Levels that the government was working hard to enhance
Minister for Housing and in-charge of managed
capacities for managed isolation and quarantine.
isolation and quarantine Megan Woods has
The narrative that was being spun out was that “right now a
awkwardly confirmed some of the worst fears of tens
large number of Kiwis were returning back and the government
of thousands of temporary visa holders currently stuck overseas
was bound to allow them back which implied there were not
that the government has no plan for extending capacities at those
enough places left for other temporary visa holders within the
facilities that could have potentially allowed them return to the
managed isolation and quarantine system.”
country, any time sooner.
The Indian Weekender had earlier raised the point in an
The Minister was speaking at a media briefing about the
exclusive interview with the then and now removed former
announcement for incurring charges for managed isolation
Minister for Immigration Iain Lees-Galloway that why the
and quarantine on Kiwis returning back into the country when
government was making it an issue of “rights of New Zealanders
she revealed that the government has no plans for extending
versus the rights of Temporary visa holders,” which was never
the quarantine capacities - a slender hope that thousands of
addressed satisfactorily.
temporary visa holders stuck overseas has been holding since
The government had, in fact, continued with its narrative that
last five months.
they are working hard to extend capacities at managed isolation
sequenced return back into the country.
As per the daily update on managed isolation and quarantine
and quarantine, which can then facilitate a potential earlier return
“At this stage, we have no plan to extend our capacities,”
available on government’s Covid-19 website the total capacity
of temporary visa holders stuck overseas.
Minister Woods said.
on July 2 was of 6058 people which has increased to total 6943
The temporary visa holders stuck overseas have been
“We recognised early on that managing the flow of people in
as of July 29.
waiting patiently that an enhancement in managed isolation and
and out of our managed isolation facilities is absolutely critical
This revelation could potentially mean an end of the road for
quarantine capacities can potentially bring some good news for
for the task ahead. Over the last several weeks we have worked
many temporary visa holders who have been ordinarily living
them and facilitate an early return.
with airlines and airports to manage that flow of incoming
in New Zealand, in some cases for many years, before being
However, it seems that with today’s admission that the
people,” Minister Woods further said.
unsuspectingly caught overseas when the NZ borders were
government is not intending to enhance any capacities as of
closed earlier this year in March.
What does this mean for temporary visa now, might suggest an end of the road for many temporary visa
About tens of thousands of temporary visa holders are currently holders stuck overseas?
holders stuck overseas, if not anything else.
stuck overseas as NZ borders remain closed and allowing only This innocuous revelation by Minister Woods firstly puts an Unless there is any specific announcement by either the
citizens and residents to enter into the country.
end to hopes of many temporary migrant workers who have Minister for Immigration or any other Minister in government
“Our managed isolation system is logistically complex and been told time and again by government Ministers and MPs in that lays out a clear plan for a sequential return of temporary visa
expensive to run. We have capacities. We have the capacity for government that the government is working to extend quarantine holders stuck overseas.
over 7000 people and the system in place are being robustly capacities so as to accommodate them along with other returning The only silver lining from today’s announcement for the
managed,” Megan Woods said.
Kiwis.
temporary visa holders who are currently stuck overseas is that
However, it was what she said immediately after, which gave It is important to recall that the former Immigration Minister, there would not be any charge upon them for managed isolation
away innocuously the government’s thinking on this critically other MPs in government have been time and again telling the and quarantine as and when they rtunrs and avail those facilities.
important matter that can cast doom on many thousands of media, including the Indian Weekender, migrant unions, and However, the catch remains that the govt does not intend to
temporary visa holders stuck overseas who have been waiting advocacy groups, right from the very beginning of the lockdown extend capacities, which for now is being oversubscribed by the
desperately for the government to come up with a plan to allow a
returning Kiwis.
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The Indian Weekender Friday, July 31, 2020
NEW ZEALAND 5
Three additional Vande Bharat Mission
repatriation flights confirmed for NZ
Priyanca
Radhakrishnan
Labour List MP based
in Maungakiekie
SANDEEP SINGH
The office of the Indian High Commission
in New Zealand has announced a total
of three repatriation flights to India
under the fifth phase of the Vande Bharat
Mission in the month of August.
The office of the High Commission has
confirmed through a social media post a in
Tuesday, July 28, that two special Air India
Flights are scheduled on August 8 and 13, while
a separate Private Charter flight is scheduled on
August 7.
The private charter flight will be flying from
Auckland to Kochi stopping at Singapore for
refuelling, whereas the Air India flights will be
direct flight from Auckland to Delhi.
Earlier India’s Minister of Civil Aviation
Hardeep Singh Puri had announced on Sunday,
July 26 on his Twitter handle that India will be
sending additional flights to bring back stranded
Indian nationals in New Zealand as part of the
fifth phase of the Vande Bharat Mission.
As a part of Vande Bharat Mission’s Phase
5, a host of flights have been announced
starting August 1 that will bring back stranded
Indian nationals from USA, Canada, Qatar,
Oman, UAE, Thailand, Germany, Singapore,
UK, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, New Zealand,
Philippines and a few more countries.
Notably, over 788,000 Indians stranded
abroad due to coronavirus pandemic have
returned under Vande Bharat Mission till
July 22. The New Zealand leg of the Vande
Bharat Mission started on June 7 and within
a month had ferried nine flights taking home
almost around 1600 people to seven different
destinations in India that included New Delhi,
Chandigarh, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai,
Trivandrum, and Ahmedabad.
The last flight took off from Auckland on
July 3, to New Delhi with just 50+ passengers.
All the passengers travelling back to India
went into seven days institutional quarantine in
and around New Delhi and home quarantine for
another seven days.
The spokesperson of the Indian High
Commission has confirmed that like on previous
occasions interested travellers will first have
to register interest with the High Commission
and will subsequently receive an invitation to
purchase a ticket from Air India directly.
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6 NEW ZEALAND
After JobStart, National
announces BusinessStart
policy as part of economic
recovery plan
SANDEEP SINGH
The National Party has announced a new BusinessStart
policy as part of its economic recovery plan offering a
support of up to $30,000 for starting new business.
This was announced by Party Leader Judith Collins in Lower
Hutt on Wednesday, July 29.
“National’s BusinessStart will help Kiwis who have lost their
jobs since 1 March 2020, or lose their jobs in the months ahead,
to set up a small business with at least $30,000 available to help
you buy kit, make sure you have some working capital, and lower
your taxes in the early stages, as you start to become successful.
“The $30,000 will come from a combination of KiwiSaver
savings, tax credits and taxpayers’ funds.”
Under BusinessStart, National will make available to all
Kiwis who have lost their job since 1 March 2020, or who those
lose their jobs in the months ahead, a $1000 voucher for them
to get proper financial advice from a Chartered Accountant or
Registered Financial Adviser on their ideas, and put together a
viable business plan.
Once those business plans are signed off, BusinessStart
recipients can access up to $20,000 of their own money from
their KiwiSaver account to help get their business going and at
least $10,000 in tax credits to pay GST or provisional tax when
the business starts making a profit.
Notably, the National Party had earlier in May announced a
Job start policy which promised to give businesses/employers
$10,000 for each full time permanent new job created within the
business.
BusinessStart would provide the basics
for new businesses to get going, Collins
said.
“No government ever creates jobs, you,
the business owners of New Zealand, do that.
“National wants to back you, as you back
yourselves and your mates to get this country
working again.”
No more international students for
year 2020: Govt announces $51.6m
for international education sector
SANDEEP SINGH
Govt has signalled the beleaguered
international education sector not to
expect any more international students
for the remainder of the year.
This was announced in a press briefing
earlier this afternoon by Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern, Minister for Education Chris Hipkins
while releasing a long-term strategic recovery
plan, backed by $51.6 million investment from
the COVID recovery and response fund.
“The Government is acutely aware of the
challenges the sector is currently facing,” Chris
Hipkins said.
“We are sensitive to the impact the
unexpected loss of revenue will have had on
international education providers and the
investment announced today will help cushion
the blow.
“New Zealand’s international education
sector has an opportunity to benefit from the
strong international reputation we have gained
through our handling of the COVID-19 crisis.”
According to a break-down of this $50
million funding received from the office of
Education Minister Mr Hipkins a whopping
$20 million will be going towards state and
state-integrated schools while Private Training
Institutes (PTEs) will be receiving $10 million.
There is no dedicated support for the
universities.
Govt support for marketing & promotion of
international education
Despite no more intake for international
students this year the government has decided
to support with a $3 million funding support
for or marketing activities to keep New
Zealand’s education brand visible in key
“Their future KiwiSaver contributions will be tax-free until
they have repaid the amount they took out.
“The second thing we will do is if you have been made
redundant, we will give you the entire taxed portion of your
redundancy as a tax credit with the IRD. If your redundancy is
say $150,000, that could be as much as $50,000 tax credit. You
will then be able to use that to pay GST or provisional tax when
you start making a profit.”
Collins said given all the incentives it was offering, National
was sure banks would compete to give people a decent finance
package.
She said running a small business was still “not for the fainthearted”
- that was why contestable business mentoring fund was
available.
“What we then want is for BusinessStart recipients to take on
a mate using JobStart. That’s another $10,000 if you do that.”
Small businesses could grow much faster than large businesses,
and that was of economic benefit, she said.
National said it would extend the proposed JobStart scheme to
"New Zealand’s
international
education sector has
an opportunity to
benefit from the strong
international reputation
we have gained through
our handling of the
COVID-19 crisis.
markets while travel is restricted. Allowing
students in some cases to study from home
country The government is also working in the
direction of allowing international students to
continue studies from their home country in
some cases.
This initiative will be part of a $10 million
to develop new future-focused products and
services to drive growth in international
education system.
"National
wants to back
you, as you back
yourselves and your mates
to get this country working
again. Their future KiwiSaver
contributions will be
tax-free until they have
repaid the amount they
took out"
Friday, July 31, 2020
The Indian Weekender
end in March 2022 rather than March 2021.
Money for the BusinessStart scheme would be part of the
proposed $500 million cost of the JobStart scheme, taken from
the Covid-19 recovery fund.
BusinessStart would begin on 1 November 2020 and run for
through to the end of March in 2022.
Sky Tower to lit in green and white
again on Muslim festival Eid-ul-Adha
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
Muslims in New Zealand will
celebrate its second biggest festival
in the Islamic calendar, Eid-ul-Adha
on Saturday, August 1.
Sky Tower, the tallest free-standing structure
in the Southern Hemisphere based in central
Auckland will lit up in green and white lights
in a gesture of celebration and support towards
the Muslim community living in New Zealand.
