The Indian Panorama

Month: October 2021

  • Press Conference held to Commemorate the festival of Diwali at Times Square on 30 October 2021

    Press Conference held to Commemorate the festival of Diwali at Times Square on 30 October 2021

    Mr. Vipul Dev, Consul, Political and PIC deputized for the Consul General Randhir Kumar Jaiswal who was caught up in travel.
    Media persons, Performers, and Sponsors of Diwali at Times Square with Consul Vipul Dev and DATS organizers led by Neeta Bhasin.

    NEW YORK CITY (TIP): The most awaited and widely celebrated Festival of Lights, Diwali is back once again at the biggest crossroads of the world, Times Square, NY. Diwali marks the victory of good over evil, light over dark. Samman for All and advisory board members of ‘ShopRite Diwali at Times Square in association with Samman for all’ held the Press conference at the Consulate of India NY to commemorate the beginning of the Diwali at Times Square on October 30th at Times Square. It was attended by Media Houses, Performers, and the Sponsors of Diwali at Times Square. The program started with Ganesh Pooja followed by Diya Lighting Ceremony and Presentation by Neeta Bhasin, Founder of Diwali at Times Square where she shared the details of the upcoming festival. Sponsors like Shoprite and American Airlines spoke of the significance and importance of cultural event as big as Diwali at Times Square and its impact on the community.Mr. Vipul Dev, Consul of Politics and PIC congratulated Neeta Bhasin for promoting the art and culture of India from Times Square.

    Our objective this year is to bring the light of positivity in the lives of people especially since the dark gloom of the pandemic has engulfed us. Through this event, we want to uplift the spirit of the community and share the message of love, togetherness,inclusion, and diversity.

    “ShopRite Diwali at Times Square” in association with the non-profit“Samman for All” is displaying the rich ‘Colors of India’ via itsart and cultureright in the heart of Times Square on October 30, 2021, starting at 1:00pm EST.

    According to the founder of Diwali at Times Square,Neeta Bhasin,“Understanding different cultures makes us realize that the basic tenets of all cultures are the same. However, the difference in expression is what enriches the tapestry of our lives.”
    The celebration continues throughout the day into the evening with the traditional Diwali custom of ‘Diya (Lamp) Lighting’ceremony on stage which will also be projected on the tallest billboard in Times Square followed by a rousing musical extravaganza – ‘The Light Up Times Square’ concert with international singer Jay Sean and other performers will be entertaining people with their superhit songs.

    Due to its resounding success in the past years, the festival has also garnered praise and recognition by various media outlets as well as the US Government as being one of the largest Indian festivals outside of India.

    This year, Diwali at Times Square has an association with ‘Samman for all’ not-for-profit organization. Director of ‘Samman for All’ said’ Our goal is to help people achieve a dignified living – a life that they can call their own. We wish this Diwali brighten the lives of people”. ”Diwali is an integral part of our cultural heritage. It represents our values, traditions, diversity and thought. Diwali at Times Square brings people from all walks of life together to celebrate the festival of Diwali. We would like to congratulate the Producer, Mrs. Neeta Bhasin, for meaningfully promoting Indian culture and our universal ideas in the US.” Said Mr. Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General of India NY,

    The ShopRite stated ‘South Asian community is a very important part of our community, and we want everyone to taste the Diwali Celebration with Shoprite. We look forward to celebrating the festival of Delight at Times Square this year!! Harry Singh Bolla, President & C.E.O, Bolla Oil Corp “I know how Diwali is a cheerful and nostalgic festival! It reminds me of happy times from my childhood. “Let’s come together and celebrate Diwali at Times Square on October 30 and cherish all the good times” Special thanks to our Title Sponsor ShopRite, Airline Partner American Airline, Diya (Lamp) Lighting with the countdown partner Bolla Market and our sponsors Northwell Health, Northlandz, State bank of India and Nazranaa.

    Samman for All. mission is to facilitate people from the lower-economic strata to achieve their dreams by providing them with tools for sustainable living.

    Event Guru WorldWide is a premier full-service event company specializing in festivals, concerts, tradeshows, gala dinners and press conferences. We conceptualize and implement events of all sizes and statures.

    (Based on a Press Release issued by Harsh Sinha)

  • The 40th AAPI Convention in San Antonio, TX to Focus on “Heal the Healers” with its much needed “Wellness Package” for Physicians and Families

    The 40th AAPI Convention in San Antonio, TX to Focus on “Heal the Healers” with its much needed “Wellness Package” for Physicians and Families

    CHICAGO (TIP): “Physician, heal thyself,” especially when there are growing signs of burn out among physicians, by offering positive remedial resources as part of a first ever Wellness Program being offered to participants at the 40th Annual Convention of AAPI to be held in San Antonio from June 23rd to 26th, 2022.

    The Covid pandemic has impacted all aspects of human life as never been before. The past two years have been challenging to everyone, particularly those are assigned with the responsibility of caring for the sick, especially as hundreds of Millions were affected by the big pandemic. Over 115,000 health care workers died from Covid-19 from January 2020 to May of this year, according to a new World Health Organization estimate.

    “The backbone of every health system is its workforce — the people who deliver the services on which we rely at some point in our lives,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “The pandemic is a powerful demonstration of just how much we rely on health workers and how vulnerable we all are when the people who protect our health are themselves unprotected.” Some have argued that governments have forsaken their duty to protect health care workers and warned that pandemic would have long tail effects, with many healthcare professionals considering leaving the workforce. At this critical juncture in human history, American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) the largest ethnic medical organization in the country, representing the interests of over 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, is focusing on themes such as how to take care of self and find satisfaction and happiness in the challenging situations they are in, while serving hundreds of patients everyday of their dedicated and noble profession, Dr. Anupama Gotimukula, President of AAPI said.

    “This year AAPI Convention team from San Antonio is very much motivated on focusing on addressing physician burnout and we have planned these wellness packages. As we are seeing in our daily lives the physician burnout has increased significantly. “We do acknowledge that these are challenging times, more than ever for us, physicians, who are on the frontline to assess, diagnose and treat people are affected by this deadly pandemic, COVID-19. Many of our colleagues have sacrificed their lives in order to save those impacted by this pandemic around the world,” Dr. Gotimukula added.

    Accordingly, some of the major themes at the convention include: Yoga and Meditation practices, Welcome kit with books & self-care supplies, A Personal Reflexology Session, Take home wellness routine, Ailment based yoga therapy sessions, Workshop on Spiritual well-being, Book talk with Yoga Gurus, including on the science of Yoga & Lifestyle medicine, as well as an unique opportunity to visit first of its kind in San Antonio, Aum Ashram as part of the Wellness session.

