The new routes will be operated using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, damp-leased from Norse Atlantic Airways. The Dreamliners feature a double-aisle layout with 56 IndiGoStretch seats (2x3x2 configuration) and 282 economy seats (3x3x3 configuration). Passengers will enjoy enhanced travel experiences, including priority check-in, anytime boarding, advance seat selection, and 30kg baggage allowance, along with a 12kg cabin bag.

IndiGo becomes the only airline to offer nonstop service between Mumbai and Manchester. Flights are now open for booking on all major platforms.

CEO Pieter Elbers said, “Our entry into long-haul operations is a landmark moment in IndiGo’s global growth story. We are excited to connect Mumbai with Manchester—an important and symbolic route.”

The airline has damp-leased six Boeing 787-9 aircraft to support this expansion, with one already operating on the Delhi-Bangkok route. More Dreamliners will be added as IndiGo awaits the delivery of its A321XLR aircraft later this year and the A350-900 from 2027.

Connecting Communities

According to Chris Woodroofe, Managing Director at Manchester Airport, this route will link over 500,000 people of Indian heritage in the region to their roots, enhancing cultural and economic ties. “With the recent opening of the Indian consulate in Manchester, this launch couldn’t be better timed,” he added.

Onboard Experience

IndiGo also confirmed that complimentary hot meals and beverages will be provided to all passengers. Economy travelers will receive vegetarian meals by default, with an option to pre-book non-vegetarian dishes. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase in economy class, while all services are complimentary in the IndiGoStretch category.

The airline’s entry into the European market marks the beginning of a new chapter in its international journey, aimed at expanding its global footprint and offering direct, seamless travel options for Indian flyers.

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In a statement, WHO’s Southeast Asia Region Regional Director Saima Wazed said, “A primary healthcare-based approach that addresses TB determinants such as undernutrition, embraces new technologies including developments in the field of Artificial Intelligence and has communities and affected populations at the center of all efforts, should be among the key elements of our reinvigorated approach.”

According to the Global TB Report 2024 published by the WHO, more than 3.8 million people were initiated on TB treatment in the WHO South-East Asia Region in 2023, the highest ever and nearly 1.3 million more than in the year 2020 impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The estimated percentage of people with TB, missed by the programme, reduced from 44 per cent to 22 per cent in 2020, according to the statement released by WHO.

According to the report, the estimated number of deaths due to TB reached 583, 000 in 2023, after a peak of 763,000 in 2021. However, the region continues to account for a disproportionate 45 per cent of the global TB burden with an estimated over 5 million people developing the disease in 2023, and over half of TB deaths globally in 2023.

Nearly 1.5 million people received TB preventive treatment which helps protect high-risk populations from developing the disease. However, the coverage remained low with only nine per cent of people living with HIV and less than a quarter of household contacts of bacteriologically confirmed TB patients, receiving preventive treatment, according to the statement.

The available funding for TB in the Region reached USD 1.1 billion in 2023, witnessing a rise of 70 per cent through domestic sources. However, a huge gap of nearly USD 2 billion per year persists for the implementation of a comprehensive strategy to end TB in the Region, according to a WHO statement.

Saima Wazed noted that countries in the Southeast Asia region have been making efforts. However, she added that the huge disease burden, its catastrophic socio-economic impact and severe resource crunch call for accelerated and urgent actions.

She stressed the need for multisectoral, multidisciplinary collaboration and coordination for the pooling of resources to end TB, leaving no one behind to reach every TB-affected person, their families and those at risk of developing the disease irrespective of where they live. She said that reaching the unreached, particularly those who are vulnerable and marginalised is key to the fight against TB.

In the statement, Wazed said, “It is time to push the pedal on the momentum built collectively by the Member countries of the Region in efforts towards ending TB.”

On August 18, 2023, member countries of the South-East Asia region signed the Gandhinagar Declaration to step up efforts to end TB. On September 22, 2023, world leaders at the second United Nations high-level meeting on the fight against TB adopted a historic declaration with commitments to ambitious and comprehensive time-bound targets and actions.

These targets and actions aim to enhance equitable access to TB services, protect human rights, address TB determinants, reduce vulnerability, accelerate research and innovation, and mobilize sufficient resources to support these endeavours. (ANI)

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Residents of Al Buraimi and Al Dhahirah Governorates may also experience low cloud formation. A fresh wind could further stir up dust, reducing visibility in some areas, while temperatures may drop, with frost potentially forming over higher altitudes.

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DUBAI:

The Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), an apex body of India’s jewellery industry, recently launched the first-of-its-kind India Jewellery Exposition Centre (IJEX), a 365-day exhibition platform, in Dubai, reports said. This comes as India and UAE celebrated the first anniversary of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

This would be a much-needed platform for MSME jewellers to exhibit their indigenously products on a regular continuous basis in the Middle East market. Since the Middle East market accounts for 30 per cent of India’s gem and jewellery exports, IJEX will enable India’s MSME manufacturers to take advantage of India-UAE CEPA to expand in the WANA region.

With CEPA, the India-UAE trade has grown by 16 per cent to reach 84.5 billion dollars in the fiscal year 2022-23, up from 72.9 billion dollars the previous year.

