Search the Community

Some changes made in tax laws are unjustified, arbitrary, and against principles of fair taxation, says tax expert

Virat Kohli’s revelation about battling depression will hopefully open a lot of doors for men to start having conversations about mental health. In a society that stigmatizes mental health, whenever a celebrity has spoken about their struggles with depression and anxiety, it, at least, normalizes mental health issues. But still, we are miles away from making it as normal as physical ailments. Virat Kohli strongly feels that professional help on the mental-health front should be a part of team set-ups ⤵ — ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 19, 2021 Depression is a debilitating illness which is extremely underreported. At times, it’s manifested and processed differently in genders. Men usually report symptoms of anger, irritation and isolation, which may not be typical symptoms and may not be recognized as depression. Dial in the deeply ingrained notions of toxic masculinity, and you’ll have even lesser men reporting feeling low. So often on my couch, men share their fears of asking for support when they struggle lest they are seen as failures. And nowhere do we see this more than in hyper-competitive sports. It’s a testosterone-driven arena, where, to be seen as dominant and aggressive, is rewarded. In the culture of sports, sportsmen often see losses as personal failures and inadequacies, and a lot of them see only winning as a goal. This puts the pressure of a lot of expectations on them to succeed in every match they play. And if you are leading a team, one can very well imagine the stress the person has to go through. It’s bound to get ‘lonely’ at the top where to be seen as vulnerable is to believe that you are weak which in turn, results in even fewer men seeking help. Virat Kohli on Glenn Maxwell, who is on a break from cricket for mental health reasons. pic.twitter.com/0YbJEmcUKV — ICC (@ICC) November 13, 2019 One of the most overlooked issues, I feel, is mental health of sportsmen or athletes. Due to the competitive nature of sports, many of them can carry the risk of depression. When they encounter their own fears and emotional struggles, most men tend to disguise the feelings of vulnerability, confusion, shame. And with that comes isolation and loneliness which could lead to depression. According to psychologists men maintain “side to side” friendships i.e they bond over things like sports, working out together. Most turn towards their male friends for factual advice which is more pragmatic. Very rarely do they speak about their deep emotional troubles or even sometimes don’t have the language to express their vulnerabilities. One of the best solutions is to talk about it “face to face” and ask for support from a mental health professional. The importance of awareness cannot be stressed more. Alaokika Bharwani is a former mental health consultant of Hindustan Unilever. She's a clinically trained psychotherapist from the Albert Ellis Institute in New York, USA. View the full article

Queen Elizabeth honoured people closest to her heart, wherein Prince Philip topped the list

CIA Director Mike Pompeo ? US President Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of State ? leaves a meeting at Capitol Hill in Washington, US, April 18, 2018. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein WASHINGTON: A Senate committee approved the nomination of...

CIA Director Mike Pompeo ? US President Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of State ? leaves a meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, April 18, 2018. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein WASHINGTON: A Senate committee approved the nomination of...

A still from ?Padmaavat? The Indian Supreme Court on Thursday lifted the ban on the highly anticipated epic ?Padmaavat? in four states, paving way for its all-India release on January 25. The controversial movie, which stars Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor, was banned in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana, prompting its makers to move the top court against the ban. Giving its green signal to the movie, the Supreme Court said that the decision of the states violated Article 21, which guarantees personal liberty. The court added that it was the duty of the state to provide security to all those persons who are going to watch the film. Padmaavat is based on the poem Padmavat, written by Sufi poet Malik Muhammad Jayasi in the 15th century. The ballad narrates the tale of the beautiful Rani Padmini of Chittor (played by Deepika) and Turkish invader Alauddin Khilji's (Ranveer) pursuit of her. The film angered many after the Shree Rajput Karni Sena alleged it distorted historical facts related to the Rajput community. Deepika-starrer Padmaavat banned in four Indian states Padmaavat was earlier slated for release on Dec 1, but it was deferred amid controversy it stirred up in India Controversial Haryana BJP leader Suraj Pal Amu, who had quit as party's chief media coordinator in November, had led protests against the film and even offered 10 crore as "reward to behead" Bhansali and the film's lead actor Deepika Padukone. Padmaavat was earlier slated for release on December 1, but the studio had to defer it amid the controversy the film stirred up in sections of the country.

