Sarita Catherine Louise Choudhury worked with Denzel Washington in director Mira Nair’s ‘Mississippi Masala’—a filmmaker she now calls her ‘family’. The actress, born to an English mother and an Indian-Bengali father—now in her 50s, has touched the zenith of her career with movies like the ‘Mockingjay’ franchise and has, self-admittedly, gone through relatively gloomy phases in her career, too.&nbsp;

 
But, boy... is she back with a bang! In 2021 alone, the actress has featured in David Lowery’s mutli-starrer ‘The Green Knight’ and has also joined the cast of ‘Sex And The City’ reboot, ‘And Just Like That...’. So has she, along with an army of other Indian-origin actors, led the way for other Asian actors to follow? “I think the way you ‘pave’ the way for others is, I guess, to do what you love, study hard, and somehow something will happen, even if you start with playing Ophelia alone in your bedroom!” she tells us.

 
In an exclusive interview with WION, Sarita Choudhury shares her experience with working with Dev Patel, why she admires Priyanka Chopra Jonas—the producer—and what it means to truly be a global star.&nbsp;

 
Excerpts from our conversation with her:

<img alt="Joel Edgerton, Sarita Choudhury share a scene together " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="31bc6871-86f7-4314-bba2-cc0f031b1ed7" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-22T093032.842.jpg" />

 
‘I talked to a friend of mine, who studied witchcraft for the role’

 
In order to render complete justice to the role of Morgan le Fay—an enchantress and King Arthur’s half-sister—in ‘The Green Knight’, the actor sought help from friends who practise witchcraft and the helmer himself. “The script was so well written, I felt I understood the character immediately. A mother who loves her son but wants him to find his independence and a woman who is a believer in the spiritual magical world of nature and spells,” Sarita tells us. 
“I talked to a friend of mine, Livia , who studied witchcraft from the point of view of ritual, nature and almost a pragmatic essential part of us. Also, David Lowery the director is very knowledgeable and specific. He was so helpful,” she goes on to add.

<img alt="Sarita in an intense poster from her period drama 'The Green Knight'" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="08fad559-ffeb-4e57-a31d-6f4f5e9a734f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-22T092207.872.jpg" /> 
‘The film world and ‘representation’ is finally catching up with how the artistic world sees itself’

 
Sarita opines that Dev Patel, who shoulders the central role of Sir Gawain in ‘The Green Knight’, was tailor-made for his part and that he was ‘grateful’ just to be able to shoot with human co-stars. “I think Dev was perfect casting for this role. He is talented, funny, a young man becoming a man, an “everyman” type… Dev and I had so much fun on set. He had spent days shooting alone in the forest before I met him to do our scenes, and I think he was just grateful to have scenes with other actors and not just a horse and the Green Knight!”&nbsp;

<img alt="Dev Patel and Sarita had a blast on the set of the movie" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="70b67409-79ff-4886-b45f-051def411ed5" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-22T092732.559.jpg" />

 
Given her repertoire both in India and international waters, it is safe to say that Priyanka Chopra Jonas is the flag bearer of the Indian Diaspora in Hollywood—among others, of course—and she and a handful others, Dev Patel included, have (considerably) paved the path for others to tread on. Well, Sarita agrees partially. “I think the way you ‘pave’ the way for others is, I guess, to do what you love, study hard, and somehow something will happen, even if you start with playing Ophelia alone in your bedroom!... The film world and ‘representation’ is finally catching up with how the artistic world sees itself anyway.”

 
‘Priyanka Chopra Jonas does everything for us to be seen’

 
Whether there’s an insatiable hunger among the Indian school of artists to be labeled as ‘global’ stars is moot, says Sarita. “As an actor you have dreams of the kind of films you want to be in, the good scripts, the talented directors. Whether it’s a brilliant Indian director like Mira Nair or Zoya Akhtar shooting in India or wherever, or a great American director here, you hope to be part of it…. In terms of “Global,” as actors we don’t really have any intent to be perceived globally in a certain way. But if that is the result of following your dream no matter what the obstacles that is amazing. My dad had seen Satyajit Ray’s films in India when he was young, my mum had seen the same films in England, I saw them in Canada when I was at university. That’s global! And (that) makes me proud,” she says.&nbsp; 
As for her ‘Evil eye’ producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sarita says she is in awe of her. “(From) Priyanka, I learnt is (that she is) a really good producer and did everything to promote us and help our film get seen. A job I have never done but admire!” concluded the actor.

<img alt="Priyanka Chopra, as a producer, makes us seen, says Sarita" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e54da9d4-2507-4cd9-9943-bc999e268a15" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20-%202021-08-22T092108.045.jpg" /> 
‘The Green Knight’ is releasing in theatres in India on August 27.&nbsp;

Sarita Catherine Louise Choudhury worked with Denzel Washington in director Mira Nair’s ‘Mississippi Masala’—a filmmaker she now calls her ‘family’. The actress, born to an English mother and an Indian-Bengali father—now in her 50s, has touched the zenith of her career with movies like the ‘Mockingjay’ franchise and has, self-admittedly, gone through relatively gloomy phases in her career, too.

Sarita Catherine Louise Choudhury worked with Denzel Washington in director Mira Nair’s ‘Mississippi Masala’—a filmmaker she now calls her ‘family’. The actress, born to an English mother and an Indian-Bengali father—now in her 50s, has touched the zenith of her career with movies like the ‘Mockingjay’ franchise and has, self-admittedly, gone through relatively gloomy phases in her career, too. But, boy... is she back with a bang! In 2021 alone, the actress has featured in David Lowery’s mutli-starrer ‘The Green Knight’ and has also joined the cast of ‘Sex And The City’ reboot, ‘And Just Like That...’. So has she, along with an army of other Indian-origin actors, led the way for other Asian actors to follow? “I think the way you ‘pave’ the way for others is, I guess, to do what you love, study hard, and somehow something will happen, even if you start with playing Ophelia alone in your bedroom!” she tells us. In an exclusive interview with WION, Sarita Choudhury shares her experience with working with Dev Patel, why she admires Priyanka Chopra Jonas—the producer—and what it means to truly be a global star. Excerpts from our conversation with her: ‘I talked to a friend of mine, who studied witchcraft for the role’ In order to render complete justice to the role of Morgan le Fay—an enchantress and King Arthur’s half-sister—in ‘The Green Knight’, the actor sought help from friends who practise witchcraft and the helmer himself. “The script was so well written, I felt I understood the character immediately. A mother who loves her son but wants him to find his independence and a woman who is a believer in the spiritual magical world of nature and spells,” Sarita tells us. “I talked to a friend of mine, Livia , who studied witchcraft from the point of view of ritual, nature and almost a pragmatic essential part of us. Also, David Lowery the director is very knowledgeable and specific. He was so helpful,” she goes on to add. ‘The film world and ‘representation’ is finally catching up with how the artistic world sees itself’ Sarita opines that Dev Patel, who shoulders the central role of Sir Gawain in ‘The Green Knight’, was tailor-made for his part and that he was ‘grateful’ just to be able to shoot with human co-stars. “I think Dev was perfect casting for this role. He is talented, funny, a young man becoming a man, an “everyman” type… Dev and I had so much fun on set. He had spent days shooting alone in the forest before I met him to do our scenes, and I think he was just grateful to have scenes with other actors and not just a horse and the Green Knight!” Given her repertoire both in India and international waters, it is safe to say that Priyanka Chopra Jonas is the flag bearer of the Indian Diaspora in Hollywood—among others, of course—and she and a handful others, Dev Patel included, have (considerably) paved the path for others to tread on. Well, Sarita agrees partially. “I think the way you ‘pave’ the way for others is, I guess, to do what you love, study hard, and somehow something will happen, even if you start with playing Ophelia alone in your bedroom!... The film world and ‘representation’ is finally catching up with how the artistic world sees itself anyway.” ‘Priyanka Chopra Jonas does everything for us to be seen’ Whether there’s an insatiable hunger among the Indian school of artists to be labeled as ‘global’ stars is moot, says Sarita. “As an actor you have dreams of the kind of films you want to be in, the good scripts, the talented directors. Whether it’s a brilliant Indian director like Mira Nair or Zoya Akhtar shooting in India or wherever, or a great American director here, you hope to be part of it…. In terms of “Global,” as actors we don’t really have any intent to be perceived globally in a certain way. But if that is the result of following your dream no matter what the obstacles that is amazing. My dad had seen Satyajit Ray’s films in India when he was young, my mum had seen the same films in England, I saw them in Canada when I was at university. That’s global! And (that) makes me proud,” she says. As for her ‘Evil eye’ producer Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Sarita says she is in awe of her. “(From) Priyanka, I learnt is (that she is) a really good producer and did everything to promote us and help our film get seen. A job I have never done but admire!” concluded the actor. ‘The Green Knight’ is releasing in theatres in India on August 27.

Exclusive! ‘The Green Knight’, ‘Sex And The City’ reboot star Sarita Choudhury: The film world and ‘representation’ is finally catching up

“There were all these lists of who's the favourite character on the show or who was the best-looking character, and I was always the ugliest, the least attractive,” Dev Patel, BAFTA-winning actor (for ‘Lion’) said in a recent interview.