    Esteemed yoga gurus and experts, who are planned to share their wisdom and leading the Wellness Sessions include: Paramguru Sharatha Jois, Sadhvi Bhagawati, Saraswati Eddie Stern, Dr. Sat Bir Khalsa, Dr. Dilip Sarkar, Dr. Pankaj Vij, and Dr. Param Dedhia.

    “Our physician members have worked very hard during the Covid 19 pandemic as the 2022 convention is a perfect time to heal the healers with a special focus on wellness,” said Dr. Dr Jayesh Shah, Chair of AAPI Convention 2022.

    In her welcome note, Dr. Hetal Nayak, Coordinator of the Wellness Program said, “With great enthusiasm we invite you to participate in our AAPI convention wellness package themed ‘Heal the Healers.’ This is the first time in the AAPI convention we offer these exclusive wellness packages geared towards the well-being of Physicians and their families by bringing the essence of science and spirituality of yoga and lifestyle medicine into our selfcare routine. As we all aware, a calm mind and a refined intellect are essential for making right choices. We promise to leave you empowered with the tools required.”

    Dr. Kusum Punjabi, Chair of AAPI BOT said, “At AAPI, the largest ethnic medical association in the nation, we are proud, we have been able to serve every 7th patient in the country. We serve in large cities, smaller towns and rural areas, sharing our skills, knowledge, compassion and expertise and caring millions of people.”

     Acknowledging the need for this much needed program as part of the convention, Dr. Ravi Kolli, President-elect of AAPI elaborated, “Healthcare today is more complex than ever. With more advancements, tools and information at our fingertips, physicians have an overwhelming job to diagnose and treat our patients every day, 24/ 7/ 365 days a year. In every city and hospital, in our military and in our rural communities, we, the doctors pave the way to provide better healthcare to our patients.”

    “A huge thank you to all of the doctors, physicians, and other healthcare professionals for your dedication and commitment to service during this uncertain time,” Dr. Anjana Samadder, Vice President of AAPI said. “This is a unique opportunity for All of us, the front-line physicians who are putting our lives at risk to the save the lives of others,” Dr. Satheesh Kathula, Secretary of AAPI said. “Thank you for fighting selflessly against this virus and helping keep everyone healthy and safe,” Dr. Krishan Kumar, Treasurer of AAPI added.

    During the annual convention, physicians and healthcare professionals from across the country and internationally will convene and participate in the scholarly exchange of medical advances, to develop health policy agendas, and to encourage legislative priorities in the coming year.

    Planned to have a limited number of attendance due to the ongoing Covid pandemic and the taking into account the safety of the participants, including Physicians, Healthcare Leaders, Academicians, Researchers and Medical Students, “the annual convention offers extensive academic presentations, recognition of achievements and achievers, and professional networking at the alumni and evening social events,” Dr. Gotimukula added.

    For more information, please visit: www.aapiconvention.org and www.aapiusa.org

  • FDA authorizes Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11

    FDA authorizes Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11

    WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): The Food and Drug Administration granted emergency use authorization to the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and its partner BioNTech Friday for children ages 5 to 11, a significant step toward making the vaccine available to millions of school-age children.

    Before the vaccine becomes widely available, it will also need to be recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decision on that recommendation is made after a meeting of an expert committee, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP. The CDC director must then approve ACIP’s recommendations. That committee is scheduled to meet on Nov. 2. “As a mother and a physician, I know that parents, caregivers, school staff, and children have been waiting for today’s authorization. Vaccinating younger children against COVID-19 will bring us closer to returning to a sense of normalcy,” said acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, in a statement. “Our comprehensive and rigorous evaluation of the data pertaining to the vaccine’s safety and effectiveness should help assure parents and guardians that this vaccine meets our high standards.”

    The Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine for children 5 to 11 should be given as two doses three weeks apart, just like the version for older children and adults, but uses a lower 10-microgram dose, one-third the adult dose.

    The FDA’s decision, which was widely expected, follows the meeting of the FDA’s advisory panel earlier this week. That panel voted 17-to-0, with one abstention, that the vaccine should be authorized. The FDA and CDC are not bound by the votes of their advisory committees, but generally follow their advice.

    However, when recommending the authorization, FDA panel members expressed concerns about whether all children needed the vaccine, because the risk of complications from Covid infection in children is generally lower. They also discussed how to balance the risk of a rare side effect, an inflammation of the heart called myocarditis, with the number of Covid cases prevented. FDA modeling predicted that the number of hospitalizations from myocarditis would generally be fewer than the number of Covid hospitalizations prevented.

    Still, those concerns could still prove a topic of debate for the ACIP when it meets next week.

    The vaccine was not granted FDA approval, but instead an emergency use authorization. Emergency authorizations are used when the secretary of Health and Human Services has declared a public health emergency to more quickly clear the use of vaccines, treatments, and diagnostic tests. These authorizations lapse when the state of emergency ends. Pfizer’s vaccine was fully approved for those age 16 and older in August and was previously granted an emergency use authorization for use in adolescents ages 12 to 15.

    “The FDA is committed to making decisions that are guided by science that the public and healthcare community can trust,” Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. “We are confident in the safety, effectiveness and manufacturing data behind this authorization.”

    The Pfizer product is currently the only Covid vaccine authorized for use in people under the age of 18 in the U.S., though that could change soon. Moderna has filed an application to have its emergency authorization expanded to include youths 12 to 17 years of age; the FDA is expected to rule on the application soon.

    “This is a day so many parents, eager to protect their young children from this virus, have been waiting for,” said Albert Bourla, Pfizer’s chair and CEO, said in a statement. “Over 6 million children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the start of this pandemic, and a high number of young people continue to be infected every week. With this FDA authorization, we have achieved another key marker in our ongoing effort to help protect families and communities, and to get this disease under control.”

    (Agencies)

  • Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care celebrates Diwali and launches the book Atmasiddhi Shastra at Capitol Hill 

    Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care celebrates Diwali and launches the book Atmasiddhi Shastra at Capitol Hill 

    The launch of the book ‘Atmasiddhi Shastra’. Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu is 5th from the left.