A press release from SkyCity entertainment
group confirmed that Sky Tower would be lit in
green and white on Friday, July 31, in honour of
Eid-ul-Adha- a religious holiday celebrated by
Muslims around the world and also marks the
pilgrimage to Hajj.
Javed Dadabhai, Chairperson of New Zealand
Eid Day, a non-profit community organisation
hosting large scale Eid events in Auckland says
he is thrilled with the news of Sky Tower being
lit up again to honour the Muslim community
on the occasion of its religious festival.
“We are thrilled that the SkyCity will be
celebrating Eid with us again by lighting the
tower to mark an important day in the calendar
of New Zealand Muslims,” Javed Dadabhai
said.
Sky Tower lasts lit up in green and white on
the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr earlier in May this
year for two days. Following this news then,
even Eden Park came forward and lit up in
green and white for Eid-ul-Fitr.
“SkyCity lights the Sky Tower for charities
or community initiatives that we support
financially, to mark national holidays,
milestones or other celebrations or events,
or as a symbol of respect or solidarity,” a
spokesperson from SkyCity Entertainment
Group said.
Muslims in New Zealand will observe the
festival of Eid-ul-Adha by making special
congregational prayers at mosques and
community centres.
As per the traditional and religious practices
of Eid-ul-Adha, the prayers are followed by
the sacrifice of a domestic animal such as goat,
sheep, cow or camel- the meat of which is
distributed amongst family, friends and the less
fortunate on the society.
Hajj pilgrimage that usually witnesses
millions of pilgrims from all around the world
gather at Mecca is seeing only up to 10,000
worshippers from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
perform the pilgrimage. The number has been
drastically dropped due to the Covid pandemic
and global travel restrictions in place.

The Indian Weekender Friday, July 31, 2020
NEW ZEALAND 7
For the first time, Sikh man becomes
president of a Rotary Club in NZ
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
For the first time ever, a Sikh man has
been elected as the president of Rotary
Club Papatoetoe Central in Auckland,
New Zealand.
Kulbir Singh is one of the founding member
of the Rotary Club Papatoetoe Chapter that
was established in 2015. At the annual team
changeover function earlier this month at
Mehmaan Indian Restaurant in Howick, Mr
Singh was elected to lead the club’s Papatoetoe
Central chapter.
Mr Singh’s team includes a number of
philanthropist professionals such as Lawyers,
Teachers, financial advisors, businessmen etc.
who look after different operations of the club
in the community.
Mr Singh’s vibrant team includes Manu
Singh, Raj Pradeep Singh, Yashveen Singh,
Sunil Aggarwal, PJ Dhatt, Deepak Sharma,
Gurjinder Singh, Raj Chand, Akhilesh
Chaudhary, Praveen Chand, Nek Mohammed,
Gurjinder Ghuman, Karnail Singh, Daman
Kaur, Nikita Chand, Naleen Chand, Jaspinder
Kaur, Gurpreet Kaur, Aloka Peacock, Mushtaq
Sheikh and many more.
Rotary Club of Papatoetoe Central was
established is a charitable organisation working
with local professionals to raise funding for a
good cause.
The Papatoetoe Chapter has collaborated,
raised funds and donated to non-profit
organisations such as KidsCan, Fiji
Foundation, St John’s Ambulance, Starship
Foundation, through its various fundraising
drives, especially the annual Indian Diaspora
Night & Fundraising Dinner event that hosts
dignitaries, business magnates and leaders from
the community.
“The function was filled with vibrant people
who are deeply passionate to serve and guide
the community to better light,” Raj Pardeep
Singh, Rotary Director for Public Relations for
the year 2020-21 told The Indian Weekender.
“As the new role of Public Relations, my
job is to make people aware of Rotary Club
and activities in and around New Zealand,” he
added.
Speaking about the first Sikh man to be
appointed as president in a Rotary Club, Mr
Pardeep Singh said, “Rotary values diversity
and celebrates the contributions of people of all
backgrounds, regardless of their age, ethnicity,
race, colour, abilities, religion, socioeconomic
status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and
gender identity,”.
Rotary Club of Papatoetoe Central chapter is
completing its five years of establishment and is
one of the youngest chapters of the Rotary Club
in New Zealand.
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8 NEW ZEALAND
Friday, July 31, 2020
The Indian Weekender
Kiwi parents, clueless on how to get their toddler
back into the country, amidst Covid-19 border closure
SANDEEP SINGH
A
desperate Kiwi mum is
pleading Immigration
New Zealand to show
compassion and grant a visitor visa
on humanitarian grounds to one of
her family members to bring their
toddler back home from overseas.
However, she is clueless about
how to put forward a request in a
manner that is not lost in the “faceless
system”, which has seemingly
become Immigration NZ’s newnormal
way of operation.
“It’s very difficult to get your point
across the Immigration system.” said
mum Veena Chaudhury who has
lived in the country for more than
seven years and is married to an NZ
citizen.
“All I am asking is Immigration
NZ to allow a temporary visa for
one of my family members so that
they can bring my child who is an
NZ citizen and obviously cannot
travel by himself,” Veena said
exasperatingly.
“So far we have got my brother -
who was on a student visa and was
temporarily visiting family before
applying for his post-study work visa
- to apply for an exception to enter
NZ, which has been declined three
times,” Veena said.
“However, it is not our intention
to bend the rules unnecessarily for
getting my brother back into the
country,” Veena said.
“I am completely fine if INZ
allows my parents instead to travel
on a visitor visa on humanitarian
grounds and bring my child back
and leave the country as and when
feasible,”
“But I am clueless on how to
navigate with the Immigration system
which has become more faceless and
unresponsive after Covid-19 related
border closure,” Veena said.
The family of four - (Veena
Choudhary – NZ permanent
Resident), father (Bharat Choudhary
– NZ Citizen), Daughter (Myraah
Choudhary, 4 years old – NZ Citizen),
Son (Miraan Choudhary, 17 months
– NZ Citizen) has been left separated
with the sudden border closures in
March this year to prevent the spread
of deadly coronavirus.
Currently, NZ borders are closed
for everyone except citizens and
residents and exceptions allowed
under extremely limited and special
circumstances.
For an exception under
humanitarian the INZ website says,
an immigration officer may make a
humanitarian exception to the travel
ban in extremely limited cases taking
into account the following factors:
• connection to New Zealand,
the applicant’s primary place
of residence and their current
location
• how long they have been away
from New Zealand
• other options available to
the applicant
• the impact of not giving an
exception
Veena had taken a seemingly
innocuous, but completely normal,
decision in a pre-Covid-19 world, of
sending her toddler overseas along
with her mum, to avoid the need of
sending him to a daycare facility just
for two weeks, with plans to join
them in a couple of weeks and bring
him back.
“I was lucky enough to have my
mum beside me to help me through
post-birth care of my second child,
which allowed me to return to work
without the usual anxiety of leaving
him at a daycare facility,” Veena said.
“It was only the timing of my
mum’s scheduled to return to India
(February 23) after completing her
normal stay as per her visa, and
our scheduled visit in mid March
for my brother’s wedding that had
left us confused, about the need for
arranging for care for my second
child,” Veena said.
“We thought that sending our child
to a new daycare facility for just two
weeks before having to stop again for
our planned overseas travel would be
an unnecessary hassle for us and the
child, and we decided to send him
instead with his grandma who was
anyway looking after him for the last
many months.”
"But I am
clueless
on how to
navigate with the
Immigration system
which has become
more faceless and
unresponsive after
Covid-19 related
border closure
“We had a plan in place to travel
back to India in mid-march for a
wedding and bring our child back
before borders were closed,” Veena
said.
“Now we are left in the middle
of nowhere with our child stranded
overseas,” Veena said.
An enquiry has been sent to the
office of the Immigration New
Zealand at the time of the publication
of this story, and a response
is awaited.
Have your say on
the future of your
local community
20-PRO-2052_IW_2
Our local boards have come up with a three-year plan outlining the key initiatives
we want to focus on to help our communities thrive and support the recovery from
the impacts of Covid-19.
Now we need your help to check if we’ve got it right.
So love local and get vocal about your local community, and don’t forget to provide your feedback before
4pm, Thursday 13 August.
For more information, a copy of the draft Local Board Plan 2020 and to provide your feedback go to
akhaveyoursay.co.nz/lovelocal
Together we can love local.

The Indian Weekender Friday, July 31, 2020
NEW ZEALAND 9
India’s envoy to NZ expresses
satisfaction on completion of
first year in office
SANDEEP SINGH
India’s High Commissioner to New Zealand Muktesh
Pardeshi has expressed satisfaction on what his office has
been able to achieve in the first year in office.
The Indian Weekender recently spoke with Mr Pardeshi in
his office in Wellington about the experience of leading the
Mission in this South Pacific heaven and getting an overview
of the bilateral relationship between the two countries and the
engagement with the Kiwi-Indian diaspora.
Emphasising on the highlight of this first year in office
Mr Pardeshi said, “The recent visit by the Deputy Prime
Minister and the Trade Minister to India was indeed
an important landmark of this year.”
“It is indeed remarkable that how our lives
and the world has changed in recent times that
this recent high-level Ministerial visit is now
appearing to be from some distant past,” Mr
Pardeshi said.
Notably, Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters
and Trade Minister David Parker had travelled to India
earlier this year in late-February, taking a high-level business
delegation to capital New Delhi and Mumbai - the financial
centre of India.
However, the majority of his first year in office was rightly
dedicated to managing the chaos emanating from the impact
of Covid-19 global health pandemic, Mr Pardeshi told the
Indian Weekender.
“From the very beginning, our two countries were in close
contact with each other in managing serious disruptions due
to Covid-19.”
"From
the very
beginning, our two
countries were in close
contact with each other
in managing serious
disruptions due to
Covid-19"
“It gives me immense satisfaction in what our
two countries have been able to achieve in helping
thousands of people facing disruption and crisis
due to Covid-19,” Mr Pardeshi said.
He was modest in accepting kudos for his
leadership in leading the New Zealand leg of the
Vande Bharat Mission - India’s repatriation mission
that has till now repatriated record 250,000 people from
more than 53 countries.
“It was a team effort from all of those involved including
the team at the High Commission’s office, the Consulate of
India in Auckland, community organisations which came out
to be the nodal agencies of our food distribution initiatives
and also the ethnic media in keeping everyone safe here and
repatriated back home,” Mr Pardeshi said.
“The Vande Bharat Mission is still a work in progress as
we have recently announced the fifth phase of flights in the
month of August,” Mr Pardeshi said.