“There were all these lists of who's the favourite character on the show or who was the best-looking character, and I was always the ugliest, the least attractive,” Dev Patel, BAFTA-winning actor (for ‘Lion’) said in a recent interview. However—now basking in the glory of his critically acclaimed film ‘The Green Knight’, set to release in India on August 27—those days of judgement over his looks seem to be a thing of the past. And he agrees, hopefully. In an exclusive interview with WION, the British actor talks about losing himself in the process of getting the nuances of Sir Gawain—his character in ‘The Green Knight’—right, how director David Lowery’s vision was of paramount importance to the script and he ‘trusted’ it completely, and why there’s a little bit of him in this modern retelling of Sir Gawain’s story. Excerpts from the interview: ‘I could draw a lot of parallels with my journey in this industry; being ambitious and trying to balance my life’ For Patel, preparing for the role meant letting David Lowery (‘The Old Man & the Gun’, ‘A Ghost Story’) take charge of how he would portray Sir Gawain on screen, and he went with it with utmost faith. “For me in a way, that was really David's process you mine was a process of real submission and trust in him as a as the visionary that he is. But you could see what the way he was approaching the sets and the costumes that kind of like was cranked ever so slightly differently, you know, so there was a familiarity to the world, but also, it kind of had a kind of slightly more modern composition to the way he was capturing this stuff, and how we were able to move and talk and there was a looseness to it, that I was like, Wow, this is awesome!” Dev Patel tells us. “You know, I split it, particularly for me in the way I was kind of talking, I was kind of throwing it away, like I would in a very modern piece I wasn't, you know, putting as much weight on the words. And I asked what I spoke to him about, it's like, how should we do this? How do I do and he's like, no, we're just kind of trying to exist and bring as much truth as possible. And it's a testament to him, he's kind of managed to strike this balance, I think a lot of story and tales around this era, they focus on the clashing of swords, or whatever that is, you know, but this is focusing on the more psychological journey aspects of the story. In a way, it's, it's far more complex in it, and it really does more justice to the complexities of this poem, and kind of the questioning of fate and ambition and the chivalry code of the time. You know, particularly for me, as a young actor, you know, I could draw a lot of parallels with my, you know, my journey in this industry, and, you know, being ambitious and trying to balance my life and, and, you know, the ego and masculinity, all of that stuff, you know, I could see all the threads in,” says the actor about his part in getting the nuances of his character right. With a 7.5 IMDb rating and 88 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, Dev Patel seems to have gotten it right. ‘I was trembling on my horse, I was cold and wet and damp; it was a physical process’ Dev Patel’s penchant for perfection is palpable, and, ‘The Green Knight’ would give us a glimpse of that, again. When asked if the horses, weaponry and the overall feel on the set contributed to his performance, Patel was quick to add, “Completely! I mean, they extends we went to, you know, David, you know, we have the entire crew trudging in valleys, through streams and rivers, and when making provides police systems to get camera equipment up, and like, you know, just to get the shot, but it really, I said, every frame is a painting in this film, you look at it, and it's just like, there was never a moment where I was, I didn't even have a great scene partner and you know, Joel (Edgerton), and all the rest of the team or you're just in this costume, and it makes you sit differently stand differently.” But, the British actor—all of 31 now—sees certain facets of his persona, his own journey as a young man in Hollywood, in David Lowery’s ‘The Green Knight’. He shares with WION, before wrapping up. “A lot of this is about a young man romanticizing this knightly quest, and then all of a sudden, very quickly realizing how brutal nature can be and how humbling he gets humbled by it, his ego at the start of the film is totally bashed from him very quickly. And I felt that I was trembling you know, on my horse, I was cold and wet and damp and it was a physical process and you know, David's films really explored time in a beautiful way. And as a performer you know, you rarely get to feel time you know, in scenes because it you know, there's a exposition and there's an editor's hands that really comes in but and this was the way we shot this that David kind of sits and lets the scene really play out sometimes, you know, really just puts you in a spot and like, Is that okay? Now you try and get out of the situation. Your hands and legs are tight.”

Exclusive! Dev Patel: ‘The Green Knight’ embodies my own journey in Hollywood

“If I'm scared of that (being lost in the crowd),&nbsp;I cannot be a rapper," comes the sharp response from D/Evil, formally known as Dhaval Parab, whose humble beginnings—from a chawl in Mumbai’s Dadar area—did not deter him into dropping the mike and settle for what’s labeled conventional.&nbsp;

 
At the tender age of 16, he took pen to paper and has since been churning out rap songs in Mumbai’s beaming underground scene—“I was a battle rapper,” he informs—and was content with it, with the exception of working on ‘Gully Boy’ smash hit ‘Apna Time Aayega’. That was before an impressed Farhan Akhtar texted him to hop on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-rakeysh-omprakash-mehra-james-bond-daniel-craig-auditioned-for-rang-de-basanti-401475">‘Toofaan’ </a>train. Rest is, as they say, history.&nbsp;

 
In an exclusive chat with WION, the rapper discusses how an adult magazine had inspired his former moniker, when Farhan Akhtar showed up wearing the lyrics of his song to meet him, and why he feels there’s still hope for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-toofan-review-farhan-akhtar%E2%80%99s-our-million-dollar-baby%E2%80%A6-not-398340">Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s latest offering</a>.

 
Excerpts from that conversation:

 
WION: To create the title track for ‘Toofaan’, an Amazon Prime Video film, made by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and featuring Frahan Akhtar—that must have been huge for you. How did all that come along?

 
D’Evil: An unexpected text came from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-toofan-review-farhan-akhtar%E2%80%99s-our-million-dollar-baby%E2%80%A6-not-398340">Farhan Akhtar</a>. When I called him he said that Ankur Tiwari is a singer/songwriter and music supervisor for the movie <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/gully-boy-review-ranveer-singh-alia-bhatts-film-has-multiple-heroes-197285">'Gully Boy'</a>. Had suggested my name for this project. I was very excited. I'm a huge fan of Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar. I grew up watching their films. This was a dream project for me. I immediately said 'yes'. &nbsp;

 
WION: Your journey has been a fascinating one—from a chawl in Dadar to sharing the writing credits for ‘Apna Time Ayega’—how did you know that lyric poetry was your true calling in life?

 
D’Evil: I wanted to make music after being inspired by various artists globally and in my own country. Coming from a chawl in Mumbai, I was exposed to all types of music in different languages. This made me feel like I have something I like . So I tried writing some rhymes and some poem as a teenager. Later, when I was introduced to hip-hop. I saw that rapping is for someone like me. I enjoyed my discovery of rap and hip-hop.

<img alt="safrjjhdsdASSA" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="6830d0c3-b69d-4a74-9cf2-c6912a64e9c9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20%2860%29_0.jpg" />

 
WION: Before being called D’Evil, you had another moniker: Hustler. What’s the story behind that?

 
D’Evil: Hustler was something I was known as during the initial phase of my career as a rapper. I was a battle rapper. And would go by Hustler is also an adult magazine and I didn't wanna share my name with them. So my friend's suggested me to go with D'Evil.&nbsp;&nbsp;

 
WION: You are signed with DIVINE’s independent record and have worked with him a few times. What is the biggest lesson—both as a person and rapper—that you have been handed down by him?

 
D’Evil: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/armaan-malik-divine-kaam-bhari-nominated-at-europe-music-awards-2020-333277">Vivian aka DIVINE</a> is an extraordinary personality. I have taken many lessons from him and his experiences. However my favourite one is that , you should always give back something from what you received. He taught me to share.

<img alt="cfhgnfdvsafd" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="86baf702-fb2c-45dc-9d2c-8d1e16b4e0c4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20%2859%29.jpg" /> 
&nbsp;

WION: You are a scriptwriter, too. What are you working on? What have you written so far? Tell us more.

 
D’Evil: I had a job as a script writer. I used to write scripts for TV &nbsp;commercials and small radio ad spots. Also I have written jingles and dialogues for small projects. It was a job where I used to get a salary. There is tons of content I wrote to make ends meet. &nbsp;

 
WION: A number of people have made the transition from Mumbai’s underground scene to mainstream Bollywood. Does that ever scare you that your talent may get lost in the crowd?

 
D’Evil: If I'm scared of that, I cannot be a rapper. This fear and pressure is what makes me perform my best. And I want more competition because I love to prove myself again and again. People forget.

 
WION: Although your track was fabulous, ‘Toofan’ didn’t do well in terms of reception. What do you say to that?

 
D’Evil: The pandemic has changed the way people consume cinema. But I'm sure <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/bollywood/news-rakeysh-omprakash-mehra-james-bond-daniel-craig-auditioned-for-rang-de-basanti-401475">this film will grow on people</a> slowly. After they realise what this film is trying to say.

<img alt="fehthsACD" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a851ee1b-c70e-4a22-87e3-9f9741907ef4" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/pjimage%20%2858%29.jpg" />

 
WION: Any fun/candid moments you had shared with Farhan that you would like to share with us?

 
D’Evil: I have met him only a couple of times. But I do remember him singing my lyrics out loud when he saw me in the studio. It was a great sight. He was also wearing a hoodie with ‘Todun Taak’ on it.

 
WION: You like Eminem and Snoop Dogg… what is it about them that prompted you to take up the notepad? You started at 16, right?

 
D’Evil: Yes. At 16, we didn't have a voice or a platform to say what we needed to say. Getting inspired from Eminem and snoop , watching them do shows or rap in videos made me think that I should even use this medium to say what I want to. &nbsp;

“If I'm scared of that (being lost in the crowd), I cannot be a rapper," comes the sharp response from D/Evil, formally known as Dhaval Parab, whose humble beginnings—from a chawl in Mumbai’s Dadar area—did not deter him into dropping the mike and settle for what’s labeled conventional.