    A special program celebrating the festival of lights and commemorating the 125th anniversary of the creation of Shrimad Rajchandraji’s magnus opus ‘Atmasiddhi Shastra’

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care (SRLC) hosted a special Diwali event in the presence of the Indian Ambassador to the United States, Mr Taranjit Singh Sandhu. The event acknowledged the extraordinary partnership between the governments and private sector organizations of the United States and India to support SRLC’s humanitarian initiatives. The event was attended by Congressmen Raja Krishnamoorthy, Illinois; Tim Ryan, Ohio; Greg Stanton, Arizona; Danny Davis, Illinois; Mike Quigley, Illinois, and Ms. Audrey Kitawaga,, Ambassador of Religions for Peace. Ambassador Sandhu emphasized critical points regarding the element of solidarity, the unity and partnership between the two nations, the importance of science and spiritual and extending happiness and kindness to all in these unprecedented times. The highlight of the event was the launch of the book, ‘Atmasiddhi Shastra – Six Spiritual Truths of the Soul’, a concise and complete commentary by Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji. This book lays a clear and cogent path to self-discovery. The book commemorates the 125th anniversary of the creation of Shrimad Rajchandraji’s magnum opus, ‘Atmasiddhi Shastra’ – a 142-verse epic spiritual masterpiece. According to the organizers, it was an iconic moment to be at the Capitol Hill and celebrate Diwali by launching a book which “represents the true spirit of Diwali as it removes the darkness of ignorance by the light of knowledge.”   “The endeavor of Shri Rakeshji to present the essence of Atmasiddhi Shastra in a lucid manner through its commentary in English is a thoughtful gesture, aimed at the spiritual welfare of the youth” – Shri Narendra Modi, Hon. Prime Minister of India

    “Atmasiddhi Shastra is a practical guide to Liberation and freedom from suffering” – Deepak Chopra, Founder – The Chopra Foundation

    Learn more about Atmasiddhi Shastra: www.atmasiddhishastra.com

    About Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care

    SRLC is a global initiative to offer service and bring joy to the lives of the underserved sections of society. SRLC is inspired by Shrimad Rajchandraji, philosopher, and the spiritual guide of Mahatma Gandhiji. SRLC is founded by Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, a world-renowned spiritual leader. SRLC enjoys Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic & Social Council since 2020. SRLC’s holistic, multi-pronged community support and development programs are powered by genuine empathy, love, and care of highly motivated volunteers.

    Learn more about SRLC’s humanitarian work: https://srlc-usa.org/

  • US to lift all travel restrictions for incoming foreign nationals from November 8: White House

    US to lift all travel restrictions for incoming foreign nationals from November 8: White House

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): The US will lift all travel restrictions for incoming non-citizen, non-immigrant travelers from November 8, with only limited exceptions, and they will be required to be fully vaccinated and produce proof of their COVID-19 vaccination prior to boarding a flight to the country, the White House announced on Monday.

    The updated travel guidelines also include new protocols around testing. To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travelers – whether US Citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), or the small number of accepted unvaccinated foreign nationals – will now need to test within one day of departure.

    “Under this new international air travel system, foreign nationals will need to be fully vaccinated, in order to fly to the United States. The new system also includes enhanced testing requirements, strengthened contact tracing, as well as masking. These are strict safety protocols that follow the science and public health to enhance the safety of Americans here at home, and the safety of international air travel,” a senior administration official told reporters.

    Beginning November 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the US, with only limited exceptions, the official said. With this, the United States will lift all travel restrictions specific to all countries and regions. According to the White House, passengers will need to show their vaccination status, and the airlines will need to match the name and date of birth to confirm that the passenger is the same person reflected on the proof of vaccination; determine that the record was issued by an official source (e.g., public health agency, government agency) in the country where the vaccine was given and review the essential information for determining if the passenger meets CDC’s definition for fully vaccinated such as vaccine product, number of vaccine doses received, date(s) of administration, site (e.g., vaccination clinic, health care facility) of vaccination.

    The Biden Administration will work closely with the airlines to ensure that these new requirements are implemented successfully, a senior administration official said.

    The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that for purposes of travel to the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use listed (EUL) vaccines.     Individuals can be considered fully vaccinated for more than weeks after receipt of the last dose if they have received any single dose of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO EUL approved single-dose series (i.e., Janssen), or any combination of two doses of an FDA approved/authorized or WHO emergency use listed COVID-19 two-dose series (i.e., mixing and matching).

    For those Americans who can show they are fully vaccinated, the same requirement currently in place will apply – they have to produce a negative test result within three days of travel, the White House said, adding that for anyone travelling to the United States who cannot demonstrate proof of full vaccination, they will have to produce documentation of a negative test within one day of departure. Children under 18 are excepted from the vaccination requirement for foreign national travelers, given both the ineligibility of some younger children for vaccination, as well as the global variability in access to vaccination for older children who are eligible to be vaccinated. Children between the ages of 2 and 17 are required to take a pre-departure test.

    If travelling with a fully vaccinated adult, an unvaccinated child can test three days prior to departure (consistent with the timeline for fully vaccinated adults). If an unvaccinated child is travelling alone or with unvaccinated adults, they will have to test within one day of departure, the White House said in a fact sheet.

    The White House said there are a very limited set of exceptions from the vaccination requirement for foreign nationals. These include exceptions for children under 18, certain COVID[1]19 vaccine clinical trial participants, those with medical contraindications to the vaccines, those who need to travel for emergency or humanitarian reasons (with a US government-issued letter affirming the urgent need to travel), those who are travelling on non-tourist visas from countries with low-vaccine availability (as determined by the CDC), and other very narrow categories.

    Those who receive an exception will generally be required to attest they will comply with applicable public health requirements, including, with very limited exceptions, a requirement that they be vaccinated in the US if they intend to stay here for more than 60 days, the White House said.

  • PM Modi holds talks with European Union leaders on trade, security, Afghanistan

    PM Modi holds talks with European Union leaders on trade, security, Afghanistan

    Activists want G20 to end vaccine inequality

    NEW DELHI / NEW YORK (TIP): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, October 29, held wide-ranging talks with top leaders of the European Union (EU), marking a high point in India’s efforts to cultivate the 27-member nation bloc to forge closer ties in security, trade, connectivity and education.

    PM Modi, who arrived in Rome earlier in the day to participate in the G20 Summit beginning from Saturday, had a “productive interaction” with president of the European Council Charles Michel and president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

    India has more issues of convergence with the EU ever since China began flexing its muscles in South China Sea. Also, during the Covid period, both EU and India were impacted by overdependence on supply chains originating from China. On Afghanistan too, India and the EU are on the same page on vital issues such as inclusiveness in governance and not allowing the country to breed terror groups targeting other countries.

    PM Modi during his talks touched on trade, commerce, culture and the environment. “The leaders discussed ways to enhance economic as well as people-to-people linkages aimed at creating a better planet,” tweeted the PMO. The Prime Minister described his meeting with the EU leaders as “wonderful” during which they had wide-ranging talks on deepening the India-EU friendship.

    Michel said India had a key role to play in green transition and mentioned the EU-India strategic partnership, the situation in Afghanistan and the Indo-Pacific as the prominent topics of discussion.

    Security-related convergence with the EU is set to grow after it unveiled an Indo-Pacific strategy which followed similar positions taken by France and Germany.

    An impetus to the free trade agreement was also discussed, according to Leyen. “We agreed that our trade negotiators will start to work. We’ll deepen our cooperation on climate, including on innovation and technology. Looking forward to cooperating in the Indo-Pacific,” she said.