According to Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India,

CEPA is one of the most ambitious pacts. The depth and range of market access and services it provides is unprecedented, benefitting all stakeholders. India’s exports to the UAE have exceeded $30 billion, with gems and jewellery and plastics deriving benefits from lower priced inputs, he added. “GJEPC has set up IJEX and I see tremendous value in such initiatives. CEPA will accelerate business momentum and is expected to transform the scale and scope of bilateral partnerships.”

Speaking about the launch Vipul Shah, Chairman, GJEPC  said that the Gems & Jewellery sector is among the industries that have gained significantly from CEPA. India’s exports in this sector have witnessed an impressive growth of 16.54% to USD 5.77 billion in 2022-23 as compared to previous year.

“I am sure the Indian jewellery industry would make the most of this opportunity and take the exports the gem and jewellery exports to the pre-COVID level of 10 billion dollars to the UAE very soon. With continued support and cooperation, we can take our bilateral trade relations to new heights and achieve greater success,” he said.

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:

The fifth edition of the Global Ayurveda Festival (GAF 2023) will be held in the capital of Kerala from December 1 to 5, focusing on projecting Ayurveda’s huge potential in addressing the health challenges of the present world and setting a platform for global networking of Ayurveda practitioners and stakeholders.

The focal theme of the GAF 2023 is “Emerging Challenges in Healthcare & A Resurgent Ayurveda,” Hon’ble Minister of  State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V Muraleedharan, who is the Chairman of the Organising Committee, told a press conference here on Friday.

Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan is the Chief Patron of the Organising Committee, which has 200-plus members from all segments of Ayurveda.

The biennial event is being organized by the Centre for Innovation in Science and Social Action (CISSA) in association with Ministry of Ayush, Government of India; Department of Ayush; Government of Kerala; Ayurveda fraternity represented by AMAI, AMMOI, AHMA, KISMA, ADMA, Viswa Ayurveda Parishad and 14 other Ayurveda Associations at the Greenfield International Stadium, Karyavattom.

The conclave will witness convergence of many top scientists, including Nobel Laureates, 7,500 delegates from 75 countries. Over 750 research papers will be presented at various sessions of the meet, besides 750 poster presentations on the sidelines.

It is significant to note that GAF 2023 is happening in the backdrop of the Union Government making major efforts to position Ayurveda as a holistic system to address grim health challenges staring at humanity, Shri Muraleedharan said. It is the largest event in the country in Ayurveda, he said.

Mr. Muraleedharan said the event will also seek how to present Ayurveda effectively in the tourism sector, which can contribute immensely to the development of Kerala. “Already, Ayurveda is an important segment in tourism in Kerala. Ayurveda accounts for a substantial portion of the revenue generated by the tourism sector,” Mr. Muraleedharan said.

He recalled Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the Chief Guest at the valedictory function of the third edition of the GAF held in Kozhikode in 2016.  Mr. Modi also inaugurated the fourth edition of the event held virtually due to the pandemic.

“Ayurveda has already started transcending its native borders. In India, it has been firmly established as a strong and effective segment of our health care sector. It’s time that Ayurveda was promoted globally in a systematic and scientific manner. The primary focus of the conclave will be on this vital aspect,” Shri Muraleedharan said.

The event will provide a platform to tell the entire world about the time-tested ancient system of medicine and wellness, facilitate collaborative research initiatives, formalise partnerships and firm up policies, the Minister added.

GAF Working Chairman Dr G G Gangadharan said GAF 2023 will explore possibilities of increasing investment, export and trade in Ayurveda sector with the support of industry associations. Participation of Ambassadors of these nations in India will be ensured at GAF as part of its global promotion, he said.

A major highlight of the GAF is the Arogya Expo with around 500 stalls that will bring together businesses, organisations and other institutions from across the globe to showcase their products, services, and technologies related to Ayurveda. Ayush clinics, Medicinal plants and Education expo will be part of it.

The expo will offer a unique opportunity for visitors to explore and experience the world of Ayurveda, including Ayurvedic medicines, herbal products, wellness services, and Ayurvedic equipment. It also will facilitate interactions among exhibitors and visitors, providing a space for networking, collaboration and sharing of knowledge and expertise.

As a prelude to the GAF, Grand Kerala Ayurveda Fair (GKAF) will be held in all districts of Kerala from November 1 to 30. GKAF will bring together all Ayurveda institutions, associations and organizations to highlight the strength of the system before the public. Various activities and competitions will also be organized in school-college and resident association levels. It will be a mass contact programme with everybody connected to Ayurveda in the state participating to make Ayurveda a people-friendly one.

GAF Secretary General Dr C Sureshkumar (Triveni); Chief Coordinator Dr C Sureshkumar; International Co-operation Conclave Chairman Shri Baby Mathew Somatheeram; State President of AMAI Smt. C D Leena; Ayurveda Hospital Management Association President Dr Vijayan Nangeli; Govt. Ayurveda Medical Officers Association General Secretary Shri O R Sebby; Govt. Ayurveda Medical Officers Federation General Secretary Dr Durga and Ayurveda Medicine Manufactures Organisation Secretary Shri Lal were also present at the press conference.

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Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Government of India that provides an important platform to engage and connect with overseas Indians and enable the diaspora to interact with each other. The theme of this PBD Convention is ‘Diaspora: Reliable partners for India’s progress in Amrit Kaal’. Over 3,500 diaspora members from nearly 70 different countries have registered for the PBD Convention.