“If I'm scared of that (being lost in the crowd), I cannot be a rapper," comes the sharp response from D/Evil, formally known as Dhaval Parab, whose humble beginnings—from a chawl in Mumbai’s Dadar area—did not deter him into dropping the mike and settle for what’s labeled conventional. At the tender age of 16, he took pen to paper and has since been churning out rap songs in Mumbai’s beaming underground scene—“I was a battle rapper,” he informs—and was content with it, with the exception of working on ‘Gully Boy’ smash hit ‘Apna Time Aayega’. That was before an impressed Farhan Akhtar texted him to hop on the ‘Toofaan’ train. Rest is, as they say, history. In an exclusive chat with WION, the rapper discusses how an adult magazine had inspired his former moniker, when Farhan Akhtar showed up wearing the lyrics of his song to meet him, and why he feels there’s still hope for Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra’s latest offering. Excerpts from that conversation: WION: To create the title track for ‘Toofaan’, an Amazon Prime Video film, made by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra and featuring Frahan Akhtar—that must have been huge for you. How did all that come along? D’Evil: An unexpected text came from Farhan Akhtar. When I called him he said that Ankur Tiwari is a singer/songwriter and music supervisor for the movie 'Gully Boy'. Had suggested my name for this project. I was very excited. I'm a huge fan of Rakyesh Omprakash Mehra and Farhan Akhtar. I grew up watching their films. This was a dream project for me. I immediately said 'yes'. WION: Your journey has been a fascinating one—from a chawl in Dadar to sharing the writing credits for ‘Apna Time Ayega’—how did you know that lyric poetry was your true calling in life? D’Evil: I wanted to make music after being inspired by various artists globally and in my own country. Coming from a chawl in Mumbai, I was exposed to all types of music in different languages. This made me feel like I have something I like . So I tried writing some rhymes and some poem as a teenager. Later, when I was introduced to hip-hop. I saw that rapping is for someone like me. I enjoyed my discovery of rap and hip-hop. WION: Before being called D’Evil, you had another moniker: Hustler. What’s the story behind that? D’Evil: Hustler was something I was known as during the initial phase of my career as a rapper. I was a battle rapper. And would go by Hustler is also an adult magazine and I didn't wanna share my name with them. So my friend's suggested me to go with D'Evil. WION: You are signed with DIVINE’s independent record and have worked with him a few times. What is the biggest lesson—both as a person and rapper—that you have been handed down by him? D’Evil: Vivian aka DIVINE is an extraordinary personality. I have taken many lessons from him and his experiences. However my favourite one is that , you should always give back something from what you received. He taught me to share. WION: You are a scriptwriter, too. What are you working on? What have you written so far? Tell us more. D’Evil: I had a job as a script writer. I used to write scripts for TV commercials and small radio ad spots. Also I have written jingles and dialogues for small projects. It was a job where I used to get a salary. There is tons of content I wrote to make ends meet. WION: A number of people have made the transition from Mumbai’s underground scene to mainstream Bollywood. Does that ever scare you that your talent may get lost in the crowd? D’Evil: If I'm scared of that, I cannot be a rapper. This fear and pressure is what makes me perform my best. And I want more competition because I love to prove myself again and again. People forget. WION: Although your track was fabulous, ‘Toofan’ didn’t do well in terms of reception. What do you say to that? D’Evil: The pandemic has changed the way people consume cinema. But I'm sure this film will grow on people slowly. After they realise what this film is trying to say. WION: Any fun/candid moments you had shared with Farhan that you would like to share with us? D’Evil: I have met him only a couple of times. But I do remember him singing my lyrics out loud when he saw me in the studio. It was a great sight. He was also wearing a hoodie with ‘Todun Taak’ on it. WION: You like Eminem and Snoop Dogg… what is it about them that prompted you to take up the notepad? You started at 16, right? D’Evil: Yes. At 16, we didn't have a voice or a platform to say what we needed to say. Getting inspired from Eminem and snoop , watching them do shows or rap in videos made me think that I should even use this medium to say what I want to.

Chawl to Cinema: Indian rapper D'Evil talks about his struggles, Farhan Akhtar and an extraordinary DIVINE

Watch exclusive interview of Retired LT. COL. Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir with WION. He is a veteran of the Bangladesh Liberation war.

Retired LT. COL. Quazi Sajjad Ali Zahir exclusive interview with WION

Afghan FM speaks to WION's Sidhant Sibal on ties with India, Chabahar, US proposal, Ghani proposal for election, Pakistan and terror.

Afghan FM Mohammad Hanif Atmar speaks to WION

Indian Army's Col Ashok Tara in 1971 was just 29 years old, and along with 2 Jawan went to save the life of the family of Bangladesh's father of the nation Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. During a daring rescue from the clutches of the Pakistani Army, Tara saved the life of Sheikh Hasina and her newborn child. Hasina is the current PM of Bangladesh.

Meet India Army's Col Ashok Tara, who save the life of Sheikh Hasina

EU envoy to India, Ugo Astuto has spoken exclusively to WION after the 2-day visit to J&K. He said the EU has taken note of the recent steps that have been taken by the Indian government, such as election at the district level and resumption of 4G internet services

Jammu & Kashmir: We have taken note of recent steps taken, says EU envoy

Watch the exclusive interview with Chinese virologist Dr Li-Meng Yan.

Chinese virologist Li-Meng Yan speaks to WION's Palki Sharma Upadhyay

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad admitted in an exclusive interview to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma that the relations between Malaysia and India deteriorated because of his comments on Kashmir.&nbsp;

"Well, it did because of my remarks on Kashmir. But, other than that the relationship was very good, even under my leadership," Mahathir said when asked whether the relations between both countries were hit.&nbsp;

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"It is not about supporting Pakistan, it is about the people of Kashmir...": Former Malaysian PM <a href="https://twitter.com/chedetofficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chedetofficial</a> talks to <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@palkisu</a> on his controversial remarks on Jammu and Kashmir<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahathirMohamadOnWION?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahathirMohamadOnWION</a> <a href="https://t.co/juoGkmyyu2">pic.twitter.com/juoGkmyyu2</a>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/china-making-claims-in-south-china-sea-but-we-cannot-go-to-war-says-mahathir-mohamad-to-wion-318909">China making claims in South China Sea but we cannot go to war, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION</a>

The former&nbsp; Malaysian prime minister added&nbsp;that traditionally the relations with India have "been very good".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/would-like-to-send-zakir-naik-to-some-country-where-he-will-be-safe-says-mahathir-mohamad-to-wion-318916">Would like to send Zakir Naik to some country where he will be safe, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION</a>

"As you know we have a lot of people of Indian origin here in Malaysia and they still have connections in India."

However, the ex-PM said "some minor glitches" affected the relations, but, "very quickly we overcome such strains in our relationship".

He also hinted towards&nbsp;good relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his former counterpart was one of the earlier PMs who called him up when he won his second term.&nbsp;

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"In many ways he has done well internationally but then of course we need to understand India better under Modi because he is different from previous prime ministers," says <a href="https://twitter.com/chedetofficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chedetofficial</a> on India's role at the world stage under PM <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MahathirMohamadOnWION?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MahathirMohamadOnWION</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/palkisu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@palkisu</a> <a href="https://t.co/xsNGVGee7y">pic.twitter.com/xsNGVGee7y</a>
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"Apparently, we had met a long time ago, although I had forgotten and he was able to show a picture of us together from a long time ago, before he became the prime minister," Mahathir said.

"Well, we always want to maintain good relations, whoever may be the prime minister of India, it’s not something that we should take into consideration. Whoever is the prime minister we will develop good relations with the prime minister."

On his comments on Kashmir, he said he was speaking on events all over the world where some wrongs have been committed.&nbsp;

"It is not about supporting Pakistan, it is about the people of Kashmir," he added.&nbsp;

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad admitted in an exclusive interview to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma that the relations between Malaysia and India deteriorated because of his comments on Kashmir.

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad admitted in an exclusive interview to WION's Executive Editor Palki Sharma that the relations between Malaysia and India deteriorated because of his comments on Kashmir. "Well, it did because of my remarks on Kashmir. But, other than that the relationship was very good, even under my leadership," Mahathir said when asked whether the relations between both countries were hit. "It is not about supporting Pakistan, it is about the people of Kashmir...": Former Malaysian PM @chedetofficial talks to @palkisu on his controversial remarks on Jammu and Kashmir#MahathirMohamadOnWION pic.twitter.com/juoGkmyyu2 — WION (@WIONews) August 7, 2020 × Also read | China making claims in South China Sea but we cannot go to war, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION The former Malaysian prime minister added that traditionally the relations with India have "been very good". Also read | Would like to send Zakir Naik to some country where he will be safe, says Mahathir Mohamad to WION "As you know we have a lot of people of Indian origin here in Malaysia and they still have connections in India." However, the ex-PM said "some minor glitches" affected the relations, but, "very quickly we overcome such strains in our relationship". He also hinted towards good relations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying his former counterpart was one of the earlier PMs who called him up when he won his second term. "In many ways he has done well internationally but then of course we need to understand India better under Modi because he is different from previous prime ministers," says @chedetofficial on India's role at the world stage under PM @narendramodi#MahathirMohamadOnWION @palkisu pic.twitter.com/xsNGVGee7y — WION (@WIONews) August 7, 2020 × "Apparently, we had met a long time ago, although I had forgotten and he was able to show a picture of us together from a long time ago, before he became the prime minister," Mahathir said. "Well, we always want to maintain good relations, whoever may be the prime minister of India, it’s not something that we should take into consideration. Whoever is the prime minister we will develop good relations with the prime minister." On his comments on Kashmir, he said he was speaking on events all over the world where some wrongs have been committed. "It is not about supporting Pakistan, it is about the people of Kashmir," he added.

EXCLUSIVE: Ex-PM Mahathir admits his comments on Kashmir strained India-Malaysia ties

In an exclusive interview with WION, Chris Millard and Adam Canning from the highly popular fan group The Barmy Army opened up about the lack of fans in cricket matches, future for fans amid COVID-19 pandemic, new norms, handing The Barmy Army 'Best overseas player award' to Virat Kohli and more.

WION Exclusive: England's Barmy Army opens up on matches behind closed doors, future for cricket fans and more

PGA Tour card holder and Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about variety of things ranging from resumption of practice, life in lockdown, PGA Tour restart, players' form, Ryder Cup and much more.

Digvijay Singh Deo: Anirban when I messaged you this morning you were set to tee off for a round, so how relieved are you to get back to playing again?

Anirban Lahiri: It's great to be back playing again. It was a huge relief when I got the clubs out. This lockdown period has been very tough for us athletes because our lives are centred around sport and it was suddenly taken away from us. So it was great to get back to what I love doing.

DSD: Was it an unfamiliar feeling when you hit that golf balls for the first time and did you hit it straight down the fairway?

Anirban Lahiri: It felt extremely strange, I don't think I have ever had so much time away from golf since I was in school. It almost felt like I was returning from my summer vacations in school because I didn't have any golf clubs back then. I was just happy to be back playing. Obviously it will take some time to return to my peak skill level.

DSD: Now usually such a long period without any action happens only when one is seriously injured, so how did you cope through this lockdown phase?

Anirban Lahiri: I don't believe the lockdown has been a terrible period for me as I got to spend some quality time with my 15-month old daughter. I also used this time to read and just get some much-needed rest. It has been a very hectic last five years for me on the PGA Tour, I have constantly been travelling. So it was great to be able to relax for a while, but that too got frustrating after about 30 days. I have been trying to stay fit by doing yoga, working out and eating healthy.

DSD: For you personally, a chance to introspect and plot a course to get back to your best form and also a way up the rankings. Also with the Olympics now a year away there is enough time to get back into the mix.