    She also congratulated India for its “excellent progress” on vaccination and for resuming vaccines exports. “We need to join forces to help vaccinate the world and beat the global pandemic,” Leyen said. The 15th India-EU summit was held in virtual mode in July 2020. PM Modi later also held the first in-person meeting with his Italian counterpart Mario Draghi during which the two leaders had extensive talks on diversifying the bilateral ties.

    The PM will be in Rome and the Vatican City from October 29 to 31 to participate in the G-20 Summit and meet the Pope and the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

    ‘Maja ma chho’, PM tells Indians

    Covid and farmers’ struggle necessitated a carefully curated crowd at Rome for an interaction with PM Modi but there was no diminishing of exuberance as he was greeted by lusty chants of “Bharat Mata ki jai” and “Modi-Modi” by local Indians. After paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Piazza Gandhi, the PM interacted with Indians, one of whom was heard asking, “Narendra bhai, khem chho” (How are you Narendra bhai?).

    “Maja ma chho” (I am fine), the PM replied, which was captured on a video put out by the PMO. The PM also spoke to a crowd largely from his home state of Gujarati.

  • United States Senate Confirms Dr. Rahul Gupta as Director of National Drug Control Policy

    United States Senate Confirms Dr. Rahul Gupta as Director of National Drug Control Policy

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP) the United States Senate, October 28, confirmed Dr. Rahul Gupta as Director of National Drug Control Policy on a bipartisan basis. Gupta is the first medical doctor to ever lead the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), a White House press release said.

    “As a practicing physician and former health official who has served in rural communities, I have seen firsthand the heartbreaking toll of addiction and overdose in our communities, but I have also seen how we can save lives if we understand the individuals behind the statistics and meet them where they are,” said Dr. Gupta. “President Biden has made clear that addressing addiction and the overdose epidemic is an urgent priority. As Director, I will diligently work to advance high-quality, data-driven strategies to make our communities healthier and safer.”

    Biography of Dr. Rahul Gupta

     Rahul Gupta, MD, MPH, MBA, FACP, most recently served as the Chief Medical and Health Officer, Interim Chief Science Officer and Senior Vice President at March of Dimes. In his role, Dr. Gupta provided strategic oversight for March of Dimes’ domestic and global medical and public health efforts. He recently served as clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at Georgetown University School of Medicine as well as adjunct professor in the Department of Health Policy, Management and Leadership in the School of Public Health at West Virginia University and visiting faculty at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

    A practicing primary care physician of 25 years, Dr. Gupta began his career in private practice in an underserved community of fewer than 2,000 residents. He has since served under two Governors as the Health Commissioner of West Virginia. As the state’s Chief Health Officer, he led the opioid crisis response efforts and launched a number of pioneering public health initiatives, including the Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Birthscore program to identify high-risk infants. Dr. Gupta also led the development of the state’s Zika action plan and its preparedness efforts during the Ebola Virus Disease Outbreak.

    A national and global thought leader and a driver of innovative public policies on health issues, Dr. Gupta serves as an advisor to several organizations and task forces on local, national and international public health policy. The son of an Indian diplomat, Rahul was born in India and grew up in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. At age 21, he completed medical school at the University of Delhi. He earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Alabama-Birmingham and a global Master of Business Administration degree from the London School of Business and Finance. He is married to Dr. Seema Gupta, a physician in the Veterans Administration for over a decade. They are the proud parents of identical twin sons, Arka and Drew.

  • J&K Statehood to be Restored, says Amit Shah: Farooq Abdulla is surprised

    J&K Statehood to be Restored, says Amit Shah: Farooq Abdulla is surprised

    JAMMU (TIP): National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Sunday, October 24, expressed surprise over Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement that Jammu and Kashmir’s statehood would be restored after assembly elections. The Home Minister said “urges and aspirations of people have to be satiated for lasting peace” in the Union Territory. Mr. Abdullah expressed surprise over the logic being advanced by the Central leadership that the statehood will be restored after completion of the delimitation of constituencies and holding of elections.

    “It is strange,” Farooq Abdullah said and recalled the all-party meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a few months ago in which he took up these issues. “(Mr.) Modi had at that point of time asserted that the gap between New Delhi and J&K would have to be bridged by winning over the hearts… Hearts cannot be won by undermining the status of Jammu and Kashmir, which was bifurcated and then downgraded,” the NC leader said while addressing a public meeting at Mendhar in Poonch district. Defending the BJP-led NDA government’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, Mr. Shah had on Saturday said August 5, 2019, was written in golden letters in the history of Kashmir. He had reiterated that elections would be held in J&K after the delimitation exercise to be followed by restoration of statehood. “Elections will happen. (Politicians from Kashmir want that the) Delimitation be stopped. Why? Because it hurts their politics. Now, such things will not stop in Kashmir.

    “The youth of Kashmir will get opportunities, so a right delimitation will be done, which will be followed by elections and then the status of the statehood will be restored. I have said this in the country’s Parliament and this is the roadmap,” Mr. Shah had said. Mr. Abdullah further said it must have happened for the first time that a State is transformed and downgraded as a Union Territory.

    “The urges and aspirations of the people have to be satiated for lasting peace,” he underlined.

    Pitching for India-Pakistan dialogue, the NC president said peace in the region will remain elusive unless a conducive atmosphere is made for talks between the two neighboring countries.

    He also decried attempts of dividing the society for political gains and said this is not good for the unity of the country and integration of people.

    “The nation cannot afford to get fragmented into bits and pieces on the basis of religion. Elections were not to be fought on religion, as these provide an opportunity to put in place responsive governments which serve the people in terms of development and economic emancipation,” he said.

    The former Chief Minister expressed grave concern over loss of life, and damage to standing crops and orchards due to heavy downpour, hailstorm and stormy winds across Jammu and Kashmir.

    Mr. Abdullah, who is on a four-day visit to Jammu Province, also sought an exhaustive assessment by expert panels on the damage caused, saying preliminary relief in terms of financial assistance should be provided to the affected till the assessment is completed. He also sought immediate release of compensation to the next of kin of those killed.

  • Indian American lawmakers & top Biden admin members celebrate ‘Diwali’ at US Congress

    Indian American lawmakers & top Biden admin members celebrate ‘Diwali’ at US Congress

    WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): Led by Indian American lawmakers, top members serving in the Biden administration and a select group of community members from across the country gathered to celebrate the festival of lights, ‘Diwali’, at the US Congress, the temple of democracy.

    Reflecting on the emergence of this small but influential community in the American socio-political spectrum, lawmakers praised the contribution of Indian Americans in the development of the US and highlighted the significance of Diwali in a post-COVID-19 world.