Releases a commemorative postal stamp ‘Surakshit Jaayen, Prashikshit Jaayen’
Inaugurates the first-ever digital PBD Exhibition on the theme ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav – Contribution of Diaspora in Indian Freedom Struggle’
“Indore is a city as well as a phase. It is a phase that walks ahead of time while preserving its heritage”
“Our Pravasi Bharatiyas have a significant place in India’s journey in the ‘Amrit Kaal’”
“India’s unique global vision and its role in the global order will be strengthened by Pravasi Bharatiyas during the Amrit Kaal”
“In Pravasi Bhartiyas, we see myriad images of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat”
“Pravasi Bhartiyas echo the voice of a powerful and capable India”
“G-20 is not just a diplomatic event but it should be turned into a historic event of public participation where one can witness the spirit of ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’”
“The skill, values and work ethics of Indian youth can become the engine of global gro

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister remarked that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is taking place in all its glory after a gap of four years and highlighted the significance and joy of personal interaction. Welcoming everyone on the occasion on behalf of 130 crore Indians, the Prime Minister said that the event is taking place on the land of Madhya Pradesh which is known as the heart of India and famous for the holy waters of Narmada, the greenery, the tribal culture and spirituality. The Prime Minister mentioned the recently dedicated Maha Kaal Maha Lok and hoped that dignitaries and delegates will be able to visit the sacred place. Talking about the host city, Indore, the Prime Minister said Indore is a city as well as a phase, “It is a phase that walks ahead of time while preserving its heritage.”, He also mentioned the culinary fame of Indore and its achievement in the Swachata movement.

The Prime Minister remarked that the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is special in numerous ways as India completed 75 years of its independence only recently. He also informed that the first-ever digital PBD Exhibition on the theme ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’ has also been organised which brings the glorious era to the fore once again. Highlighting the significant role of Pravasi Bhartiyas in the next 25 years of the journey of Amrit Kaal, the Prime Minister stated that India’s unique global vision and its role in the global order will be strengthened by them.

Mentioning the Indian philosophy of treating the entire world as one’s own country and considering humanity as our brothers and sisters, the Prime Minister said that our ancestors laid the foundations of India’s cultural expansion. Speaking about the world of today, the Prime Minister highlighted that Indians have traversed all parts of the globe while living among different cultures and traditions and yet found ways to unlock the gates of prosperity through business partnerships. The Prime Minister observed that when we look at crores of Pravasi Bhartiyas on the global map, myriad images emerge simultaneously which paint the picture of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ and the feeling of Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat comes to the fore when two Pravasi Bhartiyas meet on any foreign land. “ The feeling of pride in being the mother of democracy increases manifold when Pravasis are talked about as the most democratic, peaceful and disciplined citizens in different parts of the world”, the Prime Minister remarked. The Prime Minister stated that he calls every Pravasi Bhartiya a national ambassador of India as they echo the voice of a powerful and capable India when the world evaluates their contributions. “You are the Rashtradoots (national ambassadors) of India’s heritage, of Make in India, of Yoga and Ayurveda, of India’s cottage industries and handicrafts”, Shri Modi continued, “At the same time, you are also the brand ambassadors of India’s millets.” He mentioned that 2023 has been declared the International Year of Millets and appealed to everyone to take some millets products back home

The Prime Minister thanked the Special Guests of Honour H.E. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and, H.E. Mr Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Hon’ble President of the Republic of Suriname for their remarks and suggestions.

Special Guests of Honour H.E. Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and H.E. Mr Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Hon’ble President of the Republic of Suriname, Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Shri Mangubhai Patel, Union Minister of External Affairs, Dr S Jaishankar, Ministers of States, Smt Meenakshi Lekhi, Shri V Muraleedharan and Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh were those present on occasion among others.

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The Home Minister, who was on his way to Agartala, could not land due to adverse weather conditions.

Amit Shah will be spending the night at Hotel Radisson Blu in Guwahati, and will be leaving for Agartala on Thursday morning to inaugurate Rath Yatra for assembly elections in Tripura.

Shah was to reach Agartala tonight itself. But his flight had to land in Guwahati around 10:45 due to inclement weather in Agartala.

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Govt names 27 overseas Indians for Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards
An educationist in Bhutan, a doctor in Brunei and civil society activists in Ethiopia, Israel and Poland were among the 27 people chosen on Monday for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA)

New Delhi: An educationist in Bhutan, a doctor in Brunei and civil society activists in Ethiopia, Israel and Poland were among the 27 people chosen on Monday for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), the highest honour for overseas Indians.

The PBSA is conferred by the President as part of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention on non-resident Indians (NRIs), persons of Indian origin (PIOs) or organisations established and run by NRIs or PIOs in recognition of their outstanding achievements in India and abroad.

The 17th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention will be held at Indore in Madhya Pradesh during January 8-10. The awards will be conferred by the President during the valedictory session of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas celebrations.

The recipients were chosen by a jury-cum-awards committee chaired by the vice-president. External affairs minister S Jaishankar is the vice-chair of the panel, whose other members are drawn from various walks of life. The committee considered nominations for the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards and unanimously selected the awardees, the external affairs ministry said.