Anirban Lahiri: Before the scheduled Indian Open in March, my coach and I had drawn up a phase-wise plan to improve certain areas of my game that needed attention, which would help me get back to my best. My performances over the last two years have been extremely disappointing. We were in phase one of that plan when the lockdown began. Now that I have started playing a bit of golf again, I'm in touch with my coach. My participation in PGA Tour events depends on when international travel will resume. I would also like to spend 15 days with my coach in Ahmedabad, where he's based so that I can work on certain aspects of my game before I return to competitive golf. The Olympic postponement is actually a blessing for me because it gives me more time to secure qualification. This lockdown period has brought a lot of positives in my life and I will try to build on them.&nbsp;

<img alt="Anirban Lahiri" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="bbe03d74-4306-40fb-9fa3-89db1d895ef9" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_Hkg10218701.jpg" />

DSD: You were in India when the PGA Tour abruptly shut down during the Players'&nbsp;Championships, at that time it was just a temporary break but perhaps no one had an idea of what they were dealing with.

Anirban Lahiri: The coronavirus crisis has affected all industries in the world, including sport. But hats off to the PGA Tour for being so proactive and putting a proper schedule out for the players. The PGA is one of the few major sporting organisations which has released a detailed plan to get the sport up and running. I have been involved in some form in the decision-making process and it has been a very difficult period for the PGA Tour. There are a lot of stakeholders in the game and their safety must be the priority. No one could have predicted the extent to which sport and life in general, would be affected by the crisis .it is good to see that there are signs of a return to some sort of normalcy, at least in golf. When the tour resumes, it will probably be a 'new normal' and it'll be interesting to see how the sport adapts. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly and the PGA Tour could also be a model for other sports to follow amid the coronavirus pandemic. I'm disappointed that I'm not going to be part of the tour right from the get-go, but I'm delighted that I'll get to see some live golf again.

DSD: Is it safe to resume the PGA Tour in the USA, given the massive health crisis the country is in.

Anirban Lahiri: I have been part of the players' advisory council for the last three years and i must say that the pga tour has left no stone unturned in trying to set up an environment where everyone involved in the tour can stay as safe as possible in the current climate. There are extremely strict health protocols in place at every step. Players and caddies will be tested for the coronavirus before travelling to the event, upon arrival and also just before the tournament begins. They are going to stay in designated hotels and no family members are allowed to travel with them. Only one coach can accompany the player to the events. Chartered flights have been organised for travel between events, which will only carry essential personnel. These protocols are going to be followed for the first four events after the hiatus. There have been hours of work and a lot of deliberation after which the PGA Tour has come up with these safety measures. I feel that this is the safest possible environment that can be created for players, given the current situation. Obviously it is impossible to guarantee 100% safety of all individuals, there are still chances of people contracting the virus. In fact, there are protocols in place in case an individual on the tour contracts the virus during the event. All contingencies have been covered by the PGA Tour. The players obviously want to get back to action and earn their living, but the last thing they want is to contract the virus and get it home. I think most of the players' concerns have been addressed by the tour and now it is just a case of executing the measures and hoping everything goes well. If I were in America and able to travel to the events, I would definitely play.

DSD: Now the PGA Tour is primarily an American Tour but obviously the biggest and most prestigious professional tour in the world. Now unlike tennis, they do not need everyone to be available before resuming. But it is players like you who are from abroad that will have a problem getting into the US, it's not really fair on the non-American players.

Anirban Lahiri: That's the reality of the situation, it is certainly unfair for certain players but these are unprecedented times and certain compromises have to made. Although to tackle that situation, the PGA Tour has guaranteed that those players who were eligible to play on the tour in 2020, will retain their rights for the 2021 season. The European tour is also having six events in the UK at the start of its season and most countries are going to have mandatory quarantine protocols in place even for athletes, in order to protect the greater population. I don't think any athletes will be exempted from those quarantine periods. The massive advantage that the PGA Tour has is that it can hold the entire season in the USA.

<img alt="Anirban Lahiri" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1940497c-7ab1-4444-be35-cfa2e4584503" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_HC7XX.jpg" />

It might not be fair on players living outside the US, but this is the best we can do at the moment. I can't participate in the first few events of the tour but I'm not complaining because I realise that the sport needs to resume in some form, it is about survival and getting through this tough phase. That is the primary concern. There are still some players who are uncomfortable playing in these circumstances, and it is their right to choose not to play. The ultimate choice to compete for lies with the player and no one has the right to judge that decision. It's a completely personal choice. Also, the other tours are looking at the PGA Tour to set the standard in terms of how to resume golf amid the pandemic. I know that the Asian Tour is definitely employing that strategy. In a sense, the PGA Tour is going to be the industry leader in setting a template for the sport to resume. There are always going to be different opinions, but personally I want to see the sport restart sooner rather than later.

DSD: At some point, you have to get back so then are you looking at a long stint in America till the end of the year because of these quarantine regulations.

Anirban Lahiri: I'm definitely going to have to be in the US for a while, whenever I go there. At some point, I will have to return to America because I live there. I love it here in India and this has almost been like a holiday to me because I'm not working. The problem I have right now is that I have no goal to work towards in a certain time frame, I don't know when flights will resume and when I'll be able to get back to playing competitive golf. As soon as I get a definite timeline, I will start mental and physical preparation for my return to action. Any athlete has to be in the right frame of mind to be able to prepare for an event, it is difficult to do so without a fixed deadline. I am patiently waiting for some decision to be made on international travel.

DSD: The action resume at the Charles Schwab Challenge and there's the stellar lineup on the cards. Does that just show the desperation of everyone to get back to playing again?

Anirban Lahiri: I spoke to some of the golfers who were part of the players' advisory council, including Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, and all of them just wanted to get back to the course again. It is how us golfers earn our living and not playing for 3-4 months is very hard on us as competitive athletes. It gets frustrating after a certain point of time and that's why we're seeing such a star-studded entry list at the first tournament after the break. We might see very strong fields heading into the other tournaments as well because so many events have been lost and players are desperate to pick up their ranking points in order to qualify for the fed-ex cup.

DSD: Most of the American golfers stay on golf courses and have been probably playing more regularly than say the likes of you. But there also has been a lack of competition. So are we going to see some strange names up the leaderboard?

Anirban Lahiri: Players will certainly be a bit rusty in the first few rounds, but I don't think it will last very long. Most of my friends in the US have continued to play golf because the lockdown measures there were nowhere near as strict as the restrictions in India. The situation in India would have been exponentially worse if such stringent measures would not have been adopted. I don't feel that we will see a lower standard of golf, we might get to see the depth in the PGA Tour with some of the lesser-known players coming to the fore and doing well, or it might be normal service for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka. It is hard to say but I don't think the overall standard of golf will drop substantially. As far as I know, no golf course in the US was shut for more than two weeks. Despite the situation being so grave in America, golf courses were still open. A lot of the pros must have practised together which also might be a big help to them.

<img alt="Anirban Lahiri" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2a0ee7c3-0505-4c20-882c-ac715d69604c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_9H4B3.jpg" />

DSD: Actually more than us it is professionals like you who would be able to pick up on minute details. Did you get a chance to watch some of the charity matches which featured the likes Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson?

Anirban Lahiri: I didn't watch any of the exhibition games. At the end of the day, they are just charity matches and they have got absolutely no correlation with what you'll see in competitive tournaments. Some of the golfers might hit great shots, but that isn't a reflection on how they will perform at the proper tour events, it's a completely different ball game.

DSD: Ryder Cup remains a huge talking point, you have played in team competitions before and you know how significant the atmosphere is, some like Ian Poulter thrive off it.so do you see it being held without fans or pushed back?

Anirban Lahiri: Team Europe would certainly prefer the Ryder Cup to be played without fans because it is happening in America. The golf course at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, is one of my favourites and it is ideal for match-play. I would personally not want to be in a team competition without fans. Team events are the only ones which come closest to golf becoming a stadium sport. There are fans at regular events as well but there is a special atmosphere that is created by fans during team competitions.

PGA Tour card holder and Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about variety of things ranging from resumption of practice, life in lockdown, PGA Tour restart, players' form, Ryder Cup and much more.