    ”We, for the last almost two years, have been in the midst of a pandemic that has turned our lives upside down. Many of us, myself included, have sustained losses of family and friends. I know many of you have as well, whether it’s family here, family back in India or in the diaspora or around the world. We have suffered heavy losses,” US Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy said at the event.

    ”But one of the things that concerns me most about the last few years is another type of pandemic, the invisible pandemic that we are in the midst of. That’s a pandemic of polarization where it feels increasingly people have turned against each other, where they’ve demonized one another, called each other evil and treated each other as so. That’s a particular kind of darkness,” he said. The Capitol Hill Diwali celebration was organized by Indiaspora in association with several community organizations. Remembering the teachings of his mother, Dr Murthy said Diwali is supposed to be a day about light conquering darkness.

    ”She would always say Vivek, people you encounter in America will come from different faiths and traditions. But remember that the light of God exists within each one of them, always, regardless of where they’re from,” he said.

    ”When I think about Diwali, I think about it in that context. Can we remember the light that exists within ourselves and one another? Can we not allow it? Can we not allow that light to be expunged because we happen to be on the other side of the political spectrum as somebody else or hold different views from them. This is as much a challenge here, as it is back in India and in many countries around the world,” Dr Murthy said.

    Indian American Congressmen Dr Ami Bera, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal addressed the gathering and greeted the community on the occasion. ”I’m very proud to say that I’m the first South Asian American woman ever elected to the United States House of Representatives. Hopefully I’m not going to be the last and there are going to be many, many more of us to come,” Jayapal said. The Congresswoman also said that the last three months have been rough for her and her family. Congresswoman Judy Chu said that President Joe Biden has appointed a record number of Indian Americans in his administration.

    ”President Biden is ushering in a new era of Asian Americans, especially Indian American representation. For instance, he named Dr Vivek Murthy to serve on his cabinet as a Surgeon General. Just last week, he made the historic move to name Neera Tanden as a White House staff secretary, one of the highest positions in the White House,” she said.

    ”And of course, just one year ago, we shattered one of the highest glass ceilings of all when Kamala Harris, the daughter of an Indian immigrant, was sworn in as the first woman Asian and Black vice president in history,” she said.

    Popular African American singer Mary Milben, who especially flew in from California to attend the Diwali celebrations, mesmerized the select audience with her rendition of ”Om Jai Jagdish Hare” which went viral last year. Milben announced that she would be travelling to India next January. ”India has truly become my family and my friends. So, it’s a joy to be here in the nation’s capital to celebrate this wonderful, spiritual and beautiful holiday that so many speakers have already talked about. It is a beautiful moment for cultures and faiths to come together and celebrate during this moment: Light over darkness the beauty of this beautiful holiday,” Milben said.

  • Major victory for H-1B employers as USCIS qualifies market research analyst as specialty occupation

    Major victory for H-1B employers as USCIS qualifies market research analyst as specialty occupation

    WASHINGTON D.C. (TIP): In a major victory for H-1B employers, a federal court has approved a settlement under which the US Citizenship and Immigration Services has agreed to qualify market research analyst as a specialty occupation for the purposes of determining H-1B visa application of a foreign professional.

    Based on its prior interpretation of the Occupational Outlook Handbook — a Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics publication profiling hundreds of occupations in the US job market — the USCIS was determining that market research analysts did not qualify as a “specialty occupation”. The settlement approved by the federal district court in the Northern District of California would now let companies request that the USCIS reopen and re-adjudicate their denied H-1B petitions. “This settlement is an important victory that will benefit hundreds of American businesses and the market research analysts they sought to employ,” said Leslie K Dellon, senior attorney (business immigration) at the American Immigration Council. “The settlement gives US businesses another chance to have their H-1B market research analyst petitions approved — this time under new guidance worked out by the parties to the lawsuit. Each H-1B petition reopened and approved will represent another opportunity for US employers and the workers they sponsored to advance their business objectives,” she said.

    The class action lawsuit in this regard was filed by the American Immigration Council, American Immigration Lawyers Association, and the law firms Van Der Hout LLP, Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP (formerly Joseph & Hall P.C.), and Kuck Baxter Immigration LLC. Jeff Joseph, partner at Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP, said this settlement finally resolves an issue on which immigration lawyers have been battling the government for years.

    “This settlement strikes the right balance between what the regulations actually say and how employers evaluate a candidate’s professional qualifications in the real world. It is our sincere hope that USCIS will now interpret other specialty occupations from a perspective that is in line with what actually happens in the free market,” he said.

  • Sabalenka returns with win over Tomljanovic at Kremlin Cup

    Aryna Sabalenka played a match for the first time since reaching the U.S. Open semifinals and subsequently testing positive for the coronavirus, beating Ajla Tomljanovic 7-6 (2), 4-6, 6-1 Wednesday to reach the quarterfinals of the Kremlin Cup. The second-ranked Belarusian, who had a bye in the first round, had 10 aces but also made 30 unforced errors. “She’s a tough opponent for the first match after a long time out on a break,” Sabalenka said. “I calmed down a bit and started playing well.” Sabalenka had not played since her three-set loss to Leylah Fernandez in the U.S. Open semifinals. She was due to play in Indian Wells, California, but said she had tested positive for the coronavirus the day before play started. Sabalenka will next play Ekaterina Alexandrova, who beat Anhelina Kalinina 6-4, 6-1. Garbine Muguruza reach the quarterfinals by beating Tereza Martincova 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. She will next face either Anett Kontaveit or Andrea Petkovic.

  • BCCI could earn up to $5 billion from IPL broadcasting rights only

    The BCCI is set for a windfall of gigantic proportions as the IPL broadcast rights (TV and digital) could fetch the Board up to USD 5 billion for the next five-year cycle (2023-2027) while some high-profile interest is being seen in the bidding process for the two new teams. The current five-year rights (TV and digital) for IPL from 2018 to 2022 are with Star India but, according to people who are in decision-making capacity, the valuation, which is at Rs 16,347.50 crore (USD 2.55 billion) right now, could more than double and reach USD 5 billion (around Rs 36,000 crore approx at current exchange rate). “There is a well-known US based company which did send BCCI feelers some time back, expressing their serious interest in bidding for IPL media rights. With 10 teams playing IPL from 2022, the matches will go up to 74 and in any case, the valuation of the property increases,” a senior BCCI said.

  • Champions league: Ron rescues Man United, Barcelona finally win

    Manchester (TIP): Cristiano Ronaldo’s late winning goal capped a classic Manchester United comeback win in the Champions League. In a less chaotic manner, Bayern Munich and Juventus also recorded typical trademark wins to top their groups with three straight victories and no goals conceded.