The  awardees, who represent excellence achieved by the Indian diaspora in different fields, include Jagadish Chennupati of Australia in the field of science and technology and education, Sanjeev Mehta of Bhutan in education, Dilip Loundo of Brazil in art and culture and education, Alexander Maliakel John of Brunei in medicine, Vaikuntam Iyer Lakshmanan of Canada in community welfare, Joginder Singh Nijjar of Croatia in art and culture, Ramjee Prasad of Denmark in IT and Kannan Ambalam of Ethiopia in community welfare.

The other awardees are Amal Kumar Mukhopadhyay of Germany in community welfare, Mohamed Irfaan Ali of Guyana in politics and community welfare, Reena Vinod Pushkarna of Israel in business and community welfare, Maqsooda Sarfi Shiotani of Japan in education, Rajagopal of Mexico in education, Amit Kailash Chandra Lath of Poland in business, Parmanand Sukhumal Daswani of the Republic of Congo in community welfare, Piyush Gupta of Singapore in business, Mohanlal Hira and Sanjaykumar Shivabhai Patel of South Sudan in community welfare.

Sivakumar Nadesan of Sri Lanka (community welfare), Dewanchandrebhose Sharman of Suriname (community welfare), Archana Sharma of Switzerland (science and technology), Frank Arthur Seepersad of Trinidad and Tobago (community welfare), Siddharth Balachandran of the UAE (business), Chandrakant Babubhai Patel of the UK (media), Darshan Singh Dhaliwal of the US (business and community welfare), Rajesh Subramaniam of the US (business) and Ashok Kumar Tiwary of Uzbekistan (business) are also among the awardees.

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cheif secretary VP Joy issued a directive in this regard two weeks ago, which also stipulates that all district collectorates,directorates,and office of department heads should implement the attendance recording system before January1 and link the same to the to the software SPARK(Service and Payroll Administrative Respository for Kerala).The system will be in place of semi -government,local self government and institutions receiving government grant,before March 31 this year.

The cheif Secretary had also directed that each department should entrust the additional secretary or joint secretary to monitor the proper functioning of the punching system.Though the measure,aimed at preventing employees from leaving the office during working hours,was proposed to be implemented several times,the same couldn’t be done so far due to the interference of employee organisations.

Currently, the biometric punching system is efficiently functioning only at the Kerala Government Secretariat. An access control system will be introduced in the Secrateriat from this week in a move aimed at monitoring and restricting the movements of employees and visitors.

One can enter or leave the building only by swiping cards at the entry points.If an employee leaves the office during working hours, he/she will lose the salary.

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Walt Disney Co Chief Executive Bob Iger said on Monday one of his top priorities is to make the company’s streaming business profitable.

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MATHEW JOHN   

Brutal racism, arrogance, exploitation of labour and resources of subject nations have been the salient features of the imperialist project. The predatory West is culpable for many of the most inhuman practices and injustices that disfigure human history. And yet, as Edward Said had observed, it seeks to paper over its own inhumanity by disregarding, essentializing and denuding the humanity of other cultures and people. Decolonization has not blunted the West’s obscene moralistic triumphalism and arrogance. On the big stage, wherever, there is an unabating crusade to contrast the civilized liberal West and its traditional commitment to human dignity, freedom and progress with the barbarism and obsolescent thinking in the Orient. Bah!

This ill-tempered prelude has been provoked by the cold, calculated rapacity of the West-dominated opinion makers and their hypocritical attack on Qatar, the venue of the greatest spectacle on earth – the FIFA World Cup. Their malevolent criticism revolves around a range of issues including the ban on sale of alcohol during matches, Qatar’s anachronistic LGBTQ policy and the treatment of migrant labourers involved in the construction of the stadia and other infrastructure for the World Cup, which their media has sensationalized by calling it “a stain on the conscience of the footballing world.”

The widely reported maltreatment of migrant labour in Qatar, drawn mainly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka relates to squalid accommodation, delayed payments, withholding of passports, inadequate nutrition, exposure to extreme heat and nationality-based discrimination. In the 12 years since the construction work started, there have been about 6750 migrant deaths due to on-site accidents and illnesses associated with the work environment. This is  most definitely an unacceptably high number of deaths, but then, to quote the immortal biblical cautionary injunction: “Let him who has not sinned cast the first stone.”

The West’s sanctimonious criticism of the treatment meted out to migrant labour in Qatar is stunning in its hypocrisy. The construction industry, a critical part of the economy of most countries, is recognized worldwide as the most hazardous of industries. A European Union Expert analysis has concluded that construction workers everywhere are three times more likely to be killed and twice as likely to be injured as workers in other occupations.

By its own admission, in the European Union, more than 1000 workers are killed and over 800,000 workers injured every year in work-site related accidents, which makes their criticism of Qatar untenable – a phoney case of, at best, the kettle calling the pot black. Being slightly less reprehensible than the reprehensible does not make you a good man. The abysmal condition of construction workers is a universal blight which needs to be addressed, but certainly not by picking on one of the many defaulters, especially when the gratuitous criticism does not stem from an intent to improve matters but is aired merely to tarnish the image of Qatar at a most critical time.  It is an ugly extension of the age-old culture war between the Muslim and Western world, with all the megaphones controlled by the West.

