The Indian Weekender, Friday 6 November 2020

20
INDIA
Friday, November 6, 2020 The Indian Weekender
"Learning English gave me
confidence to talk to my neighbours."
Your family member might have pre-paid for English lessons
when they applied for their visa to New Zealand.
Learning English will help your family member with their daily life. They will be able to
understand what happening in New Zealand and how it affects them.
Ask the Tertiary Education Commission to check if your family member has money to
use, and how to enrol for English lessons.
Call 0800 601 301 or visit tec.govt.nz/pre-paid-English-lessons
‘Facilitate return of Indian
workers, professionals’:
Jaishankar tells Gulf states
India asked the members of the Gulf
Cooperation Council (GCC) to facilitate
the return of a large number of Indian
workers and professionals who want to
resume work amid the easing of Covid-19-
related restrictions.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar
raised the issue during India’s annual
political dialogue with the GCC troika,
which was held virtually. Leaders from the
two sides carried out a detailed review of
ties and expressed satisfaction that India and
the six GCC states had continued their close
cooperation during the pandemic.
Jaishankar “mentioned that a large
number of Indian workers and professionals
are now eager to return to the GCC countries
to resume their work”, and “urged the GCC
leadership to facilitate their return through
sustainable travel bubble arrangements with
India,” the external affairs ministry said.
More than eight million Indians live
and work in West Asia, a majority of them
within the region covered by the GCC,
which includes Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman,
Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates (UAE). Saudi Arabia has an Indian
expatriate population of about 2.6 million,
while UAE is home to some 3.4 million
Indians.
Thousands of Indians had travelled back
from these countries in the initial stages of
the pandemic, some to visit their families
and others following job losses.
The GCC states are also among India’s
key suppliers of energy, and annual
remittances from Indians in these countries
are worth an estimated $4.8 billion.
Jaishankar also thanked the GCC states
for taking care of the large Indian diaspora
during the pandemic, and noted that India
had taken “special care to ensure the return
of Indian health professionals to GCC
countries and for the supply of medicines
and other essential items”.
The GCC was represented at dialogue
by GCC secretary-general Nayef Falah
M Al-Hajraf, Bahrain’s foreign minister
Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, and the
UAE’s minister of state for foreign affairs
Anwar bin Mohammed Gargash. Senior
representatives from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait
and Qatar also joined the meeting.
Jaishankar informed the GCC leaders of
the improving Covid-19-related situation in
India, both in terms of healthcare and the
economy, and hoped for the early return
of normalcy in trade with the GCC. India
had ensured that supply chains from New
Delhi to the Gulf were not disrupted despite
lockdowns during the pandemic, he said.
He also informed the GCC leaders
about India’s progress in Covid-19
vaccine development and in developing
and manufacturing diagnostic and other
equipment related to Covid-19. “Both sides
reaffirmed that they will continue to work
together to tackle the Covid-19 situation,”
the statement said.
The leaders also exchanged views
on regional and international issues of
mutual concern. They agreed to strengthen
the India-GCC partnership in political,
economic and other domains.
6 November to 12 November 2020 | By Manisha Koushik
ARIES (MAR 21-APR 20)
You will find excellent avenues opening up for you
for owning property. Misleading someone to serve
your ends may work only to a certain extent, so desist
from it. Those in the promotion zone can expect the
outcome to be positive. Success on the academic
front is foretold. Your attempts at making all the right
moves is likely to endear you to spouse, so expect something special!