    Trailing 0-2 at halftime at home against Atalanta, with Paul Pogba left on the bench, Manchester United’s wild season under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer appeared ready to derail with last place in the group beckoning. Ronaldo put the club back on top, 3-2, in the 81st minute after goals from Marcus Rashford and Harry Maguire to deliver a second straight come-from-behind win at Old Trafford in the competition.

    Bayern routed Benfica 4-0 with late goals including one from Robert Lewandowski after standout saves by Manuel Neuer in the Lisbon stadium where they won the 2020 title 14 months ago.

    It was an efficient 1-0 win for Juventus at Zenit St. Petersburg thanks to an 86th-minute goal by Dejan Kulusevski.

    Defending champion Chelsea also cruised to a 4-0 win, against Malmo, but lost strikers Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner to injuries.

    Salzburg were the other group leaders in action, beating Wolfsburg 3-1 with goals from the kind of young forwards the Austrian champions excel in nurturing and then trading on. Teenage Germany forward Karim Adeyemi scored early before 21-year-old Switzerland winger Noah Okafor scored twice in the second half for Salzburg.

    Barcelona finally got a win, 1-0 against Dynamo Kyiv, to end some unwanted historic streaks for the club and stay in contact in the group led by Bayern.

  • How to read deleted WhatsApp messages: Catch your sender red-handed

    How to read deleted WhatsApp messages: Catch your sender red-handed

    Amazingly, WhatsApp users on Android can actually read deleted messages by installing a third-party app. iPhone users have a cheeky way to do so. We all have been in the situation when someone sends you a WhatsApp message, and by the time you open it, it’s deleted from their side – thanks to the Delete For Everyone feature. WhatsApp keeps showing the deleted message notification but natively, you cannot see what the message was. If this leaves butterflies in your stomach, we show you how to read deleted WhatsApp messages and catch the sender red-handed.

    On Android, there’s a hack available in the form of downloading third party apps. iPhone users, however, have to tread with caution and rely on their notifications to read the WhatsApp delted messages.

    How to read deleted WhatsApp messages on Android

    The process is easy. All you need is a stable internet connection and access to the Google Play Store.

    –              Open Google Play and search for “WhatsApp deleted Messages”.

    –              You will see a list of apps that claim to keep a copy of the deleted messages.

    –              We have tried WAMR, WhatsRemoved+ and few more, all of which have worked as advertised.

    –              Download the app and give it all the necessary permissions Android seeks.

    –              Once there, all such messages that get the “Delete for Everyone” treatment will be hosted within the app. Some of these apps can even save the media files.

    –              Note that since the app is free to use, you will witness advertisements within the app interface.

    How to read WhatsApp deleted messages on iPhones

    Sadly, iOS does not allow such apps to flourish on the App Store for catching hold of deleted messages. However, iOS allows a cheeky way to catch a glimpse of the WhatsApp deleted messages.

    –              This has all to do with the notifications. You have to be very careful with how you handle it.

    –              The deleted messages on WhatsApp stays listed in the Notifications Centre. You can long-press to read the content better.

    –              However, once you open the notification or the app, you won’t be able to see the deleted WhatsApp messages. Hence, if you suspect someone to delete message frequently, try to catch a glimpse of their messages from the notification first.

  • Singapore tribunal rejects Future’s plea to lift ban on Reliance deal

    Singapore tribunal rejects Future’s plea to lift ban on Reliance deal

    The Singapore-based arbitrator, SIAC, has rejected Future Retail’s plea to lift the interim stay on its Rs 24,713-crore deal with Reliance Retail, giving a major relief to Amazon that is contesting the transaction. The development comes a day after the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) held that Future Retail is a party to the ongoing arbitration between Amazon and Future group in the dispute over the sale of its assets to Reliance Retail.

    Future had contended before the SIAC that it should be excluded from arbitration proceedings because it is not a party to the dispute between its promoter Future Coupons Pvt Ltd (FCPL) and Amazon.

    In a regulatory filing on Friday,  Oct 22, Future Retail Ltd (FRL) said it has received SIAC’s decision dated October 21, 2021 on its plea to vacate the Interim Award of the Emergency Arbitrator dated October 25, 2020.

    “The Tribunal is satisfied that the orders set out in… the EA Award was correctly granted, and have not been vitiated by any subsequent events or proceedings. Further or alternatively, the Respondents have not demonstrated that circumstances have materially changed to justify any change to the EA Award,” the filing said.

  • Facebook plans to change its name: Report

    Facebook plans to change its name: Report

    Social media giant Facebook is reportedly planning to rebrand the company with a new name that focuses on the metaverse. According to a source with direct knowledge of the matter, Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg is expected to announce the name at the company’s Connect conference on October 28, reports The Verge. As per report, the rebrand would likely position the Facebook app as one of the many products under a parent company overseeing groups like Instagram, WhatsApp, Oculus, and more. Facebook first announced its plans to build out the metaverse — a term used to describe virtual, interactive spaces in the digital world — last month. Facebook earlier this month announced to hire 10,000 people to help the social network build the metaverse — a new phase of interconnected virtual experiences using technologies like virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR). According to the company, the next computing platform has the potential to help unlock access to new creative, social and economic opportunities.

  • Moon rocks brought back by China show recent volcanic activity on lunar surface

    Moon rocks brought back by China show recent volcanic activity on lunar surface

    Moon rocks brought back to Earth by a Chinese robotic spacecraft last year have provided new insights into ancient lunar volcanic activity, a researcher said. Li Xianhua said an analysis of the samples revealed new information about the moon’s chemical composition and the way heat affected its development.

    Li said the samples indicate volcanic activity was still occurring on the moon as recently as 2 billion years ago, compared to previous estimates that such activity halted between 2.8 billion and 3 billion years ago.

    “Volcanic activities are a very important thing on the moon. They show the vitality inside the moon, and represent the recycling of energy and matter inside the moon,” Li told reporters.

    China in December brought back the first rocks from the moon since missions by the U.S. and former Soviet Union in the 1970s.

    Last week, China launched a new three-person crew to its space station, a new milestone in a space program that has advanced rapidly in recent years.

    China became only the third country after the former Soviet Union and the United States to put a person in space on its own in 2003 and now ranks among the leading space powers.

    Alongside its crewed program, it has expanded its work on robotic exploration, retrieving the lunar samples and landing a rover on the little-explored far side of the moon. It has also placed the Tianwen-1 space probe on Mars, whose accompanying Zhurong rover has been exploring for evidence of life on the red planet.

    China also plans to collect soil from an asteroid and bring back additional lunar samples. The country also hopes to land people on the moon and possibly build a scientific base there. A highly secretive space plane is also reportedly under development.