One is amazed by the sheer gumption of the Western world to raise the issue of ill-treatment of migrants. To be lectured on humanism by those guilty of the worst excesses against humanity is jarring. Have they forgotten the three-year old Syrian toddler, Alan Kurdi, washed up on a beach in the Mediterranean, lying face down in the surf- a heart-breaking image that is a scathing indictment of the inhumanity of a heartless Europe?

It was that great lady Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, who jolted the European Union out of its awful apathy with her determined intercession, “Wir schaffen das” meaning “We’ll manage this (refugee influx).” Even as she sounded this noble humanitarian note, Hungary sent trainloads of refugees to Germany, 20000 of them arriving at the Munich station the same week., and scores thereafter. The execrable, burgeoning gang of rightists – racists by another name – led by the ogre, Donald Trump, called her humane gesture “a catastrophic mistake” but despite the sustained and high-octane campaign, including severe rightwing violence demanding a pushback of her open-door policy, she refused to recant her words or her policy.

Notwithstanding Angela Merkel’s heroic support of the beleaguered migrants, the West has been less than human in its treatment of migrants, and hence has no moral right to preach to Qatar on the subject. To quote the justifiably furious but tactless President of FIFA, Gianni Infantino, the White world’s manufactured outrage is nothing but “moral lesson giving, one-sided and just hypocrisy.”

Other issues that have at best, a tenuous, extraneous connection with sport have been weaponized to discountenance the organizers of the World Cup.  The English media, with its practiced gift of making mountains of molehills, have gone to town on the restrictions imposed by Qatar on the sale of alcohol in the stadiums. Perhaps, that was to be expected, especially when one considers the universal verity expressed by a soccer aficionado; “I’ve never seen a sober English football fan in my life.” Although I am one who, like Eliza Doolittle’s aunt, genuinely believes that “gin is mother’s milk”, I also know that the world would be a wreck if determined by the needs of the liquor-guzzling lot.

The West-inspired outrage at the liquor ban in stadiums during match time is another blatant example of humbug. In England, alcohol is okay in the concourse but not in your seat; France does not permit alcohol at stadiums in the nation’s top-flight league. The world should also know that in the two fabled soccer stadiums of the world – Barcelona’s Camp Nou and Real Madrid’s Bernabeu – alcohol is strictly prohibited during games. But Qatar’s restriction is being viewed as another example of bigoted cultural provincialism.

For the first time, a ‘Code of conduct’ in the stadiums has been drawn up that forbids the spectators from being visibly under the influence of narcotics or alcohol or being in a state of undress or even shirtless and prohibits inflatable items and vuvuzelas. These are staid, square but unexceptionable rules of etiquette in a sporting arena.

There is also the needlessly hyped issue of Qatar’s intolerance of gay people. Homosexuality is illegal in Qatar, as it has been in most countries of the world, including India, till a few years ago. Its secular courts can impose a punishment of up to three years in prison for any breach, and if one is Muslim, the Sharia law of the death sentence applies, a penalty that has never actually been executed. The law was in place when Qatar was awarded the contract to host the World Cup, which makes the present brouhaha on the issue a despicable and totally unwarranted distraction and another slur aimed at stigmatizing Qatar.

Hitherto, the World Cup venues were adjudged almost exclusively on their physical readiness to host the tournament, but Qatar is being subjected to a visceral analysis of its world view, its laws, even a microscopic examination of how it got the infrastructure in place. It has been one long exercise in fault-finding with the nefarious motive of telling the world that the global South is incapable of handling a soccer World Cup.

That infamous Sepp Blatter, the former FIFA president, an unsavoury wheeler-dealer, who presided over FIFA’s many questionable deals, including the choice of Qatar to host the World Cup, had the audacity to state, only days before the start of the tournament that it was a mistake to award the World Cup to Qatar as it is “too small a country” and the “World Cup is too big for it”. Qatar has emphatically proved him wrong with the most spectacular show that the soccer world has seen.

We are being told that no amount of spending on creating the most magnificent infrastructure and bounteous conveniences can make up for the absence of that ‘something”, the special sensation that constitutes the very essence of a World Cup. Perhaps the customary raucousness, the drunken bonhomie among spectators will be muted this time around, but then, ultimately, the World Cup is about football, and this tournament has already provided the very best that football can offer.

There have been upsets galore in the first few days of the tournament, with Saudi Arabia claiming the scalp of Argentina; Germany losing to Japan; and Iran beating Wales. And you know what? Qatar is being held partly guilty for these unexpected results because it has scheduled the tournament in winter- the first time ever, upending the European soccer calendar and giving players less time to train with their national teams. My word! These guys are the sorest losers on mother earth!

Even as I write, we are a week into this exquisite celebration of life. The World Cup is not just about kicking, heading, weaving patterns with the ball and scoring goals; it’s about radiating intoxicating sensations, about electric current running up the spine that makes you rejoice and grieve and laugh and curse, all in the space of 90 minutes It is, ultimately, about joie de vivre and togetherness, and forgetting, albeit briefly, the grimness of life!  Enjoy, and damn the critics!