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10 NEW ZEALAND
Friday, July 31, 2020 The Indian Weekender
NZ turns into a curry-crazed
nation post-lockdown
IWK BUREAU
Takeaway orders at Indian Restaurants
around the country have run hot since
lockdown ended – and restaurants are
urging Kiwis to break out and try something
other than butter chicken.
More than 40,000 curries were ordered
on food delivery platform Menulog since
lockdown ended with Indian restaurants such
as Bolliwood in Auckland’s Blockhouse Bay
and Own Masala in Tauranga saying demand
recovered quickly to pre-COVID levels as
Kiwis craved warm, comforting food.
Butter Chicken is by far the most popular
curry ordered on Menulog with one Gisborne
restaurant selling over 1300 butter chickens
since lockdown ended.
The Butter Chicken obsession has led
restaurants to recommend Kiwis step outside
their comfort zone and open their minds to all
Indian food has to offer.
Other key curry findings include:
Over 40,000 curries have been ordered on
Menulog since lockdown ended
The top five most ordered dishes through
Menulog since lockdown were all butter
chicken
Butter chicken is the most popular dish in
Auckland, Christchurch and Tauranga
More than 160,000 curries were ordered
throughout NZ on Menulog in 2019
Lockdown has barely hindered the curry
obsession with orders for Indian food not far
off the same time last year
Assistant manager of Bolliwood Xpress,
Anjali Bisht says Kiwi’s obsession with curry
shone through when it started receiving calls
during lockdown from customers asking the
restaurant to open.
“The day we reopened was crazy for us,
people clearly had a craving for curry and
butter chicken is always the best seller but it’s
time people started to sample a broader range
of Indian food.
“There is a huge range of curries and spices
in Indian food so there’s always new flavours
to try, and if you want to take a small step
into something new, we definitely recommend
trying out a Chicken Tikka Masala or a Lamb
Rogan Josh.”
Bisht says around 40 to 50% of the
restaurant’s orders come through Menulog.
“Menulog provided us with the systems
for contact-free orders and delivery needed
after lockdown, it really helped our restaurant
recover as well as supporting us to continue to
grow our business for the future.”
The obsession with butter chicken led
Bolliwood Xpress to create two versions of the
dish for its menu.
“We make a Kiwi style and a Delhi style
butter chicken to accommodate both palates.
The Kiwi style is much sweeter, while the Delhi
style uses different Indian spices”.
Sita Aryal, owner of Own Masala Restaurant
in Tauranga, says Indian food is special because
there are many different flavours.
“Every dish is different and there is a curry
for everyone, no matter their taste,” he says
“The secret to making a delicious curry is
ensuring every aspect of the meal is top notch
quality.
“Every Indian restaurant will use different
cooking tricks and techniques to create their
curries. At Own Masala we only use high
quality ingredients for everything in the dish
– right down to the cashews and the tomato
paste.”
Aryal says after lockdown was a very busy
time for Own Masala which helped it get back
up and running successfully.
Morten Belling, Managing Director at
Menulog NZ, says the sheer amount of curries
ordered on the platform since lockdown
ended demonstrates the love Kiwis have for
takeaways, particularly Indian food.
“We placed significant emphasis on helping
restaurants recover during these difficult times
and look forward to providing continued
support to New Zealand businesses. We’ve
always seen a strong demand for Indian cuisine
and are pleased people are continuing to support
their favourite restaurants,” he says.
Menulog recently changed its branding from
green to orange to align the company with the
global Just Eat Takeaway.com Group, bringing
significant opportunity to deliver benefits for
New Zealand customers and restaurant partners.
The refresh signals an important step for the
business by reaffirming its commitment to the
New Zealand market and helping grow order
demand for restaurant partners and expanding
the brand’s regional footprint.
As part of the ongoing expansion, Menulog
will continue to invest in local communities
and supporting businesses, pledging $500,000
towards growing its customer database and
increasing restaurant demand.
Bhartiya Samaj hosts its first in-person
seniors meeting post-Covid lockdown
RIZWAN MOHAMMAD
Senior citizens of Bhartiya Samaj are relieved
to finally have the chance to have an in-person
meeting with their peers and friends post-Covid
lockdown. Bhartiya Samaj hosted its first in-person
seniors’ meeting event on Saturday, July 25, at Mt
Roskill War Memorial Hall ever since the lockdown in
the country was lifted.
“Though during the lockdown period all of us had
the opportunity to spend time with our loved ones and
family, the hardest part of it was being unable to meet
friends and families we care about, and it has shown
how critical is social interaction for our mental health,”
a spokesperson from Bhartiya Samaj said.
The spokesperson further added that although
technology made it a great deal easier to endure these
tough times and build up a virtual world for most, but
it wasn’t a replacement for physical interaction.
“As the seniors entered the meeting hall, their faces
were beaming with excitement and happiness seeing
their friends after a long time,” the spokesperson said.
The day commenced with Bhartiya Samaj
Chairperson Jeet Suchdev welcoming the gathering,
greeting everyone and appreciating the efforts of all
New Zealanders in the victory over the fight against
Corona.
Mt Roskill MP Michael Wood also welcomed
one and all and thanked the Bhartiya Samaj, senior
members for their collective efforts in their help to
stamp out the COVID.
He applauded the commendable work done by
Mr Suchdev in helping out the community and the
stranded families during those testing times. The day
flagged off with an exercise session by Ella Kumar,
this was followed by a small cultural program put up
by the Senior members who sang songs and danced
exhilarating their hearts out.
“The atmosphere had a sense of joy and relief
of meeting fellow friends after a long time,” the
spokesperson said.
An Electoral Commission workshop was held to
educate the voters and encouraged them to enrol and
have their say in New Zealand’s general elections and
referendums.
The grand finale of the event was a lavish spread
of sumptuous lunch served by Bhartiya Samaj to
everyone present there.

The Indian Weekender Friday, July 31, 2020
NEW ZEALAND 11
Radha Krishna Temple celebrate Shravan with
special Puja every day
SUPPLIED CONTENT
Shravan one of the holiest and most auspicious month
in the Hindu calendar, when the day has its own
significance. In Shravan, almost every day is a festival,
and temples are very busy with various religious activities
during this month.
Shri Radha Krishna Mandir, ever since Shravan month
started, has hosted several special pujas and celebrated
numerous festivals with devotees attending the temple in large
numbers. Friday, July 24, the temple celebrated Nag Panchami,
Saturday, July 25, Bhajan Sandhya- a way to chant and meditate
for Lord Mahadev singing his glories. On Sunday. July 26, the
temple held its Samuhik Shiv Pooja, which was participated by
hundreds of devotees throughout the day.
Devotees were enchanted to see a replica of Amarnath
Ling and Chaturlingatobhadramandal. Bhadramandal is Lord
Sadashiv’s beloved yantra consisting of 17 rows and columns
having four lings on each corner made by three coloured
borders, red representing Brahma, black colour Lord Sadashiv
and white representing Lord Vishnu. In each row and column
resides Lord Shiv’s Gan (group), Ma Parvati family and Nandi.
“We were also blessed to have Lord Krishna, from Bhartiya
Mandir giving us darshan at our very own temple. It was warm
meeting Acharya Shri Upendrabhai Joshi and many devotees
on their bus yatra,” devotee at the temple Bhavana Patel said.
On Monday, July 27, the temple celebrated Shitla Saptami,
Shitlamata’s staphna and the pooja was conducted after that
ladies came to seek her blessings and made offerings of various
food items. Tuesday, July 28, was Nakul Navmi, Noli Nem.
Noli is taken from the word Nevla or Mongoose, and Nom
means Navam or ninth. Like every year, Noliyo (Mongoose)
is made out of Jowar (Sorghum) flour by Naniben Magan, who
has been doing this for many years. Women fasted on this day
and came to worship, offering different grains and rotis made
out of Jowar to the temple.
There is enormous energy amongst devotees and every
festival Radha Krishna temple celebrated, which has been well
attended by devotees throughout the month.
In the upcoming days, Saturday, August 1, the temple will
observe bhajan Sandhya; Sunday, August 2, the temple will
have Samuhik Satyanaran Katha where anyone can partake.
On Tuesday, August 11, devotees will observe one of the
biggest celebrations of the year, Shri Krishna Janmasthami, the
celebrations will start with bhajans by the Pushpanjali group
and Shri Jalaram Samithi, and there will be a Maha Aarti at
midnight followed by Mahaprasad.
“Our Hindola festival is still going on how gop and gopis
used to rock Krishna on a decorated swing, likewise we urge
devotees to experience the divine joy of rocking Krishna on a
small swing, This is another reason to visit the temple to have
a little play with baby Krishna who is brought out especially
only for Hindola,” Mr Patel said. Each week of the month
of Shravan, the Hindola is decorated in a different material
(mirrors, flowers, colours, etc.). This again is a delight to watch
the creativity of different devotees. For any enquiries regarding
various activities during the month, devotees can reach out to
Acharya Shri Dr, Devrambhai Raval on 09 3794463.
Auckland Indian Association’s team excited to move into 2020-21
Auckland Indian Association Inc.,
one the oldest Indian Community
organizations in New Zealand,
supporting the growing Indian community in
Auckland hosted its Annual General Meeting
(AGM) at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre on
Sunday, July 19.
Over 100 donor members and observers
participated in this AGM. President of AIA,
Narendra Bhana commenced meeting by
acknowledging extraordinary support of the
Office Bearers throughout the year 2019-20.
The president then presented a detailed
annual report for the previous year and
informed members that 2019 was an excellent
year for the Association and its volunteers.
The Association has moved from strength to
strength and achieved many milestones.
Treasurer Hershadbhai Jairam presented
detailed financial reports for the Auckland
Indian Association Inc and Mahatma Gandhi
Charitable Trust for the fiscal year ended
December 31 2019.
The Board Chairman Dhansukhbhai Lal
presented a detailed report for the Mahatma
Gandhi Charitable Trust.
The Board Chairman expressed his sincere
gratitude to the Trustees and volunteers for
their invaluable support.
Dhansukhbhai thanked retiring Trustees
Kanubhai Patel and Harshadbhai K Patel for
their long-standing service to the Association
and also welcomed two newly appointed
Trustees Ashokbhai Darji and Rameshbhai
Bhagwan to the Association.
The General Secretary and Sub-committee
Chairpersons’ reports were tabled for donor
members perusal.