    The military-run Chinese space program has also drawn controversy. China’s Foreign Ministry on Monday,  Oct 18, brushed-off a report that China had tested a hypersonic missile two months ago. A ministry spokesperson said it had merely tested whether a new spacecraft could be reused.        Source: AP

  • RBI imposes penalty on Paytm Payments Bank, Western Union

    RBI imposes penalty on Paytm Payments Bank, Western Union

    New Delhi (TIP): The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has imposed a monetary penalty on two payment system operators for deficiencies in regulatory compliance. A statement issued by the RBI today read, “The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had, by an order dated October 01, 2021, imposed a monetary penalty of Rs1 crore (Rupees one crore only) on Paytm Payments Bank Limited (PPBL), for an offence committed of the nature referred to in Section 26 (2) of Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007 (PSS Act).”

    It further said, “A Compounding Order dated October 7, 2021, was also issued to Western Union Financial Services Inc (WUFSI), a Money Transfer Service – cross-border inbound service (customer to customer only) operator – imposing a penalty of ?27,78,750 for non-compliance with certain provisions of the directions contained in the Master Direction on Money Transfer Service Scheme (MTSS Directions) dated February 22, 2017.”

    The RBI further stated that the penalties have been imposed in the exercise of powers vested in RBI under the provisions of Section 30 and Section 31 of the PSS Act.

    This action is based on deficiencies in regulatory compliance and is not intended to pronounce upon the validity of any transaction or agreement entered into by the entities with their customers, it added.

    The RBI further informed that on examination of PPBL’s application for issue of final Certificate of Authorisation (CoA), it was observed that PPBL had submitted information that did not reflect the factual position.

    As this was an offence of the nature referred to in Section 26 (2) of the PSS Act, a notice was issued to PPBL. After reviewing the written responses and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, the RBI-determined that the aforementioned charge was substantiated and warranted the imposition of a monetary penalty.

    The RBI further stated that the Western Union Financial Services (WUFSI) had reported instances of breach of the ceiling of 30 remittances per beneficiary during the calendar years 2019 and 2020 and filed an application for compounding of the violation.

    The RBI-determined that the aforementioned non-compliance warranted the imposition of a monetary penalty after analysing the compounding application, and oral submissions made during the personal hearing, it added.

                    Source: ANI

  • India smartphone market falls 5% in Q3

    India smartphone market falls 5% in Q3

    New Delhi (TIP): As smartphone vendors struggled with supply issues for low-end mobile handsets, the shipments in India fell 5 per cent (on-year) in the third quarter (Q3) this year, a new report showed on Thursday, Oct 21. In Q3 2021 (July-September period), 47.5 million units were shipped and the market was one again led by Xiaomi at 24 per cent share (down 2 per cent from the year-ago quarter), followed by Samsung at 19 per cent (down 1 per cent from the year-ago period) and Vivo at 17 per cent (also down 1 per cent), according to data by market research firm Canalys. The third quarter makes for a tough year-on-year compare, due to pent-up demand last year. Shipments in Q3 2021 were 47 per cent higher than in Q2 2021, as consumer demand bounced back rapidly owing to the suppression of Covid-19 wave.

    “From the end of June, a surge in demand has swept India, which is set to persist during the festive season. Smartphone vendors have seized the opportunity to push the older stock into the channel ahead of the holiday period,” said analyst Sanyam Chaurasia.

    But low-end model supply constraints mean shipments have been restricted, and “brands have been forced to use promotions to make their high-end models more appealing,” Chaurasia added.

    These challenges will persist into Q4, and high component and logistics costs, together with container shortages will result in longer lead times and higher retail prices.

    Xiaomi maintained its lead in the quarter by shipping 11.2 million units. Samsung remained second with 9.1 million units and vivo came third with 8.1 million shipments.          Source: IANS

  • US budget deficit hits $2.77 trillion in 2021, 2nd highest on record

    WASHINGTON (TIP): The United States budget deficit totaled $2.77 trillion for 2021, the second highest on record but an improvement from the all-time high of $3.13 trillion reached in 2020. The deficits in both years reflect trillions of dollars in government spending to counteract the devastating effects of a global pandemic. The Biden administration said Friday that the 2021 deficit, for the budget year that ended September 30 was $360 billion lower than 2020 as a recovering economy boosted revenues, helping to offset government spending from pandemic relief efforts. Before the pandemic deficits of the past two years, the biggest deficit the federal government recorded was a shortfall of $1.4 trillion in 2009 during the Obama administration as the government spent heavily to lift the country out of a severe recession following the 2008 financial crisis.

    Source: AP

  • This AI tech may spot unseen signs of heart failure

    This AI tech may spot unseen signs of heart failure

    New York (TIP): US researchers have developed an electrocardiogram-reading algorithm that can detect subtle signs of heart failure. Heart failure, or congestive heart failure, occurs when the heart pumps less blood than the body normally needs. For years, doctors have relied heavily on an imaging technique called an echocardiogram to assess whether a patient may be experiencing heart failure.

    While helpful, echocardiograms can be labour-intensive procedures that are only offered at select hospitals.

    In the study, the researchers at Mount Sinai described the development of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based computer algorithm that not only assessed the strength of the left ventricle but also the right ventricle, which takes deoxygenated blood streaming in from the body and pumps it to the lungs.

    The algorithm was 94 per cent accurate at predicting which patients had a healthy ejection fraction and 87 per cent accurate at predicting those who had an ejection fraction that was below 40 per cent.

    The algorithm also learned to detect right valve weaknesses from the electrocardiograms with 84 per cent accuracy at predicting which patients had weak right valves.

    “We showed that deep-learning algorithms can recognise blood pumping problems on both sides of the heart from ECG waveform data,” said Benjamin S. Glicksberg, Assistant Professor of Genetics and Genomic Science at Mount Sinai.

    For the study, published in the ‘Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Cardiovascular Imaging’, the team programmed a computer to read patient electrocardiograms along with data extracted from written reports summarising the results of corresponding echocardiograms taken from the same patients.

    In this situation, the written reports acted as a standard set of data for the computer to compare with the electrocardiogram data and learn how to spot weaker hearts.    Source: IANS

  • Orange juice helps fight inflammation and oxidative stress in adults, says study

    A new study has suggested 100 per cent orange juice has the potential to help fight inflammation and oxidative stress in adults. The findings of the study were published in the journal ‘Advances in Nutrition’.

    Though limited in scope, the study indicates drinking 100 per cent orange juice significantly reduces interleukin 6, a well-established marker of inflammation, in both healthy and high-risk adults. Two additional inflammatory and oxidative stress markers were also reduced; however, the results did not quite reach statistical significance.

    The findings of this study, which was funded through an unrestricted grant by the Florida Department of Citrus, harmonise with a previously published FDOC-funded review that reported beneficial effects of hesperidin, the primary bioactive compound found in oranges and 100 per cent orange juice, on reducing some markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Chronic inflammation may play a key role in causing or advancing some chronic diseases, including heart disease and diabetes.