PGA Tour card holder and Indian golfer Anirban Lahiri in an exclusive interview with WION's Sports Editor, Digvijay Singh Deo, spoke about variety of things ranging from resumption of practice, life in lockdown, PGA Tour restart, players' form, Ryder Cup and much more. Digvijay Singh Deo: Anirban when I messaged you this morning you were set to tee off for a round, so how relieved are you to get back to playing again? Anirban Lahiri: It's great to be back playing again. It was a huge relief when I got the clubs out. This lockdown period has been very tough for us athletes because our lives are centred around sport and it was suddenly taken away from us. So it was great to get back to what I love doing. DSD: Was it an unfamiliar feeling when you hit that golf balls for the first time and did you hit it straight down the fairway? Anirban Lahiri: It felt extremely strange, I don't think I have ever had so much time away from golf since I was in school. It almost felt like I was returning from my summer vacations in school because I didn't have any golf clubs back then. I was just happy to be back playing. Obviously it will take some time to return to my peak skill level. DSD: Now usually such a long period without any action happens only when one is seriously injured, so how did you cope through this lockdown phase? Anirban Lahiri: I don't believe the lockdown has been a terrible period for me as I got to spend some quality time with my 15-month old daughter. I also used this time to read and just get some much-needed rest. It has been a very hectic last five years for me on the PGA Tour, I have constantly been travelling. So it was great to be able to relax for a while, but that too got frustrating after about 30 days. I have been trying to stay fit by doing yoga, working out and eating healthy. DSD: For you personally, a chance to introspect and plot a course to get back to your best form and also a way up the rankings. Also with the Olympics now a year away there is enough time to get back into the mix. Anirban Lahiri: Before the scheduled Indian Open in March, my coach and I had drawn up a phase-wise plan to improve certain areas of my game that needed attention, which would help me get back to my best. My performances over the last two years have been extremely disappointing. We were in phase one of that plan when the lockdown began. Now that I have started playing a bit of golf again, I'm in touch with my coach. My participation in PGA Tour events depends on when international travel will resume. I would also like to spend 15 days with my coach in Ahmedabad, where he's based so that I can work on certain aspects of my game before I return to competitive golf. The Olympic postponement is actually a blessing for me because it gives me more time to secure qualification. This lockdown period has brought a lot of positives in my life and I will try to build on them. DSD: You were in India when the PGA Tour abruptly shut down during the Players' Championships, at that time it was just a temporary break but perhaps no one had an idea of what they were dealing with. Anirban Lahiri: The coronavirus crisis has affected all industries in the world, including sport. But hats off to the PGA Tour for being so proactive and putting a proper schedule out for the players. The PGA is one of the few major sporting organisations which has released a detailed plan to get the sport up and running. I have been involved in some form in the decision-making process and it has been a very difficult period for the PGA Tour. There are a lot of stakeholders in the game and their safety must be the priority. No one could have predicted the extent to which sport and life in general, would be affected by the crisis .it is good to see that there are signs of a return to some sort of normalcy, at least in golf. When the tour resumes, it will probably be a 'new normal' and it'll be interesting to see how the sport adapts. Hopefully, everything will go smoothly and the PGA Tour could also be a model for other sports to follow amid the coronavirus pandemic. I'm disappointed that I'm not going to be part of the tour right from the get-go, but I'm delighted that I'll get to see some live golf again. DSD: Is it safe to resume the PGA Tour in the USA, given the massive health crisis the country is in. Anirban Lahiri: I have been part of the players' advisory council for the last three years and i must say that the pga tour has left no stone unturned in trying to set up an environment where everyone involved in the tour can stay as safe as possible in the current climate. There are extremely strict health protocols in place at every step. Players and caddies will be tested for the coronavirus before travelling to the event, upon arrival and also just before the tournament begins. They are going to stay in designated hotels and no family members are allowed to travel with them. Only one coach can accompany the player to the events. Chartered flights have been organised for travel between events, which will only carry essential personnel. These protocols are going to be followed for the first four events after the hiatus. There have been hours of work and a lot of deliberation after which the PGA Tour has come up with these safety measures. I feel that this is the safest possible environment that can be created for players, given the current situation. Obviously it is impossible to guarantee 100% safety of all individuals, there are still chances of people contracting the virus. In fact, there are protocols in place in case an individual on the tour contracts the virus during the event. All contingencies have been covered by the PGA Tour. The players obviously want to get back to action and earn their living, but the last thing they want is to contract the virus and get it home. I think most of the players' concerns have been addressed by the tour and now it is just a case of executing the measures and hoping everything goes well. If I were in America and able to travel to the events, I would definitely play. DSD: Now the PGA Tour is primarily an American Tour but obviously the biggest and most prestigious professional tour in the world. Now unlike tennis, they do not need everyone to be available before resuming. But it is players like you who are from abroad that will have a problem getting into the US, it's not really fair on the non-American players. Anirban Lahiri: That's the reality of the situation, it is certainly unfair for certain players but these are unprecedented times and certain compromises have to made. Although to tackle that situation, the PGA Tour has guaranteed that those players who were eligible to play on the tour in 2020, will retain their rights for the 2021 season. The European tour is also having six events in the UK at the start of its season and most countries are going to have mandatory quarantine protocols in place even for athletes, in order to protect the greater population. I don't think any athletes will be exempted from those quarantine periods. The massive advantage that the PGA Tour has is that it can hold the entire season in the USA. It might not be fair on players living outside the US, but this is the best we can do at the moment. I can't participate in the first few events of the tour but I'm not complaining because I realise that the sport needs to resume in some form, it is about survival and getting through this tough phase. That is the primary concern. There are still some players who are uncomfortable playing in these circumstances, and it is their right to choose not to play. The ultimate choice to compete for lies with the player and no one has the right to judge that decision. It's a completely personal choice. Also, the other tours are looking at the PGA Tour to set the standard in terms of how to resume golf amid the pandemic. I know that the Asian Tour is definitely employing that strategy. In a sense, the PGA Tour is going to be the industry leader in setting a template for the sport to resume. There are always going to be different opinions, but personally I want to see the sport restart sooner rather than later. DSD: At some point, you have to get back so then are you looking at a long stint in America till the end of the year because of these quarantine regulations. Anirban Lahiri: I'm definitely going to have to be in the US for a while, whenever I go there. At some point, I will have to return to America because I live there. I love it here in India and this has almost been like a holiday to me because I'm not working. The problem I have right now is that I have no goal to work towards in a certain time frame, I don't know when flights will resume and when I'll be able to get back to playing competitive golf. As soon as I get a definite timeline, I will start mental and physical preparation for my return to action. Any athlete has to be in the right frame of mind to be able to prepare for an event, it is difficult to do so without a fixed deadline. I am patiently waiting for some decision to be made on international travel. DSD: The action resume at the Charles Schwab Challenge and there's the stellar lineup on the cards. Does that just show the desperation of everyone to get back to playing again? Anirban Lahiri: I spoke to some of the golfers who were part of the players' advisory council, including Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, and all of them just wanted to get back to the course again. It is how us golfers earn our living and not playing for 3-4 months is very hard on us as competitive athletes. It gets frustrating after a certain point of time and that's why we're seeing such a star-studded entry list at the first tournament after the break. We might see very strong fields heading into the other tournaments as well because so many events have been lost and players are desperate to pick up their ranking points in order to qualify for the fed-ex cup. DSD: Most of the American golfers stay on golf courses and have been probably playing more regularly than say the likes of you. But there also has been a lack of competition. So are we going to see some strange names up the leaderboard? Anirban Lahiri: Players will certainly be a bit rusty in the first few rounds, but I don't think it will last very long. Most of my friends in the US have continued to play golf because the lockdown measures there were nowhere near as strict as the restrictions in India. The situation in India would have been exponentially worse if such stringent measures would not have been adopted. I don't feel that we will see a lower standard of golf, we might get to see the depth in the PGA Tour with some of the lesser-known players coming to the fore and doing well, or it might be normal service for the likes of Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka. It is hard to say but I don't think the overall standard of golf will drop substantially. As far as I know, no golf course in the US was shut for more than two weeks. Despite the situation being so grave in America, golf courses were still open. A lot of the pros must have practised together which also might be a big help to them. DSD: Actually more than us it is professionals like you who would be able to pick up on minute details. Did you get a chance to watch some of the charity matches which featured the likes Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson? Anirban Lahiri: I didn't watch any of the exhibition games. At the end of the day, they are just charity matches and they have got absolutely no correlation with what you'll see in competitive tournaments. Some of the golfers might hit great shots, but that isn't a reflection on how they will perform at the proper tour events, it's a completely different ball game. DSD: Ryder Cup remains a huge talking point, you have played in team competitions before and you know how significant the atmosphere is, some like Ian Poulter thrive off it.so do you see it being held without fans or pushed back? Anirban Lahiri: Team Europe would certainly prefer the Ryder Cup to be played without fans because it is happening in America. The golf course at Whistling Straits, Wisconsin, is one of my favourites and it is ideal for match-play. I would personally not want to be in a team competition without fans. Team events are the only ones which come closest to golf becoming a stadium sport. There are fans at regular events as well but there is a special atmosphere that is created by fans during team competitions.

Lahiri: PGA Tour restart will set the template for resumption of golf

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire sporting world to an unusual halt. The biggest sporting tournaments have gotten either cancelled or postponed including chess tournaments. Five-time world champion and India's first-ever grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand, is currently on self-isolation in Frankfurt, Germany. The 50-year-old, Padma Vibhushan awardee, was scheduled to return to India, from Germany, on Monday (March 16) but the COVID-19 pandemic has left him with no other substitute than to stay in the foreign land.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/chess-grandmaster-viswanathan-anand-stuck-in-germany-due-to-covid-19-scare-286601" hreflang="en">Chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand stuck in Germany due to COVID-19 scare</a>

"Yes, it is strange staying in a self-isolation but this is the best possible way to curb the spread, right? Staying all locked alone is not something that we do on a daily purpose but with things escalating to such an adverse situation, I am left with no choice," Anand told WION in an exclusive chat.

Anand, who was in Frankfurt to play for SC Baden OOO in Bundesliga Chess, is staying in touch with his family and friends during his free time. While it is natural that his family is worried about his extended stay in Germany, Anand reckons not travelling from the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e, Europe is the best possible option right now.

<h2>"Constant touch with my family and friends"</h2>

"Yes, I am in constant touch with my family and friends. But to be honest, life is pretty normal, I am not doing anything extra apart from staying home. Whatever happening in the entire world is not something I ever imagined but staying behind closed doors is the best way to stay safe."

The multiple-time World Chess Champion, however, will continue with his maiden commentary assignment from his apartment in Frankfurt. He is set to take up the commentator's role for the FIDE Candidates tournament that is set to take place at Yekaterinburg in Russia from Tuesday. However, all he needs is the internet to start his stint as a commentator. "Being a chess player, all I need is the internet. It is going to be a pretty exciting tournament and I am looking forward to the commentary stint, albeit from here in Germany."