The AGM elected the following Officers and
Board of Trustees:

Editorial
Operating systems:
The businesses of
tomorrow
The flurry of investments by global technology giants and investors into India and the rapid
ascent of digital technologies has once again squarely brought the focus on just how vital
digital transformations will be in the decades to come.
Whether one looks at the investments in the Edtech space in India or the decision by an alliance
of telecom operators globally to explore the O-RAN Alliance or the increasing interest around
providing consumers with phones, the essential focus is on building and scaling the next generation
“operating systems”.
From the ubiquitous Windows to Bloomberg to Booking.com to Android on phones, operating
systems in various forms have been fundamental to satisfying user needs and in building some of
the most iconic global businesses.
Operating systems (OS) can be thought of as digitisation that delivers value and hence can be
monetised. To elaborate further, while talks of Internet Of Things (IoT) through connected devices
have been splashed across the media, at a fundamental level one can view the future operating
system as the software that can not only link the hardware together but generate value by adding
efficiency or reducing problems.
One can draw valuable lessons from the value creation done by some of the existing successful
operating systems across industries in terms of where the future value creation may come from.
Aggregating fragmented markets to add value is probably one of the more common forms of
operating systems that add value.
From Booking.com to the recent investments in the ed-tech space in India, broadly speaking the
usage of an OS to reduce search costs and allow both the fragmented user and service providers to
come on a platform is the most significant value-generating aspect of the business.
While aggregating fragmented sets of buyers and sellers has primarily focused on market places,
the next set of operating systems may start solving other issues. For instance, in the retail sector,
operating systems may look to transform the franchise model of business entirely.
In fact, in the day of social media and micro-influencers, an operating system that can allow
entrepreneurs to bypass the high capital intensive franchise model to build and scale using online
tools can be a game-changer.
The capacity of operating systems to lower both search costs and capital expenditures can be
value additive in new sectors to create the winners of tomorrow.
Alternatively, the operating system value-add by Bloomberg revolves around providing data and,
more importantly, analytics.
As the case is made for industrial uses of IoT, especially as 5G deployment gathers steam globally,
the ability to provide data with analytics to add to productivity will lead to operating systems that
can create value.
Operating systems that can not only help link hardware but provide data that can be of utility
for value generation will be of great benefit to many industries, not the least industries such as
manufacturing and agriculture. Bloomberg’s value addition in the financial world wasn’t just
the provision of an incredible array of information but also the provision of tools to make sense
of the information.
Aggregation of large data pools with insights is probably a business model for the next generation
of operating systems in several industries.
While how industries use operating systems and technologies will vary across the spectrum, and
the first port of call may not always be the most significant value creator.
For instance, in the real estate industry, while the use of technology has created value in the
search business or in what have been real estate tech businesses, the overall profitability of such
companies is still debatable.
But in the real estate space, an operating system for digitising and analysing land registry records
in India would be a significant value addition.
Land related information and dealings are an area that leads to considerable friction for both
individuals and businesses.
The ability to have digitised records will go a long way in creating value and efficiency in the
system. While in no way identical, the importance of a land registry system can be gauged by the
fact that the New South Wales Land Registry business was given out on a private lease for AUD
2.6 billion in 2017.
Primarily, the key takeaway is that there is a significant value add through creating operating
systems, and there are multiple ways to approach an industry.
While operating systems will play a significant role going forward, it needs to be underscored
that the success of operating systems hinges on the ability to scale using technology by not being
limited by physical constraints. For instance, Android as an operating system can be viewed as
an infrastructure asset such as an airport or a seaport with the mobile apps acting as the planes
and ships.
However, in the case of Android, the business scales in a digital world without the physical
limitations that an airport or seaport assets face.
Therefore, the operating systems that are the winners of the future must look to build businesses
that can scale using technology beyond the physical constraints and, even more importantly, build
businesses solving real user cases for effective monetisation.
Thought of the week
"If people are doubting how far you can go, go
so far that you can’t hear them anymore.”
– Michele Ruiz
31 July – 6 August 2020
Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu
On-and-off
rain and
drizzle
16°
10°
Partly
sunny
18°
11°
17°
11°
Indian Weekender : Volume 12 Issue 20
Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited
Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz
Chief Technical Officer: Rohan deSouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz
Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz
Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz
Accounts and Admin.: 09-2173623 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz
Media Sales Manager.: Leena Pal: 021 952 216 | leena@indianweekender.co.nz
Sales and Distribution: 021 952218 | sales@indianweekender.co.nz
Editor at Large: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz
Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher
is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication
Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent
the views of the team at the Indian Weekender
Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland.
Printed at Horton Media, Auckland
Parlty
sunny
Clouds and
sun
18°
11°
A touch o
dafr
18°
10°
This week in New Zealand’s history
Copyright 2017. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved.
Sunshine
and pactcy
clouds
17°
12°
A few
morning
showers
17°
11°
31 July 1843
Foundation stone laid for New Zealand's first purpose-built
theatre
Laying the foundation stone for the Royal Victoria Theatre on Manners St, Wellington,
Alderman William Lyon welcomed the new amenity – ‘a theatre [was] a necessary
concomitant of an advanced state of civilization.’ It was a morale-boosting event six weeks after
the Wairau Affray (see 17 June) had shocked local settlers.
1 August 1987
Te reo Māori recognised as official language
The Maori Language Act came into force, making te reo Māori an official language of New
Zealand.
2 August 1983
Protest as USS Texas visits Auckland
The visit of the nuclear-powered guided missile cruiser Texas sparked anti-nuclear rallies on
land and sea. Port visits by United States warships had been controversial for some years.
Two nuclear-powered cruisers, USS Truxtun and Long Beach, had attracted protest when they
visited New Zealand in 1976.
4 August 1965
Cook Islands achieves self-government
First included within the boundaries of New Zealand in 1901, the islands were governed by
a Resident Commissioner until 1946. When they achieved self-government, Cook Islanders
remained New Zealand citizens.
5 August 1914
New Zealand enters the First World War
Following the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian
throne, and his wife Sophie in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, on 28 June
1914, Germany gave its ally Austria-Hungary a ‘blank cheque’ to take whatever action it deemed
appropriate.
5 August 1988
Cartwright Report condemns cancer treatment
The report was triggered by the publication in Metro magazine of ‘An Unfortunate
Experiment’, an article by Sandra Coney and Phillida Bunkle which alleged that cervical
cancer patients at Auckland’s National Women’s Hospital were receiving inadequate treatment.

The Indian Weekender Friday, July 31, 2020 FIJI 13
Fiji’s smart borrowing has
been widely endorsed: PM
Our promise to the cane farmers will be delivered – Bainimarama
Prime Minister, Voreqe
Bainimarama says Fiji’s
strategy of smart borrowing
has been widely endorsed, including
by the United Nations.
While speaking in the 2020/2021
National Budget Debate,
Bainimarama says Fiji’s multilateral
partners see the prudency behind all
of the budgets.
The Prime Minister says these are
institutions run by actual economists,
with whole teams dedicated to
reviewing our economy, and they
trust Fiji.
He says that is why they have
stood with Fiji through this crisis.
Bainimarama says the Opposition
can shut their eyes to these global
realities all they want and the Prime
Minister says he really does not care.
He says he puts his stock in the
international economic experts over
failed former professors.
The Prime Minister says anyone
with eyes can see that every dollar of
the well-structured, carefully targeted
two-billion-dollar stimulus package
in this budget has been allocated to
save the economy, to serve people, to
sustain jobs and to create new ones.
Bainimarama says the budget gives
help where it’s needed most, granting
$100 million in direct government
unemployment assistance.
He says this assistance is allocated
not only to those whose jobs have
been lost but to those who are
working on reduced hours.
Bainimarama then gave an
example that he could announce
there is a cure for COVID-19 but the
Fiji Times will still have a front page
story of Biman Prasad.
He says the newspaper company
and the Opposition Leader keep
talking about debt servicing
payments but fail to highlight that
the debts were mostly accrued prior
to 2007.
Bainimarama says the social
security they have built over the years
remains, free education is funded,
social welfare payments are being
paid, subsidised transportation to
school continues and free textbooks
are paid for.
The Prime Minister says the
government won’t be slashing the
salaries of the civil servants they
need to help put this economy back
on its feet and to support the people
who have suffered the most, much to
the disappointment of Biman Prasad.
Bainimarama also says that the
government has promised cane
growers a guaranteed price per tonne
of 85 dollars for three full seasons.
He says that promise will
be delivered.
He says the first three payments of
the third season will be paid at $70
per tonne, but in the fourth and final
wash-up payment, they will make up
the full amount of $85 per tonne, as
they always do.
Bainimarama also says they have
provided nearly $300 million in
direct support to cane farmers over
the past seven years.
Individuals can be quarantined outside designated facilities
Health Minister Dr Ifereimi
Waqainabete has confirmed
that on a case by case basis,
Fijians returning from overseas are
able to be quarantined outside of the
government designated facilities.
Speaking in Parliament, Dr
Waqainabete clarified that this only
applies under special circumstances.
“There may be some for whom
staying in the government designated
facilities may not be appropriate, for
example, those who are sick, some
who have come back from treatment.
An assessment is made by both the
IMT COVID-19 team and also the
quarantine enforcement team which
includes the disciplined forces.”
The Minister confirms that before
a decision is made on whether the
individual can be quarantined in
another location, the site has to
be inspected by various
COVID-19 teams.
“They examine the place where
Ravuataumada barred
from returning to NZ
Fijian and New Zealand Warriors player Selestino
Ravutaumada has been banned from returning to
New Zealand at the end of the NRL season.
Ravutaumada has been given exemptions by the
Australian Border Force to travel with the rest of the
Warriors squad when they left for Australia on May
3.Ravutaumada has represented New Zealand and has
lived in New Zealand for numerous years, stuff.co.nz
reported. He has played for the New Zealand Schools
rugby league team and the Junior Kiwis.
It was reported his club has been told by the New
Zealand Government that neither player will be allowed to
return to Auckland once the NRL season is over, because
of coronavirus restrictions which block non New Zealand
citizens from entering the country.
Warriors CEO Cameron George says the club have
been doing all they can to get the players home, but have
got nowhere.
“We’ve been advised that they won’t be permitted
entry back into the country due to their status, which is
devastating for us to hear,” George told Stuff.
"They
examine the
place where the
person may be or may
live. Having agreed that
they can be able to monitor
them during the time of
the quarantine, which
becomes
acceptable"
the person may be or may live.
Having agreed that they can be able
to monitor them during the time
of the quarantine, which becomes
acceptable. It is passed and they are
then moved into that facility. It could
be back into their own homes.”
