The Indian Panorama

Month: December 2020

  • Holiday Traditions in the U.S.

    Holiday Traditions in the U.S.

    In the U.S., we refer to the months of November and December as “the holiday season” because of the major holidays celebrated from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.  The United States is a nation of many cultures that has adopted holiday customs from across the world, and we’ve developed a few of our own that stand out. Here’s a handy guide to those traditions for international students in the U.S.

    BLACK FRIDAY

    You may have seen it on TV – the day after Thanksgiving in the U.S., crowds gather at stores across the country in the early hours of the morning in search of the best discounts on presents for the holidays. The event got its name from a phrase used in business – “in the black” – which means that a company has made a profit.

    DRINKING EGGNOG

    Eggnog is a sweet seasonal drink that has been popular around the holidays in the U.S. since its colonial days. The drink consists of milk, cream, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and can be made with or without egg whites and rum/whiskey. While the drink originated in England, it’s a treat reserved just for the holidays in the States.

    DECORATING HOUSES WITH LIGHTS

    It’s common to see houses decorated with everything from white lights to blow-up decorations across the country. Going beyond public parks and city squares, American families and neighbors (like this city block in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) often see their impressive house decorations as a point of pride and cause for bragging rights.

    EATING PUMPKIN DESSERTS

    You may have heard the phrase, “as American as apple pie.” It may be even more appropriate to say so for pumpkin pie. Every autumn in the U.S., farmers harvest pumpkins that bakeries and families turn into a variety of holiday treats between Halloween and Christmas. The most famous of these is pumpkin pie, a sweet and hearty dessert typically enjoyed with family after Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner. Try a slice this year!

    WATCHING THE BALL DROP ON NEW YEAR’S EVE IN NEW YORK

     For over 100 years every New Year’s Eve, thousands of tourists flock to Times Square in New York City to witness “the Ball drop.” A 12-foot ball of Waterford crystals that weighs over 5,000 kg descends from the top of One Times Square as people in the U.S. count down to the new year. If you can’t make it to New York to see it yourself, you can watch it on TV.

    THE MUMMERS PARADE

    The Mummers Parade is thought to be the oldest folk festival in the U.S. The parade is a unique celebration on New Year’s Day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and consists of a number of string bands who play music and wear homemade elaborate costumes to ring in the new year.

    TIME OFF IN DECEMBER AND JANUARY

    Most U.S. schools and many businesses are closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day so families can spend time together. For college students in the U.S., the holidays mean it’s time for winter break, which usually lasts from mid-December to mid-January. Here’s how you can spend your month off.

    MIXING CULTURAL TRADITIONS

    The U.S. is home to people from all over the world, and holiday celebrations are no different.

    Happy Holidays!

    (The author  is the Marketing Coordinator for International Affairs at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

    (Source: www.studyusa.comhttps://www.studyusa.com/en/a/1812/a-guide-to-holiday-traditions-in-the-u-s )

  • Bhoomi puja for construction of the Eye Foundation of America – run “Green Goutami Eye Institute” Performed

    Bhoomi puja for construction of the Eye Foundation of America – run “Green Goutami Eye Institute” Performed

    RAJAHMUNDRY, INDIA / NEW YORK (TIP): “Sarvendriyanaam Nayanam Pradhanam”: with this objective, Dr. V.K. Raju, a world renowned Ophthalmologist – Cornea Specialist, Chairman of EFA (Eye Foundation of America) & GEI (Goutami Eye Institute) and Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, West Virginia University, USA., has planned “Green Goutami Eye Institute” with the divine blessings of Sri Sri Bharathi Tirtha Mahaswami and Sri Sri Sri Vidhushekara Bharathi Swami of Sri Sringeri Sarada Peetham, in the premises of Sri Sringeri Sharada Peetham at Rajahmundry, as a Unit of the Peetham, with the help and involvement of many people. Sri V.R. Gowrishankar, Administrator and GPA Holder Of His Holiness Jagadguru Shankaracharya Mahasamsthnam Dakshinamnaya Sri Sharada Peetham, Sringeri played a key role in making this dream project a reality. Bhoomi puja for construction of this premise of approximately one lakh square feet area was done on 10th December 2020.

    Dr. V.K. Raju, world renowned Ophthalmologist – Cornea Specialist, Chairman of EFA (Eye Foundation of America) & GEI (Goutami Eye Institute) and Clinical Professor of Ophthalmology, West Virginia University, USA.

    This will be a Super Speciality Eye Hospital with world class equipment and facilities, to serve the needy, irrespective of socio-economic status. The Institute will have DNB Ophthalmology Course, School of Optometry and Vision Care Technician Course. The Institute will also take up research to find new therapies for age old eye diseases hitherto not curable and also introduce Gene therapy in Retinal diseases, in coordination with the other Institutions from USA, who already have on-going projects on Gene therapy in devastating eye diseases in children, for a “World without Childhood Blindness”. The Bhoomi puja ceremony was conducted by Sri V.V. Kumar, M.D and Dr. Y. Srinivas Reddy, C.M.O along with five children who were treated and presented with vision by Goutami Eye Institute. Sri Mamidanna Seshagiri Rao, Dharmadikari of Sri Sringeri Sarada Peetham and Mahamahopadhyaya Sri Viswanadha Gopalakrishna Sastry graced the occasion. Dr. Ganni Bhaskar Rao, Chairman, GSL Medical College, Sri Madduri Siva Subba Rao  and Sri Chundru Prasad,  Governing Board Members of Goutami Eye Institute, Sri V. Bhaskar Ram, Managing Trustee of Virinchi Vanaprastha Ashramam, Sri Hota Sreeramachandra Murthy, Philanthropist and Sri P. Srinivasa Rao, renowned advocate  and other staff of Goutami Eye Institute  par ticipated in the event.