    “We know that 100 per cent orange juice contains a number of nutrients, like vitamin C, as well as beneficial bioactive compounds that have the potential to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress,” said Gail Rampersaud, Florida Department of Citrus registered dietitian.

    “This review tells us that some studies find benefits with 100 per cent orange juice, but we need more data and large well-designed studies to make more definitive conclusions. This analysis is especially helpful as we and others plan future research related to orange juice,” added Rampersaud.

    The review examined published studies relating to 100 per cent orange juice and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress. The review was conducted by the Think Healthy Group and researchers at Tufts University and George Mason University.

    The analysis consisted of three parts: a qualitative scoping review of 21 studies with a total of 307 healthy adults and 327 adults at risk for disease; a systematic review of a subset of 16 studies that measured the six most reported biomarkers related to inflammation and oxidative stress in the body; and 10 studies that had sufficient data to conduct a meta-analysis. The researchers also examined the overall quality and potential bias in the studies.

    The broad scoping and systematic reviews revealed that, in general, 100 per cent orange juice either had beneficial or null (no adverse) effects on oxidative stress or inflammation. The researchers cautioned that studies included a relatively small number of subjects, had a low strength of evidence, and had a moderate risk of bias; therefore, overall findings should be interpreted with caution.

                    Source: ANI

  • Mix-and-match vaccines highly effective against Covid: Lancet study

    London (TIP): People who received a first dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine followed by an mRNA vaccine shot had a lower risk of infection compared to those immunised with both doses of the AstraZeneca preventive, according to a nationwide study in Sweden.

    Since the use of AstraZeneca’s vector-based vaccine against Covid was halted for people younger than 65 years of age due to safety concerns, all individuals in Sweden who had already received their first dose of this vaccine were recommended an mRNA vaccine as their second dose.

    “Having received any of the approved vaccines is better compared to no vaccine, and two doses are better than one,” said Peter Nordstrom, a professor at Umea University, Sweden. “However, our study shows a greater risk reduction for people who received an mRNA vaccine after having received a first dose of a vector-based, as compared to people having received the vector-based vaccine for both doses,” Nordstrom said. The study, published in The Lancet Regional Health – Europe journal on Monday, is based on nationwide registry data from the Public Health Agency of Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare, and Statistics Sweden. In the main analysis, about 700,000 individuals were included. During a 2.5-month average follow-up period after the second dose, the study showed a 67 per cent lower risk of infection for the combination of AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine shots.    Source: PTI

  • Guide to buying the right scent

    Guide to buying the right scent

    Seasonal perfumes

    Scents are known to evoke seasonal fragrances and moods.  Winter perfumes should have rich scents along with sweet notes like amber, vanilla and cinnamon. There are various perfumes, which combine sweet fragrances like oranges, caramel, lemon, honey and fruits.

    The right fragrance for you

    Woody: An ideal choice for cooler months and evenings, earthy tones are the feature of woody fragrances. These perfumes usually feature such scents as sandalwood, patchouli and cedar to give a rich and natural fragrance. Woody perfumes are easy to wear and versatile.

    Oriental

    These perfumes are the strongest of all. With sensual overtones and rich undertones, this scent makes for quite heavy blends, but they are complemented by the fine scents of sweet vanilla, musk, sumptuous flowers and Oriental resins. Most Oriental perfumes have a wonderful crossing-over of qualities from all the other categories from the spicy fruit tones to warm woody tones and this makes them a superb choice for corporate environments, evening events and special occasions.

    Floral

    These have strong overtones of flowery fragrances. Overtones like rose, jasmine and lavender work perfectly for the winter season. These scents are feminine without being overpowering and are suitable as a day wear.

    Fruity

    Fruity fragrances are spicy and fresh. They are quite youthful in their scent and apt for cool weather. In the winters, they invoke a sense of warm desserts and cider. They are an excellent choice for women who like classic fragrances but also want to add a little flair.

  • Get prettier feet without a pedicure

    Get prettier feet without a pedicure

    If you have no time for a professional pedicure, there are some easy and effective at-home treatments you can try. Besides saving time, these treatments have the added benefit of being easy and cost-effective because they can be done with inexpensive products you may already have at home.

    Soothe and refresh your feet. These simple steps will have your feet looking and feeling better fast.

    Start With a Soak

    Add a few tablespoons of bath salts or Epsom salts to a basin of warm water and soak your feet for 5-15 minutes. This will cleanse and soften skin and nails, making toenail trimming and callus removal much easier.

    File Calluses

    Once your feet are dry use a foot file tool or large nail file to gently file any corns or calluses. Using light hand pressure, file corns and calluses until the skin appears and feels smoother.

    Sometimes larger corns and calluses will need to be professionally trimmed by a podiatrist, especially if they are painful. Avoid callus shavers, as they may cut healthy skin and cause bleeding.

    Exfoliate

    To remove dead skin cells and diminish rough skin, gently massage your feet with an exfoliating foot scrub product. Be sure to avoid any wounds. Rinse thoroughly after application.

    If you prefer, you can make your own scrub: Dilute two tablespoons of sea salt with equal amounts of baby oil and lemon juice. Other types of oils that can be used are olive oil, coconut oil or canola oil.

    Toenail Treatment

    Here is a quick and simple routine for improving the look and health of toenails:

    –              Remove any nail polish.

    –              Trim toenails straight across so that some of the white remains.

    –              Lightly brush the surface of toenails with a nail buffer or fine grit nail file.

    –              Apply some lemon juice with a cotton swab on and around the nail to further remove dead skin and give nails a healthy shine.

    –              If your toenails are discolored yellow from frequent nail polish use, scrub them with a paste made of baking soda diluted with water.

    Moisturize

    Once feet are dry, finish by applying your favorite lotion or cream. For areas that tend to get cracks or calluses, try applying a heavier moisturizing product, such as a heel cream or balm.

    More Foot Care Tips

    Use these tips to treat your feet right:

    –              Do not cut toenail cuticles because they protect the nail and surrounding skin from infection.

    –              Toenails can absorb some of the pigment in nail polish causing a yellow discoloration. So, don’t always paint your toenails; take a few weeks off occasionally so they can return to normal, and you’ll see less discoloration.

    –              Nail polish removers with acetone can dry-out nails causing a chalky appearance. Try an acetone-free nail polish remover or apply a moisturizing product to the nail after removing the polish.

    –              Apply moisturizing products at least once a day to callused or cracked skin.

    –              Use an over-the-counter foot powder or sneaker spray if your feet tend to sweat.

    –              Rinse your feet with cool water after a long day in shoes. This will minimize the ravages of sweat, which can irritate skin and increase the risk of athlete’s foot.

    –              Seek medical treatment for any slow or non-healing wound, rash, or toenail infection.