Dr Ifereimi stressed that
no one who comes into
Fiji is exempt from
quarantine.
One Fijian
who has been
quarantined at home
had suffered a heart
attack and needed
proper rehabilitation,
including being able to
walk about.
UN acknowledges
the work of
the Fijian
Government in
dealing with
COVID-19
The United Nations
Resident Coordinator in
Fiji Sanaka Samarasinha
has acknowledged the work of the
Fijian government in dealing with
COVID-19.
He says they are grateful for the
leadership of the Fijian Government
to prevent COVID-19 from having
had the health impact it has had in
most parts of the world because of
early action.
He made this comment while
speaking about the recommendations
made in a report compiled by
the UN and some of its key
stakeholders on the Socioeconomic
Impact Assessment and Recovery
Recommendations which highlights
key areas that the Fijian government
needs to address. Samarasinha
says as development partners they
will support certain policies put in
place in order to recover from this
pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Acting Permanent
Secretary of Foreign Affairs
Yogesh Karan says most of the
recommendations made in the report
has been reflected in the 2020/2021
National Budget.
He says we have a very large
social sector and more than 30% of
the budget is for that sector.
Karan says a large number of
people have become unemployed
because of COVID-19.
Karan says other recommendations
made in the report include finding
means of looking after unemployed
people, looking at alternative
methods whereby those who have
lost jobs, to skill them and make
improvements to the health sector.
He says Fiji will spend more than
3.5% of its budget on the Health
Ministry while the recommendation
made in the report is to have 5% of
the budget allocated towards it.
Karan adds that the opening of the
borders will put further pressure on
the Health Ministry.
Two children who recently needed
immediate medical treatment
were sent to NZ
Minister for Health Dr
Ifereimi Waqainabete
has confirmed that
government was able to send two
children who needed immediate
medical treatment to New Zealand
as money has been allocated for that.
Waqainabete highlighted this
after SODELPA MP Ratu Antonio
Lalabalavu sought clarification on
how will government prioritize
visiting medical teams coming into
the country, as money has been
allocated for overseas medical and
consultancy services and foreign
visiting medical teams in the 2020-
2021 National Budget.
Waqainabete says one of the
children needed a heart operation and
the other needed a chest operation.
He says that these two high-end
emergency cases will probably cost
them more.
Waqainabete also highlighted that
they were able to bring back 60 Fijian
patients who were stuck in India
during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He says the visiting teams may
coming next year but it will depend
on the situation.

14
INDIA
Friday, July 31, 2020 The Indian Weekender
India: Coronavirus cases
Confirmed:1,531669, Deaths:34,193, Recovered: 988,029 Active: 509,447
India’s coronavirus epidemic is
now the world’s fastest growing
India’s coronavirus epidemic
is now growing at the fastest
in the world, increasing 20%
over the last week to more than 1.4
million confirmed cases, according
to Bloomberg’s Coronavirus Tracker.
Infections in the nation of 1.3
billion people have reached 1.43
million, including 32,771 deaths,
India’s health ministry said, with
daily cases close to a record 50,000
on Monday. India is only trailing the
US and Brazil now in the number of
confirmed infections, but its growth
in new cases is the fastest.
Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra
Pradesh and Karnataka are among the
states where the maximum number
of daily cares are being reported.
The world’s second-most populous
country has been ramping up testing,
with 515,472 samples taken on
Sunday, according to the Indian
Council of Medical Research.
Still, India and Brazil have some of
the world’s lowest testing rates, with
11.8 tests and 11.93 tests per 1,000
people respectively, compared to the
U.S. with 152.98 tests per 1,000 and
Russia with 184.34, according to
Our World in Data, a project based
at University of Oxford in the U.K.
Uttarakhand’s youngest girl to scale Mt.
Everest now starts 10-year mountaineering
project for women from across country
In a novel bid, Uttarakhand’s
youngest girl to scale Mt.
Everest last year has now started
a 10-year mountaineering project for
women from across the country who
do not get a platform to showcase
their mountaineering skills.
Sheetal Raj, who scaled Mt.
Everest last year to become the
youngest in the state to achieve the
feat, said that after achieving her
goal, she wanted to do something
to bring more women in the field of
mountaineering which is mostly a
male dominated field.
“After I had scaled Mt. Everest,
my only wish was to see more
women to come into this field.
Many women have the potential to
reach great heights but do not get a
platform where they can be given
training or the financial support.
With this project, I aspire to train
girls and women in mountaineering
and help them go for expeditions in
future,” said Raj.
For the first year of training, around
30 women have been selected who
have been trained in Darma Valley
in Pithoragarh district at a height of
3000m under an organisation named
‘Climbing Beyond the Summit’
Pollution levels in India shave
off 5.2 years from the life
expectancy of the average
Indian and it most acutely hits
people living in the Indo-Gangetic
plains, according to an assessment
by the Energy Policy Institute at the
University of Chicago, which also
showed that the situation had slightly
improved between 2016 and 2018.
India is the second most-polluted
country globally after Bangladesh,
while Nepal, Singapore and Pakistan
are the other top countries with dirty
air. The authors use an air quality life
index (AQLI), which takes particulate
air pollution and determines the hit it
has on life expectancy.
According to the AQLI, India’s
yearly average particulate pollution
concentration of 63.2 ug/m3 in
2018 reduced life expectancy of the
(CBTS). Raj and her coach Yogesh
Garbiyal founded this organisation
to promote mountaineering
among women.
She said that first these women
are being given basic training and
then they will be enrolled with
Nehru Institute of Mountaineering
for certification course before the
final expedition. Girls and women
from the age group 13-40 have been
selected for the first expedition.
Garbiyal, co-founder of CBTS
said that the project not just aims
to bring women into the field
of mountaineering but also give
exposure to women from local
areas and train them with basic
mountaineering skills which they can
average Indian by 5.2 years. The
life expectancy lost in 2016 was 6.1
years when the particulate pollution –
which is linked to diseases affecting
the lungs and heart – was at 71ug/m3.
In 2018, Lucknow’s (the most
polluted district in the country)
residents were exposed to an average
annual PM 2.5 concentrations of
114.6 micrograms per cubic metres
which is likely to cut short life
expectancy by 10.3 years compared.
That makes Lucknow the most
polluted district in the country
followed by 13 other districts, all in
Uttar Pradesh.
The National Capital Territory of
Delhi is the 15th most-polluted region
use to become trek and tour guides.
“There are many places in the
remote areas of Uttarakhand which
have potential for tourism but not
many people know about them. We
are taking these women for training
in the three valleys, Darma, Vyans
and Chaudans. The women can
use the exposure learnt from these
training sessions to connect it to
livelihood opportunities in tourism
sector,” said Garbiyal.
The selected women were
supposed to go on their first
expedition in September this year,
but due to Covid-19 epidemic they
have postponed it by a year and plan
to take the women on expedition next
year with better practice.
Air pollution cuts Indians’ life
expectancy by 5.2 years: Report
in the country as per the analysis,
which relies on satellite data. The
average PM 2.5 concentration was
106 micrograms per cubic metres
which can lead to loss of 9.4 life
years compared to if Delhi had met
the WHO guidelines for air quality.
The analysis did not include
figures from 2019 and 2020.
The report, released in India,
Pakistan and Bangladesh on Tuesday
evening, showed air pollution
problem that was severe in India in
the late 90’s only worsened further
in recent years with an estimated
life expectancy loss of 3.4 years
in 1998, 4.8 years in 2010 and 6.1
years in 2016.
NEWS in BRIEF
India to export 40m surgical masks,
2m medical goggles every month
The government permitted export
of 40 million surgical masks
and 2 million medical goggles every
month as country is producing these
protective gears in excess to their
domestic demand, a top official said.
“Following PM @NarendraModi
ji’s mantra of Aatmanirbhar Bharat [Self-reliant India], in a momentous
decision to promote Make in India & Industrial growth, Govt. permits export
of 4 crore 2/3 Ply Surgical Masks & 20 lakh Medical Goggles every month,
along with restriction-free export of Face Shields,” commerce and industry
minister Piyush Goyal said in a tweet. Earlier exports of these items were
banned to ensure their adequate domestic availability as these equipments
are crucial in fighting against the Covid-19 pandemic.
India’s involvement in ITER reflects capabilities for
advanced design and manufacturing: PM Modi
As scientists started assembling the world’s largest fusion device at ITER
in southern France, India said the project demonstrated the country’s
capabilities for design and manufacturing at the most advanced levels. A
special message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi was delivered by
India’s envoy to France, Jawed Ashraf, during the virtual ceremony at
ITER headquarters that marked the start of the assembly. French President
Emmanuel Macron and leaders from China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, the
US and Europe joined the event.
“India is proud to be part of a global enterprise that is at the frontier of
science and engineering,” Modi’s message said.
“Indian scientists have made valuable contributions to the development
and fabrication of the cryostat, the cooling system, the cryo-distribution
system and several kilometres of cryo-lines. They remain involved in many
other aspects of the project,” it added.
With $4.5bn in loans, and a $1bn more in pipeline,
co-founder India is top China-led bank borrower
The China-led Asian Infrastructure
Investment Bank (AIIB)’s prompt
move to set up a Covid-19 support
fund for its members is an example of
the Multilateral Development Bank’s
(MDB) “power of action”, President Xi
Jinping said.
Xi said the AIIB, coalition in which India is a co-founder, moved “…
promptly to set up a Covid-19 Crisis Recovery Facility (CRF) to support
its members in containing the virus and reviving their economies. This is a
typical example of the AIIB’s power of action”. The Chinese President was
speaking at the fifth annual meeting of the Beijing-based bank, proposed by
him in late 2013, and launched in January 2016. Since its launch, India has
emerged as the overall top borrower — $4.5 billion — from the Beijingbased
bank, and also the top beneficiary of Covid-19-related relief fund. As
the largest borrower, India has almost 25 percent of all approved AIIB loans
channelled to it.
India and UK join forces on new £8 mn research on
antibiotic-resistant bacteria
India and Britain will deepen scientific research collaboration with five
new projects to tackle anti-microbial resistance (AMR) that could lead to
advances in the global fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes.
The five projects are planned to start in September once they receive
the appropriate clearances. Britain is contributing £4 million from the UK
Research and Innovation Fund for International Collaboration, and India
will match this with an equal amount. The Indian side will be represented
by the department of biotechnology. The funding awards by the UK were
announced by Tariq Ahmad, minister of state for South Asia and the
Commonwealth, ahead of a virtual visit to India on Tuesday.