With the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the novel coronavirus a pandemic, there has been a bit of scare relating to the novel COVID-19. While Europe has been announced as the 'epicenter' of the coronavirus pandemic, Anand urges everyone to follow the precautionary measures. "Staying isolated is the best thing to do with the situation getting worse with each day. Even though I want to return home, travelling in Europe is not the best of ideas. Even the World Health Organization has now declared Europe as the epicenter of coronavirus, so I hope everyone stays at their place and remains safe, here and also in India," Anand concluded.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire sporting world to an unusual halt. The biggest sporting tournaments have gotten either cancelled or postponed including chess tournaments.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought the entire sporting world to an unusual halt. The biggest sporting tournaments have gotten either cancelled or postponed including chess tournaments. Five-time world champion and India's first-ever grandmaster, Viswanathan Anand, is currently on self-isolation in Frankfurt, Germany. The 50-year-old, Padma Vibhushan awardee, was scheduled to return to India, from Germany, on Monday (March 16) but the COVID-19 pandemic has left him with no other substitute than to stay in the foreign land. Also read: Chess grandmaster Viswanathan Anand stuck in Germany due to COVID-19 scare "Yes, it is strange staying in a self-isolation but this is the best possible way to curb the spread, right? Staying all locked alone is not something that we do on a daily purpose but with things escalating to such an adverse situation, I am left with no choice," Anand told WION in an exclusive chat. Anand, who was in Frankfurt to play for SC Baden OOO in Bundesliga Chess, is staying in touch with his family and friends during his free time. While it is natural that his family is worried about his extended stay in Germany, Anand reckons not travelling from the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic, i.e, Europe is the best possible option right now. "Constant touch with my family and friends" "Yes, I am in constant touch with my family and friends. But to be honest, life is pretty normal, I am not doing anything extra apart from staying home. Whatever happening in the entire world is not something I ever imagined but staying behind closed doors is the best way to stay safe." The multiple-time World Chess Champion, however, will continue with his maiden commentary assignment from his apartment in Frankfurt. He is set to take up the commentator's role for the FIDE Candidates tournament that is set to take place at Yekaterinburg in Russia from Tuesday. However, all he needs is the internet to start his stint as a commentator. "Being a chess player, all I need is the internet. It is going to be a pretty exciting tournament and I am looking forward to the commentary stint, albeit from here in Germany." With the World Health Organisation (WHO) declaring the novel coronavirus a pandemic, there has been a bit of scare relating to the novel COVID-19. While Europe has been announced as the 'epicenter' of the coronavirus pandemic, Anand urges everyone to follow the precautionary measures. "Staying isolated is the best thing to do with the situation getting worse with each day. Even though I want to return home, travelling in Europe is not the best of ideas. Even the World Health Organization has now declared Europe as the epicenter of coronavirus, so I hope everyone stays at their place and remains safe, here and also in India," Anand concluded.

EXCLUSIVE: 'Left with no choice,' Viswanathan Anand stuck in Germany amid coronavirus pandemic

Speaking world leaders on how climate change needs immediate attention.

WION's exclusive conversation with world leaders on climate change

Seychelles President Danny Faure is coming on a state visit to India. Before the visit begins later this month, he speaks to WION's Amitabh Pashupati Revi as part of our Global Leadership Series on the history of ties between India and the island nation, the strategic position of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and how the ties between the two nations will move forward.

Here is the full transcript of the interview:

WION: Seychellois President Danny Faure was sworn in in October 2016. He also holds the Defence, Public Administration and Legal Affairs portfolios. He’s been a minister since 1998, oversaw IMF reforms, served as Vice President and is now warmly hosting us in Victoria, Mahe - at the state house in Seychelles.

President Faure: Thank you.

WION: The ties between India and Seychelles go way back to time when the immigrants had come in. So much has changed, but so much is still the same. In Indira Gandhi’s time, Rajiv Gandhi’s time two coups were probably foiled and now we are still moving forward. Prime Minister Modi and you will be meeting for the third time this year.

President Faure: Yes, and it’s a sign of the relationship that we have an excellent relationship - the ties between our two people, two governments. So this is it is in this context.

WION: PM Modi, when he also started out on Indian Ocean region travels, Seychelles was one of the places where he came in 2015 and there were various agreements that were signed. You are going now on a historic your first state visit to New Delhi and we are looking forward to being a gracious host with you as well. Cooperation between India and Seychelles is so multifaceted. Trade, cultural, military, security, economy - it’s a very multifaceted relationship.

President Faure: Because it’s a partnership. The partnership is not only in one sphere of development and we have always had this, as I said, this excellent relationship with and friendship with India and the partnership that we have with India is one which is of mutual respect. It’s one based on trust and we share common aspirations in the world that we belong to. We both as nations stand for peace, we stand for development we also stand for the sustainable development of our people.

WION: The prime minister’s initiative was also called Sagar which in Hindi means sea but it’s again reflecting the same aspirations that you just mentioned - of partnership. It’s not of inequality, it’s of give and take, of realising each other's potential and working towards something better for the entire region while you are doing that individually and as countries as well.

President Faure: India, your population is over 1 billion, ours is less than 100,000.

WION: Just about reaching there soon.

President Faure: So basically it is no longer about the size of the country. It is fundamentally human development and human dignity and the aspirations of our people. So this is what the relationship is all about.

WION: Being a 153-island archipelago stretched over such vast areas of sea and your economic interest, anti-piracy, anti-drugs, that’s one area where India has been and can continue to really help Seychelles.

President Faure: Over the last 40 years since our independence, we realised that we have a vast Exclusive Economic Zone which is practically the size of South Africa and twice the size of Madagascar. We also realised that it was not possible for us to build the capacity or have the necessary assets. So India, as our neighbour, good friend and the partnership we have, has been helping Seychelles in good times and in bad times. We have received a technical cooperation in the defence and in the security and because of the support that we have received from India, we have been able to build our own defence forces over the years.

WION: When you are talking about the military cooperation, what has been talked about of late this year is the facility at the Assumption Island. Is it still stuck internally, politically?

President Faure: India and its Prime Minister understand the Seychelles position. And what I am happy about is that there hasn’t been any moment where the government of India has tried to influence our domestic politics. India is a democracy, ours we are an evolving democracy and we are building institutions. As President, I am the head of the executive but I do not have a majority in our Parliament, in our National Assembly and the difference between your system and our system is that a ratification has to go through Parliament. Although there has been an agreement, I have decided not to submit the agreement to National Assembly for ratification because I have received the signals that it won’t go (through). So, as we speak there is the agreement that won’t go before our National Assembly, but it doesn’t mean that the ambition of my government, my administration for us to have a coast guard facility on Assumption does not remain. We will continue to do that on our own as the government of Seychelles - to have a facility on that island, it is important because of what is happening around in our waters. We will continue to do that on our own.

WION: Again like you are saying the Indian government and the government of Seychelles is in a partnership and there has been nothing thrust on you or you are not trying to influence anything that’s happening here. Have you understood or can you explain to us why there is opposition? Is it only because of environmental concerns? Is it because of concerns that a foreign country is taking over a part of your country?

President Faure: I think basically the concerns are genuine and fundamentally it came out as a wrong communication and I would make a statement internationally, that India was about to set up a base and that was not the intention of the government of India. The intention of the government of India was to have a facility but this facility would have a joint operation. Secondly, there has been real concerns in the area of environment because Assumption is not far from Aldabra which is a UNESCO world heritage site so these were the concerns. But, the idea of having a small, I repeat, a small coast guard facility to protect our islands and in the area of security. Maritime security and defence remains part of the strategy of the defence of the Seychelles.

WION: President Faure, if I have understood you have worked in this office, in this state, it has been projected as bipartisan kind of leadership. You gave up the leadership of your own party for those reasons is how we see it. Is that moving forward in terms of getting the opposition especially in this particular project or do you think that the domestic politics, the domestic ambitions of political leaders in the opposition are also partly the reason for say opposition like this on this issue?

President Faure: Well I think they have expressed themselves openly in Parliament and out of Parliament and in my meeting with them they have expressed themselves clearly. So I understand the position and I think the relationship between India and Seychelles will go beyond our time as politicians it is a relationship between two people.

WION: You are visualising the facility in the long term. Analysts who looks at this region - the Indian Ocean region - see it also as game between big regional part India China. India looks at China in some senses as trying to encircle it with the string of pearls. Is China involved in any aspect in Seychelles itself because we all know they are all the way up to Djibouti?

President Faure: Yeah, historical contexts you know. We have had Portuguese, Spanish, European who have traveled the oceans. It is only, I would say, the last 15 years that China is developing, trying to deal with poverty and underdevelopment. India is also developing so both nations are catching up, but they are doing the right things for their own people. India is dealing with abject poverty and there is growth, in fact, you have achieved average growth over the last decade of around 4 to 6% so has China and the volume of trade in the Indian Ocean has increased tremendously, and Africa as a continent has also been developing. We leaders in Africa we are no longer stuck into the problems that we had 25 years ago fighting amongst one another, we are now trying to deal with the problems of poverty, diseases, industrialisation so we are looking at the welfare of our countries we want to develop. So as a country the more we develop... we have been able to do that on our own but we have received assistance from all partners. China has been present in Africa and it has also been present in Seychelles. China has helped Seychelles in its socio-economic development and India has also helped Seychelles in our social-economic development. So we have looked towards India and China with the same friendship, this is a place where we have welcomed all partners and at no time have we found ourselves under any pressure from the Chinese government, not at all.

WION: Or either side. It’s not as if smaller countries try to play off the bigger countries to gain the most for themselves.

President Faure: No no, I can say that sincerely not from China, not from India.

WION: Again if you look at the ways that India and China have been developing over the years and developing the outreach, well they seem to be a different kind of model in India. It is more a partnership mould, whether its cultural ties that have been there through decades, it seems to many that China imposed some kind of chequebook diplomacy which lands counties into debt. We have seen things happening in Sri Lanka, we have seen the Maldives as well. Is that something you are keenly aware of or is that something that doesn’t worry you at all?

President Faure: No, in Seychelles our relationship has been very very different. I think the relation is based on respect and I have found that from my interaction with Prime Minister Modi and the leaders of India. I have seen that from the relationship that I have with the Chinese government. Big countries, size of your country, size of the population, but genuine respect for a small country like Seychelles. Our relationship has never been one of being dictated by big country or a small country and I think it is in this context that I believe that Seychelles' relationship will grow with both India and China.

WION: Again you said that the relationship between the two countries will outlive both leaders and parties that are currently in power indicating, of course, we get what you are indicating that India’s military and security cooperation with Seychelles has been immense. If my figures are right 50% of military and naval assets were given. A Dornier has been given, another one will be. About 70% of your military has been trained so there has been a close interlinkage but it's not as has been portrayed a military base being set up. We have had over the last two years eight Indian naval ships, which do turn around, last year it was 11 so that is continuing.

President Faure: It will continue, more will come so it is a genuine relationship. It is a partnership. The main source of the capacity and capabilities we have is India and here I can also state that we will continue with our Indian military cooperation because it has been one based on mutual respect and trust and our military personnel have benefited a lot over the last 40 years through a lot of training. We have thousands of Seychellois who have received high tech training in India. We don't talk about it but I should be talking about it and I think it is important that we thank the Indian government for that. In a lot of our development, we could not have been in a position where we are today without the Indian skilled labourers who have come to Seychelles. They came many years ago and they keep coming and we respect them. Our trade also in terms of retail sector development has grown - so it is in this context of relationship that I believe that people need to appreciate the warmth that we have between our two people.