    Triplets – Prasanth, Susanth and Nisanth, who were treated by GEI three years ago and gifted vision for life, as ROP babies under GEMROP (Goutami Eye tele Medicine Retinopathy Of Prematurity).

  • Researchers develop sensor to detect fatty liver disease

    Researchers have developed a diagnostic tool, based on nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), that could be used to detect fatty liver disease or liver fibrosis.

    “Since it’s a non-invasive test, you could screen people even before they have obvious symptoms of the compromised liver, and you would be able to say which of these patients had fibrosis,” said study author Michael Cima from the Massachusetts Institute  of Technology in the US.

    The device, which is small enough to fit on a table, uses NMR to measure how water diffuses through tissue, which can reveal how much fat is present in the tissue.

    This kind of diagnostic, which has thus far been tested on mice, could help doctors catch the fatty liver disease before it progresses to fibrosis, the study published in the journal Nature Biomedical Engineering said.

    Fatty liver disease occurs when liver cells store too much fat. This leads to inflammation and eventually fibrosis, a build-up of scar tissue that can cause jaundice and liver cirrhosis, and eventually liver failure.

    Fibrosis is usually not diagnosed until the patient begins to experience symptoms that include not only jaundice but also fatigue and abdominal swelling.

  • Musk rival Mittal targets global satellite broadband by mid-2022

    Telecommunications tycoon Sunil Mittal said the satellite startup he rescued from bankruptcy with the U.K. government will be offering global broadband services within 18 months.

    The new target for OneWeb heats up a space race against two other billionaire entrepreneurs who are rushing to offer internet from low-earth orbit satellites — Space Exploration Technologies Corp. founder Elon Musk and Amazon.com Inc. founder Jeff Bezos.

    ”By May-June of 2022, which is less than 18 months, OneWeb’s constellation will cover the entire globe, every square inch of this world,” the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises said Wednesday at a conference hosted by the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union and Saudi Arabian communication regulator CITC.

  • Halo Infinite is finally launching in the fall 2021

    The much-awaited Halo Infinite will officially be launching in the fall of 2021. The announcement about the game was made by developers 343 Industries via a blog post.

    Halo Infinite was initially supposed to launch alongside the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S in November this year, but was delayed to 2021 August party because of the “challenges created by Covid-19 pandemic”.

    However, since Microsoft has not specified which month it is launching, the fall 2021 window pretty much means that Halo Infinite is delayed by almost an entire year from its original release date.

  • Signs of Blood Clot You Should Never Ignore

    Signs of Blood Clot You Should Never Ignore

    Most of the time, blood clots are a good thing. When you get injured, you need your blood to solidify and clump together at the site to help stop the bleeding. But sometimes clots crop up when they’re not needed, and that can spell trouble—especially if they form in the deep veins near your muscles.

    “When blood clots form in this deeper system, they can be painful and very dangerous,” says Luis Navarro, M.D., founder of the Vein Treatment Center in New York City. This kind of clot is called a deep vein thrombosis, or DVT. They’re like roadblocks on your blood highway, causing traffic jams in your circulation and prevent the blood flow that keeps your system up and running.

    Swelling in one limb

    A swollen leg or arm is one of the most common signs of a DVT. “Blood clots can block the healthy flow of blood in the legs, and blood can pool behind the clot causing swelling,” says Dr. Navarro.

    It’s normal to overlook leg swelling as a symptom of a DVT if you always get large or stiff legs when you fly or during periods of immobility. But be suspicious if your bloated limb comes on quickly, especially if it shows up with a side of pain.

    Leg or arm pain

    Usually, DVT pain comes as a combo with other symptoms like swelling or redness, but sometimes it can stand alone.

    “Unfortunately, pain from a blood clot can easily be mistaken for a muscle cramp or strain, which is why the issue often goes undiagnosed and is specifically dangerous,” says Dr. Navarro.

    DVT pain tends to strike when you’re walking or when you flex your foot upward. If you have a charley horse you can’t seem to shake—especially if the skin near it is warm or discolored—have your doctor take a look.

    Redness on your skin

    While it’s true that a bruise is a type of blood clot, it’s not the kind you have to worry about. You can’t see a DVT. You might see some bruise-like discoloration, but you’re more likely to see red. A DVT causes redness in the affected limb and makes your arm or leg feel warm to the touch.

    Chest pain

    A pain in your chest may make you think heart attack, but it could be a pulmonary embolism. “Both a PE and a heart attack share similar symptoms,” says Dr. Navarro. However, PE pain tends to be sharp and stabbing, and feels worst when you take a deep breath.

    Heart attack pain often radiates from upper areas of your body like your shoulders, jaw, or neck. The biggest clue is in your breathing—PE pain gets steadily worse with every breath you take.

    Shortness of breath

    A blood clot in your lung slows your oxygen flow, and that can leave you feeling winded. “You often won’t have the stamina or breath to make it up stairs. You feel lousy,” says George P. Teitelbaum, M.D., interventional neuroradiologist and director of the Stroke & Aneurysm Center at Providence Saint John’s Health Center in Santa Monica, Calif. Get help quickly, especially if this comes on suddenly.

    Unexplained cough

    Can’t stop hacking? If you’re also having shortness of breath, fast heart rate, or chest pain, it could be a PE. “The cough will be dry, but sometimes people can cough up mucus and/or blood,” says Dr. Navarro. When in doubt, phone your doc or go straight to the ER.