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Thiruvananthapuram : Lulu Group and Hyatt Hotels Corporation is all set to launch Hyatt Regency in Trivandrum .“It will be inaugurated by Pinarayi Vijayan, the Chief Minister of Kerala,” said Mr. Yusuff Ali M.A., Chairman and Managing Director of Lulu Group International. The hotel is the third Hyatt property in the state of Kerala following the opening of Grand Hyatt Kochi and Hyatt Regency Thrissur and the fifteenth Hyatt Regency hotel in the country.

The hotel is situated on 2.2 acres of land at Vazhuthacadu, Thiruvananthapuram. The total investment for the project is Rs 600 Cr. Hyatt Regency Trivandrum is designed for business and leisure travellers to enjoy seamless and energizing experiences, borrowing inspiration from the rainforest, beaches and low coastal hills that are distinctive to the state of Kerala. The hotel is spread over eight floors including a car parking area in the basement.

Hyatt Regency, Trivandrum houses the Great Hall, which is one of the largest convention centres in the city. The Great Hall can seat up to 1000 people. Situated adjacent to the swimming pool, the 10500 Sq.ft Great Hall stands out for its premium interior design and ample space. A tall escalator and a glass elevator leading to the Great Hall are unique features that have not yet been seen in any other convention centre. Along with the Great Hall, the hotel also has 20,000 square feet of dynamic event space spread across three venues – including the Royal Ballroom (which can seat up to 700 people at a time) and the Crystal. The hotel is designed to host a variety of events, both large and small, including weddings and corporate conferences, both in indoor and outdoor settings simultaneously.

One of the main attractions at the Hyatt Regency is the presidential suite which is one of the largest in the state, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. The presidential suite has an area of 1650 square feet. The design of the suite provides a panoramic view of the city. Apart from this, the hotel has 132 rooms including a Diplomatic Suite, six Regency Suites and 37 Club Rooms.

The hotel also features five restaurants, namely Malabar Cafe, Oriental Kitchen, Ivory Club, All Things Baked, and Regency Lounge. They offer a wide variety of dining experiences from continental dishes to authentic South Indian flavours. Malabar Cafe serves the city’s favourite regional dishes along with North Indian delicacies. The Oriental Kitchen offers an array of Asian flavours including Szechuan (Chinese), Thai cuisines for those looking for a unique dining experience. The Ivory Club is unique in its indoor and outdoor seating.

Other attractions at the Hyatt Regency include an outdoor swimming pool, a 24-hour fitness centre and the Santata Spa with Ayurvedic and Western therapy facilities. Hyatt Regency is just 6 km from the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and 1 km from Railway Station and KSRTC Bus Terminal, Thampanoor.

PRESSMEET Attended By:Yusuff Ali M.A., Chairman & Managing Director Lulu Group International,Ashraf Ali M.A., Executive Director, Lulu Group International,Nishad M.A., CEO, Lulu Group India,Adeeb Ahamed, Managing Director, Lulu Financial Group,Joy Shadanandan, Regional Director, Lulu Group,V. Nandakumar, Director, Marketing & Communication, Lulu Global,Dhruva Rathore, Vice President of Development, India & Southwest Asia, Hyatt India Consultancy Pvt. Ltd.,Rahul Raj, General Manager, Hyatt Regency Trivandrum

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Saudi Arabia register a famous win against Argentina

DOHA: Crazy things can happen in sports. A resolute, brave and technically sound Saudi Arabia put Asia on the board at the 2022 FIFA men’s World Cup in Qatar on Tuesday.  In the process, they scripted one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport.The thousands of Saudi fans who made the trip across the border would be lying if they said a final scoreline of 2-1 against Argentina was a result they expected anywhere other than in their wildest fantasies. Yet, that’s how it ended at a roaring Lusail Stadium that was draped in a sea of green.

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MUMBAI: Billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s daughter Isha Ambani and her husband Anand Piramal are blessed with twins, informed the Ambani family through an official release on Sunday.

On November 19, Isha and Anand welcomed their twin-baby girl and baby boy.

Ambani family said, “We are delighted to share that our children Isha and Anand have been blessed by the Almighty with twins on 19th November 2022. Isha and the babies, baby girl Aadiya and baby boy Krishna are doing well. We seek your blessings and good wishes for Aadiya, Krishna, Isha and Anand in this most important phase of their life.”

Isha and Anand Piramal, the son of Swati and Ajay Piramal — founder of Piramal Realty, a leading real estate firm in India, tied the knot on December 12, 2018, in a grand ceremony that took place in Mumbai. The wedding functions saw many A-listers from Bollywood, politics and the business world.

In December 2020, Mukesh Ambani’s son Akash Ambani and daughter-in-law Shloka Ambani welcomed their baby boy. Meanwhile, Mukesh Ambani had recently introduced his daughter Isha Ambani as the new leader of his conglomerate’s retail business — a firm he said had achieved a record Rs 2 lakh crore turnover and is among Asia’s top 10 retailers.

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Thiruvananthapuram:Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has returned the ordinance seeking to remove him as the chancellor of Universities in the State, without signing it. The Governor returned the ordinance as the government had made it clear that it would bring in legislation to this effect in the coming assembly session, starting from December 5. It was against this backdrop that the Governor said the ordinance is irrelevant.