WION: And that warmth seems to be increasing also in terms of tourism. If you look at figures again I think it is increasing 20% annually. Indian tourists coming into Seychelles. Would I be right in saying initially to preserve the ecosystem something like Bhutan's model Seychelles encouraged high end and high paying tourist, not tourists in large numbers who could destroy the ecosystem and is that model changing in any manner to get more tourists to come in?

President Faure: There is always going to be a pressure. But our policy has one centre on one sustainable development. Seychelles is a small country, very small and has a fragile ecosystem. We want to tap high-end tourism but we need space for other tourists to come to Seychelles, but at the same time we need to be mindful of the fragility of our country in terms of its ecosystem and the long term development. From the point of view of sustainable development we just need to have this balance between environment and tourism and the amount of tourists at any one time point in the country. Last year we had over 300 and 50 thousand and I think there is a question that we need to manage it, but I as a President I also look at the yield that needs to come from tourism and also to ensure that there is what I called value chain in development that the tourism becomes the main revenue main source of income but what we derive from tourism should also help other sectors of the economy.

WION: The Seychelles and your policies are known for green economics that the blue economics that the Seychelles follows in terms of sustainable development in global warming. How the world is dealing with it? Where does the Seychelles and where do you stand with how the US is walking out of deals with where financial aid would have been given to smaller countries to bypass the normal root. How worried are you?

President Faure: We signed the Paris agreement and we still believe that that's the root for humanity, not for our country individually, that's the root for humanity. I think that over time those who have questioned that will come back but I think the majority of the citizens of this world will continue to realise that their leaders took the right decision and it is our responsibility now to show them the responsibility for generations to come and not to vacillitate - not to change positions as we go forward.

WION: President, how worried are you because when you come in from the air and you see beautiful islands you are also acutely aware of how a slight rise in sea levels can wipe out so much of humanity and everything else the species around human habitation.

President Faure: Our battle cry is to get all the people around the world to understand what is happening. It is no longer a question that you are comfortable in your own country and you believe that you can continue to make progress while others should regress, go back into abject poverty or remain marginalised. I think the question of our time today is climate change and it’s for low-income countries, middle-income countries and high income countries. In the recent Davos meeting the world leaders read a report that the number one threat to development is climate change. And, it’s very clear. It is climate change. It is a fact, it is reality. We from small countries say that and I am happy that the country like India has embarked upon a very ambitious program on renewable energy. You have taken the lead with France building the solar alliance, giving other countries the opportunity to participate. These are the things that will continue to inspire others and this is a type of leadership.

WION: President, in a nutshell, where will you describe Indian and Seychelles currently are and where would you see us going?

President Faure: I would say that we have a bright future together. India is developing, in fact very fast and we are not so far from India. We will benefit from trade, from tourism, from technology, from the research that you are doing. So we will continue to have this partnership. My administration will build on this partnership and as I said it is a partnership that is there to stay and that’s the future of the relationship that we have with India.

WION: President Faure, a partnership to stay. Thank you on that note, but I have a couple of questions with you to show to our viewers all over the world now, a few personal questions about your life outside the state house. You were talking about continuity and change in Seychelles. Continuity in terms of your past, immigrants, colonial past and yet you’re moving into the modern age and this state house perhaps exemplifies that a lot in term of heritage but, you’re trying to move ahead into a modern era.

President Faure: Exactly.

WION: A little bit of history on the state house? Now, of course the Presidents don’t live here anymore.

President Faure: No, No. Our first founding President Mancham, in the colonial times, the Governors did. President Rene, Michel, none of them and I don’t live here.

WION: You have 5 children, 4 grandchildren.

President Faure: Yeah I’ve got 5 children, 4 grandchildren.

WION: After you took over, you made a speech in the Assembly saying the Seychelles, the country is the main focus, priority.

President Faure: Yes. I concentrate all my heart, my time, my passion.

WION: Does your family complain, like other families - that the grandfather doesn’t have time for them?

President Faure: I see them during the weekend. Sundays is when I spend time with them.

WION: Thank You President Faure, for being such a gracious host and we hope we will do the same for you in another month.

President Faure: Thank You.

This is a full transcript of WION's interview with Seychelles President Danny Faure. Faure was interviewed by WION's Amitabh Revi