Finding someone suitable on the romantic front is possible. Lucky
No.:6 / Lucky Colour: Crimson
TAURUS (APR 21-MAY 20)
Keep your options open at work, as a current situation
may take an unexpected turn. It is best not to indulge
in office politics, as it may do you more harm than
good. Choose your investment options carefully, if
you desire good returns. An issue may get blown out
of proportion on the home front and make you daggers
drawn with spouse or a family member. Things
brighten up on the romantic front, so rejoice! Lucky No.:17 / Lucky
Colour: Metallic Blue
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUN 21)
Steer clear of superstitions, as they can colour your
mind and serve no purpose. You may remain busy in
sorting out certain pressing issues at work. Getting
into the grip of things on the academic front is likely
to give you much confidence. Your efforts to retain
cordiality with someone opposed to you on the
social front will be successful. Lover may want his or her own space,
so respect that. Financial stability will be achieved. Lucky No.: 11 /
Lucky Colour: Deep Sky Blue
CANCER (JUN 22-JUL 20)
If something is not to your liking, it is best to discuss
it out rather than cribbing about it to others. Things
may not go your way on the work front, so put in
your best efforts. You will need to overcome tough
competition on the academic front. Hasty investments
may make you miss some great opportunities on the
financial front. It is best not to indulge in excesses and
neglect health. Marital life cruises smoothly. Lucky No.: 4 / Lucky
Colour: Indigo
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)
If you get the chance to help out someone, do so as
it will benefit you in future. Something that you had
desired at work is likely to be granted. Promotional
prospects are set to brighten up for some. You
will remain favourably poised on the academic
front. Someone may do your health a lot of good
by motivating you to shake a leg. Chances of an
exclusive evening out with lover cannot be ruled out. Lucky No. 22 /
Lucky Colour: Dark Blue
VIRGO (AUG 23-SEP 23)
A work related issue may compel you to put in extra
hours. You may get involved in something serious on
the academic front, so try not to get distracted. You
may not have enough to buy something expensive and
may need to tighten your belt a bit. Family life runs
along smoothly, only if you don’t interfere with it!
Boredom threatens to set in on the romantic front, so
take steps to brighten it up. Lucky No.: 8 / Lucky Colour: Lavender
LIBRA (SEP 24-OCT 23)
You are the best judge of what is going on in your
personal life, so steer it accordingly. Excellent
progress is foreseen at work, as you put in your bit.
Your fondest wishes are likely to be fulfilled on the
academic front. Chances of inheriting property look
bright for some. A big social gathering is on the cards
and can have you on the centre stage. Your love life remains immensely
fulfilling. A vacation to someplace exotic is possible. Lucky No.: 9 /
Lucky Colour: Rose
SCORPIO (OCT 24-NOV 22)
You may become the decision maker of someone’s
continuance in service at work, so deliberate well.
Discussing future prospects with the one you love is
possible and will prove most satisfactory. You will
handle a man management problem cropping up at
work with competence. Best options are likely to be
made available to you on the academic front. Your
financial worth is likely to rise, as money flows in. Efforts on the health
front will keep you fit. Lucky No.: 5 / Lucky Colour: Bottle Green
SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23-DEC 21)
The more you strive the better your situation becomes,
so give it your all. You will be able to maintain
financial stability. A colleague will prove a great
support in helping to complete a task at work. Some
of you are likely to make new friends and expand
your friends’ circle. Developments taking place on the
academic front will be to your satisfaction. Lover may accompany you
on a journey and make the trip exciting. Lucky No.:2 / Lucky Colour:
Lavender
CAPRICORN (DEC 22-JAN 21)
At times you have to call a spade a spade, so don’t
feel reluctant in doing so. Chances for enhancing your
career prospects may materialise soon. Your mastery
over academics promises to bring you much praise. A
raise or increment can come your way and ensure a
happy state on the financial front. An official trip may
be turned into a fun outing by you. Search ends for
those looking for suitable accommodation. Don’t neglect family. Lucky
No.:1 / Lucky Colour: Peach
AQUARIUS (JAN 22-FEB 19)
Someone may try to influence you into doing
something that you don’t want to, so remain alert.
Some lucrative deals are likely to brighten up your
financial front. Something positive can be expected
on the health front, as you resolve to follow fitness
tips in letter and spirit. Pressure may increase on the
work front, but you will manage it well. You can get
a bit confused regarding options available on the academic front, so get
advice from others. Lucky No.:18 / Lucky Colour: Red
Pisces (Feb 20-Mar 20)
Love life will prove most fulfilling at this juncture.
Your attempts to impress those who matter on the
professional front will succeed. Faring well in a
competition or exam is foreseen on the academic front
for some. Financially, you will remain in a comfortable
position and may even add to your wealth. Trying out
something new on the fitness front is possible and may
benefit you immensely. An official trip may seem like a chore.
Lucky No.:15 / Lucky Colour: Coffee