Meanwhile, Kerala legislative assembly Speaker AN Shamseer said there’s nothing unnatural about the Governor returning the ordinance.  The Governor has been firm in his stand that he will not sign the ordinance as it dealt with curtailing his power as chancellor. Delivering a snub to the LDF government the other day, the Governor had maintained that the Chancellor post was not a favour bestowed by the state government, but was as per a consensus at the national level.

He had also said that the state Government’s decision to snatch the Chancellor’s power from him was beyond the government’s ken. Earlier, Shamseer exuded confidence that the Governor would sign the bill being passed by the Legislative Assembly as well as the other bills pending before him.

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UAE becomes the world’s most trusted Global Gold market.The 4th Global Gold Convention 2022,the Middle East  regions largest hybrid event,at Armani Hotel,Burj Khalifa,Dubai,received overwhelming response from gold industry stakeholders from across five continents to make the UAE the integrated Global Gold Marketplace .

More than 100 countries through ministers,diplomats,regulators,top industry leaders,gold mines,refineries,traders and jewellers participated in the Gold Global convention organised by IBMC Financial Professionals Group  and  co-orgnised by the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce &Industry (UAE Chambers )and the International  Chamber of Commerce,UAE.

“The UAE is its own way to become the integrated Gold Marketplace by providing all supports to the gold industry by making grounds for attracting investors to the gold industry in the country, encouraging investments across borders, timely regulatory reforms as part of its non oil sector diversification programme for rapid economic growth,”

Humaid Ben Salem ,Chairman of international  Chamber of Commerce(ICC UAE) and Secretary General of Federation of  UAE Chambers of Commerce &Industry,said in his keynote address.Diplomats from 50 countries,in a special session Diplomatic Enclave,highlighted the investment opportunities and incentives offered by the respective countries.

Organised by IBMC Financial Professionals and   co-orgnised by the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce &Industry (UAE Chambers )and the International  Chamber of Commerce,UAE.,the Convention will have dedicated industry session ,such as Diplomatic Conclaves,that will provide the participants meaningfull insights on the latest developments,trends,challenges,regulatory developments,govt policies and suggestions to chart business strategies.

“we are happy that we could bring gold industry stakeholders from 5 continents in a single flatform with the objective of making the UAE the Integrated Global Gold Marketplace.It is hearting to note that they have pledged their support and commitment to increase investmets,trade and related activities to make the integrated Marketplace a vibrant one.” said Sajith Kumar P.K ,Managing Director and CEO,IBMC Financial Professions Group .

IBMC  has also unveiled its new strategies and solutions for gold business and investments and signed several MoUs for business banking &facility for Gold Markets,Secured business structure for Gold Mining Companies,and for large Investments to Gold Alluvia Mining and Hard Rock Mining.IBMC announces the setting up 3 subsidary companies  to support Impor t& export  and Trade Portal activities to integrate 5 continents and more than 100 countries.

the event is organised at a time the gold industry is witnessing wild price fluctuations ,heavy investments across borders ,new regulations ,technology disruption and emergence of gold as a key asset class,he said.

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Kerala :A temple  official  said that the earlier darshan timings were 3 AM to 1 PM and 4 PM to midnight,but due to the huge influx of devottees at the temple,it was decided to change the timings of the second half to 3PM to 11 PM. With an increase in faith at the famed Lord Ayyappa shrine in Sabarimala here during this year’s Mandalam Makaravilakku pilgrimage, in the absence of the covid-19 restrictions ,the temple authorities  decided to “advance” the timing when Darshan begins in the second half of the day.

A temple official on Tuesday said that the earlier darshan  timings were 3 AM to 1:00 PM. and 4:00 PM. to  midnight,but due to the huge influx of devottees at the temple,.
Since November 16, when the doors of the temple  opened for devotees, over 3 lakhs pilgrims have arrived for darshan till  Monday evening, the official said

An official said “yesterday   there were 70,000 devotees. For today there are 60,000 bookings via virtual queue and in addition there would be spot bookings also”.   “Therefore we decided to advance the timings  in the second half of the day”,he added

On the eve of the 41 day long annual mandala Pooja festival ,Kerala  Devaswom Minister  K. Radhakrishnan had said unlike the last 2 years, when due to strict  COVID-19   guidelines the devotees were limited around 30,000 each day, this year  there were  no limits on the number of pilgrims who can come for  Darshan .Therefore, an increase of 40 to  50 percent in the number of devotees was expected in this year .

The 41 days long  Mandala Pooja festival began on  November 17 and will conclude on December 27.The temple  will be opened  again on December 30 for the Makaravilakku  pilgrimage, which will end on January 14, 2023.The shrine will be closed on January 20,2023 concluding the program season.