  • Google Photos now lets you sync  images with those in Apple’s Photos app

    Keeping a track of all your liked (heart) or favorite photos on both Google Photos and Apple Photos apps can be a task. So, Google is making it better and easier. Now, when you favourite or ‘Like’ a pic in Google Photos, it does the same to the pic that is saved in Apple Photos. You can do this by navigating to your profile photo on the top right > Photos Settings > Apple Photos > Sync favourites. Once the toggle is enabled, all those images that are favourited (heart) in Apple Photos camera roll, will be favorited in Google Photos and vice versa.

  • Heart disease now killing more people than ever before: WHO

    Heart disease, which has remained the leading cause of death at the global level for the last 20 years, is now killing more people than ever before, according to the World Health Organization.

    The WHO said diabetes and dementia are also among the world’s top 10 causes of death.

    The WHO’s 2019 Global Health Estimates, released on Wednesday, said non-communicable diseases now make up 7 of the world’s top 10 causes of death, an increase from 4 of the 10 leading causes in 2000. The new data cover the period from 2000 to 2019.

    “Heart disease has remained the leading cause of death at the global level for the last 20 years. However, it is now killing more people than ever before,” the organisation said.

    Heart disease now represents 16 per cent of total deaths from all causes and the number of deaths from heart disease increased by more than two million since 2000 to nearly 9 million in 2019. Diabetes and dementia enter the top 10 causes of death.

    Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia are now among the top 10 causes of death worldwide, ranking 3rd in both the Americas and Europe in 2019. Women are disproportionally affected: globally, 65 per cent of deaths from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia are women.

    Deaths from diabetes increased by 70 per cent globally between 2000 and 2019, with an 80 per cent rise in deaths among males. In the Eastern Mediterranean, deaths from diabetes have more than doubled and represent the greatest percentage increase of all WHO regions.

    The WHO said the estimates reveal trends over the last 2 decades in mortality and morbidity caused by diseases and injuries, clearly highlighting the need for an intensified global focus on preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as tackling injuries, in all regions of the world, as set out in the agenda for the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

    “These new estimates are another reminder that we need to rapidly step up prevention, diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases,” Director-General of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “They highlight the urgency of drastically improving primary health care equitably and holistically. Strong primary health care is clearly the foundation on which everything rests, from combatting non-communicable diseases to managing a global pandemic.”

  • Connoisseur’s Choice : Amritsari Fish Fry

    Connoisseur’s Choice : Amritsari Fish Fry

    By Tript Arora

    Amritsari Fish fry is a street food originated from the streets of Amritsar, a city in Punjab and famous all over the world. Boneless and skinless cubes of fish are marinated, deep fried and then served with green chutney and radish salad. For this recipe you can use any river-water fish (white Fish eg Rohu, Sole.) The reason behind using river-water fish is that these fish have a long skeleton which can be removed without much difficulty. And in Amritsari fish we use a skinless and boneless fish. Big fish fillets are cut into smaller cubes and marinated with spices and chickpea flour or ‘Besan’ and deep fried.

    This recipe requires two very simple types of marination. The first marination is gently rubbing some salt and lemon juice and keeping it for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes the marination of spices and flours is given. But this marination is not to be kept for too long, because fish is delicate in texture, if kept too long in marination it is bound to lose its crispness. The recipe is very simple and requires not much active effort. So let us get started.

    We Need

    500 Gm Boneless skinless Fish cut into cubes, 1 Tbsp of Lemon Juice, 2 Tbsp Chickpea flour (Besan), 2 Tbsp Corn flour, 2 Tbsp Rice Flour (Mandatory), ½ Tsp Turmeric Powder, 2 Tsp Red Chilli Powder, 1 Tbsp Carom seeds (Ajwain), 1 Tbsp Dhania Powder, 1 Tbsp Sour Curd, 1 Lemon, Salt to taste or 1 Tsp, 1 Tbsp Chat masala, Oil for Deep frying, Garlic- 10-12 cloves, Green chillies- 2

    Let us start

    Marination One: In a bowl take the cubes of fish, lemon juice and salt. Mix everything and keep aside for 15 minutes. This helps to remove smell from the fish and it also becomes tangy and tasty.

    Grind garlic cloves and green chillies to a fine paste.

    Marination Two: In another bowl mix chickpea flour, rice flour and corn flour. To this add turmeric powder, red chilli powder, carom seeds, dhania powder, garlic and green chilli paste and sour curd. Add fish pieces. Mix everything together with your hands rubbing each piece. Set aside for another 15 minutes.

    Heat cooking oil in a pan on medium flame. When heated add fish pieces. Fry them till half done and the fish pieces are of golden  colour. Drain them on tissue. Fry all pieces like this. Set aside for 5 minutes.

    Again fry them in medium hot oil till reddish brown and crisp. This double frying method makes the fish pakodas nice and crisp. Sprinkle some chat masala for extra tang. Serve them hot with green chutney and grated raddish . Enjoy them as evening snacks.

    –            Preparation Time 10 min

    –           Marination Time 30 min

    –             Cooking time 20 min.

    Tips

    –          Unlike chicken, fish needs less time in Marination as it is very delicate and cooks early.

    –             You can fry once also but frying twice makes it more crispy.

    –             I recommend mustard oil for frying as it enhances the taste of the fish.

  • Laser hair removal: Keep these Things in mInd

    If you’re not happy with shaving, tweezing, or waxing to remove unwanted hair, laser hair removal may be an option worth considering.

    Laser hair removal is one of the most commonly done cosmetic procedures in the U.S. It beams highly concentrated light into hair follicles. Pigment in the follicles absorb the light. That destroys the hair.

    Benefits

    Lasers are useful for removing unwanted hair from the face, leg, chin, back, arm, underarm, bikini line, and other areas.