A general view of Gwadar deep-sea port on the Arabian Sea March 19, 2007. REUTERS/file GWADAR: Remote and impoverished, Pakistan´s Gwadar port at first glance seems an unlikely crown jewel in a multi-billion-dollar development project with China aimed at constructing a 21st century Silk Road. Situated on a barren peninsula in the Arabian Sea, Gwadar, or the "gate of the wind", owes its fortuitous selection as Pakistan´s next economic hub to its strategic location near the Strait of Hormuz. The city is set to become the bridgehead for the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a $54 billion project launched in 2013 linking western China to the Indian Ocean via Pakistan. The corridor is one of the largest projects in Beijing´s "One Belt One Road" initiative, comprising a network of roads and sea routes involving 65 countries. The Chinese-financed initiative aims to connect the country with Africa, Asia and Europe through a vast network of ports, railways, roads and industrial parks. But for Pakistan, participating in the project presents an enormous challenge. "This port is going to help Pakistan make linkages with neighbouring countries. The entire nation will be getting benefits out of Gwadar," Dostain Khan Jamaldini, chairman of the Gwadar Port Authority, told reporters. But "the first beneficiaries of this port will be the people of Gwadar". The subject of economic dividends is extremely sensitive in resource-rich Balochistan -- one of Pakistan´s poorest and most violent provinces, where separatist insurgencies have been waged for decades. The project includes the country´s first deep-water port, a free-trade zone and 50 kilometres (31 miles) of dock space. "Gwadar port is not Chinese, our strong partner is Chinese and we appreciate their boldness," said Jamaldini. "They came to Gwadar when nobody was accepting the idea to come and visit." China has eyed Gwadar for years. Beijing financed an earlier scheme to develop the port prior to 2007, which was later overseen by a Singaporean group. But following bouts of insecurity, the Singaporeans handed it back to the Chinese in 2013. The ambitious corridor is also far from popular in the region. India makes no mystery of its reservations over an infrastructure project that crosses through disputed Kashmiri territory. This month US Defense Secretary Jim Mattis raised concerns about the issue, sparking a fierce backlash in Pakistan and claims Washington was trying to "contain China" in favour of arch-rival India. Beyond diplomatic concerns, security remains a key issue in Gwadar, according to Brigadier Kamal Azfar, who heads "Brigade 440" -- a security outfit created to protect CPEC projects and personnel. Hostile forces are trying to "scuttle or stall CPEC", he said in reference to accusations India has backed insurgents hostile to the project. The area also lacks water and electricity, which developers hope will be remedied by dams and desalination plants outlined in the scheme. Officials also worry the peninsula will fall victim to real estate speculation. Property prices near the port doubled between 2014 and 2016, said Sajjad Baloch, the director of the Gwadar Development Authority, before falling 20 percent. And despite promises of future prosperity, skilled labour is lacking, says Mohamed Siddique, who runs a local hospital. Even with modern facilities it operates at a limited capacity because of a dearth of specialists. Chinatown In Gwadar city, economic activity spurred by CPEC remains limited. A lone freighter was anchored in the port during AFP´s recent visit. Only three to four arrive every month, according to port authorities. The expressway leading to the site is unfinished. About 300 Chinese people working on various projects live in prefabricated houses on the port -- coined Chinatown -- but only venture out with a security escort. The city itself, with a population of about 100,000 that is projected by one estimate to jump tenfold by 2050, has relied on fishing and the artisanal construction of boats for generations. Up to 50,000 people, mostly fishermen, could be "gradually" resettled to make way for the project, Baloch said, adding the potential move could see them relocated to a "state-of-the-art jetty". The first priority for the jobs will go to Gwadaris, "then to the Balochis, then to the people of any part of Pakistan", Baloch said. However few Gwadaris have been hired at the port, according to locals building boats on a nearby beach. "We are hoping to get a job there," said Juneid. For others, it´s a chance to right the wrongs of past subjugation. "Balochistan province should get the maximum benefits instead of outsiders," said Abdullah Usman, 47, a social worker. "It will be unfortunate if the local Baloch do not benefit... that would cause an increase in the several decades long sense of deprivation."