India is a key producer of antimicrobial for the global pharmaceutical
supply chain, and the research projects aim to develop a better understanding
of how waste from antimicrobial manufacturing could be inadvertently
fuelling AMR.
Indian climate activist Archana Soreng named
by UN chief to new advisory group
A
climate activist from India has been
named by UN Secretary-General Antonio
Guterres to his new advisory group comprising
young leaders who will provide perspectives and
solutions to tackle the worsening climate crisis,
as the global body mobilizes action as part of the
Covid-19 recovery efforts. Archana Soreng joins
six other young climate leaders from around the
world who have been named by Guterres to his
new Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change.
Soreng is “experienced in advocacy and
research, and she is working to document, preserve, and promote traditional
knowledge and cultural practices of indigenous communities,” the UN said.

The Indian Weekender Friday, July 24, 2020
WORLD 15
World: Coronavirus cases
Confirmed: 16,899,700 Deaths: 663,541
Recovered: 10,462,852 Active: 5,773.307
COVID-19 pandemic
is ‘one big wave’, not
seasonal, says WHO
A
World Health Organization
official described the
COVID-19 pandemic as
“one big wave” and warned against
complacency in the northern
hemisphere summer since the
infection does not share influenza’s
tendency to follow seasons.
WHO officials have been at pains
to avoid describing a resurgence of
COVID-19 cases like those in Hong
Kong as “waves” as this suggests
the virus is behaving in ways urged vigilance in applying measures winter, and said the Geneva-based
beyond human control, when in fact and warned against mass gatherings. body was monitoring this closely.
concerted action can slow its spread. “People are still thinking about So far, she said, laboratory samples
Margaret Harris repeated that seasons. What we all need to get are not showing high numbers of flu
message in a virtual briefing in our heads around is this is a new cases, suggesting a later-than-normal
Geneva. “We are in the first wave. virus and…this one is behaving start to the season.
It’s going to be one big wave. It’s differently,” she said.
“If you have an increase in a
going to go up and down a bit. The “Summer is a problem. This virus respiratory illness when you already
best thing is to flatten it and turn it likes all weather.”
have a very high burden of respiratory
into just something lapping at your However, she expressed concern illness, that puts even more pressure
feet,” she said.
about COVID-19 cases coinciding on the health system,” she said,
Pointing to high case numbers at with normal seasonal influenza cases urging people to be vaccinated
the height of the U.S. summer, she during the southern hemisphere’s against flu.
Signs of second wave of Covid-19 in
Europe, says UK PM Boris Johnson
Prime Minister Boris
Johnson said there are
signs of a second wave of
coronavirus in Europe after the
UK removed Spain from the list of
countries deemed safe to travel to
and return from, making a 14-day
quarantine mandatory for arrivals
from there.
Spain has seen a spike in the
number of cases in recent days,
prompting UK officials to impose
the 14-day quarantine on Britons and
travellers arriving from that country.
The decision has thrown holidays of
millions of Britons into disarray.
Johnson said: “Let’s be absolutely
clear about what’s happening in
Europe, amongst some of our
European friends, I’m afraid you
are starting to see in some places
the signs of a second wave of the
pandemic”. What we have to do is
take swift and decisive action where
we think that the risks are starting to
bubble up again”, he added.
Figures in the UK continued to
plummet. As of Monday night, seven
new deaths were reported in the last
24 hours, taking the overall figure
to 45,759 and the number of cases
to 300,111. Scotland did not report
any death for several days. UK’s
decision to impose quarantine has
riled Spanish ministers, who insist
the rise in cases is limited to two
or three regions, and claim that the
country is in a better position than the
UK. The quarantine has severely hit
Spanish tourism industry.
Johnson defended the quarantine
decision, adding: “These are
decisions (about going on holiday to
Spain and elsewhere) for families,
for individuals, about where they
want to go”.
The latest Foreign and
Commonwealth Office travel advice
on Spain says: “From 27 July, the
FCO advise against all non-essential
travel to Spain, including the Balearic
and Canary Islands, based on the
current assessment of Covid-19 risks
in the country”.
NASA’s Mars rover Perseverance
all set for a launch this week
NASA is all set to launch its
Mars rover Perseverance
this week under a mission
that is expected to last at least one
Mars year or about 687 Earth days.
The rover will seek signs of ancient
life and collect rock and soil samples
for possible return to Earth, the US
space agency said.
“We’re going back to Mars! @
NASAPersevere will be launching
soon for its seven-month journey
to the Red Planet. And it’s bringing
along a friend: a helicopter named
Ingenuity!” NASA tweeted.
The rover is expected to launch
on July 30 from Cape Canaveral
Air Force Station in Florida and is
expected to land at Mar’s Jezero
Crater in February 2021.
The crater is a giant basin
which is believed to have once
contained water.
The rover will be landing in a
place with high potential for finding
signs of past microbial life.
“Perseverance will also be
collecting important data about
Mars’ geology and climate,” NASA
said in a press release.
NEWS in BRIEF
Travel bans cannot be indefinite, countries must
fight virus at home – WHO
Bans on international travel cannot
stay in place indefinitely, and
countries are going to have to do
more to reduce the spread of the novel
coronavirus within their borders, the
World Health Organization said.
A surge of infections has prompted
countries to reimpose some travel restrictions in recent days, with Britain
throwing the reopening of Europe’s tourism industry into disarray by
ordering a quarantine on travellers returning from Spain. Only with strict
adherence to health measures, from wearing masks to avoiding crowds,
would the world manage to beat the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health
Organization’s director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said at a
virtual news briefing.
Indian Consulate in Dubai announces conditions for
emergency services
The Indian Consulate in Dubai has announced conditions and prerequisites
to be fulfilled by expats seeking emergency services on holidays, it was
reported. In a statement issued, the mission stated that it will remain open
during all holidays (including Friday and Saturday) from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
to address emergency requirements of the general public with effect from
August 1, reports Gulf News. This will continue till December 31.
On assuming office on July 19, the new Consul General of India in Dubai
Aman Puri had announced the mission would open on all holidays from
August 1 to provide emergency services for two hours.
The mission advised Indian expats that before going to the consulate
for any emergency service, they should call its 24x7 helpline numbers to
ascertain prerequisites of supporting documents for these services.
This facility is only for emergency requirements of travel documents such
as passports, emergency certificates and visas, only for exceptional cases,
the mission clarified.
NZ suspends extradition treaty with HK
New Zealand has suspended its extradition
treaty with Hong Kong, as the new
national security law imposed by China in
the city was not consistent with the country's
"principles", Prime Minister Jacinda
Ardern announced. Addressing the media
here, Ardern said those principals are "basic
freedom of association and the right to take
a political view", reports the media. When asked if New Zealand should
expect repercussions from China, Ardern said the two countries have a
"mature" relationship.
"There have been occasions where we have taken different positions (with
China) – this obviously will be one of them. We have been very consistent,
we will be open where there are areas we have to adjust our position,"
she added. Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Winston Peters said New
Zealand could no longer trust that Hong Kong's criminal justice system was
independent from China.
Australian regulator sues Google over expanded
personal data use
Australia’s competition regulator has launched court proceedings against
Alphabet’s Google for allegedly misleading consumers about the
expanded use of personal data for targeted advertising.
The case by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
(ACCC) in Federal Court said Google did not explicitly get consent nor
properly inform consumers about a 2016 move to combine personal
information in Google accounts with activities on non-Google websites that
use its technology. The regulator said this practice allowed the Alphabet
Inc unit to link the names and other ways to identify consumers with their
behaviour elsewhere on the internet. Google did not immediately respond to
a request for comment.
In another setback to China, Russia suspends
deliveries of S-400 missiles: Report
Russia has announced suspension of S-400
surface-to-air missile systems to China and
said the resumption of further deliveries is yet to
be ascertained.
Citing Chinese newspaper Sohu, UAWire reported,
“This time, Russia announced the postponement of the
delivery of missiles for the Chinese S-400 system. To a
certain extent, we can say that it is for the sake of China.
Getting a gun is not as easy as signing an invoice after
receiving a weapon.”
“They say that the work on delivering these weapons
is quite complicated. While China has to send personnel for training, Russia
also needs to send a lot of technical personnel to put the weapons into
service,” Sohu said.
Post-Russia’s announcement, China has reportedly said that Moscow was
forced to make such a decision as it “is worried that the delivery of S-400
missiles at this time will affect the anti-pandemic actions of the People’s
Liberation Army and does not want to cause trouble to China.”

16
SPORTS
Friday, July 31, 2020 The Indian Weekender
NEWS in BRIEF
ICC World Test C'ship: England in 3rd position
after series win
England are in third place in the ICC World Test Championship points table
after their victory over the West Indies in the third Test in Manchester
which helped secure a 2-1 series verdict.
Veteran seamer Stuart Broad was the cynosure of all eyes as he galloped
into elite company and helped England thrash West Indies by 269 runs in the
rain-affected fifth day of the third Test at Old Trafford on Tuesday.
It was poetic justice as Broad, who scored a breezy 67 in the first innings
and snared 10 wickets including his 500th, forced Jermaine Blackwood into
a flashy pull and edge the ball to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler for a caught behind
to bring an end to the game.
IOA forms Commonwealth Games
Association of India for 2020-21
The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) announced
the establishment of the Commonwealth Games
Association (CGA) of India as a sub-committee of the
country's National Olympic Council for 2020-21. IOA
President Narinder Batra and Secretary-General Rajeev Mehta will be
performing the same roles in the CGA as well amid the public dispute between
the pair. Batra made the announcement in a letter addressed to the members
of the association. Anandeshwar Pandey, who serves as the Treasurer in the
IOA, will perform the same role within the CGA while R.K. Anand and Anil
Khanna have been appointed as the Senior Vice President.
"I look forward to your best guidance and finest efforts in the working of
the CGA of India. A line of confirmation of your acceptance will be highly
appreciated," said Batra.
Roy, Bairstow on brink of top 10 in ICC rankings
Dashing England batters Jason Roy and Jonny Bairstow will be in focus
from the rankings perspective as the reigning World Cup champions
kick off the Cricket World Cup Super League with their three-match home
series against Ireland. Opener Roy and wicketkeeper-batsman Bairstow,
who are currently ranked 11th and 14th, respectively, in the ICC Men's ODI
Player Rankings, could work their way back into the top 10, having both
enjoyed personal best rankings of ninth position in the past. Roy was in ninth
place in July last year and Bairstow in October 2018.