    –            Precision: Lasers can selectively target dark, coarse hairs while leaving the surrounding skin undamaged.

    –            Speed: Each pulse of the laser takes a fraction of a second and can treat many hairs at the same time. The laser can treat an area approximately the size of a quarter every second. Small areas such as the upper lip can be treated in less than a minute, and large areas, such as the back or legs, may take up to an hour.

    –           Predictability: Most patients have permanent hair loss after an average of three to seven sessions.

    Laser hair removal, like any other surgical procedure, should be done only after understanding the numerous dos and don’ts so that the treatment turns out just right. While there are various hair removal options — from waxing to shaving and tweezing — laser hair removal is known to last much longer.

    If you are planning to opt for laser hair removal, here are some basic dos and don’ts that cosmetic a dermatologist suggested one should keep in mind before and after going for such a treatment.

    Before going for treatment

    –             Do not thread, pluck or wax the area to be treated for at least two-three weeks.

    –             Stop using all active acne, anti-ageing and pigmentation products two days before your laser session.

    –             Avoid swimming and exposure to UV rays a week before the session.

    After the session

    –             Apply calamine lotion or aloe vera gel to soothe the skin.

    –             Use sunscreen every three-four hours.

    –             Active creams and serums can be started after 48 hours.

    –            Apply a mild exfoliant like AHA/BHA lotion from the third day onwards.

    –             Gym and exercise after 12 hours.

    It is important to keep in mind that while most people report a permanent reduction in hair growth, fluctuating hormones can make one’s hair grow back quicker, which is why individual results may vary.

    Learning to trust in a new relationship

    It takes a while to get to know someone. When we first enter a new relationship, many of us want to present the best version of ourselves – deliberately hiding certain aspects of who we are until we feel we’ve got to know the person a bit better.

    And then later on, it may take a while before we’re truly willing to let them in – to know our insecurities, our hopes, our chequered family histories.

    We often worry that our new partner won’t accept us warts and all – that they won’t like and accept us once they’re familiar with our quirks and faults.

    But trust is an essential part of any relationship. It’s the foundation block upon which all the other good stuff – affection, intimacy, connection – is based.

    How do we learn to trust someone?

    It can be a scary thing to do. After all, when you begin to trust someone, you’re not just learning to rely on them – you’re giving up some of what you’ve learned in terms of relying on yourself. Trust can sometimes make you feel vulnerable.

    Furthermore, lots of people find this difficult because of what they’ve been through in previous relationships. If you’ve been cheated on or let down – or if you grew up in an environment where you had to learn to look after yourself – it can take even longer to let down those defences. It’s common to worry that in doing so you risk being hurt all over again.

    Talking it through

    The first thing to say is that you can’t rush trust. Sometimes, it just takes time. If you’re finding it difficult, it might just be that you need to take things at a slower pace and see how you get on.

    At the same time, it can be useful to think about any reasons you might have for finding it hard to trust a new partner. As mentioned, it could be memories from previous relationships or your family upbringing that are causing you to be cautious. There’s nothing wrong with this in itself – but it may be useful to talk this over with your partner so they know some of the challenges you’re facing (for tips on tackling difficult conversations with your partner, check out this article).

    Ultimately, trust is about getting to a point where you feel you can openly communicate with your partner without having to worry – where you can be yourself and be confident you can say exactly how you’re feeling without thinking you’re going to be judged or dismissed. Bearing this in mind as a sort of ‘target’ can be useful.

  • Spider-Man 3 to bring back Dr Octopus from Sam Raimi’s franchise

    Spider-Man 3 to bring back Dr Octopus from Sam Raimi’s franchise

    Veteran actor Alfred Molina is set to reprise his role as the antagonist Doctor Octopus in Spider-Man 3, with Tom Holland in the title role.

    Sources told The Hollywood Reporter, Molina has joined the cast as Otto Octavius, a path-breaking scientist-turned-eight-limbed villain who challenged Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2, which was released as the 2004 sequel to the director’s 2002 movie.

    The actor, whose credits include films Frida, The Da Vinci Code and Feud: Bette and Joan series, was first rumored to be part of the upcoming Marvel-Sony film late last month, when GWW reported the actor had been spotted on set.

    Apart from Molina, Jamie Foxx is also coming as Electro after playing the role in 2014’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2, which starred Andrew Garfield as the web-slinger. In October, Foxx hinted in a since-deleted Instagram post that three different Spider-Men could appear in the movie.

    Spider-Man 3 will see Holland return in the lead along with director Jon Watts, who helmed Spider-Man: Homecoming and Spider-Man: Far From Home. Sony Pictures is slated to release the film on December 17, 2021.

    Benedict Cumberbatch will also reprise his Doctor Strange role and returning Spider-Man franchise stars are expected to include Zendaya, Marisa Tomei, Jacob Batalon and Tony Revolori.

  • Kourtney Kardashian comes aboard She’s All That remake

    Kourtney Kardashian comes aboard She’s All That remake

    Reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian has announced that she will be making a guest appearance in upcoming movie He’s All That. The film is a gender-swapped reboot of the 1999 teen comedy movie She’s All That, which featured Freddie Prinze Jr and Rachael Leigh Cook in the lead.

    TikTok star Addison Rae Easterling is headlining the reboot, which will be directed by Mark Waters of Mean Girls and Freaky Friday fame. Taking to Instagram, Kardashian shared an photo of her reading the film’s script. “studying @hesallthatmovie,” she wrote in the caption.