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The boy fell and injured his left arm while playing football on October 30.As there were no facilities for x-ray in the General hospital in Thalasserry, Sultan’s father took him to the Cooperative hospital.Two bones of his left arm were found broken in the x-ray taken from there.The doctors of Thalasserry General Hospital informed the family to conduct a surgery on November 3.Though Sultan suffered severe pain on his arm, the doctor refused to treat him ,alleges Sultan’s family.They demand immediate medical care when a blue colour was noticed on the affected arm.An emergency surgery was conducted on only one bone. Sultan’s father alleged that wound was kept open without proper dressing or stitching after the surgery.The authorities had informed the family that the surgery was on both bones cannot be carried out at the same time.Hence, the family accused the hospital authorities of delaying surgery for 13 days and conducting an incomplete surgery.if the doctor had referred Sultan to any other hospital on time, his arm would have been saved, said Sultan’s father

Dr.Binu Mon did not heed to their request even after visiting him frequently.It was only after several days that he referred Sultan  to Government medical College, citing lack of facilities for  plastic surgery. The doctors recommended amputation to prevent spread of infection to other organs .Later,Sultan was taken to a private hospital in Kozhikode and anotherhospital in coimbatore.When the doctors in these hospitaL  also suggested amputation ,  medical College informed that our surrounds how to be conducted and the hand will be together ambulated it was surgical felt the doctors recommendation to prevent spread of infections to other organs taken a private hospital in Kozhikode and other hospital in Coimbatore and the conducted the surgery at the private hospital in Kannur . Sultan and his parents ,who don’t have a  house of their own ,are  currently  residing in a relatives house.

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Dubai: GLOBAL GOLD CONVENTION 2022  is a high level International event participating by Diplomats, Ministers, top Industry Leaders from  gold mines, refineries, jewelers, traders, import export companies from UAE and across the world.

Organised by IBMC Financial Professionals and co-organised by the Federation of UAE Chambers of Commerce & Industry (UAE Chambers) and the International Chamber of Commerce, UAE, the Convention will have dedicated industry sessions, such as Diplomatic Conclaves, that will provide the participants meaningful insights on the latest developments, trends, challenges, regulatory developments, government policies and suggestions to chart business strategies.

More than 100 countries will participate in this mega event. The conference will be held at Armani, Burj Khalifa, Dubai.

IBMC will be accompanied by UAE Chambers of Commerce and Industry and International Chamber of Commerce of Convention

The 4th Global Gold Convention 2022 will take place on November 22, 2022 at the Armani Hotel, Burj Khalifa with the theme ‘Making UAE the Integrated Global Gold Marketplace’. Industry participants from five continents will discuss recent developments and challenges during the region’s largest Gold Industry & Business Conclave.

Global Gold Convention 2022 as the region’s largest hybrid event with participation from over 100 countries, ministers, diplomats, regulators, top industry leaders, gold miners, refineries, jewellers, traders, import-export companies from across the world has been prepared.

IBMC Managing Director and CEO Sajith Kumar PK said, “We are bringing together gold industry stakeholders from five continents with the aim of making the UAE an integrated global gold market.”

During the event, we will launch industry-focused IBMC Gold Ventures, IBMC Trade Flow Ventures and IBMC Forum and Event Ventures to support gold industry players. These ventures will also help new investors and business class to enter the gold industry. Mr Sajith added

The conference is structured for the benefit of all stakeholders in the gold industry, at a time when the gold industry is witnessing price uncertainty, heavy investment across borders, new regulations, technology disruption and the emergence of gold as a key asset class . Yes, she said.

The dedicated two Diplomatic Conclaves will be attended by ambassadors, consuls general and officials from the participating countries, who will highlight trade and investment opportunities in their respective countries.

The Gold Industry Conclave features a special session designed to discuss gold jewelery and retail trade issues affecting the jewelery industry.

The event will recognize industry leaders by presenting the Global Gold Excellence Awards and the Global Gold Ambassador Awards.

IBMC International is a recognized group in the UAE in the areas of Corporate and Economic Consulting, Advisory and Business Flow Systems, with major recognitions from UAE including Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award in Business Sector, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award from Dubai Chamber Award Labels included. Involved. ,

IBMC has a strong presence and high degree of credibility in the Corporate Business and eMarketplace Fintech sector by implementing innovative and advanced solutions. IBMC connects different continents through its specialized international events, economic forums and industry events to facilitate bilateral and multilateral business cooperation.

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The offer will start on December 1, 2022 and continue valid until January 6, 2023, the police said.

This move aligns with the Umm Al Quwain Police’s endeavor to adopt initiatives that contribute to the happiness of society, and to ease burdens on vehicle owners to enable them renew registration of their vehicles.

The police called on all vehicle drivers and road users to abide by the traffic regulations and laws, to ensure their safety and the safety of others and in order to avoid occurrence of road accidents.

The UAQ Police excluded a certain types of violations from the initiative, such as driving a vehicle in a way that endangers the life of the driver or the lives, security and safety of road users, or driving a vehicle in a way that would cause damage to public or private property.

Also the violations of jumping the red signal by a heavy or a light vehicle or a bike, in addition to exceeding the prescribed speed limit, by more than 80 kilometers per hour are excluded from this offer, the police confirmed.

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The revised operating time at the Abbasiya BLS Centers will be from 8.00 A.M. to 6 P.M. Saturday to Thursday. The center will be closed on Fridays.

The Fahaheel center will also work from 8.00 A.M. to 6 P.M. Saturday to Thursday. Fahaheel center will also be closed on Fridays.

However the Kuwait city center will work as two shifts 8.00 A.M. to 12.00 noon and 4.00 P.M. to 8.00 P.M. Saturday to Thursday. The Kuwait city center will open from 4.00 PM. to 8.00 P.M. on Fridays.

In case of any further queries/assistance required, please contact BLS Helpline numbers +96522211228 (Phone) or (Whatsapp)

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