World Cup-winning captain Eoin Morgan, who is the third best-ranked
batsman from his side in 23rd position, will be leading against a side for
whom he scored 99 on ODI debut against Scotland 14 years ago.
Rohit, Dhoni are captains
who like to listen: Raina
Batsman Suresh Raina feels
that Indias limited over
vice-captain Rohit Sharma
is the "next M.S. Dhoni" due to his
leadership quality and the effect he
has on the dressing room.
Rohit has enjoyed considerable
success as a captain. He has led
Mumbai Indians to four Indian
Premier League (IPL) titles, thus
making them the most successful
team in the league, and was the
captain of the Indian team that won
the 2018 Asia Cup.
"I would say that he is the next
M.S. Dhoni for the Indian cricket
team," Raina said on The Super
Over Podcast that is hosted by South
African all-rounder J.P. Duminy,
star India batswoman Jemimah
Rodrigues and podcaster Liam Flint.
"I have seen him, he is calm,
he likes to listen, he likes to give
confidence to the players and on top
of that, he likes to lead from the front.
When the captain leads from the front
and at the same time gives respect to
the dressing room atmosphere, you
know you have it all," Raina said.
"He thinks everyone is a captain. I
have seen him, I have played under
him when we won the Asia Cup in
Bangladesh.
"I have seen how he gives
confidence to young players like
Shardul (Thakur), Washington
Sundar and (Yuzvendra) Chahal.
"Around him, players enjoy the
intensity, they enjoy his aura. I think
when you enjoy the aura of a player,
you like to be positive and I think
that is what he is good at. He is one
of the top-most, after M.S. Dhoni,
who was brilliant. He has won more
(IPL) trophies than MS, but I would
say they both are very similar. Both
of them, as a captain, like to listen.
Ronaldo is the Michael Jordan of football: Lingard
Manchester United winger Jesse
Lingard likened Portuguese
superstar Cristiano Ronaldo to NBA
legend Michael Jordan, who won
several team and personal honours
during his time with Chicago Bulls.
Ronaldo, 35, is still going strong
and recently led Juventus to their
ninth successive Serie A title. His
goal-scoring feat has been off the
charts in Italy, similar to what he did
with Manchester United in England
and Real Madrid in Spain.
Ahead of the restart of the 2020
NBA season on Thursday, Lingard
compared Ronaldo to Jordan, who
won six titles with Chicago between
1991 to 1998 and was also named as
finals' MVP in every title-winning
campaign. "I have to say Cristiano
Ronaldo," Lingard told Sky Sports.
"Everything he has achieved in his
career. He has been at plenty of clubs
and won many trophies. I believe he
is a real icon of football, the Michael
Jordan of football." Lingard also
jogged down memory lane and spoke
about his meeting with Ronaldo at
Old Trafford while he was in the
club's youth academy and the latter
was strutting his stuff in Premier
League, week in and week out.
"When [Ronaldo] first came to
Manchester United, I was 11 or 12.
We did a skills DVD and it was him
teaching us skills which was good.
That was the first time I had seen
him. He was young and skinny when
he came [to the club]," Lingard said.

The Indian Weekender Friday, July 31, 2020
FEATURES 17
BEST-EVER
DINNER
RECIPES
Li’l cheddar meat loaves
Ingredients
• 1 large egg
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
cheese
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 pound ground beef
• 2/3 cup ketchup
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoons prepared
mustard
• Buy Ingredients
• Powered by Chicory
Method
• In a large bowl, whisk egg and milk. Stir in the cheese, oats, onion and salt.
Crumble beef over mixture and mix well.
• Shape into eight loaves; place in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. In a small
bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar and mustard; spoon over loaves.
• Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until no pink remains and a
thermometer reads 160°.
Grilled Chicken and Mango Skewers
Quick chicken piccata
Quick chicken recipes make dinner a breeze. Laced
with lemon and simmered in white wine, this
stovetop entree is super easy and elegant. Almost any
side—noodles, veggies or bread—tastes better next to this
lovely chicken.
Ingredients
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces
each)
• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 1/4 cup white wine or chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Minced fresh parsley, optional
• Buy Ingredients
• Powered by Chicory
Method
• In a shallow bowl, mix flour, salt and pepper. Pound
chicken breasts with a meat mallet to 1/2-in. thickness.
Dip chicken in flour mixture to coat both sides; shake
off excess.
• In a large skillet, heat butter over medium heat. Brown
chicken on both sides.
• Add wine; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer,
uncovered, until chicken is no longer pink, 12-15
minutes.
• Drizzle with lemon juice. If desired, sprinkle with
parsley.
Pan-Roasted
Chicken and
Vegetables
Ingredients
• 3/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 cup tightly packed fresh basil
Ingredients
skillet, heat butter over mediumhigh
heat; saute cut corn until
leaves
• 3 medium ears sweet corn
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Stir
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons sliced in 1/3 cup green onions. Keep
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
green onions, divided
warm.
• 8 plum tomatoes
• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken • Toss chicken with salt and pepper.
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast
breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes Alternately thread chicken and
halves (4 ounces each)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
mango onto 4 metal or soaked
Method
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
wooden skewers. Brush with oil.
• For marinade, place first five
• 1 medium mango, peeled and cut • Grill, covered, over medium
ingredients in a blender. Cut four
into 1-inch cubes
heat or broil 4 in. from heat until
tomatoes into quarters and add to
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil chicken is no longer pink, 10-12
blender; cover and process until
• Lime wedges, optional
minutes, turning occasionally.
blended.
• Serve with corn mixture; sprinkle
Method
• Halve remaining tomatoes for
with remaining green onions. If
• Cut corn from cobs. In a large
grilling.
desired, serve with lime wedges.
Lime Chicken Tacos
Ingredients
• 1-1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken
breast halves
• 3 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 1 cup chunky salsa
• 12 fat-free flour tortillas (6 inches),
warmed
Optional: Sour cream, pickled onions,
shredded lettuce and shredded cheddar or
Cotija cheese.
Method
• Place chicken in a 3-qt. slow cooker.
Combine lime juice and chili powder;
pour over chicken. Cook, covered, on
low until chicken is tender, 5-6 hours.
• Remove chicken. When cool enough to
handle, shred meat with 2 forks; return
to slow cooker.
• Stir in corn and salsa.
• Cook, covered, on low until heated
through, about 30 minutes.
• Place filling on tortillas; if desired,
serve with sour cream, pickled onions,
lettuce and cheese.
Grilled Basil Chicken and Tomatoes
• In a bowl, combine chicken and
2/3 cup marinade; refrigerate,
covered, 1 hour, turning
occasionally.
• Reserve remaining marinade for
serving.
• Place chicken on an oiled grill
rack over medium heat; discard
marinade remaining in bowl.
Grill chicken, covered, until a
thermometer reads 165°, 4-6
minutes per side.
• Grill tomatoes, covered, over
medium heat until lightly
browned, 2-4 minutes per side.
• Serve chicken and tomatoes with
reserved marinade.
Ingredients
• 2 pounds red potatoes (about 6
medium), cut into 3/4-inch pieces
• 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1-1/4 teaspoons salt, divided
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary,
crushed, divided
• 3/4 teaspoon pepper, divided
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 6 bone-in chicken thighs (about
2-1/4 pounds), skin removed
• 6 cups fresh baby spinach (about
6 ounces)
Method
• Preheat oven to 425°. In a large
bowl, combine potatoes, onion,
oil, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt,
1/2 teaspoon rosemary and 1/2
teaspoon pepper; toss to coat.
Transfer to a 15x10x1-in. baking
pan coated with cooking spray.
• In a small bowl, mix paprika and
the remaining salt, rosemary and
pepper. Sprinkle chicken with
paprika mixture; arrange over
vegetables.
• Roast until a thermometer inserted
in chicken reads 170°-175° and
vegetables are just tender, 35-40
minutes.
• Remove chicken to a serving
platter; keep warm. Top
vegetables with spinach. Roast
until vegetables are tender and
spinach is wilted, 8-10 minutes
longer. Stir vegetables to
combine; serve with chicken.

18
ENTERTAINMENT
Friday, July 31, 2020 The Indian Weekender
AR Rahman:
'There is a whole gang
working against me' in Bollywood
Oscar-winning composer AR Rahman has revealed that the reason he has been
doing less work in Bollywood over the years is that certain people in the Hindi
film industry have constantly been spreading rumours about him, denting his
chances of getting good work.
The subject came up when Rahman was asked why he works more
frequently in Tamil cinema than in Hindi films, during an interaction
on the FM station Radio Mirchi.
"I don't say no to good movies, but I think there is a gang,
which, due to misunderstandings, is spreading some false
rumours," replied the composer.
Rahman's latest score is for Dil Bechara, the late
Sushant Singh Rajput's last film that released on OTT
this Friday. The film marks the directorial debut of
casting director Mukesh Chhabra, and has been
winning plaudits for its hummable tunes.
"When Mukesh Chhabra came to me, I gave
him four songs in two days. He told me, ‘Sir,
many people said don't go to him (Rahman).
They told me stories after stories'. I heard that
and I realised, yeah okay, now I understand
why I get less (Bollywood offers) and why
the good movies are not coming to me. I
am doing dark movies, because there is a
whole gang working against me. People
are expecting me to do stuff, but there is
another gang of people preventing
that from happening, without them
knowing that they are doing harm,"
Rahman said.
"It is fine, because I believe
in destiny, and I believe that
everything comes from God. So, I
am taking my movies and doing my
other stuff," the musician pointed out.
He added that all are welcome to work
with him. "All of you are welcome to come to me. Make
beautiful movies, and you are welcome to come to me,"
he said. Rahman won two Oscars for Danny Boyle's Slumdog
Millionaire in 2009. In October last year, he turned producer with
the musical film, 99 Songs.
Actor Randeep Hooda says
there is a need to bring back
the trend of buying durable
items that can be reused and recycled.
"India has one of the best
conservation plans.
"Its success is one of the best in the
world. There is a huge man-animal
conflict present, but the good thing is
that our conservation plan is in place,
and hence the animal population is
also maintained. It's now on us to
implement it far and wide and take
small steps every day," Randeep said.
"We need to move away from use
and throw culture, and go back to the
good old days where our grandparents
used to re-use almost everything. We
can start doing little things from our
end and contribute like carrying our
own bottles, carrying cloth bags and
avoiding plastic.
"We need to bring back the trend
of buying durable items that are
longlasting, can be reused and
recycled," he added.
"It is
fine, because
I believe in destiny,
and I believe that
everything comes from
God. So, I am taking
my movies and doing
my other stuff."