    The film’s official Instagram account then reposted Kardashian’s photo on its Instagram story and wrote, “Introducing Jessica Miles Torres”. According to Variety, Kardashian has a cameo appearance in the movie. However, more details of the character are not yet known. He’s All That will follow an influencer (Rae) who attempts to turn a nerdy boy (Tanner Buchanan) into prom king. R Lee Fleming, who penned the original, is also writing the remake, which will be produced by Andrew Panay and Jennifer Gibgot.

  • Joe Russo is building a shared movie universe based on Extraction

    Joe Russo is building a shared movie universe based on Extraction

    The Russo Brothers have plans to build a shared universe based on the action thriller Extraction. The Chris Hemsworth-starrer, which was produced by the Russos, released earlier this year.

    Joe Russo told Collider, “I’m still not gonna commit because I think it’s more exciting to surprise people, but I will say this: we are working at building out a universe of films that could potentially explore some of the other characters from the first movie and some new characters, and see more historical interaction between the characters.”

    He added, “So if you’re interested in David Harbour’s character, you just may get to see him in a future Extraction movie.” Extraction had Hemsworth’s mercenary Tyler Rake being recruited by another mercenary Nik Khan (Golshifteh Farahani) to rescue the son (Rudhraksh Jaiswal) of an imprisoned crime lord (Pankaj Tripathi).

  • Sonu Sood mortgages property to raise money for the needy

    Sonu Sood mortgages property to raise money for the needy

    Bollywood actor Sonu Sood, who helped thousands of stranded migrant workers get back home during the coronavirus-induced lockdown, has now mortgaged his properties in Mumbai to raise Rs 10 crore to help the underprivileged, migrant workers and patients who suffer from serious diseases.

    A source close to the actor told indianexpress.com that Sood has mortgaged two shops and six flats located in Mumbai’s Juhu area. The source added, “Sonu Sood has always believed in helping the needy and the cause is very close to his heart. He wanted to do more for people who have been affected the most by the pandemic. Sonu has also started helping patients who are suffering from serious diseases and need help for treatment.”

    Sonu Sood’s humanitarian efforts and experiences during the coronavirus crisis have been documented in his autobiography, I Am No Messiah, which releases on December 15.

  • Sunny Leone is ‘lost in time’

    Sunny Leone is ‘lost in time’

    After having spent a good time in Los Angeles with her family amid COVID 19 pandemic, Sunny Leone returned to India in November. She has been on a roll after her return. The Jism 2 actress, who has some interesting projects in her kitty, has been busy shooting for her upcoming horror-comedy film Koka Kola. Amid this, she has also been very active on social media and often treats her fans with stunning pictures. To note, she is among those celebs whose pictures go viral in no time.

    Keeping up with this trajectory, the actress has dropped her amazing throwback picture that seems to be taken from a shoot. In the photo, the diva can be seen standing while wearing a white robe. She looks beautiful in the click as she poses with utmost perfection. Going by her photo, it looks like she is giving some shot for a film. Alongside it, she writes, “Lost in time…. ?? #throwback.” Her latest post has left netizens in awe as they are all praises for it. One of the users comments, “Beautiful” while another writes, “Wah.”

    Sunny had earlier talked about returning to the sets after a long time and said she is very excited to face the camera again. She also added that she has been working on some really interesting projects which she cannot wait to share with all. The diva told ETimes , “I have been waiting to be on a set for the longest time. I do have a packed schedule ahead, but I am not complaining. I am so excited to face the camera because that is where I truly belong.” She will soon be featuring in a music video titled Dope Video.

  • Farah set to direct Hrithik for an advertisement

    Farah set to direct Hrithik for an advertisement

    Stepping out of his comfort zone after nine months, Hrithik Roshan is gearing up to finally begin shooting on a set. While the actor has been filming from his Juhu residence for various projects, this is the first time he will be working with a crew for an advertisement in Film City.

    Director-choreographer Farah Khan, who was rumoured to initially direct Roshan in the remake of Satte Pe Satta, will be helming the ad shoot. During the pandemic, the Om Shanti Om director shot for Khatron Ka Khiladi, Bigg Boss, and did a cameo in a movie. “Both Hrithik and Farah have been extremely cautious about shooting during the pandemic. He is particular that all safety measures be followed stringently. Everyone will be tested a day prior to the shoot and be given PPE suits. Despite the minimal staff, Hrithik will wrap up the shoot in a day,” informs a source.

    Khan and Roshan have collaborated for dance routines before. “Farah gave him his signature step in the song Ek pal ka jeena [Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai, 2000] and was also responsible for the chartbuster Idhar chala, main udhar chala, [Koi Mil Gaya, 2003], but this will be the first time she directs Hrithik for an ad,” adds the source.

  • New Parliament will witness making of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’: PM

    New Parliament will witness making of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’: PM

    New Delhi (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, Dec 10,  laid the foundation stone of the new Parliament building here at an event that was attended by leaders from various political parties, cabinet ministers and ambassadors of different countries.

    Describing the laying of foundation stone of the new Parliament building as a “milestone in India’s democratic history”, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said if the old Parliament house gave direction to the country post-independence, the new one would be a witness to the making of a self-reliant India.

    Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone of the new building and performing the ground-breaking ceremony, Modi said many new things were being done in the new Parliament House, which will increase the efficiency of the MPs as modern methods will be incorporated in the work culture.

    “It is a very historic day. Today is a milestone in India’s democratic history,” he said.

    “We, the people of India, will together build this new building of Parliament. This new building will be an inspiration when India will celebrate its 75 years of independence,” Modi said.
    “I can never forget the moment in my life when I had the opportunity to come to Parliament House for the first time in 2014 as an MP. Before stepping in, I bowed and saluted this temple of democracy,” he said.

    If the old Parliament House gave direction to India post-independence, the new building would be a witness to the creation of a self-reliant India, Modi said.