Seychelles President Danny Faure is coming on a state visit to India. Before the visit begins later this month, he speaks to WION's Amitabh Pashupati Revi as part of our Global Leadership Series on the history of ties between India and the island nation, the strategic position of Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and how the ties between the two nations will move forward. Here is the full transcript of the interview: WION: Seychellois President Danny Faure was sworn in in October 2016. He also holds the Defence, Public Administration and Legal Affairs portfolios. He’s been a minister since 1998, oversaw IMF reforms, served as Vice President and is now warmly hosting us in Victoria, Mahe - at the state house in Seychelles. President Faure: Thank you. WION: The ties between India and Seychelles go way back to time when the immigrants had come in. So much has changed, but so much is still the same. In Indira Gandhi’s time, Rajiv Gandhi’s time two coups were probably foiled and now we are still moving forward. Prime Minister Modi and you will be meeting for the third time this year. President Faure: Yes, and it’s a sign of the relationship that we have an excellent relationship - the ties between our two people, two governments. So this is it is in this context. WION: PM Modi, when he also started out on Indian Ocean region travels, Seychelles was one of the places where he came in 2015 and there were various agreements that were signed. You are going now on a historic your first state visit to New Delhi and we are looking forward to being a gracious host with you as well. Cooperation between India and Seychelles is so multifaceted. Trade, cultural, military, security, economy - it’s a very multifaceted relationship. President Faure: Because it’s a partnership. The partnership is not only in one sphere of development and we have always had this, as I said, this excellent relationship with and friendship with India and the partnership that we have with India is one which is of mutual respect. It’s one based on trust and we share common aspirations in the world that we belong to. We both as nations stand for peace, we stand for development we also stand for the sustainable development of our people. WION: The prime minister’s initiative was also called Sagar which in Hindi means sea but it’s again reflecting the same aspirations that you just mentioned - of partnership. It’s not of inequality, it’s of give and take, of realising each other's potential and working towards something better for the entire region while you are doing that individually and as countries as well. President Faure: India, your population is over 1 billion, ours is less than 100,000. WION: Just about reaching there soon. President Faure: So basically it is no longer about the size of the country. It is fundamentally human development and human dignity and the aspirations of our people. So this is what the relationship is all about. WION: Being a 153-island archipelago stretched over such vast areas of sea and your economic interest, anti-piracy, anti-drugs, that’s one area where India has been and can continue to really help Seychelles. President Faure: Over the last 40 years since our independence, we realised that we have a vast Exclusive Economic Zone which is practically the size of South Africa and twice the size of Madagascar. We also realised that it was not possible for us to build the capacity or have the necessary assets. So India, as our neighbour, good friend and the partnership we have, has been helping Seychelles in good times and in bad times. We have received a technical cooperation in the defence and in the security and because of the support that we have received from India, we have been able to build our own defence forces over the years. WION: When you are talking about the military cooperation, what has been talked about of late this year is the facility at the Assumption Island. Is it still stuck internally, politically? President Faure: India and its Prime Minister understand the Seychelles position. And what I am happy about is that there hasn’t been any moment where the government of India has tried to influence our domestic politics. India is a democracy, ours we are an evolving democracy and we are building institutions. As President, I am the head of the executive but I do not have a majority in our Parliament, in our National Assembly and the difference between your system and our system is that a ratification has to go through Parliament. Although there has been an agreement, I have decided not to submit the agreement to National Assembly for ratification because I have received the signals that it won’t go (through). So, as we speak there is the agreement that won’t go before our National Assembly, but it doesn’t mean that the ambition of my government, my administration for us to have a coast guard facility on Assumption does not remain. We will continue to do that on our own as the government of Seychelles - to have a facility on that island, it is important because of what is happening around in our waters. We will continue to do that on our own. WION: Again like you are saying the Indian government and the government of Seychelles is in a partnership and there has been nothing thrust on you or you are not trying to influence anything that’s happening here. Have you understood or can you explain to us why there is opposition? Is it only because of environmental concerns? Is it because of concerns that a foreign country is taking over a part of your country? President Faure: I think basically the concerns are genuine and fundamentally it came out as a wrong communication and I would make a statement internationally, that India was about to set up a base and that was not the intention of the government of India. The intention of the government of India was to have a facility but this facility would have a joint operation. Secondly, there has been real concerns in the area of environment because Assumption is not far from Aldabra which is a UNESCO world heritage site so these were the concerns. But, the idea of having a small, I repeat, a small coast guard facility to protect our islands and in the area of security. Maritime security and defence remains part of the strategy of the defence of the Seychelles. WION: President Faure, if I have understood you have worked in this office, in this state, it has been projected as bipartisan kind of leadership. You gave up the leadership of your own party for those reasons is how we see it. Is that moving forward in terms of getting the opposition especially in this particular project or do you think that the domestic politics, the domestic ambitions of political leaders in the opposition are also partly the reason for say opposition like this on this issue? President Faure: Well I think they have expressed themselves openly in Parliament and out of Parliament and in my meeting with them they have expressed themselves clearly. So I understand the position and I think the relationship between India and Seychelles will go beyond our time as politicians it is a relationship between two people. WION: You are visualising the facility in the long term. Analysts who looks at this region - the Indian Ocean region - see it also as game between big regional part India China. India looks at China in some senses as trying to encircle it with the string of pearls. Is China involved in any aspect in Seychelles itself because we all know they are all the way up to Djibouti? President Faure: Yeah, historical contexts you know. We have had Portuguese, Spanish, European who have traveled the oceans. It is only, I would say, the last 15 years that China is developing, trying to deal with poverty and underdevelopment. India is also developing so both nations are catching up, but they are doing the right things for their own people. India is dealing with abject poverty and there is growth, in fact, you have achieved average growth over the last decade of around 4 to 6% so has China and the volume of trade in the Indian Ocean has increased tremendously, and Africa as a continent has also been developing. We leaders in Africa we are no longer stuck into the problems that we had 25 years ago fighting amongst one another, we are now trying to deal with the problems of poverty, diseases, industrialisation so we are looking at the welfare of our countries we want to develop. So as a country the more we develop... we have been able to do that on our own but we have received assistance from all partners. China has been present in Africa and it has also been present in Seychelles. China has helped Seychelles in its socio-economic development and India has also helped Seychelles in our social-economic development. So we have looked towards India and China with the same friendship, this is a place where we have welcomed all partners and at no time have we found ourselves under any pressure from the Chinese government, not at all. WION: Or either side. It’s not as if smaller countries try to play off the bigger countries to gain the most for themselves. President Faure: No no, I can say that sincerely not from China, not from India. WION: Again if you look at the ways that India and China have been developing over the years and developing the outreach, well they seem to be a different kind of model in India. It is more a partnership mould, whether its cultural ties that have been there through decades, it seems to many that China imposed some kind of chequebook diplomacy which lands counties into debt. We have seen things happening in Sri Lanka, we have seen the Maldives as well. Is that something you are keenly aware of or is that something that doesn’t worry you at all? President Faure: No, in Seychelles our relationship has been very very different. I think the relation is based on respect and I have found that from my interaction with Prime Minister Modi and the leaders of India. I have seen that from the relationship that I have with the Chinese government. Big countries, size of your country, size of the population, but genuine respect for a small country like Seychelles. Our relationship has never been one of being dictated by big country or a small country and I think it is in this context that I believe that Seychelles' relationship will grow with both India and China. WION: Again you said that the relationship between the two countries will outlive both leaders and parties that are currently in power indicating, of course, we get what you are indicating that India’s military and security cooperation with Seychelles has been immense. If my figures are right 50% of military and naval assets were given. A Dornier has been given, another one will be. About 70% of your military has been trained so there has been a close interlinkage but it's not as has been portrayed a military base being set up. We have had over the last two years eight Indian naval ships, which do turn around, last year it was 11 so that is continuing. President Faure: It will continue, more will come so it is a genuine relationship. It is a partnership. The main source of the capacity and capabilities we have is India and here I can also state that we will continue with our Indian military cooperation because it has been one based on mutual respect and trust and our military personnel have benefited a lot over the last 40 years through a lot of training. We have thousands of Seychellois who have received high tech training in India. We don't talk about it but I should be talking about it and I think it is important that we thank the Indian government for that. In a lot of our development, we could not have been in a position where we are today without the Indian skilled labourers who have come to Seychelles. They came many years ago and they keep coming and we respect them. Our trade also in terms of retail sector development has grown - so it is in this context of relationship that I believe that people need to appreciate the warmth that we have between our two people. WION: And that warmth seems to be increasing also in terms of tourism. If you look at figures again I think it is increasing 20% annually. Indian tourists coming into Seychelles. Would I be right in saying initially to preserve the ecosystem something like Bhutan's model Seychelles encouraged high end and high paying tourist, not tourists in large numbers who could destroy the ecosystem and is that model changing in any manner to get more tourists to come in? President Faure: There is always going to be a pressure. But our policy has one centre on one sustainable development. Seychelles is a small country, very small and has a fragile ecosystem. We want to tap high-end tourism but we need space for other tourists to come to Seychelles, but at the same time we need to be mindful of the fragility of our country in terms of its ecosystem and the long term development. From the point of view of sustainable development we just need to have this balance between environment and tourism and the amount of tourists at any one time point in the country. Last year we had over 300 and 50 thousand and I think there is a question that we need to manage it, but I as a President I also look at the yield that needs to come from tourism and also to ensure that there is what I called value chain in development that the tourism becomes the main revenue main source of income but what we derive from tourism should also help other sectors of the economy. WION: The Seychelles and your policies are known for green economics that the blue economics that the Seychelles follows in terms of sustainable development in global warming. How the world is dealing with it? Where does the Seychelles and where do you stand with how the US is walking out of deals with where financial aid would have been given to smaller countries to bypass the normal root. How worried are you? President Faure: We signed the Paris agreement and we still believe that that's the root for humanity, not for our country individually, that's the root for humanity. I think that over time those who have questioned that will come back but I think the majority of the citizens of this world will continue to realise that their leaders took the right decision and it is our responsibility now to show them the responsibility for generations to come and not to vacillitate - not to change positions as we go forward. WION: President, how worried are you because when you come in from the air and you see beautiful islands you are also acutely aware of how a slight rise in sea levels can wipe out so much of humanity and everything else the species around human habitation. President Faure: Our battle cry is to get all the people around the world to understand what is happening. It is no longer a question that you are comfortable in your own country and you believe that you can continue to make progress while others should regress, go back into abject poverty or remain marginalised. I think the question of our time today is climate change and it’s for low-income countries, middle-income countries and high income countries. In the recent Davos meeting the world leaders read a report that the number one threat to development is climate change. And, it’s very clear. It is climate change. It is a fact, it is reality. We from small countries say that and I am happy that the country like India has embarked upon a very ambitious program on renewable energy. You have taken the lead with France building the solar alliance, giving other countries the opportunity to participate. These are the things that will continue to inspire others and this is a type of leadership. WION: President, in a nutshell, where will you describe Indian and Seychelles currently are and where would you see us going? President Faure: I would say that we have a bright future together. India is developing, in fact very fast and we are not so far from India. We will benefit from trade, from tourism, from technology, from the research that you are doing. So we will continue to have this partnership. My administration will build on this partnership and as I said it is a partnership that is there to stay and that’s the future of the relationship that we have with India. WION: President Faure, a partnership to stay. Thank you on that note, but I have a couple of questions with you to show to our viewers all over the world now, a few personal questions about your life outside the state house. You were talking about continuity and change in Seychelles. Continuity in terms of your past, immigrants, colonial past and yet you’re moving into the modern age and this state house perhaps exemplifies that a lot in term of heritage but, you’re trying to move ahead into a modern era. President Faure: Exactly. WION: A little bit of history on the state house? Now, of course the Presidents don’t live here anymore. President Faure: No, No. Our first founding President Mancham, in the colonial times, the Governors did. President Rene, Michel, none of them and I don’t live here. WION: You have 5 children, 4 grandchildren. President Faure: Yeah I’ve got 5 children, 4 grandchildren. WION: After you took over, you made a speech in the Assembly saying the Seychelles, the country is the main focus, priority. President Faure: Yes. I concentrate all my heart, my time, my passion. WION: Does your family complain, like other families - that the grandfather doesn’t have time for them? President Faure: I see them during the weekend. Sundays is when I spend time with them. WION: Thank You President Faure, for being such a gracious host and we hope we will do the same for you in another month. President Faure: Thank You.

India has been with Seychelles in good times and bad: President Danny Faure to WION

By Amitabh Pashupati Revi

Is China behind the opposition to the Seychelles-India island naval facility?&nbsp;

The Seychellois President, in an exclusive interview, told WION: “China has been present in Africa and China has also been present in Seychelles. China has helped Seychelles in its social-economic development like India has also helped Seychelles in our social-economic development. So, we have looked towards India and China with the same friendship so this is a place where we have welcomed all partners and at no time have we found ourselves under any pressure from the Chinese government, not at all.”

The Seychelles-India deal was initially reached in 2015 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Victoria.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/stalled-india-seychelles-naval-facility-deal-will-outlive-any-opposition-president-faure-to-wion-142219">Stalled India-Seychelles naval facility deal will outlive any opposition, says President Faure</a>

The deal is for India to build, maintain and operate a maritime facility on Assumption Island. The island is strategically located on key Indian Ocean routes and will give — if and when set up — New Delhi a position on vital lanes.&nbsp;

The deal has to be ratified by the Seychellois National Assembly but it is stuck since the Opposition controls the Parliament.

President Faure also went to great lengths to expain to WION that his country was not part of the so-called Great Game in the Indian Ocean between India and China.&nbsp;

He said: “No, in Seychelles our relationship has been very different. I think the relation is based on respect and I have found that from my interaction with Prime Minister Modi, the leaders of India, and I have seen that from the relationship that I have with the Chinese government. Big countries, the size of your country, size of your population, but both have genuine respect for a small country like Seychelles and our relationship has never been one of being dictated to by a big country . I think it is in this context that I believe that Seychelles, our relationship will grow with both India and China.”

The Seychellois President also denied his country is playing off India and China in what analysts say is China’s encirclement of India in a ‘string of pearls theory’&nbsp;

Answering a WION question on whether smaller countries try to play off bigger countries to gain the most for themselves, President Faure said, “No, I can say that sincerely not from China, not from India.”

An India-Seychelles deal to build a naval facility on an island in the African archipelago is stuck. But that's not because of China, the Seychelles President told WION

By Amitabh Pashupati Revi Is China behind the opposition to the Seychelles-India island naval facility? The Seychellois President, in an exclusive interview, told WION: “China has been present in Africa and China has also been present in Seychelles. China has helped Seychelles in its social-economic development like India has also helped Seychelles in our social-economic development. So, we have looked towards India and China with the same friendship so this is a place where we have welcomed all partners and at no time have we found ourselves under any pressure from the Chinese government, not at all.” The Seychelles-India deal was initially reached in 2015 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Victoria. Also read: Stalled India-Seychelles naval facility deal will outlive any opposition, says President Faure The deal is for India to build, maintain and operate a maritime facility on Assumption Island. The island is strategically located on key Indian Ocean routes and will give — if and when set up — New Delhi a position on vital lanes. The deal has to be ratified by the Seychellois National Assembly but it is stuck since the Opposition controls the Parliament. President Faure also went to great lengths to expain to WION that his country was not part of the so-called Great Game in the Indian Ocean between India and China. He said: “No, in Seychelles our relationship has been very different. I think the relation is based on respect and I have found that from my interaction with Prime Minister Modi, the leaders of India, and I have seen that from the relationship that I have with the Chinese government. Big countries, the size of your country, size of your population, but both have genuine respect for a small country like Seychelles and our relationship has never been one of being dictated to by a big country . I think it is in this context that I believe that Seychelles, our relationship will grow with both India and China.” The Seychellois President also denied his country is playing off India and China in what analysts say is China’s encirclement of India in a ‘string of pearls theory’ Answering a WION question on whether smaller countries try to play off bigger countries to gain the most for themselves, President Faure said, “No, I can say that sincerely not from China, not from India.”

No pressure from China against India: Seychelles President Danny Faure tells WION in exclusive interview

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