Randeep Hooda: Need to move
away from use and throw culture
Veteran Bollywood actress
Kumkum, who worked in
around 115 films, passed
away at her residence in Bandra,
Mumbai. She was 86.
Television director and late
comedian Jagdeep's son Naved
Jafri tweeted to confirm the news.
"We have lost another gem. I have
known her since I was a kid and
she was family, a superb artist
and a fantastic human being.
Rest in peace Kumkum
aunty," Naved wrote
on Twitter.
Remembering
Divya Dutta: Thanks to
social media we are talking
about domestic violence
Actress Divya Dutta feels it
is a good thing that we are
at least openly talking about
domestic violence against women
now, thanks to social media, but says
it is going to take many years to fully
eradicate the social menace.
Divya had just starred in a
short film titled "The Relationship
Manager", which addresses the
issue of domestic violence. She says
women should stop being silent over
the matter, as has been happening for
ages now.
"Domestic violence is one of
the issues that we not only need
to address, but also continue to
talk about. It is embedded in the
upbringing of every woman that they
have to let to go, they have to adjust.
"For generations, women are
told that to keep their marriage and
children happy, they have to adjust
with violence. At least, we are
talking about it now thanks to social
media. But I know that it will take
many years to eradicate. Talking
about it is a hope," Divya said.
The story of the film is set in the
time of lockdown, where a wife
becomes the target of physical
assault of her husband.
"Women have to learn to deal with
domestic violence than just take it in
their stride, thinking log kya kahenge
(what will people say). Whenever
they face domestic violence, instead
of being silent they should speak
their mind. As society, instead of
tagging it as taboo, we should be
supportive," added the actress.
"The Relationship Manager" is
"Whenever they face
domestic violence,
instead of being
silent they should
speak their mind.
As society, instead
of tagging it as
taboo, we should be
supportive
directed by Falguni Thakore and,
according to Divya, the filmmaker
strongly felt the need to open up
about the issue.
"The relevance and the last leg of
the story attracted me to come on
board. No matter how aware we are
about the cause, at times the victim
needs that little nudge to take the
first step, to stand against the issue,"
said Divya.
Hussainabad, Bihar. Her father was
Nabab of Hussainabad.
She was spotted by Guru Dutt,
who was looking for a good dancer
to picturise the immortal song Kabhi
aar kabhi paar for his 1954 film,
Aar Paar.
Dutt finalised Kumkum and the
song went onto become a huge hit.
Dutt then gave her a role in his 1957
classic, Pyaasa. Kumkum worked
with Shammi Kapoor in Mem
Saheb (1956) and had a lead role
opposite the actor Char Dil Char
Raahein (1959).
A fine Kathak dancer, she trained
under Pandit Shambhu Maharaj.
Kumkum's notable films include
Mr. X In Bombay, Mother India, Son
Of India, Kohinoor, Ujala, Naya
Daur, Shreeman Funtoosh, Raja
Aur Runk, Lalkaar, and Geet.
She starred opposite Ashim
Kumar in the first Bhojpuri
film, Ganga Maiyya Tohe Piyari
Chadhaibo (1963).
The actor feels that in order to
keep fit, people can ride bicycles or
walk to nearby places and start living
a minimalistic life.
"Because the change has to start " K u m k u m
from within. Pointing fingers at others aunty", Naved
is not going to solve problems, it's not also posted a few
She was a good
going to help. Everybody should root pictures of the late
actress," wrote
for it and do their bit to preserve and actress. Several
another user. The
conserve the environment," added
social media users
cause of her death
the actor, who will be talking about
paid condolences to the
is yet to be officially
how he plans to go for a minimalistic
late actress.
announced.
lifestyle through a live session on
A user wrote: "May her soul rest Kumkum was born
Sony BBC Earth's Instagram page on
in peace." Loved her performances. Zaibunnissa on April 22, 1934, in
World Conservation Day on July 28.
Ajay Devgn celebrates 14 years of 'Omkara'
The Vishal Bhardwaj directorial Omkara
clocked 14 years and its lead actor
Ajay Devgn walked down the memory
lane to recall the film for its bold characters,
iconic dialogues and melodious music.
The actor took to Twitter and Instagram to
post a special note for the film, along with a
poster highlighting the milestone.
"From bold characters to iconic dialogues to
melodious music, Omkara is a special one for us.
Celebrating blockbuster #14YearsofOmkara,"
he posted. Ajay also shared images of the
rest of the lead cast, along with their famous
dialogues.
"Omkara" is an adaptation of Shakespeare's
"Othello". It also stars Saif Ali Khan, Bipasha
Basu, Vivek Oberoi, Kareena Kapoor Khan
and Konkona Sen Sharma.
Veteran actress Kumkum passes away at 86
Bipasha wrote on Instagram: "From sassy
characters to iconic dialogues to melodious
music, Omkara is a special one for us.
Celebrating blockbuster #14YearsofOmkara."
The story is about an ambitious powerful
man (portrayed by Ajay), and how his
misguided trust in his lieutenant (Saif) leads
him to suspect his wife (Kareena) of infidelity,
resulting in a tragic course of events.

The Indian Weekender Friday, July 31, 2020
FEATURES 19
24 July - 30 July 2020 | By Manisha Koushik
ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20)
Difficult times are foreseen on the professional
front, but you remain well prepared. Don’t involve
yourself in anything you cannot complete, as
it can show you in bad light. Arguments and
disagreements with co-workers or seniors are
indicated, so steer clear. A romantic situation may
develop and catch you by surprise! Property is likely to give good
returns and keep your coffers brimming. Eating right and maintaining
an active lifestyle will keep you fit and energetic. Lucky No.:11 /
Lucky Colour: Cream
TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 20)
Don’t hesitate to call a spade a spade, if you don’t
want to be made a scapegoat. Academic pressure
may lay heavy on your mind, but you will manage
to keep your nose above water. Some unforeseen
expenses may upset your budget, so preempt them if
you can. You may not go all out to participate in an
event due to some personal constraints. Those waiting for romance to
happen may not have to wait too long! Lucky No.: 18 / Lucky Colour:
Magenta
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 21)
Some delay is foreseen in your plans, but you
will manage to see them through. You negotiate
the tricky career path with aplomb. A good break
on the academic front is likely through effective
networking. You may need to think of newer ways
to add to your wealth. Someone you are close to on
the romantic front may plan something with you. An official trip gets
turned into a leisure trip. Property issue gets resolved amicably. Lucky
No.:8 / Lucky Colour: Electric Grey
CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 20)
Changing your mindset about things that affect you
closely will be important at this juncture. Your rising
prestige on the academic or professional front will
keep you in a happy state of mind. Faring well in
whatever you have been tasked on the work front is
foretold. Money comes to you from various sources
and takes adequate care of your financial problems. You will enjoy good
health by not letting temptations get the better of you. Lucky No.: 2 /
Lucky Colour: Light Pink
Manisha Koushik is a practicing astrologer, tarot card reader, numerologist, vastu and
fengshui consultant based in India with a global presence through the online channels. She is
available for consultations online as well. E-mail her at support@askmanisha.com or contact
at +91-11-26449898 Mobile/Whatsapp: +91-9716145644 • www.askmanisha.com
LEO (JUL21-AUG 20)
Some of you may seek a better career option and
take some positive steps towards achieving it. This
week turns out excellent on the professional or
academic front. Clearing a tough competition or
getting a call from some prestigious organisation
cannot be ruled out. You will remain much in
demand on the social front due to your helpful and friendly nature. This
week is an exceptional week where romance is concerned, as you enjoy
lover’s company to your heart’s content. Lucky No.: 9 / Lucky Colour:
Golden Brown
VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 23)
You may find yourself too preoccupied to attend a
function or an event. A professional venture that
you have undertaken or plan to undertake will be
successful. On the academic front, you are likely
to find yourself in a favourable situation. Parents
or family elders may expect you to go along with
their decision, but don’t worry it will be in your favour. Love life will
remain most satisfying, especially for young couples. Health remains
satisfactory. Lucky No.:3 / Lucky Colour: Saffron
LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23)
A pressing official commitment may make you miss
a social event. You are likely to seize some excellent
opportunities to make good money. Health wise,
you are likely to feel on the top of the world. A task
assigned to you on the professional front is likely to
pose much challenge, but you will complete it to the
satisfaction of higher ups. You will manage to give your best shot on the
academic front, so expect to fare well. Lucky No.: 7 / Lucky Colour:
Magenta
SCORPIO (OCT 24-NOV 22)
There is much to be done in a new venture that you
have initiated. You will get a chance to entertain
someone you are out to impress on the social front.
Take financial matters seriously, as any laxity on
your part can have unfavorable consequences. You
will manage to maintain the present level of fitness
by adhering to your exercise programme. Love life may need rekindling.
A stranger is likely to extend a helping hand and become befriend you.
Lucky No.: 6 / Lucky Colour: Coffee
SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23-DEC 21)
Remaining consistent in what you do well is indicated
and may eventually benefit you hugely. Eating right
may prove your key to good health. Don’t be too
trusting of people at work, as they may conspire
against you. You may resent someone thrusting his
ideas on you on the social front. Disturbance at home may deny total
relaxation. You may get in two minds regarding something you had
promised someone on the romantic front. Health remains satisfactory.
Lucky No.: 17 / Lucky Colour: Sea Green
CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 21)
You will get the right opportunity to earn some big
bucks. Some pressure from the family side can be
expected, but you will manage to tackle it well. You
may not be able to give full concentration to your
work or studies due to distractions that are hard to
ignore. Adopting the right diet is the key to your
good health. Steer clear of making false promises on the romantic front,
as they may return to haunt you!
Lucky No.: 8 / Lucky Colour: Electric Grey
AQUARIUS (JAN 22-FEB 19)
Someone may be keeping a close tab on you, so
don’t deviate from what you are supposed to do.
You will be happy to find your financial situation
improving. Holding your own in a trying situation
at work is indicated. You can be forced into
something on the social front that is not to your
liking, but it will be for your own good. If you are feeling attracted
towards someone, let your heart decide, rather than your mind! Lucky
No.: 22 / Lucky Colour: Dark Blue
Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)
You will need oodles of patience on the career front, so
don’t lose hope. Something that you are apprehensive
of now will prove to be the right step at a later date.
A boost in earning is indicated for some. Your ideas
and suggestions about something important are likely
to be accepted on the home front. A social function can
bring you into the limelight. Strengthening relationship with lover can
be your priority now. Health remains satisfactory. Lucky No.:1 / Lucky
Colour: Peach
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