    “If work was done to fulfil the needs of the country in the old Parliament building, then the aspirations of 21st century India will be fulfilled in the new building,” the prime minister said.

    Priests from the Sringeri Math Karnataka did the rituals for the ‘bhoomi pujan’ at the new Parliament building site and it was followed by a ‘sarva dharma prarthana’ (inter-faith prayer).

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Urban Development Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh also offered prayers during the ceremony.

    The new building will have an area of 64,500 square metres.

    The existing Parliament House building will be suitably retro-fitted to provide more functional spaces for parliamentary events, to ensure its usage along with the new building.

    Modi also performed the ground-breaking ceremony for the building, which is expected to be completed by 2022.

    The new building will also have a grand Constitution Hall to showcase India’s democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space.In the new building, the Lok Sabha chamber will have a seating capacity for 888 members, while the Rajya Sabha will have 384 seats for members. The Lok Sabha chamber will have an option to increase its sitting capacity to 1,224 members during joint sessions.

  • Rajnath calls for open seas, hits out at China

    Rajnath calls for open seas, hits out at China

    New Delhi (TIP): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has, without naming China, emphasised India’s call for an open and inclusive order in the Indo-Pacific, based on respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.

    Rajnath was addressing the 14th Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) organised online at Hanoi, Vietnam, when he stressed on peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue and adherence to international laws.
    The minister reiterated India’s support to freedom of navigation and overflight for all in international waters in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

    Though Rajnath did not name China, it was evident he was referring to Beijing, which has lost a case in the UNCLOS about the demarcation of the South China Sea boundary.

    He underlined the importance of mutual trust and confidence based on restraint in activities and actions that may further complicate the situation in the region.

    The ADMM Plus is an annual meeting of the defence ministers of 10 Asean countries and eight partner nations.

    Rajnath underlined the key role of Asean-centric forum in promoting dialogue and engagement towards a pluralistic, cooperative security order in Asia. He said terrorism remained a major scourge for the region and the world. Calling for stronger commitment to fight terrorism jointly and vigorously, he said the structures that supported and sustained terrorism continued to exist, including in India’s neighbourhood.

    Common efforts must for good ties, says Beijing

    Underlining that common efforts were needed to maintain good relations between China and India, a senior Chinese official on Thursday said Beijing was committed to resolving the border standoff through dialogue, but was also determined to safeguard its territorial sovereignty.

    Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said this while reacting to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s remarks that China had given India “five differing explanations” for deploying large forces at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the violation of bilateral pacts had “very significantly damaged” their relationship.

  • Modi, Hasina to virtually re-launch cross-border rail route after 55 years

    Modi, Hasina to virtually re-launch cross-border rail route after 55 years

    The rail route between Haldibari in West Bengal and Chilahati in neighbouring Bangladesh is all set to reopen after a gap of 55 years on December 17 and prime ministers of the two countries will inaugurate the programme, an official of the Northeast Frontier Railway said on Thursday, Dec 10.

    The railway line from Haldibari in Cooch Behar to Chilahati in northern Bangladesh has been defunct after rail links between India and then East Pakistan had snapped in 1965.

    “Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate Haldibari-Chilahati rail route on December 17,” NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Subhanan Chanda said.

    A goods train will run from Chilahati to Haldibari, which is under the Katihar division of the NRF, to mark the opening of the route, Chanda said. The Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday informed the authorities of the decision to reopen the rail route, said Katihar Divisional Railway Manager Ravinder Kumar Verma.
    The distance between Haldibari railway station till the international border is 4.5 kilometres while that from Chilahati in Bangladesh till the zero point is around 7.5 kilometres, sources in the NFR said.

  • More ‘jathas’ from Punjab join farmers’ stir

    More ‘jathas’ from Punjab join farmers’ stir

    New Delhi (TIP): Several farmers’ groups which did not join the ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest that began from November 26 began their journey towards Delhi on Friday, Dec 11, ahead of the farmers’ announced programme of blocking highways by December 12 and a massive nationwide protest on December 14. The protesters are coming to Delhi primarily by tractors. However, vigilance has been upped in the border areas to check whether farmers are using public transport.

    “Around 700 tractor trolleys are moving towards Delhi’s Kundli border,” Kishan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee leader SS Pandher said on Friday. The members of this farmers’ group were protesting in Amritsar. On Friday, they started mobilising towards Delhi. So far, there have been five rounds of talks between the Centre and the farmer unions. The Centre has agreed to amend the farm acts according to the concerns raised by the farmers, but the unions are demanding a complete withdrawal of the laws. Though door for further talks are open from both sides — as Centre said it is willing to further talks and farmers said they will consider if Centre invites them for another meeting — the ongoing protest to lay siege to the Capital is on. The protesters announced that they would block highways to Delhi by December 12 and on December 14, there will be a nationwide protest. After that, they will block railway tracks across the country to intensify the protest. The massive gathering has triggered Covid-19 fear as two IPS officer posted at the Singhu border have tested Covid-19 positive. Public interest litigations (PIL) against the gathering in view of the Covid-19 situation have also been submitted. One PIL, filed by advocate Om Prakash Parihar, urges the Supreme Court to pass an order shifting the protesters to somewhere else. Another Delhi-based lawyer, Reepak Kansal, filed a plea seeking the framing of guidelines to balance citizens’ right to protest with right to free access and movement.             (Source: HT)

  • India’s COVID-19 caseload rises to 97.96 lakh

    India’s COVID-19 caseload rises to 97.96 lakh

    New Delhi (TIP): India on Friday, Dec 11,  registered 29,398 new cases and 414 deaths in the last 24 hours, which pushed the overall tally and death toll to 9,796,769 and 142,186, respectively. The total active cases continued to remain below 400,000 for a sixth consecutive day while the total number of people recovering from the disease reached nearly 9.3 million, according to the Union health ministry’s dashboard.

    This is the second time in three days that the country’s daily coronavirus tally went below the 30,000-mark. As many as 26,567 people tested positive for the infection on December 8. On November 17, the daily cases were less than 30,000 for the first time in four months. Over 15 million samples have been tested till now with 922,959 samples tested on Wednesday. Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala continue to add the most number of infections to the total caseload. Maharashtra on Thursday logged 3,824 coronavirus cases with health officials stating that the state is not seeing a potential second wave till now. From the last seven days, Maharashtra has reported 25,585 cases and 373 deaths with a daily average of 3,655 cases and 53 deaths.

    Delhi’s total caseload is nearing the 600,000-mark with 2,463 cases added in the last 24 hours. The active cases have climbed to 20,546 and 569,216 have recovered so far. Health minister Satyendar Jain on Thursday had said that the third wave of the disease was not over yet but it was definitely on the wane. The positivity rate further dropped to 2.46 per cent and has been below 5 per cent for nine consecutive days.

    Meanwhile, the global Covid-19 caseload has climbed over 70 million with 1,588,437 deaths and 49,148,338 recoveries. The United States, which is the worst-hit nation, added record 3,253 deaths on Wednesday which pushed the toll to nearly 300,000. More than half of the states in the country have recently introduced or resumed restrictions to try to curtail the rampant spread of the disease.

    Survey identifies most vulnerable for Covid shot

    Data collected during the currently underway door-to-door survey in hot spots and containment zones will be used to identify those above the age of 50 years and those with comorbidities as both categories of people will be next in line, after the health care and front-line workers, to receive a Covid-19 vaccine, sources in the health department said.

    The government has already asked all hospitals, nursing homes, and stand-alone clinics in the city to get their employees registered for the vaccine shots. “More than 2 lakh registrations have come for the first trial of the Covid-19 vaccine in Delhi. The priority is health care and front-line workers. After which the focus will be on the aged, and subsequently, the entire population of Delhi, said health minister Satyendar Jain.

    According to the recommendations of the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC), 10 million health care workers, 20 million front-line workers, and 270 million people over the age of 50 years and those with comorbidities will be the priority groups to receive the vaccine.

    The vaccination drives could be conducted simultaneously for all three priority groups, depending on availability of the shots. Currently, India’s regulator is looking at emergency use authorisation for three vaccines – one, developed by Pfizer and BioNtech; second, by Oxford and AstraZeneca which will be manufactured and distributed in India by the Serum Institute of India; and the third, the indigenously developed Covaxin by Bharat Biotech and the Indian Council of Medical Research.

  • HelpAge: First Indian NGO to bag UN award

    HelpAge India on Thursday , Dec 10,became the first Indian NGO to be awarded the prestigious 2020 UN Population Award in the institutional category. The selection of HelpAge is in recognition of its work on population issues and efforts in the realisation of rights of older persons in India since 1978. The award was presented during a virtual event held at UN headquarters in New York to mark Human Rights Day. The award brings focus to the issue of ageing with India housing an estimated 140 million elderly. HelpAge, with 42 years of fieldwork, has presence in 125 districts across 25 states.

    The Delhi High Court on Friday stayed the Central Information Commission order directing the Indian Air Force to disclose the details regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s entourage, which accompanied him on the foreign visits.

    The Air Force had filed a petition before high court challenging the CIC direction to provide information regarding Special Flight Returns (SRF)-II, saying it relates to details of the Prime Minister’s security apparatus and cannot be provided. The IAF plea has claimed that the “information so sought includes details related to the entire entourage, names of Special Protection Group (SPG) personnel accompanying the Prime Minister of India on foreign tours for his personal safety, and the same, if disclosed, can potentially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, the security, strategic, scientific or economic interests of the State”.

  • India, Japan discuss military ties, joint drills

    India and Japan have discussed how to further enhance cooperation and interoperability between the air forces of the two countries. They also discussed the scope for enhancement of joint exercises and training. A broader cooperation for strengthening collective response to contingencies was also discussed.

    The two sides held wide-ranging discussions during the visit of General Izutsu Shunji, Chief of Staff, Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF), who arrived on Wednesday and met his Indian counterpart Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria.Gen Izutsu Shunji called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and held meetings with Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Bipin Rawat, Chief of Navy Admiral Karambir Singh and Vice Chief of the Army Lt Gen SK Saini. On his arrival at the air headquarters, the Japanese official was presented with a Guard of Honour.

  • Farmers call for nationwide protest on December 14

    Farmers call for nationwide protest on December 14

    New Delhi (TIP): Farmers on Wednesday, Dec 9, rejected government’s proposal over the farm laws and called for a nationwide sit-in protest on December 14.

    In a press conference, farmer leaders announced a ‘Delhi gherao’ plan saying that Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Agra highways will be blocked by the protesters by December 12 and all tolls across the country will be freed.

    A representative group of farmer unions on Wednesday received a draft proposal from the government on some key concerns raised by the protesters.

    Top sources in the government said the key amendments being proposed in the bills are an attempt to provide a tangible proposal to a number of unions along with the protestors who are not adamant on repealing the bills and have been pursuing reasonable demands.

    The Centre’s proposals came after a four-hour meeting between 13 farm unions and the Government side led by Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday night.

    ‘Old proposal dressed up as new’

    The All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) released a statement on government’s proposal on Wednesday and termed them “old proposals dressed up as new”.

    “Modi govt insincere & arrogant about resolving farmers demands; all farmers bodies rightly reject old proposals dressed up as new. AIKSCC and all farmer organisations reiterate their demand to repeal 3 farm acts and EB 2020 . Protest to continue, more farmers to join in, in Delhi. District level dharnas to start in all states [sic], ” the release stated. The release further mentioned that the National Working Group of AIKCC met on Wednesday morning and took some decisions. “AIKSCC joins farmers organisations in denouncing & rejecting the so-called insincere and arrogant so-called ‘new’ proposal of Central govt [sic],” it said.

    “AIKSCC calls upon farmers organizations to organize continuous sit-ins in all districts and state capitals, jointly with other supporting organizations at public places [sic],” it added

    It further said, “Bharat Bandh on 8 December has proven beyond doubt all-India footprint of the popular farmers protests; AIKSCC congratulates all sections of society for support. AIKSCC notes mass participation in Bharat Bandh and calls upon all organizations and political parties to mobilize Farmers March in to Delhi to intensify protest [sic]”.

    Call for nationwide protests

    Farmer leader Prahalad Singh Bharukheda said that there is nothing new in government’s proposal and added that farmers will continue their protest against three agri-marketing laws.

    Another farmer leader, Shiv Kumar Kakka, said that that protesting farmers might take a call on crossing Singhu border to enter Delhi in coming days.

    The Samyukt Kisan Morcha also issued a press release and said that the farmer leaders have rejected the written proposal of the Central government, adding that all farmer leaders are adamant that the government repeals the three farm laws and brings the MSP Guarantee Act.

    Why are farmers sticking to their stand?

    Farm unions have stuck to their demand of scrapping three pro-market agricultural laws they say will hurt their livelihoods, dealing a blow to the Union government’s offer to bring changes to the laws to end weeks of agitation by farmers.

    On Wednesday, the farm ministry sent out a lengthy set of proposal to farm unions protesting at Delhi’s borders to address their concerns. Farmers fear losing out to big corporations if private traders get a free in deregulated markets. The government says the changes will give farmers greater market access and spur investments.

    The agriculture sector employs half of all Indians, but adds only 16% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), meaning far too many people are engaged in agriculture than is required to generate the same levels of farm incomes. The new laws allow businesses to freely trade farm produce outside, permit private traders to stockpile large quantities of essential commodities for future sales and set new rules for contract farming.

    Concessions offered by the government provide for more oversight of private markets. Farmers, however, say they want nothing short of a full repeal of the laws. Farmers have come to trust decades-old regulated markets despite studies that show these markets are run by trader cartels who rig prices and lend money to farmers, limiting their bargaining power.

    Yet, these markets also offer farmers assured minimum prices for staples, providing a sense of security. The new reforms allow corporations to operate with minimal regulations.

    “The core concerns [are] about removing regulation on traders and companies and thereby removing all protections to farmers offered by the regulation system,” said Kirankumar Vissa of the Rythu Swarajya Vedika, a farm activist.

    The government on Wednesday said its concessions will protect farmers’ bargaining power. Farmers say the very objective of the laws is wrong. “The crux of the matter is that the government’s laws are centered around large corporations which are against the interest of farmers and consumers. Why can’t markets be farmer-led?” said Kavitha Kuruganti of the Alliance for Sustainable and Holistic Agriculture, a farm activist who took part in the recent talks with the government.

    Economists attribute India’s impressive economic growth over the years to reforms in industry, currency markets and manufacturing. The burst of reforms initiated in 1991 sidestepped the farm sector altogether.

  • How the Modi govt can concede to farmers without losing the argument?

    How the Modi govt can concede to farmers without losing the argument?

    The resolute, determined, dignified, and peaceful protests by farmers at the borders of Delhi have captured headlines around the world. “The uncomfortable truth, however, is that while the new laws are not perfect, they represent a necessary direction for agricultural policy,” writes Bharat Ramaswami, professor of economics at Ashoka University. “Without developing new markets for the more dynamic lines of activity, agriculture, farmers and the economy will be stuck with a slow-moving cereal economy. This requires enabling policies and investments,” he states in his opinion piece in The Indian Express.

    To be sure, government policy has moved that way since the early 2000s aided by a remarkable consensus shared across political parties, state governments and the Centre. Different central governments drafted model Acts in 2003, 2007 and 2017, each of which successively enlarged the scope of private markets and reduced the monopoly of the regulated mandi. In 2013, similar recommendations were made by a committee of 10 state agriculture ministers constituted by the ministry of agriculture. These included state ministers from Haryana and Punjab.

    But with the farmers rejecting offers from the government to amend the contentious laws, the situation has reached a perilous impasse.

    How can the BJP government concede without losing the argument?

    Ramaswami states that the first element is for the central government to withdraw these laws — especially the one that allows private markets.

    In return, farmers should drop their demand for minimum support price (MSP) to be a legal guarantee. After all, with the Acts gone, we are back to square one.

    Is this then the end of all reforms?

    “No, it does not have to be,” states Ramaswami. “A constituency for reforms has to be built elsewhere — with growers who will benefit from the opening up of new markets. These will primarily be producers of crops other than wheat and paddy. They gain when they access large markets — both domestic and foreign. This needs investment in markets and supply chains, whether from producer collectives or corporates”.

    It is the entry of the latter that is controversial. However, concentration can be thwarted as long as policy is sensitive to it. The world over, it is the concentration in retail that allows corporates to extend backwards.

    “The BJP governs many states where it can demonstrate the power of liberating markets and literally allow a thousand flowers to bloom. That gives it the chance to disprove the narrative that these reforms are a corporate plot and provide concrete proof of the gains. Without doubt, economic success will melt opposition in Punjab as well,” he writes.

    Source: Indian Express